Maung Myint Kyi (Literature Palace) - Stories of Strange Twins and the Handicraft

Good-natured brother Sanda

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who had three sons. When the rich man grew old, he gave each of his three sons a piece of land and a horse. The eldest son, Maung Wunna, inherited a large white horse and a large piece of land. The middle son, Maung Thiha, inherited a large brown horse and a field. But when it was the turn of the youngest son, Maung Sandar, the rich man had given his eldest sons land and a large piece of land, so he had no more land to give.

" My son... when it's your turn, my father won't have any more land to give away, so I'll just take the foal that was born from the old horse and the horse-drawn carriage."

Maung Sandar was happy to receive the horse stable he had inherited. He then washed the dirty horse stable with water to make it clean and repaired any repairs that needed to be made.

After this repair, the old and worn-out horse became a place to live. But the horse he inherited was very disappointing. The horse that his older brother had got was a very beautiful white horse, and the horse that his younger brother, Lat Maung Thiha, had got was a strong and big brown horse.

The horse that Maung Sandar had was black in color and so thin that it was skin on its bones. Maung Sandar wondered if the horse would survive because it was so thin. Maung Sandar had to stroke the horse's coat and feed it with food.

In this way, the thin horse, which seemed to be sick due to poor health, became strong and started walking after about seven days. Maung Sandar was very happy.

" Dad, my little horse can stand up and walk," he said happily to his father.

When Maung Sandar happily told me this, his father was so sad that he even shed tears. And so, one day, his father, who was old and sick, passed away while Maung Sandar was taking care of him and giving him medicine.

After their father died, Maung Wunna and Maung Thiha arrived at the rich man's house. They were dressed in gold, silver, and jewels, and rode their own horses. Maung Sandar greeted them at the door, but his two brothers did not bother to enter the house.

The two brothers came to take possession of the house and the stables after their father passed away. Maung Sandar said that his two brothers did not speak to him, so he went to the stables and cried. As Maung Sandar was crying, the black horse nuzzled Maung Sandar's chest with its head and shed tears.

Not long after, my elder brother Maung Wunna and my younger brother Maung Thiha arrived at the horse stable. Upon arrival, Maung Wunna told Maung Sandar to get out of the horse stable. Maung Sandar took his black horse and went out.

" From today on, you don't have to live in this house anymore. You can take this horse you inherited and go wherever you want."

Maung Sandar, the eldest brother, cried and apologized because of Maung Wunna's words.

" If I don't live here, where will I go? I am the youngest of our brothers. Let me stay in this little stable."

Maung Wunna did not accept Maung Sandar's words.

" This stable will house both of our horses, so it's best if you take your horse and leave."

While Maung Wunna was driving him away, Maung Sandar came out of the courtyard with the little black horse. When they reached the road, Maung Sandar said to the little black horse.

" Now... little black horse, you can go wherever you want. Not to mention I don't even have a place to live or food to feed you. So I'm going to a master who can feed you."

Maung Sandar said to the little black horse and set off on his way. He walked alone, tears streaming down his face, until he finally reached the deep forest. When he reached the forest, his mind was clear. The forest was filled with the fragrance of flowers and beautiful birds were flying around. He could see monkeys moving around in the dark green trees.

When they reached a small stream, the water was so clear that they could even see fish swimming underwater. So, Maung Sandar went down to the stream and drank some water, and his tiredness and exhaustion disappeared.

After drinking the water, I wanted to know where the stream came from, so I walked in the direction where the stream was flowing. When I got to a certain place, I saw a tall waterfall. The stream started flowing from the place where the waterfall was.

Below the waterfall, he found a large cave. So, Maung Sandar went into the cave and lay down for a while, and then he fell asleep. When he woke up, he saw a black horse staring at him with tears in his eyes.

Then, I saw the black horse picking apples and bananas from the forest with its mouth and placing them at the head of my brother Sandar.

Maung Sandar, I accidentally grabbed the reins of the black horse.

" I will never leave you, you are a truly clever little black horse."

When Maung Sandar patted the black horse's back and said this, the black horse neighed loudly in understanding.

So Maung Sandar found a place to live in a cave under a waterfall. He cut down branches from trees and made beds, doors, and seats to live in.

Then he learned to find new fruits and eggs in the forest, catch fish in the stream, and find food for himself and his horses. Maung Sandar also used to trap and catch small prey.

One day, while Maung Sandar was going into the forest, he saw a baby monkey that had died at the hands of poachers. He brought it to his cave where it was found that the baby monkey was unable to walk. Maung Sandar named the baby monkey “Phoe Nyo.” Pohoe Nyo learned to understand and listen to what Maung Sandar said.

And so, after more than three years of living in a cave in the forest, Maung Sanda went into the forest.