Once there lived three friends,—a monkey, a dog, and a carabao. They were getting tired of city life, so they decided¹ to go to the country to hunt. They took along with them rice, meat, and some kitchen utensils².

 

The first day the carabao was left at home to cook the food, so that his two companions might have something to eat when they returned from the hunt. After the monkey and the dog had departed, the carabao began to fry the meat. Unfortunately the noise of the frying was heard by the Bu?gis?gis in the forest. Seeing this chance to fill his stomach, the Bu?gis?gis went up to the carabao, and said, “Well, friend, I see that you have prepared food for me.”

 

For an answer, the carabao made a furious attack on him. The Bu?gis?gis was angered by the carabao’s lack of hospitality, [32]and, seizing him by the horn, threw him knee-deep into the earth. Then the Bu?gis?gis ate up all the food and disappeared.

 

When the monkey and the dog came home, they saw that everything was in disorder³, and found their friend sunk knee-deep in the ground. The carabao informed them that a big strong man had come and beaten him in a fight. The three then cooked their food. The Bu?gis?gis saw them cooking, but he did not dare attack all three of them at once, for in union there is strength.

 

The next day the dog was left behind as cook. As soon as the food was ready, the Bu?gis?gis came and spoke⁴ to him in the same way he had spoken to the carabao. The dog began to snarl⁵; and the Bu?gis?gis, taking offence, threw him down. The dog could not cry to his companions for help; for, if he did, the Bu?gis?gis would certainly kill him. So he retired⁶ to a corner of the room and watched his unwelcome guest eat all of the food. Soon after the Bu?gis?gis’s departure, the monkey and the carabao returned. They were angry to learn that the Bu?gis?gis had been there again.

 

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