1902.] Revd. A. H. Frsmcke.—Beynmd the Fox in Ladakh. 77 



of the goafc. There the fox could not keep from eating half of the goat's 

 etomach. The other half he gave the bear, saying : ** In case the lion 

 should ask who ate the stomach, you had better look to the ground, 

 whilst I shall arrange for both of us ! " When the lion asks who ate the 

 stomach, the bear actually looks to the ground, whilst the fox points 

 with his paw towards him. The lion takes the behaviour of the bear for 

 shame and him for the trespasser, and kills him on the spot. 



2. 



Another goat is killed, and the fox is sent to the water to wash the 

 stomach. He cannot help eating all of it. When back before the lion, 

 he says that it was not his fault if the stomach was gone. " A lion came 

 out of the water and took it. I had to hasten to get away ! " The lion, 

 the king, went to the water with the fox and saw his own image reflect- 

 ed in the water. This he took for the water-lion, jumped at him and 

 was drowned. 



3. 



When the lion was dead, the fox got him out of the water, took off 

 his skin and put it on himself. Then he goes to the lion's den and sits 

 down on the throne. After some time the lion's wife, who had been out 

 with the children, comes back and takes the fox for her husband, king 

 lion. The fox sends the lioness into the hills to find some food for the 

 family. When she is gone, the fox eats all her children, and runs away. 



4. 

 Next he went to the wolf's den, where only the wolf's wife and chil- 

 dren were present. He said he wished to speak to father wolf, and sent 

 his wife to call him home. When she had left, he ate her children and 

 fled away. 



When father wolf came home, he was furious and resolved at once 

 to seek the fox and to revenge his children. After a long time he found 

 the fox in a forest, where he was gathering resin. He asks if it was he, 

 who had eaten his children. The fox pretends not to know of anything, 

 as he had always been gathering resin. ** What for ? " ** To make an 

 ointment for the eyes. If this ointment is smeared on the eyes, you will 

 be able to see the land of the gods (Iha yul) as well as the land of the 

 nagas (Mu yul)." The wolf wishes to try and looses his sight for two 

 days. Finally he succeeds in scratching off the resin. 



6. 

 Again the wolf goes to find the fox. He sees him on the top of a 

 mountain plaiting a basket {gundiim). He goes up and says : ''Are you 



