dren brothers and sisters.

[29] Name of Vishnu in his aspect of slayer of the proud demon, Madhu.

[30] Nirada is a Sanscrit word meaning _cloud_, being a compound of
_nira_ = water and _da_ = giver. In Bengali it is pronounced _nirode_.

[31] Betel-leaf and spices.

[32] Father of the well-known artists Gaganendra and Abanindra. _Ed._

[33] In Bengali this word has come to mean an informal uninvited
gathering.

[34] Systems of notation were not then in use. One of the most popular
of the present-day systems was subsequently devised by the writer's
brother here mentioned. _Tr._

[35] The new bride of the house, wife of the writer's fourth brother,
above-mentioned. _Tr._

[36] It may be helpful to the foreign reader to explain that the expert
singer of Indian music improvises more or less on the tune outline made
over to him by the original composer, so that the latter need not
necessarily do more than give a correct idea of such outline. _Tr._

[37] This would mean "the genius of Bhubanmohini" if that be taken as
the author's name.

[38] Gifts of cloth for use as wearing apparel are customary by way of
ceremonial offerings of affection, respect or seasonable greeting.

[39] The old Vaishnava poets used to bring their name into the last
stanza of the poem, this serving as their signature. Bhanu and Rabi both
mean the Sun. _Tr._

[40] The dried and stripped centre-vein of a cocoanut leaf gives a long
tapering stick of the average thickness of a match stick, and a bundle
of these goes to make the common Bengal household broom which in the
hands of the housewife is popularly supposed to be useful in keeping the
whole household in order from husband downwards. Its effect on a bare
back is here alluded to.--_Tr._

[41] There was a craze for phrenology at the time. _Tr._

[42] Latterly Sir Tarak Palit, a life-long friend of the writer's second
brother. _Tr._

[43] Saraswati, the goddess of learning, is depicted in Bengal as clad
in white and seated among a mass of lotus flowers. _Tr._

[44] With Indian music it is not a mere question of correctly rendering
a melody exactly as composed, but the theme of the original composition
is the subject of an improvised interpretative elaboration by the
expounding Artist. _Tr._

[45] Valmiki Pratibha means the genius of Valmiki. The plot is based on
the story of Valmiki, the robber chief, being moved to pity and breaking
out into a metrical lament on witnessing the g