146 CEYLON BRANCH— KOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 



like a devout hermit. The little fishes noticing him, came near 

 and said, Sir, what are you meditating about as you stand 

 there. The crane said, I zm thinking about you, Ah Sir! 

 What are you thinking about us? Why, he replied, 

 there is very little water in this lake, and you get but little to 

 eat : on account of this hot weather you little fishes suffer great 

 inconvenience. That was the subject of my meditation : but if 

 you will do what I advise, I will take you one by one in my 

 hill, and put you into a beautiful lake covered with the five 

 kinds of lotus. They replied Ah Sir ! this is the first time 

 since the beginning of the Kalpa that a crane has ever thought 

 of the welfare of little fishes : you only intend to deceive us, 

 and to devour every one of us. The crane replied, Do not 

 think so ; but if you doubt my word, let one of your number 

 go and examine the place and report to you. The little fishes 

 then thought, This crane is a most righteous person, and ac- 

 cordingly deputed one of their body (a Kanapaddaka) to visit 

 the place. The crane accordingly took him in his bill to the 

 place, shewed him all the beauties of the lake, brought him back 

 and put him down among the fishes, upon which he related in 

 detail to the other fishes the excellencies of the other lake; upon 

 which they said, Sir, take us all to that lake. The crane as- 

 sented and in the first instance took the fish w r ho had been to 

 see the lake, carried him to the bank, and then seating himself 

 on a tree, killed him with his bill, ate hjin, left the bones scat- 

 tered at the foot of the tree and went back for more; and said s 

 I have taken that one to the lake, now let another one come. 

 So taking another he ate him likewise until he perceived that 

 he had devoured the whole of them. Coming again to the place 

 he found there a crab remaining, and being desirous of eating 

 him also said, Ah, good master Crab, I have taken all those 

 little fishes and put them into the lake covered with lotuses. 

 Why do you remain here alone? If you are willing I will 

 take you also and put you in the same lake. The crab then 



