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NOTE
This Tale seems to be a version of No. 17. The plea of Tortoise that he did not spoil the fruits of plantations is true; it does not injure the gardens of the natives.
These four Beasts were living in one town; Civet, in his own house; Tortoise in his; Antelope also in his; Genet too in his own. But their four houses opened on to one long street.
One day, in the afternoon, they all were in that street, sitting down in conversation. Tortoise said to them, “I have here a word to say.” They replied “Well! Speak!”
At that time, their town had a great famine. So, Tortoise said, “Tomorrow, we will go to seek food.” They replied, “Good! just as soon as the day, at its first break.”
Then they scattered, and went to their houses to lie down for sleep. Soon, the day broke. And they all got up, and were ready by sunrise at six o’clock.
They all went on their journey to find food. They searched as they walked a distance of several miles. Then they came to a plantation of Njambo’s wife Ivenga. It was distant from Njambo’s town about one hour’s walk. It had a great deal of sugar-cane; also of yams and cassava. It had also a quantity of sweet potatoes. There also, the chickens of Njambo were accustomed to go to scratch for worms among the plants.
At once, Civet exclaimed, “I’ll go no further! I like to eat sugar-cane!” So he went to the plot of cane.
Antelope also said, “I too! I’ll not go any further. I like to eat leaves of potato and cassava.” So he went to the plot of cassava.
And Genet said, “Yes! I see Kuba here! I like to eat Kuba! I’ll go no further!” So, he went after the chickens.
But first, the three had asked Tortoise, “Kudu! what will you do? Have you nothing to eat?” Tortoise answered, “I have nothing to eat. But, I shall await you even two days, and will not complain.” So, Civet remarked, “Yes! I will not soon leave here, till I eat up all this cane. Then I will go back to town.” Antelope also said, “Yes! the same. I will remain here with the potato leaves till I finish them, before I go back.” Genet also said, “Yes! I see many Kuba here. I will stay and finish them.”
Tortoise only said, “I have nothing to say.”
In that plantation was a large tree; and Tortoise went to lie down at its foot.
They were all there about four days, eating and eating. On the fifth day, Njambo’s wife Ivenga in the town said to herself, “I’ll go today, and see about my plantation, how it is.”
She came to the plantation, and when she saw the condition in which it was, she lifted up her voice, and began to wail a lamentation. She saw that but little cane was left, and not much of potatoes. Looking in another part of the plantation, she saw lying there, very many feathers of chickens.
She ran back rapidly to town to tell her husband. But, she was so excited she could scarcely speak. He asked her, “What’s the matter, Ivenga?” She answered, “I have no words to tell you. For, the Plantation is left with no food.” Then, the Man called twenty men of the town; and he said to them, “Take four nets!” They took the nets, and also four dogs, with small bells tied to the necks of the dogs. The men had also guns and spears and machetes in their hands. They followed into the forest; and they came on to three of the Beasts. They came first upon Antelope, with their dogs; and they shot him dead. Then the dogs came on Genet, and they followed him; and soon he was shot with a gun. They came also on Civet, and killed him.
Taking up the carcasses, they said to each other, “Let us go back to town.” On the way, they came to the big Tree, and found Tortoise lying at the base. They took him also, and then went on to their town.
Arrived there, Njambo ordered, “Put Kudu in a house and suspend him from the roof.” Also he ordered, “Take off the skin of Vyâdu and hang it in the house where Kudu is.” He added, “Take off also the skin of Njâbu.” They did so, and they put it into that house. He directed that Genet should also be skinned, and his skin hung in that same house. So, there was left of these beasts in the street, only the flesh of their bodies. These the men cut up and divided among themselves. And they feasted for several days.
On the fourth day afterward, Njambo said to his wife, “I’m going on a visit to a town about three miles away. Do you, while I am away, kill Kudu, and prepare him with ngândâ for me, by my return.” The woman got ready the ngândâ seeds (gourd) for the pudding, and then went into the room to take Tortoise. In the dim light, she lifted up her hand, and found the string that suspended Tortoise.
But, before she untied it, Tortoise said, “Just wait a little.” The woman took away her hand, and stood waiting. Tortoise asked her, “This skin there looks like what?” The woman replied, “A skin of Vyâdu.” And Tortoise inquired, “What did Vyâdu do?” The woman answered, “Vyâdu ate my potatoes in the Plantation, and my husband killed him for it.” Tortoise said, “That is well.”
Then Tortoise again asked, “This other skin is of what animal?” The woman replied, “Of Uhingi.” Tortoise inquired, “What did Uhingi do?” The woman answered, “Uhingi killed and ate my and my husband’s Kuba; and he was killed for that.” Then Tortoise said, “Very good reason!”
Again Tortoise asked the woman, “This other skin?” She answered, “Of Njâbu.” Tortoise asked, “Njâbu, what did he do?” She answered, “Njâbu ate my sugar-cane, and my husband killed him.” Tortoise said, “A proper reason! But, you, you are going to kill me and cook me with ngândâ-pudding. What have I done?” The woman had no reason to give. So she left Tortoise alive, and began to cook the gourd-seeds with fish.
Soon, Njambo himself came back, and his wife set before him the ngândâ and fish. But he objected, “Ah! my wife! I told you to cook Kudu; and you have cooked me fish. Why?” The woman told him, “My husband! first finish this food, and then you and I will go to see about Kudu.” So, Njambo finished eating, and Ivenga removed the plates from the table. Then they two went into the room where Tortoise was suspended.
The woman sat, but Njambo was standing ready to pluck down Tortoise. Then Tortoise said to Njambo, “You, Man! just wait!” The woman also said to Njambo, “My husband! listen to what Kudu says to you.”
Tortoise asked, “You, Man, what skin is this?” Njambo answered, “Of Vyâdu. I killed him on account of this eating my Plantation.” Then Tortoise asked, “And that skin?” Njambo answered, “Of Uhingi; and I killed him for eating my Kuba.” Tortoise again asked, “And this other?” Njambo answered, “Of Njâbu; for eating my sugar-cane.”
Then Tortoise said, “There were four of us in the Plantation. What have I eaten? Tell me. If I have eaten, then I should die.” Njambo told him, “I’ve found no reason against you.” Tortoise then asked, “Then, why should I die?” So, Njambo untied Tortoise from the roof, and said to Ivenga, “Let Kudu go; for, I find no reason against him. Let him go as he pleases.”
So, Ivenga set Tortoise free; and he hasted back to his town in peace.
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NOTE
A portion of this Tale seems to be a version of No. 12.
Leopard and Tortoise built together a large town. Leopard said to Tortoise, “I will live with you, but I shall not be able to eat with you; for, I am a great man, and I eat alone.”
Some time after this, Tortoise went away, and married a wife. One day, his wife being hungry, he went off into the forest to seek food for her. And he found mushrooms. He gathered them; took them and returned with them to the town. There he said to his wife, “Eat!” and she ate.
Some time after this, the woman was about to become a mother. And, on another day, Tortoise went again into the forest to find food for his wife. As before, he gathered mushrooms. But, when he brought them to his wife, she said to him, “I don’t like these things; the same every day!”
So, Tortoise went off again to seek food in the forest. He came near a strange town, and heard voices of Mankind talking. In fear, he hid himself, and watched what would happen. He observed that there were Men going off into the forest, with implements of search for wild animals. He saw them, but kept himself closely hidden.
When they had gone, he came out of his hiding, and went into one of these houses of Men, and sat down there. Then he walked into the rooms. On the shelves of the kitchen, he saw a large quantity of wild meat drying. He took of that meat, and went away with it to his own town.
He found on his arrival that his wife had already borne her child, the little tortoise. When Tortoise showed her the meat, she asked him, “Where did you get all this meat?” He replied evasively, “You told me to get you meat; so I went; and I have come with it.” The woman was glad, and said, “Do so every day!”
So, another time, Tortoise again went off into the forest. And he came to the town of those Men. They were not there; for, they had gone off on their hunting. He went again into their house; took of their meat, and returned to his place. On giving the food to his wife, he said to her, “Do not show Njâ this meat!”
After this, little Tortoise grew, and began to go by itself, walking about the town. Tortoise told the child, “Do not show Njâ the things you eat.” But, the child did not obey. One day, it went off toward Leopard’s house, having in its hand the flesh of the wild animal it was eating. Tortoise saw his child going and called him back, but, he ran rapidly away to Leopard’s; who, seeing the child with food in its hand, cried out, “Come here!” Leopard took hold of the child’s hand to see what meat he was eating, and said to him, “Your father has no gun; where does he get all this meat?” The child was silent, not knowing whence the meat came, and did not answer; and he returned to his father’s house.
So, Leopard said to himself, “Kudu and I must have a talk.” He told his wife to make ready their food. She did so. Then he told one of his children, “Go! call Kudu to come and eat with me.” The child went and told as he was bidden. Tortoise sent word, “I can’t come.” His wife, however, said to him, “Go!” Tortoise objected to her, saying, “I’m afraid of that man!” Still his wife said to him, “Go!” So, he went.
Leopard set out the food that had been prepared. Then he asked Tortoise, “Where did you get the meat which I saw with your child?” Tortoise replied, “I picked it up.” Leopard said, “No! don’t tell lies!” They changed the conversation, and went on eating. When they were done, Tortoise went back to his house.
Next day, Leopard said to his people, “I’m going to visit Kudu.” So he went, and entered into the house of the wife of Tortoise. There he saw much dried wild meat. He exclaimed, “O! Kudu! you told me falsely! You and I living in the same town, can’t you let me know what happens?”
Then Leopard went back to his house. That evening he said to his children, “Go to the house of Kudu. If you see a hunting-bag hanging there, take hold of it; with a knife pierce holes in the bottom; and fill the bag with ashes.” They did so, putting in much ashes. They returned to their father, and told him what they had done. He replied, “Very good!”
That night, Tortoise said to his wife, “Tomorrow, I shall not go out hunting.” But, she said, “Yes! Go! and kill me some animal.” So, he consented.
Then day began to break. Tortoise went into the entrance-room; thence he took his hunting-bag; but, in the dark of the morning, he saw nothing wrong about it. And he went on his way.
Soon, also, Leopard came out of his house; and, going to the house of Tortoise, he inquired, “Kudu is in the house?” The wife of Tortoise from her bed-room, replied, “Kudu is not here.” Then Leopard went into the entrance-room of Tortoise; and looking about, he saw that the bag was not there. So, he followed after Tortoise; and, as he walked, he looked out for marks of the ashes. He followed, and he followed; and finally overtook Tortoise.
Tortoise, as soon as he saw Leopard coming, said to him, “I’m going back to town!” Leopard asked, “Why? Don’t go! Why do you go?” Tortoise, remembering his having said he was “a great man,” answered, “Because you are proud.” But, Leopard insisted, “No! go on where you were going.” So, Tortoise consented, “Well, let us go!”
They went, and came to the town of Men. And they found that the men were gone off into the forest. Tortoise observed that the house was closed and locked. Leopard said to him, “Open the house!” But Tortoise replied, “You, Njâ you open the house!” But, Leopard said, “I am a stranger here; you travel here continually; you know the way!” So, Tortoise opened the house; and they both entered.
Leopard saw the bodies of many wild animals drying in the house. Tortoise said to him, “Carry the meat, and let us go!” But, Leopard said, “No! I’m staying here, and will cook some meat here.” Tortoise objected, “No! take the meat and let us go. For, here are great Men who kill us people.”
However, Leopard insisted, “No! first let me eat.” So, Tortoise said, “Very well! I’ll carry away my share; for, I’m going.” But Leopard still insisted, “No! wait for me.” So, Tortoise yielded, and waited for him in the house.
Leopard cooked his meat. While the pot was on the fire-place, and before he had eaten, suddenly the Men returned. Tortoise exclaimed, “The Men of the Town have returned! What shall we do?” For himself, Tortoise said, “I’m going to hide in the bedroom!” But, Leopard said, “No! I’m the elder; the bedroom is the place for me.” He went into the bedroom. Tortoise remained in the reception-room, and hid himself in a pile of the women’s cassava leaves.
Soon afterward, the Men also came into that room. And a woman said, “I left those leaves here when I was cooking. I must throw them into the back yard.” So, she swept the leaves (with Tortoise unseen among them) in a heap, and threw them out doors.
In the bedroom, where Leopard had hidden, there was a child of this woman, sick with a skin-disease. The woman called out to her child, “My child! are you there?” The child replied, “Yes!” The Men in the entrance-room, observing the pot on the fire, asked the woman, “While we were away, did you leave a kettle on the fire-place?” The woman, thinking the pot belonged to someone else who had been cooking, answered, “No.” The Men then directed her, “Make food for us!” So, she made them food in that pot which Leopard had left, adding other meat to it.
The child in the bedroom, smelling the odor of cooking, called out, “Mother! I want to eat!” So, the mother made food for him. And she took the plate to him, setting it down in the doorway, (but did not enter the room, and so did not see Leopard).
Leopard took the child’s food. The child, in terror, made no out-cry. Leopard ate up all the food. Then the child began to weep. The mother, hearing, asked, “Why do you cry?” The child answered, “For hunger.”
She wondered that that plateful had not been sufficient; but, she made him more food. And she brought it to him into the room, but she did not see the Leopard; nor did the child tell her. She left the food there, and went out. The child was about to take the food to eat it, when Leopard again snatched it away. But, even then, the child, in fear, did not scream out. And Leopard ate all the food.
Then the child began to weep out aloud. The mother again asked, “What do you want?” The child answered, “I want food.” The mother wondered much, and, hastening into the bedroom, she saw Leopard. Then she shouted, “Men! Here’s Njâ!” The men came, and they killed Leopard.
All this while, Tortoise remained hidden in the bushes outside; and he heard all that was happening. He said to himself, “I’m going to town to tell the children of Njâ that he is dead.” So, he went back to his town. At first, he told only his wife, “Men have killed Njâ.” Then he said, “I must now call the children of Njâ.”
So, he called all the people of Leopard. And he said to them, “I will tell you something; but, don’t kill me for my evil news. So, I tell you, Njâ is dead!” They all laughed in derision, as if it was not possible, “We will know about that matter tomorrow!”
And that day darkened. In the evening, Tortoise told his wife and children, “We must flee to another place.” For, he feared that Leopard’s people would charge him with their father’s death. So, that night they fled. And they built their town far away at another place.
When the children of Leopard saw that Tortoise had fled, they believed him guilty; and they said, “The day we shall see Kudu, we will kill him.”
Tortoise and his family had been living at their new place only about a month, when, one day, he said to his family, “I’m going on a journey to the town of Mbâmâ.” So he went to that town. He stayed there visiting about a week. While there, he said to Boa, “If a child of Njâ comes here, hide me.” Shortly afterward, a child of Leopard did come. Boa took Tortoise, and set him for safety on a rock in the middle of the river. Tortoise sat there a long time; and, while there, he laid what looked like an egg. Surprised, he threw it into the water; and it floated away. Finally it came ashore at the landing-place of Crocodile’s town.
Crocodile saw it, and said, “Go, and seek the person who made this thing.” His children went to seek. They journeyed, and found Tortoise, and took him. They brought him to their father, and told him, “This is the person.” Crocodile asked Tortoise, “You made this Thing?” Tortoise said “Yes!” Then Crocodile told him, “Make me many of these Things.” So Tortoise told him, “Bring me here a great many plantains; and arrange the house in order.” Crocodile arranged all the house nicely. Tortoise entered it, and was given an inside room. He remained there in that room all by himself with the plantains.
At last, one day he emerged. And he said to Crocodile, “Send me in company with one of your people across the river.” Crocodile told him, “You yourself name the person who shall go with you.” Tortoise said he wanted Crocodile’s cousin Igwana, who was living there with Crocodile’s people.
So Igwana and Tortoise got into a canoe, and started to cross the river. Crocodile then entered the room where Tortoise had been. Searching there, he did not find any of the Things which Tortoise had promised to make. So Crocodile shouted after Tortoise, whose canoe had not yet crossed the river, to come back. Tortoise heard; and he asked Igwana, “Do you hear how Crocodile is calling to you? Don’t you know what he is saying?” (Natives believe the Igwana to be deaf.) Igwana answered, “No! what does he say?” Tortoise said, “He tells you to paddle faster! Don’t be so slow!” So, Igwana paddled rapidly; and soon his work was finished; and they reached the other side. There, Tortoise got out of the canoe; and he told Igwana to go back. Igwana did so. And Tortoise went on his way.
After a while, a child of Leopard met with Tortoise on the path. The child asked him, “Is not this Kudu?” Tortoise replied, “Yes, I am he.” Then the child of Leopard said to him, “You killed my father! I shall also kill you!” So, he killed Tortoise.
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Leopard and other Beasts, with a son of Leopard’s sister, were residing in the same town. One day, Leopard said to the others, “I have here a word to say.” They replied, “Tell it.” “We must go to kill Beasts (not of our company) for our food, at a place which I will show you a number of miles away.” And they made their arrangements.
After two days, he said, “Now, for the journey!” So they finished their preparations. And Leopard said to his nephew, “You stay in the town. I and the others will go to our work.”
They began their journey, and had gone only a part of the way, when Leopard exclaimed, “I forgot my spear! Wait for me while I go back to the town.” There he found his nephew sitting down, waiting. Leopard said to him, “I have come to tell you that, every day, while we are away, you must come early to where we are killing the animals; and secretly you must take away the meat and bring it here to my house.” The nephew heard and promised.
Leopard returned to the others who were awaiting him on the road, and told them to come on. They went, and they arrived at the spot which he had chosen. There they hastily built a small house for their camp. The next day they said, “Now, let us go and make our snares for the animals.” They began making snares; and set their traps early in the afternoon. A few hours later, they returned to the camp. Later still, before sunset, they said, “Let us go to examine our snares.” They found they had caught an Igwana. They killed it and put it on the drying-frame over the fire in the house.
Then the day darkened. And they went to their sleep.
And then the day broke.
And Leopard said, “While we go to the snares, who shall remain to take care of this house?” They agreed, “Let Etoli stay at the camp.” House-Rat assented, “All right.” So the others went away together.
The camp had been made near a small stream. At that same hour, Leopard’s nephew came to the camp, according to his uncle’s directions. He had in his hands a plate and a drum. He came near to the house cautiously. With the plate he twice swept the surface of the water, as if bailing out a canoe. Rat heard the swish of the water, and called out, “Who is splashing water there? Who is dabbling in this water?” The nephew responded, “It is I, a friend.” And Rat said, “Well, then come.”
The nephew came to the house. After a little conversation, he said to Rat, “I have here a drum, and, while I beat it, you dance for me.” Rat was pleased, and said, “Very well.” So, the nephew beat the drum, and Rat danced. After a while, the nephew said to Rat, “Go you, out into the front, and dance there, while I beat the drum here.” As Rat went out, the nephew snatched the dried meat and ran away with it, suddenly disappearing around a corner of the house. He came to the town, and placed the meat in his own house.
Rat waited a while in the front, and, not hearing the drum came back into the house, and called out, “Chum! where are you?” He looked about, and his eyes falling on the drying-frame, he saw that the dried meat was not there. He began to mourn, “Ah! Leopard will kill me to day, because of the loss of his meat.”
While he was thus speaking, the company of trappers, together with Leopard, came back from their morning’s work. Leopard told Rat all that had occurred to them in the forest at their traps and snares; and then said, “Now, tell me what you have been doing, and the happenings of this camp.” Rat told him, “Some one has come and taken away the dried meat, but I did not see who it was.” Leopard said, “You are full of falsehood. Yourself have eaten it while we were away in the forest.” So, Leopard gave him a heavy flogging. Then they put on the drying-frame the animal they had trapped that day.
The next day they went again to the forest; and Wild-Rat was left in charge of the camp. The nephew came, as on the day before, with his plate and drum, and did in the same way at the water. And he deceived the Wild-Rat with his drumming, in the same way as he had done to House-Rat.
When Leopard and the others came back from the forest, Wild-Rat told him of the loss of the meat; and said that he had seen no one, and did not know who took it. Leopard said to him, “You, Ko, have eaten the meat, just as your relative Etoli ate his yesterday.”
Thus Leopard and his company went each day to the traps. On the third day, Porcupine was caught; on the fourth Gazelle; on the fifth, Ox; on the sixth, Elephant. Beast after beast was caught, killed and dried; and, day by day, the meat of all was stolen. The last to be thus caught and stolen was Tortoise.
The nephew in Leopard’s town, looked with satisfaction on the pile of dried meat that had been collected in his own house. He said to himself, “My uncle told me to gather them; and I have done so. But, I will not put them in Uncle’s house.”
In the camp, there was left only one animal of Leopard’s companions that had not been placed on guard. It was a Bird, a water Wag-tail. It said to Leopard one day, “While you all go on your errand today, I will remain as keeper of the house.” Leopard replied, “No! my friend, I don’t wish you to remain.” (For, Leopard knew that that Bird was very cautious and wise, more so than some other animals.) Nevertheless, they went, leaving the Bird in charge of the house.
The nephew came, as usual, with his plate and drum. He splashed the water of the stream as usual, to see whether there was anyone in the house to respond. And the Bird asked, “Who are you?” The nephew answered, in a humble voice, “I.” He came on through the stream, on his way, catching two cray-fish. He entered the house, and he said to the Bird, “Get me some salt, and a leaf in which to tie and roast these cray-fish.” When the Bird gave him the leaf, he tied them in it, and laid the small bundle on the coals on the fire-place. But he at once took up the bundle, opened it, and ate the fish, before they were really cooked. The Bird said to him, “Those fish were not yet cooked. Your stomach is like your Uncle Njâ’s. Both you and your Uncle like to eat things raw.”
The Bird at once suspected that the nephew was the thief. When the nephew said, “I have here a drum,” Bird at once, as if very willing, replied, “Drum! I want to dance.” The nephew was standing in the front with his drum, and he said to Bird, “Come and dance out here; for, the drum sounds much better outside.” But the Bird said, “I will not dance in the same place with you.” The nephew then said, “Well, then; change places; you come here, and I go into the house.” But the Bird refused, “No! I stay in the house.”
Most of the morning was thus spent by the nephew trying to deceive the Bird, and get into the house alone. Finally, the nephew wearied, and gave up the effort and left.
Soon the company of trappers with Leopard returned from the forest. He told the Bird all the news of their forest work. Looking at the drying-frames, Leopard saw that the dried meat was still there. He thought in his heart, “My nephew has not come today to get this meat.”
The Bird then told Leopard all the news of the camp, and how the nephew had been acting. At the last, he exclaimed, “So! it is your nephew who has been coming here every day to take away the dried meat!” And all the animals agreed, “So! so! that’s so!” But Leopard replied, “I don’t believe it. But, let us adjourn and examine.” (He supposed the meat was hidden in his own house, and would not be discovered.)
They all scattered, and hastened to their town. There they entered the nephew’s house; and there they found a great pile of dried meat. They proved the theft on Leopard himself, pointing out, “Here is the very meat in the house of one of your own family. We are sure that you yourself made the conspiracy with your nephew for him to do the stealing for you.” And they all denounced him, “You are a thief and a liar! You shall not join with us any more in the same town.”
Leopard went away in wrath saying, “Do you prove it on me? Well then! all you beasts, whenever and wherever I shall meet you, it will be only to eat you!”
So, leopards are always enemies to all other animals, and they kill them whenever they are able.
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NOTE
In Tropical Africa, it is not usual to retain a corpse unburied as long as 24 hours. Bat retained his mother’s corpse too long. The “Driver” Ants of that country are natural scavengers.
A reason why bats are not seen in the day time:—Also, why they make their plaintive cry at night, as if they were calling for their mother.
Bat lived at a place by itself, with only its mother. Shortly after their settling there, the mother became sick, very near to death. Bat called for Antelope, and said to him, “Make medicine for my mother.” Antelope looked steadily at her to discern her disease. Then he told Bat, “There is no one who can make the medicine that will cure your mother, except Joba.” Having given this information, Antelope returned to his own place.
On another day, early in the morning, Bat arose to go to call Sun. He did not start until about seven o’clock. He met Sun on the road about eleven o’clock. And he said to Sun, “My journey was on the way to see you.” Sun told him, “If you have a word to say, speak!” So Bat requested, “Come! make Medicine for my mother. She is sick.” But Sun replied, “I can’t go to make medicine unless you meet me in my house; not here on the road. Go back; and come to me at my house tomorrow.” So, Bat went back to his town.
And the day darkened. And they all slept their sleep.
And the next day broke. At six o’clock, Bat started to go to call Sun. About nine o’clock, he met Sun on the path; and he told Sun what he was come for. But Sun said to him, “Whenever I emerge from my house, I do not go back, but I keep on to the end of my journey. Go back, for another day.” Bat returned to his town.
He made other journeys in order to see Sun at his house, five successive days; and every day he was late, and met Sun already on the way of his own journey for his own business.
Finally, on the seventh day, Bat’s mother died. Then Bat, in his grief, said, “It is Joba who has killed my mother! Had he made medicine for me, she would have recovered.”
Very many people came together that day in a crowd, at the Kwedi (mourning) for the dead. The wailing was held from six o’clock in the morning until eleven o’clock of the next day. At that hour, Bat announced, “Let her be taken to the grave.” He called other Beasts to go into the house together with him, in order to carry the corpse. They took up the body, and carried it on the way to the grave.
On their arrival at the grave, these Beasts said to Bat, “We have a rule that, before we bury a person, we must first look upon the face.” (To identify it). So, they opened the coffin. When they had looked on the face, they said, “No! we can’t bury this person; for, it is not our relative, it does not belong to us Beasts. This person indeed resembles us in having teeth like us. And it also has a head like us. But, that it has wings, makes it look like a bird. It is a bird. Call for the Birds! We will disperse.” So, they dispersed.
Then Bat called the Birds to come. They came, big and little; Pelicans, Eagles, Herons and all the others. When they all had come together, they said to Bat, “Show us the dead body.” He told them, “Here it is! Come! look upon it!” They looked and examined carefully. Then they said, “Yes! it resembles us; for, it has wings as we. But, about the teeth, No! We birds, none of us, have any teeth. This person does not resemble us with those teeth. It does not belong to us.” And all the Birds stepped aside.
During the while that the talking had been going on, Ants had come and laid hold of the body, and could not be driven away. Then one of the Birds said to Bat, “I told you, you ought not to delay the burial, for, many things might happen.” The Ants had eaten the body and there was no burial. And all the birds and beasts went away.
Bat, left alone, said to himself, “All the fault of all this trouble is because of Joba. If he had made medicine, my mother would not be dead. So, I, Ndemi, and Joba shall not look on each other. We shall have no friendship. If he emerges, I shall hide myself. I won’t meet him or look at him.” And he added, “I shall mourn for my mother always. I will make no visits. I will walk about only at night, not in the daytime, lest I meet Joba or other people.”
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NOTE
In the pre-historic times, from which these tales come, all animals, both human and (what we now call) the lower animals, were supposed to associate together, even in marriage. This son Mbwa, in form (and speaking also) like what we now call a “Dog,” spoke also with human speech. The reason is here given why this ancestor of Dogs left the country of the Beasts. But, though Dogs now live with Mankind, they cannot use human speech as their ancestor did. They can only say “Ow! Ow!”
Dog and his mother were the only inhabitants of their hamlet. He had the power to speak both as a beast and as a human being.
One day the mother said to the son, “You are now a strong man; go, and seek a marriage. Go, and marry Eyâle, the daughter of Njambo.” And he said to his mother, “I will go tomorrow.”
That day darkened. And they both went to lie down in their places for sleep.
Then soon, another day began to break.
Dog said to his mother, “This is the time of my journey.” It was about sun-rise in the morning. And he began his journey. He went the distance of about eight miles; and arrived at the journey’s end before the middle of the morning.
He entered the house of Njambo, the father of Eyâle. Njambo and his wife saluted him, “Mbolo!” and he responded, “Ai! mbolo!” Njambo asked him, “My friend! what is the cause of your journey?” Dog, with his animal language, answered, “I have come to marry your daughter Eyâle.” Njambo consented; and the mother of the girl also agreed. They called their daughter, and asked her; and she also replied, “Yes! with all my heart.” This young woman was of very fine appearance in face and body. So, all the parties agreed to the marriage.
After that, about sun-set in the evening, when they sat down at supper, the son-in-law, Dog, was not able to eat for some unknown reason.
That day darkened; and they went to their sleep.
And, then, the next daylight broke. But, by an hour after sunrise in the morning, Dog had not risen; he was still asleep.
The mother of the woman said to her, “Get some water ready for the washing of your husband’s face, whenever he shall awake.” She also said to her daughter, “I am going to go into the forest to the plantation to get food for your husband; for, since his coming, he has not eaten. Also, here is a chicken; the lads may kill and prepare it. But, you yourself must split ngândâ (gourd-seeds, whose oily kernels are mashed into a pudding).” She handed Eyâle the dish of gourd-seeds, and went off into the forest. Njambo also went away on an errand with his wife. The daughter took the dish of seeds, and, sitting down, began to shell them. As she shelled, she threw the kernels on the ground, but the shells she put on a plate.
Shortly after the mother had gone, Dog woke from sleep. He rose from his bed, and came out to the room where his wife was, and stood near her, watching her working at the seeds. He stood silent, looking closely, and observed that she was still throwing away the kernels, the good part, and saving the shells on the plate. He spoke to her with his human voice, “No! woman! not so! Do you throw the good parts, to the ground, and the worthless husks onto the plate?”
While he was thus speaking to his wife, she suddenly fell to the ground. And at once she died. He laid hold of her to lift her up. But, behold! she was a corpse.
Soon afterwards, the father and the mother came, having returned from their errands. They found their child a corpse; and they said to Dog, “Mbwa! What is this?” He, with his own language replied, “I cannot tell.” But, they insisted, “Tell us the reason!”
So Dog spoke with his human voice, “You, Woman, went to the forest while I was asleep. You, Man, you also went in company of your wife, while I was asleep. When I rose from sleep, I found my wife was cracking ngândâ. She was taking the good kernels to throw on the ground, and was keeping the shells for the plate. And I spoke and told her, ‘The good kernels which you are throwing on the ground are to be eaten, not the husks.’ ”
While he was telling them this, they too, also fell to the ground, and died, apparently without cause.
When the people of the town heard about all this, they said, “This person carries an evil Medicine for killing people. Let him be seized and killed!”
So Dog fled away rapidly into the forest; and he finally reached the hamlet of his mother. His body was scratched and torn by the branches and thorns of the bushes of the forest, in his hasty flight. His mother exclaimed, “Mbwa! What’s the matter? Such haste! and your body so disordered!” He replied, using their own language, “No! I won’t tell you. I won’t speak.” But, his mother begged him, “Please! my child! tell me!” So, finally, he spoke, using his strange voice, and said, “My mother! I tell you! Njambo and his wife liked me for the marriage; and the woman consented entirely. I was at that time asleep, when the Man and his wife went to the forest. When I rose from my sleep, I found the woman Eyâle cracking ngândâ, and throwing away the kernels, and keeping the husks. And I told her, ‘The good ones which you are throwing away are the ones to be eaten.’ And, at once she died.”
While he was speaking thus to his mother, she also fell dead on the ground. The news was carried to the town of Dog’s mother’s brother, and very many people came to the Mourning. His Uncle came to Dog, and said, “Mbwa! what is the reason of all this?” But Dog would not answer. He only said, “No! I won’t speak.” Then they all begged him, “Tell us the reason.” But he replied only, “No! I won’t speak.”
Finally, as they urged him, he chose two of them, and said to the company, “The rest of you remain here, and watch while I go and speak to these two.” Then Dog spoke to those two men with the same voice as he had to his mother. And, at once they died, as she had died. Then he exclaimed, “Ah! No! If I speak so, people will come to an end!” And all the people agreed, “Yes, Mbwa! it is so. Your human speech kills us people. Don’t speak any more.”
And he went away to live with Mankind.
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NOTE
Some African ant-hills are built in upright pillars, varying in diameter from 3 to 10 inches, and in height from 1 ft. to 3 ft.
The bearing of a monstrosity formerly was punished (and in some tribes still) by driving the mother into seclusion in the forest, and generally with killing of the child. In some tribes, twins were considered monstrosities.
The “Heart-beat” of Nyangwa-Mbwa was the commonly believed premonition of coming evil.
There are many kinds of food, of which women are not allowed to partake.
Though the three sisters were daughters of the same mother, the jealousy of two of them for the other one led them to hatred, and an attempt at murder. Their curse laid on Mbwa caused him to be a speechless beast; for, previous to that, he was talking as a human being. “Heart-life” is an entity distinct from both Body and Soul.
Njambu married a woman named Nyangwa-Mbwa. She bore a creature that looked like no animal that existed at that time. But, because he spoke as a human being, he was not considered a Beast. He was given part of his mother’s name, Mbwa.
Njambu added other marriages. Among them he obtained three women, each one of whom had a special office. That of Majanga was to keep things clean. That of Inyanji for planting. Mamĕndi said that her work should be to bear twins. Now, these three women were sisters. The other two were jealous of Mamĕndi, because her work was greater and more honorable than theirs.
In the course of time, Mamĕndi conceived; her pregnancy went regularly on. And the time for her confinement came. Majanga and Inyanji went to deliver her. But they tied a napkin over her face, and covered her eyes lest she should see what they would do to her. When the time of the birth was at hand, she bore twins.
Then Inyanji and Majanga threw the twins into the pig-pen. And they took two ant-hills (slender conical structures). They smeared them with blood. And they went and showed them to Njambu as the things which Mamĕndi had borne. Njambu said, “Go! and throw those things into the forest.”
But Mbwa was going about; and as he went, he was scenting, till he came to the pig-pen; and he saw the twins. He took them, and carried them to his mother in their hut, which was isolated from the town. When the two women had left the twins in the pig-pen, their intention was that the pigs might kill them; and the women did not know that Mbwa had removed them. The twins stayed with Nyangwa-Mbwa, and she fed them and nursed them.
But, when Majanga and Inyanji heard that those children were in the hamlet of Mbwa’s mother, they said, “We will go there tomorrow.”
Early in the morning, Nyangwa-Mbwa had gone to the forest to her garden. When the two women came, they found the twins lying down. So, they struck them a blow; and they died.
The while that Nyangwa-Mbwa was in the forest, her heart beat with anxiety. She at once picked up her basket, and came to her village, and found the corpses of both the twins. Then she began to cry.
Mbwa also came, and found the dead bodies stretched out. Right away, he knew what had happened. So he went to the Prophet Totode, and inquired what he should do. Totode asked him, “Are you able to go to the town of Doctor Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato? (Hunger-for-the-hearts-of-people).” He agreed “Yes, I will go there.” Then he went to the town of the Doctor.
A child of the Doctor spoke to Mbwa, and asked, “What have you come to do?” He answered, “I have come to seek heart-life; because my father’s wives have killed from me two children.”
Already Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato had gone to kill people for himself. In a little while he returned and suddenly, pieces of meat (from the dead bodies) began to fall, kidi! kidi! being thrown out on the ground in the street. Mbwa, awaiting a chance, hid himself under a bed.
Then came the Doctor bringing in the heart-lives of the men he had killed. Mbwa, without permission, seized two of the hearts, and ran out quickly. Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato followed after him, running rapidly, da! da! da! But he did not overtake Mbwa.
Mbwa ran in haste with the hearts, on to his village. There he thrust the new lives into the children. The twins arose again to life and stood, to show themselves, and then they sat down.
Those twins went on growing, and became stout young men.
One day they said to Mbwa, “We want guns.” He went to his father, in the town, and said, “I want two guns.” His father produced two guns for him. He took them, went to his home, and handed them to the twins. Then they tried the guns, and loaded them.
Next day, in the morning, they went out early to hunt; they killed two gazelles; and they took them to their village. Mbwa cut up one of the beasts; and he said to his mother, “Cook it.” Then he took the other one to his father. His father cut it up; and he called Majanga and Inyanji; and, dividing the meat, he said to them, “Go ye, and cook these in the pot, and those in a jomba.” (Mbwa himself was still in the house watching them.) They boiled, and cooked; they put in the salt and pepper; and were about to taste the soup when Mbwa said, “Not so! This meat is not to be eaten by women.”
They took the food to the Reception-house, where their husband Njambu ate; and he laid aside some for them. But, what he laid aside for those women, Mbwa drew away and ate. Then he returned to his home. His mother made food; and they ate, all four of them.
Next morning, the twins returned to their hunting. They killed also three antelopes, and they carried them to take them to their home, and left them in the path on the way outside of the village. In the village, they said to Mbwa, “Go, and bring the beasts from the forest.”
Mbwa started, and brought them to the village. He carried two to his father. His brothers exclaimed, “Where does Mbwa kill all those animals?” His father cut up the animals, and divided one with his children. He cut up the other, saying, “This belongs to myself.” Then he prepared some to be cooked in momba (bundles tied in plantain leaves), and some to be dried, and some to be boiled.
The women boiled the food (Mbwa still watching them). When it was cooked, they lifted up the pot from the fire, and they were about to taste it, when Mbwa said, “No! you must not taste it!” They put it in bowls, and set the food before their husband; and he ate. When he was about to give some to his wives, Mbwa said, “Not so!”
The twins continued with their hunting just the same as at the first. Almost every day they were killing some animal. And Mbwa continued also with carrying meat to the town of his father.
Finally, the twins became full-grown men. Then Mbwa said to himself, “Now, I’m ready to bring this matter to the ears of the people.” When another day came, he said to his father, “Tomorrow, call all the people of the town together, in the afternoon.”
On the next day, his father did so. Mbwa dressed the twins very finely; and brought out three chairs, two for the twins, and one for his mother. All the people collected together. Thereupon, he brought forward his mother, and the twins. The people fixed their eyes on them; for they had not seen them in their little hamlet in the forest. The people exclaimed, “What fine-looking persons!”
Then Mbwa stood up. He said, “Ye people! I have called you all that ye may recognize these two young men.” The people said that they did not know them. He continued, “These are my father’s children. For, my father had married these three women. Also, they had three duties; Majanga, her duty of keeping the house clean; Inyanji, her duty of planting; and Mamĕndi’s was the bearing of twins. Mamĕndi became a mother. On the day of her confinement, her two sisters went to deliver her. They took a napkin and covered her eyes. And she bore these two twins. They threw them inside the pig-pen. And they took two small earthen pillars instead, and they went and showed them to their husband. Then, I entered the pig-pen; and I took these children out; and brought them to my mother. So, these children grew up. And they began hunting. You, my father, you remember when I brought you the wild meat, and you were about to give to these women; but, I went and took away the food. The reason is, because they are the ones who tried to kill the children. I brought them up from childhood to be men as now. So, this caused me to bring this case before the presence of all people; for, I say that those two women were murderesses. So, then, my father, these are your children; but, if you retain those women, these two twins shall not be your sons.”
Upon this, the father of Mbwa said, “Catch ye both of the women!” And they were bound in that self-same hour. (They had supposed that the twins had died when they had struck them in the hamlet of Mbwa’s mother.) They could not deny. In their anger, as they were led away, they called out to Mbwa, “Mbwa-O!” He assented, “Eh? What is it?” They replied in anger, for having informed on them. And they laid a curse on him, saying, “You will never speak again with the voice of a human being. You shall be a dumb beast.”
But, the people took them, to be thrown into the depth of the sea.