One man went to the pori (steppe, uninhabited place) to graze sheep and lost two lambs there. He searched for the lambs for a long time, but could not find them because they were carried away by a wild dog. In the evening the man returned home and went to the healer for help. After all, if someone loses a sheep, cow or goat while grazing, he always goes to the healer so that he can give him some medicine. This custom still exists among us.
“Well,” the healer said to the shepherd, “I will give you the medicine and smear it on your staff.” But for this you will give me the calf.
- A calf for two sheep? - the shepherd was surprised. - How is this so?
- If you don’t want to, then you can go your own way! - the healer shouted at him.
The shepherd thought: “What should I do?”
“Okay,” he said, “I’ll give you a calf if you can find my sheep.”
The healer smeared the potion on his staff and said:
“When you come home with this staff, stick it in the cow dung.” In the morning your sheep will return to you on their own.
The man was very happy, took his staff and did everything as the healer said. In the morning he went out onto the road and began to wait for the sheep. He waited for them until noon and became increasingly worried. “Where are my sheep? - he thought. “Did a hyena eat them?”
A passerby walked by.
“Well,” he asked, “did you find the sheep you lost yesterday?”
“No, I haven’t found it yet,” answered the shepherd. “But the healer said that they would come home on their own.”
The passerby laughed:
- Do you really believe the words of the healer?
- Yes, I believe him. There is great power in his hands.
“You are a stupid and simple-minded person,” said a passerby. -Your sheep won't come home. They must have already been eaten by a hyena.
And he went on his way. Then the shepherd sent his son to the healer.
“Tell him,” he ordered, “that your father’s sheep have not yet been found.”
The son conveyed his father’s words to the healer. He replied:
“The sheep don’t come back because your father hasn’t brought the calf to me yet.” If he wants to get the sheep, let him first bring the calf to me.
The son conveyed the words of the healer to his father.
“Ah,” he said, “I don’t care anymore!” I'll give him the calf.
And he brought the calf to the healer and again began to wait for his sheep. He waited for them until evening, but the sheep never returned.
The same passerby walked past again.
“You are a stupid man,” he said to the shepherd. - Go to the farm yourself and look for your sheep there.
The shepherd went to the pori and saw a wild dog there. She had already eaten her fill and was now dealing with the leftovers. Seeing the man, the wild dog ran away. Then the shepherd realized what had happened. Again he went to the healer.
- Well, have your sheep been found? - he asked.
“Stop your talk,” answered the shepherd, “better give me my calf!”
- Why would I give you a calf? - the healer exclaimed angrily.
- You received the drug from me.
- Don't talk about drugs anymore, I need my calf! If I could get my sheep back, everything would be all right, but now I want my calf back.
“No, I won’t give you the calf,” said the healer.
Then the deceived shepherd decided to complain about the healer to the ruler of the country. But even our sultans are afraid of healers. When the man told him how he had given the calf to the medicine man for
medicine to bring back the lost sheep, but the sheep did not return, the Sultan asked:
- What did the healer tell you about this?
“He said that he still wouldn’t return the calf to me.”
“If the healer told you so,” answered the Sultan, “then that’s the end of the matter.” After all, you yourself, of your own free will, came to him for the drug.
The shepherd did not answer. How could he argue with the Sultan? He returned to his home, but could not calm down. A day later, he went to Pori and saw the son of a healer there, grazing cows. A man crept up to the herd and stole one calf without the boy noticing anything. But as soon as he brought the calf home, the healer discovered the loss and set out to search. He came to the shepherd's house, saw his calf and said:
- This is my calf. How did he get to you?
- What kind of calf is yours?! - exclaimed the shepherd. - You, I see, are a big robber, you are enriching yourself at the expense of others! First you took one calf from me, and now you want to take the second one?
- Stupid man! - said the healer. “Do you really think I don’t recognize my calf?” Let’s go with you to the Sultan, let him sort out our matter.
They went to the Sultan. The medicine man ran forward and was the first to speak.
“So-and-so,” he said, “stole my calf!”
Meanwhile, the shepherd came up.
“O Sultan,” he said, “listen to me!” The medicine man has already taken one of my calf in exchange for the medicine he gave me. Now he wants to take the second one for the same. Is this fair? No, this can no longer be tolerated, I’d rather fight him to the death.
- Is it true that you have already taken one calf from him? - asked the Sultan.
- Yes, that’s right, I took one calf as payment for the drug.
- And now you want to take the second one from him?
- Yes, this calf also belongs to me.
- This is my calf! - the man exclaimed. - He belongs to me!
And their dispute flared up with renewed vigor.
- Stop arguing in front of me! - the Sultan told them. “If you yourself understand the laws, there was no need for you to come here.” Listen to what I have to say. I think the calf rightfully belongs to this shepherd.
The healer began to argue again, but the Sultan no longer listened to him and ordered both of them to go their own way.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru