The Jackal and the Camel Once a jackal and a camel lived near a river in a forest. They were good friends.
One day the jackal said to the camel, "There is a field of sugarcane on the other side of the river. There is a lot of sugarcane in it. I am hungry now. We can eat some of them. I can't swim across the river. Take me there, please!"
The camel said to the jackal, "It is a good idea. I am hungry too. Show me the way to that field of sugarcane and I shall carry you on my back."
The jackal thanked the camel and sat on its back.
In thirty minutes they reached the other side of the river. Soon they entered the field of sugarcane. The jackal jumped from the back of the camel to the ground. They walked on and came to the middle of the field.
The jackal said to the camel, "There is lot of sugarcane here. Some of them are tall and ripe. Some of them are short and raw. They have not grown up well. Don't eat them."
The camel asked the jackal, "Are you not eating the sugarcane with me? I am going to eat them slowly."
The jackal answered, "No, I am not. I am very fond of fish, crabs and other things in the river. I shall go to the river, eat my dinner and return in thirty minutes."
The jackal left the camel in the field, ran to the river and ate a lot of fish, crabs and other things. His stomach was full and then he returned to the field of sugarcane.
The jackal said to the camel, "I have eaten plenty of fish and crabs. I am happy now. Have you eaten a lot of sugarcane? Are you happy too?"
The camel replied, "No, I am not. Your stomach is small. You have filled It up quickly. But mine is big. I am eating very slowly. I shall finish my dinner and join you at the river-bank in a few minutes. The jackal was full of joy. He ran round and round the field and howled aloud for some time. Then he ran to the river-bank and waited there for the camel.
The people in the village heard the noise. They said, "There is no one in the field of. sugarcane. A jackal has got into the field. He will eat all our sugarcane. we shall run to the field and drive him out."
They ran very fast and reached the field in ten minutes. They saw the camel in the middle of the field. They beat it severely with their sticks and drove it out of the field.
The camel ran fast to the bank of the river and saw the jackal there.
The jackal asked the camel, "Have you eaten the sugarcane? Shall we return home now?"
The camel said, "No, I haven't. First get on my back quickly. We shall cross the river and then talk of things." With the jackal on the back, the camel reached the middle of the river. Then the camel said to the jackal, "You are a very bad friend. You had your dinner. Then you howled and brought the villagers to the field. I had not eaten a lot of sugarcane. I have eaten a lot of the field Are you happy now?"
The jackal replied, "No I am not. I am very sorry. always run about and howl after a good dinner. It is a habit of mine."
The camel walked on silently. After sometime they reached a deep spot in the river. the water reached the camel's hump.
The camel stopped at once. Then it said to the jackal, "I always roll over in the water after my dinner. It is a habit of mine." Then the camel rolled over in the water. The jackal fell from the camel's back into the water and died.
The Foolish Crocodile
A monkey lived in a tree near the Ganges. His name was Sumuka. He ate a lot of jambo fruit and grew fat.
One day he saw a very old crocodile. It came to the foot of the tree. Sumuka said to the crocodile, " Good morning, sir. You are old and week. What has brought you here? I am happy and full of joy today. It is my birthday. I will give you some jambo fruit."
Then Sumuka threw down some fruit to the crocodile. The crocodile ate them with great joy. Then he slowly went back home. He lived on a mud bank in the river.
The next day too, the crocodile came and the monkey gave him a lot of jambo fruit. The crocodile thanked the monkey and soon they became good friends.
One day, the crocodile took some jambo fruit home to his wife. She ate them and said to her husband, "The jambo fruit is very sweet and good. Bring me some everyday." Every day the crocodile came to the monkey and took home a few jambo fruits for his wife.
Four days passed. On the fifth day the crocodile's wife said to her husband, "My dear, the jambo fruit is very nice. Who gives it to you everyday? Is he a man or a bird or an animal?"
The crocodile replied, "Don't you know this? I have a friend. He lives in the jambo tree on the bank of the Ganges. He is a monkey. He gives me the Jambo fruit every day."
His wife asked, "Does he? I am very happy. Does he eat a lot of jambo fruit everyday ?" The crocodile replied, "Yes, he does? How will this information help you ?" His wife said, "Then bring me his liver. It will be a nice food for us. I shall eat his liver or die without any food."
The crocodile was afraid of his wife. He was always obedient to her.
The next day the crocodile went to the jambo tree and invited the monkey for a feast. He said, "My wife has prepared a good dinner for you. She expects you today."
The monkey said to the crocodile, "Thank you for your invitation. I cannot cross the river."
The crocodile replied, "You can get on my back. I will carry you home."
The monkey trusted the crocodile and got on his back. Then they entered the water together.
The crocodile walked slowly on land. But he swam quickly in water.
The money was afraid and said to the crocodile, "Friend, please go slowly."
The crocodile thought, "Sumuka is in my power now. He cannot escape. I will tell him the truth".
Then the crocodile said to the monkey, "O friend, think of god now. My wife is going to kill you today and eat your liver. She is not giving you and feast." The monkey was afraid. But he did not lose courage. Suddenly an idea came to his mind. He said, "My dear friend, I am very sorry for you and your wife. She wants my liver for food. It isn't with me now. It is in a hole in a branch of the tree. I have only my heart with me here."
The crocodile said, "You have done a wrong thing. Without your liver, my wife won't eat you. She will be angry and kill me too. We shall go back to the tree and return quickly with it."
The monkey was very glad and agreed. They went back to the tree. The monkey climbed quickly to the top of the tree and said, "O foolish friend, go back to your wife and get her curses. Do you leave your liver on the mud bank? My liver is in my body and not in the tree. I cannot lose it for your wife's dinner. You Are Cruel. I have Made a mistake and have trusted you. God will punish you both for your cruelty."
