Tortoise said to the King, "The food of today must be eaten only inside of your house." So, the King's people, with those of Leopard, entered into the house. There, Tortoise said, "We shall eat this food only if all the doors and windows are fastened." So, they were fastened (excepting one which Tortoise kept open near himself). Then, the Drum was sounded, and Tortoise commanded it, "Do as you have said." And, the tables appeared. But, instead of food, were whips. The people wondered, "Ah! what do these mean? Where do they come from?" Tortoise stationed himself by the open window, and commanded the Drum, "As usual!" Instantly the whips flew about the room, lashing everybody, even the King, and especially Leopard. The thrashing was great, and Leopard and his people were crying with pain. Their bodies were injured, being covered with cuts. But, Tortoise had promptly jumped out of the window. And, standing outside, he ordered, "Ngâmâ! do as you do!" And the whips and tables returned to it, and the whipping ceased. But, Tortoise knew that the angry crowd would try to seize and kill him. So, taking advantage of the confusion in the house, he and his people fled to the water of the river, and scattered, hiding among the logs and roots in the stream. As he was disappearing, Leopard shouted after him, "You and I shall not see each other! If we do, it will be you who will be killed!" TALE 12 THE LIES OF TORTOISE Persons Njâ (Leopard) Kudu (Tortoise) Etoli (Rat) Embonda (Prairie Antelope) Iheli (Gazelle) Ngando (Crocodile) Ngomba (Porcupine) NOTE African natives climb the palm-tree, cut out a cavity in the heart at the leafy top, and fasten a vessel below the cavity, to catch the sweet, milky juice that exudes. This is unintoxicating. But, like cider, it becomes intoxicating if kept a few days. The cutting destroys the tree in two or three months. The beginning of this tale is that Leopard went to the forest, to cut an itutu tree (bamboo-palm) for palm-wine. After he had fastened the bowl at the cavity he had cut at the top in the heart of the tree, then he came back to town. Tortoise came along to that palm-wine tree; and he climbed to the top. There he found that the sap had already collected in the bowl. And he drank three tumblerfuls. Excited by his success, he shouted out aloud, "I'm drunk! I'm drunk!" Off in the forest, Wild Rat heard his voice, and, following the sound, came to the place. To Tortoise, Rat said, "Whose wine-tree is this?" Tortoise replied, "My own!" So, Rat begged of him, "Give me a glassful!" Tortoise told him "Climb up! Of what are you afraid?" So, Rat climbed up the tree. He also drank two glassfuls. Presently, Tortoise heard Leopard coming, and he said to Rat. "Await me here, I'm just going down to the ground." When he reached the ground, Tortoise hid his body in a hole at the base of the tree.