Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/135

Rh this benevolent saint is said to have kept silver and gold vessels, &c., for the use of travellers. A traveller, on arriving at one of these fortunate spots, which was generally either a well or the banks of a tank, had only to make known his wants, when Chán Saudágar’s vessels of gold and silver would float up and allow themselves to be used by the traveller, who had, however, scrupulously to return them when done with; but men are covetous, and at each of the places where I have heard the legend, some unlucky man was too weak to resist the temptation of appropriating them, and since then the miracle has ceased.

The legend of Kunwar Bijaya Mall is so intimately connected with this place, that it will be interesting to give a brief sketch of the story; it is generally sung, and is a universal favorite.

Kunwar Bijaya Mall used to live in Jhunjhunwá Garh; he came here to be married to Báwan Subáh’s daughter; he was accompanied by his father and his elder brothers, he himself being then a child. Báwan Subáh treacherously seized his father and brothers and put them into prison. Kunwar Bijaya Mall’s horse, however, fled with his rider and carried him safe back to Jhunjhunwá Garh. Here he grew up in ignorance of the fate of his father and brothers, and there being no male relatives of the boy to avenge his wrongs or take his part, his female relatives, of whom his sister-in-law was chief, kept him in ignorance of the fate of his father and brothers lest he should rashly venture to fight and lose his life. This sister-in-law, named Sonmat Rani, took great care of him, had him taught all arts, and intended, when he should grow up, to live with him as his wife. When Bijaya Mall grew up, he wanted bows and arrows and the gili and danda to play with. Sonmat Rani gave him the ordinary wooden ones, but he broke them, and wanted stronger ones, till finally he got manufactured for his special use an iron danda of 84 maunds weight and an iron gili of 80 maunds. Kunwar Bijaya Mall took them and went to play with his companions, but they refused, saying they could not use his danda, so it was agreed that each was to use his own danda and gili. When Kunwar Bijaya Mall’s turn came, he hit his iron gili so forcibly that it flew to Garh Paravat, and smashed in a part of Báwan Subáh’s palace. His companions searched for the gili for seven days, but not finding it, they came disgusted to Kunwar Bijaya Mall and asked him why, when he was so strong, he did not go and release his father