S.P. Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh, A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200 Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457 E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th

	---> MORE Thai Legends: _________________________________ How the Insulted Rice-Plant Got Its Revenge The Legend of the Crow The Menacing Tiger How the Insulted Rice-Plant Got Its Revenge A Northern Thai Folk Tale The ‘Dead’ Man’s Betel Mom… we need more rain!!! How the Moon Got Its Face THE WEAVER AND THE COWHERD The Myth of Mae Posop, the Goddess of Grain The Legend(s) of Queen Chamadevi Mamia The Origin of Thunder and Lightning The Legend of Wang Bua Ban Waterfalls Tera Jan and the Tunnels of Wat Umong Why Chiang Mai is big but Lamphun small The Lord of all Lanna Ghosts Legends of The Evil Woman/Tigress THE WHITE CHEDI OF SACRIFICE Two good pals Keeping the Pret Happy THE WEAVER AND THE COWHERD A Northern Thai Folk Tale How cats and dogs became enemies Sri Thanonchai Tricks His King The Wonderful Mine of Laplae The Legend of Phra Pathom Chedi GRATITUDE OF THE LITTLE COW WHY MONKEYS AND CROCODILES ARE ENNEMIES

How cats and dogs became enemies

Some time ago, there was a rich man living in a village who had the reputation for being slightly out of the ordinary - not least because he kept many animals both inside and around his house. This was at the time when animals could still speak to and be understood by humans: quite a way back. Among the rich man’s animals were a cat and a dog, and they got along fine together, doing their duty of guarding the house and keeping rats and mice under control too.

Now this rich man owed his prosperity to the fact that he possessed a crystal globe which had the power to attract wealth to its owner. Unfortunately, some robbers who preyed on people in this locality heard about the source of this man’s wealth, and during a festival, when everyone was out enjoying themselves - and that includes the animals - they managed to get into the house and steal the crystal globe.

Naturally the rich man was stunned and saddened at this turn of affairs, and so were his animals, particularly the cat. He decided to talk to his best friend, the dog, to see what they could do, and it was agreed they’d try to get the crystal back. After some joint scouting around, they found the robbers’ house, and decided to try to get in to search for the crystal, but the house was so securely guarded and barred that there seemed no way to do so. Then the cat did something clever. It caught a mouse and told it that unless it got into the house and brought out the crystal, the cat would catch it again and eat it and its family, down to the last member.

The terrified mouse did what was demanded: got into the house, found the box where the crystal was being kept and with the help of its family - the crystal was both large and slippery to carry - brought it to where the cat and dog were waiting. “Good for you! said the cat, and the dog managed to get its mouth round the crystal and they began the journey home.

On the way though there was a river to be crossed, and the dog, swimming skilfully, saw a fish. Being hungry and not thinking what it was doing, he tried to catch it. Of course, the crystal, released, fell to the bottom of the river. Try as they might, neither the cat nor the dog could get down to it, and began to quarrel. The fact was the dog wasn’t very bright, and the cat didn’t hesitate to tell him so.

Nevertheless, something had to be done - but what? Then the cat had an idea. It caught a kingfisher, told it to catch a fish, which it was then to instruct to bring up the crystal. The terrified bird did as she was told. It was that or the whole family would be eaten, so the cat let her know. Under the same threat, the fish followed suit, and this time the cat took charge of the crystal, running swiftly to the rich man’s house, depositing the treasure at his owner’s feet, and telling the story of how they’d come by it - and since it was the cat who did the talking, he made sure the credit came out where it was due. The rich man, delighted of course to see his crystal restored, checked with the dog, and that simple animal confirmed that things had turned out the way the cat had told him.

Well, telling the truth is not by itself the path to preferment. The rich man praised and rewarded the cat: better food, a closer relationship, a secure place inside the house were what he could now look forward to. The dog on the other hand got only blows and abuse for being so stupid, and was sent out to the garden - its exile all the more bitter for the sight of the cat preening itself as a favoured insider.

Naturally, that was the end of the friendship between them. When it saw the dog, the cat would arch its back, raise its tail, hissing and spitting insults at its one-time ally. For its part, the dog would lay wait in the yard, bounding out with a bark and rushing to knock the cat over and bite it, whenever it got the chance.

And so it has been ever since, cats and dogs eternally at war.