AnelderofPortLoko

The Iguana and the Dog

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 41–45

There was once an Iguana and a Dog. The Iguana was in the bush close to the town; the Dog was in the town. The Iguana was always hearing the voice of the Dog in the town; he heard that they were always calling him by his name. When he saw the Dog, he said: "Friend, thou art fortunate in town!" The Dog said: "Yes, let us go." They went into the town. The Dog said again: "I will carry thee on my back, as thou doest not know how to shift for thyself in town." He carried him on his back, and carried him into a kitchen; they met them putting meat into a bowl. The Dog took the meat in the bowl. The child said: "O dear, mother! The Dog took the meat!" The damsel took a burning stick, and knocked the Iguana on the back of the Dog. The Dog ran (he had the Iguana), and they went and sat without. They put a little cooked rice (into a bowl), and came and gave (it) to the Dog; but the rice, as it was a little, was not sufficient for both of them. When they had eaten the meat, they took out the bones, and went and threw (them) for the Dog. The Dog said to the Iguana: "Friend, let us eat the meat." The Iguana said: "This is no meat for me, I have no teeth to eat bones." When the Dog had eaten the bones, he said: "Let us go yonder." They went and came to the other yard; they met them eating. The Dog went and lapped the soup; they took a whip, they beat the Iguana; as he was on the back of the Dog, the whip did not reach the Dog. The Dog went out, they went and sat without. The Iguana said: "I want to go away." But the Dog said: "Do not go, friend; I am lucky, thou wilt get a present to day." They had bones, they came and threw them for them. The Dog said: "Friend, come, we will eat the meat." The Iguana said: "Do but eat; as for me, I have no teeth." The Dog, when he had eaten the bones, said: "Let us go yonder to the other yard." They went and met them taking out boiled rice from the pot in the other yard. The Dog went and upset the soup; they took a whip, and flogged him; but the Iguana only was getting the whipping. They drove the Dog away, he ran. The Iguana said again: "I want to go away." The Dog said: "Do not go, our present is before, let us go." They went into the other yard, they met them eating. The Iguana was on the back of the Dog. The Dog went and upset the soup; they took hold of the Dog, they flogged (him) and pulled him out while flogging. The Dog ran, and went into the bush, from whence they came, he and the Iguana. The Dog said: "Let us go." The Iguana said: "I do not go again, it is hard in town." The Iguana ran, and went and hid himself. The Dog said: "I go." The Iguana said: "Go, it is hard in town, I do not come again." The Dog said: "Come, let us go, because thou saidst I was lucky in town." The Iguana said: "I do not go again." Therefore the Iguana does not dare again to come near a person; he does not come to town; he is only in the bush. As to the Dog, as soon as he but sees again the Iguana, he catches him, and brings (him) to town, (and) they come and devour him entirely. They asked the Dog: "Why art thou troubling the Iguana?" He said: "I show him (what) luckiness (is); because he said I was lucky." Therefore the Iguana does not venture again to come near a person; he does not venture again to come near a Dog; he does not venture to town again.

The Spider, and the Ant-Eater, and Mr. Taba

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 45–57

Is it not so that there was once a Spider? A (certain) king took care of his cows, and the Spider went to look at the cows; and when he saw a large cow, he came and told Mr. Taba: "As to the cow of the king, which is large, come, let us kill it to eat (it)." Mr. Taba said: "I do not dare; how shall we manage (it)?" The Spider said: "As for me, I know an artifice." Mr. Taba said: "What artifice is that?" The Spider said: "Let us go to the grass-field, where the cows are grazing." They went to the grass-field; they went and met the Ant-Eater, he was making a hole in the ground. The Spider said to him: "Why art thou digging here? If the cows of the king get into the hole, thou wilt get a matter and a palaver." When the Ant-Eater heard this, he was afraid, and went to some distance, and brought earth to put (it) into the hole which he had made. The Ant-Eater said again: "I want to go and rest myself." The Spider said: "Let us go yonder to thy place, where thou doest sleep." But he acted deceitfully against the Ant-Eater, that he might know where he was sleeping. They went again. When they reached there, the Spider said: "I shall return." The Ant-Eater said: "Go, I am sleepy." The Spider left, and went and fetched the large cow of the king; he brought it, and came and put it into the hole (the place where the Ant-Eater lay down was near to it), (and) he returned to town. The king said to his children: "Go ye, and look after the cows on the grass-field; it wants to get dark." They went to fetch them. They went and met a cow in the hole; she only put forth the head. The children ran, and went and told the king: "A cow got into a hole, and is about to die." When the king heard this, he called all the people, and said to them: "Let us go, and pull out the cow from the hole." They all went there; they found that the cow was dead already. The people dug, and pulled out the cow from the hole. The king said: "This thing puzzles me; the large cow came and died here; how is this?" The Spider said: "Let them call the Ant-Eater, he is on the grass-field." They said: "When we do not know where he is?" The Spider said again: "Let them call him, he is close by." The king called him; the Ant-Eater answered. The king said again: "Come here quickly!" The Ant-Eater arrived. The king said again: "My friend, come here, look at something!" When he came there, the king said to him: "Who did this work, that my cow came to die here?" The Ant-Eater said: "I did this work; but it was not I who brought the cow here; it was not I who killed it." The Spider went and came near to Mr. Taba, and told him softly: "As for the Ant-Eater, we shall eat him to day." The king and the Ant-Eater were debating the matter. The king said: "Mr. Spider, was it not the Ant-Eater who was on the grass-field?" The Ant-Eater said: "I was on the grass-field; but it was not I who killed the beast." The Spider said: "Art thou expostulating? When I used to tell thee: do not dig at the grass-field, there beasts are grazing; if but a cow comes, and goes into the hole, and dies, thou doest kill it." The king asked the Ant-Eater: "Didst thou dig these four holes?" He answered in the affirmative. The king said again: "Friend, thou hast killed me the cow!" The Spider went softly to the minister of the king; he went and told him: "Take ye hold of him, he killed the cow." The Ant-Eater was expostulating with the king. The minister of the king took hold of the Ant-Eater, and said: "Thou doest expostulate in vain with the king;" and said: "As he killed the cow of the king, let them kill him." The Spider said: "Well, let them kill him;" because he wanted to eat the Ant-Eater. They killed the Ant-Eater. The king said: "Let us carry him away, that we may go and bury him in the town." But the Spider said: "Let them not bury him in town; bury him on the grass-field, in his town." When the Spider said this, they buried the Ant-Eater in the hole where the cow died. When they had buried him, the king said: "Let us go to town, that I may go and share the cow." They went and arrived at the town, (and) the king shared out the whole of the cow. The king said again: "As to the Spider, he caused me to know who killed me the cow; let them give him a leg." They gave (it) to him. The people dispersed, they went and lay down. When the people had gone asleep, the Spider went out, and called Mr. Taba; they went and fetched the Ant-Eater at the grass-field; they carried him behind his house; they went and cut him up entirely; he shared (the meat) with Mr. Taba. And Mr. Taba said: "Spider, thou doest not joke!" The Spider said: "When I said that thou didst not know cunning?" And they ate of it (the meat) till the month was done. Mr. Taba said: "Oh dear, that time (of) eating meat (is over)!" The Spider said: "Let us wait till to night; we shall eat meat to morrow." When it got dark, and people had gone asleep, he went and called Mr. Taba; they left, and went and met the cows of the king, they had tied them on. The Spider took out his medicine, and went and stroked a large cow, and said: "Cow, break the wind! Cow, break the wind!" The cow broke the wind, and they went into her belly, he and Mr. Taba. The Spider showed Mr. Taba the heart, and said: "Do not cut here." He took out a knife, and gave (it) to Mr. Taba; but Mr. Taba said: "I do not know it; cut, that I may look at." He said: "Yes; bring the basket." The Spider was cutting, and gave (the meat) to Mr. Taba; he put (it) in the basket. They filled the basket. He pulled out again the medicine, and stroked the cow, and said: "Cow, break the wind! Cow, break the wind!" The cow broke the wind, they came out, and went and ate of that meat for four days. Another time at night the Spider went and called Mr. Taba, and said: "Let us go." They went and met the cows of the king. The Spider came, he took out the medicine, he stroked the cow, and said: "Cow, break the wind! Cow, break the wind!" The cow broke the wind, they went into her belly. The Spider took out a knife, and gave (it) to Mr. Taba, and told him now: "Go and cut at the breast." He went and cut at one of the loins. Mr. Taba went and met with much fat at the heart; he went and cut the heart-strings; the cow fell down, and died. Mr. Taba did not know it; but the Spider knew it. The Spider said: "Mr. Taba, the cow is dead!" Mr. Taba said: "How must we do, as the cow is dead?" The Spider said: "Let us hide ourselves: as for me, I shall hide myself at the liver." Mr. Taba said: "As for me, because I do not know cunning, I shall sit down here." The Spider hid himself at the liver; Mr. Taba went into the rectum. When it had fully dawned, the children of the king said: "Oh dear, Sir, the cow is dead!" They went and cut up the cow. When they were cutting up the cow, they chopped with an axe at the ribs. The Spider said within the cow: "Mind that thou doest not chop me! Mind that thou doest not chop me!" When he spoke thus, they were afraid; they went and told the king that something talked within the beast. The king came, and said: "Chop ye now here again!" But the Spider hid himself again in another place of the belly. When they had done with chopping, they went and saw him and his basket; they pulled him out and the basket, and went and tied him. When they had cut up the whole of the beast, they went and flogged the Spider. The king said: "The Spider, he was destroying me the beast; let them flog him." When they struck him once, he cried, and said: "I and Taba, we were together! I and Taba, we were together!" The king said: "Let them leave off now from flogging him; let them ask him now." They asked the Spider: "Thou and who came to kill the beast?" He said: "I and Taba, we killed the beast." They said: "Where is Taba?" He said: "I don't know where he went to." And the king said: "Thou doest tell a lie about Taba; thou alone, thou didst kill it." But Mr. Taba was in the rectum; he hid himself. They took out the rectum, and gave (it) to the children to go and wash (it) at the brook. They went to the brook, and went and burst the rectum, and shook out the bag into the water. While they thus shook it out into the water, Mr. Taba came out, and went and jumped to the other side, and said: "Why treat ye me in this way?" The children said: "Oh dear, Sir, we did not know it!" Some child went and informed the king of it. The king came; he looked at Mr. Taba, and said to him: "What is the matter?" Mr. Taba said: "The children treated me but in a vile manner; they just bespattered me with cow-dung!" The king went and fetched a shirt, and a pair of trowsers, and brought (them), and gave (them) to Mr. Taba, and said: "Wash thyself, my friend!" When he had washed himself, they went into the town. The Spider said again: "It was Mr. Taba and I." But he denied (it). They said: "Call the wife of Mr. Taba, that we may inquire of her." When they had called her, they inquired of her. She said: "Mr. Taba did not sleep here; the sun was still high yesterday when he went out of the house, and went away." The king said: "It is the Spider; when he said that he and Mr. Taba killed the cow, he only told a lie against him." Mr. Taba said: "Look me here; he told a lie against me; if it had been I, ye would have met me in the belly of the cow." They then said: "Let them flog the Spider; he killed the cow." They led him to a young palm-tree, and cut a branch from the young palm-tree; they flogged him with the palm-leaf. This is the reason that he got many legs. The king said: "Let him go." When they left him, he departed, and went and was sick; he recovered, he had many legs; he ran, and went away into the bush.

The Child and the Bird

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 57–61

There was once a child who set a trap under a root, and he caught a bird. Well, when he had eaten it, he returned and set the trap again, and he again caught a bird; and he ran and loosed the bird, and carried it into the hut; but his mother drove him to the outskirts of the farm to go and drive birds away. And the child said: "Mother, roast me the bird." And his mother said: "Yes." Well, when the child was gone, his mother killed the bird, and plucked it, and went and roasted it, and ate it entirely. When the child came, and asked his mother for the bird, his mother said: "I have eaten it." And the child cried, and said: "Mother, give me my bird! Mother, give me my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root!" Well, the mother gave him maize, and he put it on the top of the stump of a tree; and when the termites had eaten it, the child said to the termites: "Termites, give me my maize! Termites, give me my maize, which the mother gave me! The mother ate my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root." Well, the termites made him earthen pots; he carried them to the brook at the water-fall to scoop water with. And when the cataract was breaking those earthen pots, he said: "Cataract, give me my earthen pots! Cataract, give me my earthen pots, which the termites gave me! The termites ate my maize, which the mother gave me; the mother ate my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root." The cataract gave him a skate (fish); and when a hawk was taking it away, he said: "Hawk, give me my skate! Hawk, give me my skate, which the cataract gave me! The cataract broke my earthen pots, which the termites made for me; the termites ate my maize, which the mother gave me; the mother ate my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root." Well, the hawk dropped a feather for him. Well, when the wind was carrying it away, he said: "Wind, give me my feather! Wind, give me my feather, which the hawk gave me! The hawk ate my skate, which the cataract gave me; the cataract broke my earthen pots, which the termites made for me; the termites ate my maize, which the mother gave me; the mother ate my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root." Well, the wind made many country-beans to fall down for him. Well, when baboons had eaten the beans, he said: "Baboon, give me my country-beans, which the wind made to fall down for me! The wind carried away my feather, which the hawk gave me; the hawk ate my skate, which the cataract gave me; the cataract broke my earthen pots, which the termites made for me; the termites ate my maize, which the mother gave me; the mother ate my bird, which I killed under the root, at the water-fall, under the root." Well, the baboon said: "I have nothing to give." And he tied the baboon, and when he had tied him, he carried him into the town.

The Elephant and the Goat

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 61–67

There was once an Elephant and a Goat; and they contended with each other in grazing on the grass-field. As to the Elephant, he said: "I surpass thee in grazing." The Goat said: "No, thou doest tell a lie; I surpass thee." The Elephant said: "How doest thou surpass me?" The Goat said: "Let us graze all night and all day." The Elephant said: "Let us go to the Lion, that we may debate the case together." Well, they went to the Lion. The Lion said: "Mr. Elephant, what is the matter that ye come?" The Elephant said: "The Goat despises me; the Goat is little, I am big; he said that he surpasses me in grazing." The Lion said: "I do not yet decide the matter; let us go to the grass-field." The Goat said: "If we are going to the grass-field, let us begin grazing here in the bush." The Elephant said: "I am willing." The Lion said: "Very well!" The Elephant was to the right hand of the road; the Goat was to the left hand; the Lion stood in the road. The Elephant put up the trunk, he broke the trees, and was eating the leaves of them, and said: "The Goat boasts in vain, I surpass him." The Goat said: "Let us but go, whether it be so that thou surpass me." The Lion said: "Let us just go; it is you I am looking at." About four o'clock the Lion said: "Let us go out to the grass-field." When they arrived at the grass-field, the Goat said: "Let us graze, let us vie with each other." The sun set, and the Goat said: "As for me, I have not yet enough." The Elephant said: "Shall we not lie down a little?" The Goat said: "Let us graze till midnight comes." Midnight came, and the Lion said: "Let us now go on the rock." The rock was large; there was no green for grazing. They went out to the very middle of the rock. The Lion said: "Let us now rest, (and) let us sleep a little." They lay down on the rock. The Elephant went and lay down on the rock where it was good; the Goat went and lay down where the rock was rugged; there he put down his head. The Elephant slept; the Lion slept; the Goat slept; but he was chewing the cud. The Lion awoke; he heard that the Goat was chewing the cud, making marat-marat. The Lion said: "Mr. Goat, what art thou eating?" The Goat said: "I am not yet satisfied." The Lion said: "Mr. Elephant, doest thou hear how the Goat is eating?" The Elephant said: "What is he eating?" The Lion said: "I don't know that thing which he is eating; ask him." The Elephant said: "When we lay down on the middle of the rock, there was no green there. Mr. Goat, what art thou eating?" The Goat said: "I am eating the rock; I do not see green." The Elephant said: "When thou hast done with the rock, what wilt thou eat?" He said: "I shall eat something sweet to eat." The Elephant rose up, and went forwards, and lay down. The Lion said: "Let us come close together; I have to settle the matter, I did not yet settle it." They went to the Elephant, they went near him; the Goat was but still chewing the cud, making marat-marat. The Elephant said: "Let us go grazing!" The Lion said: "Well, let us go round the rock while grazing." When they had grazed all about, they went out on the rock, and stood. The Goat bent himself down, and raised himself again, and was ruminating. The Elephant said: "Ah, this boy is not satisfied!" Therefore the Lion said: "The time of settling the matter arrives. As regards the Goat, do not take him out from town with the people; because he does not get satisfied, that people may assist him to give him food." The Lion located the Elephant in the wood (bush). The Elephant was afraid of the Goat, and ran away from him. The Lion said: "What is the matter?" The Elephant said: "I do not dare to vie with the Goat (as regards) his grazing; he does not know that which he is eating; he is sleeping, and is grazing." The Lion said to the Elephant: "Thou canst not be together with people; thou art spoiling people's houses and fences; people do not dare to cope with thee; be thou in the wood; thou art not able to keep up with the Goat in grazing. As the Goat has eaten (of) the rock, he will devour thee." Therefore the Elephant fled, and went into the wood, and did not come out into town again. He went and challenged the Leopard, and said to him: "We were contending with each other in grazing, I and the Goat, and he almost devoured me; he ate green; we went and lay down on a rock, and he ate (of) the rock. Where the rock was very rough, there the Goat lay down, and said: 'If I have eaten the rock, I shall eat something delicious to eat.'" Therefore the Elephant fled, and went and challenged the Leopard, and said to him: "Catch me the Goat; at all times, wherever thou doest see him, catch him. I do not know where we may meet each other; I do not dare to cope with him again; perhaps where we are meeting each other, he will entirely devour me. I make thee a present of the Goat; catch him for me." Therefore the Leopard is now catching the Goat; the Elephant, he made formerly a present of him to the Leopard. The Elephant thought that where they would but meet, the Goat will entirely devour him; therefore he was afraid; therefore he gave him to the Leopard.

The Spider, and the Bushgoat, and the Deer, and the Antelope, and the Bushcow, and the Fillentamba

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 67–73

The Spider said to the Bushgoat: "Come now with me for a hunting!" The Bushgoat said: "I will." But the Spider put a snare for him. When the Spider went and met a stone in the bush which grew a beard, he said: "Oh strange, a stone grew a beard!" When he had said thus, he fell down, and was there all day, and awoke in the evening. This is the reason that he dealt deceitfully towards his companions in order to devour them. Therefore he went and called the Bushgoat, (saying): "Let us go hunt." They went, he and the Bushgoat. When they came near to the stone, the Spider told the Bushgoat: "Go and wait me at the stone; I go to ease myself." The Bushgoat went and sat upon a log of timber, and looked at the stone which had a beard; but the Spider did not go in order to ease himself; he only went and stood, that the Bushgoat might reach the stone before him. When he came, he said: "Mr. Bushgoat, let us go." But the Bushgoat said: "Look how the stone grew a beard!" When the Bushgoat had said thus, he fell down there, and the Spider took him up, and carried him to his place, and went and ate him entirely, he and his children. When he had eaten the Bushgoat, he called the Deer, and said: "Come with me to the hunting." They went, he and the Deer. When they came near to the stone, the Spider said to the Deer: "Go on before; as for me, I shall make water." The Deer passed on, and went and stood, and was looking at the stone. The Spider came, and said: "Let us go." But the Deer said: "Mr. Spider, see how the stone grew a beard!" When the Deer had spoken thus, he fell down there; and the Spider took him up, and carried him to his place, and ate him, he and his children. Another time the Spider called the Antelope, and said to him: "Let us go hunt." They went, he and the Antelope. When they came near to the stone, the Spider said to the Antelope: "Go on before; I go to cut a rassa branch." The Antelope went and stood, and was looking at the stone. The Spider arrived, and said to him: "Let us go." The Antelope said: "Look how the stone grew a beard!" When he had spoken thus, he fell down there. The Spider, as he saw that he was not able to take the Antelope, because he was large, went away running, and went and called his children. They came, they fetched him, and went and ate him altogether. The Spider called again the Bushcow; he (said): "Let us go hunt." The Fillentamba said: "This matter is puzzling!" His companions said: "Why?" The Fillentamba said: "This hunting, because they do not return again!" The Bushcow said: "Let us go, Mr. Spider!" They departed. The Fillentamba followed them; but they did not see him. When they came near to the stone, the Spider said to the Bushcow: "Go and wait me at the large log of timber; I go to ease myself." But the Fillentamba hid himself in the bush, and was looking at them. The Bushcow went and stood, and looked steadily at the stone. When the Spider arrived, he (said): "Let us go, Mr. Bushcow! What art thou looking at?" The Bushcow said: "Look how the stone has a beard!" When he had said thus, he fell down there. The Spider departed quickly, and went and called his children; and they came to fetch the Bushcow, and went and devoured him. When the Fillentamba saw this, he departed, and went and told (it) to all his companions. Another time again the Spider went and told the Fillentamba, saying: "Let us go hunt." The Fillentamba said: "I am willing, let us go." They went. When they came near to the stone, the Spider said: "Mr. Fillentamba, go and wait me at the large log of timber; I go to ease myself." When the Fillentamba reached there, he went on, and went and stood beyond the stone. When the Spider arrived, he said to the Fillentamba: "Is it there I told thee to wait me?" The Fillentamba said: "Is not this the road?" The Spider said again: "Come here." The Fillentamba came; they stood at the stone. The Spider said: "Why art thou silent?" The Fillentamba said: "What shall I say?" The Spider said again: "Thou, doest thou not see?" The Fillentamba said: "I see nothing." The Spider said again: "As for thee, thou hast no sense." The Fillentamba said: "I have sense." The Spider said again: "Ah, Mr. Fillentamba!" He said: "Ah, Mr. Spider!" The Spider said again: "Look here now!" The Fillentamba said again: "Look here now!" The Spider said again: "Speak now." Therefore the Fillentamba said: "What shall I say?" The Spider said now: "Something grew something?" The Fillentamba said: "Something grew something." The Spider said: "Speak then now!" The Fillentamba said: "Speak then now!" The Spider said: "Ah, Mr. Fillentamba, as for thee, thou art puzzling! Speak then now!" The Fillentamba said: "What shall I say?" The Spider said: "Say now: Sar-lo." The Fillentamba said it. The Spider said again: "Say now: A stone grew a beard." The Fillentamba said it; and they both fell down there. It was in the morning when they both fell down there, and the sun was about to set when they rose up again. When they had got up, the Spider said: "Mr. Fillentamba, what is the matter now?" The Fillentamba said: "There is nothing the matter." The Spider said: "How shall I say?" Therefore the Fillentamba said: "How shall I say?" The Spider said: "Say: The stone grew a beard." When the Spider had spoken thus, he fell down there; but the Fillentamba did not say so again. He left, and went and told (the matter) to all his people; he said: "Any one (of you), if the Spider has thee at the hunting, he will entirely devour thee. If thou doest go into the bush, and thou seest a stone which has a beard, thou must not say: 'A stone grew a beard!' If thou doest say so, thou wilt fall down there, and the Spider will devour thee altogether."

The Spider, and the Bushgoat, and the Ant-Eater, and the Leopard

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 73–87

The Spider, he was going about spoiling things; therefore they dealt hardly with him, and almost killed him; therefore he was always telling the Bushgoat: "They almost killed me!" The Bushgoat asked him: "What does almost dying mean?" The Spider said: "Doest thou not know (what) almost dying (means)?" Once the Spider departed, and went to steal at the king's place; they took hold of him there, and said: "Let them kill him." The king said: "Let them set him at liberty; do not kill him." The Spider returned, and went and met the Bushgoat at his place. The Bushgoat said: "Oh dear, Mr. Spider! What did hurt thee thus?" The Spider said: "I almost died." The Bushgoat said again: "What is now (the meaning of) almost dying?" He said: "Wait me; I will show thee to morrow (what) almost dying is." They slept. In the morning the Spider said to the Bushgoat: "Let us go; I go to show thee (what) almost dying is; let us now go to the grass-field, to the trap." The Bushgoat did not know that the Spider had carried his children to the grass-field, and put them into the hole, with knives. As to the children of the Spider, the oldest, his name (was) "Gbanne Yon"; the name of the second (was) "Nant-e Fukan"; and the name of the youngest (was) "Gbapne Nant ro-Kos." They went, he and the Bushgoat; they then met one of the king's sheep in the hole; it only stretched out its head; the children of the Spider took hold of it below; thither he led the Bushgoat. As soon as the Spider came, he said: "Let us go and stand before." He said: "Oh dear, Mr. Bushgoat! Look how one of the sheep of the king was going into the hole!" Then the Bushgoat took hold of the head, and the Spider said: "Wait me; I shall go and cut a stick." The Bushgoat did not know that the children of the Spider were in the hole. While the Spider was thus cutting a stick, his children pulled the sheep into the hole; the Bushgoat held the head; the children of the Spider cut the throat of the sheep. The Bushgoat pulled, and all at once pulled out the head of the sheep. The children went away running; they came out from the hole; some went to their own place in the farm. The Bushgoat was calling: "Mr. Spider! Mr. Spider, pray come!" The Spider came and said: "What is the matter?" He said: "I plucked off the head of the sheep!" The Spider said: "Ah friend! I told thee: wait me!" The Spider sent his other child into the town; he went, and told the king that the Bushgoat had plucked off the head of one of his sheep. The king came with his people, and said: "What is the matter?" The Spider said: "The Bushgoat plucked off the sheep's head." The Spider returned and told the Bushgoat softly: "They are about apprehending thee; if they want to apprehend thee, run, and go into the hole of the Ant-Eater." The king said: "Let them apprehend him." The Bushgoat fled, and went away; they pursued after him, and he went into the hole. They went to look for him; but the people did not know that he had gone into the hole. The Spider left, and went and bowed himself down at the hole, and said: "Mr. Bushgoat, art thou here?" The Bushgoat answered: "I am here." The Spider took out a parcel of salt, and gave (it) to the Bushgoat, and said to him: "When they want to catch thee to day, as to those who come to apprehend thee, blow them the salt into the eyes." When he had spoken thus, he said to the people: "Look him here!" He bowed himself down again, and said to the Bushgoat: "When thou hast blown the salt into the eyes, (and) when they pursue after that person, come out, and go to my place in the farm." All the people had arrived at the hole, (but) none knew how they must do; they did not understand to dig to bring out the Bushgoat. They said: "Mr. Spider, how must we do?" He said: "As for us all, we do not know to dig; let them call the Ant-Eater." They sent a young man; he went and called the Ant-Eater, and he arrived. The king said: "My friend, Mr. Ant-Eater, dig me here, and take me out the Bushgoat!" The Ant-Eater was willing; and he began with the digging. While the Ant-Eater was digging, the Spider sent his children, and they took out the sheep, and carried it into the farm; the king did not know it. The Ant-Eater dug till he came and met the Bushgoat. The Bushgoat took much salt, and put (it) into his mouth, and blew the salt into the eyes of the Ant-Eater. The Ant-Eater said: "Earth got into my eyes." The king said: "Blow ye on him, and take out the earth from his eyes." The young man blew into his eyes; some gum of the eye came out, and got into the young man's mouth. The young man said: "Ah, the Ant-Eater has a very sweet gum of the eye!" And the Spider said: "About the gum of the eye, about this (only) thou knowest (something to say)?" The king said: "Why doest thou say so?" The Spider said again: "As ye find the gum of the eye to be sweet, the Ant-Eater himself, he is (still) sweeter." The king said: "Mr. Ant-Eater, come here, that I may try!" The Ant-Eater refused; he did not come. The king went there; he went and blew into his eyes; some gum of the eye got into the king's mouth, and he said: "Ah friend, thou art very sweet!" The Ant-Eater came out from the digging, and went and stood at some distance. The king said: "Friend, come here!" The Ant-Eater said: "I do not come again; because thou saidst that I was sweet." The king went there; the Ant-Eater fled; they pursued after him with all his people; they went all over the grass-field, and seized the Ant-Eater. The Spider said: "Let them kill him, that ye may know how sweet he is." They killed the Ant-Eater. When they were cutting him up, the Spider said: "I go away; I go to fetch my basket." He left, and went and met the Bushgoat; he was in the hole (where the Ant-Eater used to dig); he said to him: "Come out, and go to the farm." The Bushgoat went. The Spider returned; he went and found that they had done with cutting up the Ant-Eater. The king said: "Mr. Spider, come share the meat; thou wast the cause that we got this meat." The Spider said: "Ah, the king is not sitting down, and a young man shares the meat!" The king said: "I am willing." They took out a leg, and gave (it) to the Spider, and one of the loins, and the tail; they gave (them) to him. They had done with sharing the whole of the meat. The king said: "Let us (now again) follow yonder, that we may go and take out the Bushgoat." The Spider said: "Well, let us go!" They went and reached there. The king went and looked into the hole, and said: "Mr. Spider, the hole!" The Spider said: "Oh dear! It is the Bushgoat; he is gone!" The king did not know that he had gone and told the Bushgoat: "Go to my place in the farm." The king said: "Let us return to town." They went and came into the town. The Spider went into the farm; he went and fetched the Bushgoat; he brought him, and came and hid him in the wood behind. The king called the Spider again, and said to him: "Come now, seek the Bushgoat for me; thou art acquainted with artifices!" As to the Bushgoat, him they were seeking all about; (but) they did not see him. The Bushgoat heard how angry the king was in town, and dared not to come out again into the town. The Spider went and said to the Bushgoat: "How doest thou do? How doest thou do?" The Bushgoat said: "Ah, I almost died in the hole, Mr. Spider!" He said: "Doest thou understand now (what) almost dying (is)?" And he said: "Yes, I understand (it)." The Spider said: "Thou doest not yet know (what) almost dying (is)." The Bushgoat did not venture again to come out into town. The Spider said: "Wait me; I will show thee (what) almost dying (is); only wait!" The Spider went away into the wood, and went and saw the children of the Leopard. He returned, and came to the Bushgoat and said: "My head aches; Mr. Bushgoat, come, go with me; I go to look for medicine." They went and met the children of the Leopard; they were two; they lay down. The Spider said to the Bushgoat: "Go bark me that tree" (where the two leopards lay). The Bushgoat went and saw them, (and) he called the Spider. The Spider came and said: "Oh dear! What beasts are these?" The Bushgoat said: "Let us have them." The Spider said also: "Let us have them." They took them. When they had gone a little (way), the Spider said: "Let us kill them." They killed them. The Spider told the Bushgoat again, saying: "Go to thy place in the farm; I shall meet thee presently." The Bushgoat went to the farm. The Leopard came to the place where he had put his children, (and) he did not see them again; and as he followed up the scent (in the way) where they carried them, he went and arrived at the farm of the Bushgoat; he met the Bushgoat stirring up the fire. The Spider came; he hid himself, and was looking at the Bushgoat, as he had learned that the Leopard was coming to look for his children. The Leopard came in order to seek his children, and said: "Mr. Bushgoat, who carried my children to this place?" He went and took them up; they were dead then. He said again: "Mr. Bushgoat, didst thou kill my children?" The Bushgoat fled. The Leopard spent the whole day in pursuing after him. The Bushgoat went and hid himself with the king in the evening. The Leopard came, and said to the king: "Did the Bushgoat arrive here?" The king said: "He is here." He asked the Leopard again: "What is the matter?" The Leopard said: "He has killed my children." The king said: "See him behind (the yard); he killed the other day a sheep of mine." The Leopard went there behind. The Bushgoat fled; he followed him in order to pursue after him, till he went and hid himself at the Spider's place; (and) the Leopard did not see him again. The Leopard went back again to the king, and asked him again: "Did the Bushgoat come here?" He said: "I did not see him." The Spider left, and went and took the children of the Leopard, and went and broiled them, and cooked them; he left the iron pot on the fire-place, and went into the town, and met the Leopard; they were talking with the king about the children. The Spider said to them: "What matter are ye talking about here?" The Leopard said again: "The Bushgoat has killed my children." The Spider said: "Ah, the Bushgoat, thus he is but always; he killed my children the other day!" The king said to the Leopard: "Seek him." The Leopard went out, and went away in order to seek the Bushgoat; he went and met him in the road; he pursued after him. The Bushgoat went and hid himself again in the bush, (and) the Leopard did not see him again; but the Bushgoat went and hid himself at the back part of the Spider's place. The Spider heard him there, and went to see him there, and said: "Let us go to eat; I have cooked." The Bushgoat said: "I do not dare; the king has outlawed me." The Spider said again: "Shall I bring thee the rice here?" The Bushgoat said: "Yes, bring (it) here." The Spider carried the rice to him; they just sat down, and ate. The Spider said again: "How art thou, Mr. Bushgoat?" The Bushgoat said: "I almost died; they almost killed me." The Spider said again: "Doest thou know now (what) almost dying (is)?" He said: "I know it now." The Spider said: "Because thou saidst before that thou didst not know it." The Bushgoat said again: "But I know it now." The Spider said again: "Let us eat very quickly, that thou mayest flee. If the Leopard gets the scent of thee, wherever thou goest, he will follow thee; go far away." The Bushgoat fled again (when they had eaten), and went far away. The Leopard sought him till he was tired; and he went again to the king's place. The Spider also, when he knew that the Leopard had gone to the king's place, went there too. He met the Leopard; he was talking over again the matter about the Bushgoat. The king said to the Leopard: "Wherever thou seest him, seize him, and bring him to me." The Spider also said: "Wherever thou seest him, catch him, and bring (him)." He also left, and went to fetch the Bushgoat; he told him that the palaver was done. When they came to the town, the Spider said to the Bushgoat: "Follow here, that thou mayest come out behind the king's place." He went again to the Leopard, and said: "Go behind the king's place, and go and hide thyself in the road; as to the Bushgoat, I have brought him." The Leopard went and hid himself there; the Bushgoat came, (and) the Leopard took hold of him. The Bushgoat cried. The king said: "What is the matter? Who is crying behind?" The Leopard said: "I have got the Bushgoat." The king said: "Bring him." The Leopard brought him, (and) they killed him. When they had killed the Bushgoat, the Spider arrived. The king said: "What shall we do with him?" The Leopard said: "Let them cut him up; as he has devoured my children, I shall devour him." They had cut up the whole. The Leopard said: "Let them give much to the Spider; he caused me to get him." The king said to the Leopard again: "Wherever thou seest a bushgoat, catch him." This is the reason that the Leopard is catching bushgoats; they never meet each other again face to face; where he sees him, he catches him. This is also the reason that the children of the Bushgoat told the Cat: "When thou doest see the Spider, catch him; he is a bad person." This is also the reason that as soon as a leopard sees a bushgoat, he catches it, and entirely devours it; and a cat, as soon as it sees a spider, it devours it.

The King, and his Daughter, and Mr. Tamba

A Collection of Temne Traditions, Fables and Proverbs (Schlenker, London, 1861), pp. 87–97

A certain king begat once a girl, and she was exceedingly fair, and he brought her up till she was grown up; and men wanted her. And a gentleman came and tried to get her; he said: "She is my wife." And he offered much money to the king, the father of the woman; and her father said: "Put down thy money; if thou doest name the thing which is within the amulet, thou shalt marry the woman." But he did not know the thing which was within the amulet; and the father of the woman said: "Thou art disappointed; return." Then another gentleman came again; he came and tried to get the damsel, and he offered also much money. The father of the woman said again: "Put down thy money; if thou doest name the thing which is within the amulet, thou doest marry the woman." But the young man was disappointed; he did not know the thing which was within the amulet; and the father said: "Return." And all the people in the country came to try, and they were disappointed; they did not know the thing which was within the amulet. And Tamba came from the east, a far way off; he came and tried to get the damsel, and said: "I shall get her; she is my wife." And the people said: "Tamba, thou doest tell a lie; thou art not able to get her, when all gentlemen have been disappointed." And as he went along, he had fowls, he had clean rice, and rice in the husk; and he had a goat; he had penne seed, and palm-oil, and rice-straw. And as he went, he met the Hedgehogs; hunger was heavy upon them. He asked them: "What is the matter?" They said: "Hunger is heavy upon us." And he gave them straw. When they had eaten it, he passed on, and went and met the Alligator, and said (to him): "What is the matter?" He said: "Hunger is heavy upon me." He took out the goat, and gave (it) to him. He passed on, and went and met the Cerastes, and said (to him): "What is the matter, that thou doest lie here?" The Cerastes said: "Hunger is heavy upon me." Tamba took out two fowls, and gave (them) to him. When the Cerastes had eaten the fowls, he took out a medicine, and gave (it) to Mr. Tamba. As to the medicine, the name of it is ka-woso. He said: "If a snake bites a person, this medicine they must make, this one must drink, that it may get better with him." The Cerastes said again: "Let them go look for the brains of a deceitful person, (and) let them put them into the medicine." Tamba passed on, and went and met the Ants, and said to him: "What is the matter?" He said: "Hunger troubles us." He took out penne seed and palm-oil, and gave (them) to the Ants, (and) they ate. He passed on, and left, and went and came to the king, the father of the girl, and said to him: "I come to look for the girl in order to marry her." A minister of the king said: "Ah, Tamba! Thou, such a worthless fellow, thou doest come to look for this woman?" Tamba said: "I shall marry her; she is my wife." Hunger was heavy upon a servant of the king, and Tamba took out rice, and gave (it) to him. When the servant had eaten, he went to Mr. Tamba, and went and named to him the things which were within the amulet; (and) they went to sleep. In the morning they went and sat down to talk about the marriage. The father of the woman asked Tamba: "Doest thou want the damsel? Name the thing which is within the amulet." Tamba said: "I know it; but I do not dare (to name it)." The father said again: "Name them; it is of no consequence." He said: "I will." Tamba said: "The hair of the Master, when he was a young child formerly, and his navel-string, and his nails: these (things) are within the amulet." As Tamba spoke thus, the minister said: "Thou doest tell a lie." And he took him, and chained him. And the king said: "Well, my pipe was once lost on the grass-field; if thou doest find it out, thou shalt marry the woman." Tamba said: "Yes, I shall find it out." And as he went to the grass-field, he happened to meet the Grass-cutter, who asked him: "Where art thou going to, Tamba?" He said: "I go to look for the pipe of the king; it was once lost." The Grass-cutter said: "Wait me; I shall fetch it for thee." He went and fetched it, and gave (it) to Tamba. Tamba carried the pipe to the king. But the minister said: "Thou doest tell a lie; it is not this." And he seized him, and caused them to beat him. The king said: "Let him go." They let him go. And the king said again: "My cymbal was once lost in the sea; if thou doest find it out, I shall give thee the woman." Tamba said: "I shall find it out." Tamba left, and happened to meet the Alligator; he said: "Tamba, what is the matter?" He said: "I go to find out the cymbal of the king, which was formerly lost in the sea." The Alligator departed directly, and went and found it out, and gave (it) to Tamba. Tamba brought it to the king, and came and gave (it) to him. The minister said: "Ah, a bad person! Let them drive him away!" The king said: "No, I do not drive him away." The king said again: "Tamba, as regards my rice, the children have mixed it with penne seed; when thou hast taken out the penne seed from the rice, thou shalt marry the damsel." Tamba said: "I will; I shall take it out." Tamba said: "Let them bring the rice." They brought it. He sat down in the house, and was taking out the rice from the penne seed. As he was doing this work, the Ants came; they were numerous, (and) they asked Tamba: "What doest thou do here?" Tamba said: "The king gave me this work, that I might take out the rice from this penne seed." The Ants said: "Sit down, (and) wait us." Presently they had taken out the rice from all the penne seed: the clean rice in one basket, (and) the penne seed in another basket. Tamba took these two baskets, and went and put them before the king, and said: "I have done." The minister said: "Tamba is a bad man; let them cut his throat." They took him, and beat him, and chained him. The king told his four wives, and said: "Depart ye, and go and scoop water for me; I want to bathe." They went, and another girl, making five. When they went, the Cerastes knocked (stung) all of them; except the girl, he did not knock (sting) her. The girl ran, and came and told the king, (saying): "The Cerastes has knocked (stung) all the young women at the brook." They left, and went to fetch them, and brought (them). No one knew the medicine to cure them; they had all fainted, and lay down. The king said: "Let them call Tamba; he is clever." They called Tamba; he came, (and) the king said to him: "Tamba, look at my wives; they are dying; the Cerastes knocked (stung) them; doest thou know the medicine for it?" Tamba said: "I know." The king said again: "Make me the medicine." Tamba said: "Let them go and look for the brains of a deceitful person; with them I must make it; (and) directly they will get up again." The king said: "I agree (to it)." He took an iron bar, and knocked a minister on the head with it; the brains came out; they took them, and gave (them) to Tamba; he took them, and mixed them with the medicine. He gave it to one woman, (and) she got up. The king said: "Go on for me, my friend!" Tamba said again: "Get me the brains of a deceitful person; these are finished." The king made them knock again another minister on his head; the brains came out; they gave them to Tamba; he took (them), and put (them) into the medicine for another woman; (and) she got up also. The king said again: "My friend, heal me now quickly my two wives who are left." Tamba said again: "Let them bring the brains of a deceitful person." He knocked again another minister; they took out his brains; they gave (them) to Tamba; (and) he took them, and put them into the medicine, and gave (it) to the two women who were left; they got well directly, and got up. But the other ministers of the king who were left fled, and went away. When the ministers who were left had fled and gone away, the king took out clothing, and gave (it) to Tamba; he gave him also the damsel, for whom he came formerly to obtain her. The king also took out some neighbouring yard in his town, and gave it to Tamba. He also took out two slave-towns, with all the slaves, and gave them to Tamba; (and) he also became a great gentleman. And the king got old; when he had grown old thus, he gave Tamba his country, and said (to his people): "When I am dead, Tamba, him ye must make king." When the king came to die, they took the kingdom, and gave (it) to Tamba; (and) he also got again power and property, more than the former king.