tagalog version.

narrated by engracio abasola of manila. he heard the story from his nephew.

one day, while a clever monkey was searching for his food along the river-bank, he saw a tall macopa-tree laden with ripe fruits. the tree was standing just by the shore of a river where a young crocodile lived. after eating all the fruit he wanted, the monkey climbed down the tree. he suddenly conceived the desire of getting on the other side of the wide river, but he found no means by which to cross. at last he saw the crocodile, [375]who had just waked up from his siesta; and the monkey said to him in a friendly way, “my dear crocodile, will you do me a favor?”

the crocodile was greatly surprised by this amicable salutation of the monkey. however, he answered humbly, “oh, yes! if there is anything i can do for you, i shall be glad to do it.” the monkey then told the crocodile that he wanted to reach the other side of the river. then the crocodile said, “i’ll take you over with all my heart. just sit on my back, and we’ll go at once.”

when the monkey was firmly seated on the crocodile’s back, they began their trip. in a short while they reached the middle of the stream, and the crocodile began to laugh aloud. “now, you foolish monkey!” it said, “i’ll eat your liver and kidneys, for i’m very hungry.” the monkey became nervous; but he concealed his anxiety, and said, “to be sure! i thought myself that you might be hungry, so i prepared my liver and kidneys for your dinner; but unfortunately, in our haste to depart, i left them hanging on the macopa-tree. i’m very glad that you mentioned the matter. let us return, and i’ll get you the food.”

the foolish crocodile, convinced that the monkey was telling the truth, turned back toward the shore they had just left. when they were near, the monkey nimbly jumped on to the dry land and scampered up the tree. when the crocodile saw how he had been deceived, he said, “i am a fool.”