1 24 Reviews.
Romantic Tales from the Panjab : with Illustrations by Native Hands. Collected and edited from original sources by the Rev. Charles Swvnnerton, F.S.A. Constable. 2 IS. net.
Mr. Swvnnerton has already published one book of Indian stories which is probably known to readers of Folk-Lore, and the present work is of the same general kind. The style unfortunately is not very good, but although this somewhat detracts from the interest it does not lessen the value of the stories for scientific purposes. The illustrations are excellent, and present many points of interest for students in their details. Although there are faults in drawing, many of them are graceful and pleasing in them- selves, apart from extraneous considerations.
With regard to the tales themselves, it should first be observed that Mr. Swynnerton is not familiar with the literature of his subject. Regarded as a first-hand record, the book is none the worse for that. There is the less likelihood of the stories having been altered to suit preconceived ideas. Mr. Swynnerton does not disguise that he has played the editor in some cases, and indeed it is often necessary to do so unless the reader is to be regaled with a feast of scraps. Had he known of all the published versions of his stories, he might unconsciously have introduced into his versions what never was there. But his preface and notes have the air of knowledge, and it is therefore necessary to warn students that the Editor does not appear to have made a wide study. He gives (p. 30) three published series of the story of Rasalu, but omits the most important of all, that of Major Temple in the first volume of Legends of the Panjab. Major Temple's work indeed contains parallels to Hd and Ranjha (No. 38), Mirza and Sahibanh (39), Ptlrnan Bhagat (34), and others or parts of others.
Hil afid Rdfijhct is a charming love-story, which in this version ends happily, as it does in Temple's, but which in others (and probably in its original) ended in tragedy for the lovers, as Mr. Swynnerton himself divines. The swayamvara appears in it, and there are other incidents of interest. Mr. Swynnerton difhdently suggests that there may be more in common with Hero and Leander than the jingle of names ; there is little or nothing in the story to suggest it, but a Greek echo is possible. More might be said for the remarkable episode of Mirshakdri, who, with his lute,
