She came to the plantation, and when she saw the condition in which it was, she lifted up her voice, and began to wail a lamentation. She saw that but little cane was left, and not much of potatoes. Looking in another part of the plantation, she saw lying there, very many feathers of chickens.
She ran back rapidly to town to tell her husband. But, she was so excited she could scarcely speak. He asked her, “What’s the matter, Ivenga?” She answered, “I have no words to tell you. For, the Plantation is left with no food.” Then, the Man called twenty men of the town; and he said to them, “Take four nets!” They took the nets, and also four dogs, with small bells tied to the necks of the dogs. The men had also guns and spears and machetes in their hands. They followed into the forest; and they came on to three of the Beasts. They came first upon Antelope, with their dogs; and they shot him dead. Then the dogs came on Genet, and they followed him; and soon he was shot with a gun. They came also on Civet, and killed him.
Taking up the carcasses, they said to each other, “Let us go back to town.” On the way, they came to the big Tree, and found Tortoise lying at the base. They took him also, and then went on to their town.
Arrived there, Njambo ordered, “Put Kudu in a house and suspend him from the roof.” Also he ordered, “Take off the skin of Vyâdu and hang it in the house where Kudu is.” He added, “Take off also the skin of Njâbu.” They did so, and they put it into that house. He directed that Genet should also be skinned, and his skin hung in that same house. So, there was left of these beasts in the street, only the flesh of their bodies. These the men cut up and divided among themselves. And they feasted for several days.
On the fourth day afterward, Njambo said to his wife, “I’m going on a visit to a town about three miles away. Do you, while I am away, kill Kudu, and prepare him with ngândâ for me, by my return.” The woman got ready the ngândâ seeds (gourd) for the pudding, and then went into the room to take Tortoise. In the dim light, she lifted up her hand, and found the string that suspended Tortoise.
But, before she untied it, Tortoise said, “Just wait a little.” The woman took away her hand, and stood waiting. Tortoise asked her, “This skin there looks like what?” The woman replied, “A skin of Vyâdu.” And Tortoise inquired, “What did Vyâdu do?” The woman answered, “Vyâdu ate my potatoes in the Plantation, and my husband killed him for it.” Tortoise said, “That is well.”
Then Tortoise again asked, “This other skin is of what animal?” The woman replied, “Of Uhingi.” Tortoise inquired, “What did Uhingi do?” The woman answered, “Uhingi killed and ate my and my husband’s Kuba; and he was killed for that.” Then Tortoise said, “Very good reason!”
Again Tortoise asked the woman, “This other skin?” She answered, “Of Njâbu.” Tortoise asked, “Njâbu, what did he do?” She answered, “Njâbu ate my sugar-cane, and my husband killed him.” Tortoise said, “A proper reason! But, you, you are going to kill me and cook me with ngândâ-pudding. What have I done?” The woman had no reason to give. So she left Tortoise alive, and began to cook the gourd-seeds with fish.
Soon, Njambo himself came back, and his wife set before him the ngândâ and fish. But he objected, “Ah! my wife! I told you to cook Kudu; and you have cooked me fish. Why?” The woman told him, “My husband! first finish this food, and then you and I will go to see about Kudu.” So, Njambo finished eating, and Ivenga removed the plates from the table. Then they two went into the room where Tortoise was suspended.
The woman sat, but Njambo was standing ready to pluck down Tortoise. Then Tortoise said to Njambo, “You, Man! just wait!” The woman also said to Njambo, “My husband! listen to what Kudu says to you.”