A Pelandok Tale. 



By G. M. Laidlaw. 



[From the penghulu of Pulau Tiga, Lower Perak, Haji 

 Mahomed Ali bin Haji Mahomed Perak. No details of the 

 source can be obtained. The teller is so for as his ancestry 

 can be traced for several generations of pure Perak extraction] . 



This is the tale of the pelandok, this is a four footed 

 animal that lives in the woods and is very small, just about 

 the size of a cat. Now in the olden days this animal was very 

 much cleverer than all the others. Also in those days animals 

 could talk. 



We must farther explain that in those days, the king of 

 all the animals was King Solomon. His form was the form of 

 a man, but his appearance and dress was that of one of the 

 wild men of the woods, the Sakai. His chief warrior (Huluba- 

 lang ) was the tiger and his chief counsellor ( Penghulu ) was 

 the pelandok. 



Once upon a day, they say, the pelandok was walking 

 along looking for his food, when he met with a doe. The 

 pelandok said, " Hai, Sang Eusa, what is the name of the tree 

 you are eating ? " 



The deer replied, " I am eating the young shoots of the 

 yam." 



The deer then said to the pelandok, " Where have you 

 come from, Toh Sang Dirimba? " 



The pelandok said, " I have come from my house and am 

 also looking for my food." 



Now when the pelandok saw that the deer was very fat 

 indeed, the thought came into his heart and he desired to eat 

 her. So he went off to the tiger. When he reached him the 

 tiger said, " Where have you come from, Toh Sang Dirimba? " 



The pelandok answered, " I have come from Sang Eusa 

 over there, and have come straight to find you, Hulubalang, 

 for I want to eat that doe." 



Jour. S. B. R. A. Soc, No. 46, 1906. 



