[16] The peacock is wild in most Indian jungles. The swan is a species of flamingo of a white color. The voice and gait of a beautiful woman are likened by the Hindoo poets to those of the swan. [17] By such a death as that alluded to, she earns the title of Sati, the "excellent." [18] The common Indian crane; a graceful white bird, seen everywhere in the interior of Hindoostan. [19] A man of military caste. [20] Large branching horns which reach backward and rub upon his shoulders. PEACE When the time came for resuming instruction, the King's sons said to Vishnu-Sarman, "Master, we have heard of War, we would now learn somewhat of the treaties which follow war." "It is well asked," replied the Sage; "listen therefore to 'Peace,' which hath this commencement-- 'When those great Kings their weary war did cease, The Vulture and the Goose concluded Peace.' 'How came that?' asked the Princes. Vishnu-Sarman related:-- THE TREATY BETWEEN THE PEACOCKS AND THE SWANS "So soon as King Jewel-plume had retreated, the first care of King Silver-sides was the discovery of the treason that had cost him the fort. 'Goose,' he said to his Minister, 'who put the fire to our citadel, think you? Was it an enemy or an inmate?' 'Sire,' replied the Goose, 'Night-cloud and his followers are nowhere to be seen--it must needs be his work.' 'It must needs be,' sighed the King, after a pause; 'but what ill-fortune!' 'If it please your Majesty, no,' replied the Minister; 'it is written-- "'Tis the fool who, meeting trouble, straightway destiny reviles; Knowing not his own misdoing brought his own mischance the whiles." You have forgotten the saying-- 'Who listens not, when true friends counsel well, Must fall, as once the foolish Tortoise fell.' 'I never heard it,' said the King. 'How was that?' The Goose related-- THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE AND THE GEESE "There is a pool in South Behar called the 'Pool of the Blue Lotus,' and two Geese had for a long time lived there. They had a friend in the pool who was a Tortoise, and he was known as 'Shelly-neck,' It chanced one evening that the Tortoise overheard some fishermen talking by the water. 'We will stop here to-night,' they said, 'and in the morning we will catch the fish, the tortoises, and such like.' Extremely alarmed at this, the Tortoise repaired to his friends the Geese, and reported the conversation. 'What ever am I to do, Gossips?' he asked. 'The first thing is to be assured of the danger,' said the Geese. 'I am assured,' exclaimed the Tortoise; 'the first thing is to avoid it: don't you know?-- 'Time-not-come' and 'Quick-at-peril,' these two fishes 'scaped the net; 'What-will-be-will-be,' he perished, by the fishermen beset.' 'No,' said the Geese,' how was it?' Shelly-neck related:-- THE STORY OF FATE AND THE THREE FISHES