The legends of the Panjâb

"
THE LEGEND OF SILA DAt. 249
Jo ghore daryai hath five tere,
To bach jage jan, laj bahotere 1 '
Mahita.
45 " 5ukm karo bulaeke^ bhejo khas dalal :
Pahile dam chukAeke, phir kharido nial.
Phir kharido mh\, Raja, jo chahe so lejo.
Jitne dam lageii ghorofi ko jara khauf na kijo."
Eaja Basfilu.
" Sun, Mahitd sahukar ke, tu hai taeva yar.
50 Tere bin& sarta nahin aur kisi se kar.
JahaD chukao wahm bhej di\ii
chitthi se, bhav lijo,
Jo jananwale achhe hon un bin chhantke lijo.
Kar karo mera, lo sawarran to;-e ;
Turn jao, Eattasnagar hain ghoife.
If there be sea-horses* with thee,
Thy life will be saved and much land (to thee) !' "
Mahitd.
45 " Order and send for them, send your private dealer.
First settle the price and then buy the property.
Then buy the property, Eaja, take what you want;
Be not afraid of the price of the horses."
Eaja Easalu.
"Listen, Mahita, thou merchant's son: thou art my
friend.
60 No one but you can do this job (for me).
Wherever you settle the price I will send (the money)
by letter ; take your fill.
Choose out those that are good goers.
Do my business {for me), take platters (full)
Go to Eattasnagarf where the horses are.
of gold.
* The expression is here used evidently for a fabulous horse. It
means usually the hippopotamus.
t This place ocouring under several names in this poem must be the
celebrated fort of Rotas in the Jhelam District built by Sher Shah Sftr
(1540-1545 A. D.) a fact •which points to the modern nature of the -whole
legend. The horses to bo got there appear to have reference to the
once famous breed of Dhanni horses from the Jhelam District.