Tales of Drukpas’ wit on Tibetans

In the days of yore when our forefathers used to trade with the Tibetans in the north, there are tales of humour and wit our old ancestors used to play on the Tibetans so much so that Drukpas were famed to be very successful at bargaining with the Tibetans who envied Drukpas’ skills and wit.  Tibetan were at the loss of words to define our forefathers that they named them infamously as ‘drukpa La-Lo’ which means that Drukpas were untrustworthy and crooked.

Contrary to the Tibetans opinion, I would consider that our forefathers were humorously witty and a man of wisdom. In those days survival and success depended on one’s wisdom and wit too.

Height of Lhuentse Dzong

1.Once two Drukpa traders left for Lhasa from Lhuentse. It was about a fortnight’s journey from Lhuentsi. They reached Lhasa exhausted from days of travel.

A few distances away from their resting place four Tibetans were playing dice. One of the Tibetans who knew drukpas to be clever at cheating and making false stories asked his friends if they could believe drukpas to be clever than Tibetans. The three friends denied betting on the subject. The first Tibetan asked  his friends that if he could entice drukpas to tell them a tale beyond imagination his friends must pay him a silver coin each and if the drukpas came out to be pair of fools he would pay a silver coin each to them.

Having decided on the bet the first Tibetan called the drukpas and began the introductory conversation. First Tibetan asked. ‘Wai Drukpa, are you from around the Lhuentse dzong?’The Drukpa told them they were from near the dzong site. The Tibetan continued, ‘I heard that they were installing Utse(pinnacle) is that true?’ Drukpas replied with a grin, ‘That is true, they were changing some of the moth eaten roof shingles too.’ The Tibetans waited curiously to hear more. ‘I was told that while arranging the shingles the zaou(chief carpenter) fell off the roof and was never seen again.’ The Tibetan enticed on, building more tales. The drukpas had no difficulty replying with pride, ‘Yes, yes, the zaou fell off the roof with an old wooden shingle in his hands.’ Tibetan added, ‘Is it true the dzong is many stories high.’ The drukpas replied, ‘See, it has been two weeks since we left Lhuentse and until now we have not heard of the zaou having landed on the courtyard.’ This part of the answer took the other Tibetans by surprise. They were confused whether to believe or not to believe as the drukpas narrated the incident with words of conviction and realism.

The Tibetan friends not only came to know how witty drukpas were, they also lost their silver coins without a round of game being played that day.

In truth, Lhuentse dzong is an average sized structure and is located against a cliff on a knoll and it is convenient to erect the Utse with the support from the cliff precipice.

Sharing the Meal

2. Two Tibetan traders near the Bhutanese border were about to take the midday meal, a last bowl of tsampa(wheat flour) and ara(local brewed wine) by the narrow gorge under the shadow of a big boulder when they saw a Drukpa trader seething and sweating from the arduous climb up the rugged trail clambering towards them. He was thirsty and hungry as his measure of rice was exhausted that morning.

The older Tibetan warned the other neither to look nor to respond to the cunning drukpas who would he feared would fool them into sharing their meager meal. When the drukpa saw the two Tibetan relishing their meal and not showing any sign of courtesy, rather ignoring his approach, he felt annoyed and lonely on a mountain pass. This made the drukpa to scheme a way to make them respond to his questions. He leaned on his walking staff and bawled, ‘Trashi Delek, are you traders from Phari? May be not.” There was no answer. ‘Are you on pilgrimage to Dorjidhen?’ The Tibetan kept on eating in silence. ‘I am going to Lhasa to trade. Have you two got anything to barter?’

The drukpa trader’s eyes discreetly surveyed on their meal. He was getting impatient. ‘Wai, I have Dom-thrip(Bear gall) and Lar-tsi(——-) if you two are interested to buy.’ The Tibetans turned and looked at him immediately, their eyes flaring up with hunger for the rare medicines. The younger one asked, ‘you really have those things old man?’ The Drukpa took the chance of the moment, ‘wai, is it? If you insist I will take your little share.’ The older Tibetan cut in, ‘no,no, we were asking if you have the Dom-thri and Lar-tsi.’ The Drukpa sat down and took out his wooden phorp, ‘Thank you for your invitation, please serve me here.’ The Tibetan could do nothing but serve the most witty and unwelcome guest with the last of their tsampa.