Story 98 - Concerning Four Friends

IN a single country there were four friends. During the time while they were staying there all four reared a dog. At the time when it had grown up the dog became extremely large.

After that, the four persons having spoken together:

“Let us divide the [ownership of the] dog [among us],”

divided the dog, to one person the fore-leg, to one person the hind-leg; in this manner the four persons divided it into four [shares],

[After] dividing it, when no long time had gone, one foreleg of the dog was broken. After it was broken, the other three persons having told the man who owned the fore-leg that the fore-leg was broken, found fault [with him for not attending to it]. 

Thereupon the man, taking a medicine and an oil for it, soaked a rag, and tied it round [the leg]. After he had tied it round, the dog went near the hearth, and while it was staying there the fire caught that oiled rag.

The four persons had planted a cotton garden, and having [picked and] dried the cotton, had heaped it up. This dog’s body coming against the heap of cotton, the fire caught it, and all the cotton burnt away.

After that, the four persons quarrelled [over it], and beat each other. [After] beating each other, they went near the King of the country. The whole three persons brought actions against the man [for the value of their shares of the burnt cotton].

How did they bring them ?

“Ane! O Lord, Your Majesty, we were rearing a dog and planting a cotton garden. We four persons divided the [ownership of the] dog [into shares]. While we were there after dividing it, the foreleg belonging to this owner was broken. He wrapped it in a cloth [soaked in] oil for wounds.

The dog, having gone near the hearth, was sleeping. The fire caught the dog. When it caught it, the dog having gone, jumped upon the heap of cotton which had been dried and heaped up. The cotton was burnt up. Because of it, we ask for [the amount of] the loss from this man.”

They brought the action thus.

The man says,

“I am not a guilty person. I only wrapped the oiled rag on the fore-leg for the wound to heal. I did not do it in order to burn the cotton.”

Thereupon those other three persons [said],

“We don’t know that. It is owing to you indeed that the cotton was burnt. Because of it, you must pay the [amount of the] loss to us three.”

After that the King asked,

“Was the dog’s broken leg so thoroughly broken that it could not place the foot on the ground ?”

The three persons said,

“It could not place the foot on the ground even a little.”

Then the King having considered, said regarding it,

“Because it went by means of the three legs which belonged to you three persons, by your fault the cotton has been burnt, and [the amount of] his loss must be given to that one by you three persons.”

After that, by those three persons the price of his share of the cotton was paid to the other man.

North-central Province.

 

Note:

This is one of the stories related of Mariyada Raman (translation by Mr. P. Ramachandra Rao, p. n), in which four dealers in cotton reared a cat, each one owning one leg. The judgment was that given by the King in the Sinhalese version. This form of the story is known in Ceylon, and was related by a Tom-tom Beater of the interior of the North-western Province.