The Jackal and the Turtle
In short: During a drought, two storks carry a turtle on a stick. A jackal calls from below and the turtle falls when it answers.
¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question
Origin and tradition
Sri Lanka
In Parker’s tale no. 36, the turtle holds on to the stick with its mouth. Speaking ends the flight. When the jackal catches it, the turtle tries to talk its way free. It says its shell must soften in water first, so the jackal takes it to a pond. Water returns as the turtle’s refuge after its absence set the animals travelling in the first place.
Dated records and sources
Country pages
Origin
Black Horse. The Jackal and the Turtle. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-ceylon-jackal-turtle/