STORY OF THE HARE.
Once upon a time the animals made a kraal and put some fat in it. They agreed that one of their number should remain to be the keeper of the gate. The first one that was appointed was the coney (imbila). He agreed to take charge, and all the others went away. In a short time the coney fell asleep, when the inkalimeva (a fabulous animal) went in and ate all the fat. After doing this, he threw a little stone at the coney.
The coney started up and cried out: “The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva.”
It repeated this cry several times, calling out very loudly. The animals at a distance heard [[180]]it, they ran to the kraal, and when they saw that the fat was gone they killed the coney.
They put the fat in the kraal a second time, and appointed the muishond (iqaqa) to keep the gate. The mouse-dog consented, and the animals went away as before. After a little time the inkalimeva came to the kraal, bringing some honey with it. It invited the keeper of the gate to eat honey, and while the muishond was enjoying himself the inkalimeva went in and stole all the fat. It threw a stone at the muishond, which made him look up.
The muishond cried out: “The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva.”
As soon as the animals heard the cry, they ran to the kraal and killed the muishond.
They put fat in the kraal a third time, and appointed the duiker (impunzi) to be the keeper of the gate. The duiker agreed, and the others went away. In a short time the inkalimeva made its appearance. It proposed to the duiker that they should play at hide and seek. The duiker agreed to this. Then the inkalimeva hid itself, and the duiker looked for it till he was so tired that he lay down and [[181]]went to sleep. When the duiker was asleep, the inkalimeva ate up all the fat.
Then it threw a stone at the duiker, which caused him to jump up and cry out: “The fat belonging to all the animals has been eaten by the inkalimeva.”