The novice Kham was bathing in the river just as a group of merchants were resting on the bank. They carried large baskets of mieng. Mieng is the leaf of a type of tea used to wrap a snack, which is very popular in Laos. Kham liked a snack mieng.
'Novice' a merchant called to him, 'How deep is the river? Where's the best place to cross?' "I don't think you can cross the river," said Kham. "Of course we can cross," said the merchant. 'I've done that so many times. The water doesn't get past my waist.'
The bet
'If you're sure you can cross the river, let's bet on it. If you can cross, you get all my clothes. And if you can't cross, I'll get all your mieng.' 'Haha' scoffed the merchant. 'I'll take it. Start undressing.'
The merchants packed their baskets of mieng, took off their sandals and rolled up their trouser legs, and walked into the river. 'That is easy. The river isn't deep at all.' They crossed to the other side, rolled down the trouser legs and put the sandals back on. “Well, novice, we've crossed over. We won so bring on those clothes.'
'No, you didn't cross. You did not win the bet. You just walked through the water. To cross means to step or jump from bank to bank. You did not. You lost. So please give me your mieng now.' 'We're across the river; come on with your clothes.' 'You did not. Come on with that mieng.'
Bickering, lamenting, a big discussion for a long time. Finally Kham said, "Let's put it to the king." "Fine," said the merchant. So they walked with the baskets full of mieng to the palace.
The judgment of the king
The king listened to the parties and made a decision. 'Merchants with mieng, and Kham, this is my verdict. You are both half right. So, merchants, you don't have to give all mieng to Kham, but only 4 baskets. And you, Kham, you give 5 begging bowls to the merchants.' "A wise decision," said Kham. 'Well, gentlemen, then I'm going to get 4 baskets and 5 begging bowls, so please wait for me.'
A few hours later, 16 of the strongest men in the kingdom walked into the palace and carried in 4 of the largest sized baskets. "And where is Kham?" 'Here I am' and Kham jumped out of one of the baskets with 5 begging bowls in his hands. "Are you bugging us now?" said the merchant.
'Not at all. The king said 4 baskets and 5 begging bowls. And aren't these baskets? Aren't these begging bowls?' They once laughed heartily at the merchants when they filled the 4 giga baskets with the mieng.
It was now over for the king, but he still wanted to say something. “Kham, a novice shouldn't bet. That is against the laws of the temple. So I must ask you to say goodbye to the novice life.' And that's how Xieng Mieng got his name. Xieng is the name of someone who was once a novice. And mieng just means leaf….
Source: Lao Folktales (1995). Translation and editing Erik Kuijpers