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
Tortoise looked and saw Leopard coming, and observed that his face
was full of wrath. He feared, but said to himself, "If I flee,
Njegâ will catch me. I will go forward and try artifice." As he
approached Leopard, the latter was very angry, and said, "You play
with me! You say you have not married the woman I wanted. Tell me
the truth!" Tortoise again swore an oath, "No! I have not married
the woman! I told you I ate mushrooms, and offered to show you;
and you refused." So Leopard said, "Well, then, vomit." Tortoise
bent over, and vomited and vomited mushrooms and mushrooms; and then
said triumphantly, "So! Njegâ you see!" Leopard looked, and said,
"But, Ekaga, your belly is still full,--go on vomiting." Tortoise
tried to excuse himself, "I have done vomiting." Leopard persisted,
"No! keep on at it." Tortoise went on retching; and a box of goods fell
out of his mouth. Leopard still said, "Go on!" and Tortoise vomited
in succession a table and other furniture. He was compelled to go on
retching; and slaves came out. And at last, up was vomited the woman!
Leopard shouted, "Ah! Ekaga! you lied! You said you had not married! I
will take this woman!" And he took her, sarcastically saying, "Ekaga,
you have done me a good work! You have brought me all these things,
these goods, and slaves, and a wife! Thank you!"
Tortoise thought to himself, "I have no strength for war." So, though
anger was in his heart, he showed no displeasure in his face. And they
all went on together toward their town. With wrath still in his heart,
he went clear on to the town, and then made his complaint to each of
the townspeople. But they all were afraid of Leopard, and said nothing,
nor dared to give Tortoise even sympathy.
There was in that country among the mountains, an enormous Goat. The
other beasts, all except Leopard, were accustomed to go to that Goat,
when hungry, and say, "We have no meat to eat." And the Goat allowed
them to cut pieces of flesh from his body. He could let any part of
the interior of his body be taken except his heart. All the Animals
had agreed among themselves not to tell Leopard where they got their
meat, lest he, in his greediness, would go and take the heart. So
they had told him they got their meat as he did, hunting.
Tortoise, angry because Leopard has taken his wife, said to himself,
"I will make a cause of complaint against Njegâ that shall bring
punishment upon him from our King. I will cause Njegâ to kill that
Goat." On another day, Tortoise went and got meat from the Goat, and
came back to town, and did not hide it from Leopard. Leopard said to
him, "Ekaga! where did you get this meat?" Tortoise whispered, "Come
to my house, and I will tell you." They went. And Tortoise divided
the meat with him, and said, "Do not tell on me: but, we get the meat
off at a great Goat. Tomorrow, I go; and you, follow behind me."