The legends of the Panjâb

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42 LEGENDS OE THE PANJAB.
continued his journey. By and by he came to a forest on fire,
and in the forest was a cricket in danger of being burnt up,
who called out to him,
" traveller, for God's sake, save me from the fire.''
And Eaja Easalu saved him from the fire. Then the cricket
pulled out one of his feelers, and said,
" Whenever you are in difficulties warm this hair in a fire,
and I will come and help you at once."
Said the Eaja, " What help can you give me " However
he kept the hair.
After a while Eaja EasalA reached the bank of another river,
where he found the Eani Chodhal sitting. She was the
daughter of ESja Sarkap, and asked him who he was, where
he came from, and where he was going.
Eaj^ Eas^lft replied, "My darling, I am come from Sialkofc
and am going to play chawpur with Eaja Sarkap."
"Play with me first," said Eani Chodhal, "and then go and
play with Eaja Sarkap."
But Eaja EasaM, said, " I cannot play with a woman, I am a
virtuous man."
Then Eani Chodhal said, " I have a riddle which you must
solve, or your head will be cut off."
" Have you ever cut off any one's head V said the Eajd,
" or am I to be the first "
" My father, EajS. Sarkap," said the EeLuI, " cuts off a head
every day, but I cut off ten heads
"
!
" Then go on with your riddle," said Eaja EasaM.
Then the Eani said
AiJi patan, nau leridn, cTiaudd ghumar-gJier !
Je tun, Rdjd, jati-sati hain, tan pdni Mine ser
Eight ferities, nine boats, fourteen whirl-pools !
If thou be virtuous and true, Eaj&, say how many sers of water
Answered the Eaja
Aih patan, nau hermn, chaudd ghumhar-gher !
Ambar tare gin dasin; main dasdi'i pdniitne ser!
Jitne ban b an pattar laJcn, pdni itne ser !