and finishes it. Other food was placed; he ate it at once. Food
was cooked again. At once, all of it, and the dishes, and the jars,
and the plates, were swallowed up by him. Food is cooked again, and
he ate; and then said, "My mother! Hunger!" Food is cooked again;
he ate until he finished all the pots. All the food of the town,
and all the gardens were done.
Her father spoke to her saying, "My child! Just carry him to the town
of your grandfather."
She then carried the child, still crying with hunger, and made her
journey, and came to her grandfather's town.
The people there said, "What is it; for the crying?" She told all the
whole affair to them. They inquired, "Food?" She replied, "Yes." They
cooked, and he ate, and finished. They cooked again; and he finished
all, even to the leaves in which the food was wrapped. They said,
"Such a kind of child has never been born before!"
Suddenly, the child Savulaka ceased to be a child; and, as a man,
said to his mother, "My mother! Wash me some mekima (rolls of mashed
boiled plantains)." So, his mother made the mekima.
In the morning, very early, Savulaka starts on a journey. He went
stepping very quickly, on, still with his journey; and, as he went,
he talked to himself. He said, "This thing which has been done to me,
now, what is it?" He still went on with the journey, until, at night,
he lay down in the forest. Early in the morning, he starts again
for his journey. As he was going in the forest he met with a Person
(a brother of his mother, who belonged to a town of the Mekuku). This
Person inquired, "Where are you going to?" (Savulaka was still eating
the mekima, even its leaves going into his mouth.) This Person also
said to him, "Stop at once!" Then he stood still.
The Person said, "I, your Uncle, the brother of your mother, am
the one who is inquiring of you." Savulaka answered him, saying,
"I'm not able to tell you." But presently he did tell all the matter
to him. So, the Uncle said to him, "Come, to my town."
Then both of them returned on the path. In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, they are at the town. The Uncle said, "My child, you
are cured!" He put for him a medicine in a syringe, and gave him an
injection. When he withdrew the syringe, here, at once, a net began
to come out quick as ever it could move from the bowels! Then his
Uncle spoke and told him, "It is thy father's wife who put the net
into your bowels."
Food was cooked for him; he began to eat a little as people usually
eat. His Uncle said unto him, "You shall go tomorrow."
On the morrow, early in the morning, his Uncle took all kinds and
sorts of vegetables; and he took also a Spear; and malagetta pepper
("Guinea-grains," a species of cardomom), and handed them to him;
and told him, "When you reach home, you must plant a garden."
The Uncle said to him, "Close your eyes!" He closed his eyes tight. On
opening his eyes, he at once found himself near his home, and his
mother on the path, her form bent stooping down seeking for him. He
then entered their house, and sat down, and his mother greeted him
to her satisfaction.
The mother took food, and boiled it; it was cooked; she removed it
from the fire; she sat the food before Savulaka. And he ate only two
fingers of plantains. His mother began to wonder.
Then he said to himself, "Now, let me try to do as my Uncle has told
me." He said, "Ngalo! (a fetish charm) I want this forest here to be
cleared, all of it." (As quickly as I speak here, at once the garden
was finished, like the passing of yesterday.) He said to his mother,
"Take a list of all the plants I have brought; then let us go and
plant them." So, he and his mother went to plant; that very day the
garden was completely finished.
Previously to that, his Uncle had warned him, "When the plants are
sprung up, you will see Kenene (a kind of small bird) coming to eat
them. When they shall arrive, they will be many. Then you take the
Spear; fail not to use the cardomoms with it."
The food increased; and the small birds came in countless
numbers. Savulaka took up the Spear, and threw it at them; and all,
even to the young birds, perished. Then he returned to his mother,
and said, "My mother! go and pick up the sele" (another name of
kenene). She gathered them; leaving many remaining abandoned in the
forest. The village was filled with the sele.
The same thing happened with all other kinds of birds. The same with
every Beast.
Then Elephants came to the garden. The man picked up the Spear and
the cardomoms. When he came to the garden, he lifted up the Spear,
and threw it, and wounded the Elephants. Numbers of Elephants that
were eating in the garden, were killed. They were gathered, and the
whole village was filled with the smell of the rotting meat; so that
hardly any one would come to the village. I am not able to tell you
the abundance of tusks; the mendanda (long ones), and the makubu
(short thick ones), and the begege ("scrivillers," the small ones),
that cannot be counted.
The next morning, other elephants came again. The man took up the
Spear, but he forgot the cardomom-pepper. When he arrived where they
were, he did not wait, but hastily threw the Spear after an elephant,
the leader of the herd, who turned aside, and ran away with the Spear
in its body. The man followed him, but he did not reach him. Then
he returned to his mother; and said to her, "My mother! mash me some
mekima." (Food for a journey.)
In the next morning, the man started on the journey, stepping
quickly as ever, until he came to his Uncle's town. He was about to
pass his Uncle by, not seeing him (a Spirit). The Uncle said to him,
"Stand there!" So he stood. The Uncle directed, "Enter the house!" He
entered, and sat down; and his Uncle said to him, "Did I not tell
you that when you are going to kill an animal, you must not omit the
pepper-grains? Sit down there; wait. Don't you go out. I must go and
take for you your Spear."
But, lo! it was the Chief of that very town, whom he had wounded, and
who had come back to the town, and died. (That chief had metamorphosed
himself into the form of an elephant.) The uncle passed out, and
went to the other end of the town; and there he found the Spear. He
took it, and gave it to Savulaka, and said, "Go!" Savulaka went;
and met his mother on the way, waiting for him. Then they went home
to their village.
Next morning, he fastened the Spear handle. Elephants in the plantation
shouted, "We have come!" The man stood up, and snatched his Spear. The
Elephants stood waiting. The man said, "Here it is!" and flung it at
them. And the carcasses of all fell in a heap. He said to the people
of the village, "Go ye!" They went, and found dead bodies without
number; the tusks the same, without number.
After that, White-Man came with a quantity of goods. The Town of
Savulaka was crowded with goods in abundance; every kind of foreign
article. White men came to see Ivory. The sailing-vessels and steamers
came any day (not only on scheduled dates). Thus it was that Ivory was
exported, and goods imported. Business of Trading was made. Savulaka
had a great many traders. All his father's brothers, and mother's
brothers, all their dwelling was in the town of Savulaka. Rum was drunk
constantly, and they were constantly intoxicated. Ivory went to White
Man's Land. White men's things came, and were sent up to the Interior.
This Trade is going on to the present days. It was a man who commenced
with the thought of Trading; it was commenced by that one man. All
the African tribes are now changed from what they were originally.
At first we negroes had no (proper) knowledge. They spoke with wonder
over the things that are made in Europe by white men. They said,
"These are made by the Spirits of the dead; they are not made by the
living." Because our people believed that the departed spirits have
their home beyond the Sea. Why? Because Savulaka brought his wonderful
Spear (by which so much ivory was obtained) from the Spirit-Town.
TALE 25
DOG AND HIS FALSE FRIEND LEOPARD
Persons
Mbwa (Dog)
Ngiya (Gorilla)
Njâ (Leopard)
NOTE
The origin of the hatred between dogs and leopards. Friends should
not have arguments. An argument separates a company.
Dog and Leopard built a town. Dog then begot very many
children. Leopard begot his many also. They had one table
together. They conversed, they hunted, they ate, they drank.
One day, they were arguing: Leopard said, "If I hide myself, you are
not able to see me." Dog replied, "There is no place in which you
can hide where I cannot see you."
The next day, at the break of the day, Leopard emerged from his house
at Batanga, and he went north as far as from there to Bahabane near
Plantation. Dog, in the next morning, emerged. He asked, "Where is
chum Njâ?" The women and children answered, "We do not know." Dog
also started, and went: and as he went, smelling, until he arrived
at Plantation (about 15 miles). He came and stood under the tree up
which Leopard was hidden; and he said, "Is not this you?"
Both of them returned, and came to their town. Food had been
prepared; and they ate. Leopard said, "Chum! you will not see me here
tomorrow." When the next day began to break, Leopard started southward,
as far as to Lolabe (about 15 miles). Next day, in the morning, Dog
stood out in the street, lifted up his nose, and smelled. He also
went down southward, clear on till he came to Lolabe; and standing
at the foot of a tree, he said, "Is not this you?"
Leopard came down from the top of the tree; they stood; and then
they returned to their town. Food was cooked for them; they ate,
and finished.
Leopard said, "Chum! you will not see me tomorrow again, no matter
what may take place." Dog asked, "True?" Leopard replied, "Yes!"
In the morning, Leopard started southward, for a distance like from
Batanga to Campo River (about 40 miles).
At the opening of the next day, Dog emerged, and, standing and
smelling, he said, looking toward the south, "He went this way." Dog
also went to Campo. He reached Leopard, and said, "Is not this you?"
They came back to their town; they were made food; and they ate.
The next day, Leopard emerged early. He went northward, as far
as from Batanga to Lokonje (about 40 miles). Dog sniffed the air,
and followed north also. In a steady race, he was soon there; and he
reached Leopard. So, Leopard said, "It is useless, I will not attempt
to hide myself again from Mbwa."
Thereupon, Dog spoke to Leopard and said, "It is I, whom, if I hide
myself from you, you will not see." Leopard replied, "What! even if you
were able to find me, how much more should I be able to find you!" So,
Dog said to him, "Wait, till daybreak."
When the next day broke, Dog passed from his house like a flash
unseen, vyu! to Leopard's. And, underneath the bed of Leopard in
his public Reception-house, he lay down. Then Leopard (who had not
seen him) came to the house of Dog; he asked the women, "Where is
Mbwa?" They said, "Thy friend, long ago, has gone out hence, very
early." Leopard returned to his house, and he said to his children,
"That fellow! if I catch him! I do not know what I shall do to him!"
He started southward on the journey, as far as Lolabe; and did
not see Dog. So he returned northward a few miles, as far as Boje,
and did not see him. Down again south to Campo; and he did not see
him. That first day, he did not find him at all. Then he returned
toward Batanga, and went eastward to Nkâmakâk (about 60 miles); and
he did not see him. He went on northward to Ebaluwa (about 60 miles);
did not see him. Up north-west to Lokonje; he did not see him. And
Leopard, wearied, went back to his town.
Coming to the bed (not knowing Dog was there) he lay down very
tired. He said to his people, "If I had met him today, then you would
be eating a good meat now." All these words were said in the ears of
Dog, the while that Dog was underneath the bed.
Then Dog leaped out, pwa! Leopard asked, "Where have you been?" Dog
answered, "I saw you when you first passed out." Leopard said,
"True?" And Dog says, "Yes!"
Then Dog went out far to his end of the town. And, knowing that
Leopard intended evil toward him, he said to his children, "Let us go
and dig a pit." So they went and dug a pit in the middle of the road.
Then Dog told his wives and children, "Go ye before, at once!" He
also said, "I and this little Mbwa, which can run so fast, we shall
remain behind." Then the others went on in advance.
(Before that, Leopard, observing some movements of the Mbwa family,
had been speaking to himself, "I do not know the place where Mbwa
and his children will go today.")
Dog warned this young one, "When you are pursued, you must jump clear
across that pit."
Then Dog, to cover the retreat of his family, came alone to Leopard's
end of the town. He and his children chased after him. Dog ran away
rapidly, and escaped.
When Leopard's company arrived at the house of Dog, they found there
only that little dog. So they said, "Come ye! for there is no other
choice than that we catch and eat this little thing."
Thereupon, Leopard chased after the little dog; but it leaped away
rapidly, and Leopard after him. When the little Dog was near the pit,
it made a jump. (Leopard did not know of the pit, nor why the Dog
jumped.) When Leopard was come to the pit, he fell inside, tumbling,
volom!
His enemy Gorilla was following after Leopard, also in pursuit of
Dog. He also fell into the pit, headlong, volom! Finding Leopard there,
Gorilla said, "What is this?" Leopard stood at one side, and Gorilla
at the other. When the one would be about to go near the other, if
the other attempted to go near him, he would begin to growl, saying,
"You must not approach here!"
Dog, standing at the edge above, was laughing at them, saying,
"Fight ye your own fight! Did you want only me?"
But Leopard and Gorilla were not fighting in the pit. If the one
approached, the other retreated.
Dog spoke to them and said in derision. "I have no strength; but as
to your fight, was it seeking only me?"
TALE 26
A TRICK FOR VENGEANCE
Persons
Kudu (Tortoise)
Ko (Wild-Rat)
Njâ (Leopard)
NOTE
Because of deaths and sicknesses, African natives are constantly
changing the location of their villages, believing the old sites
infested by malevolent Spirits.
The whole mass of Beasts were living in one place. They built houses;
they cleared the forest for plantations.
After this, Tortoise said, "I'm going to find my own place." So, he
went and built in a place which he called Malende-ma-Kudu. The fame of
it was spread abroad, people talking about "Malende-ma-Kudu." Leopard
arose, came to the town of Tortoise, and said, "I have come to build
here." Tortoise consented, "You may build." Leopard said, "I'm going to
build at the end of the path, and by the spring." And he built there.
One day, a child of Tortoise was passing by near the spring; and
Leopard seized him, ku!
Another day, another one was passing; Leopard seized him, also, ku!
Then Tortoise said, "This is an evil place, I'm going to move from
here." So he went and built another town called Jamba. Leopard
came also, saying, "Kudu! I'm coming to build!" Then Tortoise said,
"Really! what have your affairs to do with me? Nevertheless, come
and build." And Leopard built at the end, by the spring.
When the children of Tortoise were passing by the spring, Leopard
constantly killed them.
Tortoise wondered, "This thing which is destroying my children,
what is it?"
Thus day by day, Leopard was killing the children of Tortoise.
Tortoise prepared again to remove, saying that he would go away and
build another town to be called Dang. He went there. And the fame of it
was spread around, people saying, "Dang, the town of Kudu!" Everybody
was saying, "We are going to the town of Kudu; Dang, the town of Kudu!"
Leopard comes again, and says, "I also have come to build
here." Tortoise said to him, "Wait! really; why did you leave the other
people?" However, Tortoise said to him, "Build." And Leopard built as
usual. Also, when the children of Tortoise were passing to the spring,
they were missing. And Tortoise felt sure that Leopard had seized them.
Thereupon Tortoise made a plan for himself. He called Wild-Rat
privately, saying, "I have heard that you know how to dig
holes." Wild-Rat replied, "It is my work." Tortoise said, "But,
I want you to dig me a tunnel from this room here, out to, and up
towards the street, by measure." So, Wild-Rat dug a big hole, in size
sufficient for Tortoise and his traveling-bag and his spears.
Then Tortoise went and gathered together his spears and his
traveling-bag. He went out the next day, early in the morning, and
stood and announced in the street, "All the Tribes must come! I want
to tell them the news of what I have seen."
Then all the Beasts came to meet in the town of Tortoise. It was full
of every kind of beast. Tortoise spoke, and said, "I have called you
to say, that really we are not worth anything at all. Actually, the
only dwelling we have is in the grave. All those my children who have
died here, is it possible that it is my Father (of Spirits) who takes
them? I met them sitting down in the Reception-House of that father,
playing." The people said to him, "This is a Dream." He replied,
"No! it is open to sight." Some said, "It is a lie." But Tortoise
said, "You have doubted me? Well, tomorrow you must dig me a grave;
and you shall see how I am going." They said, "Yes! let us see!"
On the next day, in the morning, they were called together. He said,
"Dig me a pit here." (He pointed to the privately measured spot over
the tunnel which Wild-Rat had already made for him.) They dug it wide
and deeply. Then, this Tortoise took his spears and his bag; and with
these under his arm, he descended into the pit, and bade the people
fill in the earth. He went to one side, until he reached and entered
that tunnel of his which Wild-Rat had dug for him. And unseen he passed
up to his room in his house, and lay down. Before that, he had promised
the people, saying, "I shall lie there (in the pit) for six days."
Before Tortoise had disappeared, the people (following his orders)
began to throw back the earth into the pit, filling it solidly.
After Tortoise had laid in his house for six days, he suddenly
appeared in the street; and he called all the mass of the Beasts,
and he told them the news. He said, "Over there is so beautiful! I
will not stay in this town any more for as long as ten days. But,
as I am here, I shall lie here only for three days, and two days over
there." At once Tortoise was regarded as a person of great importance,
and his fame was spread abroad.
Thereupon, Leopard, (feeling jealous of the wonderful experience of
Tortoise) said to his children, "Even Kudu! How much rather that I
should get to that beautiful place! Dig me mine own pit. I also am
going to see my forefathers. I and they, we have not seen each other
for a long time." So, they dug a big pit. He announced, "I will lie
there for seven days; on the eighth, then I shall come."
Then he descended into the pit. And they rapidly filled it up with
earth. Leopard, below, sought a cavity by which to pass on (as he
thought) to the Land of Spirits; but, there was none. And he died.
His children waited eight days; but they saw not their father. Then
they asked Tortoise, "As to our father, up to this day, what has
happened to him?" Tortoise answered them, "Why are you asking me
this? When I went, what did my family ask of you? Maybe, your father
remained to follow the pleasures of over there!"
The women of Leopard had kept him some food, making it ready for him
for the eighth day. But (giving up hope of him) they ate it. While
they were still waiting, actually Leopard had begun to rot there
(in the pit).
Tortoise, fearing possible difficulty, gathered together his wives
and remaining children, and fled with them into the forest afar off.
TALE 27
NOT MY FAULT!
Persons
Yongolokodi (Chameleon)
Ko (Wild Rat)
Men, Hunters
Chameleon and all the other Beasts built their villages near together,
making a large town. And there was a time of great hunger. After that,
there came a harvest time of large fruitage. The great produce could
not be gathered for abundance.
Then came Chameleon to the village of Wild-Rat, and he said to him,
"Chum, Ko! this harvest is a great thing!" Rat said, "Don't speak
about it!"
Not long afterward, Mankind laid their snares, and the hunters prepared
their bows. For, beasts and birds had come in crowds to eat of the
abundance; and Man had overhead them speaking of it. Gunners came;
the shots resounded; bows were twanged; the snares caught.
Rat fell into one of the traps. Chameleon seeing him, and desiring
to justify himself, reminded Rat that Rat himself had told him not
to let others know of the great abundance, and that he himself had
obeyed; that therefore he was not the cause of Rat's misfortune. So,
Chameleon said, "I did not speak of it."
TALE 28
DO NOT IMPOSE ON THE WEAK
Persons
Yongolokodi (Chameleon)
Njâ (Leopard)
NOTE
Chameleons move very slowly. This story is given as a reason why, even
if one is small in body, he should not be despised, as though he had
no strength, or as though he could with impunity be deprived of his
rights, e.g., in a race or in wrestling, or in any other circumstances.
Leopard and Chameleon lived apart. This one had his village, and that
one his. This one did his own business; that one his. And they were
resting quietly in their abodes.
Chameleon had a herd of sheep and of goats.
Leopard came to the village of Chameleon on an excursion; and he saw
the herd of sheep and of goats. He said to Chameleon, "Chum! give
me a loan of sheep to raise on shares." Chameleon made food for him;
and, when they had eaten, he said to Leopard, "You can send children
tomorrow, to come and take the loan of sheep on shares." They had their
conversation, talking, and talking. When they had ended, Leopard said,
"My Fellow! I'm going back." His friend said to him, "Very good."
Leopard went on to his village. He said, "My wife! I came on an
excursion, to the town of Yongolokodi. He treated me with hospitality
to the very greatest degree. Also he has given me sheep on shares."
The next day, in the morning, he sent his children to the town of
Chameleon to take the herd of sheep. They went; and they brought
them; and goats also. (A "day" in an Ekano Tale is without limit as
to length or shortness.)
The goats and sheep increased, until the village of Leopard was
positively full of them crowded in abundance.
About three years passed, and Chameleon said to himself, "Our herd
with Chum must be about sufficient for division." Thereupon he started
on his journey crawling, naka, naka, naka, until he came to the house
of his friend Leopard. Leopard said to his wife, "Make food!" It was
cooked, they ate, and rested.
Chameleon said to Leopard, "Chum! I have come, that we should divide
the shares of the herd." Leopard replied, "Good! but, first go back
today. Who can catch goats and sheep on a hot day like this? Come
tomorrow morning." Chameleon said, "Very good." And he went back to
his village.
The next day, in the morning, he rose to go to the village of
Leopard. (Actually, after midnight, Leopard had already opened the
pens, and all the animals were scattered outside.) He protested regret
to Chameleon, and said, "Chum! go back! I don't know how those fellows
have opened their pens. I was expecting you, for this day; I had let my
herdman know that a person was coming on the morrow. So, go back. And,
as I am going tomorrow to the swamp for bamboo, you must come only
on the second day." Chameleon submissively replied, "Very good."
Chameleon continued coming; and his treatment was just so every time,
with excuses.
Leopard, hoping, said to himself, "Perhaps he will die on the way,"
because he saw him walking so slowly, naka, naka. And Chameleon kept
on patiently going back and forth, back and forth.
One night, Leopard and his wife were lying down; whereupon his wife
asked him, "What is the reason that you and Yongolokodi have not
divided the shares of the herd? Do you think he will die of this
weakness?" Leopard answered, "No! it is not weakness, Njambe is the
one who created him so; it is his own way of walking."
Finally, Chameleon said to himself, "I must see what Njâ intends to
do to me; whether he thinks that he shall eat my share." He went by
night and waited outside of Leopard's. Next day, in the morning,
as Leopard rose to go out, he found, unexpectedly, as he emerged
from the house, Chameleon sitting on the threshold. There was no
other deception that Leopard could seek; for, the animals were still
in their pens. So, he called his children, and said, "Tie the goats
and sheep with cords." So they tied them all. And he and Chameleon
divided them. Then this one returned to his place; and that one to his.
TALE 29
BORROWED CLOTHES
Persons