142 
Bilidr Legends and Ballads. 
[No. 2, 
been governed by sovereigns of the lowest castes, such as Dosad, 
Gwalas, goldsmiths, palki bearers, &c. Whether they are the 
ancestors of the present rajahs and zammdars, most of whom are 
generally suspected to have surreptitiously assumed the title of 
Rajputs, it is difficult to say. 
The ballad is very long. How so many manage to commit it 
to memory is not a little marvellous. I will abbreviate it as much 
as possible without omitting peculiarities of manners and customs 
of the period which it records. 
Lurik who belonged to the Gwala caste, was a giant in strength 
and courage. He was a native of Gaur and was a favourite of the 
goddess Durga. One morning at day-break, his wife Manjar 
accidentally sees him dallying with the daughter of the Rajah of 
his native village, named Sahadeb Mahara, a bearer by caste. 
Manjar being versed in astrology, consults her books, and learns 
therefrom that Lurik is to run away with the Rajah’s daughter 
on that very night. While she washes his feet on his return 
home, she sheds some unconscious tears on his legs, and is asked 
the cause thereof. She replies that her tears and smiles cannot 
affect him, when his heart lies enchained at the feet of his mistress. 
She tells her motlier-iu-law the misfortune that is to overtake the 
family that night, and requests her to defer the time for supper 
by pounding the rice again and again, and preparing a large number 
of dishes. A considerable portion of the night is passed in this way, 
and nearly at day-break the family retire to rest, when the wife binds 
Lurik in her own clothes, and the mother spreads her bed so as to 
bar the only outlet from the cottage. According to previous arrange¬ 
ment, the Rajah’s daughter, named Chanain, comes out of the palace 
bearing in her hand a patara full of jewels and coins ; and not finding 
Lurik under the large tree where they had agreed to meet, marks it 
with five red spots, and advancing a few steps, calls on Durga for 
aid. The goddess promises to bring Lurik and to prolong the 
night seven times if it be necessary for the purpose. The goddess 
calls at his house, and tells him to join his mistress without delay, 
but he pleads his inability to do so, owing to the precautions 
taken by his wife and mother. Durga unties all the knots with 
which he has been bound in the arms of his wife, and after separ- 
