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NOVEMBER, 1885.] A SELECTION OF KANARESE BALLADS.
most singular part of his history. Whether it is to be ascribed to the remains of the old custom of devil-worship, and he be now glorified on account of the excess of misery he occasioned in his lifetime, or whether his popularity as a leader of the poorer classes, in a cause which had their sympathy was the reason of his apotheosis,-are questions that naturally present themselves.
"Rayappa's outbreak lasted about four months. At one time he came to Kanbargi, with the intention of seizing Belgaum Fort by a rush at the time of changing guard, but did not carry his intention into execution. His betrayers were rewarded with Inâms. Linganagauda got Kalloļi near Kittûr, and Yeñkanagauda Dôri, a village in Dharwad."
TRANSLATION.
Chorus. The noble Râyinayaka of Sangolli, the wicked fellow that he is,-is pillaging the Subhêdâr of Sampgaum. Quickly have his men laid siege to all the surrounding villages, and beaten (the inhabitants of them); so that, O my brother! a disturbance has arisen that cannot be estimated.
First Verse. I tell you a tale of days gone by; sit, all of you, and listen to what I have to say.
Pride came upon the Kulkarni of Sangolli. Most pleasantly had Râyinayaka been his close friend; but then a deadly feud broke out between them. When the Kulkarni Balapa and Rayanna were bathing,-"Wash me my waistcloth, and bring it here," said (the Kulkarni), and offered it to his hand. Angry at this speech, Rayanna hardened himself, and said "Never will I touch your cloth." "How then, thou Halaba!" (said the Kulkarni); "how cautious thou art; has pride inflamed thee, that thou speakest this inpertinence to me ?" When he heard this, wrathful was Râyanna, and he said, "I will leave off from now from doing your behests";" and so he turned and went away;-"Look now, Bâlanņa; you must submit to be pillaged by me; know that the
20 Subh dår, or properly Sabahdar, is the term that is popularly used for MAmlatdar; see note 18 above.
Halaba is an ancient man, an old servant, an old inhabitant. It is often used, as here, to express contempt and disrespect.
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time has come for the neighbouring villages to be sacked."
Lit. "from burning for you your pile of wood, grass, &c., arranged to be kindled at the close of the Holi festival."
Second verse. Quickly Râyinayaka went, and fell at the feet of the mother that bore him; and then, taking his sword, in firm resolve he set out.
Going to the Nizâm's Dominions, he stood before the king of Surapur, and, joining his hands together in supplication, he performed obeisance. "Truly Râyinayaka is a hero," said the king, who in his own presence saw him leap twelve fathoms at a stretch. Pleased and delighted was the king, and said, "No one is thy equal, my noble fellow; tell me, thou hero in war, what it is thou askest." "If thou art pleased with me," said the wily fellow, "give me a troop of three hundred Bêdas," and let me choose each man for myself; and I will take the force and raise a mutiny."
Quickly and speedily Râyinayaka took the force, and led it to where all the ammunition was hidden among the trees.
Third verse.-Standing before them in a charming way, with plain purport he spoke a few words to the force that he had brought,"Be you careful, keeping a good look-out all round, wherever you may go." And he brought up the Abyssinians," who are ready to eat a man if he laughs, and placed them round, and thus made his precautions for all his army; and he made his arrangements complete, and quickly gave them the order to march.
Swords for cutting; hand-knives; daggers for stabbing; poniards; and pistols,-(these were the weapons that they had); fierce warriors were they all; (and they had) daggers, and bows, and spears, and arrows, and shields held up in bravery; and they wore armour on their bodies. With one accord, wearing in profusion sweet jasmine-flowers, and sounding their war-bugles in front, with great might, but hardly knowing what they were about, they came on, my brother! so that not one of them remained behind,-saying, "When shall we commence to fight and plunder ?"
3 Beda is a fowler, one who lives by the chase.' The Bêdas have played a conspicuous part in almost every disturbance that has occurred.
In the original, Habasas, for Habashis. There are large numbers, of more or less pure descent, of these Abyssinians,-usually called Sidis or Sidis,-in the Western Ghauta.
