The legends of the Panjâb

VI
PREFACE.
the folktale are constructed on precisely the same lines as far
as the pure story goes, even where the former is fastened on to
really historical characters and mixed up with the harrative
of hona fide historical facts. The folktale is very often in fact a
mere scene, or jumble of scenes, to be found in the poem, where
only the marvellous story has been remembered, while the names
and surroundings of the actors to whom it was attributed
has been forgotten. Hence, again, I would urge the importance
of accurately and comprehensively collecting popular poems
wherever found.
In some ways it is an easier matter to collect versified
legends than folktales, for, having caught your bard, all you
have to do is to take down what he says, whereas it is only
from the lips of many witnesses, and after the exercise of infinite
patience, that you get your folktale. But it is not nearly such
interesting work, and hence, perhaps, the reason that the latter
has found so many more votaries. The folktale is always
quaint, interesting and pretty, for that is why it has been
remembered, and did it not possess these qualities, children and
rustics would rapidly cease to retain it, whereas the bard's
poem is remembered and appreciated for quite other reasons.
He sings at stated festivals, on great occasions of conventional
enjoyment, and for remuneration, being often paid according
to the amount he knows and the time it takes him to get
through his repertory.
Consequently his recitations are prosy,
long drawn out and full of irritating and uninteresting
repetitions,
but they are valuable in so far as the inflexible nature
of their matrix, as it were, has obliged generation after generation
to reiterate the same stories in much the same words.
How
closely the modern legend repeats in form, that of the classics
on the same subject may be seen by a comparison of the
stories of Nala and Damayanti (Raja Nal) and of Bhatrihari
(Raja Gopi Chand) and of the Holocaust of Snakes
(Princess
Niwal Dai) as found in these volumes and in the classical
authorities.
In a country like the Panj4b the process of the bardic
legend breaking down into the ordinary folktale is constantly