The Thief and the Elephant

Six hundred years ago, the people of Southern China trained elephants and taught them to do many useful tasks. They worked for farmers and woodcutters, and twice a year they helped build roads, for an elephant could do many times more work than any other animal. So wise were the elephants that the people grew superstitious about them, believing they could even see into the hearts of men.

A judge named Ko-Kia-Yong had an elephant that, it was said, was trained to do this wonderful thing. Three cases brought before him were decided by the wise old elephant he owned. And this is how one of those decisions was made:

A man came before the judge and said that some robbers had been in his house during the night and had taken his gold and jewels—all that he had. He asked the judge to find and punish the thieves.

In three months, five robbers had been found. When they were brought to the judge, they bowed before him, and each one said, “I have never stolen anything.”

The man and woman who had been robbed were called. The woman said, “That man with the long gray hair is the one who robbed us.”

The judge asked, “Are you sure it is he, and how do you know?”

She answered, “Yes, I remember. He took the bracelet from my arm, and I looked into his face.”

“Did the other four rob you also?” asked the judge.

The woman answered, “I do not know.”

But the judge said, “The man you say is a robber seems not like one to me. His face is kind and gentle. I cannot decide according to your testimony. I know of but one way to find out, and we shall soon know the truth in this matter. My elephant shall be brought in to examine the men. He can read the mind and heart of man; and those who are not guilty need have no fear, for he will surely know the one who has done this deed.”

Four of the men looked glad.

They were stripped and stood naked—all but the cloth—before the judge and the law of the nation, and the elephant was brought in.

Then the judge said to the elephant, “Examine these men and tell us which is the robber.”

The elephant touched with his trunk each of the five accused men, from his head to his feet.

And the white-haired man and the three others stood still and laughed at the elephant with happy faces; for they knew in their hearts they were not guilty and they thought the elephant knew. But the fifth man shivered with fear, and his face changed to many colors. While the elephant was examining him, the judge said, “Do your duty,” and rapped loudly. The elephant took the guilty man and threw him down on the floor, dead.

Then the judge said to the four guiltless men, “You may go.” And to the woman he said, “Be careful whom you accuse.” Then he said to the elephant, “Food and water are waiting for you. I hope you may live a long time, and help me to judge wisely.”

After this, many wise men who were not superstitious went to the judge and said:

“We know that your elephant cannot read the heart and mind of man. What kind of food do you give him, and what do you teach him? Man himself lives only from sixty to one hundred years, and he knows little. How could an elephant read the heart of man, a thing which man himself cannot do? Did the spirit of a dead man grow wise and enter that elephant? We pray that you explain.”

And Ko-Kia-Yong, the wise judge, laughed and said, “My elephant eats and drinks as other elephants do. I think he surely does not know a robber from an honest man, but this is a belief among our people. The honest man believes it and has no fear, because he has done no wrong. The thief believes it, and is filled with terror. Trial before the elephant is only confession through fear.”

The people of the northern nation were causing the king, Ting Ming Wong, much trouble, and one day he ordered his general, Gui Süt Yun, to declare war on them.

The brave general prepared to march north at once. He led an army of twenty-five thousand cavalry, followed by one thousand infantry.

By the time they reached Mau Tin Lang, the soldiers were very tired, for they had then marched ten days. Orders were given that they rest for three days before proceeding.

The weather was very warm, and on the second day there was no more water, not even to drink. The soldiers dug wells in many places, hoping to find water; but each time they were disappointed.

A report was then made to the general, Gui Süt Yun, which said, “The men and horses are near death for the lack of water.”

Then the general ordered many men to go in different directions within a radius of ten miles to search for water.

The following morning two hundred men were dead, and still no water could be found.

Then the general, Gui Süt Yun, said, “We must all die here if we do not find water. If it is within one hundred miles, I will find it.” He then mounted his favorite war horse, and rode until both he and the horse were ready to die with the terrible thirst. He tried to feed his horse with green leaves; but he was weak and suffering, and the general lay down for rest and sleep. He cried in bitterness of spirit.

Then he looked up to heaven and said:

“Has our king done a great wrong, or have our soldiers done evil? Why should we perish here in a strange land? In the hour that I rest and sleep here, may a spirit show me the path that leads out of this great trouble.

“It may be that if the north kingdom is right, we shall die here and not even go to battle. But if we are right, this thing should not be. When we first came here, there was plenty of water. Why did the earth drink up this water and leave us to die? As I sleep, may a spirit show me the meaning of all this.”

Then he slept. And he saw one of the great wilderness ants; and a bird flew down to eat the ant. But the ant spoke and said, “I know that you birds try to eat our family all the time. But it is not right that one creature should eat another. You have power to overcome any ant and eat it if you wish, but man has charge of this world. When the hunter comes, you cannot escape his arrow or his net.

“It is not right that one creature should be against another creature. Go your way, and I will go my way, so that I may find food for my children.

“I have one hundred and fifty eggs in my nest now, and I hope every one will soon hatch. Then my children will depend on me to help them. They will all die if you eat me, their parent. The earth has much grain, wheat, and rice. These are enough for your food.”

Then the bird answered, “Tell me what makes you so wise. I am a bird. I am much handsomer than you, and I have a beautiful song. The children of men all like me. It is true, as you say, the hunter does catch my people sometimes. But there are many men who raise birds in their own houses and teach them to sing. Then they take us to the music hall or theater, where they get money for our songs.

“One member of the bird family carries letters for man; and our feathers are used to make feather balls for the children to play with. So you see, birds are very useful. But as for the ant, I cannot see how he is useful to man or beast.”

“Oh, you are mistaken,” said the ant earnestly. “Do you see this general here? He needs me to help him now. Do you know why he is lying here? He and his war horse are near death for the lack of water. Soon more than a thousand soldiers will be dead. Then the north nation will take this general’s nation, and his people will no longer have a country. But I will save them.

“Long ago our people saved a nation. Once there was a war between the east and west nations, and the general, Hai Hau, nearly perished for water, even as this general here is doing. But my people always build their homes near water, and he followed their road and they showed him the way to water and saved many lives.”

Then the bird opened his mouth and laughed scornfully, “Chic, Chic, I do not believe that story. You are speaking falsely. I know of one very evil thing your people have done, which I will tell you about.

“Men built a great tower on the North Mountain once, and soon it fell to earth again. After a time they discovered the cause of this trouble. It was not the wind, nor the storm, nor the rain, nor even the earthquake that shook the tower down. It was found that ants had eaten the wood, and this caused it to break and fall.

“Birds do not make trouble in the world. Ants do. But I will give you fair warning, that if you do not do this good thing you boast of, I will eat you at once.”

The ant answered, “You shall yet see that I am able to save this general, his soldiers, and his horses.”

The ant then went straight to the general’s ear and said to him, “Do you remember General Hai Hau who was lost in this wilderness? If you will go to the forest, you will see a black street full of my people. They will lead you to their nests near the great cave spring in the wilderness, which was named Hai Hau for the general who discovered it. It is only a half mile from here.”

Then the general, Gui Süt Yun, awoke and said, “Strange, but I surely heard an ant and a bird talking together while I slept. Where is my map? I did not know of the cave of Hai Hau.”

He found the great cave spring, and he and his horse drank. Then he hurried back to the soldiers, and their lives were saved.