Santhal Folklore – The Chicken & the Sly Fox

The chicken agreed to her friend’s proposal. “Okay then, let’s begin. Cheers!” Both started with the fox’s broth. With the smell of rotten meat, the chicken almost fainted. She could not enjoy the beer brewed by the fox. The fox asked, “What’s the matter friend, you didn’t even touch the drink?”

The chicken pleaded, “Please don’t mind my dear friend, I am not able to stand this, I just can’t take it because of the smell.”

But the fox was habituated to eat all these, and hence he finished it quickly and smacked his lips. The chicken now invited the fox to taste the beer that she had fermented at her home.

Once they reached chicken’s home, both of them toasted the beer brewed by the chicken. Both of them liked it. And both of them continued to enjoy the drink.

After some time the chicken got intoxicated. The fox was also intoxicated. But it got onto his wickedness as well. He imagined that the chicken had brewed such a nice beer, now how sweet the taste would be of the meat of this chicken! It must be delicious. He waited for the chicken to get completely drunk and as soon as she was out of her senses, he will devour the bird itself, he just imagined.

By that time the chicken is seriously struggling to stay upright. It tried to dance but fell flat on the ground. The fox kept waiting for the opportune moment. The little chicks around could see that their mother was getting out of senses, and the fox was inviting her to dance with him on the floor.

But the chicken could not hear the fox. She was already out of her senses. The fox waited for the moment and & bit the neck of the drooling chicken. He killed the bird and finished her off quickly. The fox got back to his den and relaxed after the delicious meal of chicken and drinks. He closed his eyes and dreamt of finishing the little chicks the next day.

On the other hand the chicks were orphaned by their mother’s demise. As they mourned they got scared about their future. They were witnesses of their mother’s murder and they planned on ideas to kill the fox for revenge.

Just at that time, they noticed the fox was already back there. The fox asked the chicks, “Well my dear nephews and nieces, why are you crying?”

“What a pity uncle, our mom passed away, now we are all orphans, and we’re sad thinking what would happen to us?” replied the chicks.

“Ah! So sorry dear,” sympathized the fox, “Where would you sleep at night, you kids?”

“We all sleep by the oven there. You see that?”

“Oh okay, that’s good, but you take care kids, be very careful! Its very dangerous around!” said the fox & left the place.