Told by JAGAT KISHOR, master at the Government School,
Gondá, Oudh.
A Swan made friends with a Crow--They fly away from Mánsarowar to find
some sport--Perch on a pipal tree under which a pious Raja is
worshipping his Thákurji (idol of Rám or Krishna)--Crow drops filth on
his head and flies away--He sees the Swan and shoots it--Swan says:--
"Kák náhin, ham hans hain,
Mán karat ham bás;
Dhrisht kág ké mél són,
Bhayo hamaró nás."
("I am no Crow but a Swan, dwelling in Mán Sarówar; being friend of an
ignoble Crow I am destroyed.")
The Crow, as in several tales in this collection, is in Oriental
folk-lore the representative of all that is thievish and mischievous.