1884.] 
G. A. Grierson —The Song of Bijai Mai. 
141 
As long as that sandal tree remains fresli, so long know that the prince 
is living, (545) when the sandal tree withers know that the prince has 
been killed in battle.’* * * § Up rose sister-in-law Sonmati and said as she 
wept, ‘My prince, from to-day yon have begun to forget me.’ 
(550) Away went Prince Bijai, and Hichchhal flew away into the 
sky. He went and went till he arrived at the fortress in the mountains. 
The prince halted at Bawan’s tank. (555) Up rose the goddess Uurga 
and said, ‘ My Prince, thou art come into the enemy’s land. Here must 
you show subtilty. I am going to Bawan’s castle, and will show a 
dream to Chalhki.’f (560) Away went the goddess to Bawan’s castle, 
to where Ohalhki, the barber’s wife was sleeping. The goddess took 
the form of a cat, ‘ Hear, 0 Chalhki, the barber’s wife, Tilki’sJ father 
has had a tank dug, (565) and her brother has built the steps to it. 
Great skill § has been shown in building it. 0 Ohalhki, Tilki has never 
seen it, 0 Chalhki, shame upon her life’. When Debi had shown this 
dream, (570) she returned to prince Bijai. 
0 my gentlemen, now hear what happened to Chalhki. She went 
to where was the princess Tilki, and said, (575) ‘Hear, 0 Princess, I was 
asleep in my room, || and at night I saw a wondrous dream. O Princess, 
your father has dug a tank, and your brother the four flights of steps 
to it, (580) and you have never seen it. Come and bathe in it.’ When 
Tilki heard these words, she went to her mother, and her gaze fell upon 
her. (585) ‘ 0 daughter, have you abused or quarrelled with any 
one, that to-day you are come to me ?’ ‘ O mother, I have neither 
abused nor quarrelled with any one, but my father has dug a tank, a 
tank of great symmetry. (590) Mother, I would go and bathe in it. 
Mother, grant me permission to go. For this reason am I come.’ Up rose 
Queen Maina and said, ‘ 0 daughter, hear my words. (595) In the 
courtyard will I have a tank dug. In the courtyard will I have four 
flights of steps built. In the courtyard bathe thou, and go back to thy 
apartments. Daughter, to the tank (you mention) come merchants, 
and you will become enamoured of them. (600) You will get your 
father’s name laughed at. If your father or brother hear of it, they will 
kill me, and fill my skin with chaff.’ On hearing this Tilki (understood 
that) the queen had not given her leave, (605) and went away to her 
* n/ ‘ fie killed in fiattle’. 
f The maidservant of queen Maina. 
J Bijai’s wife, the daughter of Bawan Sufia. 
§ is long form of 
11 is long form of which is said to be the same as 
a little painted room,’ but the meaning of the word is very doubtful. 
