Black-Backed Jackal (Canis Mesomelas), Hwange National Park,Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe

South African Folk-Tales by James A. Honey

Lion by by Keith Levit (photographer)

South African Folk-Tales
by James A. Honey

Introduction

Origin of the Difference in Modes of Life Between Hottentots and Bushmen

The Lost Message

The Monkey's Fiddle

The Tiger, the Ram, and the Jackal

The Jackal and the Wolf

A Jackal and a Wolf

The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man

The World's Reward

The Lion and the Jackal

Tink-Tinkje

The Lion and Jackal [I]

The Lion and Jackal [II]

The Hunt of Lion and Jackal

The Story of Lion and Little Jackal

The Lioness and the Ostrich

Crocodile's Treason

The Story of a Dam

The Dance For Water or Rabbit's Triumph

Jackal and Monkey

Lion's Share

Jackal's Bride

The Story of Hare

The White Man and Snake

Another Version of the Same Fable

Cloud-Eating

Lion's Illness

Jackal, Dove, and Heron

Cock and Jackal

Elephant and Tortoise

Another Version of the Same Fable

Tortoises Hunting Ostriches

The Judgment of Baboon

Lion and Baboon

The Zebra Stallion

When Lion Could Fly

Lion Who Thought Him Self Wiser Than His Mother

Lion Who Took A Woman's Shape

Why Has Jackal a Long, Black Stripe On His Back?

Horse Cursed By Sun

Lion's Defeat

The Origin of Death

Another Version of the Same Fable

A Third Version of the Same Fable

A Fourth Version of the Same Fable

A Zulu Version of the Legend of the "Origin of Death"

Literature on South African Folk-Lore

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Elephant and Tortoise

TWO powers, Elephant and Rain, had a dispute. Elephant said, "If you say that you nourish me, in what way is it that you do so?" Rain answered, "If you say that I do not nourish you, when I go away, will you not die? And Rain then departed.

Elephant said, "Vulture! cast lots to make rain for me."

Vulture said, "I will not cast lots."

Then Elephant said to Crow, "Cast lots! who answered, "Give the things with which I may cast lots." Crow cast lots and rain fell. It rained at the lagoons, but they dried up, and only one lagoon remained.

Elephant went a-hunting. There was, however, Tortoise, to whom Elephant said, "Tortoise, remain at the water!" Thus Tortoise was left behind when Elephant went a-hunting.

There came Giraffe, and said to Tortoise, "Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Zebra, who said to Tortoise,

"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Gemsbok, and said to Tortoise,

"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Wildebeest, and said, "Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Roodebok, and said to Tortoise,

"Give me water!" Tortoise answered, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Springbok, and said to Tortoise,

"Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Jackal, and said to Tortoise,

"Give me water!" Tortoise said, "The water belongs to Elephant."

There came Lion, and said, "Little Tortoise, give me water!" When little Tortoise was about to say something, Lion got hold of him and beat him; Lion drank of the water, and since then the animals drink water.

When Elephant came back from the hunting, he said, "Little Tortoise, is there water?" Tortoise answered, "The animals have drunk the water." Elephant asked, "Little Tortoise, shall I chew you or swallow you down?" Little Tortoise said, "Swallow me, if you please!" and Elephant swallowed him whole.

After Elephant had swallowed Little Tortoise, and he had entered his body, he tore off his liver, heart, and kidneys. Elephant said, "Little Tortoise, you kill me."

So Elephant died; but little Tortoise came out of his dead body, and went wherever he liked.

The text came from:

Honey, James A. South African Folk-tales. New York: Baker & Taylor Company, 1910.


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©Heidi Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 6, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com

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