II. ADAPTATIONS AND IMITATIONS OF HINDOO FABLES
the snake's head and tail.
The The Snake's Tail had a quarrel with the Snake's Head about who was to walk in front. The Head said:
"You cannot walk in front, because you have no eyes and no ears."
The Tail said:
"Yes, but I have strength, I move you; if I want to, I can wind myself around a tree, and you cannot get off the spot."
The Head said:
"Let us separate!"
And the Tail tore himself loose from the Head, and crept on; but the moment he got away from the Head, he fell into a hole and was lost.
fine thread
A Man ordered some fine thread from a Spinner. The Spinner spun it for him, but the Man said that the thread was not good, and that he wanted the finest thread he could get. The Spinner said:
"If this is not fine enough, take this!" and she pointed to an empty space.
He said that he did not see any. The Spinner said:
"You do not see it, because it is so fine. I do not see it myself."
The Fool was glad, and ordered some more thread of this kind, and paid her for what he got.
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