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Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [February, 1907. 



with a golden water-pot appeared on tlie opposite shore, and Agu 

 dPalle asked her where tbe castle of the king of Groyul was, and 

 whether the expected daughter had been bom io him or not. 

 The girl asked in return what he wanted to do with the king and 

 his daughter and advised him to flj across the water or to swim 

 through it. dPalle went wading through it, but a short distance 

 before reaching the shore, he pretended to be carried away by the 

 current, and the girl ran to his assistance. She said that she was 

 the daughter of the kingf of Groyul^ but that she was not willing 

 to show the way to the Castle, as she was afraid he would revenge 

 himself on her (for having been unkind to him). dPalle spent 

 the night in the house of two field labourers, and when all the 

 Agus had arrived, he went with them before the kingf of Groyul, 

 and demanded his dautrhter as bride for Sky aba ryodpo. The 

 king said that he would give her to him who was able to point her 

 out, when she was in the company of one hundi^ed other girls. 

 Agu dPalle was able to do that, for Ane hkiir dmanmo, the Queen 

 of Heaven, who had taken the shape of a golden fly, descended 

 on the forehead of the king*s daughter, thus showing whom he 

 must point out. The king of Groyul, however, was not yet ready 

 to part with his daughter, and said, he would give her to him who 

 could eat one hundred carcasses at a sit down. This feat was 



r 



performed by Agu Grodpa cJie (great stomach) who even ate the 

 bones of the animals. Then the king said, he would give his 

 daughter to him who was able to carry one hundred jugs of water 

 from the sea to the castle within a day. This was done by the 

 Agus Lag lag rings (Long hand) and rkang rkang rings (Long 

 leg). Then there was still a delay ; for the wedding was post- 

 poned, until the uncle of the bride had arrived and the Nyopas ^ 

 were brought together. The uncle arrived after thirty days and 

 the Nyopas spent seven days with singing the Ritual and three 

 days with singing the Drinking Song.^ 



Before the Agus started with the bride, Agu dPalle, in a song, 

 Remanded the bridal presents which were presented. Also the 

 treasures of the castle followed after the bride, but a portion of 

 them was returned to her relations. In the desert, Agu dPalle 

 provided the party with water, which he dug out of a moist spot. 

 Agu hhrai mgo khrai thtmg was sent in advance, to prepare the 

 people of ginng for the event. They came with many Nyopas to 

 meet the bride. Then there was a second wedding feast, and the 

 country remained in a happy state. 



I Nyopas are the honorary buyers of the bride : see ' A Lower Ladakh J 

 Alarriage iiitual,' Indian Antiquary, 1901. 



2901* ^^^ ' "^'^^ Drinking Songs of Khalutse,' Tibetan Text, printed at Leh, 



*^ 



V . J- 



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