The Farmer Who Eats Demons
Confronting Demons: A Folklore of Courage and Negotiation
One day, a farmer entered the jungle to find land to cultivate a Chena. A Chena is farmland where crops grow after clearing the jungle. He found a suitable area and started to clear it.
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First, he marked the boundaries by cutting down a branch or two here and there. Once the boundaries were marked, he started cutting down the trees from one end. The small trees and bushes were easy to remove, but there were so many. It still took a considerable amount of time cut them one by one.
Some large trees were scattered between, which took some effort to cut down. But once a large tree fell, it cleared a significant area, making the work easier.
The farmer made his way toward the centre of the lot, only to find an exceptionally huge tree. Even at noon, this tree cast a dense shadow, creating an eerie atmosphere. The farmer was tired but wanted to cut down this large tree before calling it a day. So he started to strike the tree with his axe.
Chop… Chop… Chop…
The resonating sound of the axe echoed through the jungle.
“Hey! Who dares to cut down my lair” a deep voice thundered from the top of the tree.
The farmer was panicked but managed to conceal it. He responded, “Who is asking? It is a farmer. I am clearing this land for my Chena.”
A tall, dark figure leapt from the tree with a haunting hoot. “You cannot cut down my tree; it belongs to me.” The figure revealed itself to be a demon residing within the very tree.
“I don’t care; I have to cut down this tree,” the farmer replied, despite his struggle to conceal his fear.
The demon found himself taken aback by this unexpected response. Usually, humans were considered lesser beings, often trembling in fear of demons. Yet here stood one who seemed unaffected by his presence. So, the demon decided to change his approach.
“Why not consider another area? This land may not be suitable for crops. You would find the area beyond that stream much more appealing,” the demon suggested, pointing towards a nearby stream.
“If there is a demon in that area, I must search for another plot of land. I can’t do that. So, I have to cut this tree down. You better find another tree.” the farmer responded.
“Come on, man, this is my lair, and I have spent my entire existence here. I have nowhere else to go.” the demon pleaded; his menacing presence was replaced by desperation.
“I feel sorry for you, so I will make an exception. If you agree to provide me with a sack of rice and a sack of vegetables every month, I will spare this tree.” the farmer proposed.
Reluctantly, the demon agreed, and the farmer skipped the tree and cleared the rest of the area. As agreed, the demon brought a sack of rice and vegetables to the farmer’s house every month.
This arrangement continued for several months. The demon’s action was noticed by fellow demons. They considered it a shame to the demon community, so they complained to their head demon. Upon hearing the story, the head demon was furious.
The head demon wanted to punish that pathetic demon member. But more than that, he wanted to teach a lesson to this arrogant farmer. He declared to his fellow demons he would show who was a real demon.
The head demon went to the farmer’s house, but the farmer was absent. So, the head demon slithered beneath the woven rope bed at the front of the house and waited for the farmer.
By noon, the farmer returned home after toiling in the Chena. Exhausted and famished, he told his wife, “I am so hungry, I can eat a demon right now,” a common saying in our country to express your extreme hunger.
The head demon was shocked by this statement. “What? Are they actually eating demons now?” he asked himself.
The farmer’s wife responded, “The meal is still being prepared. In the meantime, why not try one under the bed?” referring to a few King Coconuts they had placed there the day before yesterday.
But, the head demon failed to understand that the farmer’s wife referring to King Coconuts. He believed that she was referring to himself. The head demon was trembling in fear and regretted his visit.
Meanwhile, the farmer grabbed his large curved knife and sat on the bed. Without looking, he reached out his hand to find a King Coconut. Much to his amusement, his hand caught a rounded object, but it certainly wasn’t a King Coconut. Curious, he pulled it out, and a trembling demon emerged from underneath the bed.
“Who are you? What are you doing under my bed?” the farmer questioned. He was exhausted, famished, and not in the mood to meet a demon.
The head demon fell to its knees, pleading, “Sir, please spare my life. I came to deliver a message.”
“A message? What kind of message?” the farmer demanded.
“I am the head demon in this area. We all decided that providing you with only one sack of rice and vegetables per month is insufficient. Instead, we have agreed to offer you two sacks of rice and vegetables each month”, the head demon responded.
The farmer couldn’t believe his good fortune and immediately accepted the demon’s proposition. From then on, he received two sacks of rice and two sacks of vegetables every month.
Well, this is the end of my story. Another folklore from our culture. Do you remember my previous story about two farmer brothers and a demon?
It had a complex background and a hidden story. But, this one is a much simpler tale and learned from my grandmother. Even if there was a creepy element, I am sure she would omit that part.
If you seek a moral from this story, perhaps consider placing a King Coconut under your bed or something similar.
I am kidding!
This story teaches us not to be afraid of demons, whether they reside within ourselves or exist externally. We should confront them, even in the face of fear. Demons can take various forms, such as depression, pressure, workplace stress, or numerous other challenges. By facing them, we can always reap the benefits. Therefore, be courageous to confront your demons head-on.
