The dried-fish seller became a Darter, and constantly searches for his dried-fish in the water.
The areka-nut seller became a Water-hen (Gallinula phœnicura), and every morning calls out, “Areka-nuts [amounting] to a ship [-load], areka-nuts!” (a good imitation of the cry of the bird, Kapparakaṭa puwak′, puwak′).
And the cook became a Jackal, who still always cries for his mother, “Seek for Hokkī, seek” (Hokkī hoyā, hoyā, the beginning of the Jackal’s howl).
Next morning the Minister told the story to the King, who fully believed the whole of it. The Minister then explained that it was pure fiction, whereupon the King instead of cutting off his head gave him presents of great value.
Mātara, Southern Province.
I met with a story of this kind among the Mandiṅkō of the Gambia, in West Africa, and as it is unpublished I give it here. It was related in the Mandiṅkā language, and translated by the clerk on the Government river steamer, the Mansa Kīlah.
[1] This story appeared in The Orientalist, vol. ii, p. 54. [↑]