One day the Civet heard that her friend the Tortoise had given birth to a child, so at once she got ready to pay the usual visit. On arriving at the cross-road leading to her friend’s town, she met a Monkey, who asked her where she was going.
The Civet said: “I am going to visit my friend the Tortoise, who has given birth to a child.”
Monkey said: "Don’t you go. Her child is very ill, and the “medicine man” says that he must have the tip of your tail with which to make a charm to cure the child, and it won’t be better until he has it. Of course, if you go it is your own affair."
When the Civet heard this she became very angry at the insult, and returned at once to her own house. The Tortoise was very indignant at the neglect of her friend the Civet, because from the commencement of her illness she never received a visit from her. For a very long time they never visited each other.
By and by the Tortoise heard that her friend the Civet had given birth to a child. The Tortoise said: “Although the Civet never visited me, I will not treat her in the same way, for I will go to see her.”
She started on her journey, and on reaching the cross-roads she met Monkey there, who asked her where she was going. On hearing she was on the way to visit the Civet, Monkey said: "You are truly very stupid. The Civet’s baby is very ill, and she has sent for the “medicine man,” who says he cannot possibly cure the child unless he has the shell of the Tortoise for a charm."
On hearing this the Tortoise was dumbfounded and filled with fear, so she returned home at once.
After a very long time the Civet and the Tortoise met at the funeral festivities of a friend, and they frowned at each other and would not speak. Towards the close of the festivities, the Civet and the Tortoise told the chief and the elders all about their former love for one another, and how the friendship had been broken by each hearing what the other wanted as a charm to cure her child.
The elders restored the love they had for each other, and told the Civet and the Tortoise that in future they were not to listen to any tales, but if one did hear anything against the other she was to go and ask her friend about it, and not keep it in her heart. From that time they remained fast and true friends.
XIV