Three out of the six had given judgment against the Brahman, but still he did not lose all hope, and determined to ask the other three.
They next met an Eagle flying through the air, to whom the Brahman cried, 'O Eagle, great Eagle, hear and give judgment.'—'On what must I give judgment?' asked the Eagle. The Brahman stated the case, but the Eagle answered, ' Whenever men see me they try to shoot me; they climb the rocks and steal away my little ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are the persecutors of the earth.'
Then the Tiger began to roar, and said, 'The judgment of all is against you, O Brahman!' But the Brahman answered, 'Stay yet a little longer, for two others must first be asked.' After this they saw an Alligator, and the Brahman related the matter to him, hoping for a more favourable verdict. But the Alligator said, 'Whenever I put my nose out of the water, men torment me, and try to kill me. Let the Tiger eat the man, for as long as men live we shall have no rest.'
The Brahman gave himself up as lost; but once more he prayed the Tiger to have patience, and to let him ask the opinion of the sixth judge. Now the sixth was a Jackal. The Brahman again told his story, and said to him, 'Mama[1] Jackal, Mama Jackal, say what is your judgment?' The Jackal answered, 'It is impossible for me to decide who is in the right and who in the wrong, unless I see the exact position in which you were when the dispute began. Show me the place.' So the Brahman and the Tiger returned to the place where they first met, and the Jackal went with them. When they got there, the Jackal said, 'Now, Brahman, show me exactly where you stood.' 'Here,' said the Brahman, standing by the iron tiger-cage. 'Exactly there, was it?' asked the Jackal. 'Exactly here,' replied the Brahman. 'Where was the Tiger then?' asked the Jackal. 'In the cage,' answered the Tiger. 'How do you mean?' said the Jackal, 'how were you within the cage; which way were you looking?'—'Why, I stood so,' said the Tiger, jumping into the cage, 'and my head was on this side.'—'Very good,' said the Jackal, 'but I cannot judge without understanding the whole matter exactly. Was the cage-door open or shut?' 'Shut, and bolted,' said the Brahman. 'Then shut and bolt it,' said the Jackal.
When the Brahman had done this, the Jackal said, 'Oh, you
- ↑ Uncle
