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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/38339-8.txt b/38339-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dbd62d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/38339-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3366 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of South-African Folk-Tales, by James A. Honey + +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: South-African Folk-Tales + +Author: James A. Honey + +Release Date: December 19, 2011 [EBook #38339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Hale, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN +FOLK-TALES + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN +FOLK-TALES + +BY +James A. Hone˙, M.D. + +NEW YORK +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY +1910 + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY + +Published, November, 1910 + +THE TROW PRESS, NEW YORK + + + + +AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED +TO +C. F. H. AND F. I. G. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + INTRODUCTION 1 + + ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF + LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN 8 + + THE LOST MESSAGE 10 + + THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE 14 + + THE TIGER, THE RAM, AND THE JACKAL 19 + + THE JACKAL AND THE WOLF 22 + + A JACKAL AND A WOLF 24 + + THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND THE MAN 25 + + THE WORLD'S REWARD 28 + + THE LION AND THE JACKAL 33 + + TINK-TINKJE 42 + + THE LION AND JACKAL 45 + + THE LION AND JACKAL 48 + + THE HUNT OF LION AND JACKAL 53 + + THE STORY OF LION AND LITTLE JACKAL 56 + + THE LIONESS AND THE OSTRICH 62 + + CROCODILE'S TREASON 64 + + THE STORY OF A DAM 73 + + THE DANCE FOR WATER OR RABBITS' + TRIUMPH 79 + + JACKAL AND MONKEY 84 + + LION'S SHARE 87 + + JACKAL'S BRIDE 92 + + THE STORY OF HARE 94 + + THE WHITE MAN AND SNAKE 101 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 103 + + CLOUD EATING 105 + + LION'S ILLNESS 107 + + JACKAL, DOVE, AND HERON 109 + + COCK AND JACKAL 111 + + ELEPHANT AND TORTOISE 112 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 115 + + TORTOISE HUNTING OSTRICHES 117 + + THE JUDGMENT OF BABOON 118 + + LION AND BABOON 121 + + THE ZEBRA STALLION 122 + + WHEN LION COULD FLY 124 + + LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF WISER THAN + HIS MOTHER 126 + + LION WHO TOOK A WOMAN'S SHAPE 129 + + WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE + ON HIS BACK? 137 + + HORSE CURSED BY SUN 138 + + LION'S DEFEAT 139 + + THE ORIGIN OF DEATH 141 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 143 + + A THIRD VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 144 + + A FOURTH VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 146 + + A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND OF THE + "ORIGIN OF DEATH" 147 + + LITERATURE ON SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-LORE 148 + + + + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In presenting these stories, which are of deep interest and value to +South Africans, I hope they may prove of some value to those Americans +who have either an interest in animals or who appreciate the folklore of +other countries. + +Many of these tales have appeared among English collections previous to +1880, others have been translated from the Dutch, and a few have been +written from childhood remembrance. Consequently they do not pretend to +be original or unique. Care has been taken not to spoil the ethnological +value for the sake of form or structure; and in all cases they are as +nearly like the original as a translation from one tongue to another +will allow. They are all South-African folklore tales and mainly from +the Bushmen. Some are perverted types from what were originally Bushmen +tales, but have been taken over by Hottentots or Zulus; a few are from +the Dutch. Most of these last named will show a European influence, +especially French. + +Some of the animal stories have appeared in American magazines under the +author's name, but this is the first time that a complete collection has +appeared since Dr. Bleek published his stories in 1864. The object has +been to keep the stories apart from those which have a mythological or +religious significance, and especially to keep it an animal collection +free from those in which man appears to take a part. + +There will be found several versions of the same story, and as far as +possible these will be put in the order of their importance in relation +to the original. The author does not pretend to be an authority on +South-African folklore, but has only a South-African-born interest in +what springs from that country of sunshine. It is a difficult task to +attempt to trace the origin of these stories, as there is no country +where there have been so many distinct and primitive races dwelling +together. + +The Bushmen seem to trace back to the earliest Egyptian days, when +dwarfs were pictured on the tombs of the kings and were a distinct race. +From then until now it has been their pride to say that before men were +men, they were; or, to put it clearer, before Africa was inhabited by +other races, they were there. As represented by some of these stories of +the Bushmen, what races have not, then, had their influence on the +folklore? According to Stow, they were a wandering primitive race of +small men, painters and sculptors, hunters and herdsmen, and withal a +race showing traces of wonderful reasoning and adaptability, with a keen +sense of justice and a store of pride. Mythological some of their +stories are, but whether this is due to the influence of the Hottentots, +a later race, it is difficult to say. And, lastly, there are the Kaffirs +spread over the whole of South Africa, domineering, but backward. The +varied influences which may have affected these stories before they +reached us show what enormous possibilities there are for error in +tracing the origin of the animal tales here presented. Bleek finds that +a greater congeniality exists between the Hottentot and European mind +than is found between the latter and any other of the black races of +Africa. Whether he means that this indicates a European origin of the +fables, I cannot say. There is no doubt in my mind that the Bushmen came +from the north and were the primitive race of south and tropical Africa, +the dwarfs of Livingstone, Stanley, and other explorers. Considering, +then, the great antiquity of this race, it naturally follows that if +these stories are not original with the Bushmen, they are at least so +modified as to bear no resemblance to Egyptian, Phoenician, or any other +ancient race which the Bushmen may have come in contact with. Herodotus +described a race on the upper Nile which corresponds with later +descriptions of the Bushmen in tropical and southern Africa. + +I agree with what the _South-African Folklore Journal_ stated twenty +years or more ago, that with the "vast strides South Africa is making in +the progress of civilization, the native races will either be swept away +or so altered as to lose many of their ancient habits, customs, +traditions, or at least greatly to modify them." + +Knowing that by a collection of this kind these stories could best be +preserved, and feeling that others had not read them, I began this +collection ten years ago. There is so much done now to preserve what is +still Bushmen folklore that I feel this small volume is indeed only a +small addition to the folklore world. + +"South-African folklore is," the _South-African Folklore Journal_ says, +"in its very nature plain, and primitive in its simplicity; not adorned +with the wealth of palaces and precious stones to be met with in the +folklore of more civilized nations, but descriptive in great measure of +the events of everyday life, among those in a low state of civilization; +and with the exception of evidences of moral qualities, and of such +imagery as is connected with the phenomena of nature, very little that +is grand or magnificent must be looked for in it." + +Bain gives a story related by a Kaffir which shows "the distribution of +animals after the creation." This story could not become typically +Kaffir until after the Kaffir came in contact with the European in the +last two or three hundred years. However, the story will serve to +illustrate the people whose stories appear in this volume and to close +the Introduction. + +Teco, in Kaffir, is the Supreme Being. Teco had every description of +stock and property. + +There were three nations created, viz., the Whites, the Amakosa, or +Kaffirs, and the Amalouw, or Hottentots. A day was appointed for them to +appear before the Teco to receive whatever he might apportion to each +tribe. While they were assembling, a honey bird, or honey guide, came +fluttering by, and all the Hottentots ran after it, whistling and making +the peculiar noise they generally do while following this wonderful +little bird. The Teco remonstrated with them about their behavior, but +to no purpose. He thereupon denounced them as a vagrant race that would +have to exist on wild roots and honey beer, and possess no stock +whatever. + +When the fine herds of cattle were brought, the Kaffirs became very much +excited--the one exclaiming, "That black and white cow is mine!" and +another, "That red cow and black bull are mine!" and so on, till at last +the Teco, whose patience had been severely taxed by their shouts and +unruly behavior, denounced them as a restless people, who would only +possess cattle. + +The Whites patiently waited until they received cattle, horses, sheep, +and all sorts of property. Hence, the old Kaffir observed, "You Whites +have got everything. We Kaffirs have only cattle, while the Amalouw, or +Hottentots, have nothing." + + James A. Hone˙. + + CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June, 1910. + + + + +ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN + + +In the beginning there were two. One was blind, the other was always +hunting. This hunter found at last a hole in the earth from which game +proceeded and killed the young. The blind man, feeling and smelling +them, said, "They are not game, but cattle." + +The blind man afterwards recovered his sight, and going with the hunter +to this hole, saw that they were cows with their calves. He then quickly +built a kraal (fence made of thorns) round them, and anointed himself, +just as Hottentots (in their native state) are still wont to do. + +When the other, who now with great trouble had to seek his game, came +and saw this, he wanted to anoint himself also. "Look here!" said the +other, "you must throw the ointment into the fire, and afterwards use +it." He followed this advice, and the flames flaring up into his face, +burnt him most miserably; so that he was glad to make his escape. The +other, however, called to him: "Here, take the kirri (a knobstick), and +run to the hills to hunt there for honey." + +Hence sprung the race of Bushmen. + + + + +THE LOST MESSAGE + + +The ant has had from time immemorial many enemies, and because he is +small and destructive, there have been a great many slaughters among +them. Not only were most of the birds their enemies, but Anteater lived +almost wholly from them, and Centipede beset them every time and at all +places when he had the chance. + +So now there were a few among them who thought it would be well to hold +council together and see if they could not come to some arrangement +whereby they could retreat to some place of safety when attacked by +robber birds and animals. + +But at the gathering their opinions were most discordant, and they could +come to no decision. + +There was Red-ant, Rice-ant, Black-ant, Wagtail-ant, Gray-ant, +Shining-ant, and many other varieties. The discussion was a true babel +of diversity, which continued for a long time and came to nothing. + +A part desired that they should all go into a small hole in the ground, +and live there; another part wanted to have a large and strong dwelling +built on the ground, where nobody could enter but an ant; still another +wanted to dwell in trees, so as to get rid of Anteater, forgetting +entirely that there they would be the prey of birds; another part seemed +inclined to have wings and fly. + +And, as has already been said, this deliberation amounted to nothing, +and each party resolved to go to work in its own way, and on its own +responsibility. + +Greater unity than that which existed in each separate faction could be +seen nowhere in the world; each had his appointed task, each did his +work regularly and well. And all worked together in the same way. From +among them they chose a king--that is to say some of the groups did--and +they divided the labor so that all went as smoothly as it possibly +could. + +But each group did it in its own way, and not one of them thought of +protecting themselves against the onslaught of birds or Anteater. + +The Red-ants built their house on the ground and lived under it, but +Anteater leveled to the ground in a minute what had cost them many days +of precious labor. The Rice-ants lived under the ground, and with them +it went no better. For whenever they came out, Anteater visited them and +took them out sack and pack. The Wagtail-ants fled to the trees, but +there on many occasions sat Centipede waiting for them, or the birds +gobbled them up. The Gray-ants had intended to save themselves from +extermination by taking to flight, but this also availed them nothing, +because the Lizard, the Hunting-spider, and the birds went a great deal +faster than they. + +When the Insect-king heard that they could come to no agreement he sent +them the secret of unity, and the message of Work-together. But +unfortunately he chose for his messenger the Beetle, and he has never +yet arrived at the Ants, so that they are still to-day the embodiment of +discord and consequently the prey of enemies. + + + + +THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE + + +Hunger and want forced Monkey one day to forsake his land and to seek +elsewhere among strangers for much-needed work. Bulbs, earth beans, +scorpions, insects, and such things were completely exhausted in his own +land. But fortunately he received, for the time being, shelter with a +great uncle of his, Orang Outang, who lived in another part of the +country. + +When he had worked for quite a while he wanted to return home, and as +recompense his great uncle gave him a fiddle and a bow and arrow and +told him that with the bow and arrow he could hit and kill anything he +desired, and with the fiddle he could force anything to dance. + +The first he met upon his return to his own land was Brer Wolf. This old +fellow told him all the news and also that he had since early morning +been attempting to stalk a deer, but all in vain. + +Then Monkey laid before him all the wonders of the bow and arrow that he +carried on his back and assured him if he could but see the deer he +would bring it down for him. When Wolf showed him the deer, Monkey was +ready and down fell the deer. + +They made a good meal together, but instead of Wolf being thankful, +jealousy overmastered him and he begged for the bow and arrow. When +Monkey refused to give it to him, he thereupon began to threaten him +with his greater strength, and so when Jackal passed by, Wolf told him +that Monkey had stolen his bow and arrow. After Jackal had heard both of +them, he declared himself unqualified to settle the case alone, and he +proposed that they bring the matter to the court of Lion, Tiger, and the +other animals. In the meantime he declared he would take possession of +what had been the cause of their quarrel, so that it would be safe, as +he said. But he immediately brought to earth all that was eatable, so +there was a long time of slaughter before Monkey and Wolf agreed to +have the affair in court. + +Monkey's evidence was weak, and to make it worse, Jackal's testimony was +against him. Jackal thought that in this way it would be easier to +obtain the bow and arrow from Wolf for himself. + +And so fell the sentence against Monkey. Theft was looked upon as a +great wrong; he must hang. + +The fiddle was still at his side, and he received as a last favor from +the court the right to play a tune on it. + +He was a master player of his time, and in addition to this came the +wonderful power of his charmed fiddle. Thus, when he struck the first +note of "Cockcrow" upon it, the court began at once to show an unusual +and spontaneous liveliness, and before he came to the first waltzing +turn of the old tune the whole court was dancing like a whirlwind. + +Over and over, quicker and quicker, sounded the tune of "Cockcrow" on +the charmed fiddle, until some of the dancers, exhausted, fell down, +although still keeping their feet in motion. But Monkey, musician as he +was, heard and saw nothing of what had happened around him. With his +head placed lovingly against the instrument, and his eyes half closed, +he played on, keeping time ever with his foot. + +Wolf was the first to cry out in pleading tones breathlessly, "Please +stop, Cousin Monkey! For love's sake, please stop!" + +But Monkey did not even hear him. Over and over sounded the resistless +waltz of "Cockcrow." + +After a while Lion showed signs of fatigue, and when he had gone the +round once more with his young lion wife, he growled as he passed +Monkey, "My whole kingdom is yours, ape, if you just stop playing." + +"I do not want it," answered Monkey, "but withdraw the sentence and give +me my bow and arrow, and you, Wolf, acknowledge that you stole it from +me." + +"I acknowledge, I acknowledge!" cried Wolf, while Lion cried, at the +same instant, that he withdrew the sentence. + +Monkey gave them just a few more turns of the "Cockcrow," gathered up +his bow and arrow, and seated himself high up in the nearest camel thorn +tree. + +The court and other animals were so afraid that he might begin again +that they hastily disbanded to new parts of the world. + + + + +THE TIGER, THE RAM, AND THE JACKAL + + +Tiger (leopard) was returning home from hunting on one occasion, when he +lighted on the kraal of Ram. Now, Tiger had never seen Ram before, and +accordingly, approaching submissively, he said, "Good day, friend! What +may your name be?" + +The other in his gruff voice, and striking his breast with his forefoot, +said, "I am Ram. Who are you?" + +"Tiger," answered the other, more dead than alive, and then, taking +leave of Ram, he ran home as fast as he could. + +Jackal lived at the same place as Tiger did, and the latter going to +him, said, "Friend Jackal, I am quite out of breath, and am half dead +with fright, for I have just seen a terrible looking fellow, with a +large and thick head, and on my asking him what his name was, he +answered, 'I am Ram.'" + +"What a foolish fellow you are," cried Jackal, "to let such a nice piece +of flesh stand! Why did you do so? But we shall go to-morrow and eat it +together." + +Next day the two set off for the kraal of Ram, and as they appeared over +a hill, Ram, who had turned out to look about him, and was calculating +where he should that day crop a tender salad, saw them, and he +immediately went to his wife and said, "I fear this is our last day, for +Jackal and Tiger are both coming against us. What shall we do?" + +"Don't be afraid," said the wife, "but take up the child in your arms, +go out with it, and pinch it to make it cry as if it were hungry." Ram +did so as the confederates came on. + +No sooner did Tiger cast his eyes on Ram than fear again took possession +of him, and he wished to turn back. Jackal had provided against this, +and made Tiger fast to himself with a leathern thong, and said, "Come +on," when Ram cried in a loud voice, and pinching his child at the same +time, "You have done well, Friend Jackal, to have brought us Tiger to +eat, for you hear how my child is crying for food." + +On these dreadful words Tiger, notwithstanding the entreaties of Jackal +to let him go, to let him loose, set off in the greatest alarm, dragged +Jackal after him over hill and valley, through bushes and over rocks, +and never stopped to look behind him till he brought back himself and +half-dead Jackal to his place again. And so Ram escaped. + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE WOLF + + +Once on a time Jackal, who lived on the borders of the colony, saw a +wagon returning from the seaside laden with fish; he tried to get into +the wagon from behind, but he could not; he then ran on before and lay +in the road as if dead. The wagon came up to him, and the leader cried +to the driver, "Here is a fine kaross for your wife!" + +"Throw it into the wagon," said the driver, and Jackal was thrown in. + +The wagon traveled on, through a moonlight night, and all the while +Jackal was throwing out the fish into the road; he then jumped out +himself and secured a great prize. But stupid old Wolf (hyena), coming +by, ate more than his share, for which Jackal owed him a grudge, and he +said to him, "You can get plenty of fish, too, if you lie in the way of +a wagon as I did, and keep quite still whatever happens." + +"So!" mumbled Wolf. + +Accordingly, when the next wagon came from the sea, Wolf stretched +himself out in the road. "What ugly thing is this?" cried the leader, +and kicked Wolf. He then took a stick and thrashed him within an inch of +his life. Wolf, according to the directions of Jackal, lay quiet as long +as he could; he then got up and hobbled off to tell his misfortune to +Jackal, who pretended to comfort him. + +"What a pity," said Wolf, "I have not got such a handsome skin as you +have!" + + + + +A JACKAL AND A WOLF + + +Jackal and Wolf went and hired themselves to a man to be his servants. +In the middle of the night Jackal rose and smeared Wolf's tail with some +fat, and then ate all the rest of it in the house. In the morning the +man missed the fat, and he immediately accused Jackal of having eaten +it. "Look at Wolf's tail," said the rogue, "and you will see who is the +thief." The man did so, and then thrashed Wolf till he was nearly dead. + + + + +THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND THE MAN + + +It so happened one day that Lion and Jackal came together to converse on +affairs of land and state. Jackal, let me say, was the most important +adviser to the king of the forest, and after they had spoken about these +matters for quite a while, the conversation took a more personal turn. + +Lion began to boast and talk big about his strength. Jackal had, +perhaps, given him cause for it, because by nature he was a flatterer. +But now that Lion began to assume so many airs, said he, "See here, +Lion, I will show you an animal that is still more powerful than you +are." + +They walked along, Jackal leading the way, and met first a little boy. + +"Is this the strong man?" asked Lion. + +"No," answered Jackal, "he must still become a man, O king." + +After a while they found an old man walking with bowed head and +supporting his bent figure with a stick. + +"Is this the wonderful strong man?" asked Lion. + +"Not yet, O king," was Jackal's answer, "he has been a man." + +Continuing their walk a short distance farther, they came across a young +hunter, in the prime of youth, and accompanied by some of his dogs. + +"There you have him now, O king," said Jackal. "Pit your strength +against his, and if you win, then truly you are the strength of the +earth." + +Then Jackal made tracks to one side toward a little rocky kopje from +which he would be able to see the meeting. + +Growling, growling, Lion strode forward to meet the man, but when he +came close the dogs beset him. He, however, paid but little attention to +the dogs, pushed and separated them on all sides with a few sweeps of +his front paws. They howled aloud, beating a hasty retreat toward the +man. + +Thereupon the man fired a charge of shot, hitting him behind the +shoulder, but even to this Lion paid but little attention. Thereupon the +hunter pulled out his steel knife, and gave him a few good jabs. Lion +retreated, followed by the flying bullets of the hunter. + +"Well, are you strongest now?" was Jackal's first question when Lion +arrived at his side. + +"No, Jackal," answered Lion, "let that fellow there keep the name and +welcome. Such as he I have never before seen. In the first place he had +about ten of his bodyguard storm me. I really did not bother myself much +about them, but when I attempted to turn him to chaff, he spat and blew +fire at me, mostly into my face, that burned just a little but not very +badly. And when I again endeavored to pull him to the ground he jerked +out from his body one of his ribs with which he gave me some very ugly +wounds, so bad that I had to make chips fly, and as a parting he sent +some warm bullets after me. No, Jackal, give him the name." + + + + +THE WORLD'S REWARD + + +Once there was a man that had an old dog, so old that the man desired to +put him aside. The dog had served him very faithfully when he was still +young, but ingratitude is the world's reward, and the man now wanted to +dispose of him. The old dumb creature, however, ferreted out the plan of +his master, and so at once resolved to go away of his own accord. + +After he had walked quite a way he met an old bull in the veldt. + +"Don't you want to go with me?" asked the dog. + +"Where?" was the reply. + +"To the land of the aged," said the dog, "where troubles don't disturb +you and thanklessness does not deface the deeds of man." + +"Good," said the bull, "I am your companion." + +The two now walked on and found a ram. + +The dog laid the plan before him, and all moved off together, until they +afterwards came successively upon a donkey, a cat, a cock, and a goose. + +These joined their company, and the seven set out on their journey. + +Late one night they came to a house and through the open door they saw a +table spread with all kinds of nice food, of which some robbers were +having their fill. It would help nothing to ask for admittance, and +seeing that they were hungry, they must think of something else. + +Therefore the donkey climbed up on the bull, the ram on the donkey, the +dog on the ram, the cat on the dog, the goose on the cat, and the cock +on the goose, and with one accord they all let out terrible +(threatening) noises (cryings). + +The bull began to bellow, the donkey to bray, the dog to bark, the ram +to bleat, the cat to mew, the goose to giggle gaggle, and the cock to +crow, all without cessation. + +The people in the house were frightened perfectly limp; they glanced +out through the front door, and there they stared on the strange sight. +Some of them took to the ropes over the back lower door, some +disappeared through the window, and in a few counts the house was empty. + +Then the seven old animals climbed down from one another, stepped into +the house, and satisfied themselves with the delicious food. + +But when they had finished, there still remained a great deal of food, +too much to take with them on their remaining journey, and so together +they contrived a plan to hold their position until the next day after +breakfast. + +The dog said, "See here, I am accustomed to watch at the front door of +my master's house," and thereupon flopped himself down to sleep; the +bull said, "I go behind the door," and there he took his position; the +ram said, "I will go up on to the loft"; the donkey, "I at the middle +door"; the cat, "I in the fireplace"; the goose, "I in the back door"; +and the cock said, "I am going to sleep on the bed." + +The captain of the robbers after a while sent one of his men back to +see if these creatures had yet left the house. + +The man came very cautiously into the neighborhood, listened and +listened, but he heard nothing; he peeped through the window, and saw in +the grate just two coals still glimmering, and thereupon started to walk +through the front door. + +There the old dog seized him by the leg. He jumped into the house, but +the bull was ready, swept him up with his horns, and tossed him on to +the loft. Here the ram received him and pushed him off the loft again. +Reaching ground, he made for the middle door, but the donkey set up a +terrible braying and at the same time gave him a kick that landed him in +the fireplace, where the cat flew at him and scratched him nearly to +pieces. He then jumped out through the back door, and here the goose got +him by the trousers. When he was some distance away the cock crowed. He +thereupon ran so that you could hear the stones rattle in the dark. + +Purple and crimson and out of breath, he came back to his companions. + +"Frightful, frightful!" was all that they could get from him at first, +but after a while he told them. + +"When I looked through the window I saw in the fireplace two bright +coals shining, and when I wanted to go through the front door to go and +look, I stepped into an iron trap. I jumped into the house, and there +some one seized me with a fork and pitched me up on to the loft, there +again some one was ready, and threw me down on all fours. I wanted to +fly through the middle door, but there some one blew on a trumpet, and +smote me with a sledge hammer so that I did not know where I landed; but +coming to very quickly, I found I was in the fireplace, and there +another flew at me and scratched the eyes almost out of my head. I +thereupon fled out of the back door, and lastly I was attacked on the +leg by the sixth with a pair of fire tongs, and when I was still running +away, some one shouted out of the house, 'Stop him, stop h--i--m!'" + + + + +THE LION AND JACKAL + + +Not because he was exactly the most capable or progressive fellow in the +neighborhood, but because he always gave that idea--that is why Jackal +slowly acquired among the neighbors the name of a "progressive man." The +truly well-bred people around him, who did not wish to hurt his +feelings, seemed to apply this name to him, instead of, for instance, +"cunning scamp," or "all-wise rat-trap," as so many others often dubbed +him. He obtained this name of "a progressive man" because he spoke most +of the time English, especially if he thought some of them were present +who could not understand it, and also because he could always hold his +body so much like a judge on public occasions. + +He had a smooth tongue, could make quite a favorable speech, and +especially with good effect could he expatiate on the backwardness of +others. Underneath he really was the most unlettered man in the +vicinity, but he had perfect control over his inborn cunningness, which +allowed him for a long time to go triumphantly through life as a man of +great ability. + +One time, for instance, he lost his tail in an iron trap. He had long +attempted to reach the Boer's goose pen, and had framed many good plans, +but when he came to his senses, he was sitting in front of the goose pen +with his tail in the iron trap, the dogs all the time coming for him. +When he realized what it meant, he mustered together all his strength +and pulled his tail, which he always thought so much of, clean off. + +This would immediately have made him the butt of the whole neighborhood +had he not thought of a plan. He called together a meeting of the +jackals, and made them believe that Lion had issued a proclamation to +the effect that all jackals in the future should be tailless, because +their beautiful tails were a thorn in the eyes of more unfortunate +animals. + +In his smooth way he told them how he regretted that the king should +have the barbaric right to interfere with his subjects. But so it was; +and he thought the sooner he paid attention to it the safer. Therefore +he had had his tail cut off already and he should advise all his friends +to do the same. And so it happened that once all jackals for a long time +were without tails. Later on they grew again. + +It was about the same time that Tiger hired Jackal as a schoolmaster. +Tiger was in those days the richest man in the surrounding country, and +as he had had to suffer a great deal himself because he was so +untutored, he wanted his children to have the best education that could +be obtained. + +It was shortly after a meeting, in which it was shown how important a +thing an education was, that Tiger approached Jackal and asked him to +come and teach his children. + +Jackal was very ready to do this. It was not exactly his vocation, he +said, but he would do it to pass time and just out of friendship for his +neighbor. His and Tiger's farm lands lay next each other. + +That he did not make teaching his profession and that he possessed no +degree was of no account in the eyes of Tiger. + +"Do not praise my goodness so much, Cousin Jackal," laughed he. "We know +your worth well enough. Much rather would I intrust my offspring to you +than to the many so-called schoolmasters, for it is especially my wish, +as well as that of their mother, to have our children obtain a +progressive education, and to make such men and women of them that with +the same ability as you have they can take their lawful places in this +world." + +"One condition," said Jackal, "I must state. It will be very +inconvenient for me, almost impossible, to come here to your farm and +hold school. My own farm would in that case go to pieces, and that I +cannot let happen. It would never pay me." + +Tiger answered that it was not exactly necessary either. In spite of +their attachment to the little ones, they saw that it would probably be +to their benefit to place them for a while in a stranger's house. + +Jackal then told of his own bringing up by Wolf. He remembered well how +small he was when his father sent him away to study with Wolf. +Naturally, since then, he had passed through many schools, Wolf was only +his first teacher. And only in his later days did he realize how much +good it had done him. + +"A man must bend the sapling while it is still young," said he. "There +is no time that the child is so open to impressions as when he is +plastic, about the age that most of your children are at present, and I +was just thinking you would be doing a wise thing to send them away for +quite a while." + +He had, fortunately, just then a room in his house that would be suited +for a schoolroom, and his wife could easily make some arrangement for +their lodging, even if they had to enlarge their dwelling somewhat. + +It was then and there agreed upon. Tiger's wife was then consulted about +one thing and another, and the following day the children were to leave. + +"I have just thought of one more thing," remarked Jackal, "seven +children, besides my little lot, will be quite a care on our hands, so +you will have to send over each week a fat lamb, and in order not to +disturb their progress, the children will have to relinquish the idea of +a vacation spent with you for some time. When I think they have become +used to the bit, I will inform you, and then you can come and take them +to make you a short visit, but not until then. + +"It is also better," continued he, "that they do not see you for the +first while, but your wife can come and see them every Saturday and I +will see to all else." + +On the following day there was an unearthly howling and wailing when the +children were to leave. But Tiger and their mother showed them that it +was best and that some day they would see that it was all for their +good, and that their parents were doing it out of kindness. Eventually +they were gone. + +The first Saturday dawned, and early that morning Mrs. Tiger was on her +way to Jackal's dwelling, because she could not defer the time any +longer. + +She was still a long way off when Jackal caught sight of her. He always +observed neighborly customs, and so stepped out to meet her. + +After they had greeted each other, Mrs. Tiger's first question was: +"Well, Cousin Jackal, how goes everything with the small team? Are they +still all well and happy, and do they not trouble you, Cousin Jackal, +too much?" + +"Oh, my goodness, no, Mrs. Tiger," answered Jackal enthusiastically, +"but don't let us talk so loud, because if they heard you, it certainly +would cause them many heartfelt tears and they might also want to go +back with you and then all our trouble would have been for nothing." + +"But I would like to see them, Cousin Jackal," said Mrs. Tiger a little +disturbed. + +"Why certainly, Mrs. Tiger," was his answer, "but I do not think it is +wise for them to see you. I will lift them up to the window one by one, +and then you can put your mind at rest concerning their health and +progress." + +After Mr. and Mrs. Jackal and Mrs. Tiger had sat together for some time +drinking coffee and talking over one thing and another, Jackal took +Tiger's wife to a door and told her to look through it, out upon the +back yard. There he would show her the children one by one, while they +would not be able to see her. Everything was done exactly as Jackal had +said, but the sixth little tiger he picked up twice, because the +firstborn he had the day before prepared in pickle for their Sunday +meal. + +And so it happened every Saturday until the last little tiger--which was +the youngest--had to be lifted up seven times in succession. + +And when Mrs. Tiger came again the following week all was still as death +and everything seemed to have a deserted appearance on the estate. She +walked straight to the front door, and there she found a letter in the +poll grass near the door, which read thus: + + "We have gone for a picnic with the children. From there we + will ride by Jackalsdance for New Year. This is necessary for + the completion of their progressive education." + + JACKAL. + +Saturday after Saturday did Mrs. Tiger go and look, but every time +Jackal's house seemed to look more deserted; and after a while there was +a spider's web over the door and the trail of Snake showed that he, too, +had taken up his abode there. + + + + +TINK-TINKJE + + +The birds wanted a king. Men have a king, so have animals, and why +shouldn't they? All had assembled. + +"The Ostrich, because he is the largest," one called out. + +"No, he can't fly." + +"Eagle, on account of his strength." + +"Not he, he is too ugly." + +"Vulture, because he can fly the highest." + +"No, Vulture is too dirty, his odor is terrible." + +"Peacock, he is so beautiful." + +"His feet are too ugly, and also his voice." + +"Owl, because he can see well." + +"Not Owl, he is ashamed of the light." + +And so they got no further. Then one shouted aloud, "He who can fly the +highest will be king." "Yes, yes," they all screamed, and at a given +signal they all ascended straight up into the sky. + +Vulture flew for three whole days without stopping, straight toward the +sun. Then he cried aloud, "I am the highest, I am king." + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," he heard above him. There Tink-tinkje was flying. +He had held fast to one of the great wing feathers of Vulture, and had +never been felt, he was so light. "T-sie, t-sie, t-sie, I am the +highest, I am king," piped Tink-tinkje. + +Vulture flew for another day still ascending. "I am highest, I am king." + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie, I am the highest, I am king," Tink-tinkje mocked. +There he was again, having crept out from under the wing of Vulture. + +Vulture flew on the fifth day straight up in the air. "I am the highest, +I am king," he called. + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," piped the little fellow above him. "I am the +highest, I am king." + +Vulture was tired and now flew direct to earth. The other birds were mad +through and through. Tink-tinkje must die because he had taken +advantage of Vulture's feathers and there hidden himself. All flew after +him and he had to take refuge in a mouse hole. But how were they to get +him out? Some one must stand guard to seize him the moment he put out +his head. + +"Owl must keep guard; he has the largest eyes; he can see well," they +exclaimed. + +Owl went and took up his position before the hole. The sun was warm and +soon Owl became sleepy and presently he was fast asleep. + +Tink-tinkje peeped, saw that Owl was asleep, and z-zip away he went. +Shortly afterwards the other birds came to see if Tink-tinkje were still +in the hole. "T-sie, t-sie," they heard in a tree; and there the little +vagabond was sitting. + +White-crow, perfectly disgusted, turned around and exclaimed, "Now I +won't say a single word more." And from that day to this White-crow has +never spoken. Even though you strike him, he makes no sound, he utters +no cry. + + + + +THE LION AND JACKAL + + +Lion had now caught a large eland which lay dead on the top of a high +bank. Lion was thirsty and wanted to go and drink water. "Jackal, look +after my eland, I am going to get a drink. Don't you eat any." + +"Very well, Uncle Lion." + +Lion went to the river and Jackal quietly removed a stone on which Lion +had to step to reach the bank on his return. After that Jackal and his +wife ate heartily of the eland. Lion returned, but could not scale the +bank. "Jackal, help me," he shouted. + +"Yes, Uncle Lion, I will let down a rope and then you can climb up." + +Jackal whispered to his wife, "Give me one of the old, thin hide ropes." +And then aloud he added, "Wife, give me one of the strong, buffalo +ropes, so Uncle Lion won't fall." + +His wife gave him an old rotten rope. Jackal and his wife first ate +ravenously of the meat, then gradually let the rope down. Lion seized it +and struggled up. When he neared the brink Jackal gave the rope a jerk. +It broke and down Lion began to roll--rolled the whole way down, and +finally lay at the foot near the river. + +Jackal began to beat a dry hide that lay there as he howled, cried, and +shouted: "Wife, why did you give me such a bad rope that caused Uncle +Lion to fall?" + +Lion heard the row and roared, "Jackal, stop beating your wife. I will +hurt you if you don't cease. Help me to climb up." + +"Uncle Lion, I will give you a rope." Whispering again to his wife, +"Give me one of the old, thin hide ropes," and shouting aloud again, +"Give me a strong, buffalo rope, wife, that will not break again with +Lion." + +Jackal gave out the rope, and when Lion had nearly reached the top, he +cut the rope through. Snap! and Lion began to roll to the bottom. Jackal +again beat on the hide and shouted, "Wife, why did you give me such a +rotten rope? Didn't I tell you to give me a strong one?" Lion roared, +"Jackal, stop beating your wife at once. Help me instantly or you will +be sorry." + +"Wife," Jackal said aloud, "give me now the strongest rope you have," +and aside to her, "Give me the worst rope of the lot." + +Jackal again let down a rope, but just as Lion reached the top, Jackal +gave a strong tug and broke the rope. Poor old Lion rolled down the side +of the hill and lay there roaring from pain. He had been fatally hurt. + +Jackal inquired, "Uncle Lion, have you hurt yourself? Have you much +pain? Wait a while, I am coming directly to help you." Jackal and his +wife slowly walked away. + + + + +LION AND JACKAL + + +The Lion and the Jackal agreed to hunt on shares, for the purpose of +laying in a stock of meat for the winter months for their families. + +As the Lion was by far the more expert hunter of the two, the Jackal +suggested that he (himself) should be employed in transporting the game +to their dens, and that Mrs. Jackal and the little Jackals should +prepare and dry the meat, adding that they would take care that Mrs. +Lion and her family should not want. + +This was agreed to by the Lion, and the hunt commenced. + +After a very successful hunt, which lasted for some time, the Lion +returned to see his family, and also to enjoy, as he thought, a +plentiful supply of his spoil; when, to his utter surprise, he found +Mrs. Lion and all the young Lions on the point of death from sheer +hunger, and in a mangy state. The Jackal, it appeared, had only given +them a few entrails of the game, and in such limited quantities as +barely to keep them alive; always telling them that they (i. e., the +Lion and himself) had been most unsuccessful in their hunting; while his +own family was reveling in abundance, and each member of it was sleek +and fat. + +This was too much for the Lion to bear. He immediately started off in a +terrible fury, vowing certain death to the Jackal and all his family, +wherever he should meet them. The Jackal was more or less prepared for a +storm, and had taken the precaution to remove all his belongings to the +top of a krantz (i. e., a cliff), accessible only by a most difficult +and circuitous path, which he alone knew. + +When the Lion saw him on the krantz, the Jackal immediately greeted him +by calling out, "Good morning, Uncle Lion." + +"How dare you call me uncle, you impudent scoundrel," roared out the +Lion, in a voice of thunder, "after the way in which you have behaved to +my family?" + +"Oh, Uncle! How shall I explain matters? That beast of a wife of mine!" +Whack, whack was heard, as he beat with a stick on dry hide, which was a +mere pretence for Mrs. Jackal's back; while that lady was preinstructed +to scream whenever he operated on the hide, which she did with a +vengeance, joined by the little Jackals, who set up a most doleful +chorus. "That wretch!" said the Jackal. "It is all her doing. I shall +kill her straight off," and away he again belabored the hide, while his +wife and children uttered such a dismal howl that the Lion begged of him +to leave off flogging his wife. After cooling down a little, he invited +Uncle Lion to come up and have something to eat. The Lion, after several +ineffectual attempts to scale the precipice, had to give it up. + +The Jackal, always ready for emergencies, suggested that a reim should +be lowered to haul up his uncle. This was agreed to, and when the Lion +was drawn about halfway up by the whole family of Jackals, the reim was +cleverly cut, and down went the Lion with a tremendous crash which hurt +him very much. Upon this, the Jackal again performed upon the hide with +tremendous force, for their daring to give him such a rotten reim, and +Mrs. Jackal and the little ones responded with some fearful screams and +yells. He then called loudly out to his wife for a strong buffalo reim +which would support any weight. This again was lowered and fastened to +the Lion, when all hands pulled away at their uncle; and, just when he +had reached so far that he could look over the precipice into the pots +to see all the fat meat cooking, and all the biltongs hanging out to +dry, the reim was again cut, and the poor Lion fell with such force that +he was fairly stunned for some time. After the Lion had recovered his +senses, the Jackal, in a most sympathizing tone, suggested that he was +afraid that it was of no use to attempt to haul him up onto the +precipice, and recommended, instead, that a nice fat piece of eland's +breast be roasted and dropped into the Lion's mouth. The Lion, half +famished with hunger, and much bruised, readily accepted the offer, and +sat eagerly awaiting the fat morsel. In the mean time, the Jackal had a +round stone made red-hot, and wrapped a quantity of inside fat, or suet, +round it, to make it appear like a ball of fat. When the Lion saw it +held out, he opened his capacious mouth to the utmost extent, and the +wily Jackal cleverly dropped the hot ball right into it, which ran +through the poor old beast, killing him on the spot. + +It need hardly be told that there was great rejoicing on the precipice +that night. + + + + +THE HUNT OF LION AND JACKAL + + +Lion and Jackal, it is said, were one day lying in wait for Eland. Lion +shot (with a bow) and missed, but Jackal hit and sang out, "Hah! hah!" + +Lion said, "No, you did not shoot anything. It was I who hit." + +Jackal answered, "Yea, my father, thou hast hit." + +Then they went home in order to return when the eland was dead, and cut +it up. Jackal, however, turned back, unknown to Lion, hit his nose so +that the blood ran on the spoor of the eland, and followed their track +thus, in order to cheat Lion. When he had gone some distance, he +returned by another way to the dead eland, and creeping into its +carcass, cut out all the fat. + +Meanwhile Lion followed the blood-stained spoor of Jackal, thinking +that it was eland blood, and only when he had gone some distance did he +find out that he had been deceived. He then returned on Jackal's spoor, +and reached the dead eland, where, finding Jackal in its carcass, he +seized him by his tail and drew him out with a swing. + +Lion upbraided Jackal with these words: "Why do you cheat me?" + +Jackal answered: "No, my father, I do not cheat you; you may know it, I +think. I prepared this fat for you, father." + +Lion said: "Then take the fat and carry it to your mother" (the +lioness); and he gave him the lungs to take to his own wife and +children. + +When Jackal arrived, he did not give the fat to Lion's wife, but to his +own wife and children; he gave, however, the lungs to Lion's wife, and +he pelted Lion's little children with the lungs, saying: + + "You children of the big-pawed one! + You big-pawed ones!" + +He said to Lioness, "I go to help my father" (the lion); but he went far +away with his wife and children. + + + + +STORY OF LION AND LITTLE JACKAL + + +Little Jackal one day went out hunting, when he met Lion. Lion proposed +that they should hunt together, on condition that if a small antelope +was killed it was to be Little Jackal's, and if a large one was killed +it was to be Lion's. Little Jackal agreed to this. + +The first animal killed was a large eland. Lion was very glad, and said +to Little Jackal: "I will continue hunting while you go to my house and +call my children to carry the meat home." + +Little Jackal replied: "Yes, I agree to that." + +Lion went away to hunt. When he had gone, Little Jackal went to his own +house and called his own children to carry away the meat. He said: "Lion +takes me for a fool if he thinks I will call his children while my own +are dying with hunger." + +So Little Jackal's children carried the meat to their home on the top of +a high rock, where the only way to get to their house was by means of a +rope. + +Lion caught nothing more, and after a time he went home and asked his +wife where the meat was. She told him there was no meat. He said: "Did +not Little Jackal bring a message to my children to carry meat?" + +His wife replied: "No, he was not here. We are still dying with hunger." + +Lion then went to Little Jackal's house, but he could not get up the +rock to it. So he sat down by the water, waiting. After a time Little +Jackal went to get some water. He was close to the water when he saw +Lion. He at once ran away, and Lion ran after him. He ran into a hole +under a tree, but Lion caught his tail before he got far in. He said to +him: "That is not my tail you have hold of; it is a root of the tree. If +you do not believe me, take a stone and strike it, and see if any blood +comes." + +Lion let go the tail, and went for a stone to prove what it was. While +he was gone for the stone, Little Jackal went far into the hole. When +Lion returned he could not be found. Lion lay down by the hole and +waited. After a long time Little Jackal wanted to come out. He went to +the entrance and looked round, but he could not see Lion. To make sure, +he said: "Ho, I see you, my master, although you are in hiding." + +Lion did not move from the place where he lay concealed. Then Little +Jackal went out, and Lion pursued him, but he got away. + +Lion watched for him, and one day, when Little Jackal was out hunting, +he came upon him in a place where he could not escape. Lion was just +about to spring upon him, when Little Jackal said softly: "Be still, do +you not see that bushbuck on the other side of the rock? I am glad you +have come to help me. Just remain here while I run round and drive him +toward you." + +Lion did so, and Little Jackal made his escape. + +At another time there was a meeting of the animals, and Lion was the +chief at the meeting. Little Jackal wanted to attend, but there was a +law made that no one should be present unless he had horns. So Little +Jackal took wax out of a nest of bees, and made horns for himself with +it. He fastened the horns on his head, and went to the meeting. Lion did +not know him on account of the horns. But he sat near the fire and went +to sleep, when the horns melted. + +Lion looked at him and saw who it was. He immediately tried to catch +him, but Little Jackal was quick in springing away. He ran under an +overhanging rock and sang out: "Help! help! this rock is falling upon +me!" + +Lion went for a pole to prop up the rock that he might get at Little +Jackal. While he was away, Little Jackal escaped. + +After that they became companions again, and went hunting another time. +They killed an ox. Lion said: "I will watch it while you carry the +pieces away." + +Lion gave him the breast, and said: "Take this to my wife." + +Little Jackal took it to his own wife. When he returned, Lion gave him a +shin, and said: "Take this to your wife." + +Little Jackal took the shin to Lion's house. Lion's wife said: "I cannot +take this because it should not come here." + +Little Jackal thereupon struck Lion's wife in the face, and went back to +the place where the ox was killed. Lion gave him a large piece of meat +and said: "Take this to my wife." + +Little Jackal took it to his own wife. This continued till the ox was +finished. Then they both went home. When Lion arrived at his house he +found there was weeping in his family. + +His wife said: "Is it you who sent Little Jackal to beat me and my +children, and is it you who sent this shin? Did I ever eat a shin?" + +When Lion heard this he was very angry and at once went to Little +Jackal's house. When he reached the rock, Little Jackal looked down and +said: "Who are you, and what is your name, and whose son are you, and +where are you from, and where are you going to, and whom do you want, +and what do you want him for?" + +Lion replied: "I have merely come to see you. I wish you to let down the +rope." + +Little Jackal let down a rope made of mouse skins, and when Lion climbed +a little way up, the rope broke, and he fell and was hurt. He then went +home. + + + + +THE LIONESS AND THE OSTRICH + + +It is said, once a lioness roared, and the ostrich also roared. The +lioness went toward the place where the ostrich was. They met. The +lioness said to the ostrich, "Please to roar." The ostrich roared. Then +the lioness roared. The voices were equal. The lioness said to the +ostrich, "You are my match." + +Then the lioness said to the ostrich, "Let us hunt game together." They +saw eland and made toward it. The lioness caught only one; the ostrich +killed a great many by striking them with the claw which was on his leg; +but the lioness killed only one. When they had met after the hunting +they went to the game, and the lioness saw that the ostrich had killed a +great deal. + +Now, the lioness also had young cubs. They went to the shade to rest +themselves. The lioness said to the ostrich, "Get up and rip open; let +us eat." Said the ostrich, "Go and rip open; I shall eat the blood." The +lioness stood up and ripped open, and ate with the cubs. And when she +had eaten, the ostrich got up and ate the blood. They went to sleep. + +The cubs played about. While they were playing, they went to the +ostrich, who was asleep. When he went to sleep he also opened his mouth. +The young lions saw that the ostrich had no teeth. They went to their +mother and said, "This fellow, who says he is your equal, has no teeth; +he is insulting you." Then the lioness went to wake the ostrich, and +said, "Get up, let us fight"; and they fought. And the ostrich said, "Go +to that side of the ant-hill, and I will go to this side of it." The +ostrich struck the ant-hill, and sent it toward the lioness. But the +second time he struck the lioness in a vulnerable spot, near the liver, +and killed her. + + + + +CROCODILE'S TREASON + + +Crocodile was, in the days when animals still could talk, the +acknowledged foreman of all water creatures and if one should judge from +appearances one would say that he still is. But in those days it was his +especial duty to have a general care of all water animals, and when one +year it was exceedingly dry, and the water of the river where they had +lived dried up and became scarce, he was forced to make a plan to trek +over to another river a short distance from there. + +He first sent Otter out to spy. He stayed away two days and brought back +a report that there was still good water in the other river, real +sea-cow holes, that not even a drought of several years could dry up. + +After he had ascertained this, Crocodile called to his side Tortoise and +Alligator. + +"Look here," said he, "I need you two to-night to carry a report to +Lion. So then get ready; the veldt is dry, and you will probably have to +travel for a few days without any water. We must make peace with Lion +and his subjects, otherwise we utterly perish this year. And he must +help us to trek over to the other river, especially past the Boer's farm +that lies in between, and to travel unmolested by any of the animals of +the veldt, so long as the trek lasts. A fish on land is sometimes a very +helpless thing, as you all know." The two had it mighty hard in the +burning sun, and on the dry veldt, but eventually they reached Lion and +handed him the treaty. + +"What is going on now?" thought Lion to himself, when he had read it. "I +must consult Jackal first," said he. But to the commissioners he gave +back an answer that he would be the following evening with his advisers +at the appointed place, at the big vaarland willow tree, at the farther +end of the hole of water, where Crocodile had his headquarters. + +When Tortoise and Alligator came back, Crocodile was exceedingly +pleased with himself at the turn the case had taken. + +He allowed Otter and a few others to be present and ordered them on that +evening to have ready plenty of fish and other eatables for their guests +under the vaarland willow. + +That evening as it grew dark Lion appeared with Wolf, Jackal, Baboon, +and a few other important animals, at the appointed place, and they were +received in the most open-hearted manner by Crocodile and the other +water creatures. + +Crocodile was so glad at the meeting of the animals that he now and then +let fall a great tear of joy that disappeared into the sand. After the +other animals had done well by the fish, Crocodile laid bare to them the +condition of affairs and opened up his plan. He wanted only peace among +all animals; for they not only destroyed one another, but the Boer, too, +would in time destroy them all. + +The Boer had already stationed at the source of the river no less than +three steam pumps to irrigate his land, and the water was becoming +scarcer every day. More than this, he took advantage of their +unfortunate position by making them sit in the shallow water and then, +one after the other, bringing about their death. As Lion was, on this +account, inclined to make peace, it was to his glory to take this +opportunity and give his hand to these peace-making water creatures, and +carry out their part of the contract, namely, escort them from the +dried-up water, past the Boer's farm and to the long sea-cow pools. + +"And what benefit shall we receive from it?" asked Jackal. + +"Well," answered Crocodile, "the peace made is of great benefit to both +sides. We will not exterminate each other. If you desire to come and +drink water, you can do so with an easy mind, and not be the least bit +nervous that I, or any one of us will seize you by the nose; and so also +with all the other animals. And from your side we are to be freed from +Elephant, who has the habit, whenever he gets the opportunity, of +tossing us with his trunk up into some open and narrow fork of a tree +and there allowing us to become biltong." + +Lion and Jackal stepped aside to consult with one another, and then Lion +wanted to know what form of security he would have that Crocodile would +keep to his part of the contract. + +"I stake my word of honor," was the prompt answer from Crocodile, and he +let drop a few more long tears of honesty into the sand. + +Baboon then said it was all square and honest as far as he could see +into the case. He thought it was nonsense to attempt to dig pitfalls for +one another; because he personally was well aware that his race would +benefit somewhat from this contract of peace and friendship. And more +than this, they must consider that use must be made of the fast +disappearing water, for even in the best of times it was an unpleasant +thing to be always carrying your life about in your hands. He would, +however, like to suggest to the King that it would be well to have +everything put down in writing, so that there would be nothing to regret +in case it was needed. + +Jackal did not want to listen to the agreement. He could not see that it +would benefit the animals of the veldt. But Wolf, who had fully +satisfied himself with the fish, was in an exceptionally peace-loving +mood, and he advised Lion again to close the agreement. + +After Lion had listened to all his advisers, and also the pleading tones +of Crocodile's followers, he held forth in a speech in which he said +that he was inclined to enter into the agreement, seeing that it was +clear that Crocodile and his subjects were in a very tight place. + +There and then a document was drawn up, and it was resolved, before +midnight, to begin the trek. Crocodile's messengers swam in all +directions to summon together the water animals for the trek. + +Frogs croaked and crickets chirped in the long water grass. It was not +long before all the animals had assembled at the vaarland willow. In the +meantime Lion had sent out a few despatch riders to his subjects to +raise a commando for an escort, and long ere midnight these also were at +the vaarland willow in the moonlight. + +The trek then was regulated by Lion and Jackal. Jackal was to take the +lead to act as spy, and when he was able to draw Lion to one side, he +said to him: + +"See here, I do not trust this affair one bit, and I want to tell you +straight out, I am going to make tracks! I will spy for you until you +reach the sea-cow pool, but I am not going to be the one to await your +arrival there." + +Elephant had to act as advance guard because he could walk so softly and +could hear and smell so well. Then came Lion with one division of the +animals, then Crocodile's trek with a flank protection of both sides, +and Wolf received orders to bring up the rear. + +Meanwhile, while all this was being arranged, Crocodile was smoothly +preparing his treason. He called Yellow Snake to one side and said to +him: "It is to our advantage to have these animals, who go among us +every day, and who will continue to do so, fall into the hands of the +Boer. Listen, now! You remain behind unnoticed, and when you hear me +shout you will know that we have arrived safely at the sea-cow pool. +Then you must harass the Boer's dogs as much as you can, and the rest +will look out for themselves." + +Thereupon the trek moved on. It was necessary to go very slowly as many +of the water animals were not accustomed to the journey on land; but +they trekked past the Boer's farm in safety, and toward break of day +they were all safely at the sea-cow pool. There most of the water +animals disappeared suddenly into the deep water, and Crocodile also +began to make preparations to follow their example. With tearful eyes he +said to Lion that he was, oh, so thankful for the help, that, from pure +relief and joy, he must first give vent to his feelings by a few +screams. Thereupon he suited his words to actions so that even the +mountains echoed, and then thanked Lion on behalf of his subjects, and +purposely continued with a long speech, dwelling on all the benefits +both sides would derive from the agreement of peace. + +Lion was just about to say good day and take his departure, when the +first shot fell, and with it Elephant and a few other animals. + +"I told you all so!" shouted Jackal from the other side of the sea-cow +pool. "Why did you allow yourselves to be misled by a few Crocodile +tears?" + +Crocodile had disappeared long ago into the water. All one saw was just +a lot of bubbles; and on the banks there was an actual war against the +animals. It simply crackled the way the Boers shot them. + +But most of them, fortunately, came out of it alive. + +Shortly after, they say, Crocodile received his well-earned reward, when +he met a driver with a load of dynamite. And even now when the Elephant +gets the chance he pitches them up into the highest forks of the trees. + + + + +THE STORY OF A DAM + + +There was a great drought in the land; and Lion called together a number +of animals so that they might devise a plan for retaining water when the +rains fell. + +The animals which attended at Lion's summons were Baboon, Leopard, +Hyena, Jackal, Hare, and Mountain Tortoise. + +It was agreed that they should scratch a large hole in some suitable +place to hold water; and the next day they all began to work, with the +exception of Jackal, who continually hovered about in that locality, and +was overheard to mutter that he was not going to scratch his nails off +in making water holes. + +When the dam was finished the rains fell, and it was soon filled with +water, to the great delight of those who had worked so hard at it. The +first one, however, to come and drink there, was Jackal, who not only +drank, but filled his clay pot with water, and then proceeded to swim +in the rest of the water, making it as muddy and dirty as he could. + +This was brought to the knowledge of Lion, who was very angry and +ordered Baboon to guard the water the next day, armed with a huge +knobkirrie. Baboon was concealed in a bush close to the water; but +Jackal soon became aware of his presence there, and guessed its cause. +Knowing the fondness of baboons for honey, Jackal at once hit upon a +plan, and marching to and fro, every now and then dipped his fingers +into his clay pot, and licked them with an expression of intense relish, +saying, in a low voice to himself, "I don't want any of their dirty +water when I have a pot full of delicious honey." This was too much for +poor Baboon, whose mouth began to water. He soon began to beg Jackal to +give him a little honey, as he had been watching for several hours, and +was very hungry and tired. + +After taking no notice of Baboon at first, Jackal looked round, and +said, in a patronizing manner, that he pitied such an unfortunate +creature, and would give him some honey on certain conditions, viz., +that Baboon should give up his knobkirrie and allow himself to be bound +by Jackal. He foolishly agreed; and was soon tied in such a manner that +he could not move hand or foot. + +Jackal now proceeded to drink of the water, to fill his pot, and to swim +in the sight of Baboon, from time to time telling him what a foolish +fellow he had been to be so easily duped, and that he (Jackal) had no +honey or anything else to give him, excepting a good blow on the head +every now and then with his own knobkirrie. + +The animals soon appeared and found poor Baboon in this sorry plight, +looking the picture of misery. Lion was so exasperated that he caused +Baboon to be severely punished, and to be denounced as a fool. + +Tortoise hereupon stepped forward, and offered his services for the +capture of Jackal. It was at first thought that he was merely joking; +but when he explained in what manner he proposed to catch him, his plan +was considered so feasible that his offer was accepted. He proposed +that a thick coating of "bijenwerk" (a kind of sticky black substance +found on beehives) should be spread all over him, and that he should +then go and stand at the entrance of the dam, on the water level, so +that Jackal might tread upon him and stick fast. This was accordingly +done and Tortoise posted there. + +The next day, when Jackal came, he approached the water very cautiously, +and wondered to find no one there. He then ventured to the entrance of +the water, and remarked how kind they had been in placing there a large +black stepping-stone for him. As soon, however, as he trod upon the +supposed stone, he stuck fast, and saw that he had been tricked; for +Tortoise now put his head out and began to move. Jackal's hind feet +being still free he threatened to smash Tortoise with them if he did not +let him go. Tortoise merely answered, "Do as you like." Jackal thereupon +made a violent jump, and found, with horror, that his hind feet were now +also fast. "Tortoise," said he, "I have still my mouth and teeth left, +and will eat you alive if you do not let me go." "Do as you like," +Tortoise again replied. Jackal, in his endeavors to free himself, at +last made a desperate bite at Tortoise, and found himself fixed, both +head and feet. Tortoise, feeling proud of his successful capture, now +marched quietly up to the top of the bank with Jackal on his back, so +that he could easily be seen by the animals as they came to the water. + +They were indeed astonished to find how cleverly the crafty Jackal had +been caught; and Tortoise was much praised, while the unhappy Baboon was +again reminded of his misconduct when set to guard the water. + +Jackal was at once condemned to death by Lion; and Hyena was to execute +the sentence. Jackal pleaded hard for mercy, but finding this useless, +he made a last request to Lion (always, as he said, so fair and just in +his dealings) that he should not have to suffer a lingering death. + +Lion inquired of him in what manner he wished to die; and he asked that +his tail might be shaved and rubbed with a little fat, and that Hyena +might then swing him round twice and dash his brains out upon a stone. +This, being considered sufficiently fair by Lion, was ordered by him to +be carried out in his presence. + +When Jackal's tail had been shaved and greased, Hyena caught hold of him +with great force, and before he had fairly lifted him from the ground, +the cunning Jackal had slipped away from Hyena's grasp, and was running +for his life, pursued by all the animals. + +Lion was the foremost pursuer, and after a great chase Jackal got under +an overhanging precipice, and, standing on his hind legs with his +shoulders pressed against the rock, called loudly to Lion to help him, +as the rock was falling, and would crush them both. Lion put his +shoulders to the rock, and exerted himself to the utmost. After some +little time Jackal proposed that he should creep slowly out, and fetch a +large pole to prop up the rock, so that Lion could get out and save his +life. Jackal did creep out, and left Lion there to starve and die. + + + + +THE DANCE FOR WATER OR RABBIT'S TRIUMPH + + +There was a frightful drought. The rivers after a while dried up and +even the springs gave no water. + +The animals wandered around seeking drink, but to no avail. Nowhere was +water to be found. + +A great gathering of animals was held: Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Jackal, +Elephant, all of them came together. What was to be done? That was the +question. One had this plan, and another had that; but no plan seemed of +value. + +Finally one of them suggested: "Come, let all of us go to the dry river +bed and dance; in that way we can tread out the water." + +Good! Everyone was satisfied and ready to begin instantly, excepting +Rabbit, who said, "I will not go and dance. All of you are mad to +attempt to get water from the ground by dancing." + +The other animals danced and danced, and ultimately danced the water to +the surface. How glad they were. Everyone drank as much as he could, but +Rabbit did not dance with them. So it was decided that Rabbit should +have no water. + +He laughed at them: "I will nevertheless drink some of your water." + +That evening he proceeded leisurely to the river bed where the dance had +been, and drank as much as he wanted. The following morning the animals +saw the footprints of Rabbit in the ground, and Rabbit shouted to them: +"Aha! I did have some of the water, and it was most refreshing and +tasted fine." + +Quickly all the animals were called together. What were they to do? How +were they to get Rabbit in their hands? All had some means to propose; +the one suggested this, and the other that. + +Finally old Tortoise moved slowly forward, foot by foot: "I will catch +Rabbit." + +"You? How? What do you think of yourself?" shouted the others in +unison. + +"Rub my shell with pitch,[1] and I will go to the edge of the water and +lie down. I will then resemble a stone, so that when Rabbit steps on me +his feet will stick fast." + +"Yes! Yes! That's good." + +And in a one, two, three, Tortoise's shell was covered with pitch, and +foot by foot he moved away to the river. At the edge, close to the +water, he lay down and drew his head into his shell. + +Rabbit during the evening came to get a drink. "Ha!" he chuckled +sarcastically, "they are, after all, quite decent. Here they have placed +a stone, so now I need not unnecessarily wet my feet." + +Rabbit trod with his left foot on the stone, and there it stuck. +Tortoise then put his head out. "Ha! old Tortoise! And it's you, is it, +that's holding me. But here I still have another foot. I'll give you a +good clout." Rabbit gave Tortoise what he said he would with his right +fore foot, hard and straight; and there his foot remained. + +"I have yet a hind foot, and with it I'll kick you." Rabbit drove his +hind foot down. This also rested on Tortoise where it struck. + +"But still another foot remains, and now I'll tread you." He stamped his +foot down, but it stuck like the others. + +He used his head to hammer Tortoise, and his tail as a whip, but both +met the same fate as his feet, so there he was tight and fast down to +the pitch. + +Tortoise now slowly turned himself round and foot by foot started for +the other animals, with Rabbit on his back. + +"Ha! ha! ha! Rabbit! How does it look now? Insolence does not pay after +all," shouted the animals. + +Now advice was sought. What should they do with Rabbit? He certainly +must die. But how? One said, "Behead him"; another, "Some severe +penalty." + +"Rabbit, how are we to kill you?" + +"It does not affect me," Rabbit said. "Only a shameful death please do +not pronounce." + +"And what is that?" they all shouted. + +"To take me by my tail and dash my head against a stone; that I pray and +beseech you don't do." + +"No, but just so you'll die. That is decided." + +It was decided Rabbit should die by taking him by his tail and dashing +his head to pieces against some stone. But who is to do it? + +Lion, because he is the most powerful one. + +Good! Lion should do it. He stood up, walked to the front, and poor +Rabbit was brought to him. Rabbit pleaded and beseeched that he couldn't +die such a miserable death. + +Lion took Rabbit firmly by the tail and swung him around. The white skin +slipped off from Rabbit, and there Lion stood with the white bit of skin +and hair in his paw. Rabbit was free. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Black beeswax. + + + + +JACKAL AND MONKEY + + +Every evening Jackal went to the Boer's kraal. He crept through the +sliding door and stole a fat young lamb. This, clever Jackal did several +times in succession. Boer set a wip[2] for him at the door. Jackal went +again and zip--there he was caught around the body by the noose. He +swung and swayed high in the air and couldn't touch ground. The day +began to dawn and Jackal became uneasy. + +On a stone kopje, Monkey sat. When it became light he could see the +whole affair, and descended hastily for the purpose of mocking Jackal. +He went and sat on the wall. "Ha, ha, good morning. So there you are +hanging now, eventually caught." + +"What? I caught? I am simply swinging for my pleasure; it is enjoyable." + +"You fibber. You are caught in the wip." + +"If you but realized how nice it was to swing and sway like this, you +wouldn't hesitate. Come, try it a little. You feel so healthy and strong +for the day, and you never tire afterwards." + +"No, I won't. You are caught." + +After a while Jackal convinced Monkey. He sprang from the kraal wall, +and freeing Jackal, adjusted the noose around his own body. Jackal +quickly let go and began to laugh, as Monkey was now swinging high in +the air. + +"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed. "Now Monkey is in the wip." + +"Jackal, free me," he screamed. + +"There, Boer is coming," shouted Jackal. + +"Jackal, free me of this, or I'll break your playthings." + +"No, there Boer is coming with his gun; you rest a while in the noose." + +"Jackal, quickly make me free." + +"No, here's Boer already, and he's got his gun. Good morning." And with +these parting words he ran away as fast as he could. Boer came and saw +Monkey in the wip. + +"So, so, Monkey, now you are caught. You are the fellow who has been +stealing my lambs, hey?" + +"No, Boer, no," screamed Monkey, "not I, but Jackal." + +"No, I know you; you aren't too good for that." + +"No, Boer, no, not I, but Jackal," Monkey stammered. + +"Oh, I know you. Just wait a little," and Boer, raising his gun, aimed +and shot poor Monkey dead. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] _Wip_: A Dutch word for springle, consisting of a bent green stick, +to which a noose is attached at one end; the trap is delicately adjusted +by a cross stick, which when trod on releases the bent bough, pulling +the noose quickly around the animal and into the air. + + + + +LION'S SHARE + + +Lion and Jackal went together a-hunting. They shot with arrows. Lion +shot first, but his arrow fell short of its aim; but Jackal hit the +game, and joyfully cried out, "It has hit." + +Lion looked at him with his two large eyes; Jackal, however, did not +lose his countenance, but said, "No, uncle, I mean to say that you have +hit." Then they followed the game, and Jackal passed the arrow of Lion +without drawing the latter's attention to it. When they arrived at a +crossway, Jackal said: "Dear uncle, you are old and tired; stay here." +Jackal went then on a wrong track, beat his nose, and, in returning, let +the blood drop from it like traces of game. "I could not find anything," +he said, "but I met with traces of blood. You had better go yourself to +look for it. In the meantime I shall go this other way." + +Jackal soon found the killed animal, crept inside of it, and devoured +the best portion; but his tail remained outside, and when Lion arrived, +he got hold of it, pulled Jackal out, and threw him on the ground with +these words: "You rascal!" + +Jackal rose quickly again, complained of the rough handling, and asked, +"What have I now done, dear uncle? I was busy cutting out the best +part." + +"Now let us go and fetch our wives," said Lion, but Jackal entreated his +dear uncle to remain at the place because he was old. Jackal then went +away, taking with him two portions of the flesh, one for his own wife, +but the best part for the wife of Lion. When Jackal arrived with the +flesh, the children of Lion, seeing him, began to jump, and clapping +their hands, cried out: "There comes cousin with flesh!" Jackal threw, +grumbling, the worst portion to them, and said, "There, you brood of the +big-eyed one!" Then he went to his own house and told his wife +immediately to break up the house, and to go where the killed game was. +Lioness wished to do the same, but he forbade her, and said that Lion +would himself come to fetch her. + +When Jackal, with his wife and children, arrived in the neighborhood of +the killed animal, he ran into a thorn bush, scratched his face so that +it bled, and thus made his appearance before Lion, to whom he said, "Ah! +what a wife you have got. Look here, how she scratched my face when I +told her that she should come with us. You must fetch her yourself; I +cannot bring her." Lion went home very angry. Then Jackal said, "Quick, +let us build a tower." They heaped stone upon stone, stone upon stone, +stone upon stone; and when it was high enough, everything was carried to +the top of it. When Jackal saw Lion approaching with his wife and +children, he cried out to him: + +"Uncle, whilst you were away we have built a tower, in order to be +better able to see game." + +"All right," said Lion; "but let me come up to you." + +"Certainly, dear uncle; but how will you manage to come up? We must let +down a thong for you." + +Lion tied the thong around his body and Jackal began drawing him up, but +when nearly to the top Jackal cried to Lion, "My, uncle, how heavy you +are!" Then, unseen by Lion, he cut the thong. Lion fell to the ground, +while Jackal began loudly and angrily to scold his wife, and then said, +"Go, wife, fetch me a new thong"--"an old one," he said aside to her. + +Lion again tied himself to the thong, and, just as he was near the top, +Jackal cut the thong as before; Lion fell heavily to the bottom, +groaning aloud, as he had been seriously hurt. + +"No," said Jackal, "that will never do: you must, however, manage to +come up high enough so that you may get a mouthful at least." Then aloud +he ordered his wife to prepare a good piece, but aside he told her to +make a stone hot, and to cover it with fat. Then he drew Lion up once +more, and complaining how heavy he was to hold, told him to open his +mouth, and thereupon threw the hot stone down his throat. Lion fell to +the ground and lay there pleading for water, while Jackal climbed down +and made his escape. + + + + +JACKAL'S BRIDE + + +Jackal, it is said, married Hyena, and carried off a cow belonging to +the ants, to slaughter her for the wedding; and when he had slaughtered +her, he put the cowskin over his bride; and when he had fixed a pole (on +which to hang the flesh), he placed on the top of the pole (which was +forked) the hearth for the cooking, in order to cook upon it all sorts +of delicious food. There came also Lion, and wished to go up. Jackal, +therefore, asked his little daughter for a thong with which he could +pull Lion up; and he began to pull him up; and when his face came near +to the cooking-pot, he cut the thong in two, so that Lion tumbled down. +Then Jackal upbraided his little daughter with these words: "Why do you +give me such an old thong?" And he added, "Give me a fresh thong." She +gave him a new thong, and he pulled Lion up again, and when his face +came near the pot, which stood on the fire, he said, "open your mouth." +Then he put into his mouth a hot piece of quartz which had been boiled +together with the fat, and the stone went down, burning his throat. Thus +died Lion. + +There came also the ants running after the cow, and when Jackal saw them +he fled. Then they beat the bride in her brookaross dress. Hyena, +believing that it was Jackal, said: + +"You tawny rogue! have you not played at beating long enough? Have you +no more loving game than this?" + +But when she had bitten a hole through the cowskin, she saw that they +were other people; then she fled, falling here and there, yet made her +escape. + + + + +THE STORY OF HARE + + +Once upon a time the animals made a kraal and put some fat in it. They +agreed that one of their number should remain to be the keeper of the +gate. The first one that was appointed was the coney (imbila). He agreed +to take charge, and all the others went away. In a short time the coney +fell asleep, when the inkalimeva (a fabulous animal) went in and ate all +the fat. After doing this, he threw a little stone at the coney. + +The coney started up and cried out: "The fat belonging to all the +animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +It repeated this cry several times, calling out very loudly. The animals +at a distance heard it, they ran to the kraal, and when they saw that +the fat was gone they killed the coney. + +They put fat in the kraal a second time, and appointed the muishond +(ingaga) to keep the gate. The muishond consented, and the animals went +away as before. After a little time the inkalimeva came to the kraal, +bringing some honey with it. It invited the keeper of the gate to eat +honey, and while the muishond was enjoying himself the inkalimeva went +in and stole all the fat. It threw a stone at the muishond, which caused +him to look up. + +The muishond cried out: "The fat belonging to all the animals has been +eaten by the inkalimeva." + +As soon as the animals heard the cry, they ran to the kraal and killed +the muishond. + +They put fat in the kraal a third time, and appointed the duiker +(impunzi) to be the keeper of the gate. The duiker agreed, and the +others went away. In a short time the inkalimeva made its appearance. It +proposed to the duiker that they should play hide and look for. The +duiker agreed to this. Then the inkalimeva hid itself, and the duiker +looked for it till he was so tired that he lay down and went to sleep. +When the duiker was asleep, the inkalimeva ate up all the fat. + +Then it threw a stone at the duiker, which caused him to jump up and cry +out: "The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the +inkalimeva." + +The animals, when they heard the cry, ran to the kraal and killed the +duiker. + +They put fat in the kraal the fourth time, and appointed the bluebuck +(inputi) to be the keeper of the gate. When the animals went away, the +inkalimeva came as before. + +It said: "What are you doing by yourself?" + +The bluebuck answered: "I am watching the fat belonging to all the +animals." + +The inkalimeva said: "I will be your companion. Come, let us scratch +each other's heads." + +The bluebuck agreed to this. The inkalimeva sat down and scratched the +head of the other till he went to sleep. Then it arose and ate all the +fat. When it had finished, it threw a stone at the bluebuck and awakened +him. + +The bluebuck saw what had happened and cried out: "The fat belonging to +all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +Then the animals ran up and killed the bluebuck also. + +They put fat in the kraal the fifth time, and appointed the porcupine +(incanda) to be the keeper of the gate. The animals went away, and the +inkalimeva came as before. + +It said to the porcupine, "Let us run a race against each other." + +It let the porcupine beat in this race. + +Then it said, "I did not think you could run so fast, but let us try +again." They ran again, and it allowed the porcupine to beat the second +time. They ran till the porcupine was so tired that he said, "Let us +rest now." + +They sat down to rest, and the porcupine went to sleep. Then the +inkalimeva rose up and ate all the fat. When it had finished eating, it +threw a stone at the porcupine, which caused him to jump up. + +He called out with a loud voice, "The fat belonging to all the animals +has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +Then the animals came running up and put the porcupine to death. + +They put fat in the kraal the sixth time, and selected the hare +(umvundla) to be the keeper of the gate. At first the hare would not +consent. + +He said, "The coney is dead, and the muishond is dead, and the duiker is +dead, and the bluebuck is dead, and the porcupine is dead, and you will +kill me also." + +They promised him that they would not kill him, and after a good deal of +persuasion he at last agreed to keep the gate. When the animals were +gone he laid himself down, but he only pretended to be asleep. + +In a short time the inkalimeva went in, and was just going to take the +fat when the hare cried out: "Let the fat alone." + +The inkalimeva said, "Please let me have this little bit only." + +The hare answered, mocking, "Please let me have this little bit only." + +After that they became companions. The hare proposed that they should +fasten each other's tail, and the inkalimeva agreed. The inkalimeva +fastened the tail of the hare first. + +The hare said, "Don't tie my tail so tight." + +Then the hare fastened the tail of the inkalimeva. + +The inkalimeva said, "Don't tie my tail so tight," but the hare made no +answer. After tying the tail of the inkalimeva very fast, the hare took +his club and killed it. The hare took the tail of the inkalimeva and ate +it, all except a little piece which he hid in the fence. + +Then he called out, "The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten +by the inkalimeva." + +The animals came running back, and when they saw that the inkalimeva was +dead they rejoiced greatly. They asked the hare for the tail, which +should be kept for the chief. + +The hare replied, "The one I killed had no tail." + +They said, "How can an inkalimeva be without a tail?" + +They began to search, and at length they found a piece of the tail in +the fence. They told the chief that the hare had eaten the tail. + +He said, "Bring him to me!" + +All the animals ran after the hare, but he fled, and they could not +catch him. The hare ran into a hole, at the mouth of which the animals +set a snare, and then went away. The hare remained in the hole for many +days, but at length he managed to get out without being caught. + +He went to a place where he found a bushbuck (imbabala) building a hut. +There was a pot with meat in it on the fire. + +He said to the bushbuck, "Can I take this little piece of meat?" + +The bushbuck answered, "You must not do it." + +But he took the meat and ate it all. Afterwards he whistled in a +particular manner, and there fell a storm of hail which killed the +bushbuck. Then he took the skin of the bushbuck, and made for himself a +mantle. + +After this the hare went into the forest to procure some weapons to +fight with. While he was cutting a stick the monkeys threw leaves upon +him. He called to them to come down and beat him. They came down, but he +killed them all with his weapons. + + + + +THE WHITE MAN AND SNAKE + + +A white man, it is said, met Snake upon whom a large stone had fallen +and covered her so that she could not rise. The White Man lifted the +stone off Snake, but when he had done so, she wanted to bite him. The +White Man said, "Stop! let us both go first to some wise people." They +went to Hyena, and the White Man asked him, "Is it right that Snake +should want to bite me, when I helped her as she lay under a stone and +could not rise?" + +Hyena (who thought he would get his share of the White Man's body) said, +"If you were bitten what would it matter?" + +Then Snake wanted to bite him, but the White Man said again, "Wait a +little, and let us go to other wise people, that I may hear whether this +is right." + +They went and met Jackal. The White Man said to Jackal, "Is it right +for Snake to want to bite me, when I lifted up the stone which lay upon +her?" + +Jackal replied, "I do not believe that Snake could be covered by a stone +so she could not rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I would not +believe it. Therefore, come let us go and see the place where you say it +happened whether it can be true." + +They went, and arrived at the place where it had happened. Jackal said, +"Snake, lie down, and let thyself be covered." + +Snake did so, and the White Man covered her with the stone; but although +she exerted herself very much, she could not rise. Then the White Man +wanted again to release Snake, but Jackal interfered, and said, "Do not +lift the stone. She wanted to bite you, therefore she may rise by +herself." + +Then they both went away and left Snake under the stone. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +A Dutchman was walking by himself and saw Snake lying under a large +stone. Snake implored his help; but when she had become free she said, +"Now I shall eat you." + +The Man answered, "That is not right. Let us first go to Hare." + +When Hare had heard the affair, he said, "It is right." + +"No," said the Man, "let us ask Hyena." + +Hyena declared the same, saying, "It is right." + +"Now let us ask Jackal," said the Man in his despair. + +Jackal answered very slowly and considerately, doubting the whole +affair, and demanding to see first the place, and whether the Man was +able to lift the stone. Snake lay down, and the Man, to prove the truth +of his account, put the stone again over her. + +When she was fast, Jackal said, "Now let her lie there." + + + + +CLOUD-EATING + + +Jackal and Hyena were together, it is said, when a white cloud rose. +Jackal descended upon it, and ate of the cloud as if it were fat. + +When he wanted to come down, he said to Hyena, "My sister, as I am going +to divide with thee, catch me well." So she caught him, and broke his +fall. Then she also went up and ate there, high up on the top of the +cloud. + +When she was satisfied, she said, "My greyish brother, now catch me +well." The greyish rogue said to his friend, "My sister, I shall catch +thee well. Come therefore down." + +He held up his hands, and she came down from the cloud, and when she was +near, Jackal cried out (painfully jumping to one side), "My sister, do +not take it ill. Oh me! Oh me! A thorn has pricked me and sticks in me." +Thus she fell down from above, and was sadly hurt. + +Since that day, it is said that Hyena's hind feet have been shorter and +smaller than the front ones. + + + + +LION'S ILLNESS + + +Lion, it is said, was ill, and they all went to see him in his +suffering. But Jackal did not go, because the traces of the people who +went to see him did not turn back. Thereupon, he was accused by Hyena, +who said, "Though I go to look, yet Jackal does not want to come and +look at the man's sufferings." + +Then Lion let Hyena go, in order that she might catch Jackal; and she +did so, and brought him. + +Lion asked Jackal: "Why did you not come here to see me?" + +Jackal said, "Oh, no! when I heard that my uncle was so very ill, I went +to the witch (doctor) to consult him, whether and what medicine would be +good for my uncle against the pain. The doctor said to me, 'Go and tell +your uncle to take hold of Hyena and draw off her skin, and put it on +while it is still warm. Then he will recover.' Hyena is one who does not +care for my uncle's sufferings." + +Lion followed his advice, got hold of Hyena, drew the skin over her +ears, whilst she howled with all her might, and put it on. + + + + +JACKAL, DOVE, AND HERON + + +Jackal, it is said, came once to Dove, who lived on the top of a rock, +and said, "Give me one of your little ones." + +Dove answered, "I shall not do anything of the kind." + +Jackal said, "Give me it at once! Otherwise, I shall fly up to you." +Then she threw one down to him. + +He came back another day and demanded another little one, and she gave +it to him. After Jackal had gone, Heron came, and asked, "Dove, why do +you cry?" + +Dove answered him, "Jackal has taken away my little ones; it is for this +that I cry." He asked her, "In what manner did he take them?" She +answered him, "When he asked me I refused him; but when he said, 'I +shall at once fly up, therefore give me it,' I threw it down to him." + +Heron said, "Are you such a fool as to give your young ones to Jackal, +who cannot fly?" Then, with the admonition to give no more, he went +away. + +Jackal came again, and said, "Dove, give me a little one." Dove refused, +and told him that Heron had told her that he could not fly up. Jackal +said, "I shall catch him." + +So when Heron came to the banks of the water, Jackal asked him: "Brother +Heron, when the wind comes from this side, how will you stand?" He +turned his neck towards him and said, "I stand thus, bending my neck on +one side." Jackal asked him again, "When a storm comes and when it +rains, how do you stand?" He said to him: "I stand thus, indeed, bending +my neck down." + +Then Jackal beat him on his neck, and broke his neck in the middle. + +Since that day Heron's neck is bent. + + + + +COCK AND JACKAL + + +Cock, it is said, was once overtaken by Jackal, and caught. Cock said to +Jackal, "Please, pray first (before you kill me), as the white man +does." + +Jackal asked, "In what manner does he pray? Tell me." + +"He folds his hands in praying," said Cock. Jackal folded his hands and +prayed. Then Cock spoke again: "You ought not to look about you as you +do. You had better shut your eyes." He did so; and Cock flew away, +upbraiding at the same time Jackal with these words, "You rogue! do you +also pray?" + +There sat Jackal, speechless, because he had been outdone. + + + + +ELEPHANT AND TORTOISE + + +Two powers, Elephant and Rain, had a dispute. Elephant said, "If you say +that you nourish me, in what way is it that you say so?" Rain answered, +"If you say that I do not nourish you, when I go away, will you not +die?" And Rain then departed. + +Elephant said, "Vulture! cast lots to make rain for me." + +Vulture said, "I will not cast lots." + +Then Elephant said to Crow, "Cast lots!" who answered, "Give the things +with which I may cast lots." Crow cast lots and rain fell. It rained at +the lagoons, but they dried up, and only one lagoon remained. + +Elephant went a-hunting. There was, however, Tortoise, to whom Elephant +said, "Tortoise, remain at the water!" Thus Tortoise was left behind +when Elephant went a-hunting. + +There came Giraffe, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Zebra, who said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Gemsbok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Wildebeest, and said, "Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The +water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Roodebok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Springbok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +said, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Jackal, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise said, +"The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Lion, and said, "Little Tortoise, give me water!" When little +Tortoise was about to say something, Lion got hold of him and beat him; +Lion drank of the water, and since then the animals drink water. + +When Elephant came back from the hunting, he said, "Little Tortoise, is +there water?" Tortoise answered, "The animals have drunk the water." +Elephant asked, "Little Tortoise, shall I chew you or swallow you down?" +Little Tortoise said, "Swallow me, if you please!" and Elephant +swallowed him whole. + +After Elephant had swallowed Little Tortoise, and he had entered his +body, he tore off his liver, heart, and kidneys. Elephant said, "Little +Tortoise, you kill me." + +So Elephant died; but little Tortoise came out of his dead body, and +went wherever he liked. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +Giraffe and Tortoise, they say, met one day. Giraffe said to Tortoise, +"At once I could trample you to death." Tortoise, being afraid, remained +silent. Then Giraffe said, "At once I could swallow you." Tortoise said, +in answer to this, "Well, I just belong to the family of those whom it +has always been customary to swallow." Then Giraffe swallowed Tortoise; +but when the latter was being gulped down, he stuck in Giraffe's throat, +and as the latter could not get it down, he was choked to death. + +When Giraffe was dead, Tortoise crawled out and went to Crab (who is +considered as the mother of Tortoise), and told her what had happened. +Then Crab said: + + "The little Crab! I could sprinkle it under its arm with Boochoo,[3] + The crooked-legged little one, I could sprinkle under its arm." + +Tortoise answered its mother and said: + + "Have you not always sprinkled me, + That you want to sprinkle me now?" + +Then they went and fed for a whole year on the remains of Giraffe. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] (In token of approval, according to a Hottentot custom.) + + + + +TORTOISES HUNTING OSTRICHES + + +One day, it is said, the Tortoises held a council how they might hunt +Ostriches, and they said, "Let us, on both sides, stand in rows near +each other, and let one go to hunt the Ostriches, so that they must flee +along through the midst of us." They did so, and as they were many, the +Ostriches were obliged to run along through the midst of them. During +this they did not move, but, remaining always in the same places, called +each to the other, "Are you there?" and each one answered, "I am here." +The Ostriches hearing this, ran so tremendously that they quite +exhausted their strength, and fell down. Then the Tortoises assembled +by-and-by at the place where the Ostriches had fallen, and devoured +them. + + + + +THE JUDGMENT OF BABOON + + +One day, it is said, the following story happened: + +Mouse had torn the clothes of Itkler (the tailor), who then went to +Baboon, and accused Mouse with these words: + +"In this manner I come to thee: Mouse has torn my clothes, but will not +know anything of it, and accuses Cat; Cat protests likewise her +innocence, and says, 'Dog must have done it'; but Dog denies it also, +and declares Wood has done it; and Wood throws the blame on Fire, and +says, 'Fire did it'; Fire says, 'I have not, Water did it'; Water says, +'Elephant tore the clothes'; and Elephant says, 'Ant tore them.' Thus a +dispute has arisen among them. Therefore, I, Itkler, come to thee with +this proposition: Assemble the people and try them in order that I may +get satisfaction." + +Thus he spake, and Baboon assembled them for trial. Then they made the +same excuses which had been mentioned by Itkler, each one putting the +blame upon the other. + +So Baboon did not see any other way of punishing them, save through +making them punish each other; he therefore said, + +"Mouse, give Itkler satisfaction." + +Mouse, however, pleaded not guilty. But Baboon said, "Cat, bite Mouse." +She did so. + +He then put the same question to Cat, and when she exculpated herself, +Baboon called to Dog, "Here, bite Cat." + +In this manner Baboon questioned them all, one after the other, but they +each denied the charge. Then he addressed the following words to them, +and said, + + "Wood, beat Dog. + Fire, burn Wood. + Water, quench Fire. + Elephant, drink Water. + Ant, bite Elephant in his most tender parts." + +They did so, and since that day they cannot any longer agree with each +other. + +Ant enters into Elephant's most tender parts and bites him. + + Elephant swallows Water. + Water quenches Fire. + Fire consumes Wood. + Wood beats Dog. + Dog bites Cat. + And Cat bites Mouse. + +Through this judgment Itkler got satisfaction and addressed Baboon in +the following manner: + +"Yes! Now I am content, since I have received satisfaction, and with all +my heart I thank thee, Baboon, because thou hast exercised justice on my +behalf and given me redress." + +Then Baboon said, "From to-day I will not any longer be called Jan, but +Baboon shall be my name." + +Since that time Baboon walks on all fours, having probably lost the +privilege of walking erect through this foolish judgment. + + + + +LION AND BABOON + + +Baboon, it is said, once worked bamboos, sitting on the edge of a +precipice, and Lion stole upon him. Baboon, however, had fixed some +round, glistening, eye-like plates on the back of his head. When, +therefore, Lion crept upon him, he thought, when Baboon was looking at +him, that he sat with his back towards him, and crept with all his might +upon him. When, however, Baboon turned his back towards him, Lion +thought that he was seen, and hid himself. Thus, when Baboon looked at +him, he crept upon him.[4] When he was near him Baboon looked up, and +Lion continued to creep upon him. Baboon said (aside), "Whilst I am +looking at him he steals upon me, whilst my hollow eyes are on him." + +When at last Lion sprung at him, he lay (quickly) down upon his face, +and Lion jumped over him, falling down the precipice, and was dashed to +pieces. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Whilst Baboon did this, Lion came close upon him. + + + + +THE ZEBRA STALLION + + +The Baboons, it is said, used to disturb the Zebra Mares in drinking. +But one of the Mares became the mother of a foal. The others then helped +her to suckle (the young stallion), that he might soon grow up. + +When he was grown up and they were in want of water, he brought them to +the water. The Baboons, seeing this, came, as they formerly were used to +do, into their way, and kept them from the water. + +While the Mares stood thus, the Stallion stepped forward, and spoke to +one of the Baboons, "Thou gum-eater's child!" + +The Baboon said to the Stallion, "Please open thy mouth, that I may see +what thou livest on." The Stallion opened his mouth, and it was milky. + +Then the Stallion said to the Baboon, "Please open thy mouth also, that +I may see." The Baboon did so, and there was some gum in it. But the +Baboon quickly licked some milk off the Stallion's tongue. The Stallion +on this became angry, took the Baboon by his shoulders, and pressed him +upon a hot, flat rock. Since that day the Baboon has a bald place on his +back. + +The Baboon said, lamenting, "I, my mother's child, I, the gum-eater, am +outdone by this milk-eater!" + + + + +WHEN LION COULD FLY + + +Lion, it is said, used once to fly, and at that time nothing could live +before him. As he was unwilling that the bones of what he caught should +be broken into pieces, he made a pair of White Crows watch the bones, +leaving them behind at the kraal whilst he went a-hunting. But one day +Great Frog came there, broke the bones in pieces, and said, "Why can men +and animals live no longer?" And he added these words, "When he comes, +tell him that I live at yonder pool; if he wishes to see me, he must +come there." + +Lion, lying in wait (for game), wanted to fly up, but found he could not +fly. Then he got angry, thinking that at the kraal something was wrong, +and returned home. When he arrived he asked, "What have you done that I +cannot fly?" Then they answered and said, "Some one came here, broke the +bones into pieces, and said, 'If he want me, he may look for me at +yonder pool!'" Lion went, and arrived while Frog was sitting at the +water's edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. When he was +about to get hold of him, Frog said, "Ho!" and, diving, went to the +other side of the pool, and sat there. Lion pursued him; but as he could +not catch him he returned home. + +From that day, it is said, Lion walked on his feet, and also began to +creep upon (his game); and the White Crows became entirely dumb since +the day that they said, "Nothing can be said of that matter." + + + + +LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF WISER THAN HIS MOTHER + + +It is said that when Lion and Gurikhoisip (the Only man), together with +Baboon, Buffalo, and other friends, were playing one day at a certain +game, there was a thunderstorm and rain at Aroxaams. Lion and +Gurikhoisip began to quarrel. "I shall run to the rain-field," said +Lion. Gurikhoisip said also, "I shall run to the rain-field." As neither +would concede this to the other, they separated (angrily). After they +had parted, Lion went to tell his Mother those things which they had +both said. + +His Mother said to him, "My son! that Man whose head is in a line with +his shoulders and breast, who has pinching weapons, who keeps white +dogs, who goes about wearing the tuft of a tiger's tail, beware of him!" +Lion, however, said, "Why need I be on my guard against those whom I +know?" Lioness answered, "My Son, take care of him who has pinching +weapons!" But Lion would not follow his Mother's advice, and the same +morning, when it was still pitch dark, he went to Aroxaams, and laid +himself in ambush. Gurikhoisip went also that morning to the same place. +When he had arrived he let his dogs drink, and then bathe. After they +had finished they wallowed. Then also Man drank; and, when he had done +drinking, Lion came out of the bush. Dogs surrounded him as his Mother +had foretold, and he was speared by Gurikhoisip. Just as he became aware +that he was speared, the Dogs drew him down again. In this manner he +grew faint. While he was in this state, Gurikhoisip said to the Dogs, +"Let him alone now, that he may go and be taught by his Mother." So the +Dogs let him go. They left him, and went home as he lay there. The same +night he walked towards home, but whilst he was on the way his strength +failed him, and he lamented: + + "Mother! take me up! + Grandmother! take me up! Oh me! Alas!" + +At the dawn of day his Mother heard his wailing, and said-- + +"My Son, this is the thing which I have told thee: + + "'Beware of the one who has pinching weapons, + Who wears a tuft of tiger's tail, + Of him who has white dogs! + Alas! thou son of her who is short-eared, + Thou, my short-eared child! + Son of her who eats raw flesh, + Thou flesh-devourer; + Son of her whose nostrils are red from the prey, + Thou with blood-stained nostrils! + Son of her who drinks pit-water, + Thou water-drinker!'" + + + + +LION WHO TOOK A WOMAN'S SHAPE + + +Some Women, it is said, went out to seek roots and herbs and other wild +food. On their way home they sat down and said, "Let us taste the food +of the field." Now they found that the food picked by one of them was +sweet, while that of the others was bitter. The latter said to each +other, "Look here! this Woman's herbs are sweet." Then they said to the +owner of the sweet food, "Throw it away and seek for other." So she +threw away the food, and went to gather more. When she had collected a +sufficient supply, she returned to join the other Women, but could not +find them. She went therefore down to the river, where Hare sat lading +water, and said to him, "Hare, give me some water that I may drink." But +he replied, "This is the cup out of which my uncle (Lion) and I alone +may drink." + +She asked again: "Hare, draw water for me that I may drink." But Hare +made the same reply. Then she snatched the cup from him and drank, but +he ran home to tell his uncle of the outrage which had been committed. + +The Woman meanwhile replaced the cup and went away. After she had +departed Lion came down, and, seeing her in the distance, pursued her on +the road. When she turned round and saw him coming, she sang in the +following manner: + + "My mother, she would not let me seek herbs, + Herbs of the field, food from the field. Hoo!" + +When Lion at last came up with the Woman, they hunted each other round a +shrub. She wore many beads and arm-rings, and Lion said, "Let me put +them on!" So she lent them to him, but he afterwards refused to return +them to her. + +They then hunted each other again round the shrub, till Lion fell down, +and the Woman jumped upon him, and kept him there. Lion (uttering a form +of conjuration) said: + + "My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +She then rose from him, and they hunted again after each other round the +shrub, till the Woman fell down, and Lion jumped upon her. She then +addressed him: + + "My Uncle! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +He rose, of course, and they hunted each other again, till Lion fell a +second time. When she jumped upon him he said: + + "My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +They rose again and hunted after each other. The Woman at last fell +down. But this time when she repeated the above conjuration, Lion said: + +"Hč Kha! Is it morning, and time to rise?" + +He then ate her, taking care, however, to leave her skin whole, which he +put on, together with her dress and ornaments, so that he looked quite +like a woman, and then went home to her kraal. + +When this counterfeit woman arrived, her little sister, crying, said, +"My sister, pour some milk out for me." She answered, "I shall not pour +you out any." Then the Child addressed their Mother: "Mama, do pour out +some for me." The Mother of the kraal said, "Go to your sister, and let +her give it to you!" The little Child said again to her sister, "Please, +pour out for me!" She, however, repeated her refusal, saying, "I will +not do it." Then the Mother of the kraal said to the little One, "I +refused to let her (the elder sister) seek herbs in the field, and I do +not know what may have happened; go therefore to Hare, and ask him to +pour out for you." + +So then Hare gave her some milk; but her elder sister said, "Come and +share it with me." The little Child then went to her sister with her +bamboo (cup), and they both sucked the milk out of it. Whilst they were +doing this, some milk was spilt on the little one's hand, and the elder +sister licked it up with her tongue, the roughness of which drew blood; +this, too, the Woman licked up. + +The little Child complained to her Mother: "Mama, sister pricks holes in +me and sucks the blood." The Mother said, "With what Lion's nature your +sister went the way that I forbade her, and returned, I do not know." + +Now the Cows arrived, and the elder sister cleansed the pails in order +to milk them. But when she approached the Cows with a thong (in order to +tie their fore-legs), they all refused to be milked by her. + +Hare said, "Why do not you stand before the Cow?" She replied, "Hare, +call your brother, and do you two stand before the Cow." Her husband +said, "What has come over her that the Cows refuse her? These are the +same Cows she always milks." The Mother (of the kraal) said, "What has +happened this evening? These are Cows which she always milks without +assistance. What can have affected her that she comes home as a woman +with a Lion's nature?" + +The elder daughter then said to her Mother, "I shall not milk the +Cows." With these words she sat down. The Mother said therefore to Hare, +"Bring me the bamboos, that I may milk. I do not know what has come over +the girl." + +So the Mother herself milked the cows, and when she had done so, Hare +brought the bamboos to the young wife's house, where her husband was, +but she (the wife) did not give him (her husband) anything to eat. But +when at night time she fell asleep, they saw some of the Lion's hair, +which was hanging out where he had slipped on the Woman's skin, and they +cried, "Verily! this is quite another being. It is for this reason that +the Cows refused to be milked." + +Then the people of the kraal began to break up the hut in which Lion lay +asleep. When they took off the mats, they said (conjuring them), "If +thou art favourably inclined to me, O Mat, give the sound 'sawa'" +(meaning, making no noise). + +To the poles (on which the hut rested) they said, "If thou art +favourably inclined to me, O Pole, thou must give the sound 'gara.'" + +They addressed also the bamboos and the bed-skins in a similar manner. + +Thus gradually and noiselessly they removed the hut and all its +contents. Then they took bunches of grass, put them over the Lion, and +lighting them, said, "If thou art favourably inclined to me, O Fire, +thou must flare up, 'boo boo,' before thou comest to the heart." + +So the Fire flared up when it came towards the heart, and the heart of +the Woman jumped upon the ground. The Mother (of the kraal) picked it +up, and put it into a calabash. + +Lion, from his place in the fire, said to the Mother (of the kraal), +"How nicely I have eaten your daughter." The Woman answered, "You have +also now a comfortable place!" + +Now the Woman took the first milk of as many Cows as had calves, and put +it into the calabash where her daughter's heart was; the calabash +increased in size, and in proportion to this the girl grew again inside +it. + +One day, when the Mother (of the kraal) went out to fetch wood, she said +to Hare, "By the time that I come back you must have everything nice +and clean." But during her Mother's absence, the girl crept out of the +calabash, and put the hut in good order, as she had been used to do in +former days, and said to Hare, "When Mother comes back and asks, 'Who +has done these things?' you must say, 'I, Hare, did them.'" After she +had done all, she hid herself on the stage. + +When the Mother of the kraal came home, she said, "Hare, who has done +these things? They look just as they used when my daughter did them." +Hare said, "I did the things." But the Mother would not believe it, and +looked at the calabash. Seeing it was empty, she searched the stage and +found her daughter. Then she embraced and kissed her, and from that day +the girl stayed with her Mother, and did everything as she was wont in +former times; but she now remained unmarried. + + + + +WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK? + + +The Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were +travelling saw him sitting by the wayside, but passed him without +notice. Jackal, however, who came after them, and saw him also sitting, +went to him and said, "Such a fine little child is left behind by the +men." He then took Sun up, and put it into his awa-skin (on his back). +When it burnt him, he said, "Get down," and shook himself; but Sun stuck +fast to his back, and burnt Jackal's back black from that day. + + + + +HORSE CURSED BY SUN + + +It is said that once Sun was on earth, and caught Horse to ride it. But +it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore Ox took the place of +Horse, and carried Sun on its back. Since that time Horse is cursed in +these words, because it could not carry Sun's weight: + + "From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying. + This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying. + And day and night shalt thou eat, + But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest, + Though thou grazest till morning and again until sunset. + Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee," said Sun. + +Since that day Horse's (certain) time of dying commenced. + + + + +LION'S DEFEAT + + +The wild animals, it is said, were once assembled at Lion's. When Lion +was asleep, Jackal persuaded Little Fox to twist a rope of ostrich +sinews, in order to play Lion a trick. They took ostrich sinews, twisted +them, and fastened the rope to Lion's tail, and the other end of the +rope they tied to a shrub. When Lion awoke, and saw that he was tied up, +he became angry, and called the animals together. When they had +assembled, Lion said (using this form of conjuration)-- + + "What child of his mother and father's love, + Whose mother and father's love has tied me?" + +Then answered the animal to whom the question was first put-- + + "I, child of my mother and father's love, + I, mother and father's love, I have not done it." + +All answered the same; but when he asked Little Fox, Little Fox said-- + + "I, child of my mother and father's love, + I, mother and father's love, have tied thee!" + +Then Lion tore the rope made of sinews, and ran after Little Fox. But +Jackal said: + + "My boy, thou son of lean Mrs. Fox, thou wilt never be caught." + +Truly Lion was thus beaten in running by Little Fox. + + + + +THE ORIGIN OF DEATH + + +The Moon, it is said, sent once an Insect to Men, saying, "Go thou to +Men, and tell them, 'As I die, and dying live, so ye shall also die, and +dying live.'" The Insect started with the message, but whilst on his way +was overtaken by the Hare, who asked: "On what errand art thou bound?" +The Insect answered: "I am sent by the Moon to Men, to tell them that as +she dies, and dying lives, they also shall die, and dying live." The +Hare said, "As thou art an awkward runner, let me go" (to take the +message). With these words he ran off, and when he reached Men, he said, +"I am sent by the Moon to tell you, 'As I die, and dying perish, in the +same manner ye shall also die and come wholly to an end.'" Then the Hare +returned to the Moon, and told her what he had said to Men. The Moon +reproached him angrily, saying, "Darest thou tell the people a thing +which I have not said?" With these words she took up a piece of wood, +and struck him on the nose. Since that day the Hare's nose is slit. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon dies, and rises to life again. The Moon said to the Hare, "Go +thou to Men, and tell them, 'Like as I die and rise to life again, so +you also shall die and rise to life again.'" The Hare went to the Men, +and said, "Like as I die and do not rise to life again, so you shall +also die, and not rise to life again." When he returned the Moon asked +"What hast thou said?" "I have told them, 'Like as I die and do not rise +to life again, so you shall also die and not rise to life again.'" +"What," said the Moon, "hast thou said that?" And she took a stick and +beat the Hare on his mouth, which was slit by the blow. The Hare fled, +and is still fleeing. + + + + +A THIRD VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon, on one occasion, sent the Hare to the earth to inform Men that +as she (the Moon) died away and rose again, so mankind should die and +rise again. Instead, however, of delivering this message as given, the +Hare, either out of forgetfulness or malice, told mankind that as the +Moon rose and died away, so Man should die and rise no more. The Hare, +having returned to the Moon, was questioned as to the message delivered, +and the Moon, having heard the true state of the case, became so enraged +with him that she took up a hatchet to split his head; falling short, +however, of that, the hatchet fell upon the upper lip of the Hare, and +cut it severely. Hence it is that we see the "Hare-lip." The Hare, being +duly incensed at having received such treatment, raised his claws, and +scratched the Moon's face; and the dark spots which we now see on the +surface of the Moon are the scars which she received on that occasion. + + + + +A FOURTH VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon, they say, wished to send a message to Men, and the Hare said +that he would take it. "Run, then," said the Moon, "and tell Men that as +I die and am renewed, so shall they also be renewed." But the Hare +deceived Men, and said, "As I die and perish, so shall you also." + + + + +A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND OF THE "ORIGIN OF DEATH" + + +God (Unknlunkuln) arose from beneath (the seat of the spiritual world, +according to the Zulu idea), and created in the beginning men, animals, +and all things. He then sent for the Chameleon, and said, "Go, +Chameleon, and tell Men that they shall not die." The Chameleon went, +but it walked slowly, and loitered on the way, eating of a shrub called +Bukwebezane. + +When it had been away some time, God sent the Salamander after it, +ordering him to make haste and tell Men that they should die. The +Salamander went on his way with this message, outran the Chameleon, and, +arriving first where the Men were, told them that they must die. + + + + +LITERATURE + + + Geschiedenis van + Zuid Afrika Geo. McCall Theal + + Kafir Folk-lore Geo. McCall Theal 1882 + + African Native + Literature S. W. Koelle 1854 + + South African + Folk-lore Journal + Hottentot Fables + and Tales W. H. I. Bleek 1864 + + An expedition of + Discovery into + the Interior of + Africa James Alexander 1838 + + South Africa a + Century Ago Anna Barnard 1901 + + An account of travels + into the interior of + South Africa John Barrow 1802 + + Travels in South + Africa John Campbell 1816 + + The Childhood of Man Leo Frobenius 1909 + + Travels and Adventure + in Eastern Africa Nathaniel Isaacs 1836 + + Narrative of Discovery + and Adventure + in Africa Jameson, etc. 1830 + + Voyage dans L'intérieur + de l'Afrique F. Le Vaillant 1796 + + Missionary Travels + and Researches in + South Africa D. Livingstone 1858 + + Scenes in Africa Capt. Marryat 1851 + + Missionary Labors + and Scenes in + South Africa R. Moffat 1845 + + A New Gazetteer + of the Asia, + Africa, etc., + Continents J. Morse 1802 + + South African Native S. A. Native Races + Races Committee 1909 + + Researches into + the Physical + History of + Mankind J. C. Prichard 1841 + + Memorials of + South Africa B. Shaw 1841 + + Wanderings and + Adventures in + the Interior of + South Africa A. Stedman 1835 + + Notes on the + Bushmen E. & D. Bleek 1909 + + Africa K. Johnston 1878 + + A Voyage to the + Cape of Good + Hope A. Sparrmann 1785 + + Travels in South + Africa Henry Lichtenstein 1800 + + The Dwarfs of + Mount Atlas R. G. Haliburton 1891 + + The Native Races + of South Africa G. W. Stow 1905 + + Description du + Cap de Bonne + Esperance Pierre Kolbe 1741 + + Specimens of Dialects John Clarke 1849 + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Puncutation has been standardised. + +Chapter headings in the Contents do not always match the headings +in the body of the book. + +Both Folk-lore and Folklore appear in the text. + + Page 24 + Wolf's tale," said the rogue + Wolf's tail," said the rogue + + Page 38 + Paragraph inserted before "It is also better," + + Page 150 + Voyage dans l'Interieur + Voyage dans l'Intérieur + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's South-African Folk-Tales, by James A. Honey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 38339-8.txt or 38339-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/3/38339/ + +Produced by Michael Hale, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (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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Honey + +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: South-African Folk-Tales + +Author: James A. Honey + +Release Date: December 19, 2011 [EBook #38339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Hale, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> + +<h2>SOUTH-AFRICAN<br /> +FOLK-TALES</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p> + +<h1>SOUTH-AFRICAN<br /> +FOLK-TALES</h1> +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>JAMES A. HONEŸ, M.D.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY<br /> +1910<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1910, by</span><br /> +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY<br /> +<br /> +Published, November, 1910<br /> +<br /> +THE TROW PRESS, NEW YORK<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"> +AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED<br /> +TO<br /> +<span class="smcap">C. F. H. and F. I. G.</span><br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Origin of the Difference in Modes of<br />Life Between Hottentots and Bushmen</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lost Message</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Monkey's Fiddle</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Tiger, the Ram, and the Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Jackal and the Wolf</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Jackal and a Wolf</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The World's Reward</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lion and the Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tink-tinkje</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lion and Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lion and Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Hunt of Lion and Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Story of Lion and Little Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Lioness and the Ostrich</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Crocodile's Treason</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Story of a Dam</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Dance for Water or Rabbits'<br />Triumph</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jackal and Monkey</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion's Share</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jackal's Bride</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Story of Hare</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The White Man and Snake</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Another Version of the Same Fable</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cloud Eating</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion's Illness</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Jackal, Dove, and Heron</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Cock and Jackal</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elephant and Tortoise</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Another Version of the Same Fable</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Tortoise Hunting Ostriches</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Judgment of Baboon</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion and Baboon</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Zebra Stallion</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">When Lion Could Fly</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion Who Thought Himself Wiser Than<br />His Mother</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion Who Took a Woman's Shape</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Why Has Jackal a Long Black Stripe<br />on His Back?</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Horse Cursed by Sun</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Lion's Defeat</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Origin of Death</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Another Version of the Same Fable</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Third Version of the Same Fable</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Fourth Version of the Same Fable</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Zulu Version of the Legend of the<br />"Origin of Death"</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Literature on South-African Folk-Lore</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> +<h2>SOUTH-AFRICAN<br /> +FOLK-TALES</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>In presenting these stories, which are of deep +interest and value to South Africans, I +hope they may prove of some value to +those Americans who have either an interest in +animals or who appreciate the folklore of other +countries.</p> + +<p>Many of these tales have appeared among +English collections previous to 1880, others +have been translated from the Dutch, and a few +have been written from childhood remembrance. +Consequently they do not pretend to be original +or unique. Care has been taken not to spoil +the ethnological value for the sake of form or +structure; and in all cases they are as nearly +like the original as a translation from one tongue +to another will allow. They are all South-African +folklore tales and mainly from the Bushmen. +Some are perverted types from what were +originally Bushmen tales, but have been taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +over by Hottentots or Zulus; a few are from the +Dutch. Most of these last named will show a +European influence, especially French.</p> + +<p>Some of the animal stories have appeared in +American magazines under the author's name, +but this is the first time that a complete collection +has appeared since Dr. Bleek published his +stories in 1864. The object has been to keep +the stories apart from those which have a mythological +or religious significance, and especially +to keep it an animal collection free from those +in which man appears to take a part.</p> + +<p>There will be found several versions of the +same story, and as far as possible these will be +put in the order of their importance in relation +to the original. The author does not pretend to +be an authority on South-African folklore, but +has only a South-African-born interest in what +springs from that country of sunshine. It is a +difficult task to attempt to trace the origin of +these stories, as there is no country where there +have been so many distinct and primitive races +dwelling together.</p> + +<p>The Bushmen seem to trace back to the earli<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>est +Egyptian days, when dwarfs were pictured +on the tombs of the kings and were a distinct +race. From then until now it has been their +pride to say that before men were men, they +were; or, to put it clearer, before Africa was +inhabited by other races, they were there. As +represented by some of these stories of the +Bushmen, what races have not, then, had their +influence on the folklore? According to Stow, +they were a wandering primitive race of small +men, painters and sculptors, hunters and herdsmen, +and withal a race showing traces of wonderful +reasoning and adaptability, with a keen +sense of justice and a store of pride. Mythological +some of their stories are, but whether this +is due to the influence of the Hottentots, a later +race, it is difficult to say. And, lastly, there +are the Kaffirs spread over the whole of South +Africa, domineering, but backward. The varied +influences which may have affected these stories +before they reached us show what enormous +possibilities there are for error in tracing the +origin of the animal tales here presented. Bleek +finds that a greater congeniality exists between<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +the Hottentot and European mind than is found +between the latter and any other of the black +races of Africa. Whether he means that this +indicates a European origin of the fables, I cannot +say. There is no doubt in my mind that +the Bushmen came from the north and were the +primitive race of south and tropical Africa, the +dwarfs of Livingstone, Stanley, and other explorers. +Considering, then, the great antiquity +of this race, it naturally follows that if these +stories are not original with the Bushmen, they +are at least so modified as to bear no resemblance +to Egyptian, Phœnician, or any other ancient +race which the Bushmen may have come in contact +with. Herodotus described a race on the +upper Nile which corresponds with later descriptions +of the Bushmen in tropical and southern +Africa.</p> + +<p>I agree with what the <i>South-African Folklore +Journal</i> stated twenty years or more ago, that +with the "vast strides South Africa is making +in the progress of civilization, the native +races will either be swept away or so altered +as to lose many of their ancient habits, cus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>toms, +traditions, or at least greatly to modify +them."</p> + +<p>Knowing that by a collection of this kind +these stories could best be preserved, and feeling +that others had not read them, I began this +collection ten years ago. There is so much done +now to preserve what is still Bushmen folklore +that I feel this small volume is indeed only a +small addition to the folklore world.</p> + +<p>"South-African folklore is," the <i>South-African +Folklore Journal</i> says, "in its very nature +plain, and primitive in its simplicity; not +adorned with the wealth of palaces and precious +stones to be met with in the folklore of more +civilized nations, but descriptive in great measure +of the events of everyday life, among those +in a low state of civilization; and with the exception +of evidences of moral qualities, and of +such imagery as is connected with the phenomena +of nature, very little that is grand or magnificent +must be looked for in it."</p> + +<p>Bain gives a story related by a Kaffir which +shows "the distribution of animals after the +creation." This story could not become typ<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>ically +Kaffir until after the Kaffir came in contact +with the European in the last two or three +hundred years. However, the story will serve +to illustrate the people whose stories appear in +this volume and to close the Introduction.</p> + +<p>Teco, in Kaffir, is the Supreme Being. Teco +had every description of stock and property.</p> + +<p>There were three nations created, viz., the +Whites, the Amakosa, or Kaffirs, and the Amalouw, +or Hottentots. A day was appointed for +them to appear before the Teco to receive whatever +he might apportion to each tribe. While +they were assembling, a honey bird, or honey +guide, came fluttering by, and all the Hottentots +ran after it, whistling and making the peculiar +noise they generally do while following +this wonderful little bird. The Teco remonstrated +with them about their behavior, but to +no purpose. He thereupon denounced them as +a vagrant race that would have to exist on wild +roots and honey beer, and possess no stock whatever.</p> + +<p>When the fine herds of cattle were brought, +the Kaffirs became very much excited—the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +exclaiming, "That black and white cow is +mine!" and another, "That red cow and black +bull are mine!" and so on, till at last the Teco, +whose patience had been severely taxed by their +shouts and unruly behavior, denounced them as +a restless people, who would only possess cattle.</p> + +<p>The Whites patiently waited until they received +cattle, horses, sheep, and all sorts of +property. Hence, the old Kaffir observed, "You +Whites have got everything. We Kaffirs have +only cattle, while the Amalouw, or Hottentots, +have nothing."</p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">James A. Honeÿ.</span><br /></div> +<p><span class="smcap">Cambridge, Mass.</span>, June, 1910.<br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> +<h2>ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE<br /> +IN MODES OF LIFE BETWEEN<br /> +HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN</h2> + + +<p>In the beginning there were two. One was +blind, the other was always hunting. This +hunter found at last a hole in the earth +from which game proceeded and killed the +young. The blind man, feeling and smelling +them, said, "They are not game, but cattle."</p> + +<p>The blind man afterwards recovered his sight, +and going with the hunter to this hole, saw +that they were cows with their calves. He then +quickly built a kraal (fence made of thorns) +round them, and anointed himself, just as Hottentots +(in their native state) are still wont +to do.</p> + +<p>When the other, who now with great trouble +had to seek his game, came and saw this, he +wanted to anoint himself also. "Look here!" +said the other, "you must throw the ointment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +into the fire, and afterwards use it." He followed +this advice, and the flames flaring up into +his face, burnt him most miserably; so that he +was glad to make his escape. The other, however, +called to him: "Here, take the kirri (a +knobstick), and run to the hills to hunt there +for honey."</p> + +<p>Hence sprung the race of Bushmen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LOST MESSAGE</h2> + + +<p>The ant has had from time immemorial +many enemies, and because he is small +and destructive, there have been a +great many slaughters among them. Not only +were most of the birds their enemies, but Anteater +lived almost wholly from them, and Centipede +beset them every time and at all places +when he had the chance.</p> + +<p>So now there were a few among them who +thought it would be well to hold council together +and see if they could not come to some arrangement +whereby they could retreat to some place +of safety when attacked by robber birds and +animals.</p> + +<p>But at the gathering their opinions were +most discordant, and they could come to no +decision.</p> + +<p>There was Red-ant, Rice-ant, Black-ant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +Wagtail-ant, Gray-ant, Shining-ant, and many +other varieties. The discussion was a true babel +of diversity, which continued for a long time +and came to nothing.</p> + +<p>A part desired that they should all go into +a small hole in the ground, and live there; +another part wanted to have a large and strong +dwelling built on the ground, where nobody +could enter but an ant; still another wanted +to dwell in trees, so as to get rid of Anteater, +forgetting entirely that there they would be the +prey of birds; another part seemed inclined to +have wings and fly.</p> + +<p>And, as has already been said, this deliberation +amounted to nothing, and each party resolved +to go to work in its own way, and on +its own responsibility.</p> + +<p>Greater unity than that which existed in +each separate faction could be seen nowhere +in the world; each had his appointed task, +each did his work regularly and well. And all +worked together in the same way. From among +them they chose a king—that is to say some +of the groups did—and they divided the la<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>bor +so that all went as smoothly as it possibly +could.</p> + +<p>But each group did it in its own way, and +not one of them thought of protecting themselves +against the onslaught of birds or Anteater.</p> + +<p>The Red-ants built their house on the ground +and lived under it, but Anteater leveled to the +ground in a minute what had cost them many +days of precious labor. The Rice-ants lived under +the ground, and with them it went no better. +For whenever they came out, Anteater visited +them and took them out sack and pack. The +Wagtail-ants fled to the trees, but there on many +occasions sat Centipede waiting for them, or the +birds gobbled them up. The Gray-ants had intended +to save themselves from extermination +by taking to flight, but this also availed them +nothing, because the Lizard, the Hunting-spider, +and the birds went a great deal faster than +they.</p> + +<p>When the Insect-king heard that they could +come to no agreement he sent them the secret +of unity, and the message of Work-together.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +But unfortunately he chose for his messenger +the Beetle, and he has never yet arrived at the +Ants, so that they are still to-day the embodiment +of discord and consequently the prey of +enemies.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE</h2> + + +<p>Hunger and want forced Monkey one +day to forsake his land and to seek +elsewhere among strangers for much-needed +work. Bulbs, earth beans, scorpions, insects, +and such things were completely exhausted +in his own land. But fortunately he received, +for the time being, shelter with a great uncle of +his, Orang Outang, who lived in another part +of the country.</p> + +<p>When he had worked for quite a while he +wanted to return home, and as recompense his +great uncle gave him a fiddle and a bow and +arrow and told him that with the bow and arrow +he could hit and kill anything he desired, +and with the fiddle he could force anything to +dance.</p> + +<p>The first he met upon his return to his own +land was Brer Wolf. This old fellow told him +all the news and also that he had since early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +morning been attempting to stalk a deer, but all +in vain.</p> + +<p>Then Monkey laid before him all the wonders +of the bow and arrow that he carried on +his back and assured him if he could but see +the deer he would bring it down for him. When +Wolf showed him the deer, Monkey was ready +and down fell the deer.</p> + +<p>They made a good meal together, but instead +of Wolf being thankful, jealousy overmastered +him and he begged for the bow and arrow. +When Monkey refused to give it to him, he +thereupon began to threaten him with his greater +strength, and so when Jackal passed by, Wolf +told him that Monkey had stolen his bow and +arrow. After Jackal had heard both of them, +he declared himself unqualified to settle the +case alone, and he proposed that they bring +the matter to the court of Lion, Tiger, and the +other animals. In the meantime he declared he +would take possession of what had been the +cause of their quarrel, so that it would be safe, +as he said. But he immediately brought to +earth all that was eatable, so there was a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +time of slaughter before Monkey and Wolf +agreed to have the affair in court.</p> + +<p>Monkey's evidence was weak, and to make it +worse, Jackal's testimony was against him. +Jackal thought that in this way it would be +easier to obtain the bow and arrow from Wolf +for himself.</p> + +<p>And so fell the sentence against Monkey. +Theft was looked upon as a great wrong; he +must hang.</p> + +<p>The fiddle was still at his side, and he received +as a last favor from the court the right to play +a tune on it.</p> + +<p>He was a master player of his time, and in +addition to this came the wonderful power of +his charmed fiddle. Thus, when he struck the +first note of "Cockcrow" upon it, the court +began at once to show an unusual and spontaneous +liveliness, and before he came to the +first waltzing turn of the old tune the whole +court was dancing like a whirlwind.</p> + +<p>Over and over, quicker and quicker, sounded +the tune of "Cockcrow" on the charmed fiddle, +until some of the dancers, exhausted, fell down,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +although still keeping their feet in motion. But +Monkey, musician as he was, heard and saw +nothing of what had happened around him. +With his head placed lovingly against the instrument, +and his eyes half closed, he played +on, keeping time ever with his foot.</p> + +<p>Wolf was the first to cry out in pleading tones +breathlessly, "Please stop, Cousin Monkey! +For love's sake, please stop!"</p> + +<p>But Monkey did not even hear him. Over and +over sounded the resistless waltz of "Cockcrow."</p> + +<p>After a while Lion showed signs of fatigue, +and when he had gone the round once more with +his young lion wife, he growled as he passed +Monkey, "My whole kingdom is yours, ape, if +you just stop playing."</p> + +<p>"I do not want it," answered Monkey, "but +withdraw the sentence and give me my bow and +arrow, and you, Wolf, acknowledge that you +stole it from me."</p> + +<p>"I acknowledge, I acknowledge!" cried Wolf, +while Lion cried, at the same instant, that he +withdrew the sentence.</p> + +<p>Monkey gave them just a few more turns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +of the "Cockcrow," gathered up his bow and +arrow, and seated himself high up in the nearest +camel thorn tree.</p> + +<p>The court and other animals were so afraid +that he might begin again that they hastily disbanded +to new parts of the world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE TIGER, THE RAM, AND<br /> +THE JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Tiger (leopard) was returning home +from hunting on one occasion, when he +lighted on the kraal of Ram. Now, +Tiger had never seen Ram before, and accordingly, +approaching submissively, he said, "Good +day, friend! What may your name be?"</p> + +<p>The other in his gruff voice, and striking his +breast with his forefoot, said, "I am Ram. Who +are you?"</p> + +<p>"Tiger," answered the other, more dead than +alive, and then, taking leave of Ram, he ran +home as fast as he could.</p> + +<p>Jackal lived at the same place as Tiger did, +and the latter going to him, said, "Friend +Jackal, I am quite out of breath, and am half +dead with fright, for I have just seen a terrible +looking fellow, with a large and thick head, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +on my asking him what his name was, he answered, +'I am Ram.'"</p> + +<p>"What a foolish fellow you are," cried +Jackal, "to let such a nice piece of flesh stand! +Why did you do so? But we shall go to-morrow +and eat it together."</p> + +<p>Next day the two set off for the kraal of +Ram, and as they appeared over a hill, Ram, +who had turned out to look about him, and was +calculating where he should that day crop a +tender salad, saw them, and he immediately went +to his wife and said, "I fear this is our last day, +for Jackal and Tiger are both coming against +us. What shall we do?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," said the wife, "but take +up the child in your arms, go out with it, and +pinch it to make it cry as if it were hungry." +Ram did so as the confederates came on.</p> + +<p>No sooner did Tiger cast his eyes on Ram +than fear again took possession of him, and he +wished to turn back. Jackal had provided +against this, and made Tiger fast to himself +with a leathern thong, and said, "Come on," +when Ram cried in a loud voice, and pinching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +his child at the same time, "You have done +well, Friend Jackal, to have brought us Tiger +to eat, for you hear how my child is crying for +food."</p> + +<p>On these dreadful words Tiger, notwithstanding +the entreaties of Jackal to let him go, to +let him loose, set off in the greatest alarm, +dragged Jackal after him over hill and valley, +through bushes and over rocks, and never +stopped to look behind him till he brought back +himself and half-dead Jackal to his place again. +And so Ram escaped.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE JACKAL AND THE WOLF</h2> + + +<p>Once on a time Jackal, who lived on +the borders of the colony, saw a +wagon returning from the seaside +laden with fish; he tried to get into the wagon +from behind, but he could not; he then ran on +before and lay in the road as if dead. The +wagon came up to him, and the leader cried to +the driver, "Here is a fine kaross for your +wife!"</p> + +<p>"Throw it into the wagon," said the driver, +and Jackal was thrown in.</p> + +<p>The wagon traveled on, through a moonlight +night, and all the while Jackal was throwing +out the fish into the road; he then jumped out +himself and secured a great prize. But stupid +old Wolf (hyena), coming by, ate more than his +share, for which Jackal owed him a grudge, and +he said to him, "You can get plenty of fish,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +too, if you lie in the way of a wagon as I did, +and keep quite still whatever happens."</p> + +<p>"So!" mumbled Wolf.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, when the next wagon came from +the sea, Wolf stretched himself out in the road. +"What ugly thing is this?" cried the leader, +and kicked Wolf. He then took a stick and +thrashed him within an inch of his life. Wolf, +according to the directions of Jackal, lay quiet +as long as he could; he then got up and hobbled +off to tell his misfortune to Jackal, who pretended +to comfort him.</p> + +<p>"What a pity," said Wolf, "I have not got +such a handsome skin as you have!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> +<h2>A JACKAL AND A WOLF</h2> + + +<p>Jackal and Wolf went and hired themselves +to a man to be his servants. In +the middle of the night Jackal rose and +smeared Wolf's tail with some fat, and then ate +all the rest of it in the house. In the morning +the man missed the fat, and he immediately accused +Jackal of having eaten it. "Look at +Wolf's <a name="tail" id="tail"></a><ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'tale'">tail</ins>," said the rogue, "and you will see +who is the thief." The man did so, and then +thrashed Wolf till he was nearly dead.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND<br /> +THE MAN</h2> + + +<p>It so happened one day that Lion and Jackal +came together to converse on affairs of +land and state. Jackal, let me say, was +the most important adviser to the king of the +forest, and after they had spoken about these +matters for quite a while, the conversation took +a more personal turn.</p> + +<p>Lion began to boast and talk big about his +strength. Jackal had, perhaps, given him cause +for it, because by nature he was a flatterer. But +now that Lion began to assume so many airs, +said he, "See here, Lion, I will show you an +animal that is still more powerful than you are."</p> + +<p>They walked along, Jackal leading the way, +and met first a little boy.</p> + +<p>"Is this the strong man?" asked Lion.</p> + +<p>"No," answered Jackal, "he must still become +a man, O king."</p> + +<p>After a while they found an old man walking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +with bowed head and supporting his bent figure +with a stick.</p> + +<p>"Is this the wonderful strong man?" asked +Lion.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, O king," was Jackal's answer, "he +has been a man."</p> + +<p>Continuing their walk a short distance farther, +they came across a young hunter, in the +prime of youth, and accompanied by some of +his dogs.</p> + +<p>"There you have him now, O king," said +Jackal. "Pit your strength against his, and if +you win, then truly you are the strength of +the earth."</p> + +<p>Then Jackal made tracks to one side toward +a little rocky kopje from which he would be able +to see the meeting.</p> + +<p>Growling, growling, Lion strode forward to +meet the man, but when he came close the dogs +beset him. He, however, paid but little attention +to the dogs, pushed and separated them +on all sides with a few sweeps of his front paws. +They howled aloud, beating a hasty retreat +toward the man.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>Thereupon the man fired a charge of shot, +hitting him behind the shoulder, but even to +this Lion paid but little attention. Thereupon +the hunter pulled out his steel knife, and +gave him a few good jabs. Lion retreated, followed +by the flying bullets of the hunter.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you strongest now?" was Jackal's +first question when Lion arrived at his side.</p> + +<p>"No, Jackal," answered Lion, "let that fellow +there keep the name and welcome. Such as +he I have never before seen. In the first place he +had about ten of his bodyguard storm me. I +really did not bother myself much about them, +but when I attempted to turn him to chaff, +he spat and blew fire at me, mostly into my +face, that burned just a little but not very +badly. And when I again endeavored to pull +him to the ground he jerked out from his body +one of his ribs with which he gave me some very +ugly wounds, so bad that I had to make chips +fly, and as a parting he sent some warm bullets +after me. No, Jackal, give him the name."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE WORLD'S REWARD</h2> + + +<p>Once there was a man that had an old +dog, so old that the man desired to +put him aside. The dog had served +him very faithfully when he was still young, +but ingratitude is the world's reward, and the +man now wanted to dispose of him. The old +dumb creature, however, ferreted out the plan +of his master, and so at once resolved to go away +of his own accord.</p> + +<p>After he had walked quite a way he met an old +bull in the veldt.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want to go with me?" asked the +dog.</p> + +<p>"Where?" was the reply.</p> + +<p>"To the land of the aged," said the dog, +"where troubles don't disturb you and thanklessness +does not deface the deeds of man."</p> + +<p>"Good," said the bull, "I am your companion."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>The two now walked on and found a ram.</p> + +<p>The dog laid the plan before him, and all +moved off together, until they afterwards came +successively upon a donkey, a cat, a cock, and +a goose.</p> + +<p>These joined their company, and the seven +set out on their journey.</p> + +<p>Late one night they came to a house and +through the open door they saw a table spread +with all kinds of nice food, of which some robbers +were having their fill. It would help nothing +to ask for admittance, and seeing that they +were hungry, they must think of something else.</p> + +<p>Therefore the donkey climbed up on the bull, +the ram on the donkey, the dog on the ram, the +cat on the dog, the goose on the cat, and the +cock on the goose, and with one accord they +all let out terrible (threatening) noises (cryings).</p> + +<p>The bull began to bellow, the donkey to bray, +the dog to bark, the ram to bleat, the cat to +mew, the goose to giggle gaggle, and the cock to +crow, all without cessation.</p> + +<p>The people in the house were frightened per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>fectly +limp; they glanced out through the front +door, and there they stared on the strange sight. +Some of them took to the ropes over the back +lower door, some disappeared through the +window, and in a few counts the house was +empty.</p> + +<p>Then the seven old animals climbed down from +one another, stepped into the house, and satisfied +themselves with the delicious food.</p> + +<p>But when they had finished, there still remained +a great deal of food, too much to take +with them on their remaining journey, and so +together they contrived a plan to hold their position +until the next day after breakfast.</p> + +<p>The dog said, "See here, I am accustomed to +watch at the front door of my master's house," +and thereupon flopped himself down to sleep; +the bull said, "I go behind the door," and there +he took his position; the ram said, "I will go +up on to the loft"; the donkey, "I at the middle +door"; the cat, "I in the fireplace"; the goose, +"I in the back door"; and the cock said, "I am +going to sleep on the bed."</p> + +<p>The captain of the robbers after a while sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +one of his men back to see if these creatures had +yet left the house.</p> + +<p>The man came very cautiously into the neighborhood, +listened and listened, but he heard +nothing; he peeped through the window, and +saw in the grate just two coals still glimmering, +and thereupon started to walk through the +front door.</p> + +<p>There the old dog seized him by the leg. He +jumped into the house, but the bull was ready, +swept him up with his horns, and tossed him on +to the loft. Here the ram received him and +pushed him off the loft again. Reaching ground, +he made for the middle door, but the donkey set +up a terrible braying and at the same time gave +him a kick that landed him in the fireplace, where +the cat flew at him and scratched him nearly to +pieces. He then jumped out through the back +door, and here the goose got him by the trousers. +When he was some distance away the cock +crowed. He thereupon ran so that you could +hear the stones rattle in the dark.</p> + +<p>Purple and crimson and out of breath, he +came back to his companions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Frightful, frightful!" was all that they +could get from him at first, but after a while he +told them.</p> + +<p>"When I looked through the window I saw +in the fireplace two bright coals shining, and +when I wanted to go through the front door to +go and look, I stepped into an iron trap. I +jumped into the house, and there some one +seized me with a fork and pitched me up on to +the loft, there again some one was ready, and +threw me down on all fours. I wanted to fly +through the middle door, but there some one +blew on a trumpet, and smote me with a sledge +hammer so that I did not know where I landed; +but coming to very quickly, I found I was in the +fireplace, and there another flew at me and +scratched the eyes almost out of my head. I +thereupon fled out of the back door, and lastly +I was attacked on the leg by the sixth with a +pair of fire tongs, and when I was still running +away, some one shouted out of the house, +'Stop him, stop h—i—m!'"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LION AND JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Not because he was exactly the most +capable or progressive fellow in the +neighborhood, but because he always +gave that idea—that is why Jackal slowly acquired +among the neighbors the name of a +"progressive man." The truly well-bred people +around him, who did not wish to hurt his feelings, +seemed to apply this name to him, instead +of, for instance, "cunning scamp," or "all-wise +rat-trap," as so many others often dubbed him. +He obtained this name of "a progressive man" +because he spoke most of the time English, +especially if he thought some of them were present +who could not understand it, and also because +he could always hold his body so much +like a judge on public occasions.</p> + +<p>He had a smooth tongue, could make quite a +favorable speech, and especially with good effect +could he expatiate on the backwardness of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +others. Underneath he really was the most unlettered +man in the vicinity, but he had perfect +control over his inborn cunningness, which allowed +him for a long time to go triumphantly +through life as a man of great ability.</p> + +<p>One time, for instance, he lost his tail in an +iron trap. He had long attempted to reach the +Boer's goose pen, and had framed many good +plans, but when he came to his senses, he was +sitting in front of the goose pen with his tail +in the iron trap, the dogs all the time coming +for him. When he realized what it meant, he +mustered together all his strength and pulled +his tail, which he always thought so much of, +clean off.</p> + +<p>This would immediately have made him the +butt of the whole neighborhood had he not +thought of a plan. He called together a meeting +of the jackals, and made them believe that +Lion had issued a proclamation to the effect +that all jackals in the future should be tailless, +because their beautiful tails were a thorn in the +eyes of more unfortunate animals.</p> + +<p>In his smooth way he told them how he re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>gretted +that the king should have the barbaric +right to interfere with his subjects. But so it +was; and he thought the sooner he paid attention +to it the safer. Therefore he had had his tail +cut off already and he should advise all his +friends to do the same. And so it happened that +once all jackals for a long time were without +tails. Later on they grew again.</p> + +<p>It was about the same time that Tiger hired +Jackal as a schoolmaster. Tiger was in those +days the richest man in the surrounding country, +and as he had had to suffer a great deal +himself because he was so untutored, he wanted +his children to have the best education that could +be obtained.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after a meeting, in which it +was shown how important a thing an education +was, that Tiger approached Jackal and asked +him to come and teach his children.</p> + +<p>Jackal was very ready to do this. It was not +exactly his vocation, he said, but he would do it +to pass time and just out of friendship for his +neighbor. His and Tiger's farm lands lay next +each other.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>That he did not make teaching his profession +and that he possessed no degree was of no account +in the eyes of Tiger.</p> + +<p>"Do not praise my goodness so much, Cousin +Jackal," laughed he. "We know your worth +well enough. Much rather would I intrust my +offspring to you than to the many so-called +schoolmasters, for it is especially my wish, as +well as that of their mother, to have our children +obtain a progressive education, and to make such +men and women of them that with the same +ability as you have they can take their lawful +places in this world."</p> + +<p>"One condition," said Jackal, "I must state. +It will be very inconvenient for me, almost impossible, +to come here to your farm and hold +school. My own farm would in that case go to +pieces, and that I cannot let happen. It would +never pay me."</p> + +<p>Tiger answered that it was not exactly necessary +either. In spite of their attachment to the +little ones, they saw that it would probably be +to their benefit to place them for a while in a +stranger's house.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jackal then told of his own bringing up by +Wolf. He remembered well how small he was +when his father sent him away to study with +Wolf. Naturally, since then, he had passed +through many schools, Wolf was only his first +teacher. And only in his later days did he realize +how much good it had done him.</p> + +<p>"A man must bend the sapling while it is still +young," said he. "There is no time that the +child is so open to impressions as when he is +plastic, about the age that most of your children +are at present, and I was just thinking you +would be doing a wise thing to send them away +for quite a while."</p> + +<p>He had, fortunately, just then a room in his +house that would be suited for a schoolroom, +and his wife could easily make some arrangement +for their lodging, even if they had to enlarge +their dwelling somewhat.</p> + +<p>It was then and there agreed upon. Tiger's +wife was then consulted about one thing and +another, and the following day the children were +to leave.</p> + +<p>"I have just thought of one more thing," re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>marked +Jackal, "seven children, besides my little +lot, will be quite a care on our hands, so +you will have to send over each week a fat lamb, +and in order not to disturb their progress, the +children will have to relinquish the idea of a +vacation spent with you for some time. When +I think they have become used to the bit, I will +inform you, and then you can come and take +them to make you a short visit, but not until +then.</p> + +<p><a name="it" id="it"></a><ins title="Transcriber's Note: paragraph break inserted">"It is also better,"</ins> continued he, "that +they do not see you for the first while, but your +wife can come and see them every Saturday and +I will see to all else."</p> + +<p>On the following day there was an unearthly +howling and wailing when the children were to +leave. But Tiger and their mother showed them +that it was best and that some day they would +see that it was all for their good, and that +their parents were doing it out of kindness. +Eventually they were gone.</p> + +<p>The first Saturday dawned, and early that +morning Mrs. Tiger was on her way to Jackal's +dwelling, because she could not defer the time +any longer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>She was still a long way off when Jackal +caught sight of her. He always observed neighborly +customs, and so stepped out to meet +her.</p> + +<p>After they had greeted each other, Mrs. Tiger's +first question was: "Well, Cousin Jackal, +how goes everything with the small team? Are +they still all well and happy, and do they not +trouble you, Cousin Jackal, too much?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my goodness, no, Mrs. Tiger," answered +Jackal enthusiastically, "but don't let us talk +so loud, because if they heard you, it certainly +would cause them many heartfelt tears and they +might also want to go back with you and then +all our trouble would have been for nothing."</p> + +<p>"But I would like to see them, Cousin +Jackal," said Mrs. Tiger a little disturbed.</p> + +<p>"Why certainly, Mrs. Tiger," was his answer, +"but I do not think it is wise for them +to see you. I will lift them up to the window +one by one, and then you can put your mind +at rest concerning their health and progress."</p> + +<p>After Mr. and Mrs. Jackal and Mrs. Tiger +had sat together for some time drinking coffee<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +and talking over one thing and another, Jackal +took Tiger's wife to a door and told her to look +through it, out upon the back yard. There he +would show her the children one by one, while +they would not be able to see her. Everything +was done exactly as Jackal had said, but the +sixth little tiger he picked up twice, because the +firstborn he had the day before prepared in +pickle for their Sunday meal.</p> + +<p>And so it happened every Saturday until the +last little tiger—which was the youngest—had +to be lifted up seven times in succession.</p> + +<p>And when Mrs. Tiger came again the following +week all was still as death and everything +seemed to have a deserted appearance on the +estate. She walked straight to the front door, +and there she found a letter in the poll grass +near the door, which read thus:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"We have gone for a picnic with the children. +From there we will ride by Jackalsdance for +New Year. This is necessary for the completion +of their progressive education."</p> + +<div class="right"><span class="smcap">Jackal.</span></div> +</blockquote><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>Saturday after Saturday did Mrs. Tiger go +and look, but every time Jackal's house seemed +to look more deserted; and after a while there +was a spider's web over the door and the trail +of Snake showed that he, too, had taken up his +abode there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> +<h2>TINK-TINKJE</h2> + + +<p>The birds wanted a king. Men have +a king, so have animals, and why +shouldn't they? All had assembled.</p> + +<p>"The Ostrich, because he is the largest," one +called out.</p> + +<p>"No, he can't fly."</p> + +<p>"Eagle, on account of his strength."</p> + +<p>"Not he, he is too ugly."</p> + +<p>"Vulture, because he can fly the highest."</p> + +<p>"No, Vulture is too dirty, his odor is terrible."</p> + +<p>"Peacock, he is so beautiful."</p> + +<p>"His feet are too ugly, and also his voice."</p> + +<p>"Owl, because he can see well."</p> + +<p>"Not Owl, he is ashamed of the light."</p> + +<p>And so they got no further. Then one +shouted aloud, "He who can fly the highest will +be king." "Yes, yes," they all screamed, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +at a given signal they all ascended straight up +into the sky.</p> + +<p>Vulture flew for three whole days without +stopping, straight toward the sun. Then he +cried aloud, "I am the highest, I am king."</p> + +<p>"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," he heard above him. +There Tink-tinkje was flying. He had held fast +to one of the great wing feathers of Vulture, +and had never been felt, he was so light. "T-sie, +t-sie, t-sie, I am the highest, I am king," piped +Tink-tinkje.</p> + +<p>Vulture flew for another day still ascending. +"I am highest, I am king."</p> + +<p>"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie, I am the highest, I am +king," Tink-tinkje mocked. There he was +again, having crept out from under the wing of +Vulture.</p> + +<p>Vulture flew on the fifth day straight up in +the air. "I am the highest, I am king," he +called.</p> + +<p>"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," piped the little fellow +above him. "I am the highest, I am king."</p> + +<p>Vulture was tired and now flew direct to +earth. The other birds were mad through and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +through. Tink-tinkje must die because he had +taken advantage of Vulture's feathers and there +hidden himself. All flew after him and he had +to take refuge in a mouse hole. But how were +they to get him out? Some one must stand +guard to seize him the moment he put out his +head.</p> + +<p>"Owl must keep guard; he has the largest +eyes; he can see well," they exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Owl went and took up his position before +the hole. The sun was warm and soon Owl became +sleepy and presently he was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Tink-tinkje peeped, saw that Owl was asleep, +and z-zip away he went. Shortly afterwards +the other birds came to see if Tink-tinkje were +still in the hole. "T-sie, t-sie," they heard in +a tree; and there the little vagabond was sitting.</p> + +<p>White-crow, perfectly disgusted, turned +around and exclaimed, "Now I won't say a single +word more." And from that day to this White-crow +has never spoken. Even though you strike +him, he makes no sound, he utters no cry.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LION AND JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Lion had now caught a large eland which +lay dead on the top of a high bank. +Lion was thirsty and wanted to go and +drink water. "Jackal, look after my eland, I +am going to get a drink. Don't you eat any."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Uncle Lion."</p> + +<p>Lion went to the river and Jackal quietly removed +a stone on which Lion had to step to +reach the bank on his return. After that Jackal +and his wife ate heartily of the eland. Lion returned, +but could not scale the bank. "Jackal, +help me," he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Uncle Lion, I will let down a rope and +then you can climb up."</p> + +<p>Jackal whispered to his wife, "Give me one +of the old, thin hide ropes." And then aloud +he added, "Wife, give me one of the strong, +buffalo ropes, so Uncle Lion won't fall."</p> + +<p>His wife gave him an old rotten rope. Jackal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +and his wife first ate ravenously of the meat, +then gradually let the rope down. Lion seized +it and struggled up. When he neared the brink +Jackal gave the rope a jerk. It broke and down +Lion began to roll—rolled the whole way down, +and finally lay at the foot near the river.</p> + +<p>Jackal began to beat a dry hide that lay there +as he howled, cried, and shouted: "Wife, why +did you give me such a bad rope that caused +Uncle Lion to fall?"</p> + +<p>Lion heard the row and roared, "Jackal, stop +beating your wife. I will hurt you if you don't +cease. Help me to climb up."</p> + +<p>"Uncle Lion, I will give you a rope." Whispering +again to his wife, "Give me one of the +old, thin hide ropes," and shouting aloud again, +"Give me a strong, buffalo rope, wife, that will +not break again with Lion."</p> + +<p>Jackal gave out the rope, and when Lion had +nearly reached the top, he cut the rope through. +Snap! and Lion began to roll to the bottom. +Jackal again beat on the hide and shouted, +"Wife, why did you give me such a rotten rope? +Didn't I tell you to give me a strong one?" Lion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +roared, "Jackal, stop beating your wife at once. +Help me instantly or you will be sorry."</p> + +<p>"Wife," Jackal said aloud, "give me now the +strongest rope you have," and aside to her, +"Give me the worst rope of the lot."</p> + +<p>Jackal again let down a rope, but just as +Lion reached the top, Jackal gave a strong tug +and broke the rope. Poor old Lion rolled down +the side of the hill and lay there roaring from +pain. He had been fatally hurt.</p> + +<p>Jackal inquired, "Uncle Lion, have you hurt +yourself? Have you much pain? Wait a while, +I am coming directly to help you." Jackal and +his wife slowly walked away.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION AND JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>The Lion and the Jackal agreed to hunt +on shares, for the purpose of laying in +a stock of meat for the winter months +for their families.</p> + +<p>As the Lion was by far the more expert hunter +of the two, the Jackal suggested that he (himself) +should be employed in transporting the +game to their dens, and that Mrs. Jackal and +the little Jackals should prepare and dry the +meat, adding that they would take care that +Mrs. Lion and her family should not want.</p> + +<p>This was agreed to by the Lion, and the hunt +commenced.</p> + +<p>After a very successful hunt, which lasted for +some time, the Lion returned to see his family, +and also to enjoy, as he thought, a plentiful +supply of his spoil; when, to his utter surprise, +he found Mrs. Lion and all the young Lions on +the point of death from sheer hunger, and in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +mangy state. The Jackal, it appeared, had +only given them a few entrails of the game, and +in such limited quantities as barely to keep them +alive; always telling them that they (i. e., the +Lion and himself) had been most unsuccessful +in their hunting; while his own family was +reveling in abundance, and each member of it +was sleek and fat.</p> + +<p>This was too much for the Lion to bear. He +immediately started off in a terrible fury, vowing +certain death to the Jackal and all his family, +wherever he should meet them. The Jackal +was more or less prepared for a storm, and had +taken the precaution to remove all his belongings +to the top of a krantz (i. e., a cliff), accessible +only by a most difficult and circuitous path, +which he alone knew.</p> + +<p>When the Lion saw him on the krantz, the +Jackal immediately greeted him by calling out, +"Good morning, Uncle Lion."</p> + +<p>"How dare you call me uncle, you impudent +scoundrel," roared out the Lion, in a voice +of thunder, "after the way in which you have +behaved to my family?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Uncle! How shall I explain matters? +That beast of a wife of mine!" Whack, whack +was heard, as he beat with a stick on dry +hide, which was a mere pretence for Mrs. +Jackal's back; while that lady was preinstructed +to scream whenever he operated on +the hide, which she did with a vengeance, joined +by the little Jackals, who set up a most doleful +chorus. "That wretch!" said the Jackal. +"It is all her doing. I shall kill her straight +off," and away he again belabored the hide, +while his wife and children uttered such a dismal +howl that the Lion begged of him to +leave off flogging his wife. After cooling down +a little, he invited Uncle Lion to come up and +have something to eat. The Lion, after several +ineffectual attempts to scale the precipice, +had to give it up.</p> + +<p>The Jackal, always ready for emergencies, +suggested that a reim should be lowered to haul +up his uncle. This was agreed to, and when +the Lion was drawn about halfway up by the +whole family of Jackals, the reim was cleverly +cut, and down went the Lion with a tremendous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +crash which hurt him very much. Upon this, +the Jackal again performed upon the hide with +tremendous force, for their daring to give him +such a rotten reim, and Mrs. Jackal and the +little ones responded with some fearful screams +and yells. He then called loudly out to his wife +for a strong buffalo reim which would support +any weight. This again was lowered and fastened +to the Lion, when all hands pulled away +at their uncle; and, just when he had reached +so far that he could look over the precipice into +the pots to see all the fat meat cooking, and +all the biltongs hanging out to dry, the reim +was again cut, and the poor Lion fell with such +force that he was fairly stunned for some time. +After the Lion had recovered his senses, the +Jackal, in a most sympathizing tone, suggested +that he was afraid that it was of no use to attempt +to haul him up onto the precipice, and +recommended, instead, that a nice fat piece of +eland's breast be roasted and dropped into the +Lion's mouth. The Lion, half famished with +hunger, and much bruised, readily accepted the +offer, and sat eagerly awaiting the fat morsel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +In the mean time, the Jackal had a round stone +made red-hot, and wrapped a quantity of inside +fat, or suet, round it, to make it appear like +a ball of fat. When the Lion saw it held out, +he opened his capacious mouth to the utmost +extent, and the wily Jackal cleverly dropped the +hot ball right into it, which ran through the +poor old beast, killing him on the spot.</p> + +<p>It need hardly be told that there was great rejoicing +on the precipice that night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE HUNT OF LION AND<br /> +JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Lion and Jackal, it is said, were one day +lying in wait for Eland. Lion shot +(with a bow) and missed, but Jackal +hit and sang out, "Hah! hah!"</p> + +<p>Lion said, "No, you did not shoot anything. +It was I who hit."</p> + +<p>Jackal answered, "Yea, my father, thou hast +hit."</p> + +<p>Then they went home in order to return +when the eland was dead, and cut it up. Jackal, +however, turned back, unknown to Lion, hit his +nose so that the blood ran on the spoor of the +eland, and followed their track thus, in order +to cheat Lion. When he had gone some distance, +he returned by another way to the dead +eland, and creeping into its carcass, cut out all +the fat.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lion followed the blood-stained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +spoor of Jackal, thinking that it was eland +blood, and only when he had gone some distance +did he find out that he had been deceived. He +then returned on Jackal's spoor, and reached +the dead eland, where, finding Jackal in its carcass, +he seized him by his tail and drew him out +with a swing.</p> + +<p>Lion upbraided Jackal with these words: +"Why do you cheat me?"</p> + +<p>Jackal answered: "No, my father, I do not +cheat you; you may know it, I think. I prepared +this fat for you, father."</p> + +<p>Lion said: "Then take the fat and carry +it to your mother" (the lioness); and he gave +him the lungs to take to his own wife and children.</p> + +<p>When Jackal arrived, he did not give the fat +to Lion's wife, but to his own wife and children; +he gave, however, the lungs to Lion's wife, and +he pelted Lion's little children with the lungs, +saying:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"You children of the big-pawed one!<br /> +You big-pawed ones!"<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p></blockquote> + +<p>He said to Lioness, "I go to help my father" +(the lion); but he went far away with his wife +and children.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>STORY OF LION AND LITTLE<br /> +JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Little Jackal one day went out +hunting, when he met Lion. Lion proposed +that they should hunt together, +on condition that if a small antelope was killed +it was to be Little Jackal's, and if a large one +was killed it was to be Lion's. Little Jackal +agreed to this.</p> + +<p>The first animal killed was a large eland. +Lion was very glad, and said to Little Jackal: +"I will continue hunting while you go to my +house and call my children to carry the meat +home."</p> + +<p>Little Jackal replied: "Yes, I agree to +that."</p> + +<p>Lion went away to hunt. When he had gone, +Little Jackal went to his own house and called +his own children to carry away the meat. He +said: "Lion takes me for a fool if he thinks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +I will call his children while my own are dying +with hunger."</p> + +<p>So Little Jackal's children carried the meat to +their home on the top of a high rock, where the +only way to get to their house was by means of +a rope.</p> + +<p>Lion caught nothing more, and after a time +he went home and asked his wife where the meat +was. She told him there was no meat. He said: +"Did not Little Jackal bring a message to my +children to carry meat?"</p> + +<p>His wife replied: "No, he was not here. We +are still dying with hunger."</p> + +<p>Lion then went to Little Jackal's house, but +he could not get up the rock to it. So he sat +down by the water, waiting. After a time Little +Jackal went to get some water. He was +close to the water when he saw Lion. He at +once ran away, and Lion ran after him. He ran +into a hole under a tree, but Lion caught his +tail before he got far in. He said to him: "That +is not my tail you have hold of; it is a root +of the tree. If you do not believe me, take a +stone and strike it, and see if any blood comes."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lion let go the tail, and went for a stone to +prove what it was. While he was gone for the +stone, Little Jackal went far into the hole. +When Lion returned he could not be found. +Lion lay down by the hole and waited. After +a long time Little Jackal wanted to come out. +He went to the entrance and looked round, but +he could not see Lion. To make sure, he said: +"Ho, I see you, my master, although you are +in hiding."</p> + +<p>Lion did not move from the place where he +lay concealed. Then Little Jackal went out, +and Lion pursued him, but he got away.</p> + +<p>Lion watched for him, and one day, when Little +Jackal was out hunting, he came upon him +in a place where he could not escape. Lion was +just about to spring upon him, when Little +Jackal said softly: "Be still, do you not see +that bushbuck on the other side of the rock? I +am glad you have come to help me. Just remain +here while I run round and drive him +toward you."</p> + +<p>Lion did so, and Little Jackal made his escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>At another time there was a meeting of the +animals, and Lion was the chief at the meeting. +Little Jackal wanted to attend, but there was a +law made that no one should be present unless +he had horns. So Little Jackal took wax out +of a nest of bees, and made horns for himself +with it. He fastened the horns on his head, and +went to the meeting. Lion did not know him +on account of the horns. But he sat near the +fire and went to sleep, when the horns melted.</p> + +<p>Lion looked at him and saw who it was. He +immediately tried to catch him, but Little Jackal +was quick in springing away. He ran under an +overhanging rock and sang out: "Help! help! +this rock is falling upon me!"</p> + +<p>Lion went for a pole to prop up the rock +that he might get at Little Jackal. While he +was away, Little Jackal escaped.</p> + +<p>After that they became companions again, +and went hunting another time. They killed an +ox. Lion said: "I will watch it while you carry +the pieces away."</p> + +<p>Lion gave him the breast, and said: "Take +this to my wife."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>Little Jackal took it to his own wife. When +he returned, Lion gave him a shin, and said: +"Take this to your wife."</p> + +<p>Little Jackal took the shin to Lion's house. +Lion's wife said: "I cannot take this because +it should not come here."</p> + +<p>Little Jackal thereupon struck Lion's wife in +the face, and went back to the place where the +ox was killed. Lion gave him a large piece of +meat and said: "Take this to my wife."</p> + +<p>Little Jackal took it to his own wife. This +continued till the ox was finished. Then they +both went home. When Lion arrived at his +house he found there was weeping in his family.</p> + +<p>His wife said: "Is it you who sent Little +Jackal to beat me and my children, and is it +you who sent this shin? Did I ever eat a shin?"</p> + +<p>When Lion heard this he was very angry and +at once went to Little Jackal's house. When he +reached the rock, Little Jackal looked down and +said: "Who are you, and what is your name, +and whose son are you, and where are you from, +and where are you going to, and whom do you +want, and what do you want him for?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lion replied: "I have merely come to see +you. I wish you to let down the rope."</p> + +<p>Little Jackal let down a rope made of mouse +skins, and when Lion climbed a little way up, +the rope broke, and he fell and was hurt. He +then went home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LIONESS AND THE<br /> +OSTRICH</h2> + + +<p>It is said, once a lioness roared, and the ostrich +also roared. The lioness went toward +the place where the ostrich was. They met. +The lioness said to the ostrich, "Please to +roar." The ostrich roared. Then the lioness +roared. The voices were equal. The lioness +said to the ostrich, "You are my match."</p> + +<p>Then the lioness said to the ostrich, "Let us +hunt game together." They saw eland and made +toward it. The lioness caught only one; the +ostrich killed a great many by striking them +with the claw which was on his leg; but the lioness +killed only one. When they had met after +the hunting they went to the game, and the lioness +saw that the ostrich had killed a great deal.</p> + +<p>Now, the lioness also had young cubs. They +went to the shade to rest themselves. The +lioness said to the ostrich, "Get up and rip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +open; let us eat." Said the ostrich, "Go and +rip open; I shall eat the blood." The lioness +stood up and ripped open, and ate with the +cubs. And when she had eaten, the ostrich got +up and ate the blood. They went to sleep.</p> + +<p>The cubs played about. While they were +playing, they went to the ostrich, who was +asleep. When he went to sleep he also opened +his mouth. The young lions saw that the ostrich +had no teeth. They went to their mother +and said, "This fellow, who says he is your +equal, has no teeth; he is insulting you." Then +the lioness went to wake the ostrich, and said, +"Get up, let us fight"; and they fought. And +the ostrich said, "Go to that side of the ant-hill, +and I will go to this side of it." The ostrich +struck the ant-hill, and sent it toward the +lioness. But the second time he struck the lioness +in a vulnerable spot, near the liver, and +killed her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> +<h2>CROCODILE'S TREASON</h2> + + +<p>Crocodile was, in the days when animals +still could talk, the acknowledged +foreman of all water creatures and if +one should judge from appearances one would +say that he still is. But in those days it was +his especial duty to have a general care of all +water animals, and when one year it was exceedingly +dry, and the water of the river where they +had lived dried up and became scarce, he was +forced to make a plan to trek over to another +river a short distance from there.</p> + +<p>He first sent Otter out to spy. He stayed +away two days and brought back a report that +there was still good water in the other river, +real sea-cow holes, that not even a drought of +several years could dry up.</p> + +<p>After he had ascertained this, Crocodile called +to his side Tortoise and Alligator.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look here," said he, "I need you two to-night +to carry a report to Lion. So then get +ready; the veldt is dry, and you will probably +have to travel for a few days without any water. +We must make peace with Lion and his subjects, +otherwise we utterly perish this year. +And he must help us to trek over to the other +river, especially past the Boer's farm that lies in +between, and to travel unmolested by any of the +animals of the veldt, so long as the trek lasts. +A fish on land is sometimes a very helpless thing, +as you all know." The two had it mighty hard +in the burning sun, and on the dry veldt, but +eventually they reached Lion and handed him +the treaty.</p> + +<p>"What is going on now?" thought Lion to +himself, when he had read it. "I must consult +Jackal first," said he. But to the commissioners +he gave back an answer that he would be +the following evening with his advisers at the +appointed place, at the big vaarland willow tree, +at the farther end of the hole of water, where +Crocodile had his headquarters.</p> + +<p>When Tortoise and Alligator came back,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Crocodile was exceedingly pleased with himself +at the turn the case had taken.</p> + +<p>He allowed Otter and a few others to be present +and ordered them on that evening to have +ready plenty of fish and other eatables for their +guests under the vaarland willow.</p> + +<p>That evening as it grew dark Lion appeared +with Wolf, Jackal, Baboon, and a few other important +animals, at the appointed place, and +they were received in the most open-hearted manner +by Crocodile and the other water creatures.</p> + +<p>Crocodile was so glad at the meeting of the +animals that he now and then let fall a great tear +of joy that disappeared into the sand. After the +other animals had done well by the fish, Crocodile +laid bare to them the condition of affairs +and opened up his plan. He wanted only peace +among all animals; for they not only destroyed +one another, but the Boer, too, would in time +destroy them all.</p> + +<p>The Boer had already stationed at the source +of the river no less than three steam pumps to +irrigate his land, and the water was becoming +scarcer every day. More than this, he took ad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>vantage +of their unfortunate position by making +them sit in the shallow water and then, one +after the other, bringing about their death. As +Lion was, on this account, inclined to make +peace, it was to his glory to take this opportunity +and give his hand to these peace-making +water creatures, and carry out their part +of the contract, namely, escort them from the +dried-up water, past the Boer's farm and to the +long sea-cow pools.</p> + +<p>"And what benefit shall we receive from it?" +asked Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered Crocodile, "the peace made +is of great benefit to both sides. We will not +exterminate each other. If you desire to come +and drink water, you can do so with an easy +mind, and not be the least bit nervous that I, +or any one of us will seize you by the nose; and +so also with all the other animals. And from +your side we are to be freed from Elephant, who +has the habit, whenever he gets the opportunity, +of tossing us with his trunk up into some open +and narrow fork of a tree and there allowing us +to become biltong."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lion and Jackal stepped aside to consult with +one another, and then Lion wanted to know what +form of security he would have that Crocodile +would keep to his part of the contract.</p> + +<p>"I stake my word of honor," was the prompt +answer from Crocodile, and he let drop a few +more long tears of honesty into the sand.</p> + +<p>Baboon then said it was all square and honest +as far as he could see into the case. He +thought it was nonsense to attempt to dig pitfalls +for one another; because he personally was +well aware that his race would benefit somewhat +from this contract of peace and friendship. +And more than this, they must consider +that use must be made of the fast disappearing +water, for even in the best of times it was +an unpleasant thing to be always carrying your +life about in your hands. He would, however, +like to suggest to the King that it would be +well to have everything put down in writing, +so that there would be nothing to regret in case +it was needed.</p> + +<p>Jackal did not want to listen to the agreement. +He could not see that it would benefit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +the animals of the veldt. But Wolf, who had +fully satisfied himself with the fish, was in an +exceptionally peace-loving mood, and he advised +Lion again to close the agreement.</p> + +<p>After Lion had listened to all his advisers, +and also the pleading tones of Crocodile's followers, +he held forth in a speech in which he +said that he was inclined to enter into the agreement, +seeing that it was clear that Crocodile and +his subjects were in a very tight place.</p> + +<p>There and then a document was drawn up, +and it was resolved, before midnight, to begin +the trek. Crocodile's messengers swam in all +directions to summon together the water animals +for the trek.</p> + +<p>Frogs croaked and crickets chirped in the +long water grass. It was not long before all +the animals had assembled at the vaarland willow. +In the meantime Lion had sent out a few +despatch riders to his subjects to raise a commando +for an escort, and long ere midnight these +also were at the vaarland willow in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>The trek then was regulated by Lion and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +Jackal. Jackal was to take the lead to act +as spy, and when he was able to draw Lion to +one side, he said to him:</p> + +<p>"See here, I do not trust this affair one bit, +and I want to tell you straight out, I am going +to make tracks! I will spy for you until you +reach the sea-cow pool, but I am not going to +be the one to await your arrival there."</p> + +<p>Elephant had to act as advance guard because +he could walk so softly and could hear +and smell so well. Then came Lion with one division +of the animals, then Crocodile's trek with +a flank protection of both sides, and Wolf received +orders to bring up the rear.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, while all this was being arranged, +Crocodile was smoothly preparing his treason. +He called Yellow Snake to one side and said to +him: "It is to our advantage to have these animals, +who go among us every day, and who will +continue to do so, fall into the hands of the +Boer. Listen, now! You remain behind unnoticed, +and when you hear me shout you will +know that we have arrived safely at the sea-cow +pool. Then you must harass the Boer's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +dogs as much as you can, and the rest will look +out for themselves."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the trek moved on. It was necessary +to go very slowly as many of the water +animals were not accustomed to the journey on +land; but they trekked past the Boer's farm +in safety, and toward break of day they were +all safely at the sea-cow pool. There most of +the water animals disappeared suddenly into the +deep water, and Crocodile also began to make +preparations to follow their example. With +tearful eyes he said to Lion that he was, oh, +so thankful for the help, that, from pure relief +and joy, he must first give vent to his feelings +by a few screams. Thereupon he suited his +words to actions so that even the mountains +echoed, and then thanked Lion on behalf of his +subjects, and purposely continued with a long +speech, dwelling on all the benefits both sides +would derive from the agreement of peace.</p> + +<p>Lion was just about to say good day and +take his departure, when the first shot fell, and +with it Elephant and a few other animals.</p> + +<p>"I told you all so!" shouted Jackal from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +the other side of the sea-cow pool. "Why did +you allow yourselves to be misled by a few Crocodile +tears?"</p> + +<p>Crocodile had disappeared long ago into the +water. All one saw was just a lot of bubbles; +and on the banks there was an actual war against +the animals. It simply crackled the way the +Boers shot them.</p> + +<p>But most of them, fortunately, came out of +it alive.</p> + +<p>Shortly after, they say, Crocodile received his +well-earned reward, when he met a driver with +a load of dynamite. And even now when the +Elephant gets the chance he pitches them up +into the highest forks of the trees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE STORY OF A DAM</h2> + + +<p>There was a great drought in the land; +and Lion called together a number of +animals so that they might devise a +plan for retaining water when the rains fell.</p> + +<p>The animals which attended at Lion's summons +were Baboon, Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, +Hare, and Mountain Tortoise.</p> + +<p>It was agreed that they should scratch a large +hole in some suitable place to hold water; and +the next day they all began to work, with the +exception of Jackal, who continually hovered +about in that locality, and was overheard to +mutter that he was not going to scratch his +nails off in making water holes.</p> + +<p>When the dam was finished the rains fell, and +it was soon filled with water, to the great delight +of those who had worked so hard at it. The +first one, however, to come and drink there, +was Jackal, who not only drank, but filled his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +clay pot with water, and then proceeded to +swim in the rest of the water, making it as muddy +and dirty as he could.</p> + +<p>This was brought to the knowledge of Lion, +who was very angry and ordered Baboon to +guard the water the next day, armed with a +huge knobkirrie. Baboon was concealed in a +bush close to the water; but Jackal soon became +aware of his presence there, and guessed its +cause. Knowing the fondness of baboons for +honey, Jackal at once hit upon a plan, and +marching to and fro, every now and then dipped +his fingers into his clay pot, and licked them +with an expression of intense relish, saying, in +a low voice to himself, "I don't want any of +their dirty water when I have a pot full of delicious +honey." This was too much for poor +Baboon, whose mouth began to water. He soon +began to beg Jackal to give him a little honey, +as he had been watching for several hours, and +was very hungry and tired.</p> + +<p>After taking no notice of Baboon at first, +Jackal looked round, and said, in a patronizing +manner, that he pitied such an unfortunate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +creature, and would give him some honey on +certain conditions, viz., that Baboon should give +up his knobkirrie and allow himself to be bound +by Jackal. He foolishly agreed; and was soon +tied in such a manner that he could not move +hand or foot.</p> + +<p>Jackal now proceeded to drink of the water, +to fill his pot, and to swim in the sight of Baboon, +from time to time telling him what a foolish +fellow he had been to be so easily duped, and +that he (Jackal) had no honey or anything +else to give him, excepting a good blow on the +head every now and then with his own knobkirrie.</p> + +<p>The animals soon appeared and found poor +Baboon in this sorry plight, looking the picture +of misery. Lion was so exasperated that he +caused Baboon to be severely punished, and to +be denounced as a fool.</p> + +<p>Tortoise hereupon stepped forward, and offered +his services for the capture of Jackal. +It was at first thought that he was merely joking; +but when he explained in what manner he +proposed to catch him, his plan was consid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>ered +so feasible that his offer was accepted. He +proposed that a thick coating of "bijenwerk" +(a kind of sticky black substance found on beehives) +should be spread all over him, and that +he should then go and stand at the entrance +of the dam, on the water level, so that Jackal +might tread upon him and stick fast. This was +accordingly done and Tortoise posted there.</p> + +<p>The next day, when Jackal came, he approached +the water very cautiously, and wondered +to find no one there. He then ventured +to the entrance of the water, and remarked how +kind they had been in placing there a large black +stepping-stone for him. As soon, however, as +he trod upon the supposed stone, he stuck fast, +and saw that he had been tricked; for Tortoise +now put his head out and began to move. +Jackal's hind feet being still free he threatened +to smash Tortoise with them if he did not let +him go. Tortoise merely answered, "Do as you +like." Jackal thereupon made a violent jump, +and found, with horror, that his hind feet were +now also fast. "Tortoise," said he, "I have +still my mouth and teeth left, and will eat you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +alive if you do not let me go." "Do as you +like," Tortoise again replied. Jackal, in his +endeavors to free himself, at last made a desperate +bite at Tortoise, and found himself fixed, +both head and feet. Tortoise, feeling proud of +his successful capture, now marched quietly up +to the top of the bank with Jackal on his back, +so that he could easily be seen by the animals +as they came to the water.</p> + +<p>They were indeed astonished to find how cleverly +the crafty Jackal had been caught; and +Tortoise was much praised, while the unhappy +Baboon was again reminded of his misconduct +when set to guard the water.</p> + +<p>Jackal was at once condemned to death by +Lion; and Hyena was to execute the sentence. +Jackal pleaded hard for mercy, but finding this +useless, he made a last request to Lion (always, +as he said, so fair and just in his dealings) that +he should not have to suffer a lingering death.</p> + +<p>Lion inquired of him in what manner he +wished to die; and he asked that his tail might +be shaved and rubbed with a little fat, and that +Hyena might then swing him round twice and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +dash his brains out upon a stone. This, being +considered sufficiently fair by Lion, was ordered +by him to be carried out in his presence.</p> + +<p>When Jackal's tail had been shaved and +greased, Hyena caught hold of him with great +force, and before he had fairly lifted him from +the ground, the cunning Jackal had slipped +away from Hyena's grasp, and was running for +his life, pursued by all the animals.</p> + +<p>Lion was the foremost pursuer, and after a +great chase Jackal got under an overhanging +precipice, and, standing on his hind legs with +his shoulders pressed against the rock, called +loudly to Lion to help him, as the rock was falling, +and would crush them both. Lion put his +shoulders to the rock, and exerted himself to +the utmost. After some little time Jackal proposed +that he should creep slowly out, and fetch +a large pole to prop up the rock, so that Lion +could get out and save his life. Jackal did +creep out, and left Lion there to starve and die.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE DANCE FOR WATER OR<br /> +RABBIT'S TRIUMPH</h2> + + +<p>There was a frightful drought. The +rivers after a while dried up and even +the springs gave no water.</p> + +<p>The animals wandered around seeking drink, +but to no avail. Nowhere was water to be found.</p> + +<p>A great gathering of animals was held: Lion, +Tiger, Wolf, Jackal, Elephant, all of them came +together. What was to be done? That was the +question. One had this plan, and another had +that; but no plan seemed of value.</p> + +<p>Finally one of them suggested: "Come, let all +of us go to the dry river bed and dance; in that +way we can tread out the water."</p> + +<p>Good! Everyone was satisfied and ready to +begin instantly, excepting Rabbit, who said, "I +will not go and dance. All of you are mad to +attempt to get water from the ground by dancing."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>The other animals danced and danced, and ultimately +danced the water to the surface. How +glad they were. Everyone drank as much as +he could, but Rabbit did not dance with them. +So it was decided that Rabbit should have no +water.</p> + +<p>He laughed at them: "I will nevertheless +drink some of your water."</p> + +<p>That evening he proceeded leisurely to the +river bed where the dance had been, and drank +as much as he wanted. The following morning +the animals saw the footprints of Rabbit in the +ground, and Rabbit shouted to them: "Aha! I +did have some of the water, and it was most +refreshing and tasted fine."</p> + +<p>Quickly all the animals were called together. +What were they to do? How were they to get +Rabbit in their hands? All had some means to +propose; the one suggested this, and the other +that.</p> + +<p>Finally old Tortoise moved slowly forward, +foot by foot: "I will catch Rabbit."</p> + +<p>"You? How? What do you think of yourself?" +shouted the others in unison.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Rub my shell with pitch,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> and I will go to +the edge of the water and lie down. I will then +resemble a stone, so that when Rabbit steps on +me his feet will stick fast."</p> + +<p>"Yes! Yes! That's good."</p> + +<p>And in a one, two, three, Tortoise's shell was +covered with pitch, and foot by foot he moved +away to the river. At the edge, close to the +water, he lay down and drew his head into his +shell.</p> + +<p>Rabbit during the evening came to get a +drink. "Ha!" he chuckled sarcastically, "they +are, after all, quite decent. Here they have +placed a stone, so now I need not unnecessarily +wet my feet."</p> + +<p>Rabbit trod with his left foot on the stone, +and there it stuck. Tortoise then put his head +out. "Ha! old Tortoise! And it's you, is it, +that's holding me. But here I still have another +foot. I'll give you a good clout." Rabbit gave +Tortoise what he said he would with his right +fore foot, hard and straight; and there his foot +remained.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<p>"I have yet a hind foot, and with it I'll kick +you." Rabbit drove his hind foot down. This +also rested on Tortoise where it struck.</p> + +<p>"But still another foot remains, and now I'll +tread you." He stamped his foot down, but it +stuck like the others.</p> + +<p>He used his head to hammer Tortoise, and his +tail as a whip, but both met the same fate as +his feet, so there he was tight and fast down to +the pitch.</p> + +<p>Tortoise now slowly turned himself round and +foot by foot started for the other animals, with +Rabbit on his back.</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha! ha! Rabbit! How does it look +now? Insolence does not pay after all," shouted +the animals.</p> + +<p>Now advice was sought. What should they +do with Rabbit? He certainly must die. But +how? One said, "Behead him"; another, +"Some severe penalty."</p> + +<p>"Rabbit, how are we to kill you?"</p> + +<p>"It does not affect me," Rabbit said. "Only +a shameful death please do not pronounce."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?" they all shouted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To take me by my tail and dash my head +against a stone; that I pray and beseech you +don't do."</p> + +<p>"No, but just so you'll die. That is decided."</p> + +<p>It was decided Rabbit should die by taking +him by his tail and dashing his head to pieces +against some stone. But who is to do it?</p> + +<p>Lion, because he is the most powerful one.</p> + +<p>Good! Lion should do it. He stood up, +walked to the front, and poor Rabbit was +brought to him. Rabbit pleaded and beseeched +that he couldn't die such a miserable death.</p> + +<p>Lion took Rabbit firmly by the tail and +swung him around. The white skin slipped off +from Rabbit, and there Lion stood with the +white bit of skin and hair in his paw. Rabbit +was free.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<h2>JACKAL AND MONKEY</h2> + + +<p>Every evening Jackal went to the +Boer's kraal. He crept through the +sliding door and stole a fat young +lamb. This, clever Jackal did several times in +succession. Boer set a wip<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> for him at the +door. Jackal went again and zip—there he +was caught around the body by the noose. He +swung and swayed high in the air and couldn't +touch ground. The day began to dawn and +Jackal became uneasy.</p> + +<p>On a stone kopje, Monkey sat. When it became +light he could see the whole affair, and +descended hastily for the purpose of mocking +Jackal. He went and sat on the wall. "Ha, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>ha, good morning. So there you are hanging +now, eventually caught."</p> + +<p>"What? I caught? I am simply swinging +for my pleasure; it is enjoyable."</p> + +<p>"You fibber. You are caught in the wip."</p> + +<p>"If you but realized how nice it was to swing +and sway like this, you wouldn't hesitate. +Come, try it a little. You feel so healthy and +strong for the day, and you never tire afterwards."</p> + +<p>"No, I won't. You are caught."</p> + +<p>After a while Jackal convinced Monkey. He +sprang from the kraal wall, and freeing Jackal, +adjusted the noose around his own body. +Jackal quickly let go and began to laugh, as +Monkey was now swinging high in the air.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed. "Now Monkey +is in the wip."</p> + +<p>"Jackal, free me," he screamed.</p> + +<p>"There, Boer is coming," shouted Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Jackal, free me of this, or I'll break your +playthings."</p> + +<p>"No, there Boer is coming with his gun; you +rest a while in the noose."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Jackal, quickly make me free."</p> + +<p>"No, here's Boer already, and he's got his +gun. Good morning." And with these parting +words he ran away as fast as he could. Boer +came and saw Monkey in the wip.</p> + +<p>"So, so, Monkey, now you are caught. You +are the fellow who has been stealing my lambs, +hey?"</p> + +<p>"No, Boer, no," screamed Monkey, "not I, +but Jackal."</p> + +<p>"No, I know you; you aren't too good for +that."</p> + +<p>"No, Boer, no, not I, but Jackal," Monkey +stammered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know you. Just wait a little," and +Boer, raising his gun, aimed and shot poor +Monkey dead.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION'S SHARE</h2> + + +<p>Lion and Jackal went together a-hunting. +They shot with arrows. Lion +shot first, but his arrow fell short of +its aim; but Jackal hit the game, and joyfully +cried out, "It has hit."</p> + +<p>Lion looked at him with his two large eyes; +Jackal, however, did not lose his countenance, +but said, "No, uncle, I mean to say that you +have hit." Then they followed the game, and +Jackal passed the arrow of Lion without drawing +the latter's attention to it. When they +arrived at a crossway, Jackal said: "Dear uncle, +you are old and tired; stay here." Jackal +went then on a wrong track, beat his nose, and, +in returning, let the blood drop from it like +traces of game. "I could not find anything," +he said, "but I met with traces of blood. You +had better go yourself to look for it. In the +meantime I shall go this other way."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jackal soon found the killed animal, crept +inside of it, and devoured the best portion; but +his tail remained outside, and when Lion arrived, +he got hold of it, pulled Jackal out, +and threw him on the ground with these words: +"You rascal!"</p> + +<p>Jackal rose quickly again, complained of the +rough handling, and asked, "What have I now +done, dear uncle? I was busy cutting out the +best part."</p> + +<p>"Now let us go and fetch our wives," said +Lion, but Jackal entreated his dear uncle to +remain at the place because he was old. Jackal +then went away, taking with him two portions +of the flesh, one for his own wife, but the best +part for the wife of Lion. When Jackal arrived +with the flesh, the children of Lion, seeing +him, began to jump, and clapping their +hands, cried out: "There comes cousin with +flesh!" Jackal threw, grumbling, the worst +portion to them, and said, "There, you brood +of the big-eyed one!" Then he went to his own +house and told his wife immediately to break up +the house, and to go where the killed game was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +Lioness wished to do the same, but he forbade +her, and said that Lion would himself come to +fetch her.</p> + +<p>When Jackal, with his wife and children, +arrived in the neighborhood of the killed animal, +he ran into a thorn bush, scratched his face +so that it bled, and thus made his appearance +before Lion, to whom he said, "Ah! what a +wife you have got. Look here, how she scratched +my face when I told her that she should come +with us. You must fetch her yourself; I cannot +bring her." Lion went home very angry. Then +Jackal said, "Quick, let us build a tower." +They heaped stone upon stone, stone upon +stone, stone upon stone; and when it was high +enough, everything was carried to the top of +it. When Jackal saw Lion approaching with +his wife and children, he cried out to him:</p> + +<p>"Uncle, whilst you were away we have built +a tower, in order to be better able to see +game."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Lion; "but let me come +up to you."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, dear uncle; but how will you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +manage to come up? We must let down a +thong for you."</p> + +<p>Lion tied the thong around his body and +Jackal began drawing him up, but when nearly +to the top Jackal cried to Lion, "My, uncle, +how heavy you are!" Then, unseen by Lion, +he cut the thong. Lion fell to the ground, +while Jackal began loudly and angrily to scold +his wife, and then said, "Go, wife, fetch me a +new thong"—"an old one," he said aside to +her.</p> + +<p>Lion again tied himself to the thong, and, +just as he was near the top, Jackal cut the +thong as before; Lion fell heavily to the bottom, +groaning aloud, as he had been seriously +hurt.</p> + +<p>"No," said Jackal, "that will never do: you +must, however, manage to come up high enough +so that you may get a mouthful at least." Then +aloud he ordered his wife to prepare a good +piece, but aside he told her to make a stone hot, +and to cover it with fat. Then he drew Lion +up once more, and complaining how heavy he +was to hold, told him to open his mouth, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +thereupon threw the hot stone down his throat. +Lion fell to the ground and lay there pleading +for water, while Jackal climbed down and made +his escape.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2>JACKAL'S BRIDE</h2> + + +<p>Jackal, it is said, married Hyena, and +carried off a cow belonging to the ants, +to slaughter her for the wedding; and +when he had slaughtered her, he put the cowskin +over his bride; and when he had fixed a +pole (on which to hang the flesh), he placed +on the top of the pole (which was forked) the +hearth for the cooking, in order to cook upon it +all sorts of delicious food. There came also +Lion, and wished to go up. Jackal, therefore, +asked his little daughter for a thong with which +he could pull Lion up; and he began to pull +him up; and when his face came near to the +cooking-pot, he cut the thong in two, so that +Lion tumbled down. Then Jackal upbraided +his little daughter with these words: "Why do +you give me such an old thong?" And he +added, "Give me a fresh thong." She gave him +a new thong, and he pulled Lion up again, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +when his face came near the pot, which stood +on the fire, he said, "open your mouth." Then +he put into his mouth a hot piece of quartz +which had been boiled together with the fat, and +the stone went down, burning his throat. Thus +died Lion.</p> + +<p>There came also the ants running after the +cow, and when Jackal saw them he fled. Then +they beat the bride in her brookaross dress. +Hyena, believing that it was Jackal, said:</p> + +<p>"You tawny rogue! have you not played at +beating long enough? Have you no more loving +game than this?"</p> + +<p>But when she had bitten a hole through the +cowskin, she saw that they were other people; +then she fled, falling here and there, yet made +her escape.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE STORY OF HARE</h2> + + +<p>Once upon a time the animals made a +kraal and put some fat in it. They +agreed that one of their number +should remain to be the keeper of the gate. The +first one that was appointed was the coney (imbila). +He agreed to take charge, and all the +others went away. In a short time the coney +fell asleep, when the inkalimeva (a fabulous animal) +went in and ate all the fat. After doing +this, he threw a little stone at the coney.</p> + +<p>The coney started up and cried out: "The +fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten +by the inkalimeva."</p> + +<p>It repeated this cry several times, calling out +very loudly. The animals at a distance heard +it, they ran to the kraal, and when they saw +that the fat was gone they killed the coney.</p> + +<p>They put fat in the kraal a second time, +and appointed the muishond (ingaga) to keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +the gate. The muishond consented, and the +animals went away as before. After a little +time the inkalimeva came to the kraal, bringing +some honey with it. It invited the keeper +of the gate to eat honey, and while the muishond +was enjoying himself the inkalimeva went +in and stole all the fat. It threw a stone at +the muishond, which caused him to look up.</p> + +<p>The muishond cried out: "The fat belonging +to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva."</p> + +<p>As soon as the animals heard the cry, they +ran to the kraal and killed the muishond.</p> + +<p>They put fat in the kraal a third time, and +appointed the duiker (impunzi) to be the keeper +of the gate. The duiker agreed, and the others +went away. In a short time the inkalimeva made +its appearance. It proposed to the duiker that +they should play hide and look for. The duiker +agreed to this. Then the inkalimeva hid itself, +and the duiker looked for it till he was so +tired that he lay down and went to sleep. When +the duiker was asleep, the inkalimeva ate up +all the fat.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then it threw a stone at the duiker, which +caused him to jump up and cry out: "The +fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten +by the inkalimeva."</p> + +<p>The animals, when they heard the cry, ran +to the kraal and killed the duiker.</p> + +<p>They put fat in the kraal the fourth time, +and appointed the bluebuck (inputi) to be the +keeper of the gate. When the animals went +away, the inkalimeva came as before.</p> + +<p>It said: "What are you doing by yourself?"</p> + +<p>The bluebuck answered: "I am watching the +fat belonging to all the animals."</p> + +<p>The inkalimeva said: "I will be your companion. +Come, let us scratch each other's +heads."</p> + +<p>The bluebuck agreed to this. The inkalimeva +sat down and scratched the head of the other +till he went to sleep. Then it arose and ate all +the fat. When it had finished, it threw a stone +at the bluebuck and awakened him.</p> + +<p>The bluebuck saw what had happened and +cried out: "The fat belonging to all the animals +has been eaten by the inkalimeva."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the animals ran up and killed the bluebuck +also.</p> + +<p>They put fat in the kraal the fifth time, and +appointed the porcupine (incanda) to be the +keeper of the gate. The animals went away, +and the inkalimeva came as before.</p> + +<p>It said to the porcupine, "Let us run a race +against each other."</p> + +<p>It let the porcupine beat in this race.</p> + +<p>Then it said, "I did not think you could +run so fast, but let us try again." They ran +again, and it allowed the porcupine to beat the +second time. They ran till the porcupine was +so tired that he said, "Let us rest now."</p> + +<p>They sat down to rest, and the porcupine went +to sleep. Then the inkalimeva rose up and ate +all the fat. When it had finished eating, it +threw a stone at the porcupine, which caused him +to jump up.</p> + +<p>He called out with a loud voice, "The fat belonging +to all the animals has been eaten by the +inkalimeva."</p> + +<p>Then the animals came running up and put +the porcupine to death.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>They put fat in the kraal the sixth time, +and selected the hare (umvundla) to be the +keeper of the gate. At first the hare would not +consent.</p> + +<p>He said, "The coney is dead, and the muishond +is dead, and the duiker is dead, and the +bluebuck is dead, and the porcupine is dead, +and you will kill me also."</p> + +<p>They promised him that they would not kill +him, and after a good deal of persuasion he at +last agreed to keep the gate. When the animals +were gone he laid himself down, but he only +pretended to be asleep.</p> + +<p>In a short time the inkalimeva went in, and +was just going to take the fat when the hare +cried out: "Let the fat alone."</p> + +<p>The inkalimeva said, "Please let me have +this little bit only."</p> + +<p>The hare answered, mocking, "Please let me +have this little bit only."</p> + +<p>After that they became companions. The +hare proposed that they should fasten each +other's tail, and the inkalimeva agreed. The +inkalimeva fastened the tail of the hare first.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<p>The hare said, "Don't tie my tail so tight."</p> + +<p>Then the hare fastened the tail of the inkalimeva.</p> + +<p>The inkalimeva said, "Don't tie my tail so +tight," but the hare made no answer. After +tying the tail of the inkalimeva very fast, the +hare took his club and killed it. The hare took +the tail of the inkalimeva and ate it, all except +a little piece which he hid in the fence.</p> + +<p>Then he called out, "The fat belonging to +all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva."</p> + +<p>The animals came running back, and when +they saw that the inkalimeva was dead they +rejoiced greatly. They asked the hare for the +tail, which should be kept for the chief.</p> + +<p>The hare replied, "The one I killed had no +tail."</p> + +<p>They said, "How can an inkalimeva be without +a tail?"</p> + +<p>They began to search, and at length they +found a piece of the tail in the fence. They +told the chief that the hare had eaten the tail.</p> + +<p>He said, "Bring him to me!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>All the animals ran after the hare, but he fled, +and they could not catch him. The hare ran +into a hole, at the mouth of which the animals +set a snare, and then went away. The hare remained +in the hole for many days, but at length +he managed to get out without being caught.</p> + +<p>He went to a place where he found a bushbuck +(imbabala) building a hut. There was a +pot with meat in it on the fire.</p> + +<p>He said to the bushbuck, "Can I take this +little piece of meat?"</p> + +<p>The bushbuck answered, "You must not +do it."</p> + +<p>But he took the meat and ate it all. Afterwards +he whistled in a particular manner, and +there fell a storm of hail which killed the bushbuck. +Then he took the skin of the bushbuck, +and made for himself a mantle.</p> + +<p>After this the hare went into the forest to +procure some weapons to fight with. While he +was cutting a stick the monkeys threw leaves +upon him. He called to them to come down +and beat him. They came down, but he killed +them all with his weapons.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE WHITE MAN AND SNAKE</h2> + + +<p>A white man, it is said, met Snake +upon whom a large stone had fallen +and covered her so that she could not +rise. The White Man lifted the stone off +Snake, but when he had done so, she wanted to +bite him. The White Man said, "Stop! let us +both go first to some wise people." They went +to Hyena, and the White Man asked him, "Is +it right that Snake should want to bite me, +when I helped her as she lay under a stone and +could not rise?"</p> + +<p>Hyena (who thought he would get his share +of the White Man's body) said, "If you were +bitten what would it matter?"</p> + +<p>Then Snake wanted to bite him, but the +White Man said again, "Wait a little, and let +us go to other wise people, that I may hear +whether this is right."</p> + +<p>They went and met Jackal. The White Man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +said to Jackal, "Is it right for Snake to want +to bite me, when I lifted up the stone which lay +upon her?"</p> + +<p>Jackal replied, "I do not believe that Snake +could be covered by a stone so she could not +rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I would +not believe it. Therefore, come let us go and +see the place where you say it happened whether +it can be true."</p> + +<p>They went, and arrived at the place where +it had happened. Jackal said, "Snake, lie +down, and let thyself be covered."</p> + +<p>Snake did so, and the White Man covered +her with the stone; but although she exerted +herself very much, she could not rise. Then +the White Man wanted again to release Snake, +but Jackal interfered, and said, "Do not lift +the stone. She wanted to bite you, therefore +she may rise by herself."</p> + +<p>Then they both went away and left Snake +under the stone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> +<h2>ANOTHER VERSION OF THE<br /> +SAME FABLE</h2> + + +<p>A Dutchman was walking by himself +and saw Snake lying under a large +stone. Snake implored his help; but +when she had become free she said, "Now I +shall eat you."</p> + +<p>The Man answered, "That is not right. Let +us first go to Hare."</p> + +<p>When Hare had heard the affair, he said, +"It is right."</p> + +<p>"No," said the Man, "let us ask Hyena."</p> + +<p>Hyena declared the same, saying, "It is +right."</p> + +<p>"Now let us ask Jackal," said the Man in +his despair.</p> + +<p>Jackal answered very slowly and considerately, +doubting the whole affair, and demanding +to see first the place, and whether the Man was +able to lift the stone. Snake lay down, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +the Man, to prove the truth of his account, put +the stone again over her.</p> + +<p>When she was fast, Jackal said, "Now let +her lie there."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2>CLOUD-EATING</h2> + + +<p>Jackal and Hyena were together, it is +said, when a white cloud rose. Jackal +descended upon it, and ate of the cloud +as if it were fat.</p> + +<p>When he wanted to come down, he said to +Hyena, "My sister, as I am going to divide +with thee, catch me well." So she caught him, +and broke his fall. Then she also went up and +ate there, high up on the top of the cloud.</p> + +<p>When she was satisfied, she said, "My greyish +brother, now catch me well." The greyish +rogue said to his friend, "My sister, I shall +catch thee well. Come therefore down."</p> + +<p>He held up his hands, and she came down +from the cloud, and when she was near, Jackal +cried out (painfully jumping to one side), "My +sister, do not take it ill. Oh me! Oh me! A +thorn has pricked me and sticks in me." Thus +she fell down from above, and was sadly hurt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>Since that day, it is said that Hyena's hind +feet have been shorter and smaller than the +front ones.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION'S ILLNESS</h2> + + +<p>Lion, it is said, was ill, and they all +went to see him in his suffering. But +Jackal did not go, because the traces +of the people who went to see him did not turn +back. Thereupon, he was accused by Hyena, +who said, "Though I go to look, yet Jackal +does not want to come and look at the man's +sufferings."</p> + +<p>Then Lion let Hyena go, in order that she +might catch Jackal; and she did so, and brought +him.</p> + +<p>Lion asked Jackal: "Why did you not come +here to see me?"</p> + +<p>Jackal said, "Oh, no! when I heard that +my uncle was so very ill, I went to the witch +(doctor) to consult him, whether and what medicine +would be good for my uncle against the +pain. The doctor said to me, 'Go and tell +your uncle to take hold of Hyena and draw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +off her skin, and put it on while it is still warm. +Then he will recover.' Hyena is one who does +not care for my uncle's sufferings."</p> + +<p>Lion followed his advice, got hold of Hyena, +drew the skin over her ears, whilst she howled +with all her might, and put it on.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> +<h2>JACKAL, DOVE, AND HERON</h2> + + +<p>Jackal, it is said, came once to Dove, +who lived on the top of a rock, and said, +"Give me one of your little ones."</p> + +<p>Dove answered, "I shall not do anything of +the kind."</p> + +<p>Jackal said, "Give me it at once! Otherwise, +I shall fly up to you." Then she threw +one down to him.</p> + +<p>He came back another day and demanded +another little one, and she gave it to him. +After Jackal had gone, Heron came, and asked, +"Dove, why do you cry?"</p> + +<p>Dove answered him, "Jackal has taken away +my little ones; it is for this that I cry." He +asked her, "In what manner did he take them?" +She answered him, "When he asked me I refused +him; but when he said, 'I shall at once +fly up, therefore give me it,' I threw it down +to him."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<p>Heron said, "Are you such a fool as to give +your young ones to Jackal, who cannot fly?" +Then, with the admonition to give no more, he +went away.</p> + +<p>Jackal came again, and said, "Dove, give me +a little one." Dove refused, and told him that +Heron had told her that he could not fly up. +Jackal said, "I shall catch him."</p> + +<p>So when Heron came to the banks of the +water, Jackal asked him: "Brother Heron, +when the wind comes from this side, how will you +stand?" He turned his neck towards him and +said, "I stand thus, bending my neck on one +side." Jackal asked him again, "When a storm +comes and when it rains, how do you stand?" +He said to him: "I stand thus, indeed, bending +my neck down."</p> + +<p>Then Jackal beat him on his neck, and broke +his neck in the middle.</p> + +<p>Since that day Heron's neck is bent.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> +<h2>COCK AND JACKAL</h2> + + +<p>Cock, it is said, was once overtaken +by Jackal, and caught. Cock said to Jackal, +"Please, pray first (before you +kill me), as the white man does."</p> + +<p>Jackal asked, "In what manner does +he pray? Tell me."</p> + +<p>"He folds his hands in praying," +said Cock. Jackal folded his hands and +prayed. Then Cock spoke again; "You +ought not to look about you as you do. +You had better shut your eyes." He did +so; and Cock flew away, upbraiding at the +same time Jackal with these words, "You +rogue! do you also pray?"</p> + +<p>There sat Jackal, speechless, because +he had been outdone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> +<h2>ELEPHANT AND TORTOISE</h2> + + +<p>Two powers, Elephant and Rain, had a +dispute. Elephant said, "If you say +that you nourish me, in what way is it +that you say so?" Rain answered, "If +you say that I do not nourish you, when +I go away, will you not die?" And Rain +then departed.</p> + +<p>Elephant said, "Vulture! cast lots +to make rain for me."</p> + +<p>Vulture said, "I will not cast lots."</p> + +<p>Then Elephant said to Crow, "Cast +lots!" who answered, "Give the things +with which I may cast lots." Crow cast +lots and rain fell. It rained at the +lagoons, but they dried up, and only one +lagoon remained.</p> + +<p>Elephant went a-hunting. There was, +however, Tortoise, to whom Elephant said, +"Tortoise, remain at the water!" Thus +Tortoise was left behind when Elephant +went a-hunting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>There came Giraffe, and said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The +water belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Zebra, who said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The +water belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Gemsbok, and said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The +water belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Wildebeest, and said, "Give me +water!" Tortoise said, "The water belongs to +Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Roodebok, and said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The +water belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Springbok, and said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The water +belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Jackal, and said to Tortoise, +"Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The water +belongs to Elephant."</p> + +<p>There came Lion, and said, "Little Tortoise, +give me water!" When little Tortoise was +about to say something, Lion got hold of him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +and beat him; Lion drank of the water, and +since then the animals drink water.</p> + +<p>When Elephant came back from the hunting, +he said, "Little Tortoise, is there water?" +Tortoise answered, "The animals have drunk +the water." Elephant asked, "Little Tortoise, +shall I chew you or swallow you down?" Little +Tortoise said, "Swallow me, if you please!" +and Elephant swallowed him whole.</p> + +<p>After Elephant had swallowed Little Tortoise, +and he had entered his body, he tore off +his liver, heart, and kidneys. Elephant said, +"Little Tortoise, you kill me."</p> + +<p>So Elephant died; but little Tortoise came +out of his dead body, and went wherever he +liked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span></p> +<h2>ANOTHER VERSION OF THE<br /> +SAME FABLE</h2> + + +<p>Giraffe and Tortoise, they say, met +one day. Giraffe said to Tortoise, +"At once I could trample you to +death." Tortoise, being afraid, remained silent. +Then Giraffe said, "At once I could swallow +you." Tortoise said, in answer to this, "Well, +I just belong to the family of those whom it +has always been customary to swallow." Then +Giraffe swallowed Tortoise; but when the latter +was being gulped down, he stuck in Giraffe's +throat, and as the latter could not get it down, +he was choked to death.</p> + +<p>When Giraffe was dead, Tortoise crawled out +and went to Crab (who is considered as the +mother of Tortoise), and told her what had +happened. Then Crab said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p> +"The little Crab! I could sprinkle it under its arm with Boochoo,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a><br /> +The crooked-legged little one, I could sprinkle under its arm."<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Tortoise answered its mother and said:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Have you not always sprinkled me,<br /> +That you want to sprinkle me now?"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Then they went and fed for a whole year on +the remains of Giraffe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> +<h2>TORTOISES HUNTING<br /> +OSTRICHES</h2> + + +<p>One day, it is said, the Tortoises held +a council how they might hunt Ostriches, +and they said, "Let us, on +both sides, stand in rows near each other, and +let one go to hunt the Ostriches, so that they +must flee along through the midst of us." They +did so, and as they were many, the Ostriches +were obliged to run along through the midst +of them. During this they did not move, but, +remaining always in the same places, called each +to the other, "Are you there?" and each one +answered, "I am here." The Ostriches hearing +this, ran so tremendously that they quite exhausted +their strength, and fell down. Then +the Tortoises assembled by-and-by at the place +where the Ostriches had fallen, and devoured +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE JUDGMENT OF BABOON</h2> + + +<p>One day, it is said, the following story +happened:</p> + +<p>Mouse had torn the clothes of +Itkler (the tailor), who then went to Baboon, +and accused Mouse with these words:</p> + +<p>"In this manner I come to thee: Mouse has +torn my clothes, but will not know anything +of it, and accuses Cat; Cat protests likewise her +innocence, and says, 'Dog must have done it'; +but Dog denies it also, and declares Wood has +done it; and Wood throws the blame on Fire, +and says, 'Fire did it'; Fire says, 'I have not, +Water did it'; Water says, 'Elephant tore the +clothes'; and Elephant says, 'Ant tore them.' +Thus a dispute has arisen among them. Therefore, +I, Itkler, come to thee with this proposition: +Assemble the people and try them in order +that I may get satisfaction."</p> + +<p>Thus he spake, and Baboon assembled them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +for trial. Then they made the same excuses +which had been mentioned by Itkler, each one +putting the blame upon the other.</p> + +<p>So Baboon did not see any other way of +punishing them, save through making them punish +each other; he therefore said,</p> + +<p>"Mouse, give Itkler satisfaction."</p> + +<p>Mouse, however, pleaded not guilty. But +Baboon said, "Cat, bite Mouse." She did so.</p> + +<p>He then put the same question to Cat, and +when she exculpated herself, Baboon called to +Dog, "Here, bite Cat."</p> + +<p>In this manner Baboon questioned them all, +one after the other, but they each denied the +charge. Then he addressed the following words +to them, and said,</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">"Wood, beat Dog.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Fire, burn Wood.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Water, quench Fire.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Elephant, drink Water.</span><br /> +Ant, bite Elephant in his most tender parts."<br /> +</p> + +<p>They did so, and since that day they cannot +any longer agree with each other.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ant enters into Elephant's most tender parts +and bites him.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Elephant swallows Water.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Water quenches Fire.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Fire consumes Wood.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Wood beats Dog.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">Dog bites Cat.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">And Cat bites Mouse.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Through this judgment Itkler got satisfaction +and addressed Baboon in the following +manner:</p> + +<p>"Yes! Now I am content, since I have received +satisfaction, and with all my heart I thank +thee, Baboon, because thou hast exercised justice +on my behalf and given me redress."</p> + +<p>Then Baboon said, "From to-day I will not +any longer be called Jan, but Baboon shall be +my name."</p> + +<p>Since that time Baboon walks on all fours, +having probably lost the privilege of walking +erect through this foolish judgment.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION AND BABOON</h2> + + +<p>Baboon, it is said, once worked bamboos, +sitting on the edge of a precipice, +and Lion stole upon him. Baboon, +however, had fixed some round, glistening, eye-like +plates on the back of his head. When, +therefore, Lion crept upon him, he thought, +when Baboon was looking at him, that he sat +with his back towards him, and crept with all +his might upon him. When, however, Baboon +turned his back towards him, Lion thought that +he was seen, and hid himself. Thus, when Baboon +looked at him, he crept upon him.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> When +he was near him Baboon looked up, and Lion +continued to creep upon him. Baboon said +(aside), "Whilst I am looking at him he steals +upon me, whilst my hollow eyes are on him."</p> + +<p>When at last Lion sprung at him, he lay +(quickly) down upon his face, and Lion jumped +over him, falling down the precipice, and was +dashed to pieces.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE ZEBRA STALLION</h2> + + +<p>The Baboons, it is said, used to disturb +the Zebra Mares in drinking. But +one of the Mares became the mother +of a foal. The others then helped her to suckle +(the young stallion), that he might soon grow +up.</p> + +<p>When he was grown up and they were in want +of water, he brought them to the water. The +Baboons, seeing this, came, as they formerly +were used to do, into their way, and kept them +from the water.</p> + +<p>While the Mares stood thus, the Stallion +stepped forward, and spoke to one of the Baboons, +"Thou gum-eater's child!"</p> + +<p>The Baboon said to the Stallion, "Please +open thy mouth, that I may see what thou livest +on." The Stallion opened his mouth, and it +was milky.</p> + +<p>Then the Stallion said to the Baboon, "Please<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +open thy mouth also, that I may see." The Baboon +did so, and there was some gum in it. But +the Baboon quickly licked some milk off the +Stallion's tongue. The Stallion on this became +angry, took the Baboon by his shoulders, and +pressed him upon a hot, flat rock. Since that +day the Baboon has a bald place on his back.</p> + +<p>The Baboon said, lamenting, "I, my mother's +child, I, the gum-eater, am outdone by this milk-eater!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> +<h2>WHEN LION COULD FLY</h2> + + +<p>Lion, it is said, used once to fly, and +at that time nothing could live before +him. As he was unwilling that the +bones of what he caught should be broken into +pieces, he made a pair of White Crows watch +the bones, leaving them behind at the kraal +whilst he went a-hunting. But one day Great +Frog came there, broke the bones in pieces, +and said, "Why can men and animals live no +longer?" And he added these words, "When +he comes, tell him that I live at yonder pool; if +he wishes to see me, he must come there."</p> + +<p>Lion, lying in wait (for game), wanted to +fly up, but found he could not fly. Then he +got angry, thinking that at the kraal something +was wrong, and returned home. When he arrived +he asked, "What have you done that I +cannot fly?" Then they answered and said, +"Some one came here, broke the bones into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +pieces, and said, 'If he want me, he may look +for me at yonder pool!'" Lion went, and +arrived while Frog was sitting at the water's +edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. +When he was about to get hold of him, Frog +said, "Ho!" and, diving, went to the other +side of the pool, and sat there. Lion pursued +him; but as he could not catch him he returned +home.</p> + +<p>From that day, it is said, Lion walked on +his feet, and also began to creep upon (his +game); and the White Crows became entirely +dumb since the day that they said, "Nothing +can be said of that matter."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF<br /> +WISER THAN HIS<br /> +MOTHER</h2> + + +<p>It is said that when Lion and Gurikhoisip +(the Only man), together with Baboon, +Buffalo, and other friends, were playing +one day at a certain game, there was a thunderstorm +and rain at Aroxaams. Lion and +Gurikhoisip began to quarrel. "I shall run to +the rain-field," said Lion. Gurikhoisip said +also, "I shall run to the rain-field." As +neither would concede this to the other, they +separated (angrily). After they had parted, +Lion went to tell his Mother those things which +they had both said.</p> + +<p>His Mother said to him, "My son! that +Man whose head is in a line with his shoulders +and breast, who has pinching weapons, who +keeps white dogs, who goes about wearing the +tuft of a tiger's tail, beware of him!" Lion,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +however, said, "Why need I be on my guard +against those whom I know?" Lioness answered, +"My Son, take care of him who +has pinching weapons!" But Lion would +not follow his Mother's advice, and the same +morning, when it was still pitch dark, he went +to Aroxaams, and laid himself in ambush. +Gurikhoisip went also that morning to the same +place. When he had arrived he let his dogs +drink, and then bathe. After they had finished +they wallowed. Then also Man drank; and, +when he had done drinking, Lion came out +of the bush. Dogs surrounded him as his +Mother had foretold, and he was speared by +Gurikhoisip. Just as he became aware that he +was speared, the Dogs drew him down again. +In this manner he grew faint. While he was in +this state, Gurikhoisip said to the Dogs, "Let +him alone now, that he may go and be taught +by his Mother." So the Dogs let him go. They +left him, and went home as he lay there. The +same night he walked towards home, but whilst +he was on the way his strength failed him, and +he lamented:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p> +"Mother! take me up!<br /> +Grandmother! take me up! Oh me! Alas!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>At the dawn of day his Mother heard his +wailing, and said—</p> + +<p>"My Son, this is the thing which I have told +thee:</p> + +<p> +"'Beware of the one who has pinching weapons,<br /> +Who wears a tuft of tiger's tail,<br /> +Of him who has white dogs!<br /> +Alas! thou son of her who is short-eared,<br /> +Thou, my short-eared child!<br /> +Son of her who eats raw flesh,<br /> +Thou flesh-devourer;<br /> +Son of her whose nostrils are red from the prey,<br /> +Thou with blood-stained nostrils!<br /> +Son of her who drinks pit-water,<br /> +Thou water-drinker!'"<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION WHO TOOK A WOMAN'S<br /> +SHAPE</h2> + + +<p>Some Women, it is said, went out to seek +roots and herbs and other wild food. On +their way home they sat down and said, +"Let us taste the food of the field." Now they +found that the food picked by one of them +was sweet, while that of the others was bitter. +The latter said to each other, "Look here! this +Woman's herbs are sweet." Then they said to +the owner of the sweet food, "Throw it away +and seek for other." So she threw away the +food, and went to gather more. When she had +collected a sufficient supply, she returned to +join the other Women, but could not find them. +She went therefore down to the river, where +Hare sat lading water, and said to him, "Hare, +give me some water that I may drink." But +he replied, "This is the cup out of which my +uncle (Lion) and I alone may drink."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>She asked again: "Hare, draw water for +me that I may drink." But Hare made the +same reply. Then she snatched the cup from +him and drank, but he ran home to tell his uncle +of the outrage which had been committed.</p> + +<p>The Woman meanwhile replaced the cup and +went away. After she had departed Lion came +down, and, seeing her in the distance, pursued +her on the road. When she turned round +and saw him coming, she sang in the following +manner:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"My mother, she would not let me seek herbs,<br /> +Herbs of the field, food from the field. Hoo!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>When Lion at last came up with the Woman, +they hunted each other round a shrub. She +wore many beads and arm-rings, and Lion said, +"Let me put them on!" So she lent them to +him, but he afterwards refused to return them +to her.</p> + +<p>They then hunted each other again round +the shrub, till Lion fell down, and the Woman +jumped upon him, and kept him there. Lion +(uttering a form of conjuration) said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p> +"My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise;<br /> +Pray, rise from me!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>She then rose from him, and they hunted +again after each other round the shrub, till the +Woman fell down, and Lion jumped upon her. +She then addressed him:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"My Uncle! it is morning, and time to rise;<br /> +Pray, rise from me!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>He rose, of course, and they hunted each +other again, till Lion fell a second time. When +she jumped upon him he said:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise;<br /> +Pray, rise from me!"<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>They rose again and hunted after each other. +The Woman at last fell down. But this time +when she repeated the above conjuration, Lion +said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"Hè Kha! Is it morning, and time to rise?"</p></blockquote> + +<p>He then ate her, taking care, however, to +leave her skin whole, which he put on, together +with her dress and ornaments, so that he looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +quite like a woman, and then went home to her +kraal.</p> + +<p>When this counterfeit woman arrived, her little +sister, crying, said, "My sister, pour some +milk out for me." She answered, "I shall not +pour you out any." Then the Child addressed +their Mother: "Mama, do pour out some for +me." The Mother of the kraal said, "Go to +your sister, and let her give it to you!" The +little Child said again to her sister, "Please, +pour out for me!" She, however, repeated her +refusal, saying, "I will not do it." Then the +Mother of the kraal said to the little One, +"I refused to let her (the elder sister) seek +herbs in the field, and I do not know what may +have happened; go therefore to Hare, and ask +him to pour out for you."</p> + +<p>So then Hare gave her some milk; but her +elder sister said, "Come and share it with me." +The little Child then went to her sister with her +bamboo (cup), and they both sucked the milk +out of it. Whilst they were doing this, some +milk was spilt on the little one's hand, and the +elder sister licked it up with her tongue, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +roughness of which drew blood; this, too, the +Woman licked up.</p> + +<p>The little Child complained to her Mother: +"Mama, sister pricks holes in me and sucks the +blood." The Mother said, "With what Lion's +nature your sister went the way that I forbade +her, and returned, I do not know."</p> + +<p>Now the Cows arrived, and the elder sister +cleansed the pails in order to milk them. But +when she approached the Cows with a thong +(in order to tie their fore-legs), they all refused +to be milked by her.</p> + +<p>Hare said, "Why do not you stand before +the Cow?" She replied, "Hare, call your +brother, and do you two stand before the Cow." +Her husband said, "What has come over her +that the Cows refuse her? These are the same +Cows she always milks." The Mother (of the +kraal) said, "What has happened this evening? +These are Cows which she always milks without +assistance. What can have affected her that +she comes home as a woman with a Lion's nature?"</p> + +<p>The elder daughter then said to her Mother,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +"I shall not milk the Cows." With these words +she sat down. The Mother said therefore to +Hare, "Bring me the bamboos, that I may milk. +I do not know what has come over the girl."</p> + +<p>So the Mother herself milked the cows, and +when she had done so, Hare brought the bamboos +to the young wife's house, where her +husband was, but she (the wife) did not give +him (her husband) anything to eat. But when +at night time she fell asleep, they saw some of +the Lion's hair, which was hanging out where +he had slipped on the Woman's skin, and they +cried, "Verily! this is quite another being. It +is for this reason that the Cows refused to be +milked."</p> + +<p>Then the people of the kraal began to break +up the hut in which Lion lay asleep. When +they took off the mats, they said (conjuring +them), "If thou art favourably inclined to me, +O Mat, give the sound 'sawa'" (meaning, making +no noise).</p> + +<p>To the poles (on which the hut rested) they +said, "If thou art favourably inclined to me, +O Pole, thou must give the sound 'gara.'"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>They addressed also the bamboos and the bed-skins +in a similar manner.</p> + +<p>Thus gradually and noiselessly they removed +the hut and all its contents. Then they took +bunches of grass, put them over the Lion, and +lighting them, said, "If thou art favourably inclined +to me, O Fire, thou must flare up, 'boo +boo,' before thou comest to the heart."</p> + +<p>So the Fire flared up when it came towards +the heart, and the heart of the Woman jumped +upon the ground. The Mother (of the kraal) +picked it up, and put it into a calabash.</p> + +<p>Lion, from his place in the fire, said to the +Mother (of the kraal), "How nicely I have +eaten your daughter." The Woman answered, +"You have also now a comfortable place!"</p> + +<p>Now the Woman took the first milk of as +many Cows as had calves, and put it into the +calabash where her daughter's heart was; the +calabash increased in size, and in proportion to +this the girl grew again inside it.</p> + +<p>One day, when the Mother (of the kraal) +went out to fetch wood, she said to Hare, +"By the time that I come back you must have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +everything nice and clean." But during her +Mother's absence, the girl crept out of the calabash, +and put the hut in good order, as she +had been used to do in former days, and said +to Hare, "When Mother comes back and asks, +'Who has done these things?' you must say, +'I, Hare, did them.'" After she had done all, +she hid herself on the stage.</p> + +<p>When the Mother of the kraal came home, +she said, "Hare, who has done these things? +They look just as they used when my daughter +did them." Hare said, "I did the things." +But the Mother would not believe it, and looked +at the calabash. Seeing it was empty, she +searched the stage and found her daughter. +Then she embraced and kissed her, and from +that day the girl stayed with her Mother, and +did everything as she was wont in former times; +but she now remained unmarried.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2>WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG<br /> +BLACK STRIPE ON HIS<br /> +BACK?</h2> + + +<p>The Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, +and the men who were travelling saw +him sitting by the wayside, but passed +him without notice. Jackal, however, who came +after them, and saw him also sitting, went to +him and said, "Such a fine little child is left +behind by the men." He then took Sun up, +and put it into his awa-skin (on his back). +When it burnt him, he said, "Get down," and +shook himself; but Sun stuck fast to his back, +and burnt Jackal's back black from that day.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> +<h2>HORSE CURSED BY SUN</h2> + + +<p>It is said that once Sun was on earth, and +caught Horse to ride it. But it was unable +to bear his weight, and therefore Ox +took the place of Horse, and carried Sun on its +back. Since that time Horse is cursed in these +words, because it could not carry Sun's weight:</p> + +<blockquote><p> +"From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying.<br /> +This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying.<br /> +And day and night shalt thou eat,<br /> +But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest,<br /> +Though thou grazest till morning and again until sunset.<br /> +Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee," said Sun.<br /> +</p></blockquote> + +<p>Since that day Horse's (certain) time of +dying commenced.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> +<h2>LION'S DEFEAT</h2> + + +<p>The wild animals, it is said, were once +assembled at Lion's. When Lion was +asleep, Jackal persuaded Little Fox to +twist a rope of ostrich sinews, in order to +play Lion a trick. They took ostrich sinews, +twisted them, and fastened the rope to Lion's +tail, and the other end of the rope they tied +to a shrub. When Lion awoke, and saw that +he was tied up, he became angry, and called +the animals together. When they had assembled, +Lion said (using this form of conjuration)—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"What child of his mother and father's love,<br /> +Whose mother and father's love has tied me?"</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Then answered the animal to whom the question +was first put—<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote><p>"I, child of my mother and father's love,<br /> +I, mother and father's love, I have not done it."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>All answered the same; but when he asked +Little Fox, Little Fox said—</p> + +<blockquote><p>"I, child of my mother and father's love,<br /> +I, mother and father's love, have tied thee!"</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Then Lion tore the rope made of sinews, and +ran after Little Fox. But Jackal said:</p> + +<blockquote><p>"My boy, thou son of lean Mrs. Fox, thou +wilt never be caught."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Truly Lion was thus beaten in running by +Little Fox.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE ORIGIN OF DEATH</h2> + + +<p>The Moon, it is said, sent once an Insect +to Men, saying, "Go thou to Men, and +tell them, 'As I die, and dying live, so +ye shall also die, and dying live.'" The Insect +started with the message, but whilst on his way +was overtaken by the Hare, who asked: "On +what errand art thou bound?" The Insect answered: +"I am sent by the Moon to Men, to +tell them that as she dies, and dying lives, they +also shall die, and dying live." The Hare said, +"As thou art an awkward runner, let me go" +(to take the message). With these words he +ran off, and when he reached Men, he said, +"I am sent by the Moon to tell you, 'As I +die, and dying perish, in the same manner ye +shall also die and come wholly to an end.'" +Then the Hare returned to the Moon, and told +her what he had said to Men. The Moon +reproached him angrily, saying, "Darest thou<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +tell the people a thing which I have not said?" +With these words she took up a piece of wood, +and struck him on the nose. Since that day +the Hare's nose is slit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> +<h2>ANOTHER VERSION OF THE<br /> +SAME FABLE</h2> + + +<p>The Moon dies, and rises to life again. +The Moon said to the Hare, "Go thou +to Men, and tell them, 'Like as I die +and rise to life again, so you also shall die and +rise to life again.'" The Hare went to the Men, +and said, "Like as I die and do not rise to life +again, so you shall also die, and not rise to life +again." When he returned the Moon asked +"What hast thou said?" "I have told them, +'Like as I die and do not rise to life again, so +you shall also die and not rise to life again.'" +"What," said the Moon, "hast thou said +that?" And she took a stick and beat the Hare +on his mouth, which was slit by the blow. The +Hare fled, and is still fleeing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> +<h2>A THIRD VERSION OF THE<br /> +SAME FABLE</h2> + + +<p>The Moon, on one occasion, sent the +Hare to the earth to inform Men that +as she (the Moon) died away and rose +again, so mankind should die and rise again. +Instead, however, of delivering this message as +given, the Hare, either out of forgetfulness or +malice, told mankind that as the Moon rose and +died away, so Man should die and rise no more. +The Hare, having returned to the Moon, was +questioned as to the message delivered, and the +Moon, having heard the true state of the case, +became so enraged with him that she took up a +hatchet to split his head; falling short, however, +of that, the hatchet fell upon the upper lip of +the Hare, and cut it severely. Hence it is that +we see the "Hare-lip." The Hare, being +duly incensed at having received such treatment, +raised his claws, and scratched the Moon's face;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +and the dark spots which we now see on the +surface of the Moon are the scars which she +received on that occasion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<h2>A FOURTH VERSION OF THE<br /> +SAME FABLE</h2> + + +<p>The Moon, they say, wished to send a +message to Men, and the Hare said that +he would take it. "Run, then," said the +Moon, "and tell Men that as I die and am renewed, +so shall they also be renewed." But the +Hare deceived Men, and said, "As I die and +perish, so shall you also."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span></p> +<h2>A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND<br /> +OF THE "ORIGIN OF<br /> +DEATH"</h2> + + +<p>God (Unknlunkuln) arose from beneath +(the seat of the spiritual world, according +to the Zulu idea), and created +in the beginning men, animals, and all things. +He then sent for the Chameleon, and said, "Go, +Chameleon, and tell Men that they shall not +die." The Chameleon went, but it walked +slowly, and loitered on the way, eating of a shrub +called Bukwebezane.</p> + +<p>When it had been away some time, God sent +the Salamander after it, ordering him to make +haste and tell Men that they should die. The +Salamander went on his way with this message, +outran the Chameleon, and, arriving first where +the Men were, told them that they must die.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<h2>LITERATURE</h2> + + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Literature"> +<tr><td align="left">Geschiedenis van<br />Zuid Afrika</td><td align="left">Geo. McCall Theal</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Kafir Folk-lore</td><td align="left">" " "</td><td align="left">1882</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">African Native<br />Literature</td><td align="left">S. W. Koelle</td><td align="left">1854</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">South African<br />Folk-lore Journal<br />Hottentot Fables<br />and Tales</td><td align="left">W. H. I. Bleek</td><td align="left">1864</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">An expedition of<br />Discovery into<br />the Interior of<br />Africa</td><td align="left">James Alexander</td><td align="left">1838</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">South Africa a<br />Century Ago</td><td align="left">Anna Barnard</td><td align="left">1901</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">An account of<br />travels into the<br />interior of<br />South Africa</td><td align="left">John Barrow</td><td align="left">1802</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Travels in South<br />Africa</td><td align="left">John Campbell</td><td align="left">1816</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The Childhood of<br />Man</td><td align="left">Leo Frobenius</td><td align="left">1909</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Travels and Adventure<br />in Eastern<br />Africa</td><td align="left">Nathaniel Isaacs</td><td align="left">1836</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Narrative of Discovery<br />and Adventure<br />in Africa</td><td align="left">Jameson, etc.</td><td align="left">1830</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><a name="voyage" id="voyage"></a>Voyage dans <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'l'Interieur'">l'Intérieur</ins><br />de l'Afrique</td><td align="left">F. Le Vaillant</td><td align="left">1796</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Missionary Travels<br />and Researches<br />in<br />South Africa</td><td align="left">D. Livingstone</td><td align="left">1858</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Scenes in Africa</td><td align="left">Capt. Marryat</td><td align="left">1851</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Missionary Labors<br />and Scenes in<br />South Africa</td><td align="left">R. Moffat</td><td align="left">1845</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A New Gazetteer<br />of the Asia,<br />Africa, etc.,<br />Continents</td><td align="left">J. Morse</td><td align="left">1802</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">South African Native<br />Races</td><td align="left">S. A. Native Races<br />Committee</td><td align="left">1909</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Researches into<br />the Physical<br />History of<br />Mankind</td><td align="left">J. C. Prichard</td><td align="left">1841</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Memorials of<br />South Africa</td><td align="left">B. Shaw</td><td align="left">1841</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wanderings and<br />Adventures in<br />the Interior of<br />South Africa</td><td align="left">A. Stedman</td><td align="left">1835</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Notes on the<br />Bushmen</td><td align="left">E. & D. Bleek</td><td align="left">1909</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Africa</td><td align="left">K. Johnston</td><td align="left">1878</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A Voyage to the<br />Cape of Good<br />Hope</td><td align="left">A. Sparrmann</td><td align="left">1785</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Travels in South<br />Africa</td><td align="left">Henry Lichtenstein</td><td align="left">1800</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The Dwarfs of<br />Mount Atlas</td><td align="left">R. G. Haliburton</td><td align="left">1891</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The Native Races<br />of South Africa</td><td align="left">G. W. Stow</td><td align="left">1905</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Description du<br />Cap de Bonne<br />Esperance</td><td align="left">Pierre Kolbe</td><td align="left">1741</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Specimens of Dialects</td><td align="left">John Clarke</td><td align="left">1849</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Black beeswax.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>Wip</i>: A Dutch word for springle, consisting of a bent +green stick, to which a noose is attached at one end; the +trap is delicately adjusted by a cross stick, which when trod +on releases the bent bough, pulling the noose quickly around +the animal and into the air.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> (In token of approval, according to a Hottentot custom.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Whilst Baboon did this, Lion came close upon him.</p></div> + +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'> +<h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> + +<p>Punctuation has been standardised.</p> + +<p>Chapter headings in the Contents do not always match the headings +in the body of the book.</p> + +<p>Both Folk-lore and Folklore appear in the +text.</p> + +<p>Changes are indicated by dotted underlines. Scroll the mouse over the word +and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.<br /> +<br /> + Page 24<br /> + Wolf's tale," said the rogue<br /> + Wolf's <a href="#tail">tail</a>," said the rogue<br /> +<br /> + Page 38<br /> + Paragraph inserted before <a href="#it">"It is also better,"</a><br /> +<br /> + Page 150<br /> + Voyage dans l'Interieur<br /> + Voyage dans <a href="#voyage">l'Intérieur</a> +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's South-African Folk-Tales, by James A. 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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: South-African Folk-Tales + +Author: James A. Honey + +Release Date: December 19, 2011 [EBook #38339] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Hale, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN +FOLK-TALES + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN +FOLK-TALES + +BY +James A. Honey, M.D. + +NEW YORK +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY +1910 + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY +THE BAKER & TAYLOR COMPANY + +Published, November, 1910 + +THE TROW PRESS, NEW YORK + + + + +AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED +TO +C. F. H. AND F. I. G. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + INTRODUCTION 1 + + ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF + LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN 8 + + THE LOST MESSAGE 10 + + THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE 14 + + THE TIGER, THE RAM, AND THE JACKAL 19 + + THE JACKAL AND THE WOLF 22 + + A JACKAL AND A WOLF 24 + + THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND THE MAN 25 + + THE WORLD'S REWARD 28 + + THE LION AND THE JACKAL 33 + + TINK-TINKJE 42 + + THE LION AND JACKAL 45 + + THE LION AND JACKAL 48 + + THE HUNT OF LION AND JACKAL 53 + + THE STORY OF LION AND LITTLE JACKAL 56 + + THE LIONESS AND THE OSTRICH 62 + + CROCODILE'S TREASON 64 + + THE STORY OF A DAM 73 + + THE DANCE FOR WATER OR RABBITS' + TRIUMPH 79 + + JACKAL AND MONKEY 84 + + LION'S SHARE 87 + + JACKAL'S BRIDE 92 + + THE STORY OF HARE 94 + + THE WHITE MAN AND SNAKE 101 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 103 + + CLOUD EATING 105 + + LION'S ILLNESS 107 + + JACKAL, DOVE, AND HERON 109 + + COCK AND JACKAL 111 + + ELEPHANT AND TORTOISE 112 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 115 + + TORTOISE HUNTING OSTRICHES 117 + + THE JUDGMENT OF BABOON 118 + + LION AND BABOON 121 + + THE ZEBRA STALLION 122 + + WHEN LION COULD FLY 124 + + LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF WISER THAN + HIS MOTHER 126 + + LION WHO TOOK A WOMAN'S SHAPE 129 + + WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE + ON HIS BACK? 137 + + HORSE CURSED BY SUN 138 + + LION'S DEFEAT 139 + + THE ORIGIN OF DEATH 141 + + ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 143 + + A THIRD VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 144 + + A FOURTH VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE 146 + + A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND OF THE + "ORIGIN OF DEATH" 147 + + LITERATURE ON SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-LORE 148 + + + + + +SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In presenting these stories, which are of deep interest and value to +South Africans, I hope they may prove of some value to those Americans +who have either an interest in animals or who appreciate the folklore of +other countries. + +Many of these tales have appeared among English collections previous to +1880, others have been translated from the Dutch, and a few have been +written from childhood remembrance. Consequently they do not pretend to +be original or unique. Care has been taken not to spoil the ethnological +value for the sake of form or structure; and in all cases they are as +nearly like the original as a translation from one tongue to another +will allow. They are all South-African folklore tales and mainly from +the Bushmen. Some are perverted types from what were originally Bushmen +tales, but have been taken over by Hottentots or Zulus; a few are from +the Dutch. Most of these last named will show a European influence, +especially French. + +Some of the animal stories have appeared in American magazines under the +author's name, but this is the first time that a complete collection has +appeared since Dr. Bleek published his stories in 1864. The object has +been to keep the stories apart from those which have a mythological or +religious significance, and especially to keep it an animal collection +free from those in which man appears to take a part. + +There will be found several versions of the same story, and as far as +possible these will be put in the order of their importance in relation +to the original. The author does not pretend to be an authority on +South-African folklore, but has only a South-African-born interest in +what springs from that country of sunshine. It is a difficult task to +attempt to trace the origin of these stories, as there is no country +where there have been so many distinct and primitive races dwelling +together. + +The Bushmen seem to trace back to the earliest Egyptian days, when +dwarfs were pictured on the tombs of the kings and were a distinct race. +From then until now it has been their pride to say that before men were +men, they were; or, to put it clearer, before Africa was inhabited by +other races, they were there. As represented by some of these stories of +the Bushmen, what races have not, then, had their influence on the +folklore? According to Stow, they were a wandering primitive race of +small men, painters and sculptors, hunters and herdsmen, and withal a +race showing traces of wonderful reasoning and adaptability, with a keen +sense of justice and a store of pride. Mythological some of their +stories are, but whether this is due to the influence of the Hottentots, +a later race, it is difficult to say. And, lastly, there are the Kaffirs +spread over the whole of South Africa, domineering, but backward. The +varied influences which may have affected these stories before they +reached us show what enormous possibilities there are for error in +tracing the origin of the animal tales here presented. Bleek finds that +a greater congeniality exists between the Hottentot and European mind +than is found between the latter and any other of the black races of +Africa. Whether he means that this indicates a European origin of the +fables, I cannot say. There is no doubt in my mind that the Bushmen came +from the north and were the primitive race of south and tropical Africa, +the dwarfs of Livingstone, Stanley, and other explorers. Considering, +then, the great antiquity of this race, it naturally follows that if +these stories are not original with the Bushmen, they are at least so +modified as to bear no resemblance to Egyptian, Phoenician, or any other +ancient race which the Bushmen may have come in contact with. Herodotus +described a race on the upper Nile which corresponds with later +descriptions of the Bushmen in tropical and southern Africa. + +I agree with what the _South-African Folklore Journal_ stated twenty +years or more ago, that with the "vast strides South Africa is making in +the progress of civilization, the native races will either be swept away +or so altered as to lose many of their ancient habits, customs, +traditions, or at least greatly to modify them." + +Knowing that by a collection of this kind these stories could best be +preserved, and feeling that others had not read them, I began this +collection ten years ago. There is so much done now to preserve what is +still Bushmen folklore that I feel this small volume is indeed only a +small addition to the folklore world. + +"South-African folklore is," the _South-African Folklore Journal_ says, +"in its very nature plain, and primitive in its simplicity; not adorned +with the wealth of palaces and precious stones to be met with in the +folklore of more civilized nations, but descriptive in great measure of +the events of everyday life, among those in a low state of civilization; +and with the exception of evidences of moral qualities, and of such +imagery as is connected with the phenomena of nature, very little that +is grand or magnificent must be looked for in it." + +Bain gives a story related by a Kaffir which shows "the distribution of +animals after the creation." This story could not become typically +Kaffir until after the Kaffir came in contact with the European in the +last two or three hundred years. However, the story will serve to +illustrate the people whose stories appear in this volume and to close +the Introduction. + +Teco, in Kaffir, is the Supreme Being. Teco had every description of +stock and property. + +There were three nations created, viz., the Whites, the Amakosa, or +Kaffirs, and the Amalouw, or Hottentots. A day was appointed for them to +appear before the Teco to receive whatever he might apportion to each +tribe. While they were assembling, a honey bird, or honey guide, came +fluttering by, and all the Hottentots ran after it, whistling and making +the peculiar noise they generally do while following this wonderful +little bird. The Teco remonstrated with them about their behavior, but +to no purpose. He thereupon denounced them as a vagrant race that would +have to exist on wild roots and honey beer, and possess no stock +whatever. + +When the fine herds of cattle were brought, the Kaffirs became very much +excited--the one exclaiming, "That black and white cow is mine!" and +another, "That red cow and black bull are mine!" and so on, till at last +the Teco, whose patience had been severely taxed by their shouts and +unruly behavior, denounced them as a restless people, who would only +possess cattle. + +The Whites patiently waited until they received cattle, horses, sheep, +and all sorts of property. Hence, the old Kaffir observed, "You Whites +have got everything. We Kaffirs have only cattle, while the Amalouw, or +Hottentots, have nothing." + + James A. Honey. + + CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June, 1910. + + + + +ORIGIN OF THE DIFFERENCE IN MODES OF LIFE BETWEEN HOTTENTOTS AND BUSHMEN + + +In the beginning there were two. One was blind, the other was always +hunting. This hunter found at last a hole in the earth from which game +proceeded and killed the young. The blind man, feeling and smelling +them, said, "They are not game, but cattle." + +The blind man afterwards recovered his sight, and going with the hunter +to this hole, saw that they were cows with their calves. He then quickly +built a kraal (fence made of thorns) round them, and anointed himself, +just as Hottentots (in their native state) are still wont to do. + +When the other, who now with great trouble had to seek his game, came +and saw this, he wanted to anoint himself also. "Look here!" said the +other, "you must throw the ointment into the fire, and afterwards use +it." He followed this advice, and the flames flaring up into his face, +burnt him most miserably; so that he was glad to make his escape. The +other, however, called to him: "Here, take the kirri (a knobstick), and +run to the hills to hunt there for honey." + +Hence sprung the race of Bushmen. + + + + +THE LOST MESSAGE + + +The ant has had from time immemorial many enemies, and because he is +small and destructive, there have been a great many slaughters among +them. Not only were most of the birds their enemies, but Anteater lived +almost wholly from them, and Centipede beset them every time and at all +places when he had the chance. + +So now there were a few among them who thought it would be well to hold +council together and see if they could not come to some arrangement +whereby they could retreat to some place of safety when attacked by +robber birds and animals. + +But at the gathering their opinions were most discordant, and they could +come to no decision. + +There was Red-ant, Rice-ant, Black-ant, Wagtail-ant, Gray-ant, +Shining-ant, and many other varieties. The discussion was a true babel +of diversity, which continued for a long time and came to nothing. + +A part desired that they should all go into a small hole in the ground, +and live there; another part wanted to have a large and strong dwelling +built on the ground, where nobody could enter but an ant; still another +wanted to dwell in trees, so as to get rid of Anteater, forgetting +entirely that there they would be the prey of birds; another part seemed +inclined to have wings and fly. + +And, as has already been said, this deliberation amounted to nothing, +and each party resolved to go to work in its own way, and on its own +responsibility. + +Greater unity than that which existed in each separate faction could be +seen nowhere in the world; each had his appointed task, each did his +work regularly and well. And all worked together in the same way. From +among them they chose a king--that is to say some of the groups did--and +they divided the labor so that all went as smoothly as it possibly +could. + +But each group did it in its own way, and not one of them thought of +protecting themselves against the onslaught of birds or Anteater. + +The Red-ants built their house on the ground and lived under it, but +Anteater leveled to the ground in a minute what had cost them many days +of precious labor. The Rice-ants lived under the ground, and with them +it went no better. For whenever they came out, Anteater visited them and +took them out sack and pack. The Wagtail-ants fled to the trees, but +there on many occasions sat Centipede waiting for them, or the birds +gobbled them up. The Gray-ants had intended to save themselves from +extermination by taking to flight, but this also availed them nothing, +because the Lizard, the Hunting-spider, and the birds went a great deal +faster than they. + +When the Insect-king heard that they could come to no agreement he sent +them the secret of unity, and the message of Work-together. But +unfortunately he chose for his messenger the Beetle, and he has never +yet arrived at the Ants, so that they are still to-day the embodiment of +discord and consequently the prey of enemies. + + + + +THE MONKEY'S FIDDLE + + +Hunger and want forced Monkey one day to forsake his land and to seek +elsewhere among strangers for much-needed work. Bulbs, earth beans, +scorpions, insects, and such things were completely exhausted in his own +land. But fortunately he received, for the time being, shelter with a +great uncle of his, Orang Outang, who lived in another part of the +country. + +When he had worked for quite a while he wanted to return home, and as +recompense his great uncle gave him a fiddle and a bow and arrow and +told him that with the bow and arrow he could hit and kill anything he +desired, and with the fiddle he could force anything to dance. + +The first he met upon his return to his own land was Brer Wolf. This old +fellow told him all the news and also that he had since early morning +been attempting to stalk a deer, but all in vain. + +Then Monkey laid before him all the wonders of the bow and arrow that he +carried on his back and assured him if he could but see the deer he +would bring it down for him. When Wolf showed him the deer, Monkey was +ready and down fell the deer. + +They made a good meal together, but instead of Wolf being thankful, +jealousy overmastered him and he begged for the bow and arrow. When +Monkey refused to give it to him, he thereupon began to threaten him +with his greater strength, and so when Jackal passed by, Wolf told him +that Monkey had stolen his bow and arrow. After Jackal had heard both of +them, he declared himself unqualified to settle the case alone, and he +proposed that they bring the matter to the court of Lion, Tiger, and the +other animals. In the meantime he declared he would take possession of +what had been the cause of their quarrel, so that it would be safe, as +he said. But he immediately brought to earth all that was eatable, so +there was a long time of slaughter before Monkey and Wolf agreed to +have the affair in court. + +Monkey's evidence was weak, and to make it worse, Jackal's testimony was +against him. Jackal thought that in this way it would be easier to +obtain the bow and arrow from Wolf for himself. + +And so fell the sentence against Monkey. Theft was looked upon as a +great wrong; he must hang. + +The fiddle was still at his side, and he received as a last favor from +the court the right to play a tune on it. + +He was a master player of his time, and in addition to this came the +wonderful power of his charmed fiddle. Thus, when he struck the first +note of "Cockcrow" upon it, the court began at once to show an unusual +and spontaneous liveliness, and before he came to the first waltzing +turn of the old tune the whole court was dancing like a whirlwind. + +Over and over, quicker and quicker, sounded the tune of "Cockcrow" on +the charmed fiddle, until some of the dancers, exhausted, fell down, +although still keeping their feet in motion. But Monkey, musician as he +was, heard and saw nothing of what had happened around him. With his +head placed lovingly against the instrument, and his eyes half closed, +he played on, keeping time ever with his foot. + +Wolf was the first to cry out in pleading tones breathlessly, "Please +stop, Cousin Monkey! For love's sake, please stop!" + +But Monkey did not even hear him. Over and over sounded the resistless +waltz of "Cockcrow." + +After a while Lion showed signs of fatigue, and when he had gone the +round once more with his young lion wife, he growled as he passed +Monkey, "My whole kingdom is yours, ape, if you just stop playing." + +"I do not want it," answered Monkey, "but withdraw the sentence and give +me my bow and arrow, and you, Wolf, acknowledge that you stole it from +me." + +"I acknowledge, I acknowledge!" cried Wolf, while Lion cried, at the +same instant, that he withdrew the sentence. + +Monkey gave them just a few more turns of the "Cockcrow," gathered up +his bow and arrow, and seated himself high up in the nearest camel thorn +tree. + +The court and other animals were so afraid that he might begin again +that they hastily disbanded to new parts of the world. + + + + +THE TIGER, THE RAM, AND THE JACKAL + + +Tiger (leopard) was returning home from hunting on one occasion, when he +lighted on the kraal of Ram. Now, Tiger had never seen Ram before, and +accordingly, approaching submissively, he said, "Good day, friend! What +may your name be?" + +The other in his gruff voice, and striking his breast with his forefoot, +said, "I am Ram. Who are you?" + +"Tiger," answered the other, more dead than alive, and then, taking +leave of Ram, he ran home as fast as he could. + +Jackal lived at the same place as Tiger did, and the latter going to +him, said, "Friend Jackal, I am quite out of breath, and am half dead +with fright, for I have just seen a terrible looking fellow, with a +large and thick head, and on my asking him what his name was, he +answered, 'I am Ram.'" + +"What a foolish fellow you are," cried Jackal, "to let such a nice piece +of flesh stand! Why did you do so? But we shall go to-morrow and eat it +together." + +Next day the two set off for the kraal of Ram, and as they appeared over +a hill, Ram, who had turned out to look about him, and was calculating +where he should that day crop a tender salad, saw them, and he +immediately went to his wife and said, "I fear this is our last day, for +Jackal and Tiger are both coming against us. What shall we do?" + +"Don't be afraid," said the wife, "but take up the child in your arms, +go out with it, and pinch it to make it cry as if it were hungry." Ram +did so as the confederates came on. + +No sooner did Tiger cast his eyes on Ram than fear again took possession +of him, and he wished to turn back. Jackal had provided against this, +and made Tiger fast to himself with a leathern thong, and said, "Come +on," when Ram cried in a loud voice, and pinching his child at the same +time, "You have done well, Friend Jackal, to have brought us Tiger to +eat, for you hear how my child is crying for food." + +On these dreadful words Tiger, notwithstanding the entreaties of Jackal +to let him go, to let him loose, set off in the greatest alarm, dragged +Jackal after him over hill and valley, through bushes and over rocks, +and never stopped to look behind him till he brought back himself and +half-dead Jackal to his place again. And so Ram escaped. + + + + +THE JACKAL AND THE WOLF + + +Once on a time Jackal, who lived on the borders of the colony, saw a +wagon returning from the seaside laden with fish; he tried to get into +the wagon from behind, but he could not; he then ran on before and lay +in the road as if dead. The wagon came up to him, and the leader cried +to the driver, "Here is a fine kaross for your wife!" + +"Throw it into the wagon," said the driver, and Jackal was thrown in. + +The wagon traveled on, through a moonlight night, and all the while +Jackal was throwing out the fish into the road; he then jumped out +himself and secured a great prize. But stupid old Wolf (hyena), coming +by, ate more than his share, for which Jackal owed him a grudge, and he +said to him, "You can get plenty of fish, too, if you lie in the way of +a wagon as I did, and keep quite still whatever happens." + +"So!" mumbled Wolf. + +Accordingly, when the next wagon came from the sea, Wolf stretched +himself out in the road. "What ugly thing is this?" cried the leader, +and kicked Wolf. He then took a stick and thrashed him within an inch of +his life. Wolf, according to the directions of Jackal, lay quiet as long +as he could; he then got up and hobbled off to tell his misfortune to +Jackal, who pretended to comfort him. + +"What a pity," said Wolf, "I have not got such a handsome skin as you +have!" + + + + +A JACKAL AND A WOLF + + +Jackal and Wolf went and hired themselves to a man to be his servants. +In the middle of the night Jackal rose and smeared Wolf's tail with some +fat, and then ate all the rest of it in the house. In the morning the +man missed the fat, and he immediately accused Jackal of having eaten +it. "Look at Wolf's tail," said the rogue, "and you will see who is the +thief." The man did so, and then thrashed Wolf till he was nearly dead. + + + + +THE LION, THE JACKAL, AND THE MAN + + +It so happened one day that Lion and Jackal came together to converse on +affairs of land and state. Jackal, let me say, was the most important +adviser to the king of the forest, and after they had spoken about these +matters for quite a while, the conversation took a more personal turn. + +Lion began to boast and talk big about his strength. Jackal had, +perhaps, given him cause for it, because by nature he was a flatterer. +But now that Lion began to assume so many airs, said he, "See here, +Lion, I will show you an animal that is still more powerful than you +are." + +They walked along, Jackal leading the way, and met first a little boy. + +"Is this the strong man?" asked Lion. + +"No," answered Jackal, "he must still become a man, O king." + +After a while they found an old man walking with bowed head and +supporting his bent figure with a stick. + +"Is this the wonderful strong man?" asked Lion. + +"Not yet, O king," was Jackal's answer, "he has been a man." + +Continuing their walk a short distance farther, they came across a young +hunter, in the prime of youth, and accompanied by some of his dogs. + +"There you have him now, O king," said Jackal. "Pit your strength +against his, and if you win, then truly you are the strength of the +earth." + +Then Jackal made tracks to one side toward a little rocky kopje from +which he would be able to see the meeting. + +Growling, growling, Lion strode forward to meet the man, but when he +came close the dogs beset him. He, however, paid but little attention to +the dogs, pushed and separated them on all sides with a few sweeps of +his front paws. They howled aloud, beating a hasty retreat toward the +man. + +Thereupon the man fired a charge of shot, hitting him behind the +shoulder, but even to this Lion paid but little attention. Thereupon the +hunter pulled out his steel knife, and gave him a few good jabs. Lion +retreated, followed by the flying bullets of the hunter. + +"Well, are you strongest now?" was Jackal's first question when Lion +arrived at his side. + +"No, Jackal," answered Lion, "let that fellow there keep the name and +welcome. Such as he I have never before seen. In the first place he had +about ten of his bodyguard storm me. I really did not bother myself much +about them, but when I attempted to turn him to chaff, he spat and blew +fire at me, mostly into my face, that burned just a little but not very +badly. And when I again endeavored to pull him to the ground he jerked +out from his body one of his ribs with which he gave me some very ugly +wounds, so bad that I had to make chips fly, and as a parting he sent +some warm bullets after me. No, Jackal, give him the name." + + + + +THE WORLD'S REWARD + + +Once there was a man that had an old dog, so old that the man desired to +put him aside. The dog had served him very faithfully when he was still +young, but ingratitude is the world's reward, and the man now wanted to +dispose of him. The old dumb creature, however, ferreted out the plan of +his master, and so at once resolved to go away of his own accord. + +After he had walked quite a way he met an old bull in the veldt. + +"Don't you want to go with me?" asked the dog. + +"Where?" was the reply. + +"To the land of the aged," said the dog, "where troubles don't disturb +you and thanklessness does not deface the deeds of man." + +"Good," said the bull, "I am your companion." + +The two now walked on and found a ram. + +The dog laid the plan before him, and all moved off together, until they +afterwards came successively upon a donkey, a cat, a cock, and a goose. + +These joined their company, and the seven set out on their journey. + +Late one night they came to a house and through the open door they saw a +table spread with all kinds of nice food, of which some robbers were +having their fill. It would help nothing to ask for admittance, and +seeing that they were hungry, they must think of something else. + +Therefore the donkey climbed up on the bull, the ram on the donkey, the +dog on the ram, the cat on the dog, the goose on the cat, and the cock +on the goose, and with one accord they all let out terrible +(threatening) noises (cryings). + +The bull began to bellow, the donkey to bray, the dog to bark, the ram +to bleat, the cat to mew, the goose to giggle gaggle, and the cock to +crow, all without cessation. + +The people in the house were frightened perfectly limp; they glanced +out through the front door, and there they stared on the strange sight. +Some of them took to the ropes over the back lower door, some +disappeared through the window, and in a few counts the house was empty. + +Then the seven old animals climbed down from one another, stepped into +the house, and satisfied themselves with the delicious food. + +But when they had finished, there still remained a great deal of food, +too much to take with them on their remaining journey, and so together +they contrived a plan to hold their position until the next day after +breakfast. + +The dog said, "See here, I am accustomed to watch at the front door of +my master's house," and thereupon flopped himself down to sleep; the +bull said, "I go behind the door," and there he took his position; the +ram said, "I will go up on to the loft"; the donkey, "I at the middle +door"; the cat, "I in the fireplace"; the goose, "I in the back door"; +and the cock said, "I am going to sleep on the bed." + +The captain of the robbers after a while sent one of his men back to +see if these creatures had yet left the house. + +The man came very cautiously into the neighborhood, listened and +listened, but he heard nothing; he peeped through the window, and saw in +the grate just two coals still glimmering, and thereupon started to walk +through the front door. + +There the old dog seized him by the leg. He jumped into the house, but +the bull was ready, swept him up with his horns, and tossed him on to +the loft. Here the ram received him and pushed him off the loft again. +Reaching ground, he made for the middle door, but the donkey set up a +terrible braying and at the same time gave him a kick that landed him in +the fireplace, where the cat flew at him and scratched him nearly to +pieces. He then jumped out through the back door, and here the goose got +him by the trousers. When he was some distance away the cock crowed. He +thereupon ran so that you could hear the stones rattle in the dark. + +Purple and crimson and out of breath, he came back to his companions. + +"Frightful, frightful!" was all that they could get from him at first, +but after a while he told them. + +"When I looked through the window I saw in the fireplace two bright +coals shining, and when I wanted to go through the front door to go and +look, I stepped into an iron trap. I jumped into the house, and there +some one seized me with a fork and pitched me up on to the loft, there +again some one was ready, and threw me down on all fours. I wanted to +fly through the middle door, but there some one blew on a trumpet, and +smote me with a sledge hammer so that I did not know where I landed; but +coming to very quickly, I found I was in the fireplace, and there +another flew at me and scratched the eyes almost out of my head. I +thereupon fled out of the back door, and lastly I was attacked on the +leg by the sixth with a pair of fire tongs, and when I was still running +away, some one shouted out of the house, 'Stop him, stop h--i--m!'" + + + + +THE LION AND JACKAL + + +Not because he was exactly the most capable or progressive fellow in the +neighborhood, but because he always gave that idea--that is why Jackal +slowly acquired among the neighbors the name of a "progressive man." The +truly well-bred people around him, who did not wish to hurt his +feelings, seemed to apply this name to him, instead of, for instance, +"cunning scamp," or "all-wise rat-trap," as so many others often dubbed +him. He obtained this name of "a progressive man" because he spoke most +of the time English, especially if he thought some of them were present +who could not understand it, and also because he could always hold his +body so much like a judge on public occasions. + +He had a smooth tongue, could make quite a favorable speech, and +especially with good effect could he expatiate on the backwardness of +others. Underneath he really was the most unlettered man in the +vicinity, but he had perfect control over his inborn cunningness, which +allowed him for a long time to go triumphantly through life as a man of +great ability. + +One time, for instance, he lost his tail in an iron trap. He had long +attempted to reach the Boer's goose pen, and had framed many good plans, +but when he came to his senses, he was sitting in front of the goose pen +with his tail in the iron trap, the dogs all the time coming for him. +When he realized what it meant, he mustered together all his strength +and pulled his tail, which he always thought so much of, clean off. + +This would immediately have made him the butt of the whole neighborhood +had he not thought of a plan. He called together a meeting of the +jackals, and made them believe that Lion had issued a proclamation to +the effect that all jackals in the future should be tailless, because +their beautiful tails were a thorn in the eyes of more unfortunate +animals. + +In his smooth way he told them how he regretted that the king should +have the barbaric right to interfere with his subjects. But so it was; +and he thought the sooner he paid attention to it the safer. Therefore +he had had his tail cut off already and he should advise all his friends +to do the same. And so it happened that once all jackals for a long time +were without tails. Later on they grew again. + +It was about the same time that Tiger hired Jackal as a schoolmaster. +Tiger was in those days the richest man in the surrounding country, and +as he had had to suffer a great deal himself because he was so +untutored, he wanted his children to have the best education that could +be obtained. + +It was shortly after a meeting, in which it was shown how important a +thing an education was, that Tiger approached Jackal and asked him to +come and teach his children. + +Jackal was very ready to do this. It was not exactly his vocation, he +said, but he would do it to pass time and just out of friendship for his +neighbor. His and Tiger's farm lands lay next each other. + +That he did not make teaching his profession and that he possessed no +degree was of no account in the eyes of Tiger. + +"Do not praise my goodness so much, Cousin Jackal," laughed he. "We know +your worth well enough. Much rather would I intrust my offspring to you +than to the many so-called schoolmasters, for it is especially my wish, +as well as that of their mother, to have our children obtain a +progressive education, and to make such men and women of them that with +the same ability as you have they can take their lawful places in this +world." + +"One condition," said Jackal, "I must state. It will be very +inconvenient for me, almost impossible, to come here to your farm and +hold school. My own farm would in that case go to pieces, and that I +cannot let happen. It would never pay me." + +Tiger answered that it was not exactly necessary either. In spite of +their attachment to the little ones, they saw that it would probably be +to their benefit to place them for a while in a stranger's house. + +Jackal then told of his own bringing up by Wolf. He remembered well how +small he was when his father sent him away to study with Wolf. +Naturally, since then, he had passed through many schools, Wolf was only +his first teacher. And only in his later days did he realize how much +good it had done him. + +"A man must bend the sapling while it is still young," said he. "There +is no time that the child is so open to impressions as when he is +plastic, about the age that most of your children are at present, and I +was just thinking you would be doing a wise thing to send them away for +quite a while." + +He had, fortunately, just then a room in his house that would be suited +for a schoolroom, and his wife could easily make some arrangement for +their lodging, even if they had to enlarge their dwelling somewhat. + +It was then and there agreed upon. Tiger's wife was then consulted about +one thing and another, and the following day the children were to leave. + +"I have just thought of one more thing," remarked Jackal, "seven +children, besides my little lot, will be quite a care on our hands, so +you will have to send over each week a fat lamb, and in order not to +disturb their progress, the children will have to relinquish the idea of +a vacation spent with you for some time. When I think they have become +used to the bit, I will inform you, and then you can come and take them +to make you a short visit, but not until then. + +"It is also better," continued he, "that they do not see you for the +first while, but your wife can come and see them every Saturday and I +will see to all else." + +On the following day there was an unearthly howling and wailing when the +children were to leave. But Tiger and their mother showed them that it +was best and that some day they would see that it was all for their +good, and that their parents were doing it out of kindness. Eventually +they were gone. + +The first Saturday dawned, and early that morning Mrs. Tiger was on her +way to Jackal's dwelling, because she could not defer the time any +longer. + +She was still a long way off when Jackal caught sight of her. He always +observed neighborly customs, and so stepped out to meet her. + +After they had greeted each other, Mrs. Tiger's first question was: +"Well, Cousin Jackal, how goes everything with the small team? Are they +still all well and happy, and do they not trouble you, Cousin Jackal, +too much?" + +"Oh, my goodness, no, Mrs. Tiger," answered Jackal enthusiastically, +"but don't let us talk so loud, because if they heard you, it certainly +would cause them many heartfelt tears and they might also want to go +back with you and then all our trouble would have been for nothing." + +"But I would like to see them, Cousin Jackal," said Mrs. Tiger a little +disturbed. + +"Why certainly, Mrs. Tiger," was his answer, "but I do not think it is +wise for them to see you. I will lift them up to the window one by one, +and then you can put your mind at rest concerning their health and +progress." + +After Mr. and Mrs. Jackal and Mrs. Tiger had sat together for some time +drinking coffee and talking over one thing and another, Jackal took +Tiger's wife to a door and told her to look through it, out upon the +back yard. There he would show her the children one by one, while they +would not be able to see her. Everything was done exactly as Jackal had +said, but the sixth little tiger he picked up twice, because the +firstborn he had the day before prepared in pickle for their Sunday +meal. + +And so it happened every Saturday until the last little tiger--which was +the youngest--had to be lifted up seven times in succession. + +And when Mrs. Tiger came again the following week all was still as death +and everything seemed to have a deserted appearance on the estate. She +walked straight to the front door, and there she found a letter in the +poll grass near the door, which read thus: + + "We have gone for a picnic with the children. From there we + will ride by Jackalsdance for New Year. This is necessary for + the completion of their progressive education." + + JACKAL. + +Saturday after Saturday did Mrs. Tiger go and look, but every time +Jackal's house seemed to look more deserted; and after a while there was +a spider's web over the door and the trail of Snake showed that he, too, +had taken up his abode there. + + + + +TINK-TINKJE + + +The birds wanted a king. Men have a king, so have animals, and why +shouldn't they? All had assembled. + +"The Ostrich, because he is the largest," one called out. + +"No, he can't fly." + +"Eagle, on account of his strength." + +"Not he, he is too ugly." + +"Vulture, because he can fly the highest." + +"No, Vulture is too dirty, his odor is terrible." + +"Peacock, he is so beautiful." + +"His feet are too ugly, and also his voice." + +"Owl, because he can see well." + +"Not Owl, he is ashamed of the light." + +And so they got no further. Then one shouted aloud, "He who can fly the +highest will be king." "Yes, yes," they all screamed, and at a given +signal they all ascended straight up into the sky. + +Vulture flew for three whole days without stopping, straight toward the +sun. Then he cried aloud, "I am the highest, I am king." + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," he heard above him. There Tink-tinkje was flying. +He had held fast to one of the great wing feathers of Vulture, and had +never been felt, he was so light. "T-sie, t-sie, t-sie, I am the +highest, I am king," piped Tink-tinkje. + +Vulture flew for another day still ascending. "I am highest, I am king." + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie, I am the highest, I am king," Tink-tinkje mocked. +There he was again, having crept out from under the wing of Vulture. + +Vulture flew on the fifth day straight up in the air. "I am the highest, +I am king," he called. + +"T-sie, t-sie, t-sie," piped the little fellow above him. "I am the +highest, I am king." + +Vulture was tired and now flew direct to earth. The other birds were mad +through and through. Tink-tinkje must die because he had taken +advantage of Vulture's feathers and there hidden himself. All flew after +him and he had to take refuge in a mouse hole. But how were they to get +him out? Some one must stand guard to seize him the moment he put out +his head. + +"Owl must keep guard; he has the largest eyes; he can see well," they +exclaimed. + +Owl went and took up his position before the hole. The sun was warm and +soon Owl became sleepy and presently he was fast asleep. + +Tink-tinkje peeped, saw that Owl was asleep, and z-zip away he went. +Shortly afterwards the other birds came to see if Tink-tinkje were still +in the hole. "T-sie, t-sie," they heard in a tree; and there the little +vagabond was sitting. + +White-crow, perfectly disgusted, turned around and exclaimed, "Now I +won't say a single word more." And from that day to this White-crow has +never spoken. Even though you strike him, he makes no sound, he utters +no cry. + + + + +THE LION AND JACKAL + + +Lion had now caught a large eland which lay dead on the top of a high +bank. Lion was thirsty and wanted to go and drink water. "Jackal, look +after my eland, I am going to get a drink. Don't you eat any." + +"Very well, Uncle Lion." + +Lion went to the river and Jackal quietly removed a stone on which Lion +had to step to reach the bank on his return. After that Jackal and his +wife ate heartily of the eland. Lion returned, but could not scale the +bank. "Jackal, help me," he shouted. + +"Yes, Uncle Lion, I will let down a rope and then you can climb up." + +Jackal whispered to his wife, "Give me one of the old, thin hide ropes." +And then aloud he added, "Wife, give me one of the strong, buffalo +ropes, so Uncle Lion won't fall." + +His wife gave him an old rotten rope. Jackal and his wife first ate +ravenously of the meat, then gradually let the rope down. Lion seized it +and struggled up. When he neared the brink Jackal gave the rope a jerk. +It broke and down Lion began to roll--rolled the whole way down, and +finally lay at the foot near the river. + +Jackal began to beat a dry hide that lay there as he howled, cried, and +shouted: "Wife, why did you give me such a bad rope that caused Uncle +Lion to fall?" + +Lion heard the row and roared, "Jackal, stop beating your wife. I will +hurt you if you don't cease. Help me to climb up." + +"Uncle Lion, I will give you a rope." Whispering again to his wife, +"Give me one of the old, thin hide ropes," and shouting aloud again, +"Give me a strong, buffalo rope, wife, that will not break again with +Lion." + +Jackal gave out the rope, and when Lion had nearly reached the top, he +cut the rope through. Snap! and Lion began to roll to the bottom. Jackal +again beat on the hide and shouted, "Wife, why did you give me such a +rotten rope? Didn't I tell you to give me a strong one?" Lion roared, +"Jackal, stop beating your wife at once. Help me instantly or you will +be sorry." + +"Wife," Jackal said aloud, "give me now the strongest rope you have," +and aside to her, "Give me the worst rope of the lot." + +Jackal again let down a rope, but just as Lion reached the top, Jackal +gave a strong tug and broke the rope. Poor old Lion rolled down the side +of the hill and lay there roaring from pain. He had been fatally hurt. + +Jackal inquired, "Uncle Lion, have you hurt yourself? Have you much +pain? Wait a while, I am coming directly to help you." Jackal and his +wife slowly walked away. + + + + +LION AND JACKAL + + +The Lion and the Jackal agreed to hunt on shares, for the purpose of +laying in a stock of meat for the winter months for their families. + +As the Lion was by far the more expert hunter of the two, the Jackal +suggested that he (himself) should be employed in transporting the game +to their dens, and that Mrs. Jackal and the little Jackals should +prepare and dry the meat, adding that they would take care that Mrs. +Lion and her family should not want. + +This was agreed to by the Lion, and the hunt commenced. + +After a very successful hunt, which lasted for some time, the Lion +returned to see his family, and also to enjoy, as he thought, a +plentiful supply of his spoil; when, to his utter surprise, he found +Mrs. Lion and all the young Lions on the point of death from sheer +hunger, and in a mangy state. The Jackal, it appeared, had only given +them a few entrails of the game, and in such limited quantities as +barely to keep them alive; always telling them that they (i. e., the +Lion and himself) had been most unsuccessful in their hunting; while his +own family was reveling in abundance, and each member of it was sleek +and fat. + +This was too much for the Lion to bear. He immediately started off in a +terrible fury, vowing certain death to the Jackal and all his family, +wherever he should meet them. The Jackal was more or less prepared for a +storm, and had taken the precaution to remove all his belongings to the +top of a krantz (i. e., a cliff), accessible only by a most difficult +and circuitous path, which he alone knew. + +When the Lion saw him on the krantz, the Jackal immediately greeted him +by calling out, "Good morning, Uncle Lion." + +"How dare you call me uncle, you impudent scoundrel," roared out the +Lion, in a voice of thunder, "after the way in which you have behaved to +my family?" + +"Oh, Uncle! How shall I explain matters? That beast of a wife of mine!" +Whack, whack was heard, as he beat with a stick on dry hide, which was a +mere pretence for Mrs. Jackal's back; while that lady was preinstructed +to scream whenever he operated on the hide, which she did with a +vengeance, joined by the little Jackals, who set up a most doleful +chorus. "That wretch!" said the Jackal. "It is all her doing. I shall +kill her straight off," and away he again belabored the hide, while his +wife and children uttered such a dismal howl that the Lion begged of him +to leave off flogging his wife. After cooling down a little, he invited +Uncle Lion to come up and have something to eat. The Lion, after several +ineffectual attempts to scale the precipice, had to give it up. + +The Jackal, always ready for emergencies, suggested that a reim should +be lowered to haul up his uncle. This was agreed to, and when the Lion +was drawn about halfway up by the whole family of Jackals, the reim was +cleverly cut, and down went the Lion with a tremendous crash which hurt +him very much. Upon this, the Jackal again performed upon the hide with +tremendous force, for their daring to give him such a rotten reim, and +Mrs. Jackal and the little ones responded with some fearful screams and +yells. He then called loudly out to his wife for a strong buffalo reim +which would support any weight. This again was lowered and fastened to +the Lion, when all hands pulled away at their uncle; and, just when he +had reached so far that he could look over the precipice into the pots +to see all the fat meat cooking, and all the biltongs hanging out to +dry, the reim was again cut, and the poor Lion fell with such force that +he was fairly stunned for some time. After the Lion had recovered his +senses, the Jackal, in a most sympathizing tone, suggested that he was +afraid that it was of no use to attempt to haul him up onto the +precipice, and recommended, instead, that a nice fat piece of eland's +breast be roasted and dropped into the Lion's mouth. The Lion, half +famished with hunger, and much bruised, readily accepted the offer, and +sat eagerly awaiting the fat morsel. In the mean time, the Jackal had a +round stone made red-hot, and wrapped a quantity of inside fat, or suet, +round it, to make it appear like a ball of fat. When the Lion saw it +held out, he opened his capacious mouth to the utmost extent, and the +wily Jackal cleverly dropped the hot ball right into it, which ran +through the poor old beast, killing him on the spot. + +It need hardly be told that there was great rejoicing on the precipice +that night. + + + + +THE HUNT OF LION AND JACKAL + + +Lion and Jackal, it is said, were one day lying in wait for Eland. Lion +shot (with a bow) and missed, but Jackal hit and sang out, "Hah! hah!" + +Lion said, "No, you did not shoot anything. It was I who hit." + +Jackal answered, "Yea, my father, thou hast hit." + +Then they went home in order to return when the eland was dead, and cut +it up. Jackal, however, turned back, unknown to Lion, hit his nose so +that the blood ran on the spoor of the eland, and followed their track +thus, in order to cheat Lion. When he had gone some distance, he +returned by another way to the dead eland, and creeping into its +carcass, cut out all the fat. + +Meanwhile Lion followed the blood-stained spoor of Jackal, thinking +that it was eland blood, and only when he had gone some distance did he +find out that he had been deceived. He then returned on Jackal's spoor, +and reached the dead eland, where, finding Jackal in its carcass, he +seized him by his tail and drew him out with a swing. + +Lion upbraided Jackal with these words: "Why do you cheat me?" + +Jackal answered: "No, my father, I do not cheat you; you may know it, I +think. I prepared this fat for you, father." + +Lion said: "Then take the fat and carry it to your mother" (the +lioness); and he gave him the lungs to take to his own wife and +children. + +When Jackal arrived, he did not give the fat to Lion's wife, but to his +own wife and children; he gave, however, the lungs to Lion's wife, and +he pelted Lion's little children with the lungs, saying: + + "You children of the big-pawed one! + You big-pawed ones!" + +He said to Lioness, "I go to help my father" (the lion); but he went far +away with his wife and children. + + + + +STORY OF LION AND LITTLE JACKAL + + +Little Jackal one day went out hunting, when he met Lion. Lion proposed +that they should hunt together, on condition that if a small antelope +was killed it was to be Little Jackal's, and if a large one was killed +it was to be Lion's. Little Jackal agreed to this. + +The first animal killed was a large eland. Lion was very glad, and said +to Little Jackal: "I will continue hunting while you go to my house and +call my children to carry the meat home." + +Little Jackal replied: "Yes, I agree to that." + +Lion went away to hunt. When he had gone, Little Jackal went to his own +house and called his own children to carry away the meat. He said: "Lion +takes me for a fool if he thinks I will call his children while my own +are dying with hunger." + +So Little Jackal's children carried the meat to their home on the top of +a high rock, where the only way to get to their house was by means of a +rope. + +Lion caught nothing more, and after a time he went home and asked his +wife where the meat was. She told him there was no meat. He said: "Did +not Little Jackal bring a message to my children to carry meat?" + +His wife replied: "No, he was not here. We are still dying with hunger." + +Lion then went to Little Jackal's house, but he could not get up the +rock to it. So he sat down by the water, waiting. After a time Little +Jackal went to get some water. He was close to the water when he saw +Lion. He at once ran away, and Lion ran after him. He ran into a hole +under a tree, but Lion caught his tail before he got far in. He said to +him: "That is not my tail you have hold of; it is a root of the tree. If +you do not believe me, take a stone and strike it, and see if any blood +comes." + +Lion let go the tail, and went for a stone to prove what it was. While +he was gone for the stone, Little Jackal went far into the hole. When +Lion returned he could not be found. Lion lay down by the hole and +waited. After a long time Little Jackal wanted to come out. He went to +the entrance and looked round, but he could not see Lion. To make sure, +he said: "Ho, I see you, my master, although you are in hiding." + +Lion did not move from the place where he lay concealed. Then Little +Jackal went out, and Lion pursued him, but he got away. + +Lion watched for him, and one day, when Little Jackal was out hunting, +he came upon him in a place where he could not escape. Lion was just +about to spring upon him, when Little Jackal said softly: "Be still, do +you not see that bushbuck on the other side of the rock? I am glad you +have come to help me. Just remain here while I run round and drive him +toward you." + +Lion did so, and Little Jackal made his escape. + +At another time there was a meeting of the animals, and Lion was the +chief at the meeting. Little Jackal wanted to attend, but there was a +law made that no one should be present unless he had horns. So Little +Jackal took wax out of a nest of bees, and made horns for himself with +it. He fastened the horns on his head, and went to the meeting. Lion did +not know him on account of the horns. But he sat near the fire and went +to sleep, when the horns melted. + +Lion looked at him and saw who it was. He immediately tried to catch +him, but Little Jackal was quick in springing away. He ran under an +overhanging rock and sang out: "Help! help! this rock is falling upon +me!" + +Lion went for a pole to prop up the rock that he might get at Little +Jackal. While he was away, Little Jackal escaped. + +After that they became companions again, and went hunting another time. +They killed an ox. Lion said: "I will watch it while you carry the +pieces away." + +Lion gave him the breast, and said: "Take this to my wife." + +Little Jackal took it to his own wife. When he returned, Lion gave him a +shin, and said: "Take this to your wife." + +Little Jackal took the shin to Lion's house. Lion's wife said: "I cannot +take this because it should not come here." + +Little Jackal thereupon struck Lion's wife in the face, and went back to +the place where the ox was killed. Lion gave him a large piece of meat +and said: "Take this to my wife." + +Little Jackal took it to his own wife. This continued till the ox was +finished. Then they both went home. When Lion arrived at his house he +found there was weeping in his family. + +His wife said: "Is it you who sent Little Jackal to beat me and my +children, and is it you who sent this shin? Did I ever eat a shin?" + +When Lion heard this he was very angry and at once went to Little +Jackal's house. When he reached the rock, Little Jackal looked down and +said: "Who are you, and what is your name, and whose son are you, and +where are you from, and where are you going to, and whom do you want, +and what do you want him for?" + +Lion replied: "I have merely come to see you. I wish you to let down the +rope." + +Little Jackal let down a rope made of mouse skins, and when Lion climbed +a little way up, the rope broke, and he fell and was hurt. He then went +home. + + + + +THE LIONESS AND THE OSTRICH + + +It is said, once a lioness roared, and the ostrich also roared. The +lioness went toward the place where the ostrich was. They met. The +lioness said to the ostrich, "Please to roar." The ostrich roared. Then +the lioness roared. The voices were equal. The lioness said to the +ostrich, "You are my match." + +Then the lioness said to the ostrich, "Let us hunt game together." They +saw eland and made toward it. The lioness caught only one; the ostrich +killed a great many by striking them with the claw which was on his leg; +but the lioness killed only one. When they had met after the hunting +they went to the game, and the lioness saw that the ostrich had killed a +great deal. + +Now, the lioness also had young cubs. They went to the shade to rest +themselves. The lioness said to the ostrich, "Get up and rip open; let +us eat." Said the ostrich, "Go and rip open; I shall eat the blood." The +lioness stood up and ripped open, and ate with the cubs. And when she +had eaten, the ostrich got up and ate the blood. They went to sleep. + +The cubs played about. While they were playing, they went to the +ostrich, who was asleep. When he went to sleep he also opened his mouth. +The young lions saw that the ostrich had no teeth. They went to their +mother and said, "This fellow, who says he is your equal, has no teeth; +he is insulting you." Then the lioness went to wake the ostrich, and +said, "Get up, let us fight"; and they fought. And the ostrich said, "Go +to that side of the ant-hill, and I will go to this side of it." The +ostrich struck the ant-hill, and sent it toward the lioness. But the +second time he struck the lioness in a vulnerable spot, near the liver, +and killed her. + + + + +CROCODILE'S TREASON + + +Crocodile was, in the days when animals still could talk, the +acknowledged foreman of all water creatures and if one should judge from +appearances one would say that he still is. But in those days it was his +especial duty to have a general care of all water animals, and when one +year it was exceedingly dry, and the water of the river where they had +lived dried up and became scarce, he was forced to make a plan to trek +over to another river a short distance from there. + +He first sent Otter out to spy. He stayed away two days and brought back +a report that there was still good water in the other river, real +sea-cow holes, that not even a drought of several years could dry up. + +After he had ascertained this, Crocodile called to his side Tortoise and +Alligator. + +"Look here," said he, "I need you two to-night to carry a report to +Lion. So then get ready; the veldt is dry, and you will probably have to +travel for a few days without any water. We must make peace with Lion +and his subjects, otherwise we utterly perish this year. And he must +help us to trek over to the other river, especially past the Boer's farm +that lies in between, and to travel unmolested by any of the animals of +the veldt, so long as the trek lasts. A fish on land is sometimes a very +helpless thing, as you all know." The two had it mighty hard in the +burning sun, and on the dry veldt, but eventually they reached Lion and +handed him the treaty. + +"What is going on now?" thought Lion to himself, when he had read it. "I +must consult Jackal first," said he. But to the commissioners he gave +back an answer that he would be the following evening with his advisers +at the appointed place, at the big vaarland willow tree, at the farther +end of the hole of water, where Crocodile had his headquarters. + +When Tortoise and Alligator came back, Crocodile was exceedingly +pleased with himself at the turn the case had taken. + +He allowed Otter and a few others to be present and ordered them on that +evening to have ready plenty of fish and other eatables for their guests +under the vaarland willow. + +That evening as it grew dark Lion appeared with Wolf, Jackal, Baboon, +and a few other important animals, at the appointed place, and they were +received in the most open-hearted manner by Crocodile and the other +water creatures. + +Crocodile was so glad at the meeting of the animals that he now and then +let fall a great tear of joy that disappeared into the sand. After the +other animals had done well by the fish, Crocodile laid bare to them the +condition of affairs and opened up his plan. He wanted only peace among +all animals; for they not only destroyed one another, but the Boer, too, +would in time destroy them all. + +The Boer had already stationed at the source of the river no less than +three steam pumps to irrigate his land, and the water was becoming +scarcer every day. More than this, he took advantage of their +unfortunate position by making them sit in the shallow water and then, +one after the other, bringing about their death. As Lion was, on this +account, inclined to make peace, it was to his glory to take this +opportunity and give his hand to these peace-making water creatures, and +carry out their part of the contract, namely, escort them from the +dried-up water, past the Boer's farm and to the long sea-cow pools. + +"And what benefit shall we receive from it?" asked Jackal. + +"Well," answered Crocodile, "the peace made is of great benefit to both +sides. We will not exterminate each other. If you desire to come and +drink water, you can do so with an easy mind, and not be the least bit +nervous that I, or any one of us will seize you by the nose; and so also +with all the other animals. And from your side we are to be freed from +Elephant, who has the habit, whenever he gets the opportunity, of +tossing us with his trunk up into some open and narrow fork of a tree +and there allowing us to become biltong." + +Lion and Jackal stepped aside to consult with one another, and then Lion +wanted to know what form of security he would have that Crocodile would +keep to his part of the contract. + +"I stake my word of honor," was the prompt answer from Crocodile, and he +let drop a few more long tears of honesty into the sand. + +Baboon then said it was all square and honest as far as he could see +into the case. He thought it was nonsense to attempt to dig pitfalls for +one another; because he personally was well aware that his race would +benefit somewhat from this contract of peace and friendship. And more +than this, they must consider that use must be made of the fast +disappearing water, for even in the best of times it was an unpleasant +thing to be always carrying your life about in your hands. He would, +however, like to suggest to the King that it would be well to have +everything put down in writing, so that there would be nothing to regret +in case it was needed. + +Jackal did not want to listen to the agreement. He could not see that it +would benefit the animals of the veldt. But Wolf, who had fully +satisfied himself with the fish, was in an exceptionally peace-loving +mood, and he advised Lion again to close the agreement. + +After Lion had listened to all his advisers, and also the pleading tones +of Crocodile's followers, he held forth in a speech in which he said +that he was inclined to enter into the agreement, seeing that it was +clear that Crocodile and his subjects were in a very tight place. + +There and then a document was drawn up, and it was resolved, before +midnight, to begin the trek. Crocodile's messengers swam in all +directions to summon together the water animals for the trek. + +Frogs croaked and crickets chirped in the long water grass. It was not +long before all the animals had assembled at the vaarland willow. In the +meantime Lion had sent out a few despatch riders to his subjects to +raise a commando for an escort, and long ere midnight these also were at +the vaarland willow in the moonlight. + +The trek then was regulated by Lion and Jackal. Jackal was to take the +lead to act as spy, and when he was able to draw Lion to one side, he +said to him: + +"See here, I do not trust this affair one bit, and I want to tell you +straight out, I am going to make tracks! I will spy for you until you +reach the sea-cow pool, but I am not going to be the one to await your +arrival there." + +Elephant had to act as advance guard because he could walk so softly and +could hear and smell so well. Then came Lion with one division of the +animals, then Crocodile's trek with a flank protection of both sides, +and Wolf received orders to bring up the rear. + +Meanwhile, while all this was being arranged, Crocodile was smoothly +preparing his treason. He called Yellow Snake to one side and said to +him: "It is to our advantage to have these animals, who go among us +every day, and who will continue to do so, fall into the hands of the +Boer. Listen, now! You remain behind unnoticed, and when you hear me +shout you will know that we have arrived safely at the sea-cow pool. +Then you must harass the Boer's dogs as much as you can, and the rest +will look out for themselves." + +Thereupon the trek moved on. It was necessary to go very slowly as many +of the water animals were not accustomed to the journey on land; but +they trekked past the Boer's farm in safety, and toward break of day +they were all safely at the sea-cow pool. There most of the water +animals disappeared suddenly into the deep water, and Crocodile also +began to make preparations to follow their example. With tearful eyes he +said to Lion that he was, oh, so thankful for the help, that, from pure +relief and joy, he must first give vent to his feelings by a few +screams. Thereupon he suited his words to actions so that even the +mountains echoed, and then thanked Lion on behalf of his subjects, and +purposely continued with a long speech, dwelling on all the benefits +both sides would derive from the agreement of peace. + +Lion was just about to say good day and take his departure, when the +first shot fell, and with it Elephant and a few other animals. + +"I told you all so!" shouted Jackal from the other side of the sea-cow +pool. "Why did you allow yourselves to be misled by a few Crocodile +tears?" + +Crocodile had disappeared long ago into the water. All one saw was just +a lot of bubbles; and on the banks there was an actual war against the +animals. It simply crackled the way the Boers shot them. + +But most of them, fortunately, came out of it alive. + +Shortly after, they say, Crocodile received his well-earned reward, when +he met a driver with a load of dynamite. And even now when the Elephant +gets the chance he pitches them up into the highest forks of the trees. + + + + +THE STORY OF A DAM + + +There was a great drought in the land; and Lion called together a number +of animals so that they might devise a plan for retaining water when the +rains fell. + +The animals which attended at Lion's summons were Baboon, Leopard, +Hyena, Jackal, Hare, and Mountain Tortoise. + +It was agreed that they should scratch a large hole in some suitable +place to hold water; and the next day they all began to work, with the +exception of Jackal, who continually hovered about in that locality, and +was overheard to mutter that he was not going to scratch his nails off +in making water holes. + +When the dam was finished the rains fell, and it was soon filled with +water, to the great delight of those who had worked so hard at it. The +first one, however, to come and drink there, was Jackal, who not only +drank, but filled his clay pot with water, and then proceeded to swim +in the rest of the water, making it as muddy and dirty as he could. + +This was brought to the knowledge of Lion, who was very angry and +ordered Baboon to guard the water the next day, armed with a huge +knobkirrie. Baboon was concealed in a bush close to the water; but +Jackal soon became aware of his presence there, and guessed its cause. +Knowing the fondness of baboons for honey, Jackal at once hit upon a +plan, and marching to and fro, every now and then dipped his fingers +into his clay pot, and licked them with an expression of intense relish, +saying, in a low voice to himself, "I don't want any of their dirty +water when I have a pot full of delicious honey." This was too much for +poor Baboon, whose mouth began to water. He soon began to beg Jackal to +give him a little honey, as he had been watching for several hours, and +was very hungry and tired. + +After taking no notice of Baboon at first, Jackal looked round, and +said, in a patronizing manner, that he pitied such an unfortunate +creature, and would give him some honey on certain conditions, viz., +that Baboon should give up his knobkirrie and allow himself to be bound +by Jackal. He foolishly agreed; and was soon tied in such a manner that +he could not move hand or foot. + +Jackal now proceeded to drink of the water, to fill his pot, and to swim +in the sight of Baboon, from time to time telling him what a foolish +fellow he had been to be so easily duped, and that he (Jackal) had no +honey or anything else to give him, excepting a good blow on the head +every now and then with his own knobkirrie. + +The animals soon appeared and found poor Baboon in this sorry plight, +looking the picture of misery. Lion was so exasperated that he caused +Baboon to be severely punished, and to be denounced as a fool. + +Tortoise hereupon stepped forward, and offered his services for the +capture of Jackal. It was at first thought that he was merely joking; +but when he explained in what manner he proposed to catch him, his plan +was considered so feasible that his offer was accepted. He proposed +that a thick coating of "bijenwerk" (a kind of sticky black substance +found on beehives) should be spread all over him, and that he should +then go and stand at the entrance of the dam, on the water level, so +that Jackal might tread upon him and stick fast. This was accordingly +done and Tortoise posted there. + +The next day, when Jackal came, he approached the water very cautiously, +and wondered to find no one there. He then ventured to the entrance of +the water, and remarked how kind they had been in placing there a large +black stepping-stone for him. As soon, however, as he trod upon the +supposed stone, he stuck fast, and saw that he had been tricked; for +Tortoise now put his head out and began to move. Jackal's hind feet +being still free he threatened to smash Tortoise with them if he did not +let him go. Tortoise merely answered, "Do as you like." Jackal thereupon +made a violent jump, and found, with horror, that his hind feet were now +also fast. "Tortoise," said he, "I have still my mouth and teeth left, +and will eat you alive if you do not let me go." "Do as you like," +Tortoise again replied. Jackal, in his endeavors to free himself, at +last made a desperate bite at Tortoise, and found himself fixed, both +head and feet. Tortoise, feeling proud of his successful capture, now +marched quietly up to the top of the bank with Jackal on his back, so +that he could easily be seen by the animals as they came to the water. + +They were indeed astonished to find how cleverly the crafty Jackal had +been caught; and Tortoise was much praised, while the unhappy Baboon was +again reminded of his misconduct when set to guard the water. + +Jackal was at once condemned to death by Lion; and Hyena was to execute +the sentence. Jackal pleaded hard for mercy, but finding this useless, +he made a last request to Lion (always, as he said, so fair and just in +his dealings) that he should not have to suffer a lingering death. + +Lion inquired of him in what manner he wished to die; and he asked that +his tail might be shaved and rubbed with a little fat, and that Hyena +might then swing him round twice and dash his brains out upon a stone. +This, being considered sufficiently fair by Lion, was ordered by him to +be carried out in his presence. + +When Jackal's tail had been shaved and greased, Hyena caught hold of him +with great force, and before he had fairly lifted him from the ground, +the cunning Jackal had slipped away from Hyena's grasp, and was running +for his life, pursued by all the animals. + +Lion was the foremost pursuer, and after a great chase Jackal got under +an overhanging precipice, and, standing on his hind legs with his +shoulders pressed against the rock, called loudly to Lion to help him, +as the rock was falling, and would crush them both. Lion put his +shoulders to the rock, and exerted himself to the utmost. After some +little time Jackal proposed that he should creep slowly out, and fetch a +large pole to prop up the rock, so that Lion could get out and save his +life. Jackal did creep out, and left Lion there to starve and die. + + + + +THE DANCE FOR WATER OR RABBIT'S TRIUMPH + + +There was a frightful drought. The rivers after a while dried up and +even the springs gave no water. + +The animals wandered around seeking drink, but to no avail. Nowhere was +water to be found. + +A great gathering of animals was held: Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Jackal, +Elephant, all of them came together. What was to be done? That was the +question. One had this plan, and another had that; but no plan seemed of +value. + +Finally one of them suggested: "Come, let all of us go to the dry river +bed and dance; in that way we can tread out the water." + +Good! Everyone was satisfied and ready to begin instantly, excepting +Rabbit, who said, "I will not go and dance. All of you are mad to +attempt to get water from the ground by dancing." + +The other animals danced and danced, and ultimately danced the water to +the surface. How glad they were. Everyone drank as much as he could, but +Rabbit did not dance with them. So it was decided that Rabbit should +have no water. + +He laughed at them: "I will nevertheless drink some of your water." + +That evening he proceeded leisurely to the river bed where the dance had +been, and drank as much as he wanted. The following morning the animals +saw the footprints of Rabbit in the ground, and Rabbit shouted to them: +"Aha! I did have some of the water, and it was most refreshing and +tasted fine." + +Quickly all the animals were called together. What were they to do? How +were they to get Rabbit in their hands? All had some means to propose; +the one suggested this, and the other that. + +Finally old Tortoise moved slowly forward, foot by foot: "I will catch +Rabbit." + +"You? How? What do you think of yourself?" shouted the others in +unison. + +"Rub my shell with pitch,[1] and I will go to the edge of the water and +lie down. I will then resemble a stone, so that when Rabbit steps on me +his feet will stick fast." + +"Yes! Yes! That's good." + +And in a one, two, three, Tortoise's shell was covered with pitch, and +foot by foot he moved away to the river. At the edge, close to the +water, he lay down and drew his head into his shell. + +Rabbit during the evening came to get a drink. "Ha!" he chuckled +sarcastically, "they are, after all, quite decent. Here they have placed +a stone, so now I need not unnecessarily wet my feet." + +Rabbit trod with his left foot on the stone, and there it stuck. +Tortoise then put his head out. "Ha! old Tortoise! And it's you, is it, +that's holding me. But here I still have another foot. I'll give you a +good clout." Rabbit gave Tortoise what he said he would with his right +fore foot, hard and straight; and there his foot remained. + +"I have yet a hind foot, and with it I'll kick you." Rabbit drove his +hind foot down. This also rested on Tortoise where it struck. + +"But still another foot remains, and now I'll tread you." He stamped his +foot down, but it stuck like the others. + +He used his head to hammer Tortoise, and his tail as a whip, but both +met the same fate as his feet, so there he was tight and fast down to +the pitch. + +Tortoise now slowly turned himself round and foot by foot started for +the other animals, with Rabbit on his back. + +"Ha! ha! ha! Rabbit! How does it look now? Insolence does not pay after +all," shouted the animals. + +Now advice was sought. What should they do with Rabbit? He certainly +must die. But how? One said, "Behead him"; another, "Some severe +penalty." + +"Rabbit, how are we to kill you?" + +"It does not affect me," Rabbit said. "Only a shameful death please do +not pronounce." + +"And what is that?" they all shouted. + +"To take me by my tail and dash my head against a stone; that I pray and +beseech you don't do." + +"No, but just so you'll die. That is decided." + +It was decided Rabbit should die by taking him by his tail and dashing +his head to pieces against some stone. But who is to do it? + +Lion, because he is the most powerful one. + +Good! Lion should do it. He stood up, walked to the front, and poor +Rabbit was brought to him. Rabbit pleaded and beseeched that he couldn't +die such a miserable death. + +Lion took Rabbit firmly by the tail and swung him around. The white skin +slipped off from Rabbit, and there Lion stood with the white bit of skin +and hair in his paw. Rabbit was free. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Black beeswax. + + + + +JACKAL AND MONKEY + + +Every evening Jackal went to the Boer's kraal. He crept through the +sliding door and stole a fat young lamb. This, clever Jackal did several +times in succession. Boer set a wip[2] for him at the door. Jackal went +again and zip--there he was caught around the body by the noose. He +swung and swayed high in the air and couldn't touch ground. The day +began to dawn and Jackal became uneasy. + +On a stone kopje, Monkey sat. When it became light he could see the +whole affair, and descended hastily for the purpose of mocking Jackal. +He went and sat on the wall. "Ha, ha, good morning. So there you are +hanging now, eventually caught." + +"What? I caught? I am simply swinging for my pleasure; it is enjoyable." + +"You fibber. You are caught in the wip." + +"If you but realized how nice it was to swing and sway like this, you +wouldn't hesitate. Come, try it a little. You feel so healthy and strong +for the day, and you never tire afterwards." + +"No, I won't. You are caught." + +After a while Jackal convinced Monkey. He sprang from the kraal wall, +and freeing Jackal, adjusted the noose around his own body. Jackal +quickly let go and began to laugh, as Monkey was now swinging high in +the air. + +"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed. "Now Monkey is in the wip." + +"Jackal, free me," he screamed. + +"There, Boer is coming," shouted Jackal. + +"Jackal, free me of this, or I'll break your playthings." + +"No, there Boer is coming with his gun; you rest a while in the noose." + +"Jackal, quickly make me free." + +"No, here's Boer already, and he's got his gun. Good morning." And with +these parting words he ran away as fast as he could. Boer came and saw +Monkey in the wip. + +"So, so, Monkey, now you are caught. You are the fellow who has been +stealing my lambs, hey?" + +"No, Boer, no," screamed Monkey, "not I, but Jackal." + +"No, I know you; you aren't too good for that." + +"No, Boer, no, not I, but Jackal," Monkey stammered. + +"Oh, I know you. Just wait a little," and Boer, raising his gun, aimed +and shot poor Monkey dead. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] _Wip_: A Dutch word for springle, consisting of a bent green stick, +to which a noose is attached at one end; the trap is delicately adjusted +by a cross stick, which when trod on releases the bent bough, pulling +the noose quickly around the animal and into the air. + + + + +LION'S SHARE + + +Lion and Jackal went together a-hunting. They shot with arrows. Lion +shot first, but his arrow fell short of its aim; but Jackal hit the +game, and joyfully cried out, "It has hit." + +Lion looked at him with his two large eyes; Jackal, however, did not +lose his countenance, but said, "No, uncle, I mean to say that you have +hit." Then they followed the game, and Jackal passed the arrow of Lion +without drawing the latter's attention to it. When they arrived at a +crossway, Jackal said: "Dear uncle, you are old and tired; stay here." +Jackal went then on a wrong track, beat his nose, and, in returning, let +the blood drop from it like traces of game. "I could not find anything," +he said, "but I met with traces of blood. You had better go yourself to +look for it. In the meantime I shall go this other way." + +Jackal soon found the killed animal, crept inside of it, and devoured +the best portion; but his tail remained outside, and when Lion arrived, +he got hold of it, pulled Jackal out, and threw him on the ground with +these words: "You rascal!" + +Jackal rose quickly again, complained of the rough handling, and asked, +"What have I now done, dear uncle? I was busy cutting out the best +part." + +"Now let us go and fetch our wives," said Lion, but Jackal entreated his +dear uncle to remain at the place because he was old. Jackal then went +away, taking with him two portions of the flesh, one for his own wife, +but the best part for the wife of Lion. When Jackal arrived with the +flesh, the children of Lion, seeing him, began to jump, and clapping +their hands, cried out: "There comes cousin with flesh!" Jackal threw, +grumbling, the worst portion to them, and said, "There, you brood of the +big-eyed one!" Then he went to his own house and told his wife +immediately to break up the house, and to go where the killed game was. +Lioness wished to do the same, but he forbade her, and said that Lion +would himself come to fetch her. + +When Jackal, with his wife and children, arrived in the neighborhood of +the killed animal, he ran into a thorn bush, scratched his face so that +it bled, and thus made his appearance before Lion, to whom he said, "Ah! +what a wife you have got. Look here, how she scratched my face when I +told her that she should come with us. You must fetch her yourself; I +cannot bring her." Lion went home very angry. Then Jackal said, "Quick, +let us build a tower." They heaped stone upon stone, stone upon stone, +stone upon stone; and when it was high enough, everything was carried to +the top of it. When Jackal saw Lion approaching with his wife and +children, he cried out to him: + +"Uncle, whilst you were away we have built a tower, in order to be +better able to see game." + +"All right," said Lion; "but let me come up to you." + +"Certainly, dear uncle; but how will you manage to come up? We must let +down a thong for you." + +Lion tied the thong around his body and Jackal began drawing him up, but +when nearly to the top Jackal cried to Lion, "My, uncle, how heavy you +are!" Then, unseen by Lion, he cut the thong. Lion fell to the ground, +while Jackal began loudly and angrily to scold his wife, and then said, +"Go, wife, fetch me a new thong"--"an old one," he said aside to her. + +Lion again tied himself to the thong, and, just as he was near the top, +Jackal cut the thong as before; Lion fell heavily to the bottom, +groaning aloud, as he had been seriously hurt. + +"No," said Jackal, "that will never do: you must, however, manage to +come up high enough so that you may get a mouthful at least." Then aloud +he ordered his wife to prepare a good piece, but aside he told her to +make a stone hot, and to cover it with fat. Then he drew Lion up once +more, and complaining how heavy he was to hold, told him to open his +mouth, and thereupon threw the hot stone down his throat. Lion fell to +the ground and lay there pleading for water, while Jackal climbed down +and made his escape. + + + + +JACKAL'S BRIDE + + +Jackal, it is said, married Hyena, and carried off a cow belonging to +the ants, to slaughter her for the wedding; and when he had slaughtered +her, he put the cowskin over his bride; and when he had fixed a pole (on +which to hang the flesh), he placed on the top of the pole (which was +forked) the hearth for the cooking, in order to cook upon it all sorts +of delicious food. There came also Lion, and wished to go up. Jackal, +therefore, asked his little daughter for a thong with which he could +pull Lion up; and he began to pull him up; and when his face came near +to the cooking-pot, he cut the thong in two, so that Lion tumbled down. +Then Jackal upbraided his little daughter with these words: "Why do you +give me such an old thong?" And he added, "Give me a fresh thong." She +gave him a new thong, and he pulled Lion up again, and when his face +came near the pot, which stood on the fire, he said, "open your mouth." +Then he put into his mouth a hot piece of quartz which had been boiled +together with the fat, and the stone went down, burning his throat. Thus +died Lion. + +There came also the ants running after the cow, and when Jackal saw them +he fled. Then they beat the bride in her brookaross dress. Hyena, +believing that it was Jackal, said: + +"You tawny rogue! have you not played at beating long enough? Have you +no more loving game than this?" + +But when she had bitten a hole through the cowskin, she saw that they +were other people; then she fled, falling here and there, yet made her +escape. + + + + +THE STORY OF HARE + + +Once upon a time the animals made a kraal and put some fat in it. They +agreed that one of their number should remain to be the keeper of the +gate. The first one that was appointed was the coney (imbila). He agreed +to take charge, and all the others went away. In a short time the coney +fell asleep, when the inkalimeva (a fabulous animal) went in and ate all +the fat. After doing this, he threw a little stone at the coney. + +The coney started up and cried out: "The fat belonging to all the +animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +It repeated this cry several times, calling out very loudly. The animals +at a distance heard it, they ran to the kraal, and when they saw that +the fat was gone they killed the coney. + +They put fat in the kraal a second time, and appointed the muishond +(ingaga) to keep the gate. The muishond consented, and the animals went +away as before. After a little time the inkalimeva came to the kraal, +bringing some honey with it. It invited the keeper of the gate to eat +honey, and while the muishond was enjoying himself the inkalimeva went +in and stole all the fat. It threw a stone at the muishond, which caused +him to look up. + +The muishond cried out: "The fat belonging to all the animals has been +eaten by the inkalimeva." + +As soon as the animals heard the cry, they ran to the kraal and killed +the muishond. + +They put fat in the kraal a third time, and appointed the duiker +(impunzi) to be the keeper of the gate. The duiker agreed, and the +others went away. In a short time the inkalimeva made its appearance. It +proposed to the duiker that they should play hide and look for. The +duiker agreed to this. Then the inkalimeva hid itself, and the duiker +looked for it till he was so tired that he lay down and went to sleep. +When the duiker was asleep, the inkalimeva ate up all the fat. + +Then it threw a stone at the duiker, which caused him to jump up and cry +out: "The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the +inkalimeva." + +The animals, when they heard the cry, ran to the kraal and killed the +duiker. + +They put fat in the kraal the fourth time, and appointed the bluebuck +(inputi) to be the keeper of the gate. When the animals went away, the +inkalimeva came as before. + +It said: "What are you doing by yourself?" + +The bluebuck answered: "I am watching the fat belonging to all the +animals." + +The inkalimeva said: "I will be your companion. Come, let us scratch +each other's heads." + +The bluebuck agreed to this. The inkalimeva sat down and scratched the +head of the other till he went to sleep. Then it arose and ate all the +fat. When it had finished, it threw a stone at the bluebuck and awakened +him. + +The bluebuck saw what had happened and cried out: "The fat belonging to +all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +Then the animals ran up and killed the bluebuck also. + +They put fat in the kraal the fifth time, and appointed the porcupine +(incanda) to be the keeper of the gate. The animals went away, and the +inkalimeva came as before. + +It said to the porcupine, "Let us run a race against each other." + +It let the porcupine beat in this race. + +Then it said, "I did not think you could run so fast, but let us try +again." They ran again, and it allowed the porcupine to beat the second +time. They ran till the porcupine was so tired that he said, "Let us +rest now." + +They sat down to rest, and the porcupine went to sleep. Then the +inkalimeva rose up and ate all the fat. When it had finished eating, it +threw a stone at the porcupine, which caused him to jump up. + +He called out with a loud voice, "The fat belonging to all the animals +has been eaten by the inkalimeva." + +Then the animals came running up and put the porcupine to death. + +They put fat in the kraal the sixth time, and selected the hare +(umvundla) to be the keeper of the gate. At first the hare would not +consent. + +He said, "The coney is dead, and the muishond is dead, and the duiker is +dead, and the bluebuck is dead, and the porcupine is dead, and you will +kill me also." + +They promised him that they would not kill him, and after a good deal of +persuasion he at last agreed to keep the gate. When the animals were +gone he laid himself down, but he only pretended to be asleep. + +In a short time the inkalimeva went in, and was just going to take the +fat when the hare cried out: "Let the fat alone." + +The inkalimeva said, "Please let me have this little bit only." + +The hare answered, mocking, "Please let me have this little bit only." + +After that they became companions. The hare proposed that they should +fasten each other's tail, and the inkalimeva agreed. The inkalimeva +fastened the tail of the hare first. + +The hare said, "Don't tie my tail so tight." + +Then the hare fastened the tail of the inkalimeva. + +The inkalimeva said, "Don't tie my tail so tight," but the hare made no +answer. After tying the tail of the inkalimeva very fast, the hare took +his club and killed it. The hare took the tail of the inkalimeva and ate +it, all except a little piece which he hid in the fence. + +Then he called out, "The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten +by the inkalimeva." + +The animals came running back, and when they saw that the inkalimeva was +dead they rejoiced greatly. They asked the hare for the tail, which +should be kept for the chief. + +The hare replied, "The one I killed had no tail." + +They said, "How can an inkalimeva be without a tail?" + +They began to search, and at length they found a piece of the tail in +the fence. They told the chief that the hare had eaten the tail. + +He said, "Bring him to me!" + +All the animals ran after the hare, but he fled, and they could not +catch him. The hare ran into a hole, at the mouth of which the animals +set a snare, and then went away. The hare remained in the hole for many +days, but at length he managed to get out without being caught. + +He went to a place where he found a bushbuck (imbabala) building a hut. +There was a pot with meat in it on the fire. + +He said to the bushbuck, "Can I take this little piece of meat?" + +The bushbuck answered, "You must not do it." + +But he took the meat and ate it all. Afterwards he whistled in a +particular manner, and there fell a storm of hail which killed the +bushbuck. Then he took the skin of the bushbuck, and made for himself a +mantle. + +After this the hare went into the forest to procure some weapons to +fight with. While he was cutting a stick the monkeys threw leaves upon +him. He called to them to come down and beat him. They came down, but he +killed them all with his weapons. + + + + +THE WHITE MAN AND SNAKE + + +A white man, it is said, met Snake upon whom a large stone had fallen +and covered her so that she could not rise. The White Man lifted the +stone off Snake, but when he had done so, she wanted to bite him. The +White Man said, "Stop! let us both go first to some wise people." They +went to Hyena, and the White Man asked him, "Is it right that Snake +should want to bite me, when I helped her as she lay under a stone and +could not rise?" + +Hyena (who thought he would get his share of the White Man's body) said, +"If you were bitten what would it matter?" + +Then Snake wanted to bite him, but the White Man said again, "Wait a +little, and let us go to other wise people, that I may hear whether this +is right." + +They went and met Jackal. The White Man said to Jackal, "Is it right +for Snake to want to bite me, when I lifted up the stone which lay upon +her?" + +Jackal replied, "I do not believe that Snake could be covered by a stone +so she could not rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I would not +believe it. Therefore, come let us go and see the place where you say it +happened whether it can be true." + +They went, and arrived at the place where it had happened. Jackal said, +"Snake, lie down, and let thyself be covered." + +Snake did so, and the White Man covered her with the stone; but although +she exerted herself very much, she could not rise. Then the White Man +wanted again to release Snake, but Jackal interfered, and said, "Do not +lift the stone. She wanted to bite you, therefore she may rise by +herself." + +Then they both went away and left Snake under the stone. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +A Dutchman was walking by himself and saw Snake lying under a large +stone. Snake implored his help; but when she had become free she said, +"Now I shall eat you." + +The Man answered, "That is not right. Let us first go to Hare." + +When Hare had heard the affair, he said, "It is right." + +"No," said the Man, "let us ask Hyena." + +Hyena declared the same, saying, "It is right." + +"Now let us ask Jackal," said the Man in his despair. + +Jackal answered very slowly and considerately, doubting the whole +affair, and demanding to see first the place, and whether the Man was +able to lift the stone. Snake lay down, and the Man, to prove the truth +of his account, put the stone again over her. + +When she was fast, Jackal said, "Now let her lie there." + + + + +CLOUD-EATING + + +Jackal and Hyena were together, it is said, when a white cloud rose. +Jackal descended upon it, and ate of the cloud as if it were fat. + +When he wanted to come down, he said to Hyena, "My sister, as I am going +to divide with thee, catch me well." So she caught him, and broke his +fall. Then she also went up and ate there, high up on the top of the +cloud. + +When she was satisfied, she said, "My greyish brother, now catch me +well." The greyish rogue said to his friend, "My sister, I shall catch +thee well. Come therefore down." + +He held up his hands, and she came down from the cloud, and when she was +near, Jackal cried out (painfully jumping to one side), "My sister, do +not take it ill. Oh me! Oh me! A thorn has pricked me and sticks in me." +Thus she fell down from above, and was sadly hurt. + +Since that day, it is said that Hyena's hind feet have been shorter and +smaller than the front ones. + + + + +LION'S ILLNESS + + +Lion, it is said, was ill, and they all went to see him in his +suffering. But Jackal did not go, because the traces of the people who +went to see him did not turn back. Thereupon, he was accused by Hyena, +who said, "Though I go to look, yet Jackal does not want to come and +look at the man's sufferings." + +Then Lion let Hyena go, in order that she might catch Jackal; and she +did so, and brought him. + +Lion asked Jackal: "Why did you not come here to see me?" + +Jackal said, "Oh, no! when I heard that my uncle was so very ill, I went +to the witch (doctor) to consult him, whether and what medicine would be +good for my uncle against the pain. The doctor said to me, 'Go and tell +your uncle to take hold of Hyena and draw off her skin, and put it on +while it is still warm. Then he will recover.' Hyena is one who does not +care for my uncle's sufferings." + +Lion followed his advice, got hold of Hyena, drew the skin over her +ears, whilst she howled with all her might, and put it on. + + + + +JACKAL, DOVE, AND HERON + + +Jackal, it is said, came once to Dove, who lived on the top of a rock, +and said, "Give me one of your little ones." + +Dove answered, "I shall not do anything of the kind." + +Jackal said, "Give me it at once! Otherwise, I shall fly up to you." +Then she threw one down to him. + +He came back another day and demanded another little one, and she gave +it to him. After Jackal had gone, Heron came, and asked, "Dove, why do +you cry?" + +Dove answered him, "Jackal has taken away my little ones; it is for this +that I cry." He asked her, "In what manner did he take them?" She +answered him, "When he asked me I refused him; but when he said, 'I +shall at once fly up, therefore give me it,' I threw it down to him." + +Heron said, "Are you such a fool as to give your young ones to Jackal, +who cannot fly?" Then, with the admonition to give no more, he went +away. + +Jackal came again, and said, "Dove, give me a little one." Dove refused, +and told him that Heron had told her that he could not fly up. Jackal +said, "I shall catch him." + +So when Heron came to the banks of the water, Jackal asked him: "Brother +Heron, when the wind comes from this side, how will you stand?" He +turned his neck towards him and said, "I stand thus, bending my neck on +one side." Jackal asked him again, "When a storm comes and when it +rains, how do you stand?" He said to him: "I stand thus, indeed, bending +my neck down." + +Then Jackal beat him on his neck, and broke his neck in the middle. + +Since that day Heron's neck is bent. + + + + +COCK AND JACKAL + + +Cock, it is said, was once overtaken by Jackal, and caught. Cock said to +Jackal, "Please, pray first (before you kill me), as the white man +does." + +Jackal asked, "In what manner does he pray? Tell me." + +"He folds his hands in praying," said Cock. Jackal folded his hands and +prayed. Then Cock spoke again: "You ought not to look about you as you +do. You had better shut your eyes." He did so; and Cock flew away, +upbraiding at the same time Jackal with these words, "You rogue! do you +also pray?" + +There sat Jackal, speechless, because he had been outdone. + + + + +ELEPHANT AND TORTOISE + + +Two powers, Elephant and Rain, had a dispute. Elephant said, "If you say +that you nourish me, in what way is it that you say so?" Rain answered, +"If you say that I do not nourish you, when I go away, will you not +die?" And Rain then departed. + +Elephant said, "Vulture! cast lots to make rain for me." + +Vulture said, "I will not cast lots." + +Then Elephant said to Crow, "Cast lots!" who answered, "Give the things +with which I may cast lots." Crow cast lots and rain fell. It rained at +the lagoons, but they dried up, and only one lagoon remained. + +Elephant went a-hunting. There was, however, Tortoise, to whom Elephant +said, "Tortoise, remain at the water!" Thus Tortoise was left behind +when Elephant went a-hunting. + +There came Giraffe, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Zebra, who said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Gemsbok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Wildebeest, and said, "Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The +water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Roodebok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +answered, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Springbok, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise +said, "The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Jackal, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise said, +"The water belongs to Elephant." + +There came Lion, and said, "Little Tortoise, give me water!" When little +Tortoise was about to say something, Lion got hold of him and beat him; +Lion drank of the water, and since then the animals drink water. + +When Elephant came back from the hunting, he said, "Little Tortoise, is +there water?" Tortoise answered, "The animals have drunk the water." +Elephant asked, "Little Tortoise, shall I chew you or swallow you down?" +Little Tortoise said, "Swallow me, if you please!" and Elephant +swallowed him whole. + +After Elephant had swallowed Little Tortoise, and he had entered his +body, he tore off his liver, heart, and kidneys. Elephant said, "Little +Tortoise, you kill me." + +So Elephant died; but little Tortoise came out of his dead body, and +went wherever he liked. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +Giraffe and Tortoise, they say, met one day. Giraffe said to Tortoise, +"At once I could trample you to death." Tortoise, being afraid, remained +silent. Then Giraffe said, "At once I could swallow you." Tortoise said, +in answer to this, "Well, I just belong to the family of those whom it +has always been customary to swallow." Then Giraffe swallowed Tortoise; +but when the latter was being gulped down, he stuck in Giraffe's throat, +and as the latter could not get it down, he was choked to death. + +When Giraffe was dead, Tortoise crawled out and went to Crab (who is +considered as the mother of Tortoise), and told her what had happened. +Then Crab said: + + "The little Crab! I could sprinkle it under its arm with Boochoo,[3] + The crooked-legged little one, I could sprinkle under its arm." + +Tortoise answered its mother and said: + + "Have you not always sprinkled me, + That you want to sprinkle me now?" + +Then they went and fed for a whole year on the remains of Giraffe. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] (In token of approval, according to a Hottentot custom.) + + + + +TORTOISES HUNTING OSTRICHES + + +One day, it is said, the Tortoises held a council how they might hunt +Ostriches, and they said, "Let us, on both sides, stand in rows near +each other, and let one go to hunt the Ostriches, so that they must flee +along through the midst of us." They did so, and as they were many, the +Ostriches were obliged to run along through the midst of them. During +this they did not move, but, remaining always in the same places, called +each to the other, "Are you there?" and each one answered, "I am here." +The Ostriches hearing this, ran so tremendously that they quite +exhausted their strength, and fell down. Then the Tortoises assembled +by-and-by at the place where the Ostriches had fallen, and devoured +them. + + + + +THE JUDGMENT OF BABOON + + +One day, it is said, the following story happened: + +Mouse had torn the clothes of Itkler (the tailor), who then went to +Baboon, and accused Mouse with these words: + +"In this manner I come to thee: Mouse has torn my clothes, but will not +know anything of it, and accuses Cat; Cat protests likewise her +innocence, and says, 'Dog must have done it'; but Dog denies it also, +and declares Wood has done it; and Wood throws the blame on Fire, and +says, 'Fire did it'; Fire says, 'I have not, Water did it'; Water says, +'Elephant tore the clothes'; and Elephant says, 'Ant tore them.' Thus a +dispute has arisen among them. Therefore, I, Itkler, come to thee with +this proposition: Assemble the people and try them in order that I may +get satisfaction." + +Thus he spake, and Baboon assembled them for trial. Then they made the +same excuses which had been mentioned by Itkler, each one putting the +blame upon the other. + +So Baboon did not see any other way of punishing them, save through +making them punish each other; he therefore said, + +"Mouse, give Itkler satisfaction." + +Mouse, however, pleaded not guilty. But Baboon said, "Cat, bite Mouse." +She did so. + +He then put the same question to Cat, and when she exculpated herself, +Baboon called to Dog, "Here, bite Cat." + +In this manner Baboon questioned them all, one after the other, but they +each denied the charge. Then he addressed the following words to them, +and said, + + "Wood, beat Dog. + Fire, burn Wood. + Water, quench Fire. + Elephant, drink Water. + Ant, bite Elephant in his most tender parts." + +They did so, and since that day they cannot any longer agree with each +other. + +Ant enters into Elephant's most tender parts and bites him. + + Elephant swallows Water. + Water quenches Fire. + Fire consumes Wood. + Wood beats Dog. + Dog bites Cat. + And Cat bites Mouse. + +Through this judgment Itkler got satisfaction and addressed Baboon in +the following manner: + +"Yes! Now I am content, since I have received satisfaction, and with all +my heart I thank thee, Baboon, because thou hast exercised justice on my +behalf and given me redress." + +Then Baboon said, "From to-day I will not any longer be called Jan, but +Baboon shall be my name." + +Since that time Baboon walks on all fours, having probably lost the +privilege of walking erect through this foolish judgment. + + + + +LION AND BABOON + + +Baboon, it is said, once worked bamboos, sitting on the edge of a +precipice, and Lion stole upon him. Baboon, however, had fixed some +round, glistening, eye-like plates on the back of his head. When, +therefore, Lion crept upon him, he thought, when Baboon was looking at +him, that he sat with his back towards him, and crept with all his might +upon him. When, however, Baboon turned his back towards him, Lion +thought that he was seen, and hid himself. Thus, when Baboon looked at +him, he crept upon him.[4] When he was near him Baboon looked up, and +Lion continued to creep upon him. Baboon said (aside), "Whilst I am +looking at him he steals upon me, whilst my hollow eyes are on him." + +When at last Lion sprung at him, he lay (quickly) down upon his face, +and Lion jumped over him, falling down the precipice, and was dashed to +pieces. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[4] Whilst Baboon did this, Lion came close upon him. + + + + +THE ZEBRA STALLION + + +The Baboons, it is said, used to disturb the Zebra Mares in drinking. +But one of the Mares became the mother of a foal. The others then helped +her to suckle (the young stallion), that he might soon grow up. + +When he was grown up and they were in want of water, he brought them to +the water. The Baboons, seeing this, came, as they formerly were used to +do, into their way, and kept them from the water. + +While the Mares stood thus, the Stallion stepped forward, and spoke to +one of the Baboons, "Thou gum-eater's child!" + +The Baboon said to the Stallion, "Please open thy mouth, that I may see +what thou livest on." The Stallion opened his mouth, and it was milky. + +Then the Stallion said to the Baboon, "Please open thy mouth also, that +I may see." The Baboon did so, and there was some gum in it. But the +Baboon quickly licked some milk off the Stallion's tongue. The Stallion +on this became angry, took the Baboon by his shoulders, and pressed him +upon a hot, flat rock. Since that day the Baboon has a bald place on his +back. + +The Baboon said, lamenting, "I, my mother's child, I, the gum-eater, am +outdone by this milk-eater!" + + + + +WHEN LION COULD FLY + + +Lion, it is said, used once to fly, and at that time nothing could live +before him. As he was unwilling that the bones of what he caught should +be broken into pieces, he made a pair of White Crows watch the bones, +leaving them behind at the kraal whilst he went a-hunting. But one day +Great Frog came there, broke the bones in pieces, and said, "Why can men +and animals live no longer?" And he added these words, "When he comes, +tell him that I live at yonder pool; if he wishes to see me, he must +come there." + +Lion, lying in wait (for game), wanted to fly up, but found he could not +fly. Then he got angry, thinking that at the kraal something was wrong, +and returned home. When he arrived he asked, "What have you done that I +cannot fly?" Then they answered and said, "Some one came here, broke the +bones into pieces, and said, 'If he want me, he may look for me at +yonder pool!'" Lion went, and arrived while Frog was sitting at the +water's edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. When he was +about to get hold of him, Frog said, "Ho!" and, diving, went to the +other side of the pool, and sat there. Lion pursued him; but as he could +not catch him he returned home. + +From that day, it is said, Lion walked on his feet, and also began to +creep upon (his game); and the White Crows became entirely dumb since +the day that they said, "Nothing can be said of that matter." + + + + +LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF WISER THAN HIS MOTHER + + +It is said that when Lion and Gurikhoisip (the Only man), together with +Baboon, Buffalo, and other friends, were playing one day at a certain +game, there was a thunderstorm and rain at Aroxaams. Lion and +Gurikhoisip began to quarrel. "I shall run to the rain-field," said +Lion. Gurikhoisip said also, "I shall run to the rain-field." As neither +would concede this to the other, they separated (angrily). After they +had parted, Lion went to tell his Mother those things which they had +both said. + +His Mother said to him, "My son! that Man whose head is in a line with +his shoulders and breast, who has pinching weapons, who keeps white +dogs, who goes about wearing the tuft of a tiger's tail, beware of him!" +Lion, however, said, "Why need I be on my guard against those whom I +know?" Lioness answered, "My Son, take care of him who has pinching +weapons!" But Lion would not follow his Mother's advice, and the same +morning, when it was still pitch dark, he went to Aroxaams, and laid +himself in ambush. Gurikhoisip went also that morning to the same place. +When he had arrived he let his dogs drink, and then bathe. After they +had finished they wallowed. Then also Man drank; and, when he had done +drinking, Lion came out of the bush. Dogs surrounded him as his Mother +had foretold, and he was speared by Gurikhoisip. Just as he became aware +that he was speared, the Dogs drew him down again. In this manner he +grew faint. While he was in this state, Gurikhoisip said to the Dogs, +"Let him alone now, that he may go and be taught by his Mother." So the +Dogs let him go. They left him, and went home as he lay there. The same +night he walked towards home, but whilst he was on the way his strength +failed him, and he lamented: + + "Mother! take me up! + Grandmother! take me up! Oh me! Alas!" + +At the dawn of day his Mother heard his wailing, and said-- + +"My Son, this is the thing which I have told thee: + + "'Beware of the one who has pinching weapons, + Who wears a tuft of tiger's tail, + Of him who has white dogs! + Alas! thou son of her who is short-eared, + Thou, my short-eared child! + Son of her who eats raw flesh, + Thou flesh-devourer; + Son of her whose nostrils are red from the prey, + Thou with blood-stained nostrils! + Son of her who drinks pit-water, + Thou water-drinker!'" + + + + +LION WHO TOOK A WOMAN'S SHAPE + + +Some Women, it is said, went out to seek roots and herbs and other wild +food. On their way home they sat down and said, "Let us taste the food +of the field." Now they found that the food picked by one of them was +sweet, while that of the others was bitter. The latter said to each +other, "Look here! this Woman's herbs are sweet." Then they said to the +owner of the sweet food, "Throw it away and seek for other." So she +threw away the food, and went to gather more. When she had collected a +sufficient supply, she returned to join the other Women, but could not +find them. She went therefore down to the river, where Hare sat lading +water, and said to him, "Hare, give me some water that I may drink." But +he replied, "This is the cup out of which my uncle (Lion) and I alone +may drink." + +She asked again: "Hare, draw water for me that I may drink." But Hare +made the same reply. Then she snatched the cup from him and drank, but +he ran home to tell his uncle of the outrage which had been committed. + +The Woman meanwhile replaced the cup and went away. After she had +departed Lion came down, and, seeing her in the distance, pursued her on +the road. When she turned round and saw him coming, she sang in the +following manner: + + "My mother, she would not let me seek herbs, + Herbs of the field, food from the field. Hoo!" + +When Lion at last came up with the Woman, they hunted each other round a +shrub. She wore many beads and arm-rings, and Lion said, "Let me put +them on!" So she lent them to him, but he afterwards refused to return +them to her. + +They then hunted each other again round the shrub, till Lion fell down, +and the Woman jumped upon him, and kept him there. Lion (uttering a form +of conjuration) said: + + "My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +She then rose from him, and they hunted again after each other round the +shrub, till the Woman fell down, and Lion jumped upon her. She then +addressed him: + + "My Uncle! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +He rose, of course, and they hunted each other again, till Lion fell a +second time. When she jumped upon him he said: + + "My Aunt! it is morning, and time to rise; + Pray, rise from me!" + +They rose again and hunted after each other. The Woman at last fell +down. But this time when she repeated the above conjuration, Lion said: + +"He Kha! Is it morning, and time to rise?" + +He then ate her, taking care, however, to leave her skin whole, which he +put on, together with her dress and ornaments, so that he looked quite +like a woman, and then went home to her kraal. + +When this counterfeit woman arrived, her little sister, crying, said, +"My sister, pour some milk out for me." She answered, "I shall not pour +you out any." Then the Child addressed their Mother: "Mama, do pour out +some for me." The Mother of the kraal said, "Go to your sister, and let +her give it to you!" The little Child said again to her sister, "Please, +pour out for me!" She, however, repeated her refusal, saying, "I will +not do it." Then the Mother of the kraal said to the little One, "I +refused to let her (the elder sister) seek herbs in the field, and I do +not know what may have happened; go therefore to Hare, and ask him to +pour out for you." + +So then Hare gave her some milk; but her elder sister said, "Come and +share it with me." The little Child then went to her sister with her +bamboo (cup), and they both sucked the milk out of it. Whilst they were +doing this, some milk was spilt on the little one's hand, and the elder +sister licked it up with her tongue, the roughness of which drew blood; +this, too, the Woman licked up. + +The little Child complained to her Mother: "Mama, sister pricks holes in +me and sucks the blood." The Mother said, "With what Lion's nature your +sister went the way that I forbade her, and returned, I do not know." + +Now the Cows arrived, and the elder sister cleansed the pails in order +to milk them. But when she approached the Cows with a thong (in order to +tie their fore-legs), they all refused to be milked by her. + +Hare said, "Why do not you stand before the Cow?" She replied, "Hare, +call your brother, and do you two stand before the Cow." Her husband +said, "What has come over her that the Cows refuse her? These are the +same Cows she always milks." The Mother (of the kraal) said, "What has +happened this evening? These are Cows which she always milks without +assistance. What can have affected her that she comes home as a woman +with a Lion's nature?" + +The elder daughter then said to her Mother, "I shall not milk the +Cows." With these words she sat down. The Mother said therefore to Hare, +"Bring me the bamboos, that I may milk. I do not know what has come over +the girl." + +So the Mother herself milked the cows, and when she had done so, Hare +brought the bamboos to the young wife's house, where her husband was, +but she (the wife) did not give him (her husband) anything to eat. But +when at night time she fell asleep, they saw some of the Lion's hair, +which was hanging out where he had slipped on the Woman's skin, and they +cried, "Verily! this is quite another being. It is for this reason that +the Cows refused to be milked." + +Then the people of the kraal began to break up the hut in which Lion lay +asleep. When they took off the mats, they said (conjuring them), "If +thou art favourably inclined to me, O Mat, give the sound 'sawa'" +(meaning, making no noise). + +To the poles (on which the hut rested) they said, "If thou art +favourably inclined to me, O Pole, thou must give the sound 'gara.'" + +They addressed also the bamboos and the bed-skins in a similar manner. + +Thus gradually and noiselessly they removed the hut and all its +contents. Then they took bunches of grass, put them over the Lion, and +lighting them, said, "If thou art favourably inclined to me, O Fire, +thou must flare up, 'boo boo,' before thou comest to the heart." + +So the Fire flared up when it came towards the heart, and the heart of +the Woman jumped upon the ground. The Mother (of the kraal) picked it +up, and put it into a calabash. + +Lion, from his place in the fire, said to the Mother (of the kraal), +"How nicely I have eaten your daughter." The Woman answered, "You have +also now a comfortable place!" + +Now the Woman took the first milk of as many Cows as had calves, and put +it into the calabash where her daughter's heart was; the calabash +increased in size, and in proportion to this the girl grew again inside +it. + +One day, when the Mother (of the kraal) went out to fetch wood, she said +to Hare, "By the time that I come back you must have everything nice +and clean." But during her Mother's absence, the girl crept out of the +calabash, and put the hut in good order, as she had been used to do in +former days, and said to Hare, "When Mother comes back and asks, 'Who +has done these things?' you must say, 'I, Hare, did them.'" After she +had done all, she hid herself on the stage. + +When the Mother of the kraal came home, she said, "Hare, who has done +these things? They look just as they used when my daughter did them." +Hare said, "I did the things." But the Mother would not believe it, and +looked at the calabash. Seeing it was empty, she searched the stage and +found her daughter. Then she embraced and kissed her, and from that day +the girl stayed with her Mother, and did everything as she was wont in +former times; but she now remained unmarried. + + + + +WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK? + + +The Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were +travelling saw him sitting by the wayside, but passed him without +notice. Jackal, however, who came after them, and saw him also sitting, +went to him and said, "Such a fine little child is left behind by the +men." He then took Sun up, and put it into his awa-skin (on his back). +When it burnt him, he said, "Get down," and shook himself; but Sun stuck +fast to his back, and burnt Jackal's back black from that day. + + + + +HORSE CURSED BY SUN + + +It is said that once Sun was on earth, and caught Horse to ride it. But +it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore Ox took the place of +Horse, and carried Sun on its back. Since that time Horse is cursed in +these words, because it could not carry Sun's weight: + + "From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying. + This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying. + And day and night shalt thou eat, + But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest, + Though thou grazest till morning and again until sunset. + Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee," said Sun. + +Since that day Horse's (certain) time of dying commenced. + + + + +LION'S DEFEAT + + +The wild animals, it is said, were once assembled at Lion's. When Lion +was asleep, Jackal persuaded Little Fox to twist a rope of ostrich +sinews, in order to play Lion a trick. They took ostrich sinews, twisted +them, and fastened the rope to Lion's tail, and the other end of the +rope they tied to a shrub. When Lion awoke, and saw that he was tied up, +he became angry, and called the animals together. When they had +assembled, Lion said (using this form of conjuration)-- + + "What child of his mother and father's love, + Whose mother and father's love has tied me?" + +Then answered the animal to whom the question was first put-- + + "I, child of my mother and father's love, + I, mother and father's love, I have not done it." + +All answered the same; but when he asked Little Fox, Little Fox said-- + + "I, child of my mother and father's love, + I, mother and father's love, have tied thee!" + +Then Lion tore the rope made of sinews, and ran after Little Fox. But +Jackal said: + + "My boy, thou son of lean Mrs. Fox, thou wilt never be caught." + +Truly Lion was thus beaten in running by Little Fox. + + + + +THE ORIGIN OF DEATH + + +The Moon, it is said, sent once an Insect to Men, saying, "Go thou to +Men, and tell them, 'As I die, and dying live, so ye shall also die, and +dying live.'" The Insect started with the message, but whilst on his way +was overtaken by the Hare, who asked: "On what errand art thou bound?" +The Insect answered: "I am sent by the Moon to Men, to tell them that as +she dies, and dying lives, they also shall die, and dying live." The +Hare said, "As thou art an awkward runner, let me go" (to take the +message). With these words he ran off, and when he reached Men, he said, +"I am sent by the Moon to tell you, 'As I die, and dying perish, in the +same manner ye shall also die and come wholly to an end.'" Then the Hare +returned to the Moon, and told her what he had said to Men. The Moon +reproached him angrily, saying, "Darest thou tell the people a thing +which I have not said?" With these words she took up a piece of wood, +and struck him on the nose. Since that day the Hare's nose is slit. + + + + +ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon dies, and rises to life again. The Moon said to the Hare, "Go +thou to Men, and tell them, 'Like as I die and rise to life again, so +you also shall die and rise to life again.'" The Hare went to the Men, +and said, "Like as I die and do not rise to life again, so you shall +also die, and not rise to life again." When he returned the Moon asked +"What hast thou said?" "I have told them, 'Like as I die and do not rise +to life again, so you shall also die and not rise to life again.'" +"What," said the Moon, "hast thou said that?" And she took a stick and +beat the Hare on his mouth, which was slit by the blow. The Hare fled, +and is still fleeing. + + + + +A THIRD VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon, on one occasion, sent the Hare to the earth to inform Men that +as she (the Moon) died away and rose again, so mankind should die and +rise again. Instead, however, of delivering this message as given, the +Hare, either out of forgetfulness or malice, told mankind that as the +Moon rose and died away, so Man should die and rise no more. The Hare, +having returned to the Moon, was questioned as to the message delivered, +and the Moon, having heard the true state of the case, became so enraged +with him that she took up a hatchet to split his head; falling short, +however, of that, the hatchet fell upon the upper lip of the Hare, and +cut it severely. Hence it is that we see the "Hare-lip." The Hare, being +duly incensed at having received such treatment, raised his claws, and +scratched the Moon's face; and the dark spots which we now see on the +surface of the Moon are the scars which she received on that occasion. + + + + +A FOURTH VERSION OF THE SAME FABLE + + +The Moon, they say, wished to send a message to Men, and the Hare said +that he would take it. "Run, then," said the Moon, "and tell Men that as +I die and am renewed, so shall they also be renewed." But the Hare +deceived Men, and said, "As I die and perish, so shall you also." + + + + +A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND OF THE "ORIGIN OF DEATH" + + +God (Unknlunkuln) arose from beneath (the seat of the spiritual world, +according to the Zulu idea), and created in the beginning men, animals, +and all things. He then sent for the Chameleon, and said, "Go, +Chameleon, and tell Men that they shall not die." The Chameleon went, +but it walked slowly, and loitered on the way, eating of a shrub called +Bukwebezane. + +When it had been away some time, God sent the Salamander after it, +ordering him to make haste and tell Men that they should die. The +Salamander went on his way with this message, outran the Chameleon, and, +arriving first where the Men were, told them that they must die. + + + + +LITERATURE + + + Geschiedenis van + Zuid Afrika Geo. McCall Theal + + Kafir Folk-lore Geo. McCall Theal 1882 + + African Native + Literature S. W. Koelle 1854 + + South African + Folk-lore Journal + Hottentot Fables + and Tales W. H. I. Bleek 1864 + + An expedition of + Discovery into + the Interior of + Africa James Alexander 1838 + + South Africa a + Century Ago Anna Barnard 1901 + + An account of travels + into the interior of + South Africa John Barrow 1802 + + Travels in South + Africa John Campbell 1816 + + The Childhood of Man Leo Frobenius 1909 + + Travels and Adventure + in Eastern Africa Nathaniel Isaacs 1836 + + Narrative of Discovery + and Adventure + in Africa Jameson, etc. 1830 + + Voyage dans L'interieur + de l'Afrique F. Le Vaillant 1796 + + Missionary Travels + and Researches in + South Africa D. Livingstone 1858 + + Scenes in Africa Capt. Marryat 1851 + + Missionary Labors + and Scenes in + South Africa R. Moffat 1845 + + A New Gazetteer + of the Asia, + Africa, etc., + Continents J. Morse 1802 + + South African Native S. A. Native Races + Races Committee 1909 + + Researches into + the Physical + History of + Mankind J. C. Prichard 1841 + + Memorials of + South Africa B. Shaw 1841 + + Wanderings and + Adventures in + the Interior of + South Africa A. Stedman 1835 + + Notes on the + Bushmen E. & D. Bleek 1909 + + Africa K. Johnston 1878 + + A Voyage to the + Cape of Good + Hope A. Sparrmann 1785 + + Travels in South + Africa Henry Lichtenstein 1800 + + The Dwarfs of + Mount Atlas R. G. Haliburton 1891 + + The Native Races + of South Africa G. W. Stow 1905 + + Description du + Cap de Bonne + Esperance Pierre Kolbe 1741 + + Specimens of Dialects John Clarke 1849 + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Puncutation has been standardised. + +Chapter headings in the Contents do not always match the headings +in the body of the book. + +Both Folk-lore and Folklore appear in the text. + + Page 24 + Wolf's tale," said the rogue + Wolf's tail," said the rogue + + Page 38 + Paragraph inserted before "It is also better," + + Page 150 + Voyage dans l'Interieur + Voyage dans l'Interieur + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's South-African Folk-Tales, by James A. Honey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 38339.txt or 38339.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/3/3/38339/ + +Produced by Michael Hale, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (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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