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Tan
loved to hear stories of Gran's childhood in
the village where she grew up.
She told Tan how important buffaloes
are to people in Vietnam. They do so much
of the farming work, and are used to haul heavy
loads of farm produce in the country.
The people consider buffaloes their fellow workers
and friends. Some children even use the
flanks of the buffalo to practise their writing.
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Gran told Tan this story, had always been a favourite
of her sister Kim, the aunt with the glass eye…
There was once a farmer who was ploughing a field with his water
buffalo. They had been working hard since early dawn and
by midday both the farmer and the buffalo were tired and hungry. But
the farmer wanted to complete his work, so he picked up a stick
and beat the buffalo on the back to make him keep walking. Each
time the buffalo stumbled, or rested, the farmer would hit the
poor animal on the back. The farmer did not notice a large yellow
tiger sitting in the shade of the trees, watching.
When the field was finished, the farmer set the buffalo free
to graze in a nearby field while he went home to have his lunch. As
soon as the farmer was out of sight, the tiger walked over to
the buffalo. ‘Why do you work so hard for that cruel farmer? And
why do you let him beat you like that? You could easily beat
him, with your size and sharp horns! Why are you such a
coward?'
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There
is a Buffalo Festival celebrated every year
in Spring by the Bahnar people to thank the
gods for a good harvest as well as good health.
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‘You have only lived in the jungle and you don't know how
clever humans are. Although they look small and weak, humans
are the real leaders. They have intelligence.'
‘I don't believe it! They are so much weaker than we are.
When the farmer comes back, show me this great intelligence of
his!' The farmer returned and was alarmed to see the tiger in
his field. The buffalo assured its master that the tiger only
wanted to question him.
‘I have heard your intelligence is greater than anyone else's. Where
do you keep it?' the tiger asked.
The farmer began leading his buffalo towards home saying to the
tiger: ‘As I keep my intelligence in a bag at home, I can't
show it to you now.'
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.There
are almost 72 million people in Vietnam and
80% of them live in small villages. Most families
live in thatched houses and work on private
or collectivised farms. Every family has a small
garden to supply them with additional food.Many
families must carry water to their homes from
nearby streams. Families like to have
at least four children who share the work of
farming and running the home.
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The tiger called out to the farmer to come
back. But the farmer replied, ‘You are very cunning –
I know if I come back, you will only kill my buffalo and eat it!'
‘I promise I won't kill him, ' said the tiger, ‘but
please, please let me see your intelligence!'
‘Very well,' said the farmer, ‘but let me tie
you up here while I go and get it.'
‘Certainly, ' said the tiger, feeling very smug, ‘If
this intelligence is so good, I want to see it very much.' The
tiger let the farmer tie him to a tree with a rope.
Then very quickly, the farmer picked up his plough and hit the
tiger over the head, killing him.
The buffalo nodded wisely and laughed to see
how his master could still outwit the mighty tiger.
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