Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

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212 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,
following verses, which wish prosperity to the new house and
its inhabitants:
Tepong tawar, tepong jati
Tepong awal mult menjadi.
Dupat mas berkati-kati,
La^i hidup, sampai ka-mati.
Tepong tawar, tepong jati.
Surok bataug mali-mali.
Sa-lengkar daun pcgaga.
Salamat ambil-lah galah.
Minta dayang sini.
Salamat puji bagi Allah.
Why the Bear has no Tail r
(A folk-tale of the Pahang Malays obtained near Kuala Krau.)
A very thin buffalo was once feeding in a meadow. To
him came a tiger, and said, " I am going to eat you. " The
buffalo, however, besought the tiger to wait for seven days,
"for," said he, "I am very thin, and if you wait for seven
days, I shall have an opportunity of growing fat. " To this
the tiger agreed.
Now on the morning of the seventh day the buffalo was
wandering disconsolately along, when a crippled monkey, who
was sitting in a tree, called to him and asked him why he looked
so sad. So the buffalo related how he had promised to meet
a tiger, who wished to eat him.
"Very well, I will see if I can't help you," said the
monkey, " but you must carry me on your back. "
Thus they started in search of the tiger, with the monkey
sitting on the buffalo's back ;
him.
and before very long they met
Now as soon as the monkey saw the tiger, he began to
munch two brinjals, which he had brought with him, exclaim-
ing loudly as he did so, " "
good !
My word, this tiger's head tastes
The tiger, who heard what the monkey said, became
frightened, and ran away as fast as he could. While he was
still running, he came upon a bear, and told
monkey that ate tigers' heads.
him about the
Then he tried to persuade the bear to go and investigate
the matter, but the bear replied that it was not his affair : still,
if the tiger wished it, they would go together. Then, as each
i A variant of this story, translated by Mr. G. M. Laidlaw, in which the
mouse deer plavs the parts of both the buffalo and the monkey, is to be found
48. pp 36 S
m the / A' A S..S B , No
;