Reading Notes: Santal Folklore, Part B

The Elephant and the Ants
Story source: Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909).

Way back when there was a lot more jungle than there is in today's time. There were also a lot of wild elephants that roamed the jungle. Once upon a time there was a black ant and a red ant that were making their home in the ground and an elephant approached them. The elephant asked why they were working so hard to burrow there when he was just going to destroy it. The ants answered back to him by saying just because you are bigger than us does not mean you are better than us. The elephant replied "Do not talk nonsense: there is nothing at which you could beat me; I am in all ways the largest and most powerful animal on the face of the earth." The ants replied that they should run a race and see who will win. They will not admit he is supreme unless he wins. The elephant became angry and began to run the race. He ran until he was tired and looked down and saw ants so he began to run again. He continued to do this until he was completely exhausted and fell to his death. The elephant fell to his death because he was so exhausted when in reality the ants never left the spot in which they first encountered the elephant. The elephant saw different ants every time he looked down and did not realize it was not the same ants. This story teacher us not to despise the poor man, because one day he may have an opportunity to put us to shame.

The Ant and the Elephant The Jackal and the Hare Story source: Folklore of the Santal Parganas by Cecil Henry Bompas (1909). A Jackal and a hare were very good friends. One day they planned to have a dinner with rice that is cooked with milk. The hare set out to find some rice. He crouched under a bush near a road that was leading to a market. Some men came along that were taking rice to sell, when they saw the hare on the side of the road they put their baskets down and ran to catch the hare. He led them on a long chase and escaped. All while this was happening the jackal carried off as much of the rice as we wanted. They played the same trick to get a hold of milk, firewood, a pot, and some plates. They had everything they needed to cook except for a fire. The jackal went into the village and went to the house of an old woman and asked for a light. The jackal tricked the woman and spoiled her meal and took the lighted brand. When the jackal returned they began to cook. While the hare was bathing the jackal ate as much of the rice as he possible could and then filled the pot with filth and covered the top with rice. When the hare tried to eat the rice he became so angry and threw the contents on the jackal.