The Crow, the Jackal and the Red Crab

By D. R. Michael Buam

A folk tale and myth which explains the origin of the land crab found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, India. It is retold in a lighter vein to enhance readers' experience. The story revolves around a Jackal, a Crow and the uncommon Land Crab. This story is part of folklore and mytholology of the Khasi ethnic race which include the Khynriam, Pnar, Vaar, Bhooi, Maharam and Lyngngam ethnic groups.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. R. Michael Buam
• Release date: Apr 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311411211

D. R. Michael Buam

An independent researcher, filmmaker and a writer in three languages. Currently researches on oral history, indigenous knowledge systems and traditions of the Pnar and Vaar people living in Meghalaya and Assam in India and other parts of the world. He writes short stories, folk tales, non-fiction and fiction books.

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THE CROW THE JACKAL AND THE RED CRAB

(A Vaar-Jaintia folktale)

Retold By D. R. Michael Buam

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Table of Contents

Meet the Jackal and the Crow

The ‘sugarcane’ crops of the King

The Old road and the New road

Meet the Crab

Saving the Crab

The myth behind the Red Crab

About the author

Connect with the author

Sample chapters of LAMCHWA

THE CROW, THE JACKAL AND THE RED CRAB

(A Folk tale of the Vaar Jaintia as retold by D. R. Michael Buam)

Meet the Jackal and the Crow.

There was a Crow; of course a clever Crow, because stupid Crows are mostly unheard of in the books that we read. No, we shouldn’t dare call them stupid, since the story of the ‘clever Crow’ got published! There, you see, the significance of a precedent! Of course, the Crows are fallible to flattery; but you know that already. That is another precedent.

Well, after agreeing on the IQ of the Crow, let us get down to the story. This Crow was allegedly the same Crow that was ‘foxed’ by the Jackal into singing like a gay ‘jay’ so that it dropped the food from its jaws into the open greedy jaws of the Jackal. You must have heard of this rumour too - it did get published in some books.

Anyway, there were several adventures between the Jackal and the Crow such that their relationship deteriorated into a ‘mouse’ and ‘cat’ relationship instead of the regular Jackal and Crow relationship.

In this context, you will understand the following events that I relate as happened to them.

The ‘sugarcane’ crops of the King.

One day, the Crow was basking in the sun on the topmost branch of an Oroxylum tree overlooking a small bog filled with the delicious (to humans) species of swamp colocasia plants growing beside a stream. These plants grow wild and gregariously at that, such that they look like a mono-cultivated crop – very misleading. But it is not uncommon to see orderliness in the wild. As opposed to humans, who generally avoid talking to their hated enemy, the Jackal can’t resist talking to the Crow. Maybe, animals still love their enemies, like Jesus told humans to do so and animals have taken the advice. I ask my dog for confirmation and he just barks at me. I am not sure whether he meant yes or it meant give me a bone because it sounded like I want a bone. So, let me give him a bone so that I can continue with what we started.

Well, the Jackal couldn’t resist taunting the Crow. You must all have known by now, that, pure love or pure hatred calls for absolute attention and obsession. Not knowing all the facts we stated in the previous paragraph (of course, this was written after the event and so there was no way the Jackal could have read about it and be forewarned). So, the Jackal walks up to the Oroxylum tree and asks the Crow, What are you doing my beloved enemy? The Crow looked down and screamed at the Jackal, Why have you stepped on the King’s crops? Don’t you know that I have been appointed to guard the King’s crops? Step back at once or I will set the soldiers on you!

The Jackal did indeed jump back in astonishment but quickly recovered his composure and enquired, What crops are you guarding? I don’t see anything worth to a King here!

The Crow smiled a fake benevolent smile at the Jackal and replied, Have you never seen a sugarcane plantation in all your cunning life? Be clever for once and recognize the plants that surround you here and now!

The Jackal looked around at the colocasia plants but couldn’t say what they were. Now we must take into account here that this Jackal has limited knowledge of botany. The clever Crow is aware of this. The Jackal is more into zoology with specialization into smaller mammals like rabbits and flightless birds and pheasants. He is of course the master in the subject of domestic poultry of the human habitat and has on several occasions received gun salutes, spear throws, sling shots and arrow shots from the humans for his endeavours to capture and digest the subject of domesticated animals in human habitat. Needless to say, some of his brethren were ultimately absorbed into the digestive system of