The Man, the Jaguar, and the Moon – A Clever Pemón Fable Retold

Long ago, in the dense rainforests where the Pemón people lived, there dwelled a clever man who knew the forest well. One evening, as the golden sun dipped low, the man went to the river, carrying a hollowed-out pumpkin to fetch water. He hummed a gentle tune, thinking only of his peaceful home ahead.

But when he returned, his heart sank. Inside his home sat a fearsome jaguar, its amber eyes gleaming with cunning. The jaguar lounged on the floor, sitting proudly atop the shattered remains of the man’s bows, arrows, and axes. Every weapon the man had for defense lay broken beneath the beast.

Startled, the man darted for the hidden spot where he kept spare weapons, but the jaguar chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound.

“Don’t bother, Pemón,” the jaguar growled. “I’m no fool. I destroyed all your weapons because I know that’s where your strength lies.”

The jaguar stood up, its powerful frame blocking the exit.

“I have come to prove that I am stronger than you, without the need for tools or tricks.”

With a flick of his tail, the jaguar beckoned the man to follow him into the nearby thicket. Reluctantly, the man obeyed, curious and cautious.

The Jaguar’s Three Feats

Hidden among the trees, they waited. Soon, the flapping of wings signaled the arrival of a paují, a large, wild bird that perched high on a branch. Without a sound, the jaguar climbed the tree, his paws silent as shadows. In one swift motion, he seized the bird by its neck and carried it down.

“Can you do that, man? Without your arrows or blowguns?”

The man shook his head.

“Without my weapons, I cannot.”

They waited again, and after a while, the forest trembled as a tapir, the great beast of the forest, lumbered into view. Without hesitation, the jaguar pounced, his claws sharp and deadly. With a single slash, the tapir fell.

“Can you bring down a tapir like that?”

The man admitted defeat once more.

Finally, they reached the riverbank. The jaguar knelt and lapped at the water with his pink tongue. The fish, curious and naive, swam closer. Then, with lightning speed, the jaguar hooked one out of the water with his claw.

“Can you do this?”

Again, the man confessed he could not.

The jaguar’s eyes gleamed with pride.

“Now it is your turn, Pemón. Perform three feats. If I cannot do what you can, we’ll part as friends. But if I can match you, I shall eat you.”

The man thought hard. Overhead, the moon hung bright, floating amid clouds. Inspiration struck.

“Wait here, Kaikusé,” the man said, using the jaguar’s name. “I will return soon.”

“Don’t think of fleeing,” the jaguar snarled. “If you run, I’ll hunt you down.”

“I give you my word,” the man replied with a sly smile.

The Clever Trick

Instead of heading deep into the forest, the man circled back to his home and retrieved a casabe cake—a flatbread made from cassava, crisp and round like the moon. He watched the sky until the real moon disappeared behind a heavy cloud. Then he returned to the waiting jaguar.

“Kaikusé, do you know what this is?” the man asked, holding up the casabe.

“I’ve never seen it,” said the jaguar.

“Look up! The moon has vanished. That’s because I caught it,” the man boasted.

The jaguar stared at the sky, then at the bread.

“You captured the moon?”

“Indeed,” the man said, taking a bite. “And it tastes wonderful.”

Tempted by the sight, the jaguar begged for a taste. The man handed over the remainder of the casabe. The jaguar devoured it in a flash, licking his lips.

“It’s delicious! Too bad it’s gone.”

“No matter,” said the man. “Another moon will rise. You can catch it yourself.”

“How?”

“It’s simple. I climbed a tall tree and jumped to catch it.”

Just then, the clouds parted, and the moon emerged, glowing and serene. Without thinking, the jaguar scrambled up the tallest tree, calculating his leap carefully. With a great push, he sprang into the air—only to come crashing down, headfirst onto a stone. The impact knocked him unconscious.

The Man’s Triumph

Seizing his chance, the man gathered the fish, the paují, and even the tapir. He loaded them onto a sled of woven vines and dragged them home, leaving the defeated jaguar behind.

As for Kaikusé, some say the jaguar never woke up from his failed leap. Others say he awoke humbled, learning never to underestimate human wit and cunning.

✅ Moral of the Story

Brute strength may conquer the body, but cleverness and strategy conquer the mind. Where force fails, wisdom prevails.