The monkey was playing in a tree when a thorn got stuck in his tail. He went to a barber for help removing it. As payment, the monkey took the barber's knife. He then lent the knife to a girl for cutting wood and a log of wood to an old woman for making dosas. Both items were used up so the monkey took their items as payment - the girl's wood and the woman's dosas. He then traded the dosas for a man's drum, enjoying his new instrument.