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DECEMBER, 1886.]
A SELECTION OF KANARESE BALLADS.
351
the looms, the skeins of silk, the earthen pots, listen! they all came in company to the bungathe dishes for eating from; all these they sold low. "It is proper that thou, O lord, shouldest by auction, putting (reserve) prices on them. listen to this (our) petition; it is right that (With a change of metre),The Government thou shouldest remit the tax on us." Standing became very bad, O my brother ! poor people there, he gazed upon the poor men, with comhad their eyes full of tears, saying, -" What a passion in (his) reing. The gentleman looked time of trouble thou hast brought, o fśvara well into the matter, and quickly caused a (our god); no man has any care of us. Say reply to be written, saying that they should now, is it a lot of weeping women that are present the petitions (of regular appeal); there sitting here P; whatever we may do, the tax was trouble in his reins, as if a fire was kindled will not cease." Then (by paying the tax) there. He gazed upon the tattered garments they redeemed the dishes for eating from ; say worn by the women, and all their wealth ;** now, did not they display fortitude ?
while they were weeping, (saying) "(Our) Fourth Verse.--Rayappa of Harpanhalli wrote hands can find no millet" in (our) houses." out a statement, -"Sir, they have (each) as Then the noble gentleman made inquiries; the good an income as may be wished for;" he principal rich men, O brother!, sat down ; and brought trouble on the poor; no justice the poor people did obeisance (to him). With remained.
great attention the gentleman listened, (sayVery brave were the Musalmans of the Ka- ing)-“Declare how much income they have." mari Bazaar;-“Be off," said they, “we will Hittaļi-Virabhadra wrote it down, putting the not pay the tax; take it, if you like, (by force) estimate at five hundred rupees; and laid it on and fine (us); this is (our) order to you." the ears of the representatives of the village,
The Subhôdâr fired up in wrath ; house after not to abandon (their) duty to the villagers) house, he searched them all; hear! how even by saying that it was any higher). small pieces of copper, and the brazier's anvils, Sixth Verse. All the people in concert were and the stone-splitters' tools, were carried away making up (their) accounts, weighing the (for sale).
matter out one with the other; how shall I (With a change of metre)-All the Musal- describe the sorrow of the people ?; so the mins sat down together, making a conspiracy, work went on. First the merchant Mikapinside the mosque:"Where is the stick ? pasetti, a very virtuous 'man, himself sat down search and bring it here that we may beat and made up the reckoning; thus the minds of those who come to levy the tax); will you now all were satisfied. Listen now again! The hesitate and back out of the business ?" Thus poor people stood by in restless anxiety, and they conspired, "Undoubtedly we will beat made supplication to the gentleman; and then anyone who comes to make us pay the tax); the virtuous gentleman caused to be given perhaps they may put us in fetters; but, if so, back to them the tax that they had paid. what more could they do?” (But others said), The Musalmans said_“O Allah! it is a year
-"Ye madmen ! is not this a serious matter ? since we have eaten wheat and rico; (the gor) it is not right to display any insubordination Siva (alone) knows our straits; what can wo towards the Government; keep to the habit of
give" falling down at the feet of (them, your) parents ; It was in the Pramôdůta samvatsara," my there is surely) some little regard (for you)." brother!, that the Government imposed the
Fifth Verse.-There came the noble gentle- tax; poor people were full of anxiety to the very man, Mr. Elphinston; very full of affection for cores of (their) hearts, (crying)-"O Lord ! () poor people was he; he sat himself down and holy one!" Up to the end of the Prajôtpatti made inquiries; listen how it befell!
sain vatsara, the people were in straitened All the Musalmâns then assembled together, circumstances, and kept saying-"Poverty has and, acting in unison, presented a petition ; stricken the Government ; let us go to some
15 This, of course, is ironical. 10 The staple grain of the country. 11 The Pramodata and Prajõtpatti sashuat saras are the fourth and fifth in Jupiter's cycle of sixty-four years.
By the usual reckoning they answered to A.D. 1870-71 and 1871-72; but there are variations in different parts of the country.
