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MAY, 1905.] THE EIGHTEEN SONGS OF THE BONO-NA FESTIVAL.
Notes.
This song I consider as one of the finest and most original specimens of Eastern poetry I have ever seen; but it is almost impossible to translate it satisfactorily into any language. The reason is that there are so many onomatopoetic expressions in it which we must not expect to find in another language. Such expressions are the following: (17) hogs, the call which imitates the cry of the game, and allows the hunter to approach it; (23) drag drag, the sound of running together; (24) bung bung, the supposed sound of making a heap; (25) phal phal, the sound of scattering (here it is meant for singling out the best animal); (26) thrvang thrvang is the sound of the sinew of the bow when shot; (10) tarag imitates the sound of gravel set in motion by animals on a hill-side; (18) Til til expresses the sudden disappearing' behind a rock of the hunter who is chasing the game. The disposition of the whole song is also very good. At first the dance is described in its development till it reaches its height with the Yasha hohoho' in verse 9. Then the attention of the whole party is directed to the hills where a herd of ibex can be seen. The best hunter is provided with bow and arrow and also with offerings to the gods. These he has to bring immediately after the successful shot. Verses 14, 27, 28. Now the party is watching the hunter until his shot in verse 26. Then the boys start to assist him in carrying away the meat which is distributed to the whole party. The strange movements of the hands, mentioned in verses 7 and 8, are also used for salutations.
No. IV. The Dance of the Hunter.
Text.
1. Poto shárō shring nya gyún lo múmmö
2. Yónnö dá zhū lágcha, gyún lö múmmō
3. Sháros thúru gyún lö múmmō
4. Tsési tsemgóru úthe lö múmmō
5. Tses chódte busgyótto sharchógsuru byún lö múmmō !
Translation.
1. Now let us carry the horns of the ibex on our heads, O uncle!
2. Let us carry in our left (hand) the arrows,
bows, and other [hunting] utensils, O uncle!
3.
4.
5.
6. Tángsẽ tốto lo tángse múmmo
7. Póto nakhazún lö múmmō.
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Notes.
This song may be of some anthropological interest, because the custom of dancing with the skin and horns of the hunted animal reminds us of the customs of many wild tribes.
No. V.The Dance in Honor of the Yandring.
Text.
1. Hó yásha yándring, yándring bábpao kyáno babs
2. Dólo harángë úth
3. Témbrel zángpō béd lö múmmo
4. Goshen zárbab phunyún lö múmmo
5. Maghmal úthod pilấyun lō múmmo
Let us carry the skin of the ibex, O uncle! Step to the head of the dancers, O uncle! After finishing the dance, let us go towards east, O uncle!
2.
3.
4.
Translation.
1. Ah, love [to you ], O gods! The gods come down; from whence do they come down?
6.
7.
They come out of the midst of the sky.
That is a good omen, O uncle !
Let us put on fine cloth and embroidered cloth, O uncle!
5. Let us wrap round the turban of fine black cloth, O uncle!
Is not this a pleasure-ground, O uncle !
Then let us come out [of the houses], O uncle !
