Whose Money Bag?

Prosperity in Kancheepuram

The city of Kancheepuram was well known for its prosperity. As a trading centre, it attracted merchants from all over the world.

A Careless Trader

Once, a foreign trader visited the city, bringing with him five hundred gold pieces intended for trade. He was somewhat careless with his money, and soon, everyone became aware of his wealth.

The Accusation

One day, as he was walking down the street, a woman sprang forward, clutching him by the hand. She exclaimed, “Aha, you are the one who stole my money. Come on, hand it over. Give me back my five hundred gold pieces!”

A Public Dispute

The startled trader gasped and replied, “What do you mean, your money? I don’t understand.” However, the woman insisted that the money was hers. Soon, a large crowd gathered, and the confusion grew. One man in the crowd said, “Why do you quarrel? Go to the judge; he will settle the dispute.”

The Court Proceedings

The case went before the judge. The woman vehemently claimed that the trader had robbed her of that much money. The judge was perplexed and could not bring himself to disbelieve the woman, even though the trader’s distressed appearance caught his attention.

The Unraveling Truth

So, he said to the merchant, “Give that money to the woman.” The trader was taken aback by this demand, but having no other option, he handed her the bag containing the gold.

A Clever Move

As the woman left the court, the judge whispered to the trader, “Run after that woman and try to snatch her bag.” The trader chased her and attempted to grab the bag, but she held on tightly and dragged him back to the court.

Revelation of Deceit

She exclaimed to the judge, “Sir, you ordered me to take the bag from him, and now he tries to take it away by force. I have caught him red-handed!” Upon hearing this, the judge commanded his men to take the bag from her and return it to the trader. He declared, “This bag rightfully belongs to the trader. The woman brought him to court only when he attempted to snatch the bag. If he had stolen it from her, she would have complained to the court beforehand. Since she did not, I declare that she is a cheat trying to relieve honest people of their money.”

The Woman’s Admission

The woman could not deny the charges against her, and so she admitted her guilt.