Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula by Nadia Jameel Taibah

Author:Nadia Jameel Taibah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Published: 2015-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

A contemporary shepherd with his sheep in Kuwait. The head scarf protects the man from sun, wind, and blowing sand.

NESÓP AND THE SNAKE

This folktale was told to H. R. P. Dickson while camped at Araifjan, April 1, 1953, by Amsha, wife of Salim al Muzaiyin.

A man named Nesóp was once traveling in the desert when he noticed a snake quivering with cold under a bush. Even though the snake was poisonous, Nesóp took pity on the poor creature. He picked it up and put it inside his zibún (his undergarment) to warm it. The snake lay comfortably on Nesóp’s warm stomach, and after a while, its life came back to it. And in time the weather warmed.

Nesóp opened his clothing and told the snake to come out now. “The sun has warmed everything up, dear snake. It is safe for you to return to the ground and continue on your way.”

But the snake said, “No, I like it lying in here on your warm belly. I plan to stay right here. No way will I be coming out.”

Nesóp begged the snake to leave, but the snake just snarled, “If you even touch me to remove me, I will bite you!” And as this was a poisonous snake, Nesóp had no option but to let it stay where it was, close to his skin.

Nesóp went to the home of Al Husni, the fox. The fox was known for his wisdom in settling difficult matters. “I picked up this snake, when it was dying of cold,” Nesóp told Al Husni, the fox. “And now the snake refuses to leave from its warm place on my belly. The snake threatens to bite me with its poisons if I even try to remove it. Can you resolve this matter?”

“Well, we will have to have a court hearing,” said Al Husni, the fox. “Both of you must stand before me. And I, as judge, will decide the matter.”

So the snake crawled out from Nesóp’s clothing and lay on the ground before the fox.

“I have heard Nesóp’s side of the matter already,” said the fox. “Now what is your story, snake?”

“I am very comfortable residing inside Nesóp’s warm clothing,” said the snake. “Why should I be asked to give up such a warm home?”

Al Husni, the fox, turned to Nesóp. “Well, you have heard the snake’s argument,” said the fox. “Now what do you propose to do about it?”

“Only THIS!” shouted Nesóp. And with his mugwar (club-headed stick), he whopped the snake on the head and did it in.

And thus ended the court hearing and this story.

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