The King-crow and the Water-snail
A Water-snail was coming up-stream from the lower reaches, when a King-crow
heard it. Said the King-crow to himself: "Who can it be coming up-stream that
exclaims so loudly at the rapids? One might say it was a man, but that there is
nothing to be seen." So the King-crow settled on a tree to watch, but as he could
see nothing from his perch on the tree he flew down to the ground, and walked
along by the water-side. And when he thought to see some man exclaiming, he
caught sight of the Water-snail.
"Hullo, you there," said he, "where do you come from?" "I come from the eddy
below the rapids," said the Water-snail, "and I only want to get as far as the
head-waters of this river." Said the King-crow: "Wait a bit. Suppose you go
down to the river-mouth as quickly as you can and we will have a wager on it."
(Now rivers are the Water-snail's domain, in which he has many comrades.)
"What is to be the stake?" asked the Water-snail. "If I am beaten I will be your
slave, and look after your aroids and wild caladiums on which all Water-snails
feed." Then the King-crow asked: "And what will you stake?" The Water-snail
replied, "If I am beaten, the river shall be handed over to you and you shall be
King of the River." But the Water-snail begged for a delay of twice seven days,
saying that he felt knocked up after ascending the rapids, and the delay was
granted accordingly.
Meanwhile, however, the Water-snail hunted up a great number of his friends
and instructed them to conceal themselves in each of the higher reaches of the
river, and to reply immediately when the King-crow challenged them.
The day arrived, and the King-crow flew off, and in each of the higher reaches
the Water-snail's friends replied to the challenge, while at the river-mouth the
Water-snail replied in person. So the King-crow was defeated and has ever since
remained the slave of the Water-snail.
The Elephant Has a Bet with the Tiger
In the beginning Gajah the Elephant and Rimau the Tiger were sworn friends.
But one day they came to a clearing and presently encountered Lotong, the long-
tailed Spectacle-monkey. And when he saw the Monkey, the Elephant said, "Mr.