Krystian G

Krystian G

Palestine

One day Johha borrowed a large tanjera, or copper saucepan, from a neighbor for domestic use. Next day he returned it together with a very small but quite new one.

"What is this?" asked the surprised owner.

"Your tanjera gave birth to a young one during the night," replied the jester, and, in spite of the incredulity of the other man, maintained his assertion, refusing to take back the smaller tanjera, on the ground that the young belonged to the parent and the parent's owner. Besides, it was cruel to separate so young a child from its mother. After a deal of protestation, the neighbor, believing him mad, resolved to humor him, and took the small tanjera, greatly wondering at the jester's whim.

Its point was revealed to his chagrin some days later, when Johha came and borrowed a large and valuable copper dist, or cauldron. This he did not return, but carried it off to another town, where he sold it.

When its owner sent to Johha to reclaim it, the knave said that he regretted his inability to send it back, but the utensil had unfortunately died and been devoured by hyenas.

"What!" exclaimed the owner angrily. "Do you think me fool enough to believe that?"

"Well, my friend," was the reply, "wonderful things sometimes happen. You allowed yourself to be persuaded that your tanjera, for instance, gave birth to a young one. Why, then, should you not believe that your dist, which is simply a grown-up tanjera, should die?"

In the circumstances, the argument seemed unanswerable, especially when, after searching through Johha's house, the cauldron could not be found.