The buffalo is friends with the tiger.
The buffalo suffered greatly from the drought. The sun scorched all the grass, and he had nothing to eat. All the animals offended and oppressed him; the poor fellow was so emaciated that all that was left of him was skin and bones. The buffalo decided to ask the Tiger for help - he believed that only the Tiger and no one else could help him. So he went to look for the Tiger. Having met him, he said:
- Hello, my friend Tiger. If there is pity in your soul and if you are ready to fulfill my request, help me! I would really like to get a piece of land overgrown with grass so that I can gain strength and fat again. I entrust my destiny to you, do whatever you want with me, and I will obey you in everything!
This was in those days when tigers were not yet bloodthirsty - they did not eat either people or animals. They fed only on flies and grasshoppers, and in the evenings they gnawed on their fleas. Therefore, the Tiger was very upset when he heard the words of his friend, and replied:
- Don’t be upset, Buffalo, I won’t hurt you. Find yourself a place where there is a lot of grass, and I will always be with you. Then, of course, all the animals will respect and fear you. There will not be a single one who would dare to offend you - after all, they are all afraid of me.
From that day on, Buffalo and Tiger stayed together, never parting for a moment. The Tiger ate flies and grasshoppers, and the Buffalo nibbled grass. Having had enough, the Buffalo helped the Tiger catch the grasshoppers - he pressed them with his hoof, and the Tiger ate them.
They lived amicably and well. The buffalo became fat again, and his former strength returned. His neck became so thick that all the animals began to be afraid of him.
One day the Tiger left the Buffalo for a while. Immediately the Monkey jumped up to the Tiger and said:
“As I see it, you are very stupid, Tiger, for being friends with the Buffalo.” After all, you are a wild animal, and all the forest animals are afraid of you. You can directly say that in the forest you are the king. Why do you eat only flies and grasshoppers, insects that are of no use? In the evenings you only chew on fleas, but that doesn’t fill you up. You are harming your own health! Wouldn't it be better to choose other food that is more suitable for you? For example, buffalo meat. Eat Buffalo, its meat is tender and melts in your mouth, and its scruff is especially tasty! You will get fat and gain strength.
The Tiger thought for a long time about the Monkey’s words and decided that she had given him good advice. And he said:
“But you’re right, Monkey, I don’t need to be friends with the Buffalo.” In addition, he, dying of hunger and begging me for help, promised that for a piece of land overgrown with grass, he would give me his life as soon as he grew fat. So I’m waiting for him to fulfill his promise, and I don’t want to remind him or worry him.
“If you’ve already agreed that way, then there’s nothing to talk about.” All you have to do is pounce on him, and that's the end of it!
“That’s true, but if I’m like this, you live well, I attack him without any warning, it turns out that I’m acting treacherously.” It’s better that I demand his life in a good way, openly. If he gets stubborn, I'll show him! If he dares to attack me, I will finish him on the spot. I am not afraid of a buffalo and am always ready to measure my strength with him.
- What else is there to think about, grab him, and that’s all! After all, I say this not because I have a grudge against the Buffalo, but because I love you. Well, be healthy, I'm off!
“Thank you very much, Monkey, for your advice,” said the Tiger, and they went in different directions.
The Tiger immediately went to the Buffalo. And the Buffalo at this time was lying in a damp ditch and chewing cud. He was frightened to see the Tiger approaching him with a fierce look - not at all as usual. The buffalo did not understand what was happening, but immediately became alert. And the Tiger, without hiding his anger, said:
- That's it, Buffalo, you've been following me for a long time and living for your own pleasure! You eat plenty of fresh grass, and now that you are so full, I want you to fulfill your promise. You and I agreed: as soon as you recover, your soul and your body will belong to me. I keep waiting and waiting, but it doesn’t even occur to you that it’s time to keep your promise! Now, whether you like it or not, I will eat you.
Hearing that the Tiger was demanding his life, the Buffalo was very scared. Bowing his head and putting his horns forward, he began to wait for the attack. Rolling his eyes, bloodshot with indignation, he replied:
- Wow, a request! Yes, even if I was exhausted, I would not allow myself to be eaten, even if it was worth a bloody battle! And now, full of strength, I’m even less afraid of you! It's true, I promised that you would have my life, but it wasn't about you eating me. I wanted to say that I will always be faithful to you. Your friends would be my friends and your enemies would be my enemies. I would be ready to protect you with my life if you were in danger. In a word, I promised to be your faithful friend, and not at all your prey! Do you want to see how strong I am?
And then the Buffalo butted a low mound with all its might - the earth scattered in different directions. And then he began to knock over trees with spreading crowns with his head, and they fell as if decimated. Seeing how furious the Buffalo became, the Tiger was afraid that it would attack him, and ran away without looking back.
The Buffalo was very upset that he and the Tiger began to have a feud. He was not afraid of the Tiger's strength or agility, but he was afraid that the predator would attack him from behind, on the sly. And the Buffalo went to look for Kanchil to ask him for help.
Buffalo and Kanchil.
The buffalo wandered for a long time in the thicket of the forest, walked through fields and meadows and finally met Kanchil.
Having told him everything from beginning to end, Buffalo added:
- Getting angry, I showed the Tiger what I was capable of. I dug up the hill with my horns so much that lumps of earth scattered in different directions! I uprooted and scattered all the trees around - let the Tiger know that I am not afraid to engage in single combat with him! Let him see what a strong skin and strong bones I have! The tiger got cold feet and ran away. And after that, my anger went away. There is only one anxiety left in my soul, because now I have an enemy - a wild beast, which, moreover, does not dare to attack from the front. Yes, even if he were not wild, it would still be difficult! It’s bad when the enemy does not dare to attack openly. Even though he is dexterous, he won’t dare to do this, he will definitely pounce from behind! This is what worries me, every day I have to remember this, I never stop worrying for a moment. I pinch the grass, and I keep looking around. I'm very afraid that he might attack me from behind. It’s very difficult for me, Kanchil, and so I came to you. It’s not for nothing that you became famous for your ingenuity and cunning. Help me, otherwise my enemy Tiger will destroy me.
-My friend Buffalo, what you say is true: in the old days I was really cunning. But now I'm not the same. After the Snail overtook me and I fell into the hole, my strength seemed to be corroded by rust, and in my head there wasn’t a single thought, not even a ball! In addition, the Tiger became friends with the Monkey, and this is not a joke, because he obeys her in everything. They have been friends for almost a week, and she has already persuaded him to destroy me. But don’t lose heart anyway! Everything will work out if you listen to me. Ask Lani for help! Her hooves are sharp, like a steel razor - whatever hits you will pierce right through.
“It’s true, Kanchil, aren’t you mistaken?”
- Of course it’s true, because I won’t deceive you! Just don’t delay with this matter.
- Well, God willing, with your help I will stay alive and well! Now I’ll go look for Lan.
[Kancil is a dwarf fallow deer.]
The buffalo asks Lani for help.
The buffalo went to look for the Doe and, having found her, told her everything in order from beginning to end. And then he said:
“On the advice of the cunning Kanchil, I came to you to ask for help. Help me in this difficult matter, save me from the persecution of my enemy Tiger, otherwise I constantly think about him - day and night. You, of course, will cope with my enemy - I rely on your strength and your sharp hooves.
- What are you talking about, Buffalo! The cunning Kanchil is mistaken. I could somehow fight off other animals with my hooves, but I am no longer able to enter into a fight with a Tiger, which has sharp claws and fangs. Can I handle him? Where should I go? As for dexterity, in this you and I are approximately equal. And setting me against the Tiger is like forcing a small child to lay an adult on both shoulder blades. Here's my good advice: ask Deer for help. As I understand it, it is not difficult for him to defeat the Tiger - after all, the Deer has a long neck and branched horns. It will butt once and immediately pierce the Tiger right through! You won't have to butt a second time!
- Well, if that’s the case, then I’ll go to the Deer, stay happy!
- Be healthy, Buffalo, I wish you good luck!
The deer does not dare to oppose the tiger.
The Buffalo went to look for the Deer and, finding him, told him his whole story. And then he said:
- The doe says that only you can protect me from my enemy the Tiger, because you have large branched horns, strong and sharp, like spears.
Deer replied:
“I’m very sorry, but Lan is completely wrong.” The horns, which she considers such a glorious weapon, are actually of little use, and they are hard to carry! They are only needed to decorate the head! So it turns out that my head serves as a support for the horns in the same way as the spreading leaves of a palm tree support its trunk. My neck is too short, and there is no strength in it; the enemy will be able to break it with one blow. As soon as I see the Tiger, I am neither alive nor dead. All the fur on me stands on end from fear. And if you pit me against the Tiger, then I will see no mercy. He will easily defeat me and devour me without a trace! The only one who can help you is the Ox. He is huge in stature, he has more than enough strength, and his horns - large and sharp - strike fear into all animals. Go to him for help!
- Thank you very much, Deer. Happy to stay, and I went to the Bull!
The bull gives advice to the buffalo.
The Buffalo went to look for the Bull and, having found him, told him everything in order from beginning to end. And then he said:
“I came to you on the advice of the Deer to entrust my destiny to you.” How you destroy my enemy Tiger is your business. In any case, it will be easy for you to deal with him. The bull replied:
“The deer, of course, is right in saying that I am not afraid to engage in single combat with the Tiger.” I'm as brave as he is. I’ll say more: I can certainly handle him if he attacks from the front. But if he resorts to meanness - say, he first runs away and then attacks me from behind, or silently sneaks up and grabs me by the scruff of the neck - then I won’t be able to cope with him! I'm scared of the same thing as you, and I'm afraid of being attacked from behind. But if he has the courage to fight head-on, I am always ready to fight him! Now take my advice: go to the Rhino. Maybe he can help you. After all, the Rhinoceros is almost invulnerable: its skin is all in folds, and you can’t penetrate it with any weapon. Even the Tiger’s fangs aren’t scary to him? Not even a bullet can pierce his skin. His horn is right in the middle of his muzzle. This is his weapon, instilling fear in all animals. He always walks ahead, sweeps away and tramples everything in his path!
- So you think I should go to him?
- Yes, better go to him. God grant that my advice will be of benefit to you.
Buffalo and rhinoceros.
The Buffalo goes to look for the Rhinoceros and, having found him, told him everything in order from beginning to end. And then he said:
“The bull advised me to turn to you for help.” So I ask you to destroy my enemy Tiger. I believe in your strength and invulnerability, all forest animals are afraid of you.
Rhinoceros replied:
- All this is true, I am not afraid to measure my strength with the Tiger. Just look how thick my skin is and how strong my bones are! No matter how bloodthirsty the Tiger is, I am not afraid of him, as long as he attacks from the front! But he does not dare to fight honestly. He's being cunning! He avoids the fight, hides in the bushes, and then attacks from behind. His body is flexible, and he easily jumps from place to place. If he scratches my eyes with his sharp claws, then I won’t even have time to butt him. I can only run straight, I don’t know how to weave and quickly rush from side to side. If he attacks me, what should I do then? Who will decide to come to my rescue and fight the Tiger? It is clear that I will be defeated - after all, he uses vile methods. But there is one smart animal - this is Kentus. He is famous for his keen ingenuity and, of course, will be able to help you! I think he will do whatever it takes.
“So I should go to Kentus and not count on your help?”
- Yes, better go to him, listen to my advice!
Kentus refuses to help the buffalo.
The buffalo went to look for Kentus and, having found him, told him everything in order. And then he said:
- Dear friend Kentus, help me destroy my enemy Tiger - I rely on you for everything. Although you are not very strong, I believe in your intelligence and resourcefulness. You know from which end you need to get down to business.
Kentus replied:
“That’s true, there is no beast in the whole forest that I would be afraid of, be it big or small.” And everyone is afraid of me, even though I am small in stature, with just one look I can put anyone to flight. But when it comes to the Tiger, I'm really scared myself. I can’t deceive him, because he knows all my tricks inside out. I’ll tell you the truth: as soon as I meet the Tiger, all my courage immediately leaves me. The strength disappears without a trace, and the wool stands on end. A tiger for me is like Death itself! It just seems like I’ll die on the spot if I don’t give the bullshit right away!
But don't be upset! Better go to the hornless Kid for help. He, of course, will take pity on you, because his heart is kind and he loves to help animals in trouble. Listen to me, otherwise you will regret it later!
The buffalo fell silent, pondering Kentus' words. He could not imagine that the little hornless Goat would be able to protect him from the bloodthirsty beast. The Kid has no strength, no courage, no horns, no fangs! So Buffalo says:
- What is the use of your advice, Kentus? Is it possible to pit the Little Goat against the Tiger, which has sharp fangs and claws? After all, he will jokingly kill the Little Goat!
- No, Buffalo, you shouldn’t think so! Don't forget that sometimes a small rudder can change the direction of a large ship. So is the Little Goat, although he is hornless, his mind is sharp. He won't let himself be offended. Take my advice!
The kid decides to fight the tiger.
The Buffalo went to look for the hornless Kid and, having found him, told him everything in order from beginning to end. And then he said:
- My friend, you have a good heart. You love all animals and are always ready to help a friend in trouble. I want to ask you for help. Help me out! Help defeat the vile and treacherous enemy - the Tiger. I rely on you in everything, do with my enemy as you please! And I will obey you in everything.
The little goat replied:
- Okay, I'll help you. Don't be afraid! I know I can teach Tiger a lesson. Follow me wherever I go and eat your weed in peace! And when the Tiger appears here, I will fight him.
Seeing the kid, the tiger runs away in fear.
After this, the Kid told the Buffalo to move to another place to graze - not far from the banana plantation. The leaves on the banana trees were already all burned. Only one trunk remained, among which there were many rotten ones. Dense, lush grass grew around. The buffalo was very happy and pounced on the fresh grass. Having eaten to his fill, he lay down in a secluded corner and began to chew gum, and the Little Goat guarded him, without leaving a single step.
At this time, the Tiger, making his way through the dense thickets, met the Monkey, and she said to him:
“You’re hiding in the bushes, aren’t you scared of the Buffalo?” You have such sharp teeth and terrible fangs, you have such huge claws! You can tear him to shreds! And aren't you ashamed to be afraid of the Buffalo? Who will believe in your agility and invulnerability if you, the king of forest animals, behave like the last coward?
Tiger replied:
- Yes, I’m not afraid of the Buffalo at all! But rather than engage in a fight with him and shed my blood in vain, I’d rather attack him from behind when he’s chewing his cud or falling asleep with his belly full. Then he won't be able to resist. In the meantime, I'll rest!
“Now you won’t be able to attack the Buffalo from behind, because he has made friends with the Kid, and he protects him all the time.” Just look, the Buffalo itself will pounce on you and rip your belly with its horns! We should finish off the Kid first. If he acts defiantly, as if inviting you to join the fight, do not be afraid! Break his spine, bite his head off!
- Are you telling the truth, Monkey?
- What’s the point in lying to you? After all, everything is clear, go and see for yourself!
Immediately the Tiger went in search of the Little Goat to tear him to pieces. And the Monkey climbed a tree to watch the Tiger from afar.
The Kid, apparently, already knew that the Monkey had set the Tiger on him. Before the predator had time to appear, the hornless Kid pounced on him with the words:
- Ah, finally you yourself have come! So I don't need to look for you anymore. I've been wanting to fight you for a long time, Tiger. I’m ready to fight with you in any way you want, even for several days in a row! Now look how strong I am!
Then the Little Goat butted the rotten trunk of a banana tree and kicked the neighboring trunk with his hind leg. Both trunks fell to the ground. The tiger was very frightened when he saw such strength and hid in the dense bush. He thought that the Monkey had deceived him. It never occurred to him that the trunks felled by the Kid were just rotten banana trees.
The Monkey immediately caught up with the Tiger and said:
- Stop, Tiger, why are you running away? What are you afraid of? I will now explain to you what happened. After all, you were fooled! You don't even realize that Little Goat knocked down the charred, rotten banana trunks! And you thought these were real trees! A rotten banana trunk and I might as well leave.
The Tiger stopped and asked the Monkey:
“Is it true that these were rotten banana trees and not real ones?”
- I've never deceived you before. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself!|
Then the Tiger turned back. Meanwhile, the Little Goat approached the shore of the pond and, seeing that the Tiger was approaching again, exclaimed:
- What, Tiger, did you want to die? Did it bring you here again? Don't you know that I just ate a tiger? There was only one head left, and I threw it into the pond. Here you can admire it!
The tiger looked into the pond and saw a tiger's head there. While he was looking at her, the Little Goat was chewing lembayung, (Lembayung is a tropical fruit of bright red color.)
and from the juice his whole mouth was red, as if there was blood. And then he moved straight towards the Tiger. He thought that the Little Goat wanted to tear him to pieces in the same way as the other tiger thrown into the pond. The tiger began to run as fast as he could and disappeared into the forest. The Monkey was indignant when he saw that the Tiger was such a coward, and chased after him shouting:
- Wait, Tiger, wait! How stupid are you? The Little Goat is fooling you all the time! Can't you think of anything? Do you know what you saw in the pond? You think that this is the head of another tiger, but it is just a reflection of your own head! Little Goat's mouth was red because he was chewing lembayung. And you thought it was blood! Understand once and for all that the Little Goat cannot eat you, but you, on the contrary, must eat him, because he is a tasty morsel for you, believe me!
“You may be right, but I’d like to think about it first.”
- And the Tiger thought this: “It’s enough to see how the Kid is eager to devour me at least once, and it immediately becomes clear that he has the courage to attack me. But does he really like tiger meat?”
Meanwhile the Monkey continued:
- What else is there to think about? You are obviously very stupid indeed! They just bark at you, and you’re already shaking! Well, okay, if you're such a coward, I'll go with you myself. I will sit astride you and tie our tails tightly in a knot so as not to fall off. And I will give you advice all the way!
The tiger turned back again. A Monkey sat on his back, and their tails were tightly tied.
The kid knew that the Tiger would return - it was not for nothing that the Monkey kept egging the striped one on. As soon as he saw the Monkey approaching on the Tiger, the Little Goat angrily exclaimed:
- Hey, Monkey, why did you bring only one tiger today? After all, you have to bring two every day! Come on, bring him here quickly, I’ll rip open his belly and eat his heart!
And the Little Goat galloped towards the Tiger.
Hearing that the Little Goat wanted to gut him, the Tiger was scared to death. Not feeling his feet under him, he ran away with huge leaps and disappeared into the dense bush. The monkey fell off his back and he dragged it behind him. She kept hitting tree trunks, and sharp thorns dug into her. The beaten and wounded Monkey screamed in a voice that was not her own, but the Tiger, not paying any attention to these screams, continued to drag her along the ground. In the end there was nothing left of the Monkey except a piece of his tail dangling from the Tiger's tail. And since then the striped one has harbored a grudge against all the monkeys, because he considered himself deceived. And now every time he meets a monkey, he pounces on it and eats it without a trace.
It is also said that the Monkey King sacrifices two monkeys to the Tiger every day. If he had not done this, the monkeys would not have survived at all. The tiger hunts for them all the time or waits silently under the trees where they live. And he does not leave until he receives a pair of monkeys from the monkey king. That is why the king established such an order that the monkeys cast lots every day - those on whom it falls are given to be devoured by the Tiger.
It is also said that monkeys are despised by everyone for their vile behavior. If they behaved well, they would be honored and respected.
And the Buffalo and the Kid are still friends. That's the whole tale about the Buffalo and the Tiger. They were bosom friends, but became sworn enemies. Everything is in the power of Allah.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru