108 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XIII, 



i 



Translation. 



(4) Below the roots are Bhikmati's chhani. 



In what country have you seen water at the top of a tree ? 



Answer. — The cocoanut. 



Note. 



I have translated the word ?^rsr as meaning " roots. 



?> 



But I have not been able to find out the meaning of the words 



Wrfr. The word f»wrf*i may be the name of some 



woman. It occurs again in the next riddle. 



This riddle is similar, in one respect, to the Parsee riddle 



about the cocoanut which is published at page 421 of the 



Bombay Anthropological Society's Journal, Vol. X. It is as 

 follows : — 



" Though there is water, there is no fish. Though there is a 

 >ky, there are no stars. Answer.— Cocoanut." 



The fact of the cocoanut's containing water inside it has 

 been pointed out in both the Sylhet and Parsee riddles as the 

 peculiar characteristic of this fruit 



W IT* fl?T 5TT* ^ WKMm II 



^tN: - trrsr i 



Translation. 

 (5) Below the roots is Bhikmati's tree. 



Although it does not bear flowers or fruits, it bears leaves all 

 the year round. 



Answer.— The betel -vine. 



Note. 



The meaning of the first line is obscure. As I have said 

 above, I have not been able to find out the meaning of the word 



f»J*frf?r • I have translated the word jj*t as meaning " /nwfc w 

 This riddle bears a striking similarity to the Hindi riddle 

 aoout the betel-creeper which has been' published by me at 

 page dU ol the Bombay Anthropological Society's Journal Vol . 

 VII. It is as follows :_ 



U 



(What is that) which neither bears fruits nor (lowers., but 



which is plucked by basketfuls ? " 

 Answer—The betel-creeper and its leaf. 



