Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s head, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.” Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s ears, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.” Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s tusks, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.” Others he let feel of the trunk, saying the same. Others he let feel of the belly, others of the legs, others of the back, others of the tail, saying to each and to all: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.” Now when that man had let the blind men feel of the elephant, he approached that king. And having approached, he said this to that king: “Your majesty, those blind men have felt of the elephant; do as you think fit.” Then that king approached those blind men. And having approached, he said this to those blind men: “Blind men, have you felt of the elephant?” “Yes, your majesty, we have felt of the elephant.” “Tell me, blind men, what is an elephant like?” The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s head, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a water-pot.” The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s ears, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a winnowing-basket.” The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s tusks, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a plow-share.” Those who had felt of the trunk, said: “An elephant is like a plow-pole.” Those who had felt of the belly, said: “An elephant is like a granary.” Those who had felt of the legs, said: “An elephant is like pillars.” Those who had felt of the back, said: “An elephant is like a mortar.” The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s tail, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a fan.” And they fought among themselves with their fists, saying: “This is what an elephant is like, that is not what an elephant is like;” “This is not what an elephant is like, that is what an elephant is like.” And thereat that king was delighted. “Precisely so, O monks, the heretics, the wandering ascetics, are blind, without eyes; know not good, know not evil; know not right, know not wrong. Knowing not good, knowing not evil, knowing not right, knowing not wrong, they quarrel and brawl and wrangle and strike one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: ‘This is right, that is not right;’ ‘This is not right, that is right.’” _14. King and Boar._ _Evil communications corrupt good manners._ Jātaka 186: ii. 101-106. On a certain occasion the Teacher addressed the monks as follows: “Monks, contact with the corrupt is a bad thing, an injurious thing. Indeed, why should it be necessary to discuss the injurious effect on human beings of contact with the corrupt, when in times past even a senseless mango tree, with flavor as sweet as the flavor of celestial fruit, through contact with sour, unpalatable nimbs, turned sour and bitter?” _Part. 1. Gem, hatchet, drum, and bowl._