Early the next morning, with the other end of the broken vine, he went to visit Hippopotamus, who looked sick, and was rubbing his head, and asked, "Ngubu! How do you feel, Mwera?" Hippopotamus answered, "Really! Ekaga! so we are equals! I, Ngubu, so great! And you, Ekaga, so small! We pulled and pulled. I could not surpass you, nor you me. And when the vine broke, I fell and hurt my head. So, indeed strength has no greatness of body." Tortoise and Hippopotamus ate and drank and played; and Tortoise returned to his town. After that, whenever they three and others met to talk in palaver (council) the three sat together on the highest seats. Were they equal? Yes, they were equal. TALE 6 AGENDA: RAT'S PLAY ON A NAME Persons Njegâ (Leopard) Ntori (Rat) Rângi (Frog) Igâmbâ (Crab) NOTE In native African etiquette, a company of persons is saluted with the use of the verb in the plural; but only the oldest, or the supposed leader, if his name is known, is mentioned by name. The native custom among polite tribes, is to leave a guest to eat without being watched. The twitching of a muscle of an arm, or any other part of the body (called okalimambo) is regarded as a sign of coming evil. Compare Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1. "By the pricking of my thumb Something wicked this way comes." The absurd and the unreasonable (e.g., the swallowing of a wife, goats, servants, etc.) are a constant feature of the native legends in their use of the impossible. All native Africans have more than one name, and often change their names to suit circumstances. But, while all their names have a meaning (just as our English names, "Augustus," "Clara," etc.) those meanings are not thought of when denominating an individual; e.g., "Bwalo" which means canoe. Leopards do not like to wet their feet. Leopard wanted a new wife. So he sought for a young woman of a far country, of whom he heard as a nice girl, a daughter of one of the Kings of that country. He did not go himself, but sent word, and received answer by messenger. Neither the woman nor her father had ever seen Leopard. They knew of him only by reputation. The King was pleased with the proposed alliance, and assented, saying, "Yes! I am willing. Go! get yourself ready, and come with your marriage company." So Leopard went around and invited many other beasts, "Come! and help me get a new one!" They all replied, "Yes!" And they all started together for the King's town. When they had gone half-way, one of their number, a big forest Rat said, "Brothers! let us begin here to change our names, so that when we get to the town, we shall not be known by our usual names." But Leopard refused, "No! I won't! I stick by my old name. My name is Njegâ." All the others said the same, and retained their own names. But Rat insisted for himself, "I will not be called Ntori. I will be called 'Strangers.' My name is Agenda," (the plural of ogenda which means "stranger").