Tale of Cat Sellers
This is a tale about a greedy and like to copy others action without thinking.
Once there was a poor but hardworking farmer. His name was Abdulah. His land is just a patch but he had a wife and children to live. That’s not enough. So he planned to work to Java. His wife agrees and supports him.
He went to Java with only 10 gobang money (1 gobang = 2.5 cents). It is only for the cost of sailing to Java.
On the way, he meets a poor woman who was holding her child, who looked pale famine. In her hand there was a basket with three cats inside. The woman came to Abdullah and asked him to buy her cats.
Abdullah think if he’s not helping her they might die of starvation. So his heart melted. She was offered five gobang for the three cats. But Abdullah have very little money so he offered three gobang and she agreed.
Arriving at the port, Abdullah chose to ride cheaper sailboat. But the trip turned out to be pursued with much difficulty because the wind was blowing very large and fast. The helmsman could not control the boat and the boat was eventually swayed by the rate carried by the wind.
Apparently the wind did not bring them to the Java but to the other way. An island they had never seen before. The island was named Rat Island, because the island was a lot of wandering rats. All residents have tried to kill, but the rats were almost endless, and even seemed to add much. Rice in the barn or in the fields, food supplies are also residents, all brushed away by the rats.
Seeing the situation, Abdullah remember of his cats. Then he showed and explained to the islanders that the animal he carries can root out and hunt rats. Then residents brought Abdullah to existing local Head Island.
“Is that true that your animal can eradicate the rats?” asked the head of the island, “if it’s true that I would dare to buy the star’s five pence per head.”
“Then, look at them first. If you interested please take them all. I have three cats”, Abdullah said.
Abdullah then took out a cat in a sack. Long time without eating, of course, the cat was feeling very hungry. Once he saw a rat in front of his eyes wander, just go ahead and chased by ferocious.
After being torn apart the cats instantly caught the rat. Account after eating one tail, the cat ran after the other mice and so on.
Head Island is very pleased to see that. And finally Abdullah even get 15 dinar (dinar currency = gold).
Abdullah delight his heart. Then he canceled his intention to go to the island of Java, and finally he went back to Madura.
Arriving in Madura, the money bought more land and he does own the land. Finally he became quite well-off.
Abdullah did not hesitate to tell his fortune to anyone who asked him. Apparently there are three villagers who want to speculate. They intend to follow in the footsteps like Abdullah. They are determined to sell the cats to the island of rats. All of the property they sell and bought the cats a lot. Once ready they hire a boat to the Rat Island.
But apparently now the rats on the island had been destroyed. After Abdullah’s three cats eat the rats on the island, they are full, and getting bigger, then breed. The offspring also eat other rat that remains, until finally the rats gone there.
They were disappointed and sad. All they attempts so far proved no use at all. They then returned to Madura with feelings of shame.
vyludilywuf…
Niece Baker…
Trackback by vyludilywuf — May 5, 2010 @ 9:34 am