提 要

在古老封閉的年代，人們經常流傳迷信的行為，抱著「寧可信其有」的心態，以訛傳訛，若無傷大雅，倒也無妨；但若因迷信盲從而害人害己，則應該勇敢破除。

A long time ago, in a village in Mizoram, people believed long names would bring great fortune, and longer ones being even greater! In many of the families, it was customary to keep long names for at least one of the children.

In one such family, there were two brothers, one named Semu, and the other named Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuki Mizi Pizi Hala. One day, two brothers were playing near the well in their garden. Suddenly, Semu fell into the well! Seeing this, Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuki Mizi Pizi Hala ran to his mother, shouting “Mother! Semu has fallen in to the well. Please do something!”

"What？ Semu has fallen into the well？" cried the mother. "Let me call your father to help." She ran to her husband, shouting, "Oh dear! Semu has fallen into the well. Please do something!"

"What？ Semu has fallen into the well？" cried her husband. "Let me tell the gardener!" He ran to the gardener, shouting, "Semu has fallen in to the well." The gardener quickly fetched a ladder and descended in to the well. He lifted Semu in his arms and climbed out of the well. Semu was safe and his parents were happy.

A few days later, the two brothers were playing near the well again. Suddenly, Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuzi Mizi Pizi Hala fell into the well. Semu ran to his mother, shouting,”Mother! Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuzi Mizi Pizi Hala has fallen in to the well. Please do something!”

"What？" cried the mother, "Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuki Mizi Pizi Hala has fallen into the well？ Let me call your father!" She ran to her husband,shouting, "O dear Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuki Mizi Pizi Hala has fallen into the well. Please do something!" "What？Tala Bini Bendo Toko Miki Sembu Chima Chimena Kit Kit Kuki Mizi Pizi Hala has fallen into the well？" cried the father. "Let me get the gardener to help."

But by then it was too late! Before the gardener could be informed, the poor boy had drowned. And all because of his long name! From that day on, the people of the village began keeping short names for their children.

翻 譯

很久很久以前，在印度北部米佐拉姆邦的一個村莊，人們相信長的名字會帶來福氣，而且愈長愈有福！在許多家庭中，都有這種習俗，至少有一個孩子會取長名字。

在一個這樣的家庭，有兩兄弟，一個名為塞目，另一名為塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉。有一天，兩兄弟在他們花園的井邊玩耍。突然，塞目掉到井裡了！看到兄弟落井，塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉跑向他們的母親喊：「媽媽！塞目掉到井裡了，請做點什麼吧！」

「什麼？塞目掉到井裡？」母親哭喊，「讓我叫你父親來幫忙。」她跑向她的丈夫，大叫：「噢，親愛的！塞目掉到井裡啦，請做點什麼！」

「什麼？塞目掉到井裡？」她的丈夫哭叫，「讓我來告訴園丁！」他跑向園丁，喊叫著，「塞目掉到井裡了。」園丁迅速拿來梯子垂降到井裡，在懷裡抱起塞目，並爬出井。塞目安全得救了，他的父母很高興。

幾天後，兩兄弟又到花園的井邊玩耍。突然，塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉掉到了井裡。塞目跑向母親大喊：「媽媽！塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉掉到井裡了。請做點什麼！」

「什麼？塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉掉到井裡？」母親哭喊，「讓我叫你父親來幫忙。」她跑向她的丈夫，大叫：「噢，親愛的！塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉掉到井裡啦，請做點什麼！」「什麼？塔拉．比尼．般度．陶可．米奇．撒木．布奇瑪．奇．奇．久喜米．皮易．哈拉掉到井裡？」父親大聲說，「讓我來請園丁來幫忙！」

但為時已晚！在園丁被告知之前，這個可憐的男孩已經溺斃。都是因為他長得誇張的名字！從那天起，這個村裡的人，開始為自己的孩子取簡短的名字。