All the frogs agreed that the plan was a good one, and promised to help their companion to win the race. When he had thus arranged everything to his satisfaction, the young frog went to the bush buck and challenged him to race for his daughter. But, although the bush buck laughed at the idea, he had to consent to run, and the race was arranged for the following day along the usual track, and the first home to be the winner.

Early in the morning all the frogs took up their positions along the course, and the young frog jumped on to the course where the starting-place was and waited for the bush buck to arrive. By this time many people had arrived to watch the race, and soon the bush buck joined the frog, and the signal to start having been given they both jumped off together. But the frog returned to his hole, and the bush buck raced off alone as fast as he could go. When he had gone about half the distance the bush buck called out, “Where are you, frog?” and one of the frogs at once answered, “I am here, are you tired of running?” And the bush buck said, “Yes, I am tired. Let us run back, and the first in shall be the winner.” So he turned round and started off again. When the bush buck got near the starting-place the frog came out of his hole, and directly the people saw that he had got back before the bush buck they declared the frog to be the winner, much to the disgust of many of the young men, who were watching the race, and who cursed the frog for his luck in winning such a fine wife. When the bush buck arrived he was much out of breath from running, and was greatly surprised at being beaten by the frog, but as he had passed his word that he would give his daughter to the winner, he handed her to the frog.

The frog then took his beautiful wife to his house near the spring, where they had a big play; and after the dancing was over the frog gave all the members of his company who had helped him to win the race quantities of food and tombo, which had been prepared for them. The young frog then went into the water, and called upon his wife to follow him. She went into the stream until the water came up to her neck, but, being naturally very timid, she was afraid to go further, and struggled back to the bank, where she said to her husband, “If you wish to live with me you will have to come on to the land, as I cannot live in the water.” So the frog came out and joined his wife, but he only lived with her for a very short time, as the pretty bush buck walked so fast he could not keep up with her. Very soon she strayed away into the forest, where she met a fine young bush buck, and, forgetting all about the frog, went off with her young lover. One day when she went to the spring to draw water the frog called out to her to return to him, but, as she refused to do so, the frog lost his wife for ever whom he had won so cleverly.

Told by Abassi of Inkum.—[E.D., 11.8.10.]

XXIX.—Why a Python Never Swallows a Tortoise.

In the days when the elephant was king over all the beasts of the forest, it was the custom for all the animals to go once a year and make the elephant’s farm for him. They cleared all the bush and planted his yams and plantains. On these occasions the elephant always entertained the animals, and when the work was finished the elephant gave them food. Now, although the python never did any work on the farm, he always attended the feasts and, being very greedy, eat more than his share of the food. This annoyed the tortoise so much that he stood up at the feast and abused the python before all the people, saying that he did not work, and then came and eat a large quantity of the food which had been provided by the king for the people who made his farm and planted his yams. The python was therefore compelled to leave the food and go home as he was unable to work, but he made a vow to revenge himself upon all the people. When the next season arrived and it was time for the farms to be made, all the people went as usual to make the elephant’s farm and plant his yams, &c., but as the elephant had had such a very bad crop the previous year, he told the people he was very sorry, but that he was unable to supply them with food that year as he had no yams or plantains to give them. But in the evening, when the work was done, he gave them tombo to drink, and then told them to go. When the python heard this he said, “Now the time is come when I can revenge myself upon the tortoise and the other people who would not let me eat the king’s food last year.” So he went off into the bush, taking his wife with him, and together they gathered large numbers of soft palm nuts. They also collected other nuts and fruit and made them into heaps by the wayside where they knew all the people would pass on their way home from working on the elephant’s farm. Just before it got dark the animals began to arrive at the spot where the python had collected his nuts and fruit, and, being very hungry, they asked the python to allow them to eat some of his palm nuts. The python said, “Certainly, you can help yourselves, but remember if you do, when I am hungry I shall follow you and swallow you up when I catch you.” When the animals heard this they were frightened, and although they were very hungry, they passed on and left the fruit untouched. The tortoise was the last to arrive, and when he saw the palm nuts he shouted out, “Hallo, python, I am hungry, may I have some of your fruit?” The python then reminded him how he had been insulted at the king’s feast, but added, “If you are hungry you may take some palm nuts, but when I am hungry I shall swallow you.”

So the tortoise, not liking the idea of being swallowed by the python, passed along as the other animals had done. But he had not gone far when his hunger tempted him to return and eat the fruit. When he saw the python the tortoise said, “I want to eat the fruit as I am hungry, but, if you swallow me, my body is small and mostly shell so that your hunger will not be satisfied. If you will give me the palm nuts I will allow you to eat all the other animals except our king the elephant.” So the python replied, “How can you give me all the animals for food, seeing that they do not belong to you?” The tortoise then told the python that he would go and stay with the different animals, and he would expect him every morning after rain had fallen during the night; he would then go off into the bush, so that when the python came to swallow him he would not be there, and he could satisfy his hunger with the animal he, the tortoise, had been staying with. The python agreed to this arrangement and allowed the tortoise to eat the palm nuts. When he had satisfied his appetite, the tortoise told the python he was going to stay the night with his friend the bush buck, and then went away. That night there was heavy rain. So in the morning the tortoise went off into the bush, leaving the bush buck to be eaten by the python. After this the tortoise went from one animal to another, and many of them were swallowed by the python, but the tortoise always escaped. And that is why pythons do not eat tortoises now.

Told by Abassi of Inkum.—[E.D., 11.8.10.]

XXX.—The Game of Hide-and-seek as Played by the Hawk and the
Bush Cow.

In the days when all the animals and birds lived together they were always on friendly terms, even the eagles and hawks did not molest the hens and ducks. At that time the eagle was king over all the birds, and a very small grey-coloured antelope was made king of the animals. This antelope was appointed king because he was so cunning, and always knew when danger was near, having a very fine sense of smell and keen eyesight. The hunters were never able to kill him, because when they saw him, which was very seldom, it would be when he went to a pool to drink; then they would wait for the antelope to put his head down to the water, but this he never did, as he drank through small holes in his feet. He would then smell the hunters while they were watching him, and run away before they could kill him.