Buddhistic and Mos- lem influ- ences, 774 BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. [ Chap. tion. For selfish reasons her husband comes re- luctantly at a certain crisis to obtain her permission for undertaking a sea voyage, promising her, as a reward, a necklace of pearls, a fine pair of shell- bracelets and vermilion to adorn her forehead. But she answers, “ You are my necklace of pearls ; you are my shell-bracelets and vermilion mark ; I do not want any other. Only take me with you my husband, | shall be at your bidding and be happy.” These stories are interspersed with songs in language which is generally very antiquated. Many facts about old Hindu society and about the sea-voyages undertaken by the merchants of Ben- gal are to be found in these stories; and there are other elements which indicate Bhuddistic influences, such as instances of the wonderful powers of Siddhas, and descriptions of Tantrick rites. There are some stories on which Mahomedan influence has evi- dently left its impress, as for instance in the story of Madhumala, the introduction of fairies is certainly no creation of the Hindu fancy. The songs with which those stories abound are sung to the favourite village metre known as Bhaual sara. This rythem and cadence ts peculiar- ly distinctive of Bengal ; it has nothing to do with the refined melodies of Sanskrit or Persian music. There are six Ragas and thirty six Raginies—42 chief scales or musical modes of the Hindus ; but the Bhatial svrva is not included in the range of this higher musical system. Bhatial is the cadence of the rustics, and its plaintive and appealing notes, so unassuming and simple, go straight to the heart and create their own pathos, without possess- ing any of those niceties of sound which charac- |
