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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
performed and she would accept his visits.
Of
these six months, one month she said had
already expired. Sumrå Sodá agreed not to molest her, and did not press his visit. Râni Măru now wrote a note to Viramji Solankhi and secretly sent it to Dhārāpura. The note contained these words: “I am protected for five months by my vrat or vow; come quickly with a good camel and alight within the town of Amarkot, and I will contrive to join you, and we will flee together. If you do not come within the time, I will die, but I will never
receive the Rājā as my lover.” Viramji on receiving this letter purchased a magnificent camel from Jati Bhemda of Khemat for Rs.
200. The following duho describes the camel:—
- il 21** *ēl vug is Mais I
&lºil ril &laid ºf ax #24d axºis || 1 || Its head like a waterpot, its forearms strong as poles,
Bhemda, disciple of Nāda, gave it,” Saw of the World, House-Rebuilder. Viramji mounted on his camel and came to
Amarkot and alighted in the bazaar, and remained there for a month, and managed to carry on a cor respondence with her secretly. One day Sohni
[DECEMBER, 1873.
plished. Măru then sent a message to Sodá Sumrå that the period prescribed by her vow was accomplished, and requested that the best camel procurable might be sent to her, that she might ride on it and be absolved from her vow. The Rājā accordingly caused all the camels in the town to be sent before
Măru : Măru approved of Viram's camel, and kept Virām and his camel, dismissing the others.
At this time no man but Viram was
present; only the other Rānis were present. Mårn then ordered Viram to make his camel kneel, and after veiling her face she mounted. Viram then mounted also, and Miru bade adieu to the
other Rinis, saying that she would ride within the fort. Thus saying she directed Viram to start, and as soon as they were out of sight
they took the Dhāripura road. On the way way they met a Charan who asked alms. As they had no money, Măru gave him her gold necklace and said to him : “Go to Sumrå Sodă
and say to him poetry in praise of my camel.” On hearing of the escape of Miru, Sumri Sodă mounted with a large body of horse in pursuit. On the road they met the Charan. The Charan.
on learning who they were, recited the following couplet to Sumrå Sodă as a message from Māru
Râni, one of Sumrå Soda's queens, came to visit
Măru, and said to her: “Let us give an enter tainment and drink wine.” Măru replied: “I have left my husband behind at Dhārāpura, how then should I drink wine ! “Sohni replied
- An aiſl”u ºl alo 3-1 ||
- u-il tºtrºl 3&lwil j #3 ºux diol II all
The camel has already passed over many (sandy)
in the following couplet —
Having come to Sumrā, say to him, Why dost
aluu??ſ 213 ºutſwu-il Ruſſi R. I. quºt:(lwuxl kºl Ali Ti; ;&T sº I Having come away from Dhārāpura, thou hast come to a king's palace:
O Märu, wherefore dost thou grieve after a husband wearer but of woollen clothing P Măru replied to her in the following couplets—
uji'ſ Miº in Čilil Alvi qālū II alºid it?l ºl ālāq il-H &liſi II all A putola (silk scarf) can be purchased for five (rupees), A lodhi (shawl) may be worth a lăkh; Thy heart is for Sodă Sumrå, But my heart is for Viram Rai. Măru therefore refused to drink wine. At last the six months of her vow were accom
thals and difficult and mighty passes: thou fatigue (lit. beat) thy horse 2 Sumrå Sodi, hearing from the Charan that the camel could not be overtaken, returned to
Amarkot and collected an army, and after a few months marched to Dhāripura. On the arrival of the army, Dhārā Sutir, Viram Solankhi, and the two Ränis, Jalku and Märu, went into the
Surbakri hills.
A great battle was fought.
After performing prodigies of valour, Dhārā Sutºr and Wiram Solankhi with all their fol.
lowers were slain. Jalku and Măru being desperate, and preferring death to dishonour, hurled themselves from the peak at the ex tremity of the Surbakri range, and were dashed to pieces. In commemoration of this sacrifice the peak has ever since been called the Râni Tunk, or Queens' Peak.
-
- Saw of the World alludes to his cutting the road: rasti kāpwoo. He is called House-Rebuilder as he was the
means of Viramji recovering his wife.