Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 14, 1903.djvu/428

 386 Collectanea.

increased. Their subjects are taken, some from native, some from Javanese, and some from Arabian story, with usually an admixture of Hindu fable. None of them are genuine translations from

foreign languages There is no date to any Malay work,

and there is no known Malay author. All Malay literature down to the present day resembles, in this respect, the ancient anony- mous ballads of European nations."

The particular story which I have selected for translation is evidently a favourite, and a dramatic version of it is acted in the native Malay theatre at the present time, as may be seen from the following advertisement, cut from the Straits Times of March 23rd, 1903.

WAYANG PUSI. INDRA BANGSAWAN.

THE EMPRESS VICTORIA JAWI PRANAKAN

THEATRICAL COMPANY OF PENANG.

TO-NIGHT ! TO-NIGHT !

23rd March, igoj.

" PUKKUR MAHADI."

With Grand Artistically Painted Scenes,

Extraordinary Costumes and a Grand Display

of Music, Flags, Bunting, &c.

At the New Parsee Theatre Hall,

NORTH BRIDGE ROAD.

Prices of Admission.

First Class

... $1.00

Second Class ..

50

Third Class

25

ZENANA.

First Class

SO

Second Class ..

25

Children under 10 years

half price only in First

and Second Class. Tickets can be obtained

at the Doors of the Theatre.

{Doofs open

at 8 p.m.)

Perfor))iance Commences at g p.m. sharp.

HADJI ^V^XYmX— Manager.

I possess two copies of Indra Bangsdwan ; one written in the ordinary Arabic character, the other also in the Malay tongue, but in English script. This latter copy, which I picked up at an