THE LEGEND OF KEN-E-LI.
(From Figaro, August 11, 1875.)
High among the tribes of Jon-buls,
Was a tribe they called the Lor-yahs;
Very cunning were the Lor-yahs:
They could talk and twist and double
Till the other tribes of Jon-buls
Scarcely knew if they were standing
On their heads or on their sandals.
Chief among these learned Lor-yahs
Was the great and good Ken-e-li.
Brave and handsome, kind and gentle,
Soft in voice and smooth in manner,
Wise yet simple, strong yet tender,
Was the mighty chief Ken-e-li.
But the blind and stupid Jon-buls
Could not see his many virtues;
When he spake they shouted, "Bun-kum!"
And they scoffed at good Ken-e-li.
* * * * *
The poem then describes the gentle manners
of the inhabitants of the district An-lee, their
mild sports and pastimes, and how they chose
the great Ken-e-li to be their talking Em-pee in
the council of their nation, and the manner in
which he was received there.