1870.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society . 115 



" them, it is almost impossible to decide many of the disputes 

 11 that daily arise. * * * A knowledge of the popular tradition 

 " gives to its possessor both influence over the people, and the key 

 "to their hearts." A little kindness shewn on the part of the 

 enquirer, makes villagers talkative ; they are pleased to see their 

 stories appreciated, and remember forgotten details quicker than the 

 pencil can write. They willingly place their time and services to 

 the disposal of the enquirer, and to take down their traditions is 

 more a pleasure than an antiquarian task.* 



In this note I have restricted myself to a few remarks on Madd- 

 ran and Panduah. The legends are entirely derived from Muham- 

 madans, with whose dialect and mode of thinking I am more 

 familiar. 



I. — Mada'ran. 



In reading over Stirling's Report on Orissa, in the XVth 

 volume of the Researches of our Society, I came across the following 

 passage (p. 284) : — 



' Whilst Pertab Rudra Deo, king of Orissa, was occupied in 

 repelling or provoking the attacks of the Muhammadans of the 

 Dekhan, the Afghans from Bengal made an inroad into the province in 

 great force. They advanced as far as Katak, and pitched their 

 camp in the neighbourhood of the city, when the Governor Anant 

 Singhar finding himself unable to oppose any eifectual resistance, 

 took refuge in the strong fortress of Sarangarh, south of the 

 Katjtiri.' 



Stirling then goes on relating how the Bengal Muhammadans 

 plundered Katak and Puri, but failed to secure Sri Jeo, the 

 national idol of Orissa. Rajah Pertab at last came from the 

 Dak'hin and defeated them in a battle, which crippled him, however, 

 so much that he was glad to conclude a peace nearly on the enemy's 

 terms. The Muhammadans then returned to Bengal. 



* Some villagers do know bow to tell a tale. Their ease and fluency of 

 speech has indeed often astonished me. No amount of cross-questioning 

 will confound them. The Lexicographist even may learn from them, and en- 

 rich the margin of his dictionary with new words and phrases. To give only 

 one example. In Panduah, I heard at least five times on one day different 

 people use o*Al& slidhat in the sense of saltanat, rule, government, an Indo- 

 Persian word not to be found in our dictionaries. 



