This is a story of wit and resourcefulness, passed down through generations of the Nocte tribe in Arunachal Pradesh. It tells the tale of a man who outsmarted a cunning crocodile and taught it a lesson that led to significant changes in their local ecosystem.
Once, a man was journeying back from the plains. His path led him to cross the Dihing River. As he was making his way across, a lurking crocodile suddenly attacked, sinking its teeth into one of his legs. The man, quick-witted as he was, shouted out, “What a foolish crocodile! Instead of biting my leg, he bites my walking stick.” Each time the crocodile heard this, it stopped biting, and this trick worked thrice, allowing the man to safely make it to the other side of the river.
Once across, the man was determined to teach the crocodile a lesson. The following day, he devised a plan and invited the crocodile for lunch. Following his strategy, he dug a deep ditch to trap the crocodile, covering it with banana leaves and placing a piece of meat on top to lure the creature. When the appointed time arrived, the crocodile emerged from the river, its eyes locking onto the enticing meat laid out on the banana leaves. Unable to resist, it hastened towards the bait and promptly fell into the cleverly concealed ditch.
The man, waiting in the nearby bushes, leaped into action and began striking the trapped crocodile. Despite the onslaught, the crocodile managed to crawl out of the ditch and retreated to the safety of the river. Later, the battered crocodile recounted the entire ordeal to its fellow crocodiles, warning them about the clever and cunning nature of humans.
This incident served as a significant lesson for the crocodiles. Realizing the danger posed by humans, they decided to abandon the Dihing River and migrate to the plains. Since then, the Nocte Areas have remained free of crocodiles.
This is a Nocte tribal folk tale from Arunachal Pradesh, illustrating the wit and resourcefulness of the human spirit and the impact it had on the natural world around them. Such stories not only entertain but also pass down wisdom and cultural values through generations.
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