Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales
John Stuart Mill · en
Then all the Beasts came to meet in the town of Tortoise. It was full
of every kind of beast. Tortoise spoke, and said, "I have called you
to say, that really we are not worth anything at all. Actually, the
only dwelling we have is in the grave. All those my children who have
died here, is it possible that it is my Father (of Spirits) who takes
them? I met them sitting down in the Reception-House of that father,
playing." The people said to him, "This is a Dream." He replied,
"No! it is open to sight." Some said, "It is a lie." But Tortoise
said, "You have doubted me? Well, tomorrow you must dig me a grave;
and you shall see how I am going." They said, "Yes! let us see!"
On the next day, in the morning, they were called together. He said,
"Dig me a pit here." (He pointed to the privately measured spot over
the tunnel which Wild-Rat had already made for him.) They dug it wide
and deeply. Then, this Tortoise took his spears and his bag; and with
these under his arm, he descended into the pit, and bade the people
fill in the earth. He went to one side, until he reached and entered
that tunnel of his which Wild-Rat had dug for him. And unseen he passed
up to his room in his house, and lay down. Before that, he had promised
the people, saying, "I shall lie there (in the pit) for six days."
Before Tortoise had disappeared, the people (following his orders)
began to throw back the earth into the pit, filling it solidly.
After Tortoise had laid in his house for six days, he suddenly
appeared in the street; and he called all the mass of the Beasts,
and he told them the news. He said, "Over there is so beautiful! I
will not stay in this town any more for as long as ten days. But,
as I am here, I shall lie here only for three days, and two days over
there." At once Tortoise was regarded as a person of great importance,
and his fame was spread abroad.
Thereupon, Leopard, (feeling jealous of the wonderful experience of
Tortoise) said to his children, "Even Kudu! How much rather that I
should get to that beautiful place! Dig me mine own pit. I also am
going to see my forefathers. I and they, we have not seen each other
for a long time." So, they dug a big pit. He announced, "I will lie
there for seven days; on the eighth, then I shall come."
Then he descended into the pit. And they rapidly filled it up with
earth. Leopard, below, sought a cavity by which to pass on (as he
thought) to the Land of Spirits; but, there was none. And he died.
His children waited eight days; but they saw not their father. Then
they asked Tortoise, "As to our father, up to this day, what has
happened to him?" Tortoise answered them, "Why are you asking me
this? When I went, what did my family ask of you? Maybe, your father
remained to follow the pleasures of over there!"