The extreme cleverness of the Bodhisatta
in most of his animal manifestations might easily have suggested the
"Puss in Boots" cycle. Another point worth noticing in connection
with this theory is the consistent faithfulness of the animal. The
ingratitude of the human hero, which is found even in some of the
Occidental versions, and the gratitude of the animal, form a favorite
Buddhistic contrast. Altogether it appears to me wholly reasonable to
derive not only the "Tar Baby" incident, but also the whole "Puss in
Boots" cycle, from Buddhistic lore. For the appearance of both in the
Philippines we do not need to go to Europe as a source. The "Tar Baby"
device to catch a thieving jackal is found in a Santal story, "The
Jackal and the Chickens" (Bompas, No. CXII). See also two South African
tales in Honey,--"The Story of a Dam" (p. 73), and "Rabbit's Triumph"
(p. 79). For other references, see Daehnhardt, 4 : 26-43 (ch. 2).

There is a connection, however, between some of the Occidental
versions and three of ours,--the incident of the destruction of
the demon. This detail, as I have pointed out, is hinted at in the
"1001 Nights" version. [95] In spite of the fact that it exists in
a number of the oldest European literary forms of the story and is
not found in modern Indian folk-tales, I believe that this incident
is of Oriental origin. In Straparola it has been rationalized, so
to speak. A significant version intermediary between the Orient and
Occident in this respect, as well as geographically, is the Mongolian
tale of "Boroltai Ku" (FLJ 4 : 32 f):--

This story has the Oriental opening: the animal is a fox, which the
hero digs out of its hole and spares. Through its cleverness the
fox brings about the marriage of Boroltai Ku, the man who spared
its life, with the daughter of Gurbushten Khan. After the wedding
the khan sends the new couple back to their home, and with them an
official attendant. On the return journey the fox runs on ahead, and
requests every herdsman it meets to say, if he is asked whose cattle
he is tending, "It is the cattle of Boroltai Ku, the rich khan." At
last the fox comes to the tent of Khan Manguis, and groans. "What's
the matter?" says the khan. "A storm is coming," says the fox. "That
is a misfortune for me too," says the khan. "How so? You can order a
hole ten fathoms deep to be dug, and can hide in it," says the fox. So
done. Boroltai Ku and his party now appear, and he occupies the khan's