104 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



Contents and classification of the stories. — A careful 

 estimate, however, of the contents of this section of the 

 Jataka book will lead the reader probably to qualify a 

 little the theory he may have formed of it as a collection 

 of those fables, fairy-tales, and comic stories which belong 

 to the general household store of the human family. For 

 it is only a portion of the contents which can be described 

 as stories of universal interest or application, found or fit 

 to be found in every part of the world. There is an equal 

 portion, I think, which is distinctly Buddhistic, and another 

 considerable portion which is Indian and local, and has its 

 origin and application within a limited range of social, 

 commercial, and woodland experience. 



There are indeed a certain number of those pointed 

 allegorical lessons of general morality and good sense, 

 which are called fables in the most significant use of the 

 word, and which are, or well might be, the common pro- 

 perty of mankind. But a good many, if called fables at 

 all, must be called fables of Buddhism. They inculcate, 

 not morality and good sense in general, but specific points 

 of Buddhist teaching. These cannot, as such, be parts of 

 universal folk-lore. Finally, there are but few, in this 

 section, which can be classed as comic stories, and only one 

 fairy-tale. 



We are led, therefore, somewhat to qualify the language 

 which would describe the book as primarily a collection 

 of materials which are common property, and we are pre- 

 pared to find much — perhaps the most important part — 

 to be distinctly Indian, local, and Buddhistic. 



To establish this point I will now give details. 



There are, as I reckon, ten stories which may claim to 

 be called fables. Five of these, " The Impudent Peacock" 

 (32), " The Quarrel of the Quails" (33), " The Crow and the 

 Crab" (38), " The Pride of Possession" (39), 44 The Monkey, 

 the Elephant,and the Parr ofc" (37), have the pointed and 

 universal character which belongs to the fables of wide 

 circulation. Of the other five, 44 The Brahmin and his 

 Goat" (18), 44 The Ox and the Pig" (30), 44 The Uxorious 

 Fish" (34), "Nursing a Viper" (43), and 44 The Crow and 

 the Pigeon" (42), the first three have more or less of the 

 special character of Buddhist teaching, and the other two 



