The Enchanted Mountain

: Tales of the Jungle
: Laos Folk-lore Of Farther India

The hunters who are continually going about from place to place,

climbing up high hills, descending into deep ravines and making ways

through jungles in search of the wild bison and other game, tell strange

tales of an enchanted place away on the top of a lofty mountain. There,

is a beautiful lake, which is as bright and clear as a drop of morning

dew hanging on the petal of the white water-lily, and, when you drink of

it, you are no longer aweary; new life has come into you, and your body

is more vigorous than ever before. The flowers on the margin of this

enchanted lake are more beautiful than those that grow in any other

spot, and, such is the love of the cherishing spirits for it, that they

care for it as for no other place in this world. Bananas of a larger

growth than can be found in the gardens of man, and oranges, sweeter to

the taste than those we ever eat, are there. The fruits of all trees,

more beautiful to the eye and richer than man can produce, are there,

free to those who can find them. All the fowls usually nurtured by man

and flocking about his door are there, and they are not affrighted by

the presence of the hunter but come at his call. Should the hunter wish

to kill them, his arrow cannot pierce their charmed bodies to deprive

them of life, but the arrow falls harmless to the ground, because the

spirits protect them and their lives are sacred. Great fields of rice

are about this place, and the hunter marvels at the size of the grains

and at the strength of the stalks. No field cared for by man has seen

grain like that which the spirits nourish.



Many men, on hearing of this wonderful mountain-top, have sought it, but

all have returned unsuccessful to their homes, saying, no such place is

on this earth. Only the hunter, who has chased the game through the

jungle, o'er the streams and up the steep mountain-sides, when tired and

discouraged because the coveted prize has gone far beyond his reach, is

rewarded for all his labor, when he finds himself in the garden of

fruit, or on the margin of the enchanted lake, whose waters give renewed

vigor to his wearied body.



Often, when the hunter desires to eat of the flesh of the fowls, he

endeavors to kill the fowls, but no effort of his can take their life,

as the spirits hold them in their care. No mortal can harm them. Nor can

the hunter take any of the fruit away, for, as he leaves the spot, no

matter how he may hold it, it vanishes from his hand. Thus, no man, who

has not seen the place, has eaten of the fruit nor drank of the water;

so, many doubt their existence, for such is the heart of man that he

must touch with his hands, see with his eyes, or taste with his tongue,

ere he can believe. Nevertheless, on the top of the lofty mountain there

is the lake with the cool waters, clear and beautiful, where the fowls

swim on its surface, or drink from its margin, and the grain and the

fruit ripen for those who are loved of the spirits, and are led by them

to this cherished spot where they may rest and be refreshed, and then

return to their wives and children and tell them of the care of the

spirits. The little ones, who have hearts free from guile, believe.



More

;