A long time ago, there was a deer that was the most clever animal in the jungle.  This deer was called San Kancil.  One day, San Kancil wanted to get across a river to go to the other bank.  Unfortunately, San Kancil didn't know how to swim, and the river was full of crocodiles.  Therefore, San Kancil had to think about it.  Suddenly, San Kancil got it.  San Kancil approached the river bank and shouted at the crocodiles, "Crocodiles, you all are pretty, good crocodiles.  I would like to know how many are in this river.  Could you all line up from this bank to the other bank?  I want to count you."  AFter that, the stupid crocodiles did what they were told by San Kancil.  Then the crocodiles told San Kancil, "We have done it, count us now."  Therefore, San Kancil jumped on the first crocodile, then shouted "number one!", and jumped on the second crocodile, shouting "number two!" and so on.  San Kancil did it continuously until he reached the other bank.  AFter San Kancil reached the other bank of the river, he suddenly laughed and said, "Oh! Stupid crocodiles, I don't care how many of you there are, my purpose was just to cross the river!"  After San Kancil said these words, he disappeared and the crocodiles were very angry that they were fooled by San Kancil.

   -Eng Keng Khor

The Tiger and the Cow

Oct.-Dec. 1996

This story is about a fierce tiger who all the animals feared in the jungle because the tiger would kill any animal he could find whether or not he needed food.  So, one day the other animals offered to sacrifice one animal a week to the tiger if the tiger would leave the others alone.  So, the tiger agreed to the plan, because he was getting old and was tired of chasing the animals.

   The first animal to be sacrificed was a young cow.  But, he was very young and did not want to die before he had a chance to enjoy the pleasure of life.  However, he knew it was his duty to sacrifice himself for the safety of the other animals.

   And so slowly but determinedly the calf set out for the tiger's abode.  The young cow became very sad and stopped at the edge of a ravine and desperately cried out, by saying, "What shall I do?"  Instead of an answer the young cow heard his own voice echoing back to him the words, "What shall I do?"  So, having the echo suddenly gave the calf an idea of how he could trick the tiger and save his life.

   When the calf arrived the tiger was very angry at him for being late.  But the calf apologized to the tiger and then proceeded to trick him by telling the tiger why he was late.  The calf said he left home with his mother.  But, on their way to meet the tiger another tiger attacked and killed his mother.  He was the only one who was able to hide and later escaped and came there.  The calf also said that the other tiger also had eaten the first tiger's food.  When the tiger heard that, he shouted out, saying, "I must fight this beast.  Show me where he is living!"

   Then, the calf told the tiger that his rival lived on the opposite side of the ravine.  When the tiger learned that news he shouted, "Come here!"  to the tiger on the other side (but of course, the only answer he got was his own echo repeating the words, "Come here!"  The tiger thought that his rival was shouting back at him which angered him even more.  So, he was determined to go across the ravine and fight his newly found enemy.  He then realized that the ravine was very wide and he asked the calf how the other tiger had gotten across it.

   He just jumped across, replied the calf.  It seemed very easy.  The tiger was determine that he could do what any other beast of his kind could do, so he leaped across the ravine, but instead of reaching the other side, he plunged to his death on the rocks below.

   The little cow then went back home and told the other animals what had happened.  The animals all praised the cleverness of the little cow and rejoiced because they could now lived out their days in peace and happiness.

   -Rozie

When the snipe and Clam Grapple, the Fisherman Profits

Fall 2004
Folk Tales

Once upon a time, a clam crept upon the sandy becah to bask by the sun and relax.  A snipe in the sky saw the clam.  It was hungry that time, so the snipe planned to catch the clam for its lunch.  The snipe flew speedily in the clam's direction but the clam because aware of the attack and closed its shell quickly.  "Ouch, my mouth!" the snipe shouted.  Its mouth had been clipped by the clam tightly.  The snipe felt a lot of pain and it said to the clam, "I won't eat you if you open your shell."  The clam, however, didn't believe the sinpe and said, "You think I'm a nut?  When I opened my shell, you'll surely eat me,"  and they grappled for  a long time.  While they were still quarrelling, a fisherman came out and caught both of them.  When they realized what had happened, it was too late and they had been cooked.

 THE END

Moral Values
*This story tells us we should not fight with each other, otherwise other people will profit.

   Richard

Singapore

    Spring 1993

Once upon a time, a king of Indonesia had the name of Paramisuera.  He liked to travel very much.  Therefore, one day he and his soldiers went to an island which was near Indonesia.  When they reached that island, they didn't know what the island's name was.  After that, they walked through the jungle.  After a few hours, they could not find anything in this land.  At that time, they felt tired and hungry.  Therefore, they sat down under a big tree and ate their food.  At that moment, Paramisuera saw a lion walking near them.  They hadn't seen the lion before.  They were surprised by the lion.  However, the lion just stood there looking at them.  When Paramisuera stood up, the lion ran away.  Then, Paramisuera named the island Singapore.

-SuLi, Malaysia

Untitled

 Spring 1993
Fairy Tales

In ancient times, a father brought his daughter into a marriage with another woman.  The stepmother did not like her daughter because of her beauty.  The stepmother had a daughter also, but she was not as beautiful as the stepdaughter.
   So the stepmother always asked her stepdaughter to do the housework, like sweeping the floor, washing dishes, washing clothes, etc.  The stepmother, though, did let her stepdaughter go out to make some friends.
   One day the King's son wanted to find a girl to become his wife, so he asked his staff to give a message to the village.  All girls who were above 18 years old had to attend his party.
   The stepmother heard the news, but she didn't let her stepdaughter attend the party, because she wanted her own daughter to become the king's son's wife.
   Because of this matter, the stepdaughter was very sad, and she cried in the kitchen all evening.  Eventually a fairy came to talk to her, and said that she could go to the party, but she should promise one thing: she shouldn't come back later than 12:00 midnight; otherwise, she should lose her beautiful clothes and shoes.
   At the party, the stepdaugher came on time, and the King's son liked her very much, and said he would let her go home only if she would marry him.  Unfortunately, she mad promised to the fairy that she would be home before 12:00.
   After the stepdaughter left the party, The King's son was very said, and he asked his staff to find the girl within a certain period.  Finally, the son found the stepdaugher and married her, but the stepmother was very angry.

   -Yen Wah, Malaysia