Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 51

FEBRUARY, 1931)
WHY KEWAT WOMEN ARE BLACK
Salgata bdmiss Bamhand mola ;/ Kära jiy 17 Ahird mola; Khokhasi 28 machhari Goud ke mola; Jhorfe machhari Binjhuára mola; Salagf30 machhari Dewdra mola ;
Kakra31 Mardani439 ke mola. Here the jingling verses break off, and the story is continued in prose, as below :
Yetak,33 runake Raja Kevafina 1424 gota kard mass maris. Taba ola bhaji436 ke bhara Lagis. Jaba Kevatina au Raja ke bata chita bhais, 37 taba no kana mana kihin39 lei Kevatina hara40 báta báta má jitat hai, ja skara hatha bha ia dhara leve. Taba Kevatina dara ke mare bhage hai. Abaka tabaka Raja Kevațina ke baha la dharlis 'titake juara, 11 Kevațina hara suruja dahara achard lavdis aur jara bara ke rakha bhaigais. Tab Rajd ghara lahutá dis. Puna gtua ke laika-mana Kevad se kihin, told to suisa ghariyara dhara daris, tikana khátara Kevațina hara sati gais. Taba Kevata kahis, kaun lag satt gai hai? Taba laika-mana batain ki ohicha, lag sati gais hai, jauna rakha pare hai. Taba Kevata hara adta lugará ke bolavara dihis aur såta dina jagarahr dekhis, ta diya ke tema me Kevatina hara utaris aur Kevatá sudha"3 bolis ki mot aneka sundara raheū, to Raja mold dharata rahis hai; taba mal sati gayeû au Bhagavan se apana ripa mdgeù ki molâ kâri jhunaki" ka janama de. Kevatina bhanje chand murrans la soba kof bhaya, ana ke bhuñje ld koi na khaya.
28 The bam is an eel-like fish, and wriggles and twists like the sacred thread of a Brahman. The word salgata, which qualifies it here, is a vernacular corruption of sarbat, i.o., Sarakif huf; from saraband, to move,' or ship, which also conveys the idea of wriggling, snake-like motion.
37 This fish is supposed to be stupid like an Ahira (cowherd). There are many proverbs in the vernaculars of northern India referring to the stupidity of the Ahirna.
$9 This fish is unshapely, and is compared with the figure of a Gond.
99 The jhort fish koop together in shoals, just as the Binjhwar tribe go about in partice. Thorf is. form of jholt, from jhol (Hindi), a "batch' (of eggs), a 'litter' (of pige), and so, metaphorically, a number.'
30 The salagi, salárigi or sardigt, is compared with the musical instrument of the latter name ured by Dewêrs, who are very fond of catching this fish.
31 A crab grips tightly with its clawe, as a barber does with his hand. 38 A barber is called mardaniyd because he shampoos (mardan karnd). 33 Yetakd = itand (Hindi, itd). *I LA = ko, a preposition borrowed from Marathi.
35 Gota kard md is a peculiar idiom, meaning literally in the pebble. Here id is used for se or le of Chhattisgarhi.
38 Bhajid is a preparation of gram, and is, of course, light.
37 Bhais would be hai in modern Hindi, or bhai in the Baghelkhandi dialect. This form is usually found in the past tenso. Tulast Disa often esit, .g., Bhd pramoda mana mifs galdnt (Ayodhya k. 220).
88 Mana is a plural affix, borrowed from the Oriya mdne or mana; but, while in Oriya the form changes according as it is used of animate or inanimate things, in Chhattisgarhi no change is made on this account.
30 Kihin is a populiar form of kahin, that is, kana,' said.' 10 Hana is a definite article poouliar to Chhattisgarhi.
a Titake judra means at that time. Titake represents the Hindi titne. Judra originally means midday, but is ved in Ohhattisgarhi in the sange of 'timo, moment,' .
* 18 Ohicha is equivalent to the Hindi wat: the particle cha is added for emphasis.
13 Sudha, or ruddha, is generally used in place of sahita, 'with.' Here it is equivalent to the prepogition *.
"Jhunakt is a woman whose ankleta make jhunjhun noise, hence a young woman, Cl. Aruna forani nakha jyoti Jagamagita jhunjhun karata paya paijaniya. (drades.)
. 16 Murnd is fried rice which is used as breakfast in Chhattingarh and adjoining Oriya Statee. It is derived from murand to chew, Murd is always chewed like pan or botol leaves.