I have eaten a lot of the field.

[heidita]

Please, look at this tale:

The camel said, "No, I haven't. First get on my back quickly. We shall cross the river and then talk of things." With the jackal on the back, the camel reached the middle of the river. Then the camel said to the jackal, "You are a very bad friend. You had your dinner. Then you howled and brought the villagers to the field. I had not eaten a lot of sugarcane. I have eaten a lot of the field Are you happy now?"

Source: http://www.indiavilas.com/kidscorner/defaultmain.asp?k=animal5

Why would the camel say that? What is it referring to? Is this some kind of mistake?

cheers

[RonBee]

Please, look at this tale:

The camel said, "No, I haven't. First get on my back quickly. We shall cross the river and then talk of things." With the jackal on the back, the camel reached the middle of the river. Then the camel said to the jackal, "You are a very bad friend. You had your dinner. Then you howled and brought the villagers to the field. I had not eaten a lot of sugarcane. I have eaten a lot of the field Are you happy now?"

Source: http://www.indiavilas.com/kidscorner/defaultmain.asp?k=animal5

Why would the camel say that? What is it referring to? Is this some kind of mistake?

cheers

I don't know what "I have eaten a lot of the field"refers to. In AE we would not use such a phrase. We would also not say "We can eat some of them" (referring to sugar cane).

~R

[Anglika]

It's an appalling piece of writing!

I suspect the meaning is that the camel had eaten a large section of the cane. But who knows? It could be that the writer really meant that the camel had eaten the field - ie, when he was being beaten by the villagers, he ate dirt.

[heidita]

Thanks to both for your answers.

Good idea, Anglika, it is possible he meant the "dirt eating". In any case, I agree with you both, it's an apalling piece of writing.

cheers and see you around

(nice site!!)