Thereupon the [young] Palm-cat says, "What if I went up the tree,
if I didn't take hold of it!" it said.
Having taken hold of it, it looked at it. When the female Palm-cat
said, "What is that [you are doing]?" it said, "What if I took hold
of it! If I didn't eat it is there any harm?"
After it removed the rind, when she said, "What is that [you are
doing]?" it says, "What if I removed the rind, if I didn't eat it!"
Having set it to its nose it smelt at it. When she said, "What is that
[you are doing]?" it said, "What if I put it to my nose, if I didn't
eat it!"
It put it in its mouth. "What if I put it in my mouth, if I didn't
swallow it!" it said.
It swallowed it; then it fell down. It having fallen down and died,
the female Palm-cat went away lamenting.
The thief of the garden was caught.
Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.