Relishes

Appears in

Published 1986

About

Some spice mixtures are made into a paste with oil or tomato concentrate or something moist. A covering layer of oil stops them spoiling.

The Loan of a Cauldron¹

One day the Khoja asked a neighbour for the loan of a cauldron. After he had done with it, he put a small saucepan inside and took it back to the owner. When the man saw the small saucepan, he said, ‘What is this?’ and the Khoja answered, ‘Your cauldron has had a baby.’

‘That’s good news!’ said the man, and accepted it with pleasure.

One day the Khoja wanted to borrow the cauldron again and took it home with him.

The owner waited a long time, but he noticed that the cauldron did not come back. Then he went round to the Khoja and knocked at his door. When the Khoja came and asked him what he wanted, he answered, ‘I want that cauldron.’

‘Accept my sincere condolences,’ said the Khoja, ‘the cauldron is dead!’

‘What!’ said his neighbour in the greatest amazement – ‘dead? Whoever heard of a cauldron dying?’

‘Strange! – strange!’ replied the Khoja. ‘You could believe that the cauldron had a baby, and yet you do not believe that it could die!’