Funday Times

The stubborn Korawakka
Long ago, deep in the forest a Korawakka hen laid an egg in a hollow beneath an overhanging rock. One day, she left her nest in search of food. When she returned she found that the rock had fallen down on top of the hollow where the egg rested. The Korawakka became very sad. Weeping, she asked the rock, “Good rock, please move aside so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The rock said, “no”.

The Korawakka then ran to the Stonecutter’s house and said, “Dear Stonecutter, please split the rock so that I can get back my poor egg”. The Stonecutter said, “No”. She ran to the village Chief and said, “Dear Chief, jail the Stonecutter who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The Chief said, “No”.

The Korawakka then ran to Oora, the wild pig and said, “Dear Oora, please eat up all the rice in the Chief’s field for he refuses to jail the Stonecutter who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. Oora said, “No”.

She next ran to the Veddah hunter and said, “Dear Veddah shoot dead with your bow and arrow Oora who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief who refuses to jail the Stonecutter who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The Veddah said, “No”.

The Korawakka then asked the thorny Timbol creeper in the jungle, “Dear Timbol, please wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot the Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. Timbol said, “No”.

She next ran to Ginna the fire and said, “Dear Ginna, please burn down Timbol who refuses to wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot the Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. Ginna said, “No.”.

The Korawakka next ran up to Kalagedi the water pot and said, “Dear Kalagedi, please douse Ginna the fire, who refuses to burn down Timbol, who refuses to wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The pot said “No”.

She then ran up to Aliya the elephant and said, “Dear Aliya, please smash Kalagedi, who refuses to douse Ginna, who refuses to burn down Timbol, who refuses to wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The Aliya said “No”.

The Korawakka next ran to Meeya the rat and said, “Dear Meeya, please creep into and bite the ear of the Aliya, who refuses to smash Kalagedi, who refuses to douse Ginna, who refuses to burn down Timbol, who refuses to wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”. The Meeya said, “No”.

At last the Korawakka ran to Poosa the cat and said, “Dear Poosa, gobble up the Meeya, who refuses to bite the ear of Aliya, who refuses to smash Kalagedi, who refuses to douse Ginna, who refuses to burn down Timbol, who refuses to wound the Veddah, who refuses to shoot Oora, who refuses to eat up the rice in the field of the Chief, who refuses to jail the Stonecutter, who refuses to split the rock so that I can get back my poor little egg”.

Poosa said “Yes” at once and jumped on Meeya the rat, who leapt at the ear of Aliya the elephant, who rushed towards Kalagedi the pot, which ran towards Ginna the fire, which rushed towards Timbol the creeper, which rushed towards the Veddah, who took his bow and arrow to shoot Oora the wild pig, who ran towards the field of the Chief, who ran up to jail the Stonecutter, who immediately took up his hammer and chisel and split open the rock. The frightened rock now rolled aside at once and the Korawakka happily got back his egg.

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