Laos Folk-Lore Of Farther India - free ebook by Katherine Neville Fleeson

Read as playlist

Laos Folk-Lore Of Farther India

Katherine Neville Fleeson

50 chapters

4 hour read

Read as playlist

Selected Chapters

50 chapters

Introduction

Introduction

These Folk-Tales from the Laos country, a part of the kingdom of Siam, in addition to their intrinsic merit have the charm of complete novelty. Until the translator of this volume collected these stories, they were even unwritten, with a single exception which was found in a Laos manuscript. They are orally preserved in the provinces which constitute the Laos country, just as they have been handed down from generations of ancestors, with slight variations in words or incidents. The elders among

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A Child of The Woods

A Child of The Woods

Deep in the forest of the North there is a large village of jungle people, and, among them is one old woman, who is held in reverence by all. The stranger who asks why she is honored as a princess is thus answered by her: “ Verily, I have much boon , 1 for I am but a child of nature. When I was a young maiden, it fell upon a day that my heart grew hot with anger. For many days the anger grew until it filled my whole heart, also were my eyes so red that I could see but dimly, and no longer could

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Enchanted Mountain

The Enchanted Mountain

The hunters who are continually going about from place to place, climbing up high hills, descending into deep ravines and making ways through jungles in search of the wild bison and other game, tell strange tales of an enchanted place away on the top of a lofty mountain. There, is a beautiful lake, which is as bright and clear as a drop of morning dew hanging on the petal of the white water-lily, and, when you drink of it, you are no longer aweary; new life has come into you, and your body is mo

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Spirit-Guarded Cave

The Spirit-Guarded Cave

When the people of the far north 3 were molested by their foes and were in continual fear, they consulted together, saying, “Our lives are spent in trying to escape from our enemies and no joy can be ours. Let us flee to the south country 4 where, if the people make slaves of us, we can, at least, know that our lives will be spared, and life, even in slavery, is better than this constant fear of our enemies destroying both ourselves and our dwelling-places and taking our cattle for their own.” T

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Mountain Spirits and the Stone Mortars

The Mountain Spirits and the Stone Mortars

The spirits, who lived in the mountains near a large city, upon a time wanted money for some purpose, and they brought down to the people of the city a number of large and heavy stone mortars which they commanded them to buy at an exorbitant price. The men of the city said, “The price you ask is too great; moreover, we have no need of your mortars, as they are too large for us to use in pounding out our rice, or for any other purpose. Therefore, we do not wish to buy them.” The spirits were very

1 minute read

Read Chapter

Right and Might

Right and Might

While a deer was eating wild fruit, he heard an owl call, “Haak, haak,” 6 and a cricket cry, “Wat,” 7 and, frightened, he fled. In his flight he ran through the trees up into the mountains and into streams. In one of the streams the deer stepped upon a small fish and crushed it almost to death. Then the fish complained to the court, and the deer, owl, cricket and fish had a lawsuit. In the trial came out this evidence: As the deer fled, he ran into some dry grass, and the seed fell into the eye

2 minute read

Read Chapter

Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops

Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops

In the days when the earth was young lived a poor man and his wife who had twelve daughters, whom they no longer loved and no longer desired. Day after day the father and mother planned to be free of them, and upon a day, the father made ready a basket; in the bottom he placed ashes, but on the top he spread rice. Taking this basket with him, he called his daughters to come go to the jungle to hunt for game. When the heat of the day had come, they all sat down to eat, and, after they had eaten,

3 minute read

Read Chapter

How a Dead Tiger Killed the Princess

How a Dead Tiger Killed the Princess

There was once a king who had a daughter at whose birth a wise man foretold that she would be killed by a tiger when she was a maiden grown. In order that no animal might approach her, the king built her a house set upon one huge pillar, and there she and her attendants ever dwelt. And it fell upon a day, when the daughter was well grown, that one of the hunters, whose labor 33 it was to kill the tigers of the country, brought a dead one to the palace of the king. The princess, seeing her dead e

36 minute read

Read Chapter

The Man in the Moon

The Man in the Moon

There was a blacksmith once, who complained: “I am not well, and my work is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade.” A wise man, who had power over all things, replied, “Go thou, be a stone.” And he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side. It happened a stone-cutter came that way for stone, and, when he saw the one that had been the blacksmith, he knew it was what he sought and he began to cut it. The stone cried out

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Origin of Lightning

The Origin of Lightning

There was once a great chief who desired above all things to be happy in the future life, therefore he continually made feasts for the priests and the poor; spending much money in making merit. He had ten wives, nine of whom helped him in all the merit-makings, but the head wife, his favorite, would never take part. Laughing, and making herself beautiful in soft 39 garments and jewels, she gave naught to the priests. And on a day, when the great chief and his nine merit-making wives were no more

2 minute read

Read Chapter

Why the Parrot and the Minor Bird but Echo the Words of Man

Why the Parrot and the Minor Bird but Echo the Words of Man

Long ago people caught and nourished the sao bird, because it learned the language of man more readily than either the parrot or minor bird. While they had to be taught with much care, the sao bird had but to hear a word and it could readily utter it; moreover, the sao bird could utter its own thoughts. Upon a time a man of the north country, owning a sao bird, stole a buffalo from his neighbor and killed it. Part of the buffalo the man cooked and ate; the rest he hid either in the rice bin or o

3 minute read

Read Chapter

The Fatherless Birds

The Fatherless Birds

A mother bird sat brooding on her nest. Her heart was sad, for her mate had flown away in the morning and had not returned. When the little ones stirred and clamored for food, with drooping wings she flew in quest of it that they might not hunger. Day after day her heart grew sadder, for her mate came not, and alone she struggled to provide for her fledglings. When the little birds had grown strong and were able to fly, sorrow and heart hunger had so weakened the mother bird that she lay dying.

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Lovers’ Leap

The Lovers’ Leap

Many , many years ago there lived, on the mountains among the rapids of the Maa Ping, a young man who loved a maiden and the maiden loved him truly, but her father refused his consent to their union and commanded that his daughter see her lover no more, nor hold communication with him. At all times and in all ways the father of the maiden endeavored to overcome her regard for her lover, but she would think of no other, although many came to woo her. Often did the young lovers seek to meet, but s

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Faithful Husband9

The Faithful Husband9

Upon a day in years long since gone by, Chow 10 Soo Tome, wearied of the talking of his slaves, wandered into the forest. As he walked in an unfrequented path, he came to a lake where seven beautiful winged nymphs were disporting themselves in the water. One, Chow Soo Tome readily saw was more beautiful than the others, and he loved her and desired her for his wife. On seeing the Chow, however, they all fled, but the most beautiful one permitted herself to be overtaken. “When I saw thee, my hear

6 minute read

Read Chapter

The Faithful Wife

The Faithful Wife

The young and beautiful son of a head chow sought of a wise man what manner of wife should be his. “As you walked by the way, whom did you meet?” asked the wizard. “No one,” replied the young man. “Nay, my son, you saw a slave of your father’s, cutting grass in a garden. She is to be your wife.” Distressed that such a woman should be his wife, the young man fled from his own country. And it came to pass, that the chow saw the slave girl that she was kind, noble, and beautiful, and he took her to

2 minute read

Read Chapter

An Unexpected Issue

An Unexpected Issue

Far away from other men, on the side of a lonely mountain, a man and his wife were preparing their ground that they might plant the hill rice. Their work was hard, and they saw no one from day to day, and, upon a time, when tired of their labor, the husband said, “Let us play that we are young and unmarried, and that I am coming to visit you to try to gain you for a wife.” The wife dressed herself as a young maiden, with flowers in her hair, and sat at the spinning-wheel. The husband came as tho

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Giants’ Mountain and the Temple

The Giants’ Mountain and the Temple

In the time long since gone by, when the world was young, the men of a large province desired to build a temple, a temple which might be seen by men from afar. Their ground, however, was low, and there was no lofty mountain on which they might rear it, and it was deemed wise by all to entreat the giants, who lived in the far East, to help them bring the earth together in one place for a mound. Willingly did the giants consent to aid them, but asked, “Why labor to dig the earth and pile it into a

2 minute read

Read Chapter

Cheating the Priest

Cheating the Priest

Upon a time a man and his wife went a day’s journey from their village to the bazaar to sell their wares, and it fell upon the day of their return that it rained heavily, and as they hurried along the highway, they sought shelter from the head priest of a temple. He, however, would not even let them enter. They begged to be permitted to sleep in the sheltered place at the head of the stairs, but this also the priest refused. Angered, they went under the temple and there rested. When the priest h

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Disappointed Priest

The Disappointed Priest

In a temple of the north lived a priest who had great greed for the betel nut. 14 One day, compelled by his appetite, he inquired of a boy-priest if no one had died that day, but the boy replied he had heard of no death. A man, while worshipping in the temple, overheard the priest’s words, and on his return to his home, said, “The priest wants some one to die so he can have betel to eat. Let us punish him, because he loves the betel nut better than the life of a man. Make me ready for the grave,

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Greedy Priest

The Greedy Priest

In the compound of a temple in the south there was a large fruit tree, the fruit of which was coveted by all, as they passed, but the head priest would permit no one to eat of it, because he was greedy and selfish and wished but to satisfy his own appetite. Two men, talking together, said they would obtain fruit from the priest, and they would have it without price. One came and asked for the fruit. The priest refused him gruffly, saying, “I need it for my own use.” The man replied, “I desired i

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Ambitious Priest

The Ambitious Priest

There is a tale of an old priest who prayed each day that the gods would give him a jewel of great price—one that had the power to make him fly as a bird. A young priest in the temple hearing his prayer, secured the eye of a fish and hid it in his room, and when again the old priest prayed for the jewel, the young priest brought the eye of the fish and gave it to him. Then was the old priest glad, “Now can I rise up as though on wings and fly from this earth,” said he. Selecting two large palm l

52 minute read

Read Chapter

The Wizard and the Beggar

The Wizard and the Beggar

Once upon a time there was a poor man who ever begged for food, and, as he walked along the road he thought, “If any one will give me to eat until I am satisfied, never will I forget the grace or merit of that person.” Chanting these words as he walked slowly along, he met a wizard. “What do you say as you walk along, my son?” asked the wizard. “If any one will give me to eat all I crave, I will never forget the grace or merit of that person,” said the poor man. “My son, the people of this day a

38 minute read

Read Chapter

A Covetous Neighbor

A Covetous Neighbor

“How did you, who are but a gardener, gain all this gold?” asked a neighbor, and freely the man told all that had befallen him. “If you did it, I, too, can do it,” said the neighbor, and forthwith, he hastened home, made a garden, and waited for the monkeys to feast in it. All came to pass as the neighbor hoped; when the melons were ripe great numbers of monkeys and apes came to the garden and feasted. And upon a day, they found the owner lying as one dead in the garden. Prompted by gratitude, t

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A Lazy Man’s Plot15

A Lazy Man’s Plot15

Upon a day a beggar, who was too lazy to work, but ever lived on the bounty of the people, received a great quantity of rice. He put it in a large jar and placed the jar at the foot of his bed, then he lay down on the bed and thus reasoned: “If there come a famine, I will sell the rice, and with the money, buy me a pair of cows, and when the cows have a calf, I’ll buy a pair of buffaloes. Then, when they have a calf, I’ll sell them, and with that money, I’ll make a wedding and take me a wife. An

56 minute read

Read Chapter

The Ungrateful Fisherman

The Ungrateful Fisherman

It happened on a time that a poor fisherman had caught nothing for many days, and while he was sitting thinking sadly of his miserable fortune, Punya In, the god of wisdom, came from his high home in heaven in the form of a crow, and asked him, “Do you desire to escape from this life of a fisherman, and live in ease?” And the fisherman replied, “Greatly do I desire to escape from this miserable life.” Beckoning him to come to him and listen, the crow told him of a far distant province, whose cho

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Legend of the Rice

The Legend of the Rice

In the days when the earth was young and all things were better than they now are, when men 86 and women were stronger and of greater beauty, and the fruit of the trees was larger and sweeter than that which we now eat, rice, the food of the people, was of larger grain. One grain was all a man could eat, and in those early days, such, too, was the merit of the people, they never had to toil gathering the rice, for, when ripe, it fell from the stalks and rolled into the villages, even unto the gr

1 minute read

Read Chapter

“One Woman in Deceit and Craft is More Than a Match for Eight Men”

“One Woman in Deceit and Craft is More Than a Match for Eight Men”

Chum Paw was a maiden of the south country. Many suitors had she, but, by her craft and devices, each suitor thought himself the only one. Constantly did each seek her in marriage, and, upon a day as one pressed her to name the time of their nuptials, she said, “Build me a house, and I’ll marry you when all is in readiness.” To the others, did she speak the same words. Each man sought the jungle for bamboo for a house, and, it happened, while they were in the jungle that they all met. “What seek

4 minute read

Read Chapter

“The Wisest Man of a Small Village is Not Equal in Wisdom to a Boy of the City Streets”

“The Wisest Man of a Small Village is Not Equal in Wisdom to a Boy of the City Streets”

Once a boy of the city, watching a buffalo outside the gate of the largest city in the province, saw three men approaching. Each was the wisest man of the village from whence he came. The boy called to them, “Where go ye, old men?” The men angrily replied, “Wherefore dost thou, who art but a child, speak thus to us who are old and the judges of the villages from whence we come?” The boy replied, “There is no cause for anger. How was I to know ye were wise men? To me, ye seem but as other men fro

2 minute read

Read Chapter

“To Aid Beast is Merit; To Aid Man is but Vanity”17

“To Aid Beast is Merit; To Aid Man is but Vanity”17

A hunter , walking through a jungle, saw a man in a pit unable to escape. The man called to him, “If thou wilt aid me to escape from this snare, always will I remember thy grace and merit.” The hunter drew him out of the pit, and the man said, “I am goldsmith to the head chow, and dwell by the city’s gate. Shouldst thou ever want any benefit, come to me, and gladly will I aid thee.” As the hunter travelled, he met a tiger caught in a snare set for an elephant, and the tiger cried, “If thy heart

3 minute read

Read Chapter

Love’s Secrets

Love’s Secrets

There was once a poor woodsman, who went to the jungle to cut wood, so he might sell it and buy food for his wife and child. And upon a day, when the cool evening had come, wearied, the man lay down to rest and fell into a deep sleep. From his home in the sky, the god who looks after the destiny of man was hot-hearted 18 when he saw the man did not move, and he came down to see if he were dead. When he spake in the wood-cutter’s ear, he awoke and arose, and the fostering god led him home. As the

2 minute read

Read Chapter

Poison-Mouth

Poison-Mouth

There was once a poor father and mother who had a little daughter, called “Poison-Mouth.” And it happened on a day that a great number of cows came into the garden, and when the mother saw them she cried angrily, “You but destroy our garden. I would you were all dead.” “Poison-Mouth” hearing her mother’s angry words, called out, “Die, all of you, for you are destroying our garden.” And immediately all the cattle dropped dead. Upon another day, the bees were swarming and great companies flew over

1 minute read

Read Chapter

Strife and Peace

Strife and Peace

There was once a husband and wife who ever quarrelled. Never were they pleasant with each other. A wealthy man sought to see if they could spend but a day in peace, so he sent two men with one hundred pieces of silver to them, saying, “If this day be spent without strife, this silver shall be yours.” Then the two men hid themselves near the house to watch after what fashion they spent the day. “If we are to earn the reward, it were better thou shouldst hold thy tongue with thy hand, else thou ca

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Widow’s Punishment

The Widow’s Punishment

Once there lived a woman who had a son and a nephew living with her. And upon a day they came to her desiring money that they might go and trade in the bazaar. She gave each a piece of silver of equal value, and bade them so to trade and cheat that they might bring home much money. At the bazaar, one bought a large fish, the other, the head and horns of a buffalo, and, as they rested by the roadside on their way home, they tied the large, living fish and the buffalo head together, and threw them

2 minute read

Read Chapter

Honesty Rewarded

Honesty Rewarded

In the far north country there lived a father, mother, and son. So poor and desolate were they that their only possession was an old ax. Each morning, as the eye of day opened on the earth, they went to the woods and there remained until the evening, cutting the wood, which, when sold, furnished their only source of a living. Upon a day, when the cutting was done, they 110 placed the ax near the wood and went deeper into the jungle for vines to bind the wood. It happened the chow of the province

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Justice of In Ta Pome

The Justice of In Ta Pome

Men of three countries wanted a chemical to change stones and metals into gold, and they all came together to worship In Ta Pome, one of the gods. One man was from China, one from India, and one from Siam. They all worshipped at the feet of In Ta Pome, saying, “We beg thee, O In Ta Pome, give unto us the chemical which will change all stones and metals into gold.” In Ta Pome replied, “Each of you kill one of your children, cut him into pieces and put him into a jar. Cover this with a new, clean

1 minute read

Read Chapter

The Words of Untold Value

The Words of Untold Value

In the days long since gone by, a young man, a son of a poor widow, desired to go with two of his friends to Tuck Kasula, 20 the country where one could learn the wisdom of all the world, but he had no gold with which to buy the wisdom, for does not every one know that wisdom is difficult to obtain, and is therefore of great price. Now, the two young friends had each two puns 21 of gold, but the widow’s son had but two hairs of his mother’s, which, when he wept because he had no money, the widow

3 minute read

Read Chapter

A Wise Philosopher

A Wise Philosopher

As a rich trader journeyed to another province, he rested by the road under a tree, and, as he sat there, a poor young man approached and asked that he might accompany him. “Come,” said the trader, and, as they journeyed, they came to a place where there were many stones, indeed there was naught else to be seen. “Here are there no stones,” said the poor young man. “You are right, here are no stones,” replied the trader. Soon they reached the shade of a large forest, and the young man said, “Here

32 minute read

Read Chapter

The Boys Who Were Not Appreciated

The Boys Who Were Not Appreciated

Not long after, a servant of the chow of the neighboring province came to the sala , and the boys asked, “For whom is the mourning in the city?” The servant replied, “The young daughter of the chow; and the chow mourns. If any one will restore her unto life, the chow declares, unto him will he give half of his province and goods.” Eager to try the wonderful grass, the boy carried his young brother and some of the grass even unto the chow’s house, where he sought permission to restore the child w

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Magic Well

The Magic Well

The chow of a large province lay ill. All the doctors of many provinces were summoned, but none could aid him, nor could any understand his malady. Lying in his house one day, an old man begged he might see him, saying he had a message from the spirits. Brought into the presence of the chow, the old man said, “Last night, as I lay on my bed, I had this vision. A spirit came to me and touched me and led me to the river’s brink. There I saw a boat prepared for my use. I entered the boat and it was

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Fortunes of Ai Powlo

The Fortunes of Ai Powlo

Once upon a time a father and mother had a wicked son whose name was Ai Powlo. One day, while in the rice fields together, the father sent the son to his mother with a message. Instead, however, of delivering the message, Ai Powlo said his father had been eaten by a tiger. Leaving his mother in great distress, he returned to the rice fields and told his father that both his mother and the house were burned, and, for three days, did the father mourn for his wife, as he lay in the watchhouse. Whil

3 minute read

Read Chapter

The Fortunes of a Lazy Beggar

The Fortunes of a Lazy Beggar

Once upon a time a man lived who was never known to work. When the neighbors grew weary supplying him with food, he sought the forest, and lay down under a fig-tree so the ripe fruit might drop into his mouth. Often, when the food fell out of his reach, he would suffer hunger, rather than make an effort. It fell upon a day that a stranger passed that way, and the lazy man asked him to please gather some fruit and put it into his mouth, as he hungered. The wily stranger gathered a handful of eart

4 minute read

Read Chapter

The Misfortunes of Paw Yan

The Misfortunes of Paw Yan

Upon a day, Paw Yan 22 said to his wife, “Today I shall build a watch-tower in the rice fields.” “You will need four posts about the size of our children here,” replied the wife. Taking the four children with him to the rice fields, Paw Yan dug four post holes and made the children stand in them. Then he packed the earth about their feet to make them firm, took the beams and laid them on their shoulders, tied them in place, and went for more bamboo to finish the watch-tower. The eye of day had c

1 minute read

Read Chapter

An Unfortunate Shot

An Unfortunate Shot

There was once a poor man too ill to work, and he had no one to give him food. The chow of the province heard of him and sent for him to come to his house. When the man reached the house of the chow, the chow gave him a bow and arrow, saying, “Shoot upward toward the sky. When the arrow falls to the earth, if it fall making a hole in the earth, I will weigh the earth which the arrow digs up, and give thee the weight of it in gold. On whatsoever thy arrow falls, that will I weigh and give its wei

54 minute read

Read Chapter

The Blind Man

The Blind Man

A man and a woman had a daughter to whom they ever taught, in selecting a husband, to take none but a man with rough hands, as then she might know he would work. Overhearing this advice, and desiring a wife, a blind man took some rice, pounded it, and having rubbed it over his hands, came to woo the maiden. Though utterly blind, the eyes of the blind man appeared even as the eyes of those who see, and the maiden loved him and gave herself to him in marriage. Never did she suspect the truth. Many

3 minute read

Read Chapter

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

A man once asked his newly-married son-in-law, “You will help me in the work that the chow gives me to do, now that you are one of us, will you not?” And the son-in-law replied, “I will promise this. Whenever you go, I will stay at home, and when I stay at home, you will go and work.” Pleased with the ready promise, the father said, “I thank you, my son.” When the chow called the father, the son said, “This time you go, and I will stay at home,” and the father went. And when the chow again calle

39 minute read

Read Chapter

The Great Boaster

The Great Boaster

There lived in the south a man who so continually boasted of his strength and endurance that all the people called him, “Kee-oo-yai”—the great boaster. Never entered into his ear a tale of danger, but his mouth opened to speak of a greater one which had been his; never a feat of strength but he could tell of one requiring greater strength which he had done, so, when the men of the village talked together and saw him drawing near, they would derisively say, “There is the great boaster coming. We

1 minute read

Read Chapter

A Clever Thief

A Clever Thief

Once a man went into the field of a gardener and stole a melon. Before he had had time to eat it the gardener discovered him, took the melon and tied it to the neck of the thief, and led him to the home of the head man of the village. As they walked along, the thief took his scarf and covered his head and shoulders, and, as he was in front, he ate the melon without the gardener’s seeing him. When they reached the home of the head man, the gardener said, “This man stole a melon from me. It is tie

52 minute read

Read Chapter

Eyeless-Needle, Rotten-Egg, Rotten-Banana, Old-Fish and Broken-Pestle.

Eyeless-Needle, Rotten-Egg, Rotten-Banana, Old-Fish and Broken-Pestle.

Once upon a time there were five men so lazy and wicked that no one would speak to them nor have anything to do with them. No one of their native province would speak to them at all, and, to show their contempt for them, the people had christened them by odious names. One was called, “Eyeless-Needle”; one, “Rotten-Egg”; one, “Rotten-Banana”; one, “Old-Fish,” and the fifth, “Broken-Pestle.” As there was neither shelter nor food for them in the village, they went to live in the woods, and one day

1 minute read

Read Chapter

For Work Among Children

For Work Among Children

Practical Primary Plans. For Sabbath School Teachers. By Israel P. Black. Illustrated with diagrams. 16mo, cloth, $1.00. Object Lessons for Junior Work. Practical Suggestions, Object Lessons, and Picture Stories. By Ella N. Wood. 16mo, cloth, with designs and illustrations, 50 cents. The Children’s Prayer. By Rev. James Wells, D.D. Addresses to the Young on the Lord’s Prayer. 16mo, cloth, 75 cents. Bible Stories Without Names. By Rev. Harry Smith, M.A. With questions at the end of each chapter a

2 minute read

Read Chapter

The Home and Children

The Home and Children

Child Culture in the Home. By Martha B. Mosher. 12mo, cloth, $1.00. “Rarely has so helpful a book on the moral education of children appeared. The emotions, the senses, the will, as well as the training of the habits of the child and methods of training, are all considered.”— The Outlook . “It is written in a clear, straightforward manner, is rich in suggestions and illustrations, and is thoroughly wholesome in counsel.”— Cumberland Presbyterian . Studies in Home and Child-Life. By Mrs. S. M. I.

3 minute read

Read Chapter