________________
DECEMBER, 1909.]
Rai Has brought them to the place where his mother lived, and, giving his sister her dowry nd presents, put her in the palanquin. Then he said to Rai Chilmil :- "Brother, get you home with what is yours and expect me later. "
LEGENDS FROM THE PANJAB.
The palanquin reached the well in Râi Majhar's garden, and the news reached Kesari Râni Chilmil's mother, so she took all her sons' daughters and her menials and went to the spot where her son was sitting. She passed a cup of milk round the heads of her son and his bride, and drank it and said:
Bait.
"Kihdi dithian salian gharwalian? Kiha dithiyo sále kar?"
"Achehhián dithidh gharwalidi: achhe dithe sále hár.
Ik kam awwald hoid, Ammdh; meri Morni de aydn sale hár.
315
Verse.
"How seem your sister-in-law and the matrons ? How seems thy brother-in-law's wife ?" "Well seem my sister-in-laws and the matrons: well seems my brother-in-law's wife,
There has been one mistake, Mother; I made Morni a brother-in-law's wife."
His mother replied: "My son, we are rulers of twenty-one tracts and he only has seven. What a mess you have made of it!"
Rai Majhâr received congratulations from everybody, except one man. Who was he? Chhela, the musician. Masters don't know the names of all their servants. Râi Majhar said: "All my menials have congratulated me, except Chhela, my household musician. Why has he not done so?"
Chhela, who was lying on a couch, got up and said: "Sire, all the menials were hungry for their fees. None of them told you what touched your interests."
Rai Majhar asked what the point was, and Chhel said: -You sent out a wedding procession of 18,000 warriors. He stuck a cup on high, on nine lances, and the 18,000 warriors went shooting at it. Then your son made a bet with Rai Has, who knocked the cup down and won it, so your son agreed to betroth Mornt, your daughter, to him. And now the 18,000 warriors have returned home, but otherwise he would not have let one come back."
Rai Majhar said: - "Go and betroth Morni to Târadhîrâ of Dillt." And it was done. (Meanwhile) Kidḍâ, the household Brahman of Râi Has, was walking by, and Rai Has saw
him and said:
Bait.
"Aggo dwen, Dada Brahman; tain saddan, mais, Hased Bái.
Oh jo kahidi Morní, oh di khabar
Verse.
"Come hither, Father Brâhman; I call thee, I, Hassa Rai.
She whom they call Mornt, bring me news of her.
lea. Khabar le dwen, tan rakhedh: wahin, rahen; If thou bring news, then will I cherish thee: if úthálán jan." not, remain there, (or) I might take thy life."
The Brahman did not even go home, but started for the city of Râi Majhâr, and as soon as he got there, he heard of Morni's betrothal to Târadhirâ. He was greatly disturbed and went to Rai Majhir's court, where he neither bowed nor paid his respects to the Râi, but demanded Mornt's bridal palanquin of him,62
I. e., that Morn! should be taken as a bride to Rai Has.
