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JUNE, 1895.)
BOOK-NOTICES.
177
BAlmikji is Valmiki, the famous Rishi and Poet, author of the Sanskrit Ramayana. Valmiki was by birth a Badhik, one of the impurest of men, who, in former times officiated as hangmen, or public executioners. Valmiki was a huntsman, and used to associate with the Bhils of Mêwar. His conversion was miraculous, when in the act of robbing the shrine of a deity. He settled at Chitrakot, in Bundelkhand, at the time of the exile of Rama from Awadh - vide note to p. 3, and pp. 236 and 268 of Growse's Translation of the Ramayana of Tulst Dds.
J. G. DELMERICK in P. N. and Q. 1883.
bamboo rod. A wire runs along this rod fastened to its extremities so as to give out a sound when twanged. The baitre sings his songs and the chelú repeats his magic words, when Narsingh comes and shakes the body of the women or of the child. The tremors continue for two hours or more, during which the man or woman into whom the spirit has entered tells the fortunes of those attending the baithak. They are usually told to worship some deity who will cure the sick woman. SARDARU BALHARI in P. N. and Q. 1883.
THE ORIGIN OF LAL BEG. In the beginning was chaos. The Almighty created Balmiki, and he was placed on duty to sweep thestairs leading to the heavenly throne. One day God, out of compassion, said to Balmikji:"Thou art getting old, I will give thee something as a reward." Next day Balmikji went as usual to sweep the stairs, and there through the mercy of Providence he found a tunic (chold, a garment worn by a bride at her marriage). Balmíkjf brought this tunic to his house, and put it aside, and engaged himself in other work. By the omnipotence of God, this tunio gave birth to a male child. When Balmikji heard the cry of a babe proceeding from the tunic, he at once went to the heavenly staircase, and said: "Almighty God, a child had been born from the tunic given to thy servant." He was told in reply :-"Thou art old, this is a spiritual master (Gura) given unto thee." Bâlmikji then said he had no milk for the babe. He was directed to go home, and whatever animal crossed his path, to get it to nurse the child. God moreover said that he had out of la ilaha ill'alldho (there is no God but God) created Lal Bêg, and his name should be Nari Shah Bald. Bâlmikji descended from Heaven, and came to this Earth, and saw a female hare (8a8st) suckling her young. He caught and brought her with her young ones, and Lal Beg drank her milk, and was nourished, and grew up. From that time the eating of hare is prohibited to sweepers. The Almighty declared Lal Beg to be the Gurd, and that in every house a temple of two and a half bricks would be reared to him ; and for this reason a temple of two and a balf bricks is built in front of the house of every pious sweeper.
MUSALMAN NAMES OF HINDUS. The assumption of Muhammadan names by Hindus is not very uncommon. There is a family of Hindu Baniyâs in Gurgaon who are known by the title of Shekh. They say that, in the Mughal times, one of the family was compelled to become a Musalman, in order to save the estates of the family from confiscation, but that his descend. ants were received back as Hindus: (more probably his line failed of issue). Their title of Shekh dates from that event, and is now applied to the whole family, though they are all Hindus.
In Dóra Ghazi Khan there is a Hindu family in which the eldest takes the title of Khan. An ancestor Lachha Ram was a man of great bravery, and rendered good service to the local Bilôch Chief, who conferred the title upon him, and it has become hereditary in the family, though they are still Hindu.
DENZIL IBBETBON in P. N. and Q. 1883.
A FORM OF SWEARING BROTHERHOOD. In the Lahore district, if a cattle-thief is in danger of being caught, he will present a piece of clothing, or small ornament, to the daughter of the complainant or principal witness, or whoever is likely to cause his capture. The father of the girl, whether complainant or witness, is then bound to assist the thief in evading capture by every means in his power. The custom is called talli pana, or tikri pana.
D. E. McCRACKEN in P. N. and Q. 1883.
BOOK-NOTICES. PROFESSOR WEBER'S VEDIC ESSAYS. Academy of Sciences, consists of a trio of essays The last issue of Prof. Weber's invaluable dealing with Vedic subjects. contributions to the transactions of the Berlin The tirst deals with Boma, and the author
Sve my remarks in Proper Names of Panjabis, pp. 50, Vodiache Beiträge, von Albr. Weber. Sitzungs75.- ED.]
berichte der Königlich preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1894.
