#malaysian classics

[lazy-sketchy]

“Nasi Lemak“

[malaysiantales]

STORY 9: The Tiger's Mistake

A man was taking his little boy home through the jungle near the headwaters of the Lebih River in the interior of Kelantan, when they were overtaken by night.

The boy was frightened and said to his father, "Father, I am so frightened; let me sleep in the middle."

The father replied, "How can you sleep in the middle seeing there are but two of us?"

Nevertheless the boy replied, "Father, I must sleep in the middle," and the father, to pacify him, took the boy's head in his lap, and they went to sleep together on the bank of the river.

Now Rimau, the tiger, came that way and beheld a man with four arms and four legs and only a single head. Rimau was astonished at this, and went to Buaya, the old crocodile, in the bight and said, "Friend Buaya, there is a human being asleep on the bank who has four arms and four legs and only a single head."

At this, old Buaya laughed consumedly and said, "What nonsense is this? Go and snuff round about the body and you will soon find it has two heads rather than one. Whatever you seize shall be your portion, but whatever plunges into the river (to escape) shall be mine."

So Rimau went back to snuff round the body and, as he was snuffing, his whiskers tickled the man's nostrils and the man sneezed very violently. And at this, Rimau being startled leaped backwards and fell into the river, where he was himself devoured by the crocodile, according to his compact.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 8: The Tiger Gets His Desserts

A tiger which had been caught in a trap, seeing a man, begged to be released.

The man said to the tiger, "If I let you out of the trap, will you promise not to attack me?"

"Certainly," said the tiger, and the man therefore let the tiger go, but the moment the tiger was loose, it sprang upon the man and caught him. At this, the man begged the tiger to wait until he had enquired how the law stood with reference to their contract, and the tiger agreed to do so.

The man and the tiger therefore set out together and, on coming to a road, the man said, "O Road, Road, is it lawful to requite evil for good, or good for good only?"

The road replied, "I do good to mankind, but they requite me with evil; defiling (my surface) as they go."

Then they came to a tree, of which the man asked the same question.

The tree replied, "I do good to mankind, but they requite me with evil; lopping off my branches and cutting me down."

At the last they came to the mouse-deer and the man made the same enquiry as before.

The mouse-deer replied, "I must really go into the question thoroughly before I answer it; let us go back together to the trap."

On reaching the trap, he requested the tiger to, "Step inside."

And the tiger entered the trap.

The mouse-deer let down the door of the trap, and exclaimed, "Accursed brute, you have returned evil for good and now you shall die for it." He then called in the neighbours and had the tiger killed.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 7: The Pelican's Punishment

Undan, the pelican, being hungry, told Ruan, the fish, that his pool would shortly dry up, and offered to carry himself or any members of his family to another pool to see how they liked it. To this, Ruan agreed and Undan carried him over to the pool and back again as stipulated, and the fish, liking it, informed all his relatives.

Then Undan carried the fish back again to the new pool and returned and fetch the rest of his family. But instead of putting them into the pool, Undan sat in a tree and ate the fish till his droppings reached to the lower branches.

By this time there were no more fish to be eaten, and Undan commenced in like manner to cheat the family of Ketam, the crab. But as soon as ever, Ketan caught sight of the droppings, he saw through the trick and pinched Undan's neck so that he died.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 6: The Friendship of The Squirrel and The Creeping Fish

From the beginning, Tupai the squirrel, and Ruan the creeping fish, were ever close and faithful fiends. And one day, Tupai's wife fell sick and Tupai enquired, of the medicine-man, what medicine he should give her and the medicine-man prescribed the egg of a fowl. But Tupai could not, by any means, obtain it. Therefore, he told Ruan, the fish, of his trouble and Ruan promised to help him, if he had to die for it.

Next morning therefore, Ruan swam into a bamboo water-tube which a woman was filling in the river and was carried back inside it to the house, where it was left leaning against the house-wall close to the roosting place of the fowls. And at evening, Ruan crept out of the tube and, taking into his mouth an egg out a hen's nest, carried it back with him into the tube again. Next morning, the woman once more took the water-tube down to the river to fill it.

Then Ruan swam out of the tube into the river again and brought the eg, rejoicing, to his friend Tupai. And the squirrel's wife, on receiving the egg, immediately recovered.

Another day, Ruan's wife fell ill and the medicine-man prescribed the heart of a crocodile, but Ruan likewise had no means of obtaining it.

Therefore, Tupai the squirrel bit a hole in a coconut growing on a palm which overhung the river and crept inside it. And presently, he looked out and bit through the stalk of the coconut so that it fell into the river and was swallowed by a crocodile, Tupai himself lying coiled inside it. And, presently, he crept out of the coconut into the crocodile's stomach, and bit out its heart. And the crocodile struggled greatly till it came to the shore and died there. Then the squirrel crept out of the crocodile's jaws and gave the heart to Ruan the fish.

And Ruan's wife recovered immediately also.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 5: A Vegetarian Dispute

Once upon a time, Jagong, the maize-plant, made a boast and said, “If rice should cease to exist, I alone should be suffice to sustain mankind,” But Dagun, the liane, and Gadong, the jungle yam, each made a like boast and, as the parties could not agree, the case was brought before King Solomon.

Said Solomon, “All three of you are perfectly right, albeit it were perhaps better that Jagong should sustain mankind because of his comrade-ship with Kachang, the bean.”

There at the wrath of Dagun, the liane, and Gadong, the yam, waxed hot against Jagong, and they went off together to hunt for a fruit-spike of the jungle fig-tree [libut] whereon to impale him, but found none. And, meanwhile, Jagong hearing news of their quest, set to work to find arrow-poison. And, when he had found it, he poisoned Gadong therewith (wherefore to this day the jungle yam has narcotic properties). Then Gadong, the yam, being wroth thereat, speared Jagong in turn (wherefore, to this day, the cobs of maize are perforated). And Jagong, reaching out in turn, seized the pointed shoot of the wilang stem and wounded Dagun therewith.

At this juncture, the parties to the quarrel went before the Prophet Elias, who said, “This matter is too great for me, take ye it before Solomon.”

And Solomon said, “Let them fight it out between them, that the rage of their hearts may be appeased.”

Wherefore, there was battle between them for twice seven days. Now Mata Lembu, the ox-eye tree, stood nigh to watch the battle and its skin was grazed by bullets (whereof its bark still shows the scars). But perachak shrub on the other hand was filled with fear and, instead of drawing nearer in order to see the battle, it stood upon tiptoe (wherefore it still grows long and lanky). But Andram, the sedge, was the most afraid and ran to a place afar off, but as it still heard the noise of battle it plunged into the river (wherefore to this day it grows over the surface of water).

And when the twice seven days were ended, the battle being still undecided, the combatants were parted and a space was set between them by Solomon. And Gadong, the yam, made he to sit down and Dagun, the liane, to lie down. But Jagong, the maize-plane, and Kachang, the bean, he made to stand together.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 4: Who Killed the Otter’s Babies? (A ‘Clock’ Story)

The otter said to the mouse-deer, “Friend Mouse-deer, will you be so good as to take charge of the children till I come back? I am going down to the river to catch fish, and when I come back I’ll share the takings with you.”

The mouse-deer replied, “Very well! Go along, and I’ll look after the children.” So the otter went down to the river to catch fish.

(Here the story of what the otter did stops and the story of “What happened when the Wood-pecker sounded the war-gong’ commences.)

The mouse-deer was chief dancer of the war-dance and, as he danced, he trod on the otter’s babies and crushed them flat.

Presently, the otter returned home, bringing a string of fish with him. On arriving, he saw that his children had been killed and exclaimed, “How comes it, Friend Mouse-deer, that my babies have died?”

The mouse-deer replied, “The woodpecker came and sounded the war-gong, and I, being chief war-dancer, danced; and forgetting about your children I trod upon them and crushed them flat.”

On hearing this, the otter went and made complaint unto King Solomon, prostrating himself and saying, “Your Majesty’s most humble slave craves pardon for presuming to address Your Majesty, but Friend Mouse-deer has murdered your slave’s children, and your slave desires to learn whether he is guilty or not according to the law of the land.”

King Solomon replied, saying, “If the mouse-deer hath done this thing wittingly, assuredly he is guilty of death.” Then he summoned the mouse-deer before him.

And when the mouse-deer came into presence of the king, the king enquired of the otter, “What is your charge against him?”

The otter replied, “Your slave accused him of the murder of your slave’s children; your slave would hear the law of the land.”

Then the king said unto the mouse-deer, “Was it your doing that the otter’s children were killed?”

The mouse-deer replied, “Assuredly it was, but I crave pardon for doing so.” “How was it then,” said the king, “that you came to kill them?

The mouse-deer replied, “Your slave came to kill them because the woodpecker appeared and sounded the war-gong. Your slave, as Your Majesty is aware, is chief dancer of the war-dance, therefore your slave danced and, forgetting about the otter’s children, your slave trod upon them and crushed them flat.”

Here the king sent for the woodpecker also, and the woodpecker came before him. “Was it you, woodpecker,” said the King. “who sounded the war-gong?”

“Assuredly it was,” said the woodpecker, “for as much as your slave saw the great-lizard wearing his sword.”

The king replied, “If that is the case, there is no fault to be found in the woodpecker,” (for the woodpecker was chief beater of the war-gong). Then the king commanded the great-lizard to be summoned, and when he arrived, the king enquired, “Was it you, lizard, who were wearing your sword?”

The great-lizard replied, “Assuredly it was, Your Majesty.”

“And why were you wearing your sword?”

The great-lizard replied, “Your slave wore it for as much as your slave saw that the tortoise had donned his coat of mail.”

So the tortoise was summoned likewise. “Why did you, tortoise, don your coat of mail?” The tortoise replied, “Your slave donned it for as much as your slave saw the king-crab trailing his three-edged pike.”

Then the king-crab was sent for. “Why were you, king-crab, trailing your three edged pike.”

“Because your slave saw that the crayfish had shouldered his lance.” Then the king sent for the crayfish and said, “Was it you, crayfish, who were shouldering your lance?” And the crayfish replied, “Assuredly it was, Your Majesty.”

“And why did you shoulder it?”

“Because your slave saw the otter coming down to devour your slave’s own children.”

“Oh,” said King Solomon, “if that is the case, you, otter, are the guilty party and your complaint of your children’s death cannot be sustained against the mouse-deer by the law of the land.”

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.

[malaysiantales]

STORY 3: The Mouse-deer’s Shipwreck

“Come,” said the mouse-deer to the stump-tailed heron, “come and sail with me to Java.” SO they set sail, and Friend Mouse-deer held the tiller and Friend Heron spread the sail. And the wind blew from the North. Soon however, Friend Mouse-deer got drowsy, and let the boat fall out of the wind. At this, Friend Heron said, “Why does the boat fall off? How is your helm, Friend Mouse-deer?”

“I was only taking a few drinks, “said he.

“Bring her up to the wind again,” said the heron.

And the mouse-deer replied, “All right. I’m on the spot,” said he.

Presently however, he dozed again, and the heron exclaimed, “Oh, if that’s to be it, you may die and be done with. I’ll peck a hole in this boat of ours and you’ll go to the bottom.”

But he mouse-deer said, “Please, don’t. I’m such a bad hand at swimming.” So they sailed on. And the mouse-deer dozed a third tine,

At this the heron could contain himself no longer, and said, “Confound you, Friend Mouse-deer, for sleeping at the helm.” And, losing his temper, he pecked a hole in the boat, and the boat let in the water and Friend Heron flew away. But the mouse-deer swam struggling with his feet in the midst of the sea.

Presently, there came up a young shark who exclaimed, “I’ll have a meal of you this time, at all events.”

But the mouse-deer answered, What, Friend Shark, you’ll make a meal of me? Why, in place of the little flesh I’ve got, if you’ll carry me ashore, I’ll teach you some ‘excellent magic’ which will save you from ever having to hunt for your food again.”

To this the shark replied, “Agreed. If you’ll teach me your ‘excellent magic’, I’ll carry you ashore.” So the mouse-deer got upon Friend Shark’s back, and was carried straight ashore.

And on their arrival the mouse-deer said, “Wait here a bit, while I go and get the simples.”

And going a’land he hunted up a rattan (cane) creeper and took it back with him and said, “Now I’ll give you the simples I spoke of,” and bound it fast to Friend Shark’s tail.

And presently, the shark said, “Why have you made the line fast to my tail?” But the mouse-deer replied, “Keep quite quiet till I have tied you up properly, and then I’ll give you the simples.” But presently, he dragged the shark up on to the dry beach and made butcher’s meat of him.

Just then however, a tiger came up, exclaiming, “Here’s really a good meal for me for once in a way!”

To this however, the mouse-deer replied, “What is the use of eating me, when there’s already plenty of butcher’s-meat to spare?”

“Very well, I’ll share it with you,” said the tiger.

The mouse-deer replied, “You may share it with me, by all means, if you will only go and get some water to do the cooking.” So the tiger went off to get water and presently came back with it. “Wash the meat before you roast it,” said the mouse-deer. The tiger took the meat and washed it in the water. “Go and fetch fire and roast it,” said the mouse-deer. The tiger fetched fire and came back to do the cooking. And when the meat was done, “Now go and fetch some drinking water,” said the mouse-deer, “and we’ll have our meal together.” So the tiger went off again to fetch the drinking water.

But the mouse-deer, in the meantime, made off with the shark’s meat and climbed up with it to the top of a she-oak tree. And presently the tiger came back and found both mouse-deer and meat missing. At this he exclaimed, “For once in a way, Mr Mouse-deer, you’ve fairly cheated me; if we don’t meet again, no matter but if we do, I’ll be the death of you.”

And here the story ends.

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*All the stories for the “Malaysian Classics” series were published by Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd under the title “Malaysian Fables, Folk Tales & Legends”.