1917.] Riddles Current in the District of Sylhei. 109 



The fact of the betel-vine's bearing neither fruits nor flowers 

 but only leaves has been pointed out in both the Sylhet and 

 Hindi riddles as the peculiar characteristic of this plant. 



(i) jTk tft fam fafie fair ifTcr i 



Translation. 



(6) The iri iri plant has tiri tiri leaves. 

 The plant of the house (is) 24 cubits (king). 

 Answer. — The areca-palm. 



I am unable to make out the meanings of the words ^PCTft 



and f?lfrfafc as the gentleman, who has collected these riddles. 



has not given the same. 



( «) *T5TT*: wrek *ft#t} ?ctj fa?rpr ^ft I 



3ttc - ansrnnw ' 



Translation. 



(7) The mare belonging to the king's palace becomes old 

 after having foaled but once. 



Answer. — The plantain tree (Musa mpientum). 



Note . 



This riddle mentions the remarkable character of this tree, 

 namely, that it bears the bunch of fruits only once and that, there- 

 after, it becomes useless and is. therefore, cut down for the sak« 

 of the inmost pith of its trunk which is used as a culinan 

 vegetable. But the other distinguishing features of this tre< 

 are mentioned in the undemoted Hindi riddle No. 12 of my col- 

 lection published in the Bombay Anthropological Society - 

 Journal, Vol. VII. :— 



*t. is fr.Hn.tf which has onlv one flower, but hundredf 



(Wl 



of fruits ? " 



Answer. — The plantain tree. 



Also compare the above with the following Hindi riddle 

 forming No. 15 of my J.A.S.B. collection :— 



" Its leg is like a pillar ; its leaves are broad ; its fruit - 



hang down in bunches and its fruits are sweet, 

 Ans wear. — The plantain-tree. 



sit fqw *nfz *nft 



