Cambodian Tale, the Tiger and Mouse
Some nice Cambodian tales I received in my Hotel room during my last private Photography Workshop, actually everyday there was another interesting story rolled up on a nice piece of paper on my bed and wishing me a very good night and in due time I post a few more.
See below one of those Cambodian tales, true to everyday life and nature, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
GD
Fallen leaves during the Monsoon Season in Cambodia - © Gunther Deichmann
A CAMBODIAN TALE CALLED THE TIGER AND THE MOUSE...
ON ONE HOT DAY, A LONG TIME AGO, TIGER CAME OUT OF THE WOODS TO
DRINK WATER FROM A POND AT A CLEARING; THERE HE MET MOUSE WHO HAD THE
SAME IDEA. FEELING BOASTFUL AND SUPERIOR, TIGER SAID TO MOUSE:
"YOU ARE SUCH AN INSIGNIFICANT AND USELESS CREATURE; THERE IS NOTHING
YOU CAN DO THAT I CANNOT DO, SO LEAVE MY SIGHT?"
MOUSE, FEARFUL OF TIGER, RETREATED BACK TO THE FIELDS.
IT JUST HAPPENED THAT DAY; TRAPPERS WERE IN THE FOREST SETTING
UP NETS, TRYING TO CAPTURE A TIGER FOR THE KING. TIGER, USUALLY CAREFUL
BUT FEELING PROUD AFTER CHASING MOUSE AWAY, WAS NOT LOOKING WHERE HE
WAS GOING AND UNFORTUNATELY STEPPED ON THE TRAP. SUDDENLY, THERE HE
WAS, TANGLED IN THE NET UP ON THE TREE, TIGER TRIED TO FREE HIMSELF BUT
WAS UNABLE TO. HE KEPT ON CALLING PASSING ANIMALS TO HELP HIM BUT THEY
COULD NOT GET HIM OUT, DESPERATE, HE KNEW THE KIND OF FATE THAT
AWAITED HIM, BEING IN A LOCKED CAGE AND BEATEN UP BY THE KING'S GUARDS.
WELL, IT JUST HAPPENED THAT MOUSE WAS PASSING THROUGH THE
FOREST AND HE HEARD THE CRIES OF TIGER, HE APPROACHED AND OFFERED TO
HELP. BY THIS TIME, TIGER WAS LOSING HOPE, ANY OFFER OF HELP WAS
WELCOMED, MOUSE CLIMBED UP INTO THE NET AND IN NO TIME, CHEWED THE
CORDS OUT AND FREED TIGER. MOUSE, THEN SAID TO HIM:
"YOU, EARLIER SAID THAT I WAS A USELESS CREATURE BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I
WAS ABLE TO FREE YOU, DO NOT MOCK ANY ANIMAL BECAUSE OF IT'S SIZE.
BECAUSE WE ARE SMALL DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE USELESS, EACH CREATURE
POSSESSES UNIQUE SKILLS."
TIGER, SHAMEFUL AND WITH HIS HEAD DOWN, RAN BACK TO THE FOREST
AS QUICKLY AS HE COULD, SO FROM THIS DAY ON, TIGERS LEARNED NOT TO
DISRESPECT MICE.