28 A PELANDOK TALE. 



So the elephant tumbled right down into the well. After 

 that a tiger came along, on whom the same trick was played. 

 And then a rhinoceros on whom the same trick was played. 

 And then a deer on whom the same trick was played. And 

 then a wild pig on whom the same trick was played. When 

 they were all inside the well, the pelandok said," Hei, I fooled 

 you that time." 



When the tiger heard what the pelandok said he (the tiger) 

 said, " Very good, Salam di Kimba, if ever I get out of this well, 

 I will eat you." 



While he was saying this the pelandok took a piece of 

 wood and began to tease the elephant. The elephant said, 

 " Stop that, or I shall kick you." But the pelandok paid no 

 attention and went on teasing. At last the elephant kicked 

 him right up on to the ground outside, saying, " Now you are 

 sure to be killed when struck by the sky." 



The pelandok said, " Oh that was merely my cunning. I 

 wanted to get out and could not, so I said the sky would fall 

 in." 



Just then the tiger scrambled up to the edge and got away 

 into the jungle, saying as he went " If ever I catch you, I'll 

 eat you." 



After that the pelandok went to some people and said, 

 " Hoo ee . . . . gentles and lords, in that well there, there are 

 many beasts. Elephants, rhinoceroses, pigs and deer have 

 fallen into it. You can go and take them." 



After that he went on his way. The tiger also went on 

 his, looking for the pelandok, but the pelandok kept on moving. 

 After two or three days the pelandok came across a very large 

 hornets' nest. Indeed the noise of the hornets could be heard 

 about twenty'yards away. He walked on very slowly carrying 

 a leaf with him, and then he sat down near the hornets' nest 

 which he gentle fanned. A short time after he was so seated 

 the tiger came along and said to him, " This time I really 

 will eat you, Salam di Rimba." 



Jour, Straits Branch, 



