’The Pepul-tree replied, “To follow in the way of the world, I should say the Snake was justified.  A good return is never now-a-days tendered for a benefit received by mere worldlings, as I can bear witness by my own sufferings.  Listen to my complaint:—­Here in this solitary jungle, where neither hut nor mansion is to be found, I spread forth my well-clothed branches,—­a welcome shelter to the passing traveller from the burning heat of the noontide sun, or the deluge poured out from the over-charged cloud;—–­under my cover they cook their meal, and my falling leaves supply them with fuel, as also with a bed on which they may recline their weary limbs.  Think you, when they have thus profited by the good I have done them, that they are grateful for my services?—­Oh, no! the ingrates despoil the symmetry of my form, break off my branches with violence, and trudge off triumphantly with the spoil which may serve them for fuel for cooking at their next stage.  So you see the Snake is right; he has but followed the way of the world.”

’The Snake exultingly led the way in search of other proofs by which he should be justified.  They fell in with a man who was by occupation a camel-driver.  The Man being made acquainted with the point at issue, desired to be heard, as he could prove by his own tale that the Snake’s ingratitude was a true picture of the way of the world:—­“I was the sole proprietor of a very fine strong camel, by whose labour I earned a handsome competence for each day’s provision of myself and family, in conveying goods and sometimes travellers from place to place, as my good fortune served me.  On a certain day, returning home through an intricate wood, I drew near to a poor blind man who was seated on the ground lamenting his hard fate.  Hearing my camel’s feet advance, he redoubled his cries of distress, calling loudly for help and assistance.  His piteous cries won upon the tender feelings of my heart; so I drew near to inquire into his situation, he told me with tears and sobs, that he was travelling on foot from his home to visit his relations at the next town; that he had been attacked by robbers, his property taken from him by violence, and that the boy, his guide, was forced from him by the banditti as a slave; and here, added the blind man, must I perish, for I can neither see my way home, nor search for food; in this lone place my friends will never think to seek me, and my body will be the feast for jackals ere the morning dawns.

’"The poor man’s story made so deep an impression on my mind, that I resolved on assisting him; accordingly my camel was made to kneel down, I seated the blind man safely on my beast, and set off with him to the city he called his home.  Arrived at the city gates, I lowered my camel, and offered to assist the poor man in descending from his seat; but, to my astonishment, he commenced abusing me for my barefaced wickedness, collected a mob around us, by his cries for help from his persecutor, declared himself the master of the camel, and accused me of attempting to rob him now as I had done his brother before.