174 K. B. Shaw— On tie GTialchah Languages. (Wakhi). [No. 2 



Tao napiis wazdei, ki yao kond nist. Ghafch khaffa vittei. I'maina 

 yao-an tu. Sa maina-an porstei : Tar-kum ragdei ? Maina khattei ki : 

 Da-kampir-an katti tagdei. Napiis khattei ki : Tsa-rang gon. Maina 

 khattei ki : " Wuz shahr ba-shahr gir-am shkur-am ; got-am-6 angiishtar 

 mar rand-ap." Yao khattei : Khhub, rach, tu waz amaz ma-bun. Maina 

 khattei, Wuz na bun- am. 



Maina ragdei, shkurdei ; sum sal shkurdei, gottei. Mir dhagd angush- 

 tar maina- 'r rattei. Maina yuttei kampir napus-ar rattei. Yao ba-dam-i- 

 Suleiman Paighambar kartei. Yao kond paida vittei, da khii murad mak- 

 sud gottei. 



Teaisslaticot of the FOEEaoisra Wakhi Tale. 

 There was an old woman. She had a grandson. One day her grandson 

 said : " Ask the King's daughter (in marriage) for me, (lit. arrange a 

 betrothal)." The old woman said : "He is a king, we are beggars ; will 

 he give his daughter (to you) ?" The grandson said : " Go thou ; the re- 

 sponsibility is on me." The old woman went (and) said : " I desire a 

 drawer of water"/* The king said: " Kick (her out). What dirt is she eat- 

 ing?" The king's servant kicked (her out). She went home. Again her 

 grandson sent (her), again she went to the king's house. "I desire a 

 drawer of water", she said. The king said to his Wazir : " Shall we kill 

 her, (or) what shall we do ?" The Wazir said : " Let us appoint a large 

 (full) marriage settlement. From that she will turn back (i. e. she will be 

 unable to comply with it)." The king said : " Good, appoint a marriage 

 settlement." He appointed a thousand rams, a thousand camels, a thousand 

 cows, a thousand ' yambus,'f a thousand brocade garments, a thousand satin 

 garments, a thousand silk garments, a thousand thorough-bred horses, a 

 thousand slaves, a thousand female slaves. The old woman became angry, 

 (and) went away. 



Her grandson asked : " Well, grandmother, how (go matters) ?" The 

 old woman said : " Thus and thus." The grandson replied : " It is agreed. 

 I am answerable." Her grandson drew on a ring and said : " Let so much 

 goods be all produced on this spot." With the breath of the Prophet Solo- 

 mon he drew it on. Every thing was produced. He sent people into the 

 presence of the king (saying), " I have made ready my arrangements, let the 

 king prepare his own." The king remained in astonishment. He asked 

 his Wazir : " What shall we do ?" The Wazir said : " We will now give 

 (the princess). No king has turned back from his promise." The king 

 said, " Take his preparations." The people went and brought the marriage 

 gift (of the bridegroom). The king was astounded. It could not be 



* Wakhi mode of asking for a wife. 



f A Chinese silver piece in the shape of a shoe, worth about £17 and current in 

 Eastern Turkistan. 



