He was badly let down by a soothsayer’s fib

A man hailing from a rural village in the South had started a business selling coconut rafters. He collected the coconut bark by travelling all over the country and cut them to size and sold them for a good profit. He is a adamant man but was successful in his business, One day he found five coconut rafters each 10 ft in length missing.

Neighbours suggested that he should complain about it to the police. However he felt it would be a waste of time.At the same time he was determined to find out who was behind the theft. He was sure that it was the work of several persons and not just one as it would have been impossible for one man to get away with so many planks hidden on his person. He deduced that there must be several persons involved and a vehicle had been used to transport the stolen planks. Meanwhile one of his friend suggested that they go and see a soothsayer. He went with his friend to a soothsayer who lived about six kilometres away. The soothsayer wrapped a band of red cloth around his waist and started ringing a bell with his other hand, First the wood seller offered Rs.310 wrapped in a betal leaf to the soothsayer for his services to find out the identity of the thief who took away his planks.

The soothsayer began to recite a manthra - a kind of magic verse. In a few minutes he seemed to be in a trance and asked for the assistance of invisible deities to reveal the identity of the man responsible for the theft.

He began to reveal the story. According to him the thief was a person who often visited the home of the wood cutter. He said “The culprit is short and had carried the goods stolen tied to his waist”. The wood cutter was not at all satisfied with this answer and wanted to know from the soothsayer how one man could tie five planks to his waist and get away scott free. He took back the money he had given the soothsayer in disgust and went on his way none the wiser.