Thou who art thrown at by the great (shepherd) boys,
Thou whose head the (kirrie’s) throw misses!
Thou dappled fly,
Thou party-coloured one,
Who spiest for those,
That spy for thee!
Thou who, womanlike,
Art full of jealousy.
The Baboons, it is said, used to disturb the Zebra Mares in drinking.
But one of the Mares became the mother of a foal. The others then
helped her to suckle (the young stallion), that he might soon grow up.
When he was grown up, and they were in want of water, they brought him
to the water. The Baboons, seeing this, came, as they formerly were
used to do, into their way, and kept them from the water.
While the Mares stood thus, the Stallion stepped forward, and spoke to
one of the Baboons, “Thou gum-eater’s child!”
The Baboon said to the Stallion, “Please open thy mouth, that I may see
what thou livest on.” The Stallion opened his mouth, and it was milky.
Then the Stallion said to the Baboon, “Please open thy mouth also, that
I may see.” The Baboon did so, and there was some gum in it. But the
Baboon quickly licked some milk off the Stallion’s tongue. The Stallion
on this became angry, took the Baboon by his shoulders, and pressed him
upon a hot, flat rock. Since that day the Baboon has a bald place on
his back.
The Baboon said, lamenting, “I, my mother’s child, I, the gum-eater, am
outdone by this milk-eater!”