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ON THE FESTIVALS AND FOLKLORE OF GILGIT. 125 



the box was floating quite close to the bank, and thinking that it might contain some 

 treasure, one of them jumped into the river and brought it ashore. Thinking it better- 

 to open the box in their house, they concealed it in a bundle of wood and carried it 

 home. There they opened it ; but to their and their mother's great surprise, a lovely 

 infant was found in it still alive. Their mother brought up this outcast child with every 

 care. The family was in straitened circumstances, but after the arrival of the child they 

 grew richer and richer, and they considered his arrival the cause of their prosperity. 

 When the infant was six years of age he began to talk freely with his foster mother, 

 who now related to him the story of his appearance among them, and their becoming 

 more prosperous since his arrival. When Trakhan reached his twelfth year he wished 

 to see the Gilgit district, of which he had heard a great deal, specially in respect of its 

 fertility. So he set out for the place accompanied by his foster brothers. He stayed for 

 a few days on Harali, a hill to the north of Gilgit which has a flat stretch of land called 

 " Baldas " on its top. This was cultivated in those days, as the water-supply (which 

 has now dried up) was sufficient, and there existed a small village on the spot. 



The mother of Trakhan was still the ruler of Gilgit, but had then fallen dangerously 

 ill. The people were therefore in search of another competent Ra from any of the 

 neighbouring districts, as there was no one left of the ruling family of Gilgit. One early 

 morning when the village cocks began to crow, the birds, instead of the usual noise of 

 Kukroonkoon, uttered the following words, to the great astonishment and delight of 

 the people, " Beldas tham bayi" (there is a king at Baldas). Men were at once sent 

 thence to bring down any stranger they happened to find. The three brothers were seen 

 by them and captured and forcibly carried before the queen. Trakhan was handsome 

 and stately in appearance, and the queen therefore addressed him, and asked him 

 to relate the reason of his undertaking this journey, and inquired of his country and his 

 birth. He related all his history at full length, and she found, to her extreme surprise 

 and joy, that the boy then speaking was her own son, whom she had so mercilessly 

 thrown into the river, when her mind was disturbed by the murder of her brothers. She 

 then embraced Trakhan and proclaimed him the rightful ruler and heir to the chiefship 



of Gilgit. 



Trakhan and a Crow. 



On a certain day, it is said, Trakhan, the strongest and the proudest Ra of Gilgit, 

 was sitting on the banks of a water-channel in the midst of an assembly of his 

 followers. There he told them that there was no one in the world equal to him in bravery 

 and strength. While he was thus boasting, a crow happened to pass over his head and 

 soiled him. He turned very angry at the impudent action of the crow, and ordered his 

 followers to catch it at once by any means possible. The bird having been pursued by so 

 many men, flew away towards the village of Manawar, and from thence towards Danyore 

 across the Gilgit river; but seeing that the gathering did not quit its pursuit, it 

 escaped towards the Danyore Nullah. There a woman was washing the flesh of a 

 markhor. The pursuers took from her a piece or two of the flesh, and by the help of this 

 meat they succeeded in seizing the poor bird. It was brought before their R&, who 

 indignantly asked the bird to explain the cause of its conduct towards a king of Gilgit. 



Mem. A.S.B. 



