Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-26
CEYLON FOLKLORE.

CElLON FOLKLORE.
The Singhalese are an astute people,
and are not behind other eastern
nations in their sense of humor. These
characteristics exhibit themselves in
marked degree Gas do those of all
nations) in their proverbs and fables.
A collection of these has been made
by one Alexander Mendis Senanay-
aka, Singhalese government officer,
and from them | propose making Il
selection charging on the original, and
adding some which have perhaps not
before been printed.
1t is the custom among men Of
eastern nations, when DESTROYS of con-
tracing marriage, to secure the good
offices of a judiciOus 90 between to
make necessary arrangements with the
family of the bride as to dowry and
SO on. One of their sayings is: Like
arranging a match for crocodile"
and this proverb, like many others, is
connected with q fable, which runs as
follows:
A bachelor crocodile, weary of
single existence, solicited the kind
offices of a iackal to help HIM to a
suitable partner. The jackal of the
east is, in cunning, not one whit be-
hind his western relative, the fox; in
fact, in knowingness the former may
be said to have the advantage.
Master Jack told his dupe, the
crocodile, that he knew of a young lady
who would suit him exactly. ''But,"
said he, '.she lives on the other side of
the river, which | have no means of
crossing.
THAT need not stand in your way"
said the amOrous saurian; 'jump on
my back and you shall be carried over
in Il trice"
''Donei" said the jackal, as he fixed
his claws in the crocodile's scales.
In a few minutes he stood on the
opposite bank. Stay here for me, +"
said he. running off INTO the Jungle.
Now Master Jackal knew full well
that there was no bride in those parts
for the loye-sick swain, nor did he pro-
pose troubling himself in the matter.
His keen nose had caught the scent of
dead buffalo lying on that side of the
river, on whose carcass he longed t.
regale himself. And while the eX-
pectant crocodile, filled with soft
thoughts, lay waiting to hear the re-
suit of the jackars overtures, that
falthless gentleman was enjoying to the
full his savory repast
Having eaten till lie could eat no
more, he returned to tie bank of the
river, and explained that unfortunate
ly, the father of the lady had gone to
neighbOring village, and would not re-
turn till nightfall; but that he had ascer-
tanned from an astrologer what time
on the morrow would be prOpitiOus for
making further advances. Here the
cunning rogue mentioned the hour Of
his habtual midday meal.
There was no course left for the
crocodile but to swim back with his
false friend, and hope for better luck
the next day.
At the appointed hour next morning,
they met again, and the crocodile a
second time carried the deceiyer across
the stream. The latter, after enjoying
himself as on the previous day came
back, saying tnat lie had seen the
father, who was not ill-disposed
toward the union, but thought it better
to tSae counsel with his brother. whom
he would see that evening. He de-
clared also, that there was every
reason to hope that matters would be
satisfactorily arranged next dav.
Day after day did this unsuspecting
victim of misplaced confidence carry
his treacherOus friend backward and
forward across the stream, until the
last morsel of buffalo flesh had been
devoured, and naught remained but
the bones, horns, and hoofs Not one
fragment of the banquet was ever
brought to the unhappy crocodile. and
oil he had to feed on was the unsatis-
factory banquet of deferred hope.
Finally, having no further need of
the amphibian'S assistance, when once
more he was borne to the shore near
est home, the crafty jackal, nimbly
springing to land, ran off to the
jungle, and as he reached it he turned
around and, whisking his tail in the air,
eXclaiming in derisive tones: ''What
marriages for crocodiles that live in
riversr
1t is we'll to have wife of a frugal
mind, who tries to turn all things to the
best account. But it is possible she
may carry the principal too far, as is
shown in the following story of a
villagers spouse.
1t IS the custom in Ceylon to pre-
sent the village barber, at the end OF
the year, with a bag of grain or some
article of clothing in return for the
services of his razor.
Among some eastern races 1T IS
thought disgraceIul for a man to shave
himself, as it is the occupation of a
.'low-caste," man, and it is not I'M
usual for a person of rank and in
liuence to annoy his humber neigbors
or indulge some grudge against them
by interdicting the barber from
practicing his skill on them. 1t has
more than once fallen to the lot of the
writer, as magistrate, in days gone
by, to have all the male members OF
a village community coming into