Chapter XXXI: Introduction: To the Folklore Tales (2)

On taking his seat, Yakob said: "I am your son whom you killed. What you threw away the Water-fairies picked up, and they have nursed me and kept me until this day. There is a proverb which says: ‘If the Leopard gives birth to a palm-rat he does not eat it.’ You should have punished me for breaking your law, but you should not have killed me." The father was astonished, and went and kneeled crying before his son, and said: “My child, forgive me, for I have done wrong.”

Yakob’s mother was glad to see her son again; he dressed her in fine cloth, and built his own village close by his parents’.

XV

How the Squirrel repaid a Kindness

There was once a man named Tunga who had a house, a wife, and a nice little baby. Tunga used to catch partridges, guinea-fowls, palm-rats and squirrels in his traps, and sometime he would trap three and four of these at once. One day he caught as many as fifteen partridges, and when he took them home his wife said: “We will save some of these for another day, so that our child may not be hungry should you not catch any.” But Tunga said: “No, we will eat them all now, for I am sure to catch plenty of meat every day.”

Some time after Tunga went to look at his traps, and found only one Squirrel in them, and this Squirrel had some bells round its neck, and just as Tunga was going to kill it, the Squirrel said: “Oh, please don’t kill me, and I will help you another day.”

Tunga laughed and said: “How can a little thing like you help me?”

But the Squirrel pleaded for his life and promised to help the man whenever he was in trouble, so at last Tunga let the Squirrel go. He then plucked some leaves and went home to his wife and told her what he had done. She was very angry, and quarrelled so much about there being no food for the baby to eat, that she picked up the child and went off to her own family, which lived in a distant town.

The man waited some days until he thought his wife’s anger had passed away, and then he took a large calabash of palm-wine and started for his wife’s town. On arriving at the cross roads Tunga met an Imp that had neither arms, legs, nor body, but was all head, like a ball. The Imp said: “Let me carry your calabash for you. You are a great man and should not carry it yourself.”

“How can you carry it, when you are all head and no body?” asked Tunga.

“Oh, you will see,” said the Imp, as he took the calabash, balanced it on his head, and went bounding off along the road in front of Tunga.

After travelling a long way Tunga became very tired, so they sat down under a tree to rest, and while they were sitting there a Leopard came up, and noticing the palm-wine, asked for a drink, and the man was too much afraid to refuse it. When Tunga was going to pour out some of the palm-wine into a glass, the Leopard said: “I drink out of my own mug, not yours,” and he brought out of his bag the skull of a man, and said: “Here is a mug. I have already eaten nine men and you will be the tenth.”

Poor Tunga was so filled with fear that he did not know what to do; but by and by a Squirrel arrived, and after exchanging greetings he asked for some of the palm-wine, and as Tunga was going to pour it out the Squirrel said: “What! Have you no respect for me? I carry my own mug,” and putting his hand into his bag, he brought out the head of a Leopard, and said: “There, I have eaten nine Leopards, and this one here will be the tenth,” and as he repeated the words again and again very fiercely the Leopard began to tremble, and go backwards until he was in the road, and then he turned tail and fled with the Squirrel after him.

Tunga waited, and at last he and the Imp started again on their journey. He was now glad that he had been kind to the Squirrel and had saved his life.

On reaching the town, Tunga and the Imp were welcomed by the people, a good house was given to them, and they were well feasted. After resting there some days, Tunga and his wife started on their return journey home, but before leaving the town Mrs. Tunga’s family gave them a goat as a parting present.

When they reached the cross-roads Tunga said to the Imp: “I will kill the goat here, and give you your half.”

“All right,” said the Imp; “but you must also give me half of the woman.”

“No,” replied Tunga; “the woman is my wife, but you shall have half the goat.”

The Imp became very angry and called to his friends, and a great crowd of Imps came to fight Tunga.

While they were wrangling, the Squirrel arrived and asked what was the cause of the row. They told him, and he said: “If we divide the goat and the woman, how are you going to cook them? You have neither firewood nor water. Some of you fetch water, and others go for firewood.”

He opened his box and gave to some of them a calabash in which to fetch water, but while the water was running into the calabash it sung such a magic tune that the Imps began to dance, and could not stop dancing.

Then the Squirrel opened his box again and let loose a swarm of bees that stung the other Imps so badly that they all bounded away and never returned again to trouble Tunga. Then the Squirrel said to Tunga: “You now see that if you had not been merciful to me I should not have been able to save you from the Leopard and the Imps. Your kindness to me has saved your own life and your wife’s.” Tunga thanked him for his help and went his way home.

XVI

The Kingfisher deceives the Owl

One day the Owl and the Kingfisher had a long discussion as to which of them could go longest without food. The Owl proposed that they should try for ten days, and the Kingfisher agreed to it.

They tied a rope across a stream, and both birds sat on the middle of it looking down into the water. On the third day the Kingfisher began to feel hungry, and observing a fish in the water just below him, he pretended to fall, caught and gobbled the fish, but as he came up to the surface of the water he cried out: “Oh, Uncle Owl, my head turned giddy, and I fell into the stream.”

The Owl replied: “Never mind, let us persevere with our contest.”

But the Kingfisher continued to have these giddy fits just as fish came under the perch, and the Owl with his sleepy eyes did not notice the fish. Before many days had passed the Owl’s body became thin, he lost his strength, fell into the stream and was drowned; but as for the Kingfisher he flew away, leaving his dead and cheated rival in the water.

XVII

How the Tortoise was punished for his Deceit

The Tortoise set his trap, and soon afterwards caught an antelope in it, whereupon he sat down and began to cry with a loud voice. The Jackal, hearing his cries, came and asked him what was the matter, and the Tortoise said: “There is an animal killed in my trap, and I have no one to take it out.”

The Jackal said: “Never mind, I’ll remove it for you.” So he took out the animal and set the trap again.

The Tortoise said to him: “Go and get some leaves upon which we can cut up the meat.” But while the Jackal went for the leaves the Tortoise ran away with the meat to his hole in the rock.

The Jackal, on his return, called out: “Uncle Tortoise, here are the leaves;” but the Tortoise rudely cut him short by asking him: “Am I a relative on your mother’s side or your father’s?”

The Jackal, angry at this insult, cried out: “I will let off your trap;” and the Tortoise replied: “Touch the spring with your head, for if you put in either your arm or your leg you will die.”

So the stupid Jackal put his head into the trap and was caught, and when he cried out with pain the Tortoise took his gun and shot him. In this way the Civet-cat, the Fox, the rock Rabbit, and the Palm-rat were all caught and killed by the Tortoise.

One day the Gazelle heard the Tortoise crying, and went and asked him why he was crying, and the Tortoise said: “Since early morning an animal has been lying dead in my trap because I have no one to take it out for me.”

“But who set your trap for you?” asked the Gazelle.

He replied: “A passer-by set it for me.”

“All right,” kindly said the Gazelle, “I’ll take it out for you”; which he did at once, and setting the trap again he dragged the animal to the Tortoise.

“Get some plantain leaves that we may divide the meat,” said the Tortoise; but while he was gone the Tortoise took all the meat to his hole.

The Gazelle, on returning, called out: “Uncle Tortoise, here are the leaves,” but the Tortoise laughingly asked him: “Is the Tortoise a relative on your mother’s side, or your father’s?”

The Gazelle was angry at this insult, and said: “I’ll unset your trap.”

“Very well,” shouted the Tortoise, “only do it with your head, and not with your hands or your feet, or you will die.”

The Gazelle, however, poked in a stick, and snap went the spring, and out loudly screamed the Gazelle, so the Tortoise thought he was caught, and came out of his hole with his gun to shoot him, but the Gazelle sprang on the Tortoise, took away his gun and killed him, and then, gathering up the meat, he went off to his own town. The Biter is eventually bit, and he who deceives others will himself be deceived.

XVIII

How the Frog collected his Debt from the Hawk

The Hawk lived in sky-land and the Frog lived on the earth. One day the Hawk paid a visit to the Frog, and said to him: “Friend Frog, will you kindly lend me a thousand brass rods, for I am in difficulty for want of money?”

The Frog replied: “Your town is up in the sky, and I cannot fly up there for I have neither feathers nor wings.”

“Oh, you will not need to call for your money, for I will surely bring it to you down here, so please lend me the brass rods.” The Frog counted out the thousand rods and handed them to the Hawk.

For six months the Frog heard nothing from the Hawk, neither was any part of the debt paid, so one day, seeing the Hawk on a low branch he went to ask for his money, but the Hawk flew away as fast as his wings would carry him.

Then the Frog heard that the Hawk went every _Nkandu_[72] and _Nkenge_[72] to market to buy saucepans, so on the following _Nkandu_ the Frog

Footnote 72:

Names of market days.

started at dawn for the market-place. He hopped and jumped over the ground and swam the rivers, and, reaching the market early, he hid himself and waited for the arrival of the Hawk.

In a little time the Hawk alighted on the market, and, putting down his satchel, he went about buying saucepans. When he had bought a few the Frog went and hid himself in one of them, and by and by the Hawk, returning to his town in sky-land, picked up his saucepans, and thus took the Frog with him.

The Hawk, on arriving home, put his saucepans in the corner of his house, and when all was quiet and dark the Frog came out of his hiding-place, and next morning met the Hawk in a casual way and asked him for his money. The Hawk was so surprised that at first he could not say a word, but at last he exclaimed: “Friend Frog, how did you get here, for you have neither feathers nor wings?”

“Never mind how I came,” replied the Frog; “but I want my money.”

The Hawk began to make excuses, and was so sorry because “he really had not the money just then.”

But the Frog said: “Very well, I shall stay here in your house until you pay me.”

Then the Hawk remembered that he had just enough to pay him, because he wanted to get the Frog out of his house.[73]

The Frog, on receiving his money, wondered how he was to return to earth. He decided to wait until next market-day, and then, creeping into the Hawk’s satchel, was carried off to the market-place, and on arrival he hopped out of the satchel and took a walk round the market, and thus came face to face with the Hawk: “How did you get here?” asked the Hawk in surprise.

The Frog blinked at him, and said: “Well, I came by the road by which I travelled.”

“Did you now?” said the Hawk; and then he went on to say: “I borrowed money of you because, having no feathers and no wings, I thought you would not worry me for payment, yet you have followed and bothered me, and I will never borrow of you again.”

The Hawk ruffled his feathers and went, and as the Frog jumped off, he muttered: “I will never again lend to folk bigger than myself, for if you ask them for the money they are angry with you, and if you don’t ask for it they think you silly and laugh at you.”

Footnote 73:

The creditor would live at the expense of the debtor, hence the Hawk’s
desire to get rid of the Frog.

XIX

How a Child saved his Mother’s Life

A man, once upon a time, cleared a large piece of bush, and then sent his wife to plant it with cassava. When the cassava was ready to pull, the bush-pigs and other animals visited the farm and destroyed the roots, and it seemed as though the woman would have her trouble for nothing. The wife complained about it to her husband, and he went to dig a large pit in which to trap the wild animals that came stealing in their farm.

While the man was digging the hole an Imp came out of the forest near by and asked him what he was doing. Upon hearing he was digging a trap for animals, the Imp said: “Let me help you.” The man, fearing the Imp would kill him if he refused, accepted his offer. Thereupon the Imp said: “Let us make a bargain. All the male animals that fall into the trap are yours, but all the female ones are mine.” The man agreed to this, and they then finished the hole together, after which they returned to their places.

Next morning they went to look at the hole and found one male pig in it, which the man took according to their agreement. Every morning they went and it was the same--male pigs, antelopes and buffaloes were in the trap, never any female ones, sometimes there were two males and sometimes there were five males. The man laughed, and said to the Imp: “You were foolish to make such a bargain, for did you not know that only male animals go about in search of food? You are very foolish.”

The man took the animals to his town, and all the way home he was ridiculing the stupid Imp. The wife said: “Now we have plenty of meat, but no cassava bread to eat with it. Tomorrow I will go and dig up some roots in the farm with which to make some bread.”

Early next morning the woman took her basket and her hoe, and went to the farm, leaving her husband at home to look after their little boy. When the woman had been gone some time the boy began to cry, so the man picked him up and followed his wife to the farm to give the child to her. As he drew near the farm he heard the Imp gleefully singing: “O my, O my, at last I have a female animal in the trap.”

On reaching the trap the man asked the Imp why he was jumping, dancing and singing in that joyful fashion, and when he heard that it was because there was one female animal in the trap, the man laughed at the Imp for making so much fuss over _one_ animal; but looking into the pit, and seeing his wife there he began to cry, and contended that the Imp was cheating him as a woman was not an animal.

They became very angry in their discussion as to whether the woman was an animal or not, that at last the boy said: “Father, you agreed to the bargain that you were to have all the male animals, and he was to have all the female ones that fell into the trap; we have had plenty of animals out of the hole, but he has not had a single one. Let him take this one.”

The Imp, admiringly, said: “Is this wise judge only a boy?” and with that he jumped into the trap to get out his prize, but no sooner had he done so than the boy called out: “Look, father, there is a male animal in the trap and it is yours.”

On dropping down into the trap the Imp had become, according to his own statement, an animal, and consequently belonged to the man. The Imp, to save himself, had to give up all claim to the woman, and thus the child by his smartness saved his mother’s life. Never again did the man enter into an agreement until he properly understood all about the conditions.

XX

How the Gazelle won his Wife

Once upon a time there was a Gazelle that went in search of a wife. While journeying he met a beautiful girl, and stopped, and said to her: “Miss So-and-so, have you any water?--if so, please give me a drink, for I am very thirsty.”

The girl replied: “Yes, sir,” and taking a calabash well ornamented with rows of brass nails she gave it to him full of water. He drank eagerly, and as he handed the calabash back, he said: “The water is as nice to drink as the girl is beautiful.”

The Gazelle inquired of her, and finding she was not married, asked her: “Will you marry me?”

She answered: “I don’t know, I must ask my mother.”

So together they went to seek the mother’s consent. When she heard all about the affair, she said: “If you want to marry my daughter you must first bring me the dried flesh of every animal and bird in the forest.”

The Gazelle was at first disconcerted by such a difficult task, but said: “All right, I will do it,” and went his way to think out a plan by which he could win his wife.

The Gazelle thought of first one way and then another, and at last he sought for and found a shell and filled it with various powerful “medicines,” and thus, having made a strong fetish, he started for the forest.

He had not walked very far before a Dove came to him, and said: “Behold, there are ten animals down there; I fired at them, but did not kill a single one; if therefore you have a hunting-fetish, teach me how to use it.”

“Yes, I have the kind of fetish you want,” replied the Gazelle; “but before you can learn how to use it you must be killed, roasted and dried, and then I will restore you to life and teach you how to use the fetish.”

“Very well,” said the Dove, “I am ready to be roasted.” So the Gazelle killed, roasted and dried the silly Dove and took the flesh to his store-room, as the first part of the dried meat he had to give to his future mother-in-law.

Soon after returning to the forest an Antelope came running up to him, and said: “We hear you have a strong fetish to help hunters to kill animals. Teach me how to use it, for I have had no success in hunting for a long time.”

“Well, I have such a fetish,” answered the Gazelle; “but before you can learn about it I must kill, roast and dry you. Then I bring you to life again and teach you the use of the fetish.”

“Do with me whatever you like,” said the Antelope, “so long as I get a fetish with which to kill plenty game.”

The Gazelle drew his knife and told the Antelope to lie down on the ground.

“What are you going to do with that knife?” cried the Antelope.

“How can you be roasted and dried unless you are first killed?” quietly asked the Gazelle. So the Antelope stretched himself out, and was soon killed, dried and carried to the store.

“Well,” ruminated the Gazelle, “I have found a way to win my wife, for these animals will believe any foolish thing so as to possess power to kill others. I must now try a big beast.”

Again he went to the forest, but he had not gone very far into it before he met a Buffalo running. “Where are you going?” asked the Gazelle.

“I am off to look after my farm, for I have no luck in hunting,” replied the Buffalo.

“I have a strong hunting-fetish,” said the Gazelle; “but before you can use it I must cut out your heart, and roast and dry you; after that I call you back to life and teach you my fetish, which will give you plenty of hunting skill.”

“All right,” said the Buffalo; “but I am a big person and your knife will not enter my body.” With that he fell on the ground, but directly the Gazelle had thrust his knife into the body the Buffalo cried out: “Please stop! do stop!” but the Gazelle said: “Just wait a moment only,” and he pushed in the knife, and the Buffalo died. In a very short time the Buffalo’s flesh was roasted, dried and carried to the store.

In this way the Gazelle caught and roasted the Lion, the Leopard, the Elephant and all the other animals and birds of the forest. By and by he carried all the dried meat to the mother of the beautiful girl, and said to her: “My respected mother-in-law, do not be angry because I have been a long time doing the task you set me. You know all about hunting, and that it is very slow and laborious work. Sometimes one shoots and does not kill; however, here is the meat for which you sent me.” The old woman answered: “I thank you, and now you can take your wife and go your way.”

XXI

The Gazelle is at last Punished

The Leopard and the Gazelle made a large farm together, and planted maize, sugarcane, cassava and various other things. To celebrate the finishing of their big farm they desired to make a feast. The Leopard wished to buy a goat, but the Gazelle said: “A goat is not big enough, let us buy a pig.” A large pig was bought, and when it was cooked the Gazelle said: “Friend Leopard, let us go and bathe first in the river, and then return to eat our feast slowly and enjoy it.” To this the Leopard agreed.

When they reached the river’s bank each wanted the other to dive in first, but at last the Leopard jumped into the water and quickly came out again.

“You don’t know how to dive,” laughed the Gazelle.

“Very well,” replied the Leopard, “you dive now and show me the way.”

The Gazelle dived into the water, ran along the bottom of the river, came out near the town, and went quickly and ate up all the boiled pig; and then, returning to the river, came puffing and blowing out of the water at the feet of his friend the Leopard. “There,” said the Gazelle, “that is the way to dive.”

Then they returned together to the town, but when they reached the Leopard’s house they found the saucepan empty. The Leopard felt very much ashamed, because the food had been left in his house. He began to beat his wife for not looking properly after it. Then, turning to the Gazelle, he said: “Uncle Gazelle, I am very much ashamed because the cooked meat has been eaten in my house; let us now buy a goat.”

But the Gazelle said: “You must pay for the goat yourself, for the pig was eaten in your house.”

The Leopard took one of his own goats, and when it was cooked, he said: “This time let us eat first and bathe afterwards.” But the Gazelle objected, and would bathe before eating, so the Leopard agreed, and they went together to the river. The Gazelle played the same trick on the Leopard, and this he did several times, and each time poor Mrs. Leopard received a thrashing, and the Leopard killed another goat.

By and by the Leopard bought a fetish called _nkondi_, and hid it in his house. When the Gazelle arrived next time he found the door fastened, and on trying to open it the _nkondi_ said: “Oh, you are the rascal who comes to eat my master’s goat, you thief, get away quickly.”

The Gazelle shouted: “Come out and I’ll hit you.”

The _nkondi_ began to abuse him, saying: “Come into the house, if you can, you thin-legged one.”

The Gazelle became so angry that he broke open the door, and hit the _nkondi_ and his hand stuck; he hit him again, and the other hand stuck; he then kicked him and both his legs stuck fast, and he thereupon butted him with his head and that also stuck.

The Leopard waited a long time for the Gazelle, and then, thinking he was drowned, he returned to the town. On drawing near to the house he heard a great noise, and as he ran he shouted out: “Hold the thief tightly until I come.”

What was his surprise to find the Gazelle held fast by the _nkondi_. “Oh, you are the thief, no wonder you wanted to bathe first!” said the Leopard, as he hit him.

“Unfasten me, Uncle Leopard,” begged the Gazelle.

“No, I am going to eat first and undo you afterwards,” laughed the Leopard. So he sat down and ate and chuckled, and chuckled and ate, until all the goat was finished; then he unstuck the Gazelle, and gave him a good sound thrashing for the tricks he had played on him, and let him go covered with aches, pains and bruises.

XXII

The Leopard pays Homage to the Goat

The natives say that there was a time when the Leopard paid homage to the Goat because of his beard and horns, but he discovered the Goat’s weakness in the following manner--

One day, while the Leopard was cutting a palm-tree for wine, a Billy-goat arrived at the wine-booth and bleated loudly: “Be--e, Leopard!”

The Leopard listened, and said, “What great chief is that calling me?”

“Be--e, Leopard,” again cried the Goat.

“Yes, sir,” answered the Leopard, and descending the palm-tree he went softly and meekly to his wine-booth and found a person there with a long beard and large horns.

“Pour me out some wine,” said the Goat. This the Leopard did at once. Pouring the wine into a glass, he knelt and offered it to the Goat, who drank it off glass after glass as the Leopard crouched in a humble position before him. This happened several days running--the Goat ordering the palm-wine and the Leopard offering it on his knees as to a great chief.

One day, while the Leopard was paying homage in this way to the Goat, a Gazelle arrived and stared in surprise at what he saw, and after the Goat had gone, he said to the Leopard: “Uncle Leopard, do you know who that is?”

“No,” replied the Leopard; “I do not know in the least who it is, but he has a long beard and big horns.”

“Oh! oh!” laughed the Gazelle; “that is foolish. Do you not see that you are paying homage to empty size? He has no strong teeth for biting hard things and for fighting. If you do not believe me, try him to-morrow.”

Next day the Goat came as usual, and demanded his palm-wine. He found the Leopard and the Gazelle already there in the booth. The Gazelle took from his bag a kola nut, and, breaking it, he gave one section to the Goat, another to the Leopard, and took one himself. The Leopard crunched his section at once with his powerful teeth, and the Gazelle bit his part to pieces, but the poor Goat, having no strong teeth, turned his section of the nut over and over in his mouth, first one side and then the other.

The Gazelle made a sign with his lips to the Leopard, as much as to say: “Do you see, he has no teeth. I told you so.” The Leopard thereupon jumped on the Goat and killed him without a struggle, and from that time the Leopard has never again been afraid of the Goat’s long beard and big horns. A beard and horns do not make a strong animal, but a powerful mouth is necessary. Pomposity without real authority will not be respected for very long.

XXIII

Why the Owls and the Fowls never speak to each other

A Fowl and an Owl became friends, but they built their houses at some distance from each other. One day the Owl heard that his friend was very sick, so he gathered some money together and went to pay a visit to the Fowl. When he arrived he inquired after the health of his friend, and finding he was still very ill he sent for a “medicine man,” and in due time his friend the Fowl recovered, and the Owl returned to his town.

By and by the Owl fell ill with a very bad illness, and the news reached the Fowl that his friend was on the point of death. He gathered some money and went to visit his friend and give him the best advice about getting better. He said to the wives of the Owl: “Get ready some very hot water, and pound up some red peppers.”

The wives did as they were told, and then the Fowl said to the Owl: “Take off your clothes and get into the saucepan.”

“Won’t it burn me?” asked the Owl.

“No, my friend, it will not hurt you,” deceivingly replied the Fowl.

So he did as his friend bade him, and put himself carefully into the saucepan of hot water. In a short time the Fowl said to the Owl’s wives: “Take him out, and pluck his feathers, rub him well with the red pepper, and put him on a line to dry, and be sure and not take him down until he is thoroughly dry.” Leaving these directions with them, the Fowl went home. After he had left, the Owl died, and the family was so angry at the outrage the Fowl had committed that they desired to punish him.

The family sent word to the Fowl that on a certain day the funeral would take place, and they invited him to attend it. On the appointed day the Fowl went with his band and his followers, who were the Leopard, the Lion, the Dog and the Shrew-mole.

Now the Owl’s family had collected some strong followers who were called the Fox, the Viper, the Boa, the Elephant, the Antelope, and the Palm-rat, all of whom were friends of the Owl. By and by they heard the Fowl’s band playing “The tail of the Owl is very powerful.” This insult to his dead friend made the Owl’s family very angry, so they arranged their followers in ambush, and told them to be sure and “catch that rascal the Fowl.”

As the Fowl’s party drew near to the town, out came the Boa from his hiding-place to catch the Fowl, but the Shrew-mole squeaked, and the Boa split all down one side and had to retreat; then came the Fox, but the Dog fought him and made him run away; then came the Elephant, but the Lion bit his trunk, and he fled; and the Antelope caught sight of the Leopard’s marks and bolted. The Fowl at last arrived in the town, and played at the funeral of the Owl “The tail of the Owl is very powerful,” and after ridiculing his late friend in this manner, he returned home with his band and followers. The Owls never speak now to the Fowls.

XXIV

How the Elephant punished the Leopard

The Elephant and the Leopard lived in the same town and married their wives about the same time. By and by the Leopard’s wife gave birth to two children, and the Elephant’s wife gave birth to one. Some time after this happened the Elephant had to go on a trading journey into a distant country, so he left his son in the care of the Leopard.

One day the Leopard, his sons, and the young Elephant all went hunting in the big bush. The Leopard showed his sons the animals’ tracks, taught them where to stand and what to do; but as for the Elephant’s son he took no notice of him, did not instruct him, and left him to do what he could.

In a little time an antelope started up, and the Leopard’s first son fired and missed, and the second son fired and also missed. Then the antelope ran by where the young Elephant happened to be, and he shot it. Thereupon the Leopard and his sons ran up and claimed the antelope as theirs, and as the Elephant had no one to take his side he had to give way. This occurred three times, and then the young Elephant would not hunt with them any more.

After some months the old Elephant returned from his long trading expedition, and his son told him all that had happened to him, and how he had been cheated by his guardian. When the Elephant heard it he was very angry, and said: “All right, I will punish the Leopard for defrauding you.” They then dug a large hole in their house, put some twigs and branches over it, and spread a mat over the whole. Then they put the saucepans on the fire, and the Elephant bought some palm-wine and asked the Leopard to come and drink with him, which invitation he at once accepted.

When the Leopard arrived they told him to sit on the mat, and as he sat down the mat gave way under him, and he fell into the deep hole underneath. The Elephant said: “I left my son with you, and instead of taking care of him you cheated him every time he went hunting with you,” and he followed his words by pouring the boiling water over the Leopard. Thus died the Leopard for being false to his trust.

XXV

How the Leopard tried to deceive the Gazelle

Once the Leopard and the Gazelle had a very bad quarrel, and ever since then the Leopard has been trying to catch and kill the Gazelle, but has failed in every attempt.

The Leopard, having tried many other ways of entrapping the Gazelle, at last pretended to be sick. He rubbed some powdered ironstone on his face and instructed his wives to send messengers for the Palm-rat, the Mongoose, and all the other animals, and also for the Gazelle. When they were all gathered except the Gazelle they went in one by one to see the Leopard, and he killed them; but he thought that he had all the trouble for nothing as the Gazelle had not arrived, so he asked his wives what they were to do now to catch the Gazelle. They advised him to send for a “medicine man,” and then the Gazelle would be sure to think he was really ill. While they were searching for a “medicine man” the Gazelle arrived, but he would not enter the house.

The “medicine man” arrived with his charms, and while he made “medicine” he sang--

/* “O Gazelle, come where the sick one is, It is your own uncle who is ill.” */

When the Gazelle heard this he answered by a song--

/* “O uncle, come out of the house, Come out into the daylight now.” */

They tried by every means to persuade the Gazelle to enter the house, but he remained firm, and refused to listen to all their nice talk, and at last the Leopard, losing all patience, jumped up and rushed out of the house; but the Gazelle, noticing his anger, sprang away into the forest and escaped; but as for all the other silly ones who had been deceived by the Leopard, they were eaten by him.

The invitations and persuasions of enemies are to be received with caution.

XXVI

The Story of two Young Women

Once there were two girls whose uncle told them: “You are now old enough to marry, so you may look out for two young men.” Their hearts were glad when they received this permission, and very soon they found two lovers. The elder became engaged to a poor man, and the younger to a rich one.

One day the elder girl paid a visit to her betrothed, and as he was poor he could only give her a common fish to eat and a mat to lie on for a bed; but when the younger went to see her rich lover he killed a goat for her supper, gave her a fine bed spread with blankets, and in the morning killed a pig for her breakfast; and when she was leaving to return to her home he gave her a shawl, a fine piece of blue and white cloth, a necklace of beads, and a looking-glass.

The two sisters happened to meet at the crossroads, and they asked each other what presents they had received, and when the younger girl saw the poor gift received by the other, she showed her presents with much vanity, and laughed at her sister for having such a poor lover. This occurred every time they visited their young men--the younger sister laughed to scorn the poverty of the elder sister’s suitor.

After due time the day of their marriage arrived, and the rich man told all his pedigree, gave a great, fat pig for the feast, and sent his bride a piece of velvet, a piece of white cloth, and a piece of satin; but the poor man could only send some fowls for the feast and give his bride one piece of ordinary cloth. After the marriage festivities were over the new wives went to live in the houses of their husbands.

Before many days had passed the younger bride committed a small fault, and her husband in his anger cut off her ears. She cried out for help, but her family could not help her, as they had consented to the marriage. In a week he was angry about some other small matter, and he cut off her nose, and the next time she vexed him with some small mistake he cut off her head. Thus she did not live long to enjoy her fine things. As for the poor husband, he said to his wife: “It is not until death comes to me that we shall separate.” Riches do not always bring with them happiness and contentment.

XXVII

Why the Chameleon cut off his own Head

One day the Frog, on going to work in her farm, left her two children in the house with plenty of food to eat. She had not been gone very long when a Chameleon arrived, and took possession of the house and the children. She dressed them with knives and bells, and made them dance. The Frog, returning from her work, found the Chameleon in her house, and when she attempted to enter, the Chameleon threatened to tread her into a pulp. The Frog went crying to the Elephant, and he, on hearing her story, promised to get the Chameleon out of the house with his large trunk, but when he went to the door of the house, the Chameleon snarled at him, and he turned and fled.

The Frog then went to the Leopard and told him of her trouble, and he said: “Don’t worry, I will quickly have her out of the house.” But no sooner did he show himself at the door than the Chameleon snarled at him, and he ran away. Thus it was with all the animals. They all boasted of what they would do, but were all afraid to do it.

As the Frog went crying she met a flock of Sparrows, and said to them: “Friend Sparrows, go and drive the Chameleon out of my house.” The Sparrows went in front of the Frog’s house, dried their drums at the fire, and as they began to dance they chanted a chorus: “Sparrows, when you dance, don’t dance with your heads on.” Some of the Sparrows then went forward, and having put their heads under their wings, they began to dance. The Chameleon, looking out of the door, saw this wonderful sight, and seeing the Sparrows dancing very nicely without any heads, she thought they had cut them off, and as she was a great dancer,[74] and wanted to imitate the Sparrows in their marvellous dance, she cut off her own head, and fell dead. The Frog thanked the Sparrows for their help, and went into the house to nurse her children. What the big animals could not do with all their strength the Sparrows did by their cleverness.

Footnote 74:

The natives regard the Chameleon as a great dancer, because while
standing still it has a peculiar movement, something like a native
dancing.

XXVIII

Why the Congo Robin has a Red Breast

“Kinsidikiti” is a small bird with red round its mouth and red spots on its breast. The female has no red spots on the breast, and the following is the legend accounting for the difference--

One day the Robin and his wife found that they had no red-camwood powder[75] with which to beautify themselves, so the husband made preparations for a journey to Stanley Pool to buy some redwood from those who brought it from the Upper Congo towns to sell at the Pool markets.

He was a long time on the road, but at last reached the place only to find that all the redwood for making the powder had been sold to others, who were before him. He tried one trader after another with no success, for all had sold out, but

Footnote 75:

The powder is made by grinding two pieces of the camwood together. The
red paste resulting from the friction is dried, pounded and put into a
cloth, and after a person has bathed, and rubbed himself (or herself)
with oil the cloth is dabbed on the body, and the fine dust comes out
and over the body. The camwood powder is greatly valued as a cosmetic.

one said: “I have none to sell, but I can give you a small piece, enough for yourself.”

He gave him a small piece, and for safety the Robin put it in his throat, as he wanted to take it home to his wife. As he travelled homeward the redwood melted in his mouth and throat, and came out round his beak and through his chest to his feathers, and ever since then he has had a red mouth and breast.

XXIX
The Leopard tries to steal the Gazelle’s Wife

The Leopard had many wives, but his friend the Gazelle had only one, and the Leopard desired to procure that one, and very often said to himself: “I must kill the Gazelle and take his wife for myself.” So he sent a messenger to call the Gazelle, but he was too wise to go, and sent an excuse, saying: “You tell the Leopard that I am going to market, and cannot visit him now.”

In a very short time another messenger arrived and said: “Go to the Leopard, for he is dead.”

“Oh! oh! that is very strange,” replied the Gazelle, “that you who are a mourner should be travelling about, but perhaps you are going to buy pigs for the funeral feast?”

Before he had finished speaking another messenger came and said: “Gazelle, your uncle the Leopard is dead, go and wrap the cloth round his body.”

“Yes,” answered the Gazelle, “I will come and bind up the body, but first I will go and buy some pigs for the funeral festivities.”

When the Leopard heard these answers he rushed after the Gazelle that he might kill him, but on turning a corner in the road the Leopard met a beautiful girl; but he did not know that it was the Gazelle who had changed himself into that form. Of her the Leopard inquired: “Did you see a Gazelle pass this way?”

“Yes, my lord Leopard, I did,” she replied.

The Leopard then said to her: “Would you like to marry me?”

“Yes,” she said, “I would like to marry you, but you have such sharp teeth and claws.”

“Very well,” replied the Leopard, “cut them all off.”

So she at once cut off all his claws, and pulled out his teeth.

“Will you marry me now?” asked the Leopard.

“I would like to,” repeated the girl, “but for the marks on your chest and neck.”

“Oh, all right,” he said; “cut them all out.”

And she cut them away, spot after spot, and mark after mark, and the Leopard died. The Gazelle changed back to his proper form, and as he went off he said: “The Leopard tried to rob me of my one wife, but he has lost his life through his covetousness.”

XXX
The Gazelle kills the Flies and Mosquitoes, and outwits the Leopard

The Leopard, once upon a time, went cutting the palm-tree for wine, and started a palm-wine booth in a place infested with mosquitoes and biting flies of various kinds; and he made a law that any one who brushed the flies and mosquitoes off their bodies while in his booth should at once be killed.

The Antelope called at the booth one day and asked for a drink of palm-wine; but no sooner had he begun to drink it than the mosquitoes and flies so swarmed round him and irritated him with their bites, that in brushing them off he killed many of them. When the Leopard saw that, he became very angry, and said: “I made a law that whoever came to drink in my booth should not brush the flies and mosquitoes away. You have broken my law, and killed many of my insects, so now you must die,” and he jumped on the Antelope and killed him. In this way the Leopard killed many of the animals.

One morning the Gazelle said to himself: “I must visit my Uncle Leopard, and ask him for a drink of his palm-wine.” So he started for the booth, and on his arrival the Leopard greeted him, saying: “How do you do, Uncle Gazelle?”

“I am quite well,” replied the Gazelle.

“Where are you going?” asked the Leopard.

“Oh, I came to have a drink of your palm-wine,” said the Gazelle.

They at once sat down and began to drink together, but very soon the flies and mosquitoes came about the Gazelle and sorely worried him; but the Gazelle remembered the Leopard’s law, and wondered how he could drive the flies away and not break the law of the booth. After thinking a little while, he told the Leopard about a fight that had taken place a few days before. He said: “The other day we went to fight, and we were all wounded, some in the head,” and he rubbed his hands over his head and face, “some in the arms,” and he brushed his hands down his arms, “some in the legs,” and he passed his hands down his legs, and so over the whole of his body until he had either driven the flies and mosquitoes away, or had killed them; but he said, as he slapped his sides: “not one of us was killed.”

In a short time he was again covered with mosquitoes and flies, and again he told the Leopard of the great fight, and as he did so he brushed off the irritating flies. The Leopard glared at him, and as he sprang on him he cried in rage: “You are breaking my law and killing my insects.”

But as the Gazelle darted away he shouted: “Oh no, I was only telling you where the people were wounded.”

XXXI
The Leopard is Badly Tricked by the
Gazelle, Rat and Frog

The Leopard owned a fine plum-tree,[76] and the Gazelle, while out walking one day, discovered it, and, noticing the fruit was ripe, he threw up a rope which caught on one of the main branches, and was soon among the plums. He put some in a bag, and as he turned to descend he saw a Squirrel and her nest on one of the forks of the tree. The Squirrel observed the Gazelle, and as she was the Leopard’s watchman she told the Leopard all about the theft.

Footnote 76:

The tree in the story is the nsafu (_canuniensis_) the fruit of which
is date shape, but the tree is like a plum in shape, etc.

As the Gazelle was returning home he saw a Palm-rat weaving, and, throwing a plum at him, it broke the web, whereupon the Palm-rat turned angrily on the Gazelle; but on receiving some plums and tasting them his anger passed away, and he asked where he could procure some more. The Gazelle told him to make a bag without any bottom to it, and in the morning he was to come directly he heard his whistle.

The next morning, directly he heard the Gazelle’s whistle, the Palm-rat picked up his bottomless bag and joined the Gazelle. After a short walk they reached the plum-tree, and the Gazelle said: “Shut your eyes while I climb.” The Palm-rat obeyed the order, and the Gazelle went to his rope and climbed the tree.

The Palm-rat asked: “How am I to climb the tree?”

“Oh, knock your head against the tree, and you will soon be up,” replied the Gazelle.

So the Palm-rat put his claws into the tree and knocked his head against it (that is why he has a swollen head), and at last reached the branches.

The Gazelle told him to pull all the green plums, which he stupidly did, and when he put them in his bag they fell through to the ground. When the Gazelle had plucked all the ripe plums he wanted, he said to the Palm-rat: “Look and see if the Squirrel is on that fork of the tree.”

The Palm-rat saw the Squirrel, and while he was looking the Gazelle threw a plum at her, and she cried out: “Oh, Leopard, come quickly, the Gazelle is pulling all your plums!”

When the Leopard heard this he came running to the tree, and called out: “Come down, and I’ll cure you of your sickness.”

“Thank you,” replied the Gazelle; “my mother has every kind of medicine in her house.”

“Come down,” shouted the Leopard, “and I’ll cure you of the shakes.”

“My mother has a remedy for that complaint,” responded the Gazelle, but he continued, “I’ll come down, and when you hear a thud you will know I have alighted on the ground, but when you hear a patter you will know it is my bag.”

The Gazelle threw his bag, and it fell with a thud, and the Leopard, thinking it was the Gazelle, rushed out to find only the bag, while the Gazelle jumped down the other side and got away.

The Palm-rat tried to follow the tricky example of the Gazelle, but not being clever threw himself down with a thud, and was caught and punished by the Leopard. The Gazelle played off this trick on several other animals, who were caught one by one by the Leopard and punished for stealing his plums.