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JUNE, 1906.]
FOLKTALES FROM NORTHERN INDIA.
181
XIX.
The Danger of offending a Poet.10 It is very dangerous to offend a poet, as whenever he says an uncomplimentary thing about any one it is sure to come to pass. In proof of this the following tale is told :
There was once a poet named Kali Charn, who went to the house of a rich Zamindar tamed Râmdayâl. In the morning, as he was going away, he got only eight annas instead of the usual rupee. So he recited the following verses: -
Aur phal meré man hin na bhdwai, bhdwat hai Karsailá kd;
Kali Charan bichári kahain - Manh thaila hai Ramdaila ká.
“1 care for no flower but that of the stinking Karsaila. Kali Charan says with deliberation that the month of Râmdayal is like a bag."
So he went in anger, and hardly had he gone when a wasp stung Râmdayal and his face swelled up like a bag. Thus was the evil wish fulfilled.
XX.
The Shibboleth of the Musalman.20 There was once a Musalman who was a great friend of a Brâhman. Now the Brahman was constantly being invited to feasts, and when he came back he used to tell the Musalman what dainties he had been eating. The Musalman's mouth watered when he heard the account of all these good things, and he used to long to have a chance of enjoying such excellent fare. So one day he said to the Brahman: "My dear friend, you are always telling me about these famous dinners to which you are so often invited, but you never think of your 'poor comrade who never gets the chance of sharing in them." The Brêbman answered: “Well, if you have never tasted such good things I will try and smuggle you in some day among the other Brahmans when there is a nagar bhoj (a feast to which all the town is invited)."
Soon a great merchant (se!h) gave a nagar bhoj and asked all the Brahmaņg of the neighbourhood. The Brahman got a Brahmanical cord (janeo), put it round the neck of the Musalman, marked his forehead with sandalwood paste, put a Brahman's turban on his head, and gave him a lotá and a Salagrama, and taught him the way to behave when they joined the feast.
When all the Brahmans were crowding into the house of the Seth, the Musalman crept in too and took his place in the line of guests. Food was served round to all, and the Musalman got his share like the others.
When his first helping was exhausted, he called out to the Brahman who was serving round the food : "O Miyân, please give me some more (Aji Miydi, sara idhar Ido).” When they heard him speak in this way, the Brahmans began to suspect that something was wrong. One of them asked him who he was. He replied: "Be silent. God (Khudd) has given food to thoe and to me. Why do you grudge me my share ? Take thine and go thy way."
When they heard him nse the name of " Khudd," the Brahmans became still more suspicious, and insisted on knowing who he really was. He replied: "I am a Gaus Brahman." " Which Gaus?" they asked, to which he answered: "O God! is there more than one kind of Gaur ?" (Ya Khudd, kya Gauroi mek bhi Gaur hote hain ?). When they heard this, the Brâhmang shonted : * Verily, this rascal is not a Brahman at all." And they all fell upon him. Then the Musalman cried out : “ Why do you not believe that I am a Brahman when (pointing to his Salagrâma) here in my box is the sdlá ghuldm (whoregon slave)."
Told by M. Gauri Shankar Lal, Unao Distriet. • Told by Pandit Chandra Sekhar, of the Zillah school, Cawapar.
