Exercise.
It happened once that two men had a dispute about a woman. One of them was a learned man and the other was a peasant who earned his living by cultivating his fields. Each asserted that the woman was his wife, and they went before the Kazi and stated their claims. The case was rendered all the more difficult by the refusal of the woman to say anything one way or the other. After hearing all the witnesses on both sides, the Kazi directed the woman to remain at his house and all the rest to return next day. All then saluted him and retired. On the following day, when the parties assembled, the Kazi delivered the woman to the learned man and sentenced the peasant to fifty stripes of a rattan. When questioned afterwards as to his reason for this decision, the Kazi said, “This morning, in my house, I ordered this woman to fill my inkstand; this she at once did most expertly, like one accustomed to the task. Then I knew she must be the wife of the learned man, for what should the wife of a peasant know of inkstands?” All praised the Kazi for his wisdom, and his fame as a judge was spread far and wide.
[LESSON XXXIX.]
Sickness.
I am not at all well— Ta’ sedap badan sahaya.
For five or six days he has been unable to eat— Sudah lima anam hari dia ta’buleh makan nasi.
What is the matter with him?— Apa sakit-nia?
His father has taken him into the country for treatment— Bapa-nia sudah bawa naik ka-darat ber-ubat.
He is a little better— Ada-lah korang sadikit sakit-nia.