A PELANDOK TALE. . 33 



After that the pelandok went on to the sea side to a place 

 where some men lived who had fishing stakes. When he got 

 near he heard the men in the fishing village making a com- 

 motion because the whole of their fish disappeared, being eaten 

 up every day by some animal. The pelandok thought what 

 can this be that eats all the men's fish. So one da^ when all 

 the men had gone to sea he crept below a house in the village. 

 He had lain there only a minute when a giant came along, 

 and quite devoured all of the fish in the village. The pelandok 

 thought, " It seems that it is this evil giant that is devouring 

 all these men's fish." 



Then he said, " Good, to-morrow I will give him some 

 medicine." 



After that all the men came back from the sea to the 

 village and saw that their fish were again finished. They said, 

 Who is it that devours our fish ? if we only knew we 

 would kill him." 



After that the next day the men once more went away to 

 sea, and the pelandok came into the village and looked round 

 for a piece of rotan with which to make a running noose. 

 While he was busy fixing the loop the giant came along to eat 

 the fish and found the pelandok busy making the knot. The 

 giant said, " Hei Salam di Eimba, what are you doing there ? " 



The pelandok replied, " Two things only, first to increase 

 the deadliness of my eye teeth and second to make a medicine 

 for all stiffnesses of joints or bones." 



A little later the pelandok said, " Granpa, I want to sleep 

 a little. Don't disturb me." — " Very well." — " When my eyes 

 wink that is a sign that I am asleep." — When my eyes are 

 closed that is a sign that I am asleep." 



The pelandok then threw himself down and closed his eyes. 

 The giant thought perhaps in a little he will wink. The giant 

 saw the pelandok's eyes wink, so he thought that he really was 

 asleep. The giant then touched the pelandok's eye teeth 

 saying, " Is this, this very deadly thing ? It ought not to 

 be so judging from its size." 



B. A. Soc, No. 48, 1907. 



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