سندبادنامه 158.16

158.16

The king gave an order to the soldiers to shoot arrows and stones at whatever monkey they find on that mountain,
and take out their fat and rub it on the elephants. The crowd of people went forth, and
entered from the bottom and top of the mountain, and launched arrows and stones. The monkeys
were bewildered by that situation, and cried out: “At least tell us, what is the cause of killing and wounding us?
For so many years we have resided on this mountain, and not a single creature has suffered distress from us
that on that account we should deserve hostility and wrath.” The people recounted the tale
of the ram, the woman, the fire, and the elephants, and explained that strange event. The monkeys
said: “We deserve more than this calamity, since we did not listen to the words of our elder and leader.”
The viziers said: “Now what is our deliberation, and how must we hasten to confront this
important matter?” He said: “Expediency is that each day one of us should go into attendance and,