164 



SPECIMENS OF THE 



[Extra No. 



Come, Eelaw, to the assembly, king and hero of song ; In this 

 assembly of young chiefs, take my speech and song, carry them to our war- 

 loving foes. "With propriety utter these few (lit. ten) words, answers 

 given categorically, (head on head). They are arrows, of which a ser 

 weighs a maund. Take them to Sobha, that he may listen to them, and 

 forget his former songs. He will, he says, take up the track of our 

 ancestors, be will distribute the paternal inheritance ; what shall I say to 

 the poet, to the cunning poet ? Let him give up mocking at the Rinds 

 and remember the former world. Say, brave Sobha, you are the bard of 

 the Khosas ; you took up the track in Makrau, the lands of the Kinds and 

 Lasharis. 



The Rinds and Lasharis together set out from the city of Kech. They 

 marched upon Harin, taking the land of the country and dividing it 

 among the brotherhood. We divided it by bows [i. e. a share to every one 

 armed with a khaman or bow). We and the Jatois were united. At the 

 border stream we separated into two parts, town and country we divided 

 into halves, distributing our substance by arrow-stems. One-fourth were 

 in Dhadar, we got our satisfaction in Khanpur, our dwelling was in an 

 irrigated country. This is our track and trace, the abode of the true Rinds, 

 a name exalted among chiefs. If you do not believe it, no one has seen it 

 with his eyes, there are no ancient documents forthcoming, there were no 

 witnesses to attest it, but there are tales upon tales, every one s&js that so 

 it was. 



I am right, Sobha, you are blind and deaf, nor is your footprint to be 

 found on the track. Fear to speak of the victory of Jawanak, take your 

 bribe quickly, for you are manifestly inventing falsehoods. To tell the 

 truth is the true custom ; falsehood is a blot upon honour. If you are 

 ready with a song, henceforth give your evidence, bring forth and show me 

 your documents. Come ! desist from any further poems, let alone the 

 Rinds of bygone days, and tell stories of the present times. Surround 

 yourself with men of understanding and lay to heart our traditions. 

 Sobha, you have past the time for leaping and flying, your youth is under 

 your feet, bare are the branches of your Tuba-tree. You were carried 

 away in battle with us, by the fury and force of our chief, you were 

 broken in gloriously. 



You were defeated by brave men, by the deeply-hating Chandyas, by 

 our friends of the Riinghan and Vidor torrents, by the mightj'' tigers of 

 Sanghar. Honour to the faithful hill-country, to the perfectly-brave 

 Muhammad Khan, jewel of the loyal Bozdars, with silken turbans and 

 garments, dwelling with.Umar Khan. 



A sure message I brought to our chief ' Those who have taken refuge 

 with me, have ceased to be with you in war. The Runghan, Kandor and 



