There is a tune which when played upon the "Kerotong" (a two-stringed
bamboo harp) makes Rimau the Tiger drowsy, but only a few old people
know it. One evening two men were sitting together and playing in a
hut in the jungle when two tigers overheard them.
The Tigers took counsel together, and one of them said to the other,
"You shall be the first to go into the house. Whatever you seize shall
therefore be your portion, but Whatever plunges down the steps to
escape shall be mine."
At this the second Tiger ascended the house-ladder and was just
crouching upon the topmost rung when one of the men to amuse himself
commenced to play the Tune that makes the Tiger drowsy. As soon as the
Tiger heard it he began to grow sleepy, and presently fell plump down
the steps to the ground, where he was seized by his companion. When he
objected his companion exclaimed, "Did we not agree that Whatever
plunged down the steps was to be my portion?" and, so saying, he
proceeded to devour him at his leisure.