When the Vaeddā is going back near the Deer, again the Crow tears the packet of cooked rice. The Vaeddā, having become angry at it, threw the axe to strike the Crow. The Crow flew away. The axe having struck the Jackal, the Jackal died. Then the Deer, breaking the deer-hide cord, bounded off. Well then, the friends having joined together went away.
The Vaeddā saying and saying, “Anē! Was it the Deer that I got, or the packet of cooked rice I got?”[3] went away.
P. B. Madahapola, Raṭēmahatmayā, North-western Province.
The Deer, the Jackal, and the Crow. (Variant a.)
In a certain country, when a Deer and a Crow were friends while a long time was going, one day the Deer met with a Jackal. The Jackal, having seen the Deer, says, “I also should be pleased to be friendly with you. Because of it, are you willing or not?” he asked.
Then the Deer says, “I indeed am willing. I don’t know if the Crow which has become my friend is willing or not.”
Then the Jackal asked the Crow. The Crow says, “I am not willing, but if the Deer is willing, remain,” he said. After that the whole three were friendly. The Crow’s dwelling was in a tree; the dwelling of the other two was under the tree.
One day when the Jackal is going to seek food, having seen a rice field and come back, he says to the Deer, “Friend, let us two go for food. I have seen a good rice field to-day. You eat the rice there; I will eat crabs there,” he said.
The Deer says, “I will not. It is not good to go there; should we go there we shall come into danger,” he said.