A PELANDOK TALE. 81 



fruit until he was satiated. Then he became very thirsty and 

 wanted a drink of water. So he went to the swamp and the 

 wallows and called out like this, " Hai, Si Eangkak. " 



And the crocodiles answered, " Yoo-ee." 



So the pelandok stopped and went to the river. There 

 again he called out. This time four crocodiles answered him. 



" Hai, " said the pelandok, " If it is this sort of thing, I 

 will die for I will not be able to drink. " 



So he went right up stream and called out once more. 

 This time ten answered him. Then the pelandok noticed that 

 a big bamboo, a buloh aur, had fallen down from the midst of 

 a clump into the water. So he crept along the stem among 

 the thickest leaves till he was able to get a drink. While he 

 was It pping up the water, making a noise, chepak chepak, a 

 croco lile made a snatch at him from below but only caught 

 hold f the branch of the bamboo. The pelandok was alarmed 

 and called out, 



" Adohai, adohai, not so strong, hai Si Eangkak." 



" Don't talk about its being strong ; you are going to die 

 this time. " 



" Hai," said the pelandok while he crept slowly back 

 along the stem, " Don't tear me like that." 



So the crocodile dragged at the bamboo till he threshed 

 the water into big waves. But the pelandok had got safely to 

 shore. 



Then the pelandok said, " Hai, Si Eangkak, what is the 

 use of your catching hold of that tough bamboo ? I am very 

 sorry for you, you hoped that you had caught hold of me." 



When the crocodile heard that he let go of the bamboo. 

 The pelandok went on looking for an ant heap because he 

 wanted to sleep, for he had eaten till he was satisfied and also 

 he was very tired. He was afraid too of the tiger that he had 

 cheated. At last he found a small pointed one on to the top of 

 which he climbed and went fast asleep, snoring. 



All this time the tiger had been looking for the pelandok. 

 At last he reached a river where he found a large crocodile 

 floating. The crocodile spoke to him, " Hai hulubalang, where 

 have you come from ? " 



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



