Reading Notes: Jakata tales Part A

 The Giant crab- Once upon a time there was a lake in the mountains and in the lake lived a huge crab. Now, you have seen crabs more likely like maybe boiled and served on a plate, or perhaps at the seaside or sidling away at the bottom of a pool. Sometimes they might nip a boy or girl that is bathing in the sea that causes squeaking and squealing. This grab was different though it was bigger than any crab you have ever seen bigger than a dinning room table and his claws were as big as an armchair. You would never want to be nipped by this crab!

This crab never stopped growing and continued to live in the lake where ghe would prey and devour the animals that came to drink from the waters. Eventually the animals no longer came to drink because they were so afraid. This was a hard situation for the animals that lived near the lake and near the mountain because there was very little water avaiable for them in the area, they did not know what to do. 

The elephant could not take any loner and decided to take action and put this to an end. So he and his wife decided to take a heard of elephants to the lake and while the other elephants would be drinking they would look out for the crab. They did this and went to the lake and the elephant couple went in the lake first. They went the furthest into the lake watching out for the crabs while the other elephants drank, bathed,  and trumpeted. Soon they had enough and were about to leave the water but the sneaky crab crawled up the water and nipped the elephant fast. He nodded to his wife who courageously stayed in the water pleading to the crab to let her husband go. 

The crab poked his eye out of the water. His eyes were so big they looked like two thick tree trunks with cannon ball on top of each of them. This crab was a big flirt but lately since there were no animals coming to the water and the ones who did were devoured by him he wasnt flirting as much. Mrs. elephant was quite beautiful and the sight of her pleased the crab so much he wanted a kiss from her. He yelled out dear little elephant wont you give me a kiss. Then she pretended to be very pleased by this and put her head on one side and flapped her tail and she looked so sweet and tempting that the crab let go of her husband and began crawling towards her waving his eyes about as he went. 

 Mr elephant was in great pain from the nip at his leg but he did not shout or yell because he was very brave. He saw the crab appraoch his wife and let out a big trumpet and jumped on the crab back that caused a big CRACK braeaking the crabs shell. This was part of the plan because he would never let his wife come to her harm not ever. CRack, crack, crack the shell went as the elephant continued to jump on it because no matter how big the crab was an elephant was still to big for him to carry. He did this until the crab was crushed to mincemeat. 

the animals who saw this from afar were rejoicing and came to the waters at the sight of the crab being dead. They all passed a vote and decided to make the brave elephants king and queen of all the animals in the  mountains. The only reminder left of the crab were his claws which were too hard for anything to crack so they were left in the river and eventually a great flood came and carried them down the river where the kings sons found them and made two immense drums out them that were taken to war and as soon as the drums were played the sound of them was enough to frighten the enemy away.  

 

Bibliography:  From The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W. H. D. Rouse with illustrations by W. Robinson, online at: Internet Archive.

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