February, 1915.] Annual Address. XXXVii 
Bards, and they have both a literary and an historical inter- 
‘est; whereas, the latter are the products of different classes of 
people and their interest is only historical. 
If under the term ‘‘bardic poems’’ we comprehend all 
kinds of bardic poetry, we have here a literature which in- 
cludes works ranging from a single couplet to poems of eight 
to ten thousand verses. Its earliest products are isolated 
couplets, mostly anonymous, composed in a simple and often 
rude style and devoid of rhetorical embellishments. Some o 
6é 
In the year Samvat fifteen hundred and fifteen, on the 
eleventh of the month of Jyastha, on Saturday, Jodho built 
the fort Meharana.’’ 
“ In the year Samvat fifteen hundred and forty-five, on the 
second day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, on Saturday, 
Viko laid the foundation of Bikaner.’’ 
Here is another specimen, which celebrates the wonderful 
rapidity with which the Rathors established themselves in 
Rajputana and Gujarat after the fall of Kanauj under Maho- 
medan invaders : 
ee 
taking forces for some expedition, the Rathors seized 
the Gohils by the neck and took from them Kher, with the 
Power of their sword. Further, they spread their oath (i.e., 
tule) over Idar and Sankhadar and took the nine Castles of 
Marwar along with Sam. Thus, sword in hand, the Rathors 
deprived of their power many other kings. And this was done 
by the three of the Rathor Siho of the Solar Dynasty, namely 
Asathama, Soninga and Aja.’’ 
ere is a class of these traditional songs, which is known 
under the title of ‘‘ Sakh Ra Geeta ’’ or “‘ testimonial songs,’” 
and they are quoted in prose chronicles as evidence of the cor- 
Tectness of the facts related. Here, again, when these testi- 
