The Free Book of Turtle and Tortoise Stories

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The Free Book of

Turtle & Tortoise Stories

From A Tale of Two Turtles by Richard Marman

Compiled byABELAPUBLISHING

[2013]

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ORIGINAL STORIES

AND FROM

ATALEOFTWOTURTLES

BY

RICHARDMARMAN


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The Free Book of Turtle Stories

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CONTENTS

THEMONKEYANDTHEJELLY-FISH

A FILIPINO RIDDLE

THETORTOISEANDTHEDUCKS

HOW THE TURTLE SAVED HIS OWN LIFETHE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

WAYARNBEH THE TURTLE


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THEMONKEY

ANDTHEJELLY-FISH

Children must often have wondered why jelly-fishes have noshells, like so many of the creatures that are washed up everyday on the beach. In old times this was not so; the jelly-fish hadas hard a shell as any of them, but he lost it through his ownfault, as may be seen in this story.

The sea-queen Otohime, whom you read of in the story ofUraschimatoro, grew suddenly very ill. The swiftest messengerswere sent hurrying to fetch the best doctors from every countryunder the sea, but it was all of no use; the queen grew rapidlyworse instead of better. Everyone had almost given up hope,when one day a doctor arrived who was cleverer than the rest,and said that the only thing that would cure her was the liver ofan ape. Now apes do not dwell under the sea, so a council of thewisest heads in the nation was called to consider the questionhow a liver could be obtained. At length it was decided that theturtle, whose prudence was well known, should swim to landand contrive to catch a living ape and bring him safely to theocean kingdom.

It was easy enough for the council to entrust this mission to theturtle, but not at all so easy for him to fulfil it. However he swamto a part of the coast that was covered with tall trees, where he

thought the apes were likely to be; for he was old, and had seen


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Uraschimatoro and the Queen


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many things. It was some time before he caught sight of anymonkeys, and he often grew tired with watching for them, so

that one hot day he fell fast asleep, in spite of all his efforts tokeep awake. By-and-by some apes, who had been peeping athim from the tops of the trees, where they had been carefullyhidden from the turtle's eyes, stole noiselessly down, and stoodround staring at him, for they had never seen a turtle before, anddid not know what to make of it. At last one young monkey,bolder than the rest, stooped down and stroked the shining shell

that the strange new creature wore on its back. The movement,gentle though it was, woke the turtle. With one sweep he seizedthe monkey's hand in his mouth, and held it tight, in spite ofevery effort to pull it away. The other apes, seeing that the turtlewas not to be trifled with, ran off, leaving their young brother tohis fate.

Then the turtle said to the monkey, 'If you will be quiet, and dowhat I tell you, I won't hurt you. But you must get on my backand come with me.'

The monkey, seeing there was no help for it, did as he was bid;indeed he could not have resisted, as his hand was still in theturtle's mouth.

Delighted at having secured his prize, the turtle hastened back tothe shore and plunged quickly into the water. He swam fasterthan he had ever done before, and soon reached the royal palace.Shouts of joy broke forth from the attendants when he was seenapproaching, and some of them ran to tell the queen that themonkey was there, and that before long she would be as well as

ever she was. In fact, so great was their relief that they gave themonkey such a kind welcome, and were so anxious to make him


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left home he had hung his liver out on a bush to dry, and if itwas always going to rain like this it would become quite useless.

And the rogue made such a fuss and moaning that he wouldhave melted a heart of stone, and nothing would content him butthat somebody should carry him back to land and let him fetchhis liver again.

The queen's councillors were not the wisest of people, and theydecided between them that the turtle should take the monkey

back to his native land and allow him to get his liver off thebush, but desired the turtle not to lose sight of his charge for asingle moment. The monkey knew this, but trusted to his powerof beguiling the turtle when the time came, and mounted on hisback with feelings of joy, which he was, however, careful toconceal. They set out, and in a few hours were wandering aboutthe forest where the ape had first been caught, and when the

monkey saw his family peering out from the tree tops, he swunghimself up by the nearest branch, just managing to save his hindleg from being seized by the turtle. He told them all the dreadfulthings that had happened to him, and gave a war cry whichbrought the rest of the tribe from the neighbouring hills. At aword from him they rushed in a body to the unfortunate turtle,threw him on his back, and tore off the shield that covered his

body. Then with mocking words they hunted him to the shore,and into the sea, which he was only too thankful to reach alive.Faint and exhausted he entered the queen's palace for the cold ofthe water struck upon his naked body, and made him feel ill andmiserable. But wretched though he was, he had to appear beforethe queen's advisers and tell them all that had befallen him, andhow he had suffered the monkey to escape. But, as sometimes

happens, the turtle was allowed to go scot-free, and had his shellgiven back to him, and all the punishment fell on the poor jelly-


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fish, who was condemned by the queen to go shieldless for everafter.

From: The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang

ISBN: 978-1-909302-12-9URL: http://www.AbelaPublishing.com/violet.html

From: A Tale of Two Turtles by Richard Marman


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A FILIPINO RIDDLE

Q: Anano nga sapat nga con maglacat, dala nia ang iya balay?Q: What animal carries his house wherever he goes?

A: Turtle

From: A Tale of Two Turtles by Richard Marman


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THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS


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THETORTOISEANDTHEDUCKS

The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter

how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter

punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that

he would not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially

invited.

After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that

wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how

the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran

nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen,

the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the

world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little

short legs that could hardly drag him along.

One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.

"We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold

of this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the

air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or

you will be sorry."

The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly

with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and

away they sailed up toward the clouds.

Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the

strange sight and cried:

"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!"


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"Why certainly" began the Tortoise.

But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his

hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground.

Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune.

From: Aesops Fable for Children

ISBN: 978-1-907256-72-1

URL: www.AbelaPublishing.com/aesop.html

Illustration from: A Tale of Two Turtles by Richard Marman


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HOWTHETURTLESAVEDHISOWNLIFE

A KING once had a lake made in the courtyard for the young princesto play in. They swam about in it, and sailed their boats and rafts on it.One day the king told them he had asked the men to put some fishesinto the lake.

Off the boys ran to see the fishes. Now, along with the fishes, therewas a Turtle. The boys were delighted with the fishes, but they hadnever seen a Turtle, and they were afraid of it, thinking it was ademon. They ran back to their father, crying, "There is a demon on thebank of the lake."

The king ordered his men to catch the demon, and to bring it to thepalace. When the Turtle was brought in, the boys cried and ran away.

The king was very fond of his sons, so he ordered the men who hadbrought the Turtle to kill it.

"How shall we kill it?" they asked.

"Pound it to powder," said someone. "Bake it in hot coals," said

another.

So one plan after another was spoken of. Then an old man who hadalways been afraid of the water said: "Throw the thing into the lakewhere it flows out over the rocks into the river. Then it will surely bekilled."


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When the Turtle heardwhat the old man said,

he thrust out his headand asked: "Friend, whathave I done that youshould do such adreadful thing as that tome? The other planswere bad enough, but tothrow me into the lake!Don't speak of such a

cruel thing!"

When the king heard what the Turtle said, he told his men to take theTurtle at once and throw it into the lake.

The Turtle laughed to himself as he slid away down the river to his old

home. "Good!" he said, "those people do not know how safe I am in thewater!"

From: Jataka Tales

ISBN: 978-1-907256-20-2

URL: www.AbelaPublishing.com/Jataka.html


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THEHAREANDTHETORTOISE

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being soslow.

"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.

"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than youthink. I'll run you a race and prove it."

The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race withthe Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox,who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance andstarted the runners off.

The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel

very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with aHare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until theTortoise should catch up.

The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and,after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. Butthe Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake

up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran hisswiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.

The race is not always to the swift.

From: Aesops Fable for Children

ISBN: 978-1-907256-72-1

URL: www.AbelaPublishing.com/aesop.html


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WAYARNBEHTHETURTLE

ATALE FROM AUSTRALIA

OOLAH, the lizard, was out getting yams on a Mirrieh flat. Shehad three of her children with her. Suddenly she thought sheheard someone moving behind the big Mirrieh bushes. Shelistened. All of a sudden out jumped Wayambeh from behind abush and seized Oolah, telling her not to make a noise and hewould not hurt her, but that he meant to take her off to his campto be his wife. He would take her three children too and lookafter them. Resistance was useless, for Oolah had only her yamstick, while Wayambeh had his spears and boondees.Wayambeh took the woman and her children to his camp. Histribe when they saw him bring home a woman of the Oolahtribe, asked him if her tribe had given her to him. He said, "No, Ihave stolen her."

"Well," they said, "her tribe will soon be after her; you mustprotect yourself; we shall not fight for you. You had no right tosteal her without telling us. We had a young woman of our owntribe for you, yet you go and steal an Oolah and bring her to thecamp of the Wayambeh. On your own head be the

consequences."

In a short time the Oolahs were seen coming across the plainwhich faced the camp of the Wayambeh. And they came not infriendship or to parley, for no women were with them, and theycarried no boughs of peace in their bands, but were painted asfor war, and were armed with fighting weapons.


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When the Wayambeh saw the approach of theOolah, their chief said: "Now, Wayambeh, you

had better go out on to the plain and do yourown fighting; we shall not help you."

Wayambeh chose the two biggest boreens thathe had; one he slung on him, covering thefront of his body, and one the back; then,seizing his weapons, he strode out to meet his

enemies.

When he was well out on to the plain, thoughstill some distance from the Oolah, he calledout, "Come on."

The answer was a shower of spears and boomerangs. As they

came whizzing through the air Wayambehdrew his arms inside the boreens, andducked his head down between them, soescaped.

As the weapons fell harmless to theground, glancing off his boreen, out again

he stretched his arms and held up again hishead, shouting, "Come on, try again, I'mready."

The answer was another shower ofweapons, which he met in the same way.At last the Oolahs closed in round him,

forcing him to retreat towards the creek.


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Shower after shower of weapons they slung at him, and weregetting at such close quarters that his only chance was to dive

into the creek. He turned towards the creek, tore the front boreenoff him, flung down his weapons and plunged in.

The Oolah waited, spears poised in hand, ready to aim directlyhis head appeared above water, but they waited in vain.Wayambeh, the black fellow, they never saw again, but in thewaterhole wherein he had dived they saw a strange creature,

which bore on its back a fixed structure like a boreen, and which,when they went to try and catch it, drew in its head and limbs,so they said, "It is Wayambeh." And this was the beginning ofWayambeh, or turtle, in the creeks.

From: Australian Legendary Tales

ISBN: 978-1-907256-41-7

URL: www.AbelaPublishing.com/OzTales.html

Illustration from: A Tale of Two Turtles by Richard Marman


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Follow the thrilling story

of Wave, a female green

turtle, from her birth on a

tropical night, her perilous

adventures with boyfriend

on Australias Great

Barrier Reef, where they

face many natural and

man-made hazardsincluding sharks, storms

and pollution.

Beautifully illustrated with

exquisite detail and a text to delight children and adults.

10% of the all royalties from the sale of this book are donated toGreenpeace.

ISBN: 978-1-907256-943URL: http://www.abelapublishing.com/two-turtles.html


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Wave and Web are twoteenage turtles living

happily in the watersaround Australias GreatBarrier Reef. Their only realworry is dodging tigersharks, which they seem tobe managing pretty welluntil one day theyreconfronted by an evenbigger marine creature a

juvenile humpback whalecalled Davo.

He tells them of hisadventures on the annual whale migration from Antarctica to warmer,tropical waters, explaining the dangers of large sharks, orcas and

worse still human whalers. Finally Davo continues his journeynorthwards leavings the turtles to ponder the marvel of such anenormous gentle giant before they return to the safety of the reef thatprotects them from predators.

As with the prequel, A Tale of Two Turtles, Richard Marmans

illustrations are colourfully vibrant while his fast, entertaining

narration challenges the need and justification for whaling in the 21st

Century, ensuring enjoyable and thought-provoking reading for

children and adults alike.10% of the all royalties from the sale of this book are donated to

Greenpeace.ISBN: 978-1-909302-14-3

URL: http://www.abelapublishing.com/whalestale.html


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