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
Leopard boiled the kettle. It was cooked; and he said to Gazelle, "Go,
cut down a bunch of plantains, out there in the back-yard." (This he
said, hoping that Gazelle would fall into that pit, either in going
out or coming in.) But, Gazelle said, "I? When the town's people hear
the strokes of the machete, and the crash of the fall of the bunch,
then, will they not suspect me, and say, 'What meat has Iheli killed,
that he is cutting down a plantain at night?' Cut it yourself." Leopard
went and cut down a bunch of plantains, and said to Gazelle, "Now,
come and peel the plantains, and cook them." Gazelle refused, "No;
do you peel and cook. I'm in bed. I'll eat only greens." Then Leopard
said (making a last effort to get Gazelle into the pit), "Well, go to
the back-yard, and pluck pepper for the soup." Gazelle again refused,
"No; when the town's-people hear the plucking of the pods, will they
not say, 'What animal has Iheli killed that he is gathering pepper
for the soup?'"
Finally, Leopard, having done all the work, and finished cooking,
and set the table, said, "Come, Iheli, I have finished all. Come, and
eat." Gazelle came, but said, "First, put out all the lights." Leopard
did so. And Gazelle added, "We will understand that whichever, at the
close of the meal, has the largest pile of bones by his plate, shall
be known as the one who killed the woman." Leopard agreed. The light
having been extinguished, they ate in darkness. But, while they were
eating, Gazelle chose only the bony pieces that had little meat; and,
having picked them, he quietly laid the bones by Leopard's plate. When
they had finished eating, the torches were re-lighted, and Gazelle
cried out at Leopard's big pile of bones. They were counted. And
Gazelle said, "Did you not say that whoever had the most bones would
prove himself the murderer? So! indeed! you are the one who killed
another person's child!"