Lao Folktales is an English-language edition with about twenty folktales from Laos recorded by a student of Laotian. Their origin lies in the stories from India: the Pañchatantra (also known as Pañcatantra) stories around the era, and the Jataka stories about the past lives of Buddha when he was still a bodhisattva.
Among other things, you come across the young man Xieng Mieng where the X is pronounced as the CH in that language. This young man is a scoundrel, a rascal, a tease who plays pranks on the king. Compare him with the character Dik Trom by writer Johan Kievit, with Tijl Uilenspiegel from Dutch-German folklore, and with the Thai rascal Sri Thanonchai.
These stories were used for propaganda purposes in the struggle of the Pathet Lao (1950-1975), the Laotian communist party. Just to be on the safe side, I tell the reader: don't take it too seriously….
Xieng Mieng strictly follows the orders!
In Laos, people chewed betel nut. Even now. That's not like gum; betel nut must be prepared with ingredients and tools kept in a betel box. And if you were king you had an expensive gold or silver betel box and it was carried by the court in a betel basket.
So the king said to Xieng Mieng 'Today I am going to the horse races; you carry my betel basket and follow me.' "How are we going there?" Xieng Mieng asked. "I ride my white horse and you follow on foot." "Yes, I follow you," said Xieng Mieng. 'Precisely!' said the king.
The king rode on his horse and Xieng Mieng followed him on foot through the rice fields. He rode fast because he had a strong horse. Xieng Mieng, on the other hand, walked slowly because he liked to smell flowers and sat in the shade of a tree for a while. He even took a nap…
Where are you?
The king arrived at the horse races. He watched the first race. And looked at the second. He was hungry for a betel nut. Then the third and fourth and … the final and only then did Xieng Mieng arrive with his betel basket.
Xieng Mieng! Where have you been? I'm waiting for my betel basket!' 'Sorry, Your Majesty. You told me to follow you and I did. Here I am.' The king remembered that. “That's right, Xieng Mieng. I said follow. I'm going to the races again next week. Then you carry my betel basket and follow me as soon as possible. You understand?' “Yes,” said Xieng Mieng, “I will follow you as soon as possible.” 'Precisely!' said the king.
The following week the king again mounted his horse and rode to the races. Xieng Mieng ran behind him as fast as he could. He ran so fast that the basket tipped over and the betel nuts fell out. Xieng Mieng stopped for a moment to pick up the nuts, but laughed and ran after the king again.
During the first race, Xieng Mieng came up the stairs, panting. “Very good, Xieng Mieng, I see you came as soon as possible. Now give me the betel basket.' The king reached into the basket. “There are no betel nuts. Where are they?' "I dropped them." 'You dropped them? But why didn't you pick them up, idiot?' 'Because, Your Majesty, I had to follow you as soon as possible. If I were to pick up the nuts, I would be too late now.'
The king remembered his words. “You are right, Xieng Mieng. I said follow me as soon as possible. I'm going to the races again next week. Then you carry my betel basket and follow me as fast as possible but you have to pick up everything that falls. Do you understand?' "Yes," said Xieng Mieng. "I'll follow you as fast as I can and pick up anything that falls." 'Precisely!' said the king.
The following week, the king drove to the races again and Xieng Mieng followed as fast as he could. And yes, the basket tipped over again and the betel nuts were on the road. Xieng Mieng picked them up as quickly as possible and hurried to catch up with the king. But he noticed that steaming faeces fell from the horse's ass as he walked. Xieng Mieng laughed. He picked up all the droppings and put them in the betel basket. He first arrived at the king during the second race.
“Xieng Mieng, I don't like to be disappointed. Is there betel in my basket?' "Indeed, Your Majesty." The king reached for his betel in the basket but felt warm droppings… 'What is that? This is shit!' 'Precisely!' replied Xieng Mieng. "And why is there poop in my betel basket?" 'Don't you remember your words, Your Majesty? I had to follow you as fast as possible and pick up everything that fell. The betel fell and I picked it up. The droppings fell and I picked it up. I did exactly what you said…”
Source: Lao Folktales (1995). Translation and editing Erik Kuijpers