(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey’s Library,
G. Krönlein’s Manuscript, pp. 5, 6.)
A White Man, it is said, met a Snake upon whom a large stone had fallen
and covered her, so that she could not rise. The White Man lifted the
stone off the Snake, but when he had done so, she wanted to bite him.
The White Man said, “Stop! let us both go first to some wise people.”
They went to the Hyena, and the White Man asked him, “Is it right that
the Snake should want to bite me, though I helped her, when she lay
under a stone and could not rise?”
The Hyena (who thought he would get his share of the White Man’s body)
said: “If you were bitten what would it matter?”
Then the Snake wanted to bite him, but the White Man said again: “Wait
a little, and let us go to other wise people, that I may hear whether
this is right.”
They went and met the Jackal. The White Man said to the Jackal: “Is it
right that the Snake wants to bite me, though I lifted up the stone
which lay upon her?”
The Jackal replied: “I do not believe that the Snake could be covered
by a stone and could not rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I
would not believe it. Therefore, come let us go and see at the place
where you say it happened whether it can be true.”
They went, and arrived at the place where it had happened. The Jackal
said: “Snake, lie down, and let thyself be covered.”
The Snake did so, and the White Man covered her with the stone; but
although she exerted herself very much, she could not rise. Then the
White Man wanted again to release the Snake, but the Jackal interfered,
and said: “Do not lift the stone. She wanted to bite you; therefore she
may rise by herself.”
Then they both went away and left the Snake under the stone.