Khamu women with nose whistle in Nan, Thailand (topten22photo / Shutterstock.com)
Once upon a time there was a poor Khamu man and he was hungry. Very very hungry. He was penniless. That day he stopped at the house of a wealthy woman. Greeted her endearingly and asked 'Would you please have something to eat for me?'
And she: 'Why should I? I'm not giving you anything. You'll have to buy it. And if you don't pay for it, why do you expect me to eat something?' 'Okay. Then I'll tell you the story of the Golden Lotus Female.'
"Is that a nice story?" 'Nice? Really, you've never heard anything like it.' "Okay, come on then." 'Oh no, something to eat first. I can't tell stories on an empty stomach!' he said. And the lady made him some food, even chicken soup! He gulped it down greedily! Then he gathered his things.
'Excuse me? Where are you going? You haven't told the story yet!' "Wait a minute, let me pack my things first." And then came the story. 'One fine day, the Golden Lotus Female and Prince Suwat were walking through the forest. Then they met a brahmin and she shot him dead.'
'And then?' 'Well, they died. That's all.' "No, that's not all, is it?" 'Yes! When people are dead, they are dead. So dead they don't go anywhere. And that's where it ends.' 'Bust now! You fooled me, didn't you?'
Yes, he got some food by fooling people. But he was right, right? When people are dead they are dead and the story ends!
Source:
Titillating tales from Northern Thailand. White Lotus Books, Thailand. English title 'A story about fate'. Translated and edited by Erik Kuijpers. The author is Viggo Brun (1943); see for more explanation: https://www.thailandblog.nl/cultuur/twee-verliefde-schedels-uit-prikkelende-verhalen-uit-noord-thailand-nr-1/
The Khamu is a tribe that lives in northern Laos (500.000 to 700.000 people) and Vietnam (70.000-100.000). There are also groups living in China, Myanmar and Thailand.
(*) A Brahmin is a priest and belongs to the highest Indian castes. The story of the Golden Lotus Female and one Prince Suwat has not been found…