A rabbit once wanted to wear a lion’s skin, so he said, “Where shall I find one?” But his friends said, “You don’t mean it. The lion is a fearful animal.” But the rabbit said, “I shall deceive it.” So he went to a lion’s den where there were cubs, stood in the courtyard, and clapped his hands. The lioness came out and received his salutation and said, “Well, what?” And the rabbit replied, “I have come to stay.” So the lioness said, “Pass into the house there and take care of the children. Remain with them, and I myself shall go to kill game.” Then she went away to kill game. Not long afterwards the lioness came back and stood in the path and called out, saying, “Rabbit.” And the rabbit said, “Here I am.” And she said, “Take this meat. Are all the children well?” And the rabbit replied, “Yes, they are all well.” “All right,” said the lioness, “bring them that I may see them.” So the rabbit brought them, and said, “This is one, this is another, and this another.” In all there were three. Quite pleased, the lioness said, “Take the meat and give it them.” The rabbit went and received the meat, but ate it all himself and the children got none. Then the lioness went off to kill more meat. When she had gone the rabbit took one child, killed it, took off its skin, and went away to hide it. The lioness soon returned, bringing more game, and said, “Are the children well? Bring them that I may see them.” So the rabbit brought them, saying, “This is one, this is another, and this another,” but one he brought twice. Again, well pleased, the lioness went away for more game, and the rabbit killed another cub, took off its skin, and went away and hid it. In the evening the lioness again returned, bringing meat, and said, “Are the children all well?” As usual the rabbit replied, “Yes, they are all well.” So he showed the lioness the same cub three times, and said, “This is one, this is another, and this another.” Again, well pleased, the lioness said, “Take this meat and give it them.” But the rabbit ate it all, and afterwards killed the cub that was left, skinned it, and went off to hide the skin. Then, afraid of the return of the lioness, he went to get string. Next he cut a small slave stick and tied himself by the neck. Then he twisted cords and tied his legs and bound himself to the stick again, and with another cord tied his arms. Then he made a great noise, and called out, “War! War! War against the lion. War!” The lioness came bounding back, and said, “What is the matter?” So the rabbit said, “The children are all taken, the soldiers carried them off.” And the lioness demanded, “Soldiers from where?” And the rabbit said, “I don’t know. Untie me.” The lioness set about untying, and the rabbit said, “Wait for me, I shall go in search of them.” So the rabbit went away and found monkeys spinning their tops, saying, “Go! Go!” But the rabbit said, “Yes, nonsense, but you should say, ‘I have killed a lion and taken off his skin.’” The monkeys said, “Yes, very good,” and the rabbit left the monkeys repeating these words. He himself went back and met the lioness, and said, “The children were killed by these monkeys.” So the lioness said, “Deceive them, saying that we will do trade in tops.” So the rabbit went back to the monkeys, and said, “Let us deal in these tops.” So they said, “With what goods?” And the rabbit said, “With beans.” Then the monkeys said, “Well, bring them that we may buy.” So the rabbit went back and told all to the lioness, who said, “Weave a basket and tie me into it.” And the rabbit wove a basket, tied in the lioness, and put a few beans on top, lifted the basket, and departed. When he arrived at their courtyard he found the monkeys spinning their tops. So he called out, “I have brought that merchandise.” And they replied, “We shall buy it.” Just then a monkey sent his top spinning, saying, “I have killed a lion’s cub and have taken off its skin.” So the rabbit whispered to the lioness, “Listen, those fellows killed the children;” then to the monkeys, “Let us go and sell in this house.” Then the rabbit took a knife and cut the ropes that held the lioness, who sprang out upon the poor monkeys and killed them all. But the rabbit went for his skins and took them home and wore them.
The Story of the Tortoise and the Monkey
Once a tortoise and a monkey made friends, and the monkey said to the tortoise, “Friend Tortoise, come to my home and visit.” So the tortoise went and the monkey cooked food for him, but, wishing to play a trick on him, placed it on a high platform which the tortoise could not possibly reach up to. Then he called the tortoise, saying, “Friend Tortoise, go into the house and eat.” When the tortoise went in expecting a feast he found the food so high up that he could not reach it. So he came out very angry, and said, “Friend Monkey, you have been insolent to me.” So he went home, and brooded over the insult for three days. Then he sent a messenger to invite the monkey to his home, saying to himself, “Yon monkey was cheeky to me, I also will be cheeky to him.” So when the monkey came he found food already cooked and eyed it greedily. But the tortoise said, “Friend Monkey, there is no water in the house, go down to the stream and wash your hands.” So the monkey went down through the burned grass and washed his hands in anticipation of the feast. But in coming back from the stream he had to pass again through the burned grass and his hands were as black as ever. So seeing through the tortoise’s cunning he got angry, and said, “My friend has played a trick on me,” and departed to his own home.
CHAPTER X
FINGER RHYMES AND RIDDLES
Now I have told you four African tales of animals, and perhaps you are tired of such stories. If, however, I can remember a very good one before I am finished writing to you I shall put it into this chapter.
Let me now tell you about the black boys and girls’ riddles, and there are one or two nursery rhymes that I know of. I am sure you would like to hear them, so I shall write them down for you as they are spoken here, and then translate them for you. Here is one of them:—
“Uyu ndi mtecheteche,
Uyu ndi mpwache wa mteche,
Uyu ndi mkala pakati,