The Story of a Simpleton.

Afterwards they met in with a pack of wild dogs who said, “Hulloo! what’s up, that you are fleeing in such a plight?” They replied, “We are fleeing from As ghur ghur.” “Where is he?” said they, “We will eat him.” The tiger said, “There just in front of you, where you see the dark spot in the forest.” So they went in the direction indicated, and while they were yet some distance off, they saw the simpleton standing in the shade of the trees. He also saw them, and being afraid hid himself in a hollow tree. On coming up to the tree in which he was, they surrounded it, and one of their number essayed to poke him out of his hiding place with his tail. The simpleton, however, taking hold of it twisted it round his hands, and pulled with all his might. The pain caused by his tail being pulled, caused the wild dog to grin. On seeing this, one of his companions said, “Oh! Brother, wherefore do you grin.” He said, “I have got hold of him, and I am smiling with pleasure.” The simpleton from within the tree continued to pull, till the tail of the wild dog broke, and he fell to the ground with a thud. The others on looking at him noticed that he had lost his tail. So they all became panic stricken, and fled from the place with all possible speed.

The simpleton took up his residence in that part of the jungle in which the above occurred. He is said to be the ancestor of the Bir hors, or jungle Santals.