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B4
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1926
prostitute. When I met my own son, I sought to burn myself ; but the river rose in flood and I was cast upon its bank. It is after all these sorrows that I have become a Gujari. Why then should I care aught for your curd ?"
106. A Wife's disappointment. (Told and recorded by Chaube Braj Kishor, schoolmaster, Pinähat, Agra District.)
A certain man left his home for work and was absent on duty for twelve years. When he returned, his wife was overjoyed, made special food for him, and did all she could to celebrate his home-coming. At night she placed his oot on the upper storey, and when he lay down, she set to shampooing his feet and legs, in the hope that he would give her the money he had brought back with him. But the husband, who was tired, fell fast asleep without offering a single cowrie to her. In the morning his wife helped him to perform his ablutions, and when these were finished, he ordered her to boil some water for his bath. Then said she :
Barah baras bite sajjan dye; Unchi ata par palang bichhayê ; Sari sham se rahê wê sya ; Lend ek na dena doya. Hua fazra tab hukm farmaya Thandha pani tatta karwdyd. Jhúnghat manjh tiriyd musukani ;
Kis biratê par tattá páni. i.e., "The husband returned after twelve years. The cot was set on an upper storey. In the evening he fell asleep, but he neither took one nor gaye two (he gave nothing). When morning dawned, he ordered cold water to be heated. Hearing this the woman turned her face and muttered, 'What mighty deed have you done that you want hot water ?!" [This tale gives the origin of the common saying, Kis biraté par tattá páni.--Ed.].
107. The Musalman's error. (Told and recorded by Pandil Chandra Sekhara, Zilla school, Cawnpore.) A certain Muhaınmadan made friends with a Brahman, who had many clients. The Brahman used to take food at his clients' homes, and when he came back, used to tell the Muhammadan what an excellent dinner he had had. Hearing his friend's praise of the various delicacies, the Muhammadan felt curious, and one day said to the Brahman, "My friend, you are constantly praising the food you eat with your friends, but you give no thought to me, who have never tasted such delicacies." The Brahman answered, "Miyan Saheb, if this is so, I will arrange to get a scat for you among the Brahmans at the next Nagar Bhoj (a feast to the Brahmans of a village)."
Soon after & merchant prepared a Nagar Bhoj. Then the Brahman put & sacred thread on the Muhammadan, marked his forehead with sandal-paste, put a turban on his head, and in one hand a vessel and in the other a sdlagráma. He also showed him how to conduct himself as a Brohman. Accordingly, when the Brahmans crowiled into the merchant's house, the Muhammadan went with them, sat on the plastered ground, and began to eat with them. When his leaf-plato was getting empty, the pseudo-Brahman called out :"A mivan, zard idhar Ido." This startled the Brahmans, who asked him who he was. "Be silent." replied he," Khuda (God) has given food to you and me. Why grudge it ? Take your food and go your ways." This made the Brahmans very suspicious, and several of them gathered round him and demanded to know who he was.Said he, “I ama Gaud Brahman." "Which Gaud?" said they. The Musalman replied :-" Ya Khuda, loya Gaudon men bhi Gaud hote hain (0 Heaven, are there Gaudas within Gaudas)?"
