m from the field and beat him
until he was nearly dead.

When the villagers had gone, the Jackal said to the Camel, "We had
better go home." And the Camel, said, "Very well; then jump upon my
back, as you did before."

So the Jackal jumped upon the Camel's back, and the Camel began to
recross the river. When they had got well into the water, the Camel
said, "This is a pretty way in which you have treated me, friend Jackal.
No sooner had you finished your own dinner than you must go yelping
about the place loud enough to arouse the whole village, and bring all
the villagers down to beat me black and blue, and turn me out of the
field before I had eaten two mouthfuls! What in the world did you make
such a noise for?"

"I don't know," said the Jackal. "It is a custom I have. I always like
to sing a little after dinner."

The Camel waded on through the river. The water reached up to his
knees--then above them--up, up, up, higher and higher, until at last he
was obliged to swim.

Then turning to the Jackal, he said, "I feel very anxious to roll."

"Oh, pray don't; why do you wish to do so?" asked the Jackal.

"I don't know," answered the Camel. "It is a custom I have. I always
like to have a little roll after dinner."

So saying, he rolled over in the water, shaking the Jackal off as he did
so. And the Jackal was drowned, but the Camel swam safely ashore.

182

The fine story following is from Steel's _Tales
of the Punjab_. Scholars have pointed out a
hundred or more variants. Such trickery as
that used by the jackal in trapping the tiger
is the common thing to find in folk tales where
oppressed weakness is matched against ruthless
and tyrannic power. The tiger's ingratitude
precludes any desire to "take his part." The
attitude of the three judges is determined in
each case by the fact that the experience of
each has hardened him and rendered him
completely hopeless and unsympathetic. "The
work of the buffalo in the oil-press," says
Captain Temple, "is the synonym all India
over--and with good reason--for hard and
thankless toil for another's benefit."

THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL

Once upon a time a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to get
out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he
failed.

By chance a poor Brahman came by. "L