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NOVEMBER, 1908.) GAZETTEER GLEANINGS IN CENTRAL INDIA,
329
II
GAZETTEER GLEANINGS IN CENTRAL INDIA,
BY CAPTAIN O. E. LUARD, M.A., Superintendent of Gazelleer in Central India. (Continued from Vol. XXXVII, p. 110.)
A FAMINE SONG.
The Chhapaniā or "Samvat 1956." The song given below was composed and sung in Western Mälwa in the great famine of Samrat 1956 or 1899-1900. This famine was the first that had attacked this favoured tract within the menory of living man, and it found the inhabitants quite unprepared to meet it. The song is composed in the rough rustic form of the Garbā, popularly known as Mārwāri Git. I am indebted to Mr. Vakil, Gazetteer Officer of the Ratlām State, for writing down the vernacular version. Text.
Translation.
I. Ghare ghare bakri, ne ghare ghare unţ.
In every (city) home a goat is found, and (in
many even ) a camel.1 Chhapaniyo phir gayo cbari khữnt.
The Chhapania has travelled into the remotest
corners of the land. Tek: -- Chhapaniya-re säl, pher mata awi Refrain: cursed Chhapania, return no bboli duniyan men
more to this innocent land, II.
II. Bājrā ro būţiyo, masürkert där.
No bājra cakes, no pulse of wasür (can be found
in the house). Paraqiyo chhor gayo ghar ki nār.
Bo the husband has deserted the wife he cannot
support) Tek:- Chhapaniyā, etc.
Refrain:-cursed Chhapaniä, eto.
III. Käi, käli bädli panifāri bünd.
Black, black clouds are overhead ), but only
& small drop falls. Gāļi, gāri lugāyānri jhar gai dūņd.
The (once ) well-nourished women are now
gruwn thin (and weak). Tek:- Ohhapaniyā, etc.)
Refrain :-O cursed Chhapania, etc. IV. Bājra ki roti, ne tel ki paro.
O ! for (some ) bread of bājra and a spoonful of
III.
IV.
oil.
Chhapaniã upar bijli paso.
Tek:- Chhapaniyā, etc.
May lightning blast the cursed Ohhapaniā.
Refrain:-O cursed Chhapani, eto.
11. 6., the conatry people were forsed to sell their cattle to the townsfolk, who had grain to feed them with . I...,"58" for sempet 1956 or 1899 A. D. 8 Lit., the pot-bellies (und) of the women have diminished.
• Bājrā bread is only palatable when eaten with ghi, but not even oil, . poor substitate, can be had. Paro= pari, a ladle for oil.
• Note the uses of the word chhapania;(1) as the famine of 1956; (2) As one strioken by the famine; (3) * the your 1953.
