________________
APRIL, 1886.]
GULLALA SBAH.
97
his companions. They played Wazir Padshah, de. one boy pretended to be the king, another pretended to be the Wazir, and others took the part of other great officers in the State. Each one was supposed to talk and act ac. cording to his part in the play. That day thu door-keeper's son was voted king by his playmates, and sat in the royal place. While they were thus playing the real king's son passed by, and seeing the state of the game he cursed the boy. Be degraded from fairyland,' he said, 'and dwell among the common people. On account of this curse the doorkeeper's son soon died, and was afterwards born among the common people. A female companion told me of his death, on hearing of which I became very sad; for I loved the son of the door-keeper, and am determined to marry nobody bat him. The king and queen and others have tried hard to get me to change my mind; but I have remained steadfast. All my time has been spent in doing good, and in interviewing holy men. To-day I came hither to worship. One day it happened that a very holy man arrived here, whom I loved very much, and I thought to have met him here again to-day. He seemed very pleased with me, and used to give me whatever I asked of him. Once I asked him to tell me how I could again see the door-keeper's son, who had been born among the common people. He told me that he knew the lad, and that he was called Gullalâ Shah, and that I could see him if I was very carefal to attend to his instruc
tions. Of course I promised that I would be. "Be careful,' he continued, and consider well, for the king will hinder you by strong charms and in other ways. He then gave me a pearl necklace of such great virtue that no charms can affect the wearer, which I am to wear continually and guard patiently, if I would accomplish my purpose. After this I went back to my house. On the first opportunity ! told my father of all that I had heard concerning Gullala Shih, and begged him to arrange for our wedding as soon as possible. The king looked very troubled when he heard this, and entreated me to think no more about the young man, especially as he was now one of the common people. Sach a thing as our marriage could not possibly be, as it would bring the whole of fairy-land into contempt. Bnt I was resolute, and so the king spoke sharply to me, and I answered sharply in return, and left the palace in a great rage. This is my history. O friend! If you can do anything to help me to discover anything about Gullâlâ Shah, do so, I implore you, and I shall be obliged to you for ever."
Here was a strange coincidence! Gullala Shâh told her who he was, and kissed her. She recognised him and taking his hand said, "I have found my long-lost beloved. With him let me ever dwell."
Holding each other's hands they presently left the pond and came to the place where the horse was standing. Both mounted the horse, which was now quiet, and rode back to the
This game is also called suhul and is very popular in Kasmir. It is generally played by four youngsters. Four little sticks are provided, of which the bark on one side is peeled off. Any of the four children throw first. If one should throw these sticke, so that they all full on the bark side, then he is appointed padsh/h, 1.e. king; but if not, then they all try and throw till some one finally succeeds. The next thing is to find out the waar. He who throwa the sticks so that one of them falls with the bark side up but the other three with the peeled sides up, is appointed to this office. Then & asfir, ie. a thief, has to be arranged. He who throws 50 that two of the sticks fall with the bark side upwards in proclaimed the thief. Lastly, a said, i.e. an honest man, has to be found. This part he has to play, who throws the sticks so that three of them fall with the bark sidor upwards. If it should happen that all four of them fall with the bark sides up then that thrower has to try again.
Padshah, wasir, air, and said being known the real play begins. The asar, thief, is brought bofore the king by the waxfr, who says,
"Padshah salamat!
Duzdamad." "O king, peace and health to you! Here is a thief."
The king replies, "Ay kujd amad?" "Whence has he oume ?
that two ined the thiet. This was them falhat all for hans in D has to be so that tould happen that thro
Then the waxir tells him the whole case and punishment has to be inflicted on the criminal. This is the most amusing piece of the whole tamisha.
"Bidihed angau Bangaut top," says the king, "Give him BangAll cannon." The ronair kicks the prisoner's buttocks; or the king says
Boranih any a hún badal," "Bring a dog in his place from Ladák."
The tenair takes the prisoner a short distance and then holding him by thy ear pulls him back, while the prisoner barks like a dog or the king saya "Yindartul kad yus." "Take out the spindle."
The ncazir draws a line with his thurab-nail on the inside of tho arm from the elbow-joint to the wrist, and then hits the arm over the line as hard as he can with the first and second fingers of the right hand. This is rather
painful punishnient. There are many other words of punishment too numerous to mention here.
I notice nn allusion to this game in the story of " Mahaushadhs and Vis khá, given in Tibetan Tuler from Indian Sources, p. 134. cf. also Ardschi-Bord chichan in Jülg'a Mongol, Märchensammlung: Innsbruck. 1868, pp. 197, et seq.
[The universal belief in metempsychosis peeps out here.- ED.)
