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DECEMBER, 1897.)
FOLKLORE IN SALSETTE.
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herself before the king, and bowed down low at his feet. The king beckoned her to a chair, but the old woman modestly refused it, and was about to squat on the floor, saying that she was too poor to seat herself in a chair ; -- also that she had never sat on one. But the king kindly held her by the hand and seated her in a chair. Preliminaries over, the king said to the old woman :" Amchi khái hdi gé tumefi soirik karfiri; timchi sileri Amché sôkridlá diáví, It is our desire to form an alliance with you ; you must give your daughter to our son."
The old woman replied :-“ Kán, Rájá Sahib, málá distêi tumiti manji maskari karta; túmia kón, mín kón, ani aisan kaisan hô17,Why, Raja Sahib, surely you are jesting; what is your position and what is mine? How can such a thing be?"
The king, however, soon persuaded her that he meant no joke, that the prince wished it so, and that, therefore, he was in earnest. The old woman could not reconcile the idea of a king's son asking for the hand of a beggar's daughter, and, without saying aye or nay, walked away home, and lying down on a cot, covered herself with a quilt. When her daughter, Bharô, saw that her mother had taken to her bed, which was an unusual thing with her, she came and inquired what was the matter, - if she was unwell. The old woman told her to go away and not to bother her head about her. In spite of this the girl insisted upon knowing what was the matter with her mother; so her mother told her that the king had sent for her and had asked for her daughter's hand, and not knowing how to act in the matter, her mind was much troubled, and that was the reason why she had taken to her bed. Bharo was only too glad to learn that the king's son had proposed for her, and told her mother not to fear on that account, but to go over to the palace and inform the king that his proposal was accepted. The old woman was again at her wit's end about the affair, but at the entreaty of her daugther she went and told the king that she was willing to give Bharô in marriage to the prince, who was duly informed about it by the king his father. The prince received this news with the greatest gladness. They also then and there appointed an early day for the happy occasion.
The king now began preparations on a very large scale to celebrate the marriage with befitting pomp. The old woman, of course, was too poor to make any show, and so she did what little she could by way of a small entertainment for friends and relations of her social position. The day soon came, and the marriage was celebrated with great eclat by the bridegroom.
A month or two passed after the wedding, and the prince bethought of Bharo's saying - "dambrimanisi rás karin, I will live on a dambri." So he determined to put her to the test at once. He asked the king to build him & ship, as he wished to go to trade in foreign lands. The king told him there was no need for him to do any business, since he was getting old and he would have to give up the reins of government, which would naturally fall into the hands of the prince, for which he must prepare himself. The prince, however, said he must go for a few inonths at least, and therefore he must have a ship. So the king at once issued orders for the building of the ship. And what did he lack ? Men and money were all at his service, and a job that would have taken months to finish he got completed in days, and the ship was soon placed at the disposal of the prince, completely manned with a kaptanll and fándél, 12
The prince had now only to store in the ship provisions for the journey, but of these he took only a limited quantity. Finally he asked his wife, Bharo, whether she would not like to accompany him on his voyage. Little thinking of the real object of her husband's wish to take her with him, she said nothing could give her greater pleasure than being in his company, whether for good or for bad.
Everything was now settled, and the ship set sail under a very favorable breeze. When after many days, they had reached an out-of-the-way country, the prince ordered the anchor to be cast. There they stopped for a day or two, and as soon as the provisions were quite
19 Literally, Why, Raj Sahib, it seems to me you are making fun of me; who are you who am I? and ho can such a thing be P 11 Kaptan osptain.
12 Tanda -tindal or tindals, petty officers,
