Then the King said that men are in excess. Having said it the King said, “I myself having gone home and looked at the books, if males are in excess I shall give thee a good punishment.”
The King having come home and looked at the books, it appeared that the males were in excess. Thereupon the King called the Jackal, and said, “Bola, males are in excess.”
Then the Jackal says, “No, O Lord, Your Majesty; they are not as many as the females. Having also put down to the female account the males who hearken to the things that females say, after they counted them the females would be in excess.” Then the Jackal said, “Are the animals able to build tanks? How shall they carry the earth?”
Thereupon the King having considered it, and having said, “Wild animals, wild animals, you are to go to the midst of the forest,” came home.
At that time, the Queen asked, “Is the tank built and finished?”
Then the King, taking a cane, began to beat the Queen. Thereupon the Queen, having said, “Anē! O Lord, Your Majesty, I will never again say anything, or even ask anything,” began to cry aloud.
The King got to know that the Jackal was a wise animal.
Western Province.
Compare vol. ii., Nos. 167 and 168.