The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-07-02

which was old to me one day by an old
man amo me Basoko. doubt whether
you Will like it, but since you wish 80
hear a legend of my country, you shall
have the story as it was told me.
THE country now inhabited by the
Basoko tribe was formerly known as
Bandimba. A king called Bahanga was
its sole ruler He possessed a housetuI Of
wives, but all his children were unfor-
tunately Of the female sex, which he con-
sidered to be a great grievance, and OF
which he frequently complained. His
subjects, en- the other hand, were blessed
with more sons than daughters, and this
TACT increased the kings grief and made
him envy the meanest of his subjects.
One day, however, he married Banana,
the youngest daughter Of his principal
CHIEF, and by her in due time he finally
succeeded in obtaining a male child, and
was very happy, and his people rejoiced in
his happiness.
tIhe prince grew up to be a marvel of
strength and beauty. and his father dotted
on him so much that he shared his power
with the boy in a curious manner. The
king reserved authority over all the
married people, while the prince's sub
jects consisted of those not yet mated.
1t thus happened that the prince ruled
over more people than his father, for the
children we're, of course, more numerous
than the parents. But with all this honor
conferred upon him the prince was not
happy. The more he obtained the more
he wished to possess. Els eyes had Blu
10 see 4 thing to desire its exclusive
possession. Each day he preferred one
or more requests TO his father, and be-
cause of his great love for him, the king
did not have the heart to refuse him. In
deed, he was persuaded to bestow SO
many gifts upon his son that he had
scarcely anything left for himself.
lone day the prince was playing with
the youth of his court, and after the sport
retired to the shade OF tree to rest, and
his companions sat down in g circle at
respectful distance from him. He then
felt a gush of pride stealing over him as
he thought of his great power, at the
number and variety of his treasures, and
cried out boastfu lily that there never was
boy so great. so rich and so favored by
his father. My father said he, can
deny me nothing. l have but to ask,
and 1t is given unto me-
'.Then one little slender bow with a
thin voice said, at is true, prince. Your
1alu6E las ltGu very ROOQ YOU. lie Is
mighty king, and is as generous as he
is great. Still / know of one thing that
he cannot give you-and it is certain that
You VIII never have it.
- What is that which may not call
my own, when / see it-and what is it
that is not in the kings power to give
me?' asked the prince with a tone of an
noyance.
a. 1t is the moon, answered the little
boy; .andyou must confess yourself that
II is beyond the kings power to give that
TO YOU
q say to you that l shall possess 1t. and
will go now and claim it from nv father.
viii not give him any peace until he
gives 1t to me.
Now it SO happens that such treasures
rs are ours already we do not value SO
much as those which we have not vel
got. So IL was with this snoiled
prince. The memory of the many gifts
OF his father faded from his mind. and
their value was not to be compared with
this new toy-the moon-Which he had
never thought OF before.
He found the king discussing impor-
tant matters with the old men,
" Father, said he, lust now while
was with my companions I was tainted
because did not have the moon amonp
my toys, and 1t was said that it was be-
yOnd your power TO give it to me. Now.
prove this boy q liar and procure the
moon for me that may be able to show
it TO them and glory in your gift.'
What Is it you say. my son? You
want the moon? asked the astonishec
king.
Sou?'
way up. How shall we ever be able t
reach it2'
II don't know; but you have alway.
been good to me, and you surely Will no
refuse me this favor, fathers
fear, my own. that we will not b,
able to give you the moon.'
g But father, l must have it: nv lif
will not be worth living without it. How
may dare to face my companions agar
after my proud boast before them of Won
might and goodness2 There was buf on,
thing that yonder pert boy said 1 Nigh
not have, and that was the moon. Nov
my soul IS bent upon possessing thi
moon, and you must obtain it for me O
die
Nay, my son, speak not OF death
1t Is an ugly word, especially when con
nected with my prince and heir. Do vol
not know yet that 1 live only for YOU
sakeE Let your mind be at rest. / Wi
collect all the wise men of the land to
gether, and ask them TO advise me.
they say that the moon can be reache
and laid hold OF you shall have it,
Accordingly the great state drum wa
sounded Tor the general palaver. and
score of criers went through the town
beating their little drums as they went
and the messengers hastene d all tn
wise men and elders tothe pre- sence of III
king
"When all were assembled the kin
announced his desire to know how til
moon could be reached, and whether
could be shifted from its place in tn
sky and brought down to the earth. i
order that he might give it to his onl
son, the prince. II there was any WIS
man present who could inform hir
how this could be done. and would mn
derta1e = bring it TO him, he would giy
the choicest of MS daughters in marriap
10 him and encow him with grea
riches.
When the wise men heard this strang
proposal they were speeches. with aston
4shment, as no one in the Basoko Ian
had ever heard OF anybody's mountin
into the air higher than a tree, and {
suppose that a person could ascend a
high as the moon was simple madness
Respect for the king, however, held then
mute, though what their glances mean
was very clear.
But while each man was yet lookinl
at his nelghbor in wonder, one of tn
wise men, who appeared to be about tn
youngest present, rose TO his feet ant
said:
q Long life to the prince, and hi
father, the Ringl We nave heard tn
words of the king, and they are good
1-even Ibis slave, am able to reacl
the moon, ana to do the kings pleas
ure, If the king authority viii assis