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SEPTEMBER, 1885.)
A SUMMARY OF THE ALHA KHAND.
257
whom the three queens (Mal'nâ, Dival and Pâuhap, Karanga's sister, became enTil'ka) brought their children. The holy man amoured of Udal. When the Bankphals had adopted the boys as his god-children (chela), finished dancing they were presented with the and gave them the blessing of having bodies nine-lakh necklace and returned to their camp, invulnerable to weapons. He then departed but were pursued by Kasangå who had learnt saying that if ever they stood in need of him who they were, and who, after attempting to ther would find him in the forest of Bab'r'i. catch them, had to retreat in fear.
When the boys came to man's estate they Then the Bankphals set their army in battle became so mighty that none of them could array and a terrible battle took place in which mount a horse without breaking its back. Surji, one of Jam'bê's" sons, was killed. Accordingly they went to their respective Then Karanga himself came out with an army, mothers, and asked for the horses that their but was unable to stand before Udal. Then fathers rode. The queens, however, produced he sent out his own father, who also was the five-winged horses," and each one chose defeated. Finally, with the help of a jógin, the one that pleased him best.
or magician, he enchanted Udal, who fell from One day Udal rode on his horse to Mah’la's his horse. Jambài then took him up on his garden, and after devastating it began to insult steed, " carried him off and cast him into a the maids who were carrying water. Whendungeon. Mah'lâ beard of this he first went and com- On receiving this intelligence  lh å and his plained to Parmal, and then returned and brothers sent word to the ascetic Am'ra, and taunted Udal with being brave enough to by the help of magic taught by him, Mal'khả fight female water-carriers, but too great a (Bachh'raj's son) released Udal from the duncoward to avenge his own father's death. geon. The latter returned home in silence and anger, Then they wrote a letter demanding that and approaching his mother, asked what had Karanga's father Jambi should send his happened to his father. She shook her head daughter out to them to be married, but the in distress, and at first tried to put his questions king in rage again challenged them to fight, off, but as he persisted, she finally told him whereapon they bombarded his fort and blew the whole story of Jas'raj.
it to pieces. Then they cut off Jamba's head, On hearing the details of his death he has- and mounting it over the city gate beside tened to Alha, and the Bankphals immediately Jas'raj's skull, pressed his body in an oil-press made ready an army to invade Mårô. They as he had done to Jas'råj. They put Karanga set out and encamped on the frontier. They in bonds and would have killed him had they then, at the suggestion of Dh8v â and Tala, not been compelled to spare him and let him go disguised themselves as Jogi dancers, in order as one who had taken refage with them. Then to spy out the secrets of the fort, and danced so they carried off Pâuhap as Udal's bride with beautifully throughout the city and at the the nine-lakh bracelet, the elephant Pach'sâwat king's palace,' that they enchanted the souls of and the dancer Lakkhà Pâtar and with great all the men and women in the city. Especially joy and triumph returned to Mahub." 11 Ålba's horse is named Kariliva, and Údal's Benor.
subsequently repents its treachery, and allows Malikha liyor Rio Bêndul. In the set of Hamir'pur songs on to spring on to its back and renone Udal. Udal then the AlhA legend, communicated to me by Mr. V. A. Smith, attacks Karang but is driven back, and finally Mall Údel's horse is called Bênd.
kh& comes up and emites off the latter's head. The 15 It was a favourite method of insulting person to head is sent in triumph to Mahuba. lay Waste hia gardon, and to insult his maidservante. * The Kananjt conclusion is infinitely more dramatio. Mah'la, dal's mother's brother, was, it must be Udal brings out Bijnisint or Bij'mA, to marry her, but remembered, an enemy of the family.. 1. The long passage which describes the journey of
Aih says (I quote Mr. Waterfield's translation):-- the princes through the city, and how they ted their
With the house of our foe, I bid thee know, rage by visiting the scene of Jas'raj's tragio fate, is a
No marriage feast I keep fine specimen of vigorous poetry.
When she thinks of her fathor and brethren slain, 90 In the Kanaujt version she is called Bijnisint or
She will kill thee in thy sleep.' Bij'ma.
Udal entreats that she be spared, but in vain, and 11 JambA was Karaogi's father and king of Marô. finally Malkh
* The Kanauji version makes Karaig&, who is riding on Pach'sawat, cause the elephant to treacherously
His shining sword he drew
He smote so sore Bijaisin's side, seize and bind his quondam master Udal. The elephant
He cleft her shoulder through.
