4 TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 



they had first done wrong by taking something which belonged 

 to him. So this Were-Tiger would leave tempting fruit 

 by the side of jungle paths, and on the stumps of trees, in the 

 hope that some tired traveller would take and eat them. And 

 if any one ate such fruit, then he or she was doomed to be killed 

 by him that same day. But all knew about him, and though he 

 placed many tempting baits in all parts of the jungle, no one 

 touched his fruit, for all feared the fate which awaited them if 

 they did any such thing. But Danjais wife knew nothing 

 about the Were-Tiger. No one had told ,her of him, and she 

 had never been out before in the jungle by herself, and she had 

 never been warned not to touch any fruit she might find lying 

 about. 



" Oh Danjai" she said, as soon as she met her husband, "I 

 am afraid I am rather late. You must be very tired and hungry, 

 working the whole morning at your boat without having had 

 anything to eat. Never mind ! Here is your breakfast at last." 

 And she handed the basket which contained his food to her 

 husband. 



Now Danjai was really very hungry, so he was glad to see 

 his food had arrived. He thanked his wife and at once began 

 to empty the basket. 



The first thing he saw was the ripe rambutan fruit at the 

 top, and he asked his wife where she got them from. She told 

 him she had found them on the stump of a tree by the wayside, 

 and she said she thought they had been left there by him. She 

 added with a smile, that they were very good as she had eaten 

 some herself. 



Then Danjai, brave man though he was, turned pale with 

 fear and anxiety. 



"We must not linger here a moment," he said to his wife. 

 "Hungry though I am, I will not eat my food here. We must 

 both hurry home at once. You have taken and eaten fruit be- 

 longing to the Were-Tiger, so much feared by all. It is said 

 that whoever touches his fruit will surely die a terrible death : 

 and you are the first person I know who has done so." 



Danjai hurriedly gathered together all his tools and told 

 those that were with him of his trouble, and they all started and 

 walked silently back. Danjai was wondering how he was to 



Jour. Straits Branch 



