Reading Notes: Jataka Tales A

The Sandy Road by Ellen C. Babbitt 

Desert

• A merchant and his caravan are traveling through the desert
• The sun made the sand so hot that it was impossible to travel during the day
• They carried with them water and rice and firewood to sustain them
• One man, the pilot, led the men because he knew the stars
• Their routine was to travel at night, then set up camp and rest and eat during the day
• Finally, the pilot announced that they were one day away from the city, their destination 
• The merchant ordered his men to throw out their water supply, assuming they wouldn't need it anymore
• When they set out that night, the pilot fell asleep in a cart instead of navigating
• The caravan traveled all night in a circle, making no progress and now they have no more water
• The merchant set out to find water because he knew they would all die without water
• Finding a patch of grass, they set to work digging to find water
• The merchant pleads with a servant boy to keep digging or they will die
• They finally struck water and everyone had enough to drink
• They marked the well for other travelers
• After that, they reached the city, sold their goods, then went home
• Story Idea: make a higher being intentionally get the caravan lost as punishment for something