The sun., 1908-04-26
.BR 'ER RABBITS COUSIN
NAKAMI YE N6ARAGANzA FOOLS
THE AFRICAN FARMERS.

NNNnN NAa WV fN"Nf "ANA - H'NNNass
Pere Capus oi>the Peres Blancs has dis
covered far over in eastern Africa among
the Basumbwa people. in whose country
lies his mission station Of Ushirombo, a
new and still more remote home for those
nature myths OF the Africans In which
the wise and clever rabbit plays 30 great
part. Uncle Romus found them in the
quarters In Georgia and gave them their
first currency outside the freside. of the
negro cabin. Mas Cronise found them
among the Temne in Sierra Leone, but
the wise beef Of her collection Of legends
is a small deer, no larger than q rabbit.
The best Of all are the tales which Pers
Capus has collected, for in the Shisumbwa
legends the rabbit hero, Nakani ye Ngara-
Ranza, sets his wits at work against the
man, and In the result II Is not the rabbit
who is q fool.
This story Of the unhoLng Of Nakaml
Ia really q continuation Of the tar baby.
Il has already been told how Rabbit got
out Of that scrape With the glue baby. TO
which he stuck fast. Hs,,
He wheedled the man into putting him
alive in frying pan, and all the farmers
went away 10 work their fields whilshe was
cooking, leaving a Sok boy 10 watch him.
Rabbit hops out Of the frying pan. pops the
boy over the flre and transforms himself
into his likeness, sores and all. Here fol-
lows the conclusion Of the story.
The farmer and his frienda come back
from tilllng the fields. The Rabbit says
sYo,r meat is done. But none Of for me-
pray cook me some bean soup. your meat
smells rank ..-...
So the mother says to hinE 'whaal
Aren't you going TO have some ofthe msaa'
my SOM
The Rabbit says TO her: 1T smells too
loud for me-
The mother got the bean soup ready,
She cooked It. They poured water on the
fire. They had boiled sorghum 10 est
He went out TO eat his bean soup IN front
Of the house They called 10 vim TO como
eat with the family. He refused. They
made a noise In crunching the ends OF the
bones.
He called in to them: 'It'SyouroWn brat
you're crunohing'
They said TO him: whats that you're
saying ohild1'
His answer was: 'The flies are nibblnS
at my sore spots; that's what said
They finished their meal. And he said
Il am going away He had the cheek to
add: 'You have eaten your own brat.
But IL shall get away from you. l. the
Rabbit. /. Nakami ye Ngaragsnza.'
The women fall 10 weeping The men
set out In chase Of the Rabbit. just at the
moment when they are going to grab him
he ducks into a hole. One Of the men
showed his hand In after; he grasped the
Rabbits tail.
The Rabbit called back az him In derision
Its root you've got, you missed my tall
Then the man let got Of the Rabbits tail,
which he really did hold; he grabbed a root.
He pulled, and he pulled, and he pulled,
then he pulled out big rootstook..
And the Rabbit calls out 70 hlm' you
losel'
The famers say TO bne Of their party
"Stay you here TO watch the Rabbit, we ara
going to look for some picks 10 hole him
out" SO they went away 10 look FOR the
picks.
But the Rabbit mumbled In the burroW
a. IL to himself: so, there you are, the
man whom they have bidden to watch
the Rabbit. There you are. bugging your
eyes out at the burrow; I'll bet II the Rabbit
had tried to run out you'd have grabbed
him.
The man overheard what the Rabbit
was saying to himself; he got right down
10 the burrow and watched until his eyes
almost popped out. The Rabbit rolled up
a lot Of dust; he kicked II fall into the mans
eyes; he lodged out immed lately. The
man CROPPED with his hands TO block UP
the burTow, but the Rabbit had stolen
away.
Then the other farmers come back and
they ask him. SIS he there1'
The watchman replies SHe's kidred
my eyes full Of sand, but perhaps he's In
there yet
The other farmers also thought he might
still be In the burow. They dug away With
their picks. A moment later tbe Rabbit
comes strolling up, he says to one Of the men;
'what's that you're digging there. fellovS''
The farmer replies. Were hollng QUE
the Rabbit
Nakami. too. he would dig to help thsm.
he makes the dirt fy. he wrenches the
handle out Of his pick. II now lacks handle.
SO he calls out. Here, you, Master Giraffe
son, give US your leg 10 handle this pick
again.
He handled the pick with the giraffe's leg;
he broke the leg Oh. then he ran away, hHt
be called back to them, 1T lie l. Nakami. the
Rabbit
on they start in pursuit Of him. This tins
he runs for shelter into the mouth Of q
white ants nest. Once more they have .
digging Job But the Rabbit strollB out
through another oriflce which they had not
thought to look for. He takes a turn around
and joins the farmers In the Guise Of littls
MWirwAna.
what are you dlsgIngi' be asked .
farmer.
'we're holins out Nakami,' was the
mans reply.
'Give me pick and I'll help you. he said.
He dug and dug until the head Of the pick
few on the handle. So he called out: Herr
you. Master Elephant. stick out that big
head Of yours 90 that We can set the bead OF
this pick back again on lie helve.'
He helved the pick on the elephants head,
and he did IL 80 hard that the elephants
head cracked open.
Resuming his own shape he Scuttled oa,
calling back 10 them: rabbit am l. Maxi
ami, and will exterminAte youl'
At that the farmers were Just about ready
70 give I'D and thew eaid 70 one another.