Chapter IV: Part 4

On their way, they came to a wide river; and Leopard said to Rat, "Before one crosses this river, he must throw his knife into it." Rat threw his knife; and so (apparently) did Leopard. They crossed; went on their way, and came to a Kuda tree; and they stopped, and began to gather the nuts. Leopard drew his knife from its sheath, and splitting the nut-shells and eating the kernels, said derisively to Rat, "One who has no knife will not be able to eat kuda." Rat, in his helplessness, made no protest. And they went on. They came to a certain "Medicine" tree; and Leopard said, "Etoli, if I shall fall sick on the way, and I tell you to go back and get the bark of a certain tree for medicine, see! this is the tree." Finally, they came to the town of the woman whom Leopard was to marry. There, food was cooked for them. Just before they were to sit down to eat, Leopard exclaimed, "Etoli! I am sick! Go, and get that medicine for me!" While Rat was gone, Leopard ate up almost all the food, leaving only a few scraps for Rat.

At night, inside of the entrance of the house where the two strangers were to sleep, was a pit already dug. Leopard knew of it, and jumped over it; but Rat fell into it. Leopard shouted to the town's-people, "This is the animal I brought to pay on my Dowry! Come, and take him!" The people came, caught Rat, and ate him.

The next morning, Leopard's father-in-law had food prepared for him; he ate; and returned to his town. There, the relatives of Rat asked him, "Where is the little one you took to escort you?" Leopard replied, "He refused to return, staying there with the woman."

Again, Leopard prepared gifts of dried fish and tobacco for his mother-in-law, and arranged for another journey. He called to his relative, "Brother" Wild-Goat, "Come, escort me to the town of my marriage." Wild Goat consented; and they started. They came to the River; and, as in the case of Rat, Leopard said to Goat, "You will first throw away your knife, before you can cross this river." Goat actually did so; Leopard pretending to do so. Continuing their journey, they came to that Kuda tree. Leopard was careful to stand on a side of the tree opposite to Goat, as they gathered the nuts. But, he said provokingly, "One can not eat kuda without a knife." Wild Goat innocently replied, "But, you, Njâ, you are eating nuts! Did you bring two knives?" They journeyed on, and came to the Medicine tree. And Leopard gave to Goat the same directions about it as he had given to Rat.

When they reached the marriage town, food was set before them. But Leopard immediately began to groan and scream, "I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead with pain!" Wild Goat sympathisingly inquired, "What shall I do to help you?" Leopard replied, as in the case of Rat, "Go back to that tree, and get its bark as a medicine for me." Wild Goat went; and while he was away, Leopard ate the food, leaving very little of it. On his return, Wild Goat protested at so little being given him. Leopard explained, "In my great suffering from tooth-ache, I ate nothing. Perhaps it was the town's-people who ate up the food, leaving you only these pieces."

After they had eaten, they were called to the reception-house, and spent the evening in conversation with the people of the town. Then, they were shown to the house in which they were to sleep. It was the one with the pit-fall inside the door-way. Leopard, of course, jumped over it; but Wild Goat fell into it. And, as in the case of Rat, Leopard called out, "People of the town! This is your dowry-goods! I have brought it to you!" The next morning, Leopard took his journey, and came back home. When the people of his town asked him, as in the case of Rat, "Where is the friend you took with you?" he made the same reply, "Don't ask me! He is entangled off there with women."

On a third journey, Leopard called Antelope to accompany him. Antelope agreed. They came to the River; and as before Leopard told how that river could not be crossed by travelers unless their knives were thrown away. This, Antelope did.

Then, they came to the Kuda tree. There, Antelope heard Leopard splitting the nuts, and asked him. "Did you not throw away your knife? Do you travel with two?" Leopard answered, "Yes! I always travel with two." Then, they came to the Medicine tree. And Leopard explained about its bark being the cure for his frequent tooth-aches, when eating at his father-in-law's town.

They came to the town. And when food was brought to them, Leopard cried out, "O! my tooth! my tooth!" Antelope asked, "Where is your medicine that you said you use?" Leopard answered, "At the tree which I showed you on the way. Go, and get it." While Antelope was gone, Leopard ate up almost all the food. On returning, Antelope exclaimed "What! only this little food for me?" Leopard explained, "With my great tooth-ache, I ate none. Nothing happened, except that the town's-people came, and were eating up the food; and I, in my kindness for you, begged them to leave at least a little for you." Antelope handed him the medicine, and Leopard said, "Put it down there"; and he threw it away, while Antelope's back was turned.

After they had eaten, they went to their room for the night. Leopard, as usual, jumped over the pit; but Antelope fell in. And Leopard gave his shout to the people to come and take the Dowry-goods he had brought. The next morning, after breakfast, Leopard again started on his home journey. There, again he was anxiously asked, "But, those whom you take with you don't come back! Why?" He made the same reply, "They know why! Off there are damsels and dancing; and they were unable to return."

For his next journey, Leopard asked Red Antelope, who heartily replied, "Yes, come on! There is nothing to prevent my going on a journey!" They journeyed, and they came to the River. There, Leopard made his statement about the necessity of throwing their knives into the river. Red Antelope wondered a little, but he consented saying, "Yes, but what is that to me?" Said Leopard, "Well, then, shut your eyes, and I will be the first to throw, lest you say I am deceiving you." Said Red Antelope, "Yes." And he shut his eyes tightly. Then Leopard, having a stone in his hand, flung it into the water, saying, "I've thrown mine; throw also yours!" Red Antelope demanded, "But, you must shut your eyes also." Leopard half-closed his eyes, and Red Antelope, knife in hand, flung it into the water. Then, wading across, they went on and on to the base of the Kuda tree. Said Leopard, "Mr. Ehibo, this Kuda is eaten of here only by each person on his own side of the trunk." Red Antelope assented; and they turned, this one to one side, and that one to the other side. There, as Red Antelope was vainly trying to crack the nuts with his teeth, Leopard was deriding him while himself was comfortably using his knife.

Then, Leopard said, "Let us go on; for, the day is declining." Red Antelope agreed. As they went, they came to an Ebwehavu tree. And Leopard said, "Let us climb for Bebwehavu fruits. But, when we climb this particular tree, it is the practice here, to climb, one by one. While the one is climbing, the other has his eyes shut; and, the climbing is done, not by the trunk, but by this adjoining Bongo tree which you see here. But, first, close your eyes, and I will go up." (The Bongo's trunk is covered with hard sharp thorns.) Red Antelope stood, with his eyes tightly closed. Leopard grasped a vine; and, with one swing, he at once was up the tree. Red Antelope began climbing that Bongo, creeping slowly to the top, his whole body spoiled, and nothing on him but blood and blood.

Said Leopard, "This Ebwehavu is accustomed to be plucked only the green unripe, but the dark ripe ones are to be left." That seemed strange to Red Antelope, nevertheless he said, "Yes." But Leopard was plucking the ripe and leaving the green. When they had finished plucking, Leopard said, "Ehibo! shut eyes! that I may descend!" Red Antelope shut his eyes. Leopard grasped the vine; and, with one spring, was on the ground. Then, he said, "Now, Ehibo, descend." Red Antelope began descending by the Bongo, down, down, landing finally on the ground.

Leopard waited for him; and then said, "Having no fire, how shall we cook those green bebwehavu?" Just then, he saw a Fire-fly passing; and he said. "Mr. Ehibo! Pursue! That's fire passing there!" Red Antelope bent in rapid pursuit. Leopard turned to the base of the tree, gathered dried fire-wood, struck his flint, lighted a fire, cooked his fruits, ate them, finished, and put out his fire. Red Antelope, back again, said, "I did not reach it, I'm tired." Leopard said, "Well, let it go. I chewed mine uncooked. But, let us journey; and, as you go, you chew yours." They went on, and came to the town of the marriage. Food was cooked and set for them in their room. Said Leopard, "Ehibo, sit you on the floor, while I eat at the table. And, while I eat the flesh, you eat the bones." Red Antelope had become so utterly wearied and humiliated that he did not resent this indignity. They ate. And then Leopard said, "Ehibo, sweep up the scraps, and go and throw them into the back yard." (Immediately on his arrival at the town, Leopard had gone alone to his father-in-law, and said, "I have brought you an animal. But, let another pit, this time, be dug in the back yard of the room where we shall be. And, do you put spears and daggers and all kinds of sharp sticks there. When I shall send him to throw away the sweepings, and he shall fall in, kill ye him.")

Red Antelope swept, and scraped up the sweepings, and threw them into a basket. He turned with them to the back yard, to fling them away. As he was about to do so, he slipped down to the bottom of the pit. Impaled on the spears, he was unable to jump out. When the town's-people arrived, they thrust him through with sharp poles; and he lay dead.

When Leopard returned home, Red Antelope's people asked, "Where is Ehibo?" Leopard made his former answer, "Ehibo was hindered by the hospitality of that marriage town, with its food and its women; and, he said, 'I won't go back!'"

Thus, with each journey, Leopard called for another animal. They went, over the same route; and the same things happened each time. So, matters went on for a long while. But, Gazelle, a very smart beast, began to suspect, observing that none of Leopard's travel-companions ever came back. In his heart, he thought to himself, "Leopard deceives people!" He determined to find out, by offering to go, and watch for himself. At last, he said, "Uncle Njâ, let me go to escort you to the town of your marriage. When next you go on your journey, call me to go with you." Said Leopard, "I don't want you." (He suspected Gazelle's smartness.) Gazelle insisted, "Uncle, as to these others whom you have invited to go with you, and not the rather me, your relative?"

So, Leopard agreed, "Yes, let us go." By the next morning they started on their journey, going on and on, clear to the big River. There, as usual, Leopard told about knives to be thrown into the river; and he said, "Nephew Iheli, you first throw your knife." Said Gazelle, "First, you throw yours, then I will throw mine also." Said Leopard, "Well! shut your eyes!" Gazelle half-closed his hands on his eyes, and was peeping. He saw Leopard seize a chunk of wood and fling it in the water. Then he said, "Shut eyes! Let me also throw mine!" Leopard's eyes shut tight. Gazelle, seizing a stick, flung it into the water. Then, they crossed the river, and went on and on, until they came to the base of the Kuda tree. Leopard made his usual statement about parties eating the nuts on opposite sides of the tree. Gazelle, with apparent obedience, said, "Yes." Leopard, with knife drawn, began to hack and split the nuts, throwing the kernels into his mouth, and making his usual derisive remark, "By the truth! a person without a knife can not eat the kernels of kuda." Gazelle also, hacking his, and throwing them into his mouth, said, "Just exactly so! a person without a knife can not eat the kernel of kuda-nut!" Leopard exclaimed, "What are you doing? Have you two knives?" Gazelle replied, "But, what are you doing? Had you two knives?" Leopard answered, "Yes, for, I am the senior." Gazelle responded, "And I also carry two knives; for, I also am an adult." Leopard only said, "Iheli! Come on!" They went on, until they came to the Ebwehavu tree. There, Leopard made his usual explanation of climbing only by means of the Bongo tree. Gazelle agreed, and said, "Yes; climb you first." Leopard said, "Shut your eyes." Gazelle stood, with eyes apparently tightly closed. With one swing on a vine, Leopard is up the tree. Said Gazelle, "You also, shut your eyes. Let me go up." Leopard pretended to shut his eyes. And Gazelle, with one swing, was also up the tree. Leopard made his usual statement about plucking only the green fruit. To which, Gazelle seemed to assent.

And they descended the tree, without Leopard attempting to deceive Gazelle about the Bongo tree.

But, Leopard seeing the sun going down, said, "Iheli! Pursue! that's fire that's going there!" But, Gazelle showed he was not deceived, by simply saying, "That's not fire!" So, Leopard gathered fire-wood; and they cooked and ate their bebwehavu.

Then, they resumed their journey, and came to the Medicine tree. There Leopard told his usual story about the bark of that tree being his great cure-all. Gazelle quietly said, "Yes." But, when they left the tree, and had gone a short distance farther, he exclaimed, "O! I forgot my staff! I must go back and get it!" He went back to the tree, stripped bark from it, put it into his traveling-bag, and overtook Leopard. And they came on together to the town. After they had entered their house, Gazelle remarked to Leopard, "Let me go out and see the other fellows, who came with you on your previous journeys, and who, you said, had stayed here with the women." He went out; and returned, saying, "I saw the women, but none of those fellows." Food was cooked for them, and they sat down to eat. But, suddenly, Leopard broke out in groans, "Iheli! I feel a pain in my stomach; go, get bark of that tree I showed you. The medicine! Get the medicine!" Gazelle answered "Yes, but just wait until I finish my plate;" and he continued eating rapidly. Leopard was distressed to see the food disappearing; but, as he had pretended sickness, he did not dare begin to eat. When, finally there was but little food left, Gazelle introduced his hand into his bag, and, handing out the pieces of bark, said, "Here's your medicine! That's it!" Leopard said, "Yes, just leave it there. I do not need the medicine now. The pain has ceased. Let us first eat. We will eat together." After finishing their eating, Gazelle swept up the scraps, and placed them in a basket. Said Leopard, "Come, I will go with you to show you the place where sweepings are to be thrown." Gazelle was about to fling the basket, as Leopard came to push him into the pit. But, Gazelle lightly leaped across to the other side of it, and cried out, "Uncle! what do you want to do to me?" Leopard said, "That's nothing!"

It being night, they went to their sleeping-room, Leopard accompanied by his wife. He and she carefully jumped over the other pit that was inside of the door-way of that house. Gazelle also jumped, with careful observation, the while that people stood outside expecting him to fall into it. They retired for the night, Leopard and his wife on the bed; Gazelle on a mat on the floor. Said Gazelle, "Uncle, if you hear me stertorously snoring, then I am awake; but, if silently, then I am asleep." In a little while, Gazelle feigned gentle snoring. Leopard thinking Gazelle was asleep, took an iron rod, and thrust it into the fire. Gazelle saw what he was doing. When it was red-hot, he removed it, and, stepping softly, was about to stab Gazelle with it; who, quickly moving aside, exclaimed, "Eh! what are you doing?" Leopard coolly replied, "Nothing; I was only brushing away an insect that was biting you." Gazelle thought within himself, "Njâ will surely kill me to-night." So, he took chalk, and secretly marked circles around his eyes, making himself look as if his eyes were open and he awake, even if he should actually be asleep. After a while, Leopard slept, sound asleep with his wife. Then Gazelle passed over to Leopard's bed, and lifting the woman (unconscious in her sleep) to his mat on the floor, laid down in her place, beside Leopard in the bed. During the night, Leopard awoke, and, not noticing, in the darkness, the change at his side, went with the rod, to the mat where he supposed Gazelle was sleeping, and stabbed the woman to death.

Then Gazelle (who had remained awake) cried out, "Eh! you kill another person? You are killing your wife!" Leopard exclaimed, "Umph! Is that you? I said to myself that this was you!" Gazelle said, "Yes! what did you go to my bed for? So, then! I am the one you wanted to kill!" Leopard confessed, "It is true that I came here to kill you, thinking this was you. But, as the matter is thus, say no more about it. Let us cut up and eat this woman. Come, cut up!" But, Gazelle said, "I? When the town's-people hear the chopping, then won't they say, 'What animal has Iheli killed in his brother-in-law's town, that he is cutting it up at night?' Yourself, cut her to pieces."

So, Leopard said, "Well, leave the work on the body of the woman to me; but, do you attend to the cooking." Said Gazelle, "I? When the town's people shall hear the kettle boiling, then will they say, 'Whom has Iheli killed in the town of his brother-in-law, that he cooks at night?'"

Leopard boiled the kettle. It was cooked; and he said to Gazelle, "Go, cut down a bunch of plantains, out there in the back-yard." (This he said, hoping that Gazelle would fall into that pit, either in going out or coming in.) But, Gazelle said, "I? When the town's people hear the strokes of the machete, and the crash of the fall of the bunch, then, will they not suspect me, and say, 'What meat has Iheli killed, that he is cutting down a plantain at night?' Cut it yourself." Leopard went and cut down a bunch of plantains, and said to Gazelle, "Now, come and peel the plantains, and cook them." Gazelle refused, "No; do you peel and cook. I'm in bed. I'll eat only greens." Then Leopard said (making a last effort to get Gazelle into the pit), "Well, go to the back-yard, and pluck pepper for the soup." Gazelle again refused, "No; when the town's-people hear the plucking of the pods, will they not say, 'What animal has Iheli killed that he is gathering pepper for the soup?'"

Finally, Leopard, having done all the work, and finished cooking, and set the table, said, "Come, Iheli, I have finished all. Come, and eat." Gazelle came, but said, "First, put out all the lights." Leopard did so. And Gazelle added, "We will understand that whichever, at the close of the meal, has the largest pile of bones by his plate, shall be known as the one who killed the woman." Leopard agreed. The light having been extinguished, they ate in darkness. But, while they were eating, Gazelle chose only the bony pieces that had little meat; and, having picked them, he quietly laid the bones by Leopard's plate. When they had finished eating, the torches were re-lighted, and Gazelle cried out at Leopard's big pile of bones. They were counted. And Gazelle said, "Did you not say that whoever had the most bones would prove himself the murderer? So! indeed! you are the one who killed another person's child!"

Leopard evaded, and said, "But, Iheli, take a broom and sweep up the scraps from the floor, and throw them into the yard." (Making thus a final effort to get Gazelle into that pit.) But, Gazelle, refused, "No; yourself do it. When the town's-people hear the bones falling as they are thrown in the yard, will they not suspect me, and say, 'What animal has Iheli killed at night, that he is clearing away the scraps?'" Leopard swept up the floor and table, and threw the pieces into the backyard. As they were finishing, day began to dawn. Gazelle said, "Njâ, the day is breaking; let us seek hiding-places; for, when the people come in, in the morning, and find that their daughter is dead, lest they kill us." So, they began to look around for hiding-places. Gazelle said, "I shall hide in this big box on the floor." But, Leopard objected, "No; that traveling-box befits me; and, as the elder, I shall take it." Gazelle said, then, "Well, I'll hide under the bed." But, Leopard again objected (hoping to leave Gazelle without a place). "No; that also is my place; it suits me." Gazelle protested, "You are claiming this and that place! Where shall I go? Well! I see! I'll hide over the door." "Yes" said Leopard, "that's the hiding-place for a young person like you." (This he said, still thinking of the pit near the door.) Gazelle agreed, saying, "I am here, by the door. You get into that box, and I'll tie it with a string, as if no one was in it." Leopard objected, "But, the string will hinder my breaking out." "No," replied Gazelle, "it shall be a weak twine. You can easily burst it, when you fling up the lid, and jump out, and run away."

Leopard got into the box, and Gazelle began to tie it with a heavy chain. Leopard hearing the clanking, exclaimed, "With a chain, Iheli?" Gazelle had the chain fast; and he coolly replied, "It's only a little one." Then he piled heavy stones on the box. As day broke, he took his stand among a bundle of dried plantain-leaves that was over the door-way. The towns-people sent a child to open the door of the strangers' house, to call them to eat. As the child was about to enter, Gazelle struck him a blow on the head; and the child went away wailing with pain. The child's father said to his family that he would go to see what was the matter. As he pushed wide open the door of the strangers' house, Gazelle slid down, sprang out, and ran rapidly away, shouting, "Njâ is there! Njâ is in that box! He it is who has killed your woman!" And the towns-people shouted after him, "Is that so? Well, you're off, Iheli! Go!"

Leopard, when he heard that, made desperate efforts to get out of the box. The town's-men entered the house and found the box with Leopard tied in it. They fired their guns at him, and killed him. As they did so, they reproached him, "Why did you kill our daughter, whom you came to marry?" Then they gathered together a great pile of fire-wood in the street, thrust on to it the dead body of Leopard, and burned him there. Gazelle went back to the town of Beasts, and they asked him, "Where is he with whom you went on your journey?" Gazelle told them, "He is dead. He it was who killed the other Beasts who went with him. And he is now killed by the relatives of the woman whom he was to marry, but whom also he had murdered."

For this reason, that Gazelle informed on Leopard in the box, the relatives of Leopard since then have no friendship with Gazelle, and always pursue and try to kill him. The entire Leopard tribe have kept up that feud with the Gazelle tribe, saying, "You caused our father's death." And they carry on their revenge.

TALE 5

TORTOISE IN A RACE

Persons

Kudu (Tortoise)
Mbalanga (Antelope)

NOTE

Discussions about seniority are common causes of quarrel in Africa. The reason assigned why tortoises are so spread everywhere is that the antelope tribe, in public-meeting, recognized their superiority. At Batanga, Gaboon, Ogowe, and everywhere on the equatorial west coast, there are tortoises even in places where there are no other animals. On account of this, the tortoise is given many names; and has many nicknames in the native tribes, e.g., "Manyima," and "Evosolo."

Tortoise had formerly lived in the same town with several other animals. But, after awhile, they had decided to separate, and each built his own village.

One day, Tortoise decided to roam. So he started, and went on an excursion; leaving his wife and two children in the village. On his way, he came to the village of Antelope. The latter welcomed him, killed a fowl, and prepared food for him; and they sat at the table, eating.

When they had finished eating, Antelope asked, "Kudu! My friend, what is your journey for?"

Tortoise answered, "I have come to inquire of you, as to you and me, which is the elder?" Antelope replied, "Kudu! I am older than you!" But Tortoise responded, "No! I am the elder!" Then Antelope said, "Show me the reason why you are older than I!" Tortoise said, continuing the discussion, "I will show you a sign of seniority. Let us have a race, as a test of speed." Antelope replied derisively, "Aiye! how shall I know to test speed with Kudu? Does Kudu race?" However, he agreed, and said, "Well! in three days the race shall be made."

Tortoise spoke audaciously, "You, Mbalanga, cannot surpass me in a race!" Antelope laughed, having accepted the challenge; while Tortoise pretended to sneer, and said, "I am the one who will overcome!"

The course chosen, beginning on the beach south of Batanga, was more than seventy miles from the Campo River northward to the Balimba Country.

Then Tortoise went away, going everywhere to give directions, and returned to his village. He sent word secretly to all the Tortoise Tribe to call them. When they had come very many of them together, he told them, "I have called my friend Mbalanga for a race. I know that he can surpass me in this race, unless you all help me in my plan. He will follow the sea-beach. You all must line yourselves among the bushes at the top of the beach along the entire route all the way from Campo to Balimba. When Mbalanga, coming along, at any point, looks around to see whether I am following, and calls out, 'Kudu! where are you?' the one of you who is nearest that spot must step out from his place, and answer for me, 'Here!'"

Thus he located all the other tortoises in the bushes on the entire route. Also, he placed a colored mark on all the tortoises, making the face of every one alike. He stationed them clear on to the place where he expected that Antelope would be exhausted. Then he ended, taking his own place there.

Antelope also arranged for himself, and said, to his wife, "My wife! make me food; for, Kudu and I have agreed on a race; and it begins at seven o'clock in the morning."

When all was ready, Antelope said, to (the one whom he supposed was) Kudu, "Come! let us race!" They started. Antelope ran on and on, and came as far as about ten miles to the town of Ubenji, among the Igara people. At various spots on the way Tortoise apparently was lost behind; but as constantly he seemed to re-appear, saying, "I'm here!"

At once, Antelope raced forward rapidly, pu! pu! pu! to a town named Ipenyenye. Then he looked around and said, "Where is Kudu?" A tortoise stepped out of the bushes, saying "Here I am! You haven't raced."

Antelope raced on until he reached the town of Beyâ. Again looking around, he said, "Where is Kudu?" A tortoise stepped out, replying, "I'm here!"

Antelope again raced, until he reached the town Lolabe. Again he asked, "Where is Kudu?" A tortoise saying to himself, "He hasn't heard anything," replied, "Here I am!"

Again Antelope raced on as far as from there to a rocky point by the sea named Ilale-ja-moto; and then he called, "Wherever is Kudu?" A tortoise ready answered, "Here I am!"

From thence, he came on in the race another stretch of about ten miles, clear to the town of Bongaheli of the Batanga people. At each place on the route, when Antelope, losing sight of Tortoise, called, "Kudu! where are you?" promptly the tortoise on guard at that spot replied, "I'm here!"

Then on he went, steadily going, going, another stretch of about twenty miles to Plantation Beach. Still the prompt reply to Antelope's call, "Kudu, where are you?" was, "I'm here!"

As he started away from Plantation, the wearied Antelope began to feel his legs tired. However, he pressed on to Small Batanga, hoping for victory over his despised contestant. But, on his reaching the edge of Balimba, the tortoise was there ready with his, "I'm here!"

Finally, on reaching the end of the Balimba settlement, Antelope fell down, dying, froth coming from his mouth, and lay dead, being utterly exhausted with running. But, when Tortoise arrived, he took a magic-medicine, and restored Antelope to life; and then exulted over him by beating him, and saying, "Don't you show me your audacity another day by daring to run with me! I have surpassed you!"

So, they returned separately to their homes on the Campo River. Tortoise called together the Tortoise Tribe; and Antelope called all the Antelope Tribe. And they met in a Council of all the Animals. Then Tortoise rose and spoke--"All you Kudu Tribe! Mbalanga said I would not surpass him in a race. But, this day I have surpassed!"

So the Antelope Tribe had to acknowledge, "Yes, you, Kudu, have surpassed our champion. It's a great shame to us; for, we had not supposed that a slow fellow such as we thought you to be, could possibly do it, or be able to out-run a Mbalanga."

So the Council decided that, of all the tribes of animals, Tortoise was to be held as greatest; for, that it had out-run Antelope. And the Animals gave Tortoise the power to rule.

TALE 6

GOAT'S TOURNAMENT

Persons

Tomba (Goat)
Njâ (Leopard)

NOTE

The reason why leopards wander everywhere, and fight all other animals, is their shame at being overcome by a goat. Their ancestor had said, "I did not know that a Goat could overcome me."

The Tribe of Goats sent a message to the Tribe of Leopards, saying, "Let us have a Wrestling Match, in an effort to see which is the stronger." Then Leopard took counsel with his Tribe, "This Tribe of Goats! I do not see that they have any strength. Let us agree to the contest; for, they can do nothing to me."

So, the Goat Tribe gathered all together; and the Leopard Tribe all together; and they met in a street of a town, to engage in the drumming and dancing and singing usually preceding such contests.

For the wrestling, they joined in thirty pairs, one from each tribe. The first pair wrestled; and the representative of the Leopards was overcome and thrown to the ground. Another pair joined; and again the Leopard champion was overcome. A third pair joined and wrestled, contesting desperately; the Leopard in shame, and the Goat in exultation. Again the Leopard was overcome.

There was, during all this time, drumming by the adherents of both parties. The Leopard drum was now beaten fiercely to encourage their side, as they had already been overcome three times in succession.

Then, on the fourth effort, the Leopard succeeded in overcoming. Again a pair fought; and Leopard overcame a second time. The sixth pair joined; and Leopard said, "Today we wrestle to settle that doubt as to which of us is the stronger."

So, pair after pair wrestled, until all of the thirty arranged pairs had contested. Of these, the Leopard tribe were victors ten times; and the Goat Tribe twenty times.

Then the Leopard tribe said, "We are ashamed that the report should go out among all the animals that we beat only ten times, and the Tomba twenty times. So, we will not stay any longer here, with their and our towns near together:" for they knew that their Leopard tribe would always be angry when they should see a company of Goats passing, remembering how often they were beaten. So, they moved away into the forest distant from their hated rivals. In their cherished anger at being beaten, and to cover their shame, Leopard attacks a Goat when he meets him alone, or any other single beast known to be friendly to the Goats, e.g., Oxen or Antelopes.

TALE 7

WHY GOATS BECAME DOMESTIC

Persons

Tomba-Ya-Taba (Goat)
With Etoli, plural Betoli (Rat)
Vyâdu (Antelope, plural Lâdu)
Njâ (Leopard)
Ko (Wild-Rat)
Njâku (Elephant)
Mankind
Nyati (Ox)

Goat and his mother lived alone in their village. He said to her, "I have here a magic-medicine to strengthen one in wrestling. There is no one who can overcome me, or cast me down; I can overcome any other person."

The other Beasts heard of this boast; and they took up the challenge. First, house-Rats, hundreds of them, came to Goat's village, to test him. And they began the wrestling. He overcame them, one by one, to the number of two hundred. So, the Rats went back to their places, admitting that they were not able to overcome him.

Then, forest-Rat came to wrestle with Goat. He overcame them also, all of them. And they went back to their own place defeated.

Then, the Antelope came to wrestle with Goat. He overcame all the Antelopes, every one of them; not one was able to withstand him. And they also went back to their places.

Also, Elephant with all the elephants, came on that same challenge. Goat overcame all the Elephants; and they too, went back to their place.

Thus, all the Beasts came, in the same way, and were overcome in the same way, and went back in the same way.

But, there still remained one Beast, only one, Leopard, who had not made the attempt. So he said he would go; as he was sure he could overcome. He came. Goat overcame him also. So, it was proved that not a single beast could withstand Goat.

Then the Father of All-the-Leopards said, "I am ashamed that this Beast should overcome me. I will kill him!" And he made a plan to do so. He went to the spring where Mankind got their drinking-water. And he stood, hiding at the spring. Men of the town went to the spring to get water; Leopard killed two of them. The people went to tell Goat, "Go away from here, for Leopard is killing Mankind on your account." The Mother of Goat said to him, "If that is so, let us go to my brother Vyâdu." So they both went to go to Uncle Antelope. And they came to his village. When they told him their errand, he bravely said, "Remain here! Let me see Njâ come here with his audacity!"

They were then at Antelope's village, about two days. On the third day, about eight o'clock in the morning, Leopard came there as if for a walk. When Antelope saw him, Goat and his mother hid themselves; and Antelope asked Leopard, "What is your anger? Why are you angry with my nephew?"

At that very moment while Antelope was speaking, Leopard seized him on the ear. Antelope cried out, "What are you killing me for?" Leopard replied, "Show me the place where Tomba-Taba and his mother are." So, Antelope being afraid said, "Come tonight, and I will show you where they sleep. And you kill them; but don't kill me."

While he was saying this, Goat overheard, and said to his mother, "We must flee, lest Njâ kill us." So, at sun-down, that evening, Goat and his mother fled to the village of Elephant. About midnight, Leopard came to Antelope's village, according to appointment, and looked for Goat, but did not find him. Leopard went to all the houses of the village, and when he came to Antelope's own, in his disappointment, he killed him.

Leopard kept up his search, and followed to find where Goat had gone. Following the tracks, he came to the village of Elephant. When he arrived there, Elephant demanded, "What's the matter?" And the same conversation was held, as at Antelope's village, and the incidents happened as at that village, ending with Elephant's being killed by Leopard. For, Goat and his mother had fled, and had gone to the village of Ox.

Leopard followed, and came to Ox's village. There all the same things were said and done, as in the other villages, and ending with Goat and his mother fleeing, and Ox being killed.

Then, the mother, wearying of flight, and sorry at causing their entertainers to be killed, said, "My child! if we continue to flee to the villages of other beasts, Njâ will follow, and will kill them. Let us flee to the homes of Mankind."

So, they fled again, and came to the town of Man, and told him their story. He received them kindly. He took Goat and his mother as guests, and gave them a house to live in.

One time, at night, Leopard came to the town of Man, in pursuit of Goat. But Man said to Leopard, "Those Beasts whom you killed, failed to find a way in which to kill you. But, if you come here, we will find a way." So, that night, Leopard went back to his village.

On another day, Mankind began to make a big trap, with two rooms in it. They took Goat and put him in one room of the trap. Night came. Leopard left his village, still going to seek for Goat; and he came again to the town of Man. Leopard stood still, listened, and sniffed the air. He smelled the odor of Goat, and was glad, and said, "So! this night I will kill him!"

He saw an open way to a small house. He thought it was a door. He entered, and was caught in the trap. He could see Goat through the cracks in the wall, but could not get at him. Goat jeered at him, "My friend! you were about to kill me, but you are unable."

Daybreak came. And people of Man's town found Leopard in the trap, caught fast. They took machetes and guns, and killed him. Then Man said to Goat, "You shall not go back to the Forest; remain here always."

This is the reason that Goats like to live with mankind, through fear of Leopards.

TALE 8

IGWANA'S FORKED TONGUE

Persons

Ngâmbi (Igwana)
Njâ (Leopard)
Betoli (Rats)
Vyâdu (Antelope)
Iheli (Gazelle)
Ehibo (Red Antelope)

NOTE

Natives believe that the Igwana kills with its long tongue. This story assigns the fear of leopards as a reason why Igwanas like to live near water. Igwanas swim readily, while leopards (as all the cat-tribe) do not like even to wet their feet.

There were two friends, Igwana and Leopard, living in the same village, one at each end. Igwana had six wives; Leopard also had six. Leopard begot twenty children; Igwana had eight. One time, at night, they were sitting with their wives and children in the street, in a conversation. Leopard said to Igwana, "Ngâmbi! I have a word to say to you." Igwana said, "Speak."

Then Leopard said, "I wish you and me to have our food together." Igwana agreed, "Well." And Leopard arranged, "For two months, you shall come and eat in my house; and then, for two months, I at your house."

And they separated, to go to their houses for sleep.

Soon the night passed, and day broke.

Leopard went to the forest and killed an Antelope. He and Igwana and their families spent four days in eating it.

On another day, Leopard went to the forest and killed a Gazelle. It also was finished in four days.

And again, Leopard went to the forest, and killed a Red Antelope. They were occupied in eating it also four days.

So, they continued all the two months. Then Leopard said, "Ngâmbi! it is your time to begin the food." Igwana replied, "I have no wild meat, only vegetables."

On the following day, Igwana got ready his food and sent word for Leopard to come to eat. He came and ate, there being on the table only vegetables and salt. Then the day darkened; and, in the evening they all came together in one place, as usual. Leopard said to Igwana, "I began my turn with meats in my house, and you ate them. I cannot eat only vegetables and salt." Igwana explained, "I do not know the arts for killing beasts." Leopard told him, "Begin now to try the art of how to catch beasts." Igwana replied, "If I begin a plan for catching Beasts, that plan will be a dreadful one." Leopard exclaimed, "Good! begin!"

Igwana promised, "Tomorrow I will begin."

And they all went to their houses to sleep their sleep. The night passed, and day broke.

Igwana started out very early in the morning. On the way, he came to a big tree. He stood at its base, and, with a cord, he loosely tied his own hands and feet around the tree. Then he began to squeak as if in pain, "Hwa! hwa! hwa!" three times.

At that same time, a child of Leopard had gone wandering out into the forest. He found Igwana tied to the tree and crying. Igwana said to him, "Ah! my child! come near me, and untie me."

The child of Leopard came near to him; and then Igwana thrust his forked tongue into the nostrils of young leopard, and pulled his brains out, so that the child died. Then Igwana untied himself, skinned the young leopard, divided it, tied the pieces in a big bundle of leaves, and took them and the skin to the village. There he gave the meat to his wife, who put it in a pot. And he went to his house, and left the skin hanging in his bedroom.

Then when the meat was cooked, he sent word for Leopard to come and eat. Leopard came and sat down at the table, and they ate. As they were eating, Leopard said, "Ah! my friend! You said you did not know how to catch beasts! What is this fine meat?"

Igwana replied, "I am unable to tell you. Just you eat it." So, they ate, and finished eating. Igwana continued that way for two weeks, killing the young leopards.

At that Leopard said to himself, "I had begotten twenty children, but now I find only ten. Where are the other ten?" He asked his children where their brothers were. They answered that they did not know, "Perhaps they were lost in the forest." The while that Igwana was killing the young leopards, he had hidden their skins all in his bedroom.

On another day, Leopard and Igwana began a journey together to a place about forty miles distant. Before he started, Igwana closed his house, and said to his children, "Njâ and I are going on a journey; while I am away, do not let any one enter into my bedroom." And they two went together on their journey. They reached their journey's end, and were there for the duration of seven days. While they were gone, there was no one to get meat for their people, and there came on their village a great njangu (hunger for meat).

One of those days, in the village, so great was that famine that the children of Leopard were searching for rats for food. The rats ran away to the house of Igwana that was shut up; and the children of Leopard pursued. But the children of Igwana said to them, "Do not enter the house! Our father forbade it! Stop at the door-way!"

But the young leopards replied, "No! all the Betoli have run in there. We must follow." So, they broke down the door. There they found skins of young leopards, and they exclaimed, "So! indeed! Ngâmbi kills our brothers!" And two days later, the two fathers came back to the village.

The young igwanas told their father that the young leopards had broken the door, and found leopard-skins hanging inside. Igwana asked them, "Really? They saw?" The young igwanas answered, "Yes! they saw!" Then Igwana said, "Be on your guard! For, Njâ will be angry with me."

Also, the young leopards said to their father, "Paia! so it is that Ngâmbi killed our brothers. We saw their skins in his bedroom." Leopard asked, "Truly?" They answered, "Yes! we saw!" He said only, "Well, let it be."

On another day, Leopard said, "This night I will go to Ngâmbi to kill him and all his children." The wife of Igwana heard this, and told him, "Tonight, Njâ will come to kill you and our children." At this, Igwana said to himself "But! we must flee, I, and my children, and my wives!" So, they all went and hid in the water of a small stream.

Leopard came, in the dark of the morning, to Igwana's house, and entered it; but he saw no people, only the skins of his children. So he exclaimed, "At whatever place I shall see Ngâmbi, I will kill and eat him. We, he and I, have no more friendship!"

TALE 9

WHAT CAUSED THEIR DEATHS?

Persons

Mbwa (Dog)
Kudu (Tortoise)
Mbala (Squirrel)

NOTE

Dog and squirrel were of the same age, and they met with the same end. They each had an object of their special liking, the excessive use of which finally was the cause of their death.

Dog, Squirrel, Tortoise and others were living in one town. They all, at that time, ate of the same kind of food. But, they were at peace in that village during only two weeks. Then Squirrel and Dog said to Tortoise, "Let us divide, and have peace each at our separate villages. You, Kudu, and the others can stay at this spot if you like."

Squirrel said he would remove to a place about three miles distant north. Dog went about three miles in the opposite direction. So, each had his own little hamlet.

On another day, Squirrel said to his wife, "I am going on a journey to see my friend Mbwa." He started, came to Dog's place, and entered the house. Dog welcomed him, played with him, and killed a fowl for their dinner. With Squirrel had come one of his wives.

While the women were cooking inside the house, Dog and Squirrel were sitting in the ikenga (reception-room). They were conversing there. After awhile, Dog said to Squirrel "Excuse me, I will go to see about the food." He went inside, and lay down near the fire, and Squirrel was left alone.

Dog stayed there inside the house, until the food was cooked. Then he came out to his friend, and began to set the table, while the women came in with the food, and put it on the table. Dog drew up by the table ready to eat; and Squirrel also; and Squirrel's wife, and Dog's wife also, making four at the table.

During the eating, Squirrel said to Dog, "My friend! when you left me here in the ikenga, where did you go to, the while that the women were cooking the food?" Dog answered, "Ah! my friend, you know that I like fire very much. While we were talking here, you and I, cold seized me."

Then Squirrel said, "Ah! my friend, you like fire too much; I think you will die of fire some day."

They finished the food; and after that, Squirrel prepared his return journey to his village. And he said to Dog, "My friend Mbwa, how many days before you shall come to my place?" Dog answered, "In two days, then will I come."

So, Squirrel returned to his village. His wives and children told him the daily news of what had occurred in the village while he was away. And he told them about what he had seen at Dog's. And he added, "But, there is one thing I noticed; my friend Mbwa likes fire very much."

He waited the two days; Dog came on his visit; and Squirrel killed a fowl for his guest. And he bade his woman cook the fowl. In the meanwhile, Dog and Squirrel sat in the ikenga conversing. Presently Squirrel said to Dog, "Excuse me, I am going. I will return."

Squirrel went out into his garden, and climbed up a banana stalk, and began eating the ripe fruit at the top of the bunch. After awhile, he came down again. And he went into the ikenga to prepare the table for the food. When it was ready, Dog sat up at the table. With him were his wife, and Squirrel and Squirrel's wife.

Presently, Dog inquired of Squirrel, "My friend! when you left me sitting here alone, where did you go to?" Squirrel answered, "My friend! you know I like to eat bananas. So, I was up the tree," Then Dog said, "My friend! you love bananas too much; some day, you will die with them."

When they had finished their food, Dog said, "I am on my return to my village." So he returned thither. But he was arrived there only two days when he happened to fall into the fire-place. And he died in the fire. The news was carried to his friend Squirrel, "Your friend Mbwa is dead by fire." Squirrel replied, "Yes, I said so; for he loved fire too much."

On another day, in Man's town, a person went to look for food at his banana tree. And he saw that the fruit was eaten at the top, by some animal. So, that Man made a snare at the Banana tree. On the next day, Squirrel said to himself, "I'm going to eat my banana food wherever I shall find it."

He came to the town of Man, and climbed the tree. The snare caught and killed him; and he died there. The Man came and found the body of Squirrel; and he exclaimed "Good!"

The news was carried to the village of Squirrel's children, "Your father is dead, at a banana tree."

And they said, "Yes; for our father loved bananas very much. He had said that Mbwa would die by fire because he loved fire. And himself also loved bananas."

TALE 10

A QUARREL ABOUT SENIORITY

Persons

Ihendi (Squirrel)
And 2 children
Ikundu (Vengeance)
Ihana (Help)
Pe (Viper)
A Hunter

NOTE

This story suggests that when a neighbor flatters another, suspicion is raised that he is plotting some evil. Squirrel and the Adder professed great friendship; but their friendship was soon broken.

Claims of seniority are a constant cause of native quarrels.

A certain fetish-charm or "medicine" (generally poisonous) is supposed to be able to decide, on its being drunk by accused parties, as to their guilt or innocence.

There is a common belief in premonitions by unusual beats of the heart, or twitching of any muscle.

Squirrel and Adder were great friends, living in the same town. Each of them had two wives.

One day, in the afternoon, Squirrel and one of his wives went into the house of Adder. The latter said to his wife, "Make ready food." So, she made a great deal of food. Then he said to his friend Squirrel, "Come, eat!" But Squirrel said, "I won't eat alone without my wife." So he called his wife to eat. His wife came and ate at the table. Then he said to Adder, "Also, you call your wife to eat with us." So Adder's wife came. And Squirrel said to Adder, "Now let us eat; for, everything is right." So they began to eat.