was saying to himself, "This Ekaga! He has stayed five days! Had he
failed, he would not have stayed so long! So! he has been able to do
the tasks! Is that a good thing?" (On the day that Tortoise started
on the journey to seek the merchant's daughter, Leopard had been
heard to say, "If Ekaga succeeds in getting that wife, I will take
her from him by force.")
When Tortoise was ready to start on his return journey with his wife,
the father-in-law gave him very many things, slaves and goats and a
variety of goods, and said, "Go, you and your wife and these things. I
send people to escort you part of the way. They are not to go clear
on to your town, but are to turn back on the way."
Tortoise and company journeyed. When the escort were about to turn
back, Tortoise said, "Day is past. Make an olako (camp) here. We sleep
here; and, in the morning, you shall go back." That night he thought,
"Njegâ said he would rob me of my wife. Perhaps he may come to meet me
on the way!" So, he swallowed all of the things, to hide them,--wife,
servants, and all.
While Tortoise was thus on the way, Leopard had planned not to wait his
return to town, but had set out to meet him. So, in the morning, the
two, journeying in opposite directions, met. Tortoise gave Leopard a
respectful "Mbolo!" and Leopard returned the salutation. Leopard asked,
"What news? That woman, have you married her?" Tortoise answered,
"That woman! Not at all!" Leopard looking at Tortoise's style and
manner as of one proud of success, said, "Surely you have married;
for you look happy, and show signs of success." But Tortoise swore
he had not married.
Leopard only said, "Good." Then Tortoise asked, "But, where are you
going?" Leopard answered, "I am going out walking and hunting. But
you, where are you going?" Tortoise replied, "I did not succeed in
marrying the woman; so I am going back to town. I tried, but I failed."
"But," said Leopard, "what then makes your belly so big?" Tortoise
replied, "On the way I found an abundance of mushrooms, and I ate
heartily of them. If you do not believe it, I can show you them by
vomiting them up." Leopard said, "Never mind to vomit. Go on your
journey."
And Leopard went on his way. But, soon he thought, "Ah! Ekaga has lied
to me!" So he ran around back, and came forward to meet Tortoise again.
Tortoise looked and saw Leopard coming, and observed that his face
was full of wrath. He feared, but said to himself, "If I flee,
Njegâ will catch me. I will go forward and try artifice." As he
approached Leopard, the latter was very angry, and said, "You play
with me! You say you have not married the woman I wanted. Tell me
the truth!" Tortoise again swore an oath, "No! I have not married
the woman! I told you I ate mushrooms, and offered to show you;
and you refused." So Leopard said, "Well, then, vomit." Tortoise
bent over, and vomited and vomited mushrooms and mushrooms; and then
said triumphantly, "So! Njegâ you see!" Leopard looked, and said,
"But, Ekaga, your belly is still full,--go on vomiting." Tortoise
tried to excuse himself, "I have done vomiting." Leopard persisted,
"No! keep on at it." Tortoise went on retching; and a box of goods fell
out of his mouth. Leopard still said, "Go on!" and Tortoise vomited
in succession a table and other furniture. He was compelled to go on
retching; and slaves came out. And at last, up was vomited the woman!
Leopard shouted, "Ah! Ekaga! you lied! You said you had not married! I
will take this woman!" And he took her, sarcastically saying, "Ekaga,
you have done me a good work! You have brought me all these things,
these goods, and slaves, and a wife! Thank you!"
Tortoise thought to himself, "I have no strength for war." So, though
anger was in his heart, he showed no displeasure in his face. And they
all went on together toward their town. With wrath still in his heart,
he went clear on to the town, and then made his complaint to each of
the townspeople. But they all were afraid of Leopard, and said nothing,
nor dared to give Tortoise even sympathy.
There was in that country among the mountains, an enormous Goat. The
other beasts, all except Leopard, were accustomed to go to that Goat,
when hungry, and say, "We have no meat to eat." And the Goat allowed
them to cut pieces of flesh from his body. He could let any part of
the interior of his body be taken except his heart. All the Animals
had agreed among themselves not to tell Leopard where they got their
meat, lest he, in his greediness, would go and take the heart. So
they had told him they got their meat as he did, hunting.
Tortoise, angry because Leopard has taken his wife, said to himself,
"I will make a cause of complaint against Njegâ that shall bring
punishment upon him from our King. I will cause Njegâ to kill that
Goat." On another day, Tortoise went and got meat from the Goat, and
came back to town, and did not hide it from Leopard. Leopard said to
him, "Ekaga! where did you get this meat?" Tortoise whispered, "Come
to my house, and I will tell you." They went. And Tortoise divided
the meat with him, and said, "Do not tell on me: but, we get the meat
off at a great Goat. Tomorrow, I go; and you, follow behind me."
So, the next day, they went, Tortoise as if by himself, and Leopard
following, off to the great Goat. Arrived there, Leopard wondered
at the sight, "O! this great Goat! But, from where do you take its
meat?" Tortoise replied, "Wait for me! You will see!" He went, and
Leopard followed. Tortoise said to the Goat, "We have meat-hunger:
we come to seek meat from you." The Goat's mouth was open as usual;
Tortoise entered, and Leopard followed, to get flesh from inside. In
the Goat's interior was a house, full of meat; and they entered
it. Leopard wondered at its size; and Tortoise told him, "Cut where
you please, but not from the heart, lest the Goat die." And they began
to take meat. Leopard, with greediness, coveting the forbidden heart,
went with knife near to it.
Tortoise exclaimed, "There! there! be careful." But Leopard, though he
had enough other flesh, longed for the heart, and was not satisfied. He
again approached with the knife near it: and Tortoise warned and
protested. These very prohibitions caused Leopard to have his own
way, and his greediness overcame him. He cut the heart: and the Goat
fell dying.
Tortoise exclaimed, "Eh! Njegâ! I told you not to touch the
heart! Because of this matter I will inform on you." And he added,
"Since it is so, let us go."
But Leopard said, "Goat's mouth is shut. How shall we get out? Let us
hide in this house." And he asked, "Where will you hide?" Tortoise
replied, "In the stomach." Leopard said, "Stomach! It is the very
thing for me, Njegâ, myself!" So Ekaga consented, "Well! take it! I
will hide in the gall-bladder." So they hid, each in his place.
Soon, as they listened, they heard voices shouting, "The Goat is
dead! A fearful thing! The Goat is dead!"
That news spread, and all who had been accustomed to get flesh there,
came to see what was the matter. They all said that, as the Goat was
dead, it was best to cut and divide him. They slit open the belly,
and said, "Lay aside this big stomach; it is good; but throw away the
bitter gall-sac." They looked for the heart; but there was none! A
child, to whom had been handed the gall-bladder to throw it away,
was flinging it into some bushes. As he did so, out jumped something
from among the bushes; and the child asked, "Who are you?" The thing
replied, pretending to be vexed, "I am Ekaga; I come here with the
others to get meat, and you, just as I arrived, throw that dirty thing
in my face!" The other people pacified him, "Do not get angry. Excuse
the child. He did not see you. You shall have your share."
Then Tortoise called out, "Silence! silence! silence!"
They all stood ready to listen, and he said, "Do not cut up the Goat
till we first know who killed it. That stomach there! What makes
it so big?" Leopard, in the stomach, heard; but he did not believe
that Tortoise meant it, and thought to himself, "What a fool is this
Ekaga, in pretending to inform on me, by directing attention to the
stomach!" Tortoise ordered, "All you, take your spears, and stick
that stomach! For the one who killed Goat is in it!" And they all
got their spears ready.
Leopard did not speak or move; for, he still thought Tortoise
was only joking. Tortoise began with his spear, and the others all
thrust in. And Leopard holding the heart, was seen dying! All shouted,
"Ah! Njegâ killed our Goat! Ah! he's the one who killed it." Tortoise
taunted Leopard, "Asai! (shame for you) you took my wife; and now
you are dead!" Leopard died. They divided the Goat, and returned
to town. Tortoise took again his wife and all his goods, now that
Leopard was dead. And he was satisfied that his artifice had surpassed
Leopard's strength.
TALE 5
A TUG-OF-WAR
Persons
Ekaga (Tortoise)
Njâgu (Elephant)
Ngubu (Hippopotamus)
NOTE
African natives are sensitive about questions of equality and
seniority. A certain term, "Mwera" (chum) may be addressed to other
than an equal, only at risk of a quarrel.
A story of the trick by which Tortoise apparently proved himself the
equal of both Elephant and Hippopotamus.
Observe the preposterous size of Elephant's trunk! But everything,
to the native African mind, was enormous in the pre-historic times.
Leopard was dead, after the accusation against him by Tortoise for
killing the great Goat. The children of Leopard were still young;
they had not grown to take their father's power and place. And
Tortoise considered himself now a great personage. He said to people,
"We three who are left,--I and Njâgu and Ngubu, are of equal power;
we eat at the same table, and have the same authority." Every day
he made these boasts; and people went to Elephant and Hippopotamus,
reporting, "So-and-so says Ekaga." Elephant and Hippopotamus laughed,
and disregarded the report, and said, "That's nothing, he's only to
be despised."
One day Hippopotamus met Elephant in the forest; salutations were made,
"Mbolo!" "Ai, mbolo!" each to the other. Hippopotamus asked Elephant
about a new boast that Tortoise had been making, "Have you, or have
you not heard?" Elephant answered, "Yes, I have heard. But I look
on it with contempt. For, I am Njâgu. I am big. My foot is as big as
Ekaga's body. And he says he is equal to me! But, I have not spoken of
the matter, and will not speak, unless I hear Ekaga himself make his
boast. And then I shall know what I will do." And Hippopotamus also
said, "I am doing so too, in silence. I wait to hear Ekaga myself."
Tortoise heard of what Elephant and Hippopotamus had been threatening,
and he asked his informant just the exact words that they had used,
"They said that they waited to hear you dare to speak to them; and
that, in the meanwhile, they despised you."
Tortoise asked, "So! they despise me, do they?" "Yes," was the
reply. Then he said, "So! indeed, I will go to them." He told his wife,
"Give me my coat to cover my body." He dressed; and started to the
forest. He found Elephant lying down; his trunk was eight miles long;
his ears as big as a house, and his four feet beyond measure.
Tortoise audaciously called to him, "Mwera! I have come! You don't
rise to salute me? Mwera has come!" Elephant looked, rose up and
stared at Tortoise, and indignantly asked, "Ekaga! whom do you call
'Mwera'?" Tortoise replied, "You! I call you 'Mwera.' Are you not,
Njâgu?" Elephant, with great wrath, asked, "Ekaga! I have heard you
said certain words. It is true that you said them?"
Tortoise answered, "Njâgu, don't get angry! Wait, let us first have a
conversation." Then he said to Elephant, "I did call you, just now,
'Mwera'; but, you, Njâgu, why do you condemn me? You think that,
because you are of great expanse of flesh, you can surpass Ekaga,
just because I am small? Let us have a test. Tomorrow, sometime in the
morning, we will have a lurelure (tug-of-war)." Said Elephant, "Of what
use? I can mash you with one foot." Tortoise said, "Be patient. At
least try the test." So, Elephant, unwilling, consented. Tortoise
added, "But, when we tug, if one overpulls the other, he shall be
considered the greater; but, if neither, then we are Mwera."
Then Tortoise went to the forest, and cut a very long vine, and coming
back to Elephant, said "This end is yours. I go off into the forest
with my end to a certain spot, and tomorrow I return to that spot;
and we will have our tug, and neither of us will stop, to eat or sleep
until either you pull me over or the vine breaks." Tortoise went far
off with his end of the vine to the town of Hippopotamus, and hid
the vine's end at the outskirts of the town. He went to Hippopotamus
and found him bathing, and going ashore, back and forth, to and from
the water. Tortoise shouted to him, "Mwera! I have come! You! Come
ashore! I am visiting you!" Hippopotamus came bellowing in great
wrath with wide open jaws, ready to fight, and said, "I will fight
you today! For, whom do you call 'Mwera'?"
Tortoise replied, "Why! you! I do not fear your size. Our hearts are
the same. But, don't fight yet! Let us first talk." Hippopotamus
grunted, and sat down; and Tortoise said, "I, Ekaga, I say that
you and I and Njâgu are equal, we are Mwera. Even though you are
great and I small, I don't care. But if you doubt me, let us have a
trial. Tomorrow morning let us have a lurelure. He who shall overcome,
shall be the superior. But, if neither is found superior, then we
are equals." Hippopotamus exclaimed that the plan was absurd; but,
finally he consented.
Tortoise then stood up, and went out, and got his end of the vine,
and brought it to Hippopotamus, and said, "This end is yours. And I
now go. Tomorrow, when you feel the vine shaken, know that I am ready
at the other end; and then you begin, and we will not stop to eat or
sleep until this test is ended."
Hippopotamus then went to the forest to gather leaves of Medicine
with which to strengthen his body. And Elephant, at the other end,
was doing the same, making medicine to give himself strength; and at
night they were both asleep.
In the morning, Tortoise went to the middle of the vine, where at its
half-way, he had made on the ground a mark; and he shook it towards
one end, and then towards the other. Elephant caught his end, as he
saw it shake, and Hippopotamus did the same at his end. "Orindi went
back and forth" (a proverb of a fish of that name that swims in that
way), Elephant and Hippopotamus alternately pulling. "Nkendinli was
born of his father and mother" (a proverb, meaning distinctions in
individualities). Each one, Hippopotamus and Elephant, doing in his
own way. Tortoise smiled at his arrangement with each, that, in the
tug, if one overcame, it would be proved by his dragging the other;
but, if neither overcame, they were not to cease, until the vine broke.
Elephant holding the vine taut, and Hippopotamus also holding it taut,
Tortoise was laughing in his heart as he watched the quivering vine.
He went away to seek for food, leaving those two at their tug,
in hunger. He went off into the forest and found his usual food,
mushrooms. He ate his belly full, and then took his drink; and then
went to his town to sleep.
He rose in late afternoon, and said to himself, "I'll go and see about
the tug, whether those fools are still pulling." When he went there,
the vine was still stretched taut; and he thought, "Asai! shame! let
them die with hunger!" He sat there, the vine trembling with tensity,
and he in his heart mocking the two tired beasts. The one drew the
other toward himself; and then, a slight gain brought the mark back;
but neither was overcoming.
At last Tortoise nicked the vine with his knife; the vine parted; and,
at their ends, Elephant and Hippopotamus fell violently back onto
the ground. Tortoise said to himself, "So! that's done! Now I go to
Elephant with one end of the broken vine; tomorrow to Hippopotamus." He
went, and came on to Elephant, and found him looking dolefully, and
bathing his leg with medicine, and said, "Mwera! How do you feel? Do
you consent that we are Mwera?" Elephant admitted, "Ekaga, I did not
know you were so strong! When the vine broke, I fell over and hurt
my leg. Yes, we are really equal. Really! strength is not because
the body is large. I despised you because your body was small. But
actually, we are equal in strength!"
So they ate and drank and played as chums; and Tortoise returned to
his town.
Early the next morning, with the other end of the broken vine, he went
to visit Hippopotamus, who looked sick, and was rubbing his head,
and asked, "Ngubu! How do you feel, Mwera?" Hippopotamus answered,
"Really! Ekaga! so we are equals! I, Ngubu, so great! And you,
Ekaga, so small! We pulled and pulled. I could not surpass you,
nor you me. And when the vine broke, I fell and hurt my head. So,
indeed strength has no greatness of body." Tortoise and Hippopotamus
ate and drank and played; and Tortoise returned to his town.
After that, whenever they three and others met to talk in palaver
(council) the three sat together on the highest seats. Were they
equal? Yes, they were equal.
TALE 6
AGENDA: RAT'S PLAY ON A NAME
Persons
Njegâ (Leopard)
Ntori (Rat)
Rângi (Frog)
Igâmbâ (Crab)
NOTE
In native African etiquette, a company of persons is saluted with the
use of the verb in the plural; but only the oldest, or the supposed
leader, if his name is known, is mentioned by name.
The native custom among polite tribes, is to leave a guest to eat
without being watched.
The twitching of a muscle of an arm, or any other part of the body
(called okalimambo) is regarded as a sign of coming evil. Compare
Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1.
"By the pricking of my thumb
Something wicked this way comes."
The absurd and the unreasonable (e.g., the swallowing of a wife,
goats, servants, etc.) are a constant feature of the native legends
in their use of the impossible.
All native Africans have more than one name, and often change their
names to suit circumstances. But, while all their names have a meaning
(just as our English names, "Augustus," "Clara," etc.) those meanings
are not thought of when denominating an individual; e.g., "Bwalo"
which means canoe.
Leopards do not like to wet their feet.
Leopard wanted a new wife. So he sought for a young woman of a far
country, of whom he heard as a nice girl, a daughter of one of the
Kings of that country. He did not go himself, but sent word, and
received answer by messenger. Neither the woman nor her father had
ever seen Leopard. They knew of him only by reputation.
The King was pleased with the proposed alliance, and assented,
saying, "Yes! I am willing. Go! get yourself ready, and come with
your marriage company." So Leopard went around and invited many
other beasts, "Come! and help me get a new one!" They all replied,
"Yes!" And they all started together for the King's town.
When they had gone half-way, one of their number, a big forest Rat
said, "Brothers! let us begin here to change our names, so that when
we get to the town, we shall not be known by our usual names." But
Leopard refused, "No! I won't! I stick by my old name. My name is
Njegâ." All the others said the same, and retained their own names.
But Rat insisted for himself, "I will not be called Ntori. I will be
called 'Strangers.' My name is Agenda," (the plural of ogenda which
means "stranger").
When they approached the town, the inhabitants, with great
politeness, ran out to welcome them, shouting, "Agenda! Saleni,
Saleni!" (Strangers! Welcome ye! welcome ye!) Rat turned to the
company and said, "Hear that! you see they are saluting me as the
leader of this company."
Upon their entering the town, they were shown to the large public
Reception-House; and the people said to them, "Now! strangers
(Agenda!), march in!" Rat turned again to his companions, and said,
"You see! they have again addressed me specially by name, asking me
to take possession of this room."
They all went in feeling uncomfortably; but Rat said to them, "Never
mind! though this room was evidently prepared specially for me,
I am not selfish, and I invite you to share it with me."
After the visitors had all been seated, the people came to give them
the formal final salutation, saying "Strangers (Agenda), mbolani! (long
life to ye)." Rat promptly whispered to his companions, saying,
"This mbolo is to me for you, I alone will respond to it." So, only
he replied, "Ai Mbolani! Ai." (Mbolani is the second person plural
of the irregular defective verb Mbolo equal to "live long.")
The day passed. In the evening, the people brought in an abundant
supply of food, and set it down on the table, saying, "Strangers
(Agenda!), eat! Here is your food!" And they went out, closing the
door, so that the guests in their eating should not be annoyed by
spectators. Then Rat said, "You see! All this food is mine, though I
am not able to eat it all." He alone began to eat of it. When he had
satisfied his appetite, he said, "Truly this food is my own, but I
am sorry for you, and I will give you of it." So he gave out to each,
one by one, very small pieces of fish and plantain.
In the morning, the people thoughtfully sent water for the usual
morning washing of hands and face. Rat hasted to open the door; and
the slaves carrying the vessels of water, said to him, "These are
sent to the strangers (Agenda)." So Rat took the water and used it
all for himself.
This second day was a repetition of the first. The townspeople
continued their hospitality, sending food and drink and tobacco and
fruits; and making many kind inquiries of what "the Agenda" would like
to have. Rat, received all these things as for himself; while the rest
of the company felt themselves slighted, and were hungry and disgusted.
On the third day, the company said among themselves, "Njegâ told us
that our visit was to last the usual five days; but we cannot stand
such treatment as this!" And they began to run away, one by one. Even
Leopard himself followed them, provoked at his expected father-in-law's
supposed neglect of him. But, before Leopard had gone, Rat went to
the bride elect, and said, "I never saw such a party as this! They
do not eat, and are not willing to await the Marriage Dance for the
Bride on the fifth day."
When they were all secretly gone, leaving Rat alone, he said to the
woman, "I will tell them all to go, even my friend Njegâ whom I brought
to escort me. But I will not go without you, even if we have not had
the dance; for, I am the one who was to marry you." And the father
of the girl said to Rat, "Since they have treated you so, never mind
to call them again for the Dance. You just take your wife and go."
So the King gave his daughter farewell presents of boxes of clothing,
and two female servants to help her, and a number of goats, and
men-servants to carry the baggage.
Rat and wife and attendants set out on their journey. When they were
far away from the King's town, Rat exclaimed, "I feel okalimambo
(premonition)." (He suspected that Leopard was somewhere near.) So
he dismissed the men-servants, and sent them back to the King. And
then quickly, in order to hide them, he swallowed the woman and the
two maid-servants and all the boxes of clothing, and the goats.
Rat then went on, and on, and on, with his journey, until at a
cross-roads, he saw Leopard coming cross-ways toward him; and he
called out, "Who are you?" The reply came, "I am Njegâ. And who are
you?" Rat answered, "Ntori."
Then Leopard called to him, "Come here!" "No!" said Rat, "I am in a
hurry, and want to get home--" And he went on without stopping. So
Leopard said, "Well, I pass on my way too!" "Good!" said Rat, "Pass
on!" And they went on their separate ways.
But Leopard, at a turn in his road, rounded back, and hasted by
another path to get in front of Rat. When Leopard again saw Rat a
short distance before him, he calls out, "Who are you?" The reply was
"Ntori; and who are you?" Leopard answered, "I'm Njegâ. Stop on your
way, and come here to me!" Rat replied, "No! you asked me once before
to stop, and I refused. And I refuse now; I must pass on."
Because of Rat's unwillingness to stop, Leopard began to chase him,
and to shout at him, "You have my wife!" Rat answered back, "No! I
have no wife of yours!" "You lie! You have the woman with you. What
makes your body so big?"