Types ATU0091 monkey (cat) who left heart at home
Motifs
K0544 monkey (cat) who left heart at home
K0961.2 flesh (vital organs) alleged to be only cure for disease
Notes
For African version, Baer invotes letter Harris received in 1907 from Captain James H. Reeves, who provided Sulu version about alligator's wife, jealous of friendship between alligator and monkey, said she was dying and monkey heart was only cure. "The tale had been told by Hadji Butu, chief advisor to the Sultan of Sulu, who told the captain it had not been written down but was kept alive by the professional stortyellers and troubadors of the Moros."
Arewa has three versions with shark and monkey, and in two medicine is neede for sultan. Lambrecht has turtle needing a cure for his wife. Klipple has a blue monkey, and the heart is a cure for the fish's uncle.
Baer mentions the jataka in passing.
Conclusion: "The reputation as an "old legend" among the Mohammedan Moros and mention of the sultan in two African tales makes it likely that this tale entered the African tradition with the spread of Islam; however, in the intervening centuries it has settled in well with the African animal tale tradition and was probably brought to this country by slaves from Africa."
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