Once upon a time there were two Tigers who lived in a certain forest
and had a family of three children. The Father Tiger grew old and began
to fail, and just before his death he sent for his three children and
addressed them as follows:
“Remember, my children,” said he, “that the Tiger is Lord of the
jungle; he roams about at his will and makes a prey of the other
animals as he wishes, and none can gainsay him. But there is one animal
against whom you must be on your guard. He alone is more powerful and
cunning than the Tiger. That animal is Man, and I warn you solemnly
before I die to beware of Man, and on no account to try to hunt or to
kill him.”
So saying, the old Tiger turned on his side and died.
The three young Tigers listened respectfully to the words of their
dying parent and promised to obey; and the elder brothers, who were
obedient sons, were careful to follow his advice. They confined their
attentions to the slaughter of deer, pigs, and other denizens of the
forest, and were careful, whenever they came within sight or scent of
any human being, to clear off as fast as they could from so dangerous a
neighbourhood. But the youngest Tiger was of an independent and
inquisitive disposition. As he grew older and stronger he began to
chafe against the restriction that had been imposed upon him.
“What, after all,” thought he to himself, “can be this creature Man
that I should not slay him if I wish. I am told that he is but a
defenceless creature, that his strength cannot be compared to mine, and
that his claws and teeth are quite contemptible. I can pull down the
largest stag or tackle the fiercest boar with impunity. Why, then,
should not I be able to kill and eat Man also?”
So after a while, in his conceit and folly, he determined to quit his
own part of the forest and to venture forth towards the open country in
search of a Man as his prey. His two brothers and his mother tried to
reason with him and to persuade him to remember the words of his dying
father, but with no avail; and finally, one fine morning, in spite of
their prayers and entreaties, he set off alone on his search.
He had not proceeded very far when he met an old, worn-out
pack-Bullock, thin and emaciated, and with the marks of many ancient
scars on his back. The young Tiger had never seen a Bullock before, and
he regarded the creature with some curiosity. Walking up to it he said:
“What sort of animal are you, pray? Are you a Man by any chance?”
“No, indeed,” replied the creature; “I am only a poor Bullock.”
“Ah!” said the Tiger. “Well, perhaps you can tell me what sort of an
animal Man is, for I am just going out to find and kill one.”
“Beware of Man, young Tiger,” replied the Bullock; “he is a dangerous
and a faithless creature. Just look at me for example. From the time
when I was very young I was Man’s servant. I carried loads for him on
my back, as you may see by these scars, and for many years I slaved for
him faithfully and well. While I was young and strong he cared for me
and valued me highly; but as soon as I became old and weak, and was no
longer able to do his work, he turned me out into this wild jungle to
seek my food as best I might, and gave no thought for me in my old age.
I warn you solemnly to leave him alone and not to try and kill him. He
is very cunning and dangerous.”
But the young Tiger only laughed at the warning and went on his way.
Soon afterwards he came across an ancient Elephant wandering by itself
on the outskirts of the forest, and feeding with its trunk on the
grasses and foliage which it loves. The old animal had a wrinkled skin
and a small and bleary eye, and behind its huge ears were many cuts and
ancient scars, showing where the goad had been so frequently applied.
The young Tiger eyed this strange animal with some surprise, and going
up to it he said:
“What sort of an animal are you, please? You are not a Man, I suppose?”
“No, indeed,” replied the Elephant; “I am only a poor old worn-out
Elephant.”
“Is that so?” answered the Tiger. “Perhaps you can tell me, however,
what sort of a creature Man is, as I am now hunting for one in order to
kill and eat him.”
“Beware how you hunt Man, young Tiger,” replied the old Elephant; “he
is a faithless and dangerous animal. Look at my case. Although I am the
Lord of the jungle, Man tamed me, and trained me, and made me his
servant for many years. He put a saddle on my back and made stirrups of
my ears, and he used to strike me over my head with an iron goad. While
I was young and strong he valued me highly. Food was brought to me, as
much as I could eat every day, and I had a special attendant who used
to wash and groom me, and to see to all my wants. But when I became old
and too infirm for further work, he turned me out into the jungle to
fend for myself as best I could. If you will take my advice you will
leave Man alone, or it will be the worse for you in the end.”
But the young Tiger laughed contemptuously and went on his way. After
proceeding for some little distance he heard the sound of some one
chopping wood, and creeping near he saw that it was a Woodcutter
engaged in felling a tree. After watching him for some time the Tiger
emerged from the jungle, and going up to the Man, he asked what sort of
an animal he was. The Woodcutter replied:
“Why, what an ignorant Tiger you are; can’t you see that I am a Man?”
“Oh, are you,” replied the Tiger, “what a piece of luck for me. I was
just looking for a Man in order to kill and eat him, and you will do
nicely.”
On hearing this the Woodcutter began to laugh. “Kill and eat me,” he
replied; “why, don’t you know that Man is much too clever to be killed
and eaten by a Tiger? Just come with me a little way and I will show
you some things which only a Man knows, but which will be very useful
for you to learn.”
The Tiger thought that this was a good idea, so he followed the Man
through the jungle until they came to the Man’s house, which was
strongly built of timber and heavy logs.
“What is that place?” said the Tiger when he saw it.
“That is called a house,” replied the Man. “I will show you how we use
it.”
And so saying he went inside and shut the door.
“Now,” said he, speaking from the inside to the Tiger, “you see what a
foolish creature a Tiger is compared to a Man. You poor animals live in
a hole in the forest, exposed to wind, rain, cold and heat; and all
your strength is of no value to make a house like this. Whereas I,
although I am so much weaker than you, can build myself a fine house,
where I live at my ease, indifferent to the weather and secure from the
attacks of wild animals.”
On hearing this the young Tiger flew into a violent passion.
“What right,” said he, “has an ugly, defenceless creature like you to
possess such a lovely house? Look at me, with my beautiful stripes, and
my great teeth and claws, and my long tail. I am far more worthy than
you of a house. Come out at once, and give your house over to me.”
“Oh, very well,” said the Man, and he came out of the house leaving the
door open, and the Tiger stalked in.
“Now, look at me,” called out the conceited young Tiger from inside,
“don’t I look nice in my fine house?”
“Very nice indeed,” replied the Man, and bolting the door outside he
walked off with his axe, leaving the Tiger to starve to death.
STORY No. III.