An Appeal to Students of Indian Antiquities

In the light of the above record and with a view to providing the proposed Society of Antiquaries, when hereafter founded with a journal of established reputation, the Directors of the private company, formed to take over The Indian Antiquary from the sole proprietorship of Sir R. C. Temple, now appeal to all Indians and Englishmen interested in India's history to assist their object, either by becoming annual subscribers to the Journal, or by sending donations to be utilized in consolidating its future position and enlarging its scope. The annual subscription to the Journal is Rs. 20, and may be paid to The Superintendent, Indian Antiquary, British India Press, Mazagon, Bombay, or to Messrs. Bernard Quaritch, Ltd., 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. Donations may be sent to Lt.-Col. Sir R. C. Temple, Bart., [c/o Lloyd's Bank, Ltd. (Messrs. Henry S. King & Co.), 9, Pall Mall, London], who as chief editor and director will have the controlling voice in the management of the Indian Antiquary Ltd.

(Signed) R. C. TEMPLE,

R. E. ENTHOVEN,

S. M. EDWARDES,

Directors, Indian Antiquary Ltd.

THE JOURNAL

OF THE

ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY

OF

BOMBAY.

ON TWO BENGALI MEMORIAL RHYMES.

BY SARAT CHANDRA MITRA, Esq., M.A., B.L.

(Read on 6th June 1923.)

Jingles and other sayings in rhyme or rhythm, though they are considered to be meaningless by those who recite them, are considered by the scientific enquirer-the folklorist-to be fraught with much meaning and great interest. One kind of these sayings in rhyme has been named Memorial Rhymes by the European folklorists. They are stated to be "the natural expedient of unlettered folk for preserving the knowledge of anything deemed worthy of record or remembrance."1 Then again, it is further stated: "Most of our popular rhymes are concerned with the weather and the crops, with good and bad luck, and with observations of natural history. They form a vade-mecum for the conduct of affairs."2

The unlettered folk of Bengal has also adopted the aforementioned expedient for teaching their youngsters the rules of arithmetic. Whenever writing is unknown or very little used, verse has been found to be an excellent device for de

1 The Handbook of Folklore. By C, S. Burne. New edition, London, Sidgwick and Jackson, Ltd., 1914, page 289.

2 Op. cit., page 289.

creasing the burden which the memory has to bear. It is for this reason that the illiterate people of the countryside in Bengal, has embodied the arithmetical rules of numeration and subtraction in the form of Memorial Rhymes,' as will appear from the two undermentioned examples thereof :

DEVANĀGRĪ TEXT.

( १ )

1 The text in Bongali script of this memorial rhyme has been published at page 230 of kchukeumanir chhadā. By Jogindranath Sarkar, 6th edition, Calcutta City Book Society, 1326 B.S.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE PRECEDING

MEMORIAL RHYME.

(I)

1. Chikshu lāṭā.-There is a bell-metal receptacle for holding prepared betel-leaves in.

2. Two chakshus.-I pick up (the things) and keep them.

3. THREE chakshus.-There is a mare's egg.

4. FOUR chikshus.-The thing has been carried off (lit., taken over across the ditch).

5. FIVE chakshus.-(Let us) skip and dance.

6. SIX chikshus.-The girl has won the game (lit., has gained the victory).

7. SEVEN chakshus.-It is all over with him (lit., the pipkin has been thrown down).

8. EIGHT chakshus.-There is the meadow before the fort 9. NINE chakshus.-There is a dread of tigers.

10. TEN chakshus.-There is the juice of the date-palm.

11. ELEVEN chākshus.-There is a knot which can be very easily untied.

12. TWELVE chakshus.-Checkmate the king (in a game of chess).

NOTES.

The noteworthy features of the preceding memorial rhyme No. I, are:

(a) The meaning of the words, "chākshu lāṭā” (ay arar), which form the title of this rhyme, as also the first two words of the first line thereof, is unknown.

(b) The first word of every line of this rhyme is chakshu (r) which is followed (in the 2nd and suc