Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/346

 310 BENGALI LANGUAGE &! LITERATURE. — [ Chap. His favourite amusement was playing with: pi- geons. The male pigeon was taken to the forest and there let loose while its mate was kept in the house of our hero—many miles off. The male pi- geon would then, inspite of obstructions, fly back home to join his companion and the homeward flight of the bird through the sky would be en- thusiastically watched by the young men whe sported with them, -One day Dhanapati had loosed his. male pigeons, as usual, in an adjoining wood. All of them returned except one who was pursued by akite. Seeing no other way to escape from _ his enemy, the pigeon dropped to the ground and hid itself in the outer garments of a very -young -and fascinating maiden. This lady was no other than Khullana—the daughter of Laksapati—the--mer- chant. .The girl was much pleased with the beauty of the bird and gave it shelter. Now, Dhanapati waited-some time for his favou- rite pigeon but when it grew late and the wanderer was not forthcoming, he commenced a vigorous search with his companions. He ran along the steep edge of the hills, through thorny plants and briers, till breathless, coming to the limits of a village named Ichhauinagar, he heard that Laksa- pati’s daughter Khullana had taken possession of his pet-bird. He at once hied to the mango groves where Khullana was gaily rambling with her maids. Khullana knew that Dhanapati was the husband of her cousin Lahana. “This relationship, gives a wo- man liberty in Hindu society to make a little fun The and Khullana did not allow the opportunity to slip. merchant j ; and the Incoquettish tones, she argued with Danapati—now এ begging for his bird, that it had come- of its: own