In a certain country, in the midst of a forest a pack of Jackals
stayed, it is said. One out of the Jackals having gone near villages
one day for the purpose of catching and eating the fowls and various
animals, at the time when he was walking about having arrived at a
shed in which was some toddy (fresh palm-juice), and having drunk
toddy until his belly fills, after he became drunk fell down at one
place and stayed [there], it is said.
When he was staying thus, the Jackal went very thoroughly asleep, it
is said. Having stayed in this way, when it was just becoming light
the Jackal's eyes were opened. Well then, at that time the Jackal was
unable to go to the pack. Because of what [reason] was that? Because
the eyes of the whole of the persons in the village were opened. Owing
to it he got into a jungle near by, and when he was there an extremely
old ascetic came to go by the place where the Jackal is.
The Jackal having seen the ascetic and spoken to him, says,
"Meritorious ascetic, having been in which district are you, Sir,
coming? I have sought and sought a meritorious person like you, Sir,
and [now] I have met with you; it is very good," he said.
When the Jackal spoke thus the ascetic asks, "On account of what
matter dost thou speak to me in that manner?"
When he asked him thus, the Jackal says, "I did not say thus to you,
Sir, for my profit. I had sought and sought an excellent person like
you, Sir. A quantity of my masuran are in the midst of such and such a
forest. To give those masuran I did not meet with a good person like
you, Sir. For many days I was watching and looking on this search,
but until this occurred I did not meet with a meritorious excellent
person, except only you, Sir. I am very happy to give the masuran to
you, Sir," he said.
The ascetic having been much pleased, asks the Jackal, "Regarding it,
what must be done by me for thee?"
When he said [this] the Jackal says, "I don't want you, Sir, to do
any favour at all for me. If I am to give the masuran to you, Sir,
please carry me to the place where the masuran are," he said.
Thereupon the ascetic, carrying in his arms the Jackal, went into the
midst of the forest where he said the masuran are. When he went into
the midst of the forest, the Jackal having spoken to the ascetic, says,
"Look, the masuran are here; please place me here," he said.
Thereupon the ascetic placed the Jackal on the ground. The Jackal
then says, "Taking your outer robe, Sir, and having spread it on
the ground, please remain looking in the direction of the sun, not
letting the eyelid fall. Having dug up the masuran I will put them
into your robe, Sir," he said.
When the Jackal said thus, the ascetic, through greed for the masuran,
without thinking anything having spread the robe on the ground,
was looking in the direction of the sun. When he was looking thus
for a little time, the Jackal having dunged into the robe, and for a
little time more having falsely dug the ground, said to the ascetic,
"Now then, be pleased to take the masuran."
Thereupon when the ascetic through greed for the masuran looks in
the direction of the robe, because of the sun's rays his eyes having
become weak, the Jackal dung that he had put [there] appeared like
masuran. [315] Making [the robe] into a bundle he went away.
The Jackal having bounded off, went into the midst of the forest.
Western Province.
This tale agrees in some respects with the Jataka story No. 113
(vol. i. p. 256), in which the person who carried the Jackal was a
Brahmana, who, however, was not told to look at the sun, as in the
Sinhalese tale No. 65, in vol. i, of which this is a variant.