At a certain time a small Lizard [19] and an Iguana [20] became friends
it is said. In this state they remained for much time. During the
time while they were thus, these two quarrelled; having quarrelled,
both struck each other with their tails. When they were striking
each other the small Lizard lost. The Lizard, having sprung aside,
was panting and panting. There was an ant-hill there; the Iguana
crept into the ant-hill.
A Vaedda from a distant place when walking about for hunting, not
meeting with game is coming away. While he is coming, this panting
Lizard asked, "Friend, where are you going?"
Then the Vaedda said, "Friend, I went hunting, and did not meet
with game."
After that, the Lizard says, "Friend, an Iguana having dropped into
this ant-hill is staying in it. Break it open, and take it."
Then the Vaedda, having gone to his village and brought a digging hoe,
goes breaking and breaking open the ant-hill. Thereupon the Iguana
also, digging and digging, goes on in front [of him]. The Vaedda,
a half-day having passed [in this way], took much trouble over this.
When he had been digging for a great distance he did not meet with the
Iguana. Thereupon, anger on account of [getting] no game, and anger
on account of the trouble [he had taken uselessly] having seized the
Vaedda, and having become angry also at the Lizard, he struck the
Lizard with the digging hoe that was in the hand of the Vaedda. The
Lizard rolled over and died.
Owing to the injustice through which he went to kill his friend,
he himself died.
North-western Province.
In the Jataka story No. 141 (vol. i, p. 303), a chameleon induced
an iguana-trapper to kill a number of iguanas by digging out their
burrows because he found his friendship with one of them troublesome.