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 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

14

Ramazan, but seems to be generally on the sixth of February. It is called the “ Shino nao,” “the new day of the Shin people.” The Ghil gitis call the day “Shino bazóno,” the spring of the Shin people. The year, it will be re membered, is divided into bazono, spring ; walo, summer; shero, autumn ; yono, winter. The snow is now becoming a little softer, and out-of door life is more possible. The festivities are kept up for twelve days. Visits take place, and man and wife are invited out to dinner during that period. Formerly when the Shins had a Raja or Nawab of their own it used to be the custom for women to dance during those twelve days. Now the advent of the sipahis, and the ridiculous pseudo-morality of the Kashmir rule have introduced a kind of pardah, and the chaste

[JANTARY 5, 1872.

Shin women do not like to expose themselves to strangers. Then there is the Nauroz which is celebrated for three, and sometimes for six days. There are five great holidays in the year: The 'Id of IRamazan. The Shin-Ö-Nao. The Naoroz. Kurbani 'Id.

The Kūy Nāo,"

Astori.

Dümniká

Ghilgiti.

}

On the last-named holiday the game of Polo

is played, good clothes are put on, and men and women amuse themselves in public meetings. The Shin people are very patriotic. Since the Maharaja's rule, many of their old customs have died out, and the separation of the sexes is becoming greater.

From V a lab hi. From Bha ficed his own interests as if they

táraka the great Māheshvarat who obtained greatness by a hundred wounds received in

were as worth less as straw, by his readiness to extend protec tion from danger to those who sought an

the midst of a circle of friends of match

asylum with him, and, who delighted the

less might, who, with main force, had sub jugated their enemies, who won the attachment

hearts of learned men, friends and favourites, by

[of kings] by his gifts, respectful treatment and equable conduct—the results of that ness—who, by the power of the kings tached to him, obtained sovereignty, and royal race is unbroken,_sprang Shri;

great so at whose Guha

sena the great Máheshvara,_who had all his sins washed away by bowing at the lotus-like feet of his motherandfather—who, sword in hand, from his childhood manifested great prowess, by breaking the ranks of the maddened ele phants of his enemy, the rays of the nails of whose feet were mixed with the light of the crown jewels of the enemies laid prostrate

giving them more wealth than was asked, and who was the very incarnate [moving on legs] delight of the whole extent of the world. His son was Shri Dharasena the great Má heshrara whose stains of sins were wholly

washed away by the water of the Ganga" in the shape of the rays from the nails of his father's feet,_whose wealth was fed on by hundreds of thousands of favourites, who was resorted to as it were, out of love for his beauty, by many

acquired virtues, who astonished all archers by his innate power and acquired skill,—who con tinued the charitable grants made by former

kings, who averted the evils destructive to his [at his feet] by his valour, who delighted suljects, who showed himself to be the com the hearts of his subjects by excellently pro mon abode of Shrif and Saraswati,i-whose

tecting them, thoroughly, according to the me

exploits placed him in the enjoyment of the

thod prescribed in the Smritis, and thus

wealth and power of his united enemies, and who, by his exploits, obtained unsullied royal digni ty. His son was Shīlāditya, the great Má

rendered his title of Raja literally true, who in beauty, lustre, firmness, depth, genius and

wealth, excelled Kama,S the moon, the King of mountains," the ocean, the perceptor of the Gods,” and the Lord of wealth,tt—who sacri
 * Is celebrated in Autumn when the the fruit and corn

ave become ripe.

+ Devotee of Maheshvara or Shiva. The Valabhi kings

probably belonged to the Māheshvara Sect. I This is an honorific, prefixed to the names of kings. § The God of Love. -
 * [Himalaya.
 * Law-books.

heshvara, who meditated on his father's feet,_ who filled the circle of all the quarters by extra

ordinary virtues which were united in him, and ++ Kubera.
 * Brihaspati.
 * The water of the Gangá is white, according to Hindu

poets, and rays of light are also white; hence the resemblance. + The Goddess of wealth.
 * Goddess of learning. These two are supposed always

to live apart.