GOD'S PORRIDGE
(excerpts from posts)
(If you want to retell any of the stories listed below, be sure to obtain permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain)

1) I've had requests for sources for this story. I've heard it somewhere and read it someplace. Is that specific enough? I think it's a trickster tale from Indonesia and the bare bones are that a deer mouse (I think) is running from a tiger (I think) and he catches up with her. To escape, she tells the tiger that he can't kill her because she is the keeper of God's porridge (the aromatic piles of buffalo chips nearby). She tells him he can't have it, which, of course makes him want it more. As he goes to eat it, she makes her getaway. There's a lot of opportunities for a bit of funny business in the story and just the idea of eating poop should appeal to all healthy middle school boys. Watching Beth tell it is a treat!
Wendy G
May 17, 2005

2) There is a version of this story on Beth Horner's tape: An Evening at Cedar Creek. She calls it The Mousedeer and the Buffalo Chip. She attributes the story as a kancil tale told to her by Karmidi Martoatmojo. Beth's homepage is www.bethhorner.com, if you want to try contacting her directly.
Leanne J.
5/17/05

 

(This web page updated 5/18/05)