DECEMBER, 1873.]

LEGEND OF THE RANI TUNK.

Râni Jalku's wealth beautiful buildings were

constructed, and good cultivators were at tracted to Dhārāpura. Here they lived undis turbed for ten years, and the village grew rich and populous. Māru, Jalku's daughter, grew up during these years to womanhood, and was supremely beautiful. Both Viramji and Devrij were desperately enamoured of her, but Maru's heart inclined to Viramji. Although Maru was a queen's daughter, still as Rāmi Jalku had run away with a sutār she feared that they would

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five hundred horse to Dhārāpura together with Devrij to carry off Märu. They marched night and day until they reached Dhārāpură, and concealed themselves in the jungle near the Dhārāsar tank. Devrāj said to Hamir: “Māru comes hither daily to draw water; when she comes we will seize her and carry her off.” That night, however, heavy rain fell, and every one had their water-vessels filled by the rain. No one therefore came to the tank. Märu also did not come. Hamir then recited this duho : —

be unable to contract an alliance for her with

łł & a Hºj 441 WA & £l Hºſ. 441 ||

any kingly house : Rani Jalku therefore mar ried Maru to Viramji Solankhi. But Devrij Rabiri was deeply grieved at this, for he too loved Măru passionately, and on the day when she was married to Viramji Solankhi he left Dhā rápura in anger, and travelled until he reached Amarkot (Omerkote), where Sodi Sumri reign ed. When Sumri held a darbār Devrij made

• {242 ruºl Alsºſolºſ-ſlaº at:{l || 1 ||

Hamir then said to Devrāj: “What shall we do?” Devrāj replied: Rani Jalku and her daughter Măru are churning milk in their chok

obeisance, and said that he knew of a most

and no attendants are near them.”

beautiful damsel fit only to be Sumrå's queen.

Devrāj taking two horses and a camel went there. Whilst the two were churning, Măru's scarf fell on her shoulder, disclosing her beau

He then recited this duho :—

sº º Ali ail glºſa Śląl tºi ºil? ||

• >il ºl ovnºlºlº ºil 33ruz I all

The mould in which Miru was framed is such that none other in the whole world has been framed in it.

Either that mould has been broken, or the

artificer thereof hath forgotten how to so fashion another.

Thus Devrij acted, out of jealousy to Viramji Solankhi. Rājā Sumrå on hearing this praise of Măru said to the Rabiri: “Search through my town and see if there be in it any damsel fit to compare with Maru.” The Rabiri after much search discovered a beautiful loháran, and pre senting himself before Rājā Sumrå recited this

Rain, do not act (to others) as thou hast done to me;

Măru has not come to the tank, but has gone and filled (her vessel) at the waterfall.

Hamir and

tiful face. She, however, continued churning, and with her foot restored her scarf to its posi tion. Devrij on seeing this feat of agility uttered the following duho : —

Glail aºlº Fial 323il his ſil diºſ. ašaſil is ºft; tıağl || 1 || Măru was standing erect holding the churn rope;

Sodă Sumrå now directed the loháran to be

With the agility of her foot she picked up and restored to its place the woollen scarf. Hamir, from seeing her face and from witness ing this act of agility as well as from Devrij's couplet, recognized that this could be no other than Măru ; he accordingly seized her and tied her behind him on his horse; afterwards alight ing he placed her on the camel, and he and Devrij fled with Măru to Amarkot. On their arrival there, a palace was assigned for her use, and Sumri Sodi sent her a message to say that next day he would visit her at the palace. In reply Miru sent a message that she

brought before him, and was so impressed with her charms that he determined to espouse her; he, however, perceived from what Devrij said

that for six months she must stay in the palace without seeing a man; that when the six

that Märu must be still more beautiful, and

months were over, she would sit on a camel and

accordingly sent his brother Hamir Sodă with

go for a ride, and that then her vow would be

duho :—

âlât alºu º Giº Éla 3&R || &ſa $42, 31% ſl ºil ºil, 249ſl:B || 1 || Sodi in thy city is a luhár of graceful form, Her bracelet *hangs loosely on her arm, she is perhaps something like Märu.

had taken the unfio wrat, or camel-vow, viz.

• The bracelet hanging loosely is supposed to show she was of graceful form, i.e. not fat.