South
African Folk-Tales
by James A. Honey
Origin
of the Difference in Modes of Life Between Hottentots and Bushmen
The
Tiger, the Ram, and the Jackal
The
Lion, the Jackal, and the Man
The
Story of Lion and Little Jackal
The
Dance For Water or Rabbit's Triumph
Another
Version of the Same Fable
Another
Version of the Same Fable
Lion
Who Thought Him Self Wiser Than His Mother
Why
Has Jackal a Long, Black Stripe On His Back?
Lion's
Defeat
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"
Lion's Defeat
THE wild animals, it is said, were once asembled at Lion's. When Lion was asleep, Jackal persuaded Little Fox to twist a rope of ostrich sinews, in order to play Lion a trick. They took ostrich sinews, twisted them, and fastened the rope to Lion's tail, and the other end of the rope they tied to a shrub. When Lion awoke, and saw that he was tied up, he became angry, and called the animals together. When they had assembled, Lion said [using this form of conjuration]--
"What child of his mother and father's love,
Whose mother and father's love has tied me?"
Then answered the animatl to whom the question was first put--
I, child of my mother and father's love,
I, mother and father's love, I have not done it.
All answered the same; but when he asked Little Fox, Little Fox said--
I, child of my mother and father's love,
I, mother and father's love, have tied thee!
Then Lion tore the rope made of sinews, and ran after Little Fox. But Jackal said:
"My boy, thou son of lean Mrs. Fox, thou wilt never be caught."
Truly Lion was thus beaten in running by Little Fox.
The text came from:
Honey, James A. South African Folk-tales. New York: Baker & Taylor Company, 1910.
Available from Amazon.com
©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 6, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com
