47 chapters
2 hour read
Selected Chapters
47 chapters
PREFACE
PREFACE
In introducing “Simla Village Tales” to my readers, I wish to acknowledge gratefully the valuable assistance given me by my sister Mabel Baldwin, who, when I was obliged to leave India suddenly owing to nervous breakdown after the terrible earthquake which visited the Punjaub in April 1905, kindly undertook to complete, from the same sources where I had got them, my collection of folk-tales. Twenty excellent stories contributed by her include “Tabaristan,” “The Priest and the Barber,” “The Fourt
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE REAL MOTHER
THE REAL MOTHER
The potter did as he was told, and the children came to life again, and went to live with their foster-parents as before. This also came to the ears of the six cruel Ranees, and they again called the old dhai and told her she must make another attempt to kill the children. This time she had some difficulty in persuading them to eat her sweets, for they remembered what had happened before; but in the end she succeeded, and left them all lying dead on the ground as before. The poor potter was quit
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE SNAKE’S BRIDE
THE SNAKE’S BRIDE
When night came, Sukkia asked her husband to tell her his name; but he implored her not to, as it would bring bad luck to her, yet she persisted in asking, and would not be advised, though he turned himself into a snake and fled before her till he reached the river-side, where he again begged her to desist; but the foolish girl would not listen, till he called out: “My name is Rajah Bunsi Lall;” and so saying he disappeared under the water, and she saw him no more. For days and days she wandered
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE POWER OF FATE
THE POWER OF FATE
The Rajah was now angrier than before, and ordered that she should be immediately put to death; but upon second thoughts he decided to send her to a distant forest, and there leave her without food or water, so that she might either be eaten by wild beasts at night, or else die of starvation. So she was placed in a dooly or litter and carried away. The dooly-bearers took her to a very dense jungle, and at length arrived at a clear space, in the centre of which stood a huge oak tree. Here they de
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE OLD WITCH WHO LIVED IN A FOREST
THE OLD WITCH WHO LIVED IN A FOREST
In the evening when the other sisters returned, they found their eldest sister was missing; and the witch, who did not wish them to know that she had eaten the child, told them that she had run back to her parents. The next day she did the same thing, and detained the second sister, and so on until only the youngest was left. At last the old witch told her to stay at home that day to sweep the house, and look after it while she went out. The child swept the room, and then, out of curiosity, open
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
KULLOO, A FAITHFUL DOG
KULLOO, A FAITHFUL DOG
The Bunniah enquired why she would not touch any food, and she told him she would only do so if he killed Kulloo. This the man refused to do; but, after a while, he consented. Poor Kulloo, when he knew his last hour had come, besought his master to bury him carefully, and to see that his head, which the Bunniah meant to cut off, was buried with him, for a time was yet to come when he would again save his master’s life. After Kulloo was dead and buried the wicked woman was happy, and ate and dran
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF GHOSE
THE STORY OF GHOSE
Shahzadah was now very sad, for he felt the time had come for his secret to be discovered, and he would become the laughing-stock of the whole Palace. The squirrel, who was a great favourite of his, noticed his sadness, and asked him the cause of it. “Why are you sad, O Prince?” “I am sad because they say you must do some of the household work; and how are you to do it, being only a squirrel?” “What is it they want me to do?” “To leepo or plaster the floor.” “Well, tell them to do their own port
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE VIZIER’S SON AND THE RAJAH’S SON
THE VIZIER’S SON AND THE RAJAH’S SON
“It means,” said the Vizier’s son, “the name of a beautiful Princess called ‘Princess of the Lamp,’ and she lives in a distant country.” So they set out to seek her, and soon found the Palace in which she lived, and outside a girl making a wreath of flowers for the Princess. The Rajah’s son begged the girl to let him make the hal or wreath, and, in making it, he placed a letter inside. The Princess was very angry when she found the letter, and made the girl tell her the truth; but she would not
36 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE RAJAH’S SON AND THE VIZIER’S SON
THE RAJAH’S SON AND THE VIZIER’S SON
After this clue, it did not take the Vizier’s son long to find out where the woman lived, and he put pegs into the wall, one above the other, for his friend to climb up to her window. But before the Rajah’s son could reach the top, a Kotwal, or policeman, saw him, and took him away to the lock-up. This was an unexpected turn of affairs, so the Vizier’s son quickly dressed himself as a beautiful woman, and asked to see his friend in the prison. He bribed the jailer to let him in, and, once there,
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
BEY HUSLO
BEY HUSLO
Soon after some camels came that way, and, as they stretched out their necks and ate the branches, Bey Huslo called out: “Go away, I will not go with you; I will only go when my husband comes to fetch me.” But as the camels had only come to eat, and not to fetch her, they made no reply, and went away. After this a dog began to bark at her, but she said again: “Go away, I will not go with you; I will only go with my husband.” When night fell some thieves sat sharing their spoils under the tree, a
53 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF PANCH MAR KHAN
THE STORY OF PANCH MAR KHAN
Some days after news came that a tiger was prowling about; and a brave man was required to go out that night and kill it. Who was so brave as Panch Mar Khan! So he was deputed to go, but when he heard this he nearly died of fright, and made up his mind that he would run away. So when darkness fell he crept out and caught his donkey by the ear, and led it to its stable, and there tied it to a post, to wait till he was ready to get on its back; but when he returned with a light, what was his surpr
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
RUPA AND BISUNTHA
RUPA AND BISUNTHA
The same day Mahadeo and Parbatti were passing that way, and Parbatti, who is ever described as a wilful Goddess, always wanting her own way, asked Mahadeo to see what was in the tree. They soon found the dead boy; and Parbatti insisted that he should be made alive again, so Mahadeo sprinkled a few drops of blood upon him, and he sat up alive and well. Close to this place a Rajah had just died, and his people placed his crown in the trunk of an elephant, leaving it to him to place it upon the he
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SHEIK CHILLI
SHEIK CHILLI
That such dire calamity should befall a man caused great pity, so the bystanders took Sheik Chilli to the Rajah, who asked him how it had all happened. When he heard the story he laughed, and said: “This boy has a good heart, let him be given a reward to compensate him for the loss of his oil.”...
17 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
SHEIK CHILLI
SHEIK CHILLI
When he got outside he saw a camel laden with all sorts of treasure. The camel-driver had turned aside for a minute or so, and Sheik Chilli could not see him, so he lead off the camel, made over its pack to his mother, and let it walk away empty. Next day there was a great fuss made, and the town-crier went round to say that a camel had strayed, and certain valuable goods were lost. Sheik Chilli’s mother heard this, and knowing how simple her son was, she feared he would tell every one where the
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE MONKEY, THE TIGER, AND THE PRINCESS
THE MONKEY, THE TIGER, AND THE PRINCESS
No sooner did they agree than they carried out their plan. The rat ate all the clothes worn by the Prince, and the jackal ate his horse, so that when he awoke it was to find himself alone in the forest, without either horse or clothes. Just then a monkey came down from the tree, and asked him what was the matter. “I have told my troubles to two animals before, and do not wish to be betrayed by a third,” said the Prince; to which the monkey replied: “A rat is a rat, and a jackal is a jackal, but
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE JACKAL AND THE GUANA
THE JACKAL AND THE GUANA
This made the jackal wild with anger, so he ran after the Go to kill it, and caught its tail in his teeth, just as the Go was getting into a hole. “Hoo hoo,” said the jackal. “Don’t say Hoo, say Ha,” called the Go; so the jackal said “Ha!” and in order to say it, had to open his mouth, so the Go escaped!...
18 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF THE BLACK COW
THE STORY OF THE BLACK COW
Now, in the forest was a hole, which led to the home of the Great Snake, which, together with a bull, holds up the universe. Into this hole the black cow poured five seers of milk daily to feed the snake. This pleased the snake so much that he said one day: “I must go up into the world and see for myself the creature who is so good to me and who sends me such good milk to drink.” When he came he saw the black cow grazing with the boy beside her. The cow asked no favours for herself, but when the
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BRAHMIN AND THE WILD GEESE
THE BRAHMIN AND THE WILD GEESE
The Brahmin thanked him warmly, and went off with his treasure to the nearest State; there the Rajah looked at the ruby, but said he could not afford to buy so valuable a gem unless the Brahmin would accept for it seven mule loads of money. This the Brahmin gladly consented to do, and returned to his home a rich man. Some time after this, the poor Rajah who had bought the ruby got leprosy, and called all the physicians he could find to cure him. One of these said he would be cured if he ate the
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE FOUR-GIFTED PRINCESS
THE FOUR-GIFTED PRINCESS
One day the Rajah passed that way, and asked the Brahmin how he had built such a lovely Palace in the place of his old mud-hut. The old man told him how he had found the box, and all about the Queen, his wife, whom he thought was dead. The Rajah owned his sin, and implored forgiveness of his wife. At first she refused to forgive him, but after a time she listened, and the Rajah said that, if ever again he did anything to vex or hurt her, the old Fakir might punish him as he thought best. Now the
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE MAN WHO WENT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE
THE MAN WHO WENT TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE
As the Zemindar stood watching the place, the King came out, and asked him who he was, and where he was going; so he told him that it was to seek his fortune. “Well, when you get to the place where you find it, will you think of me, and enquire the reason why my Palace is constantly falling down?” This the Zemindar promised to do, and then continued on his journey. The next place he arrived at was a river, and a turtle was on its bank. It asked him whither he was going, and he said: “To seek my
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THREE WISE MEN AND THE KING’S DAUGHTER
THREE WISE MEN AND THE KING’S DAUGHTER
“Now,” said he to the first, “tell me where my daughter is.” “She is with the fairies,” he replied, “and unless the one in charge of her is killed, she cannot return.” Then the King turned to the other two men. To the horse-maker he said: “Go and make me a horse,” and to the other: “Take your bow and arrow, mount the horse, and go and shoot the fairy: bring my daughter back with you.” Forthwith the men prepared: the horse was made, and mounted by the man with his bow and arrows, then they all di
59 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
BARBIL’S SON
BARBIL’S SON
While the two men quarrelled over this mistake, the poor girl, greatly distressed, appealed to the Gods to help her. They bade her cease weeping. “The head is the principal thing,” said they; “do not mind the body: if you were the daughter of a poor man and married a Prince, Barbil, having taken the form of the Prince, is also of royal blood, so it matters not. Let him that has the head of your husband be your husband again, and he who has the head of the King be the King.” Thus they settled the
33 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE TIGER AND THE RATS
THE TIGER AND THE RATS
But as soon as the cat saw them she grew very angry, and said: “What have you done? you have taken away my employment.” The poor little kitten said that it did not know that it was not to kill rats, and was very unhappy. Then the tiger came forward, and dismissed them both, saying: “I am now rid of the rats, and require your service no longer.” So they went away crestfallen. Moral. —Thus do people often make a convenience of those who are their best friends!...
25 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE ADVENTURES OF A BIRD
THE ADVENTURES OF A BIRD
Moral. —Let Well alone....
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
WHO STOLE THE RUBY?
WHO STOLE THE RUBY?
“Yes,” replied the man. “Did you see it?” “No,” said the brothers; “we did not see it.” “Very strange,” returned the man; “you know all about it, and yet you did not see it. I will also go to the Priest and tell him about you.” So they went, and the man told the Priest his story. “How is it that you three know all about the camel, and yet you did not see it?” said the Priest. “Well,” said the eldest, “I noticed that all the plants and shrubs on the way were eaten on one side only, so I concluded
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF VICKRAMADIT
THE STORY OF VICKRAMADIT
One day, as he was walking along footsore and tired, a snake came up to him and said: “Can you give me some water to drink, for I am dying of thirst?” Vickramadit replied: “I have no water in my gourd, having just drank it; but if you will promise not to harm me, you may creep down my throat into my body, and there drink your fill and return satisfied.” This the snake promised, but, instead of returning, it remained within him and refused to come back. All that the beggar ate passed into the mou
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE WEAVER
THE WEAVER
The weaver, surprised, replied: “I have never heard this jackal speak before!” “That one has gone, and he tied me here in his place, and told me I should get all sorts of good things to eat; but if you will release me, I will arrange a marriage with a King’s daughter for you.” “What!” said the man, “I am only a poor weaver, and can you really get me married to a King’s daughter?” “Yes,” returned the jackal. So the weaver released it, and turning itself into a Brahmin, it crossed the river and pr
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE DOG WHO WAS A RAJAH
THE DOG WHO WAS A RAJAH
He followed out her directions, and found the small trees led to the well; and as he felt thirsty, he looked in and saw the ladder; so he descended by it, and found the dog had become a Rajah. Going round the grounds with his daughter, he noticed a house made of gold. “What is this?” asked he. “It is for you, my father.” So he went in and found everything perfect, except that in one of the walls was a great crack. “That crack,” explained the Rajah, who had joined them, “was caused when you first
59 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE FOURTH WIFE IS THE WISEST
THE FOURTH WIFE IS THE WISEST
Now this chair was a specially prepared one, being kept by the thief as a trap for the unwary. The seat was of raw cotton, under which was a great hole into which anybody who sat on the chair would fall. It was carefully covered over with a piece of clean white cloth, so that nothing was noticed. On it the poor Bunniah sat, and as the soft cotton gave way under him, he found himself in the hole, over which the thief carefully placed a great stone and left him, while he quietly pocketed the ruby.
3 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF PIR SAB
THE STORY OF PIR SAB
The Story of Pir Sab The old woman alone remained at home on account of her feeble age. At the third cry a bridal party was seen to approach, and the long-lost ones, with the young bride, were restored to the old woman as unchanged as upon the day they were drowned, and in perfect ignorance of the flight of years. A voice was then heard from the Great Unseen, which said: “O Pir Sab, I have heard your prayer. At your first cry these restored ones came forth from the fishes, who had eaten them; at
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE ORIGIN OF A RIVER
THE ORIGIN OF A RIVER
In a moment she felt that he had suspected her of some evil. “Father,” cried she, “why do you look with an evil eye on your child? Do you not believe that the Gods have helped her?” But before her father could reply, she sank down to the bottom of the well with the water and never rose again, for the outraged Gods took her to themselves; and, in token of their displeasure, the well was cleft from top to bottom, and hillocks formed on either side. From this spot flows a tiny stream, which, if you
29 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BUNNIAH’S GHOST
THE BUNNIAH’S GHOST
The Rajah replied not a word, for his heart was filled with envy; and that night, before going to bed, he gave orders that, on a certain day, in the early dawn, before anybody was astir, a party of armed men should take their axes to the village, and fell the mulberry tree even with the ground. But ill dreams disturbed the Rajah’s rest, and he could not sleep. Could it be fancy, or did he really see a strange man standing before him? The strange man spoke: “O King, live for ever! I am the spirit
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
BICKERMANJI THE INQUISITIVE
BICKERMANJI THE INQUISITIVE
“My husband had only just returned from a journey, bringing money; and see, thieves have stolen his money, and murdered him during the night.” Her neighbours believed this, and prepared to carry her husband to the burning ghât, for he was a Hindoo. While they did this, the woman declared that she would follow, and perform the sacred rite of suttee , or being burnt upon her husband’s funeral pyre. Although impressed by her supposed devotion to her husband, her friends wrote to Bickermanji, and be
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BRAHMIN’S DAUGHTER
THE BRAHMIN’S DAUGHTER
“Take this,” she said, “and give it with the key to my mother; let her be alone in her room when she receives it, so that she may enjoy my gifts by herself.” Then she gave him another box full of clothes and jewels and money for himself. After a long journey, the Brahmin arrived at his home, and said to his wife: “This box is for me, and this one for you; keep it carefully, and open it when you are alone; here is the key.” So saying he went out, shut the door, and put on the chain. Soon the woma
48 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
ABUL HUSSAIN
ABUL HUSSAIN
Early next morning the servants came to wake Abul, and said: “Will Your Majesty rise this morning?” Abul rubbed his eyes and looked, and behold, he was in a King’s room and the King’s servant was addressing him! He saw his clothes, and wondered who he was, and what had happened: then he turned to the man and said: “Who am I?” The man replied: “You are our King.” “Am I?” returned the puzzled Abul, and, rising, he heard strains of music, and knew that the band was playing, as it always does on the
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE MAGICIAN AND THE MERCHANT
THE MAGICIAN AND THE MERCHANT
“Say on,” said the magician. “Do you see this deer?” said the old man; “it is my wife. I was once married to a wife, but after a time I wearied of her, and married another wife, who presented me with a son. I took both the woman and her child to my first wife, and asked her to feed and take care of them; but she, being jealous, changed my wife into a cow, and my son into a calf. After a year I returned and enquired after my wife and child. My first wife said: ‘Your wife is dead, and for the last
4 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE SNAKE AND THE FROG
THE SNAKE AND THE FROG
The frog, meantime, had also gone home and told his wife of the narrow escape he had from the snake, and how a man had saved him from its very jaws. “Go back,” said she, “and serve him, to prove your gratitude.” So he also took the form of a man and offered himself as a servant to the Rajah. “Come,” said he, “and we three will live together.” Then they entered a city belonging to a great King, and the three of them offered to work for him. “But,” said the young Rajah, “I will only work on condit
1 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BARBER AND THE THIEF
THE BARBER AND THE THIEF
1 An Indian pipe. ↑ 2 To spit upon a man in the East is considered the greatest of indignities . ↑...
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF PURAN
THE STORY OF PURAN
Now Puran was a very comely youth, and when he made his obeisance to his new stepmother, she was greatly impressed with his handsome face, and thought to herself: “Had I not been in such a hurry I might have married him instead of Suliman.” The thought vexed her so much that she made up her mind to get Puran out of her sight by having him killed. She told Suliman that his boy was wanting in respect towards her, and deserving of death. On hearing this, Suliman had a bowl of boiling oil prepared,
5 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
TABARISTAN
TABARISTAN
“Go and find out,” returned the Rajah. So the man turned to do his bidding. Now the Rajah was very curious, and, quickly wrapping himself in his coat, quietly followed his servant. Outside the garden gate sat a figure covered and clothed in loose white garments. On approaching it the servant said: “Who are you?” “I am Time,” replied the figure, “and hold the Rajah’s life, which is now nearly over.” “Cannot anything be done to spare it?” asked the man. “Yes, it can be spared by the sacrifice of a
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE ENCHANTED BIRD, MUSIC, AND STREAM
THE ENCHANTED BIRD, MUSIC, AND STREAM
Terribly alarmed, the eldest confessed that she had said she would like to be the wife of one of the servants, so as to get nice things to eat. The second said she had wished to be the wife of his cook. The third sister hesitated, and then said timidly that she had dared to say she would like best to be the wife of the Prince himself. On this the Prince said: “You may have your wishes.” He then ordered the one to be married to one of his servants, and the other to his cook; but the third he marr
10 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE DOG TEMPLE
THE DOG TEMPLE
The grief of the Bunjara was great, for in spite of his hasty temper he loved his dog, as all Bunjaras do. He repented his hasty act, and wept most bitterly over his favourite, vowing that he would try and expiate the deed by building a temple to the faithful dog’s memory with the money he had recovered. The small temple now standing on the spot where this took place testifies to the fulfilment of that vow, and a small dog carved in stone indicates why the Dog Temple was built. To this day it is
35 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE BEAUTIFUL MILKMAID
THE BEAUTIFUL MILKMAID
The bird flew off and did as he was told; and the lover came down that night with all his clansmen, attacked the Rajah and killed him. Then he rescued the girl, who lived happily ever after as the wife of her brave deliverer....
12 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
A LEGEND OF SARDANA
A LEGEND OF SARDANA
Then the Almighty said: “In the city of Sardana lives a rich Begum; do you know her?” “Yes, O King.” “Well, the Begum’s treasury is here, and I will advance you five rupees out of it, if, when you return to earth, you promise faithfully to give it back to the Begum.” So the oil dealer gratefully took the loan, paid his debt, and returned with the angels to earth, where he arrived just too late to re-enter his body, which his friends had already taken away to prepare for burial. Watching his oppo
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE STORY OF “BUNJARA TULLAO”
THE STORY OF “BUNJARA TULLAO”
“Many years ago one of the Gods selected the Sipri Bazaar tank for his bath, and ever since its waters have remained as clear as crystal.” Moral. —Thus there is a cause for everything in the world....
11 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
THE ANAR PARI, OR POMEGRANATE FAIRY
THE ANAR PARI, OR POMEGRANATE FAIRY
“But mind you,” said the Fakir, “once you have plucked the pomegranate, you are not to wait an instant, or even turn to look back when the dragons come after you, for, if you once look back, all your efforts will be in vain, and you will be killed.” Then the young Prince was turned into a parrot and immediately flew off. He flew and flew and flew, till he had crossed seven seas; and in the midst of the seventh sea, he at last spied an island in which was a most lovely garden, where grew an exqui
9 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter
Corrections
Corrections
The following corrections have been applied to the text:...
2 minute read
Read Chapter
Read Chapter