The protracted winter

A group of boys disrupted nature’s balance by moving a piece of seaweed, causing winter to return prematurely, bringing hardship to their village. A blue jay later led them to a nearby town, Kilna’xe, where summer persisted and food was plentiful. This story, from near Wrangell, highlights how people in the past respected nature’s delicate harmony, recognizing small actions could have significant consequences.

Source:
Tlingit Myths and Texts
by John R. Swanton
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Bulletin 39
Washington, 1909

► Themes of the story

Conflict with Nature: The boys’ interference with the seaweed disrupts the natural order, leading to an unexpected return of winter and subsequent hardships for their community.

Moral Lessons: The narrative underscores the importance of respecting nature and how seemingly minor actions can have significant consequences, teaching a lesson about the delicate balance between humans and the environment.

Supernatural Beings: The appearance of the blue jay, which guides the villagers to a place where summer persists, introduces a supernatural element, suggesting that animals may possess otherworldly knowledge or serve as messengers in folklore.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Sub-Arctic Region
  - Tlingit Lore

Learn more about the Tlingit people

Myth recorded in English at Sitka, Alaska
January-April 1904

One time some boys pulled a piece of drifting seaweed out of the water on one side of their canoe and put it in again on the other. It was almost summer then, but, for having done this, winter came on again and snow was piled high in front of the houses so that people began to be in want of food. One day, however, a blue jay perched on the edge of a smoke hole, with elderberries in its mouth, and cried, “Kilna’xe.” This was the name of a neighboring town. So the people took all the cedar bark they had prepared to make houses out of and went to Kilna’xe where they found that it was already summer and the berries were ripe. Only about their own town was it still winter. This happened just beyond the town of Wrangell.

I tell you this story to show how particular people used to be in olden times about things, for it was only a piece of seaweed that brought winter on.

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Root-Stump

In a town plagued by mysterious abductions, a supernatural force carried off all the men and women, leaving only two women behind. One conceived a son, Root-stump, through root-juice. Gifted with extraordinary powers, Root-stump grew rapidly, defeating the airborne abductor and a malevolent canoe-maker who preyed on others. His heroic actions restored balance, embodying the mystical cautionary tale about root-juice’s potency.

Source:
Tlingit Myths and Texts
by John R. Swanton
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Bulletin 39
Washington, 1909

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Root-Stump’s conception from root-juice and his rapid growth highlight themes of extraordinary change and development.

Supernatural Beings: The tale features mystical entities, including the airborne abductor and the malevolent canoe-maker, emphasizing interactions with otherworldly forces.

Moral Lessons: The story serves as a cautionary tale about the potency of root-juice, warning women against swallowing its sap to prevent unintended consequences.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Sub-Arctic Region
  - Tlingit Lore

Learn more about the Tlingit people

Myth recorded in English at Sitka, Alaska
January-April 1904

There was a certain town in which many people were dying of sickness, but those who felt well used to play shinney on the beach every day.

Then something came down through the air and one of them seized it and was dragged up from the ground. Another person grasped his feet, endeavoring to pull him back, but he, too, was carried up and another and another until there were ten. All of these were taken up out of sight.

The next day the same thing came down a second time, and ten more were carried off. This happened every day until all the men in the town were gone. Next it came to a woman, and all the women were carried away in the same manner except two.

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These two women now walked along the beach calling for help. They did not know whither their friends had gone. And every day they went up into the forest after roots.

One day, after they had gone up into the woods, one of these women began swallowing root-juice, and it formed a child in her. This was born and proved to be a boy. After he had grown a little larger, his mother named him Root-stump (Xat-cugu’lki). This is what helped her. All the men who used to chop canoes away from town had also disappeared.

The child grew very rapidly and repeatedly asked his mother, “Where have all my friends gone?” She said to him, “We do not know. They kept going up into the air.” When he was a little larger he began to test himself. He would go up to a tree, seize a limb, and. try to stretch himself. Then roots would run out from him in every direction because his mother had named him to have that sort of strength. [The exact words of the story-teller]

His mother said to him, “Look out when you go down on the beach to play, because those who do so go up into the air and you will also go up. So look out.” Then he ran down to the beach and began playing. All at once the thing came down. He seized it, and immediately roots grew out from him into the ground in every direction. So he pulled down the thing that was killing his people, and it broke into small pieces.

There was another being in the woods who always chopped and made noises to entice people to him in order to kill them. He was in the habit of killing people by asking them to get into his canoe, when he knocked out a thwart so that it closed in upon them. He was the one who had killed the canoe-makers. Root-stump once found this man engaged in making a canoe, and the man asked him to jump inside. Root-stump knew what he was about, however, and jumped out too quickly. Then Root-stump was so angry that he seized the canoe-maker and beat his brains out. He broke up the canoe and piled it on top of him.

This boy grew up into a very fine man. He brought in all kinds of things for his mother. If he were hunting mountain sheep and came to a chasm or other similar place, he would cross it by sticking his roots into the ground on the other side.

This is why they say to a woman who works with roots, “Do not swallow the sap. You might have a baby from it.”

Wolverine-Man

In this tale, a hunter, adhering to traditional customs of preparation, encounters Wolverine-man, a mythical figure who teaches him a transformative hunting method involving a unique trap called “Never-lasting-over-night.” The trap ensures abundant success, enabling the hunter to achieve wealth and fame by sharing the innovation. Interwoven with moral lessons and mystical elements, the story reflects the cultural significance of skill, preparation, and respect for nature’s rules.

Source:
Tlingit Myths and Texts
by John R. Swanton
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Bulletin 39
Washington, 1909

► Themes of the story

Magic and Enchantment: The hunter’s encounter with Wolverine-man introduces him to a supernatural being who imparts mystical knowledge, particularly the creation of the “Never-lasting-over-night” trap, which ensures hunting success.

Moral Lessons: The story emphasizes the importance of adhering to traditional customs and respecting the guidance of mystical beings. The hunter’s success is attributed to his compliance with the rituals and teachings provided by Wolverine-man.

Transformation: Through his experiences and the knowledge gained from Wolverine-man, the hunter undergoes a transformation from an ordinary individual to a renowned and wealthy figure within his community, highlighting personal growth and the acquisition of wisdom.

► From the same Region or People

North America
- Sub-Arctic Region
  - Tlingit Lore

Learn more about the Tlingit people

Myth recorded in English at Sitka, Alaska
January-April 1904

There were people living in a certain town on the mainland. In olden times the people did not use guns. They hunted with bows and arrows, and horn spears, and it was very hard work to use them. So, when they were going hunting, they had to fast and wash their heads in urine. That is why in all of these stories — which I am telling you just as they were told in the olden times — food was very scarce and hard to get. Success depended on what things were used and how people prepared themselves.

One day a certain man at this place began preparing himself by washing his head in urine, and the following morning he dressed and started up the valley carrying his horn spear. At the head of this valley he saw a flock of mountain sheep, but he could not get at them, so he camped over night. In the morning he saw that a wolverine (nusk) was among these sheep killing them off.

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Next evening he reached the top of the mountain and started into the brush to camp, but came to a house with the door wide open for him. On the inside hung pieces of fat from all kinds of animals the wolverine had killed. He wanted to go in very much, but instead he sat down in the brush near by and waited.

Presently a man came along carrying a pack. This was Wolverine-man (Nu’sgu-qa). He said, “My trader, you are here. Why don’t you step inside?” Then they entered, and Wolverine-man took off his clothes and began wringing them out just like a human being. Then he heated some hot rocks, took his half basket, chopped up the bones of a ground hog and put these into it along with the cooking stones. Then he said to the man, “Give me that kandala’x. Give me that kaxa’kaok.” These were his own words which he was teaching to this man, and they mean, “Give me my dish. Give me my little spoon.” So, when one went up to the top of this mountain in olden times he called his dishes and spoons by those names.

Then Wolverine-man placed the food before his guest, but, when the latter was about to take some, Wolverine-man said something that sounded strange to him. He said, “There he is picking it up. There he is going to eat it.” It sounded strange. Then he kept on talking: “He is getting closer to the small bones. He is getting closer to the small bones. He is getting closer to the small brother of the big bone. He is getting closer to the small brother of the big bone.” He did not want the man to eat the small bones at the joint [the knee-pan or the ankle and wrist bones] and it was from Wolverine-man that people learned not to eat these. He said, “I am not saying this to you because I hate you. If anybody swallows these, the weather is not clear on top of the mountain. It is always foggy, and one can kill nothing. This is why I am telling you.” Meanwhile the people in the camps hunted every day for this man but in vain.

By and by Wolverine-man said to him, “Go around to the other side of the mountain and sit down where the ground-hogs’ places are.” He went there every day, but always came home without anything. Wolverine-man, however, brought him a great load every time. Finally Wolverine-man told him to go and cut off two small limbs with his ax. People generally carried a stone ax when off hunting. With these he made a trap for him and named it Never-lasting-over-night (Lanka’kixe). It was so named because it was certain to catch.

When they went up next day, Wolverine-man said, “I am going this way. Do not set your trap until you see a large ground hog going into a hole. Set it there.” Soon after he left Wolverine-man he saw a big ground hog going into its hole. He set up his trap there, stood near, and watched. Soon he heard the crack of his trap falling.

He set it up many times, and each time he caught one. He killed four that day. That is why the trap is called Never-lasting-over-night. From that time on he increased the size of his catch every day, while Wolverine-man did not catch much. When he got home with all his ground hogs Wolverine-man lay down by the fire and began singing, “What I would have killed has all gone over to a lazy man’s side.”

Next morning, when they again started off to hunt, Wolverine-man, instead of continuing on his usual route, came back to see what his companion was doing. Then he climbed into a tree to watch him, began to play around in the tree, and afterwards suddenly fell down. He wanted to deceive the trapper. This tree is a small bushy one called sax, and it is Wolverine-man’s wife with which he had really been cohabiting. The man, however, observed what he was doing, and returned home at once, upon which Wolverine-man became so ashamed that he lay down and covered himself with ashes.

After that Wolverine-man told his guest to lie down and cover himself up. Then he took his urinal full of urine, with two white rocks in it, to another place. He was going to bathe to purify himself from his wife. After he had purified himself, he came home, put grease into the fire and began to motion toward his face and to blow with his mouth. Then he took a wooden comb and began to comb his hair. The man had covered his head with the blanket but was watching through a hole.

Now the man arose and said to Wolverine-man, “I am going home to my children.” Then Wolverine-man told him not to say where he had been but to keep him in remembrance by means of the trap. He had stayed with Wolverine-man more than a month, and, when he went down, he had a big pack of skins.

Then he began to distribute these to all his friends, telling them that he had discovered a place where there were lots of things, and that he had a trap which never failed to kill ground hogs and other animals if set on the mountain over night. When he explained to the people how to set up this trap, a man named Coward (Qatxa’n) said, “I will go along with you.” This time they did not go way up to the place where Wolverine-man had helped him but into one of the lower valleys where there were many ground hogs. There they constructed a house out of dry sticks and began trapping. Coward had understood him to say that he caught ground hogs by whittling up sticks near the hole. That was what he was doing every day, until finally his companion said, “What do you do by the holes that you do not catch anything?” He said, “Why, I have already cut up two big sticks by the holes.” Then the other answered, “That is not right. You have to cut and make a trap with which to trap the ground hog.”

After that this man thought he would do the same thing to the tree he had seen Wolverine-man do, but he fell to the ground and was barely able to crawl home. When he thought he had enough skim, he started to pack up and return. The trap was very valuable at that time because it was new, and anyone borrowing it paid a great deal. So he became wealthy by means of it. He went to every other town to let people know about it. They would invite him to a place, feast him, and ask him for it. He became very wealthy.

The Elephant and the Dog

An Elephant and a Dog form a deep friendship while sharing food and companionship in the king’s stable. When a farmer buys the Dog, the Elephant becomes despondent, refusing to eat or bathe. The king learns of their bond and orders the Dog’s release. Reunited, the two friends joyfully resume their life together, inseparable and happy for the rest of their days.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Transformation through Love: The elephant’s behavior transforms due to the emotional bond with the dog, highlighting how love and companionship can significantly impact well-being.

Community and Isolation: The narrative explores the effects of companionship versus separation, illustrating the importance of social bonds in overcoming feelings of isolation.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts lessons on empathy, the significance of friendship, and the understanding that emotional bonds are vital for happiness and health.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

Once upon a time a Dog used to go into the stable where the king’s Elephant lived. At first the Dog went there to get the food that was left after the Elephant had finished eating.

Day after day the Dog went to the stable, waiting around for bits to eat. But by and by the Elephant and the Dog came to be great friends. Then the Elephant began to share his food with the Dog, and they ate together. When the Elephant slept, his friend the Dog slept beside him.

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When the Elephant felt like playing, he would catch the Dog in his trunk and swing him to and fro. Neither the Dog nor the Elephant was quite happy unless the other was nearby.

One day a farmer saw the Dog and said to the Elephant-keeper: “I will buy that Dog. He looks good-tempered, and I see that he is smart. How much do you want for the Dog?”

The Elephant-keeper did not care for the Dog, and he did want some money just then. So he asked a fair price, and the fanner paid it and took the Dog away to the country.

The king’s Elephant missed the Dog and did not care to eat when his friend was not there to share the food. When the time came for the Elephant to bathe, he would not bathe. The next day again the Elephant would not eat, and he would not bathe. The third day, when the Elephant would neither eat nor bathe, the king was told about it.

The king sent for his chief servant, saying, “Go to the stable and find out why the Elephant is acting in this way.”

The chief servant went to the stable and looked the Elephant all over. Then he said to the Elephant-keeper: “There seems to be nothing the matter with this Elephant’s body, but why does he look so sad? Has he lost a playmate?”

“Yes,” said the keeper, “there was a Dog who ate and slept and played with the Elephant. The Dog went away three days ago.”

“Do you know where the Dog is now?” asked the chief servant.

“No, I do not,” said the keeper.

Then the chief servant went back to the king and said, “The Elephant is not sick, but he is lonely without his friend, the Dog.”

“Where is the Dog?” asked the king.

“A farmer took him away, so the Elephant-keeper says,” said the chief servant. “No one knows where the farmer lives.”

“Very well,” said the king. “I will send word all over the country, asking the man who bought this Dog to turn him loose. I will give him back as much as he paid for the Dog.”

When the farmer who had bought the Dog heard this, he turned him loose. The Dog ran back as fast as ever he could go to the Elephant’s stable. The Elephant was so glad to see the Dog that he picked him up with his trunk and put him on his head. Then he put him down again.

When the Elephant-keeper brought food, the Elephant watched the Dog as he ate, and then took his own food.

All the rest of their lives the Elephant and the Dog lived together.

Beauty and Brownie

Two deer, Beauty and Brownie, lived with their parents in a forest. Their father warned them of hunters’ traps during corn season and instructed them to lead their herds to the hills, traveling by night and avoiding villages. Beauty followed the advice, losing no deer, while careless Brownie traveled by day and near villages, losing most of his herd.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts a lesson on the importance of heeding wise counsel and exercising caution to avoid danger.

Trials and Tribulations: Both brothers face the challenge of leading their herds safely through perilous circumstances, highlighting their differing approaches and outcomes.

Family Dynamics: The story explores the relationship between the father and his sons, emphasizing the father’s concern and the contrasting responses of Beauty and Brownie to his advice.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

Two Deer named Beauty and Brownie lived with their father and mother and great herds of Deer in a forest.

One day their father called them to him and said: “The Deer in the forest are always in danger when the corn is ripening in the fields. It will be best for you to go away for a while, and you must each take your own herd of Deer with you.”

“What is the danger, Father?” they asked.

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“When the Deer go into the fields to eat the corn they get caught in the traps the men set there,” the father said. “Many Deer are caught in these traps every year.”

“Shall you go away with us?” Brownie said.

“No, your mother and I, and some of the other old Deer will stay here in the forest,” said the father. “There will be food enough for us, but there is not enough for you and your herds. You must lead your herds up into the high hills where there is plenty of food for you, and stay there until the crops are all cut. Then you can bring your herds back here. But you must be careful.

“You must travel by night, because the hunters will see you if you go by day. And you must not take your herd near the villages where hunters live.”

So Beauty and Brownie and their herds set out. Beauty traveled at night and did not go near any villages, and at last brought his herd safely to the high hills. Not a single Deer did Beauty lose.

But Brownie forgot what his father had said. Early each morning he started off with his herd, going along all through the day. When he saw a village, he led his herd right past it. Again and again hunters saw the herd, and they killed many, many of the Deer in Brownie’s herd. When crops had been cut, the Deer started back to the forest. Beauty led all his herd back, but stupid Brownie traveled in the daytime, and again he took his herd past the villages. When he reached the forest only a few were left of all Brownie’s herd.

Prince Wicked and the Grateful Animals

A cruel prince, hated by all, is swept away during a storm and saved by a kind poor man alongside a Snake, Rat, and Parrot. The animals vow gratitude, but the prince betrays the man upon becoming king. The people rebel, kill the ungrateful ruler, and crown the poor man king. Honoring promises, he thrives with his animal friends, ruling wisely and justly.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Transformation through Love: The narrative illustrates how the poor man’s compassionate actions lead to a transformation in his status and life circumstances.

Cunning and Deception: Prince Wicked’s betrayal of the man who saved him highlights themes of deceit and treachery.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts ethical teachings, emphasizing the virtues of kindness and the consequences of ingratitude.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

Once upon a time a king had a son named Prince Wicked. He was fierce and cruel, and he spoke to nobody without abuse, or blows. Like grit in the eye, was Prince Wicked to every one, both in the palace and out of it.

His people said to one another, “If he acts this way while he is a prince, how will he act when he is king?”

One day when the prince was swimming in the river, suddenly a great storm came on, and it grew very dark.

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In the darkness the servants who were with the prince swam from him, saying to themselves, “Let us leave him alone in the river, and he may drown.”

When they reached the shore, some of the servants who had not gone into the river said, “Where is Prince Wicked?”

“Isn’t he here?” they asked. “Perhaps he came out of the river in the darkness and went home.” Then the servants all went back to the palace.

The king asked where his son was, and again the servants said: “Isn’t he here, O King? A great storm came on soon after we went into the water. It grew very dark. When we came out of the water the prince was not with us.”

At once the king had the gates thrown open. He and all his men searched up and down the banks of the river for the missing prince. But no trace of him could be found.

In the darkness the prince had been swept down the river. He was crying for fear he would drown when he came across a log. He climbed upon the log, and floated farther down the river.

When the great storm arose, the water rushed into the homes of a Rat and a Snake who lived on the river bank. The Rat and the Snake swam out into the river and found the same log the prince had found. The Snake climbed upon one end of the log, and the Rat climbed upon the other.

On the river’s bank a cottonwood-tree grew, and a young Parrot lived in its branches. The storm pulled up this tree, and it fell into the river. The heavy rain beat down the Parrot when it tried to fly, and it could not go far. Looking down it saw the log and flew down to rest. Now there were four on the log floating down stream together.

Just around the bend in the river a certain poor man had built himself a hut. As he walked to and fro late at night listening to the storm, he heard the loud cries of the prince. The poor man said to himself: “I must get that man out of the water. I must save his life.” So he shouted: “I will save you! I will save you!” as he swam out in the river.

Soon he reached the log, and pushing it by one end, he soon pushed it into the bank. The prince jumped up and down, he was so glad to be safe and sound on dry land.

Then the poor man saw the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot, and carried them to his hut. He built a fire, putting the animals near it so they could get dry. He took care of them first, because they were the weaker, and afterwards he looked after the comfort of the prince.

Then the poor man brought food and set it before them, looking after the animals first and the prince afterwards. This made the young prince angry, and he said to himself: “This poor man does not treat me like a prince. He takes care of the animals before taking care of me.” Then the prince began to hate the poor man.

A few days later, when the prince, and the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot were rested, and the storm was all over, the Snake said good-by to the poor man with these words:

“Father, you have been very kind to me. I know where there is some buried gold. If ever you want gold, you have only to come to my home and call, ‘Snake!’ and I will show you the buried gold. It shall all be yours.”

Next the Rat said good-by to the poor man. “If ever you want money,” said the Rat, “come to my home, and call out, ‘Rat!’ and I will show you where a great deal of money is buried near my home. It shall all be yours.”

Then the Parrot came, saying: “Father, silver and gold have I none, but if you ever want choice rice, come to where I live and call, ‘Parrot!’ and I will call all my family and friends together, and we will gather the choicest rice in the fields for you.”

Last came the prince. In his heart he hated the poor man who had saved his life. But he pretended to be as thankful as the animals had been, saying, “Come to me when I am king, and I will give you great riches.” So saying, he went away.

Not long after this the prince’s father died, and Prince Wicked was made king. He was then very rich.

By and by the poor man said to himself: “Each of the four whose lives I saved made a promise to me. I will see if they will keep their promises.”

First of all he went to the Snake, and standing near his hole, the poor man called out, “Snake!”

At once the Snake darted forth, and with every mark of respect he said: “Father, in this place there is much gold. Dig it up and take it all.”

“Very well,” said the poor man. “When I need it, I will not forget.”

After visiting for a while, the poor man said good-by to the Snake, and went to where the Rat lived, calling out, “Rat!”

The Rat came at once, and did as the Snake had done, showing the poor man where the money was buried.

“When I need it, I will come for it,” said the poor man.

Going next to the Parrot, he called out, “Parrot!” and the bird flew down from the tree-top as soon as he heard the call.

“O Father,” said the Parrot, “shall I call together all my family and friends to gather choice rice for you?”

The poor man, seeing that the Parrot was willing and ready to keep his promise, said: “I do not need rice now. If ever I do, I will not forget your offer.”

Last of all, the poor man went into the city where the king lived. The king, seated on his great white elephant, was riding through the city. The king saw the poor man, and said to himself: “That poor man has come to ask me for the great riches I promised to give him. I must have his head cut off before he can tell the people how he saved my life when I was the prince.”

So the king called his servants to him and said: “You see that poor man over there? Seize him and bind him, beat him at every corner of the street as you march him out of the city, and then chop off his head.”

The servants had to obey their king. So they seized and bound the poor man. They beat him at every corner of the street. The poor man did not cry out, but he said, over and over again, “It is better to save poor, weak animals than to save a prince.”

At last some wise men among the crowds along the street asked the poor man what prince he had saved. Then the poor man told the whole story, ending with the words, “By saving your king, I brought all this pain upon myself.”

The wise men and all the rest of the crowd cried out: “This poor man saved the life of our king, and now the king has ordered him to be killed. How can we be sure that he will not have any, or all, of us killed? Let us kill him.” And in their anger they rushed from every side upon the king as he rode on his elephant, and with arrows and stones they killed him then and there.

Then they made the poor man king, and set him to rule over them.

The poor man ruled his people well. One day he decided once more to try the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot. So, followed by many servants, the king went to where the Snake lived.

At the call of “Snake!” out came the Snake from his hole, saying, “Here, O King, is your treasure; take it.”

“I will,” said the king. “And I want you to come with me.”

Then the king had his servants dig up the gold.

Going to where the Rat lived, the king called, “Rat!” Out came the Rat, and bowing low to the king, the Rat said, “Take all the money buried here and have your servants carry it away.”

“I will,” said the king, and he asked the Rat to go with him and the Snake.

Then the king went to where the Parrot lived, and called, “Parrot!” The Parrot flew down to the king’s feet and said, “O King, shall I and my family and my friends gather choice rice for you?”

“Not now, not until rice is needed,” said the king. “Will you come with us?” The Parrot was glad to join them.

So with the gold, and the money, and with the Snake, the Rat, and the Parrot as well, the king went back to the city. The king had the gold and the money hidden away in the palace. He had a tube of gold made for the Snake to live in. He had a glass box made for the Rat’s home, and a cage of gold for the Parrot. Each had the food he liked best of all to eat every day, and so these four lived happily all their lives.

The Wise Goat and the Wolf

A wise Goat outsmarts a pair of Wolves who try repeatedly to catch her. Using cunning and caution, she evades their deceptive traps. When the Wolves attempt to lure her a final time, the Goat pretends to bring fierce canine friends, scaring the Wolves away for good. Her intelligence and quick thinking ensure her safety, leaving the Wolves defeated and hungry.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Trickster: The goat embodies the trickster archetype by using her wit to outsmart the wolves’ deceptive traps.

Cunning and Deception: The narrative revolves around the use of cunning and deceptive strategies, both by the wolves attempting to lure the goat and by the goat devising clever plans to evade them.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a moral lesson on the value of intelligence, caution, and quick thinking in overcoming adversaries and ensuring one’s safety.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

Once upon a time, many, many wild Goats lived in a cave in the side of a hill.

A Wolf lived with his mate not far from this cave.

Like all Wolves they liked the taste of Goat-meat. So they caught the Goats, one after another, and ate them all but one who was wiser than all the others.

Try as they might, the Wolves could not catch her.

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One day the Wolf said to his mate: “My dear, let us play a trick on that wise Goat. I will lie down here pretending to be dead. You go alone to the cave where the Goat lives, and looking very sad, say to her: ‘My dear, do you see my mate lying there dead? I am so sad; I have no friends. Will you be good to me? Will you come and help me bury the body of my mate?’ The Goat will be sorry for you and I think she will come here with you. When she stands beside me I will spring upon her and bite her in the neck. Then she will fall over dead, and we shall have good meat to eat.”

The Wolf then lay down, and his mate went to the Goat, saying what she had been told to say.

But the wise Goat said: “My dear, all my family and friends have been eaten by your mate I am afraid to go one step with you. I am far safer here than I would be there.”

“Do not be afraid,” said the Wolf. “What harm can a dead Wolf do to you?”

These and many more words the Wolf said to the Goat, so that at last the Goat said she would go with the Wolf.

But as they went up the hill side by side, the Goat said to herself: “Who knows what will happen? How do I know the Wolf is dead?” She said to the Wolf, “I think it will be better if you go on in front of me.”

The Wolf thought he heard them coming. He was hungry and he raised up his head to see if he could see them The Goat saw him raise his head, and she turned and ran back to her cave.

“Why did you raise your head when you were pretending to be dead?” the Wolf asked her mate. He had no good answer.

By and by the Wolves were both so very hungry that the Wolf asked his mate to try once more to catch the Goat.

This time the Wolf went to the Goat and said: “My friend, your coming helped us, for as soon as you came, my mate felt better. He is now very much better. Come and talk to him. Let us be friends and have a good time together.”

The wise Goat thought: “These wicked Wolves want to play another trick on me. But I have thought of a trick to play on them.” So the Goat said: “I will go to see your mate, and I will take my friends with me. You go back and get ready for us. Let us all have a good time together.”

Then the Wolf was afraid, and she asked: “Who are the friends who will come with you? Tell me their names.”

The wise Goat said: “I will bring the two Hounds, Old Gray and Young Tan, and that fine big dog called Four-Eyes. And I will ask each of them to bring his mate.” The Wolf waited to hear no more. She turned, and away she ran back to her mate. The Goat never saw either of them again.

The Lion In Bad Company

A young Lion befriends a cunning Wolf despite his parents’ warnings. The Wolf manipulates the Lion into hunting ponies, leading to repeated thefts from the king. The king’s archer ultimately shoots the Lion during a raid, and the Wolf, abandoning loyalty, flees to the woods. The tale highlights the dangers of ignoring wise counsel and trusting unworthy companions.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The Wolf manipulates the young Lion into stealing the king’s ponies for his own desire for horse-meat.

Tragic Flaw: The young Lion’s disregard for his parents’ advice and his naivety in trusting the Wolf lead to his downfall.

Moral Lessons: The tale teaches the importance of heeding wise counsel and the dangers of associating with untrustworthy companions.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

One day a young Lion came suddenly upon a Wolf. The Wolf was not able to get away, so he said to the Lion: “Please, Great Lion, could you take me to your den, and let me live with you and your mate? I will work for you all my days.”

This young Lion had been told by his father and mother not to make friends with any Wolf. But when this Wolf called him “Great Lion,” he said to himself: “This Wolf is not bad. This Wolf is not like other Wolves.” So he took the Wolf to the den where he lived with his father and mother.

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Now this Lion’s father was a fine old Lion, and he told his son that he did not like having this Wolf there. But the young Lion thought he knew better than his father, so the Wolf stayed in the den.

One day the Wolf wanted horse-flesh to eat, so he said to the young Lion, “Sir, there is nothing we have not eaten except horse-meat; let us take a horse.”

“But where are there horses?” asked the Lion.

“There are small ponies on the river bank,” said the Wolf.

So the young Lion went with the Wolf to the river bank when the ponies were bathing. The Lion caught a small pony, and throwing it on his back, he ran back to his den.

His father said: “My son, those ponies belong to the king. Kings have many skilful archers. Lions do not live long who eat ponies belonging to the king. Do not take another pony.”

But the young Lion liked the taste of horse-meat, and he caught and killed pony after pony.

Soon the king heard that a Lion was killing the ponies when they went to bathe in the river. “Build a tank inside the town,” said the king. “The lion will not get the ponies there.” But the Lion killed the ponies as they bathed in the tank.

Then the king said the ponies must be kept in the stables. But the Lion went over the wall, and killed the ponies in their stables.

At last the king called an archer, who shot like lightning. “Do you think you can shoot this Lion?” the king asked him. The archer said that he was sure he could. “Very well,” said the king, “take your place in the tower on the wall, and shoot him.” So the archer waited there in the tower.

By and by the Lion and the Wolf came to the wall. The Wolf did not go over the wall but waited to see what would happen. The Lion sprang over the wall. Very soon he caught and killed a pony. Then the archer let fly an arrow.

The Lion roared, “I am shot.”

Then the Wolf said to himself: “The Lion has been shot, and soon he will die. I will now go back to my old home in the woods.” And so he did. The Lion fell down dead.

The Stolen Plow

Two traders, one from a village and one from a town, dispute over deceit. The town trader claims mice ate the village trader’s plow, while the village trader retaliates, saying a bird carried off the town trader’s son. In court, the village trader reveals the absurdity of both claims. The judge resolves the matter, restoring the son and the plow to their rightful owners.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The town trader’s dishonest claim about the plow and the village trader’s clever retaliation both center on deceit and wit.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts a lesson on the consequences of dishonesty and the value of justice.

Revenge and Justice: The village trader’s actions serve as a form of retribution, ultimately leading to a fair resolution.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

Once there were two traders who were great friends. One of them lived in a small village, and one lived in a large town near-by.

One day the village trader took his plow to the large town to have it mended. Then he left it with the trader who lived there. After some time the town trader sold the plow, and kept the money.

When the trader from the village came to get his plow the town trader said, “The mice have eaten your plow.”

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“That is strange! How could mice eat such a thing?” said the village trader.

That afternoon when all the children went down to the river to go swimming, the village trader took the town trader’s little son to the house of a friend saying, “Please keep this little boy here until I come back for him.”

By and by the villager went back to the town trader’s house.

“Where is my son? He went away with you. Why didn’t you bring him back?” asked the town trader.

“I took him with me and left him on the bank of the river while I went down into the water,” said the villager. “While I was swimming about a big bird seized your son, and flew up into the air with him. I shouted, but I could not make the bird let go,” he said.

“That cannot be true,” cried the town trader. “No bird could carry off a boy. I will go to the court, and you will have to go there, and tell the judge.”

The villager said, “As you please”; and they both went to the court. The town trader said to the judge:

“This fellow took my son with him to the river, and when I asked where the boy was, he said that a bird had carried him off.”

“What have you to say?” said the judge to the village trader.

“I told the father that I took the boy with me, and that a bird had carried him off,” said the village trader.

“But where in the world are there birds strong enough to carry off boys?” said the judge.

“I have a question to ask you,” answered the village trader. “If birds cannot carry off boys, can mice eat plows?”

“What do you mean by that?” asked the judge.

“I left my good plow with this man. When I came for it he told me that the mice had eaten it. If mice eat plows, then birds carry off boys; but if mice cannot do this, neither can birds carry off boys. This man says the mice ate my plow.”

The judge said to the town trader, “Give back the plow to this man, and he will give your son back to you.” And the two traders went out of the court, and by night-time one had his son back again, and the other had his plow.

The Foolhardy Wolf

A Lion and a Wolf form an alliance where the Wolf scouts for prey, and the Lion hunts and shares the spoils. The Wolf, growing arrogant from abundance, desires to hunt an elephant alone, ignoring the Lion’s warnings. Attempting the feat, the Wolf fails and is killed by the elephant. The Lion remarks on the Wolf’s folly, underscoring the dangers of overestimating one’s abilities.

Source:
More Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1922

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The wolf’s initial strategy of aligning with the lion to secure food showcases cunning behavior.

Tragic Flaw: The wolf’s overestimation of its abilities and subsequent arrogance lead to its downfall, highlighting a classic tragic flaw.

Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts a lesson on the perils of hubris and the importance of recognizing one’s limitations.

► From the same Region or People

South Asia
- India
  - Buddhist Lore

Learn more about Jataka Tales

A lion bounded forth from his lair one day, looking north, west, south, and east. He saw a Buffalo and went to kill him. The Lion ate all of the Buffalo-meat he wanted, and then went down to the lake for a drink.

As the Lion turned to go toward his den for a nap, he came upon a hungry Wolf. The Wolf had no chance to get away, so he threw himself at the Lion’s feet.

“What do you want?” the Lion asked.

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“O Lion, let me be your servant,” said the Wolf. “Very well,” said the Lion, “serve me, and you shall have good food to eat.”

So saying, the Lion went into his den for his nap. When he woke up, the Lion said to the Wolf: “Each day you must go to the mountain top, and see whether there are any elephants, or ponies, or buffaloes about. If you see any, come to me and say: ‘Great Lion, come forth in thy might. Food is in sight.’ Then I will kill and eat, and give part of the meat to you.”

So day after day the Wolf climbed to the mountain top, and seeing a pony, or a buffalo, or an elephant, he went back to the den, and falling at the Lion’s feet he said: “Great Lion, come forth in thy might. Food is in sight.”

Then the Lion would bound forth and kill whichever beast it was, sharing the meat with the Wolf.

Now this Wolf had never had such fine meat to eat, nor so much. So as time went on, the Wolf grew bigger and bigger, and stronger and stronger, until he was really proud of his great size and strength.

“See how big and strong I am,” he said to himself.

“Why am I living day after day on food given me by another? I will kill for my own eating. I’ll kill an elephant for myself.”

So the Wolf went to the Lion, and said: “I want to eat an elephant of my own killing. Will you let me lie in your corner in the den, while you climb the mountain to look out for an elephant? Then when you see one, you come to the den and say, ‘Great Wolf, come forth in thy might. Food is in sight.’ Then I will kill the elephant.”

Said the Lion: “Wolf, only Lions can kill elephants. The world has never seen a Wolf that could kill an elephant. Give up this notion of yours, and eat what I kill.”

But no matter what the Lion said, the Wolf would not give way. So at last the Lion said: “Well, have your own way. Lie down in the den, and I will climb to the top of the mountain.”

When he saw an elephant the Lion went back to the mouth of the cave, and said: “Great Wolf, come forth in thy might. Food is in sight.”

Then from the den the Wolf nimbly bounded forth, ran to where the elephant was, and, howling three times, he sprang at the elephant.

But the Wolf missed his aim, and fell down at the elephant’s feet. The elephant raised his right foot and killed the Wolf. Seeing all this, the Lion said, “You will no more come forth in your might, you foolhardy Wolf.”