1917. J Biddies ( fir rent in the District of Sylkei. 107 



(I). Vegetable Products. 



m^K zei^k ^rfe U$t *rm "T* ^R^T I 



Translation. 



(1) The thing, of which the name consists of three letter** 

 becomes delicious (to eat) when it is fried. 



If you omit the midmost letter ra (t), its name becomes 



fa^TT) which means " plantain" 

 Answer. — The harala or the fr 



Momor 



dica charantia (Order Cucurbitacece) . It is bitterish in taste 

 and possesses, according to the Ayurveda, medicinal properties. 

 It is, therefore, esteemed as a culinary vegetable in Bengal and 

 Bihar. The smaller variety is called udihe and botanically 

 known as M. muricata. 



W cr% m£t ^r^ wit w«r s^Ct ret i 



i 



Translation. 



(2) Below (her) is the earth ; above (her) is the earth ; in 

 the middle is a beautiful girl. 



Answer. — The turmeric. It is likened to a beautiful girl 

 on account of its beautiful yellow colour. 



Translation. 



(3) Although it possesses ten heads, it is not Ravana (the 

 demon King of Lanka who had ten heads). It is produced in 

 the months of Asadh (June-July) and Sravana (July-August). 



Answer.— The ' jhinga or the fruit of the creeper Luffo 

 ucutangula (Order Cucurbitacece) which comes into season during 

 the rains. It is esteemed as a culinary vegetable both in 

 bengal and Bihar. 



Note. 



(fi*C) 



means both ' the head ' as also ' a vein ' or ' a raised ridge.' The 

 jhinga has ten veins or raised ridges on its peel. Therefore it 

 has "been called da6aiir (W**) which means both " possessed of 

 fe» raised ridges " as also ' ; ten-heade.l t " which latter epithet is 

 "pplicable to the demon-king Ravana. 



