Narrated¹ by Eutiquiano Garcia of Mexico, Pampanga.

 

It was mid-day. The blinding heat of the sun forced all the water-loving animals—such as pigs, carabaos, and turtles—to go to the river-banks and there seek to cool themselves in the water. On that part of the bank where a big shady² tree stood, a monkey and a turtle were having a good time, discussing the past, present, and future. Just then they saw a banana-stalk³ floating by.

 

“Don’t you think that it would be a wise thing for us to get that banana-stalk and plant it?” said the monkey.

 

“Can you swim?” replied the turtle.

 

“No, I can’t, but you can,” said the monkey.

 

“I will get the banana-tree,” said the turtle, “on condition that we divide it. You must allow me to have the upper part, where the leaves are.” The monkey agreed; but when the stalk was brought to shore, the monkey took the leaves himself, and gave the turtle only the roots. As the humble⁴ turtle was unable to fight the monkey, all he could do was to pick up his share and take it to the woods and plant it. It was not strange that the monkey’s part died, while that of the turtle brought forth⁵ clusters⁶ of ripe bananas in time.

 

When the monkey learned that the bananas were ripe, he went to visit his friend the turtle. “I will give you half the bananas,” said the turtle, “if you will only climb the stalk and get the fruit for me.”

 

“With great pleasure,” replied the monkey. In less than a minute he was at the top of the tree. There he took his time, eating all he could, and stopping now and then to throw a banana-peeling down to his friend below. What could the poor turtle do? It was impossible for him to climb.

 

“I know what I’ll do!” he said to himself. He gathered

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