The morning times., 1896-06-21
A SLY MONKEY.
How the White Cat Outwitted
the Tiger.
BY J. CARTER BEARD
Copyright, 1851

Alice was having her hair cOmbed and
Harold petted large white cat. This was
before the children left India. They sal
upon an old tiger skin that had lost its
ears and tail. Alice was fretful and i'm
patient, her long, light hair was in tangles
and the Ayah, their nurse, though very
gentle, could not help hurting her little
as she brushed and combed it, and the day
was very hot. Although the punkas,
movable, fan-like frames suspended from
the ceiling, and kept in motion by pulling
cord swung to and fro and drove away
the flies, the breezes they made were not
cooling and did not refresh the children.
Tell US story, Ayah, SO we will forget
how hot it is" said Harold.
Yes" said Alice, tell US a 1ataka
story and don't tell 1t in English for We
understand Hindoostane much better
than you understand English"
1T is WELL" replied the Ayah, (which
one do you wish?"
'Oh," said Harold, tell us a new one;
make 1t up as you go on. Tell US about
devas and rejahs and faNrs-or-"
mo" said Alice, ''tcll us about the
tiger skin upon which We are sitting; how
1t came TO have no tail and ears. 1t is
very Old Papa says 1t came from the
palace at Benares."
Yes said Harold, land bring a white
| cat into the story, IL you can. Hey Panther,
don't you want to hear story of q white
cat?'
| 1t was rather hard on the Ayah, but
| she did her best to please the children.
when Brahma- Data was reigning at
Benares,' she said, in her soft, Indian
| tongue, there lived in the Pala Valley
I n lad Of.
white cat, like Panther here, that ac-
| companied him wherever he went, and
| conversed with him, for at that time, you
| must know all animals could talk. The
| name OF this cat was Laili. One day
| Laili said to Rasalu. There is near the
ruined temple hard by the old we'll.
where you go every day to fill your
| chombu with water for the house drink,
| tiger pinned to the earth by a javalin
| thrust through one of his fore paws. He
cannot escape and unless some one helps
him he must de-
1--WE will go and see him. said Ras-
alu.
when they drew near and the tiger
| saw Rasalu coming he cried out:
Save me, or ] perish
"1f save you, l shall PERISH said
the boy Can a tiger help killing what
ever comes in his way?'
do not be afraid said the tiger, i
have repented of my evil life and am
| seeking enlightenment
How stall l believe you?' asked Ra-
| salu.
~ swear by our great tee cher. by Gau-
tama / will never harm you,' replied the
tiger.
You have sworn an oath the Buddha
never allows any one to break, however
much it may be desired to do So sand
Rasalu L will now give you all the re-
| lief l can
HE withdrew the javelin from the foot
OF the tiger. washed the wound, bruised
healing herbs and bound them to the paw
with q shred OF his turban. torn off for
the purpose. and for seven days visited the
spot TO give the tiger water and to battle
| and dress his hurt. When Rasalu looked
at the tigers foet on the seventh day it
was so nearly healed as to no longer re-
quire his care. He told the tiger this
and the animal seemed greatly rejoiced.
There is one further service you can
do me- he said.
what is that?' asked Rasalu.
"'You have indeed eased the pain /
suffered in my wounded foot, but you
can now relieve me of a greater one. the
gnawing pain of hunger that torments
me. rad much to do to keep myself
from deyouring you each time you paid
me u visit. but I needed you in another
capacity. I knew my chance would come
in an orderly manner and waited. though,
you must remember. my good lad, it is
now seven days since food has passed.
my lips
WHAT cried Rasalu, will you indeed
kill me after the solemn oath you have
taken TO do me no harm? Are you such
a monster of ingratitude as to devour me
when l have placed myself in your power
III order to save your life?'
"'My dear FRIEND said the wild beast,
"a hungry tiger seldom tarries to argue
with his prey, but as l Certainly do not
wish my dinner, meaning, of course, your
self, to disagree with me, will tell you
briefly neither intend to break my oath nor
be ungrateful. Inform me, then, Is he
doing you harm who is taking you from
a miserable home where every evil is
free to afflict you and intr oduces you to a
magnificent pala ce, or Is he ungrateful who,
In spite of your unwillingness, forces you
to accept this kindness? Is earth to he
compared to heaven, or this life to that
of the blessed ones in paradise? This is
ahappy moment for b 9th ofus. Ny hunger
is to be appeased and you will receive the
reward of your g ood deeds in Nirvana.'
AT this moment voice that Rasalu
recognized as that of Laili was heard ex-
claiming, Hi, there, boy! Have you seen
the tracks of u tiger anywhere near the
ruined temple or the old well. Sarkap. the
monkey, told me there was n tiger here
pinned to the earth. Greatis the reward
of him who finds this tiger for behold a
wicked enchantment has been put upon the
daughter of King Brahmadatta and nothing
in the world hut the heartof the wild bcust
Deva-datta burnt In an oven and beaten
in a mortar can free her from it. AS sit
above you in this babuli tree / can see some
thing behind you that looks like u tiger.
II it is indeed a tiger I will put up my
voice and call the hunters. who are resting
in the ruined temple. But perhaps tits only
a pomelo bush with dark branches and yel-
low fruit In that case throw two or three
of its fruits.
".There is no help for it. said the tiger
trembling violently. I know this in re-
gard to the kings daughter to be true.
l cannot do you the kindness Intended, on
the other hand you can do me a favor.
pray you take the sickle from your girdle,
cut off both my ears and cast them at the
foot of the babuli tree.
"'You have altered your tonc,' replied
Rasalu, I knew, however, you could not
break the oath you have taken. I will,
therefore do as you desire SO saying ne
cut off both the tigers ears and tossed
them at the foot of the tree where they
instantly took on the appearance of
large yellow p0meioes.
These are fine pomelOes' said the
white cat. Gather me q whole branch of
them, my good Lad, that they may be given