English
An one-eyed woman is beautiful among blind women. Anis hdwun sari wat he-aklas nah Itahh, All men show the blind man the way ; nobody can show the man without understanding. Anis musht Mwuni, nah chheh gunahi nnh sawuh. To show the thumb to a blind man is neither a sin nor a virtue. Advice is lost on some people. " To show the thumb" is a vulgar act amongst children and stupid people in Kashmir. Anis rat tah doh hehui. Night and day are the same to the blind man. Anit natsandwuni ! (Enough) to make a cover dance ! A great trouble or surprise. Anhdr tah mal, nakar tah Tcasam. Confess and property, refuse and oath. One man charges another man with a debt. The other man denies. Then the matter is carried into court, where the judge and people sometimes cite the above proverb, which means " Confess and pay, or refuse and swear to it." Ant an tah hdwanai. Bring it to me and I'll show it to you. An angry retort when a man expresses surprise that his friend has not seen, or heard of, a certain person or thing. Aporih sanduk ; yapdrih sanduk ; duhuli khawas yad banduk. On that side a bo.^ ; on this side a box ; and a gun to the stomach of him, who breaks the fast (of Ramazan). Apdrih thrum gudih han, yaparih hurmas ras, sal kurum Mdkkah Madinas. From the other bank of the river I brought a small fish, and here I made soup, and then invited all Mecca and Medina. 15 Ap6rimav mun ddnih yaparimin gayih athan halk, A man on that side pressed the grain, but to a man on thii side a gall became. One does the scath, another has the harm. Apih hund gyav, A foolish woman's ghi. A foppish person. A']g^h is a term applied only to a woman, whose one care is dress, he. Kashmiri people, both wealthy and others, mb their hair with fresh ghi. Scented oil is never used. Apuzis god kyah T A lie has no beginning. Art di auri tah ur gav nak kanh. All people came (t>., were born) in good health, but not ont became (i.e., continued) healthy. Arimi kadih nah miij tah phakiran dAra$ kisht. The gardener had not dug out the radish, when the fakir held the alms-bowls in front of him. Aris p/mas drakah. A leech to a healthy body. Soifering for others. Aian ai tah lasah kit ah pAlhi T If I laugh not how can 1 live ? R\d9 si sapia. Asat gaUhih phulai dauniy adah gayih phulai teuchhuni. One's mouth must blossom before he goes to see the flower-' blossoms. The different pleasore^gardens around the Dal Lake are constantly and largely visited by the natives, and especially, when the plum* trees and roses and lilacs arc in full bloom. They take their diimer with them, and spend the greater part of the day on the excursion. The expression ** ane's mouth must blossom" refers to eating and drinking. The natives have also got a proverb in Persian with the same meaning. — Ah i Dal dtash numdyad chuh na hdshad tabbdkh. Asas kuUh Uuiyo dh'i woddh drdiyo. When food had entered your mouth, blessing came forth therefrom. The gueet flatters and blesaea his host. m Asas mazah tdh yad dazah-dazah. A taste in the mouth and a burning in the stomach. Just enough to wbet the appetite. Asawai tah gindawai koryav^ khyun chyun chhuh yih. Let us laugh and play girls. This (thumb) is eating and drinking. Some people are very mild in speech and witty in manner, but they are not very liberal in their dinner arrangements, or in the matter of largesse. ' This thumb" refers to the vulgar Kashmiri custom of holding up the thumb as an answer in the negative, when asked if there is anything in the house." Ashnav gav 'pasTimv. An acquaintance (or kinsman) is like a dung and refuse boat, (z.e., a nuisance). " Save me from my friends." Ashraf gav sui yas ashrafih asan. The man with the gold is the gentleman. Another version of this proverb cited by those, who are of another way of thinking, is : — Ashrdf gav sui yas ashrafi asih He, who is gentle, is a gentleman. Asmdnah pyav tah zaimnih logus dab. He fell from heaven to earth and is wounded. High towers fall to the ground with greater crash. Asmdnah waUh balai tah khana i gharib kujdst ? Misfortune descends from heaven, and where is the poor man's house. From hand to mouth. Atun chhuh hechhimiwan nah usun chhuh mandachhdwun. To be (wealthy) teaches, not to be (wealthy) makes ashamed. Asun chhuh hharas khasun. It is a shame to laugh (immoderately). '' And the laugh that spoke the vacant mind." — Goldsmith. Kharaf khasun, lit, to mount an ass, which, according to the natives, is infra dig. 17 Atti Muhammad Khunin gndik beguri. Impress for the work of Ata Muhammad Khan's (fort). The present fort of Uari Parbat was built by ktk Muhammad Khan about sixty years ago. On Fridays, until the work was com- pleted, every citizen, whether rich or poor, young or old, was forced to take up one stone to the top of the hill. Oppression. Ath gai sheth gai, Yiin pi'.htsh pet/i got. Eight gone, sixty gone. These five besides gone (what are they ?). What is a little more trouble to a man already overwhelmed with itP Persian — Abe ki at aar guztuht ehi yak nexa o chi haxdr neua. Alh shubih eu kut lubih ? Will the ftoul desire this beautiful thing T No. " It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer. " — Prov. xx. 14. Ath'ichan puntshan ungajan andar kit lukut ; mnhr ckhik meUn kisi. The little finger is the smallest of the five fingers of the hand ; and yet the signet-ring is worn upon the little finger. Vhe humble shall be exalted. Athah chhuk balih tah katkah ehhuk halih nah. A wound in the hand is well, but to be wounded by (unkind) words is not well. Athah ehhui tah mi^trut tjul. As soon as the hands were washed friendship ran away. After a native tlttmer an ewer of water is brought round, in which the gvests wash their hands. Athah ditam brokthah yitam. Give me your hand and come in front of me. To lend a hand. Athan waryan puck nad shtthan waryan puk sr^h. For eight years the river ran, and for sixty years (after the waters had disappeared) the ground remained damp. Men die but their deeds live. Panj&bi — Admi nahin rahindd, par ddmi d< alrdhjdndi hai. At hi bimat khyun tah at hi bunas chharun. To eat out of a vessel and then defile it. To receive a man's hospitality and then slander him. 3 18 Afyuv bulah-haf- An iniBge made from flour. A weak man. Bulah-hat are the little images, horses, &c., which children play with. A sugar toy. And Jvht'ki and phuki. Half dust, half blowing. A fool and his money are soon parted. Audur talh mudur. Wet and sweet. Spoken concerning bazar food. Ant gaUhih nerun yd talimih Uakajih yd peihimih. The flour must come out either by the lower or by the upper stone. By hook or by crook. Av ai tall yeruv, gav ai tah gdsuv. If it has come then it is like wool, but if it has gone then it is as grass. Indifference. Av tah jiv chhus haruhar. Coming and going are alike to him. A happy-go-lucky individual. *' Awah, " layih p/'hts'h tah ** Nah " layih lachh. '* Yes" is worth Rs. 50 and '* No" is worth a lakh. No of some people is more esteemed than the Yes of others. — " Oraculo Manual," Balthasar Gracian. Ayas wate tah gay as tih wate j Shnanz suthe losiim doh ; Wuchhum chandas tah hur nah athe. Ndivah to? as kyah dimah huh ? I came by a way (i.e., I was born) and I also went by a way (i.e., I died). When I was in the middle of the way (ie., when my spirit was between the two worlds) the day failed. I looked in my pocket, but not a cowrie came to hand. What shall I give for crossing the ferry ? A saying of Lai D6d, who was a very holy Hindu woman. The Kashmiri Hindu belief is that during the sixth month after death the spirit of the deceased has to cross the waters of the Vaitaraiii; but it is impossible to get to the other side of the river 19 except by special means, as the waters arc so deep and stormy and the op[)osiii^ powers, preta, yamadat, matsya, and kumia arc so strong. Acconlingly about this time the bereaved rehitions call the family Braliman, who repeats to them the portions appointed to bo road on this occasion. Among other things the departed spirit is reprosonted as standing on the brink of the river and crying " Where is my father ? Where is my mother ? Where are my relations and my frieuds ? Is there no one to help me over this river. ?