The Bantu Language has very many dialects, having the same grammatical construction, but differing in their vocabulary. The name of the same animal therefore differs in the three typical Tribes mentioned in these Tales; e.g., Leopard, in Mpongwe, equals Njegâ; in Benga, equals Njâ; and in Fang, equals Nze. PRONUNCIATION In all the dialects of the Bantu language, consonants are pronounced, as in English; except that g is always hard. The vowels are pronounced as in the following English equivalent:-- a as in father e.g., Kabala â as in awe e.g., Njâ. e as in they e.g., Ekaga. e as in met e.g., Njegâ. i as in machine e.g., Njina. o as in note e.g., Kombe. u as in rule e.g., Kuba. A before y is pronounced ai as a diphthong, e.g., Asaya. Close every syllable with a vowel, e.g., Ko-ngo. Where two or more consonants begin a syllable, a slight vowel sound may be presupposed, e.g., Ngweya, as if iNgweya. Ng has the nasal sound of ng in "finger," as if fing-nger, (not as in "singer,") e.g., Mpo-ngwe. CONTENTS PART FIRST Mpongwe Tribe TALE PAGE 1 Do not Trust your Friend 13 2 Leopard's Hunting-Camp 18 3 Tests of Death: 1st Version 25 2nd Version 27 4 Tasks done for a Wife; and, The Giant Goat 30 5 A Tug-of-War 37 6 Agenda: Rat's Play on a Name 41 7 "Nuts are Eaten Because of Angângwe": A Proverb 49 8 Who are Crocodile's Relatives? 53 9 Who is King of Birds? and, Why Chickens live with Mankind 54 10 "Njiwo Died of Sleep:" A Proverb 58 11 Which is the Fattest:--Manatus, Hog, or Oyster? 60 12 Why Mosquitoes Buzz 62 13 Unkind Criticism 63 14 The Suitors of Princess Gorilla 65 15 Leopard of the Fine Skin 68 16 Why the Plantain-Stalk Bears but One Bunch 76 PART SECOND Benga Tribe