The story of the Clever Monkey

A monkey lived on the branches of a big tree that grew on the bank of a large river. In the middle of that river, there was a small isle. It was very fertile. A variety of fruit trees grew on that isle. The fruits appeared to be very luscious and tasty. One day, the monkey saw the fruit trees of that isle. He was tempted to go and eat the fruits. However, it was not easy to reach the isle.

He contemplated several ways to reach the isle. As he sat thinking, he saw a big rock that stood midway between the isle and the bank of the river. He calculated the distance and thought that he would be able to jump and reach the rock and from there, he would reach the isle. He made up his mind to give it a try.

He leap into the air landed on the rock. From there, he jumped and safely reached the isle. He enjoyed the delicious fruits that grew on the isle and then returned to his home. He started making frequent trips to the isle.

One day, as he was crossing the river, a crocodile saw him. The crocodile lived in the river with his wife. His wife was tempted to eat the flesh of the monkey. She asked her husband to catch the monkey and bring him to her. The crocodile tried to catch the monkey, but the monkey was too quick to move. The crocodile made several attempts to catch the monkey, but could not get success.

His wife was getting impatient to eat the flesh of the monkey. She told her husband to make a last attempt to catch him. She had made a plan of her own. “Dear husband,” she said, “Just watch the movements of the monkey carefully.

From the riverbank, he jumps onto a rock and from the rock; he jumps and reaches the island. Next time, when he goes to the island, you should go to the rock and lie motionless on it. As the color of your skin matches with the color of the rock, the monkey will take you to be the rock and jump over you. This way you will able to catch hold of him and we shall enjoy its sweet Flesh”. The crocodile liked the plan very much and resolved to catch the monkey when he comes to the isle the next time.

A few days later, the crocodile saw the monkey jumping onto the rock and then reaching the island. He said to his wife, “Be ready to cook the monkey’s flesh. Today, I am going to catch him and bring him to you”. The wife was very happy to hear this.

The crocodile quietly climbed over the rock and lay down on it motionless. He kept his face and tail underwater. Meanwhile, the monkey had finished eating the fruits and was ready to jump onto the rock. The rock appeared to be a little higher than usual.

The monkey was very clever. He thought to himself, “The rock seems to have grown within hours. It was normal when I came to the isle. Maybe, the crocodile is laying in wait for me. He is always trying to catch me. I must teach him a lesson. But first, I must find out whether it is the crocodile or just an illusion of my mind”. So, he spoke to the rock, “Dear rock, you seem to have grown within hours. You are not even speaking to me. Are you feeling all right? You have not welcomed me like you do every day”.

The crocodile was a big fool. He thought that the rock must be a talking rock and it was not talking that day because he was laying over it. So, he spoke up, “Welcome dear monkey. Actually I did not see you earlier or I would have welcomed you”. The monkey said, “I am much relieved to hear you again. But how come you have grown in size. You look enormously big today”. The foolish crocodile spoke up and said, “It is because a big crocodile is laying over me. He seems to be basking in the sun “.

The monkey was now sure that the crocodile was there to catch him. He thought of a plan to outwit him.

“Dear crocodile, I know that you have been trying to kill me. I have become very old and I will be happy to offer you my flesh. It is said, ’blesses is one who feeds the hungry’. First, I must say goodbye to my children who live on that big tree across the river. Will you please ferry me to the bank. You can wait for me on the bank.

The foolish crocodile believed the monkey and asked him to ride on his back. The monkey jumped over his back and the crocodile ferried him to the bank of the river. As soon as the monkey landed on the bank, he climbed up the tree and said, “Thank you dear friend for such a nice ride. Good-bye. Now you may go home”. The crocodile said to him, “you promised me that you would come back to me and offer your flesh to me. How can you break your promise”?

But the monkey laughed and said, “You were a fool to believe my words”. So saying, the monkey disappeared behind the branches of the tree.

The foolish crocodile could never catch the clever monkey.