At this the people were vexed, and they said, “Well then! let this husband be killed and eaten as the meat!” So they killed and ate him.
This news, people also carried to Palm-tree, telling her that Plantain’s husband was also killed and eaten.
Then Palm-tree came to the town to speak about the death of Plantain. The people justified themselves, saying, “But, what else could we do? It was necessary to provide for the guests.”
Palm-tree submitted, “Truly, had Akândâ obeyed me and come to me and borne her child in my presence, she would have had abundance, and would not have died.”
PART SECOND
Benga Tribe
FOREWORD
The tales of this second part had their source with narrators of Benga-speaking tribes of Corisco Island, the region of the Bonito River, and Batanga. Nos. [1], [2], [3] and [4] were written in Benga by the pioneer missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Mackey and Clemens, from the dictation in Benga by natives of Corisco, more than 40 years ago; and were printed as reading-lessons in the Primer used in their schools.
I have translated them into English. They having thus passed twice through foreign thought, have lost most of their native idioms. [Tale 4] was independently re-told me at Batanga within the past few years, by a narrator living there. It differs from the version printed in the Primer, and I have combined the two.