Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/432

 396 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [Chap. _ pictorial illustrations of the Borra Buddar temple of Java published by the Dutch Government, we find numerous pictures of ships which went to that Island from Tamluka, Chittagong and _ the sea- coastsof Orissa and Guzrat, andthey represent a type on which, even yet, the modern European sailing- ships have not noticeably improved. In old Bengali literature we find that oarsmen and pilots were generally recruited from Eastern Bengal. Their peculiar accent was a subject of ridicule to poets then as now. The oarsmen were supervised by Gavurs, who would occasionally beat them with rods called Dangas, if found to be lagging in their work, The oarsmen used to sing a chorus as _ they plied their oars; such songs were called ‘Sari.’ The Madhukar or the head-ship on board which a great merchant or king embarked, was adorned with many artistic designs. The prow especially was formed into various picturesque shapes; it often represented the form of a peacock. The vessels were loaded with utensils of bell-metal made in various patterns, muslin and other fine stuffs, shells and corals, and various agricultural products of Bengal. The vessels bore poetic names such as ‘ The Sea-foam,’ ‘The Royal Duck,’ ‘The moon light.’ The descriptions of places, though mere old wives’ tales entitled to little cre- dence, have still some grains of truth in them. Of the Ceylonese, it is said that if their parents die, they keep them long without cremation. This refers to the custom of the Buddhists who some- times allow even a whole year to pass before the corpse of a monk is cremated. In another place we find ‘If they die, the son has no claim, but the