Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PREFACE. It is hardly necessary to say that from very early times India has been well known for the richness and variety of all the branches of its literature. Its legendary lore is particularly wide and varied and presents us with a vivid picture of the actions, projects, thoughts, follies and virtues of the human race. In olden days the means of imparting instruction were very limited. The art of printing was unknown and there were no schools of the modern type; hence various ways were invented for educating children by word of mouth, and this is the origin of all those traditions which are at once interesting and instructive. It is but natural that legends, thus travelling from lip to lip, should be apt to grow inaccurate day by day, and vanish altogether in course of time; and fearing that they might be totally lost, I have tried to collect such legends scattered through our literature, and have worked the rude material thus gathered into, I hope, a readable form and presented it to the public in the shape of a handy mi nual called 'Kautakmala" and Bodhvachan.' The sources of the maxims, forming the headings of the stories, have been cnrefully traced, and hence it is hoped they will prove useful for practical purposes. The book was first published in 1885 A. T>. in GAjarati and warmly welcomed by thePress and the public and was also sanctioned asa prize and library book by the Director of Public Instruction. Since then it has been thrice reprinted and almost all the copies have been sold. "Mr. Ganeshji," says the Indian Spectator, "has shown considerable skill in sifting and arranging the rude materials collected from many sources and in investigating half forgotten local chronicles of wit and humour with an interest whic...
