Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/79

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In former times, when Brahmadatta reigned at Benares, there lived in a certain mountain cave in a forest on the slope of the Himâlaya mountains many hundred goats. In a certain cave not far from the dwelling-place of the goats there dwelt a certain jackal, named Pûtimamsa, along with his wife, who was called Venî. One day as he was going about with his wife he saw the goats, and thought to himself, "By some artifice or other I must eat their flesh." Employing some device, he killed a goat.

Both of these jackals, through eating goats' flesh, became lusty and fat. In course of time the goats began to diminish. Among them there was a certain she-goat very wise, named Melamâtâ. Although the jackal was very skilful in devices he was not able to kill her. One day, as he was talking to his wife, he said, "My dear, the goats are getting less in number; by some expedient I must manage to eat this she-goat. This is now the device I intend employing:—' [sic]Do you go alone and make friends with her. When you have become intimate together I will lie down and make a pretence of being dead. Then you must go to her and say, 'My husband is dead and I am left desolate: let us bury his body.' When you have spoken these words, take her and come here; then I'll spring up, seize her by the throat, and kill her. She consented, and said, "Be it so." When she had made friends with the she goat, and an intimacy had sprung up between them, she addressed her in the manner before agreed upon. The goat replied, "Friend! your husband has killed and eaten all my kith and kin. I am afraid I can't go with you." "Don't be afraid, my friend, what can he do now he's dead?" replied the jackal. "Your husband has some sharp devices, therefore I am very fearful." When she had said this, the other besought her again and again, so at last she consented and went with her friend, thinking "the jackal will surely be dead." But as she was going along she thought to herself, "Who knows what will happen," and being fearful she let the she-jackal go in front, and as she went along