Lamhui amashung Keishal : The Fox and the Jackal
- From a book by N. Bemni Singha -

James Oinam *

An Illustration of Lamhui amashung Keishalby James Oinam

Once upon a time there lived a king who kept a huge elephant for ride. One day, the elephant disappeared in the jungle and died in the thick forest.

The king's soldiers searched for the elephant in the whole kingdom. The king announced a big prize for anyone who could bring his elephant back.

Meanwhile, a fox couple found the dead body of the elephant.

'If we live inside his stomach then we don't have to search for food anymore,' they said to each other.

So they ate their way into the stomach of the big elephant.

Two three days passed. The couple were hankering for some fresh air. But when they tried to get out, they found that the hole they made in the bottom had shrivelled and dried. They were stuck!

While they were in this misery, they heard some of the king's men coming their way. The men saw the elephant and thought he was asleep. They came closer to inspect.

The female fox had an idea. She pretended to be the elephant and called out loud: 'O king's men. I have been sleeping for long. My limbs have gone numb. Bring oil and ghee and rub my legs and bottom so that I can get up.'

The men went away and came back with bucket full of oil and ghee. They rubbed the legs and bottom of the elephant.

The fox saw the hole had softened up. She commanded them: 'Now step aside so that I can get up.'

The men stood back and waited. The couple lost no time. First the female fox and then the male fox emerged out of the hole and ran for their life. The female fox escaped. But alas, the male fox was caught by the men.

The men took the male fox to the king and narrated the entire story to him. The king was very angry. He ordered that the fox should be beheaded the next day. The soldiers bound the fox and kept him in the king's stable.

At night a jackal came to the stable to eat some horse. He was amazed to find the fox in the stable: 'Young uncle, what are you doing in the stable?'

'O big uncle, the king asked me to take his daughter as wife. But I refused. So he has bound me up. I will be married to the princess tomorrow.'

'Young uncle, how I wish I were that fortunate,' said the jackal.

'Big uncle, you may take my place. I can happily bind you with this rope,' replied the fox.

The jackal untied the fox and the fox tied the jackal in his place. Then the fox left for the jungle.

The following day, the king's men were astounded to find the jackal instead of the fox. However, they went ahead with the king's orders and beheaded the jackal instead of the fox.

The male fox ran back to his wife in the jungle. The fox told his wife what had happened, and they had a hearty laugh.


Source Details:

Translated from 'Lamhui amashung Keishal' story in the collected work Funga Wari, Vol. 3
Author: N. Bemni Singha
Book Illustrator: N. Nongdon Sana
Publisher: Naharol Khorjei Thaugallup Jaribon
Year of Publication: 1999