POURQUOI TALE

How the Python Got His Beautiful Skin

ORANG ULU STORIES FROM THE BOOK OF STORIES FROM SARAWAK

These lively stories are the oral traditions of the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau and Orang Ulu; they have endured the passage of time these stories reflect the peoples ways of life and their beliefs, and they have helped to keep their ancient cultures alive.

SYNOPSIS
Long ago, the python was the king of snakes. He was not only the biggest but the most poisonous snake. This was during the old days when all animals could speak and understand the same language. So they gossiped and laughed at the King Python who was a great leader but extremely vain. Never could he pass an animal without asking for a praise. All was well until he met the Argus pheasant with his splendid tattoos and when he wanted tattoos too, he ad to give away his most prized possession in return.

WHY IS THIS A POURQUOI TALE?

It has the features of a Pourquoi tale.
This story tells us about

how and why a python gets a beautiful

skins.
My Friend python gave me all his venom, and I gave him a beautiful coat (An extract from the text conversation between the Cobra and the Rhino) This story describes something in nature, that usually for a Pourquoi tale is animal. This was in the old days when all animals could speak and understand the same language. They talked like human do.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A POURQUOI TALE IMPLEMENTED IN THIS STORY

The entire story is fictitious, up until the very last sentence.
Evidences:
This was in the old days when all animals could speak and understand the same language. They talked like human do. Then all animals applauded and shouted, and went away fairly fast Even the humans have accepted the rhinos decree. They call the most poisonous snake in the jungle the King Cobra

This story starts in the past.

Evidence:
But long ago, the python was the king of the snakes,