Not a good idea Pa Padir...

Here is an example where Pa Padir's actions weren't quite as harmless:

Finally, Ma Andeh sent Pa Pandir out to invite Datuk Keramat Junn Islam, the local saint. 

"But remember! When you walk up to the fork in the road, take the right path. The left path leads to the house of the Gergasi!"

The Gergasi were man eating giants. 

Alas! Pa Pandir forgot his wife's warning, turned left at the bifurcation and came upon a very big house. There he shouted out loudly:

"Holy man! My wife and I invite you!"

The Gergasi was sleeping with his wife. Furious at the disturbance, he woke up and jumped out of the house, intending to eat that shouting man. But Pa Pandir repeated his invitation. 

"My wife has cooked a cow! All for you! Come and eat it! We invite you!"

"If it is a lie, I will eat you!" threatened the giant.

"No, no come with me, there is plenty of food!" said Pa Pandir unperturbed. 

So, the two cannibals followed him, leaving their baby behind. As soon as Ma Andeh saw her husband coming down the garden path with the two huge monsters, one male, one female, trundling behind him, she almost fainted with fright, but it was too late to run away. She made the best of a bad situation and served the meal which was a whole cow with a heap of rice. She sent Pa Pandir to the Gergasis' house with a basket of rice and a basket of meat saying:

"Go feed the baby of our guests."

So, Pa Padir took the two baskets up the hill and into the house where he found the monster baby lying on the floor. He stuffed the two baskets into the big baby's mouth without bothering to take the food out. The baby choked and died. Pa Padir ran back to his wife in the kitchen adn told her what had happened. Together they ran out of the back door to the river and into their boat. They were safely on the other bank when the Gergasis, having finished the enormous meal , walked back to their house, only to find their child dead. Furious, they ran back, shouting that they would eat Pa Padir alive...

In this story, both Pa Padir and his wife were lucky to escape being eaten by the cannibalistic giants, but if unsuccessful they both would have suffered horrible deaths. The story continues on as Pa Padir ironically outsmarts the giants leading them to their demise. He then becomes a town hero, as do many tricksters, when they ride upon a fluke into heroism. Samuel M Wilson also writes "Trickster tales often serve to entertain and instruct children, teaching them how to behave and how the world works." Which rings true in the above anecdote which teaches children the values of paying attention to directions, as well as the dangers in being careless. It also is a tale that entertains so it will much easier stick in our minds, like Jack and the Beanstalk, the giants (Gergasis) take the story to an enchanting level.