Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales

John Stuart Mill · en
Then Porcupine, in fear went out, running, going to the town of
Hog. Whereupon Hog, being startled, asked him, "Chum! what is it?" He
answered him, "I'm afraid of Ikingi. Ngomba says that he is the one
who causes both Beasts and Mankind to rot."

Hog at once ran out in terror, and went to a river with all his
family. And the water of the river was promptly crowded out, leaving
its channel dry.

Then the Fishes (mistaking this motion of the water) arose in haste,
saying, "The people who bail the river have come!" And they fled.

Then Crocodile opened his mouth wide; and the fishes in their flight
began to enter into his stomach. Among them was ingongo-Kenda (a young
kenda; a fish with spines like a catfish). When Crocodile was about
to swallow, the spines caught fast in his throat. And Crocodile died
at once.

Then the Fishes sang a song of rejoicing.

   "Ngando, with stealing,
    Ngando died by a sting in his throat."

Such was the death that Crocodile died, on account of his attempt
to swallow Fishes, who had rushed into his open mouth, as they fled,
alarmed by the confusion raised by the panic of the other animals.

TALE 31

A FAMILY QUARREL

Persons

    Iheli (Gazelle)
    Njâ (Leopard)

NOTE

Among native Africans, in the case of a man and his wife, even
if they fight together, her father or her brother usually do not
interfere. For, every man who is married knows that his own wife will
some day offend himself.

Gazelle and Leopard built a town; living this one at his end of it;
that one at the other end. After they had built; they cleared the
forest for plantations; they married wives; and they sat down,
resting in their seats.

Gazelle had married the sister of Leopard who was of a proud
disposition. And Leopard had publicly threatened, "The person who
makes trouble for my sister, I will show him a thing."

One day, the sister of Leopard began to give Gazelle some
impertinence. Gazelle said to her, "Shut your mouth!" She replied, "I
won't shut it!" Gazelle threatened, "Lest I beat you!" She dared him,
"Come and beat me! You will see my brother coming to chew you!" Gazelle
ran after her, struck her, ndo! and knocked her to the ground, ndi! As
she lay there, he kept on beating her, and beating her, and shouting,
"Who has married! Who has not married?"

Leopard bristled up his whole mane, full of anger, and was about to
go to Gazelle's end of the town to fight. But the older people said
to him, "You hear what Iheli says, 'Who has not married'?"

Leopard was at once disheartened. He saw there was no place for his
bravery in a matter of marriage.

TALE 32

THE GIANT GOAT

Persons

    Kudu (Tortoise)
    Njâ (Leopard)
    A Giant Goat (Mbodi)
    Ngweya (Hog)
    Betoli (Rats)
    Ngwai (Partridge)

NOTE