Note 1 — The Assistance which the Snake gave

“If so, because thou madest obeisance to me I will give thee a good assistance,” the Snake said. “The King’s tusk elephant every day comes to the pool to bathe. When it is bathing I will creep up its trunk. Having gone to the city from that place, the tusk elephant will fall mad on the days when it rains.1 Then doctors having come, when they are employing medical treatment they cannot cure it. After that, you, Sir, having gone to the royal palace must say, ‘Having employed medical treatment I can cure the tusk elephant.’ Having heard it, the King will allow you to practise the medical treatment. Should you ask, ‘What is the medical treatment?’ [it is this:]—Having brought a large water-pot to the place where the tusk elephant is, and placed the elephant’s trunk in the water, and covered and closed yourself and the tusk elephant with cloths, and tapped on the forehead of the elephant, [you must say], ‘Anē! O Lord, you must descend into the water-pot; if not, to-day I shall cut my throat (lit., neck).’ Then I shall descend into the water.”