The story of the
Monkey and the crocodile
Once upon a time there lived a monkey named Red-face on a
tree by the side of the sea. The tree was an apple tree and the fruits it
bore were sweet as nectar. Once a crocodile named Ugly-Mug swam ashore and
Red-face threw apples at him and asked him to taste them. Ugly-Mug started
coming everyday ashore and eat the fruits thrown by Red-face and soon they
became good friends. Ugly-Mug used to take some fruits to his home to his
wife.
His wife was a greedy lady and asked him as to where he
got the nectar filled apples. Ugly-Mug told about his friend the monkey. The
lady was greedy and pleaded with her husband that she would like to eat the
monkey's heart, as a person who gave such tasty fruits must have a heart
filled with nectar. Ugly-Mug was angered and did not agree to deceiving his
friend. But she then insisted on not eating anything till he brought her his
friend's heart. Out of desperation, Ugly-mug started making plans for
killing his friend.
He came back to Red-face and entreated him with an
invitation to his house for supper stating that his wife would be thrilled
to have him home and also that she was very anxious to meet such a nice
friend. Poor Red-face believed the story but was asking his friend as to how
he could cross the sea to reach the house of the crocodile on the other
side. Ugly-mug then offered to carry him on his back and the monkey agreed.
In the middle of the sea, Ugly-mug took the crocodile
deep into the ocean to kill the monkey. The monkey was frightened and asked
the crocodile why he was doing this. Ugly-mug told him that his wife wanted
to eat the monkey's heart filled with nectar. Red-face immediately asked it
to take him back to the tree as he told him that he had left his other heart
which was full of nectar back at the tree. The foolish crocodile then swam
back to the tree and the terrified monkey jumped up the tree never to
return. Upon being asked as to why she was not returning, the monkey
answered to the crocodile that he had only one heart and he had been fooled
and scolded his friend for misusing his friendship.
The crocodile was ashamed at what happened and asked the
monkey if he could make any amends. And he was also scared that his wife
would not let him back in because he had returned without the monkey's
heart. Just then he heard that a huge he-crocodile had occupied the house of
his. The monkey advised him to fight the he-crocodile and drive him out of
his home and gain his wife's confidence. His advice the crocodile followed
and he was back happy with his wife.
MORAL:
Wit is superior to brute force |