At the time of a drought there was not even a little water for a Cobra
to drink, it is said. Well then, when the Cobra went to a village,
a little child at a house was playing with the water in a large
bowl. The child's mother was not at home.
The Cobra having gone there, while it is drinking the water the child
throws water out of the coconut shell on the Cobra's head, and strikes
it with hand and foot. On account of it nothing angry is aroused in
the Cobra; having drunk its belly full of water it goes away.
Thus, in that manner, when the Cobra was going drinking and drinking
the water for two or three days, one day it met with a Polanga. [21]
The Polanga asked, "Where, friend, do you drink water?"
The Cobra said, "I drink it nowhere whatever. In this drought where
is there water for anyone to drink?"
Again the Polanga said, "Friend, do not you say so; you have
drunk. Tell me also the quarter where you drink."
After the Cobra had continued not telling it, it afterwards said, "At
such and such a house a little child is playing and playing with the
water in the bowl. Having gone there, as I drink the water the child
throws water on my head with the coconut shell, and strikes me with
hand and foot. Not becoming angry at all, I drink and come away. You,
indeed, will be unable [to restrain yourself]. If you can [remain]
without doing anything [to the child], go and drink, and come away."
The Cobra having sent the Polanga, went behind, and having got
hid, while it remained looking on [the child] throws water on the
[Polanga's] head with the coconut shell, and strikes it with hand and
foot. Until the time when the Polanga drinks its belly full, it remains
doing nothing [to the child]. After it drank it bit the crown of the
child's head. At the blow the child fell into the bowl as though dead.
The Cobra having come running, sucked the poison from the crown of
the child's head, and having made it conscious pursued after the
Polanga. Having joined the Polanga it bit and killed it.
From that day the Cobra and Polanga are opposed.
North-western Province.