the slow-going carabao did not see the figure, and suddenly he
felt his hind leg seized in a strong grasp. The god of the cave had
caught him. Then the god of the cave spoke. His voice was terrifying,
but his words were kind. He told them how for many days he had been
hungry, and he asked for meat. The cow, whose courage had by this
time been somewhat restored, gladly offered him some of her master's
provisions, which she was carrying. In return for this kindness,
the god gave each of the animals a dress: to the carabao he gave one
of gold; and to the cow, one of bronze. He also invited the two to
remain with him and be his servants.

Some time after the two friends had been installed in their new home,
the god of the cave sent them one day to gather fruits. The carabao and
the cow were delighted at this prospect of a change, and they jumped
with joy. They rushed out into the woods; and when they came to a pond,
they took off their new clothes and plunged into the soft mud. While
they were enjoying their bath, they saw their master coming. He was
carrying a big stick. They knew very well that he would beat them,
for they had been away the whole morning. In their haste to get
their clothes back on, they made a mistake: the carabao got into the
cow's dress, and the cow into the carabao's. After that they never
exchanged their clothes, which finally became their outer skin. So
to-day the carabao has a tight bronze-colored skin; and the cow,
a loose golden-colored one.

Note.

Like the preceding, this story appears to be a native Tagalog tale. I
know of no other variants.

TALE 73

WHY THE MONKEY IS WISE.

Narrated by Francisco M. Africa.

Once upon a time there lived a poor man who had seven sons. These
young men, all except the youngest, helped their aged father with
the work; but the family became poorer and poorer. One day, when they
had exhausted all their means of support, the father called his sons
before him. To every son he assigned a certain kind of work, so that
there might be cooperation, and hence efficiency, in the labors of the
humble family. To the youngest son was assigned the task of gathering
sticks in the forest for fuel.

Not long afterwards a pestilence broke out in the little town where the
old man lived, and all his sons but the youngest died. The father was
left to starve on his bed, for his only living son was so ungrateful
as not to give any help to his father in his last yea