The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-09

man sees what he sees. No doubt the DRIFT
of the mind at such times to think OF such
things as are driven away by the needs OF
the stirring day, suggested that we coulc
be more sociable and more Interested II we
related to one another such stories as We're
told to US by the old folks at home. On
trial it was found that there were some or
our men who were most accomplished i'll
the art of narration, and | fancled after
writing one or two out that there was some
kind of moral of an African character Ill
each, after which l paid more attention to
them and on retiring from the circle L
would hastily jot down what had heard.
If there was some point still obscure IN the
story | would invite its narrator TO relate
it to me at the first hating place. But then
/ would find also that there was greas
deal of difference in the story told TO me
alone and that related to the audience round
the tire-there was then less local color, less
detail and less animation.
After Sabtedu the best legend teller was
q young fellow named hadu. lie began the
series of legends with that OF hlbattl OF
Uganda. | have tried to translate 1t as
closely rs possible III order to give the
faithful sense of what was SAID, but !
despair of rendering the little touches ana
fiourishes which kadu knew so well how TO
give with voice, gesture and mobile lace.
And how shah / give expression TO the
interest manifested 10y the dusky listeners
who believed every word uttered:
Friends and freemen, he SAID, II son
of a man knows how to show anger, l need
not tell YOU who are experienced IN travel
and in the nature of beasts that the ami
mails of the wild also know how to show
their spite and their passion The legend
of kibatti runs upon this:
On day ages ago, the great ANIMALS
of the world, consisting of the elephant,
the rhinoceros, the buffalo, the hon, the
leopard, the hyena, assembled i'll counci
in the midst of a forest not far from q
village on the frontier of Uganda. The
elephant being acknowledged by general
consent as the strongest, presided on the
occasion.
He said: Friends, we are gathered to-
gether today to consider how we may re-
pey in some measure the injuries daily done
TO US and our kin by the sons OF men.
Not far FREE here is situated village,
whence the vicious twO-footed animals issue
out to make war upon all of us, who possess
double the number of feet they have.
Without warning of hostility or publishing
OF cause, they deliberately leave their conf
cal nests, day by day with fellest intent
against any Of whom they may happen
to meet during the shining IF the sun.
Wherefore, We are met upon common
grounds to devise how we may retaliate
upon the sons of men, the WantOn Outrages
they daily prrretrate upon our unfortunate
kind. Personally. j have many injuries to
the elephants of my tribe to remember, and
which / am not likely to forget. 1t was
Only {; week ago that promising child OF
my sister fell into Il deep pit and WAS lm-
paled upon Il sharp stake set in the bottom
of it; and h. Iew days ago my youngest
tTvtner fell head foremost inc horribly
deep excavation that was dug, and which
was artfully concealed by leaves and grass,
whereby none but those like myself eXper-
fenced in their gulful arts, could have
escaped. Ge have all, | dare say, been
similarly prosecuted and have deep injuries
to revenge. | wait to hear what you pro-
pose. Brother rhinocCros. on are the
next in bigness and strength; speak
We'll, brother elephant and friends, the
words we have heard are true. The son
of man is, of all creatures that | know, the
most wanton in oHense against us of the
hear moan and complaint from some suf-
ferer. Not long ago cousin. walking
quietly through a wood not far from here
caught his foot in vine that lay across
the path, and almost Immediately after
n hardened and pointed stake was pre"ipi-
tated from above, deep into the j0inture of
the neck with the spine, which killed him
instantly of course. [ have by wonderful
good luck escaped thus far, but it may be
my fate to fall tomorrow through some foul
practice. Wherefore. I think it were well
that We set about doing what We decide to
do instanter. ! propose that early in the
morning, before CLINT of sunshine be seen,
we set upon the piratical nest and utterly
destroy if. l am 50 loaded with hate of
them | could dispose of half of the raScals
myself before they could recover their wits.
But if any of You here have a better plan
j lend my ears to the hearing of it, and my
strength and fury to the doing of it with
out further speech ! have spoken"
Nov. friend lion" said the elephant,
turning Solemnly u him, it Is E.ur turn,
and say freely what thy wit conceived in
this matter. Thy courage we all know and
none of us doubt that thy mind is equal
to it,
..TrtIly friend elephant and We others.
% rM