POPULAR SONOS. 73 324. (S. T.) Ratnabali, pp. 216, 1 Re. 8 as., t. p., tr. by Nilinani Pal, from, the Sanskrit Drama, written by a Kashmir poet. Requires pruning. 325. (E. T.) SHAKESPEARE'S Merchant of Venice, translated with adaptations. Bhanumati Chitabilas, pp. 220, fc. p., by Hara Chandra Ghose. Shakespeare's ideas, but given in a Bengali dress ; well and ably done. The Bengali Songs do not inculcate the love of wine, or like the Scotch, the love of war, but are devoted to Venus and the popular deities ; they are filth y and polluting : of these the most known are the Panchalis, which are sung at the festi- vals and sold in numerous editions and by the thousand. — Some on good paper, well got up, others on the refuse of old canvas bags. The Panchalis are recitations of stories chiefly from the Hindu Shastras, in metre, with music and singing, they relate to Vishnu, and Siva, intermixed with pieces in the style of Ana- croeon. Dasarath Ray is the most famous composer of them, by which he has gamed much money ; 50 years ago Antony, a Portuguese, composed many songs. Rasik Chandra Ray is another of these composers and Kidhu, a century ago, compos- ed poems sung to this day ; he was said to have written the Dest when he was drunk, SONGS are in abundance on love sub- jects, as the Bichdr S6r SangUa 1832. Sangitrasmadhuri 1844, pp. 214, the Gitratna, by Ram Kidhi : the Sangitabali, pp. 133, by the Rajah of Burdwan. Rasik Tardngini, tr, by The Yairas are a species of Dramatic Action, filthy, in the same style with the exhibition of Punch and Judy, or of the Penny Theatres in London, treating of licentiousness or of the amours of Krishna. A mehtre with a broomstick in his hand always cuts a figure in them. We have the Nala Damayanti Yatra Gan> Nala's history dramatised in this form. On Erotic subjects there are various books which have passed through many editions in prose and poetry'and have a wide circulation, as the Adi Bos, Beshea Rahasyea, * Charu Chita Rahasea, Herniate ratikanta ; Kam Shastra 1820. Kunjari bilae, Lnkhmi Janarda Bitot. Prem Ashtak ; Prem Bitot ; yea; Shrift gar Tiluk, 1st ed. 1617. Ratibilas ; Sambhog POPULAR SONGS. on rr
