The story is a folk tale from Kerala about a cunning monkey who tricks various characters to get what he wants, but ultimately loses his tail. Despite his misfortune, he gains different items through his tricks, ending up with a drum. The tale concludes with a moral lesson about the consequences of deceit.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The story "The Monkey who got a drum" is told in Kerala.
2. A wicked monkey lives in a forest in the story.
3. The monkey falls from a tree and hurts its tail.
4. The monkey goes to a doctor to get its tail treated.
5. The doctor cuts off the monkey's tail.
6. The monkey wants its tail back or the doctor's knife.
7. The doctor gives the monkey the knife.
8. The monkey uses the knife to throw at a mango tree.
9. A boy gives the monkey a mango in exchange for the knife.
10. The monkey gives the mango to a washerwoman.
11. The washerwoman eats the mango.
12. The monkey wants the mango back or the washerwoman to come with it.
13. The washerwoman goes with the monkey.
14. The monkey gives the washerwoman to a man turning an oil extractor.
15. The monkey wants to leave but the man needs the washerwoman's help.
16. The monkey wants some oil in exchange for leaving the washerwoman.
17. The man gives the monkey some oil.
18. The monkey meets an old woman making dosas.
19. The monkey gives the oil to the old woman.
20. The old woman makes dosas with the oil.
21. The monkey wants the oil back or a dosa.
22. The old woman gives the monkey a dosa.
23. The monkey meets a drummer who is tired.
24. The monkey gives the dosa to the drummer.
25. The drummer eats the dosa.
26. The monkey wants the dosa back or the drummer's drum.
27. The drummer gives the monkey the drum.
28. The monkey climbs a tree with the drum.
29. The monkey reflects on its journey and how it got the drum.
30. The story of "The Deer and the Jackal" is from Uttar Pradesh.
31. A deer and a jackal are friends in the story.
32. The deer and the jackal go to a village to search for food.
33. The jackal suggests the deer run in the fields while the jackal searches for crabs.
34. The deer gets caught in a net.
35. The jackal does not help the deer and instead leaves.
36. The deer pretends to be dead when a farmer comes.
37. The farmer removes the net and the deer escapes.
38. The story of "The Monkeys' Help" is from Assam.
39. A poor farmer lives in a village in Assam.
40. The farmer goes to a river to catch crabs.
41. The farmer only catches four crabs.
42. The farmer takes a nap on the riverside.
43. Monkeys come and catch more crabs for the farmer.
44. The farmer wakes up and finds the basket full of crabs.
45. The farmer thinks it's the blessing of the river goddess.
46. A greedy villager hears the story and decides to trick the farmer.
47. The villager lies down on the riverside with a basket.
48. The monkeys come and catch crabs for the villager.
49. The story of "Camel and the Jackal" is from Bihar.
50. A camel and a jackal are friends in the story.
51. The jackal is cunning and the camel is modest.
52. The jackal tricks the camel into giving it a ride.
53. The jackal pretends to have a broken leg.
54. The camel carries the jackal on its back.
55. The jackal convinces the camel to take it to the other side of the river to eat sugarcane.
56. The camel agrees but plans to teach the jackal a lesson.
57. The camel pretends to have a habit of howling after eating.
58. The jackal tells the camel not to howl.
59. The camel howls and the jackal gets scared.
60. The camel plans to take a dip in the river.
61. The jackal tells the camel not to take a dip.
62. The camel takes a dip and the jackal falls into the river.
63. The story of "The Pig and the Tiger" is from Meghalaya.
64. A pig and a tiger meet at a pond.
65. The tiger is put off by the pig's foul smell.
66. The pig challenges the tiger to a duel.
67. The tiger agrees but suggests they fight the next day.
68. The pig's family advises it to roll in dirt and mud before the duel.
69. The pig obeys and rolls in dirt and mud.
70. The tiger is again put off by the pig's smell and decides not to fight.
71. The pig thinks the trick worked and that the tiger is afraid of it.
72. From that day on, pigs started rolling in dirt and mud to keep dangers away.