THE SAORIAS OF THE RAJMAHAL HILLS. 



79 



makes a collection of offerings from each house. He puts these in a basket and carries 

 them outside the village, and leaves them to all devils, demons and maladies. He 

 then waves an egg round his head calling upon all devils and diseases not to enter 

 the village and throws it into the jungle. Then the feast begins, and, after the feast, 

 the dance. The girls crown themselves with flowers and dance with the men. Drink- 

 ing, feasting and general licentiousness prevail for three or four days. This is the sea- 

 son for new songs, and girls and young men give full play to their poetical powers. 



Song (Malto) 

 Tundi kiare pachia take 

 Tundi kiare purabe take 

 Qede bari tariki neken eta Chandi. 



Translation 



Again — 



Translation 



The western wind has come and gone, 

 The eastern wind has come and gone, 

 Who cares for weary feet and woe 

 Tell, O Chandi. tell ! 



Ejugen ayath are andila 

 Najugen abath are andilah 

 Iko chudi Maharani allengeno 

 Atundiya Chandi ? 



Our mothers saw not such a sight, 

 Our fathers saw not such a light, 

 Whence doth the white queen view 

 The radiance of the beacons bright 

 Tell, O Chandi, tell ! 



N.B. — This song was composed to commemorate the coronation bonfires of His 

 Majesty the King-Emperor ! — R. B. 



Koxra Gosain. 



In this case the pujah has its origin in illness, and the ceremony takes place a 

 year after the convalescence of the patient. The Tdllil Beddu and Pitta Beddn are 

 selected. A sow, patki taddi, three small earthern pots, and peacock feathers are 

 essential. The pujah takes place at the household hearth, the Demno being present. 

 The offerings are placed before the hearth with rice, sindur and oil. The ddru is 

 sprinkled and the Tdllil Beddu then cuts the sow's throat, and the animal's blood 

 is also sprinkled over the hearth and the offerings. The Demno quaffs the blood from 

 the severed neck ; the peacock feathers and the earthern pots are kept with the 



