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the dog went down and came to a mans house he saw many bones near the house he began to eat the bones and forgot the birds and the fire the birds waited and waited for the dog but he did not come back he decided to live with the man as it was still cold the birds sent the hen down to bring some fire the hen went to a mans house and saw some seeds near the house she liked the seeds very much the hen did not think about the fire but ate up the seeds

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

every morning she went with them down the street to the fields one morning two young men saw the old woman with her donkeys and shouted

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

they decided to rest and sleep on the grass they did not make a fire and ate only some nuts which they carried in their bags that was their supper then they went to sleep all of them were tired they slept soundly and did not hear anything they did not hear that their enemies were coming nearer and nearer to them but in one of the trees above the sleeping men something moved and fell down on the head of a young hunter he jumped up and cried a big python was on his head the naayire hunters got up quickly and saw the enemies round them a fight began soon the enemies ran away and that was the end of the fight the naayire hunters came up to their chief to talk about the fight what made you jump up the chief asked the young hunter it was a python he said

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

he thought i am here and everything is all right with me let me see what is in the well and he jumped up to look into it and what did he see there he saw another chicken our chicken turned his head the chicken in the well did the same the chicken jumped so did the chicken in the well

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

there was a man who wanted to go to the feast very much but he had no palm wine at home his wife said to him you must buy some palm wine but the man answered what no i dont want to buy wine for a feast that is free no no he thought a little and then said hundreds of people will bring their wine and pour it into the pot a bottle of water cannot be bad for so much wine and so he went to the feast with a bottle of water

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

woman i tell you he is not with me go and look for him oh my dear chief the wife said sadly he is not in our house the chief stood up quickly and cried stop the dance let the drummers go and drum asking for my son in a minute the drums began their talk the chiefs child is lost they said who finds the child must bring him to the chief all the people ran from place to place and looked for the boy but they did not find him the chief was very angry he said all my people must help to find the boy and the people looked and looked for the boy they were looking for the boy for many hours then a man cried out here he is the chief came up to the man there under a tree on the grass the boy was sleeping get up my dear the chief said to his little son but the boy did not hear him get up said his father again then the boy opened his eyes father he said and got up and they walked off together the chief was very happy the drums began their talk again the chiefs son is here

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

but her son said mother dont cry i must try i love her so much so the young man went to the girls father he told him that he wanted to go to the lake and stay in the cold water all night the rich man sent his servants to a place where they could watch the young man when night came the young man went to the lake and his mother followed him but he did not see her there was a hill forty paces away from the place where the young man went into the water the woman climbed up the hill and made a fire there the wild animals saw the fire and were afraid to go near that place the young man saw the fire too he understood that his mother was there he thought of his mothers love and it was easier for him to stay all night in the very cold water morning came the young man went to the rich mans house the rich man saw him and said my servants say that there was a fire on a hill forty paces from the lake it warmed you and that is why you could stay all night in the water so you cannot marry my daughter good bye the young man was very angry he went to the judge

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

come at once while the pudding is hot the frog was very happy because he liked puddings very much he was ready to go when another little frog came up to him and said please come to dala your second wife has a nice pudding for you come at once while the pudding is hot the frog sat down and began to think if i go to my first wife for the pudding my second wife will be sorry and angry if i go to my second wife for the pudding my first wife will be sorry and angry too where shall i go to dumbi or to dala he sat and thought for a long time

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

i am sure that we shall be happy together so the king began to learn the trade of a weaver soon he could weave a beautiful handkerchief and he sent it to zakia as a present if she likes my present she will marry me i am sure he thought zakia liked the handkerchief and said now i see that he loves me in a month they married and began to live happily zakia often helped the king with her clever advice one day the king came to his wife i want to know my people he said how can i learn what they think how can i learn what they want zakia thought for a minute and then said my king if a man wishes to know another man well he must live with him or meet him often i think you must put on the same clothes as our people have and meet them in the streets of our city i like your advice the king said and the next day he was walking along the streets with two of his ministers then dinner time came we shall not go home for dinner the king said let us go to a cafe where people eat so they came to a small cafe in a little street but when they came into the room the floor slipped away beneath their feet and they found themselves under the floor they began to shout but nobody came to help them a nice welcome for the king where are we and why are we here said the king angrily suddenly they heard a laugh and they saw the ugly face of an old man above them ha ha ha in three days i shall kill you and your meat will make a nice dish for our cafe everybody likes our cafe for its very good dishes ha ha ha with these words the man went let us tell him who we are when he comes back said one of ministers oh no said the king if he knows that he will kill us today give me time to think and he sat down by the wall and thought some hours later the ugly man came back to them here is some water for you to drink but i shall not give you any food you are fat enough then the king said if we must die we must but i want to tell you something you may get much money for it i like money very much said the ugly man go on i am a weaver and the kings wife likes my work very much

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

they went a long long way they climbed up a high hill evening came kalari was afraid but he went on at last the woman came to a little hut on that high hill there stood a very large pot how big the pot is thought kalari the woman went into the hut kalari went up to the pot and looked into it it was empty then the woman came out of the hut kalari quickly hid himself the woman came up to the large pot then she began to sing magic pot magic pot make hot soup for me make hot soup for me make soup with chicken make soup with chicken make this soup for me to sell make this soup for me to sell and for people to buy and for people to buy… magic pot magic pot very soon the soup was ready steam came out of the pot the smell of the soup was very good and kalari was very hungry then the old woman went back into her hut kalari came up to the pot he looked under it there was no fire there but the pot was full of hot chicken soup i must have some of it i am so hungry kalari said to himself and put his hand into the pot to take a piece of chicken but suddenly the old woman came out of her hut

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

i shall feed him full and he ordered his people to bring hundreds of thousands of pots of soup meat and fruit hundreds of camels carried the pots on their backs the camels stopped in front of the chiefs house many people came to see mogambos dinner then mogambo came the drummers began to drum the musicians began to play and the people sang songs mogambo made a bow to the chief and said to the people now look at me look at me look at me with these words mogambo began to eat soup and he ate and he ate and he ate and he ate and he ate well what then asked the chief he ate and he ate and what then oh my chief answered the boy this is only the first pot and there were many thousands of pots wait a little and he ate and he ate and he ate evening came the boy went on with his story

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the hunter dropped his arrow and he began to see again he saw the smiling crocodile of course the crocodile was happy the hunter aimed at the crocodile a second time and again he became blind then the hunter ran back to the village where he lived and told the people about the crocodile as i aimed at him i became blind the arrow fell out of my bow and then i could see again he said the people of the village did not believe him many of them took their bows and arrows and went off to the cave they saw the crocodile he was lying in the sun near the cave they aimed at him and became blind take your arrows from your bows the hunter cried they did so and could see again it was clear that the crocodile was a magic crocodile no man can kill me thought the happy crocodile and went back to the cave the other animals in the cave were happy too

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

he carried it home and took out all the butter he wanted to take the money but he found only many small stones under the butter he was very angry then one of his friends came to see him you look angry my friend why are you angry asked his friend oh i am a silly man and he told his friend the story about the pot of butter the money and the small stones well i can show you how to get your money back let us go to the forest and the two friends went to the forest caught a monkey there and brought it home now you go to your neighbor and say please let your son come with me to the market he can help me to carry food from the market the man did so the neighbor sent his son to the man but they did not go to the market the man went home with the neighbors son and locked the boy in his house the friend said now go to your neighbor with the monkey and say here is your son the man did so the neighbor was very angry take the monkey away and bring back my son he said why this is your son

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the bird said i see that you are poor and hungry i want to help you ill give you one of my feathers take it home and cook it you will have a good dinner come back tomorrow and ill give you another feather he thanked the bird and went home he put the feather into a pot and told everything to his wife silly how can the feather become food you must catch the bird and kill it then we can cook the bird and eat it he did not answer but looked into the pot and saw there a good dinner every day he went to the forest and every day the small bird gave him a red feather that made a dinner for the man and his wife but his wife was very greedy every day she said to the manwe must not have only the little red feather we must have the bird then we can cook two three or four feathers every day and we shall have as much food as we like but the little bird is my friend i shall not kill it one day the woman followed her husband into the forest but he did not see her

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

for many years the family lived in a forest life was not easy there but the children grew up strong when they grew up they helped their father and mother with their work they were good and handsome young men one day they found a man in the forest he was dying they tried to help him but he said dont help me i shall die soon i came from serki there is a war on there now we fought bravely but the enemy is stronger than we are go and help my people if you can with these words he died eiba and saiba wanted to go to serki and help to fight but their father and mother were against it and said the chief does not want you there he wanted to kill you when you were small children thats why we went away from serki and came to live in the forest but the twins wanted to go and help serki they said this is our country we must help the people of our country so the boys came to serki and fought against the enemies they fought bravely the people of that country won the fight and made the enemy run

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

no no you cant do that we are friends and you must speak to the two of us together i dont want to speak to the two of you i shall speak to only one of you then the one to whom i speak can tell what i say to the other and he whispered to one of the girls you you you you do you hear me the girl answered yes the young man went away what did he say to you my dear the second girl asked oh he said nothing to me said the first girl he whispered you you you you what about me me me me the second girl asked but it was not about you it was only you but you said yes to him you dont want to tell me everything i tell you that it was only you well and what about me oh you silly girl i tell you he said only you

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

there was a churn of milk both the frogs fell into the churn both the frogs tried for some time but in vain one of the frogs lost hope and said i cant swim any more and he drowned to the bottom the other did not lose hope he kept on swimming

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

one hour passed two hours passed and one of them began to snore vo vo vo the other stranger heard the snoring he thought the people will hear the snoring and kill him the stranger wanted to save the man he thought a little and then began to sing so one stranger snored and the other sang vo vo vo vo vo vo vo vo we walked on the road we came to this village they were good to us hero vo vo vo vo he sang very well the people did not hear the snoring they listened to the song then they began to dance some of them sang the song together with the stranger and danced to the music men women and even the chief sang and danced that entire night one stranger snored one stranger sang and all the people sang and danced in the morning the strangers came to the chief to say good bye and to thank him for everything the chief said good bye to them and gave them a small bag of money i give this money to both of you we had a good time with you we danced and sang well thank you very much the strangers left the village

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

they caught ten antelopes then the lion said now we must divide this meat one of the dogs said why thats easy we are ten and we have ten antelopes so each of us will have one antelope the lion became very angry he hit the poor dog and blinded him the other dogs did not say a word but then one of the dogs said our brother was wrong we must give nine antelopes to king lion

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

but segab said angrily i am not your son and you are not my mother my mother is dead i do not love you i will never love you bizunesh was very sorry and cried all night in the morning she decided to go to a wise old man she told him about segab who did not love her the old man said i can help you but first you must bring me three hairs of a lion but how can i do this the lion will kill me bizunesh said the old man said i cannot answer your question i need three hairs of a lion try to get them so bizunesh went out to try to get the hairs she went far far away from her house and came to a place where a lion lived the lion was very big and roared angrily he was hungry bizunesh was afraid of him and ran away quickly but the next day she came back with some meat for the lion she put the meat not far from him and ran away the lion saw the meat and went to it he ate it all very quickly the next day she again brought some meat for the lion and put it a little nearer and again the lion ate it all up

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the first young man bought a magic carpet on it he could fly to any place in no time the second brother bought a magic looking glass when he looked into it he could see anyone and everything that he wanted to see the third bought a magic lemon the juice of the lemon could make a dying man or a woman well again the three brothers came together and showed their things to one another then one of them said we are far from our home and from our dear girl let us look into the looking glass and see her the second brother took out his looking glass and they all looked into it they saw that the girl was very ill then the first brother asked the other brothers to sit down on his carpet all of them were at the girls house in no time the third brother cut his lemon and gave the juice to the girl the girl drank it and she was well again the young men were very happy now which of us will you marry which is better they asked the girl i thank you all my dear friends answered the girl

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

oh father said the girl i cannot marry fire i must marry rain i gave my promise to him what shall we do cried the chief you cant marry both fire and rain then fire and rain came to the chief and his daughter the chief said to them tomorrow will be the day of my daughters marriage to me asked fire to me asked rain to the winner of a race to him i will give my daughter on the day of the race many people came to the town they all wanted to see the race some of them said fire will win others said rain will win but the chiefs daughter thought i want to marry rain the day of the race came when it was time to begin the drummers beat the drums

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

i have too many friends water answered they will come with me im afraid there will be no place for them in your house but i shall build a new big house the sun said and the sun built a very big house and then asked water to come to him water came with all the fish and water animals may i come in with all my people water asked yes come in the sun said very soon water in the house was knee deep for the sun then in a minute water was up to the suns head and came higher and higher with all the fish and water animals at last water was so high in the house that the sun and the moon went on to the roof and sat there

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

we work from morning till night and you women you have only to cook dinners and suppers every day spider went away but he did not work on the farm he only ate nuts and then rested in the forest time passed and people began to bring home their nuts but spider brought nothing then his wife said when will you bring our nuts home shall i help you no no i dont want your help spider answered i shall bring the nuts home in a few days but how could he bring the nuts home he had no nuts now he had not even a farm where can i get the nuts he asked himself ah i know i shall steal some he thought at night he went out of his house and soon came to the chiefs farm it was a big farm and there were many nuts in the nut trees so he filled his bag with nuts hid the bag under a tree in the forest and went back home the next morning he said to his wife to day i shall bring the nuts from our farm please make a good supper i shall be very hungry and tired yes my dear said his wife spider went to the forest the bag of nuts was here under the tree spider ate some nuts and had a good sleep in the evening he carried the bag to his wife she was so happy she opened the bag took one nut ate it then took another and then another how good they were the next night spider again went to the chiefs farm and again stole a bag of nuts when the next evening came he carried it to his wife he did the same thing again and again but one night the chiefs servant saw that a thief was stealing the nuts i must catch the thief but how can i do that thought the servant then an idea came to him he took two big pots and went to the forest to find some gutta percha trees he made brown rubber out of the gutta percha sap and then he made a rubber man he placed the sticky rubber man near the nut trees now i shall know who the thief is he said to himself when night came and all the people were asleep spider went to the chiefs farm

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

then we eat it once the man and the dog went hunting they killed an antelope and carried it to the hunters house the chameleon saw them and followed them the hunter made dinner from the meat and began to eat it the dog came up to man and wanted to have some meat too then the hunter took a big stick and hit the dog on the head the poor dog cried and ran away the chameleon saw everything and he ran away too he ran into the forest stopped there and began to shake his head yangu yangu yangu he cried thats too bad why the dog says he is the hunters friend he helps him to hunt and brings much meat

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

he could not eat his sister the next day when the hen came to the river again the crocodile decided to eat her up but again the hen cried oh dont eat me my dear brother and again the crocodile did not eat her but he thought how can i be her brother i live in the water and she doesnt then the crocodile went to his friend a lizard oh my friend a big hen comes to the river every day and when i want to catch her she says that i am her brother how can that be oh my silly friend

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

all right said the hawk he decided to go next morning but the next morning he was too late the sun was already in the sky the hawk went to the suns house another time and again the sun was not at home he went many times but he never found the sun at home one day on his way to the sun the hawk met his friend the cock why do you go to the sun every day the cock asked i gave him some money a long time ago and i cannot get it back the sun says that when he is in the sky he cannot go home to get the money and i can never find him at home i can help you the cock said you stay the night with me i always get up earlier than the sun does i shall wake you up very early then you can run quickly to the sun and get your money so the hawk stayed the night with the cock in the morning the cock woke him cock a doodle doo cock a doodle doo get up hawk run to the sun he is at home now he is not in the sky yet the hawk got up thanked the cock and went to the sun the sun was at home he was sleeping

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

you are so brave no no i wont you can bring if you like the dog did not want to go because he was afraid of men but he thought i am sure there are some bones near the fire i can eat them and the fire is so warm he was so hungry and cold hunger and cold made him forget his fear and he said to the jackal i am going to the village to get some fire and some bones if i dont come back soon please cry bo aa bo aa then i shall know where you are and where i must go so the dog ran to the village he saw a hut near the fire there were some bones near the hut they were so good for the hungry dog he came nearer to the bones but then a man came out of the hut and saw the dog the dog was afraid of him and cried oh please dont kill me i am a poor dog and i want to warm myself by the fire then i shall go back to the bush very well the man said you may sit by the fire but when you are warm you must go back to the bush the dog thanked him and sat by the fire he was quite happy he was warm and there was a big bone under his nose he began to eat it and then the man came out of the hut and asked arent you warm yet not yet the dog answered he saw another bone not far away and wanted to eat it too soon

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

but he did not like to go out and said to the other animals please bring me a tail i cant go anywhere when it rains what tail do you want to have the animals asked him oh any tail will be good for me but it must not be too long or too short some time later the animals came back and each animal had a beautiful tail but nobody brought a tail for the hare i think that some of them forgot about the hare some had no time

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

there lives a hen near the kites house and she will eat me up oh no said the kites sister i am sure she wont eat you up so the spider took his medicine bottles put them in a bag and went to the kite but he was afraid of the hen so he wrote a letter and put it into the bag with medicine bottles very soon he saw the hen he hid himself behind a tree but the hen saw the spider picked him up and gave him to her chickens to eat now the kite waited and waited for the spider then she went out to meet him and saw a bag with medicine bottles and a letter there she read to the kite i was on my way to your home when i met the hen who ate me up the kite flew back to her little son the poor child soon died

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the next morning shadusa set out early and walked till he came to the well he threw in the bucket—splash—then he pulled on the rope but though he tugged and he heaved he could not lift the bucket just then the woman with the baby walked up wait a minute said shadusa what do you think youre doing im getting water of course answered the woman well you cant said shadusa the bucket wont come up the woman set down the baby who quickly pulled up the bucket and filled his mothers calabash wah yelled shadusa how did he do that its easy said the woman when your father is master man shadusa gulped and thought about going home but instead he thrust out his chest and said i want to meet this fellow so i can show him whos the real master man oh i wouldnt do that said the woman he devours men like you but suit yourself so shadusa followed the woman back to her compound inside the fenced yard was a gigantic fireplace and beside it was a pile of huge bones whats all this asked shadusa well you see said the woman our hut is so small that my husband must come out here to eat his elephants just then they heard a great roar so loud that shadusa had to cover his ears then the ground began to shake until shadusa could hardly stand whats that he shouted thats master man oh no wailed shadusa you werent fooling ive got to get out of here its too late now said the woman but let me hide you by the fence were some large clay pots each as tall as a man for storing grain she helped him climb into one then set the lid in place shadusa raised the lid a crack to peek out and there he was coming into the compound with a dead elephant across his shoulders it was master man did you have a good day dear asked the woman yes bellowed master man but i forgot my bow and arrows i had to kill this elephant with my bare hands as shadusa watched in terror master man built a huge fire in the fireplace roasted the elephant and devoured every bit of it but the bones suddenly he stopped and sniffed wife i smell a man oh theres no man here now said the woman one passed by while you were gone that must be what you smell too bad thundered master man he would have been tasty then he rolled over on the ground and before long the leaves were trembling from his snores the woman hurried over to the pot and slid off the lid quick she whispered get away while you can shadusa leaped out and bolted down the path but he hadnt gone too far when he heard a distant roar and felt the ground tremble beneath him master man was coming shadusa ran till he came upon five farmers hoeing a field whats your hurry called one master man is after me take it easy said the farmer we wont let anyone hurt you just then they heard a terrible roar the farmers all dropped their hoes and covered their ears what was that asked the farmer that was master man well then said the farmer youd better keep running and the five farmers fled across the field shadusa ran on till he met ten porters carrying bundles whats your hurry

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the skull was delighted and went home with her and on his arrival was introduced by the girl to her parents and immediately asked their consent to marry their daughter at first they refused as they did not wish her to marry a stranger but at last they agreed he lived with afiong for two days in her parents house and then said he wished to take his wife back to his country which was far off to this the girl readily agreed as he was such a fine man but her parents tried to persuade her not to go however being very headstrong she made up her mind to go and they started off together after they had been gone a few days the father consulted his ju ju man who by casting lots very soon discovered that his daughters husband belonged to the spirit land and that she would surely be killed they therefore all mourned her as dead after walking for several days afiong and the skull crossed the border between the spirit land and the human country directly they set foot in the spirit land first of all one man came to the skull and demanded his legs then another his head and the next his body and so on until in a few minutes the skull was left by itself in all its natural ugliness at this the girl was very frightened and wanted to return home but the skull would not allow this and ordered her to go with him when they arrived at the skulls house they found his mother who was a very old woman quite incapable of doing any work who could only creep about afiong tried her best to help her and cooked her food and brought water and firewood for the old woman the old creature was very grateful for these attentions and soon became quite fond of afiong one day the old woman told afiong that she was very sorry for her but all the people in the spirit land were cannibals and when they heard there was a human being in their country they would come down and kill her and eat her the skulls mother then hid afiong and as she had looked after her so well she promised she would send her back to her country as soon as possible providing that she promised for the future to obey her parents this afiong readily consented to do then the old woman sent for the spider who was a very clever hairdresser and made him dress afiongs hair in the latest fashion she also presented her with anklets and other things on account of her kindness

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

in three days the race shall be made tortoise spoke audaciously you mbalanga cannot surpass me in a race antelope laughed having accepted the challenge while tortoise pretended to sneer and said i am the one who will overcome the course chosen beginning on the beach south of batanga was more than seventy miles from the campo river northward to the balimba country then tortoise went away going everywhere to give directions and returned to his village he sent word secretly to all the tortoise tribe to call them when they had come very many of them together he told them i have called my friend mbalanga for a race i know that he can surpass me in this race unless you all help me in my plan he will follow the sea beach you all must line yourselves among the bushes at the top of the beach along the entire route all the way from campo to balimba when mbalanga coming along at any point looks around to see whether i am following and calls out kudu where are you the one of you who is nearest that spot must step out from his place and answer for me here thus he located all the other tortoises in the bushes on the entire route also he placed a colored mark on all the tortoises making the face of every one alike he stationed them clear on to the place where he expected that antelope would be exhausted then he ended taking his own place there antelope also arranged for himself and said to his wife my wife make me food for kudu and i have agreed on a race and it begins at seven oclock in the morning when all was ready antelope said to the one whom he supposed was kudu come let us race they started antelope ran on and on and came as far as about ten miles to the town of ubenji among the igara people at various spots on the way tortoise apparently was lost behind but as constantly he seemed to reappear saying im here at once antelope raced forward rapidly pu pu pu to a town named ipenyenye then he looked around and said where is kudu a tortoise stepped out of the bushes saying here i am you havent raced antelope raced on until he reached the town of beya again looking around he said where is kudu a tortoise stepped out replying im here antelope again raced until he reached the town lolabe again he asked where is kudu a tortoise saying to himself he hasnt heard anything replied here i am again antelope raced on as far as from there to a rocky point by the sea named ilale ja moto and then he called wherever is kudu a tortoise ready answered here i am from thence he came on in the race another stretch of about tea miles clear to the town of bongaheli of the batanga people at each place on the route when antelope losing sight of tortoise called kudu

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

when he had quite finished he returned to his den in the evening the animals all came back and when they saw the rabbit lying with his paws tied they said to him rabbit how did you let yourself be taken in like this it was all the fault of the jackal replied the rabbit he tied me up like this and told me he would give me something nice to eat it was all a trick just to get at our water rabbit you are no better than an idiot to have let the jackal drink our water when he would not help to find it who shall be our next watchman we must have somebody a little sharper than you and the little hare called out i will be the watchman the following morning the animals all went their various ways leaving the little hare to guard the spring when they were out of sight the jackal came back good morning good morning little hare and the little hare politely said good morning can you give me a pinch of snuff said the jackal i am so sorry but i have none answered the little hare the jackal then came and sat down by the little hare and unfastened his little bag pulling out of it a piece of honeycomb he licked his lips and exclaimed oh little hare if you only knew how good it is what is it asked the little hare it is something that moistens my throat so deliciously answered the jackal that after i have eaten it i dont feel thirsty any more while i am sure that all you other beasts are for ever wanting water give me a bit dear friend asked the little hare not so fast replied the jackal if you really wish to enjoy what you are eating you must have your paws tied behind you and lie on your back so that i can pour it into your mouth you can tie them only be quick said the little hare and when he was tied tight and popped on his back the jackal went quietly down to the well and drank as much as he wanted when he had quite finished he returned to his den in the evening the animals all came back and when they saw the little hare with his paws tied they said to him little hare how did you let yourself be taken in like this didnt you boast you were very sharp you undertook to guard our water now show us how much is left for us to drink it is all the fault of the jackal replied the little hare he told me he would give me something nice to eat if i would just let him tie my hands behind my back then the animals said who can we trust to mount guard now and the panther answered let it be the tortoise the following morning the animals all went their various ways leaving the tortoise to guard the spring when they were out of sight the jackal came back good morning tortoise good morning

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

it was the heron who told me replied she and which way did he go said the jackal down there among the reeds you can see him if you look said the dove then the jackal nodded good bye and went quickly after the heron he soon came up to the great bird who was standing on a stone on the edge of the river watching for a nice fat fish tell me heron said he when the wind blows from that quarter to which side do you turn and which side do you turn to asked the heron the jackal answered i always turn to this side then that is the side i turn to remarked the heron and when the rain comes from that quarter which side do you turn to and the heron replied and which side do you turn to oh i always turn to this side said the jackal then that is the side i turn to said the heron and when the rain comes straight down what do you do what do you do yourself asked the heron i do this answered the jackal i cover my head with my paws then that is what i do said the heron i cover my head with my wings and as he spoke he lifted his large wings and spread them completely over his head with one bound the jackal had seized him by the neck and began to shake him oh have pity have pity cried the heron i never did you any harm you told the dove how to get the better of me and i am going to eat you for it but if you will let me go entreated the heron i will show you the place where the panther has her lair then you had better be quick about it said the jackal holding tight on to the heron until he had pointed out the panthers den now you may go my friend for there is plenty of food here for me so the jackal came up to the panther and asked politely panther would you like me to look after your children while you are out hunting i should be very much obliged said the panther but be sure you take care of them they always cry all the time that i am away so saying she trotted off and the jackal marched into the cave where he found ten little panthers and instantly ate one up by and bye the panther returned from hunting and said to him jackal bring out my little ones for their supper the jackal fetched them out one by one till he had brought out nine and he took the last one and brought it out again so the whole ten seemed to be there and the panther was quite satisfied next day she went again to the chase and the jackal ate up another little panther so now there were only eight in the evening when she came back the panther said jackal bring out my little ones and the jackal brought out first one and then another and the last one he brought out three times so that the whole ten seemed to be there the following day the same thing happened and the next and the next and the next till at length there was not even one left and the rest of the day the jackal busied himself with digging a large hole at the back of the den that night when the panther returned from hunting she said to him as usual jackal bring out my little ones but the jackal replied bring out your little ones indeed why you know as well as i do that you have eaten them all up of course the panther had not the least idea what the jackal meant by this and only repeated jackal bring out my children as she got no answer she entered the cave but found no jackal for he had crawled through the hole he had made and escaped

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

didnt you see him when i threw him down of course i didnt see him replied the lion in an incredulous tone and without wasting further time he ate the big rat and then searched around for the hare but could not find him three days later soongoora called on his acquaintance ko′bay the tortoise and said to him let us go and eat some honey whose honey inquired kobay cautiously my fathers soongoora replied oh all right im with you said the tortoise eagerly and away they went when they arrived at the great calabash tree they climbed up with their straw smoked out the bees sat down and began to eat just then mr simba who owned the honey came out again and looking up inquired who are you up there soongoora whispered to kobay keep quiet but when the lion repeated his question angrily kobay became suspicious and said i will speak you told me this honey was yours am i right in suspecting that it belongs to simba so when the lion asked again who are you he answered its only us the lion said come down then and the tortoise answered were coming now simba had been keeping an eye open for soongoora since the day he caught bookoo the big rat and suspecting that he was up there with kobay he said to himself ive got him this time sure seeing that they were caught again soongoora said to the tortoise wrap me up in the straw tell simba to stand out of the way and then throw me down ill wait for you below he cant hurt you you know all right said kobay but while he was wrapping the hare up he said to himself this fellow wants to run away and leave me to bear the lions anger he shall get caught first therefore when he had bundled him up he called out soongoora is coming and threw him down so simba caught the hare and holding him with his paw said now what shall i do with you the hare replied its of no use for you to try to eat me im awfully tough what would be the best thing to do with you then asked simba i think said soongoora you should take me by the tail whirl me around and knock me against the ground then you may be able to eat me so the lion being deceived took him by the tail and whirled him around but just as he was going to knock him on the ground he slipped out of his grasp and ran away and simba had the mortification of losing him again angry and disappointed he turned to the tree and called to kobay you come down too when the tortoise reached the ground the lion said youre pretty hard what can i do to make you eatable oh thats easy laughed kobay just put me in the mud and rub my back with your paw until my shell comes off immediately on hearing this simba carried kobay to the water placed him in the mud and began as he supposed to rub his back but the tortoise had slipped away and the lion continued rubbing on a piece of rock until his paws were raw when he glanced down at them he saw they were bleeding and realizing that he had again been outwitted he said well the hare has done me to day but ill go hunting now until i find him so simba the lion set out immediately in search of soongoora the hare and as he went along he inquired of every one he met where is the house of soongoora but each person he asked answered i do not know for the hare had said to his wife let us remove from this house therefore the folks in that neighborhood had no knowledge of his whereabouts simba however went along continuing his inquiries until presently one answered that is his house on the top of the mountain without loss of time the lion climbed the mountain and soon arrived at the place indicated only to find that there was no one at home this however did not trouble him on the contrary saying to himself ill hide myself inside and when soongoora and his wife come home ill eat them both he entered the house and lay down awaiting their arrival pretty soon along came the hare with his wife not thinking of any danger but he very soon discovered the marks of the lions paws on the steep path stopping at once he said to mrs soongoora you go back my dear

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

what have i done and they said yes we know you are paanya it was you who bored through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but paanya said if i were so powerful would i be eaten by a cat so they hunted for the cat caught it and beat it but the cat cried here i am paa′ka the cat why do you beat me what have i done and they said yes we know you are paaka it is you that eats paanya the rat who bores through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but paaka said if i were so powerful would i be tied by a rope so they took the rope and beat it but the rope cried here i am kaam′ba the rope why do you beat me what have i done and they said yes we know you are kaamba it is you that ties paaka the cat who eats paanya the rat who bores through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but kaamba said if i were so powerful would i be cut by a knife so they took the knife and beat it but the knife cried here i am kee′soo the knife why do you beat me what have i done and they said yes we know you are keesoo you cut kaamba the rope that ties paaka the cat who eats paanya the rat who bores through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but keesoo said if i were so powerful would i be burned by the fire and they went and beat the fire but the fire cried here i am mo′to the fire why do you beat me what have i done and they said yes we know you are moto you burn keesoo the knife that cuts kaamba the rope that ties paaka the cat who eats paanya the rat who bores through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but moto said if i were so powerful would i be put out by water and they went to the water and beat it but the water cried here i am maa′jee the water why do you beat me what have i done and they said yes we know you are maajee you put out moto the fire that burns keesoo the knife that cuts kaamba the rope that ties paaka the cat who eats paanya the rat who bores through keeyambaaza the mud wall which stopped koosee the south wind and koosee the south wind threw down the calabash that struck our teacher goso you should not have done it but maajee said if i were so powerful would i be drunk by the ox and they went to the ox and beat it but the ox cried here i am ngom′bay the ox why do you beat me what have i done

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the second day mvoo laana found a snake in the same trap he started to the village to give the alarm but the snake shouted come back son of adam dont call the people from the village to come and kill me i am neeo′ka the snake let me out of this trap i pray you save me from the rain to day that i may be able to save you from the sun to morrow if you should be in need of help so the youth let him go and as he went he said i will return your kindness if i can but do not trust any man if you do him a kindness he will do you an injury in return at the first opportunity the third day mvoo laana found a lion in the same trap that had caught the ape and the snake and he was afraid to go near it but the lion said dont run away i am sim′ba kong′way the very old lion let me out of this trap and i will not hurt you save me from the rain that i may save you from the sun if you should need help so mvoo laana believed him and let him out of the trap and simba kongway before going his way said son of adam you have been kind to me and i will repay you with kindness if i can but never do a kindness to a man or he will pay you back with unkindness the next day a man was caught in the same trap and when the youth released him he repeatedly assured him that he would never forget the service he had done him in restoring his liberty and saving his life well it seemed that he had caught all the game that could be taken in traps and mvoo laana and his mother were hungry every day with nothing to satisfy them as they had been before at last he said to his mother one day mother make me seven cakes of the little meal we have left and i will go hunting with my bow and arrows so she baked him the cakes and he took them and his bow and arrows and went into the forest the youth walked and walked but could see no game and finally he found that he had lost his way and had eaten all his cakes but one and he went on and on not knowing whether he was going away from his home or toward it until he came to the wildest and most desolate looking wood he had ever seen he was so wretched and tired that he felt he must lie down and die when suddenly he heard some one calling him and looking up he saw neeanee the ape who said son of adam where are you going i dont know replied mvoo laana sadly im lost well well said the ape dont worry just sit down here and rest yourself until i come back and i will repay with kindness the kindness you once showed me then neeanee went away off to some gardens and stole a whole lot of ripe paw paws and bananas and brought them to mvoo laana and said heres plenty of food for you is there anything else you want would you like a drink and before the youth could answer he ran off with a calabash and brought it back full of water so the youth ate heartily and drank all the water he needed and then each said to the other good bye till we meet again and went their separate ways when mvoo laana had walked a great deal farther without finding which way he should go he met simba kongway who asked where are you going son of adam and the youth answered as dolefully as before i dont know im lost come cheer up said the very old lion and rest yourself here a little i want to repay with kindness to day the kindness you showed me on a former day so mvoo laana sat down simba kongway went away but soon returned with some game he had caught and then he brought some fire and the young man cooked the game and ate it when he had finished he felt a great deal better and they bade each other good bye for the present and each went his way after he had traveled another very long distance the youth came to a farm and was met by a very very old woman who said to him stranger my husband has been taken very sick and i am looking for some one to make him some medicine wont you make it but he answered my good woman i am not a doctor i am a hunter and never used medicine in my life i can not help you when he came to the road leading to the principal city he saw a well with a bucket standing near it and he said to himself thats just what i want ill take a drink of nice well water let me see if the water can be reached as he peeped over the edge of the well to see if the water was high enough what should he behold but a great big snake which directly it saw him said son of adam wait a moment then it came out of the well and said how dont you know me i certainly do not said the youth stepping back a little well well

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

he had never tried to make his dinner off them and they had always been quite friendly you seem in pain said one of them fluttering close to him can we help you oh it is the jackal he made me these shoes they are so hard and tight that they hurt my feet and i cannot manage to kick them off lie still and we will soften them answered the kind little partridge and calling to his brothers they all flew to the nearest spring and carried water in their beaks which they poured over the shoes this they did till the hard leather grew soft and the panther was able to slip his feet out of them oh thank you thank you he cried skipping round with joy i feel a different creature now i will go after the jackal and pay him my debts and he bounded away into the forest but the jackal had been very cunning and had trotted backwards and forwards and in and out so that it was very difficult to know which track he had really followed at length however the panther caught sight of his enemy at the same moment that the jackal had caught sight of him the panther gave a loud roar and sprang forward but the jackal was too quick for him and plunged into a dense thicket where the panther could not follow disgusted with his failure but more angry than ever the panther lay down for a while to consider what he should do next and as he was thinking an old man came by oh father tell me how i can repay the jackal for the way he has served me and without more ado he told his story if you take my advice answered the old man you will kill a cow and invite all the jackals in the forest to the feast watch them carefully while they are eating and you will see that most of them keep their eyes on their food but if one of them glances at you you will know that is the traitor the panther whose manners were always good thanked the old man and followed his counsel the cow was killed and the partridges flew about with invitations to the jackals who gathered in large numbers to the feast the wicked jackal came amongst them but as the panther had only seen him once he could not distinguish him from the rest however they all took their places on wooden seats placed round the dead cow which was laid across the boughs of a fallen tree and began their dinner each jackal fixing his eyes greedily on the piece of meat before him only one of them seemed uneasy and every now and then glanced in the direction of his host this the panther noticed and suddenly made a bound at the culprit and seized his tail but again the jackal was too quick for him and catching up a knife he cut off his tail and darted into the forest followed by all the rest of the party and before the panther had recovered from his surprise he found himself alone what am i to do now he asked the old man who soon came back to see how things had turned out it is very unfortunate certainly answered he but i think i know where you can find him there is a melon garden about two miles from here and as jackals are very fond of melons they are nearly sure to have gone there to feed if you see a tailless jackal you will know that he is the one you want so the panther thanked him and went his way now the jackal had guessed what advice the old man would give his enemy and so while his friends were greedily eating the ripest melons in the sunniest corner of the garden he stole behind them and tied their tails together he had only just finished when his ears caught the sound of breaking branches and he cried quick quick here comes the master of the garden and the jackals sprang up and ran away in all directions leaving their tails behind them and how was the panther to know which was his enemy they none of them had any tails he said sadly to the old man and i am tired of hunting them i shall leave them alone and go and catch something for supper of course the hedgehog had not been able to take part in any of these adventures but as soon as all danger was over the jackal went to look for his friend whom he was lucky enough to find at home ah there you are he said gaily i have lost my tail since i saw you last and other people have lost theirs too but that is no matter i am hungry so come with me to the shepherd who is sitting over there and we will ask him to sell us one of his sheep yes that is a good plan answered the hedgehog and he walked as fast as his little legs would go to keep up with the jackal when they reached the shepherd the jackal pulled out his purse from under his foreleg and made his bargain only wait till to morrow said the shepherd and i will give you the biggest sheep you ever saw but he always feeds at some distance from the rest of the flock and it would take me a long time to catch him well it is very tiresome but i suppose i must wait replied the jackal and he and the hedgehog looked about for a nice dry cave in which to make themselves comfortable for the night but after they had gone the shepherd killed one of his sheep and stripped off his skin which he sewed tightly round a greyhound he had with him and put a cord round its neck then he lay down and went to sleep very very early before the sun was properly up the jackal and the hedgehog were pulling at the shepherds cloak wake up they said and give us that sheep

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

what do you say well as i was sauntering over the plain just now i noticed a flock of sheep grazing and some of them had wandered into a little valley quite out of sight of the shepherd if you keep among the rocks you will never be observed but perhaps you will allow me to go with you and show you the way you are really very kind answered the lion and they crept steadily along till at length they reached the mouth of the valley where a ram a sheep and a lamb were feeding on the rich grass unconscious of their danger how shall we divide them asked the lion in a whisper to the hyena oh it is easily done replied the hyena the lamb for me the sheep for the jackal and the ram for the lion so i am to have that lean creature which is nothing but horns am i cried the lion in a rage i will teach you to divide things in that manner and he gave the hyena two great blows which stretched him dead in a moment then he turned to the jackal and said how would you divide them quite differently from the hyena replied the jackal you will breakfast off the lamb you will dine off the sheep and you will sup off the ram dear me how clever you are who taught you such wisdom exclaimed the lion looking at him admiringly the fate of the hyena answered the jackal laughing and running off at his best speed for he saw two men armed with spears coming close behind the lion the jackal continued to run till at last he could run no longer he flung himself under a tree panting for breath when he heard a rustle amongst the grass and his fathers old friend the hedgehog appeared before him oh is it you asked the little creature how strange that we should meet so far from home i have just had a narrow escape of my life gasped the jackal and i need some sleep after that we must think of something to do to amuse ourselves and he lay down again and slept soundly for a couple of hours now i am ready said he have you anything to propose in a valley beyond those trees answered the hedgehog there is a small farmhouse where the best butter in the world is made i know their ways and in an hours time the farmers wife will be off to milk the cows which she keeps at some distance we could easily get in at the window of the shed where she keeps the butter and i will watch lest some one should come unexpectedly while you have a good meal then you shall watch and i will eat that sounds a good plan replied the jackal and they set off together but when they reached the farmhouse the jackal said to the hedgehog go in and fetch the pots of butter and i will hide them in a safe place oh no cried the hedgehog i really couldnt they would find out directly and besides it is so different just eating a little now and then do as i bid you at once said the jackal looking at the hedgehog so sternly that the little fellow dared say no more and soon rolled the jars to the window where the jackal lifted them out one by one when they were all in a row before him he gave a sudden start run for your life he whispered to his companion i see the woman coming over the hill and the hedgehog his heart beating set off as fast as he could the jackal remained where he was shaking with laughter for the woman was not in sight at all and he had only sent the hedgehog away because he did not want him to know where the jars of butter were buried but every day he stole out to their hiding place and had a delicious feast at length one morning the hedgehog suddenly said you never told me what you did with those jars oh i hid them safely till the farm people should have forgotten all about them replied the jackal but as they are still searching for them we must wait a little longer and then ill bring them home and we will share them between us so the hedgehog waited and waited but every time he asked if there was no chance of getting jars of butter the jackal put him off with some excuse after a while the hedgehog became suspicious and said i should like to know where you have hidden them

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

my son has sent me to ask for the hand of the princess said she the king looked at her and thought that she was mad but instead of ordering his guards to turn her out he answered gravely before he can marry the princess he must build me a palace of ice which can be warmed with fires and wherein the rarest singing birds can live it shall be done your majesty said she and got up and left the hall her son was anxiously awaiting her outside the palace gates dressed in the clothes that he wore every day well what have i got to do he asked impatiently drawing his mother aside so that no one could overhear them oh something quite impossible and i hope you will put the princess out of your head she replied well but what is it persisted he nothing but to build a palace of ice wherein fires can burn that shall keep it so warm that the most delicate singing birds can live in it i thought it would be something much harder than that exclaimed the young man i will see about it at once and leaving his mother he went into the country and took the stone from his turban i want a palace of ice that can be warmed with fires and filled with the rarest singing birds shut your eyes then said the stone and he shut them and when he opened them again there was the palace more beautiful than anything he could have imagined the fires throwing a soft pink glow over the ice it is fit even for the princess thought he to himself as soon as the king awoke next morning he ran to the window and there across the plain he beheld the palace that young man must be a great wizard he may be useful to me and when the mother came again to tell him that his orders had been fulfilled he received her with great honour and bade her tell her son that the wedding was fixed for the following day the princess was delighted with her new home and with her husband also and several days slipped happily by spent in turning over all the beautiful things that the palace contained but at length the young man grew tired of always staying inside walls and he told his wife that the next day he must leave her for a few hours and go out hunting you will not mind he asked and she answered as became a good wife yes of course i shall mind but i will spend the day in planning out some new dresses and then it will be so delightful when you come back you know so the husband went off to hunt with the falcon on his wrist and the greyhound and the cat behind him–for the palace was so warm that even the cat did not mind living in it no sooner had he gone than the ogre who had been watching his chance for many days knocked at the door of the palace i have just returned from a far country he said and i have some of the largest and most brilliant stones in the world with me the princess is known to love beautiful things perhaps she might like to buy some now the princess had been wondering for many days what trimming she should put on her dresses so that they should outshine the dresses of the other ladies at the court balls nothing that she thought of seemed good enough so when the message was brought that the ogre and his wares were below she at once ordered that he should be brought to her chamber oh what beautiful stones he laid before her what lovely rubies and what rare pearls no other lady would have jewels like those–of that the princess was quite sure but she cast down her eyes so that the ogre might not see how much she longed for them i fear they are too costly for me she said carelessly and besides i have hardly need of any more jewels just now i have no particular wish to sell them myself answered the ogre with equal indifference but i have a necklace of shining stones which was left me by father and one the largest engraven with weird characters is missing i have heard that it is in your husbands possession and if you can get me that stone you shall have any of these jewels that you choose but you will have to pretend that you want it for yourself and above all do not mention me for he sets great store by it and would never part with it to a stranger to morrow i will return with some jewels yet finer than those i have with me to day so madam farewell left alone the princess began to think of many things but chiefly as to whether she would persuade her husband to give her the stone or not at one moment she felt he had already bestowed so much upon her that it was a shame to ask for the only object he had kept back no it would be mean she could not do it but then those diamonds and those string of pearls after all they had only been married a week and the pleasure of giving it to her ought to be far greater than the pleasure of keeping it for himself and she was sure it would be well that evening when the young man had supped off his favourite dishes which the princess took care to have specially prepared for him she sat down close beside him and began stroking his head for some time she did not speak but listened attentively to all the adventures that had befallen him that day but i was thinking of you all the time said he at the end and wishing that i could bring you back something you would like but alas what is there that you do not possess already how good of you not to forget me when you are in the midst of such dangers and hardships answered she yes it is true i have many beautiful things but if you want to give me a present–and to morrow is my birthday–there is one thing that i wish for very much and what is that of course you shall have it directly he asked eagerly it is that bright stone which fell out of the folds of your turban a few days ago she answered playing with his finger the little stone with all those funny marks upon it i never saw any stone like it before the young man did not answer at first then he said slowly i have promised and therefore i must perform but will you swear never to part from it and to keep it safely about you always more i cannot tell you but i beg you earnestly to take heed to this the princess was a little startled by his manner and began to be sorry that she had every listened to the ogre but she did not like to draw back and pretended to be immensely delighted at her new toy and kissed and thanked her husband for it after all i neednt give it to the ogre thought she as she dropped off to sleep unluckily the next morning the young man went hunting again and the ogre who was watching knew this and did not come till much later than before at the moment that he knocked at the door of the palace the princess had tired of all her employments and her attendants were at their wits end how to amuse her when a tall negro dressed in scarlet came to announce that the ogre was below and desired to know if the princess would speak to him bring him hither at once cried she springing up from her cushions and forgetting all her resolves of the previous night in another moment she was bending with rapture over the glittering gems have you got it asked the ogre in a whisper for the princesss ladies were standing as near as they dared to catch a glimpse of the beautiful jewels yes here she answered slipping the stone from her sash and placing it among the rest then she raised her voice and began to talk quickly of the prices of the chains and necklaces and after some bargaining to deceive the attendants she declared that she liked one string of pearls better than all the rest and that the ogre might take away the other things which were not half as valuable as he supposed as you please madam said he bowing himself out of the palace soon after he had gone a curious thing happened the princess carelessly touched the wall of her room which was wont to reflect the warm red light of the fire on the hearth and found her hand quite wet she turned round and–was it her fancy or did the fire burn more dimly than before hurriedly she passed into the picture gallery where pools of water showed here and there on the floor and a cold chill ran through her whole body at that instant her frightened ladies came running down the stairs crying madam madam what has happened the palace is disappearing under our eyes my husband will be home very soon answered the princess–who though nearly as much frightened as her ladies felt that she must set them a good example wait till then and he will tell us what to do so they waited seated on the highest chairs they could find wrapped in their warmest garments and with piles of cushions under their feet while the poor birds flew with numbed wings hither and thither till they were so lucky as to discover an open window in some forgotten corner through this they vanished and were seen no more at last when the princess and her ladies had been forced to leave the upper rooms where the walls and floors had melted away and to take refuge in the hall the young man came home he had ridden back along a winding road from which he did not see the palace till he was close upon it and stood horrified at the spectacle before him he knew in an instant that his wife must have betrayed his trust but he would not reproach her as she must be suffering enough already hurrying on he sprang over all that was left of the palace walls and the princess gave a cry of relief at the sight of him come quickly he said or you will be frozen to death and a dreary little procession set out for the kings palace the greyhound and the cat bringing up the rear at the gates he left them though his wife besought him to allow her to enter you have betrayed me and ruined me he said sternly i go to seek my fortune alone and without another word he turned and left her with his falcon on his wrist and his greyhound and cat behind him the young man walked a long way inquiring of everyone he met whether they had seen his enemy the ogre but nobody had then he bade his falcon fly up into the sky–up up and up–and try if his sharp eyes could discover the old thief the bird had to go so high that he did not return for some hours but he told his master that the ogre was lying asleep in a splendid palace in a far country on the shores of the sea this was delightful news to the young man who instantly bought some meat for the falcon bidding him make a good meal tomorrow said he you will fly to the palace where the ogre lies and while he is asleep you will search all about him for a stone on which is engraved strange signs this you will bring to me in three days i shall expect you back here well i must take the cat with me answered the bird the sun had not yet risen before the falcon soared high into the air the cat seated on his back with his paws tightly clasping the birds neck you had better shut your eyes or you may get giddy said the bird and the cat you had never before been off the ground except to climb a tree did as she was bid

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

cried the sultan oh noble sultan my wife is dead wept he we must all die answered the sultan but this was not the reply for which abu nowas had hoped true o sultan but i have neither shroud to wrap her in nor money to bury her with went on abu nowas in no wise abashed by the way the sultan had received his news well give him a hundred pieces of gold said the sultan turning to the grand vizir and when the money was counted out abu nowas bowed low and left the hall his tears still flowing but with joy in his heart have you got anything cried his wife who was waiting for him anxiously yes a hundred gold pieces said he throwing down the bag but that will not last us any time now you must go to the sultana clothed in sackcloth and robes of mourning and tell her that your husband abu nowas is dead and you have no money for his burial when she hears that she will be sure to ask you what has become of the money and the fine clothes she gave us on our marriage and you will answer before he died he sold everything the wife did as she was told and wrapping herself in sackcloth went up to the sultanas own palace and as she was known to have been one of subidas favourite attendants she was taken without difficulty into the private apartments what is the matter inquired the sultana at the sight of the dismal figure my husband lies dead at home and he has spent all our money and sold everything and i have nothing left to bury him with sobbed the wife then subida took up a purse containing two hundred gold pieces and said your husband served us long and faithfully you must see that he has a fine funeral the wife took the money and kissing the feet of the sultana she joyfully hastened home they spent some happy hours planning how they should spend it and thinking how clever they had been when the sultan goes this evening to subidas palace said abu nowas she will be sure to tell him that abu nowas is dead not abu nowas it is his wife he will reply and they will quarrel over it and all the time we shall be sitting here enjoying ourselves oh if they only knew how angry they would be as abu nowas had foreseen the sultan went in the evening after his business was over to pay his usual visit to the sultana poor abu nowas is dead said subida when he entered the room it is not abu nowas but his wife who is dead answered the sultan no really you are quite wrong she came to tell me herself only a couple of hours ago replied subida and as he had spent all their money i gave her something to bury him with you must be dreaming exclaimed the sultan soon after midday abu nowas came into the hall his eyes streaming with tears and when i asked him the reason he answered that his wife was dead and they had sold everything they had and he had nothing left not so much as would buy her a shroud far less for her burial for a long time they talked and neither would listen to the other till the sultan sent for the door keeper and bade him go instantly to the house of abu nowas and see if it was the man or his wife who was dead but abu nowas happened to be sitting with his wife behind the latticed window which looked on the street and he saw the man coming and sprang up at once there is the sultans door keeper they have sent him here to find out the truth quick throw yourself on the bed and pretend that you are dead and in a moment the wife was stretched out stiffly with a linen sheet spread across her like a corpse she was only just in time for the sheet was hardly drawn across her when the door opened and the porter came in has anything happened asked he my poor wife is dead replied abu nowas look she is laid out here and the porter approached the bed which was in a corner of the room and saw the stiff form lying underneath we must all die said he and went back to the sultan well have you found out which of them is dead asked the sultan yes noble sultan it is the wife replied the porter he only says that to please you cried subida in a rage and calling to her chamberlain she ordered him to go at once to the dwelling of abu nowas and see which of the two was dead and be sure you tell the truth about it added she or it will be the worse for you as her chamberlain drew near the house abu nowas caught sight of him there is the sultanas chamberlain he exclaimed in a fright now it is my turn to die

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

people passing along stopped to look at the strange sight of a gazelle running swiftly along the main street with something wrapped in green leaves between its teeth the sultan was sitting at the door of his palace when keejeepaa stopping a little way off dropped the diamond from its mouth and lying down beside it panting called out ho there ho there which is a cry every one makes in that part of the world when wishing to enter a house remaining outside until the cry is answered after the cry had been repeated several times the sultan said to his attendants who is doing all that calling and one answered master its a gazelle thats calling ho there ho ho said the sultan ho ho invite the gazelle to come near then three attendants ran to keejeepaa and said come get up the sultan commands you to come near so the gazelle arose picked up the diamond and approaching the sultan laid the jewel at his feet saying master good afternoon to which the sultan replied may god make it good come near the sultan ordered his attendants to bring a carpet and a large cushion and desired the gazelle to rest upon them when it protested that it was comfortable as it was he insisted and keejeepaa had to allow himself to be made a very honored guest then they brought milk and rice and the sultan would hear nothing until the gazelle had fed and rested at last when everything had been disposed of the sultan said well now my friend tell me what news you bring and keejeepaa said master i dont exactly know how you will like the news i bring the fact is im sent here to insult you ive come to try and pick a quarrel with you in fact im here to propose a family alliance with you at this the sultan exclaimed oh come for a gazelle you certainly know how to talk now the fact of it is im looking for some one to insult me im just aching to have some one pick a quarrel with me im impatient for a family alliance go on with your message then keejeepaa said you dont bear any ill will against me who am only a messenger and the sultan said none at all well said keejeepaa look at this pledge i bring dropping the diamond wrapped in leaves into the sultans lap when the sultan opened the leaves and saw the great sparkling jewel he was overcome with astonishment at last he said well i have brought this pledge said the gazelle from my master sultan daaraa′ee he has heard that you have a daughter so he sent you this jewel hoping you will forgive him for not sending something more worthy of your acceptance than this trifle goodness said the sultan to himself he calls this a trifle then to the gazelle oh thats all right thats all right im satisfied the sultan daaraaee has my consent to marry my daughter and i dont want a single thing from him let him come empty handed if he has more of these trifles let him leave them at home this is my message and i hope you will make it perfectly clear to your master the gazelle assured him that he would explain everything satisfactorily adding and now master i take my leave i go straight to our own town and hope that in about eleven days we shall return to be your guests so with mutual compliments they parted in the meantime haamdaanee was having an exceedingly tough time keejeepaa having disappeared he wandered about the town moaning oh my poor gazelle my poor gazelle while the neighbors laughed and jeered at him until between them and his loss he was nearly out of his mind but one evening when he had gone to bed keejeepaa walked in up he jumped and began to embrace the gazelle and weep over it and carry on at a great rate when he thought there had been about enough of this kind of thing the gazelle said come come keep quiet my master ive brought you good news but the beggar man continued to cry and fondle and declare that he had thought his gazelle was dead at last keejeepaa said oh well master you see im all right you must brace up and prepare to hear my news and do as i advise you go on go on replied his master explain what you will ill do whatever you require me to do if you were to say lie down on your back that i may roll you over the side of the hill i would lie down well said the gazelle there is not much to explain just now but ill tell you this ive seen many kinds of food food that is desirable and food that is objectionable but this food im about to offer you is very sweet indeed what said haamdaanee is it possible that in this world there is anything that is positively good there must be good and bad in everything food that is both sweet and bitter is good food but if food were nothing but sweetness would it not be injurious hm yawned the gazelle im too tired to talk philosophy lets go to sleep now and when i call you in the morning all you have to do is to get up and follow me so at dawn they set forth the gazelle leading the way and for five days they journeyed through the forest on the fifth day they came to a stream and keejeepaa said to his master lie down here when he had done so the gazelle set to and beat him so soundly that he cried out oh let up i beg of you now said the gazelle im going away and when i return i expect to find you right here so dont you leave this spot on any account then he ran away and about ten oclock that morning he arrived at the house of the sultan now ever since the day keejeepaa left the town soldiers had been placed along the road to watch for and announce the approach of sultan daaraaee so one of them when he saw the gazelle in the distance rushed up and cried to the sultan sultan daaraaee is coming ive seen the gazelle running as fast as it can in this direction the sultan and his attendants immediately set out to meet his guests but when they had gone a little way beyond the town they met the gazelle coming along alone who on reaching the sultan said good day my master the sultan replied in kind and asked the news but keejeepaa said ah do not ask me i can scarcely walk and my news is bad why how is that asked the sultan oh dear sighed the gazelle such misfortune and misery you see sultan daaraaee and i started alone to come here and we got along all right until we came to the thick part of the forest yonder when we were met by robbers who seized my master bound him beat him and took everything he had even stripping off every stitch of his clothing oh dear oh dear dear me said the sultan we must attend to this at once so hurrying back with his attendants to his house he called a groom to whom he said saddle the best horse in my stable and put on him my finest harness then he directed a woman servant to open the big inlaid chest and bring him a bag of clothes when she brought it he picked out a loin cloth and a long white robe and a black overjacket and a shawl for the waist and a turban cloth all of the very finest then he sent for a curved sword with a gold hilt and a curved dagger with gold filigree and a pair of elegant sandals and a fine walking cane then the sultan said to keejeepaa take some of my soldiers and let them convey these things to sultan daaraaee that he may dress himself and come to me but the gazelle answered ah my master can i take these soldiers with me and put sultan daaraaee to shame there he lies beaten and robbed and i would not have any one see him i can take everything by myself why exclaimed the sultan here is a horse and there are clothes and arms i dont see how a little gazelle can manage all those things but the gazelle had them fasten everything on the horses back and tie the end of the bridle around his own neck and then he set off alone amidst the wonder and admiration of the people of that city high and low when he arrived at the place where he had left the beggar man he found him lying waiting for him and overjoyed at his return now said he i have brought you the sweet food i promised come get up and bathe yourself with the hesitation of a person long unaccustomed to such a thing the man stepped into the stream and began to wet himself a little oh said the gazelle impatiently a little water like that wont do you much good get out into the deep pool dear me said the man timidly there is so much water there and where there is much water there are sure to be horrible animals animals what kind of animals well crocodiles water lizards snakes and at any rate frogs and they bite people and im terribly afraid of all of them oh well said keejeepaa do the best you can in the stream but rub yourself well with earth and for goodness sake scrub your teeth well with sand they are awfully dirty so the man obeyed and soon made quite a change in his appearance then the gazelle said here hurry up and put on these things the sun has gone down and we ought to have started before this so the man dressed himself in the fine clothes the sultan had sent and then he mounted the horse and they started the gazelle trotting on ahead when they had gone some distance the gazelle stopped and said see here nobody who sees you now would suspect that you are the man who scratched in the dust heap yesterday even if we were to go back to our town the neighbors would not recognize you if it were only for the fact that your face is clean and your teeth are white your appearance is all right but i have a caution to give you over there where we are going i have procured for you the sultans daughter for a wife with all the usual wedding gifts now you must keep quiet say nothing except how dye do and whats the news let me do the talking all right said the man that suits me exactly do you know what your name is of course i do indeed well what is it why my name is haamdaanee not much laughed keejeepaa your name is sultan daaraaee oh is it said his master thats good so they started forward again and in a little while they saw soldiers running in every direction and fourteen of these joined them to escort them then they saw ahead of them the sultan and the vizirs and the emirs and the judges and the great men of the city coming to meet them now then said keejeepaa get off your horse and salute your father in law thats him in the middle wearing the sky blue jacket all right said the man jumping off his horse which was then led by a soldier so the two met and the sultans shook hands and kissed each other and walked up to the palace together then they had a great feast and made merry and talked until night at which time sultan daaraaee and the gazelle were put into an inner room with three soldiers at the door to guard and attend upon them when the morning came keejeepaa went to the sultan and said master we wish to attend to the business which brought us here we want to marry your daughter and the sooner the ceremony takes place the better it will please the sultan daaraaee why thats all right said the sultan the bride is ready let some one call the teacher mwaalee′moo and tell him to come at once when mwaaleemoo arrived the sultan said see here we want you to marry this gentleman to my daughter right away all right im ready said the teacher so they were married early the next morning the gazelle said to his master now im off on a journey i shall be gone about a week but however long i am gone dont you leave the house till i return good bye then he went to the real sultan and said good master sultan daaraaee has ordered me to return to our town and put his house in order he commands me to be here again in a week if i do not return by that time he will stay here until i come the sultan asked him if he would not like to have some soldiers go with him but the gazelle replied that he was quite competent to take care of himself as his previous journeys had proved and he preferred to go alone so with mutual good wishes they parted but keejeepaa did not go in the direction of the old village he struck off by another road through the forest and after a time came to a very fine town of large handsome houses as he went through the principal street right to the far end he was greatly astonished to observe that the town seemed to have no inhabitants for he saw neither man woman nor child in all the place at the end of the main street he came upon the largest and most beautiful house he had ever seen built of sapphire and turquoise and costly marbles oh my said the gazelle this house would just suit my master ill have to pluck up my courage and see whether this is deserted like the other houses in this mysterious town so keejeepaa knocked at the door and called hullo there several times but no one answered and he said to himself this is strange if there were no one inside the door would be fastened on the outside perhaps they are in another part of the house or asleep ill call again louder so he called again very loud and long hul lo th e re hul lo and directly an old woman inside answered who is that calling so loudly it is i your grandchild good mistress said keejeepaa if you are my grandchild replied the old woman go back to your home at once dont come and die here and bring me to my death also oh come said he open the door mistress i have just a few words i wish to say to you my dear grandson she replied the only reason why i do not open the door is because i fear to endanger both your life and my own oh dont worry about that i guess your life and mine are safe enough for a while open the door anyhow and hear the little i have to say so the old woman opened the door then they exchanged salutations and compliments after which she asked the gazelle whats the news from your place grandson oh everything is going along pretty well said he whats the news around here ah sighed the old creature the news here is very bad if youre looking for a place to die in youve struck it here ive not the slightest doubt youll see all you want of death this very day huh replied keejeepaa lightly for a fly to die in honey is not bad for the fly and doesnt injure the honey it may be all very well for you to be easy about it persisted the old person but if people with swords and shields did not escape how can a little thing like you avoid danger i must again beg of you to go back to the place you came from your safety seems of more interest to me than it is to you well you see i cant go back just now and besides i want to find out more about this place who owns it ah grandson in this house are enormous wealth numbers of people hundreds of horses and the owner is neeo′ka mkoo′ the wonderfully big snake he owns this whole town also oho is that so said keejeepaa look here old lady cant you put me on to some plan of getting near this big snake that i may kill him mercy cried the old woman in affright dont talk like that youve put my life in danger already for im sure neeoka mkoo can hear what is said in this house wherever he is you see im a poor old woman and i have been placed here with those pots and pans to cook for him well when the big snake is coming the wind begins to blow and the dust flies as it would do in a great storm then when he arrives in the courtyard he eats until he is full and after that goes inside there to drink water when he has finished he goes away again this occurs every other day just when the sun is overhead i may add that neeoka mkoo has seven heads now then do you think yourself a match for him look here mother said the gazelle dont you worry about me has this big snake a sword he has this is it said she taking from its peg a very keen and beautiful blade and handing it to him but whats the use in bothering about it we are dead already we shall see about that said keejeepaa just at that moment the wind began to blow and the dust to fly as if a great storm were approaching do you hear the great one coming cried the old woman pshaw said the gazelle im a great one also—and i have the advantage of being on the inside two bulls cant live in one cattle pen either he will live in this house or i will notwithstanding the terror the old lady was in she had to smile at the assurance of this little undersized gazelle and repeated over again her account of the people with swords and shields who had been killed by the big snake ah stop your gabbling said the gazelle you cant always judge a banana by its color or size wait and see grandma in a very little while the big snake neeoka mkoo came into the courtyard and went around to all the pots and ate their contents then he came to the door hullo old lady said he how is it i smell a new kind of odor inside there oh thats nothing good master replied the old woman ive been so busy around here lately i havent had time to look after myself but this morning i used some perfume and thats what you smell now keejeepaa had drawn the sword and was standing just inside the doorway so when the big snake put his head in it was cut off so quickly that its owner did not know it was gone when he put in his second head it was cut off with the same quickness and feeling a little irritation he exclaimed whos inside there scratching me he then thrust in his third head and that was cut off also this continued until six heads had been disposed of when neeoka mkoo unfolded his rings and lashed around so that the gazelle and the old woman could not see one another through the dust then the snake thrust in his seventh head and the gazelle crying now your time has come youve climbed many trees but this you can not climb severed it and immediately fell down in a fainting fit well that old woman although she was seventy five years of age jumped and shouted and laughed like a girl of nine then she ran and got water and sprinkled the gazelle and turned him this way and that way until at last he sneezed which greatly pleased the old person who fanned him and tended him until he was quite recovered oh my said she who would have thought you could be a match for him my grandson well well said keejeepaa thats all over now show me everything around this place so she showed him everything from top to bottom store rooms full of goods chambers full of expensive foods rooms containing handsome people who had been kept prisoners for a long time slaves and everything next he asked her if there was any person who was likely to lay claim to the place or make any trouble and she answered no one everything here belongs to you very well then said he you stay here and take care of these things until i bring my master this place belongs to him now keejeepaa stayed three days examining the house and said to himself well when my master comes here he will be much pleased with what i have done for him and hell appreciate it after the life hes been accustomed to as to his father in law there is not a house in his town that can compare with this on the fourth day he departed and in due time arrived at the town where the sultan and his master lived then there were great rejoicings the sultan being particularly pleased at his return while his master felt as if he had received a new lease of life after everything had settled down a little keejeepaa told his master he must be ready to go with his wife to his new home after four days then he went and told the sultan that sultan daaraaee desired to take his wife to his own town in four days to which the sultan strongly objected but the gazelle said it was his masters wish and at last everything was arranged on the day of the departure a great company assembled to escort sultan daaraaee and his bride there were the brides ladies in waiting and slaves and horsemen and keejeepaa leading them all so they traveled three days resting when the sun was overhead and stopping each evening about five oclock to eat and sleep arising next morning at day break eating and going forward again

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the shark perceived this very clearly and described greater marvels and the monkey as he listened grew more and more gloomy matters were in this state when one day the shark said i really hardly know how to thank you for all your kindness to me during these weeks here i have nothing of my own to offer you but if you would only consent to come home with me how gladly would i give you anything that might happen to take your fancy i should like nothing better cried the monkey his teeth chattering as they always did when he was pleased but how could i get there not by water ugh it makes me ill to think of it oh dont let that trouble you replied the shark you have only to sit on my back and i will undertake that not a drop of water shall touch you so it was arranged and directly after breakfast next morning the shark swam close up under the tree and the monkey dropped neatly on his back without even a splash after a few minutes–for at first he felt a little frightened at his strange position–the monkey began to enjoy himself vastly and asked the shark a thousand questions about the fish and the sea weeds and the oddly shaped things that floated past them and as the shark always gave him some sort of answer the monkey never guessed that many of the objects they saw were as new to his guide as to himself the sun had risen and set six times when the shark suddenly said my friend we have now performed half our journey and it is time that i should tell you something what is it asked the monkey nothing unpleasant i hope for you sound rather grave oh no nothing at all it is only that shortly before we left i heard that the sultan of my country is very ill and that the only thing to cure him is a monkeys heart poor man i am very sorry for him replied the monkey but you were unwise not to tell me till we had started what do you mean asked the shark but the monkey who now understood the whole plot did not answer at once for he was considering what he should say why are you so silent inquired the shark again i was thinking what a pity it was you did not tell me while i was still on land and then i would have brought my heart with me your heart why isnt your heart here said the shark with a puzzled expression oh no of course not is it possible you dont know that when we leave home we always hang up our hearts on trees to prevent their being troublesome however perhaps you wont believe that and will just think i have invented it because i am afraid so let us go on to your country as fast as we can and when we arrive you can look for my heart and if you find it you can kill me the monkey spoke in such a calm indifferent way that the shark was quite deceived and began to wish he had not been in such a hurry but there is no use going on if your heart is not with you he said at last we had better turn back to the town and then you can fetch it of course this was just what the monkey wanted but he was careful not to seem too pleased well i dont know he remarked carelessly it is such a long way but you may be right i am sure i am answered the shark and i will swim as quickly as i can and so he did and in three days they caught sight of the kuyu tree hanging over the water with a sigh of relief the monkey caught hold of the nearest branch and swung himself up wait for me here he called out to the shark i am so hungry i must have a little breakfast and then i will go and look for my heart and he went further and further into the branches so that the shark could not see him then he curled himself up and went to sleep are you there cried the shark who was soon tired of swimming about under the cliff and was in haste to be gone the monkey awoke with a start but did not answer

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

when at last they arrived the lion was sitting up at the entrance looking very pale and thin the donkey suddenly grew shy and hung her head but the lion put on his best manners and invited both his visitors to come in and make themselves comfortable very soon the hare got up and said well as i have another engagement i will leave you to make acquaintance with your future husband and winking at the lion she bounded away the donkey expected that as soon as they were left alone the lion would begin to speak of their marriage and where they should live but as he said nothing she looked up to her surprise and terror she saw him crouching in the corner his eyes glaring with a red light and with a loud roar he sprang towards her but in that moment the donkey had had time to prepare herself and jumping on one side dealt the lion such a hard kick that he shrieked with the pain again and again he struck at her with his claws but the donkey could bite too as well as the lion who was very weak after his illness and at last a well planted kick knocked him right over and he rolled on the floor groaning with pain the donkey did not wait for him to get up but ran away as fast as she could and was lost in the forest now the hare who knew quite well what would happen had not gone to do her business but hid herself in some bushes behind the cave where she could hear quite clearly the sounds of the battle when all was quiet again she crept gently out and stole round the corner well lion have you killed her asked she running swiftly up the path killed her indeed answered the lion sulkily it is she who has nearly killed me i never knew a donkey could kick like that though i took care she should carry away the marks of my claws dear me fancy such a great fat creature being able to fight cried the hare but dont vex yourself just lie still and your wounds will soon heal and she bade her friend good bye and returned to her family two or three weeks passed and only bare places on the donkeys back showed where the lions claws had been while on his side the lion had recovered from his illness and was now as strong as ever he was beginning to think that it was almost time for him to begin hunting again when one morning a rustle was heard in the creepers outside and the hares head peeped through ah there is no need to ask how you are she said still you mustnt overtire yourself you know shall i go and bring you your dinner if you will bring me that donkey i will tear it in two cried the lion savagely and the hare laughed and nodded and went on her errand this time the donkey was much further than before and it took longer to find her at last the hare caught sight of four hoofs in the air and ran towards them the donkey was lying on a soft cool bed of moss near a stream rolling herself backwards and forwards from pleasure good morning said the hare politely and the donkey got slowly on to her legs and looked to see who her visitor could be oh it is you is it she exclaimed come and have a chat what news have you got i mustnt stay answered the hare but i promised the lion to beg you to pay him a visit as he is not well enough to call on you well i dont know replied the donkey gloomily the last time we went he scratched me very badly and really i was quite afraid he was only trying to kiss you said the hare and you bit him and of course that made him cross if i were sure of that hesitated the donkey oh you may be quite sure laughed the hare i have a large acquaintance among lions but let us be quick and rather unwillingly the donkey set out the lion saw them coming and hid himself behind a large tree as the donkey went past followed by the hare he sprang out and with one blow of his paw stretched the poor foolish creature dead before him take this meat and skin it and roast it he said to the hare but my appetite is not so good as it was and the only part i want for myself is the heart the rest you can either eat yourself or give away to your friends thank you replied the hare balancing the donkey on her back as well as she was able and though the legs trailed along the ground she managed to drag it to an open space some distance off where she made a fire and roasted it as soon as it was cooked the hare took out the heart and had just finished eating it when the lion who was tired of waiting came up i am hungry said he

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

then go and get fuel and light a fire so she did what she was bid and then her husband took the nyamatsanes liver from his pouch and said to her there i have brought you what you wanted and now you know that i love you truly and the wife answered it is well now go and take out the children so that i may remain alone in the hut and as she spoke she lifted down an old stone pot and put on the liver to cook her husband watched her for a moment and then said be sure you eat it all yourself do not give a scrap to any of the children but eat every morsel up so the woman took the liver and ate it all herself directly the last mouthful had disappeared she was seized with such violent thirst that she caught up a great pot full of water and drank it at a single draught then having no more in the house she ran in next door and said neighbour give me i pray you something to drink the neighbour gave her a large vessel quite full and the woman drank it off at a single draught and held it out for more but the neighbour pushed her away saying no i shall have none left for my children so the woman went into another house and drank all the water she could find but the more she drank the more thirsty she became she wandered in this manner through the whole village till she had drunk every water pot dry then she rushed off to the nearest spring and swallowed that and when she had finished all the springs and wells about she drank up first the river and then a lake but by this time she had drunk so much that she could not rise from the ground in the evening when it was time for the animals to have their drink before going to bed they found the lake quite dry and they had to make up their minds to be thirsty till the water flowed again and the streams were full even then for some time the lake was very dirty and the lion as king of the beasts commanded that no one should drink till it was quite clear again but the little hare who was fond of having his own way and was very thirsty besides stole quietly off when all the rest were asleep in their dens and crept down to the margin of the lake and drank his fill then he smeared the dirty water all over the rabbits face and paws so that it might look as if it were he who had been disobeying big lions orders the next day as soon as it was light big lion marched straight for the lake and all the other beasts followed him he saw at once that the water had been troubled again and was very angry who has been drinking my water said he and the little hare gave a jump and pointing to the rabbit he answered look there it must be he why there is mud all over his face and paws the rabbit frightened out of his wits tried to deny the fact exclaiming oh no indeed i never did but big lion would not listen and commanded them to cane him with a birch rod now the little hare was very much pleased with his cleverness in causing the rabbit to be beaten instead of himself and went about boasting of it at last one of the other animals overheard him and called out little hare little hare what is that you are saying but the little hare hastily replied i only asked you to pass me my stick an hour or two later thinking that no one was near him he said to himself again it was really i who drank up the water but i made them think it was the rabbit but one of the beasts whose ears were longer than the rest caught the words and went to tell big lion about it do you hear what the little hare is saying so big lion sent for the little hare and asked him what he meant by talking like that the little hare saw that there was no use trying to hide it so he answered pertly it was i who drank the water but i made them think it was the rabbit then he turned and ran as fast as he could with all the other beasts pursuing him they were almost up to him when he dashed into a very narrow cleft in the rock much too small for them to follow but in his hurry he had left one of his long ears sticking out which they just managed to seize but pull as hard as they might they could not drag him out of the hole and at last they gave it up and left him with his ear very much torn and scratched when the last tail was out of sight the little hare crept cautiously out and the first person he met was the rabbit he had plenty of impudence so he put a bold face on the matter and said well my good rabbit you see i have had a beating as well as you but the rabbit was still sore and sulky and he did not care to talk so he answered coldly you have treated me very badly it was really you who drank that water and you accused me of having done it oh my good rabbit never mind that ive got such a wonderful secret to tell you do you know what to do so as to escape death no i dont well we must begin by digging a hole so they dug a hole and then the little hare said the next thing is to make a fire in the hole and they set to work to collect wood and lit quite a large fire when it was burning brightly the little hare said to the rabbit rabbit my friend throw me into the fire and when you hear my fur crackling and i call itchi itchi then be quick and pull me out the rabbit did as he was told and threw the little hare into the fire but no sooner did the little hare begin to feel the heat of the flames than he took some green bay leaves he had plucked for the purpose and held them in the middle of the fire where they crackled and made a great noise then he called loudly itchi itchi rabbit my friend be quick be quick dont you hear how my skin is crackling and the rabbit came in a great hurry and pulled him out then the little hare said now it is your turn and he threw the rabbit in the fire the moment the rabbit felt the flames he cried out itchi itchi i am burning pull me out quick my friend but the little hare only laughed and said no you may stay there it is your own fault why were you such a fool as to let yourself be thrown in didnt you know that fire burns and in a very few minutes nothing was left of the rabbit but a few bones when the fire was quite out the little hare went and picked up one of these bones and made a flute out of it and sang this song pii pii o flute that i love pii pii rabbits are but little boys pii pii he would have burned me if he could pii pii but i burned him and he crackled finely when he got tired of going through the world singing this the little hare went back to his friends and entered the service of big lion one day he said to his master grandfather shall i show you a splendid way to kill game what is it asked big lion we must dig a ditch and then you must lie in it and pretend to be dead big lion did as he was told and when he had lain down the little hare got up on a wall blew a trumpet and shouted— pii pii all you animals come and see big lion is dead and now peace will be directly they heard this they all came running the little hare received them and said pass on this way to the lion so they all entered into the animal kingdom last of all came the monkey with her baby on her back she approached the ditch and took a blade of grass and tickled big lions nose and his nostrils moved in spite of his efforts to keep them still then the monkey cried come my baby climb on my back and let us go what sort of a dead body is it that can still feel when it is tickled and she and her baby went away in a fright then the little hare said to the other beasts now shut the gate of the animal kingdom and it was shut and great stones were rolled against it when everything was tight closed the little hare turned to big lion and said now and big lion bounded out of the ditch and tore the other animals in pieces but big lion kept all the choice bits for himself and only gave away the little scraps that he did not care about eating and the little hare grew very angry and determined to have his revenge he had long ago found out that big lion was very easily taken in so he laid his plans accordingly he said to him as if the idea had just come into his head grandfather let us build a hut and big lion consented and when they had driven the stakes into the ground and had made the walls of the hut the little hare told big lion to climb upon the top while he stayed inside when he was ready he called out now grandfather begin and big lion passed his rod through the reeds with which the roofs are always covered in that country the little hare took it and cried now it is my turn to pierce them and as he spoke he passed the rod back through the reeds and gave big lions tail a sharp poke what is pricking me so asked big lion oh just a little branch sticking out i am going to break it answered the little hare but of course he had done it on purpose as he wanted to fix big lions tail so firmly to the hut that he would not be able to move

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

fasten the horse to my neck and tie the clothes to the back of the horse and be sure they are fixed firmly as i shall go faster than he does everything was carried out as the gazelle had ordered and when all was ready it said to the sultan farewell my lord i am going farewell gazelle answered the sultan when shall we see you again to morrow about five replied the gazelle and giving a tug to the horses rein they set off at a gallop the sultan watched them till they were out of sight then he said to his attendants that gazelle comes from gentle hands from the house of a sultan and that is what makes it so different from other gazelles and in the eyes of the sultan the gazelle became a person of consequence meanwhile the gazelle ran on till it came to the place where its master was seated and his heart laughed when he saw the gazelle and the gazelle said to him get up my master and bathe in the stream and when the man had bathed it said again now rub yourself well with earth and rub your teeth well with sand to make them bright and shining and when this was done it said the sun has gone down behind the hills it is time for us to go so it went and brought the clothes from the back of the horse and the man put them on and was well pleased master said the gazelle when the man was ready be sure that where we are going you keep silence except for giving greetings and asking for news leave all the talking to me i have provided you with a wife and have made her presents of clothes and turbans and rare and precious things so it is needless for you to speak very good i will be silent replied the man as he mounted the horse you have given all this it is you who are the master and i who am the slave and i will obey you in all things so they went their way and they went and went till the gazelle saw in the distance the palace of the sultan then it said master that is the house we are going to and you are not a poor man any longer even your name is new what is my name eh my father asked the man sultan darai said the gazelle very soon some soldiers came to meet them while others ran off to tell the sultan of their approach and the sultan set off at once and the viziers and the emirs and the judges and the rich men of the city all followed him directly the gazelle saw them coming it said to its master your father in law is coming to meet you that is he in the middle wearing a mantle of sky blue get off your horse and go to greet him and sultan darai leapt from his horse and so did the other sultan and they gave their hands to one another and kissed each other and went together into the palace the next morning the gazelle went to the rooms of the sultan and said to him my lord we want you to marry us our wife for the soul of sultan darai is eager the wife is ready so call the priest answered he and when the ceremony was over a cannon was fired and music was played and within the palace there was feasting master said the gazelle the following morning i am setting out on a journey and i shall not be back for seven days and perhaps not then but be careful not to leave the house till i come and the master answered i will not leave the house and it went to the sultan of the country and said to him my lord sultan darai has sent me to his town to get the house in order it will take me seven days and if i am not back in seven days he will not leave the palace till i return very good said the sultan and it went and it went through the forest and wilderness till it arrived at a town full of fine houses at the end of the chief road was a great house beautiful exceedingly built of sapphire and turquoise and marbles that thought the gazelle is the house for my master and i will call up my courage and go and look at the people who are in it if any people there are for in this town have i as yet seen no people if i die i die and if i live i live here can i think of no plan so if anything is to kill me it will kill me then it knocked twice at the door and cried open but no one answered and it cried again and a voice replied who are you that are crying open and the gazelle said it is i great mistress your grandchild if you are my grandchild returned the voice go back whence you came dont come and die here and bring me to my death as well open mistress i entreat i have something to say to you grandchild replied she i fear to put your life in danger and my own too oh mistress my life will not be lost nor yours either open i pray you so she opened the door what is the news where you come from my grandson asked she great lady where i come from it is well and with you it is well ah my son here it is not well at all if you seek a way to die or if you have not yet seen death then is to day the day for you to know what dying is if i am to know it i shall know it replied the gazelle but tell me who is the lord of this house and she said ah father in this house is much wealth and much people and much food and many horses and the lord of it all is an exceeding great and wonderful snake oh cried the gazelle when he heard this tell me how i can get at the snake to kill him my son returned the old woman do not say words like these you risk both our lives he has put me here all by myself and i have to cook his food when the great snake is coming there springs up a wind and blows the dust about and this goes on till the great snake glides into the courtyard and calls for his dinner which must always be ready for him in those big pots he eats till he has had enough and then drinks a whole tankful of water after that he goes away every second day he comes when the sun is over the house and he has seven heads how then can you be a match for him my son mind your own business mother answered the gazelle and dont mind other peoples has this snake a sword he has a sword and a sharp one too it cuts like a dash of lightning give it to me mother said the gazelle and she unhooked the sword from the wall as she was bidden you must be quick she said for he may be here at any moment hark is not that the wind rising he has come they were silent but the old woman peeped from behind a curtain and saw the snake busy at the pots which she had placed ready for him in the courtyard and after he had done eating and drinking he came to the door you old body he cried what smell is that i smell inside that is not the smell of every day oh master answered she i am alone as i always am but to day after many days i have sprinkled fresh scent all over me and it is that which you smell what else could it be master all this time the gazelle had been standing close to the door holding the sword in one of its front paws and as the snake put one of his heads through the hole that he had made so as to get in and out comfortably it cut it of so clean that the snake really did not feel it the second blow was not quite so straight for the snake said to himself who is that who is trying to scratch me and stretched out his third head to see but no sooner was the neck through the hole than the head went rolling to join the rest when six of his heads were gone the snake lashed his tail with such fury that the gazelle and the old woman could not see each other for the dust he made and the gazelle said to him you have climbed all sorts of trees but this you cant climb and as the seventh head came darting through it went rolling to join the rest then the sword fell rattling on the ground for the gazelle had fainted the old woman shrieked with delight when she saw her enemy was dead and ran to bring water to the gazelle and fanned it and put it where the wind could blow on it till it grew better and gave a sneeze and the heart of the old woman was glad and she gave it more water till by and by the gazelle got up show me this house it said from beginning to end from top to bottom from inside to out so she arose and showed the gazelle rooms full of gold and precious things and other rooms full of slaves they are all yours goods and slaves said she but the gazelle answered you must keep them safe till i call my master for two days it lay and rested in the house and fed on milk and rice and on the third day it bade the old woman farewell and started back to its master and when he heard that the gazelle was at the door he felt like a man who has found the time when all prayers are granted and he rose and kissed it saying my father you have been a long time you have left sorrow with me i cannot eat i cannot drink i cannot laugh my heart felt no smile at anything because of thinking of you and the gazelle answered i am well and where i come from it is well and i wish that after four days you would take your wife and go home and he said it is for you to speak where you go i will follow then i shall go to your father in law and tell him this news go my son so the gazelle went to the father in law and said i am sent by my master to come and tell you that after four days he will go away with his wife to his own home must he really go so quickly we have not yet sat much together i and sultan darai nor have we yet talked much together nor have we yet ridden out together nor have we eaten together yet it is fourteen days since he came but the gazelle replied my lord you cannot help it for he wishes to go home and nothing will stop him very good said the sultan and he called all the people who were in the town and commanded that the day his daughter left the palace ladies and guards were to attend her on her way and at the end of four days a great company of ladies and slaves and horses went forth to escort the wife of sultan darai to her new home they rode all day and when the sun sank behind the hills they rested and ate of the food the gazelle gave them and lay down to sleep and they journeyed on for many days and they all nobles and slaves loved the gazelle with a great love– more than they loved the sultan darai at last one day signs of houses appeared far far off and those who saw cried out gazelle and it answered ah my mistresses that is the house of sultan darai at this news the women rejoiced much and the slaves rejoiced much and in the space of two hours they came to the gates and the gazelle bade them all stay behind and it went on to the house with sultan darai when the old woman saw them coming through the courtyard she jumped and shouted for joy and as the gazelle drew near she seized it in her arms and kissed it the gazelle did not like this and said to her old woman leave me alone the one to be carried is my master and the one to be kissed is my master and she answered forgive me my son i did not know this was our master and she threw open all the doors so that the master might see everything that the rooms and storehouses contained sultan darai looked about him and at length he said unfasten those horses that are tied up and let loose those people that are bound and let some sweep and some spread the beds and some cook and some draw water and some come out and receive the mistress and when the sultana and her ladies and her slaves entered the house and saw the rich stuffs it was hung with and the beautiful rice that was prepared for them to eat they cried ah you gazelle we have seen great houses we have seen people we have heard of things but this house and you such as you are we have never seen or heard of after a few days the ladies said they wished to go home again the gazelle begged them hard to stay but finding they would not it brought many gifts and gave some to the ladies and some to their slaves and they all thought the gazelle greater a thousand times than its master sultan darai the gazelle and its master remained in the house many weeks and one day it said to the old woman i came with my master to this place and i have done many things for my master good things and till to day he has never asked me well my gazelle how did you get this house who is the owner of it and this town were there no people in it all good things i have done for the master and he has not one day done me any good thing but people say if you want to do any one good dont do him good only do him evil also and there will be peace between you so mother i have done i want to see the favours i have done to my master that he may do me the like good replied the old woman and they went to bed in the morning when light came the gazelle was sick in its stomach and feverish and its legs ached and it said mother and she answered here my son and it said go and tell my master upstairs the gazelle is very ill very good my son and if he should ask me what is the matter what am i to say tell him all my body aches badly i have no single part without pain the old woman went upstairs and she found the mistress and master sitting on a couch of marble spread with soft cushions and they asked her well old woman what do you want to tell the master the gazelle is ill said she what is the matter asked the wife all its body pains there is no part without pain well what can i do make some gruel of red millet and give to it but his wife stared and said oh master do you tell her to make the gazelle gruel out of red millet which a horse would not eat eh master that is not well but he answered oh you are mad

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

this is better than firewood said they it will bring us more money and as you have found it hassebu it is you who must go inside and dip out the honey and give to us and we will take it to the town and sell it and will divide the money with you the following day each man brought every bowl and vessel he could find at home and hassebu filled them all with honey and this he did every day for three months at the end of that time the honey was very nearly finished and there was only a little left quite at the bottom and that was very deep down so deep that it seemed as if it must be right in the middle of the earth seeing this the men said to hassebu we will put a rope under your arms and let you down so that you may scrape up all the honey that is left and when you have done we will lower the rope again and you shall make it fast and we will draw you up very well answered the boy and he went down and he scraped and scraped till there was not so much honey left as would cover the point of a needle now i am ready he cried but they consulted together and said let us leave him there inside the pit and take his share of the money and we will tell his mother your son was caught by a lion and carried off into the forest and we tried to follow him but could not then they arose and went into the town and told his mother as they had agreed and she wept much and made her mourning for many months and when the men were dividing the money one said let us send a little to our friends mother and they sent some to her and every day one took her rice and one oil one took her meat and one took her cloth every day it did not take long for hassebu to find out that his companions had left him to die in the pit but he had a brave heart and hoped that he might be able to find a way out for himself so he at once began to explore the pit and found it ran back a long way underground and by night he slept and by day he took a little of the honey he had gathered and ate it and so many days passed by one morning while he was sitting on a rock having his breakfast a large scorpion dropped down at his feet and he took a stone and killed it fearing it would sting him then suddenly the thought darted into his head this scorpion must have come from somewhere perhaps there is a hole i will go and look for it and he felt all round the walls of the pit till he found a very little hole in the roof of the pit with a tiny glimmer of light at the far end of it then his heart felt glad and he took out his knife and dug and dug till the little hole became a big one and he could wriggle himself through and when he had got outside he saw a large open space in front of him and a path leading out of it he went along the path on and on till he reached a large house with a golden door standing open inside was a great hall and in the middle of the hall a throne set with precious stones and a sofa spread with the softest cushions and he went in and lay down on it and fell fast asleep for he had wandered far by and by there was a sound of people coming through the courtyard and the measured tramp of soldiers this was the king of the snakes coming in state to his palace they entered the hall but all stopped in surprise at finding a man lying on the kings own bed the soldiers wished to kill him at once but the king said leave him alone put me on a chair and the soldiers who were carrying him knelt on the floor and he slid from their shoulders on to a chair when he was comfortably seated he turned to his soldiers and bade them wake the stranger gently and they woke him and he sat up and saw many snakes all round him and one of them very beautiful decked in royal robes who are you asked hassebu i am the king of the snakes was the reply and this is my palace and will you tell me who you are and where you come from my name is hassebu but whence i come i know not nor whither i go then stay for a little with me said the king and he bade his soldiers bring water from the spring and fruits from the forest and to set them before the guest for some days hassebu rested and feasted in the palace of the king of the snakes and then he began to long for his mother and his own country so he said to the king of the snakes send me home i pray but the king of the snakes answered when you go home you will do me evil i will do you no evil replied hassebu send me home i pray but the king said i know it if i send you home you will come back and kill me i dare not do it but hassebu begged so hard that at last the king said swear that when you get home you will not go to bathe where many people are gathered and hassebu swore and the king ordered his soldiers to take hassebu in sight of his native city then he went straight to his mothers house and the heart of his mother was glad

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

he said to his slave go and look no master it is not raining answered the slave then climb up the tree and see what it is and the slave climbed up and came back and told his master that a beautiful girl was sitting up there and that it must have been her tears which had fallen on the face of the kings son why was she crying inquired the prince i cannot tell–i did not dare to ask her but perhaps she would tell you and the master greatly wondering climbed up the tree what is the matter with you said he gently and as she only sobbed louder he continued are you a woman or a spirit of the woods i am a woman she answered slowly wiping her eyes with a leaf of the creeper that hung about her then why do you cry he persisted i have many things to cry for she replied more than you could ever guess come home with me said the prince it is not very far come home to my father and mother i am a kings son then why are you here she said opening her eyes and staring at him once every month i and my friends shoot birds in the forest he answered but i was tired and bade them leave me to rest and you–what are you doing up in this tree at that she began to cry again and told the kings son all that had befallen her since the death of her mother i cannot come down with you for i do not like anyone to see me she ended with a sob oh i will manage all that said the kings son and swinging himself to a lower branch he bade his slave go quickly into the town and bring back with him four strong men and a curtained litter when the man was gone the girl climbed down and hid herself on the ground in some bushes very soon the slave returned with the litter which was placed on the ground close to the bushes where the girl lay now go all of you and call my attendants for i do not wish to say here any longer he said to the men and as soon as they were out of sight he bade the girl get into the litter and fasten the curtains tightly then he got in on the other side and waited till his attendants came up what is the matter o son of a king asked they breathless with running i think i am ill i am cold he said and signing to the bearers he drew the curtains and was carried through the forest right inside his own house tell my father and mother that i have a fever and want some gruel said he and bid them send it quickly so the slave hastened to the kings palace and gave his message which troubled both the king and the queen greatly a pot of hot gruel was instantly prepared and carried over to the sick man and as soon as the council which was sitting was over the king and his ministers went to pay him a visit bearing a message from the queen that she would follow a little later now the prince had pretended to be ill in order to soften his parents hearts and the next day he declared he felt better and getting into his litter was carried to the palace in state drums being beaten all along the road he dismounted at the foot of the steps and walked up a great parasol being held over his head by a slave then he entered the cool dark room where his father and mother were sitting and said to them i saw a girl yesterday in the forest whom i wish to marry and unknown to my attendants i brought her back to my house in a litter give me your consent i beg for no other woman pleases me as well even though she has but one hand of course the king and queen would have preferred a daughter in law with two hands and one who could have brought riches with her but they could not bear to say no to their son so they told him it should be as he chose and that the wedding feast should be prepared immediately the girl could scarcely believe her good fortune and in gratitude for all the kindness shown her was so useful and pleasant to her husbands parents that they soon loved her by and bye a baby was born to her and soon after that the prince was sent on a journey by his father to visit some of the distant towns of the kingdom and to set right things that had gone wrong no sooner had he started than the girls brother who had wasted all the riches his wife had brought him in recklessness and folly and was now very poor chanced to come into the town and as he passed he heard a man say do you know that the kings son has married a woman who has lost one of her hands on hearing these words the brother stopped and asked where did he find such a woman in the forest answered the man and the cruel brother guessed at once it must be his sister a great rage took possession of his soul as he thought of the girl whom he had tried to ruin being after all so much better off than himself and he vowed that he would work her ill therefore that very afternoon he made his way to the palace and asked to see the king when he was admitted to his presence he knelt down and touched the ground with his forehead and the king bade him stand up and tell wherefore he had come by the kindness of your heart have you been deceived o king said he your son has married a girl who has lost a hand do you know why she had lost it she was a witch and has wedded three husbands and each husband she has put to death with her arts then the people of the town cut off her hand and turned her into the forest and what i say is true for her town is my town also the king listened and his face grew dark unluckily he had a hasty temper and did not stop to reason and instead of sending to the town and discovering people who knew his daughter in law and could have told him how hard she had worked and how poor she had been he believed all the brothers lying words and made the queen believe them too together they took counsel what they should do and in the end they decided that they also would put her out of the town but this did not content the brother kill her he said it is no more than she deserves for daring to marry the kings son then she can do no more hurt to anyone we cannot kill her answered they if we did our son would assuredly kill us let us do as the others did and put her out of the town and with this the envious brother was forced to be content the poor girl loved her husband very much but just then the baby was more to her than all else in the world and as long as she had him with her she did not very much mind anything so taking her son on her arm and hanging a little earthen pot for cooking round her neck she left her house with its great peacock fans and slaves and seats of ivory and plunged into the forest for a while she walked not knowing whither she went then by and bye she grew tired and sat under a tree to rest and to hush her baby to sleep suddenly she raised her eyes and saw a snake wriggling from under the bushes towards her i am a dead woman she said to herself and stayed quite still for indeed she was too frightened to move in another minute the snake had reached her side and to her surprise he spoke open your earthen pot and let me go in save me from sun and i will save you from rain and she opened the pot and when the snake had slipped in she put on the cover soon she beheld another snake coming after the other one and when it had reached her it stopped and said did you see a small grey snake pass this way just now yes she answered it was going very quickly ah i must hurry and catch it up replied the second snake and it hastened on when it was out of sight a voice from the pot said uncover me and she lifted the lid and the little grey snake slid rapidly to the ground i am safe now he said but tell me where are you going i cannot tell you for i do not know she answered i am just wandering in the wood follow me and let us go home together said the snake and the girl followed his through the forest and along the green paths till they came to a great lake where they stopped to rest the sun is hot said the snake and you have walked far take your baby and bathe in that cool place where the boughs of the tree stretch far over the water yes i will answered she and they went in the baby splashed and crowed with delight and then he gave a spring and fell right in down down down and his mother could not find him though she searched all among the reeds full of terror she made her way back to the bank and called to the snake my baby is gone–he is drowned and never shall i see him again go in once more said the snake and feel everywhere even among the trees that have their roots in the water lest perhaps he may be held fast there swiftly she went back and felt everywhere with her whole hand even putting her fingers into the tiniest crannies where a crab could hardly have taken shelter no he is not here she cried how am i to live without him but the snake took no notice and only answered put in your other arm too what is the use of that she asked when it has no hand to feel with but all the same she did as she was bid and in an instant the wounded arm touched something round and soft lying between two stones in a clump of reeds my baby my baby she shouted and lifted him up merry and laughing and not a bit hurt or frightened have you found him this time asked the snake yes oh yes she answered and why–why–i have got my hand back again and from sheer joy she burst into tears the snake let her weep for a little while and then he said– now we will journey on to my family and we will all repay you for the kindness you showed to me you have done more than enough in giving me back my hand replied the girl but the snake only smiled be quick lest the sun should set he answered and began to wriggle along so fast that the girl could hardly follow him by and bye they arrived at the house in a tree where the snake lived when he was not travelling with his father and mother and he told them all his adventures and how he had escaped from his enemy the father and mother snake could not do enough to show their gratitude they made their guest lie down on a hammock woven of the strong creepers which hung from bough to bough till she was quite rested after her wanderings while they watched the baby and gave him milk to drink from the cocoa nuts which they persuaded their friends the monkeys to crack for them they even managed to carry small fruit tied up in their tails for the babys mother who felt at last that she was safe and at peace not that she forgot her husband for she often thought of him and longed to show him her son and in the night she would sometimes lie awake and wonder where he was in this manner many weeks passed by and what was the prince doing well he had fallen very ill when he was on the furthest border of the kingdom and he was nursed by some kind people who did not know who he was so that the king and queen heard nothing about him when he was better he made his way home again and into his fathers palace where he found a strange man standing behind the throne with the peacocks feathers this was his wifes brother whom the king had taken into high favour though of course the prince was quite ignorant of what had happened for a moment the king and queen stared at their son as if he had been unknown to them he had grown so thin and weak during his illness that his shoulders were bowed like those of an old man have you forgotten me so soon he asked at the sound of his voice they gave a cry and ran towards him and poured out questions as to what had happened and why he looked like that but the prince did not answer any of them how is my wife he said there was a pause then the queen replied she is dead dead he repeated stepping a little backwards and my child he is dead too the young man stood silent then he said show me their graves at these words the king who had been feeling rather uncomfortable took heart again for had he not prepared two beautiful tombs for his son to see so that he might never never guess what had been done to his wife all these months the king and queen had been telling each other how good and merciful they had been not to take her brothers advice and to put her to death but now this somehow did not seem so certain then the king led the way to the courtyard just behind the palace and through the gate into a beautiful garden where stood two splendid tombs in a green space under the trees

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the dog meanwhile standing on his hind legs could easily reach up and pluck the fruit he found them so good that he did not stop until he had eaten all the bananas without giving a single one to the hedgehog regardless of his entreaties when the dog had eaten the last banana the hedgehog said now let us play a game that i often play with my brothers you must take a bamboo and sharpen it at both ends and when it is sharp you must stick it into the ground at the foot of the tree and then climb the tree and jump down on the stick the dog was willing to play this game and when all was ready he invited the hedgehog to jump first and even helped him up the tree since his friend could not climb alone

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the wren stretched out one leg as big as that my children oh papa much bigger than that the wren stretched out a leg and a wing as big as that my children oh papa much bigger finally the wren spread out both wings and legs as big as that then oh yes much bigger that is impossible my children for there is no animal bigger than i just you wait and you will see for yourself said the little wrens presently the camel came back browsing along the hedge the wren was perched beside his nest and the camel biting off a bunch of leaves and not seeing the bird took him in with them

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

accordingly he flung his captive into a small cave the mouth of which he closed with a large stone after which he set out in search of a fellow diner once more alone and somewhat recovered from his fright the apes first thought was how am i to get away so he set to work at the mouth of the cave but the stone was too heavy to push aside and too tight a fit for the ape to squeeze past it all his efforts were wasted and he was in despair all of a sudden a wolf chanced to pass that way and heard the ape howling desperately the wolf had lately quarrelled with the ape and still owed him a grudge so it pleased him to hear the ape howling and he asked why are you making such an outcry the ape who was quick witted saw that if he failed to trick the wolf he had lost his last chance so he replied i am not crying i am singing why are you singing asked the wolf to help my digestion while i am waiting for the rabbit who has gone to get some more meat this morning he and i arranged for a feast together and we are to continue it all night we have so much food here that i can eat no more my stomach is too small there are heaps of leavings all around me the wolf who is a born glutton asked coaxingly you wouldnt refuse an old friend like me a share in the feast would you

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

if you think so well of yourself will you run a race with me of course i will agreed the chameleon readily do you see that little hill over there let that be the goal all right said the boar and at once started to run but the tricky little chameleon caught hold of the boars tail when the hill was reached the boar said well chameleon where are you now here i am said the chameleon who had been quick to let go of the boars tail and drop to earth well you run faster than i thought you could said the boar lets try again this time i wont let myself be beaten so they ran again and the chameleon repeated his trick and for the second time reached the goal at the same time as his enemy haha

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

and the little guinea fowls and the little crocodiles all greeted each other properly then the mother guinea hen said to the little crocodiles have you yet held the funeral of your father ramamba not yet answered the little crocodiles we are still children and we do not know the proper way to hold a funeral that is why we sent for you and have waited until you came then the guinea hen said sing my children while i talk to the crocodile then she turned to where the wily old crocodile lay stiff and silent as though he were dead and asked him is it true ramamba that you are dead if it is true move your feet so that your children and grandchildren can see and can tell themselves ramamba is dead and we must recite his great deeds for he is now famous among dead heroes and many are his deeds that must be told ramamba at this moved his feet then all the little guinea chicks sang in chorus mbitra mbitra and the mother guinea hen said ramamba you have moved your feet you who are dead nevertheless still move since you are really dead ramamba open your jaws and your children and grandchildren shall sing your praise the crocodile opened his jaws and all the little guinea chicks again began singing mbitra

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

for i shall begin by eating all my biggest potatoes so if the owner of the field finds us here i can leave the small ones and fly away the owner the owner said the hen i am not afraid of him if the owner comes i shall fly off too and take my big potatoes with me thereupon the two friends settled down to their feast of potatoes the hen according to her plan picked out only the little ones while the guinea fowl chose only the largest

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

i am very hungry said the rat hungry so am i said the cat i am going to gnaw our canoe a little said the rat it is my natural food why should i go hungry while there is food within reach and he began to gnaw the potato have a care said the cat for if you gnaw too deep and wreck our canoe you shall die with me the rat promised not to gnaw the potato any more but presently he quietly began again and gnawed a little every time the cats head was turned and whenever the cat looked his way he hid with his body the hole that he had gnawed at last the bottom of the canoe was gnawed so thin that it gave way and began to fill with water instantly the rat jumped into the river and swam to shore escaping the crocodiles when he was safe on land he began laughing at the cat as he watched her struggle and splutter the water from her nose if you go to the bottom he called out give my regards to the fishes

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

oh no indeed said the frog i never told her that thereupon they both started back together to see the girl on the way the frog said grandpa elephant i am too tired to walk any further let me climb up on your back certainly said the elephant climb up my grandson so the frog climbed up on the elephants back presently he said grandpa elephant i am afraid that i am going to fall off let me take some little cords and fasten them to your tusks to hold on by certainly my grandson said the elephant and he stood still while the frog did as he had asked presently the frog spoke again

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

so the hunter went further until the water was up to his breast a little further still begged the crocodile and he went on until the water was up to his neck then he unbound the cords and placed the crocodile in the water saying there now are you satisfied not yet answered the crocodile not until i have eaten you and he seized the unhappy hunter and held him tight is this my reward for bringing you so far and saving your life asked the hunter i shall not eat you until we find some one who shall judge between us answered the crocodile presently a horse came down to the river to drink the crocodile said dont drink until you have judged between us and then told the horse the facts of the case the horse replied you should eat him for a man is a wicked creature ever since i was a colt men have mounted me driven me travelled on my back and maltreated me now that i am old they no longer take the trouble to feed me the crocodile said let us find a second judge next came a cow and when the case was stated to her she said eat the man men milk me drink my milk and then neglect me because i am old a donkey next passed by and being appealed to said eat the man and quickly men have always worked me hard abused and half starved me now they desert me because i am old last of all came a rabbit when asked for his judgment he said to the crocodile how could a man bring you here a big creature like you

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the next day the toad waited until noon when the sun was overhead and all the workmen went to sit down in the shade of a tree to eat their luncheon then he hopped over to the men and passed in and out among them see that toad said one of the men but no one wanted to touch him then the toad hopped back to the rat you saw what i did said he now you do the same the rat laughed at such a simple task and ran at once across to the tree where the men were sitting in the shade but when the men saw him they exclaimed here is a rat

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 monkeys evidence was weak and to make it worse jackals 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 loves sake please stop

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 dont 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

the wagon traveled on through a moonlight night and all the while jackal was throwing out the flsh 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

in the middle of the night jackal rose and smeared wolfs 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 wolfs tale said the rogue and you will see who is the thief

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 jackals 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 bowled aloud beating a hasty retreat toward the man thereupon the man fired a charge of shot biting 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 rain on the donkey the dog on the rain 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 masters 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 bow 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 tigers 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 strangers 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 tigers 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 jackals 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 sle 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 vultures feathers and there hidden himself all flew after him and he had to take refuge in a mouse hole

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 wont 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 dont 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 didnt i tell you to give me a strong one

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 jackals 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 jackals 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 boers 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 bands 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 crocodiles followers lie 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 crocodiles 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 crocodiles 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 jackals bind 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

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 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 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 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

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

but still another foot remains and now ill 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 dont do no but just so youll die

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 wouldnt hesitate come try it a little you feel so healthy and strong for the day and you never tire afterwards no i wont 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 ill break your playthings no there boer is coming with his gun you rest a while in the noose jackal quickly make me free

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

when the duiker was asleep the inkalimeva ate up all the fat then it threw a stone at the dulker 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 fline and appointed the bluebuck inputi to be the keeper of the gate when the aninials went away the inkalineva came as before it said what are you doitig 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 others 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 inkalinieva 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 muisbond 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 others tail and the inkalimeva agreed the inkalimeva fastened the tail of the hare first the hare said dont tie my tail so tight then the hare fastened the tail of the inkalimeva the inkalimeva said dont tie my tail so tight but the hare made no answer after tying the tail of the inkalinieva 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 mans 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

tell me he folds his bands 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 giraffes 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 the crooked legged little one i could sprinkle under its arm

nigerian folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 elephants most tender parts and bites him elephant swallows water water quenches fire fire consumes wood

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 bid himself thus when baboon looked at him he crept upon him when he was near him baboon looked up and lion continued to creep upon him

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 eaters 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 stallions tongue

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 waters edge and he tried to creep stealthily upon him when he was about to get hold of him frog said ho

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

but lion would not follow his mothers 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 lie 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 tigers tail

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

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 hè 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 ones 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 lions nature your sister went the way that i forbade her and returned i do not know now the cows hurried 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 sand 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 that she always milks without assistance what can have affected her that she comes home a woman with a lions 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 wifes house where her husband was but she the wife did not give him her husband anything to eat

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

jackal however who came after them and 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 this awa skin on his back

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

since that time horse is cursed in these words because it could not carry suns 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

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling

when they had assembled lion said using this form of conjuration what child of his mother and fathers love whose mother and fathers love has tied me then answered the animal to whom the question was first put i child of my mother and fathers love i mother and fathers 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 fathers love i mother and fathers love have tied thee

west african folktale

folk tale; cultural education; narrative components; storytelling