7. MODERN ASTORI SONG.

This Song was composed by Rajah Bahadur Khan, now at Astŏr, who fell in love with the daughter of the Rajah of Hunza to whom he was affianced. When the war between Kashmir and Hunza broke out, the Astoris and Hunzas were in different camps; Rajah Bahadur Khan, son of Rajah Shakul Khan, of the Shíah persuasion,[31] thus laments his misfortunes:

    1. Lotshúko
    2. Early
    3. sabäin
    4. in morning’s
    5. kên
    6. time
    7. nimâz
    8. [usual] prayers
    9. thé
    10. done
    11. duwá
    12. supplication
    13. them
    14. I make
    15. Qabûl thé,
    16. Accept,
    17. Rahîma
    18. oh merciful [God]
    19. Garìbëy
    20. of the poor
    21. duwa
    22. the prayer.
    23. Dòn
    24. [her] teeth [are]
    25. mahî—yeen
    26. of fish bone = like ivory,
    27. dim
    28. [her] body
    29. puru—yeen
    30. [like a] reed[32]
    31. tshamûye
    32. [her] hair
    33. tshîké
    34. musk
    35. hane
    36. is.
    37. me
    38. My
    39. armán
    40. longing
    41. tûte
    42. to you
    43. hane
    44. is
    45. Bulbúl
    46. [Oh] nightingale
    47. shakàr.
    48. sweet!

Chorus falls in with “hai, hai, armân bulbúl” = “oh, oh, the longing [for the] nightingale!”[33]

Translation.

After having discharged my usual religious duties in the early morning, I offer a prayer which, oh thou merciful God, accept from thy humble worshipper. [Then, thinking of his beloved.] Her teeth are as white as ivory, her body as graceful as a reed, her hair is like musk. My whole longing is towards you, oh sweet nightingale.

Chorus: Alas, how absorbing this longing for the nightingale.