To Aid a Beast
This was a great story about a hunter who aided a man, a tiger, and a snake. All of whom promised not to forget his good deed and to help him if ever the time came that he needed their help. One day, the man called to the tiger and the tiger came, brining a golden chain. This chain, unfortunately came from the daughter of the Chow whom he had killed the day he was freed. The hunter took the chain to the city (not knowing of where it came) to try to sell. The man he attempted to sell the chain to was the very same man he had freed and promised to help. Instead, the man turned the hunter into the Chow as the murderer of the Chow's daughter. He was blinded and thrown into chains. He begged for 7-days reprieve. While he was chained, he called to the snake who came to his aid and restored his sight. He then blinded the wife of the Chow. The Chow wanted someone who could restore her sight. The hunter said he could through herbs, etc. After helping, the hunter told the Chow, "I am not the one who murdered your daughter. The man I had freed from the pit promised to return the kindness, but instead falsely accused me." Upon hearing this, the Chow had the ungrateful man put to death and he released the hunter and gave him half the provence.
The Magic Well
The chow of a provence was dying. He was lying in his bed one day when I man asked to see him. He told the chow that he had been visited by a spirit who showed him the way to what looked like a well. The spirit told the man that this water, and only this water could heal the chow. The man and the chow along with some of the chow's men journeyed to the well. This water truly was healing. The chow drank of the water and poured it on his head and hands and was healed. To this day, it is said, that the well and the water are used to heal the people.
Bibliography:
To Aid a Beast. Web Source: To Aid a Beast
The Magic Well. Web Source: The Magic Well
Reading Diary A:
Spirit-Guarded Cave
This was a great story. It spoke of a people who were terrorized by their enemies. They decided to pack up all of their belongings and leave; their cattle, food, and anything with any value. The journey was long and all the rice and cattle had been consumed before reaching the end of their journey. They decided to use their jewels and valuables to purchase food. When they did, the people around them began to covet their fortunes. Therefore, the people decided to stash their belongings and jewels and riches in a cave in the mountains. This cave was guarded by the spirits of the people. Many have tried to enter the cave to retrieve the riches within, but all have failed thanks to the constant guarding by the spirits.
Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops
Twelve maidens were discarded by their parents in the jungle. They sought refuge with a beautiful woman. The woman had a garden, but she told the maidens not to enter. One day while the woman was away, the maidens inspected the garden and found many human bones. She was a cannibal. The maidens ran away seeking help from animals along the way. They came upon an elephant and asked it to hide them from the cannibal. The girls jumped in so fast, that the hem of her garment hung outside the elephant's mouth. Once the cannibal found the elephant with the hem hanging from it's mouth, she cursed the elephant to always have a drooping lip.
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| Elephant Species - WWF |
This was the story that I think is alive in every single culture around the world - that of star-crossed lovers. Two people were in love and wanted to be joined, but the girl's father would not hear of it. They saw each other infrequently, but this did not diminish their love for one another. One day, the father of the girl thought she had forgotten all about her lover and decided to hold a feast. During the feast, the girl wandered outside and suddenly saw her lover. He asked her to run away with him and become his wife. She agreed and mounted his horse with him, but just then a servant came outside, witnessed this, and raised the alarm. The young lovers were chased by her father and the men. They reached the crest of a cliff, the horse was weary, and they decided to try to jump the distance. However, the horse was too tired and the jump to far and they fell to their deaths, crushed upon the rocks.
Bibliography:
Reading Unit: Folklore of Laos. Web Source: Folklore of Laos
The Spirit-Guarded Cave. Web Source: Spirit-Guarded Cave
Why the Lip of the Elephant Droops. Web Source: Droop of the Elephant Lip
Elephant Species - WWF. Web Source: WWF - Elephant
The Lovers Leap. Web Source: The Lovers Leap
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