Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/541

 Collectanea. 499

procured a bag, and put cowries in (it). As for the Jerboa, he put wind in his. When they were close, the Jerboa said, — " Now you are the greater. Your load of money is heavy. Mine is of cloths, (and) not heavy. Since you are the more important, you carry mine and I'll take yours." The Hysena said, — " Very well." When they had got near the door of the house, the Jerboa said, — "Oh, Hysena, what would you give to hear good news?" He said, — "This house has a goat-house and a fowl-house. I shall sleep in the fowl-house, you in the goat-house." The Jerboa said, — "During the night I shall eat five fowls." The Hysena said, — "No, no, I cannot do that. In the house of my mother- in-law I shall eat one (only)." When they had come, they saluted. It was said, — "Welcome to you, welcome to you." When they had come, each showed his presents separately. Now the Jerboa, since he had taken the Hysena's load and had not returned it to him, passed it off as his own. The Jerboa's load of wind (was) with the Hysena, and became his. When the Jerboa's load of money was seen, it was said, — "Certainly this one has come with a true (purpose)." When the Hysena's load had been opened, only air came out, and it left the bag com- pressed (fallen in). Then they said, — "This one, a thirst for evil has brought him." Then they said, — "Well, give them a place to sleep in." So it was said, — " See here the fowl-house, here is the goat-house, let each choose the place where he will sleep." Then the Hysena opened his mouth quickly, and said, — " I (shall sleep) only in the goat-house." Then the Jerboa said, — "Right, as for me I shall sleep in the fowl-house." In reality, the Jerboa wished to betray the Hysena and have him killed. When they had gone to their rooms, the Jerboa came out again and went to the people of the house. He said, — " Now I, wher- ever I go, I travel honestly (with one heart)." He said, — " Now you know you have put me in the fowl-house, and the Hysena in the goat-house. When day breaks you must say, — " We do not know the number of the fowls in this house, we shall count them." When they have been counted take one and give it to the strangers (for) food." He said, — " You say also " the goats of this house we do not know how many they are, let us count them, and when the strangers are about to go home let them be sped