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Reynard the fox in South Africa

Chapter 43: 29. WHY HAS THE JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK?
By W. H. I. Bleek
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Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

The collection gathers translated southern African oral fables and legends, organized into themed sections — jackal, tortoise, baboon, lion and other animal fables — alongside origin myths, heroic cycles, and household tales. Short moral stories use animal protagonists to explore cunning, justice, trickery, and social relations; cosmological pieces account for beginnings such as death and celestial phenomena; longer narratives present a recurring heroic figure and local legends. Many items are concise fables suited for children, interspersed with explanatory notes and variant versions of core tales.

[Contents]

VI.

SUN AND MOON FABLES.

[Contents]

29. WHY HAS THE JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK?

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey’s Library, G. Krönlein’s Manuscript, p. 16.)

The Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were travelling saw him sitting by the wayside, but passed him without notice. The Jackal, however, who came after them, and saw him also sitting, went to him and said, “Such a fine little child is left behind by the men.” He then took the Sun up, and put it into his awa-skin (on his back). When it burnt him, he said, “Get down,” and shook himself; but the Sun stuck fast to his back, and burnt the Jackal’s back black from that day. [100]

[Contents]

30. THE HORSE CURSED BY THE SUN.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, of this little Namaqualand Fable, is in Sir G. Grey’s Library, G. Krönlein’s Manuscript, p. 53.)

It is said that once the Sun was on earth, and caught the Horse to ride it. But it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore the Ox took the place of the Horse, and carried the Sun on its back. Since that time the Horse is cursed in these words, because it could not carry the Sun’s 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.

Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee,” said the Sun.

Since that day the Horse’s (certain) time of dying commenced. [101]