One day the Robin and his wife found that they had no red-camwood powder[[75]] with which to beautify themselves, so the husband made preparations for a journey to Stanley Pool to buy some redwood from those who brought it from the Upper Congo towns to sell at the Pool markets.
He was a long time on the road, but at last reached the place only to find that all the redwood for making the powder had been sold to others, who were before him. He tried one trader after another with no success, for all had sold out, but
one said: “I have none to sell, but I can give you a small piece, enough for yourself.”
He gave him a small piece, and for safety the Robin put it in his throat, as he wanted to take it home to his wife. As he travelled homeward the redwood melted in his mouth and throat, and came out round his beak and through his chest to his feathers, and ever since then he has had a red mouth and breast.
XXIX
The Leopard tries to steal the Gazelle’s Wife
The Leopard had many wives, but his friend the Gazelle had only one, and the Leopard desired to procure that one, and very often said to himself: “I must kill the Gazelle and take his wife for myself.” So he sent a messenger to call the Gazelle, but he was too wise to go, and sent an excuse, saying: “You tell the Leopard that I am going to market, and cannot visit him now.”
In a very short time another messenger arrived and said: “Go to the Leopard, for he is dead.”
“Oh! oh! that is very strange,” replied the Gazelle, “that you who are a mourner should be travelling about, but perhaps you are going to buy pigs for the funeral feast?”
Before he had finished speaking another messenger came and said: “Gazelle, your uncle the Leopard is dead, go and wrap the cloth round his body.”
“Yes,” answered the Gazelle, “I will come and bind up the body, but first I will go and buy some pigs for the funeral festivities.”