Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 488

THE WILY FOX
448
the banks of this river, I find myself exposed at every
moment to the fury of wild beasts."
The opinion of a third arbitrator only was wanting to
complete the ruin of the Brahmin. Perceiving a fox, he
asked him the same question that he had asked the mango-
tree and the cow.
But before making an answer the fox
wished to be better informed of the points at issue. So
the Brahmin gave a detailed account of the services he had
rendered to the crocodile and of the treacherous act that
the latter was meditating.
The fox laughed heartily, and
seemed at first to be going to decide in favour of the croco-
" However," said he, " before pronouncing a final
dile.
judgement on your affair, I must see how you both travelled
together."
The crocodile, without the least suspicion as to what
the fox intended to do, and without the least hesitation,
got into the bag, which the Brahmin then hoisted upon his
back.
The fox told the Brahmin to follow him, and on
reaching an isolated spot he made signs to the Brahmin to
place his load on the ground.
No sooner had the latter
done so than the fox took a huge stone and smashed the
head of the crocodile with it. Then turning to the Brahmin,
" Foolish man that thou art, may the dangers
the fox said
to which thou hast been exposing thyself teach thee to be
more careful in future
Remember well that we should
never make friends or associates of the wicked." The fox
then called his family together and made an excellent meal
of the dead crocodile
and the Brahmin, after accomplish-
ing the object of his pilgrimage by bathing in the waters
of the Ganges, returned home safe and sound.
This fable,' said the crab to his benefactor the Brahmin,
who was attentively listening to his narrative, ought to
convince thee that no covenant should be made with the
wicked, and that we may without the least scruple fail in
our word to them. When we happen to have them in our
power, we should ruthlessly destroy them.' Saying this,
the crab tightened its clasp on the crow and strangled it
to death.
After this exhibition of exemplary punishment the
Brahmin Kala-Sarma, taking up the crab again, continued
his journey
and when he reached the river Ganges,
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