Introduction p. XXIII Acknowledgments p. XLIX From North Indian Notes & Queries 1892 The Banya Boy and his Four Wives--Told by Lachhman Ahir, a Cultivator at Mirzapur p. 1 The Saint Bo Ali p. 4 The Story of the Jinn--A Folktale told by Rahmat, Weaver of Mirzapur p. 5 How the Needle succeeded in killing the Tiger--A Folktale told by Ram Tahal Kahar, a Cultivator of Mirzapur Burial-ground Ghosts p. 9 The Legend of Hemavati p. 10 The Death of Banu Begam, Mumtaz-i-Mahal, the Lady of the Taj at Agra--Infant crying in the womb p. 9 p. 10 Sneezing--Omens from p. 10 How the Ahir got the better of the Demon and acquired a Wife--A folktale recorded by E. David, a Native Christian of Mirzapur, from the life of an old Muhammadan Cookwoman p. 11 The Legend of the Dhorawat Tank p. 13 Bombay--Expulsion of a Devil p. 13 Hindu Superstition p. 14 Faizabad--Akbar and the Bridge Builder p. 14 The Story of Murdan Khan and the Daughter of the Jinn, told by Fateh, a weaver of Mirzapur p. 15 Throbbing of Eyes p. 17 Bhimsen--A Legend of--spirits scared by dawn p. 18 The Golden-haired Rani and the Jogi p. 18 Saharanpur--The Legend of a Famine p. 20 Treading on Heel Ropes p. 21 Peculiarities of the Jinn p. 21 The Legend of Raja Nala p. 21 The Four Princes and the Four Fairies--A Folktale told by Maulavi Karmud-din Ahmad of Mirzapur p. 23 The Crow and the Sparrow--A Folktale recorded by Maulavi Karm-ud-din Ahmad of Mirzapur p. 25 A Cure for Piles p. 26 Gaya--Charms to procure Offspring p. 26 Montgomery--The Legend of Dipalpur p. 26 Calcutta--A Folk Etymology p. 27 Gya--Chand Haji--The Saint p. 27 The King's Son and his Fairy Bride.--A Folktale told by Abdulla, a Weaver of Mirzapur p. 28 Changes in the Courses of Rivers--Salivahana and the Saint Farid-ud-din Shakkarganj p. 31 The Tricks of Shekh Chilli (told by an Ayah) p. 31
Jinns and Europeans p. 32 The Brahman's Sons and the Gusain (told by Lachhman Ahir, a cultivator of Mirzapur) p. 32 1893 The Black Partridge p. 35 Lalitpur--A Tank which cured Dropsy p. 35 The Tricks of Shekh Chilli p. 35 Diamonds at Panna--Legend of p. 36 The Princess who got the gift of Patience--A Folktale told by an old Muhammadan Cookwoman, and recorded by E. David, Native Christian, Mirzapur p. 36 Jalandhar--Rural Superstitions p. 38 The Dahani Firang Stone p. 39 Mirzapur--A Swinging Elephant p. 39 Battle-field Ghosts p. 40 Garhwal--Shaving p. 40 Farrukhabad--A Fort supplied with Oil p. 40 Gaya--The Legend of Kunwar Bijai Mall p. 40 Mirzapur--Threshing-floor superstition p. 42 How the Washerman's Ass became a Qazi--A Folktale told by Shekh Abdulla of Mirzapur p. 42 Another Version of the Fairy Gift Legend p. 43 Irich--Legend of p. 43 The Excellent Qualities of the Plant Mundi p. 43 The School of Love--A Folktale collected by Munshi Karam-ud-din of Mirzapur p. 44 Upturned City--Legend of a Human Sacrifice--Cannibalism p. 45 The Tricks of Shekh Chilli p. 46 King Akbar and the donkey--a folktale told by Baldeo Prasad, village accountant of Haliya, Mirzapur District p. 46 Jalandhar--Superstitions about Cattle p. 47 A Folktale told by Jumai, a village Julaha in South Mirzapur p. 48 Jalandhar--Rural Medicinal Treatment--Unlucky Names p. 49 The Magic Ring of the Lord Solomon--A Folktale recorded by Maulavi Karamud-din Ahmad p. of 50 Mirzapur The Pranks of Hop-o'-my-Thumb--A Folktale told by Karam-ud-din of Mirzapur p. 52 Shekh Chilli and his Gram Field p. 53 Phulmati Rani--A Folktale told by Ganesh Prasad, Kayasth, cultivator of Mirzapur District The Faqir and Sher Shah--A Folktale told by Baldeo Prasad, Village Accountant of Haliya, Mirzapur District p. 54 p. 55 The Man who fought with God--A Folktale told by Rahmat, a Weaver of Mirzapur p. 56 Princess Pomegranate (Anar Shahzadi)--A Folktale told by M. Karam-ud-din Ahmad of Mirzapur p. 58 The Tasks of the Witch-Queen--A Folktale recorded by M. Karam-ud-din Ahmad of Mirzapur p. 60
The Merchant, the Princess and the Grateful Animals--A folktale related by Altaf Husen, and literally translated by Mirza Mahmud Beg p. 62 How the Jackal got the Weaver married--a Folktale told by Akbar Shah, Manjhi of Manbasa, p. 69 Dudhi, Mirzapur District, recorded by Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube How the Manjhi won his wife--a Folktale told by Akbar Shah, Manjhi of Manbasa, Dudhi, Mirzapur District, recorded by Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube p. 71 The Brahman and Mother Ganges--A Folktale told by Akbar Shah, Manjhi of Manbasa, Dudhi, p. 71 Mirzapur District, recorded by Pandit Ram Gharib Chaube The Tiger, the Brahman, and the covetous Goldsmith p. 73 Kumaon-Folklore p. 74 The Rival Queens p. 77 The Four Fools p. 79 The Tale of Four Fools--(para. 66) p. 82 The Frog and the Snake p. 84 Mr. Good and Mr. Evil p. 84 The White Witch p. 85 The Lament for Sobhan p. 87 How silly a Woman can be p. 87 The Parrot, and the Maina p. 91 The Prince and the Sadhu p. 92 The Manjhi Girl and the Bamboo p. 94 The Goat and the Tiger p. 95 The Piety of the Brahman p. 96 The Brahman and the Snake p. 97 The Faithful Mungoose p. 98 The Master-Thief p. 100 The Master-thief p. 103 The Valiant Weaver Bird p. 105 The Sepoy's Son p. 107 The Wit of the Four Brothers p. 110 The Cunning of the Lala p. 113 Shekh Chilli in love p. 114 The Raja and the Sadhu p. 114 The Judgment of the Jackal p. 115 Ganga Ram the Parrot p. 115 The Disguised Princess p. 117 The King and the Fairy p. 119 The King and his secret p. 121 The Fate of the Raja of Chandrapur p. 122 How the Qazi's wife became a widow p. 123 How the Soldier's Wife foiled her Lovers p. 124 Lal Bahu, the Red Wife p. 125
The Sparrow and the Shell p. 126 The Raja and the Musahar Girl p. 127 The Tale of Princess Phulande p. 128 The Princess and the Cat p. 130 What's in a Name? p. 131 The Cow and the Tigress p. 132 The best thing in the world p. 134 The Mischievous Boy--A Folktale from Kumaun p. 135 Mr. Knowall--A Folktale from Kumaun p. 135 The Lady who became a Cat p. 136 The Opium-eater and the Demons p. 138 The Wisdom of Birbal p. 140 The Kingdom of the Mice p. 141 The Perfumer and the Rustics p. 143 The Advice of the Rajput p. 143 The Height of Laziness p. 143 The Gallant Young Buffalo p. 144 The Advice of the Sadhu p. 145 The Prince who became a Kol p. 147 How the Sadhu went Athieving p. 149 The Tale of Tismar Khan p. 151 The Pandit and the Daughter of the Wazir p. 152 The Amir and the Singer p. 153 The Amir and the Kathak p. 153 The Physician and his Son p. 153 1894 The Half-married Daughter of the Gardener p. 154 The Elixir of Youth p. 156 The Two Liars p. 157 The Virtuous Daughter of the Merchant p. 158 The Foolish Ahir p. 159 The Raja and the Snake p. 161 The Prodigal Son p. 161 How the Miserly Banya was Punished p. 162 The Judgment of Solomon p. 163 The Thief and the Confectioner p. 164 The Princess of Karnalpur p. 164 The King and the Evil Spirit p. 167 The Faithful Son of the Wazir p. 168 The Princess who would not speak p. 170 The Wise Raja of Harbangpur p. 172
The Prince and the Thugs p. 174 The Tale of the Four Foolish Pandits p. 176 How Shekh Chilli went to market p. 177 The Fool and the Jamun Fruit p. 177 1895 The tale of the four drunkards p. 178 Seeing the world p. 179 The Virtue of Raja Rupa Angad p. 180 How the banya baffled the robbers p. 182 Kali Das and his Parrot p. 182 The Boy and the Monkey p. 183 The Metamorphosis of Raja Vikramaditya p. 184 The Greedy Brahman p. 187 The Lesson of the Sadhu p. 187 Banke Chhail and his Wife p. 189 The Magic Boat p. 190 The Brahman and the Sadhu p. 191 How the Raja went to the Heaven of Bhagwan p. 193 The Parrot and the Guru p. 195 The piety of Raja Raghu p. 195 The Sadhu and the Princess p. 197 The Prince and his animal friends p. 198 The Fool and the Alphabet p. 200 The Weaver and the Jackal p. 201 The Raja and the Hansas p. 201 The Thakur and the Goldsmith p. 203 The Discarded Princess p. 203 The tale of Rani Kamlapati p. 204 Entertaining angels unawares p. 207 The Prince and the daughter of the Gandhi p. 208 The Brahman's Luck p. 210 The Devoted Wife p. 211 The Boy and the Merchant p. 212 The height of Virtue p. 213 The virtue of Faith p. 214 How Bhagwan gave a lesson to Narad Muni p. 215 The Wise and the Foolish Brothers p. 216 The Jealous Stepbrothers; a folktale from Kumaun p. 217 The Kali Yuga p. 218 The Legend of Pipa the Rajput p. 219 Hari Raja and Moti Rani p. 222
Eating and the Evil Eye; the Introduction of Turmeric p. 223 The good old times p. 223 How the Raja got his deserts p. 224 The Soldier and his virtuous Wife p. 224 The Raja and the Hansa p. 226 Shekh Chilli and the Camel Man p. 228 Akbar and his Son-in-law p. 229 The Reading of Hearts p. 229 The Wise Son of the Weaver p. 230 Why the boy laughed p. 232 The Princess and the Thieves p. 233 The Contest of Good and Evil p. 234 The fortunate Wood-cutter p. 235 The Dhobi and his Ass p. 237 The Pillars of the Sky p. 238 A tale of Akbar and Birbal p. 239 The Man who ate Human Flesh p. 239 The Fruit of Charity p. 240 The Old Man's wisdom p. 240 The Princess and the Sepoy p. 241 How the wise man learned experience p. 242 Why Narada Muni laughed p. 243 The fate of the Shrewish Wife p. 244 The charity of the Lord Solomon p. 245 How to please everybody p. 246 The Wise Pandit p. 247 The tale of the Raja Sarat Chandra p. 248 Raja Vena and Raja Vikramaditya p. 249 The Raja and the Bear p. 250 Adam and the Prince p. 251 The Boasting of Narada Muni the Rishi p. 251 The Tale of the Thakur and the Barber p. 252 Budh Sen and his Monkey Army p. 255 Akbar and Birbal's Daughter p. 256 The Raja and the Swans p. 257 The Old Woman and the Crow p. 258 Which is better--wealth or Wisdom? p. 260 The Goddess of Poverty p. 260 How the Banya's wife went to heaven p. 262 The four friends and the Princess p. 262 The Raja and the Physician p. 264
The rival Castes p. 265 The Dom Raja of Oudh p. 265 How Shaikh Chilli made a fool of himself at the wedding p. 267 The pious Prince p. 267 The wit of Muhammad Fazil p. 268 1896 The Prince and the Snake p. 270 Prince Nilkanth p. 277 The Clever Brahman Girl p. 278 The Wisdom of the Daughter of Birbal p. 280 The Prince and the Angel of Death p. 281 The Pandit and his children p. 282 The luck of the youngest son p. 284 The witch and the boy p. 285 The Ahir's folly p. 287 How the Prince won his bride p. 287 The Ahir and the Cow of plenty p. 288 The tale of the two Queens p. 290 Shaikh Chilli and the Fakir p. 290 The young Brahman and his Wife p. 291 Shaikh Chilli and his Turban p. 292 The City of the Jinn p. 293 The Bard and his Wife p. 293 Women rule the World p. 294 The Fool and his House p. 297 The story of a Banya's son p. 297 Which is greater--rama or Khuda p. 299 The two Women and the Dog p. 299 The wicked Queen and her Step-children p. 300 Notes p. 303 From the Indian Antiquary 1924 The slave discovered p. 307 The man and the loaves p. 307 The cuckoo and the owl p. 308 The two Fakirs p. 308 The defeated Pandit p. 308 Life as an inn p. 309 The honest man and the rogue p. 309 The two brothers p. 310 The Brahman and the money-bags p. 310
The death of Sheikh Chilli p. 311 The Rani and the snake p. 311 The woman and her child p. 312 How the dancing-girl was outwitted p. 312 Iron and gold p. 313 The tale of the cuckoo p. 314 The Kori's dilemma p. 314 The Raja and the sharpers p. 315 The potter and his friends p. 316 The Ahir and his Guru p. 316 The Ahir and his Guru p. 317 How the Ahirin was outwitted p. 318 The Brahman and his Guru p. 319 The Biter Bit p. 320 The Craft of the Barber p. 321 The Affliction of Devi p. 322 The Age of Man p. 322 The Founding of the Dom Kingdom of Gorakhpur p. 324 Alexander and the Sea People p. 324 The dream of the Sadhu p. 326 The Mulla and the Boors p. 326 The Liar tricked p. 326 Honesty is the best policy p. 327 The tale of Nobody p. 327 The old woman and Satan p. 328 The Pandit and the Rakshasa p. 329 How the pious ploughman escaped death p. 330 True Love p. 330 How the Pandit was taught to lie p. 330 The Quest of Managori p. 331 The Wit of the Ranis p. 335 The Warning of the Dancing Girl p. 337 The Test of Honesty p. 338 Sujan Chand and Nitikala p. 339 Half a lie p. 341 1925 Raja Bhoj and his Rani p. 343 The Quest of the Princess p. 345 The punishment of Raja Indra p. 347 The Pound of Flesh p. 348 The Sweeper Youth and the Rani p. 348
Vishnu Sarma and His Wife p. 349 The Rogue and the Goat p. 350 The Weaver Bird and the Elephant p. 350 The Result of Charity p. 351 The Fruits of Covetousness p. 352 How the Raja suffered Misfortune p. 352 The Prince who would not marry p. 354 The Power of Fate p. 355 The Thakur and the Koli p. 355 The Sadhu and the Rat p. 356 The Prince and Pan Shahzadi p. 356 The Lion and the Jackal p. 357 The Magic Fish p. 358 The Fate of the Slattern Wife p. 359 The Cunning of the Bania p. 360 The Cunning of the Paddy Bird p. 360 The Frog's Cunning p. 361 The Three Wishes p. 362 Mir Kusro and the Kachhi p. 363 The Evil of Covetousness p. 364 The greatest leaf in the world p. 364 The fruit of good wishes p. 365 Akbar's questions p. 365 Birbal's wit p. 365 The result of Good Intentions p. 366 Birbal and tobacco p. 366 Akbar and Birbal's daughter p. 367 How Birbal sowed Pearls p. 367 1926 How Birbal capped verses p. 368 How Akbar was befooled p. 368 Akbar's Riddle p. 369 How Akbar became Emperor p. 369 Sulaiman the wood-cutter p. 370 The Sepoy and his faithless wife p. 373 The folly of the Cuckold p. 374 The Shalimar Bagh at Lahore p. 375 A Woman's wit p. 375 The neglect of good advice p. 376 The Kayasth and the Soldier p. 376 Wisdom inferior to learning p. 377
The Fate of the Uncharitable p. 378 The saint and the dancing girl p. 378 The wit of the Kayasth p. 379 The dishonesty of the Shroff p. 379 The dishonest Kazi p. 380 The pride of the Jackal p. 380 The Wiles of Women p. 381 The Dream of the Opium-eater p. 381 The Opium-eater's Dispute p. 382 The dishonest Perfumer p. 382 The Fate of the boastful Jackal p. 383 The Dancing-girl and the Parrot p. 384 The Dog and the Brahman p. 385 A Fatal Compact p. 386 The Pandit and the Princess p. 386 The Banker's Wife p. 388 A Wife's disappointment p. 389 The Musalman's error p. 390 The Bee's Secret p. 390 The Fruit of Immortality p. 391 The Raja and the Cowherd p. 392 The Parrot's Reproof p. 393 Index p. 395 About the Volume Editor p. 427 Table of Contents provided by Blackwell's Book Services and R.R. Bowker. Used with permission.