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34 chapters
Preface.
Preface.
Of late years the Folk tales of India have been the subject of much study and research, and several interesting collections of them have been published. But I am not aware that as yet the folk lore of the Santals, has received the attention which it deserves. The Santals as a people, have, to a remarkable degree, succeeded in resisting the subtle Hinduising influences to which they have long been exposed, and to which such a large number of aboriginal tribes have succumbed. They have retained th
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Santal Folk-Tales. The Magic Lamp.
Santal Folk-Tales. The Magic Lamp.
When the raja and his son-in-law returned from the chase, they were surprised and alarmed to find that the palace with its fair occupant had vanished, and had not left a trace behind. The dewan reminded his master that he had tried to dissuade him from rashly giving his daughter in marriage to an unknown person, and had foretold that some calamity was sure to follow. The raja being grieved and angry at the loss of his daughter, sent for her husband, and said to him, “I give you thirteen days dur
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The Two Brothers, Jhorea, and Jhore.
The Two Brothers, Jhorea, and Jhore.
The two settled down there, and cultivated all kinds of crops. One day the elder brother sent his younger brother to bring a certain kind of grain. Taking a sickle and a rope to tie his sheaves with, he went to the field. Arrived there, he found that the grain was covered with insects. So he set fire to it, and while it was burning he kept calling out, “Whoever desires to feast on roasted insects, let him come here.” When his brother knew what he had done, he reprimanded him severely. Some time
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The Boy and his Stepmother.
The Boy and his Stepmother.
There were two brothers named Kara and Guja. Guja, who was the elder did the work at home, and Kara was ploughman. One day the two went to the forest to dig edible roots. After they had been thus engaged for some hours, Kara said to Guja, “Look up and see the sun’s position in the heavens.” Looking up he said, “Oh brother, one is rising and another is setting.” They then said, “The day is not yet past, let us bestir ourselves, and lose no time.” So they dug with all their might. After digging a
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The Story of Kara and Guja.
The Story of Kara and Guja.
The old woman, in whose house Kara and Guja had passed the night, stepped forward and said, “Oh sir king, two strangers came to my house yesterday evening, and during the night they slew the demon.” The king said, “Where are those two men?” The old woman replied, “There they are, the two walking together.” So the king sent and brought them back, and questioned them as to the slaying of the demon. They pointed out the arrow-marks on the body, and produced his claws and tongue from their bag. This
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The King and his inquisitive Queen.
The King and his inquisitive Queen.
The king understood what passed between them, and admitted to himself the truth of what the he-goat had said. After considering a short time he arose, and having made a rude sacrificial altar, said to the queen, “Kneel down, and do me obeisance, and I shall tell you what made me laugh.” She knelt down, and the king struck off her head and burnt her body upon the altar. Returning home he performed her funeral ceremonies, after which he married another wife. He reigned prosperously for many years,
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The Story of Bitaram.
The Story of Bitaram.
At the next house they came to, they saw a cat walking about, and Bitaram said, “Oh mother, ask the people to give me the cat.” As before, she at first refused, but he continued to press her, and she becoming annoyed scolded him saying , “The young gentleman insists on obtaining this and that. It was your pertinacity that caused your father and uncles to be dragged to prison in bonds.” Bitaram replied, “Not so, mother, do ask them to give me the cat.” As the only way to silence him she said to t
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The Story of Sit and Bosont.
The Story of Sit and Bosont.
In the morning his servants became aware of the robbery, and also that their master was missing. His groom found him some time after in the river bed, and carried him to a doctor who bound up his limb, and took care of him. He was soon well enough to move about, but doomed to halt through life. The raja of that country was very wealthy, and had ships on the sea. Whenever a ship left the port on its outward voyage, it was customary to carry a man on board, who, on the rising of a storm at sea, wa
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The Story of a Tiger.
The Story of a Tiger.
Once upon a time in a certain jungle, a lizard and a tiger were fighting, and a lame man , who was tending goats near by, saw them. The tiger being beaten by the lizard was ashamed to own it, and coming to the lame man said, “Tell me which of us won.” The lame man being in great fear lest the tiger should eat him, said, “You won.” On another occasion the lizard was compelled to flee, and took refuge in an ant hill. The tiger pursued him, but not being able to get him out, sat down to watch. The
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Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man.
Story of a Lizard, a Tiger, and a lame Man.
1 Covering for the head and shoulders made of leaves pinned together, worn as a protection from the rain by women, while planting rice. There was once a certain simpleton who had never seen a horse, but had heard that there was such an animal, and that men rode on his back. His curiosity was greatly excited, and he went here and there searching for a horse, so that he might ride on its back. On his way he fell in with a wag, and asked him, what horses were like, where they could be found, and wh
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The Story of a Simpleton.
The Story of a Simpleton.
1 Said to bullocks when ploughing to cause them to turn at the end of a furrow. In a certain country there lived a very wealthy man whose cattle grazed on a wide plain. One day a tiger noticed them, and so did three thieves. At night the tiger came to where they were lying, and so did the three thieves, but the tiger arrived first. The night was pitch dark, and the cows getting frightened fled to their owner’s premises, and all entered the cattle shed. When the tiger saw the cattle flee he ran a
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A Thief and a Tiger.
A Thief and a Tiger.
1 Ghur pank is a phrase used by ploughmen when turning their bullocks at the end of a furrow. 2 Mount the buffalo. Once upon a time there lived seven brothers and a sister. The brothers were married, but their wives did not do the cooking for the family. It was done by their sister. The wives for this reason bore their sister-in-law much ill will, and at length they combined together to oust her from the office of cook and general provider, so that one of themselves might obtain it. They said, “
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The Magic Fiddle
The Magic Fiddle
The water continued to rise, and when it reached her waist, she wailed as follows;— “Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, “Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my waist, “Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip, “Still, Oh! my brother, the pitcher will not dip.” The water in the tank continued to rise, and when it reached her breast, she wailed as follows;— “Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, “Oh! my brother, the water reaches to my breast, “Still, Oh! my brother,
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Gumda, the Hero.
Gumda, the Hero.
Then the fight began. The two combatants attacked each other so furiously that they raised such a cloud of dust as to completely conceal them from the onlookers. The elephant could not long sustain the unequal combat, and when he was beaten, Gumda seized him by the trunk, and threw him over the seas. Owing to the darkness caused by the clouds of dust, none of the thousands present noticed the elephant as he went, flying over their heads high up in the air. When the dust subsided, Gumda was found
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Lipi, and Lapra.
Lipi, and Lapra.
Come, come, Lipi and Lapra, Cross the low hill On to the slope of the high. He called them again and again. The dogs heard the voice, and struggled to get loose, and at length, by a great effort, they succeeded in breaking the ropes with which they were bound, and ran in the direction from which the sound proceeded. Now and again the cries ceased, and they stood still until they again heard them, when they ran as before. Having reached the valley that separated the two hills, they could no longe
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I.
I.
At that moment their four sons entered the house and asked for food. The ranis were annoyed, and said, “The raja, your father, is sulking, and you must have food and drink.” On learning their father’s state the youths were distressed on his account, and went to him weeping, and enquired why he was sulking. He related to them the words of Koema Jugi , and added, “Unless I see hiras and manis attached to the branches of the trees in my flower garden, I shall not rise from my couch.” His four sons
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II.
II.
At nightfall, Lelha, having supped, tied up in the four corners of his plaid four kinds of roasted grain, and entering the garden climbed up on a raised platform, and began his vigil. After a short time he untied one of his parcels of roasted grain, and began leisurely to eat it, one grain at a time. Just as he had consumed the last one, an Indarpuri Sadom descended from the East and alighted in the garden to browse upon the flowers. Lelha seeing it, crept noiselessly up, and laid hold of it, an
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III.
III.
When his brothers saw him, they said, “He has overtaken us.” Some of them said, “Catch him and beat him,” others said, “No, let him alone, he will do our cooking. We can go in search of hiras and manis , and leave him to guard our camp. Come let us push on, we have now got a good guard for our camp.” This pleased all, and they said, “It is now evening, let us pitch our camp for the night.” They did so, and Lelha soon had supper ready, of which having partaken they all retired to rest. In the mor
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IV.
IV.
Lelha’s excuse for his absence was as follows . He said, “You, my brothers, always leave me here alone in the camp. Yesterday several shepherds came, and forcibly carried me away. They kept me awake all night. They tied these shells round my neck and made me dance. They also made me drive cattle round and round. I had no rest all night. They also shewed me hiras and manis . ” Lelha’s brothers eagerly enquired, “Where did you see the hiras and manis ? Come, show us the place at once.” Lelha repli
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V.
V.
Lelha then said to his brothers, “Take one of these ropes, and bind it round me, and lower me down, and when you feel me shaking the rope, then quickly pull me up. I go to find hiras .” His brothers quickly bound the rope round his body, and he, taking the goats, the pair of shoes, and the bundles of grass, descended. A short distance from where he reached the ground, he found a door, which was guarded by an elephant bound by the foot to a stake. To him he threw a bundle of grass and passed on.
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VI.
VI.
Then they made preparations to continue their journey. Lelha again sent his four brothers first, and he followed with his two wives. After a sail of a few hours they entered the territory of another raja, and came upon his bathing ghat. The raja was bathing there at the time, and the boat passing, he enquired what her cargo was. The brothers answered, “We have hiras and manis on board.” The raja said, “I would see them.” They replied, “They are in the boat following us.” The raja was displeased
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VII.
VII.
The journey homewards was resumed in the morning, the boats in the same order as previously. Lelha’s four brothers were envious of his good fortune, and on the way they talked about him, and decided that he must be put to death. They said, “How can we put him out of the way? If we do not make away with him, on our return home, he will be sure to secure the succession to our father’s kingdom.” Having come to this conclusion the next thing was, how could it be accomplished, for Lelha was far more
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VIII.
VIII.
At the bottom of the river a bell sprang into existence, and Lelha was found lying asleep in it. Then he awoke and sat up, and loosening the knot which his wife had tied on his waist cloth, said, “Oh! Indarpuri Kuri , give me at once food and drink, tobacco and fire,” and on the instant his wants were supplied. So he ate and drank, and was refreshed. Then he prepared his pipe, and when he had lit it he said, “Oh! Indarpuri Kuri , give me a fully equipped horse that will carry me home before the
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IX.
IX.
The Indarpuri Kuri whom Lelha had robbed of her hira now awoke, and at once missed her precious jewel. She knew that Lelha had stolen it from her, and summoning her army to her standard marched upon Lelha’s father’s capital, to which she laid siege, and before many hours had elapsed, the raja was a prisoner in her hands. This Indarpuri Kuri said to him, “Will you give up the hiras and manis , or will you fight?” The raja sent the following message to his four sons, “Will you fight to retain poss
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X.
X.
1 Lelha in Santali means foolish. 2 Diamonds. 3 A mythical gem, said to be found in the heads of certain snakes. 4 Celestial horses. 5 Celestial Maiden. 6 Ægle Marmelos, Correa. 6 Ægle Marmelos, Correa. In a certain village there lived a mother and her son. The boy tended goats in the forest. One day he found a spot of ground, where he thought rice would grow well. So he went home, and asked his mother to give him some seed to sow there. She said, “If you sow rice there it will all be destroyed.
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The Story of Sindura Gand Garur.
The Story of Sindura Gand Garur.
During the night he heard the Huti Budhi trying to nibble his bow and arrows . So he enquired what she was doing. The answer she gave was, “Do you think the Huti Budhi can eat iron.” When morning dawned he demanded his bow and arrows, and received them uninjured, but the lower part of the Huti Budhi’s face was all swollen. She had been trying to eat the iron bow and arrows. Her lodger strung his bow, and having saluted her, went his way. As he journeyed he entered another unexplored forest in th
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The Tiger and Ulta’s Mother.
The Tiger and Ulta’s Mother.
One day several traders were passing along a pathway through the jungle in which the tiger hunted. He was lying concealed watching for prey, and when the traders were passing he jumped out upon them. Seeing the tiger they fled, and left behind them their silver, and gold, and brass vessels. The tiger collected all and carried them to Ulta’s mother’s house, and presenting them to her said, “All this I give to you, for through you I have again seen the earth. Had it not been for you, who knows whe
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The Greatest Cheat of Seven.
The Greatest Cheat of Seven.
On returning the measure he sent along with it five seers of silver, saying, “For the ashes of my house I received four maunds of silver, if you reduce your houses to ashes and sell them, you will obtain very much more.” So they foolishly burnt their houses, and collecting the ashes went to the bazaar to dispose of them. The merchants to whom they offered them directed them to go to the washermen, saying, “They will possibly buy.” But they also refused, and they were compelled to return home wit
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The Story of Two Princesses.
The Story of Two Princesses.
From the place where the monkey decayed a gourd sprang, and grew, and bore a fruit which ripened. One day a jugi, when on his rounds begging, saw this fruit and plucking it took it away with him. Out of the shell he made a banjo, which when played upon emitted wonderful music. The words which seemed to proceed from the banjo were as follows: Ripe terels, ripe terels, Oh! Sister mine. Went in search of water, Oh! Sister mine. Raja and Rani they became. Seven hundred monkeys old, Ate me up, ate me
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Seven Brothers and their Sister.
Seven Brothers and their Sister.
When the bridegroom’s family heard the noise, they said, one to the other “Sister, they have arrived.” Then they went forth to meet the bridegroom, and brought them in with great rejoicing. The bride was she who had been the Upel flower, and was exceedingly beautiful. In form she was both human and divine. The village people, as well as the marriage guests, when they saw her, exclaimed, “What a beautiful bride! She is the fairest bride that we have seen. She has no peer.” Thus they all praised h
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The Story of Jhore.
The Story of Jhore.
In a short time she saw Jhore emerge from the dunghill, in which he resided, and loose the calves, and take them to the water. When he brought them back he cleaned and swept their stall, and then re-entered the dunghill. In the evening the others enquired, “Well, did you see him?” The old buffaloe cow replied, “Yes, I saw him, but I will not tell you, for you will kill him.” They pressed her, but she refused, saying, “You will kill him.” They said, “Why should we kill him who takes so much care
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The Girl who always found helpers.
The Girl who always found helpers.
When her sisters-in-law knew that she had done what they considered impossible, they were still more angry with her, and ordered her to go to the forest and get milk from a tigress. They gave her a small earthen vessel, saying, “Go, bring us the milk of a tigress.” What could the girl do? She went to the forest with a heavy heart, bewailing her unhappy lot in the following plaintive song, Woe is me! For I must bring A brimful cup of tigress’ milk Oh! brothers dear, I weeping sing While you far h
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A Simple Thief.
A Simple Thief.
He then saw some milk near the fireplace, and being hungry he determined to cook some food. So helping himself to some rice he began to prepare it by boiling it in the milk. When it was nearly cooked, one of the household turned over in his sleep, saying, “I will eat. I will eat.” So he filled a ladle with the boiling rice and milk, and poured it into the sleeper’s mouth. The hot food scalded him terribly, and he sprang up howling with the pain. The other members of the family also jumped to the
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