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      Myanmar Folk Tales

Zagataung Zarr

Zagataung Zarr was a servant of an official during the Myanmar monarchical days. One day the offical's wife prepareda delicacy which her husband was very fond of. She sent Zagataung Zarr (ZZ) to tell him to come back and enjoy it. ZZ went to the office of the Council of Ministers and announced the massage ata the top of his voice. The announcement was greeted with much hilarity.

The official's wife gave ZZ sound smack on his forehead and instructed him to use facial gestures to catch the attention of the person concerned before giving him any message. One day a fire broke out in neighbourhood of the official's house and ZZ zealously began to move out heavy furniture from the house. The official's wife whispered in his ears to fetch "light, portable things, "indirectly meaning valuables and jewellery. Taking the order literally, he carried only wicker baskets and light kitchen utensils from the house. She scolded him and bring him home. ZZ sat at the head of stairs and tried to attract his master's attention by making gestures with his face.

His master happened to see him and went to him. When the official asked him why he was making such gestures, ZZ whispeed to him that a fire had broken out in the neighbourhood. The official looked around but saw no smoke. He asked ZZ when the fire had started. He reported that it broke out early in the afternoon but because he was instructed to attract the attention of his master before giving him the news, he was doing just that. Fortunately, their house was spared but he dismissed ZZ then and there. ZZ refused to quit and insisted that he would go away only when he saw two moons, meaning "after two months."

Some days later, the official's wife left her child in a cradle and asked ZZ to " watch " the child. In Myanmar language "to watch " can mean " to look at or gaze at something. " ZZ took the word literally and started watching the child. When the child slipped from the cradle he simply went on watching. The child crawled to the stairs, tumbled down the stairs and cut its head. The child screamed in pain but ZZ still continued watching.

When official's wife came back she was furious. With deadpan face ZZ reported in minute detail how the child slipped from the cradle, how it tumbled down the stairs and hurt itself. When the official came home he was given the same long detailed report. That drove his master crazy.

That night a full moon shone brightly. The official glanced at the full moon and suddenly he had a bright idea. He summoned ZZ and asked him to fill a bowl with water. Then he grabbed ZZ by the neck and pushed his face towards the bowl. " Look! " he shouted. " See the moon down here in the bowl ? " There's another up in the sky. Now you have seen "two moon "Out you go now !" .