New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-02
BABOON AND TORTOISE.
HOW EACH ANIMAL PLAYED 4 TRICK
UPON THE OTHER.

An English missionary, writing to The Lon
don Standard" from Africa tells the following
story which he says is favorite fable among
the natives of the Lower Zambesi:
In the time long ago a Baboon. swinging
from bough to bough in the great forest, espied
on the ground Tortoise. Good morning
friend Tortoise" said the BabOon; for a long
time have been wishing to make friends with
you-will you come and have dinner with me to-
gay with pleasure replied the Tortoise,
ms flshlike eyes blinked up at the great Baboon;
1 shall be very glad to make your acquaint-
ance- When the Tortoise arrived at the
Baooons house, he found the food spread out
upon bamboo platform raised some two feet
above the ground. Just help yourself to what
ever you like said the Balloon, who commenced
at once to eat up the good things spread before
MIN. But the poor little Tortoise unable to
reach the food, as the platform was far above his
head The greedy BabOOn was not long before
he had eaten up all the food there was. Then
ne turned TO the Tortoise with a grin, and said,
n nope you nave enjoyed your dinner, friend
Tortoise; you do not seem TO have very large
appetite Thank you" replied the Tortoise
Il am satisfied Pray come and dine with me
tomorrow, and give me an opportunity of re-
paying your kindness" The greedy BabOon
aIlured with the hope of another meal said he
would come. Soon the Tortoise took his de-
parture, and on the way home revOlved in his
mind a plan Of revenge for the insult the
BaboOn had put upon him. Now, the home of
Tue 1orIoiSe was near the river ana the hrst
thing he did when he got to his house 10
set fire to the grass growing along the bank,
that when the fire had spent ITSELF there was
long stretch of blackened stubble. On the NOR
row, when the Baboon arrived, he found mat
spread on the ground on which were savory
articles of food. Il glad to see YOU said
the Tortoise; dinner is quite ready, you see.
Will you just down to the river and wash
your hands before we begin to eat?" Away
ran the BabOon, his mouth watering at the
thought of the good things he had seen. When
he had washed his hands he started back again
across the patch of burnt grass. But as he ran
along on all fours, he soon found that the burnt
grass made his hands dirty as they were
before Il cannot go to dinner with black hands
like these" he thought So he returned to wash
them a second time. Then again he attempted
to cross the burnt grass, but with no better
success than before. After washing his hands
for the third time. he sat down 10 consider how
he was to return to the TortOise's house without
getting his hands black The only way seemed
to be TO follow the banks of the river until he
reached the end of the burnt patch. This he
set out to do and at last, tired and hungry.
reached the home of the Tortoise. When he got
there he found. to his establishment, that the
Tortoise just eating the last piece Of food.
''HulIor exclaimed his host where have you
been all this time? l waited long while for
you: but, as you did not return, thought that
YOU must have been dissatisfied with the food
that you saw, and so had gone back to your own
home again. Now | have eaten il all myself,
and have nothing left in the house TO offer you.
hope you viii not feel any more hungry when
YOU get home than l did when returned from
your homo yest erday." Then the Baboon went
off much annoyed that the tables had been SO
cleverly turaed on himself.