Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 85

MARCE, 1888.]
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA.
75
shoot of the Chamârs, and act as grooms in Ghosis are akin to the Ahirs. They are the Paõjàb Military Cantonments. They are literally the "shouting caste" (Skr. ghosha) the ordinary labouring classes in Bihar, and because their occupation is driving cattle. They are almost invariably chaukidárs or village are generally Muhammadans: while the term watchmen, although notorious for their own gwâla is usually confined to Hindu cowherds. criminal propensities. They are a very useful Ibbetson" says that Hindus do not object to buy caste, as they do any kind of work. Many are milk from them unless it is watered, as they cantable-servants, cooks, bearers and grass-cutters not take water from their hands. The Ghosis of to Europeans."Dr. Buchanan Hamilton thinks Bhadwas and Mahrord of the Età District had they are the same as the Chandals of Lower a bad reputation for horse stealing, which has Bengal
been now put down."
FOLKLORE IN WESTERN INDIA.
BY PUTLIBAI D. H. WADIA. No. XI.-The Two Brothers.
come to them so long. The queen felt much. There was once a great Raja, who lived very for the little ones, and used to scatter seeds happily with his wife and two sons. The from her window to enable the poor stricken two boys were very dutiful and lovable little cock-sparrow to pick them up for his mothercreatures, and their parents were extremely less brood. fond of them. But unfortunately it happen- And thus it was for some time, till one day ed that when they were scarcely seven or another hen-sparrow appeared upon the scene eight years old, the queen, their mother, began and began to build another nest hard by; and to show symptoms of a fatal malady. The then commenced a trying time for the nest. Râjâ did all in his power to restore her to lings, for this hen, who seemed to have taken health, but in vain. So at last he was advised the place of their mother, grew so jealous of by his physicians to remove her to a summer the love the cock-sparrow lavished upon them, palace belonging to him, which was situated in that she would not so much as allow him to a remote part of his dominions and enjoyed a procure them their food, and took every congenial and salubrious climate.
opportunity to peck at them with her benk Now the windows of the queen's apartment and to hustle them about. By degrees the in that palace looked into the garden, and each cock-sparrow, too, learned to regard them with day as she lay in her bed she observed a pair disfavour, and joined his new mate in illof sparrows chirping and twittering amongst treating them in various ways. On one the leaves of a tree in which they had their occasion the hen-sparrow's jealousy rose to nest, and carrying grains of corn for their such a pitch that both she and the cock pulled little ones in it. It made the poor invalid out the feathers of the poor motherless birds, happy to see the wee little things being and finally threw them out of the nest down taken so much care of, for it took her on to the ground. The queen, who had been thoughts to her own dear little boys whom she watching all this with the keenest interest made so much of; but sorrow filled her heart and the greatest grief, burst into tears at the the next instant when it struck her that one thought that her own boys would one day day she herself might be taken from them share the same fate as the little birds, should and they might be left without the loving care death remove her from them, as from the and comforting hand of their mother.
nature of her malady she knew it soon must. This went on for some time, till one day The king, who happened to be near at the the queen was deeply moved to see the hen- time, inquired into the cause of her grief, sparrow grow sick and die in a neighbouring whereupon she told him the whole history of bush, leaving the poor cock in the wildest grief the feathered family, and added that she feared and the little ones wondering why she did not her own dear boys would meet with a similar » Ibbetson, Panjab Ethnography, sec. 605..
0 Report of the Inspector-General of Police, N. W. P. > Hanter, Statistical Account of Bengal, xi. 262. 1867, p. 29.
pare. 479.