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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:08:05 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:08:05 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37472-8.txt b/37472-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c52b3f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/37472-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3599 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Zanzibar Tales, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zanzibar Tales + Told by natives of the East Coast of Africa + +Author: Various + +Illustrator: Walter Bobbett + +Translator: George W. Bateman + +Release Date: September 18, 2011 [EBook #37472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + ZANZIBAR TALES + Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa + + + Translated from the Original Swahili + By + GEORGE W. BATEMAN + + + Illustrated by WALTER BOBBETT + + + + Chicago + A. C. McClurg & Co. + 1901. + + + + + + + +TO MY READERS. + + +Thirty years ago Central Africa was what people who are fond of airing +their learning would call a terra incognita. To-day its general +characteristics are pretty well known. Then, as now, the little +island of Zanzibar, situated just south of the equator, on the east +coast, was the starting place of all expeditions into the interior, +and Unguja (pronounced Oon-goo'jah), the big town of that island, the +place where the preparations for plunging into the unknown were made. + +At that period these expeditions consisted, almost without exception, +of caravans loaded with beads and cotton cloth, which were exchanged +among the inland tribes for elephants' tusks and slaves--for Unguja +boasted the only, and the last, open slave-market in the world then. + +The few exceptions were a would-be discoverer now and then, or a +party of rich white men going to hunt "big game;" that is, travelling +hundreds--aye, thousands--of miles, and enduring many hardships, +for the momentary pleasure of holding a gun in such a position that +when they pulled the trigger the bullet hit such a prominent mark as +an elephant or a lion, which was living in its natural surroundings +and interfering with no one. + +Between you and me, I don't mind remarking that many of their +expeditions ended, on their return to Unguja, in the purchase of a +few elephants' tusks and wild animal skins in the bazaars of that +thriving city, after the method pursued by unsuccessful anglers in +civilized countries. + +But even the most successful of these hunters, by reason of having +followed the few beaten paths known to their guides, never came +within miles of such wonderful animals as those described by the +tribesmen from the very center of the dark continent. If you have +read any accounts of adventure in Africa, you will know that travelers +never mention animals of any kind that are gifted with the faculty of +speech, or gazelles that are overseers for native princes, or hares +that eat flesh. No, indeed; only the native-born know of these; and, +judging by the immense and rapid strides civilization is making in +those parts, it will not be long before such wonderful specimens of +zoölogy will be as extinct as the ichthyosaurus, dinornis, and other +poor creatures who never dreamed of the awful names that would be +applied to them when they were too long dead to show their resentment. + +As to the truth of these tales, I can only say that they were told +to me, in Zanzibar, by negroes whose ancestors told them to them, +who had received them from their ancestors, and so back; so that the +praise for their accuracy, or the blame for their falsity, lies with +the first ancestor who set them going. + +You may think uncivilized negroes are pretty ignorant people, but the +white man who is supposed to have first told the story of "The House +that Jack Built" was a mighty poor genius compared with the unknown +originator of "Goso, the Teacher," who found even inanimate things +that were endowed with speech, which the pupils readily understood and +were not astonished to hear; while "Puss in Boots" was not one-half +so clever as the gazelle that ran things for Haamdaanee. It would be a +severe task to rattle off "Goso" as you do "The House that Jack Built." + +Don't stumble over the names in these tales; they are very easy. Every +one is pronounced exactly as it is spelled, and the accent is always on +the last syllable but one; as, Poon'dah, the donkey; Haam-daa'nee, etc. + +Finally, if the perusal of these tales interests you as much as +their narration and translation interested me, everything will be +satisfactory. + + + GEORGE W. BATEMAN. + + Chicago, August 1, 1901. + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + To my Readers 5 + I. The Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman's Donkey 17 + II. The Hare and the Lion 31 + III. The Lion, the Hyena, and the Rabbit 47 + IV. The Kites and the Crows 57 + V. Goso, the Teacher 67 + VI. The Ape, the Snake, and the Lion 81 + VII. Haamdaanee 99 + VIII. Mkaaah Jeechonee, the Boy Hunter 155 + IX. The Magician and the Sultan's Son 183 + X. The Physician's Son and the King of the Snakes 197 + + + + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + "Throw me some food, my friend" 18 + "Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask your hand in marriage" 23 + Bookoo and the hare started off immediately 33 + Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion was + looking up 35 + The lion continued rubbing on a piece of rock 39 + The lion, the hyena, and the rabbit go in for a little + farming 49 + Said the hyena, "I'm thinking" 51 + "I should say not" 59 + They found him lying down 63 + When they found the gazelle they beat it 75 + "Mother, we are always hungry" 83 + "Where are you going, son of Adam?" 89 + Neeoka filled the bag with chains of gold and silver 93 + Dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the + sultan's lap 115 + The gazelle wept with the old woman 147 + They crept cautiously through the bushes 167 + They camped for the night 173 + The magician gave the youth all the keys 185 + Right into the big pot! 191 + "I scared him away" 215 + + + + + + + +ZANZIBAR TALES. + + +I. + +THE MONKEY, THE SHARK, AND THE WASHERMAN'S DONKEY. + + +Once upon a time Kee'ma, the monkey, and Pa'pa, the shark, became +great friends. + +The monkey lived in an immense mkooyoo tree which grew by the margin +of the sea--half of its branches being over the water and half over +the land. + +Every morning, when the monkey was breakfasting on the kooyoo nuts, +the shark would put in an appearance under the tree and call out, +"Throw me some food, my friend;" with which request the monkey complied +most willingly. + +This continued for many months, until one day Papa said, "Keema, +you have done me many kindnesses: I would like you to go with me to +my home, that I may repay you." + +"How can I go?" said the monkey; "we land beasts can not go about in +the water." + +"Don't trouble yourself about that," replied the shark; "I will carry +you. Not a drop of water shall get to you." + +"Oh, all right, then," said Mr. Keema; "let's go." + +When they had gone about half-way the shark stopped, and said: +"You are my friend. I will tell you the truth." + +"Why, what is there to tell?" asked the monkey, with surprise. + +"Well, you see, the fact is that our sultan is very sick, and we +have been told that the only medicine that will do him any good is +a monkey's heart." + +"Well," exclaimed Keema, "you were very foolish not to tell me that +before we started!" + +"How so?" asked Papa. + +But the monkey was busy thinking up some means of saving himself, +and made no reply. + +"Well?" said the shark, anxiously; "why don't you speak?" + +"Oh, I've nothing to say now. It's too late. But if you had told me +this before we started, I might have brought my heart with me." + +"What? haven't you your heart here?" + +"Huh!" ejaculated Keema; "don't you know about us? When we go out we +leave our hearts in the trees, and go about with only our bodies. But +I see you don't believe me. You think I'm scared. Come on; let's go +to your home, where you can kill me and search for my heart in vain." + +The shark did believe him, though, and exclaimed, "Oh, no; let's go +back and get your heart." + +"Indeed, no," protested Keema; "let us go on to your home." + +But the shark insisted that they should go back, get the heart, +and start afresh. + +At last, with great apparent reluctance, the monkey consented, +grumbling sulkily at the unnecessary trouble he was being put to. + +When they got back to the tree, he climbed up in a great hurry, +calling out, "Wait there, Papa, my friend, while I get my heart, +and we'll start off properly next time." + +When he had got well up among the branches, he sat down and kept +quite still. + +After waiting what he considered a reasonable length of time, the +shark called, "Come along, Keema!" But Keema just kept still and +said nothing. + +In a little while he called again: "Oh, Keema! let's be going." + +At this the monkey poked his head out from among the upper branches +and asked, in great surprise, "Going? Where?" + +"To my home, of course." + +"Are you mad?" queried Keema. + +"Mad? Why, what do you mean?" cried Papa. + +"What's the matter with you?" said the monkey. "Do you take me for +a washerman's donkey?" + +"What peculiarity is there about a washerman's donkey?" + +"It is a creature that has neither heart nor ears." + +The shark, his curiosity overcoming his haste, thereupon begged to +be told the story of the washerman's donkey, which the monkey related +as follows: + +"A washerman owned a donkey, of which he was very fond. One day, +however, it ran away, and took up its abode in the forest, where it +led a lazy life, and consequently grew very fat. + +"At length Soongoo'ra, the hare, by chance passed that way, and saw +Poon'da, the donkey. + +"Now, the hare is the most cunning of all beasts--if you look at +his mouth you will see that he is always talking to himself about +everything. + +"So when Soongoora saw Poonda he said to himself, 'My, this donkey +is fat!' Then he went and told Sim'ba, the lion. + +"As Simba was just recovering from a severe illness, he was still so +weak that he could not go hunting. He was consequently pretty hungry. + +"Said Mr. Soongoora, 'I'll bring enough meat to-morrow for both of +us to have a great feast, but you'll have to do the killing.' + +"'All right, good friend,' exclaimed Simba, joyfully; 'you're very +kind.' + +"So the hare scampered off to the forest, found the donkey, and said +to her, in his most courtly manner, 'Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask +your hand in marriage.' + +"'By whom?' simpered the donkey. + +"'By Simba, the lion.' + +"The donkey was greatly elated at this, and exclaimed: 'Let's go at +once. This is a first-class offer.' + +"They soon arrived at the lion's home, were cordially invited in, +and sat down. Soongoora gave Simba a signal with his eyebrow, to +the effect that this was the promised feast, and that he would wait +outside. Then he said to Poonda: 'I must leave you for a while to +attend to some private business. You stay here and converse with your +husband that is to be.' + +"As soon as Soongoora got outside, the lion sprang at Poonda, and +they had a great fight. Simba was kicked very hard, and he struck +with his claws as well as his weak health would permit him. At last +the donkey threw the lion down, and ran away to her home in the forest. + +"Shortly after, the hare came back, and called, 'Haya! Simba! have +you got it?' + +"'I have not got it,' growled the lion; 'she kicked me and ran away; +but I warrant you I made her feel pretty sore, though I'm not strong.' + +"'Oh, well,' remarked Soongoora; 'don't put yourself out of the way +about it.' + +"Then Soongoora waited many days, until the lion and the donkey +were both well and strong, when he said: 'What do you think now, +Simba? Shall I bring you your meat?' + +"'Ay,' growled the lion, fiercely; 'bring it to me. I'll tear it in +two pieces!' + +"So the hare went off to the forest, where the donkey welcomed him +and asked the news. + +"'You are invited to call again and see your lover,' said Soongoora. + +"'Oh, dear!' cried Poonda; 'that day you took me to him he scratched +me awfully. I'm afraid to go near him now.' + +"'Ah, pshaw!' said Soongoora; 'that's nothing. That's only Simba's +way of caressing.' + +"'Oh, well,' said the donkey, 'let's go.' + +"So off they started again; but as soon as the lion caught sight of +Poonda he sprang upon her and tore her in two pieces. + +"When the hare came up, Simba said to him: 'Take this meat and roast +it. As for myself, all I want is the heart and ears.' + +"'Thanks,' said Soongoora. Then he went away and roasted the meat in +a place where the lion could not see him, and he took the heart and +ears and hid them. Then he ate all the meat he needed, and put the +rest away. + +"Presently the lion came to him and said, 'Bring me the heart and +ears.' + +"'Where are they?' said the hare. + +"'What does this mean?' growled Simba. + +"'Why, didn't you know this was a washerman's donkey?' + +"'Well, what's that to do with there being no heart or ears?' + +"'For goodness' sake, Simba, aren't you old enough to know that if +this beast had possessed a heart and ears it wouldn't have come back +the second time?' + +"Of course the lion had to admit that what Soongoora, the hare, +said was true. + +"And now," said Keema to the shark, "you want to make a washerman's +donkey of me. Get out of there, and go home by yourself. You are not +going to get me again, and our friendship is ended. Good-bye, Papa." + + + + + + + +II. + +THE HARE AND THE LION. + + +One day Soongoo'ra, the hare, roaming through the forest in search +of food, glanced up through the boughs of a very large calabash tree, +and saw that a great hole in the upper part of the trunk was inhabited +by bees; thereupon he returned to town in search of some one to go +with him and help to get the honey. + +As he was passing the house of Boo'koo, the big rat, that worthy +gentleman invited him in. So he went in, sat down, and remarked: +"My father has died, and has left me a hive of honey. I would like +you to come and help me to eat it." + +Of course Bookoo jumped at the offer, and he and the hare started +off immediately. + +When they arrived at the great calabash tree, Soongoora pointed out +the bees' nest and said, "Go on; climb up." So, taking some straw with +them, they climbed up to the nest, lit the straw, smoked out the bees, +put out the fire, and set to work eating the honey. + +In the midst of the feast, who should appear at the foot of the tree +but Sim'ba, the lion? Looking up, and seeing them eating, he asked, +"Who are you?" + +Then Soongoora whispered to Bookoo, "Hold your tongue; that old +fellow is crazy." But in a very little while Simba roared out angrily: +"Who are you, I say? Speak, I tell you!" This made Bookoo so scared +that he blurted out, "It's only us!" + +Upon this the hare said to him: "You just wrap me up in this straw, +call to the lion to keep out of the way, and then throw me down. Then +you'll see what will happen." + +So Bookoo, the big rat, wrapped Soongoora, the hare, in the straw, +and then called to Simba, the lion, "Stand back; I'm going to throw +this straw down, and then I'll come down myself." When Simba stepped +back out of the way, Bookoo threw down the straw, and as it lay on the +ground Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion was looking up. + +After waiting a minute or two, Simba roared out, "Well, come down, +I say!" and, there being no help for it, the big rat came down. + +As soon as he was within reach, the lion caught hold of him, and asked, +"Who was up there with you?" + +"Why," said Bookoo, "Soongoora, the hare. Didn't you see him when I +threw him down?" + +"Of course I didn't see him," replied the lion, in an incredulous +tone, and, without wasting further time, he ate the big rat, and then +searched around for the hare, but could not find him. + +Three days later, Soongoora called on his acquaintance, Ko'bay, +the tortoise, and said to him, "Let us go and eat some honey." + +"Whose honey?" inquired Kobay, cautiously. + +"My father's," Soongoora replied. + +"Oh, all right; I'm with you," said the tortoise, eagerly; and away +they went. + +When they arrived at the great calabash tree they climbed up with +their straw, smoked out the bees, sat down, and began to eat. + +Just then Mr. Simba, who owned the honey, came out again, and, +looking up, inquired, "Who are you, up there?" + +Soongoora whispered to Kobay, "Keep quiet;" but when the lion repeated +his question angrily, Kobay became suspicious, and said: "I will +speak. You told me this honey was yours; am I right in suspecting +that it belongs to Simba?" + +So, when the lion asked again, "Who are you?" he answered, "It's only +us." The lion said, "Come down, then;" and the tortoise answered, +"We're coming." + +Now, Simba had been keeping an eye open for Soongoora since the day +he caught Bookoo, the big rat, and, suspecting that he was up there +with Kobay, he said to himself, "I've got him this time, sure." + +Seeing that they were caught again, Soongoora said to the tortoise: +"Wrap me up in the straw, tell Simba to stand out of the way, and then +throw me down. I'll wait for you below. He can't hurt you, you know." + +"All right," said Kobay; but while he was wrapping the hare up he +said to himself: "This fellow wants to run away, and leave me to +bear the lion's anger. He shall get caught first." Therefore, when he +had bundled him up, he called out, "Soongoora is coming!" and threw +him down. + +So Simba caught the hare, and, holding him with his paw, said, "Now, +what shall I do with you?" The hare replied, "It's of no use for you +to try to eat me; I'm awfully tough." "What would be the best thing +to do with you, then?" asked Simba. + +"I think," said Soongoora, "you should take me by the tail, whirl +me around, and knock me against the ground. Then you may be able to +eat me." + +So the lion, being deceived, took him by the tail and whirled him +around, but just as he was going to knock him on the ground he slipped +out of his grasp and ran away, and Simba had the mortification of +losing him again. + +Angry and disappointed, he turned to the tree and called to Kobay, +"You come down, too." + +When the tortoise reached the ground, the lion said, "You're pretty +hard; what can I do to make you eatable?" + +"Oh, that's easy," laughed Kobay; "just put me in the mud and rub my +back with your paw until my shell comes off." + +Immediately on hearing this, Simba carried Kobay to the water, placed +him in the mud, and began, as he supposed, to rub his back; but the +tortoise had slipped away, and the lion continued rubbing on a piece +of rock until his paws were raw. When he glanced down at them he saw +they were bleeding, and, realizing that he had again been outwitted, +he said, "Well, the hare has done me to-day, but I'll go hunting now +until I find him." + +So Simba, the lion, set out immediately in search of Soongoora, +the hare, and as he went along he inquired of every one he met, +"Where is the house of Soongoora?" But each person he asked answered, +"I do not know." For the hare had said to his wife, "Let us remove +from this house." Therefore the folks in that neighborhood had no +knowledge of his whereabouts. Simba, however, went along, continuing +his inquiries, until presently one answered, "That is his house on +the top of the mountain." + +Without loss of time the lion climbed the mountain, and soon arrived at +the place indicated, only to find that there was no one at home. This, +however, did not trouble him; on the contrary, saying to himself, "I'll +hide myself inside, and when Soongoora and his wife come home I'll eat +them both," he entered the house and lay down, awaiting their arrival. + +Pretty soon along came the hare with his wife, not thinking of any +danger; but he very soon discovered the marks of the lion's paws +on the steep path. Stopping at once, he said to Mrs. Soongoora: +"You go back, my dear. Simba, the lion, has passed this way, and I +think he must be looking for me." + +But she replied, "I will not go back; I will follow you, my husband." + +Although greatly pleased at this proof of his wife's affection, +Soongoora said firmly: "No, no; you have friends to go to. Go back." + +So he persuaded her, and she went back; but he kept on, following the +footmarks, and saw--as he had suspected--that they went into his house. + +"Ah!" said he to himself, "Mr. Lion is inside, is he?" Then, +cautiously going back a little way, he called out: "How d'ye do, +house? How d'ye do?" Waiting a moment, he remarked loudly: "Well, +this is very strange! Every day, as I pass this place, I say, 'How +d'ye do, house?' and the house always answers, 'How d'ye do?' There +must be some one inside to-day." + +When the lion heard this he called out, "How d'ye do?" + +Then Soongoora burst out laughing, and shouted: "Oho, Mr. Simba! You're +inside, and I'll bet you want to eat me; but first tell me where you +ever heard of a house talking!" + +Upon this the lion, seeing how he had been fooled, replied angrily, +"You wait until I get hold of you; that's all." + +"Oh, I think you'll have to do the waiting," cried the hare; and then +he ran away, the lion following. + +But it was of no use. Soongoora completely tired out old Simba, who, +saying, "That rascal has beaten me; I don't want to have anything more +to do with him," returned to his home under the great calabash tree. + + + + + + + +III. + +THE LION, THE HYENA, AND THE RABBIT. + + +Once upon a time Sim'ba, the lion, Fee'see, the hyena, and Keetee'tee, +the rabbit, made up their minds to go in for a little farming. So +they went into the country, made a garden, planted all kinds of seeds, +and then came home and rested quite a while. + +Then, when the time came when their crops should be about ripe and +ready for harvesting, they began to say to each other, "Let's go over +to the farm, and see how our crops are coming along." + +So one morning, early, they started, and, as the garden was a long way +off, Keeteetee, the rabbit, made this proposition: "While we are going +to the farm, let us not stop on the road; and if any one does stop, +let him be eaten." His companions, not being so cunning as he, and +knowing they could outwalk him, readily consented to this arrangement. + +Well, off they went; but they had not gone very far when the rabbit +stopped. + +"Hullo!" said Feesee, the hyena; "Keeteetee has stopped. He must +be eaten." + +"That's the bargain," agreed Simba, the lion. + +"Well," said the rabbit, "I happened to be thinking." + +"What about?" cried his partners, with great curiosity. + +"I'm thinking," said he, with a grave, philosophical air, "about those +two stones, one big and one little; the little one does not go up, +nor does the big one go down." + +The lion and the hyena, having stopped to look at the stones, could +only say, "Why, really, it's singular; but it's just as you say;" +and they all resumed their journey, the rabbit being by this time +well rested. + +When they had gone some distance the rabbit stopped again. + +"Aha!" said Feesee; "Keeteetee has stopped again. Now he must be +eaten." + +"I rather think so," assented Simba. + +"Well," said the rabbit, "I was thinking again." + +Their curiosity once more aroused, his comrades begged him to tell +them his think. + +"Why," said he, "I was thinking this: When people like us put on new +coats, where do the old ones go to?" + +Both Simba and Feesee, having stopped a moment to consider the matter, +exclaimed together, "Well, I wonder!" and the three went on, the +rabbit having again had a good rest. + +After a little while the hyena, thinking it about time to show off +a little of his philosophy, suddenly stopped. + +"Here," growled Simba, "this won't do; I guess we'll have to eat +you, Feesee." + +"Oh, no," said the hyena; "I'm thinking." + +"What are you thinking about?" they inquired. + +"I'm thinking about nothing at all," said he, imagining himself very +smart and witty. + +"Ah, pshaw!" cried Keeteetee; "we won't be fooled that way." + +So he and Simba ate the hyena. + +When they had finished eating their friend, the lion and the rabbit +proceeded on their way, and presently came to a place where there +was a cave, and here the rabbit stopped. + +"H'm!" ejaculated Simba; "I'm not so hungry as I was this morning, +but I guess I'll have to find room for you, little Keeteetee." + +"Oh, I believe not," replied Keeteetee; "I'm thinking again." + +"Well," said the lion, "what is it this time?" + +Said the rabbit: "I'm thinking about that cave. In olden times our +ancestors used to go in here, and go out there, and I think I'll try +and follow in their footsteps." + +So he went in at one end and out at the other end several times. + +Then he said to the lion, "Simba, old fellow, let's see you try to +do that;" and the lion went into the cave, but he stuck fast, and +could neither go forward nor back out. + +In a moment Keeteetee was on Simba's back, and began eating him. + +After a little time the lion cried, "Oh, brother, be impartial; +come and eat some of the front part of me." + +But the rabbit replied, "Indeed, I can't come around in front; I'm +ashamed to look you in the face." + +So, having eaten all he was able to, he left the lion there, and went +and became sole owner of the farm and its crops. + + + + + + + +IV. + +THE KITES AND THE CROWS. + + +One day Koongoo'roo, sultan of the crows, sent a letter to Mway'way, +sultan of the kites, containing these few words: "I want you folks +to be my soldiers." + +To this brief message Mwayway at once wrote this short reply: +"I should say not." + +Thereupon, thinking to scare Mwayway, the sultan of the crows sent +him word, "If you refuse to obey me I'll make war upon you." + +To which the sultan of the kites replied, "That suits me; let us fight, +and if you beat us we will obey you, but if we are victors you shall +be our servants." + +So they gathered their forces and engaged in a great battle, and in a +little while it became evident that the crows were being badly beaten. + +As it appeared certain that, if something were not done pretty +quickly, they would all be killed, one old crow, named Jeeoo'see, +suddenly proposed that they should fly away. + +Directly the suggestion was made it was acted upon, and the crows left +their homes and flew far away, where they set up another town. So, +when the kites entered the place, they found no one there, and they +took up their residence in Crowtown. + +One day, when the crows had gathered in council, Koongooroo stood up +and said: "My people, do as I command you, and all will be well. Pluck +out some of my feathers and throw me into the town of the kites; +then come back and stay here until you hear from me." + +Without argument or questioning the crows obeyed their sultan's +command. + +Koongooroo had lain in the street but a short time, when some passing +kites saw him and inquired threateningly, "What are you doing here +in our town?" + +With many a moan he replied, "My companions have beaten me and turned +me out of their town because I advised them to obey Mwayway, sultan +of the kites." + +When they heard this they picked him up and took him before the sultan, +to whom they said, "We found this fellow lying in the street, and +he attributes his involuntary presence in our town to so singular a +circumstance that we thought you should hear his story." + +Koongooroo was then bidden to repeat his statement, which he did, +adding the remark that, much as he had suffered, he still held to +his opinion that Mwayway was his rightful sultan. + +This, of course, made a very favorable impression, and the sultan said, +"You have more sense than all the rest of your tribe put together; +I guess you can stay here and live with us." + +So Koongooroo, expressing much gratitude, settled down, apparently, +to spend the remainder of his life with the kites. + +One day his neighbors took him to church with them, and when they +returned home they asked him, "Who have the best kind of religion, +the kites or the crows?" + +To which crafty old Koongooroo replied, with great enthusiasm, "Oh, +the kites, by long odds!" + +This answer tickled the kites like anything, and Koongooroo was looked +upon as a bird of remarkable discernment. + +When almost another week had passed, the sultan of the crows slipped +away in the night, went to his own town, and called his people +together. + +"To-morrow," said he, "is the great annual religious festival of +the kites, and they will all go to church in the morning. Go, now, +and get some wood and some fire, and wait near their town until I +call you; then come quickly and set fire to the church." + +Then he hurried back to Mwayway's town. + +The crows were very busy indeed all that night, and by dawn they had +an abundance of wood and fire at hand, and were lying in wait near +the town of their victorious enemies. + +So in the morning every kite went to church. There was not one person +left at home except old Koongooroo. + +When his neighbors called for him they found him lying +down. "Why!" they exclaimed with surprise, "are you not going to +church to-day?" + +"Oh," said he, "I wish I could; but my stomach aches so badly I can't +move!" And he groaned dreadfully. + +"Ah, poor fellow!" said they; "you will be better in bed;" and they +left him to himself. + +As soon as everybody was out of sight he flew swiftly to his soldiers +and cried, "Come on; they're all in the church." + +Then they all crept quickly but quietly to the church, and while some +piled wood about the door, others applied fire. + +The wood caught readily, and the fire was burning fiercely before the +kites were aware of their danger; but when the church began to fill +with smoke, and tongues of flame shot through the cracks, they tried +to escape through the windows. The greater part of them, however, +were suffocated, or, having their wings singed, could not fly away, +and so were burned to death, among them their sultan, Mwayway; and +Koongooroo and his crows got their old town back again. + +From that day to this the kites fly away from the crows. + + + + + + + +V. + +GOSO, THE TEACHER. + + +Once there was a man named Go'so, who taught children to read, +not in a schoolhouse, but under a calabash tree. One evening, while +Goso was sitting under the tree deep in the study of the next day's +lessons, Paa, the gazelle, climbed up the tree very quietly to steal +some fruit, and in so doing shook off a calabash, which, in falling, +struck the teacher on the head and killed him. + +When his scholars came in the morning and found their teacher lying +dead, they were filled with grief; so, after giving him a decent +burial, they agreed among themselves to find the one who had killed +Goso, and put him to death. + +After talking the matter over they came to the conclusion that the +south wind was the offender. + +So they caught the south wind and beat it. + +But the south wind cried: "Here! I am Koo'see, the south wind. Why +are you beating me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Koosee; it was you who threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it." + +But Koosee said, "If I were so powerful would I be stopped by a +mud wall?" + +So they went to the mud wall and beat it. + +But the mud wall cried: "Here! I am Keeyambaa'za, the mud wall. Why +are you beating me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Keeyambaaza; it was you who +stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it." + +But Keeyambaaza said, "If I were so powerful would I be bored through +by the rat?" + +So they went and caught the rat and beat it. + +But the rat cried: "Here! I am Paan'ya, the rat. Why are you beating +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paanya; it was you who bored +through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south +wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck +our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Paanya said, "If I were so powerful would I be eaten by a cat?" + +So they hunted for the cat, caught it, and beat it. + +But the cat cried: "Here! I am Paa'ka, the cat. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paaka; it is you that eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Paaka said, "If I were so powerful would I be tied by a rope?" + +So they took the rope and beat it. + +But the rope cried: "Here! I am Kaam'ba, the rope. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Kaamba; it is you that ties Paaka, +the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, +the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the +south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You +should not have done it." + +But Kaamba said, "If I were so powerful would I be cut by a knife?" + +So they took the knife and beat it. + +But the knife cried: "Here! I am Kee'soo, the knife. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Keesoo; you cut Kaamba, the rope; +that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; +and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our +teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Keesoo said, "If I were so powerful would I be burned by the fire?" + +And they went and beat the fire. + +But the fire cried: "Here! I am Mo'to, the fire. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Moto; you burn Keesoo, the knife; +that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Moto said, "If I were so powerful would I be put out by water?" + +And they went to the water and beat it. + +But the water cried: "Here! I am Maa'jee, the water. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Maajee; you put out Moto, the +fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that +ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; +and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our +teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Maajee said, "If I were so powerful would I be drunk by the ox?" + +And they went to the ox and beat it. + +But the ox cried: "Here! I am Ng'om'bay, the ox. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Ng'ombay; you drink Maajee, the +water; that puts out Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; +that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Ng'ombay said, "If I were so powerful would I be tormented by +the fly?" + +And they caught a fly and beat it. + +But the fly cried: "Here! I am Een'zee, the fly. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Eenzee; you torment Ng'ombay, the +ox; who drinks Maajee, the water; that puts out Moto, the fire; that +burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, +the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, +the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the +south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You +should not have done it." + +But Eenzee said, "If I were so powerful would I be eaten by the +gazelle?" + +And they searched for the gazelle, and when they found it they beat it. + +But the gazelle said: "Here! I am Paa, the gazelle. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paa; you eat Eenzee, the fly; +that torments Ng'ombay, the ox; who drinks Maajee, the water; that +puts out Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts +Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; +who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, +the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash +that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +The gazelle, through surprise at being found out and fear of the +consequences of his accidental killing of the teacher, while engaged +in stealing, was struck dumb. + +Then the scholars said: "Ah! he hasn't a word to say for himself. This +is the fellow who threw down the calabash that struck our teacher +Goso. We will kill him." + +So they killed Paa, the gazelle, and avenged the death of their +teacher. + + + + + + + +VI. + +THE APE, THE SNAKE, AND THE LION. + + +Long, long ago there lived, in a village called Keejee'jee, a woman +whose husband died, leaving her with a little baby boy. She worked +hard all day to get food for herself and child, but they lived very +poorly and were most of the time half-starved. + +When the boy, whose name was 'Mvoo' Laa'na, began to get big, he said +to his mother, one day: "Mother, we are always hungry. What work did +my father do to support us?" + +His mother replied: "Your father was a hunter. He set traps, and we +ate what he caught in them." + +"Oho!" said 'Mvoo Laana; "that's not work; that's fun. I, too, will +set traps, and see if we can't get enough to eat." + +The next day he went into the forest and cut branches from the trees, +and returned home in the evening. + +The second day he spent making the branches into traps. + +The third day he twisted cocoanut fiber into ropes. + +The fourth day he set up as many traps as time would permit. + +The fifth day he set up the remainder of the traps. + +The sixth day he went to examine the traps, and they had caught so +much game, beside what they needed for themselves, that he took a +great quantity to the big town of Oongoo'ja, where he sold it and +bought corn and other things, and the house was full of food; and, as +this good fortune continued, he and his mother lived very comfortably. + +But after a while, when he went to his traps he found nothing in them +day after day. + +One morning, however, he found that an ape had been caught in one of +the traps, and he was about to kill it, when it said: "Son of Adam, +I am Neea'nee, the ape; do not kill me. Take me out of this trap and +let me go. Save me from the rain, that I may come and save you from +the sun some day." + +So 'Mvoo Laana took him out of the trap and let him go. + +When Neeanee had climbed up in a tree, he sat on a branch and said +to the youth: "For your kindness I will give you a piece of advice: +Believe me, men are all bad. Never do a good turn for a man; if you +do, he will do you harm at the first opportunity." + +The second day, 'Mvoo Laana found a snake in the same trap. He +started to the village to give the alarm, but the snake shouted: +"Come back, son of Adam; don't call the people from the village to +come and kill me. I am Neeo'ka, the snake. Let me out of this trap, +I pray you. Save me from the rain to-day, that I may be able to save +you from the sun to-morrow, if you should be in need of help." + +So the youth let him go; and as he went he said, "I will return your +kindness if I can, but do not trust any man; if you do him a kindness +he will do you an injury in return at the first opportunity." + +The third day, 'Mvoo Laana found a lion in the same trap that had +caught the ape and the snake, and he was afraid to go near it. But +the lion said: "Don't run away; I am Sim'ba Kong'way, the very old +lion. Let me out of this trap, and I will not hurt you. Save me from +the rain, that I may save you from the sun if you should need help." + +So 'Mvoo Laana believed him and let him out of the trap, and Simba +Kongway, before going his way, said: "Son of Adam, you have been kind +to me, and I will repay you with kindness if I can; but never do a +kindness to a man, or he will pay you back with unkindness." + +The next day a man was caught in the same trap, and when the youth +released him, he repeatedly assured him that he would never forget the +service he had done him in restoring his liberty and saving his life. + +Well, it seemed that he had caught all the game that could be taken +in traps, and 'Mvoo Laana and his mother were hungry every day, with +nothing to satisfy them, as they had been before. At last he said to +his mother, one day: "Mother, make me seven cakes of the little meal +we have left, and I will go hunting with my bow and arrows." So she +baked him the cakes, and he took them and his bow and arrows and went +into the forest. + +The youth walked and walked, but could see no game, and finally he +found that he had lost his way, and had eaten all his cakes but one. + +And he went on and on, not knowing whether he was going away from +his home or toward it, until he came to the wildest and most desolate +looking wood he had ever seen. He was so wretched and tired that he +felt he must lie down and die, when suddenly he heard some one calling +him, and looking up he saw Neeanee, the ape, who said, "Son of Adam, +where are you going?" + +"I don't know," replied 'Mvoo Laana, sadly; "I'm lost." + +"Well, well," said the ape; "don't worry. Just sit down here and +rest yourself until I come back, and I will repay with kindness the +kindness you once showed me." + +Then Neeanee went away off to some gardens and stole a whole lot of +ripe paw-paws and bananas, and brought them to 'Mvoo Laana, and said: +"Here's plenty of food for you. Is there anything else you want? Would +you like a drink?" And before the youth could answer he ran off with a +calabash and brought it back full of water. So the youth ate heartily, +and drank all the water he needed, and then each said to the other, +"Good-bye, till we meet again," and went their separate ways. + +When 'Mvoo Laana had walked a great deal farther without finding +which way he should go, he met Simba Kongway, who asked, "Where are +you going, son of Adam?" + +And the youth answered, as dolefully as before, "I don't know; +I'm lost." + +"Come, cheer up," said the very old lion, "and rest yourself here a +little. I want to repay with kindness to-day the kindness you showed +me on a former day." + +So 'Mvoo Laana sat down. Simba Kongway went away, but soon returned +with some game he had caught, and then he brought some fire, and the +young man cooked the game and ate it. When he had finished he felt a +great deal better, and they bade each other good-bye for the present, +and each went his way. + +After he had traveled another very long distance the youth came to +a farm, and was met by a very, very old woman, who said to him: +"Stranger, my husband has been taken very sick, and I am looking +for some one to make him some medicine. Won't you make it?" But he +answered: "My good woman, I am not a doctor, I am a hunter, and never +used medicine in my life. I can not help you." + +When he came to the road leading to the principal city he saw a well, +with a bucket standing near it, and he said to himself: "That's just +what I want. I'll take a drink of nice well-water. Let me see if the +water can be reached." + +As he peeped over the edge of the well, to see if the water was high +enough, what should he behold but a great big snake, which, directly +it saw him, said, "Son of Adam, wait a moment." Then it came out of +the well and said: "How? Don't you know me?" + +"I certainly do not," said the youth, stepping back a little. + +"Well, well!" said the snake; "I could never forget you. I am Neeoka, +whom you released from the trap. You know I said, 'Save me from the +rain, and I will save you from the sun.' Now, you are a stranger in +the town to which you are going; therefore hand me your little bag, +and I will place in it the things that will be of use to you when +you arrive there." + +So 'Mvoo Laana gave Neeoka the little bag, and he filled it with +chains of gold and silver, and told him to use them freely for his +own benefit. Then they parted very cordially. + +When the youth reached the city, the first man he met was he whom +he had released from the trap, who invited him to go home with him, +which he did, and the man's wife made him supper. + +As soon as he could get away unobserved, the man went to the sultan +and said: "There is a stranger come to my house with a bag full of +chains of silver and gold, which he says he got from a snake that +lives in a well. But although he pretends to be a man, I know that +he is a snake who has power to look like a man." + +When the sultan heard this he sent some soldiers who brought 'Mvoo +Laana and his little bag before him. When they opened the little bag, +the man who was released from the trap persuaded the people that some +evil would come out of it, and affect the children of the sultan and +the children of the vizir. + +Then the people became excited, and tied the hands of 'Mvoo Laana +behind him. + +But the great snake had come out of the well and arrived at the town +just about this time, and he went and lay at the feet of the man who +had said all those bad things about 'Mvoo Laana, and when the people +saw this they said to that man: "How is this? There is the great snake +that lives in the well, and he stays by you. Tell him to go away." + +But Neeoka would not stir. So they untied the young man's hands, +and tried in every way to make amends for having suspected him of +being a wizard. + +Then the sultan asked him, "Why should this man invite you to his +home and then speak ill of you?" + +And 'Mvoo Laana related all that had happened to him, and how the ape, +the snake, and the lion had cautioned him about the results of doing +any kindness for a man. + +And the sultan said: "Although men are often ungrateful, they are +not always so; only the bad ones. As for this fellow, he deserves +to be put in a sack and drowned in the sea. He was treated kindly, +and returned evil for good." + + + + + + + +VII. + +HAAMDAANEE. + + +Once there was a very poor man, named Haamdaa'nee, who begged from +door to door for his living, sometimes taking things before they +were offered him. After a while people became suspicious of him, and +stopped giving him anything, in order to keep him away from their +houses. So at last he was reduced to the necessity of going every +morning to the village dust heap, and picking up and eating the few +grains of the tiny little millet seed that he might find there. + +One day, as he was scratching and turning over the heap, he found a +dime, which he tied up in a corner of his ragged dress, and continued +to hunt for millet grains, but could not find one. + +"Oh, well," said he, "I've got a dime now; I'm pretty well fixed. I'll +go home and take a nap instead of a meal." + +So he went to his hut, took a drink of water, put some tobacco in +his mouth, and went to sleep. + +The next morning, as he scratched in the dust heap, he saw a countryman +going along, carrying a basket made of twigs, and he called to him: +"Hi, there, countryman! What have you in that cage?" + +The countryman, whose name was Moohaad'eem, replied, "Gazelles." + +And Haamdaanee called: "Bring them here. Let me see them." + +Now there were three well-to-do men standing near; and when they +saw the countryman coming to Haamdaanee they smiled, and said, +"You're taking lots of trouble for nothing, Moohaadeem." + +"How's that, gentlemen?" he inquired. + +"Why," said they, "that poor fellow has nothing at all. Not a cent." + +"Oh, I don't know that," said the countryman; "he may have plenty, +for all I know." + +"Not he," said they. + +"Don't you see for yourself," continued one of them, "that he is on +the dust heap? Every day he scratches there like a hen, trying to get +enough grains of millet to keep himself alive. If he had any money, +wouldn't he buy a square meal, for once in his life? Do you think he +would want to buy a gazelle? What would he do with it? He can't find +enough food for himself, without looking for any for a gazelle." + +But Moohaadeem said: "Gentlemen, I have brought some goods here to +sell. I answer all who call me, and if any one says 'Come,' I go to +him. I don't favor one and slight another; therefore, as this man +called me, I'm going to him." + +"All right," said the first man; "you don't believe us. Well, we +know where he lives, and all about him, and we know that he can't +buy anything." + +"That's so," said the second man. "Perhaps, however, you will see +that we were right, after you have a talk with him." + +To which the third man added, "Clouds are a sign of rain, but we have +seen no signs of his being about to spend any money." + +"All right, gentlemen," said Moohaadeem; "many better-looking people +than he call me, and when I show them my gazelles they say, 'Oh, yes, +they're very beautiful, but awfully dear; take them away.' So I shall +not be disappointed if this man says the same thing. I shall go to +him, anyhow." + +Then one of the three men said, "Let us go with this man, and see +what the beggar will buy." + +"Pshaw!" said another; "buy! You talk foolishly. He has not had a +good meal in three years, to my knowledge; and a man in his condition +doesn't have money to buy gazelles. However, let's go; and if he +makes this poor countryman carry his load over there just for the +fun of looking at the gazelles, let each of us give him a good hard +whack with our walking-sticks, to teach him how to behave toward +honest merchants." + +So, when they came near him, one of those three men said: "Well, +here are the gazelles; now buy one. Here they are, you old hypocrite; +you'll feast your eyes on them, but you can't buy them." + +But Haamdaanee, paying no attention to the men, said to Moohaadeem, +"How much for one of your gazelles?" + +Then another of those men broke in: "You're very innocent, aren't +you? You know, as well as I do, that gazelles are sold every day at +two for a quarter." + +Still taking no notice of these outsiders, Haamdaanee continued, +"I'd like to buy one for a dime." + +"One for a dime!" laughed the men; "of course you'd like to buy one +for a dime. Perhaps you'd also like to have the dime to buy with." + +Then one of them gave him a push on the cheek. + +At this Haamdaanee turned and said: "Why do you push me on the cheek, +when I've done nothing to you? I do not know you. I call this man, +to transact some business with him, and you, who are strangers, +step in to spoil our trade." + +He then untied the knot in the corner of his ragged coat, produced +the dime, and, handing it to Moohaadeem, said, "Please, good man, +let me have a gazelle for that." + +At this, the countryman took a small gazelle out of the cage and +handed it to him, saying, "Here, master, take this one. I call it +Keejee'paa." Then turning to those three men, he laughed, and said: +"Ehe! How's this? You, with your white robes, and turbans, and swords, +and daggers, and sandals on your feet--you gentlemen of property, +and no mistake--you told me this man was too poor to buy anything; +yet he has bought a gazelle for a dime, while you fine fellows, +I think, haven't enough money among you to buy half a gazelle, if +they were five cents each." + +Then Moohaadeem and the three men went their several ways. + +As for Haamdaanee, he stayed at the dust heap until he found a few +grains of millet for himself and a few for Keejeepaa, the gazelle, +and then went to his hut, spread his sleeping mat, and he and the +gazelle slept together. + +This going to the dust heap for a few grains of millet and then going +home to bed continued for about a week. + +Then one night Haamdaanee was awakened by some one calling, +"Master!" Sitting up, he answered: "Here I am. Who calls?" The gazelle +answered, "I do!" + +Upon this, the beggar man became so scared that he did not know +whether he should faint or get up and run away. + +Seeing him so overcome, Keejeepaa asked, "Why, master, what's the +matter?" + +"Oh, gracious!" he gasped; "what a wonder I see!" + +"A wonder?" said the gazelle, looking all around; "why, what is this +wonder, that makes you act as if you were all broken up?" + +"Why, it's so wonderful, I can hardly believe I'm awake!" said his +master. "Who in the world ever before knew of a gazelle that could +speak?" + +"Oho!" laughed Keejeepaa; "is that all? There are many more wonderful +things than that. But now, listen, while I tell you why I called you." + +"Certainly; I'll listen to every word," said the man. "I can't help +listening!" + +"Well, you see, it's just this way," said Keejeepaa; "I've allowed you +to become my master, and I can not run away from you; so I want you to +make an agreement with me, and I will make you a promise, and keep it." + +"Say on," said his master. + +"Now," continued the gazelle, "one doesn't have to be acquainted +with you long, in order to discover that you are very poor. This +scratching a few grains of millet from the dust heap every day, +and managing to subsist upon them, is all very well for you--you're +used to it, because it's a matter of necessity with you; but if I +keep it up much longer, you won't have any gazelle--Keejeepaa will +die of starvation. Therefore, I want to go away every day and feed +on my own kind of food; and I promise you I will return every evening." + +"Well, I guess I'll have to give my consent," said the man, in no +very cheerful tone. + +As it was now dawn, Keejeepaa jumped up and ran out of the door, +Haamdaanee following him. The gazelle ran very fast, and his master +stood watching him until he disappeared. Then tears started in the +man's eyes, and, raising his hands, he cried, "Oh, my mother!" Then +he cried, "Oh, my father!" Then he cried, "Oh, my gazelle! It has +run away!" + +Some of his neighbors, who heard him carrying on in this manner, +took the opportunity to inform him that he was a fool, an idiot, +and a dissipated fellow. + +Said one of them: "You hung around that dust heap, goodness knows +how long, scratching like a hen, till fortune gave you a dime. You +hadn't sense enough to go and buy some decent food; you had to buy +a gazelle. Now you've let the creature run away. What are you crying +about? You brought all your trouble on yourself." + +All this, of course, was very comforting to Haamdaanee, who slunk +off to the dust heap, got a few grains of millet, and came back to +his hut, which now seemed meaner and more desolate than ever. + +At sunset, however, Keejeepaa came trotting in; and the beggar was +happy again, and said, "Ah, my friend, you have returned to me." + +"Of course," said the gazelle; "didn't I promise you? You see, I feel +that when you bought me you gave all the money you had in the world, +even though it was only a dime. Why, then, should I grieve you? I +couldn't do it. If I go and get myself some food, I'll always come +back evenings." + +When the neighbors saw the gazelle come home every evening and run +off every morning, they were greatly surprised, and began to suspect +that Haamdaanee was a wizard. + +Well, this coming and going continued for five days, the gazelle +telling its master each night what fine places it had been to, and +what lots of food it had eaten. + +On the sixth day it was feeding among some thorn bushes in a thick +wood, when, scratching away some bitter grass at the foot of a big +tree, it saw an immense diamond of intense brightness. + +"Oho!" said Keejeepaa, in great astonishment; "here's property, and no +mistake! This is worth a kingdom! If I take it to my master he will +be killed; for, being a poor man, if they say to him, 'Where did you +get it?' and he answers, 'I picked it up,' they will not believe him; +if he says, 'It was given to me,' they will not believe him either. It +will not do for me to get my master into difficulties. I know what +I'll do. I'll seek some powerful person; he will use it properly." + +So Keejeepaa started off through the forest, holding the diamond in +his mouth, and ran, and ran, but saw no town that day; so he slept +in the forest, and arose at dawn and pursued his way. And the second +day passed like the first. + +On the third day the gazelle had traveled from dawn until between +eight and nine o'clock, when he began to see scattered houses, getting +larger in size, and knew he was approaching a town. In due time he +found himself in the main street of a large city, leading direct +to the sultan's palace, and began to run as fast as he could. People +passing along stopped to look at the strange sight of a gazelle running +swiftly along the main street with something wrapped in green leaves +between its teeth. + +The sultan was sitting at the door of his palace, when Keejeepaa, +stopping a little way off, dropped the diamond from its mouth, +and, lying down beside it, panting, called out: "Ho, there! Ho, +there!" which is a cry every one makes in that part of the world when +wishing to enter a house, remaining outside until the cry is answered. + +After the cry had been repeated several times, the sultan said to +his attendants, "Who is doing all that calling?" + +And one answered, "Master, it's a gazelle that's calling, 'Ho, there!'" + +"Ho-ho!" said the sultan; "Ho-ho! Invite the gazelle to come near." + +Then three attendants ran to Keejeepaa and said: "Come, get up. The +sultan commands you to come near." + +So the gazelle arose, picked up the diamond, and, approaching +the sultan, laid the jewel at his feet, saying, "Master, good +afternoon!" To which the sultan replied: "May God make it good! Come +near." + +The sultan ordered his attendants to bring a carpet and a large +cushion, and desired the gazelle to rest upon them. When it protested +that it was comfortable as it was, he insisted, and Keejeepaa had +to allow himself to be made a very honored guest. Then they brought +milk and rice, and the sultan would hear nothing until the gazelle +had fed and rested. + +At last, when everything had been disposed of, the sultan said, +"Well, now, my friend, tell me what news you bring." + +And Keejeepaa said: "Master, I don't exactly know how you will like +the news I bring. The fact is, I'm sent here to insult you! I've come +to try and pick a quarrel with you! In fact, I'm here to propose a +family alliance with you!" + +At this the sultan exclaimed: "Oh, come! for a gazelle, you certainly +know how to talk! Now, the fact of it is, I'm looking for some one +to insult me. I'm just aching to have some one pick a quarrel with +me. I'm impatient for a family alliance. Go on with your message." + +Then Keejeepaa said, "You don't bear any ill will against me, who am +only a messenger?" + +And the sultan said, "None at all." + +"Well," said Keejeepaa, "look at this pledge I bring;" dropping the +diamond wrapped in leaves into the sultan's lap. + +When the sultan opened the leaves and saw the great, sparkling jewel, +he was overcome with astonishment. At last he said, "Well?" + +"I have brought this pledge," said the gazelle, "from my master, +Sultan Daaraa'ee. He has heard that you have a daughter, so he sent +you this jewel, hoping you will forgive him for not sending something +more worthy of your acceptance than this trifle." + +"Goodness!" said the sultan to himself; "he calls this a trifle!" Then +to the gazelle: "Oh, that's all right; that's all right. I'm +satisfied. The Sultan Daaraaee has my consent to marry my daughter, +and I don't want a single thing from him. Let him come empty-handed. If +he has more of these trifles, let him leave them at home. This is my +message, and I hope you will make it perfectly clear to your master." + +The gazelle assured him that he would explain everything +satisfactorily, adding: "And now, master, I take my leave. I go +straight to our own town, and hope that in about eleven days we shall +return to be your guests." So, with mutual compliments, they parted. + +In the meantime, Haamdaanee was having an exceedingly tough +time. Keejeepaa having disappeared, he wandered about the town moaning, +"Oh, my poor gazelle! my poor gazelle!" while the neighbors laughed +and jeered at him, until, between them and his loss, he was nearly +out of his mind. + +But one evening, when he had gone to bed, Keejeepaa walked in. Up +he jumped, and began to embrace the gazelle, and weep over it, and +carry on at a great rate. + +When he thought there had been about enough of this kind of thing, +the gazelle said: "Come, come; keep quiet, my master. I've brought +you good news." But the beggar man continued to cry and fondle, +and declare that he had thought his gazelle was dead. + +At last Keejeepaa said: "Oh, well, master, you see I'm all right. You +must brace up, and prepare to hear my news, and do as I advise you." + +"Go on; go on," replied his master; "explain what you will, I'll +do whatever you require me to do. If you were to say, 'Lie down on +your back, that I may roll you over the side of the hill,' I would +lie down." + +"Well," said the gazelle, "there is not much to explain just now, +but I'll tell you this: I've seen many kinds of food, food that is +desirable and food that is objectionable, but this food I'm about to +offer you is very sweet indeed." + +"What?" said Haamdaanee. "Is it possible that in this world there +is anything that is positively good? There must be good and bad in +everything. Food that is both sweet and bitter is good food, but if +food were nothing but sweetness would it not be injurious?" + +"H'm!" yawned the gazelle; "I'm too tired to talk philosophy. Let's +go to sleep now, and when I call you in the morning, all you have to +do is to get up and follow me." + +So at dawn they set forth, the gazelle leading the way, and for five +days they journeyed through the forest. + +On the fifth day they came to a stream, and Keejeepaa said to his +master, "Lie down here." When he had done so, the gazelle set to and +beat him so soundly that he cried out: "Oh, let up, I beg of you!" + +"Now," said the gazelle, "I'm going away, and when I return I +expect to find you right here; so don't you leave this spot on any +account." Then he ran away, and about ten o'clock that morning he +arrived at the house of the sultan. + +Now, ever since the day Keejeepaa left the town, soldiers had been +placed along the road to watch for and announce the approach of Sultan +Daaraaee; so one of them, when he saw the gazelle in the distance, +rushed up and cried to the sultan, "Sultan Daaraaee is coming! I've +seen the gazelle running as fast as it can in this direction." + +The sultan and his attendants immediately set out to meet his guests; +but when they had gone a little way beyond the town they met the +gazelle coming along alone, who, on reaching the sultan, said, +"Good day, my master." The sultan replied in kind, and asked the +news, but Keejeepaa said: "Ah, do not ask me. I can scarcely walk, +and my news is bad!" + +"Why, how is that?" asked the sultan. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed the gazelle; "such misfortune and misery! You see, +Sultan Daaraaee and I started alone to come here, and we got along +all right until we came to the thick part of the forest yonder, when +we were met by robbers, who seized my master, bound him, beat him, +and took everything he had, even stripping off every stitch of his +clothing. Oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +"Dear me!" said the sultan; "we must attend to this at once." So, +hurrying back with his attendants to his house, he called a groom, +to whom he said, "Saddle the best horse in my stable, and put on him +my finest harness." Then he directed a woman servant to open the +big inlaid chest and bring him a bag of clothes. When she brought +it he picked out a loin-cloth, and a long white robe, and a black +overjacket, and a shawl for the waist, and a turban cloth, all of +the very finest. Then he sent for a curved sword with a gold hilt, +and a curved dagger with gold filigree, and a pair of elegant sandals, +and a fine walking-cane. + +Then the sultan said to Keejeepaa, "Take some of my soldiers, and +let them convey these things to Sultan Daaraaee, that he may dress +himself and come to me." + +But the gazelle answered: "Ah, my master, can I take these soldiers +with me and put Sultan Daaraaee to shame? There he lies, beaten and +robbed, and I would not have any one see him. I can take everything +by myself." + +"Why," exclaimed the sultan, "here is a horse, and there are clothes +and arms. I don't see how a little gazelle can manage all those +things." + +But the gazelle had them fasten everything on the horse's back, and +tie the end of the bridle around his own neck, and then he set off +alone, amidst the wonder and admiration of the people of that city, +high and low. + +When he arrived at the place where he had left the beggar-man, he +found him lying waiting for him, and overjoyed at his return. + +"Now," said he, "I have brought you the sweet food I promised. Come, +get up and bathe yourself." + +With the hesitation of a person long unaccustomed to such a thing, +the man stepped into the stream and began to wet himself a little. + +"Oh," said the gazelle, impatiently, "a little water like that won't +do you much good; get out into the deep pool." + +"Dear me!" said the man, timidly; "there is so much water there; +and where there is much water there are sure to be horrible animals." + +"Animals! What kind of animals?" + +"Well, crocodiles, water lizards, snakes, and, at any rate, frogs; +and they bite people, and I'm terribly afraid of all of them." + +"Oh, well," said Keejeepaa, "do the best you can in the stream; but +rub yourself well with earth, and, for goodness' sake, scrub your +teeth well with sand; they are awfully dirty." + +So the man obeyed, and soon made quite a change in his appearance. + +Then the gazelle said: "Here, hurry up and put on these things. The +sun has gone down, and we ought to have started before this." + +So the man dressed himself in the fine clothes the sultan had sent, +and then he mounted the horse, and they started; the gazelle trotting +on ahead. + +When they had gone some distance, the gazelle stopped, and said, +"See here: nobody who sees you now would suspect that you are the man +who scratched in the dust heap yesterday. Even if we were to go back to +our town the neighbors would not recognize you, if it were only for the +fact that your face is clean and your teeth are white. Your appearance +is all right, but I have a caution to give you. Over there, where we +are going, I have procured for you the sultan's daughter for a wife, +with all the usual wedding gifts. Now, you must keep quiet. Say nothing +except, 'How d'ye do?' and 'What's the news?' Let me do the talking." + +"All right," said the man; "that suits me exactly." + +"Do you know what your name is?" + +"Of course I do." + +"Indeed? Well, what is it?" + +"Why, my name is Haamdaanee." + +"Not much," laughed Keejeepaa; "your name is Sultan Daaraaee." + +"Oh, is it?" said his master. "That's good." + +So they started forward again, and in a little while they saw soldiers +running in every direction, and fourteen of these joined them to +escort them. Then they saw ahead of them the sultan, and the vizirs, +and the emirs, and the judges, and the great men of the city, coming +to meet them. + +"Now, then," said Keejeepaa, "get off your horse and salute your +father-in-law. That's him in the middle, wearing the sky-blue jacket." + +"All right," said the man, jumping off his horse, which was then led +by a soldier. + +So the two met, and the sultans shook hands, and kissed each other, +and walked up to the palace together. + +Then they had a great feast, and made merry and talked until night, +at which time Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle were put into an inner +room, with three soldiers at the door to guard and attend upon them. + +When the morning came, Keejeepaa went to the sultan and said: "Master, +we wish to attend to the business which brought us here. We want +to marry your daughter, and the sooner the ceremony takes place, +the better it will please the Sultan Daaraaee." + +"Why, that's all right," said the sultan; "the bride is ready. Let +some one call the teacher, Mwaalee'moo, and tell him to come at once." + +When Mwaaleemoo arrived, the sultan said, "See here, we want you to +marry this gentleman to my daughter right away." + +"All right; I'm ready," said the teacher. So they were married. + +Early the next morning the gazelle said to his master: "Now I'm off on +a journey. I shall be gone about a week; but however long I am gone, +don't you leave the house till I return. Good-bye." + +Then he went to the real sultan and said: "Good master, Sultan Daaraaee +has ordered me to return to our town and put his house in order; he +commands me to be here again in a week; if I do not return by that +time, he will stay here until I come." + +The sultan asked him if he would not like to have some soldiers go +with him; but the gazelle replied that he was quite competent to +take care of himself, as his previous journeys had proved, and he +preferred to go alone; so with mutual good wishes they parted. + +But Keejeepaa did not go in the direction of the old village. He +struck off by another road through the forest, and after a time came +to a very fine town, of large, handsome houses. As he went through +the principal street, right to the far end, he was greatly astonished +to observe that the town seemed to have no inhabitants, for he saw +neither man, woman, nor child in all the place. + +At the end of the main street he came upon the largest and most +beautiful house he had ever seen, built of sapphire, and turquoise, +and costly marbles. + +"Oh, my!" said the gazelle; "this house would just suit my master. I'll +have to pluck up my courage and see whether this is deserted like +the other houses in this mysterious town." + +So Keejeepaa knocked at the door, and called, "Hullo, there!" several +times; but no one answered. And he said to himself: "This is +strange! If there were no one inside, the door would be fastened +on the outside. Perhaps they are in another part of the house, or +asleep. I'll call again, louder." + +So he called again, very loud and long, "Hul-lo, th-e-re! Hul-lo!" And +directly an old woman inside answered, "Who is that calling so loudly?" + +"It is I, your grandchild, good mistress," said Keejeepaa. + +"If you are my grandchild," replied the old woman, "go back to your +home at once; don't come and die here, and bring me to my death also." + +"Oh, come," said he, "open the door, mistress; I have just a few +words I wish to say to you." + +"My dear grandson," she replied, "the only reason why I do not open +the door is because I fear to endanger both your life and my own." + +"Oh, don't worry about that; I guess your life and mine are safe enough +for a while. Open the door, anyhow, and hear the little I have to say." + +So the old woman opened the door. + +Then they exchanged salutations and compliments, after which she +asked the gazelle, "What's the news from your place, grandson?" + +"Oh, everything is going along pretty well," said he; "what's the +news around here?" + +"Ah!" sighed the old creature; "the news here is very bad. If you're +looking for a place to die in, you've struck it here. I've not the +slightest doubt you'll see all you want of death this very day." + +"Huh!" replied Keejeepaa, lightly; "for a fly to die in honey is not +bad for the fly, and doesn't injure the honey." + +"It may be all very well for you to be easy about it," persisted the +old person; "but if people with swords and shields did not escape, +how can a little thing like you avoid danger? I must again beg of +you to go back to the place you came from. Your safety seems of more +interest to me than it is to you." + +"Well, you see, I can't go back just now; and besides, I want to find +out more about this place. Who owns it?" + +"Ah, grandson, in this house are enormous wealth, numbers of people, +hundreds of horses, and the owner is Neeo'ka Mkoo', the wonderfully +big snake. He owns this whole town, also." + +"Oho! Is that so?" said Keejeepaa. "Look here, old lady; can't you +put me on to some plan of getting near this big snake, that I may +kill him?" + +"Mercy!" cried the old woman, in affright; "don't talk like +that. You've put my life in danger already, for I'm sure Neeoka Mkoo +can hear what is said in this house, wherever he is. You see I'm a +poor old woman, and I have been placed here, with those pots and pans, +to cook for him. Well, when the big snake is coming, the wind begins +to blow and the dust flies as it would do in a great storm. Then, +when he arrives in the courtyard, he eats until he is full, and +after that, goes inside there to drink water. When he has finished, +he goes away again. This occurs every other day, just when the sun +is overhead. I may add that Neeoka Mkoo has seven heads. Now, then, +do you think yourself a match for him?" + +"Look here, mother," said the gazelle, "don't you worry about me. Has +this big snake a sword?" + +"He has. This is it," said she, taking from its peg a very keen +and beautiful blade, and handing it to him; "but what's the use in +bothering about it? We are dead already." + +"We shall see about that," said Keejeepaa. + +Just at that moment the wind began to blow, and the dust to fly, +as if a great storm were approaching. + +"Do you hear the great one coming?" cried the old woman. + +"Pshaw!" said the gazelle; "I'm a great one also--and I have the +advantage of being on the inside. Two bulls can't live in one +cattle-pen. Either he will live in this house, or I will." + +Notwithstanding the terror the old lady was in, she had to smile at +the assurance of this little undersized gazelle, and repeated over +again her account of the people with swords and shields who had been +killed by the big snake. + +"Ah, stop your gabbling!" said the gazelle; "you can't always judge +a banana by its color or size. Wait and see, grandma." + +In a very little while the big snake, Neeoka Mkoo, came into the +courtyard, and went around to all the pots and ate their contents. Then +he came to the door. + +"Hullo, old lady," said he; "how is it I smell a new kind of odor +inside there?" + +"Oh, that's nothing, good master," replied the old woman; "I've been +so busy around here lately I haven't had time to look after myself; +but this morning I used some perfume, and that's what you smell." + +Now, Keejeepaa had drawn the sword, and was standing just inside +the doorway; so, when the big snake put his head in, it was cut off +so quickly that its owner did not know it was gone. When he put in +his second head it was cut off with the same quickness; and, feeling +a little irritation, he exclaimed, "Who's inside there, scratching +me?" He then thrust in his third head, and that was cut off also. + +This continued until six heads had been disposed of, when Neeoka Mkoo +unfolded his rings and lashed around so that the gazelle and the old +woman could not see one another through the dust. + +Then the snake thrust in his seventh head, and the gazelle, crying: +"Now your time has come; you've climbed many trees, but this you can +not climb," severed it, and immediately fell down in a fainting fit. + +Well, that old woman, although she was seventy-five years of age, +jumped, and shouted, and laughed, like a girl of nine. Then she ran +and got water, and sprinkled the gazelle, and turned him this way +and that way, until at last he sneezed; which greatly pleased the +old person, who fanned him and tended him until he was quite recovered. + +"Oh, my!" said she; "who would have thought you could be a match for +him, my grandson?" + +"Well, well," said Keejeepaa; "that's all over. Now show me everything +around this place." + +So she showed him everything, from top to bottom: store-rooms +full of goods, chambers full of expensive foods, rooms containing +handsome people who had been kept prisoners for a long time, slaves, +and everything. + +Next he asked her if there was any person who was likely to lay +claim to the place or make any trouble; and she answered: "No one; +everything here belongs to you." + +"Very well, then," said he, "you stay here and take care of these +things until I bring my master. This place belongs to him now." + +Keejeepaa stayed three days examining the house, and said to himself: +"Well, when my master comes here he will be much pleased with what I +have done for him, and he'll appreciate it after the life he's been +accustomed to. As to his father-in-law, there is not a house in his +town that can compare with this." + +On the fourth day he departed, and in due time arrived at the +town where the sultan and his master lived. Then there were great +rejoicings; the sultan being particularly pleased at his return, +while his master felt as if he had received a new lease of life. + +After everything had settled down a little, Keejeepaa told his master +he must be ready to go, with his wife, to his new home after four +days. Then he went and told the sultan that Sultan Daaraaee desired +to take his wife to his own town in four days; to which the sultan +strongly objected; but the gazelle said it was his master's wish, +and at last everything was arranged. + +On the day of the departure a great company assembled to escort Sultan +Daaraaee and his bride. There were the bride's ladies-in-waiting, +and slaves, and horsemen, and Keejeepaa leading them all. + +So they traveled three days, resting when the sun was overhead, and +stopping each evening about five o'clock to eat and sleep; arising +next morning at day-break, eating, and going forward again. And all +this time the gazelle took very little rest, going all through the +company, from the ladies to the slaves, and seeing that every one was +well supplied with food and quite comfortable; therefore the entire +company loved him and valued him like the apples of their eyes. + +On the fourth day, during the afternoon, many houses came into +view, and some of the folks called Keejeepaa's attention to +them. "Certainly," said he; "that is our town, and that house you +see yonder is the palace of Sultan Daaraaee." + +So they went on, and all the company filed into the courtyard, while +the gazelle and his master went into the house. + +When the old woman saw Keejeepaa, she began to dance, and shout, and +carry on, just as she did when he killed Neeoka Mkoo, and taking up +his foot she kissed it; but Keejeepaa said: "Old lady, let me alone; +the one to be made much of is this my master, Sultan Daaraaee. Kiss +his feet; he has the first honors whenever he is present." + +The old woman excused herself for not knowing the master, and +then Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle went around on a tour of +inspection. The sultan ordered all the prisoners to be released, +the horses to be sent out to pasture, all the rooms to be swept, +the furniture to be dusted, and, in the meantime, servants were busy +preparing food. Then every one had apartments assigned to him, and +all were satisfied. + +After they had remained there some time, the ladies who had accompanied +the bride expressed a desire to return to their own homes. Keejeepaa +begged them not to hurry away, but after a while they departed, each +loaded with gifts by the gazelle, for whom they had a thousand times +more affection than for his master. Then things settled down to their +regular routine. + +One day the gazelle said to the old woman: "I think the conduct of +my master is very singular. I have done nothing but good for him +all the time I have been with him. I came to this town and braved +many dangers for him, and when all was over I gave everything to +him. Yet he has never asked: 'How did you get this house? How did +you get this town? Who is the owner of this house? Have you rented +all these things, or have they been given you? What has become of +the inhabitants of the place?' I don't understand him. And further: +although I have done nothing but good for him, he has never done one +good thing for me. Nothing here is really his. He never saw such a +house or town as this since the day he was born, and he doesn't own +anything of it. I believe the old folks were right when they said, +'If you want to do any person good, don't do too much; do him a little +harm occasionally, and he'll think more of you.' However, I've done +all I can now, and I'd like to see him make some little return." + +Next morning the old woman was awakened early by the gazelle calling, +"Mother! Mother!" When she went to him she found he was sick in his +stomach, feverish, and all his legs ached. + +"Go," said he, "and tell my master I am very ill." + +So she went upstairs and found the master and mistress sitting on a +marble couch, covered with a striped silk scarf from India. + +"Well," said the master, "what do you want, old woman?" + +"Oh, my master," cried she, "Keejeepaa is sick!" + +The mistress started and said: "Dear me! What is the matter with him?" + +"All his body pains him. He is sick all over." + +"Oh, well," said the master, "what can I do? Go and get some of that +red millet, that is too common for our use, and make him some gruel." + +"Gracious!" exclaimed his wife, staring at him in amazement; "do you +wish her to feed our friend with stuff that a horse would not eat if +he were ever so hungry? This is not right of you." + +"Ah, get out!" said he, "you're crazy. We eat rice; isn't red millet +good enough for a gazelle that cost only a dime?" + +"Oh, but he is no ordinary gazelle. He should be as dear to you as +the apple of your eye. If sand got in your eye it would trouble you." + +"You talk too much," returned her husband; then, turning to the old +woman, he said, "Go and do as I told you." + +So the old woman went downstairs, and when she saw the gazelle, +she began to cry, and say, "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +It was a long while before the gazelle could persuade her to tell +him what had passed upstairs, but at last she told him all. When +he had heard it, he said: "Did he really tell you to make me red +millet gruel?" + +"Ah," cried she, "do you think I would say such a thing if it were +not so?" + +"Well," said Keejeepaa, "I believe what the old folks said was +right. However, we'll give him another chance. Go up to him again, +and tell him I am very sick, and that I can't eat that gruel." + +So she went upstairs, and found the master and mistress sitting by +the window, drinking coffee. + +The master, looking around and seeing her, said: "What's the matter +now, old woman?" + +And she said: "Master, I am sent by Keejeepaa. He is very sick indeed, +and has not taken the gruel you told me to make for him." + +"Oh, bother!" he exclaimed. "Hold your tongue, and keep your feet +still, and shut your eyes, and stop your ears with wax; then, if that +gazelle tells you to come up here, say that your legs are stiff; and +if he tells you to listen, say your ears are deaf; and if he tells you +to look, say your sight has failed you; and if he wants you to talk, +tell him your tongue is paralyzed." + +When the old woman heard these words, she stood and stared, and was +unable to move. As for his wife, her face became sad, and the tears +began to start from her eyes; observing which, her husband said, +sharply, "What's the matter with you, sultan's daughter?" + +The lady replied, "A man's madness is his undoing." + +"Why do you say that, mistress?" he inquired. + +"Ah," said she, "I am grieved, my husband, at your treatment of +Keejeepaa. Whenever I say a good word for the gazelle you dislike to +hear it. I pity you that your understanding is gone." + +"What do you mean by talking in that manner to me?" he blustered. + +"Why, advice is a blessing, if properly taken. A husband should +advise with his wife, and a wife with her husband; then they are +both blessed." + +"Oh, stop," said her husband, impatiently; "it's evident you've +lost your senses. You should be chained up." Then he said to the old +woman: "Never mind her talk; and as to this gazelle, tell him to stop +bothering me and putting on style, as if he were the sultan. I can't +eat, I can't drink, I can't sleep, because of that gazelle worrying +me with his messages. First, the gazelle is sick; then, the gazelle +doesn't like what he gets to eat. Confound it! If he likes to eat, +let him eat; if he doesn't like to eat, let him die and be out of the +way. My mother is dead, and my father is dead, and I still live and +eat; shall I be put out of my way by a gazelle, that I bought for a +dime, telling me he wants this thing or that thing? Go and tell him +to learn how to behave himself toward his superiors." + +When the old woman went downstairs, she found the gazelle was bleeding +at the mouth, and in a very bad way. All she could say was, "My son, +the good you did is all lost; but be patient." + +And the gazelle wept with the old woman when she told him all that +had passed, and he said, "Mother, I am dying, not only from sickness, +but from shame and anger at this man's ingratitude." + +After a while Keejeepaa told the old woman to go and tell the +master that he believed he was dying. When she went upstairs she +found Daaraaee chewing sugar-cane, and she said to him, "Master, +the gazelle is worse; we think him nearer to dying than getting well." + +To which he answered: "Haven't I told you often enough not to +bother me?" + +Then his wife said: "Oh, husband, won't you go down and see the poor +gazelle? If you don't like to go, let me go and see him. He never +gets a single good thing from you." + +But he turned to the old woman and said, "Go and tell that nuisance +of a gazelle to die eleven times if he chooses to." + +"Now, husband," persisted the lady, "what has Keejeepaa done to +you? Has he done you any wrong? Such words as yours people use to +their enemies only. Surely the gazelle is not your enemy. All the +people who know him, great and lowly, love him dearly, and they will +think it very wrong of you if you neglect him. Now, do be kind to him, +Sultan Daaraaee." + +But he only repeated his assertion that she had lost her wits, and +would have nothing further of argument. + +So the old woman went down and found the gazelle worse than ever. + +In the meantime Sultan Daaraaee's wife managed to give some rice to +a servant to cook for the gazelle, and also sent him a soft shawl to +cover him and a pillow to lie upon. She also sent him a message that +if he wished, she would have her father's best physicians attend him. + +All this was too late, however, for just as these good things arrived, +Keejeepaa died. + +When the people heard he was dead, they went running around crying +and having an awful time; and when Sultan Daaraaee found out what +all the commotion was about he was very indignant, remarking, "Why, +you are making as much fuss as if I were dead, and all over a gazelle +that I bought for a dime!" + +But his wife said: "Husband, it was this gazelle that came to ask +me of my father, it was he who brought me from my father's, and it +was to him I was given by my father. He gave you everything good, +and you do not possess a thing that he did not procure for you. He +did everything he could to help you, and you not only returned him +unkindness, but now he is dead you have ordered people to throw him +into the well. Let us alone, that we may weep." + +But the gazelle was taken and thrown into the well. + +Then the lady wrote a letter telling her father to come to her +directly, and despatched it by trusty messengers; upon the receipt +of which the sultan and his attendants started hurriedly to visit +his daughter. + +When they arrived, and heard that the gazelle was dead and had been +thrown into the well, they wept very much; and the sultan, and the +vizir, and the judges, and the rich chief men, all went down into the +well and brought up the body of Keejeepaa, and took it away with them +and buried it. + +Now, that night the lady dreamt that she was at home at her father's +house; and when dawn came she awoke and found she was in her own bed +in her own town again. + +And her husband dreamed that he was on the dust heap, scratching; +and when he awoke there he was, with both hands full of dust, looking +for grains of millet. Staring wildly he looked around to the right +and left, saying: "Oh, who has played this trick on me? How did I +get back here, I wonder?" + +Just then the children going along, and seeing him, laughed and hooted +at him, calling out: "Hullo, Haamdaanee, where have you been? Where +do you come from? We thought you were dead long ago." + +So the sultan's daughter lived in happiness with her people until the +end, and that beggar-man continued to scratch for grains of millet +in the dust heap until he died. + +If this story is good, the goodness belongs to all; if it is bad, +the badness belongs only to him who told it. + + + + + + + +VIII. + +MKAAAH JEECHONEE, THE BOY HUNTER. + + +Sultan Maaj'noon had seven sons and a big cat, of all of whom he was +very proud. + +Everything went well until one day the cat went and caught a calf. When +they told the sultan he said, "Well, the cat is mine, and the calf is +mine." So they said, "Oh, all right, master," and let the matter drop. + +A few days later the cat caught a goat; and when they told the sultan +he said, "The cat is mine, and the goat is mine;" and so that settled +it again. + +Two days more passed, and the cat caught a cow. They told the sultan, +and he shut them up with "My cat, and my cow." + +After another two days the cat caught a donkey; same result. + +Next it caught a horse; same result. + +The next victim was a camel; and when they told the sultan he said: +"What's the matter with you folks? It was my cat, and my camel. I +believe you don't like my cat, and want it killed, bringing me tales +about it every day. Let it eat whatever it wants to." + +In a very short time it caught a child, and then a full-grown man; +but each time the sultan remarked that both the cat and its victim +were his, and thought no more of it. + +Meantime the cat grew bolder, and hung around a low, open place +near the town, pouncing on people going for water, or animals out at +pasture, and eating them. + +At last some of the people plucked up courage; and, going to the +sultan, said: "How is this, master? As you are our sultan you are +our protector,--or ought to be,--yet you have allowed this cat to do +as it pleases, and now it lives just out of town there, and kills +everything living that goes that way, while at night it comes into +town and does the same thing. Now, what on earth are we to do?" + +But Maajnoon only replied: "I really believe you hate my cat. I suppose +you want me to kill it; but I shall do no such thing. Everything it +eats is mine." + +Of course the folks were astonished at this result of the interview, +and, as no one dared to kill the cat, they all had to remove from +the vicinity where it lived. But this did not mend matters, because, +when it found no one came that way, it shifted its quarters likewise. + +So complaints continued to pour in, until at last Sultan Maajnoon +gave orders that if any one came to make accusations against the cat, +he was to be informed that the master could not be seen. + +When things got so that people neither let their animals out nor went +out themselves, the cat went farther into the country, killing and +eating cattle, and fowls, and everything that came its way. + +One day the sultan said to six of his sons, "I'm going to look at +the country to-day; come along with me." + +The seventh son was considered too young to go around anywhere, +and was always left at home with the women folk, being called by his +brothers Mkaa'ah Jeecho'nee, which means Mr. Sit-in-the-kitchen. + +Well, they went, and presently came to a thicket. The father was in +front and the six sons following him, when the cat jumped out and +killed three of the latter. + +The attendants shouted, "The cat! the cat!" and the soldiers asked +permission to search for and kill it, which the sultan readily granted, +saying: "This is not a cat, it is a noon'dah. It has taken from me +my own sons." + +Now, nobody had ever seen a noondah, but they all knew it was a +terrible beast that could kill and eat all other living things. + +When the sultan began to bemoan the loss of his sons, some of those who +heard him said: "Ah, master, this noondah does not select his prey. He +doesn't say: 'This is my master's son, I'll leave him alone,' or, +'This is my master's wife, I won't eat her.' When we told you what +the cat had done, you always said it was your cat, and what it ate +was yours, and now it has killed your sons, and we don't believe it +would hesitate to eat even you." + +And he said, "I fear you are right." + +As for the soldiers who tried to get the cat, some were killed and +the remainder ran away, and the sultan and his living sons took the +dead bodies home and buried them. + +Now when Mkaaah Jeechonee, the seventh son, heard that his brothers +had been killed by the noondah, he said to his mother, "I, too, will +go, that it may kill me as well as my brothers, or I will kill it." + +But his mother said: "My son, I do not like to have you go. Those +three are already dead; and if you are killed also, will not that be +one wound upon another to my heart?" + +"Nevertheless," said he, "I can not help going; but do not tell +my father." + +So his mother made him some cakes, and sent some attendants with +him; and he took a great spear, as sharp as a razor, and a sword, +bade her farewell, and departed. + +As he had always been left at home, he had no very clear idea what +he was going to hunt for; so he had not gone far beyond the suburbs, +when, seeing a very large dog, he concluded that this was the animal +he was after; so he killed it, tied a rope to it, and dragged it +home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +When his mother, who was upstairs, heard him, she looked out of the +window, and, seeing what he had brought, said, "My son, this is not +the noondah, eater of the people." + +So he left the carcass outside and went in to talk about it, and his +mother said, "My dear boy, the noondah is a much larger animal than +that; but if I were you, I'd give the business up and stay at home." + +"No, indeed," he exclaimed; "no staying at home for me until I have +met and fought the noondah." + +So he set out again, and went a great deal farther than he had gone +on the former day. Presently he saw a civet cat, and, believing it +to be the animal he was in search of, he killed it, bound it, and +dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +When his mother saw the civet cat, she said, "My son, this is not +the noondah, eater of the people." And he threw it away. + +Again his mother entreated him to stay at home, but he would not +listen to her, and started off again. + +This time he went away off into the forest, and seeing a bigger +cat than the last one, he killed it, bound it, and dragged it home, +singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +But directly his mother saw it, she had to tell him, as before, +"My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people." + +He was, of course, very much troubled at this; and his mother said, +"Now, where do you expect to find this noondah? You don't know where +it is, and you don't know what it looks like. You'll get sick over +this; you're not looking so well now as you did. Come, stay at home." + +But he said: "There are three things, one of which I shall do: I +shall die; I shall find the noondah and kill it; or I shall return +home unsuccessful. In any case, I'm off again." + +This time he went farther than before, saw a zebra, killed it, bound +it, and dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +Of course his mother had to tell him, once again, "My son, this is +not the noondah, eater of the people." + +After a good deal of argument, in which his mother's persuasion, +as usual, was of no avail, he went off again, going farther than +ever, when he caught a giraffe; and when he had killed it he said: +"Well, this time I've been successful. This must be the noondah." So +he dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +Again his mother had to assure him, "My son, this is not the noondah, +eater of the people." She then pointed out to him that his brothers +were not running about hunting for the noondah, but staying at home +attending to their own business. But, remarking that all brothers were +not alike, he expressed his determination to stick to his task until +it came to a successful termination, and went off again, a still +greater distance than before. + +While going through the wilderness he espied a rhinoceros asleep +under a tree, and turning to his attendants he exclaimed, "At last +I see the noondah." + +"Where, master?" they all cried, eagerly. + +"There, under the tree." + +"Oh-h! What shall we do?" they asked. + +And he answered: "First of all, let us eat our fill, then we will +attack it. We have found it in a good place, though if it kills us, +we can't help it." + +So they all took out their arrowroot cakes and ate till they were +satisfied. + +Then Mkaaah Jeechonee said, "Each of you take two guns; lay one beside +you and take the other in your hands, and at the proper time let us +all fire at once." + +And they said, "All right, master." + +So they crept cautiously through the bushes and got around to the +other side of the tree, at the back of the rhinoceros; then they +closed up till they were quite near it, and all fired together. The +beast jumped up, ran a little way, and then fell down dead. + +They bound it, and dragged it for two whole days, until they reached +the town, when Mkaaah Jeechonee began singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +But he received the same answer from his mother: "My son, this is +not the noondah, eater of the people." + +And many persons came and looked at the rhinoceros, and felt very +sorry for the young man. As for his father and mother, they both +begged of him to give up, his father offering to give him anything +he possessed if he would only stay at home. But he said, "I don't +hear what you are saying; good-bye," and was off again. + +This time he still further increased the distance from his home, and +at last he saw an elephant asleep at noon in the forest. Thereupon +he said to his attendants, "Now we have found the noondah." + +"Ah, where is he?" said they. + +"Yonder, in the shade. Do you see it?" + +"Oh, yes, master; shall we march up to it?" + +"If we march up to it, and it is looking this way, it will come at us, +and if it does that, some of us will be killed. I think we had best +let one man steal up close and see which way its face is turned." + +As every one thought this was a good idea, a slave named Keerobo'to +crept on his hands and knees, and had a good look at it. When he +returned in the same manner, his master asked: "Well, what's the +news? Is it the noondah?" + +"I do not know," replied Keeroboto; "but I think there is very little +doubt that it is. It is broad, with a very big head, and, goodness, +I never saw such large ears!" + +"All right," said Mkaaah Jeechonee; "let us eat, and then go for it." + +So they took their arrowroot cakes, and their molasses cakes, and +ate until they were quite full. + +Then the youth said to them: "My people, to-day is perhaps the last we +shall ever see; so we will take leave of each other. Those who are to +escape will escape, and those who are to die will die; but if I die, +let those who escape tell my mother and father not to grieve for me." + +But his attendants said, "Oh, come along, master; none of us will die, +please God." + +So they went on their hands and knees till they were close up, and +then they said to Mkaaah Jeechonee, "Give us your plan, master;" +but he said, "There is no plan, only let all fire at once." + +Well, they fired all at once, and immediately the elephant jumped +up and charged at them. Then such a helter-skelter flight as there +was! They threw away their guns and everything they carried, and made +for the trees, which they climbed with surprising alacrity. + +As to the elephant, he kept straight ahead until he fell down some +distance away. + +They all remained in the trees from three until six o'clock in the +morning, without food and without clothing. + +The young man sat in his tree and wept bitterly, saying, "I don't +exactly know what death is, but it seems to me this must be very +like it." As no one could see any one else, he did not know where +his attendants were, and though he wished to come down from the tree, +he thought, "Maybe the noondah is down below there, and will eat me." + +Each attendant was in exactly the same fix, wishing to come down, +but afraid the noondah was waiting to eat him. + +Keeroboto had seen the elephant fall, but was afraid to get down +by himself, saying, "Perhaps, though it has fallen down, it is not +dead." But presently he saw a dog go up to it and smell it, and then +he was sure it was dead. Then he got down from the tree as fast as +he could and gave a signal cry, which was answered; but not being +sure from whence the answer came, he repeated the cry, listening +intently. When it was answered he went straight to the place from which +the sound proceeded, and found two of his companions in one tree. To +them he said, "Come on; get down; the noondah is dead." So they got +down quickly and hunted around until they found their master. When +they told him the news, he came down also; and after a little the +attendants had all gathered together and had picked up their guns +and their clothes, and were all right again. But they were all weak +and hungry, so they rested and ate some food, after which they went +to examine their prize. + +As soon as Mkaaah Jeechonee saw it he said, "Ah, this is the +noondah! This is it! This is it!" And they all agreed that it was it. + +So they dragged the elephant three days to their town, and then the +youth began singing, + + + "Oh, mother, this is he, + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +He was, naturally, quite upset when his mother replied, "My son, +this is not the noondah, eater of the people." She further said: +"Poor boy! what trouble you have been through. All the people are +astonished that one so young should have such a great understanding!" + +Then his father and mother began their entreaties again, and finally +it was agreed that this next trip should be his last, whatever the +result might be. + +Well, they started off again, and went on and on, past the forest, +until they came to a very high mountain, at the foot of which they +camped for the night. + +In the morning they cooked their rice and ate it, and then Mkaaah +Jeechonee said: "Let us now climb the mountain, and look all over the +country from its peak." And they went and they went, until after a +long, weary while, they reached the top, where they sat down to rest +and form their plans. + +Now, one of the attendants, named Shindaa'no, while walking about, +cast his eyes down the side of the mountain, and suddenly saw a great +beast about half way down; but he could not make out its appearance +distinctly, on account of the distance and the trees. Calling his +master, he pointed it out to him, and something in Mkaaah Jeechonee's +heart told him that it was the noondah. To make sure, however, he +took his gun and his spear and went partly down the mountain to get +a better view. + +"Ah," said he, "this must be the noondah. My mother told me its ears +were small, and those are small; she told me the noondah is broad and +short, and so is this; she said it has two blotches, like a civet cat, +and there are the blotches; she told me the tail is thick, and there +is a thick tail. It must be the noondah." + +Then he went back to his attendants and bade them eat heartily, which +they did. Next he told them to leave every unnecessary thing behind, +because if they had to run they would be better without encumbrance, +and if they were victorious they could return for their goods. + +When they had made all their arrangements they started down the +mountain, but when they had got about half way down Keeroboto and +Shindaano were afraid. Then the youth said to them: "Oh, let's go on; +don't be afraid. We all have to live and die. What are you frightened +about?" So, thus encouraged, they went on. + +When they came near the place, Mkaaah Jeechonee ordered them to take +off all their clothing except one piece, and to place that tightly +on their bodies, so that if they had to run they would not be caught +by thorns or branches. + +So when they came close to the beast, they saw that it was asleep, +and all agreed that it was the noondah. + +Then the young man said, "Now the sun is setting, shall we fire at it, +or let be till morning?" + +And they all wished to fire at once, and see what the result would +be without further tax on their nerves; therefore they arranged that +they should all fire together. + +They all crept up close, and when the master gave the word, they +discharged their guns together. The noondah did not move; that one +dose had been sufficient. Nevertheless, they all turned and scampered +up to the top of the mountain. There they ate and rested for the night. + +In the morning they ate their rice, and then went down to see how +matters were, when they found the beast lying dead. + +After resting and eating, they started homeward, dragging the dead +beast with them. On the fourth day it began to give indications of +decay, and the attendants wished to abandon it; but Mkaaah Jeechonee +said they would continue to drag it if there was only one bone left. + +When they came near the town he began to sing, + + + "Mother, mother, I have come + From the evil spirits, home. + Mother, listen while I sing; + While I tell you what I bring. + Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +And when his mother looked out, she cried, "My son, this is the +noondah, eater of the people." + +Then all the people came out to welcome him, and his father was +overcome with joy, and loaded him with honors, and procured him a rich +and beautiful wife; and when he died Mkaaah Jeechonee became sultan, +and lived long and happily, beloved by all the people. + + + + + + + +IX. + +THE MAGICIAN AND THE SULTAN'S SON. + + +There was once a sultan who had three little sons, and no one seemed +to be able to teach them anything; which greatly grieved both the +sultan and his wife. + +One day a magician came to the sultan and said, "If I take your three +boys and teach them to read and write, and make great scholars of them, +what will you give me?" + +And the sultan said, "I will give you half of my property." + +"No," said the magician; "that won't do." + +"I'll give you half of the towns I own." + +"No; that will not satisfy me." + +"What do you want, then?" + +"When I have made them scholars and bring them back to you, choose +two of them for yourself and give me the third; for I want to have +a companion of my own." + +"Agreed," said the sultan. + +So the magician took them away, and in a remarkably short time +taught them to read, and to make letters, and made them quite good +scholars. Then he took them back to the sultan and said: "Here are +the children. They are all equally good scholars. Choose." + +So the sultan took the two he preferred, and the magician went away +with the third, whose name was Keejaa'naa, to his own house, which +was a very large one. + +When they arrived, Mchaa'wee, the magician, gave the youth all the +keys, saying, "Open whatever you wish to." Then he told him that he +was his father, and that he was going away for a month. + +When he was gone, Keejaanaa took the keys and went to examine the +house. He opened one door, and saw a room full of liquid gold. He +put his finger in, and the gold stuck to it, and, wipe and rub as +he would, the gold would not come off; so he wrapped a piece of rag +around it, and when his supposed father came home and saw the rag, +and asked him what he had been doing to his finger, he was afraid to +tell him the truth, so he said that he had cut it. + +Not very long after, Mchaawee went away again, and the youth took +the keys and continued his investigations. + +The first room he opened was filled with the bones of goats, the +next with sheep's bones, the next with the bones of oxen, the fourth +with the bones of donkeys, the fifth with those of horses, the sixth +contained men's skulls, and in the seventh was a live horse. + +"Hullo!" said the horse; "where do you come from, you son of Adam?" + +"This is my father's house," said Keejaanaa. + +"Oh, indeed!" was the reply. "Well, you've got a pretty nice parent! Do +you know that he occupies himself with eating people, and donkeys, +and horses, and oxen and goats and everything he can lay his hands +on? You and I are the only living things left." + +This scared the youth pretty badly, and he faltered, "What are we +to do?" + +"What's your name?" said the horse. + +"Keejaanaa." + +"Well, I'm Faaraa'see. Now, Keejaanaa, first of all, come and +unfasten me." + +The youth did so at once. + +"Now, then, open the door of the room with the gold in it, and I +will swallow it all; then I'll go and wait for you under the big +tree down the road a little way. When the magician comes home, +he will say to you, 'Let us go for firewood;' then you answer, +'I don't understand that work;' and he will go by himself. When he +comes back, he will put a great big pot on the hook and will tell you +to make a fire under it. Tell him you don't know how to make a fire, +and he will make it himself. + +"Then he will bring a large quantity of butter, and while it is +getting hot he will put up a swing and say to you, 'Get up there, +and I'll swing you.' But you tell him you never played at that game, +and ask him to swing first, that you may see how it is done. Then +he will get up to show you; and you must push him into the big pot, +and then come to me as quickly as you can." + +Then the horse went away. + +Now, Mchaawee had invited some of his friends to a feast at his +house that evening; so, returning home early, he said to Keejaanaa, +"Let us go for firewood;" but the youth answered, "I don't understand +that work." So he went by himself and brought the wood. + +Then he hung up the big pot and said, "Light the fire;" but the +youth said, "I don't know how to do it." So the magician laid the +wood under the pot and lighted it himself. + +Then he said, "Put all that butter in the pot;" but the youth answered, +"I can't lift it; I'm not strong enough." So he put in the butter +himself. + +Next Mchaawee said, "Have you seen our country game?" And Keejaanaa +answered, "I think not." + +"Well," said the magician, "let's play at it while the butter is +getting hot." + +So he tied up the swing and said to Keejaanaa, "Get up here, and learn +the game." But the youth said: "You get up first and show me. I'll +learn quicker that way." + +The magician got into the swing, and just as he got started Keejaanaa +gave him a push right into the big pot; and as the butter was by this +time boiling, it not only killed him, but cooked him also. + +As soon as the youth had pushed the magician into the big pot, he +ran as fast as he could to the big tree, where the horse was waiting +for him. + +"Come on," said Faaraasee; "jump on my back and let's be going." + +So he mounted and they started off. + +When the magician's guests arrived they looked everywhere for him, +but, of course, could not find him. Then, after waiting a while, they +began to be very hungry; so, looking around for something to eat, they +saw that the stew in the big pot was done, and, saying to each other, +"Let's begin, anyway," they started in and ate the entire contents of +the pot. After they had finished, they searched for Mchaawee again, +and finding lots of provisions in the house, they thought they would +stay there until he came; but after they had waited a couple of days +and eaten all the food in the place, they gave him up and returned +to their homes. + +Meanwhile Keejaanaa and the horse continued on their way until they +had gone a great distance, and at last they stopped near a large town. + +"Let us stay here," said the youth, "and build a house." + +As Faaraasee was agreeable, they did so. The horse coughed up all the +gold he had swallowed, with which they purchased slaves, and cattle, +and everything they needed. + +When the people of the town saw the beautiful new house and all the +slaves, and cattle, and riches it contained, they went and told their +sultan, who at once made up his mind that the owner of such a place +must be of sufficient importance to be visited and taken notice of, +as an acquisition to the neighborhood. + +So he called on Keejaanaa, and inquired who he was. + +"Oh, I'm just an ordinary being, like other people." + +"Are you a traveler?" + +"Well, I have been; but I like this place, and think I'll settle +down here." + +"Why don't you come and walk in our town?" + +"I should like to very much, but I need some one to show me around." + +"Oh, I'll show you around," said the sultan, eagerly, for he was +quite taken with the young man. + +After this Keejaanaa and the sultan became great friends; and in the +course of time the young man married the sultan's daughter, and they +had one son. + +They lived very happily together, and Keejaanaa loved Faaraasee as +his own soul. + + + + + + + +X. + +THE PHYSICIAN'S SON AND THE KING OF THE SNAKES. + + +Once there was a very learned physician, who died leaving his wife +with a little baby boy, whom, when he was old enough, she named, +according to his father's wish, Hassee'boo Kareem' Ed Deen'. + +When the boy had been to school, and had learned to read, his mother +sent him to a tailor, to learn his trade, but he could not learn +it. Then he was sent to a silversmith, but he could not learn his +trade either. After that he tried many trades, but could learn none +of them. At last his mother said, "Well, stay at home for a while;" +and that seemed to suit him. + +One day he asked his mother what his father's business had been, +and she told him he was a very great physician. + +"Where are his books?" he asked. + +"Well, it's a long time since I saw them," replied his mother, +"but I think they are behind there. Look and see." + +So he hunted around a little and at last found them, but they were +almost ruined by insects, and he gained little from them. + +At last, four of the neighbors came to his mother and said, "Let +your boy go along with us and cut wood in the forest." It was their +business to cut wood, load it on donkeys, and sell it in the town +for making fires. + +"All right," said she; "to-morrow I'll buy him a donkey, and he can +start fair with you." + +So the next day Hasseeboo, with his donkey, went off with those +four persons, and they worked very hard and made a lot of money that +day. This continued for six days, but on the seventh day it rained +heavily, and they had to get under the rocks to keep dry. + +Now, Hasseeboo sat in a place by himself, and, having nothing else to +do, he picked up a stone and began knocking on the ground with it. To +his surprise the ground gave forth a hollow sound, and he called to +his companions, saying, "There seems to be a hole under here." + +Upon hearing him knock again, they decided to dig and see what was +the cause of the hollow sound; and they had not gone very deep before +they broke into a large pit, like a well, which was filled to the +top with honey. + +They didn't do any firewood chopping after that, but devoted their +entire attention to the collection and sale of the honey. + +With a view to getting it all out as quickly as possible, they told +Hasseeboo to go down into the pit and dip out the honey, while they +put it in vessels and took it to town for sale. They worked for three +days, making a great deal of money. + +At last there was only a little honey left at the very bottom of the +pit, and they told the boy to scrape that together while they went +to get a rope to haul him out. + +But instead of getting the rope, they decided to let him remain in the +pit, and divide the money among themselves. So, when he had gathered +the remainder of the honey together, and called for the rope, he +received no answer; and after he had been alone in the pit for three +days he became convinced that his companions had deserted him. + +Then those four persons went to his mother and told her that they had +become separated in the forest, that they had heard a lion roaring, +and that they could find no trace of either her son or his donkey. + +His mother, of course, cried very much, and the four neighbors pocketed +her son's share of the money. + +To return to Hasseeboo. + +He passed the time walking about the pit, wondering what the end +would be, eating scraps of honey, sleeping a little, and sitting down +to think. + +While engaged in the last occupation, on the fourth day, he saw a +scorpion fall to the ground--a large one, too--and he killed it. + +Then suddenly he thought to himself, "Where did that scorpion come +from? There must be a hole somewhere. I'll search, anyhow." + +So he searched around until he saw light through a tiny crack; and +he took his knife and scooped and scooped, until he had made a hole +big enough to pass through; then he went out, and came upon a place +he had never seen before. + +Seeing a path, he followed it until he came to a very large house, +the door of which was not fastened. So he went inside, and saw golden +doors, with golden locks, and keys of pearl, and beautiful chairs +inlaid with jewels and precious stones, and in a reception room he +saw a couch covered with a splendid spread, upon which he lay down. + +Presently he found himself being lifted off the couch and put in a +chair, and heard some one saying: "Do not hurt him; wake him gently," +and on opening his eyes he found himself surrounded by numbers of +snakes, one of them wearing beautiful royal colors. + +"Hullo!" he cried; "who are you?" + +"I am Sulta'nee Waa' Neeo'ka, king of the snakes, and this is my +house. Who are you?" + +"I am Hasseeboo Kareem Ed Deen." + +"Where do you come from?" + +"I don't know where I come from, or where I'm going." + +"Well, don't bother yourself just now. Let's eat; I guess you are +hungry, and I know I am." + +Then the king gave orders, and some of the other snakes brought the +finest fruits, and they ate and drank and conversed. + +When the repast was ended, the king desired to hear Hasseeboo's story; +so he told him all that had happened, and then asked to hear the +story of his host. + +"Well," said the king of the snakes, "mine is rather a long story, +but you shall hear it. A long time ago I left this place, to go +and live in the mountains of Al Kaaf', for the change of air. One +day I saw a stranger coming along, and I said to him, 'Where are you +from?' and he said, 'I am wandering in the wilderness.' 'Whose son are +you?' I asked. 'My name is Bolookee'a. My father was a sultan; and +when he died I opened a small chest, inside of which I found a bag, +which contained a small brass box; when I had opened this I found +some writing tied up in a woolen cloth, and it was all in praise of +a prophet. He was described as such a good and wonderful man, that +I longed to see him; but when I made inquiries concerning him I was +told he was not yet born. Then I vowed I would wander until I should +see him. So I left our town, and all my property, and I am wandering, +but I have not yet seen that prophet.' + +"Then I said to him, 'Where do you expect to find him, if he's not +yet born? Perhaps if you had some serpent's water you might keep on +living until you find him. But it's of no use talking about that; +the serpent's water is too far away.' + +"'Well,' he said, 'good-bye. I must wander on.' So I bade him farewell, +and he went his way. + +"Now, when that man had wandered until he reached Egypt, he met +another man, who asked him, 'Who are you?' + +"'I am Bolookeea. Who are you?' + +"'My name is Al Faan'. Where are you going?' + +"'I have left my home, and my property, and I am seeking the prophet. + +"'H'm!' said Al Faan; 'I can tell you of a better occupation than +looking for a man that is not born yet. Let us go and find the king +of the snakes and get him to give us a charm medicine; then we will +go to King Solomon and get his rings, and we shall be able to make +slaves of the genii and order them to do whatever we wish.' + +"And Bolookeea said, 'I have seen the king of the snakes in the +mountain of Al Kaaf.' + +"'All right,' said Al Faan; 'let's go.' + +"Now, Al Faan wanted the ring of Solomon that he might be a great +magician and control the genii and the birds, while all Bolookeea +wanted was to see the great prophet. + +"As they went along, Al Faan said to Bolookeea, 'Let us make a cage +and entice the king of the snakes into it; then we will shut the door +and carry him off.' + +"'All right,' said Bolookeea. + +"So they made a cage, and put therein a cup of milk and a cup of wine, +and brought it to Al Kaaf; and I, like a fool, went in, drank up all +the wine and became drunk. Then they fastened the door and took me +away with them. + +"When I came to my senses I found myself in the cage, and Bolookeea +carrying me, and I said, 'The sons of Adam are no good. What do you +want from me?' And they answered, 'We want some medicine to put on +our feet, so that we may walk upon the water whenever it is necessary +in the course of our journey.' 'Well,' said I, 'go along.' + +"We went on until we came to a place where there were a great number +and variety of trees; and when those trees saw me, they said, 'I am +medicine for this;' 'I am medicine for that;' 'I am medicine for the +head;' 'I am medicine for the feet;' and presently one tree said, +'If any one puts my medicine upon his feet he can walk on water.' + +"When I told that to those men they said, 'That is what we want;' +and they took a great deal of it. + +"Then they took me back to the mountain and set me free; and we said +good-bye and parted. + +"When they left me, they went on their way until they reached the sea, +when they put the medicine on their feet and walked over. Thus they +went many days, until they came near to the place of King Solomon, +where they waited while Al Faan prepared his medicines. + +"When they arrived at King Solomon's place, he was sleeping, and was +being watched by genii, and his hand lay on his chest, with the ring +on his finger. + +"As Bolookeea drew near, one of the genii said to him 'Where are you +going?' And he answered, 'I'm here with Al Faan; he's going to take +that ring.' 'Go back,' said the genie; 'keep out of the way. That +man is going to die.' + +"When Al Faan had finished his preparations, he said to Bolookeea, +'Wait here for me.' Then he went forward to take the ring, when a +great cry arose, and he was thrown by some unseen force a considerable +distance. + +"Picking himself up, and still believing in the power of his medicines, +he approached the ring again, when a strong breath blew upon him and +he was burnt to ashes in a moment. + +"While Bolookeea was looking at all this, a voice said, 'Go your +way; this wretched being is dead.' So he returned; and when he got +to the sea again he put the medicine upon his feet and passed over, +and continued to wander for many years. + +"One morning he saw a man sitting down, and said 'Good-morning,' to +which the man replied. Then Bolookeea asked him, 'Who are you?' and +he answered: 'My name is Jan Shah. Who are you?' So Bolookeea told +him who he was, and asked him to tell him his history. The man, who +was weeping and smiling by turns, insisted upon hearing Bolookeea's +story first. After he had heard it he said: + +"'Well, sit down, and I'll tell you my story from beginning to end. My +name is Jan Shah, and my father is Tooeegha'mus, a great sultan. He +used to go every day into the forest to shoot game; so one day I said +to him, "Father, let me go with you into the forest to-day;" but he +said, "Stay at home. You are better there." Then I cried bitterly, +and as I was his only child, whom he loved dearly, he couldn't stand +my tears, so he said: "Very well; you shall go. Don't cry." + +"'Thus we went to the forest, and took many attendants with us; and +when we reached the place we ate and drank, and then every one set +out to hunt. + +"'I and my seven slaves went on until we saw a beautiful gazelle, +which we chased as far as the sea without capturing it. When the +gazelle took to the water I and four of my slaves took a boat, the +other three returning to my father, and we chased that gazelle until +we lost sight of the shore, but we caught it and killed it. Just then +a great wind began to blow, and we lost our way. + +"'When the other three slaves came to my father, he asked them, +"Where is your master?" and they told him about the gazelle and the +boat. Then he cried, "My son is lost! My son is lost!" and returned +to the town and mourned for me as one dead. + +"'After a time we came to an island, where there were a great many +birds. We found fruit and water, we ate and drank, and at night we +climbed into a tree and slept till morning. + +"'Then we rowed to a second island, and, seeing no one around, we +gathered fruit, ate and drank, and climbed a tree as before. During +the night we heard many savage beasts howling and roaring near us. + +"'In the morning we got away as soon as possible, and came to a third +island. Looking around for food, we saw a tree full of fruit like +red-streaked apples; but, as we were about to pick some, we heard a +voice say, "Don't touch this tree; it belongs to the king." Toward +night a number of monkeys came, who seemed much pleased to see us, +and they brought us all the fruit we could eat. + +"'Presently I heard one of them say, "Let us make this man our +sultan." Then another one said: "What's the use? They'll all run +away in the morning." But a third one said, "Not if we smash their +boat." Sure enough, when we started to leave in the morning, our boat +was broken in pieces. So there was nothing for it but to stay there +and be entertained by the monkeys, who seemed to like us very much. + +"'One day, while strolling about, I came upon a great stone house, +having an inscription on the door, which said, "When any man comes to +this island, he will find it difficult to leave, because the monkeys +desire to have a man for their king. If he looks for a way to escape, +he will think there is none; but there is one outlet, which lies to +the north. If you go in that direction you will come to a great plain, +which is infested with lions, leopards, and snakes. You must fight all +of them; and if you overcome them you can go forward. You will then +come to another great plain, inhabited by ants as big as dogs; their +teeth are like those of dogs, and they are very fierce. You must fight +these also, and if you overcome them, the rest of the way is clear." + +"'I consulted with my attendants over this information, and we came +to the conclusion that, as we could only die, anyhow, we might as +well risk death to gain our freedom. + +"'As we all had weapons, we set forth; and when we came to the first +plain we fought, and two of my slaves were killed. Then we went on +to the second plain, fought again; my other two slaves were killed, +and I alone escaped. + +"'After that I wandered on for many days, living on whatever I could +find, until at last I came to a town, where I stayed for some time, +looking for employment but finding none. + +"'One day a man came up to me and said, "Are you looking for work?" "I +am," said I. "Come with me, then," said he; and we went to his house. + +"'When we got there he produced a camel's skin, and said, "I shall +put you in this skin, and a great bird will carry you to the top of +yonder mountain. When he gets you there, he will tear this skin off +you. You must then drive him away and push down the precious stones +you will find there. When they are all down, I will get you down." + +"'So he put me in the skin; the bird carried me to the top of the +mountain and was about to eat me, when I jumped up, scared him away, +and then pushed down many precious stones. Then I called out to the +man to take me down, but he never answered me, and went away. + +"'I gave myself up for a dead man, but went wandering about, until at +last, after passing many days in a great forest, I came to a house, +all by itself; the old man who lived in it gave me food and drink, +and I was revived. + +"'I remained there a long time, and that old man loved me as if I +were his own son. + +"'One day he went away, and giving me the keys, told me I could open +the door of every room except one which he pointed out to me. + +"'Of course, when he was gone, this was the first door I opened. I +saw a large garden, through which a stream flowed. Just then three +birds came and alighted by the side of the stream. Immediately they +changed to three most beautiful women. When they had finished bathing, +they put on their clothes, and, as I stood watching them, they changed +into birds again and flew away. + +"'I locked the door, and went away; but my appetite was gone, and I +wandered about aimlessly. When the old man came back, he saw there +was something wrong with me, and asked me what was the matter. Then +I told him I had seen those beautiful maidens, that I loved one of +them very much, and that if I could not marry her I should die. + +"'The old man told me I could not possibly have my wish. He said the +three lovely beings were the daughters of the sultan of the genii, and +that their home was a journey of three years from where we then were. + +"'I told him I couldn't help that. He must get her for my wife, or I +should die. At last he said, "Well, wait till they come again, then +hide yourself and steal the clothes of the one you love so dearly." + +"'So I waited, and when they came again I stole the clothes of the +youngest, whose name was Sayadaa'tee Shems. + +"'When they came out of the water, this one could not find her +clothes. Then I stepped forward and said, "I have them." "Ah," she +begged, "give them to me, their owner; I want to go away." But I said +to her, "I love you very much. I want to marry you." "I want to go +to my father," she replied. "You cannot go," said I. + +"'Then her sisters flew away, and I took her into the house, where the +old man married us. He told me not to give her those clothes I had +taken, but to hide them; because if she ever got them she would fly +away to her old home. So I dug a hole in the ground and buried them. + +"'But one day, when I was away from home, she dug them up and put +them on; then, saying to the slave I had given her for an attendant, +"When your master returns tell him I have gone home; if he really +loves me he will follow me," she flew away. + +"'When I came home they told me this, and I wandered, searching for +her, many years. At last I came to a town where one asked me, "Who +are you?" and I answered, "I am Jan Shah." "What was your father's +name?" "Taaeeghamus." "Are you the man who married our mistress?" "Who +is your mistress?" "Sayadaatee Shems." "I am he!" I cried with delight. + +"'They took me to their mistress, and she brought me to her father +and told him I was her husband; and everybody was happy. + +"'Then we thought we should like to visit our old home, and her +father's genii carried us there in three days. We stayed there a +year and then returned, but in a short time my wife died. Her father +tried to comfort me, and wanted me to marry another of his daughters, +but I refused to be comforted, and have mourned to this day. That is +my story.' + +"Then Bolookeea went on his way, and wandered till he died." + +Next Sultaanee Waa Neeoka said to Hasseeboo, "Now, when you go home +you will do me injury." + +Hasseeboo was very indignant at the idea, and said, "I could not be +induced to do you an injury. Pray, send me home." + +"I will send you home," said the king; "but I am sure that you will +come back and kill me." + +"Why, I dare not be so ungrateful," exclaimed Hasseeboo. "I swear I +could not hurt you." + +"Well," said the king of the snakes, "bear this in mind: when you go +home, do not go to bathe where there are many people." + +And he said, "I will remember." So the king sent him home, and he +went to his mother's house, and she was overjoyed to find that he +was not dead. + +Now, the sultan of the town was very sick; and it was decided that +the only thing that could cure him would be to kill the king of the +snakes, boil him, and give the soup to the sultan. + +For a reason known only to himself, the vizir had placed men at the +public baths with this instruction: "If any one who comes to bathe +here has a mark on his stomach, seize him and bring him to me." + +When Hasseeboo had been home three days he forgot the warning of +Sultaanee Waa Neeoka, and went to bathe with the other people. All of +a sudden he was seized by some soldiers, and brought before the vizir, +who said, "Take us to the home of the king of the snakes." + +"I don't know where it is," said Hasseeboo. + +"Tie him up," commanded the vizir. + +So they tied him up and beat him until his back was all raw, and being +unable to stand the pain he cried, "Let up! I will show you the place." + +So he led them to the house of the king of the snakes, who, when he +saw him, said, "Didn't I tell you you would come back to kill me?" + +"How could I help it?" cried Hasseeboo. "Look at my back!" + +"Who has beaten you so dreadfully?" asked the king. + +"The vizir." + +"Then there's no hope for me. But you must carry me yourself." + +As they went along, the king said to Hasseeboo, "When we get to your +town I shall be killed and cooked. The first skimming the vizir will +offer to you, but don't you drink it; put it in a bottle and keep +it. The second skimming you must drink, and you will become a great +physician. The third skimming is the medicine that will cure your +sultan. When the vizir asks you if you drank that first skimming say, +'I did.' Then produce the bottle containing the first, and say, 'This +is the second, and it is for you.' The vizir will take it, and as soon +as he drinks it he will die, and both of us will have our revenge." + +Everything happened as the king had said. The vizir died, the sultan +recovered, and Hasseeboo was loved by all as a great physician. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zanzibar Tales, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 37472-8.txt or 37472-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/7/37472/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zanzibar Tales + Told by natives of the East Coast of Africa + +Author: Various + +Illustrator: Walter Bobbett + +Translator: George W. Bateman + +Release Date: September 18, 2011 [EBook #37472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first"></p> +<div class="figure xd20e101width"><img src="images/frontcover.jpg" alt= +"Original Front Cover." width="505" height="720"></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first xd20e107">Zanzibar Tales</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first"></p> +<div class="figure xd20e112width"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt= +"Original Title Page." width="490" height="720"></div> +<div class="figure xd20e119width"><img src="images/titlepage2.gif" alt= +"Original Title Page." width="444" height="720"></div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="titlePage"> +<div class="docTitle"> +<div class="mainTitle">Zanzibar Tales</div> +<div class="subTitle">Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa</div> +</div> +<div class="byline">Translated from the Original Swahili<br> +By<br> +<span class="docAuthor">George W. Bateman</span><br> +Illustrated by Walter Bobbett</div> +<div class="docImprint">Chicago<br> +A. C. McClurg & Co.<br> +<span class="docDate">1901.</span></div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first xd20e107"><span class="sc">Copyright<br> +By A. C. McClurg & Co.<br> +A.D.</span> 1901 <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb5" href="#pb5" name= +"pb5">5</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="intro" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">To My Readers.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Thirty years ago Central Africa was what people who +are fond of airing their learning would call a <i>terra incognita</i>. +To-day its general characteristics are pretty well known. Then, as now, +the little island of Zanzibar, situated just south of the equator, on +the east coast, was the starting place of all expeditions into the +interior, and Unguja (pronounced Oon-goo′jah), the big town of +that island, the place where the preparations for plunging into the +unknown were made.</p> +<p>At that period these expeditions consisted, almost without +exception, of caravans loaded with beads and cotton cloth, which were +exchanged among the inland tribes for elephants’ tusks and +slaves—<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb6" href="#pb6" name= +"pb6">6</a>]</span>for Unguja boasted the only, and the last, open +slave-market in the world then.</p> +<p>The few exceptions were a would-be discoverer now and then, or a +party of rich white men going to hunt “big game;” that is, +travelling hundreds—aye, thousands—of miles, and enduring +many hardships, for the momentary pleasure of holding a gun in such a +position that when they pulled the trigger the bullet hit such a +prominent mark as an elephant or a lion, which was living in its +natural surroundings and interfering with no one.</p> +<p>Between you and me, I don’t mind remarking that many of their +expeditions ended, on their return to Unguja, in the purchase of a few +elephants’ tusks and wild animal skins in the bazaars of that +thriving city, after the method pursued by unsuccessful anglers in +civilized countries.</p> +<p>But even the most successful of these hunters, by reason of having +followed the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb7" href="#pb7" name= +"pb7">7</a>]</span>few beaten paths known to their guides, never came +within miles of such wonderful animals as those described by the +tribesmen from the very center of the dark continent. If you have read +any accounts of adventure in Africa, you will know that travelers never +mention animals of any kind that are gifted with the faculty of speech, +or gazelles that are overseers for native princes, or hares that eat +flesh. No, indeed; only the native-born know of these; and, judging by +the immense and rapid strides civilization is making in those parts, it +will not be long before such wonderful specimens of zoölogy will +be as extinct as the ichthyosaurus, dinornis, and other poor creatures +who never dreamed of the awful names that would be applied to them when +they were too long dead to show their resentment.</p> +<p>As to the truth of these tales, I can only say that they were told +to me, in <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb8" href="#pb8" name= +"pb8">8</a>]</span>Zanzibar, by negroes whose ancestors told them to +them, who had received them from <i>their</i> ancestors, and so back; +so that the praise for their accuracy, or the blame for their falsity, +lies with the first ancestor who set them going.</p> +<p>You may think uncivilized negroes are pretty ignorant people, but +the white man who is supposed to have first told the story of +“The House that Jack Built” was a mighty poor genius +compared with the unknown originator of “Goso, the +Teacher,” who found even inanimate things that were endowed with +speech, which the pupils readily understood and were not astonished to +hear; while “Puss in Boots” was not one-half so clever as +the gazelle that ran things for Haamdaanee. It would be a severe task +to rattle off “Goso” as you do “The House that Jack +Built.”</p> +<p>Don’t stumble over the names in these <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb9" href="#pb9" name="pb9">9</a>]</span>tales; they +are very easy. Every one is pronounced exactly as it is spelled, and +the accent is always on the last syllable but one; as, Poon′dah, +the donkey; Haam-daa′nee, etc.</p> +<p>Finally, if the perusal of these tales interests you as much as +their narration and translation interested me, everything will be +satisfactory.</p> +<p class="signed">George W. Bateman.</p> +<p class="dateline"><span class="sc">Chicago</span>, August 1, 1901. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb11" href="#pb11" name= +"pb11">11</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">Contents</h2> +<table class="tocList"> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"></td> +<td class="tocPageNum"><span class="sc">Page</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href= +"#intro">To my Readers</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">5</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">I.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch1">The +Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman’s Donkey</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">17</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">II.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch2">The +Hare and the Lion</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">31</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">III.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch3">The +Lion, the Hyena, and the Rabbit</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">47</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">IV.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch4">The +Kites and the Crows</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">57</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">V.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href= +"#ch5">Goso, the Teacher</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">67</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">VI.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch6">The +Ape, the Snake, and the Lion</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">81</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">VII.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href= +"#ch7">Haamdaanee</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">99</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">VIII.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href= +"#ch8">Mkaaah Jeechonee, the Boy Hunter</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">155</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">IX.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href="#ch9">The +Magician and the Sultan’s Son</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">183</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum">X.</td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><span class="sc"><a href= +"#ch10">The Physician’s Son and the King of the +Snakes</a></span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">197</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb13" href="#pb13" name= +"pb13">13</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="main">List of Illustrations</h2> +<table class="tocList"> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"></td> +<td class="tocPageNum"><span class="sc">Page</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p018">“Throw me +some food, my friend”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">18</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p023">“Miss Poonda, +I am sent to ask your hand in marriage”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">23</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p033">Bookoo and the hare +started off immediately</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">33</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p035">Soongoora crept out +and ran away while the lion was looking up</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">35</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p039">The lion continued +rubbing on a piece of rock</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">39</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p049">The lion, the +hyena, and the rabbit go in for a little farming</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">49</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p051">Said the hyena, +“I’m thinking”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">51</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p059">“I should say +not”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">59</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p063">They found him +lying down</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">63</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p075">When they found the +gazelle they beat it</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">75</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p083">“Mother, we +are always hungry”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">83</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p089">“Where are +you going, son of Adam?”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">89</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p093">Neeoka filled the +bag with chains of gold and silver</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">93</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p115">Dropping the +diamond wrapped in leaves into the sultan’s lap</a> <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb14" href="#pb14" name="pb14">14</a>]</span></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">115</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p147">The gazelle wept +with the old woman</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">147</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p167">They crept +cautiously through the bushes</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">167</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p173">They camped for the +night</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">173</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p185">The magician gave +the youth all the keys</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">185</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p191">Right into the big +pot!</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">191</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tocDivNum"></td> +<td class="tocDivTitle" colspan="5"><a href="#p215">“I scared him +away”</a></td> +<td class="tocPageNum">215</td> +</tr> +</table> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb15" href="#pb15" name= +"pb15">15</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="body"> +<div id="ch1" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="super">Zanzibar Tales.</h2> +<h2 class="label">I.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman’s +Donkey.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb17" href="#pb17" name= +"pb17">17</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Once upon a time Kee′ma, the monkey, and +Pa′pa, the shark, became great friends.</p> +<p>The monkey lived in an immense mkooyoo tree which grew by the margin +of the sea—half of its branches being over the water and half +over the land.</p> +<p>Every morning, when the monkey was breakfasting on the kooyoo nuts, +the shark would put in an appearance under the tree and call out, +“Throw me some food, my friend;” with which request the +monkey complied most willingly. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb18" +href="#pb18" name="pb18">18</a>]</span></p> +<p>This continued for many months, until one day Papa said, +“Keema, you have done me many kindnesses: I would like you to go +with me to my home, that I may repay you.”</p> +<p>“How can I go?” said the monkey; “we land beasts +can not go about in the water.”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e474width" id="p018"><img src="images/p018.jpg" +alt="“Throw me some food, my friend.”" width="439" height= +"450"> +<p class="figureHead">“Throw me some food, my friend.”</p> +</div> +<p>“Don’t trouble yourself about that,” replied the +shark; “I will carry you. Not a drop of water shall get to +you.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb19" href="#pb19" name= +"pb19">19</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, all right, then,” said Mr. Keema; +“let’s go.”</p> +<p>When they had gone about half-way the shark stopped, and said: +“You are my friend. I will tell you the truth.”</p> +<p>“Why, what is there to tell?” asked the monkey, with +surprise.</p> +<p>“Well, you see, the fact is that our sultan is very sick, and +we have been told that the only medicine that will do him any good is a +monkey’s heart.”</p> +<p>“Well,” exclaimed Keema, “you were very foolish +not to tell me that before we started!”</p> +<p>“How so?” asked Papa.</p> +<p>But the monkey was busy thinking up some means of saving himself, +and made no reply.</p> +<p>“Well?” said the shark, anxiously; “why +don’t you speak?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ve nothing to say now. It’s too late. But +if you had told me this <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb20" href= +"#pb20" name="pb20">20</a>]</span>before we started, I might have +brought my heart with me.”</p> +<p>“What? haven’t you your heart here?”</p> +<p>“Huh!” ejaculated Keema; “don’t you know +about us? When we go out we leave our hearts in the trees, and go about +with only our bodies. But I see you don’t believe me. You think +I’m scared. Come on; let’s go to your home, where you can +kill me and search for my heart in vain.”</p> +<p>The shark did believe him, though, and exclaimed, “Oh, no; +let’s go back and get your heart.”</p> +<p>“Indeed, no,” protested Keema; “let us go on to +your home.”</p> +<p>But the shark insisted that they should go back, get the heart, and +start afresh.</p> +<p>At last, with great apparent reluctance, the monkey consented, +grumbling sulkily at the unnecessary trouble he was being put to.</p> +<p>When they got back to the tree, he <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb21" href="#pb21" name="pb21">21</a>]</span>climbed up in a great +hurry, calling out, “Wait there, Papa, my friend, while I get my +heart, and we’ll start off properly next time.”</p> +<p>When he had got well up among the branches, he sat down and kept +quite still.</p> +<p>After waiting what he considered a reasonable length of time, the +shark called, “Come along, Keema!” But Keema just kept +still and said nothing.</p> +<p>In a little while he called again: “Oh, Keema! let’s be +going.”</p> +<p>At this the monkey poked his head out from among the upper branches +and asked, in great surprise, “Going? Where?”</p> +<p>“To my home, of course.”</p> +<p>“Are you mad?” queried Keema.</p> +<p>“Mad? Why, what do you mean?” cried Papa.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter with you?” said the monkey. +“Do you take me for a washerman’s donkey?” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb22" href="#pb22" name= +"pb22">22</a>]</span></p> +<p>“What peculiarity is there about a washerman’s +donkey?”</p> +<p>“It is a creature that has neither heart nor ears.”</p> +<p>The shark, his curiosity overcoming his haste, thereupon begged to +be told the story of the washerman’s donkey, which the monkey +related as follows:</p> +<p>“A washerman owned a donkey, of which he was very fond. One +day, however, it ran away, and took up its abode in the forest, where +it led a lazy life, and consequently grew very fat.</p> +<p>“At length Soongoo′ra, the hare, by chance passed that +way, and saw Poon′da, the donkey.</p> +<p>“Now, the hare is the most cunning of all beasts—if you +look at his mouth you will see that he is always talking to himself +about everything.</p> +<p>“So when Soongoora saw Poonda he said to himself, ‘My, +this donkey is fat!’ Then he went and told Sim′ba, the +lion. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb23" href="#pb23" name= +"pb23">23</a>]</span></p> +<div class="figure xd20e553width" id="p023"><img src="images/p023.gif" +alt= +"“Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask your hand in marriage.”" +width="397" height="527"> +<p class="figureHead">“Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask your hand in +marriage.”</p> +</div> +<p>“As Simba was just recovering from a severe illness, he was +still so weak that he could not go hunting. He was consequently pretty +hungry. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb24" href="#pb24" name= +"pb24">24</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Said Mr. Soongoora, ‘I’ll bring enough meat +to-morrow for both of us to have a great feast, but you’ll have +to do the killing.’</p> +<p>“‘All right, good friend,’ exclaimed Simba, +joyfully; ‘you’re very kind.’</p> +<p>“So the hare scampered off to the forest, found the donkey, +and said to her, in his most courtly manner, ‘Miss Poonda, I am +sent to ask your hand in marriage.’</p> +<p>“‘By whom?’ simpered the donkey.</p> +<p>“‘By Simba, the lion.’</p> +<p>“The donkey was greatly elated at this, and exclaimed: +‘Let’s go at once. This is a first-class offer.’</p> +<p>“They soon arrived at the lion’s home, were cordially +invited in, and sat down. Soongoora gave Simba a signal with his +eyebrow, to the effect that this was the promised feast, and that he +would wait outside. Then he said to Poonda: ‘I must leave you for +a while to attend to <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb25" href="#pb25" +name="pb25">25</a>]</span>some private business. You stay here and +converse with your husband that is to be.’</p> +<p>“As soon as Soongoora got outside, the lion sprang at Poonda, +and they had a great fight. Simba was kicked very hard, and he struck +with his claws as well as his weak health would permit him. At last the +donkey threw the lion down, and ran away to her home in the forest.</p> +<p>“Shortly after, the hare came back, and called, ‘Haya! +Simba! have you got it?’</p> +<p>“‘I have not got it,’ growled the lion; ‘she +kicked me and ran away; but I warrant you I made her feel pretty sore, +though I’m not strong.’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, well,’ remarked Soongoora; +‘don’t put yourself out of the way about it.’</p> +<p>“Then Soongoora waited many days, until the lion and the +donkey were both well and strong, when he said: ‘What do +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb26" href="#pb26" name= +"pb26">26</a>]</span>you think now, Simba? Shall I bring you your +meat?’</p> +<p>“‘Ay,’ growled the lion, fiercely; ‘bring it +to me. I’ll tear it in two pieces!’</p> +<p>“So the hare went off to the forest, where the donkey welcomed +him and asked the news.</p> +<p>“‘You are invited to call again and see your +lover,’ said Soongoora.</p> +<p>“‘Oh, dear!’ cried Poonda; ‘that day you +took me to him he scratched me awfully. I’m afraid to go near him +now.’</p> +<p>“‘Ah, pshaw!’ said Soongoora; ‘that’s +nothing. That’s only Simba’s way of caressing.’</p> +<p>“‘Oh, well,’ said the donkey, ‘let’s +go.’</p> +<p>“So off they started again; but as soon as the lion caught +sight of Poonda he sprang upon her and tore her in two pieces.</p> +<p>“When the hare came up, Simba said to him: ‘Take this +meat and roast it. As for myself, all I want is the heart and +ears.’ <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb27" href="#pb27" name= +"pb27">27</a>]</span></p> +<p>“‘Thanks,’ said Soongoora. Then he went away and +roasted the meat in a place where the lion could not see him, and he +took the heart and ears and hid them. Then he ate all the meat he +needed, and put the rest away.</p> +<p>“Presently the lion came to him and said, ‘Bring me the +heart and ears.’</p> +<p>“‘Where are they?’ said the hare.</p> +<p>“‘What does this mean?’ growled Simba.</p> +<p>“‘Why, didn’t you know this was a +washerman’s donkey?’</p> +<p>“‘Well, what’s that to do with there being no +heart or ears?’</p> +<p>“‘For goodness’ sake, Simba, aren’t you old +enough to know that if this beast had possessed a heart and ears it +wouldn’t have come back the second time?’</p> +<p>“Of course the lion had to admit that what Soongoora, the +hare, said was true.</p> +<p>“And now,” said Keema to the shark, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb28" href="#pb28" name= +"pb28">28</a>]</span>“you want to make a washerman’s donkey +of me. Get out of there, and go home by yourself. You are not going to +get me again, and our friendship is ended. Good-bye, Papa.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb29" href="#pb29" name= +"pb29">29</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch2" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">II.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Hare and the Lion.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb31" href="#pb31" name= +"pb31">31</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">One day Soongoo′ra, the hare, roaming through +the forest in search of food, glanced up through the boughs of a very +large calabash tree, and saw that a great hole in the upper part of the +trunk was inhabited by bees; thereupon he returned to town in search of +some one to go with him and help to get the honey.</p> +<p>As he was passing the house of Boo′koo, the big rat, that +worthy gentleman invited him in. So he went in, sat down, and remarked: +“My father has died, and has left me a hive of honey. I would +like you to come and help me to eat it.”</p> +<p>Of course Bookoo jumped at the offer, and he and the hare started +off immediately. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb32" href="#pb32" name= +"pb32">32</a>]</span></p> +<p>When they arrived at the great calabash tree, Soongoora pointed out +the bees’ nest and said, “Go on; climb up.” So, +taking some straw with them, they climbed up to the nest, lit the +straw, smoked out the bees, put out the fire, and set to work eating +the honey.</p> +<p>In the midst of the feast, who should appear at the foot of the tree +but Sim′ba, the lion? Looking up, and seeing them eating, he +asked, “Who are you?”</p> +<p>Then Soongoora whispered to Bookoo, “Hold your tongue; that +old fellow is crazy.” But in a very little while Simba roared out +angrily: “Who are you, I say? Speak, I tell you!” This made +Bookoo so scared that he blurted out, “It’s only +us!”</p> +<p>Upon this the hare said to him: “You just wrap me up in this +straw, call to the lion to keep out of the way, and then throw me down. +Then you’ll see what will happen.”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e651width" id="p033"><img src="images/p033.gif" +alt="Bookoo and the hare started off immediately." width="405" height= +"605"> +<p class="figureHead">Bookoo and the hare started off immediately.</p> +</div> +<p>So Bookoo, the big rat, wrapped Soongoora, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb35" href="#pb35" name="pb35">35</a>]</span>the +hare, in the straw, and then called to Simba, the lion, “Stand +back; I’m going to throw this straw down, and then I’ll +come down myself.” When Simba stepped back out of the way, Bookoo +threw down the straw, and as it lay on the ground Soongoora crept out +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb36" href="#pb36" name= +"pb36">36</a>]</span>and ran away while the lion was looking up.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e663width" id="p035"><img src="images/p035.jpg" +alt="Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion was looking up." +width="441" height="538"> +<p class="figureHead">Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion +was looking up.</p> +</div> +<p>After waiting a minute or two, Simba roared out, “Well, come +down, I say!” and, there being no help for it, the big rat came +down.</p> +<p>As soon as he was within reach, the lion caught hold of him, and +asked, “Who was up there with you?”</p> +<p>“Why,” said Bookoo, “Soongoora, the hare. +Didn’t you see him when I threw him down?”</p> +<p>“Of course I didn’t see him,” replied the lion, in +an incredulous tone, and, without wasting further time, he ate the big +rat, and then searched around for the hare, but could not find him.</p> +<p>Three days later, Soongoora called on his acquaintance, +Ko′bay, the tortoise, and said to him, “Let us go and eat +some honey.”</p> +<p>“Whose honey?” inquired Kobay, cautiously.</p> +<p>“My father’s,” Soongoora replied. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb37" href="#pb37" name="pb37">37</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, all right; I’m with you,” said the tortoise, +eagerly; and away they went.</p> +<p>When they arrived at the great calabash tree they climbed up with +their straw, smoked out the bees, sat down, and began to eat.</p> +<p>Just then Mr. Simba, who owned the honey, came out again, and, +looking up, inquired, “Who are you, up there?”</p> +<p>Soongoora whispered to Kobay, “Keep quiet;” but when the +lion repeated his question angrily, Kobay became suspicious, and said: +“I <i>will</i> speak. You told me this honey was yours; am I +right in suspecting that it belongs to Simba?”</p> +<p>So, when the lion asked again, “Who are you?” he +answered, “It’s only us.” The lion said, “Come +down, then;” and the tortoise answered, “We’re +coming.”</p> +<p>Now, Simba had been keeping an eye open for Soongoora since the day +he caught Bookoo, the big rat, and, suspecting that he was up there +with Kobay, he said to himself, “I’ve got him this time, +sure.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb38" href="#pb38" name= +"pb38">38</a>]</span></p> +<p>Seeing that they were caught again, Soongoora said to the tortoise: +“Wrap me up in the straw, tell Simba to stand out of the way, and +then throw me down. I’ll wait for you below. He can’t hurt +you, you know.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said Kobay; but while he was wrapping the +hare up he said to himself: “This fellow wants to run away, and +leave me to bear the lion’s anger. He shall get caught +first.” Therefore, when he had bundled him up, he called out, +“Soongoora is coming!” and threw him down.</p> +<p>So Simba caught the hare, and, holding him with his paw, said, +“Now, what shall I do with you?” The hare replied, +“It’s of no use for you to try to eat me; I’m awfully +tough.” “What would be the best thing to do with you, +then?” asked Simba.</p> +<p>“I think,” said Soongoora, “you should take me by +the tail, whirl me around, and knock me against the ground. Then you +may be able to eat me.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb39" href= +"#pb39" name="pb39">39</a>]</span></p> +<div class="figure xd20e709width" id="p039"><img src="images/p039.jpg" +alt="The lion continued rubbing on a piece of rock." width="389" +height="515"> +<p class="figureHead">The lion continued rubbing on a piece of +rock.</p> +</div> +<p>So the lion, being deceived, took him by the tail and whirled him +around, but just as he was going to knock him on the ground he slipped +out of his grasp <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb40" href="#pb40" name= +"pb40">40</a>]</span>and ran away, and Simba had the mortification of +losing him again.</p> +<p>Angry and disappointed, he turned to the tree and called to Kobay, +“You come down, too.”</p> +<p>When the tortoise reached the ground, the lion said, +“You’re pretty hard; what can I do to make you +eatable?”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s easy,” laughed Kobay; “just put +me in the mud and rub my back with your paw until my shell comes +off.”</p> +<p>Immediately on hearing this, Simba carried Kobay to the water, +placed him in the mud, and began, as he supposed, to rub his back; but +the tortoise had slipped away, and the lion continued rubbing on a +piece of rock until his paws were raw. When he glanced down at them he +saw they were bleeding, and, realizing that he had again been +outwitted, he said, “Well, the hare has done me to-day, but +I’ll go hunting now until I find him.”</p> +<p>So Simba, the lion, set out immediately <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb41" href="#pb41" name="pb41">41</a>]</span>in +search of Soongoora, the hare, and as he went along he inquired of +every one he met, “Where is the house of Soongoora?” But +each person he asked answered, “I do not know.” For the +hare had said to his wife, “Let us remove from this house.” +Therefore the folks in that neighborhood had no knowledge of his +whereabouts. Simba, however, went along, continuing his inquiries, +until presently one answered, “That is his house on the top of +the mountain.”</p> +<p>Without loss of time the lion climbed the mountain, and soon arrived +at the place indicated, only to find that there was no one at home. +This, however, did not trouble him; on the contrary, saying to himself, +“I’ll hide myself inside, and when Soongoora and his wife +come home I’ll eat them both,” he entered the house and lay +down, awaiting their arrival.</p> +<p>Pretty soon along came the hare with his wife, not thinking of any +danger; but <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb42" href="#pb42" name= +"pb42">42</a>]</span>he very soon discovered the marks of the +lion’s paws on the steep path. Stopping at once, he said to Mrs. +Soongoora: “You go back, my dear. Simba, the lion, has passed +this way, and I think he must be looking for me.”</p> +<p>But she replied, “I will not go back; I will follow you, my +husband.”</p> +<p>Although greatly pleased at this proof of his wife’s +affection, Soongoora said firmly: “No, no; you have friends to go +to. Go back.”</p> +<p>So he persuaded her, and she went back; but he kept on, following +the footmarks, and saw—as he had suspected—that they went +into his house.</p> +<p>“Ah!” said he to himself, “Mr. Lion is inside, is +he?” Then, cautiously going back a little way, he called out: +“How d’ye do, house? How d’ye do?” Waiting a +moment, he remarked loudly: “Well, this is very strange! Every +day, as I pass this place, I say, ‘How d’ye do, +house?’ <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb43" href="#pb43" name= +"pb43">43</a>]</span>and the house always answers, ‘How +d’ye do?’ There must be some one inside to-day.”</p> +<p>When the lion heard this he called out, “How d’ye +do?”</p> +<p>Then Soongoora burst out laughing, and shouted: “Oho, Mr. +Simba! <i>You</i>’re inside, and I’ll bet you want to eat +<i>me</i>; but first tell me where you ever heard of a house +talking!”</p> +<p>Upon this the lion, seeing how he had been fooled, replied angrily, +“You wait until I get hold of you; that’s all.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I think <i>you</i>’ll have to do the +waiting,” cried the hare; and then he ran away, the lion +following.</p> +<p>But it was of no use. Soongoora completely tired out old Simba, who, +saying, “That rascal has beaten me; I don’t want to have +anything more to do with him,” returned to his home under the +great calabash tree. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb45" href="#pb45" +name="pb45">45</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch3" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">III.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Lion, the Hyena, and the Rabbit.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb47" href="#pb47" name= +"pb47">47</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Once upon a time Sim′ba, the lion, +Fee′see, the hyena, and Keetee′tee, the rabbit, made up +their minds to go in for a little farming. So they went into the +country, made a garden, planted all kinds of seeds, and then came home +and rested quite a while.</p> +<p>Then, when the time came when their crops should be about ripe and +ready for harvesting, they began to say to each other, +“Let’s go over to the farm, and see how our crops are +coming along.”</p> +<p>So one morning, early, they started, and, as the garden was a long +way off, Keeteetee, the rabbit, made this proposition: “While we +are going to the farm, let us <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb48" href= +"#pb48" name="pb48">48</a>]</span>not stop on the road; and if any one +does stop, let him be eaten.” His companions, not being so +cunning as he, and knowing they could outwalk him, readily consented to +this arrangement.</p> +<p>Well, off they went; but they had not gone very far when the rabbit +stopped.</p> +<p>“Hullo!” said Feesee, the hyena; “Keeteetee has +stopped. He must be eaten.”</p> +<p>“That’s the bargain,” agreed Simba, the lion.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the rabbit, “I happened to be +thinking.”</p> +<p>“What about?” cried his partners, with great +curiosity.</p> +<p>“I’m thinking,” said he, with a grave, +philosophical air, “about those two stones, one big and one +little; the little one does not go up, nor does the big one go +down.”</p> +<p>The lion and the hyena, having stopped to look at the stones, could +only say, “Why, really, it’s singular; but it’s just +as you <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb49" href="#pb49" name= +"pb49">49</a>]</span>say;” and they all resumed their journey, +the rabbit being by this time well rested.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e799width" id="p049"><img src="images/p049.jpg" +alt="The lion, the hyena, and the rabbit go in for a little farming." +width="438" height="522"> +<p class="figureHead">The lion, the hyena, and the rabbit go in for a +little farming.</p> +</div> +<p>When they had gone some distance the rabbit stopped again. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb50" href="#pb50" name= +"pb50">50</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Aha!” said Feesee; “Keeteetee has stopped again. +Now he <i>must</i> be eaten.”</p> +<p>“I rather think so,” assented Simba.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the rabbit, “I was thinking +again.”</p> +<p>Their curiosity once more aroused, his comrades begged him to tell +them his think.</p> +<p>“Why,” said he, “I was thinking this: When people +like us put on new coats, where do the old ones go to?”</p> +<p>Both Simba and Feesee, having stopped a moment to consider the +matter, exclaimed together, “Well, I wonder!” and the three +went on, the rabbit having again had a good rest.</p> +<p>After a little while the hyena, thinking it about time to show off a +little of <i>his</i> philosophy, suddenly stopped.</p> +<p>“Here,” growled Simba, “this won’t do; I +guess we’ll have to eat you, Feesee.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” said the hyena; “I’m +thinking.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb51" href="#pb51" name= +"pb51">51</a>]</span></p> +<p>“What are you thinking about?” they inquired.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e835width" id="p051"><img src="images/p051.jpg" +alt="Said the hyena, “I’m thinking.”" width="410" +height="428"> +<p class="figureHead">Said the hyena, “I’m +thinking.”</p> +</div> +<p>“I’m thinking about nothing at all,” said he, +imagining himself very smart and witty.</p> +<p>“Ah, pshaw!” cried Keeteetee; “we won’t be +fooled that way.”</p> +<p>So he and Simba ate the hyena. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb52" +href="#pb52" name="pb52">52</a>]</span></p> +<p>When they had finished eating their friend, the lion and the rabbit +proceeded on their way, and presently came to a place where there was a +cave, and here the rabbit stopped.</p> +<p>“H’m!” ejaculated Simba; “I’m not so +hungry as I was this morning, but I guess I’ll have to find room +for you, little Keeteetee.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I believe not,” replied Keeteetee; “I’m +thinking again.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the lion, “what is it this +time?”</p> +<p>Said the rabbit: “I’m thinking about that cave. In olden +times our ancestors used to go in here, and go out there, and I think +I’ll try and follow in their footsteps.”</p> +<p>So he went in at one end and out at the other end several times.</p> +<p>Then he said to the lion, “Simba, old fellow, let’s see +<i>you</i> try to do that;” and the lion went into the cave, but +he stuck <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb53" href="#pb53" name= +"pb53">53</a>]</span>fast, and could neither go forward nor back +out.</p> +<p>In a moment Keeteetee was on Simba’s back, and began eating +him.</p> +<p>After a little time the lion cried, “Oh, brother, be +impartial; come and eat some of the front part of me.”</p> +<p>But the rabbit replied, “Indeed, I can’t come around in +front; I’m ashamed to look you in the face.”</p> +<p>So, having eaten all he was able to, he left the lion there, and +went and became sole owner of the farm and its crops.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e875width"><img src="images/p053.jpg" alt="" +width="438" height="174"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb55" href="#pb55" name= +"pb55">55</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch4" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">IV.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Kites and the Crows.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb57" href="#pb57" name= +"pb57">57</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">One day Koongoo′roo, sultan of the crows, sent a +letter to Mway′way, sultan of the kites, containing these few +words: “I want you folks to be my soldiers.”</p> +<p>To this brief message Mwayway at once wrote this short reply: +“I should say not.”</p> +<p>Thereupon, thinking to scare Mwayway, the sultan of the crows sent +him word, “If you refuse to obey me I’ll make war upon +you.”</p> +<p>To which the sultan of the kites replied, “That suits me; let +us fight, and if you beat us we will obey you, but if we are victors +you shall be our servants.”</p> +<p>So they gathered their forces and engaged in a great battle, and in +a little <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb58" href="#pb58" name= +"pb58">58</a>]</span>while it became evident that the crows were being +badly beaten.</p> +<p>As it appeared certain that, if something were not done pretty +quickly, they would all be killed, one old crow, named Jeeoo′see, +suddenly proposed that they should fly away.</p> +<p>Directly the suggestion was made it was acted upon, and the crows +left their homes and flew far away, where they set up another town. So, +when the kites entered the place, they found no one there, and they +took up their residence in Crowtown.</p> +<p>One day, when the crows had gathered in council, Koongooroo stood up +and said: “My people, do as I command you, and all will be well. +Pluck out some of my feathers and throw me into the town of the kites; +then come back and stay here until you hear from me.”</p> +<p>Without argument or questioning the crows obeyed their +sultan’s command. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb59" href= +"#pb59" name="pb59">59</a>]</span></p> +<div class="figure xd20e907width" id="p059"><img src="images/p059.jpg" +alt="" width="387" height="562"></div> +<p>Koongooroo had lain in the street but a short time, when some +passing kites saw him and inquired threateningly, “What are you +doing here in our town?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb60" +href="#pb60" name="pb60">60</a>]</span></p> +<p>With many a moan he replied, “My companions have beaten me and +turned me out of their town because I advised them to obey Mwayway, +sultan of the kites.”</p> +<p>When they heard this they picked him up and took him before the +sultan, to whom they said, “We found this fellow lying in the +street, and he attributes his involuntary presence in our town to so +singular a circumstance that we thought you should hear his +story.”</p> +<p>Koongooroo was then bidden to repeat his statement, which he did, +adding the remark that, much as he had suffered, he still held to his +opinion that Mwayway was his rightful sultan.</p> +<p>This, of course, made a very favorable impression, and the sultan +said, “You have more sense than all the rest of your tribe put +together; I guess you can stay here and live with us.”</p> +<p>So Koongooroo, expressing much gratitude, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb61" href="#pb61" name="pb61">61</a>]</span>settled +down, apparently, to spend the remainder of his life with the +kites.</p> +<p>One day his neighbors took him to church with them, and when they +returned home they asked him, “Who have the best kind of +religion, the kites or the crows?”</p> +<p>To which crafty old Koongooroo replied, with great enthusiasm, +“Oh, the kites, by long odds!”</p> +<p>This answer tickled the kites like anything, and Koongooroo was +looked upon as a bird of remarkable discernment.</p> +<p>When almost another week had passed, the sultan of the crows slipped +away in the night, went to his own town, and called his people +together.</p> +<p>“To-morrow,” said he, “is the great annual +religious festival of the kites, and they will all go to church in the +morning. Go, now, and get some wood and some fire, and wait near their +town until I call you; then come quickly and set fire to the +church.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb62" href="#pb62" name= +"pb62">62</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then he hurried back to Mwayway’s town.</p> +<p>The crows were very busy indeed all that night, and by dawn they had +an abundance of wood and fire at hand, and were lying in wait near the +town of their victorious enemies.</p> +<p>So in the morning every kite went to church. There was not one +person left at home except old Koongooroo.</p> +<p>When his neighbors called for him they found him lying down. +“Why!” they exclaimed with surprise, “are you not +going to church to-day?”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said he, “I wish I could; but my stomach +aches so badly I can’t move!” And he groaned +dreadfully.</p> +<p>“Ah, poor fellow!” said they; “you will be better +in bed;” and they left him to himself.</p> +<p>As soon as everybody was out of sight he flew swiftly to his +soldiers and cried, “Come on; they’re all in the +church.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb63" href="#pb63" name= +"pb63">63</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then they all crept quickly but quietly to the church, and while +some piled wood about the door, others applied fire.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e954width" id="p063"><img src="images/p063.jpg" +alt="They found him lying down." width="442" height="472"> +<p class="figureHead">They found him lying down.</p> +</div> +<p>The wood caught readily, and the fire was burning fiercely before +the kites were aware of their danger; but when the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb64" href="#pb64" name="pb64">64</a>]</span>church +began to fill with smoke, and tongues of flame shot through the cracks, +they tried to escape through the windows. The greater part of them, +however, were suffocated, or, having their wings singed, could not fly +away, and so were burned to death, among them their sultan, Mwayway; +and Koongooroo and his crows got their old town back again.</p> +<p>From that day to this the kites fly away from the crows. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb65" href="#pb65" name= +"pb65">65</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch5" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">V.</h2> +<h2 class="main">Goso, the Teacher.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb67" href="#pb67" name= +"pb67">67</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Once there was a man named Go′so, who taught +children to read, not in a schoolhouse, but under a calabash tree. One +evening, while Goso was sitting under the tree deep in the study of the +next day’s lessons, Paa, the gazelle, climbed up the tree very +quietly to steal some fruit, and in so doing shook off a calabash, +which, in falling, struck the teacher on the head and killed him.</p> +<p>When his scholars came in the morning and found their teacher lying +dead, they were filled with grief; so, after giving him a decent +burial, they agreed among themselves to find the one who had killed +Goso, and put him to death. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb68" href= +"#pb68" name="pb68">68</a>]</span></p> +<p>After talking the matter over they came to the conclusion that the +south wind was the offender.</p> +<p>So they caught the south wind and beat it.</p> +<p>But the south wind cried: “Here! I am Koo′see, the south +wind. Why are you beating me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Koosee; it was you who +threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not +have done it.”</p> +<p>But Koosee said, “If I were so powerful would I be stopped by +a mud wall?”</p> +<p>So they went to the mud wall and beat it.</p> +<p>But the mud wall cried: “Here! I am Keeyambaa′za, the +mud wall. Why are you beating me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Keeyambaaza; it was you +who stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb69" href="#pb69" name="pb69">69</a>]</span>south +wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should +not have done it.”</p> +<p>But Keeyambaaza said, “If I were so powerful would I be bored +through by the rat?”</p> +<p>So they went and caught the rat and beat it.</p> +<p>But the rat cried: “Here! I am Paan′ya, the rat. Why are +you beating me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Paanya; it was you who +bored through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the +south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that +struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it.”</p> +<p>But Paanya said, “If I were so powerful would I be eaten by a +cat?”</p> +<p>So they hunted for the cat, caught it, and beat it.</p> +<p>But the cat cried: “Here! I am Paa′ka, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb70" href="#pb70" name="pb70">70</a>]</span>the cat. +Why do you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Paaka; it is you that +eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; +which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it.”</p> +<p>But Paaka said, “If I were so powerful would I be tied by a +rope?”</p> +<p>So they took the rope and beat it.</p> +<p>But the rope cried: “Here! I am Kaam′ba, the rope. Why +do you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Kaamba; it is you that +ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and +Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher +Goso. You should not have done it.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb71" href="#pb71" name="pb71">71</a>]</span></p> +<p>But Kaamba said, “If I were so powerful would I be cut by a +knife?”</p> +<p>So they took the knife and beat it.</p> +<p>But the knife cried: “Here! I am Kee′soo, the knife. Why +do you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Keesoo; you cut Kaamba, +the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores +through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south +wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck +our teacher Goso. You should not have done it.”</p> +<p>But Keesoo said, “If I were so powerful would I be burned by +the fire?”</p> +<p>And they went and beat the fire.</p> +<p>But the fire cried: “Here! I am Mo′to, the fire. Why do +you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Moto; you burn Keesoo, +the knife; that <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb72" href="#pb72" name= +"pb72">72</a>]</span>cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; +who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; +which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it.”</p> +<p>But Moto said, “If I were so powerful would I be put out by +water?”</p> +<p>And they went to the water and beat it.</p> +<p>But the water cried: “Here! I am Maa′jee, the water. Why +do you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Maajee; you put out Moto, +the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; +that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and +Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher +Goso. You should not have done it.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb73" href="#pb73" name="pb73">73</a>]</span></p> +<p>But Maajee said, “If I were so powerful would I be drunk by +the ox?”</p> +<p>And they went to the ox and beat it.</p> +<p>But the ox cried: “Here! I am Ng’om′bay, the ox. +Why do you beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Ng’ombay; you drink +Maajee, the water; that puts out Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the +knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats +Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which +stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down +the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done +it.”</p> +<p>But Ng’ombay said, “If I were so powerful would I be +tormented by the fly?”</p> +<p>And they caught a fly and beat it.</p> +<p>But the fly cried: “Here! I am Een′zee, the fly. Why do +you beat me? What have I done?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb74" href="#pb74" name="pb74">74</a>]</span></p> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Eenzee; you torment +Ng’ombay, the ox; who drinks Maajee, the water; that puts out +Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the +rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores +through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south +wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck +our teacher Goso. You should not have done it.”</p> +<p>But Eenzee said, “If I were so powerful would I be eaten by +the gazelle?”</p> +<p>And they searched for the gazelle, and when they found it they beat +it.</p> +<p>But the gazelle said: “Here! I am Paa, the gazelle. Why do you +beat me? What have I done?”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1077width" id="p075"><img src="images/p075.jpg" +alt="When they found the gazelle they beat it." width="436" height= +"644"> +<p class="figureHead">When they found the gazelle they beat it.</p> +</div> +<p>And they said: “Yes, we know you are Paa; you eat Eenzee, the +fly; that torments Ng’ombay, the ox; who drinks Maajee, the +water; that puts out Moto, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb77" href= +"#pb77" name="pb77">77</a>]</span>the fire; that burns Keesoo, the +knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats +Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which +stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down +the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done +it.”</p> +<p>The gazelle, through surprise at being found out and fear of the +consequences of his accidental killing of the teacher, while engaged in +stealing, was struck dumb.</p> +<p>Then the scholars said: “Ah! he hasn’t a word to say for +himself. This is the fellow who threw down the calabash that struck our +teacher Goso. We will kill him.”</p> +<p>So they killed Paa, the gazelle, and avenged the death of their +teacher.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1091width"><img src="images/p077.jpg" alt="" +width="412" height="149"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb79" href="#pb79" name= +"pb79">79</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch6" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">VI.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Ape, the Snake, and the Lion.</h2> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Long, long ago there lived, in a village called +Keejee′jee, a woman whose husband died, leaving her with a little +baby boy. She worked hard all day to get food for herself and child, +but they lived very poorly and were most of the time half-starved.</p> +<p>When the boy, whose name was ’Mvoo′ Laa′na, began +to get big, he said to his mother, one day: “Mother, we are +always hungry. What work did my father do to support us?”</p> +<p>His mother replied: “Your father was a hunter. He set traps, +and we ate what he caught in them.”</p> +<p>“Oho!” said ’Mvoo Laana; “that’s not +work; that’s fun. I, too, will set traps, and see if we +can’t get enough to eat.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb82" href="#pb82" name="pb82">82</a>]</span></p> +<p>The next day he went into the forest and cut branches from the +trees, and returned home in the evening.</p> +<p>The second day he spent making the branches into traps.</p> +<p>The third day he twisted cocoanut fiber into ropes.</p> +<p>The fourth day he set up as many traps as time would permit.</p> +<p>The fifth day he set up the remainder of the traps.</p> +<p>The sixth day he went to examine the traps, and they had caught so +much game, beside what they needed for themselves, that he took a great +quantity to the big town of Oongoo′ja, where he sold it and +bought corn and other things, and the house was full of food; and, as +this good fortune continued, he and his mother lived very +comfortably.</p> +<p>But after a while, when he went to his traps he found nothing in +them day after day.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1124width" id="p083"><img src="images/p083.jpg" +alt="“Mother, we are always hungry.”" width="426" height= +"530"> +<p class="figureHead">“Mother, we are always hungry.”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb85" href="#pb85" name= +"pb85">85</a>]</span></p> +<p>One morning, however, he found that an ape had been caught in one of +the traps, and he was about to kill it, when it said: “Son of +Adam, I am Neea′nee, the ape; do not kill me. Take me out of this +trap and let me go. Save me from the rain, that I may come and save you +from the sun some day.”</p> +<p>So ’Mvoo Laana took him out of the trap and let him go.</p> +<p>When Neeanee had climbed up in a tree, he sat on a branch and said +to the youth: “For your kindness I will give you a piece of +advice: Believe me, men are all bad. Never do a good turn for a man; if +you do, he will do you harm at the first opportunity.”</p> +<p>The second day, ’Mvoo Laana found a snake in the same trap. He +started to the village to give the alarm, but the snake shouted: +“Come back, son of Adam; don’t call the people from the +village to come and kill me. I am Neeo′ka, the snake. Let me out +of this trap, I pray <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb86" href="#pb86" +name="pb86">86</a>]</span>you. Save me from the rain to-day, that I may +be able to save you from the sun to-morrow, if you should be in need of +help.”</p> +<p>So the youth let him go; and as he went he said, “I will +return your kindness if I can, but do not trust any man; if you do him +a kindness he will do you an injury in return at the first +opportunity.”</p> +<p>The third day, ’Mvoo Laana found a lion in the same trap that +had caught the ape and the snake, and he was afraid to go near it. But +the lion said: “Don’t run away; I am Sim′ba +Kong′way, the very old lion. Let me out of this trap, and I will +not hurt you. Save me from the rain, that I may save you from the sun +if you should need help.”</p> +<p>So ’Mvoo Laana believed him and let him out of the trap, and +Simba Kongway, before going his way, said: “Son of Adam, you have +been kind to me, and I will repay you with kindness if I can; but never +do a kindness to a man, or he will pay you back with unkindness.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb87" href="#pb87" name= +"pb87">87</a>]</span></p> +<p>The next day a man was caught in the same trap, and when the youth +released him, he repeatedly assured him that he would never forget the +service he had done him in restoring his liberty and saving his +life.</p> +<p>Well, it seemed that he had caught all the game that could be taken +in traps, and ’Mvoo Laana and his mother were hungry every day, +with nothing to satisfy them, as they had been before. At last he said +to his mother, one day: “Mother, make me seven cakes of the +little meal we have left, and I will go hunting with my bow and +arrows.” So she baked him the cakes, and he took them and his bow +and arrows and went into the forest.</p> +<p>The youth walked and walked, but could see no game, and finally he +found that he had lost his way, and had eaten all his cakes but +one.</p> +<p>And he went on and on, not knowing whether he was going away from +his home or toward it, until he came to the wildest <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb88" href="#pb88" name="pb88">88</a>]</span>and most +desolate looking wood he had ever seen. He was so wretched and tired +that he felt he must lie down and die, when suddenly he heard some one +calling him, and looking up he saw Neeanee, the ape, who said, +“Son of Adam, where are you going?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” replied ’Mvoo Laana, sadly; +“I’m lost.”</p> +<p>“Well, well,” said the ape; “don’t worry. +Just sit down here and rest yourself until I come back, and I will +repay with kindness the kindness you once showed me.”</p> +<p>Then Neeanee went away off to some gardens and stole a whole lot of +ripe paw-paws and bananas, and brought them to ’Mvoo Laana, and +said: “Here’s plenty of food for you. Is there anything +else you want? Would you like a drink?” And before the youth +could answer he ran off with a calabash and brought it back full of +water. So the youth ate heartily, and drank all the water he needed, +and then <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb91" href="#pb91" name= +"pb91">91</a>]</span>each said to the other, “Good-bye, till we +meet again,” and went their separate ways.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1166width" id="p089"><img src="images/p089.jpg" +alt="“Where are you going, son of Adam?”" width="433" +height="655"> +<p class="figureHead">“Where are you going, son of +Adam?”</p> +</div> +<p>When ’Mvoo Laana had walked a great deal farther without +finding which way he should go, he met Simba Kongway, who asked, +“Where are you going, son of Adam?”</p> +<p>And the youth answered, as dolefully as before, “I don’t +know; I’m lost.”</p> +<p>“Come, cheer up,” said the very old lion, “and +rest yourself here a little. I want to repay with kindness to-day the +kindness you showed me on a former day.”</p> +<p>So ’Mvoo Laana sat down. Simba Kongway went away, but soon +returned with some game he had caught, and then he brought some fire, +and the young man cooked the game and ate it. When he had finished he +felt a great deal better, and they bade each other good-bye for the +present, and each went his way. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb92" +href="#pb92" name="pb92">92</a>]</span></p> +<p>After he had traveled another very long distance the youth came to a +farm, and was met by a very, very old woman, who said to him: +“Stranger, my husband has been taken very sick, and I am looking +for some one to make him some medicine. Won’t you make it?” +But he answered: “My good woman, I am not a doctor, I am a +hunter, and never used medicine in my life. I can not help +you.”</p> +<p>When he came to the road leading to the principal city he saw a +well, with a bucket standing near it, and he said to himself: +“That’s just what I want. I’ll take a drink of nice +well-water. Let me see if the water can be reached.”</p> +<p>As he peeped over the edge of the well, to see if the water was high +enough, what should he behold but a great big snake, which, directly it +saw him, said, “Son of Adam, wait a moment.” Then it came +out of the well and said: “How? Don’t you know me?” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb93" href="#pb93" name= +"pb93">93</a>]</span></p> +<p>“I certainly do not,” said the youth, stepping back a +little.</p> +<p>“Well, well!” said the snake; “I could never +forget <i>you</i>. I am Neeoka, whom you released from the trap. You +know I said, ‘Save me from the rain, and I will save you from the +sun.’ Now, you are a stranger in the town to which you are going; +therefore hand me your little bag, and I will place in it the things +that will be of use to you when you arrive there.”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1195width" id="p093"><img src="images/p093.jpg" +alt="Neeoka filled the bag with chains of gold and silver." width="438" +height="312"> +<p class="figureHead">Neeoka filled the bag with chains of gold and +silver.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb94" href="#pb94" name= +"pb94">94</a>]</span></p> +<p>So ’Mvoo Laana gave Neeoka the little bag, and he filled it +with chains of gold and silver, and told him to use them freely for his +own benefit. Then they parted very cordially.</p> +<p>When the youth reached the city, the first man he met was he whom he +had released from the trap, who invited him to go home with him, which +he did, and the man’s wife made him supper.</p> +<p>As soon as he could get away unobserved, the man went to the sultan +and said: “There is a stranger come to my house with a bag full +of chains of silver and gold, which he says he got from a snake that +lives in a well. But although he pretends to be a man, I know that he +is a snake who has power to look like a man.”</p> +<p>When the sultan heard this he sent some soldiers who brought +’Mvoo Laana and his little bag before him. When they opened the +little bag, the man who was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb95" href= +"#pb95" name="pb95">95</a>]</span>released from the trap persuaded the +people that some evil would come out of it, and affect the children of +the sultan and the children of the <span class="corr" id="xd20e1210" +title="Source: vizier">vizir</span>.</p> +<p>Then the people became excited, and tied the hands of ’Mvoo +Laana behind him.</p> +<p>But the great snake had come out of the well and arrived at the town +just about this time, and he went and lay at the feet of the man who +had said all those bad things about ’Mvoo Laana, and when the +people saw this they said to that man: “How is this? There is the +great snake that lives in the well, and he stays by you. Tell him to go +away.”</p> +<p>But Neeoka would not stir. So they untied the young man’s +hands, and tried in every way to make amends for having suspected him +of being a wizard.</p> +<p>Then the sultan asked him, “Why should this man invite you to +his home and then speak ill of you?” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb96" href="#pb96" name="pb96">96</a>]</span></p> +<p>And ’Mvoo Laana related all that had happened to him, and how +the ape, the snake, and the lion had cautioned him about the results of +doing any kindness for a man.</p> +<p>And the sultan said: “Although men are often ungrateful, they +are not always so; only the bad ones. As for this fellow, he deserves +to be put in a sack and drowned in the sea. He was treated kindly, and +returned evil for good.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb97" +href="#pb97" name="pb97">97</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch7" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">VII.</h2> +<h2 class="main">Haamdaanee.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb99" href="#pb99" name= +"pb99">99</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Once there was a very poor man, named +Haamdaa′nee, who begged from door to door for his living, +sometimes taking things before they were offered him. After a while +people became suspicious of him, and stopped giving him anything, in +order to keep him away from their houses. So at last he was reduced to +the necessity of going every morning to the village dust heap, and +picking up and eating the few grains of the tiny little millet seed +that he might find there.</p> +<p>One day, as he was scratching and turning over the heap, he found a +dime, which he tied up in a corner of his ragged dress, and continued +to hunt for millet grains, but could not find one. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb100" href="#pb100" name="pb100">100</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, well,” said he, “I’ve got a dime now; +I’m pretty well fixed. I’ll go home and take a nap instead +of a meal.”</p> +<p>So he went to his hut, took a drink of water, put some tobacco in +his mouth, and went to sleep.</p> +<p>The next morning, as he scratched in the dust heap, he saw a +countryman going along, carrying a basket made of twigs, and he called +to him: “Hi, there, countryman! What have you in that +cage?”</p> +<p>The countryman, whose name was Moohaad′eem, replied, +“Gazelles.”</p> +<p>And Haamdaanee called: “Bring them here. Let me see +them.”</p> +<p>Now there were three well-to-do men standing near; and when they saw +the countryman coming to Haamdaanee they smiled, and said, +“You’re taking lots of trouble for nothing, +Moohaadeem.”</p> +<p>“How’s that, gentlemen?” he inquired.</p> +<p>“Why,” said they, “that poor fellow has nothing at +all. Not a cent.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb101" href= +"#pb101" name="pb101">101</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know that,” said the countryman; +“he may have plenty, for all I know.”</p> +<p>“Not he,” said they.</p> +<p>“Don’t you see for yourself,” continued one of +them, “that he is on the dust heap? Every day he scratches there +like a hen, trying to get enough grains of millet to keep himself +alive. If he had any money, wouldn’t he buy a square meal, for +once in his life? Do you think he would want to buy a gazelle? What +would he do with it? He can’t find enough food for himself, +without looking for any for a gazelle.”</p> +<p>But Moohaadeem said: “Gentlemen, I have brought some goods +here to sell. I answer all who call me, and if any one says +‘Come,’ I go to him. I don’t favor one and slight +another; therefore, as this man called me, I’m going to +him.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the first man; “you <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb102" href="#pb102" name= +"pb102">102</a>]</span>don’t believe us. Well, we know where he +lives, and all about him, and we know that he can’t buy +anything.”</p> +<p>“That’s so,” said the second man. “Perhaps, +however, you will see that we were right, after you have a talk with +him.”</p> +<p>To which the third man added, “Clouds are a sign of rain, but +we have seen no signs of his being about to spend any money.”</p> +<p>“All right, gentlemen,” said Moohaadeem; “many +better-looking people than he call me, and when I show them my gazelles +they say, ‘Oh, yes, they’re very beautiful, but awfully +dear; take them away.’ So I shall not be disappointed if this man +says the same thing. I shall go to him, anyhow.”</p> +<p>Then one of the three men said, “Let us go with this man, and +see what the beggar will buy.”</p> +<p>“Pshaw!” said another; “buy! You <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb103" href="#pb103" name="pb103">103</a>]</span>talk +foolishly. He has not had a good meal in three years, to my knowledge; +and a man in his condition doesn’t have money to buy gazelles. +However, let’s go; and if he makes this poor countryman carry his +load over there just for the fun of looking at the gazelles, let each +of us give him a good hard whack with our walking-sticks, to teach him +how to behave toward honest merchants.”</p> +<p>So, when they came near him, one of those three men said: +“Well, here are the gazelles; now buy one. Here they are, you old +hypocrite; you’ll feast your eyes on them, but you can’t +buy them.”</p> +<p>But Haamdaanee, paying no attention to the men, said to Moohaadeem, +“How much for one of your gazelles?”</p> +<p>Then another of those men broke in: “You’re very +innocent, aren’t you? You know, as well as I do, that gazelles +are sold every day at two for a quarter.”</p> +<p>Still taking no notice of these outsiders, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb104" href="#pb104" name= +"pb104">104</a>]</span>Haamdaanee continued, “I’d like to +buy one for a dime.”</p> +<p>“One for a dime!” laughed the men; “of course +you’d like to buy one for a dime. Perhaps you’d also like +to have the dime to buy with.”</p> +<p>Then one of them gave him a push on the cheek.</p> +<p>At this Haamdaanee turned and said: “Why do you push me on the +cheek, when I’ve done nothing to you? I do not know you. I call +this man, to transact some business with him, and you, who are +strangers, step in to spoil our trade.”</p> +<p>He then untied the knot in the corner of his ragged coat, produced +the dime, and, handing it to Moohaadeem, said, “Please, good man, +let me have a gazelle for that.”</p> +<p>At this, the countryman took a small gazelle out of the cage and +handed it to him, saying, “Here, master, take this one. I call it +Keejee′paa.” Then turning to <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb105" href="#pb105" name="pb105">105</a>]</span>those three men, he +laughed, and said: “Ehe! How’s this? You, with your white +robes, and turbans, and swords, and daggers, and sandals on your +feet—you gentlemen of property, and no mistake—you told me +this man was too poor to buy anything; yet he has bought a gazelle for +a dime, while you fine fellows, I think, haven’t enough money +among you to buy half a gazelle, if they were five cents +each.”</p> +<p>Then Moohaadeem and the three men went their several ways.</p> +<p>As for Haamdaanee, he stayed at the dust heap until he found a few +grains of millet for himself and a few for Keejeepaa, the gazelle, and +then went to his hut, spread his sleeping mat, and he and the gazelle +slept together.</p> +<p>This going to the dust heap for a few grains of millet and then +going home to bed continued for about a week.</p> +<p>Then one night Haamdaanee was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb106" +href="#pb106" name="pb106">106</a>]</span>awakened by some one calling, +“Master!” Sitting up, he answered: “Here I am. Who +calls?” The gazelle answered, “I do!”</p> +<p>Upon this, the beggar man became so scared that he did not know +whether he should faint or get up and run away.</p> +<p>Seeing him so overcome, Keejeepaa asked, “Why, master, +what’s the matter?”</p> +<p>“Oh, gracious!” he gasped; “what a wonder I +see!”</p> +<p>“A wonder?” said the gazelle, looking all around; +“why, what is this wonder, that makes you act as if you were all +broken up?”</p> +<p>“Why, it’s so wonderful, I can hardly believe I’m +awake!” said his master. “Who in the world ever before knew +of a gazelle that could speak?”</p> +<p>“Oho!” laughed Keejeepaa; “is that all? There are +many more wonderful things than that. But now, listen, while I tell you +why I called you.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb107" href= +"#pb107" name="pb107">107</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Certainly; I’ll listen to every word,” said the +man. “I can’t help listening!”</p> +<p>“Well, you see, it’s just this way,” said +Keejeepaa; “I’ve allowed you to become my master, and I can +not run away from you; so I want you to make an agreement with me, and +I will make you a promise, and keep it.”</p> +<p>“Say on,” said his master.</p> +<p>“Now,” continued the gazelle, “one doesn’t +have to be acquainted with you long, in order to discover that you are +very poor. This scratching a few grains of millet from the dust heap +every day, and managing to subsist upon them, is all very well for +you—you’re used to it, because it’s a matter of +necessity with you; but if I keep it up much longer, you won’t +have any gazelle—Keejeepaa will die of starvation. Therefore, I +want to go away every day and feed on my own kind of food; and I +promise you I will return every evening.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb108" href="#pb108" name="pb108">108</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Well, I guess I’ll have to give my consent,” said +the man, in no very cheerful tone.</p> +<p>As it was now dawn, Keejeepaa jumped up and ran out of the door, +Haamdaanee following him. The gazelle ran very fast, and his master +stood watching him until he disappeared. Then tears started in the +man’s eyes, and, raising his hands, he cried, “Oh, my +mother!” Then he cried, “Oh, my father!” Then he +cried, “Oh, my gazelle! It has run away!”</p> +<p>Some of his neighbors, who heard him carrying on in this manner, +took the opportunity to inform him that he was a fool, an idiot, and a +dissipated fellow.</p> +<p>Said one of them: “You hung around that dust heap, goodness +knows how long, scratching like a hen, till fortune gave you a dime. +You hadn’t sense enough to go and buy some decent food; you had +to buy a gazelle. Now you’ve let the creature <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb109" href="#pb109" name="pb109">109</a>]</span>run +away. What are you crying about? You brought all your trouble on +yourself.”</p> +<p>All this, of course, was very comforting to Haamdaanee, who slunk +off to the dust heap, got a few grains of millet, and came back to his +hut, which now seemed meaner and more desolate than ever.</p> +<p>At sunset, however, Keejeepaa came trotting in; and the beggar was +happy again, and said, “Ah, my friend, you have returned to +me.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” said the gazelle; “didn’t I +promise you? You see, I feel that when you bought me you gave all the +money you had in the world, even though it was only a dime. Why, then, +should I grieve you? I couldn’t do it. If I go and get myself +some food, I’ll always come back evenings.”</p> +<p>When the neighbors saw the gazelle come home every evening and run +off every morning, they were greatly surprised, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb110" href="#pb110" name="pb110">110</a>]</span>and +began to suspect that Haamdaanee was a wizard.</p> +<p>Well, this coming and going continued for five days, the gazelle +telling its master each night what fine places it had been to, and what +lots of food it had eaten.</p> +<p>On the sixth day it was feeding among some thorn bushes in a thick +wood, when, scratching away some bitter grass at the foot of a big +tree, it saw an immense diamond of intense brightness.</p> +<p>“Oho!” said Keejeepaa, in great astonishment; +“here’s property, and no mistake! This is worth a kingdom! +If I take it to my master he will be killed; for, being a poor man, if +they say to him, ‘Where did you get it?’ and he answers, +‘I picked it up,’ they will not believe him; if he says, +‘It was given to me,’ they will not believe him either. It +will not do for me to get my master into difficulties. I know what +I’ll do. I’ll seek some powerful person; he will use it +properly.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb111" href="#pb111" +name="pb111">111</a>]</span></p> +<p>So Keejeepaa started off through the forest, holding the diamond in +his mouth, and ran, and ran, but saw no town that day; so he slept in +the forest, and arose at dawn and pursued his way. And the second day +passed like the first.</p> +<p>On the third day the gazelle had traveled from dawn until between +eight and nine o’clock, when he began to see scattered houses, +getting larger in size, and knew he was approaching a town. In due time +he found himself in the main street of a large city, leading direct to +the sultan’s palace, and began to run as fast as he could. People +passing along stopped to look at the strange sight of a gazelle running +swiftly along the main street with something wrapped in green leaves +between its teeth.</p> +<p>The sultan was sitting at the door of his palace, when Keejeepaa, +stopping a little way off, dropped the diamond from its mouth, and, +lying down beside it, panting, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb112" +href="#pb112" name="pb112">112</a>]</span>called out: “Ho, there! +Ho, there!” which is a cry every one makes in that part of the +world when wishing to enter a house, remaining outside until the cry is +answered.</p> +<p>After the cry had been repeated several times, the sultan said to +his attendants, “Who is doing all that calling?”</p> +<p>And one answered, “Master, it’s a gazelle that’s +calling, ‘Ho, there!’”</p> +<p>“Ho-ho!” said the sultan; “Ho-ho! Invite the +gazelle to come near.”</p> +<p>Then three attendants ran to Keejeepaa and said: “Come, get +up. The sultan commands you to come near.”</p> +<p>So the gazelle arose, picked up the diamond, and, approaching the +sultan, laid the jewel at his feet, saying, “Master, good +afternoon!” To which the sultan replied: “May God make it +good! Come near.”</p> +<p>The sultan ordered his attendants to bring a carpet and a large +cushion, and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb113" href="#pb113" name= +"pb113">113</a>]</span>desired the gazelle to rest upon them. When it +protested that it was comfortable as it was, he insisted, and Keejeepaa +had to allow himself to be made a very honored guest. Then they brought +milk and rice, and the sultan would hear nothing until the gazelle had +fed and rested.</p> +<p>At last, when everything had been disposed of, the sultan said, +“Well, now, my friend, tell me what news you bring.”</p> +<p>And Keejeepaa said: “Master, I don’t exactly know how +you will like the news I bring. The fact is, I’m sent here to +insult you! I’ve come to try and pick a quarrel with you! In +fact, I’m here to propose a family alliance with you!”</p> +<p>At this the sultan exclaimed: “Oh, come! for a gazelle, you +certainly know how to talk! Now, the fact of it is, I’m looking +for some one to insult me. I’m just aching to have some one pick +a quarrel with me. I’m impatient for a family alliance. Go on +with your message.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb114" href= +"#pb114" name="pb114">114</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then Keejeepaa said, “You don’t bear any ill will +against me, who am only a messenger?”</p> +<p>And the sultan said, “None at all.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Keejeepaa, “look at this pledge I +bring;” dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the +sultan’s lap.</p> +<p>When the sultan opened the leaves and saw the great, sparkling +jewel, he was overcome with astonishment. At last he said, +“Well?”</p> +<p>“I have brought this pledge,” said the gazelle, +“from my master, Sultan Daaraa′ee. He has heard that you +have a daughter, so he sent you this jewel, hoping you will forgive him +for not sending something more worthy of your acceptance than this +trifle.”</p> +<p>“Goodness!” said the sultan to himself; “he calls +this a trifle!” Then to the gazelle: “Oh, that’s all +right; that’s all right. I’m satisfied. The Sultan Daaraaee +has my consent to marry my daughter, <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb115" href="#pb115" name="pb115">115</a>]</span>and I don’t +want a single thing from him. Let him come empty-handed. If he has more +of these trifles, let him leave them at home. This is my message, and I +hope you will make it perfectly clear to your master.”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1411width" id="p115"><img src="images/p115.jpg" +alt= +"Dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the sultan’s lap." +width="431" height="454"> +<p class="figureHead">Dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the +sultan’s lap.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb116" href="#pb116" name= +"pb116">116</a>]</span></p> +<p>The gazelle assured him that he would explain everything +satisfactorily, adding: “And now, master, I take my leave. I go +straight to our own town, and hope that in about eleven days we shall +return to be your guests.” So, with mutual compliments, they +parted.</p> +<p>In the meantime, Haamdaanee was having an exceedingly tough time. +Keejeepaa having disappeared, he wandered about the town moaning, +“Oh, my poor gazelle! my poor gazelle!” while the neighbors +laughed and jeered at him, until, between them and his loss, he was +nearly out of his mind.</p> +<p>But one evening, when he had gone to bed, Keejeepaa walked in. Up he +jumped, and began to embrace the gazelle, and weep over it, and carry +on at a great rate.</p> +<p>When he thought there had been about enough of this kind of thing, +the gazelle said: “Come, come; keep quiet, my master. I’ve +brought you good news.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb117" +href="#pb117" name="pb117">117</a>]</span>But the beggar man continued +to cry and fondle, and declare that he had thought his gazelle was +dead.</p> +<p>At last Keejeepaa said: “Oh, well, master, you see I’m +all right. You must brace up, and prepare to hear my news, and do as I +advise you.”</p> +<p>“Go on; go on,” replied his master; “explain what +you will, I’ll do whatever you require me to do. If you were to +say, ‘Lie down on your back, that I may roll you over the side of +the hill,’ I would lie down.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the gazelle, “there is not much to +explain just now, but I’ll tell you this: I’ve seen many +kinds of food, food that is desirable and food that is objectionable, +but this food I’m about to offer you is very sweet +indeed.”</p> +<p>“What?” said Haamdaanee. “Is it possible that in +this world there is anything that is positively good? There must be +good and bad in everything. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb118" href= +"#pb118" name="pb118">118</a>]</span>Food that is both sweet and bitter +is good food, but if food were nothing but sweetness would it not be +injurious?”</p> +<p>“H’m!” yawned the gazelle; “I’m too +tired to talk philosophy. Let’s go to sleep now, and when I call +you in the morning, all you have to do is to get up and follow +me.”</p> +<p>So at dawn they set forth, the gazelle leading the way, and for five +days they journeyed through the forest.</p> +<p>On the fifth day they came to a stream, and Keejeepaa said to his +master, “Lie down here.” When he had done so, the gazelle +set to and beat him so soundly that he cried out: “Oh, let up, I +beg of you!”</p> +<p>“Now,” said the gazelle, “I’m going away, +and when I return I expect to find you right here; so don’t you +leave this spot on any account.” Then he ran away, and about ten +o’clock that morning he arrived at the house of the sultan. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb119" href="#pb119" name= +"pb119">119</a>]</span></p> +<p>Now, ever since the day Keejeepaa left the town, soldiers had been +placed along the road to watch for and announce the approach of Sultan +Daaraaee; so one of them, when he saw the gazelle in the distance, +rushed up and cried to the sultan, “Sultan Daaraaee is coming! +I’ve seen the gazelle running as fast as it can in this +direction.”</p> +<p>The sultan and his attendants immediately set out to meet his +guests; but when they had gone a little way beyond the town they met +the gazelle coming along alone, who, on reaching the sultan, said, +“Good day, my master.” The sultan replied in kind, and +asked the news, but Keejeepaa said: “Ah, do not ask me. I can +scarcely walk, and my news is bad!”</p> +<p>“Why, how is that?” asked the sultan.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear!” sighed the gazelle; “such misfortune +and misery! You see, Sultan Daaraaee and I started alone to come +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb120" href="#pb120" name= +"pb120">120</a>]</span>here, and we got along all right until we came +to the thick part of the forest yonder, when we were met by robbers, +who seized my master, bound him, beat him, and took everything he had, +even stripping off every stitch of his clothing. Oh, dear! oh, +dear!”</p> +<p>“Dear me!” said the sultan; “we must attend to +this at once.” So, hurrying back with his attendants to his +house, he called a groom, to whom he said, “Saddle the best horse +in my stable, and put on him my finest harness.” Then he directed +a woman servant to open the big inlaid chest and bring him a bag of +clothes. When she brought it he picked out a loin-cloth, and a long +white robe, and a black overjacket, and a shawl for the waist, and a +turban cloth, all of the very finest. Then he sent for a curved sword +with a gold hilt, and a curved dagger with gold filigree, and a pair of +elegant sandals, and a fine walking-cane. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb121" href="#pb121" name="pb121">121</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then the sultan said to Keejeepaa, “Take some of my soldiers, +and let them convey these things to Sultan Daaraaee, that he may dress +himself and come to me.”</p> +<p>But the gazelle answered: “Ah, my master, can I take these +soldiers with me and put Sultan Daaraaee to shame? There he lies, +beaten and robbed, and I would not have any one see him. I can take +everything by myself.”</p> +<p>“Why,” exclaimed the sultan, “here is a horse, and +there are clothes and arms. I don’t see how a little gazelle can +manage all those things.”</p> +<p>But the gazelle had them fasten everything on the horse’s +back, and tie the end of the bridle around his own neck, and then he +set off alone, amidst the wonder and admiration of the people of that +city, high and low.</p> +<p>When he arrived at the place where he had left the beggar-man, he +found him <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb122" href="#pb122" name= +"pb122">122</a>]</span>lying waiting for him, and overjoyed at his +return.</p> +<p>“Now,” said he, “I have brought you the sweet food +I promised. Come, get up and bathe yourself.”</p> +<p>With the hesitation of a person long unaccustomed to such a thing, +the man stepped into the stream and began to wet himself a little.</p> +<p>“Oh,” said the gazelle, impatiently, “a little +water like that won’t do <i>you</i> much good; get out into the +deep pool.”</p> +<p>“Dear me!” said the man, timidly; “there is so +much water there; and where there is much water there are sure to be +horrible animals.”</p> +<p>“Animals! What kind of animals?”</p> +<p>“Well, crocodiles, water lizards, snakes, and, at any rate, +frogs; and they bite people, and I’m terribly afraid of all of +them.”</p> +<p>“Oh, well,” said Keejeepaa, “do the best you can +in the stream; but rub <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb123" href= +"#pb123" name="pb123">123</a>]</span>yourself well with earth, and, for +goodness’ sake, scrub your teeth well with sand; they are awfully +dirty.”</p> +<p>So the man obeyed, and soon made quite a change in his +appearance.</p> +<p>Then the gazelle said: “Here, hurry up and put on these +things. The sun has gone down, and we ought to have started before +this.”</p> +<p>So the man dressed himself in the fine clothes the sultan had sent, +and then he mounted the horse, and they started; the gazelle trotting +on ahead.</p> +<p>When they had gone some distance, the gazelle stopped, and said, +“See here: nobody who sees you now would suspect that you are the +man who scratched in the dust heap yesterday. Even if we were to go +back to our town the neighbors would not recognize you, if it were only +for the fact that your face is clean and your teeth are white. Your +appearance is all right, but I have a caution <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb124" href="#pb124" name="pb124">124</a>]</span>to +give you. Over there, where we are going, I have procured for you the +sultan’s daughter for a wife, with all the usual wedding gifts. +Now, you must keep quiet. Say nothing except, ‘How d’ye +do?’ and ‘What’s the news?’ Let me do the +talking.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the man; “that suits me +exactly.”</p> +<p>“Do you know what your name is?”</p> +<p>“Of course I do.”</p> +<p>“Indeed? Well, what is it?”</p> +<p>“Why, my name is Haamdaanee.”</p> +<p>“Not much,” laughed Keejeepaa; “your name is +Sultan Daaraaee.”</p> +<p>“Oh, is it?” said his master. “That’s +good.”</p> +<p>So they started forward again, and in a little while they saw +soldiers running in every direction, and fourteen of these joined them +to escort them. Then they saw ahead of them the sultan, and the vizirs, +and the emirs, and the judges, and <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb125" +href="#pb125" name="pb125">125</a>]</span>the great men of the city, +coming to meet them.</p> +<p>“Now, then,” said Keejeepaa, “get off your horse +and salute your father-in-law. That’s him in the middle, wearing +the sky-blue jacket.”</p> +<p>“All right,” said the man, jumping off his horse, which +was then led by a soldier.</p> +<p>So the two met, and the sultans shook hands, and kissed each other, +and walked up to the palace together.</p> +<p>Then they had a great feast, and made merry and talked until night, +at which time Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle were put into an inner +room, with three soldiers at the door to guard and attend upon +them.</p> +<p>When the morning came, Keejeepaa went to the sultan and said: +“Master, we wish to attend to the business which brought us here. +We want to marry your daughter, and the sooner the ceremony takes +place, the better it will please the Sultan Daaraaee.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb126" href="#pb126" name= +"pb126">126</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Why, that’s all right,” said the sultan; +“the bride is ready. Let some one call the teacher, +Mwaalee′moo, and tell him to come at once.”</p> +<p>When Mwaaleemoo arrived, the sultan said, “See here, we want +you to marry this gentleman to my daughter right away.”</p> +<p>“All right; I’m ready,” said the teacher. So they +were married.</p> +<p>Early the next morning the gazelle said to his master: “Now +I’m off on a journey. I shall be gone about a week; but however +long I am gone, don’t you leave the house till I return. +Good-bye.”</p> +<p>Then he went to the real sultan and said: “Good master, Sultan +Daaraaee has ordered me to return to our town and put his house in +order; he commands me to be here again in a week; if I do not return by +that time, he will stay here until I come.”</p> +<p>The sultan asked him if he would not <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb127" href="#pb127" name="pb127">127</a>]</span>like to have some +soldiers go with him; but the gazelle replied that he was quite +competent to take care of himself, as his previous journeys had proved, +and he preferred to go alone; so with mutual good wishes they +parted.</p> +<p>But Keejeepaa did not go in the direction of the old village. He +struck off by another road through the forest, and after a time came to +a very fine town, of large, handsome houses. As he went through the +principal street, right to the far end, he was greatly astonished to +observe that the town seemed to have no inhabitants, for he saw neither +man, woman, nor child in all the place.</p> +<p>At the end of the main street he came upon the largest and most +beautiful house he had ever seen, built of sapphire, and turquoise, and +costly marbles.</p> +<p>“Oh, my!” said the gazelle; “this house would just +suit my master. I’ll have to pluck up my courage and see whether +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb128" href="#pb128" name= +"pb128">128</a>]</span>this is deserted like the other houses in this +mysterious town.”</p> +<p>So Keejeepaa knocked at the door, and called, “Hullo, +there!” several times; but no one answered. And he said to +himself: “This is strange! If there were no one inside, the door +would be fastened on the outside. Perhaps they are in another part of +the house, or asleep. I’ll call again, louder.”</p> +<p>So he called again, very loud and long, “Hul-lo, th-e-re! +Hul-lo!” And directly an old woman inside answered, “Who is +that calling so loudly?”</p> +<p>“It is I, your grandchild, good mistress,” said +Keejeepaa.</p> +<p>“If you are my grandchild,” replied the old woman, +“go back to your home at once; don’t come and die here, and +bring me to my death also.”</p> +<p>“Oh, come,” said he, “open the door, mistress; I +have just a few words I wish to say to you.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb129" href="#pb129" name="pb129">129</a>]</span></p> +<p>“My dear grandson,” she replied, “the only reason +why I do not open the door is because I fear to endanger both your life +and my own.”</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t worry about that; I guess your life and mine +are safe enough for a while. Open the door, anyhow, and hear the little +I have to say.”</p> +<p>So the old woman opened the door.</p> +<p>Then they exchanged salutations and compliments, after which she +asked the gazelle, “What’s the news from your place, +grandson?”</p> +<p>“Oh, everything is going along pretty well,” said he; +“what’s the news around here?”</p> +<p>“Ah!” sighed the old creature; “the news here is +very bad. If you’re looking for a place to die in, you’ve +struck it here. I’ve not the slightest doubt you’ll see all +you want of death this very day.”</p> +<p>“Huh!” replied Keejeepaa, lightly; “for +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb130" href="#pb130" name= +"pb130">130</a>]</span>a fly to die in honey is not bad for the fly, +and doesn’t injure the honey.”</p> +<p>“It may be all very well for you to be easy about it,” +persisted the old person; “but if people with swords and shields +did not escape, how can a little thing like you avoid danger? I must +again beg of you to go back to the place you came from. Your safety +seems of more interest to me than it is to you.”</p> +<p>“Well, you see, I can’t go back just now; and besides, I +want to find out more about this place. Who owns it?”</p> +<p>“Ah, grandson, in this house are enormous wealth, numbers of +people, hundreds of horses, and the owner is Neeo′ka Mkoo′, +the wonderfully big snake. He owns this whole town, also.”</p> +<p>“Oho! Is that so?” said Keejeepaa. “Look here, old +lady; can’t you put me on to some plan of getting near this big +snake, that I may kill him?”</p> +<p>“Mercy!” cried the old woman, in <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb131" href="#pb131" name= +"pb131">131</a>]</span>affright; “don’t talk like that. +You’ve put my life in danger already, for I’m sure Neeoka +Mkoo can hear what is said in this house, wherever he is. You see +I’m a poor old woman, and I have been placed here, with those +pots and pans, to cook for him. Well, when the big snake is coming, the +wind begins to blow and the dust flies as it would do in a great storm. +Then, when he arrives in the courtyard, he eats until he is full, and +after that, goes inside there to drink water. When he has finished, he +goes away again. This occurs every other day, just when the sun is +overhead. I may add that Neeoka Mkoo has seven heads. Now, then, do you +think yourself a match for him?”</p> +<p>“Look here, mother,” said the gazelle, +“don’t you worry about me. Has this big snake a +sword?”</p> +<p>“He has. This is it,” said she, taking from its peg a +very keen and beautiful <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb132" href= +"#pb132" name="pb132">132</a>]</span>blade, and handing it to him; +“but what’s the use in bothering about it? We are dead +already.”</p> +<p>“We shall see about that,” said Keejeepaa.</p> +<p>Just at that moment the wind began to blow, and the dust to fly, as +if a great storm were approaching.</p> +<p>“Do you hear the great one coming?” cried the old +woman.</p> +<p>“Pshaw!” said the gazelle; “I’m a great one +also—and I have the advantage of being on the inside. Two bulls +can’t live in one cattle-pen. Either he will live in this house, +or I will.”</p> +<p>Notwithstanding the terror the old lady was in, she had to smile at +the assurance of this little undersized gazelle, and repeated over +again her account of the people with swords and shields who had been +killed by the big snake.</p> +<p>“Ah, stop your gabbling!” said the gazelle; “you +can’t always judge a banana <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb133" +href="#pb133" name="pb133">133</a>]</span>by its color or size. Wait +and see, grandma.”</p> +<p>In a very little while the big snake, Neeoka Mkoo, came into the +courtyard, and went around to all the pots and ate their contents. Then +he came to the door.</p> +<p>“Hullo, old lady,” said he; “how is it I smell a +new kind of odor inside there?”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s nothing, good master,” replied the old +woman; “I’ve been so busy around here lately I +haven’t had time to look after myself; but this morning I used +some perfume, and that’s what you smell.”</p> +<p>Now, Keejeepaa had drawn the sword, and was standing just inside the +doorway; so, when the big snake put his head in, it was cut off so +quickly that its owner did not know it was gone. When he put in his +second head it was cut off with the same quickness; and, feeling a +little irritation, he exclaimed, “Who’s inside there, +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb134" href="#pb134" name= +"pb134">134</a>]</span>scratching me?” He then thrust in his +third head, and that was cut off also.</p> +<p>This continued until six heads had been disposed of, when Neeoka +Mkoo unfolded his rings and lashed around so that the gazelle and the +old woman could not see one another through the dust.</p> +<p>Then the snake thrust in his seventh head, and the gazelle, crying: +“Now your time has come; you’ve climbed many trees, but +this you can not climb,” severed it, and immediately fell down in +a fainting fit.</p> +<p>Well, that old woman, although she was seventy-five years of age, +jumped, and shouted, and laughed, like a girl of nine. Then she ran and +got water, and sprinkled the gazelle, and turned him this way and that +way, until at last he sneezed; which greatly pleased the old person, +who fanned him and tended him until he was quite recovered.</p> +<p>“Oh, my!” said she; “who would have <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb135" href="#pb135" name= +"pb135">135</a>]</span>thought you could be a match for him, my +grandson?”</p> +<p>“Well, well,” said Keejeepaa; “that’s all +over. Now show me everything around this place.”</p> +<p>So she showed him everything, from top to bottom: store-rooms full +of goods, chambers full of expensive foods, rooms containing handsome +people who had been kept prisoners for a long time, slaves, and +everything.</p> +<p>Next he asked her if there was any person who was likely to lay +claim to the place or make any trouble; and she answered: “No +one; everything here belongs to you.”</p> +<p>“Very well, then,” said he, “you stay here and +take care of these things until I bring my master. This place belongs +to him now.”</p> +<p>Keejeepaa stayed three days examining the house, and said to +himself: “Well, when my master comes here he will be <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb136" href="#pb136" name="pb136">136</a>]</span>much +pleased with what I have done for him, and he’ll appreciate it +after the life he’s been accustomed to. As to his father-in-law, +there is not a house in his town that can compare with this.”</p> +<p>On the fourth day he departed, and in due time arrived at the town +where the sultan and his master lived. Then there were great +rejoicings; the sultan being particularly pleased at his return, while +his master felt as if he had received a new lease of life.</p> +<p>After everything had settled down a little, Keejeepaa told his +master he must be ready to go, with his wife, to his new home after +four days. Then he went and told the sultan that Sultan Daaraaee +desired to take his wife to his own town in four days; to which the +sultan strongly objected; but the gazelle said it was his +master’s wish, and at last everything was arranged.</p> +<p>On the day of the departure a great <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb137" href="#pb137" name="pb137">137</a>]</span>company assembled to +escort Sultan Daaraaee and his bride. There were the bride’s +ladies-in-waiting, and slaves, and horsemen, and Keejeepaa leading them +all.</p> +<p>So they traveled three days, resting when the sun was overhead, and +stopping each evening about five o’clock to eat and sleep; +arising next morning at day-break, eating, and going forward again. And +all this time the gazelle took very little rest, going all through the +company, from the ladies to the slaves, and seeing that every one was +well supplied with food and quite comfortable; therefore the entire +company loved him and valued him like the apples of their eyes.</p> +<p>On the fourth day, during the afternoon, many houses came into view, +and some of the folks called Keejeepaa’s attention to them. +“Certainly,” said he; “that is our town, and that +house you see yonder is the palace of Sultan Daaraaee.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb138" href="#pb138" name= +"pb138">138</a>]</span></p> +<p>So they went on, and all the company filed into the courtyard, while +the gazelle and his master went into the house.</p> +<p>When the old woman saw Keejeepaa, she began to dance, and shout, and +carry on, just as she did when he killed Neeoka Mkoo, and taking up his +foot she kissed it; but Keejeepaa said: “Old lady, let me alone; +the one to be made much of is this my master, Sultan Daaraaee. Kiss his +feet; he has the first honors whenever he is present.”</p> +<p>The old woman excused herself for not knowing the master, and then +Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle went around on a tour of inspection. +The sultan ordered all the prisoners to be released, the horses to be +sent out to pasture, all the rooms to be swept, the furniture to be +dusted, and, in the meantime, servants were busy preparing food. Then +every one had apartments assigned to him, and all were satisfied. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb139" href="#pb139" name= +"pb139">139</a>]</span></p> +<p>After they had remained there some time, the ladies who had +accompanied the bride expressed a desire to return to their own homes. +Keejeepaa begged them not to hurry away, but after a while they +departed, each loaded with gifts by the gazelle, for whom they had a +thousand times more affection than for his master. Then things settled +down to their regular routine.</p> +<p>One day the gazelle said to the old woman: “I think the +conduct of my master is very singular. I have done nothing but good for +him all the time I have been with him. I came to this town and braved +many dangers for him, and when all was over I gave everything to him. +Yet he has never asked: ‘How did you get this house? How did you +get this town? Who is the owner of this house? Have you rented all +these things, or have they been given you? What has become of the +inhabitants of the place?’ I don’t <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb140" href="#pb140" name= +"pb140">140</a>]</span>understand him. And further: although I have +done nothing but good for him, he has never done one good thing for me. +Nothing here is really his. He never saw such a house or town as this +since the day he was born, and he doesn’t own anything of it. I +believe the old folks were right when they said, ‘If you want to +do any person good, don’t do too much; do him a little harm +occasionally, and he’ll think more of you.’ However, +I’ve done all I can now, and I’d like to see him make some +little return.”</p> +<p>Next morning the old woman was awakened early by the gazelle +calling, “Mother! Mother!” When she went to him she found +he was sick in his stomach, feverish, and all his legs ached.</p> +<p>“Go,” said he, “and tell my master I am very +ill.”</p> +<p>So she went upstairs and found the master and mistress sitting on a +marble couch, covered with a striped silk scarf from India. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb141" href="#pb141" name= +"pb141">141</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Well,” said the master, “what do you want, old +woman?”</p> +<p>“Oh, my master,” cried she, “Keejeepaa is +sick!”</p> +<p>The mistress started and said: “Dear me! What is the matter +with him?”</p> +<p>“All his body pains him. He is sick all over.”</p> +<p>“Oh, well,” said the master, “what can I do? Go +and get some of that red millet, that is too common for our use, and +make him some gruel.”</p> +<p>“Gracious!” exclaimed his wife, staring at him in +amazement; “do you wish her to feed our friend with stuff that a +horse would not eat if he were ever so hungry? This is not right of +you.”</p> +<p>“Ah, get out!” said he, “you’re crazy. We +eat rice; isn’t red millet good enough for a gazelle that cost +only a dime?”</p> +<p>“Oh, but he is no ordinary gazelle. He should be as dear to +you as the apple of your eye. If sand got in your eye it would trouble +you.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb142" href="#pb142" name= +"pb142">142</a>]</span></p> +<p>“You talk too much,” returned her husband; then, turning +to the old woman, he said, “Go and do as I told you.”</p> +<p>So the old woman went downstairs, and when she saw the gazelle, she +began to cry, and say, “Oh, dear! oh, dear!”</p> +<p>It was a long while before the gazelle could persuade her to tell +him what had passed upstairs, but at last she told him all. When he had +heard it, he said: “Did he really tell you to make me red millet +gruel?”</p> +<p>“Ah,” cried she, “do you think I would say such a +thing if it were not so?”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Keejeepaa, “I believe what the old +folks said was right. However, we’ll give him another chance. Go +up to him again, and tell him I am very sick, and that I can’t +eat that gruel.”</p> +<p>So she went upstairs, and found the master and mistress sitting by +the window, drinking coffee.</p> +<p>The master, looking around and seeing <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb143" href="#pb143" name="pb143">143</a>]</span>her, said: +“What’s the matter now, old woman?”</p> +<p>And she said: “Master, I am sent by Keejeepaa. He is very sick +indeed, and has not taken the gruel you told me to make for +him.”</p> +<p>“Oh, bother!” he exclaimed. “Hold your tongue, and +keep your feet still, and shut your eyes, and stop your ears with wax; +then, if that gazelle tells you to come up here, say that your legs are +stiff; and if he tells you to listen, say your ears are deaf; and if he +tells you to look, say your sight has failed you; and if he wants you +to talk, tell him your tongue is paralyzed.”</p> +<p>When the old woman heard these words, she stood and stared, and was +unable to move. As for his wife, her face became sad, and the tears +began to start from her eyes; observing which, her husband said, +sharply, “What’s the matter with you, sultan’s +daughter?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb144" href="#pb144" +name="pb144">144</a>]</span></p> +<p>The lady replied, “A man’s madness is his +undoing.”</p> +<p>“Why do you say that, mistress?” he inquired.</p> +<p>“Ah,” said she, “I am grieved, my husband, at your +treatment of Keejeepaa. Whenever I say a good word for the gazelle you +dislike to hear it. I pity you that your understanding is +gone.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean by talking in that manner to me?” he +blustered.</p> +<p>“Why, advice is a blessing, if properly taken. A husband +should advise with his wife, and a wife with her husband; then they are +both blessed.”</p> +<p>“Oh, stop,” said her husband, impatiently; +“it’s evident you’ve lost your senses. You should be +chained up.” Then he said to the old woman: “Never mind her +talk; and as to this gazelle, tell him to stop bothering me and putting +on style, as if he were the sultan. I can’t eat, I can’t +drink, I can’t sleep, because <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb145" href="#pb145" name="pb145">145</a>]</span>of that gazelle +worrying me with his messages. First, the gazelle is sick; then, the +gazelle doesn’t like what he gets to eat. Confound it! If he +likes to eat, let him eat; if he doesn’t like to eat, let him die +and be out of the way. My mother is dead, and my father is dead, and I +still live and eat; shall I be put out of my way by a gazelle, that I +bought for a dime, telling me he wants this thing or that thing? Go and +tell him to learn how to behave himself toward his +superiors.”</p> +<p>When the old woman went downstairs, she found the gazelle was +bleeding at the mouth, and in a very bad way. All she could say was, +“My son, the good you did is all lost; but be patient.”</p> +<p>And the gazelle wept with the old woman when she told him all that +had passed, and he said, “Mother, I am dying, not only from +sickness, but from shame and anger at this man’s +ingratitude.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb146" href="#pb146" +name="pb146">146</a>]</span></p> +<p>After a while Keejeepaa told the old woman to go and tell the master +that he believed he was dying. When she went upstairs she found +Daaraaee chewing sugar-cane, and she said to him, “Master, the +gazelle is worse; we think him nearer to dying than getting +well.”</p> +<p>To which he answered: “Haven’t I told you often enough +not to bother me?”</p> +<p>Then his wife said: “Oh, husband, won’t you go down and +see the poor gazelle? If you don’t like to go, let me go and see +him. He never gets a single good thing from you.”</p> +<p>But he turned to the old woman and said, “Go and tell that +nuisance of a gazelle to die eleven times if he chooses to.”</p> +<p>“Now, husband,” persisted the lady, “what has +Keejeepaa done to you? Has he done you any wrong? Such words as yours +people use to their enemies only. Surely the gazelle is not your enemy. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb147" href="#pb147" name= +"pb147">147</a>]</span>All the people who know him, great and lowly, +love him dearly, and they will think it very wrong of you if you +neglect him. Now, do be kind to him, Sultan Daaraaee.”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1759width" id="p147"><img src="images/p147.jpg" +alt="The gazelle wept with the old woman." width="405" height="518"> +<p class="figureHead">The gazelle wept with the old woman.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb148" href="#pb148" name= +"pb148">148</a>]</span></p> +<p>But he only repeated his assertion that she had lost her wits, and +would have nothing further of argument.</p> +<p>So the old woman went down and found the gazelle worse than +ever.</p> +<p>In the meantime Sultan Daaraaee’s wife managed to give some +rice to a servant to cook for the gazelle, and also sent him a soft +shawl to cover him and a pillow to lie upon. She also sent him a +message that if he wished, she would have her father’s best +physicians attend him.</p> +<p>All this was too late, however, for just as these good things +arrived, Keejeepaa died.</p> +<p>When the people heard he was dead, they went running around crying +and having an awful time; and when Sultan Daaraaee found out what all +the commotion was about he was very indignant, remarking, “Why, +you are making as much fuss as if <i>I</i> were dead, and all over a +gazelle that I bought for a dime!” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb149" href="#pb149" name="pb149">149</a>]</span></p> +<p>But his wife said: “Husband, it was this gazelle that came to +ask me of my father, it was he who brought me from my father’s, +and it was to him I was given by my father. He gave you everything +good, and you do not possess a thing that he did not procure for you. +He did everything he could to help you, and you not only returned him +unkindness, but now he is dead you have ordered people to throw him +into the well. Let us alone, that we may weep.”</p> +<p>But the gazelle was taken and thrown into the well.</p> +<p>Then the lady wrote a letter telling her father to come to her +directly, and despatched it by trusty messengers; upon the receipt of +which the sultan and his attendants started hurriedly to visit his +daughter.</p> +<p>When they arrived, and heard that the gazelle was dead and had been +thrown into the well, they wept very much; and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb150" href="#pb150" name="pb150">150</a>]</span>the +sultan, and the vizir, and the judges, and the rich chief men, all went +down into the well and brought up the body of Keejeepaa, and took it +away with them and buried it.</p> +<p>Now, that night the lady dreamt that she was at home at her +father’s house; and when dawn came she awoke and found she was in +her own bed in her own town again.</p> +<p>And her husband dreamed that he was on the dust heap, scratching; +and when he awoke there he was, with both hands full of dust, looking +for grains of millet. Staring wildly he looked around to the right and +left, saying: “Oh, who has played this trick on me? How did I get +back here, I wonder?”</p> +<p>Just then the children going along, and seeing him, laughed and +hooted at him, calling out: “Hullo, Haamdaanee, where have you +been? Where do you come from? We thought you were dead long ago.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb151" href="#pb151" name= +"pb151">151</a>]</span></p> +<p>So the sultan’s daughter lived in happiness with her people +until the end, and that beggar-man continued to scratch for grains of +millet in the dust heap until he died.</p> +<p>If this story is good, the goodness belongs to all; if it is bad, +the badness belongs only to him who told it.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1801width"><img src="images/p151.jpg" alt="" +width="431" height="221"></div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb153" href="#pb153" name= +"pb153">153</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch8" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">VIII.</h2> +<h2 class="main">Mkaaah Jeechonee, the Boy Hunter.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb155" href="#pb155" name= +"pb155">155</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Sultan Maaj′noon had seven sons and a big cat, +of all of whom he was very proud.</p> +<p>Everything went well until one day the cat went and caught a calf. +When they told the sultan he said, “Well, the cat is mine, and +the calf is mine.” So they said, “Oh, all right, +master,” and let the matter drop.</p> +<p>A few days later the cat caught a goat; and when they told the +sultan he said, “The cat is mine, and the goat is mine;” +and so that settled it again.</p> +<p>Two days more passed, and the cat caught a cow. They told the +sultan, and he shut them up with “My cat, and my cow.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb156" href="#pb156" name= +"pb156">156</a>]</span></p> +<p>After another two days the cat caught a donkey; same result.</p> +<p>Next it caught a horse; same result.</p> +<p>The next victim was a camel; and when they told the sultan he said: +“What’s the matter with you folks? It was my cat, and my +camel. I believe you don’t like my cat, and want it killed, +bringing me tales about it every day. Let it eat whatever it wants +to.”</p> +<p>In a very short time it caught a child, and then a full-grown man; +but each time the sultan remarked that both the cat and its victim were +his, and thought no more of it.</p> +<p>Meantime the cat grew bolder, and hung around a low, open place near +the town, pouncing on people going for water, or animals out at +pasture, and eating them.</p> +<p>At last some of the people plucked up courage; and, going to the +sultan, said: “How is this, master? As you are our <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb157" href="#pb157" name= +"pb157">157</a>]</span>sultan you are our protector,—or ought to +be,—yet you have allowed this cat to do as it pleases, and now it +lives just out of town there, and kills everything living that goes +that way, while at night it comes into town and does the same thing. +Now, what on earth are we to do?”</p> +<p>But Maajnoon only replied: “I really believe you hate my cat. +I suppose you want me to kill it; but I shall do no such thing. +Everything it eats is mine.”</p> +<p>Of course the folks were astonished at this result of the interview, +and, as no one dared to kill the cat, they all had to remove from the +vicinity where it lived. But this did not mend matters, because, when +it found no one came that way, it shifted its quarters likewise.</p> +<p>So complaints continued to pour in, until at last Sultan Maajnoon +gave orders that if any one came to make accusations against the cat, +he was to be informed that the master could not be seen. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb158" href="#pb158" name="pb158">158</a>]</span></p> +<p>When things got so that people neither let their animals out nor +went out themselves, the cat went farther into the country, killing and +eating cattle, and fowls, and everything that came its way.</p> +<p>One day the sultan said to six of his sons, “I’m going +to look at the country to-day; come along with me.”</p> +<p>The seventh son was considered too young to go around anywhere, and +was always left at home with the women folk, being called by his +brothers Mkaa′ah Jeecho′nee, which means Mr. +Sit-in-the-kitchen.</p> +<p>Well, they went, and presently came to a thicket. The father was in +front and the six sons following him, when the cat jumped out and +killed three of the latter.</p> +<p>The attendants shouted, “The cat! the cat!” and the +soldiers asked permission to search for and kill it, which the sultan +readily granted, saying: “This is not a cat, it is a +noon′dah. It has taken from me my own sons.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb159" href="#pb159" name="pb159">159</a>]</span></p> +<p>Now, nobody had ever seen a noondah, but they all knew it was a +terrible beast that could kill and eat all other living things.</p> +<p>When the sultan began to bemoan the loss of his sons, some of those +who heard him said: “Ah, master, this noondah does not select his +prey. He doesn’t say: ‘This is my master’s son, +I’ll leave him alone,’ or, ‘This is my master’s +wife, I won’t eat her.’ When we told you what the cat had +done, you always said it was your cat, and what it ate was yours, and +now it has killed your sons, and we don’t believe it would +hesitate to eat even you.”</p> +<p>And he said, “I fear you are right.”</p> +<p>As for the soldiers who tried to get the cat, some were killed and +the remainder ran away, and the sultan and his living sons took the +dead bodies home and buried them.</p> +<p>Now when Mkaaah Jeechonee, the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb160" +href="#pb160" name="pb160">160</a>]</span>seventh son, heard that his +brothers had been killed by the noondah, he said to his mother, +“I, too, will go, that it may kill me as well as my brothers, or +I will kill it.”</p> +<p>But his mother said: “My son, I do not like to have you go. +Those three are already dead; and if you are killed also, will not that +be one wound upon another to my heart?”</p> +<p>“Nevertheless,” said he, “I can not help going; +but do not tell my father.”</p> +<p>So his mother made him some cakes, and sent some attendants with +him; and he took a great spear, as sharp as a razor, and a sword, bade +her farewell, and departed.</p> +<p>As he had always been left at home, he had no very clear idea what +he was going to hunt for; so he had not gone far beyond the suburbs, +when, seeing a very large dog, he concluded that this was the animal he +was after; so he killed <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb161" href= +"#pb161" name="pb161">161</a>]</span>it, tied a rope to it, and dragged +it home, singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">When his mother, who was upstairs, heard him, she +looked out of the window, and, seeing what he had brought, said, +“My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +<p>So he left the carcass outside and went in to talk about it, and his +mother said, “My dear boy, the noondah is a much larger animal +than that; but if I were you, I’d give the business up and stay +at home.”</p> +<p>“No, indeed,” he exclaimed; “no staying at home +for me until I have met and fought the noondah.”</p> +<p>So he set out again, and went a great deal farther than he had gone +on the former day. Presently he saw a civet cat, and, believing it to +be the animal he <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb162" href="#pb162" +name="pb162">162</a>]</span>was in search of, he killed it, bound it, +and dragged it home, singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">When his mother saw the civet cat, she said, “My +son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people.” And he threw +it away.</p> +<p>Again his mother entreated him to stay at home, but he would not +listen to her, and started off again.</p> +<p>This time he went away off into the forest, and seeing a bigger cat +than the last one, he killed it, bound it, and dragged it home, +singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">But directly his mother saw it, she had to tell him, +as before, “My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the +people.”</p> +<p>He was, of course, very much troubled at this; and his mother said, +“Now, where <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb163" href="#pb163" +name="pb163">163</a>]</span>do you expect to find this noondah? You +don’t know where it is, and you don’t know what it looks +like. You’ll get sick over this; you’re not looking so well +now as you did. Come, stay at home.”</p> +<p>But he said: “There are three things, one of which I shall do: +I shall die; I shall find the noondah and kill it; or I shall return +home unsuccessful. In any case, I’m off again.”</p> +<p>This time he went farther than before, saw a zebra, killed it, bound +it, and dragged it home, singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">Of course his mother had to tell him, once again, +“My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +<p>After a good deal of argument, in which his mother’s +persuasion, as usual, was of no avail, he went off again, going farther +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb164" href="#pb164" name= +"pb164">164</a>]</span>than ever, when he caught a giraffe; and when he +had killed it he said: “Well, this time I’ve been +successful. This must be the noondah.” So he dragged it home, +singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">Again his mother had to assure him, “My son, +this is not the noondah, eater of the people.” She then pointed +out to him that his brothers were not running about hunting for the +noondah, but staying at home attending to their own business. But, +remarking that all brothers were not alike, he expressed his +determination to stick to his task until it came to a successful +termination, and went off again, a still greater distance than +before.</p> +<p>While going through the wilderness he espied a rhinoceros asleep +under a tree, and turning to his attendants he exclaimed, “At +last I see the noondah.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb165" +href="#pb165" name="pb165">165</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Where, master?” they all cried, eagerly.</p> +<p>“There, under the tree.”</p> +<p>“Oh-h! What shall we do?” they asked.</p> +<p>And he answered: “First of all, let us eat our fill, then we +will attack it. We have found it in a good place, though if it kills +us, we can’t help it.”</p> +<p>So they all took out their arrowroot cakes and ate till they were +satisfied.</p> +<p>Then Mkaaah Jeechonee said, “Each of you take two guns; lay +one beside you and take the other in your hands, and at the proper time +let us all fire at once.”</p> +<p>And they said, “All right, master.”</p> +<p>So they crept cautiously through the bushes and got around to the +other side of the tree, at the back of the rhinoceros; then they closed +up till they were quite near it, and all fired together. The beast +jumped up, ran a little way, and then fell down dead. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb166" href="#pb166" name="pb166">166</a>]</span></p> +<p>They bound it, and dragged it for two whole days, until they reached +the town, when Mkaaah Jeechonee began singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">But he received the same answer from his mother: +“My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +<p>And many persons came and looked at the rhinoceros, and felt very +sorry for the young man. As for his father and mother, they both begged +of him to give up, his father offering to give him anything he +possessed if he would only stay at home. But he said, “I +don’t hear what you are saying; good-bye,” and was off +again.</p> +<p>This time he still further increased the distance from his home, and +at last he saw an elephant asleep at noon in the forest. Thereupon he +said to his attendants, “Now we <i>have</i> found the +noondah.”</p> +<p>“Ah, where is he?” said they. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb167" href="#pb167" name="pb167">167</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Yonder, in the shade. Do you see it?”</p> +<div class="figure xd20e1979width" id="p167"><img src="images/p167.jpg" +alt="They crept cautiously through the bushes." width="440" height= +"585"> +<p class="figureHead">They crept cautiously through the bushes.</p> +</div> +<p>“Oh, yes, master; shall we march up to it?” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb168" href="#pb168" name="pb168">168</a>]</span></p> +<p>“If we march up to it, and it is looking this way, it will +come at us, and if it does that, some of us will be killed. I think we +had best let one man steal up close and see which way its face is +turned.”</p> +<p>As every one thought this was a good idea, a slave named +Keerobo′to crept on his hands and knees, and had a good look at +it. When he returned in the same manner, his master asked: “Well, +what’s the news? Is it the noondah?”</p> +<p>“I do not know,” replied Keeroboto; “but I think +there is very little doubt that it is. It is broad, with a very big +head, and, goodness, I never saw such large ears!”</p> +<p>“All right,” said Mkaaah Jeechonee; “let us eat, +and then go for it.”</p> +<p>So they took their arrowroot cakes, and their molasses cakes, and +ate until they were quite full.</p> +<p>Then the youth said to them: “My people, to-day is perhaps the +last we shall <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb169" href="#pb169" name= +"pb169">169</a>]</span>ever see; so we will take leave of each other. +Those who are to escape will escape, and those who are to die will die; +but if I die, let those who escape tell my mother and father not to +grieve for me.”</p> +<p>But his attendants said, “Oh, come along, master; none of us +will die, please God.”</p> +<p>So they went on their hands and knees till they were close up, and +then they said to Mkaaah Jeechonee, “Give us your plan, +master;” but he said, “There is no plan, only let all fire +at once.”</p> +<p>Well, they fired all at once, and immediately the elephant jumped up +and charged at them. Then such a helter-skelter flight as there was! +They threw away their guns and everything they carried, and made for +the trees, which they climbed with surprising alacrity.</p> +<p>As to the elephant, he kept straight ahead until he fell down some +distance away. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb170" href="#pb170" name= +"pb170">170</a>]</span></p> +<p>They all remained in the trees from three until six o’clock in +the morning, without food and without clothing.</p> +<p>The young man sat in his tree and wept bitterly, saying, “I +don’t exactly know what death is, but it seems to me this must be +very like it.” As no one could see any one else, he did not know +where his attendants were, and though he wished to come down from the +tree, he thought, “Maybe the noondah is down below there, and +will eat me.”</p> +<p>Each attendant was in exactly the same fix, wishing to come down, +but afraid the noondah was waiting to eat him.</p> +<p>Keeroboto had seen the elephant fall, but was afraid to get down by +himself, saying, “Perhaps, though it has fallen down, it is not +dead.” But presently he saw a dog go up to it and smell it, and +then he was sure it was dead. Then he got down from the tree as fast as +he could <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb171" href="#pb171" name= +"pb171">171</a>]</span>and gave a signal cry, which was answered; but +not being sure from whence the answer came, he repeated the cry, +listening intently. When it was answered he went straight to the place +from which the sound proceeded, and found two of his companions in one +tree. To them he said, “Come on; get down; the noondah is +dead.” So they got down quickly and hunted around until they +found their master. When they told him the news, he came down also; and +after a little the attendants had all gathered together and had picked +up their guns and their clothes, and were all right again. But they +were all weak and hungry, so they rested and ate some food, after which +they went to examine their prize.</p> +<p>As soon as Mkaaah Jeechonee saw it he said, “Ah, this +<i>is</i> the noondah! This is it! This is it!” And they all +agreed that it was <i>it</i>.</p> +<p>So they dragged the elephant three days <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb172" href="#pb172" name="pb172">172</a>]</span>to +their town, and then the youth began singing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Oh, mother, this is he,</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">He was, naturally, quite upset when his mother +replied, “My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the +people.” She further said: “Poor boy! what trouble you have +been through. All the people are astonished that one so young should +have such a great understanding!”</p> +<p>Then his father and mother began their entreaties again, and finally +it was agreed that this next trip should be his last, whatever the +result might be.</p> +<p>Well, they started off again, and went on and on, past the forest, +until they came to a very high mountain, at the foot of which they +camped for the night.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e2045width" id="p173"><img src="images/p173.jpg" +alt="They camped for the night." width="302" height="639"> +<p class="figureHead">They camped for the night.</p> +</div> +<p>In the morning they cooked their rice and ate it, and then Mkaaah +Jeechonee said: “Let us now climb the mountain, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb175" href="#pb175" name="pb175">175</a>]</span>and +look all over the country from its peak.” And they went and they +went, until after a long, weary while, they reached the top, where they +sat down to rest and form their plans.</p> +<p>Now, one of the attendants, named Shindaa′no, while walking +about, cast his eyes down the side of the mountain, and suddenly saw a +great beast about half way down; but he could not make out its +appearance distinctly, on account of the distance and the trees. +Calling his master, he pointed it out to him, and something in Mkaaah +Jeechonee’s heart told him that it was the noondah. To make sure, +however, he took his gun and his spear and went partly down the +mountain to get a better view.</p> +<p>“Ah,” said he, “this must be the noondah. My +mother told me its ears were small, and those are small; she told me +the noondah is broad and short, and so is this; she said it has two +blotches, like <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb176" href="#pb176" name= +"pb176">176</a>]</span>a civet cat, and there are the blotches; she +told me the tail is thick, and there is a thick tail. It must be the +noondah.”</p> +<p>Then he went back to his attendants and bade them eat heartily, +which they did. Next he told them to leave every unnecessary thing +behind, because if they had to run they would be better without +encumbrance, and if they were victorious they could return for their +goods.</p> +<p>When they had made all their arrangements they started down the +mountain, but when they had got about half way down Keeroboto and +Shindaano were afraid. Then the youth said to them: “Oh, +let’s go on; don’t be afraid. We all have to live and die. +What are you frightened about?” So, thus encouraged, they went +on.</p> +<p>When they came near the place, Mkaaah Jeechonee ordered them to take +off all their clothing except one piece, and to place that tightly on +their bodies, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb177" href="#pb177" name= +"pb177">177</a>]</span>so that if they had to run they would not be +caught by thorns or branches.</p> +<p>So when they came close to the beast, they saw that it was asleep, +and all agreed that it was the noondah.</p> +<p>Then the young man said, “Now the sun is setting, shall we +fire at it, or let be till morning?”</p> +<p>And they all wished to fire at once, and see what the result would +be without further tax on their nerves; therefore they arranged that +they should all fire together.</p> +<p>They all crept up close, and when the master gave the word, they +discharged their guns together. The noondah did not move; that one dose +had been sufficient. Nevertheless, they all turned and scampered up to +the top of the mountain. There they ate and rested for the night.</p> +<p>In the morning they ate their rice, and then went down to see how +matters <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb178" href="#pb178" name= +"pb178">178</a>]</span>were, when they found the beast lying dead.</p> +<p>After resting and eating, they started homeward, dragging the dead +beast with them. On the fourth day it began to give indications of +decay, and the attendants wished to abandon it; but Mkaaah Jeechonee +said they would continue to drag it if there was only one bone +left.</p> +<p>When they came near the town he began to sing,</p> +<div class="lgouter"> +<p class="line">“Mother, mother, I have come</p> +<p class="line">From the evil spirits, home.</p> +<p class="line">Mother, listen while I sing;</p> +<p class="line">While I tell you what I bring.</p> +<p class="line">Oh, mother, I have killed</p> +<p class="line">The noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +</div> +<p class="first">And when his mother looked out, she cried, “My +son, this <i>is</i> the noondah, eater of the people.”</p> +<p>Then all the people came out to welcome him, and his father was +overcome <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb179" href="#pb179" name= +"pb179">179</a>]</span>with joy, and loaded him with honors, and +procured him a rich and beautiful wife; and when he died Mkaaah +Jeechonee became sultan, and lived long and happily, beloved by all the +people. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb181" href="#pb181" name= +"pb181">181</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch9" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">IX.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Magician and the Sultan’s Son.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb183" href="#pb183" name= +"pb183">183</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">There was once a sultan who had three little sons, and +no one seemed to be able to teach them anything; which greatly grieved +both the sultan and his wife.</p> +<p>One day a magician came to the sultan and said, “If I take +your three boys and teach them to read and write, and make great +scholars of them, what will you give me?”</p> +<p>And the sultan said, “I will give you half of my +property.”</p> +<p>“No,” said the magician; “that won’t +do.”</p> +<p>“I’ll give you half of the towns I own.”</p> +<p>“No; that will not satisfy me.”</p> +<p>“What do you want, then?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb184" href="#pb184" name="pb184">184</a>]</span></p> +<p>“When I have made them scholars and bring them back to you, +choose two of them for yourself and give me the third; for I want to +have a companion of my own.”</p> +<p>“Agreed,” said the sultan.</p> +<p>So the magician took them away, and in a remarkably short time +taught them to read, and to make letters, and made them quite good +scholars. Then he took them back to the sultan and said: “Here +are the children. They are all equally good scholars. +Choose.”</p> +<p>So the sultan took the two he preferred, and the magician went away +with the third, whose name was Keejaa′naa, to his own house, +which was a very large one.</p> +<p>When they arrived, Mchaa′wee, the magician, gave the youth all +the keys, saying, “Open whatever you wish to.” Then he told +him that he was his father, and that he was going away for a month.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e2141width" id="p185"><img src="images/p185.jpg" +alt="The magician gave the youth all the keys." width="427" height= +"624"> +<p class="figureHead">The magician gave the youth all the keys.</p> +</div> +<p>When he was gone, Keejaanaa took the <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb187" href="#pb187" name="pb187">187</a>]</span>keys and went to +examine the house. He opened one door, and saw a room full of liquid +gold. He put his finger in, and the gold stuck to it, and, wipe and rub +as he would, the gold would not come off; so he wrapped a piece of rag +around it, and when his supposed father came home and saw the rag, and +asked him what he had been doing to his finger, he was afraid to tell +him the truth, so he said that he had cut it.</p> +<p>Not very long after, Mchaawee went away again, and the youth took +the keys and continued his investigations.</p> +<p>The first room he opened was filled with the bones of goats, the +next with sheep’s bones, the next with the bones of oxen, the +fourth with the bones of donkeys, the fifth with those of horses, the +sixth contained men’s skulls, and in the seventh was a live +horse.</p> +<p>“Hullo!” said the horse; “where do you come from, +you son of Adam?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb188" href= +"#pb188" name="pb188">188</a>]</span></p> +<p>“This is my father’s house,” said Keejaanaa.</p> +<p>“Oh, indeed!” was the reply. “Well, you’ve +got a pretty nice parent! Do you know that he occupies himself with +eating people, and donkeys, and horses, and oxen and goats and +everything he can lay his hands on? You and I are the only living +things left.”</p> +<p>This scared the youth pretty badly, and he faltered, “What are +we to do?”</p> +<p>“What’s your name?” said the horse.</p> +<p>“Keejaanaa.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m Faaraa′see. Now, Keejaanaa, first of +all, come and unfasten me.”</p> +<p>The youth did so at once.</p> +<p>“Now, then, open the door of the room with the gold in it, and +I will swallow it all; then I’ll go and wait for you under the +big tree down the road a little way. When the magician comes home, he +will say to you, ‘Let us go for firewood;’ then you answer, +‘I don’t understand that work;’ <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb189" href="#pb189" name="pb189">189</a>]</span>and +he will go by himself. When he comes back, he will put a great big pot +on the hook and will tell you to make a fire under it. Tell him you +don’t know how to make a fire, and he will make it himself.</p> +<p>“Then he will bring a large quantity of butter, and while it +is getting hot he will put up a swing and say to you, ‘Get up +there, and I’ll swing you.’ But you tell him you never +played at that game, and ask him to swing first, that you may see how +it is done. Then he will get up to show you; and you must push him into +the big pot, and then come to me as quickly as you can.”</p> +<p>Then the horse went away.</p> +<p>Now, Mchaawee had invited some of his friends to a feast at his +house that evening; so, returning home early, he said to Keejaanaa, +“Let us go for firewood;” but the youth answered, “I +don’t understand that work.” So he went by himself and +brought the wood. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb190" href="#pb190" +name="pb190">190</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then he hung up the big pot and said, “Light the fire;” +but the youth said, “I don’t know how to do it.” So +the magician laid the wood under the pot and lighted it himself.</p> +<p>Then he said, “Put all that butter in the pot;” but the +youth answered, “I can’t lift it; I’m not strong +enough.” So he put in the butter himself.</p> +<p>Next Mchaawee said, “Have you seen our country game?” +And Keejaanaa answered, “I think not.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the magician, “let’s play at it +while the butter is getting hot.”</p> +<p>So he tied up the swing and said to Keejaanaa, “Get up here, +and learn the game.” But the youth said: “You get up first +and show me. I’ll learn quicker that way.”</p> +<p>The magician got into the swing, and just as he got started +Keejaanaa gave him a push right into the big pot; and as the butter was +by this time boiling, it not only killed him, but cooked him also. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb191" href="#pb191" name= +"pb191">191</a>]</span></p> +<p>As soon as the youth had pushed the magician into the big pot, he +ran as fast as he could to the big tree, where the horse was waiting +for him.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e2199width" id="p191"><img src="images/p191.jpg" +alt="Right into the big pot!" width="446" height="449"> +<p class="figureHead">Right into the big pot!</p> +</div> +<p>“Come on,” said Faaraasee; “jump on my back and +let’s be going.”</p> +<p>So he mounted and they started off. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb192" href="#pb192" name="pb192">192</a>]</span></p> +<p>When the magician’s guests arrived they looked everywhere for +him, but, of course, could not find him. Then, after waiting a while, +they began to be very hungry; so, looking around for something to eat, +they saw that the stew in the big pot was done, and, saying to each +other, “Let’s begin, anyway,” they started in and ate +the entire contents of the pot. After they had finished, they searched +for Mchaawee again, and finding lots of provisions in the house, they +thought they would stay there until he came; but after they had waited +a couple of days and eaten all the food in the place, they gave him up +and returned to their homes.</p> +<p>Meanwhile Keejaanaa and the horse continued on their way until they +had gone a great distance, and at last they stopped near a large +town.</p> +<p>“Let us stay here,” said the youth, “and build a +house.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb193" href="#pb193" name= +"pb193">193</a>]</span></p> +<p>As Faaraasee was agreeable, they did so. The horse coughed up all +the gold he had swallowed, with which they purchased slaves, and +cattle, and everything they needed.</p> +<p>When the people of the town saw the beautiful new house and all the +slaves, and cattle, and riches it contained, they went and told their +sultan, who at once made up his mind that the owner of such a place +must be of sufficient importance to be visited and taken notice of, as +an acquisition to the neighborhood.</p> +<p>So he called on Keejaanaa, and inquired who he was.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m just an ordinary being, like other +people.”</p> +<p>“Are you a traveler?”</p> +<p>“Well, I have been; but I like this place, and think +I’ll settle down here.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you come and walk in our town?”</p> +<p>“I should like to very much, but I need some one to show me +around.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb194" href="#pb194" name= +"pb194">194</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll show you around,” said the sultan, +eagerly, for he was quite taken with the young man.</p> +<p>After this Keejaanaa and the sultan became great friends; and in the +course of time the young man married the sultan’s daughter, and +they had one son.</p> +<p>They lived very happily together, and Keejaanaa loved Faaraasee as +his own soul. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb195" href="#pb195" name= +"pb195">195</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div id="ch10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<div class="divHead"> +<h2 class="label">X.</h2> +<h2 class="main">The Physician’s Son and the King of the +Snakes.</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb197" href="#pb197" name= +"pb197">197</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div class="divBody"> +<p class="first">Once there was a very learned physician, who died +leaving his wife with a little baby boy, whom, when he was old enough, +she named, according to his father’s wish, Hassee′boo +Kareem′ Ed Deen′.</p> +<p>When the boy had been to school, and had learned to read, his mother +sent him to a tailor, to learn his trade, but he could not learn it. +Then he was sent to a silversmith, but he could not learn his trade +either. After that he tried many trades, but could learn none of them. +At last his mother said, “Well, stay at home for a while;” +and that seemed to suit him. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb198" href= +"#pb198" name="pb198">198</a>]</span></p> +<p>One day he asked his mother what his father’s business had +been, and she told him he was a very great physician.</p> +<p>“Where are his books?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Well, it’s a long time since I saw them,” replied +his mother, “but I think they are behind there. Look and +see.”</p> +<p>So he hunted around a little and at last found them, but they were +almost ruined by insects, and he gained little from them.</p> +<p>At last, four of the neighbors came to his mother and said, +“Let your boy go along with us and cut wood in the forest.” +It was their business to cut wood, load it on donkeys, and sell it in +the town for making fires.</p> +<p>“All right,” said she; “to-morrow I’ll buy +him a donkey, and he can start fair with you.”</p> +<p>So the next day Hasseeboo, with his donkey, went off with those four +persons, and they worked very hard and made a lot of money that day. +This continued <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb199" href="#pb199" name= +"pb199">199</a>]</span>for six days, but on the seventh day it rained +heavily, and they had to get under the rocks to keep dry.</p> +<p>Now, Hasseeboo sat in a place by himself, and, having nothing else +to do, he picked up a stone and began knocking on the ground with it. +To his surprise the ground gave forth a hollow sound, and he called to +his companions, saying, “There seems to be a hole under +here.”</p> +<p>Upon hearing him knock again, they decided to dig and see what was +the cause of the hollow sound; and they had not gone very deep before +they broke into a large pit, like a well, which was filled to the top +with honey.</p> +<p>They didn’t do any firewood chopping after that, but devoted +their entire attention to the collection and sale of the honey.</p> +<p>With a view to getting it all out as quickly as possible, they told +Hasseeboo to go down into the pit and dip out the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb200" href="#pb200" name= +"pb200">200</a>]</span>honey, while they put it in vessels and took it +to town for sale. They worked for three days, making a great deal of +money.</p> +<p>At last there was only a little honey left at the very bottom of the +pit, and they told the boy to scrape that together while they went to +get a rope to haul him out.</p> +<p>But instead of getting the rope, they decided to let him remain in +the pit, and divide the money among themselves. So, when he had +gathered the remainder of the honey together, and called for the rope, +he received no answer; and after he had been alone in the pit for three +days he became convinced that his companions had deserted him.</p> +<p>Then those four persons went to his mother and told her that they +had become separated in the forest, that they had heard a lion roaring, +and that they could find no trace of either her son or his donkey.</p> +<p>His mother, of course, cried very much, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb201" href="#pb201" name="pb201">201</a>]</span>and +the four neighbors pocketed her son’s share of the money.</p> +<p>To return to Hasseeboo.</p> +<p>He passed the time walking about the pit, wondering what the end +would be, eating scraps of honey, sleeping a little, and sitting down +to think.</p> +<p>While engaged in the last occupation, on the fourth day, he saw a +scorpion fall to the ground—a large one, too—and he killed +it.</p> +<p>Then suddenly he thought to himself, “Where did that scorpion +come from? There must be a hole somewhere. I’ll search, +anyhow.”</p> +<p>So he searched around until he saw light through a tiny crack; and +he took his knife and scooped and scooped, until he had made a hole big +enough to pass through; then he went out, and came upon a place he had +never seen before.</p> +<p>Seeing a path, he followed it until he came to a very large house, +the door of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb202" href="#pb202" name= +"pb202">202</a>]</span>which was not fastened. So he went inside, and +saw golden doors, with golden locks, and keys of pearl, and beautiful +chairs inlaid with jewels and precious stones, and in a reception room +he saw a couch covered with a splendid spread, upon which he lay +down.</p> +<p>Presently he found himself being lifted off the couch and put in a +chair, and heard some one saying: “Do not hurt him; wake him +gently,” and on opening his eyes he found himself surrounded by +numbers of snakes, one of them wearing beautiful royal colors.</p> +<p>“Hullo!” he cried; “who are you?”</p> +<p>“I am Sulta′nee Waa′ <span class="corr" id= +"xd20e2309" title="Source: Neeo′kaa">Neeo′ka</span>, king +of the snakes, and this is my house. Who are you?”</p> +<p>“I am Hasseeboo Kareem Ed Deen.”</p> +<p>“Where do you come from?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where I come from, or where I’m +going.”</p> +<p>“Well, don’t bother yourself just now. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb203" href="#pb203" name= +"pb203">203</a>]</span>Let’s eat; I guess you are hungry, and I +know I am.”</p> +<p>Then the king gave orders, and some of the other snakes brought the +finest fruits, and they ate and drank and conversed.</p> +<p>When the repast was ended, the king desired to hear +Hasseeboo’s story; so he told him all that had happened, and then +asked to hear the story of his host.</p> +<p>“Well,” said the king of the snakes, “mine is +rather a long story, but you shall hear it. A long time ago I left this +place, to go and live in the mountains of Al Kaaf′, for the +change of air. One day I saw a stranger coming along, and I said to +him, ‘Where are you from?’ and he said, ‘I am +wandering in the wilderness.’ ‘Whose son are you?’ I +asked. ‘My name is Bolookee′a. My father was a sultan; and +when he died I opened a small chest, inside of which I found a bag, +which contained a small brass box; when I had opened this I +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb204" href="#pb204" name= +"pb204">204</a>]</span>found some writing tied up in a woolen cloth, +and it was all in praise of a prophet. He was described as such a good +and wonderful man, that I longed to see him; but when I made inquiries +concerning him I was told he was not yet born. Then I vowed I would +wander until I should see him. So I left our town, and all my property, +and I am wandering, but I have not yet seen that prophet.’</p> +<p>“Then I said to him, ‘Where do you expect to find him, +if he’s not yet born? Perhaps if you had some serpent’s +water you might keep on living until you find him. But it’s of no +use talking about that; the serpent’s water is too far +away.’</p> +<p>“‘Well,’ he said, ‘good-bye. I must wander +on.’ So I bade him farewell, and he went his way.</p> +<p>“Now, when that man had wandered until he reached Egypt, he +met another man, who asked him, ‘Who are you?’ <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb205" href="#pb205" name="pb205">205</a>]</span></p> +<p>“‘I am Bolookeea. Who are you?’</p> +<p>“‘My name is Al Faan′. Where are you +going?’</p> +<p>“‘I have left my home, and my property, and I am seeking +the prophet.</p> +<p>“‘H’m!’ said Al Faan; ‘I can tell you +of a better occupation than looking for a man that is not born yet. Let +us go and find the king of the snakes and get him to give us a charm +medicine; then we will go to King Solomon and get his rings, and we +shall be able to make slaves of the genii and order them to do whatever +we wish.’</p> +<p>“And Bolookeea said, ‘I have seen the king of the snakes +in the mountain of Al Kaaf.’</p> +<p>“‘All right,’ said Al Faan; ‘let’s +go.’</p> +<p>“Now, Al Faan wanted the ring of Solomon that he might be a +great magician and control the genii and the birds, while all Bolookeea +wanted was to see the great prophet. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb206" href="#pb206" name="pb206">206</a>]</span></p> +<p>“As they went along, Al Faan said to Bolookeea, ‘Let us +make a cage and entice the king of the snakes into it; then we will +shut the door and carry him off.’</p> +<p>“‘All right,’ said Bolookeea.</p> +<p>“So they made a cage, and put therein a cup of milk and a cup +of wine, and brought it to Al Kaaf; and I, like a fool, went in, drank +up all the wine and became drunk. Then they fastened the door and took +me away with them.</p> +<p>“When I came to my senses I found myself in the cage, and +Bolookeea carrying me, and I said, ‘The sons of Adam are no good. +What do you want from me?’ And they answered, ‘We want some +medicine to put on our feet, so that we may walk upon the water +whenever it is necessary in the course of our journey.’ +‘Well,’ said I, ‘go along.’</p> +<p>“We went on until we came to a place where there were a great +number and variety of trees; and when those trees saw <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb207" href="#pb207" name="pb207">207</a>]</span>me, +they said, ‘I am medicine for this;’ ‘I am medicine +for that;’ ‘I am medicine for the head;’ ‘I am +medicine for the feet;’ and presently one tree said, ‘If +any one puts my medicine upon his feet he can walk on water.’</p> +<p>“When I told that to those men they said, ‘That is what +we want;’ and they took a great deal of it.</p> +<p>“Then they took me back to the mountain and set me free; and +we said good-bye and parted.</p> +<p>“When they left me, they went on their way until they reached +the sea, when they put the medicine on their feet and walked over. Thus +they went many days, until they came near to the place of King Solomon, +where they waited while Al Faan prepared his medicines.</p> +<p>“When they arrived at King Solomon’s place, he was +sleeping, and was being watched by genii, and his hand lay on his +chest, with the ring on his finger. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"pb208" href="#pb208" name="pb208">208</a>]</span></p> +<p>“As Bolookeea drew near, one of the genii said to him +‘Where are you going?’ And he answered, ‘I’m +here with Al Faan; he’s going to take that ring.’ ‘Go +back,’ said the genie; ‘keep out of the way. That man is +going to die.’</p> +<p>“When Al Faan had finished his preparations, he said to +Bolookeea, ‘Wait here for me.’ Then he went forward to take +the ring, when a great cry arose, and he was thrown by some unseen +force a considerable distance.</p> +<p>“Picking himself up, and still believing in the power of his +medicines, he approached the ring again, when a strong breath blew upon +him and he was burnt to ashes in a moment.</p> +<p>“While Bolookeea was looking at all this, a voice said, +‘Go your way; this wretched being is dead.’ So he returned; +and when he got to the sea again he put the medicine upon his feet and +passed over, and continued to wander for many years. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb209" href="#pb209" name="pb209">209</a>]</span></p> +<p>“One morning he saw a man sitting down, and said +‘Good-morning,’ to which the man replied. Then Bolookeea +asked him, ‘Who are you?’ and he answered: ‘My name +is Jan Shah. Who are you?’ So Bolookeea told him who he was, and +asked him to tell him his history. The man, who was weeping and smiling +by turns, insisted upon hearing Bolookeea’s story first. After he +had heard it he said:</p> +<p>“‘Well, sit down, and I’ll tell you my story from +beginning to end. My name is Jan Shah, and my father is +Tooeegha′mus, a great sultan. He used to go every day into the +forest to shoot game; so one day I said to him, “Father, let me +go with you into the forest to-day;” but he said, “Stay at +home. You are better there.” Then I cried bitterly, and as I was +his only child, whom he loved dearly, he couldn’t stand my tears, +so he said: “Very well; you shall go. Don’t cry.” +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb210" href="#pb210" name= +"pb210">210</a>]</span></p> +<p>“‘Thus we went to the forest, and took many attendants +with us; and when we reached the place we ate and drank, and then every +one set out to hunt.</p> +<p>“‘I and my seven slaves went on until we saw a beautiful +gazelle, which we chased as far as the sea without capturing it. When +the gazelle took to the water I and four of my slaves took a boat, the +other three returning to my father, and we chased that gazelle until we +lost sight of the shore, but we caught it and killed it. Just then a +great wind began to blow, and we lost our way.</p> +<p>“‘When the other three slaves came to my father, he +asked them, “Where is your master?” and they told him about +the gazelle and the boat. Then he cried, “My son is lost! My son +is lost!” and returned to the town and mourned for me as one +dead.</p> +<p>“‘After a time we came to an island, where there were a +great many birds. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb211" href="#pb211" +name="pb211">211</a>]</span>We found fruit and water, we ate and drank, +and at night we climbed into a tree and slept till morning.</p> +<p>“‘Then we rowed to a second island, and, seeing no one +around, we gathered fruit, ate and drank, and climbed a tree as before. +During the night we heard many savage beasts howling and roaring near +us.</p> +<p>“‘In the morning we got away as soon as possible, and +came to a third island. Looking around for food, we saw a tree full of +fruit like red-streaked apples; but, as we were about to pick some, we +heard a voice say, “Don’t touch this tree; it belongs to +the king.” Toward night a number of monkeys came, who seemed much +pleased to see us, and they brought us all the fruit we could eat.</p> +<p>“‘Presently I heard one of them say, “Let us make +this man our sultan.” Then another one said: “What’s +the use? They’ll all run away in the morning.” But a third +one said, “Not if we <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb212" href= +"#pb212" name="pb212">212</a>]</span>smash their boat.” Sure +enough, when we started to leave in the morning, our boat was broken in +pieces. So there was nothing for it but to stay there and be +entertained by the monkeys, who seemed to like us very much.</p> +<p>“‘One day, while strolling about, I came upon a great +stone house, having an inscription on the door, which said, “When +any man comes to this island, he will find it difficult to leave, +because the monkeys desire to have a man for their king. If he looks +for a way to escape, he will think there is none; but there is one +outlet, which lies to the north. If you go in that direction you will +come to a great plain, which is infested with lions, leopards, and +snakes. You must fight all of them; and if you overcome them you can go +forward. You will then come to another great plain, inhabited by ants +as big as dogs; their teeth are like those of dogs, and they are very +fierce. You must fight <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb213" href= +"#pb213" name="pb213">213</a>]</span>these also, and if you overcome +them, the rest of the way is clear.”</p> +<p>“‘I consulted with my attendants over this information, +and we came to the conclusion that, as we could only die, anyhow, we +might as well risk death to gain our freedom.</p> +<p>“‘As we all had weapons, we set forth; and when we came +to the first plain we fought, and two of my slaves were killed. Then we +went on to the second plain, fought again; my other two slaves were +killed, and I alone escaped.</p> +<p>“‘After that I wandered on for many days, living on +whatever I could find, until at last I came to a town, where I stayed +for some time, looking for employment but finding none.</p> +<p>“‘One day a man came up to me and said, “Are you +looking for work?” “I am,” said I. “Come with +me, then,” said he; and we went to his house.</p> +<p>“‘When we got there he produced a <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb214" href="#pb214" name= +"pb214">214</a>]</span>camel’s skin, and said, “I shall put +you in this skin, and a great bird will carry you to the top of yonder +mountain. When he gets you there, he will tear this skin off you. You +must then drive him away and push down the precious stones you will +find there. When they are all down, I will get you down.”</p> +<p>“‘So he put me in the skin; the bird carried me to the +top of the mountain and was about to eat me, when I jumped up, scared +him away, and then pushed down many precious stones. Then I called out +to the man to take me down, but he never answered me, and went +away.</p> +<p>“‘I gave myself up for a dead man, but went wandering +about, until at last, after passing many days in a great forest, I came +to a house, all by itself; the old man who lived in it gave me food and +drink, and I was revived.</p> +<div class="figure xd20e2430width" id="p215"><img src="images/p215.jpg" +alt="I scared him away." width="434" height="600"> +<p class="figureHead">I scared him away.</p> +</div> +<p>“‘I remained there a long time, and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb217" href="#pb217" name="pb217">217</a>]</span>that +old man loved me as if I were his own son.</p> +<p>“‘One day he went away, and giving me the keys, told me +I could open the door of every room except one which he pointed out to +me.</p> +<p>“‘Of course, when he was gone, this was the first door I +opened. I saw a large garden, through which a stream flowed. Just then +three birds came and alighted by the side of the stream. Immediately +they changed to three most beautiful women. When they had finished +bathing, they put on their clothes, and, as I stood watching them, they +changed into birds again and flew away.</p> +<p>“‘I locked the door, and went away; but my appetite was +gone, and I wandered about aimlessly. When the old man came back, he +saw there was something wrong with me, and asked me what was the +matter. Then I told him I had seen those beautiful maidens, that I +loved one of them <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb218" href="#pb218" +name="pb218">218</a>]</span>very much, and that if I could not marry +her I should die.</p> +<p>“‘The old man told me I could not possibly have my wish. +He said the three lovely beings were the daughters of the sultan of the +genii, and that their home was a journey of three years from where we +then were.</p> +<p>“‘I told him I couldn’t help that. He must get her +for my wife, or I should die. At last he said, “Well, wait till +they come again, then hide yourself and steal the clothes of the one +you love so dearly.”</p> +<p>“‘So I waited, and when they came again I stole the +clothes of the youngest, whose name was Sayadaa′tee Shems.</p> +<p>“‘When they came out of the water, this one could not +find her clothes. Then I stepped forward and said, “I have +them.” “Ah,” she begged, “give them to me, +their owner; I want to go away.” But I said to her, “I love +you very much. I <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb219" href="#pb219" +name="pb219">219</a>]</span>want to marry you.” “I want to +go to my father,” she replied. “You cannot go,” said +I.</p> +<p>“‘Then her sisters flew away, and I took her into the +house, where the old man married us. He told me not to give her those +clothes I had taken, but to hide them; because if she ever got them she +would fly away to her old home. So I dug a hole in the ground and +buried them.</p> +<p>“‘But one day, when I was away from home, she dug them +up and put them on; then, saying to the slave I had given her for an +attendant, “When your master returns tell him I have gone home; +if he really loves me he will follow me,” she flew away.</p> +<p>“‘When I came home they told me this, and I wandered, +searching for her, many years. At last I came to a town where one asked +me, “Who are you?” and I answered, “I am Jan +Shah.” “What was <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb220" href= +"#pb220" name="pb220">220</a>]</span>your father’s name?” +“Taaeeghamus.” “Are you the man who married our +mistress?” “Who is your mistress?” “Sayadaatee +Shems.” “I am he!” I cried with delight.</p> +<p>“‘They took me to their mistress, and she brought me to +her father and told him I was her husband; and everybody was happy.</p> +<p>“‘Then we thought we should like to visit our old home, +and her father’s genii carried us there in three days. We stayed +there a year and then returned, but in a short time my wife died. Her +father tried to comfort me, and wanted me to marry another of his +daughters, but I refused to be comforted, and have mourned to this day. +That is my story.’</p> +<p>“Then Bolookeea went on his way, and wandered till he +died.”</p> +<p>Next Sultaanee Waa Neeoka said to Hasseeboo, “Now, when you go +home you will do me injury.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb221" +href="#pb221" name="pb221">221</a>]</span></p> +<p>Hasseeboo was very indignant at the idea, and said, “I could +not be induced to do you an injury. Pray, send me home.”</p> +<p>“I will send you home,” said the king; “but I am +sure that you will come back and kill me.”</p> +<p>“Why, I dare not be so ungrateful,” exclaimed Hasseeboo. +“I swear I could not hurt you.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said the king of the snakes, “bear this in +mind: when you go home, do not go to bathe where there are many +people.”</p> +<p>And he said, “I will remember.” So the king sent him +home, and he went to his mother’s house, and she was overjoyed to +find that he was not dead.</p> +<p>Now, the sultan of the town was very sick; and it was decided that +the only thing that could cure him would be to kill the king of the +snakes, boil him, and give the soup to the sultan. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="pb222" href="#pb222" name="pb222">222</a>]</span></p> +<p>For a reason known only to himself, the vizir had placed men at the +public baths with this instruction: “If any one who comes to +bathe here has a mark on his stomach, seize him and bring him to +me.”</p> +<p>When Hasseeboo had been home three days he forgot the warning of +Sultaanee Waa Neeoka, and went to bathe with the other people. All of a +sudden he was seized by some soldiers, and brought before the vizir, +who said, “Take us to the home of the king of the +snakes.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know where it is,” said Hasseeboo.</p> +<p>“Tie him up,” commanded the vizir.</p> +<p>So they tied him up and beat him until his back was all raw, and +being unable to stand the pain he cried, “Let up! I will show you +the place.”</p> +<p>So he led them to the house of the king of the snakes, who, when he +saw <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb223" href="#pb223" name= +"pb223">223</a>]</span>him, said, “Didn’t I tell you you +would come back to kill me?”</p> +<p>“How could I help it?” cried Hasseeboo. “Look at +my back!”</p> +<p>“Who has beaten you so dreadfully?” asked the king.</p> +<p>“The vizir.”</p> +<p>“Then there’s no hope for me. But you must carry me +yourself.”</p> +<p>As they went along, the king said to Hasseeboo, “When we get +to your town I shall be killed and cooked. The first skimming the vizir +will offer to you, but don’t you drink it; put it in a bottle and +keep it. The second skimming you must drink, and you will become a +great physician. The third skimming is the medicine that will cure your +sultan. When the vizir asks you if you drank that first skimming say, +‘I did.’ Then produce the bottle containing the first, and +say, ‘This is the second, and it is for you.’ The vizir +will take it, and as soon as he <span class="pagenum">[<a id="pb224" +href="#pb224" name="pb224">224</a>]</span>drinks it he will die, and +both of us will have our revenge.”</p> +<p>Everything happened as the king had said. The vizir died, the sultan +recovered, and Hasseeboo was loved by all as a great physician.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2 class="main">Colophon</h2> +<h3 class="main">Availability</h3> +<p class="first">This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no +cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give +it away or re-use it under the terms of the <a class="exlink xd20e30" +title="External link" href="https://www.gutenberg.org/license" rel= +"license">Project Gutenberg License</a> included with this eBook or +online at <a class="exlink xd20e30" title="External link" href= +"https://www.gutenberg.org/" rel="home">www.gutenberg.org</a>.</p> +<p>This eBook is produced by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at <a class="exlink xd20e30" title="External link" href= +"https://www.pgdp.net/">www.pgdp.net</a>.</p> +<p>Scans of this work are available from the Internet Archive. (Copy +<a class="exlink xd20e30" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029908229">1</a>, <a class= +"exlink xd20e30" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/zanzibartalestol00bateiala">2</a>, +<a class="exlink xd20e30" title="External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/zanzibartalestol00bateuoft">3</a>.)</p> +<h3 class="main">Encoding</h3> +<p class="first">The extra title pages for each chapter have been +omitted. The library stickers have been removed from the +cover-image.</p> +<h3 class="main">Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2011-09-17 Started.</li> +</ul> +<h3 class="main">External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. These +links may not work for you.</p> +<h3 class="main">Corrections</h3> +<p>The following corrections have been applied to the text:</p> +<table width="75%" summary= +"Overview of corrections applied to the text."> +<tr> +<th>Page</th> +<th>Source</th> +<th>Correction</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e1210">95</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">vizier</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">vizir</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="width20" valign="top"><a class="pageref" href= +"#xd20e2309">202</a></td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Neeo′kaa</td> +<td class="width40" valign="bottom">Neeo′ka</td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zanzibar Tales, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 37472-h.htm or 37472-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/7/37472/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Zanzibar Tales + Told by natives of the East Coast of Africa + +Author: Various + +Illustrator: Walter Bobbett + +Translator: George W. Bateman + +Release Date: September 18, 2011 [EBook #37472] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + ZANZIBAR TALES + Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa + + + Translated from the Original Swahili + By + GEORGE W. BATEMAN + + + Illustrated by WALTER BOBBETT + + + + Chicago + A. C. McClurg & Co. + 1901. + + + + + + + +TO MY READERS. + + +Thirty years ago Central Africa was what people who are fond of airing +their learning would call a terra incognita. To-day its general +characteristics are pretty well known. Then, as now, the little +island of Zanzibar, situated just south of the equator, on the east +coast, was the starting place of all expeditions into the interior, +and Unguja (pronounced Oon-goo'jah), the big town of that island, the +place where the preparations for plunging into the unknown were made. + +At that period these expeditions consisted, almost without exception, +of caravans loaded with beads and cotton cloth, which were exchanged +among the inland tribes for elephants' tusks and slaves--for Unguja +boasted the only, and the last, open slave-market in the world then. + +The few exceptions were a would-be discoverer now and then, or a +party of rich white men going to hunt "big game;" that is, travelling +hundreds--aye, thousands--of miles, and enduring many hardships, +for the momentary pleasure of holding a gun in such a position that +when they pulled the trigger the bullet hit such a prominent mark as +an elephant or a lion, which was living in its natural surroundings +and interfering with no one. + +Between you and me, I don't mind remarking that many of their +expeditions ended, on their return to Unguja, in the purchase of a +few elephants' tusks and wild animal skins in the bazaars of that +thriving city, after the method pursued by unsuccessful anglers in +civilized countries. + +But even the most successful of these hunters, by reason of having +followed the few beaten paths known to their guides, never came +within miles of such wonderful animals as those described by the +tribesmen from the very center of the dark continent. If you have +read any accounts of adventure in Africa, you will know that travelers +never mention animals of any kind that are gifted with the faculty of +speech, or gazelles that are overseers for native princes, or hares +that eat flesh. No, indeed; only the native-born know of these; and, +judging by the immense and rapid strides civilization is making in +those parts, it will not be long before such wonderful specimens of +zoology will be as extinct as the ichthyosaurus, dinornis, and other +poor creatures who never dreamed of the awful names that would be +applied to them when they were too long dead to show their resentment. + +As to the truth of these tales, I can only say that they were told +to me, in Zanzibar, by negroes whose ancestors told them to them, +who had received them from their ancestors, and so back; so that the +praise for their accuracy, or the blame for their falsity, lies with +the first ancestor who set them going. + +You may think uncivilized negroes are pretty ignorant people, but the +white man who is supposed to have first told the story of "The House +that Jack Built" was a mighty poor genius compared with the unknown +originator of "Goso, the Teacher," who found even inanimate things +that were endowed with speech, which the pupils readily understood and +were not astonished to hear; while "Puss in Boots" was not one-half +so clever as the gazelle that ran things for Haamdaanee. It would be a +severe task to rattle off "Goso" as you do "The House that Jack Built." + +Don't stumble over the names in these tales; they are very easy. Every +one is pronounced exactly as it is spelled, and the accent is always on +the last syllable but one; as, Poon'dah, the donkey; Haam-daa'nee, etc. + +Finally, if the perusal of these tales interests you as much as +their narration and translation interested me, everything will be +satisfactory. + + + GEORGE W. BATEMAN. + + Chicago, August 1, 1901. + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + To my Readers 5 + I. The Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman's Donkey 17 + II. The Hare and the Lion 31 + III. The Lion, the Hyena, and the Rabbit 47 + IV. The Kites and the Crows 57 + V. Goso, the Teacher 67 + VI. The Ape, the Snake, and the Lion 81 + VII. Haamdaanee 99 + VIII. Mkaaah Jeechonee, the Boy Hunter 155 + IX. The Magician and the Sultan's Son 183 + X. The Physician's Son and the King of the Snakes 197 + + + + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PAGE + "Throw me some food, my friend" 18 + "Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask your hand in marriage" 23 + Bookoo and the hare started off immediately 33 + Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion was + looking up 35 + The lion continued rubbing on a piece of rock 39 + The lion, the hyena, and the rabbit go in for a little + farming 49 + Said the hyena, "I'm thinking" 51 + "I should say not" 59 + They found him lying down 63 + When they found the gazelle they beat it 75 + "Mother, we are always hungry" 83 + "Where are you going, son of Adam?" 89 + Neeoka filled the bag with chains of gold and silver 93 + Dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the + sultan's lap 115 + The gazelle wept with the old woman 147 + They crept cautiously through the bushes 167 + They camped for the night 173 + The magician gave the youth all the keys 185 + Right into the big pot! 191 + "I scared him away" 215 + + + + + + + +ZANZIBAR TALES. + + +I. + +THE MONKEY, THE SHARK, AND THE WASHERMAN'S DONKEY. + + +Once upon a time Kee'ma, the monkey, and Pa'pa, the shark, became +great friends. + +The monkey lived in an immense mkooyoo tree which grew by the margin +of the sea--half of its branches being over the water and half over +the land. + +Every morning, when the monkey was breakfasting on the kooyoo nuts, +the shark would put in an appearance under the tree and call out, +"Throw me some food, my friend;" with which request the monkey complied +most willingly. + +This continued for many months, until one day Papa said, "Keema, +you have done me many kindnesses: I would like you to go with me to +my home, that I may repay you." + +"How can I go?" said the monkey; "we land beasts can not go about in +the water." + +"Don't trouble yourself about that," replied the shark; "I will carry +you. Not a drop of water shall get to you." + +"Oh, all right, then," said Mr. Keema; "let's go." + +When they had gone about half-way the shark stopped, and said: +"You are my friend. I will tell you the truth." + +"Why, what is there to tell?" asked the monkey, with surprise. + +"Well, you see, the fact is that our sultan is very sick, and we +have been told that the only medicine that will do him any good is +a monkey's heart." + +"Well," exclaimed Keema, "you were very foolish not to tell me that +before we started!" + +"How so?" asked Papa. + +But the monkey was busy thinking up some means of saving himself, +and made no reply. + +"Well?" said the shark, anxiously; "why don't you speak?" + +"Oh, I've nothing to say now. It's too late. But if you had told me +this before we started, I might have brought my heart with me." + +"What? haven't you your heart here?" + +"Huh!" ejaculated Keema; "don't you know about us? When we go out we +leave our hearts in the trees, and go about with only our bodies. But +I see you don't believe me. You think I'm scared. Come on; let's go +to your home, where you can kill me and search for my heart in vain." + +The shark did believe him, though, and exclaimed, "Oh, no; let's go +back and get your heart." + +"Indeed, no," protested Keema; "let us go on to your home." + +But the shark insisted that they should go back, get the heart, +and start afresh. + +At last, with great apparent reluctance, the monkey consented, +grumbling sulkily at the unnecessary trouble he was being put to. + +When they got back to the tree, he climbed up in a great hurry, +calling out, "Wait there, Papa, my friend, while I get my heart, +and we'll start off properly next time." + +When he had got well up among the branches, he sat down and kept +quite still. + +After waiting what he considered a reasonable length of time, the +shark called, "Come along, Keema!" But Keema just kept still and +said nothing. + +In a little while he called again: "Oh, Keema! let's be going." + +At this the monkey poked his head out from among the upper branches +and asked, in great surprise, "Going? Where?" + +"To my home, of course." + +"Are you mad?" queried Keema. + +"Mad? Why, what do you mean?" cried Papa. + +"What's the matter with you?" said the monkey. "Do you take me for +a washerman's donkey?" + +"What peculiarity is there about a washerman's donkey?" + +"It is a creature that has neither heart nor ears." + +The shark, his curiosity overcoming his haste, thereupon begged to +be told the story of the washerman's donkey, which the monkey related +as follows: + +"A washerman owned a donkey, of which he was very fond. One day, +however, it ran away, and took up its abode in the forest, where it +led a lazy life, and consequently grew very fat. + +"At length Soongoo'ra, the hare, by chance passed that way, and saw +Poon'da, the donkey. + +"Now, the hare is the most cunning of all beasts--if you look at +his mouth you will see that he is always talking to himself about +everything. + +"So when Soongoora saw Poonda he said to himself, 'My, this donkey +is fat!' Then he went and told Sim'ba, the lion. + +"As Simba was just recovering from a severe illness, he was still so +weak that he could not go hunting. He was consequently pretty hungry. + +"Said Mr. Soongoora, 'I'll bring enough meat to-morrow for both of +us to have a great feast, but you'll have to do the killing.' + +"'All right, good friend,' exclaimed Simba, joyfully; 'you're very +kind.' + +"So the hare scampered off to the forest, found the donkey, and said +to her, in his most courtly manner, 'Miss Poonda, I am sent to ask +your hand in marriage.' + +"'By whom?' simpered the donkey. + +"'By Simba, the lion.' + +"The donkey was greatly elated at this, and exclaimed: 'Let's go at +once. This is a first-class offer.' + +"They soon arrived at the lion's home, were cordially invited in, +and sat down. Soongoora gave Simba a signal with his eyebrow, to +the effect that this was the promised feast, and that he would wait +outside. Then he said to Poonda: 'I must leave you for a while to +attend to some private business. You stay here and converse with your +husband that is to be.' + +"As soon as Soongoora got outside, the lion sprang at Poonda, and +they had a great fight. Simba was kicked very hard, and he struck +with his claws as well as his weak health would permit him. At last +the donkey threw the lion down, and ran away to her home in the forest. + +"Shortly after, the hare came back, and called, 'Haya! Simba! have +you got it?' + +"'I have not got it,' growled the lion; 'she kicked me and ran away; +but I warrant you I made her feel pretty sore, though I'm not strong.' + +"'Oh, well,' remarked Soongoora; 'don't put yourself out of the way +about it.' + +"Then Soongoora waited many days, until the lion and the donkey +were both well and strong, when he said: 'What do you think now, +Simba? Shall I bring you your meat?' + +"'Ay,' growled the lion, fiercely; 'bring it to me. I'll tear it in +two pieces!' + +"So the hare went off to the forest, where the donkey welcomed him +and asked the news. + +"'You are invited to call again and see your lover,' said Soongoora. + +"'Oh, dear!' cried Poonda; 'that day you took me to him he scratched +me awfully. I'm afraid to go near him now.' + +"'Ah, pshaw!' said Soongoora; 'that's nothing. That's only Simba's +way of caressing.' + +"'Oh, well,' said the donkey, 'let's go.' + +"So off they started again; but as soon as the lion caught sight of +Poonda he sprang upon her and tore her in two pieces. + +"When the hare came up, Simba said to him: 'Take this meat and roast +it. As for myself, all I want is the heart and ears.' + +"'Thanks,' said Soongoora. Then he went away and roasted the meat in +a place where the lion could not see him, and he took the heart and +ears and hid them. Then he ate all the meat he needed, and put the +rest away. + +"Presently the lion came to him and said, 'Bring me the heart and +ears.' + +"'Where are they?' said the hare. + +"'What does this mean?' growled Simba. + +"'Why, didn't you know this was a washerman's donkey?' + +"'Well, what's that to do with there being no heart or ears?' + +"'For goodness' sake, Simba, aren't you old enough to know that if +this beast had possessed a heart and ears it wouldn't have come back +the second time?' + +"Of course the lion had to admit that what Soongoora, the hare, +said was true. + +"And now," said Keema to the shark, "you want to make a washerman's +donkey of me. Get out of there, and go home by yourself. You are not +going to get me again, and our friendship is ended. Good-bye, Papa." + + + + + + + +II. + +THE HARE AND THE LION. + + +One day Soongoo'ra, the hare, roaming through the forest in search +of food, glanced up through the boughs of a very large calabash tree, +and saw that a great hole in the upper part of the trunk was inhabited +by bees; thereupon he returned to town in search of some one to go +with him and help to get the honey. + +As he was passing the house of Boo'koo, the big rat, that worthy +gentleman invited him in. So he went in, sat down, and remarked: +"My father has died, and has left me a hive of honey. I would like +you to come and help me to eat it." + +Of course Bookoo jumped at the offer, and he and the hare started +off immediately. + +When they arrived at the great calabash tree, Soongoora pointed out +the bees' nest and said, "Go on; climb up." So, taking some straw with +them, they climbed up to the nest, lit the straw, smoked out the bees, +put out the fire, and set to work eating the honey. + +In the midst of the feast, who should appear at the foot of the tree +but Sim'ba, the lion? Looking up, and seeing them eating, he asked, +"Who are you?" + +Then Soongoora whispered to Bookoo, "Hold your tongue; that old +fellow is crazy." But in a very little while Simba roared out angrily: +"Who are you, I say? Speak, I tell you!" This made Bookoo so scared +that he blurted out, "It's only us!" + +Upon this the hare said to him: "You just wrap me up in this straw, +call to the lion to keep out of the way, and then throw me down. Then +you'll see what will happen." + +So Bookoo, the big rat, wrapped Soongoora, the hare, in the straw, +and then called to Simba, the lion, "Stand back; I'm going to throw +this straw down, and then I'll come down myself." When Simba stepped +back out of the way, Bookoo threw down the straw, and as it lay on the +ground Soongoora crept out and ran away while the lion was looking up. + +After waiting a minute or two, Simba roared out, "Well, come down, +I say!" and, there being no help for it, the big rat came down. + +As soon as he was within reach, the lion caught hold of him, and asked, +"Who was up there with you?" + +"Why," said Bookoo, "Soongoora, the hare. Didn't you see him when I +threw him down?" + +"Of course I didn't see him," replied the lion, in an incredulous +tone, and, without wasting further time, he ate the big rat, and then +searched around for the hare, but could not find him. + +Three days later, Soongoora called on his acquaintance, Ko'bay, +the tortoise, and said to him, "Let us go and eat some honey." + +"Whose honey?" inquired Kobay, cautiously. + +"My father's," Soongoora replied. + +"Oh, all right; I'm with you," said the tortoise, eagerly; and away +they went. + +When they arrived at the great calabash tree they climbed up with +their straw, smoked out the bees, sat down, and began to eat. + +Just then Mr. Simba, who owned the honey, came out again, and, +looking up, inquired, "Who are you, up there?" + +Soongoora whispered to Kobay, "Keep quiet;" but when the lion repeated +his question angrily, Kobay became suspicious, and said: "I will +speak. You told me this honey was yours; am I right in suspecting +that it belongs to Simba?" + +So, when the lion asked again, "Who are you?" he answered, "It's only +us." The lion said, "Come down, then;" and the tortoise answered, +"We're coming." + +Now, Simba had been keeping an eye open for Soongoora since the day +he caught Bookoo, the big rat, and, suspecting that he was up there +with Kobay, he said to himself, "I've got him this time, sure." + +Seeing that they were caught again, Soongoora said to the tortoise: +"Wrap me up in the straw, tell Simba to stand out of the way, and then +throw me down. I'll wait for you below. He can't hurt you, you know." + +"All right," said Kobay; but while he was wrapping the hare up he +said to himself: "This fellow wants to run away, and leave me to +bear the lion's anger. He shall get caught first." Therefore, when he +had bundled him up, he called out, "Soongoora is coming!" and threw +him down. + +So Simba caught the hare, and, holding him with his paw, said, "Now, +what shall I do with you?" The hare replied, "It's of no use for you +to try to eat me; I'm awfully tough." "What would be the best thing +to do with you, then?" asked Simba. + +"I think," said Soongoora, "you should take me by the tail, whirl +me around, and knock me against the ground. Then you may be able to +eat me." + +So the lion, being deceived, took him by the tail and whirled him +around, but just as he was going to knock him on the ground he slipped +out of his grasp and ran away, and Simba had the mortification of +losing him again. + +Angry and disappointed, he turned to the tree and called to Kobay, +"You come down, too." + +When the tortoise reached the ground, the lion said, "You're pretty +hard; what can I do to make you eatable?" + +"Oh, that's easy," laughed Kobay; "just put me in the mud and rub my +back with your paw until my shell comes off." + +Immediately on hearing this, Simba carried Kobay to the water, placed +him in the mud, and began, as he supposed, to rub his back; but the +tortoise had slipped away, and the lion continued rubbing on a piece +of rock until his paws were raw. When he glanced down at them he saw +they were bleeding, and, realizing that he had again been outwitted, +he said, "Well, the hare has done me to-day, but I'll go hunting now +until I find him." + +So Simba, the lion, set out immediately in search of Soongoora, +the hare, and as he went along he inquired of every one he met, +"Where is the house of Soongoora?" But each person he asked answered, +"I do not know." For the hare had said to his wife, "Let us remove +from this house." Therefore the folks in that neighborhood had no +knowledge of his whereabouts. Simba, however, went along, continuing +his inquiries, until presently one answered, "That is his house on +the top of the mountain." + +Without loss of time the lion climbed the mountain, and soon arrived at +the place indicated, only to find that there was no one at home. This, +however, did not trouble him; on the contrary, saying to himself, "I'll +hide myself inside, and when Soongoora and his wife come home I'll eat +them both," he entered the house and lay down, awaiting their arrival. + +Pretty soon along came the hare with his wife, not thinking of any +danger; but he very soon discovered the marks of the lion's paws +on the steep path. Stopping at once, he said to Mrs. Soongoora: +"You go back, my dear. Simba, the lion, has passed this way, and I +think he must be looking for me." + +But she replied, "I will not go back; I will follow you, my husband." + +Although greatly pleased at this proof of his wife's affection, +Soongoora said firmly: "No, no; you have friends to go to. Go back." + +So he persuaded her, and she went back; but he kept on, following the +footmarks, and saw--as he had suspected--that they went into his house. + +"Ah!" said he to himself, "Mr. Lion is inside, is he?" Then, +cautiously going back a little way, he called out: "How d'ye do, +house? How d'ye do?" Waiting a moment, he remarked loudly: "Well, +this is very strange! Every day, as I pass this place, I say, 'How +d'ye do, house?' and the house always answers, 'How d'ye do?' There +must be some one inside to-day." + +When the lion heard this he called out, "How d'ye do?" + +Then Soongoora burst out laughing, and shouted: "Oho, Mr. Simba! You're +inside, and I'll bet you want to eat me; but first tell me where you +ever heard of a house talking!" + +Upon this the lion, seeing how he had been fooled, replied angrily, +"You wait until I get hold of you; that's all." + +"Oh, I think you'll have to do the waiting," cried the hare; and then +he ran away, the lion following. + +But it was of no use. Soongoora completely tired out old Simba, who, +saying, "That rascal has beaten me; I don't want to have anything more +to do with him," returned to his home under the great calabash tree. + + + + + + + +III. + +THE LION, THE HYENA, AND THE RABBIT. + + +Once upon a time Sim'ba, the lion, Fee'see, the hyena, and Keetee'tee, +the rabbit, made up their minds to go in for a little farming. So +they went into the country, made a garden, planted all kinds of seeds, +and then came home and rested quite a while. + +Then, when the time came when their crops should be about ripe and +ready for harvesting, they began to say to each other, "Let's go over +to the farm, and see how our crops are coming along." + +So one morning, early, they started, and, as the garden was a long way +off, Keeteetee, the rabbit, made this proposition: "While we are going +to the farm, let us not stop on the road; and if any one does stop, +let him be eaten." His companions, not being so cunning as he, and +knowing they could outwalk him, readily consented to this arrangement. + +Well, off they went; but they had not gone very far when the rabbit +stopped. + +"Hullo!" said Feesee, the hyena; "Keeteetee has stopped. He must +be eaten." + +"That's the bargain," agreed Simba, the lion. + +"Well," said the rabbit, "I happened to be thinking." + +"What about?" cried his partners, with great curiosity. + +"I'm thinking," said he, with a grave, philosophical air, "about those +two stones, one big and one little; the little one does not go up, +nor does the big one go down." + +The lion and the hyena, having stopped to look at the stones, could +only say, "Why, really, it's singular; but it's just as you say;" +and they all resumed their journey, the rabbit being by this time +well rested. + +When they had gone some distance the rabbit stopped again. + +"Aha!" said Feesee; "Keeteetee has stopped again. Now he must be +eaten." + +"I rather think so," assented Simba. + +"Well," said the rabbit, "I was thinking again." + +Their curiosity once more aroused, his comrades begged him to tell +them his think. + +"Why," said he, "I was thinking this: When people like us put on new +coats, where do the old ones go to?" + +Both Simba and Feesee, having stopped a moment to consider the matter, +exclaimed together, "Well, I wonder!" and the three went on, the +rabbit having again had a good rest. + +After a little while the hyena, thinking it about time to show off +a little of his philosophy, suddenly stopped. + +"Here," growled Simba, "this won't do; I guess we'll have to eat +you, Feesee." + +"Oh, no," said the hyena; "I'm thinking." + +"What are you thinking about?" they inquired. + +"I'm thinking about nothing at all," said he, imagining himself very +smart and witty. + +"Ah, pshaw!" cried Keeteetee; "we won't be fooled that way." + +So he and Simba ate the hyena. + +When they had finished eating their friend, the lion and the rabbit +proceeded on their way, and presently came to a place where there +was a cave, and here the rabbit stopped. + +"H'm!" ejaculated Simba; "I'm not so hungry as I was this morning, +but I guess I'll have to find room for you, little Keeteetee." + +"Oh, I believe not," replied Keeteetee; "I'm thinking again." + +"Well," said the lion, "what is it this time?" + +Said the rabbit: "I'm thinking about that cave. In olden times our +ancestors used to go in here, and go out there, and I think I'll try +and follow in their footsteps." + +So he went in at one end and out at the other end several times. + +Then he said to the lion, "Simba, old fellow, let's see you try to +do that;" and the lion went into the cave, but he stuck fast, and +could neither go forward nor back out. + +In a moment Keeteetee was on Simba's back, and began eating him. + +After a little time the lion cried, "Oh, brother, be impartial; +come and eat some of the front part of me." + +But the rabbit replied, "Indeed, I can't come around in front; I'm +ashamed to look you in the face." + +So, having eaten all he was able to, he left the lion there, and went +and became sole owner of the farm and its crops. + + + + + + + +IV. + +THE KITES AND THE CROWS. + + +One day Koongoo'roo, sultan of the crows, sent a letter to Mway'way, +sultan of the kites, containing these few words: "I want you folks +to be my soldiers." + +To this brief message Mwayway at once wrote this short reply: +"I should say not." + +Thereupon, thinking to scare Mwayway, the sultan of the crows sent +him word, "If you refuse to obey me I'll make war upon you." + +To which the sultan of the kites replied, "That suits me; let us fight, +and if you beat us we will obey you, but if we are victors you shall +be our servants." + +So they gathered their forces and engaged in a great battle, and in a +little while it became evident that the crows were being badly beaten. + +As it appeared certain that, if something were not done pretty +quickly, they would all be killed, one old crow, named Jeeoo'see, +suddenly proposed that they should fly away. + +Directly the suggestion was made it was acted upon, and the crows left +their homes and flew far away, where they set up another town. So, +when the kites entered the place, they found no one there, and they +took up their residence in Crowtown. + +One day, when the crows had gathered in council, Koongooroo stood up +and said: "My people, do as I command you, and all will be well. Pluck +out some of my feathers and throw me into the town of the kites; +then come back and stay here until you hear from me." + +Without argument or questioning the crows obeyed their sultan's +command. + +Koongooroo had lain in the street but a short time, when some passing +kites saw him and inquired threateningly, "What are you doing here +in our town?" + +With many a moan he replied, "My companions have beaten me and turned +me out of their town because I advised them to obey Mwayway, sultan +of the kites." + +When they heard this they picked him up and took him before the sultan, +to whom they said, "We found this fellow lying in the street, and +he attributes his involuntary presence in our town to so singular a +circumstance that we thought you should hear his story." + +Koongooroo was then bidden to repeat his statement, which he did, +adding the remark that, much as he had suffered, he still held to +his opinion that Mwayway was his rightful sultan. + +This, of course, made a very favorable impression, and the sultan said, +"You have more sense than all the rest of your tribe put together; +I guess you can stay here and live with us." + +So Koongooroo, expressing much gratitude, settled down, apparently, +to spend the remainder of his life with the kites. + +One day his neighbors took him to church with them, and when they +returned home they asked him, "Who have the best kind of religion, +the kites or the crows?" + +To which crafty old Koongooroo replied, with great enthusiasm, "Oh, +the kites, by long odds!" + +This answer tickled the kites like anything, and Koongooroo was looked +upon as a bird of remarkable discernment. + +When almost another week had passed, the sultan of the crows slipped +away in the night, went to his own town, and called his people +together. + +"To-morrow," said he, "is the great annual religious festival of +the kites, and they will all go to church in the morning. Go, now, +and get some wood and some fire, and wait near their town until I +call you; then come quickly and set fire to the church." + +Then he hurried back to Mwayway's town. + +The crows were very busy indeed all that night, and by dawn they had +an abundance of wood and fire at hand, and were lying in wait near +the town of their victorious enemies. + +So in the morning every kite went to church. There was not one person +left at home except old Koongooroo. + +When his neighbors called for him they found him lying +down. "Why!" they exclaimed with surprise, "are you not going to +church to-day?" + +"Oh," said he, "I wish I could; but my stomach aches so badly I can't +move!" And he groaned dreadfully. + +"Ah, poor fellow!" said they; "you will be better in bed;" and they +left him to himself. + +As soon as everybody was out of sight he flew swiftly to his soldiers +and cried, "Come on; they're all in the church." + +Then they all crept quickly but quietly to the church, and while some +piled wood about the door, others applied fire. + +The wood caught readily, and the fire was burning fiercely before the +kites were aware of their danger; but when the church began to fill +with smoke, and tongues of flame shot through the cracks, they tried +to escape through the windows. The greater part of them, however, +were suffocated, or, having their wings singed, could not fly away, +and so were burned to death, among them their sultan, Mwayway; and +Koongooroo and his crows got their old town back again. + +From that day to this the kites fly away from the crows. + + + + + + + +V. + +GOSO, THE TEACHER. + + +Once there was a man named Go'so, who taught children to read, +not in a schoolhouse, but under a calabash tree. One evening, while +Goso was sitting under the tree deep in the study of the next day's +lessons, Paa, the gazelle, climbed up the tree very quietly to steal +some fruit, and in so doing shook off a calabash, which, in falling, +struck the teacher on the head and killed him. + +When his scholars came in the morning and found their teacher lying +dead, they were filled with grief; so, after giving him a decent +burial, they agreed among themselves to find the one who had killed +Goso, and put him to death. + +After talking the matter over they came to the conclusion that the +south wind was the offender. + +So they caught the south wind and beat it. + +But the south wind cried: "Here! I am Koo'see, the south wind. Why +are you beating me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Koosee; it was you who threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it." + +But Koosee said, "If I were so powerful would I be stopped by a +mud wall?" + +So they went to the mud wall and beat it. + +But the mud wall cried: "Here! I am Keeyambaa'za, the mud wall. Why +are you beating me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Keeyambaaza; it was you who +stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw +down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have +done it." + +But Keeyambaaza said, "If I were so powerful would I be bored through +by the rat?" + +So they went and caught the rat and beat it. + +But the rat cried: "Here! I am Paan'ya, the rat. Why are you beating +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paanya; it was you who bored +through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south +wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck +our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Paanya said, "If I were so powerful would I be eaten by a cat?" + +So they hunted for the cat, caught it, and beat it. + +But the cat cried: "Here! I am Paa'ka, the cat. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paaka; it is you that eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Paaka said, "If I were so powerful would I be tied by a rope?" + +So they took the rope and beat it. + +But the rope cried: "Here! I am Kaam'ba, the rope. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Kaamba; it is you that ties Paaka, +the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, +the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the +south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You +should not have done it." + +But Kaamba said, "If I were so powerful would I be cut by a knife?" + +So they took the knife and beat it. + +But the knife cried: "Here! I am Kee'soo, the knife. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Keesoo; you cut Kaamba, the rope; +that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; +and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our +teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Keesoo said, "If I were so powerful would I be burned by the fire?" + +And they went and beat the fire. + +But the fire cried: "Here! I am Mo'to, the fire. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Moto; you burn Keesoo, the knife; +that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Moto said, "If I were so powerful would I be put out by water?" + +And they went to the water and beat it. + +But the water cried: "Here! I am Maa'jee, the water. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Maajee; you put out Moto, the +fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that +ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through +Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; +and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our +teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Maajee said, "If I were so powerful would I be drunk by the ox?" + +And they went to the ox and beat it. + +But the ox cried: "Here! I am Ng'om'bay, the ox. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Ng'ombay; you drink Maajee, the +water; that puts out Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; +that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, +the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped +Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the +calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +But Ng'ombay said, "If I were so powerful would I be tormented by +the fly?" + +And they caught a fly and beat it. + +But the fly cried: "Here! I am Een'zee, the fly. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Eenzee; you torment Ng'ombay, the +ox; who drinks Maajee, the water; that puts out Moto, the fire; that +burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, +the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; who bores through Keeyambaaza, +the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, the south wind; and Koosee, the +south wind, threw down the calabash that struck our teacher Goso. You +should not have done it." + +But Eenzee said, "If I were so powerful would I be eaten by the +gazelle?" + +And they searched for the gazelle, and when they found it they beat it. + +But the gazelle said: "Here! I am Paa, the gazelle. Why do you beat +me? What have I done?" + +And they said: "Yes, we know you are Paa; you eat Eenzee, the fly; +that torments Ng'ombay, the ox; who drinks Maajee, the water; that +puts out Moto, the fire; that burns Keesoo, the knife; that cuts +Kaamba, the rope; that ties Paaka, the cat; who eats Paanya, the rat; +who bores through Keeyambaaza, the mud wall; which stopped Koosee, +the south wind; and Koosee, the south wind, threw down the calabash +that struck our teacher Goso. You should not have done it." + +The gazelle, through surprise at being found out and fear of the +consequences of his accidental killing of the teacher, while engaged +in stealing, was struck dumb. + +Then the scholars said: "Ah! he hasn't a word to say for himself. This +is the fellow who threw down the calabash that struck our teacher +Goso. We will kill him." + +So they killed Paa, the gazelle, and avenged the death of their +teacher. + + + + + + + +VI. + +THE APE, THE SNAKE, AND THE LION. + + +Long, long ago there lived, in a village called Keejee'jee, a woman +whose husband died, leaving her with a little baby boy. She worked +hard all day to get food for herself and child, but they lived very +poorly and were most of the time half-starved. + +When the boy, whose name was 'Mvoo' Laa'na, began to get big, he said +to his mother, one day: "Mother, we are always hungry. What work did +my father do to support us?" + +His mother replied: "Your father was a hunter. He set traps, and we +ate what he caught in them." + +"Oho!" said 'Mvoo Laana; "that's not work; that's fun. I, too, will +set traps, and see if we can't get enough to eat." + +The next day he went into the forest and cut branches from the trees, +and returned home in the evening. + +The second day he spent making the branches into traps. + +The third day he twisted cocoanut fiber into ropes. + +The fourth day he set up as many traps as time would permit. + +The fifth day he set up the remainder of the traps. + +The sixth day he went to examine the traps, and they had caught so +much game, beside what they needed for themselves, that he took a +great quantity to the big town of Oongoo'ja, where he sold it and +bought corn and other things, and the house was full of food; and, as +this good fortune continued, he and his mother lived very comfortably. + +But after a while, when he went to his traps he found nothing in them +day after day. + +One morning, however, he found that an ape had been caught in one of +the traps, and he was about to kill it, when it said: "Son of Adam, +I am Neea'nee, the ape; do not kill me. Take me out of this trap and +let me go. Save me from the rain, that I may come and save you from +the sun some day." + +So 'Mvoo Laana took him out of the trap and let him go. + +When Neeanee had climbed up in a tree, he sat on a branch and said +to the youth: "For your kindness I will give you a piece of advice: +Believe me, men are all bad. Never do a good turn for a man; if you +do, he will do you harm at the first opportunity." + +The second day, 'Mvoo Laana found a snake in the same trap. He +started to the village to give the alarm, but the snake shouted: +"Come back, son of Adam; don't call the people from the village to +come and kill me. I am Neeo'ka, the snake. Let me out of this trap, +I pray you. Save me from the rain to-day, that I may be able to save +you from the sun to-morrow, if you should be in need of help." + +So the youth let him go; and as he went he said, "I will return your +kindness if I can, but do not trust any man; if you do him a kindness +he will do you an injury in return at the first opportunity." + +The third day, 'Mvoo Laana found a lion in the same trap that had +caught the ape and the snake, and he was afraid to go near it. But +the lion said: "Don't run away; I am Sim'ba Kong'way, the very old +lion. Let me out of this trap, and I will not hurt you. Save me from +the rain, that I may save you from the sun if you should need help." + +So 'Mvoo Laana believed him and let him out of the trap, and Simba +Kongway, before going his way, said: "Son of Adam, you have been kind +to me, and I will repay you with kindness if I can; but never do a +kindness to a man, or he will pay you back with unkindness." + +The next day a man was caught in the same trap, and when the youth +released him, he repeatedly assured him that he would never forget the +service he had done him in restoring his liberty and saving his life. + +Well, it seemed that he had caught all the game that could be taken +in traps, and 'Mvoo Laana and his mother were hungry every day, with +nothing to satisfy them, as they had been before. At last he said to +his mother, one day: "Mother, make me seven cakes of the little meal +we have left, and I will go hunting with my bow and arrows." So she +baked him the cakes, and he took them and his bow and arrows and went +into the forest. + +The youth walked and walked, but could see no game, and finally he +found that he had lost his way, and had eaten all his cakes but one. + +And he went on and on, not knowing whether he was going away from +his home or toward it, until he came to the wildest and most desolate +looking wood he had ever seen. He was so wretched and tired that he +felt he must lie down and die, when suddenly he heard some one calling +him, and looking up he saw Neeanee, the ape, who said, "Son of Adam, +where are you going?" + +"I don't know," replied 'Mvoo Laana, sadly; "I'm lost." + +"Well, well," said the ape; "don't worry. Just sit down here and +rest yourself until I come back, and I will repay with kindness the +kindness you once showed me." + +Then Neeanee went away off to some gardens and stole a whole lot of +ripe paw-paws and bananas, and brought them to 'Mvoo Laana, and said: +"Here's plenty of food for you. Is there anything else you want? Would +you like a drink?" And before the youth could answer he ran off with a +calabash and brought it back full of water. So the youth ate heartily, +and drank all the water he needed, and then each said to the other, +"Good-bye, till we meet again," and went their separate ways. + +When 'Mvoo Laana had walked a great deal farther without finding +which way he should go, he met Simba Kongway, who asked, "Where are +you going, son of Adam?" + +And the youth answered, as dolefully as before, "I don't know; +I'm lost." + +"Come, cheer up," said the very old lion, "and rest yourself here a +little. I want to repay with kindness to-day the kindness you showed +me on a former day." + +So 'Mvoo Laana sat down. Simba Kongway went away, but soon returned +with some game he had caught, and then he brought some fire, and the +young man cooked the game and ate it. When he had finished he felt a +great deal better, and they bade each other good-bye for the present, +and each went his way. + +After he had traveled another very long distance the youth came to +a farm, and was met by a very, very old woman, who said to him: +"Stranger, my husband has been taken very sick, and I am looking +for some one to make him some medicine. Won't you make it?" But he +answered: "My good woman, I am not a doctor, I am a hunter, and never +used medicine in my life. I can not help you." + +When he came to the road leading to the principal city he saw a well, +with a bucket standing near it, and he said to himself: "That's just +what I want. I'll take a drink of nice well-water. Let me see if the +water can be reached." + +As he peeped over the edge of the well, to see if the water was high +enough, what should he behold but a great big snake, which, directly +it saw him, said, "Son of Adam, wait a moment." Then it came out of +the well and said: "How? Don't you know me?" + +"I certainly do not," said the youth, stepping back a little. + +"Well, well!" said the snake; "I could never forget you. I am Neeoka, +whom you released from the trap. You know I said, 'Save me from the +rain, and I will save you from the sun.' Now, you are a stranger in +the town to which you are going; therefore hand me your little bag, +and I will place in it the things that will be of use to you when +you arrive there." + +So 'Mvoo Laana gave Neeoka the little bag, and he filled it with +chains of gold and silver, and told him to use them freely for his +own benefit. Then they parted very cordially. + +When the youth reached the city, the first man he met was he whom +he had released from the trap, who invited him to go home with him, +which he did, and the man's wife made him supper. + +As soon as he could get away unobserved, the man went to the sultan +and said: "There is a stranger come to my house with a bag full of +chains of silver and gold, which he says he got from a snake that +lives in a well. But although he pretends to be a man, I know that +he is a snake who has power to look like a man." + +When the sultan heard this he sent some soldiers who brought 'Mvoo +Laana and his little bag before him. When they opened the little bag, +the man who was released from the trap persuaded the people that some +evil would come out of it, and affect the children of the sultan and +the children of the vizir. + +Then the people became excited, and tied the hands of 'Mvoo Laana +behind him. + +But the great snake had come out of the well and arrived at the town +just about this time, and he went and lay at the feet of the man who +had said all those bad things about 'Mvoo Laana, and when the people +saw this they said to that man: "How is this? There is the great snake +that lives in the well, and he stays by you. Tell him to go away." + +But Neeoka would not stir. So they untied the young man's hands, +and tried in every way to make amends for having suspected him of +being a wizard. + +Then the sultan asked him, "Why should this man invite you to his +home and then speak ill of you?" + +And 'Mvoo Laana related all that had happened to him, and how the ape, +the snake, and the lion had cautioned him about the results of doing +any kindness for a man. + +And the sultan said: "Although men are often ungrateful, they are +not always so; only the bad ones. As for this fellow, he deserves +to be put in a sack and drowned in the sea. He was treated kindly, +and returned evil for good." + + + + + + + +VII. + +HAAMDAANEE. + + +Once there was a very poor man, named Haamdaa'nee, who begged from +door to door for his living, sometimes taking things before they +were offered him. After a while people became suspicious of him, and +stopped giving him anything, in order to keep him away from their +houses. So at last he was reduced to the necessity of going every +morning to the village dust heap, and picking up and eating the few +grains of the tiny little millet seed that he might find there. + +One day, as he was scratching and turning over the heap, he found a +dime, which he tied up in a corner of his ragged dress, and continued +to hunt for millet grains, but could not find one. + +"Oh, well," said he, "I've got a dime now; I'm pretty well fixed. I'll +go home and take a nap instead of a meal." + +So he went to his hut, took a drink of water, put some tobacco in +his mouth, and went to sleep. + +The next morning, as he scratched in the dust heap, he saw a countryman +going along, carrying a basket made of twigs, and he called to him: +"Hi, there, countryman! What have you in that cage?" + +The countryman, whose name was Moohaad'eem, replied, "Gazelles." + +And Haamdaanee called: "Bring them here. Let me see them." + +Now there were three well-to-do men standing near; and when they +saw the countryman coming to Haamdaanee they smiled, and said, +"You're taking lots of trouble for nothing, Moohaadeem." + +"How's that, gentlemen?" he inquired. + +"Why," said they, "that poor fellow has nothing at all. Not a cent." + +"Oh, I don't know that," said the countryman; "he may have plenty, +for all I know." + +"Not he," said they. + +"Don't you see for yourself," continued one of them, "that he is on +the dust heap? Every day he scratches there like a hen, trying to get +enough grains of millet to keep himself alive. If he had any money, +wouldn't he buy a square meal, for once in his life? Do you think he +would want to buy a gazelle? What would he do with it? He can't find +enough food for himself, without looking for any for a gazelle." + +But Moohaadeem said: "Gentlemen, I have brought some goods here to +sell. I answer all who call me, and if any one says 'Come,' I go to +him. I don't favor one and slight another; therefore, as this man +called me, I'm going to him." + +"All right," said the first man; "you don't believe us. Well, we +know where he lives, and all about him, and we know that he can't +buy anything." + +"That's so," said the second man. "Perhaps, however, you will see +that we were right, after you have a talk with him." + +To which the third man added, "Clouds are a sign of rain, but we have +seen no signs of his being about to spend any money." + +"All right, gentlemen," said Moohaadeem; "many better-looking people +than he call me, and when I show them my gazelles they say, 'Oh, yes, +they're very beautiful, but awfully dear; take them away.' So I shall +not be disappointed if this man says the same thing. I shall go to +him, anyhow." + +Then one of the three men said, "Let us go with this man, and see +what the beggar will buy." + +"Pshaw!" said another; "buy! You talk foolishly. He has not had a +good meal in three years, to my knowledge; and a man in his condition +doesn't have money to buy gazelles. However, let's go; and if he +makes this poor countryman carry his load over there just for the +fun of looking at the gazelles, let each of us give him a good hard +whack with our walking-sticks, to teach him how to behave toward +honest merchants." + +So, when they came near him, one of those three men said: "Well, +here are the gazelles; now buy one. Here they are, you old hypocrite; +you'll feast your eyes on them, but you can't buy them." + +But Haamdaanee, paying no attention to the men, said to Moohaadeem, +"How much for one of your gazelles?" + +Then another of those men broke in: "You're very innocent, aren't +you? You know, as well as I do, that gazelles are sold every day at +two for a quarter." + +Still taking no notice of these outsiders, Haamdaanee continued, +"I'd like to buy one for a dime." + +"One for a dime!" laughed the men; "of course you'd like to buy one +for a dime. Perhaps you'd also like to have the dime to buy with." + +Then one of them gave him a push on the cheek. + +At this Haamdaanee turned and said: "Why do you push me on the cheek, +when I've done nothing to you? I do not know you. I call this man, +to transact some business with him, and you, who are strangers, +step in to spoil our trade." + +He then untied the knot in the corner of his ragged coat, produced +the dime, and, handing it to Moohaadeem, said, "Please, good man, +let me have a gazelle for that." + +At this, the countryman took a small gazelle out of the cage and +handed it to him, saying, "Here, master, take this one. I call it +Keejee'paa." Then turning to those three men, he laughed, and said: +"Ehe! How's this? You, with your white robes, and turbans, and swords, +and daggers, and sandals on your feet--you gentlemen of property, +and no mistake--you told me this man was too poor to buy anything; +yet he has bought a gazelle for a dime, while you fine fellows, +I think, haven't enough money among you to buy half a gazelle, if +they were five cents each." + +Then Moohaadeem and the three men went their several ways. + +As for Haamdaanee, he stayed at the dust heap until he found a few +grains of millet for himself and a few for Keejeepaa, the gazelle, +and then went to his hut, spread his sleeping mat, and he and the +gazelle slept together. + +This going to the dust heap for a few grains of millet and then going +home to bed continued for about a week. + +Then one night Haamdaanee was awakened by some one calling, +"Master!" Sitting up, he answered: "Here I am. Who calls?" The gazelle +answered, "I do!" + +Upon this, the beggar man became so scared that he did not know +whether he should faint or get up and run away. + +Seeing him so overcome, Keejeepaa asked, "Why, master, what's the +matter?" + +"Oh, gracious!" he gasped; "what a wonder I see!" + +"A wonder?" said the gazelle, looking all around; "why, what is this +wonder, that makes you act as if you were all broken up?" + +"Why, it's so wonderful, I can hardly believe I'm awake!" said his +master. "Who in the world ever before knew of a gazelle that could +speak?" + +"Oho!" laughed Keejeepaa; "is that all? There are many more wonderful +things than that. But now, listen, while I tell you why I called you." + +"Certainly; I'll listen to every word," said the man. "I can't help +listening!" + +"Well, you see, it's just this way," said Keejeepaa; "I've allowed you +to become my master, and I can not run away from you; so I want you to +make an agreement with me, and I will make you a promise, and keep it." + +"Say on," said his master. + +"Now," continued the gazelle, "one doesn't have to be acquainted +with you long, in order to discover that you are very poor. This +scratching a few grains of millet from the dust heap every day, +and managing to subsist upon them, is all very well for you--you're +used to it, because it's a matter of necessity with you; but if I +keep it up much longer, you won't have any gazelle--Keejeepaa will +die of starvation. Therefore, I want to go away every day and feed +on my own kind of food; and I promise you I will return every evening." + +"Well, I guess I'll have to give my consent," said the man, in no +very cheerful tone. + +As it was now dawn, Keejeepaa jumped up and ran out of the door, +Haamdaanee following him. The gazelle ran very fast, and his master +stood watching him until he disappeared. Then tears started in the +man's eyes, and, raising his hands, he cried, "Oh, my mother!" Then +he cried, "Oh, my father!" Then he cried, "Oh, my gazelle! It has +run away!" + +Some of his neighbors, who heard him carrying on in this manner, +took the opportunity to inform him that he was a fool, an idiot, +and a dissipated fellow. + +Said one of them: "You hung around that dust heap, goodness knows +how long, scratching like a hen, till fortune gave you a dime. You +hadn't sense enough to go and buy some decent food; you had to buy +a gazelle. Now you've let the creature run away. What are you crying +about? You brought all your trouble on yourself." + +All this, of course, was very comforting to Haamdaanee, who slunk +off to the dust heap, got a few grains of millet, and came back to +his hut, which now seemed meaner and more desolate than ever. + +At sunset, however, Keejeepaa came trotting in; and the beggar was +happy again, and said, "Ah, my friend, you have returned to me." + +"Of course," said the gazelle; "didn't I promise you? You see, I feel +that when you bought me you gave all the money you had in the world, +even though it was only a dime. Why, then, should I grieve you? I +couldn't do it. If I go and get myself some food, I'll always come +back evenings." + +When the neighbors saw the gazelle come home every evening and run +off every morning, they were greatly surprised, and began to suspect +that Haamdaanee was a wizard. + +Well, this coming and going continued for five days, the gazelle +telling its master each night what fine places it had been to, and +what lots of food it had eaten. + +On the sixth day it was feeding among some thorn bushes in a thick +wood, when, scratching away some bitter grass at the foot of a big +tree, it saw an immense diamond of intense brightness. + +"Oho!" said Keejeepaa, in great astonishment; "here's property, and no +mistake! This is worth a kingdom! If I take it to my master he will +be killed; for, being a poor man, if they say to him, 'Where did you +get it?' and he answers, 'I picked it up,' they will not believe him; +if he says, 'It was given to me,' they will not believe him either. It +will not do for me to get my master into difficulties. I know what +I'll do. I'll seek some powerful person; he will use it properly." + +So Keejeepaa started off through the forest, holding the diamond in +his mouth, and ran, and ran, but saw no town that day; so he slept +in the forest, and arose at dawn and pursued his way. And the second +day passed like the first. + +On the third day the gazelle had traveled from dawn until between +eight and nine o'clock, when he began to see scattered houses, getting +larger in size, and knew he was approaching a town. In due time he +found himself in the main street of a large city, leading direct +to the sultan's palace, and began to run as fast as he could. People +passing along stopped to look at the strange sight of a gazelle running +swiftly along the main street with something wrapped in green leaves +between its teeth. + +The sultan was sitting at the door of his palace, when Keejeepaa, +stopping a little way off, dropped the diamond from its mouth, +and, lying down beside it, panting, called out: "Ho, there! Ho, +there!" which is a cry every one makes in that part of the world when +wishing to enter a house, remaining outside until the cry is answered. + +After the cry had been repeated several times, the sultan said to +his attendants, "Who is doing all that calling?" + +And one answered, "Master, it's a gazelle that's calling, 'Ho, there!'" + +"Ho-ho!" said the sultan; "Ho-ho! Invite the gazelle to come near." + +Then three attendants ran to Keejeepaa and said: "Come, get up. The +sultan commands you to come near." + +So the gazelle arose, picked up the diamond, and, approaching +the sultan, laid the jewel at his feet, saying, "Master, good +afternoon!" To which the sultan replied: "May God make it good! Come +near." + +The sultan ordered his attendants to bring a carpet and a large +cushion, and desired the gazelle to rest upon them. When it protested +that it was comfortable as it was, he insisted, and Keejeepaa had +to allow himself to be made a very honored guest. Then they brought +milk and rice, and the sultan would hear nothing until the gazelle +had fed and rested. + +At last, when everything had been disposed of, the sultan said, +"Well, now, my friend, tell me what news you bring." + +And Keejeepaa said: "Master, I don't exactly know how you will like +the news I bring. The fact is, I'm sent here to insult you! I've come +to try and pick a quarrel with you! In fact, I'm here to propose a +family alliance with you!" + +At this the sultan exclaimed: "Oh, come! for a gazelle, you certainly +know how to talk! Now, the fact of it is, I'm looking for some one +to insult me. I'm just aching to have some one pick a quarrel with +me. I'm impatient for a family alliance. Go on with your message." + +Then Keejeepaa said, "You don't bear any ill will against me, who am +only a messenger?" + +And the sultan said, "None at all." + +"Well," said Keejeepaa, "look at this pledge I bring;" dropping the +diamond wrapped in leaves into the sultan's lap. + +When the sultan opened the leaves and saw the great, sparkling jewel, +he was overcome with astonishment. At last he said, "Well?" + +"I have brought this pledge," said the gazelle, "from my master, +Sultan Daaraa'ee. He has heard that you have a daughter, so he sent +you this jewel, hoping you will forgive him for not sending something +more worthy of your acceptance than this trifle." + +"Goodness!" said the sultan to himself; "he calls this a trifle!" Then +to the gazelle: "Oh, that's all right; that's all right. I'm +satisfied. The Sultan Daaraaee has my consent to marry my daughter, +and I don't want a single thing from him. Let him come empty-handed. If +he has more of these trifles, let him leave them at home. This is my +message, and I hope you will make it perfectly clear to your master." + +The gazelle assured him that he would explain everything +satisfactorily, adding: "And now, master, I take my leave. I go +straight to our own town, and hope that in about eleven days we shall +return to be your guests." So, with mutual compliments, they parted. + +In the meantime, Haamdaanee was having an exceedingly tough +time. Keejeepaa having disappeared, he wandered about the town moaning, +"Oh, my poor gazelle! my poor gazelle!" while the neighbors laughed +and jeered at him, until, between them and his loss, he was nearly +out of his mind. + +But one evening, when he had gone to bed, Keejeepaa walked in. Up +he jumped, and began to embrace the gazelle, and weep over it, and +carry on at a great rate. + +When he thought there had been about enough of this kind of thing, +the gazelle said: "Come, come; keep quiet, my master. I've brought +you good news." But the beggar man continued to cry and fondle, +and declare that he had thought his gazelle was dead. + +At last Keejeepaa said: "Oh, well, master, you see I'm all right. You +must brace up, and prepare to hear my news, and do as I advise you." + +"Go on; go on," replied his master; "explain what you will, I'll +do whatever you require me to do. If you were to say, 'Lie down on +your back, that I may roll you over the side of the hill,' I would +lie down." + +"Well," said the gazelle, "there is not much to explain just now, +but I'll tell you this: I've seen many kinds of food, food that is +desirable and food that is objectionable, but this food I'm about to +offer you is very sweet indeed." + +"What?" said Haamdaanee. "Is it possible that in this world there +is anything that is positively good? There must be good and bad in +everything. Food that is both sweet and bitter is good food, but if +food were nothing but sweetness would it not be injurious?" + +"H'm!" yawned the gazelle; "I'm too tired to talk philosophy. Let's +go to sleep now, and when I call you in the morning, all you have to +do is to get up and follow me." + +So at dawn they set forth, the gazelle leading the way, and for five +days they journeyed through the forest. + +On the fifth day they came to a stream, and Keejeepaa said to his +master, "Lie down here." When he had done so, the gazelle set to and +beat him so soundly that he cried out: "Oh, let up, I beg of you!" + +"Now," said the gazelle, "I'm going away, and when I return I +expect to find you right here; so don't you leave this spot on any +account." Then he ran away, and about ten o'clock that morning he +arrived at the house of the sultan. + +Now, ever since the day Keejeepaa left the town, soldiers had been +placed along the road to watch for and announce the approach of Sultan +Daaraaee; so one of them, when he saw the gazelle in the distance, +rushed up and cried to the sultan, "Sultan Daaraaee is coming! I've +seen the gazelle running as fast as it can in this direction." + +The sultan and his attendants immediately set out to meet his guests; +but when they had gone a little way beyond the town they met the +gazelle coming along alone, who, on reaching the sultan, said, +"Good day, my master." The sultan replied in kind, and asked the +news, but Keejeepaa said: "Ah, do not ask me. I can scarcely walk, +and my news is bad!" + +"Why, how is that?" asked the sultan. + +"Oh, dear!" sighed the gazelle; "such misfortune and misery! You see, +Sultan Daaraaee and I started alone to come here, and we got along +all right until we came to the thick part of the forest yonder, when +we were met by robbers, who seized my master, bound him, beat him, +and took everything he had, even stripping off every stitch of his +clothing. Oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +"Dear me!" said the sultan; "we must attend to this at once." So, +hurrying back with his attendants to his house, he called a groom, +to whom he said, "Saddle the best horse in my stable, and put on him +my finest harness." Then he directed a woman servant to open the +big inlaid chest and bring him a bag of clothes. When she brought +it he picked out a loin-cloth, and a long white robe, and a black +overjacket, and a shawl for the waist, and a turban cloth, all of +the very finest. Then he sent for a curved sword with a gold hilt, +and a curved dagger with gold filigree, and a pair of elegant sandals, +and a fine walking-cane. + +Then the sultan said to Keejeepaa, "Take some of my soldiers, and +let them convey these things to Sultan Daaraaee, that he may dress +himself and come to me." + +But the gazelle answered: "Ah, my master, can I take these soldiers +with me and put Sultan Daaraaee to shame? There he lies, beaten and +robbed, and I would not have any one see him. I can take everything +by myself." + +"Why," exclaimed the sultan, "here is a horse, and there are clothes +and arms. I don't see how a little gazelle can manage all those +things." + +But the gazelle had them fasten everything on the horse's back, and +tie the end of the bridle around his own neck, and then he set off +alone, amidst the wonder and admiration of the people of that city, +high and low. + +When he arrived at the place where he had left the beggar-man, he +found him lying waiting for him, and overjoyed at his return. + +"Now," said he, "I have brought you the sweet food I promised. Come, +get up and bathe yourself." + +With the hesitation of a person long unaccustomed to such a thing, +the man stepped into the stream and began to wet himself a little. + +"Oh," said the gazelle, impatiently, "a little water like that won't +do you much good; get out into the deep pool." + +"Dear me!" said the man, timidly; "there is so much water there; +and where there is much water there are sure to be horrible animals." + +"Animals! What kind of animals?" + +"Well, crocodiles, water lizards, snakes, and, at any rate, frogs; +and they bite people, and I'm terribly afraid of all of them." + +"Oh, well," said Keejeepaa, "do the best you can in the stream; but +rub yourself well with earth, and, for goodness' sake, scrub your +teeth well with sand; they are awfully dirty." + +So the man obeyed, and soon made quite a change in his appearance. + +Then the gazelle said: "Here, hurry up and put on these things. The +sun has gone down, and we ought to have started before this." + +So the man dressed himself in the fine clothes the sultan had sent, +and then he mounted the horse, and they started; the gazelle trotting +on ahead. + +When they had gone some distance, the gazelle stopped, and said, +"See here: nobody who sees you now would suspect that you are the man +who scratched in the dust heap yesterday. Even if we were to go back to +our town the neighbors would not recognize you, if it were only for the +fact that your face is clean and your teeth are white. Your appearance +is all right, but I have a caution to give you. Over there, where we +are going, I have procured for you the sultan's daughter for a wife, +with all the usual wedding gifts. Now, you must keep quiet. Say nothing +except, 'How d'ye do?' and 'What's the news?' Let me do the talking." + +"All right," said the man; "that suits me exactly." + +"Do you know what your name is?" + +"Of course I do." + +"Indeed? Well, what is it?" + +"Why, my name is Haamdaanee." + +"Not much," laughed Keejeepaa; "your name is Sultan Daaraaee." + +"Oh, is it?" said his master. "That's good." + +So they started forward again, and in a little while they saw soldiers +running in every direction, and fourteen of these joined them to +escort them. Then they saw ahead of them the sultan, and the vizirs, +and the emirs, and the judges, and the great men of the city, coming +to meet them. + +"Now, then," said Keejeepaa, "get off your horse and salute your +father-in-law. That's him in the middle, wearing the sky-blue jacket." + +"All right," said the man, jumping off his horse, which was then led +by a soldier. + +So the two met, and the sultans shook hands, and kissed each other, +and walked up to the palace together. + +Then they had a great feast, and made merry and talked until night, +at which time Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle were put into an inner +room, with three soldiers at the door to guard and attend upon them. + +When the morning came, Keejeepaa went to the sultan and said: "Master, +we wish to attend to the business which brought us here. We want +to marry your daughter, and the sooner the ceremony takes place, +the better it will please the Sultan Daaraaee." + +"Why, that's all right," said the sultan; "the bride is ready. Let +some one call the teacher, Mwaalee'moo, and tell him to come at once." + +When Mwaaleemoo arrived, the sultan said, "See here, we want you to +marry this gentleman to my daughter right away." + +"All right; I'm ready," said the teacher. So they were married. + +Early the next morning the gazelle said to his master: "Now I'm off on +a journey. I shall be gone about a week; but however long I am gone, +don't you leave the house till I return. Good-bye." + +Then he went to the real sultan and said: "Good master, Sultan Daaraaee +has ordered me to return to our town and put his house in order; he +commands me to be here again in a week; if I do not return by that +time, he will stay here until I come." + +The sultan asked him if he would not like to have some soldiers go +with him; but the gazelle replied that he was quite competent to +take care of himself, as his previous journeys had proved, and he +preferred to go alone; so with mutual good wishes they parted. + +But Keejeepaa did not go in the direction of the old village. He +struck off by another road through the forest, and after a time came +to a very fine town, of large, handsome houses. As he went through +the principal street, right to the far end, he was greatly astonished +to observe that the town seemed to have no inhabitants, for he saw +neither man, woman, nor child in all the place. + +At the end of the main street he came upon the largest and most +beautiful house he had ever seen, built of sapphire, and turquoise, +and costly marbles. + +"Oh, my!" said the gazelle; "this house would just suit my master. I'll +have to pluck up my courage and see whether this is deserted like +the other houses in this mysterious town." + +So Keejeepaa knocked at the door, and called, "Hullo, there!" several +times; but no one answered. And he said to himself: "This is +strange! If there were no one inside, the door would be fastened +on the outside. Perhaps they are in another part of the house, or +asleep. I'll call again, louder." + +So he called again, very loud and long, "Hul-lo, th-e-re! Hul-lo!" And +directly an old woman inside answered, "Who is that calling so loudly?" + +"It is I, your grandchild, good mistress," said Keejeepaa. + +"If you are my grandchild," replied the old woman, "go back to your +home at once; don't come and die here, and bring me to my death also." + +"Oh, come," said he, "open the door, mistress; I have just a few +words I wish to say to you." + +"My dear grandson," she replied, "the only reason why I do not open +the door is because I fear to endanger both your life and my own." + +"Oh, don't worry about that; I guess your life and mine are safe enough +for a while. Open the door, anyhow, and hear the little I have to say." + +So the old woman opened the door. + +Then they exchanged salutations and compliments, after which she +asked the gazelle, "What's the news from your place, grandson?" + +"Oh, everything is going along pretty well," said he; "what's the +news around here?" + +"Ah!" sighed the old creature; "the news here is very bad. If you're +looking for a place to die in, you've struck it here. I've not the +slightest doubt you'll see all you want of death this very day." + +"Huh!" replied Keejeepaa, lightly; "for a fly to die in honey is not +bad for the fly, and doesn't injure the honey." + +"It may be all very well for you to be easy about it," persisted the +old person; "but if people with swords and shields did not escape, +how can a little thing like you avoid danger? I must again beg of +you to go back to the place you came from. Your safety seems of more +interest to me than it is to you." + +"Well, you see, I can't go back just now; and besides, I want to find +out more about this place. Who owns it?" + +"Ah, grandson, in this house are enormous wealth, numbers of people, +hundreds of horses, and the owner is Neeo'ka Mkoo', the wonderfully +big snake. He owns this whole town, also." + +"Oho! Is that so?" said Keejeepaa. "Look here, old lady; can't you +put me on to some plan of getting near this big snake, that I may +kill him?" + +"Mercy!" cried the old woman, in affright; "don't talk like +that. You've put my life in danger already, for I'm sure Neeoka Mkoo +can hear what is said in this house, wherever he is. You see I'm a +poor old woman, and I have been placed here, with those pots and pans, +to cook for him. Well, when the big snake is coming, the wind begins +to blow and the dust flies as it would do in a great storm. Then, +when he arrives in the courtyard, he eats until he is full, and +after that, goes inside there to drink water. When he has finished, +he goes away again. This occurs every other day, just when the sun +is overhead. I may add that Neeoka Mkoo has seven heads. Now, then, +do you think yourself a match for him?" + +"Look here, mother," said the gazelle, "don't you worry about me. Has +this big snake a sword?" + +"He has. This is it," said she, taking from its peg a very keen +and beautiful blade, and handing it to him; "but what's the use in +bothering about it? We are dead already." + +"We shall see about that," said Keejeepaa. + +Just at that moment the wind began to blow, and the dust to fly, +as if a great storm were approaching. + +"Do you hear the great one coming?" cried the old woman. + +"Pshaw!" said the gazelle; "I'm a great one also--and I have the +advantage of being on the inside. Two bulls can't live in one +cattle-pen. Either he will live in this house, or I will." + +Notwithstanding the terror the old lady was in, she had to smile at +the assurance of this little undersized gazelle, and repeated over +again her account of the people with swords and shields who had been +killed by the big snake. + +"Ah, stop your gabbling!" said the gazelle; "you can't always judge +a banana by its color or size. Wait and see, grandma." + +In a very little while the big snake, Neeoka Mkoo, came into the +courtyard, and went around to all the pots and ate their contents. Then +he came to the door. + +"Hullo, old lady," said he; "how is it I smell a new kind of odor +inside there?" + +"Oh, that's nothing, good master," replied the old woman; "I've been +so busy around here lately I haven't had time to look after myself; +but this morning I used some perfume, and that's what you smell." + +Now, Keejeepaa had drawn the sword, and was standing just inside +the doorway; so, when the big snake put his head in, it was cut off +so quickly that its owner did not know it was gone. When he put in +his second head it was cut off with the same quickness; and, feeling +a little irritation, he exclaimed, "Who's inside there, scratching +me?" He then thrust in his third head, and that was cut off also. + +This continued until six heads had been disposed of, when Neeoka Mkoo +unfolded his rings and lashed around so that the gazelle and the old +woman could not see one another through the dust. + +Then the snake thrust in his seventh head, and the gazelle, crying: +"Now your time has come; you've climbed many trees, but this you can +not climb," severed it, and immediately fell down in a fainting fit. + +Well, that old woman, although she was seventy-five years of age, +jumped, and shouted, and laughed, like a girl of nine. Then she ran +and got water, and sprinkled the gazelle, and turned him this way +and that way, until at last he sneezed; which greatly pleased the +old person, who fanned him and tended him until he was quite recovered. + +"Oh, my!" said she; "who would have thought you could be a match for +him, my grandson?" + +"Well, well," said Keejeepaa; "that's all over. Now show me everything +around this place." + +So she showed him everything, from top to bottom: store-rooms +full of goods, chambers full of expensive foods, rooms containing +handsome people who had been kept prisoners for a long time, slaves, +and everything. + +Next he asked her if there was any person who was likely to lay +claim to the place or make any trouble; and she answered: "No one; +everything here belongs to you." + +"Very well, then," said he, "you stay here and take care of these +things until I bring my master. This place belongs to him now." + +Keejeepaa stayed three days examining the house, and said to himself: +"Well, when my master comes here he will be much pleased with what I +have done for him, and he'll appreciate it after the life he's been +accustomed to. As to his father-in-law, there is not a house in his +town that can compare with this." + +On the fourth day he departed, and in due time arrived at the +town where the sultan and his master lived. Then there were great +rejoicings; the sultan being particularly pleased at his return, +while his master felt as if he had received a new lease of life. + +After everything had settled down a little, Keejeepaa told his master +he must be ready to go, with his wife, to his new home after four +days. Then he went and told the sultan that Sultan Daaraaee desired +to take his wife to his own town in four days; to which the sultan +strongly objected; but the gazelle said it was his master's wish, +and at last everything was arranged. + +On the day of the departure a great company assembled to escort Sultan +Daaraaee and his bride. There were the bride's ladies-in-waiting, +and slaves, and horsemen, and Keejeepaa leading them all. + +So they traveled three days, resting when the sun was overhead, and +stopping each evening about five o'clock to eat and sleep; arising +next morning at day-break, eating, and going forward again. And all +this time the gazelle took very little rest, going all through the +company, from the ladies to the slaves, and seeing that every one was +well supplied with food and quite comfortable; therefore the entire +company loved him and valued him like the apples of their eyes. + +On the fourth day, during the afternoon, many houses came into +view, and some of the folks called Keejeepaa's attention to +them. "Certainly," said he; "that is our town, and that house you +see yonder is the palace of Sultan Daaraaee." + +So they went on, and all the company filed into the courtyard, while +the gazelle and his master went into the house. + +When the old woman saw Keejeepaa, she began to dance, and shout, and +carry on, just as she did when he killed Neeoka Mkoo, and taking up +his foot she kissed it; but Keejeepaa said: "Old lady, let me alone; +the one to be made much of is this my master, Sultan Daaraaee. Kiss +his feet; he has the first honors whenever he is present." + +The old woman excused herself for not knowing the master, and +then Sultan Daaraaee and the gazelle went around on a tour of +inspection. The sultan ordered all the prisoners to be released, +the horses to be sent out to pasture, all the rooms to be swept, +the furniture to be dusted, and, in the meantime, servants were busy +preparing food. Then every one had apartments assigned to him, and +all were satisfied. + +After they had remained there some time, the ladies who had accompanied +the bride expressed a desire to return to their own homes. Keejeepaa +begged them not to hurry away, but after a while they departed, each +loaded with gifts by the gazelle, for whom they had a thousand times +more affection than for his master. Then things settled down to their +regular routine. + +One day the gazelle said to the old woman: "I think the conduct of +my master is very singular. I have done nothing but good for him +all the time I have been with him. I came to this town and braved +many dangers for him, and when all was over I gave everything to +him. Yet he has never asked: 'How did you get this house? How did +you get this town? Who is the owner of this house? Have you rented +all these things, or have they been given you? What has become of +the inhabitants of the place?' I don't understand him. And further: +although I have done nothing but good for him, he has never done one +good thing for me. Nothing here is really his. He never saw such a +house or town as this since the day he was born, and he doesn't own +anything of it. I believe the old folks were right when they said, +'If you want to do any person good, don't do too much; do him a little +harm occasionally, and he'll think more of you.' However, I've done +all I can now, and I'd like to see him make some little return." + +Next morning the old woman was awakened early by the gazelle calling, +"Mother! Mother!" When she went to him she found he was sick in his +stomach, feverish, and all his legs ached. + +"Go," said he, "and tell my master I am very ill." + +So she went upstairs and found the master and mistress sitting on a +marble couch, covered with a striped silk scarf from India. + +"Well," said the master, "what do you want, old woman?" + +"Oh, my master," cried she, "Keejeepaa is sick!" + +The mistress started and said: "Dear me! What is the matter with him?" + +"All his body pains him. He is sick all over." + +"Oh, well," said the master, "what can I do? Go and get some of that +red millet, that is too common for our use, and make him some gruel." + +"Gracious!" exclaimed his wife, staring at him in amazement; "do you +wish her to feed our friend with stuff that a horse would not eat if +he were ever so hungry? This is not right of you." + +"Ah, get out!" said he, "you're crazy. We eat rice; isn't red millet +good enough for a gazelle that cost only a dime?" + +"Oh, but he is no ordinary gazelle. He should be as dear to you as +the apple of your eye. If sand got in your eye it would trouble you." + +"You talk too much," returned her husband; then, turning to the old +woman, he said, "Go and do as I told you." + +So the old woman went downstairs, and when she saw the gazelle, +she began to cry, and say, "Oh, dear! oh, dear!" + +It was a long while before the gazelle could persuade her to tell +him what had passed upstairs, but at last she told him all. When +he had heard it, he said: "Did he really tell you to make me red +millet gruel?" + +"Ah," cried she, "do you think I would say such a thing if it were +not so?" + +"Well," said Keejeepaa, "I believe what the old folks said was +right. However, we'll give him another chance. Go up to him again, +and tell him I am very sick, and that I can't eat that gruel." + +So she went upstairs, and found the master and mistress sitting by +the window, drinking coffee. + +The master, looking around and seeing her, said: "What's the matter +now, old woman?" + +And she said: "Master, I am sent by Keejeepaa. He is very sick indeed, +and has not taken the gruel you told me to make for him." + +"Oh, bother!" he exclaimed. "Hold your tongue, and keep your feet +still, and shut your eyes, and stop your ears with wax; then, if that +gazelle tells you to come up here, say that your legs are stiff; and +if he tells you to listen, say your ears are deaf; and if he tells you +to look, say your sight has failed you; and if he wants you to talk, +tell him your tongue is paralyzed." + +When the old woman heard these words, she stood and stared, and was +unable to move. As for his wife, her face became sad, and the tears +began to start from her eyes; observing which, her husband said, +sharply, "What's the matter with you, sultan's daughter?" + +The lady replied, "A man's madness is his undoing." + +"Why do you say that, mistress?" he inquired. + +"Ah," said she, "I am grieved, my husband, at your treatment of +Keejeepaa. Whenever I say a good word for the gazelle you dislike to +hear it. I pity you that your understanding is gone." + +"What do you mean by talking in that manner to me?" he blustered. + +"Why, advice is a blessing, if properly taken. A husband should +advise with his wife, and a wife with her husband; then they are +both blessed." + +"Oh, stop," said her husband, impatiently; "it's evident you've +lost your senses. You should be chained up." Then he said to the old +woman: "Never mind her talk; and as to this gazelle, tell him to stop +bothering me and putting on style, as if he were the sultan. I can't +eat, I can't drink, I can't sleep, because of that gazelle worrying +me with his messages. First, the gazelle is sick; then, the gazelle +doesn't like what he gets to eat. Confound it! If he likes to eat, +let him eat; if he doesn't like to eat, let him die and be out of the +way. My mother is dead, and my father is dead, and I still live and +eat; shall I be put out of my way by a gazelle, that I bought for a +dime, telling me he wants this thing or that thing? Go and tell him +to learn how to behave himself toward his superiors." + +When the old woman went downstairs, she found the gazelle was bleeding +at the mouth, and in a very bad way. All she could say was, "My son, +the good you did is all lost; but be patient." + +And the gazelle wept with the old woman when she told him all that +had passed, and he said, "Mother, I am dying, not only from sickness, +but from shame and anger at this man's ingratitude." + +After a while Keejeepaa told the old woman to go and tell the +master that he believed he was dying. When she went upstairs she +found Daaraaee chewing sugar-cane, and she said to him, "Master, +the gazelle is worse; we think him nearer to dying than getting well." + +To which he answered: "Haven't I told you often enough not to +bother me?" + +Then his wife said: "Oh, husband, won't you go down and see the poor +gazelle? If you don't like to go, let me go and see him. He never +gets a single good thing from you." + +But he turned to the old woman and said, "Go and tell that nuisance +of a gazelle to die eleven times if he chooses to." + +"Now, husband," persisted the lady, "what has Keejeepaa done to +you? Has he done you any wrong? Such words as yours people use to +their enemies only. Surely the gazelle is not your enemy. All the +people who know him, great and lowly, love him dearly, and they will +think it very wrong of you if you neglect him. Now, do be kind to him, +Sultan Daaraaee." + +But he only repeated his assertion that she had lost her wits, and +would have nothing further of argument. + +So the old woman went down and found the gazelle worse than ever. + +In the meantime Sultan Daaraaee's wife managed to give some rice to +a servant to cook for the gazelle, and also sent him a soft shawl to +cover him and a pillow to lie upon. She also sent him a message that +if he wished, she would have her father's best physicians attend him. + +All this was too late, however, for just as these good things arrived, +Keejeepaa died. + +When the people heard he was dead, they went running around crying +and having an awful time; and when Sultan Daaraaee found out what +all the commotion was about he was very indignant, remarking, "Why, +you are making as much fuss as if I were dead, and all over a gazelle +that I bought for a dime!" + +But his wife said: "Husband, it was this gazelle that came to ask +me of my father, it was he who brought me from my father's, and it +was to him I was given by my father. He gave you everything good, +and you do not possess a thing that he did not procure for you. He +did everything he could to help you, and you not only returned him +unkindness, but now he is dead you have ordered people to throw him +into the well. Let us alone, that we may weep." + +But the gazelle was taken and thrown into the well. + +Then the lady wrote a letter telling her father to come to her +directly, and despatched it by trusty messengers; upon the receipt +of which the sultan and his attendants started hurriedly to visit +his daughter. + +When they arrived, and heard that the gazelle was dead and had been +thrown into the well, they wept very much; and the sultan, and the +vizir, and the judges, and the rich chief men, all went down into the +well and brought up the body of Keejeepaa, and took it away with them +and buried it. + +Now, that night the lady dreamt that she was at home at her father's +house; and when dawn came she awoke and found she was in her own bed +in her own town again. + +And her husband dreamed that he was on the dust heap, scratching; +and when he awoke there he was, with both hands full of dust, looking +for grains of millet. Staring wildly he looked around to the right +and left, saying: "Oh, who has played this trick on me? How did I +get back here, I wonder?" + +Just then the children going along, and seeing him, laughed and hooted +at him, calling out: "Hullo, Haamdaanee, where have you been? Where +do you come from? We thought you were dead long ago." + +So the sultan's daughter lived in happiness with her people until the +end, and that beggar-man continued to scratch for grains of millet +in the dust heap until he died. + +If this story is good, the goodness belongs to all; if it is bad, +the badness belongs only to him who told it. + + + + + + + +VIII. + +MKAAAH JEECHONEE, THE BOY HUNTER. + + +Sultan Maaj'noon had seven sons and a big cat, of all of whom he was +very proud. + +Everything went well until one day the cat went and caught a calf. When +they told the sultan he said, "Well, the cat is mine, and the calf is +mine." So they said, "Oh, all right, master," and let the matter drop. + +A few days later the cat caught a goat; and when they told the sultan +he said, "The cat is mine, and the goat is mine;" and so that settled +it again. + +Two days more passed, and the cat caught a cow. They told the sultan, +and he shut them up with "My cat, and my cow." + +After another two days the cat caught a donkey; same result. + +Next it caught a horse; same result. + +The next victim was a camel; and when they told the sultan he said: +"What's the matter with you folks? It was my cat, and my camel. I +believe you don't like my cat, and want it killed, bringing me tales +about it every day. Let it eat whatever it wants to." + +In a very short time it caught a child, and then a full-grown man; +but each time the sultan remarked that both the cat and its victim +were his, and thought no more of it. + +Meantime the cat grew bolder, and hung around a low, open place +near the town, pouncing on people going for water, or animals out at +pasture, and eating them. + +At last some of the people plucked up courage; and, going to the +sultan, said: "How is this, master? As you are our sultan you are +our protector,--or ought to be,--yet you have allowed this cat to do +as it pleases, and now it lives just out of town there, and kills +everything living that goes that way, while at night it comes into +town and does the same thing. Now, what on earth are we to do?" + +But Maajnoon only replied: "I really believe you hate my cat. I suppose +you want me to kill it; but I shall do no such thing. Everything it +eats is mine." + +Of course the folks were astonished at this result of the interview, +and, as no one dared to kill the cat, they all had to remove from +the vicinity where it lived. But this did not mend matters, because, +when it found no one came that way, it shifted its quarters likewise. + +So complaints continued to pour in, until at last Sultan Maajnoon +gave orders that if any one came to make accusations against the cat, +he was to be informed that the master could not be seen. + +When things got so that people neither let their animals out nor went +out themselves, the cat went farther into the country, killing and +eating cattle, and fowls, and everything that came its way. + +One day the sultan said to six of his sons, "I'm going to look at +the country to-day; come along with me." + +The seventh son was considered too young to go around anywhere, +and was always left at home with the women folk, being called by his +brothers Mkaa'ah Jeecho'nee, which means Mr. Sit-in-the-kitchen. + +Well, they went, and presently came to a thicket. The father was in +front and the six sons following him, when the cat jumped out and +killed three of the latter. + +The attendants shouted, "The cat! the cat!" and the soldiers asked +permission to search for and kill it, which the sultan readily granted, +saying: "This is not a cat, it is a noon'dah. It has taken from me +my own sons." + +Now, nobody had ever seen a noondah, but they all knew it was a +terrible beast that could kill and eat all other living things. + +When the sultan began to bemoan the loss of his sons, some of those who +heard him said: "Ah, master, this noondah does not select his prey. He +doesn't say: 'This is my master's son, I'll leave him alone,' or, +'This is my master's wife, I won't eat her.' When we told you what +the cat had done, you always said it was your cat, and what it ate +was yours, and now it has killed your sons, and we don't believe it +would hesitate to eat even you." + +And he said, "I fear you are right." + +As for the soldiers who tried to get the cat, some were killed and +the remainder ran away, and the sultan and his living sons took the +dead bodies home and buried them. + +Now when Mkaaah Jeechonee, the seventh son, heard that his brothers +had been killed by the noondah, he said to his mother, "I, too, will +go, that it may kill me as well as my brothers, or I will kill it." + +But his mother said: "My son, I do not like to have you go. Those +three are already dead; and if you are killed also, will not that be +one wound upon another to my heart?" + +"Nevertheless," said he, "I can not help going; but do not tell +my father." + +So his mother made him some cakes, and sent some attendants with +him; and he took a great spear, as sharp as a razor, and a sword, +bade her farewell, and departed. + +As he had always been left at home, he had no very clear idea what +he was going to hunt for; so he had not gone far beyond the suburbs, +when, seeing a very large dog, he concluded that this was the animal +he was after; so he killed it, tied a rope to it, and dragged it +home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +When his mother, who was upstairs, heard him, she looked out of the +window, and, seeing what he had brought, said, "My son, this is not +the noondah, eater of the people." + +So he left the carcass outside and went in to talk about it, and his +mother said, "My dear boy, the noondah is a much larger animal than +that; but if I were you, I'd give the business up and stay at home." + +"No, indeed," he exclaimed; "no staying at home for me until I have +met and fought the noondah." + +So he set out again, and went a great deal farther than he had gone +on the former day. Presently he saw a civet cat, and, believing it +to be the animal he was in search of, he killed it, bound it, and +dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +When his mother saw the civet cat, she said, "My son, this is not +the noondah, eater of the people." And he threw it away. + +Again his mother entreated him to stay at home, but he would not +listen to her, and started off again. + +This time he went away off into the forest, and seeing a bigger +cat than the last one, he killed it, bound it, and dragged it home, +singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +But directly his mother saw it, she had to tell him, as before, +"My son, this is not the noondah, eater of the people." + +He was, of course, very much troubled at this; and his mother said, +"Now, where do you expect to find this noondah? You don't know where +it is, and you don't know what it looks like. You'll get sick over +this; you're not looking so well now as you did. Come, stay at home." + +But he said: "There are three things, one of which I shall do: I +shall die; I shall find the noondah and kill it; or I shall return +home unsuccessful. In any case, I'm off again." + +This time he went farther than before, saw a zebra, killed it, bound +it, and dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +Of course his mother had to tell him, once again, "My son, this is +not the noondah, eater of the people." + +After a good deal of argument, in which his mother's persuasion, +as usual, was of no avail, he went off again, going farther than +ever, when he caught a giraffe; and when he had killed it he said: +"Well, this time I've been successful. This must be the noondah." So +he dragged it home, singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +Again his mother had to assure him, "My son, this is not the noondah, +eater of the people." She then pointed out to him that his brothers +were not running about hunting for the noondah, but staying at home +attending to their own business. But, remarking that all brothers were +not alike, he expressed his determination to stick to his task until +it came to a successful termination, and went off again, a still +greater distance than before. + +While going through the wilderness he espied a rhinoceros asleep +under a tree, and turning to his attendants he exclaimed, "At last +I see the noondah." + +"Where, master?" they all cried, eagerly. + +"There, under the tree." + +"Oh-h! What shall we do?" they asked. + +And he answered: "First of all, let us eat our fill, then we will +attack it. We have found it in a good place, though if it kills us, +we can't help it." + +So they all took out their arrowroot cakes and ate till they were +satisfied. + +Then Mkaaah Jeechonee said, "Each of you take two guns; lay one beside +you and take the other in your hands, and at the proper time let us +all fire at once." + +And they said, "All right, master." + +So they crept cautiously through the bushes and got around to the +other side of the tree, at the back of the rhinoceros; then they +closed up till they were quite near it, and all fired together. The +beast jumped up, ran a little way, and then fell down dead. + +They bound it, and dragged it for two whole days, until they reached +the town, when Mkaaah Jeechonee began singing, + + + "Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +But he received the same answer from his mother: "My son, this is +not the noondah, eater of the people." + +And many persons came and looked at the rhinoceros, and felt very +sorry for the young man. As for his father and mother, they both +begged of him to give up, his father offering to give him anything +he possessed if he would only stay at home. But he said, "I don't +hear what you are saying; good-bye," and was off again. + +This time he still further increased the distance from his home, and +at last he saw an elephant asleep at noon in the forest. Thereupon +he said to his attendants, "Now we have found the noondah." + +"Ah, where is he?" said they. + +"Yonder, in the shade. Do you see it?" + +"Oh, yes, master; shall we march up to it?" + +"If we march up to it, and it is looking this way, it will come at us, +and if it does that, some of us will be killed. I think we had best +let one man steal up close and see which way its face is turned." + +As every one thought this was a good idea, a slave named Keerobo'to +crept on his hands and knees, and had a good look at it. When he +returned in the same manner, his master asked: "Well, what's the +news? Is it the noondah?" + +"I do not know," replied Keeroboto; "but I think there is very little +doubt that it is. It is broad, with a very big head, and, goodness, +I never saw such large ears!" + +"All right," said Mkaaah Jeechonee; "let us eat, and then go for it." + +So they took their arrowroot cakes, and their molasses cakes, and +ate until they were quite full. + +Then the youth said to them: "My people, to-day is perhaps the last we +shall ever see; so we will take leave of each other. Those who are to +escape will escape, and those who are to die will die; but if I die, +let those who escape tell my mother and father not to grieve for me." + +But his attendants said, "Oh, come along, master; none of us will die, +please God." + +So they went on their hands and knees till they were close up, and +then they said to Mkaaah Jeechonee, "Give us your plan, master;" +but he said, "There is no plan, only let all fire at once." + +Well, they fired all at once, and immediately the elephant jumped +up and charged at them. Then such a helter-skelter flight as there +was! They threw away their guns and everything they carried, and made +for the trees, which they climbed with surprising alacrity. + +As to the elephant, he kept straight ahead until he fell down some +distance away. + +They all remained in the trees from three until six o'clock in the +morning, without food and without clothing. + +The young man sat in his tree and wept bitterly, saying, "I don't +exactly know what death is, but it seems to me this must be very +like it." As no one could see any one else, he did not know where +his attendants were, and though he wished to come down from the tree, +he thought, "Maybe the noondah is down below there, and will eat me." + +Each attendant was in exactly the same fix, wishing to come down, +but afraid the noondah was waiting to eat him. + +Keeroboto had seen the elephant fall, but was afraid to get down +by himself, saying, "Perhaps, though it has fallen down, it is not +dead." But presently he saw a dog go up to it and smell it, and then +he was sure it was dead. Then he got down from the tree as fast as +he could and gave a signal cry, which was answered; but not being +sure from whence the answer came, he repeated the cry, listening +intently. When it was answered he went straight to the place from which +the sound proceeded, and found two of his companions in one tree. To +them he said, "Come on; get down; the noondah is dead." So they got +down quickly and hunted around until they found their master. When +they told him the news, he came down also; and after a little the +attendants had all gathered together and had picked up their guns +and their clothes, and were all right again. But they were all weak +and hungry, so they rested and ate some food, after which they went +to examine their prize. + +As soon as Mkaaah Jeechonee saw it he said, "Ah, this is the +noondah! This is it! This is it!" And they all agreed that it was it. + +So they dragged the elephant three days to their town, and then the +youth began singing, + + + "Oh, mother, this is he, + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +He was, naturally, quite upset when his mother replied, "My son, +this is not the noondah, eater of the people." She further said: +"Poor boy! what trouble you have been through. All the people are +astonished that one so young should have such a great understanding!" + +Then his father and mother began their entreaties again, and finally +it was agreed that this next trip should be his last, whatever the +result might be. + +Well, they started off again, and went on and on, past the forest, +until they came to a very high mountain, at the foot of which they +camped for the night. + +In the morning they cooked their rice and ate it, and then Mkaaah +Jeechonee said: "Let us now climb the mountain, and look all over the +country from its peak." And they went and they went, until after a +long, weary while, they reached the top, where they sat down to rest +and form their plans. + +Now, one of the attendants, named Shindaa'no, while walking about, +cast his eyes down the side of the mountain, and suddenly saw a great +beast about half way down; but he could not make out its appearance +distinctly, on account of the distance and the trees. Calling his +master, he pointed it out to him, and something in Mkaaah Jeechonee's +heart told him that it was the noondah. To make sure, however, he +took his gun and his spear and went partly down the mountain to get +a better view. + +"Ah," said he, "this must be the noondah. My mother told me its ears +were small, and those are small; she told me the noondah is broad and +short, and so is this; she said it has two blotches, like a civet cat, +and there are the blotches; she told me the tail is thick, and there +is a thick tail. It must be the noondah." + +Then he went back to his attendants and bade them eat heartily, which +they did. Next he told them to leave every unnecessary thing behind, +because if they had to run they would be better without encumbrance, +and if they were victorious they could return for their goods. + +When they had made all their arrangements they started down the +mountain, but when they had got about half way down Keeroboto and +Shindaano were afraid. Then the youth said to them: "Oh, let's go on; +don't be afraid. We all have to live and die. What are you frightened +about?" So, thus encouraged, they went on. + +When they came near the place, Mkaaah Jeechonee ordered them to take +off all their clothing except one piece, and to place that tightly +on their bodies, so that if they had to run they would not be caught +by thorns or branches. + +So when they came close to the beast, they saw that it was asleep, +and all agreed that it was the noondah. + +Then the young man said, "Now the sun is setting, shall we fire at it, +or let be till morning?" + +And they all wished to fire at once, and see what the result would +be without further tax on their nerves; therefore they arranged that +they should all fire together. + +They all crept up close, and when the master gave the word, they +discharged their guns together. The noondah did not move; that one +dose had been sufficient. Nevertheless, they all turned and scampered +up to the top of the mountain. There they ate and rested for the night. + +In the morning they ate their rice, and then went down to see how +matters were, when they found the beast lying dead. + +After resting and eating, they started homeward, dragging the dead +beast with them. On the fourth day it began to give indications of +decay, and the attendants wished to abandon it; but Mkaaah Jeechonee +said they would continue to drag it if there was only one bone left. + +When they came near the town he began to sing, + + + "Mother, mother, I have come + From the evil spirits, home. + Mother, listen while I sing; + While I tell you what I bring. + Oh, mother, I have killed + The noondah, eater of the people." + + +And when his mother looked out, she cried, "My son, this is the +noondah, eater of the people." + +Then all the people came out to welcome him, and his father was +overcome with joy, and loaded him with honors, and procured him a rich +and beautiful wife; and when he died Mkaaah Jeechonee became sultan, +and lived long and happily, beloved by all the people. + + + + + + + +IX. + +THE MAGICIAN AND THE SULTAN'S SON. + + +There was once a sultan who had three little sons, and no one seemed +to be able to teach them anything; which greatly grieved both the +sultan and his wife. + +One day a magician came to the sultan and said, "If I take your three +boys and teach them to read and write, and make great scholars of them, +what will you give me?" + +And the sultan said, "I will give you half of my property." + +"No," said the magician; "that won't do." + +"I'll give you half of the towns I own." + +"No; that will not satisfy me." + +"What do you want, then?" + +"When I have made them scholars and bring them back to you, choose +two of them for yourself and give me the third; for I want to have +a companion of my own." + +"Agreed," said the sultan. + +So the magician took them away, and in a remarkably short time +taught them to read, and to make letters, and made them quite good +scholars. Then he took them back to the sultan and said: "Here are +the children. They are all equally good scholars. Choose." + +So the sultan took the two he preferred, and the magician went away +with the third, whose name was Keejaa'naa, to his own house, which +was a very large one. + +When they arrived, Mchaa'wee, the magician, gave the youth all the +keys, saying, "Open whatever you wish to." Then he told him that he +was his father, and that he was going away for a month. + +When he was gone, Keejaanaa took the keys and went to examine the +house. He opened one door, and saw a room full of liquid gold. He +put his finger in, and the gold stuck to it, and, wipe and rub as +he would, the gold would not come off; so he wrapped a piece of rag +around it, and when his supposed father came home and saw the rag, +and asked him what he had been doing to his finger, he was afraid to +tell him the truth, so he said that he had cut it. + +Not very long after, Mchaawee went away again, and the youth took +the keys and continued his investigations. + +The first room he opened was filled with the bones of goats, the +next with sheep's bones, the next with the bones of oxen, the fourth +with the bones of donkeys, the fifth with those of horses, the sixth +contained men's skulls, and in the seventh was a live horse. + +"Hullo!" said the horse; "where do you come from, you son of Adam?" + +"This is my father's house," said Keejaanaa. + +"Oh, indeed!" was the reply. "Well, you've got a pretty nice parent! Do +you know that he occupies himself with eating people, and donkeys, +and horses, and oxen and goats and everything he can lay his hands +on? You and I are the only living things left." + +This scared the youth pretty badly, and he faltered, "What are we +to do?" + +"What's your name?" said the horse. + +"Keejaanaa." + +"Well, I'm Faaraa'see. Now, Keejaanaa, first of all, come and +unfasten me." + +The youth did so at once. + +"Now, then, open the door of the room with the gold in it, and I +will swallow it all; then I'll go and wait for you under the big +tree down the road a little way. When the magician comes home, +he will say to you, 'Let us go for firewood;' then you answer, +'I don't understand that work;' and he will go by himself. When he +comes back, he will put a great big pot on the hook and will tell you +to make a fire under it. Tell him you don't know how to make a fire, +and he will make it himself. + +"Then he will bring a large quantity of butter, and while it is +getting hot he will put up a swing and say to you, 'Get up there, +and I'll swing you.' But you tell him you never played at that game, +and ask him to swing first, that you may see how it is done. Then +he will get up to show you; and you must push him into the big pot, +and then come to me as quickly as you can." + +Then the horse went away. + +Now, Mchaawee had invited some of his friends to a feast at his +house that evening; so, returning home early, he said to Keejaanaa, +"Let us go for firewood;" but the youth answered, "I don't understand +that work." So he went by himself and brought the wood. + +Then he hung up the big pot and said, "Light the fire;" but the +youth said, "I don't know how to do it." So the magician laid the +wood under the pot and lighted it himself. + +Then he said, "Put all that butter in the pot;" but the youth answered, +"I can't lift it; I'm not strong enough." So he put in the butter +himself. + +Next Mchaawee said, "Have you seen our country game?" And Keejaanaa +answered, "I think not." + +"Well," said the magician, "let's play at it while the butter is +getting hot." + +So he tied up the swing and said to Keejaanaa, "Get up here, and learn +the game." But the youth said: "You get up first and show me. I'll +learn quicker that way." + +The magician got into the swing, and just as he got started Keejaanaa +gave him a push right into the big pot; and as the butter was by this +time boiling, it not only killed him, but cooked him also. + +As soon as the youth had pushed the magician into the big pot, he +ran as fast as he could to the big tree, where the horse was waiting +for him. + +"Come on," said Faaraasee; "jump on my back and let's be going." + +So he mounted and they started off. + +When the magician's guests arrived they looked everywhere for him, +but, of course, could not find him. Then, after waiting a while, they +began to be very hungry; so, looking around for something to eat, they +saw that the stew in the big pot was done, and, saying to each other, +"Let's begin, anyway," they started in and ate the entire contents of +the pot. After they had finished, they searched for Mchaawee again, +and finding lots of provisions in the house, they thought they would +stay there until he came; but after they had waited a couple of days +and eaten all the food in the place, they gave him up and returned +to their homes. + +Meanwhile Keejaanaa and the horse continued on their way until they +had gone a great distance, and at last they stopped near a large town. + +"Let us stay here," said the youth, "and build a house." + +As Faaraasee was agreeable, they did so. The horse coughed up all the +gold he had swallowed, with which they purchased slaves, and cattle, +and everything they needed. + +When the people of the town saw the beautiful new house and all the +slaves, and cattle, and riches it contained, they went and told their +sultan, who at once made up his mind that the owner of such a place +must be of sufficient importance to be visited and taken notice of, +as an acquisition to the neighborhood. + +So he called on Keejaanaa, and inquired who he was. + +"Oh, I'm just an ordinary being, like other people." + +"Are you a traveler?" + +"Well, I have been; but I like this place, and think I'll settle +down here." + +"Why don't you come and walk in our town?" + +"I should like to very much, but I need some one to show me around." + +"Oh, I'll show you around," said the sultan, eagerly, for he was +quite taken with the young man. + +After this Keejaanaa and the sultan became great friends; and in the +course of time the young man married the sultan's daughter, and they +had one son. + +They lived very happily together, and Keejaanaa loved Faaraasee as +his own soul. + + + + + + + +X. + +THE PHYSICIAN'S SON AND THE KING OF THE SNAKES. + + +Once there was a very learned physician, who died leaving his wife +with a little baby boy, whom, when he was old enough, she named, +according to his father's wish, Hassee'boo Kareem' Ed Deen'. + +When the boy had been to school, and had learned to read, his mother +sent him to a tailor, to learn his trade, but he could not learn +it. Then he was sent to a silversmith, but he could not learn his +trade either. After that he tried many trades, but could learn none +of them. At last his mother said, "Well, stay at home for a while;" +and that seemed to suit him. + +One day he asked his mother what his father's business had been, +and she told him he was a very great physician. + +"Where are his books?" he asked. + +"Well, it's a long time since I saw them," replied his mother, +"but I think they are behind there. Look and see." + +So he hunted around a little and at last found them, but they were +almost ruined by insects, and he gained little from them. + +At last, four of the neighbors came to his mother and said, "Let +your boy go along with us and cut wood in the forest." It was their +business to cut wood, load it on donkeys, and sell it in the town +for making fires. + +"All right," said she; "to-morrow I'll buy him a donkey, and he can +start fair with you." + +So the next day Hasseeboo, with his donkey, went off with those +four persons, and they worked very hard and made a lot of money that +day. This continued for six days, but on the seventh day it rained +heavily, and they had to get under the rocks to keep dry. + +Now, Hasseeboo sat in a place by himself, and, having nothing else to +do, he picked up a stone and began knocking on the ground with it. To +his surprise the ground gave forth a hollow sound, and he called to +his companions, saying, "There seems to be a hole under here." + +Upon hearing him knock again, they decided to dig and see what was +the cause of the hollow sound; and they had not gone very deep before +they broke into a large pit, like a well, which was filled to the +top with honey. + +They didn't do any firewood chopping after that, but devoted their +entire attention to the collection and sale of the honey. + +With a view to getting it all out as quickly as possible, they told +Hasseeboo to go down into the pit and dip out the honey, while they +put it in vessels and took it to town for sale. They worked for three +days, making a great deal of money. + +At last there was only a little honey left at the very bottom of the +pit, and they told the boy to scrape that together while they went +to get a rope to haul him out. + +But instead of getting the rope, they decided to let him remain in the +pit, and divide the money among themselves. So, when he had gathered +the remainder of the honey together, and called for the rope, he +received no answer; and after he had been alone in the pit for three +days he became convinced that his companions had deserted him. + +Then those four persons went to his mother and told her that they had +become separated in the forest, that they had heard a lion roaring, +and that they could find no trace of either her son or his donkey. + +His mother, of course, cried very much, and the four neighbors pocketed +her son's share of the money. + +To return to Hasseeboo. + +He passed the time walking about the pit, wondering what the end +would be, eating scraps of honey, sleeping a little, and sitting down +to think. + +While engaged in the last occupation, on the fourth day, he saw a +scorpion fall to the ground--a large one, too--and he killed it. + +Then suddenly he thought to himself, "Where did that scorpion come +from? There must be a hole somewhere. I'll search, anyhow." + +So he searched around until he saw light through a tiny crack; and +he took his knife and scooped and scooped, until he had made a hole +big enough to pass through; then he went out, and came upon a place +he had never seen before. + +Seeing a path, he followed it until he came to a very large house, +the door of which was not fastened. So he went inside, and saw golden +doors, with golden locks, and keys of pearl, and beautiful chairs +inlaid with jewels and precious stones, and in a reception room he +saw a couch covered with a splendid spread, upon which he lay down. + +Presently he found himself being lifted off the couch and put in a +chair, and heard some one saying: "Do not hurt him; wake him gently," +and on opening his eyes he found himself surrounded by numbers of +snakes, one of them wearing beautiful royal colors. + +"Hullo!" he cried; "who are you?" + +"I am Sulta'nee Waa' Neeo'ka, king of the snakes, and this is my +house. Who are you?" + +"I am Hasseeboo Kareem Ed Deen." + +"Where do you come from?" + +"I don't know where I come from, or where I'm going." + +"Well, don't bother yourself just now. Let's eat; I guess you are +hungry, and I know I am." + +Then the king gave orders, and some of the other snakes brought the +finest fruits, and they ate and drank and conversed. + +When the repast was ended, the king desired to hear Hasseeboo's story; +so he told him all that had happened, and then asked to hear the +story of his host. + +"Well," said the king of the snakes, "mine is rather a long story, +but you shall hear it. A long time ago I left this place, to go +and live in the mountains of Al Kaaf', for the change of air. One +day I saw a stranger coming along, and I said to him, 'Where are you +from?' and he said, 'I am wandering in the wilderness.' 'Whose son are +you?' I asked. 'My name is Bolookee'a. My father was a sultan; and +when he died I opened a small chest, inside of which I found a bag, +which contained a small brass box; when I had opened this I found +some writing tied up in a woolen cloth, and it was all in praise of +a prophet. He was described as such a good and wonderful man, that +I longed to see him; but when I made inquiries concerning him I was +told he was not yet born. Then I vowed I would wander until I should +see him. So I left our town, and all my property, and I am wandering, +but I have not yet seen that prophet.' + +"Then I said to him, 'Where do you expect to find him, if he's not +yet born? Perhaps if you had some serpent's water you might keep on +living until you find him. But it's of no use talking about that; +the serpent's water is too far away.' + +"'Well,' he said, 'good-bye. I must wander on.' So I bade him farewell, +and he went his way. + +"Now, when that man had wandered until he reached Egypt, he met +another man, who asked him, 'Who are you?' + +"'I am Bolookeea. Who are you?' + +"'My name is Al Faan'. Where are you going?' + +"'I have left my home, and my property, and I am seeking the prophet. + +"'H'm!' said Al Faan; 'I can tell you of a better occupation than +looking for a man that is not born yet. Let us go and find the king +of the snakes and get him to give us a charm medicine; then we will +go to King Solomon and get his rings, and we shall be able to make +slaves of the genii and order them to do whatever we wish.' + +"And Bolookeea said, 'I have seen the king of the snakes in the +mountain of Al Kaaf.' + +"'All right,' said Al Faan; 'let's go.' + +"Now, Al Faan wanted the ring of Solomon that he might be a great +magician and control the genii and the birds, while all Bolookeea +wanted was to see the great prophet. + +"As they went along, Al Faan said to Bolookeea, 'Let us make a cage +and entice the king of the snakes into it; then we will shut the door +and carry him off.' + +"'All right,' said Bolookeea. + +"So they made a cage, and put therein a cup of milk and a cup of wine, +and brought it to Al Kaaf; and I, like a fool, went in, drank up all +the wine and became drunk. Then they fastened the door and took me +away with them. + +"When I came to my senses I found myself in the cage, and Bolookeea +carrying me, and I said, 'The sons of Adam are no good. What do you +want from me?' And they answered, 'We want some medicine to put on +our feet, so that we may walk upon the water whenever it is necessary +in the course of our journey.' 'Well,' said I, 'go along.' + +"We went on until we came to a place where there were a great number +and variety of trees; and when those trees saw me, they said, 'I am +medicine for this;' 'I am medicine for that;' 'I am medicine for the +head;' 'I am medicine for the feet;' and presently one tree said, +'If any one puts my medicine upon his feet he can walk on water.' + +"When I told that to those men they said, 'That is what we want;' +and they took a great deal of it. + +"Then they took me back to the mountain and set me free; and we said +good-bye and parted. + +"When they left me, they went on their way until they reached the sea, +when they put the medicine on their feet and walked over. Thus they +went many days, until they came near to the place of King Solomon, +where they waited while Al Faan prepared his medicines. + +"When they arrived at King Solomon's place, he was sleeping, and was +being watched by genii, and his hand lay on his chest, with the ring +on his finger. + +"As Bolookeea drew near, one of the genii said to him 'Where are you +going?' And he answered, 'I'm here with Al Faan; he's going to take +that ring.' 'Go back,' said the genie; 'keep out of the way. That +man is going to die.' + +"When Al Faan had finished his preparations, he said to Bolookeea, +'Wait here for me.' Then he went forward to take the ring, when a +great cry arose, and he was thrown by some unseen force a considerable +distance. + +"Picking himself up, and still believing in the power of his medicines, +he approached the ring again, when a strong breath blew upon him and +he was burnt to ashes in a moment. + +"While Bolookeea was looking at all this, a voice said, 'Go your +way; this wretched being is dead.' So he returned; and when he got +to the sea again he put the medicine upon his feet and passed over, +and continued to wander for many years. + +"One morning he saw a man sitting down, and said 'Good-morning,' to +which the man replied. Then Bolookeea asked him, 'Who are you?' and +he answered: 'My name is Jan Shah. Who are you?' So Bolookeea told +him who he was, and asked him to tell him his history. The man, who +was weeping and smiling by turns, insisted upon hearing Bolookeea's +story first. After he had heard it he said: + +"'Well, sit down, and I'll tell you my story from beginning to end. My +name is Jan Shah, and my father is Tooeegha'mus, a great sultan. He +used to go every day into the forest to shoot game; so one day I said +to him, "Father, let me go with you into the forest to-day;" but he +said, "Stay at home. You are better there." Then I cried bitterly, +and as I was his only child, whom he loved dearly, he couldn't stand +my tears, so he said: "Very well; you shall go. Don't cry." + +"'Thus we went to the forest, and took many attendants with us; and +when we reached the place we ate and drank, and then every one set +out to hunt. + +"'I and my seven slaves went on until we saw a beautiful gazelle, +which we chased as far as the sea without capturing it. When the +gazelle took to the water I and four of my slaves took a boat, the +other three returning to my father, and we chased that gazelle until +we lost sight of the shore, but we caught it and killed it. Just then +a great wind began to blow, and we lost our way. + +"'When the other three slaves came to my father, he asked them, +"Where is your master?" and they told him about the gazelle and the +boat. Then he cried, "My son is lost! My son is lost!" and returned +to the town and mourned for me as one dead. + +"'After a time we came to an island, where there were a great many +birds. We found fruit and water, we ate and drank, and at night we +climbed into a tree and slept till morning. + +"'Then we rowed to a second island, and, seeing no one around, we +gathered fruit, ate and drank, and climbed a tree as before. During +the night we heard many savage beasts howling and roaring near us. + +"'In the morning we got away as soon as possible, and came to a third +island. Looking around for food, we saw a tree full of fruit like +red-streaked apples; but, as we were about to pick some, we heard a +voice say, "Don't touch this tree; it belongs to the king." Toward +night a number of monkeys came, who seemed much pleased to see us, +and they brought us all the fruit we could eat. + +"'Presently I heard one of them say, "Let us make this man our +sultan." Then another one said: "What's the use? They'll all run +away in the morning." But a third one said, "Not if we smash their +boat." Sure enough, when we started to leave in the morning, our boat +was broken in pieces. So there was nothing for it but to stay there +and be entertained by the monkeys, who seemed to like us very much. + +"'One day, while strolling about, I came upon a great stone house, +having an inscription on the door, which said, "When any man comes to +this island, he will find it difficult to leave, because the monkeys +desire to have a man for their king. If he looks for a way to escape, +he will think there is none; but there is one outlet, which lies to +the north. If you go in that direction you will come to a great plain, +which is infested with lions, leopards, and snakes. You must fight all +of them; and if you overcome them you can go forward. You will then +come to another great plain, inhabited by ants as big as dogs; their +teeth are like those of dogs, and they are very fierce. You must fight +these also, and if you overcome them, the rest of the way is clear." + +"'I consulted with my attendants over this information, and we came +to the conclusion that, as we could only die, anyhow, we might as +well risk death to gain our freedom. + +"'As we all had weapons, we set forth; and when we came to the first +plain we fought, and two of my slaves were killed. Then we went on +to the second plain, fought again; my other two slaves were killed, +and I alone escaped. + +"'After that I wandered on for many days, living on whatever I could +find, until at last I came to a town, where I stayed for some time, +looking for employment but finding none. + +"'One day a man came up to me and said, "Are you looking for work?" "I +am," said I. "Come with me, then," said he; and we went to his house. + +"'When we got there he produced a camel's skin, and said, "I shall +put you in this skin, and a great bird will carry you to the top of +yonder mountain. When he gets you there, he will tear this skin off +you. You must then drive him away and push down the precious stones +you will find there. When they are all down, I will get you down." + +"'So he put me in the skin; the bird carried me to the top of the +mountain and was about to eat me, when I jumped up, scared him away, +and then pushed down many precious stones. Then I called out to the +man to take me down, but he never answered me, and went away. + +"'I gave myself up for a dead man, but went wandering about, until at +last, after passing many days in a great forest, I came to a house, +all by itself; the old man who lived in it gave me food and drink, +and I was revived. + +"'I remained there a long time, and that old man loved me as if I +were his own son. + +"'One day he went away, and giving me the keys, told me I could open +the door of every room except one which he pointed out to me. + +"'Of course, when he was gone, this was the first door I opened. I +saw a large garden, through which a stream flowed. Just then three +birds came and alighted by the side of the stream. Immediately they +changed to three most beautiful women. When they had finished bathing, +they put on their clothes, and, as I stood watching them, they changed +into birds again and flew away. + +"'I locked the door, and went away; but my appetite was gone, and I +wandered about aimlessly. When the old man came back, he saw there +was something wrong with me, and asked me what was the matter. Then +I told him I had seen those beautiful maidens, that I loved one of +them very much, and that if I could not marry her I should die. + +"'The old man told me I could not possibly have my wish. He said the +three lovely beings were the daughters of the sultan of the genii, and +that their home was a journey of three years from where we then were. + +"'I told him I couldn't help that. He must get her for my wife, or I +should die. At last he said, "Well, wait till they come again, then +hide yourself and steal the clothes of the one you love so dearly." + +"'So I waited, and when they came again I stole the clothes of the +youngest, whose name was Sayadaa'tee Shems. + +"'When they came out of the water, this one could not find her +clothes. Then I stepped forward and said, "I have them." "Ah," she +begged, "give them to me, their owner; I want to go away." But I said +to her, "I love you very much. I want to marry you." "I want to go +to my father," she replied. "You cannot go," said I. + +"'Then her sisters flew away, and I took her into the house, where the +old man married us. He told me not to give her those clothes I had +taken, but to hide them; because if she ever got them she would fly +away to her old home. So I dug a hole in the ground and buried them. + +"'But one day, when I was away from home, she dug them up and put +them on; then, saying to the slave I had given her for an attendant, +"When your master returns tell him I have gone home; if he really +loves me he will follow me," she flew away. + +"'When I came home they told me this, and I wandered, searching for +her, many years. At last I came to a town where one asked me, "Who +are you?" and I answered, "I am Jan Shah." "What was your father's +name?" "Taaeeghamus." "Are you the man who married our mistress?" "Who +is your mistress?" "Sayadaatee Shems." "I am he!" I cried with delight. + +"'They took me to their mistress, and she brought me to her father +and told him I was her husband; and everybody was happy. + +"'Then we thought we should like to visit our old home, and her +father's genii carried us there in three days. We stayed there a +year and then returned, but in a short time my wife died. Her father +tried to comfort me, and wanted me to marry another of his daughters, +but I refused to be comforted, and have mourned to this day. That is +my story.' + +"Then Bolookeea went on his way, and wandered till he died." + +Next Sultaanee Waa Neeoka said to Hasseeboo, "Now, when you go home +you will do me injury." + +Hasseeboo was very indignant at the idea, and said, "I could not be +induced to do you an injury. Pray, send me home." + +"I will send you home," said the king; "but I am sure that you will +come back and kill me." + +"Why, I dare not be so ungrateful," exclaimed Hasseeboo. "I swear I +could not hurt you." + +"Well," said the king of the snakes, "bear this in mind: when you go +home, do not go to bathe where there are many people." + +And he said, "I will remember." So the king sent him home, and he +went to his mother's house, and she was overjoyed to find that he +was not dead. + +Now, the sultan of the town was very sick; and it was decided that +the only thing that could cure him would be to kill the king of the +snakes, boil him, and give the soup to the sultan. + +For a reason known only to himself, the vizir had placed men at the +public baths with this instruction: "If any one who comes to bathe +here has a mark on his stomach, seize him and bring him to me." + +When Hasseeboo had been home three days he forgot the warning of +Sultaanee Waa Neeoka, and went to bathe with the other people. All of +a sudden he was seized by some soldiers, and brought before the vizir, +who said, "Take us to the home of the king of the snakes." + +"I don't know where it is," said Hasseeboo. + +"Tie him up," commanded the vizir. + +So they tied him up and beat him until his back was all raw, and being +unable to stand the pain he cried, "Let up! I will show you the place." + +So he led them to the house of the king of the snakes, who, when he +saw him, said, "Didn't I tell you you would come back to kill me?" + +"How could I help it?" cried Hasseeboo. "Look at my back!" + +"Who has beaten you so dreadfully?" asked the king. + +"The vizir." + +"Then there's no hope for me. But you must carry me yourself." + +As they went along, the king said to Hasseeboo, "When we get to your +town I shall be killed and cooked. The first skimming the vizir will +offer to you, but don't you drink it; put it in a bottle and keep +it. The second skimming you must drink, and you will become a great +physician. The third skimming is the medicine that will cure your +sultan. When the vizir asks you if you drank that first skimming say, +'I did.' Then produce the bottle containing the first, and say, 'This +is the second, and it is for you.' The vizir will take it, and as soon +as he drinks it he will die, and both of us will have our revenge." + +Everything happened as the king had said. The vizir died, the sultan +recovered, and Hasseeboo was loved by all as a great physician. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zanzibar Tales, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZANZIBAR TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 37472.txt or 37472.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/7/37472/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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