Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore TalesNassau, Robert Hamill
Philosophy
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales
Nassau, Robert Hamill
Animals -- Folklore; Tales -- Africa, West
On the next day, before the Ngwai (a Bird, that announces the first
coming of daylight) had sounded, Tortoise went out clear on to
where was that giant Goat. He spoke, as on his previous journey,
"O! Mbodi! Friend of the Creator! open for me the house!" It at
once opened the aperture; he entered in; and began to slice pieces
of meat from the Goat's inside. When he had finished, he said,
"Open for me the house!" It opened the aperture; and he emerged
and went back to his town. There he spoke to his women, saying,
"Cook ye!" They boiled the meat; it was cooked; he invited Leopard;
they ate; and finished. And Leopard went back to his house.
But, when night came, Leopard took ashes, and, going to the house
of Tortoise, thrust the ashes into Tortoise's traveling-bag, and
stabbed holes in it. Said he to himself, "When Tortoise carries it,
then the ashes will fall down." This he did, so that he might follow
to the place where Tortoise would go.
Next day, Tortoise was up at the same time with the first Ngwai. And
at daybreak, Leopard followed, observing the ground closely with
his eyes; and he saw the ashes. The fellow, at once, went on his
journey, striding quickly, quickly, until he reached to where the
great Goat was standing. It explained to him, as it had to Tortoise,
its use, and invited him to enter. Said he, "O! Mbodi of my father
Njambe! open to me the house!" And It opened the hole. He entered;
and he discovered Tortoise cutting meat. Tortoise was displeased,
and said to him, "Chum! is that the way you do?" They cut pieces of
meat, they got ready, and they went back to town.
The next day, although Tortoise was vexed at Leopard, they started
together on their journey; and they arrived at the Goat. They said
as before, "O! Mbodi! Friend! open to us the house!" It opened the
aperture; and they entered. Tortoise warned Leopard, "Chum! Njâ! don't
touch the heart!" They cut meat. Then Leopard said that he was going
to lay hold of the heart. But Tortoise said, "No!" Leopard cut and
cut, and was going on to the heart. Tortoise again said to him, "Not
so!" They went on cutting. Finally Leopard laid hold of the heart! The
Goat at once made a great outcry, "Ma-a! Mba-a!" and died instantly.
The people of the town that was near by, heard, and they said, "The
Mbodi! what has happened to it? Young men! go ye! Hasten ye! for,
that Mbodi is crying!" They went, and discovered the body of the Goat
stretched out. They went back to the town and told the people that,
"The Mbodi is dead!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account