Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/252

 230 Collectanea.

girl makes herself a small wooden frame called tiktalo, something like the framework of a kite, by tying two sticks crosswise, joining the ends at top and bottom with two more sticks, and tying another stick right down the centre as a handle. Then they go in a body through the village, attended by a female minstrel, and sing at each door : —

"Tiktalo! Malalo ! Kasim's dwelling, I'll plait you your tresses ! House of RaTs, mulberries and raisins ! Arbab's house, white bread and roast meat ! Rush, rain, rush ! "

Rals and Arbab are titles of headmen among the cultivators, but I can throw no light on the identity of Kasim ; 'the bread and the meat and the fruits are symbolical, no doubt, of the produce that the earth will yield if only the rain will fall. Having collected doles from house to house, they give them away in alms and pray for rain. Not until the time comes for the distribution of the dainties do the males or older women take part in the fun " (p. 66). Among the Pathans "an interesting rain-making custom still sur- vives in what is now a mere boy's game. In times of drought boys make a round bag out of white cloth and stuff it with rags. And they paint the eyes and nose and mouth of a woman on one side of the bag, and bedaub the face with flour, and stick a pole through the bag, and go in a body from house to house, one of their number carrying the doll, or Lado Ladanga as it is called. At each door they sing this chorus : —

' Lado Ladanga ! What do you want ? ' ' The sky's muddy rain is what I want ; The earth's green grass is what I want ; One measure of flour is what I want ; Flavoured with salt — that's what I want !

Argore ! bargore ! God grant you a son to redound to your glory ! Amen.'

And the mistress of the house may be relied on to give them a dole in return for their flattering prayer" (p. 67).