them what the time was, and the bush buck, who was nearest, shouted
out, "The sun is now up, and I am going to market to get some yams and
fresh leaves for my food."
Then the elephant perceived that the tortoise had deceived him, and
began to ask all the passers-by to lend him a pair of eyes, as he
could not see, but every one refused, as they wanted their eyes
themselves. At last the worm grovelled past, and seeing the big
elephant, greeted him in his humble way. He was much surprised when
the king of the forest returned his salutation, and very much
flattered also.
The elephant said, "Look here, worm, I have mislaid my eyes. Will you
lend me yours for a few days? I will return them next market-day."
The worm was so flattered at being noticed by the elephant that he
gladly consented, and took his eyes out--which, as every one knows,
were very small--and gave them to the elephant. When the elephant had
put the worm's eyes into his own large eye-sockets, the flesh
immediately closed round them so tightly that when the market-day
arrived it was impossible for the elephant to get them out again to
return to the worm; and although the worm repeatedly made applications
to the elephant to return his eyes, the elephant always pretended not
to hear, and sometimes used to say in a very loud voice, "If there are
any worms about, they had better get out of my way, as they are so
small I cannot see them, and if I tread on them they will be squashed
into a nasty mess."
Ever since then the worms have been blind, and for the same reason
elephants have such small eyes, quite out of proportion to the size of
their huge bodies.
XV
_Why a Hawk kills Chickens_
In the olden days there was a very fine young hen who lived with her
parents in the bush.
One day a hawk was hovering round, about eleven o'clock in the
morning, as was his custom, making large circles in the air and
scarcely moving his wings. His keen eyes were wide open, taking in
everything (for nothing moving ever escapes the eyes of a hawk, no
matter how small it may be or how high up in the air the hawk may be
circling). This hawk saw the pretty hen picking up some corn near her
father's house. He therefore closed his wings slightly, and in a
second of time was close to the ground; then spreading his wings out
to check his flight, he alighted close to the hen and perched himself
on the fence, as a hawk does not like to walk on the ground if he can
help it.
He then greeted the young hen with his most enticing whistle, and
offered to marry her. She agreed, so the hawk spoke to the parents,
and paid the agreed amount of dowry, which consisted mostly of corn,
and the next day took the young hen off to his home.
Shortly after this a young cock who lived near the hen's former home
found out where she was living, and having been in love with her for
some months--in fact, ever since his spurs had grown--determined to
try and make her return to her own country. He therefore went at dawn,
and, having flapped his wings once or twice, crowed in his best voice
to the young hen. When she heard the sweet voice of the cock she could
not resist his invitation, so she went out to him, and they walked off
together to her parent's house, the young cock strutting in front
crowing at intervals.
The hawk, who was hovering high up in the sky, quite out of sight of
any ordinary eye, saw what had happened, and was very angry. He made
up his mind at once that he would obtain justice from the king, and
flew off to Calabar, where he told the whole story, and asked for
immediate redress. So the king sent for the parents of the hen, and
told them they must repay to the hawk the amount of dowry they had
received from him on the marriage of their daughter, according to the
native custom; but the hen's parents said that they were so poor that
they could not possibly afford to pay. So the king told the hawk that
he could kill and eat any of the cock's children whenever and wherever
he found them as payment of his dowry, and, if the cock made any
complaint, the king would not listen to him.
From that time until now, whenever a hawk sees a chicken he swoops
down and carries it off in part-payment of his dowry.
XVI
_Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky_
Many years ago the sun and water were great friends, and both lived on
the earth together. The sun very often used to visit the water, but
the water never returned his visits. At last the sun asked the water
why it was that he never came to see him in his house, the water
replied that the sun's house was not big enough, and that if he came
with his people he would drive the sun out.
He then said, "If you wish me to visit you, you must build a very
large compound; but I warn you that it will have to be a tremendous
place, as my people are very numerous, and take up a lot of room."
The sun promised to build a very big compound, and soon afterwards he
returned home to his wife, the moon, who greeted him with a broad
smile when he opened the door. The sun told the moon what he had
promised the water, and the next day commenced building a huge
compound in which to entertain his friend.
When it was completed, he asked the water to come and visit him the
next day.
When the water arrived, he called out to the sun, and asked him
whether it would be safe for him to enter, and the sun answered,
"Yes, come in, my friend."
The water then began to flow in, accompanied by the fish and all the
water animals.
Very soon the water was knee-deep, so he asked the sun if it was still
safe, and the sun again said, "Yes," so more water came in.
When the water was level with the top of a man's head, the water said
to the sun, "Do you want more of my people to come?" and the sun and
moon both answered, "Yes," not knowing any better, so the water flowed
on, until the sun and moon had to perch themselves on the top of the
roof.
Again the water addressed the sun, but receiving the same answer, and
more of his people rushing in, the water very soon overflowed the top
of the roof, and the sun and moon were forced to go up into the sky,
where they have remained ever since.
XVII
_Why the Flies Bother the Cows_
When Adiaha Umo was Queen of Calabar, being very rich and hospitable,
she used to give big feasts to all the domestic animals, but never
invited the wild beasts, as she was afraid of them.
At one feast she gave there were three large tables, and she told the
cow to sit at the head of the table, as she was the biggest animal
present, and share out the food. The cow was quite ready to do this,
and the first course was passed, which the cow shared out amongst the
people, but forgot the fly, because he was so small.
When the fly saw this, he called out to the cow to give him his share,
but the cow said: "Be quiet, my friend, you must have patience."
When the second course arrived, the fly again called out to the cow,
but the cow merely pointed to her eye, and told the fly to look there,
and he would get food later.
At last all the dishes were finished, and the fly, having been given
no food by the cow, went supperless to bed.
The next day the fly complained to the queen, who decided that, as the
cow had presided at the feast, and had not given the fly his share,
but had pointed to her eye, for the future the fly could always get
his food from the cow's eyes wherever she went; and even at the
present time, wherever the cows are, the flies can always be seen
feeding off their eyes in accordance with the queen's orders.
XVIII
_Why the Cat kills Rats_
Ansa was King of Calabar for fifty years. He had a very faithful cat
as a housekeeper, and a rat was his house-boy. The king was an
obstinate, headstrong man, but was very fond of the cat, who had been
in his store for many years.
The rat, who was very poor, fell in love with one of the king's
servant girls, but was unable to give her any presents, as he had no
money.
At last he thought of the king's store, so in the night-time, being
quite small, he had little difficulty, having made a hole in the roof,
in getting into the store. He then stole corn and native pears, and
presented them to his sweetheart.
At the end of the month, when the cat had to render her account of the
things in the store to the king, it was found that a lot of corn and
native pears were missing. The king was very angry at this, and asked
the cat for an explanation. But the cat could not account for the
loss, until one of her friends told her that the rat had been stealing
the corn and giving it to the girl.
When the cat told the king, he called the girl before him and had her
flogged. The rat he handed over to the cat to deal with, and
dismissed them both from his service. The cat was so angry at this
that she killed and ate the rat, and ever since that time whenever a
cat sees a rat she kills and eats it.
XIX
_The Story of the Lightning and the Thunder_
In the olden days the thunder and lightning lived on the earth amongst
all the other people, but the king made them live at the far end of
the town, as far as possible from other people's houses.
The thunder was an old mother sheep, and the lightning was her son, a
ram. Whenever the ram got angry he used to go about and burn houses
and knock down trees; he even did damage on the farms, and sometimes
killed people. Whenever the lightning did these things, his mother
used to call out to him in a very loud voice to stop and not to do any
more damage; but the lightning did not care in the least for what his
mother said, and when he was in a bad temper used to do a very large
amount of damage. At last the people could not stand it any longer,
and complained to the king.
So the king made a special order that the sheep (Thunder) and her son,
the ram (Lightning), should leave the town and live in the far bush.
This did not do much good, as when the ram got angry he still burnt
the forest, and the flames sometimes spread to the farms and consumed
them.
So the people complained again, and the king banished both the
lightning and the thunder from the earth and made them live in the
sky, where they could not cause so much destruction. Ever since, when
the lightning is angry, he commits damage as before, but you can hear
his mother, the thunder, rebuking him and telling him to stop.
Sometimes, however, when the mother has gone away some distance from
her naughty son, you can still see that he is angry and is doing
damage, but his mother's voice cannot be heard.
XX
_Why the Bush Cow and the Elephant are bad Friends_
The bush cow and the elephant were always bad friends, and as they
could not settle their disputes between themselves, they agreed to let
the head chief decide.
The cause of their unfriendliness was that the elephant was always
boasting about his strength to all his friends, which made the bush
cow ashamed of himself, as he was always a good fighter and feared no
man or animal. When the matter was referred to the head chief, he
decided that the best way to settle the dispute was for the elephant
and bush cow to meet and fight one another in a large open space. He
decided that the fight should take place in the market-place on the
next market-day, when all the country people could witness the battle.
When the market-day arrived, the bush cow went out in the early
morning and took up his position some distance from the town on the
main road to the market, and started bellowing and tearing up the
ground. As the people passed he asked them whether they had seen
anything of the "Big, Big one," which was the name of the elephant.
A bush buck, who happened to be passing, replied, "I am only a small
antelope, and am on my way to the market. How should I know anything
of the movements of the 'Big, Big one?'" The bush cow then allowed him
to pass.
After a little time the bush cow heard the elephant trumpeting, and
could hear him as he came nearer breaking down trees and trampling
down the small bush.
When the elephant came near the bush cow, they both charged one
another, and a tremendous fight commenced, in which a lot of damage
was done to the surrounding farms, and many of the people were
frightened to go to the market, and returned to their houses.
At last the monkey, who had been watching the fight from a distance
whilst he was jumping from branch to branch high up in the trees,
thought he would report what he had seen to the head chief. Although
he forgot several times what it was he wanted to do, which is a little
way monkeys have, he eventually reached the chief's house, and jumped
upon the roof, where he caught and ate a spider. He then climbed to
the ground again, and commenced playing with a small stick. But he
very soon got tired of this, and then, picking up a stone, he rubbed
it backwards and forwards on the ground in an aimless sort of way,
whilst looking in the opposite direction. This did not last long, and
very soon he was busily engaged in a minute personal inspection.
His attention was then attracted by a large praying mantis, which had
fluttered into the house, making much clatter with its wings. When it
settled, it immediately assumed its usual prayerful attitude.
The monkey, after a careful stalk, seized the mantis, and having
deliberately pulled the legs off one after the other, he ate the body,
and sat down with his head on one side, looking very wise, but in
reality thinking of nothing.
Just then the chief caught sight of him while he was scratching
himself, and shouted out in a loud voice, "Ha, monkey, is that you?
What do you want here?"
At the chief's voice the monkey gave a jump, and started chattering
like anything. After a time he replied very nervously: "Oh yes, of
course! Yes, I came to see you." Then he said to himself, "I wonder
what on earth it was I came to tell the chief?" but it was no use,
everything had gone out of his head.
Then the chief told the monkey he might take one of the ripe plantains
hanging up in the verandah. The monkey did not want telling twice, as
he was very fond of plantains. He soon tore off the skin, and holding
the plantain in both hands, took bite after bite from the end of it,
looking at it carefully after each bite.
Then the chief remarked that the elephant and the bush cow ought to
have arrived by that time, as they were going to have a great fight.
Directly the monkey heard this he remembered what it was he wanted to
tell the chief; so, having swallowed the piece of plantain he had
placed in the side of his cheek, he said: "Ah! that reminds me," and
then, after much chattering and making all sorts of funny grimaces,
finally made the chief understand that the elephant and bush cow,
instead of fighting where they had been told, were having it out in
the bush on the main road leading to the market, and had thus stopped
most of the people coming in.
When the chief heard this he was much incensed, and called for his bow
and poisoned arrows, and went to the scene of the combat. He then shot
both the elephant and the bush cow, and throwing his bow and arrows
away, ran and hid himself in the bush. About six hours afterwards both
the elephant and bush cow died in great pain.
Ever since, when wild animals want to fight between themselves, they
always fight in the big bush and not on the public roads; but as the
fight was never definitely decided between the elephant and the bush
cow, whenever they meet one another in the forest, even to the present
time, they always fight.
XXI
_The Cock who caused a Fight between two Towns_
Ekpo and Etim were half-brothers, that is to say they had the same
mother, but different fathers. Their mother first of all had married a
chief of Duke Town, when Ekpo was born; but after a time she got tired
of him and went to Old Town, where she married Ejuqua and gave birth
to Etim.
Both of the boys grew up and became very rich. Ekpo had a cock, of
which he was very fond, and every day when Ekpo sat down to meals the
cock used to fly on to the table and feed also. Ama Ukwa, a native of
Old Town, who was rather poor, was jealous of the two brothers, and
made up his mind if possible to bring about a quarrel between them,
although he pretended to be friends with both.
One day Ekpo, the elder brother, gave a big dinner, to which Etim and
many other people were invited. Ama Ukwa was also present. A very good
dinner was laid for the guests, and plenty of palm wine was provided.
When they had commenced to feed, the pet cock flew on to the table and
began to feed off Etim's plate. Etim then told one of his servants to
seize the cock and tie him up in the house until after the feast. So
the servant carried the cock to Etim's house and tied him up for
safety.
After much eating and drinking, Etim returned home late at night with
his friend Ama Ukwa, and just before they went to bed, Ama Ukwa saw
Ekpo's cock tied up. So early in the morning he went to Ekpo's house,
who received him gladly.
About eight o'clock, when it was time for Ekpo to have his early
morning meal, he noticed that his pet cock was missing. When he
remarked upon its absence, Ama Ukwa told him that his brother had
seized the cock the previous evening during the dinner, and was going
to kill it, just to see what Ekpo would do. When Ekpo heard this, he
was very vexed, and sent Ama Ukwa back to his brother to ask him to
return the cock immediately. Instead of delivering the message as he
had been instructed, Ama Ukwa told Etim that his elder brother was so
angry with him for taking away his friend, the cock, that he would
fight him, and had sent Ama Ukwa on purpose to declare war between the
two towns.
Etim then told Ama Ukwa to return to Ekpo, and say he would be
prepared for anything his brother could do. Ama Ukwa then advised Ekpo
to call all his people in from their farms, as Etim would attack him,
and on his return he advised Etim to do the same. He then arranged a
day for the fight to take place between the two brothers and their
people. Etim then marched his men to the other side of the creek, and
waited for his brother; so Ama Ukwa went to Ekpo and told him that
Etim had got all his people together and was waiting to fight. Ekpo
then led his men against his brother, and there was a big battle,
many men being killed on both sides. The fighting went on all day,
until at last, towards evening, the other chiefs of Calabar met and
determined to stop it; so they called the Egbo men together and sent
them out with their drums, and eventually the fight stopped.
Three days later a big palaver was held, when each of the brothers was
told to state his case. When they had done so, it was found that Ama
Ukwa had caused the quarrel, and the chiefs ordered that he should be
killed. His father, who was a rich man, offered to give the Egbos five
thousand rods, five cows, and seven slaves to redeem his son, but they
decided to refuse his offer.
The next day, after being severely flogged, he was left for
twenty-four hours tied up to a tree, and the following day his head
was cut off.
Ekpo was then ordered to kill his pet cock, so that it should not
cause any further trouble between himself and his brother, and a law
was passed that for the future no one should keep a pet cock or any
other tame animal.
XXII
_The Affair of the Hippopotamus and the Tortoise; or, Why the
Hippopotamus lives in the Water_
Many years ago the hippopotamus, whose name was Isantim, was one of
the biggest kings on the land; he was second only to the elephant. The
hippo had seven large fat wives, of whom he was very fond. Now and
then he used to give a big feast to the people, but a curious thing
was that, although every one knew the hippo, no one, except his seven
wives, knew his name.
At one of the feasts, just as the people were about to sit down, the
hippo said, "You have come to feed at my table, but none of you know
my name. If you cannot tell my name, you shall all of you go away
without your dinner."
As they could not guess his name, they had to go away and leave all
the good food and tombo behind them. But before they left, the
tortoise stood up and asked the hippopotamus what he would do if he
told him his name at the next feast? So the hippo replied that he
would be so ashamed of himself, that he and his whole family would
leave the land, and for the future would dwell in the water.
Now it was the custom for the hippo and his seven wives to go down
every morning and evening to the river to wash and have a drink. Of
this custom the tortoise was aware. The hippo used to walk first, and
the seven wives followed. One day when they had gone down to the river
to bathe, the tortoise made a small hole in the middle of the path,
and then waited. When the hippo and his wives returned, two of the
wives were some distance behind, so the tortoise came out from where
he had been hiding, and half buried himself in the hole he had dug,
leaving the greater part of his shell exposed. When the two hippo
wives came along, the first one knocked her foot against the
tortoise's shell, and immediately called out to her husband, "Oh!
Isantim, my husband, I have hurt my foot." At this the tortoise was
very glad, and went joyfully home, as he had found out the hippo's
name.
When the next feast was given by the hippo, he made the same condition
about his name; so the tortoise got up and said, "You promise you will
not kill me if I tell you your name?" and the hippo promised. The
tortoise then shouted as loud as he was able, "Your name is Isantim,"
at which a cheer went up from all the people, and then they sat down
to their dinner.
When the feast was over, the hippo, with his seven wives, in
accordance with his promise, went down to the river, and they have
always lived in the water from that day till now; and although they
come on shore to feed at night, you never find a hippo on the land in
the daytime.
XXIII
_Why Dead People are Buried_
In the beginning of the world when the Creator had made men and women
and the animals, they all lived together in the creation land. The
Creator was a big chief, past all men, and being very kind-hearted,
was very sorry whenever any one died. So one day he sent for the dog,
who was his head messenger, and told him to go out into the world and
give his word to all people that for the future whenever any one died
the body was to be placed in the compound, and wood ashes were to be
thrown over it; that the dead body was to be left on the ground, and
in twenty-four hours it would become alive again.
When the dog had travelled for half a day he began to get tired; so as
he was near an old woman's house he looked in, and seeing a bone with
some meat on it he made a meal off it, and then went to sleep,
entirely forgetting the message which had been given him to deliver.
After a time, when the dog did not return, the Creator called for a
sheep, and sent him out with the same message. But the sheep was a
very foolish one, and being hungry, began eating the sweet grasses by
the wayside. After a time, however, he remembered that he had a
message to deliver, but forgot what it was exactly; so as he went
about among the people he told them that the message the Creator had
given him to tell the people, was that whenever any one died they
should be buried underneath the ground.
A little time afterwards the dog remembered his message, so he ran
into the town and told the people that they were to place wood ashes
on the dead bodies and leave them in the compound, and that they would
come to life again after twenty-four hours. But the people would not
believe him, and said, "We have already received the word from the
Creator by the sheep, that all dead bodies should be buried." In
consequence of this the dead bodies are now always buried, and the dog
is much disliked and not trusted as a messenger, as if he had not
found the bone in the old woman's house and forgotten his message, the
dead people might still be alive.
XXIV
_Of the Fat Woman who Melted Away_
There was once a very fat woman who was made of oil. She was very
beautiful, and many young men applied to the parents for permission to
marry their daughter, and offered dowry, but the mother always
refused, as she said it was impossible for her daughter to work on a
farm, as she would melt in the sun. At last a stranger came from a
far-distant country and fell in love with the fat woman, and he
promised if her mother would hand her to him that he would keep her in
the shade. At last the mother agreed, and he took his wife away.
When he arrived at his house, his other wife immediately became very
jealous, because when there was work to be done, firewood to be
collected, or water to be carried, the fat woman stayed at home and
never helped, as she was frightened of the heat.