Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/282

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Mahmúd was in the habit of wandering about the streets at night clothed in black (siyáh-posh). One night he caught a young man breaking into the Wazír's palace by a scaling-ladder, and seized him as a common thief. The king agreed to let him at large for the night on bail, if he could find it. The youth's father, mother, and brothers all refused, but one of his friends stood security. As soon as the king had gone his way, the youth induced his friend to let him pay a last visit to the Wazír's daughter, and off he went. The king happened to see him again, and followed him up, and finding him throw his scaling-ladder over the same wall, went up after him to see what would happen. The girl asked her lover why he delayed that night, and he explained to her what had happened, and how he was sure to be executed the next morning; so they sat up together all night reading the Qurán, and the girl promised to go to the place of execution mounted on a black charger. Next day the youth was led to execution as a thief, and among the crowd was his sweetheart on her black charger. When the king saw this, he called to her, led her to her father, and explained matters; whereon the youth was pardoned, and married to the girl with great pomp and splendour.

On the banks of the Ganges is situated the Rájpút village of Súrajpúr, rejoicing in three headmen (lambardárs), by name Udat