English
— Durmg the winter months the fishermen go out with their boats in companies of ten or twelve after these little fish, which they catch in a cast-net. Half-a-dozen boats will spread themselves across the river sideways and beat the water with their paddles, to frighten the fish into the half-a-dozen nets, which have been thrown for them by the other boats a little way ahead. In this way some- times a mile of the river is scoured in an evening, and maunds upon maunds of fish are frequently caught by one company. When it begins to get dark the fishermen fasten their boats to the bank and collect all their fish together into one place. Then they spread a layer of leaves or grass, and over this a layer of fish and a sprinkling of salt, then another layer of leaves or grass and so on, until a great mound is raised. Everything ready they now light big fires on all four sides of this mound to dry the fish, and sit by and watch, until the fires go out. On the following morning the fish are taken out and strung upon sticks ready for sale. Only the poorer classes purchase them, as they are not very savoury or wholesome. Yas ivandas hammdm tah retakkdiih gdv, sui hd-viAlih dunyahas uv. That man has come into the world, O father, who has got a warm bath for the winter and a cow for the summer. Blessed is the man who has everything in its season. A saying of Shekh Nur-ud-din. Yas wat rawih tas hawan dah ; Yas kaih rowih tas howih nah hanh. Him, who loses his way ten men will direct ; But he who loses a word, — who will direct him ? " Each sacred accent bears eternal weight, And each irrevocable word is fate." — Pope. Yas waUh nar tami hheyih luhah hanz lar. He who raised his arm (i.e., in labour) ate the house of the people. Industry begets wealth. 243 Tm yu8 ffafshih snh tas gaUhih mnkari dtt. Let that man who wants anything give a golcUmohur (as a bri be) for it. Money commands even the gods. Tat hatoah-saras uyai Icahti ! Kahk nai dyulhum kansih sueli. How many people came to this lake-like world I Bat I have not seen anyone (going away) with anyone (i.e., we die separately and alone). This world is called lake, or sea like, beoanso it is so diflRcult to cross over it with safety^ Fufe note *• Samandaras manz,'* Ac. Tat nam atjih, tat ahistar kyah Ugun, Where a finger-nail will enter (will do it), there is no necessity for iron. When ono can accomplish the matter easily, what is the good of creating a noise. When it can be done very economically, what profit is there in spending much money over it, &c. Tath gainas nah gatjhun ^sih, iamih gdmuh nuwui hyun Ityah chhuh f Is it necessary to ask the man of that Tillage whether you have to go, or not ? Useless speech. TaiK nurah butisul ntai di nxaruye, J)ur nai latiye rozih samsur, JVuohhtai Pdndawan hund dih duruye ; Tim krdlah garanui chhapane tjui! Timanui kyah aus lyukhmut Hariye, Dur nai latiye rozih amtr. Don't hide your light face in your sleeve, dear. The world will not always remain. See how firm were the bodies of the Pandus ; Yet they had to hide themselves in a potter's house ! According as Hari had written in their lot. My dear, the world will not always remain. " Nothing in this world can last." The above is the poetry of a very holy fakfr woman (neither Mn- hammcdan nor Hindu) named Habbah Khotan, who used to live •t a village called P^dachhuk, where there is a wooden mosque, 244 which she erected from the savings of her spinning-wheel earnings. The people say that she was accustomed to cross the river upon a lion, which beast God gave her as a special present. Pdndus. Yudhishthira, and four other princes, sons of Pandn, a sovereign of ancient Delhi. For a full account of these demigods and of their great enemies the Kurus, cf. any classical Dictionary of India. Here I will only explain the above lines. Yudhishthira, the eldest son, was installed as heir-apparent, and soon became renowned for his "justice, calm passionless composure; chivalrous honour and cold heroism." The people wished Yudhishthira to be crowned king at once, but the Kurus tried hard to prevent it. First of all the Pdndus and their mother were sent to a house built of combustible materials, with the intention of burning the whole family ia it. The Pdndus, however, were informed of this, trick and escaped to a potter's house in another city, &c., &c. Hari or Hari is a name of Yishnu. Kashmiri Hindis believe that he inscribes upon the foreheads of human beings their several desti- nies. The following is a quotation from the Eitopadesa (with Johnson's translation) : — " Since even the moon sporting in the sky, destroying sin, possess- ing ten hundred beams, marching in the midst of the stars ; from the influence of destiny is swallowed by the dragon : — who then is able to avoid what is written on his forehead by the finger of destiny." CL " 8dfah khutah," ^c Tath tilawdn zachih, yih phyur tih. Let this drop also fall upon. the oilman's dirty clothes, (what difference will it make ?) A little more trouble to a man already overwhelmed with it. Some oilmen have been known to wear the same long smocklike gar- ment for the space of three years without once having it washed or changed all that time. The quantity of grease which collects within a few months, even, is almost incredible. Tath tuinbis tih hugddai. This piece of wool also for dried fish. "On the verge of bankruptcy — what can matter a shilling or so more." Persian. — in laTcad ham ha gor i Hdtam i Tax. 245 Yatjan gaffaWij/an rtulnahy ijaren kathan sud nah There is not rain from much thundering, and there is not profit from much speaking. ** Tatsarih, raneyih hhetjarih metak.** " Wulo Mntarah.^^ ** Boh dai lugut wdlah-bari.^' Tseh dai mutmi ** tah ati kheh,** *' O zealous woman, you have cooked a handful of curry." ** Come, O cock sparrow." " I am fastened, O woman, in a net." " It is left over for you ; eat it there." llisfortano. Telanjel tah mawusan khalat. A prison for the royal and obedient, and a robe of honour for the rebellious. Khalat (Khil'at in Arabic) is generally a robe of honour with which princes confer dignity on subjects, and visitors of distinction. Some- times a sword or a dagger, or a rare jewel, or some other valuable, is given together with a turban and shawl. Telih ausum lukachAr tclih ausum nah mukajnr. When I was a child then I had not any leisure. Time hangs heavily upon an old man. Telih dai danvuzah wut gatjhun, telih ohhuh nah h'hsih hund bozun. When the flood-gates of the lake open, then they do not listen to any one. The word of the ruler — no alternative. Pal dartodtah, lit., the door of the lake. The Dal is a lai^e lake close to the city of Srfnagar. When the river is low the gates, called "Dal dancdzah," remain open ; but when the river rises to a certain height, they close of themselves, thus preventing inundation of the land around the lake. Telih diwdn Khudd telih Icatas nun zan ; Telih niwdn Khudd telih Icatas mun zan. When God gives then it is as salt for the sheep ; When God takes then it is as wool from the sheep. (. e., when God gives, he gives to profit — the gift is as salt, which preserves and fattens the beast ; and when God takes, he takes but His own — what He himself has given, i. e., as wool from the sheep, which fattened from the salt, which God gave it). 246 Telik piran ?iisnb mangan^ huiah piran nat aUih zangan. When the pirs' accounts will be taken, counterfeit pirs will tremble. A wicked steward, a dishonest servant. Gulistdn of Sd'di, Chap. I. — Bar hi Ithyanat warzad dastash dar hisdh bilarzad. Telik sun telik nah lean, yelik lean telik nah sun. When there is gold (for the earring), then there is not an ear ; and when there is the ear, then there is not the gold. A wife and expense, or no wife and save j a son and expense, &c. Telik tsak asak padshdh telik dsak huh wazir. When you become king then I will be minister. " I'll be up with you." Telik yih skubik telik iik Icar. When it is proper then do it. A time for everything. Yemi daulat jama T^ar.yaniyas Uiir yardiois zaminik iaU nak hkvon pdnas nah nyun athik nah ditun beyis. He who gathered together riches, either a thief will take them from him, or they will be lost under the ground ; the gatherer neither partakes of them himself, nor does he take them with him, nor does he give them to another.