One time, at night, Leopard came to the town of Man, in pursuit of Goat. But Man said to Leopard, "Those Beasts whom you killed, failed to find a way in which to kill you. But, if you come here, we will find a way." So, that night, Leopard went back to his village. On another day, Mankind began to make a big trap, with two rooms in it. They took Goat and put him in one room of the trap. Night came. Leopard left his village, still going to seek for Goat; and he came again to the town of Man. Leopard stood still, listened, and sniffed the air. He smelled the odor of Goat, and was glad, and said, "So! this night I will kill him!" He saw an open way to a small house. He thought it was a door. He entered, and was caught in the trap. He could see Goat through the cracks in the wall, but could not get at him. Goat jeered at him, "My friend! you were about to kill me, but you are unable." Daybreak came. And people of Man's town found Leopard in the trap, caught fast. They took machetes and guns, and killed him. Then Man said to Goat, "You shall not go back to the Forest; remain here always." This is the reason that Goats like to live with mankind, through fear of Leopards. TALE 8 IGWANA'S FORKED TONGUE Persons Ngâmbi (Igwana) Njâ (Leopard) Betoli (Rats) Vyâdu (Antelope) Iheli (Gazelle) Ehibo (Red Antelope) NOTE Natives believe that the Igwana kills with its long tongue. This story assigns the fear of leopards as a reason why Igwanas like to live near water. Igwanas swim readily, while leopards (as all the cat-tribe) do not like even to wet their feet. There were two friends, Igwana and Leopard, living in the same village, one at each end. Igwana had six wives; Leopard also had six. Leopard begot twenty children; Igwana had eight. One time, at night, they were sitting with their wives and children in the street, in a conversation. Leopard said to Igwana, "Ngâmbi! I have a word to say to you." Igwana said, "Speak." Then Leopard said, "I wish you and me to have our food together." Igwana agreed, "Well." And Leopard arranged, "For two months, you shall come and eat in my house; and then, for two months, I at your house." And they separated, to go to their houses for sleep. Soon the night passed, and day broke. Leopard went to the forest and killed an Antelope. He and Igwana and their families spent four days in eating it. On another day, Leopard went to the forest and killed a Gazelle. It also was finished in four days. And again, Leopard went to the forest, and killed a Red Antelope. They were occupied in eating it also four days. So, they continued all the two months. Then Leopard said, "Ngâmbi! it is your time to begin the food." Igwana replied, "I have no wild meat, only vegetables."