Oral Tradition from the Indus / Comprised in Tales to Which Are Added Explanatory Notes

by John Frederick Adolphus McNair; Thomas Lambert Barlow

It has been said, and perhaps with some justice, that many folk tales have to be received with a certain amount of misgiving; and doubtless also each narrative as it descends in successive generations loses some of the force of the original. It is also very clear that the Folk-lore of a long-established and independent community such as that of Ghazi, or other out-of-the-way village of India, is not to be got at all of a sudden, for it lies deep down in the memories of only a certain few of the people, and these not always willing to impart it unto strangers to their country.

It was not surprising therefore that it was only by degrees, and by very slow degrees, that Mr. Barlow, though always a welcome guest at their village “Hûjrâs” or meeting places, was able to collect the lore of this interesting, this semi-religious, and warlike people. Many of their tales he repeated to the Rev. Mr. Swynnerton, F.S.A., who in 1892 published them in his popular work entitled the “Indian Nights,” and again with others in a later volume.

Mr. Barlow had not, however, exhausted all his store, and he has been good enough to place these few more at my disposal, and to permit me to send them to the Press in our joint names.

He has given them to me both orally and from notes, and it has been my task to throw them into a readable form, avoiding as far as possible all modification or undue colouring. In making together the translation into English we were conscious sometimes of missing the native expression or idiom. When any such difficulty arose we found help in transposing the original words into the “Hindustani” language, a native tongue familiar to us both. By this means, and with general care we were able to get pretty near to the thought and combination of thought of the native narrators, and the homeliness of their style.

It is perhaps matter for regret that in publishing these rural tales, I am not in a position to add the names of those people in Ghazi from whom Mr. Barlow heard them, nor, of course, can I give their antecedents. It might perhaps have afforded some clue to the source from whence the tales had been received, and it would certainly have been an additional evidence of their authenticity.

Mr. Barlow, however, made no note of these particulars at the time, and he cannot even now trust his memory on these points. He gathered the tales more to obtain a better insight into the character of the people, and to strengthen his knowledge of the language, and with no ulterior view to their publication. He, however, can say with all truth, that most of them were related in his presence by the farmers and “Merasis” or bards of the people, and that they are from the original stock transmitted to them by their forefathers.

I have thought it better not to encumber this volume with any elaborate analysis of the Tales. They are very simple and descriptive, and folk-lorists more able than myself, can readily arrange an analysis according to their own system.

It has been necessary, however, with these Indian Folk-tales to attach a few explanatory notes, chiefly to elucidate the text, but also with the view of bringing our readers more into touch with the people of the district.

The Tales gain a great advantage from the drawings of Miss L. Fenn, which will be found to be full of expression and spirit, and are at the same time faithful representations of the general characteristics of the people of this part of Northern India.

I am indebted also to the late Mr. John W. N. Barlow for much assistance to us in describing the native costumes, and for other information connected with the Ghazi community.