Bopolûchî.—Means Trickster.
Uncle: uncle-in-law.—The words used were mâmû, mother's brother, and patiauhrâ, husband's (or father-in-law's) younger brother.
Pedlar.—Wanjârâ or banjârâ (from wanaj or banaj, a bargain), a class of wandering pedlars who sell spices, etc.
Robber.—The word used was thag, lit. a deceiver. The Thags are a class but too well known in India as those who make their living by deceiving and strangling travellers. Meadows Taylor's somewhat sensational book, The Confessions of a Thug, has made their doings familiar enough, too, in England. In the Indian Penal Code a thag is defined as a person habitually associated with others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means of murder.
Crow's, etc., verses,.—The original words were—
Bopo Lûchi!
Aqlon ghuthî,
Thag nâl thagî gai.
Bopo Lûchi!
You have lost your wits,
And have been deceived by a thag.
Bridal scarlet.—Every Panjâbî bride, however poor, wears a dress of scarlet and gold for six months, and if rich, for two years.
PRINCESS AUBERGINE
Princess Aubergine,—The vernacular name for the story is Baingan Bâdshâhzâdî. The Baingan, baigan, begun, or bhântâ is the Solanum melongena, i.e. the egg-plant, or aubergine. Europeans in India know it by the name of brinjâl; it is a very common and popular vegetable in the rains.