The Tortoise and Mouse Deer
Translated by A.C. Haddon
The tortoise and the mouse deer agreed to steal from a neighbouring garden the fruit known as ‘buah mah”(rambutan in Malay). The mouse deer suggested that the tortoise should climb the tree whilst he would pick up the fruit. The tortoise did so and threw down showers of the red fruit. When the tortoise had knocked down most of the fruit he threw himself with a flop on the ground.
The mouse deer began to share the spoil, he took a lot for himself saying softly “This is mine”,and put a small quantity by the tortoise shouting “THIS IS YOURS”. “Don’t make so much noise” said the tortoise, “the people of the house will hear us and I can’t run very fast”. But at each portioning out of the tortoise’s share, the mouse deer shouted louder and louder.
The people of the house at last heard the noise and asked “Who is that shouting outside there”? Then they looked out and discovered what was going on. The mouse deer having finished the division, picked up the fruit and bolted, but the tortoise, unable to make very rapid progress, thought is best to hide under a caladium leaf.
“Oh ! here’s the thief” said the people who had tracked the tortoise by its footprints. They picked it up and one of them remarked “Throw it in the fire”. The tortoise on hearing this appeared very jubilant and thanked the people for their thoughtful intentions and pointing to the yellow and black spots on its under shell said “Here are the lovely patterns of the last time when some kind friends were good enough to put me on the fire.”
On hearing this someone said “It is stupid to put it in the fire, that is what he likes; put it in the sugar cane crusher, and squeeze it flat.” “Ah! that is very nice also.” said the tortoise, “of late years my back has become humped, it is a long time since I had the pleasure of being flattened. My chest was very well done on the last occasion but my back is humpy as they had not time to do the job thoroughly”
The people turned over the tortoise and found it was quite true that his under shell was quite flat.”Oh, chuck it in the water and let him get drowned” said someone. On hearing this, the tortoise began to cry and sob and begged and entreated them not to drown him.
Delighted at having found a means of punishing the thief, the people hurled it into the river. When the tortoise rose to the surface he chuckled and explained to the people that the river was his home.
The above was from the Sarawak Museum Journal July-December 1962, p.535-536.
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