The Opossum and the Jaboti

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“The Opossum and the Jaboti” from Traditionary Stories Extant among the Tapoia Indians Inhabiting the Valley of the Middle Amazon in Northern Brazil by Edward Sprague Rand, 1882.

A Macoura (Opossum) once met a Jaboti under a Tapariba tree, where he was eating the yellow fruit.

''What are you doing, Jaboti," said the Opossum.

"Do you not see I am filling my belly with this fruit?" replied the Jaboti.

"Which of us do you think could endure hunger longest; for a year, for example?" said the Opossum.

"I could," said the Jaboti.

"It is impossible," replied the Opossum.

"No, it is true," said the Jaboti.

"Well, then," rejoined the Opossum, "at the end of this week you go into your hole and I will shut you up there."

And so it was arranged, and the Jaboti went into his hole and the Opossum sharpening wooden stakes drove them into the ground at the mouth at the hole, so that the Jaboti could not escape, for he knew that if he only filled in the earth the Jaboti would dig out. As the Opossum was going away the Jaboti called, "Fox, Fox, let me know when the Tapariba has ripe fruit again."

"It is well," said the Opossum, "I will not forget to call you." So the Opossum went way and for nine months left the Jaboti shut up in his hole.

Then he returned to the hole and called, "O, Jaboti, the Tapariba has borne flowers, has given fruit, the fruit has ripened, has fallen to the ground and all is finished; now I have come to call you."

"Who knocks and calls at my door?" said the Jaboti. "It is I," replied the Opossum. "Is the Tapariba ripe?"

"It is all passed," said the Opossum.

"But why did you not call me?"

"O, I could not take the trouble; it was not time for you to come out," said the Opossum.

"All right, call me when the Tapariba is again ripe," said the Jaboti.

"All right, I will not forget," replied the Opossum, and he went away.

At the end of the year the Opossum returned and called, "Jaboti, Jaboti!"

"Who are you," said the Jaboti.

"I am your friend, the Opossum."

"Why do you call me; is the Tapariba ripe?"

"No, but it is the end of the year."

"O, then," said the Jaboti, "it is time for you to go into my hole and I will shut you up just as you have shut me. Let me see if you can endure hunger for one year as I have."

"Why not," said the Opossum, "I have eaten many chickens, plenty of pine apples and much fruit; my stomach is well filled. I can stand hunger as well as you can."

"All right, go in," said the Jaboti. So the Opossum entered the hole and Jaboti drove in the sticks and shut him up tight. Then he went away to drink water, to eat fruit, and to fill his belly, for he was very hungry.

At the end of three weeks he went to the hole and called, "How are you, O, my friend, Opossum?"

"I am very weak; can you tell me whether the hens have laid eggs and have big chickens?"

"Yes," replied the Jaboti, ."the eggs are laid and there are big Cocks and Pullets."

"Why did you not call me?" said the Opossum. "Because it was not time for you to come out."

"Well, then call me when they get a little larger."

"I will not forget, adios," said the Jaboti, and he went away.

At the end of the fourth week the Jaboti returned and called: "O! my friend Opossum, how are you?"

But the Opossum did not reply, for he had starved to death and the worms were eating him. The

Jaboti had to find another house, but he had proved that he was stronger than the Opossum.

Rand, Edward Sprague. Traditionary Stories Extant among the Tapoia Indians Inhabiting the Valley of the Middle Amazon in Northern Brazil. Geo. S. Davis, 1882.

Edward Sprague Rand

World Mythology

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