Gothamite Drolleries.

ΙΟΙ

went up to the shopkeeper and robbed himof two hundred pagodas.

In our next story, of the villagers who atethe buffalo, is exemplified the fact that" fools,in the conceit of their folly, while they denywhat need not be denied, reveal what it istheir interest to suppress, in order to getthemselves believed." Some villagers took abuffalo belonging to a certain man, and killedit in an enclosure outside the village, under abanyan tree, and dividing the flesh, ate it up.The owner of the buffalo went and complainedto the king, and he had the villagers who hadeaten the animal brought before him. Theproprietor of the buffalo said before the king,in their presence," These men took my buffalounder a banyan tree near the tank, and killedand ate it before my eyes," whereupon anold fool among the villagers said," There isno tank or banyan tree in our village. Hesays what is not true; where did we kill hisbuffalo or eat it?" When the man heardthis, he replied," What! are there not a banyantree and a tank on the east side of the village?Moreover, you ate my buffalo on the eighthday of the lunar month." The old fool thensaid," There is no east side or eighth day inour village." On hearing this, the king laughed,and said, to encourage the fool," You are atruthful person; you never say anything false;

MUSEUM

FOR

6008

OLKSKUNDE

BIBLIOTH K

6808

WIEN