CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 147 



said, Ah crane, how will you take me there ? I will take you. 

 In my bill, he said. He replied, I am afraid if you take me 

 in that way you will let me fall to the ground. The crane 

 said, Do not fear ; that I will take hold of you with great care and. 

 carry you safe. The crab then thought, This crane has not put 

 one of those little fishes into the lake, but has eaten them all. 

 Now if he takes me there and does not put me into the lake I 

 will cut his throat and kill him : he accordingly said, Friend 

 crane, you are not able to hold me sufficiently fast and take me 

 there, but I can hold fast. If you will allow me to hold by 

 your neck with my claws I will go with you. Upon which the 

 crane, not thinking that the crab meant to deceive him, said 

 very well, and put down his neck. The crab then seized hold 

 of it with his claws as though it were with a vice, held it fast, 

 and said, Now go ! The crane accordingly went to the lake, 

 and then turned towards the trees in the neighbourhood. Upon 

 this the crab exclaimed Ah, where are you taking me without 

 putting me into the lake ? What crab ! said the crane are yoii 

 my relative that you speak thus : You are my slave. Look 

 wretch at the he; p of bones at the foot of these trees, these belonged 

 to the fish I h.ve eaten, and J intend to eat you in a like man- 

 ner. Upon which the crab said Ah crane, those little fishes 

 were destitute of wisdom and therefore they became your prey, 

 but you cannot deceive me so ; I will bring you to your end. 

 You have not done wisely in this ; do you not see you are de- 

 ceived, for if I die, we both shall die, for I will cut your throat 

 with my claws ; and so saying he grasped him tightly s 

 Upon this the crane gasping and trembling for his life said with 

 tears, O my Lord crab I did not intend to injure you, neither 

 have I done you any harm ; Spare my life, I pray you. Well, 

 said the crab, if it be so then descend gently and put me into 

 the lake. The crane accordingly turned round and descending 

 to the lake, put the crab upon the mud on its border: upon 

 this the crab, with his sharp claws severed at once the crane's 



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