There lived one old woman. She planted a pumpkin from which they make ringing stringed sadieu*. When the first two leaves appeared above the ground, one man came to the old woman and offered to sell him a standing pumpkin. He paid one kahapana* in advance and left. When the ovary appeared, another man visited the old woman and also wanted to buy a standing pumpkin from her.
“How can I sell this pumpkin,” said the old woman, “when it was bought a long time ago?”
- When did you buy it?
– When the first two leaves appeared above the ground. - And how much did they give for it then?
- One kahapana.
“Then they could only buy the stem.” After all, the leaves were visible, but the fruit was not yet there. I buy this fruit and give two kahapans for it.
The old woman was happy with the money and sold the pumpkin. The second buyer came to the old woman every day and looked after the pumpkin, and when it was ripe, he picked it and made a sadieu.
The first buyer heard the enchanting sounds of music, went to a neighbor and asked:
– Where did you get the pumpkin for the sadieu?
“I bought it,” the neighbor answered and continued to play.
- Who did you buy it from?
- At the old woman's.
- So you stole my pumpkin. I bought it a long time ago.
“I bought a pumpkin from an old woman and, as expected, paid for it.” How dare you accuse me of stealing? Let's go to the old woman and ask her about everything!
Both buyers went to the old woman. The first one asked:
– Is it true that you sold the pumpkin to this man?
- Of course it’s true.
- How could you sell a pumpkin that I already bought? Both buyers began to argue and swear. They argued and argued and went to the king. The king listened to the disputants and decided:
– The first of you bought a pumpkin when there was only a stem, and never appeared again. He did not take care of the pumpkin, and therefore the pumpkin should go to the second of you.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru