A PELANDOK TALE. 77 



While the tiger was looking for the root, the pelandok took 

 the stem of a Satamban tahi which had been felled by the men 

 in the clearing. Now the thorns of this are quite long, about 

 an inch long each. Those thorns that were near the foot of 

 the stem he did not remove, but those that were near the top 

 he did. After that the pelandok and the tiger each took up 

 their share. The tiger put his share in front of himself and 

 the pelandok put his share in front of himself. Then they 

 set off towards the river. As they walked on each began to 

 eat. While they were walking along the tiger said, " Oh dear, 

 I am very sore, this stick is pricking my back. Also my meat 

 is very bitter." 



The pelandok answered and said, 



" That, hulubalang, is what I told you last night. I 

 warned you not to interfere with my eye teeth. Now your 

 meat has become bitter." 



The tiger said, " Hai, Sang Dirimba, give me a little of 

 your meat, just to taste. Because I am very tired, everything 

 seems difficult for me." 



When the pelandok heard that, he took pity on the tiger 

 and gave him a little. This tasted extremely delicious to the 

 tiger, who stopped in the middle of the road. The pelandok 

 said, "What is the matter ? Why are you stopping ? We 

 are certainly near a big river now. And if we are late in 

 arriving and we meet with his highness King Solomon he is 

 sure to take away this meat from us. Moreover he will be 

 angry with us and punish us because we have devoured this 

 deer without letting him know." 



When the tiger heard that he took up his stick again. 

 A little fatrher on, just about as far as you can hear a cry in 

 the woods, they reached the bank of the river. There they 

 stopped and each devoured his meat. The share of the 

 pelandok was quite finished because he four times gave the tiger 

 a piece. After that they each had a drink, but the tiger's 

 share was left unfinished on the bank. 



They tried to get across the river. The tiger and the 

 pelandok set off together down stream, skirting the edge. 

 They found a raft made of banana stems which had got stranded 



R. A, Soc, No. 46, 1906. 



