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MAY, 1906.)
SOME TELUGU NURSERY SONGS AND CATCHES.
151
Text. 0, o, ayi! Palla mudhikaya, Pagadala kulla, Pallu dhầga laipudury Mi maina måmalu. o, o, ayi! Madhikâyala mudhu Matollo mudha Mamala sankana Nagabushanum mudhu !
Translation. 0, o, ayi! Milky mudhi-fruit, Cap of coral, Awakened to drink milk By mother's brothers. 0, 0, áyi! Lovely is mudhi-fruit. Lovely is the lisper. In the lap of mother's brothers,
Lovely is Nagabůshi! No. II. A Nursery Game.
Translation.
Text.
Koko Lanka. Kodaval Lanka. Lanka dhisina. Ramudu paita. Muthia biyam. Mülaka châr, Kâla gajja. Kanka num. Aiko sukka. Yennå madha. Mamadi mogha, Mullai châr,
Koko Lanka. Lanka of the scythe. Conqueror of Lanka. Râma's city: Pearl rice. Broomstick water. Ankle bell. Kanka num. Morning star. Pat of Butter. Mango-bud Jasmine water.
Notes.
A child sits with its legs stretched out in front of itself, over which the mother or sister, or some female relative, pasges her right hand to and fro, repeating the above words, which are now more or less nonsense, though no doubt they once had a meaning connected with the story of Rama and his conquest of Lanka or Ceylon.
Kanka num is a copper ring, which, with betel leayes and turmeric powder, is fastened to the wrist during the marriage ceremony.
No. III.
A Nursery Rhyme. T'ext.
Translation,
Narayana, N&rayana, nakka toka, Nunnaila vunchi nâvuddhenkapoka ?
Narayaņa, Narayaņa, fox's tail, Why did you keep me without carrying me
away ? Setting me down at a parched-gram basket, Dipping me in a sweet water well.
Putanala gumpa kada dhinchi raka, Manchinila baikâda munchi raka.
Note. Nardyana, Narayana is a form of invocation to Rama.