132 J. Hinton Knowles— -Kashmiri Riddles. [No. 3, 
Pont , water. This word is used only by the Hindus. The Musal- 
mans invariably say dh. 
Woni, the shop-keeper is regarded by the people as the incarnation 
of all evil, and is therefore quoted here as the opposite of the dmddr 
man. Kashmiris have a saying:— Woni chhui poni hisarih tali , the 
shopkeeper is like water covered over with rice-chaff. 
28, Dulamih, duldmih mahanivyo , nar till chhai nah sang , 
Mdz clion hhandahdhar , adij chain rang. 
0 round man without arms or legs, 
Your flesh is like sweetmeat, your bones are coloured. 
Ans. Kharhuz (Pers. hharhuza), a musk melon, which is 
grown in great quantities all over the valley. It ripens about August. 
29, Sunah sandis talawas , rupali sanzali lanje. 
Arif an dup Zarif as “ yimah kami ganje ?” 
Silver branches stretched across (lit. to a) a golden ceiling. 
Arif said to Zarif, “ Who tied them ?” 
Ans. Zalarih sund zdl , a spider’s web. 
Arif and Zarif are corruptions of the Arabic Arif (wise) and 
Zarif (witty). The names are most uncommon in the valley. I only 
know of Arif Band (Hindust. Bhand) an actor. 
30, Vedrih manz wav has ? 
Shan retan raj has ? 
Who has the wind in the winter ? 
Who has the rule for six months only ? 
Ans. Kul , a tree. 
Trees in Kashmir flourish for six months only. The remaining half 
of the year they are bare and are supposed to feel the wind. 
31, Wanai zav 7 wanaipiydv ; 
Wanai wasit, nai&anih drdv. 
It was born in tho jungle ; it gavo birth in the jungle ; 
On coming from tho jungle, it went out to dance. 
Ans. Don , tho stick with which tho butter is churned. Vide ante 
Nos. 10, 81. 
32, Wuzul piyddah hardmzddah. 
A rascally rod messenger. 
Ans. Marat&awdngun , rod popper. 
This popper grows in tho valley, and is a very favourite spice with 
the people. It is compared with the piyddah , because it sometimes 
