he was gone for the stone, Little Jackal went far into the hole. When
Lion returned he could not be found. Lion lay down by the hole and
waited. After a long time Little Jackal wanted to come out. He went to
the entrance and looked round, but he could not see Lion. To make sure,
he said: "Ho, I see you, my master, although you are in hiding."
Lion did not move from the place where he lay concealed. Then Little
Jackal went out, and Lion pursued him, but he got away.
Lion watched for him, and one day, when Little Jackal was out hunting,
he came upon him in a place where he could not escape. Lion was just
about to spring upon him, when Little Jackal said softly: "Be still, do
you not see that bushbuck on the other side of the rock? I am glad you
have come to help me. Just remain here while I run round and drive him
toward you."
Lion did so, and Little Jackal made his escape.
At another time there was a meeting of the animals, and Lion was the
chief at the meeting. Little Jackal wanted to attend, but there was a
law made that no one should be present unless he had horns. So Little
Jackal took wax out of a nest of bees, and made horns for himself with
it. He fastened the horns on his head, and went to the meeting. Lion did
not know him on account of the horns. But he sat near the fire and went
to sleep, when the horns melted.
Lion looked at him and saw who it was. He immediately tried to catch
him, but Little Jackal was quick in springing away. He ran under an
overhanging rock and sang out: "Help! help! this rock is falling upon
me!"
Lion went for a pole to prop up the rock that he might get at Little
Jackal. While he was away, Little Jackal escaped.
After that they became companions again, and went hunting another time.
They killed an ox. Lion said: "I will watch it while you carry the
pieces away."
Lion gave him the breast, and said: "Take this to my wife."
Little Jackal took it to his own wife. When he returned, Lion gave him a
shin, and said: "Take this to your wife."
Little Jackal took the shin to Lion's house. Lion's wife said: "I cannot
take this because it should not come here."
Little Jackal thereupon struck Lion's wife in the face, and went back to
the place where the ox was killed. Lion gave him a large piece of meat
and said: "Take this to my wife."
Little Jackal took it to his own wife. This continued till the ox was
finished. Then they both went home. When Lion arrived at his house he
found there was weeping in his family.
His wife said: "Is it you who sent Little Jackal to beat me and my
children, and is it you who sent this shin? Did I ever eat a shin?"
When Lion heard this he was very angry and at once went to Little
Jackal's house. When he reached the rock, Little Jackal looked down and
said: "Who are you, and what is your name, and whose son are you, and
where are you from, and where are you going to, and whom do you want,
and what do you want him for?"
Lion replied: "I have merely come to see you. I wish you to let down the
rope."
Little Jackal let down a rope made of mouse skins, and when Lion climbed
a little way up, the rope broke, and he fell and was hurt. He then went
home.
THE LIONESS AND THE OSTRICH
It is said, once a lioness roared, and the ostrich also roared. The
lioness went toward the place where the ostrich was. They met. The
lioness said to the ostrich, "Please to roar." The ostrich roared. Then
the lioness roared. The voices were equal. The lioness said to the
ostrich, "You are my match."
Then the lioness said to the ostrich, "Let us hunt game together." They
saw eland and made toward it. The lioness caught only one; the ostrich
killed a great many by striking them with the claw which was on his leg;
but the lioness killed only one. When they had met after the hunting
they went to the game, and the lioness saw that the ostrich had killed a
great deal.
Now, the lioness also had young cubs. They went to the shade to rest
themselves. The lioness said to the ostrich, "Get up and rip open; let
us eat." Said the ostrich, "Go and rip open; I shall eat the blood." The
lioness stood up and ripped open, and ate with the cubs. And when she
had eaten, the ostrich got up and ate the blood. They went to sleep.
The cubs played about. While they were playing, they went to the
ostrich, who was asleep. When he went to sleep he also opened his mouth.
The young lions saw that the ostrich had no teeth. They went to their
mother and said, "This fellow, who says he is your equal, has no teeth;
he is insulting you." Then the lioness went to wake the ostrich, and
said, "Get up, let us fight"; and they fought. And the ostrich said, "Go
to that side of the ant-hill, and I will go to this side of it." The
ostrich struck the ant-hill, and sent it toward the lioness. But the
second time he struck the lioness in a vulnerable spot, near the liver,
and killed her.
CROCODILE'S TREASON
Crocodile was, in the days when animals still could talk, the
acknowledged foreman of all water creatures and if one should judge from
appearances one would say that he still is. But in those days it was his
especial duty to have a general care of all water animals, and when one
year it was exceedingly dry, and the water of the river where they had
lived dried up and became scarce, he was forced to make a plan to trek
over to another river a short distance from there.
He first sent Otter out to spy. He stayed away two days and brought back
a report that there was still good water in the other river, real
sea-cow holes, that not even a drought of several years could dry up.
After he had ascertained this, Crocodile called to his side Tortoise and
Alligator.
"Look here," said he, "I need you two to-night to carry a report to
Lion. So then get ready; the veldt is dry, and you will probably have to
travel for a few days without any water. We must make peace with Lion
and his subjects, otherwise we utterly perish this year. And he must
help us to trek over to the other river, especially past the Boer's farm
that lies in between, and to travel unmolested by any of the animals of
the veldt, so long as the trek lasts. A fish on land is sometimes a very
helpless thing, as you all know." The two had it mighty hard in the
burning sun, and on the dry veldt, but eventually they reached Lion and
handed him the treaty.
"What is going on now?" thought Lion to himself, when he had read it. "I
must consult Jackal first," said he. But to the commissioners he gave
back an answer that he would be the following evening with his advisers
at the appointed place, at the big vaarland willow tree, at the farther
end of the hole of water, where Crocodile had his headquarters.
When Tortoise and Alligator came back, Crocodile was exceedingly
pleased with himself at the turn the case had taken.
He allowed Otter and a few others to be present and ordered them on that
evening to have ready plenty of fish and other eatables for their guests
under the vaarland willow.
That evening as it grew dark Lion appeared with Wolf, Jackal, Baboon,
and a few other important animals, at the appointed place, and they were
received in the most open-hearted manner by Crocodile and the other
water creatures.
Crocodile was so glad at the meeting of the animals that he now and then
let fall a great tear of joy that disappeared into the sand. After the
other animals had done well by the fish, Crocodile laid bare to them the
condition of affairs and opened up his plan. He wanted only peace among
all animals; for they not only destroyed one another, but the Boer, too,
would in time destroy them all.
The Boer had already stationed at the source of the river no less than
three steam pumps to irrigate his land, and the water was becoming
scarcer every day. More than this, he took advantage of their
unfortunate position by making them sit in the shallow water and then,
one after the other, bringing about their death. As Lion was, on this
account, inclined to make peace, it was to his glory to take this
opportunity and give his hand to these peace-making water creatures, and
carry out their part of the contract, namely, escort them from the
dried-up water, past the Boer's farm and to the long sea-cow pools.
"And what benefit shall we receive from it?" asked Jackal.
"Well," answered Crocodile, "the peace made is of great benefit to both
sides. We will not exterminate each other. If you desire to come and
drink water, you can do so with an easy mind, and not be the least bit
nervous that I, or any one of us will seize you by the nose; and so also
with all the other animals. And from your side we are to be freed from
Elephant, who has the habit, whenever he gets the opportunity, of
tossing us with his trunk up into some open and narrow fork of a tree
and there allowing us to become biltong."
Lion and Jackal stepped aside to consult with one another, and then Lion
wanted to know what form of security he would have that Crocodile would
keep to his part of the contract.
"I stake my word of honor," was the prompt answer from Crocodile, and he
let drop a few more long tears of honesty into the sand.
Baboon then said it was all square and honest as far as he could see
into the case. He thought it was nonsense to attempt to dig pitfalls for
one another; because he personally was well aware that his race would
benefit somewhat from this contract of peace and friendship. And more
than this, they must consider that use must be made of the fast
disappearing water, for even in the best of times it was an unpleasant
thing to be always carrying your life about in your hands. He would,
however, like to suggest to the King that it would be well to have
everything put down in writing, so that there would be nothing to regret
in case it was needed.
Jackal did not want to listen to the agreement. He could not see that it
would benefit the animals of the veldt. But Wolf, who had fully
satisfied himself with the fish, was in an exceptionally peace-loving
mood, and he advised Lion again to close the agreement.
After Lion had listened to all his advisers, and also the pleading tones
of Crocodile's followers, he held forth in a speech in which he said
that he was inclined to enter into the agreement, seeing that it was
clear that Crocodile and his subjects were in a very tight place.
There and then a document was drawn up, and it was resolved, before
midnight, to begin the trek. Crocodile's messengers swam in all
directions to summon together the water animals for the trek.
Frogs croaked and crickets chirped in the long water grass. It was not
long before all the animals had assembled at the vaarland willow. In the
meantime Lion had sent out a few despatch riders to his subjects to
raise a commando for an escort, and long ere midnight these also were at
the vaarland willow in the moonlight.
The trek then was regulated by Lion and Jackal. Jackal was to take the
lead to act as spy, and when he was able to draw Lion to one side, he
said to him:
"See here, I do not trust this affair one bit, and I want to tell you
straight out, I am going to make tracks! I will spy for you until you
reach the sea-cow pool, but I am not going to be the one to await your
arrival there."
Elephant had to act as advance guard because he could walk so softly and
could hear and smell so well. Then came Lion with one division of the
animals, then Crocodile's trek with a flank protection of both sides,
and Wolf received orders to bring up the rear.
Meanwhile, while all this was being arranged, Crocodile was smoothly
preparing his treason. He called Yellow Snake to one side and said to
him: "It is to our advantage to have these animals, who go among us
every day, and who will continue to do so, fall into the hands of the
Boer. Listen, now! You remain behind unnoticed, and when you hear me
shout you will know that we have arrived safely at the sea-cow pool.
Then you must harass the Boer's dogs as much as you can, and the rest
will look out for themselves."
Thereupon the trek moved on. It was necessary to go very slowly as many
of the water animals were not accustomed to the journey on land; but
they trekked past the Boer's farm in safety, and toward break of day
they were all safely at the sea-cow pool. There most of the water
animals disappeared suddenly into the deep water, and Crocodile also
began to make preparations to follow their example. With tearful eyes he
said to Lion that he was, oh, so thankful for the help, that, from pure
relief and joy, he must first give vent to his feelings by a few
screams. Thereupon he suited his words to actions so that even the
mountains echoed, and then thanked Lion on behalf of his subjects, and
purposely continued with a long speech, dwelling on all the benefits
both sides would derive from the agreement of peace.
Lion was just about to say good day and take his departure, when the
first shot fell, and with it Elephant and a few other animals.
"I told you all so!" shouted Jackal from the other side of the sea-cow
pool. "Why did you allow yourselves to be misled by a few Crocodile
tears?"
Crocodile had disappeared long ago into the water. All one saw was just
a lot of bubbles; and on the banks there was an actual war against the
animals. It simply crackled the way the Boers shot them.
But most of them, fortunately, came out of it alive.
Shortly after, they say, Crocodile received his well-earned reward, when
he met a driver with a load of dynamite. And even now when the Elephant
gets the chance he pitches them up into the highest forks of the trees.
THE STORY OF A DAM
There was a great drought in the land; and Lion called together a number
of animals so that they might devise a plan for retaining water when the
rains fell.
The animals which attended at Lion's summons were Baboon, Leopard,
Hyena, Jackal, Hare, and Mountain Tortoise.
It was agreed that they should scratch a large hole in some suitable
place to hold water; and the next day they all began to work, with the
exception of Jackal, who continually hovered about in that locality, and
was overheard to mutter that he was not going to scratch his nails off
in making water holes.
When the dam was finished the rains fell, and it was soon filled with
water, to the great delight of those who had worked so hard at it. The
first one, however, to come and drink there, was Jackal, who not only
drank, but filled his clay pot with water, and then proceeded to swim
in the rest of the water, making it as muddy and dirty as he could.
This was brought to the knowledge of Lion, who was very angry and
ordered Baboon to guard the water the next day, armed with a huge
knobkirrie. Baboon was concealed in a bush close to the water; but
Jackal soon became aware of his presence there, and guessed its cause.
Knowing the fondness of baboons for honey, Jackal at once hit upon a
plan, and marching to and fro, every now and then dipped his fingers
into his clay pot, and licked them with an expression of intense relish,
saying, in a low voice to himself, "I don't want any of their dirty
water when I have a pot full of delicious honey." This was too much for
poor Baboon, whose mouth began to water. He soon began to beg Jackal to
give him a little honey, as he had been watching for several hours, and
was very hungry and tired.
After taking no notice of Baboon at first, Jackal looked round, and
said, in a patronizing manner, that he pitied such an unfortunate
creature, and would give him some honey on certain conditions, viz.,
that Baboon should give up his knobkirrie and allow himself to be bound
by Jackal. He foolishly agreed; and was soon tied in such a manner that
he could not move hand or foot.
Jackal now proceeded to drink of the water, to fill his pot, and to swim
in the sight of Baboon, from time to time telling him what a foolish
fellow he had been to be so easily duped, and that he (Jackal) had no
honey or anything else to give him, excepting a good blow on the head
every now and then with his own knobkirrie.
The animals soon appeared and found poor Baboon in this sorry plight,
looking the picture of misery. Lion was so exasperated that he caused
Baboon to be severely punished, and to be denounced as a fool.
Tortoise hereupon stepped forward, and offered his services for the
capture of Jackal. It was at first thought that he was merely joking;
but when he explained in what manner he proposed to catch him, his plan
was considered so feasible that his offer was accepted. He proposed
that a thick coating of "bijenwerk" (a kind of sticky black substance
found on beehives) should be spread all over him, and that he should
then go and stand at the entrance of the dam, on the water level, so
that Jackal might tread upon him and stick fast. This was accordingly
done and Tortoise posted there.
The next day, when Jackal came, he approached the water very cautiously,
and wondered to find no one there. He then ventured to the entrance of
the water, and remarked how kind they had been in placing there a large
black stepping-stone for him. As soon, however, as he trod upon the
supposed stone, he stuck fast, and saw that he had been tricked; for
Tortoise now put his head out and began to move. Jackal's hind feet
being still free he threatened to smash Tortoise with them if he did not
let him go. Tortoise merely answered, "Do as you like." Jackal thereupon
made a violent jump, and found, with horror, that his hind feet were now
also fast. "Tortoise," said he, "I have still my mouth and teeth left,
and will eat you alive if you do not let me go." "Do as you like,"
Tortoise again replied. Jackal, in his endeavors to free himself, at
last made a desperate bite at Tortoise, and found himself fixed, both
head and feet. Tortoise, feeling proud of his successful capture, now
marched quietly up to the top of the bank with Jackal on his back, so
that he could easily be seen by the animals as they came to the water.
They were indeed astonished to find how cleverly the crafty Jackal had
been caught; and Tortoise was much praised, while the unhappy Baboon was
again reminded of his misconduct when set to guard the water.
Jackal was at once condemned to death by Lion; and Hyena was to execute
the sentence. Jackal pleaded hard for mercy, but finding this useless,
he made a last request to Lion (always, as he said, so fair and just in
his dealings) that he should not have to suffer a lingering death.
Lion inquired of him in what manner he wished to die; and he asked that
his tail might be shaved and rubbed with a little fat, and that Hyena
might then swing him round twice and dash his brains out upon a stone.
This, being considered sufficiently fair by Lion, was ordered by him to
be carried out in his presence.
When Jackal's tail had been shaved and greased, Hyena caught hold of him
with great force, and before he had fairly lifted him from the ground,
the cunning Jackal had slipped away from Hyena's grasp, and was running
for his life, pursued by all the animals.
Lion was the foremost pursuer, and after a great chase Jackal got under
an overhanging precipice, and, standing on his hind legs with his
shoulders pressed against the rock, called loudly to Lion to help him,
as the rock was falling, and would crush them both. Lion put his
shoulders to the rock, and exerted himself to the utmost. After some
little time Jackal proposed that he should creep slowly out, and fetch a
large pole to prop up the rock, so that Lion could get out and save his
life. Jackal did creep out, and left Lion there to starve and die.
THE DANCE FOR WATER OR RABBIT'S TRIUMPH
There was a frightful drought. The rivers after a while dried up and
even the springs gave no water.
The animals wandered around seeking drink, but to no avail. Nowhere was
water to be found.
A great gathering of animals was held: Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Jackal,
Elephant, all of them came together. What was to be done? That was the
question. One had this plan, and another had that; but no plan seemed of
value.
Finally one of them suggested: "Come, let all of us go to the dry river
bed and dance; in that way we can tread out the water."
Good! Everyone was satisfied and ready to begin instantly, excepting
Rabbit, who said, "I will not go and dance. All of you are mad to
attempt to get water from the ground by dancing."
The other animals danced and danced, and ultimately danced the water to
the surface. How glad they were. Everyone drank as much as he could, but
Rabbit did not dance with them. So it was decided that Rabbit should
have no water.
He laughed at them: "I will nevertheless drink some of your water."
That evening he proceeded leisurely to the river bed where the dance had
been, and drank as much as he wanted. The following morning the animals
saw the footprints of Rabbit in the ground, and Rabbit shouted to them:
"Aha! I did have some of the water, and it was most refreshing and
tasted fine."
Quickly all the animals were called together. What were they to do? How
were they to get Rabbit in their hands? All had some means to propose;
the one suggested this, and the other that.
Finally old Tortoise moved slowly forward, foot by foot: "I will catch
Rabbit."
"You? How? What do you think of yourself?" shouted the others in
unison.
"Rub my shell with pitch,[1] and I will go to the edge of the water and
lie down. I will then resemble a stone, so that when Rabbit steps on me
his feet will stick fast."
"Yes! Yes! That's good."
And in a one, two, three, Tortoise's shell was covered with pitch, and
foot by foot he moved away to the river. At the edge, close to the
water, he lay down and drew his head into his shell.
Rabbit during the evening came to get a drink. "Ha!" he chuckled
sarcastically, "they are, after all, quite decent. Here they have placed
a stone, so now I need not unnecessarily wet my feet."
Rabbit trod with his left foot on the stone, and there it stuck.
Tortoise then put his head out. "Ha! old Tortoise! And it's you, is it,
that's holding me. But here I still have another foot. I'll give you a
good clout." Rabbit gave Tortoise what he said he would with his right
fore foot, hard and straight; and there his foot remained.
"I have yet a hind foot, and with it I'll kick you." Rabbit drove his
hind foot down. This also rested on Tortoise where it struck.
"But still another foot remains, and now I'll tread you." He stamped his
foot down, but it stuck like the others.
He used his head to hammer Tortoise, and his tail as a whip, but both
met the same fate as his feet, so there he was tight and fast down to
the pitch.
Tortoise now slowly turned himself round and foot by foot started for
the other animals, with Rabbit on his back.
"Ha! ha! ha! Rabbit! How does it look now? Insolence does not pay after
all," shouted the animals.
Now advice was sought. What should they do with Rabbit? He certainly
must die. But how? One said, "Behead him"; another, "Some severe
penalty."
"Rabbit, how are we to kill you?"
"It does not affect me," Rabbit said. "Only a shameful death please do
not pronounce."
"And what is that?" they all shouted.
"To take me by my tail and dash my head against a stone; that I pray and
beseech you don't do."
"No, but just so you'll die. That is decided."
It was decided Rabbit should die by taking him by his tail and dashing
his head to pieces against some stone. But who is to do it?
Lion, because he is the most powerful one.
Good! Lion should do it. He stood up, walked to the front, and poor
Rabbit was brought to him. Rabbit pleaded and beseeched that he couldn't
die such a miserable death.
Lion took Rabbit firmly by the tail and swung him around. The white skin
slipped off from Rabbit, and there Lion stood with the white bit of skin
and hair in his paw. Rabbit was free.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Black beeswax.
JACKAL AND MONKEY
Every evening Jackal went to the Boer's kraal. He crept through the
sliding door and stole a fat young lamb. This, clever Jackal did several
times in succession. Boer set a wip[2] for him at the door. Jackal went
again and zip--there he was caught around the body by the noose. He
swung and swayed high in the air and couldn't touch ground. The day
began to dawn and Jackal became uneasy.
On a stone kopje, Monkey sat. When it became light he could see the
whole affair, and descended hastily for the purpose of mocking Jackal.
He went and sat on the wall. "Ha, ha, good morning. So there you are
hanging now, eventually caught."
"What? I caught? I am simply swinging for my pleasure; it is enjoyable."
"You fibber. You are caught in the wip."
"If you but realized how nice it was to swing and sway like this, you
wouldn't hesitate. Come, try it a little. You feel so healthy and strong
for the day, and you never tire afterwards."
"No, I won't. You are caught."
After a while Jackal convinced Monkey. He sprang from the kraal wall,
and freeing Jackal, adjusted the noose around his own body. Jackal
quickly let go and began to laugh, as Monkey was now swinging high in
the air.
"Ha, ha, ha," he laughed. "Now Monkey is in the wip."