Indian Antiquary Vol 21

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 31

JANUARY, 1892.]
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE: No. 11.
Our hero, when he saw the robbers had run away, came down, took all the treasure the robbers had left, and went home in high spirits. When he reached his hut, he told his mother to go to her brother's house, and ask for the loan of his phará ani dándá (basket and spade). His mother told him to go himself; but Francis pleaded, saying :- "Go, go, mother, and ask for uncle's basket and spade.
His mother at last went to her brother's home, and asked for the loan of his basket and spade. Her brother said to her:- "Sister, why do you want the basket and spade P What are you going to do with them ? "
She replied: - Francis wants them. The boy is so mischievous. I don't know what he wants to do with them."
So his mother took the basket and the spade from her brother and brought them to Francis. Francis took them and measured all the treasure he had got, which made several baskets full. But on returning the basket and the spade, he let two rupees stick to the basket for his uncle to see, and when he saw the two rupees in the basket, he asked his sister how they came there. She told him that Francis had brought a heap of treasure, which he measured it with the basket. When the uncle heard this he immediately came to Francis and asked him how he got all the treasure, upon which Francis said :- "Oh uncle, what shall I tell you ? Shall I say one, or shall I say two?"
His uncle then said: - "Go on, my boy, tell me where you got the treasure from."
Francis then replied: -“Why, uncle, you remember you killed my cow ? I am so thankful to you for it. I skinned the cow, dried the hide, and cried it for sale:
“ Jiá chấbrah, dia cham ; jhia chambranh dia cham.
Take hides, give treasure; take hides, give treasure." " There is such a demand for these hideg, that for the hide of one cow I got all this treasure. O uncle, if I had half the number of cattle that you have, I should get a heap of treasure as large as your house."
His uncle was so fired with the desire of amassing treasure, that he went and slaughtered all his cattle, believing every word that his nephew had told him. In due time the cattle were skinned, and the hides having been thoroughly dried, he went from village to village and from country to country, crying out:
"Jhia chambra, diá dhan; jhia chambrah diá dhan.
Take hides, give treasure; take hides, give treasure.” But who ever heard of exchanging hides for treasure P The poor man wandered day and nigbt for several weeks, and made himself the laughing-stock of every one. Quite fatigued and disheartened, he returned home. His wife asked him what success he had met with, but he only said: "Oh, you don't understand these affairs ; mind your own basiness."
He was so enraged at the trick, that he determined to ruin Francis, and with this determination one night set fire to the boy's hut. His poor mother ran about like one mad, calling the people to help in putting out the fire. Francis, on the contrary, brought more sticks and other combastibles, and put them on the flames, which helped to burn dow hut quickly and surely.
When the hut was entirely burnt down, Francis collected all the ashes in two bage. Ho then told his mother again to bake him a few cakes, which his mother did with some reluctanco, saying: -"I can't understand, Francis, where you want to go, or what you are trying do ?"
But be bundled the cakes into a kerchief, and, having borrowed a bullook from one o neighbours, put the two bags of ashes on it, and drove it away. This time, too, he was u