Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 11, 1900.djvu/231

 Miscellanea. 219

A Hindu Nursery-Song.

Dilli-ummah Dilli,' Pillaki yaimaimi? Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki Genteeloo. Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki yaimaimi ? Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki Bogadeeloo. Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki yaimaimi ? Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki Pillaudloo. Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki yaimaimi ? Dilli-ummah Dilli, Pillaki Katherbaneeloo.

Translation.

" O mother, Dill, Dill, what have you brought for the girl ? O mother, Dill, Dill, I have brought Genteeloo for the girl. O mother. Dill, Dill, what have you brought for the girl ? O mother. Dill, Dill, I have brought Bogadeeloo for the girl," &c.

Note. — In India wives are selected for young men by their mothers without the young people being consulted in the matter. In this song, a mother is supposed to go to a housewife and ask her daughter in marriage for her son. The housewife in reply asks what ornaments the bridegroom's mother will give to the girl ; for the bestowal of a girl depends on the ornaments a bride- groom gives by way of dower to his bride. Many Komti girls are given away in marriage by their parents without consulting the young people's interest, to Komtees well-stricken in years, because of handsome dowers. Genteeloo, Bogadeeloo (Secunderabad col- loquial for Bogudloo), and Katherbaneeloo, are gold ornaments for the ears of Hindu (Telugu) w^omen. Pillaudloo are silver orna- ments for their toes. All these ornaments are in use at this day in Southern India, with the exception of Genteeloo.

M. N. Venkataswami, M.R.C.S.,

Secunderabad, Deccan.

i^th September, 1S99, c^th and 2-^rd March, 1900.

' A term of endearment addressed by the mothers of the bride and bride- groom to each other.