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 MARCH 1, 1872.]

87

THE DARDS.

morates, is not devoid of interest either from an historical or a purely literary point of view —

“Once upon a time there lived a race at Ghilgit

monster that ruled over it.

However, this intention

was confined to the two elder ones.

The three

strangers were brothers, and none of them had been

Whether they sprung

born at the same time. It was their intention to make

from the soil or had immigrated from a distant

Azru Shamsher, the youngest, Rājā of Ghilgit, and, in order to achieve their purpose, they hit upon the following plan. On the already noticed prairie, which is called Didingé, a sportive calf was gainbol ling towards, and away from, its mother. It was the pride of its owner, and its brilliant red colour could

whose origin is uncertain.

region is doubtful ; so much is believed that they were Gayupí, i. e., spontaneous aborigines, un known.

Over them ruled a monarch who was a

descendant of the evil spirits, the Yach, who terrorized over the world.

His name

was Shiri

be seen from a distance. ‘Let us see who is the badat, and he resided at a castle in front of which best marksman, exclaimed the eldest, and saying was a course for the performance of the manly game of Polo. His tastes were capricious, and in. this, he shot an arrow in the direction of the calf, but missed his aim. The second brother also tried every one of his actions his fiendish origin could be to hit it, but also failed. At last, Azru Shamsher, discerned. The natives bore his rule with resigna tion, for what could they effect against a monarch who took a deep interest in the sport, shot his arrow, at whose command even magic aids were placed 2 which pierced the poor animal from side to side and However, the country was rendered fertile, and killed it. The brothers, whilst descending, congra round the capital bloomed attractive gardens. tulated Azru on his sportsmanship, and on arriving “The heavens, or rather the virtuous Peris, at at the spot where the calf was lying, proceeded to last grew tired of his tyranny, for he had crowned cut its throat and to take out from its body the his iniquities by indulging in a propensity for titlits, namely, the kidneys and the licer. cannibalism. This taste had been developed by an “They then roasted these delicacies, and invited accident. One day his cook brought him some Azru to partake of them first. He respectfully de mutton broth, the like of which he had never clined, on the ground of his youth, but they urged tasted. After much inquiry as to the nature him to do so, “in order,’ they said, ‘to reward you of the food on which the sheep had been for such an excellent shot.’ Scarcely had the meat brought up, it was eventually traced to an old touched the lips of Azru when the brothers got up, woman, its first owner. She stated that her child and vanishing into air, called out, ‘Brother you have touched impure food, which Peris never should and the sheep were born on the same day, and los eat, and we have made use of your ignorance of this ing the former, she had consoled herself by suckling the latter. This was a revelation to the tyrant. law, because we want to make you a human being” who shall rule over Ghilgit ; remain therefore at He had discovered the secret of the palatability of the broth, and was determined to have a never Doyur.” Azru, in deep grief at the separation, cried, ending supply of it. So he ordered that his kit ‘Why remain at Doyur, unless it be to grind corn ? chen should be regularly provided with children of “Then,' said the brothers, go to Ghilgit.” “Why," was the reply, “go to Ghilgit, unless it be to work a tender age, whose flesh, when converted into broth, would remind him of the exquisite dish he in the gardens º' ‘No, no,' was the last and con had once so much relished. This cruel order was soling rejoinder ; “you will assuredly become the carried out. The people of the country were dis king of this country, and deliver it from its mer mayed at such a state of things, and sought slight ciless oppressor.' No more was heard of the de ly to improve it by sacrificing, in the first place, all parting fairies, and Azru remained by himself, en orphans and children of neighbouring tribes | The deavouring to gather consolation from the great mission which had been bestowed on him. A tyrant, however, was insatiable, and soon was his cruelty felt by many families at Ghilgit, who were villager met him, and, struck by his appearance, offered him shelter in his house. Next morning he compelled to give up their children to slaughter. “Relief came at last. At the top of the mountain went on the roof of his host's house, and calling Ko, which it takes a day to ascend, and which over out to him to come up, pointed to the Ko mountain, on which, he said, he plainly discerned a wild goat. looks the village of Doyur, below Ghilgit, on the other side of the river, appeared three figures. They The incredulous villager began to fear he had har boured a maniac, if no a worse character ; but Azru looked like men, but much more strong and hand some. In their arms they carried bows and arrows, shot off his arrow, and, accompanied by the villager (who had assembled some friends for pro and turning their eyes in the direction of Doyur, they perceived innumerable flocks of sheep and tection as he was afraid his young guest might cattle grazing on a prairie between that village and be an associate of robbers, and lead him into a trap), the foot of the mountain. The strangers were went in the direction of the mountain. There, to fairies, and had come [perhaps from Nagyrº) to be sure, at the very spot that was pointed out,

this region with the view of ridding Ghilgit of the

though many miles distant, was lying the wild


 * Eating meat was the process of “incarnation.