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DECEMBER, 1889.)
KANARESE BALLADS ;-No. 4.
355
(Lowering the voice), -- "Present now a petition for me," he said; "take these hundred rupees, of the Government currency ;13 tell me quickly what you say to me." The Vakil took thought in his mind, see now!, and gave a promise to devote his energies to the case, and said, "Why do you feel anxiety (about the result), since you have given your Vakil a hundred rupees, into his very hand ?" The first day of the month was Sunday; and the date (of hearing the appeal was fixed for) the next day, Monday, and straightway there was issued an order of attachment.
(Raising the voice), - The Karkûn14 brought and executed the order of attachment. Thus Basalinga carried into effect his pertinacious design!
Third Verse. The Kårkûn says, “Call Sangya and tell him, a decree has been passed against you for (the value oj') the produce, reckoned at three hundred rupees : how much do you bid to retaine it in your own possession) "?" A great web (of trouble) was cast round Sangya. He explained what was convenient to himself, saying "I will pay the money according to the decree; set free my share in the field; the whole fault is truly mine; apart from you I have no refuge; I will never disobey the orders of Basalinganna." Thus saying, he joined his hands in supplication and embraced his feet.
(With a change of metre), -"Since the order of attachment has come, what can I say? ; to-day your field is lost." Thus Basalinganna hardened his heart; and the field passed into the possession of his brother) Phakiraņņa. Going home, Sangya pondered, - "To-day my field, belonging to me by right of occupancy, has been lost."
(Lowering the voice), -Sanga and Parsya, the two together, made another plan, see!, & secret device, conversing with laughter, - “The speech between me and you, let it be known to no one; without letting anyone know, let us do that which we can ; we will rise in the carly morning and go to do it)." They sharpened their sickles, as they sat, saying, "We will kill him, even though to-day we lose our heads; let that happen which must; except life, nothing is left to us)."
(Raising the voice), - Basalinga left the village of Wakkand; on the morrow the festival of the Mahanavam 16 was to be celebrated !
Fourth Verse. On the Tuesday, 16 at dawn, he (Sangya) rose of his own accord, and went and fell at the feet of his mother. Then Sangya and Parsya said, -"O (god) Basavanna, carry through our quarrel to its accomplishment!" Sharpening his sickle, and concealing it under his arm-pit, he set out, and at the third hour of the day he came to Phakiranna's house. At his house they ask, -"Where has he gone P; we had much business with him." Says Tukkanna, "Why hast thou come ?; what business hast thou with me P"
(With a change of metre), -Hearing this, he went back again, and searched in the field and on the stream. Had he been found, his life was lost; but Paramêsvara (Siva) protected Phakiraņņa! Having searched everywhere, he came to a shop, and bought some camphor and a cocoanut.
(Lowering the voice), - Quickly he went to the god Basavanna, and broke the cocoanut, and ignited the camphor and waved it (round the heall of the gol), and did reverence, and then
13 lit. "rupees (which have on them) the face of the Sovereign), and which are) of a regular round shape." The intention is to distinguish them from the so-called Sarti rupees, of very different make, which at the time of this ballad had not yet entirely ceased to be current.
14 One of the clerks of the Court.
15 lit. " the pot of the Mahanavami was to be placed." The Muhanavam, which is better known in other parts of India as the Durgapaja, is a festival in honour of the goddess Durga, commencing on the first tithi of the bright fortnight of the month Alvins. On that day water-pots, filled with water, are placed near the gods, who are supposed to reside in them till the navami or ninth tithi.
16 The 13th October, A.D. 1863 ; see further on.
