Part 14

Then Bat called the Birds to come. They came, big and little; Pelicans, Eagles, Herons and all the others. When they all had come together, they said to Bat, "Show us the dead body." He told them, "Here it is! Come! look upon it!" They looked and examined carefully. Then they said, "Yes! it resembles us; for, it has wings as we. But, about the teeth, No! We birds, none of us, have any teeth. This person does not resemble us with those teeth. It does not belong to us." And all the Birds stepped aside.

During the while that the talking had been going on, Ants had come and laid hold of the body, and could not be driven away. Then one of the Birds said to Bat, "I told you, you ought not to delay the burial, for, many things might happen." The Ants had eaten the body and there was no burial. And all the birds and beasts went away.

Bat, left alone, said to himself, "All the fault of all this trouble is because of Joba. If he had made medicine, my mother would not be dead. So, I, Ndemi, and Joba shall not look on each other. We shall have no friendship. If he emerges, I shall hide myself. I won't meet him or look at him." And he added, "I shall mourn for my mother always. I will make no visits. I will walk about only at night, not in the daytime, lest I meet Joba or other people."

TALE 22

DOG, AND HIS HUMAN SPEECH (1st Version)

Persons

Mbwa (Dog), and His Mother A Man Njambo, and Daughter Eyâle

NOTE

In the pre-historic times, from which these tales come, all animals, both human and (what we now call) the lower animals, were supposed to associate together, even in marriage. This son Mbwa, in form (and speaking also) like what we now call a "Dog," spoke also with human speech. The reason is here given why this ancestor of Dogs left the country of the Beasts. But, though Dogs now live with Mankind, they cannot use human speech as their ancestor did. They can only say "Ow! Ow!"

Dog and his mother were the only inhabitants of their hamlet. He had the power to speak both as a beast and as a human being.

One day the mother said to the son, "You are now a strong man; go, and seek a marriage. Go, and marry Eyâle, the daughter of Njambo." And he said to his mother, "I will go tomorrow."

That day darkened. And they both went to lie down in their places for sleep.

Then soon, another day began to break.

Dog said to his mother, "This is the time of my journey." It was about sun-rise in the morning. And he began his journey. He went the distance of about eight miles; and arrived at the journey's end before the middle of the morning.

He entered the house of Njambo, the father of Eyâle. Njambo and his wife saluted him, "Mbolo!" and he responded, "Ai! mbolo!" Njambo asked him, "My friend! what is the cause of your journey?" Dog, with his animal language, answered, "I have come to marry your daughter Eyâle." Njambo consented; and the mother of the girl also agreed. They called their daughter, and asked her; and she also replied, "Yes! with all my heart." This young woman was of very fine appearance in face and body. So, all the parties agreed to the marriage.

After that, about sun-set in the evening, when they sat down at supper, the son-in-law, Dog, was not able to eat for some unknown reason.

That day darkened; and they went to their sleep.

And, then, the next daylight broke. But, by an hour after sunrise in the morning, Dog had not risen; he was still asleep.

The mother of the woman said to her, "Get some water ready for the washing of your husband's face, whenever he shall awake." She also said to her daughter, "I am going to go into the forest to the plantation to get food for your husband; for, since his coming, he has not eaten. Also, here is a chicken; the lads may kill and prepare it. But, you yourself must split ngândâ (gourd-seeds, whose oily kernels are mashed into a pudding)." She handed Eyâle the dish of gourd-seeds, and went off into the forest. Njambo also went away on an errand with his wife. The daughter took the dish of seeds, and, sitting down, began to shell them. As she shelled, she threw the kernels on the ground, but the shells she put on a plate.

Shortly after the mother had gone, Dog woke from sleep. He rose from his bed, and came out to the room where his wife was, and stood near her, watching her working at the seeds. He stood silent, looking closely, and observed that she was still throwing away the kernels, the good part, and saving the shells on the plate. He spoke to her with his human voice, "No! woman! not so! Do you throw the good parts, to the ground, and the worthless husks onto the plate?"

While he was thus speaking to his wife, she suddenly fell to the ground. And at once she died. He laid hold of her to lift her up. But, behold! she was a corpse.

Soon afterwards, the father and the mother came, having returned from their errands. They found their child a corpse; and they said to Dog, "Mbwa! What is this?" He, with his own language replied, "I cannot tell." But, they insisted, "Tell us the reason!"

So Dog spoke with his human voice, "You, Woman, went to the forest while I was asleep. You, Man, you also went in company of your wife, while I was asleep. When I rose from sleep, I found my wife was cracking ngândâ. She was taking the good kernels to throw on the ground, and was keeping the shells for the plate. And I spoke and told her, 'The good kernels which you are throwing on the ground are to be eaten, not the husks.'"

While he was telling them this, they too, also fell to the ground, and died, apparently without cause.

When the people of the town heard about all this, they said, "This person carries an evil Medicine for killing people. Let him be seized and killed!"

So Dog fled away rapidly into the forest; and he finally reached the hamlet of his mother. His body was scratched and torn by the branches and thorns of the bushes of the forest, in his hasty flight. His mother exclaimed, "Mbwa! What's the matter? Such haste! and your body so disordered!" He replied, using their own language, "No! I won't tell you. I won't speak." But, his mother begged him, "Please! my child! tell me!" So, finally, he spoke, using his strange voice, and said, "My mother! I tell you! Njambo and his wife liked me for the marriage; and the woman consented entirely. I was at that time asleep, when the Man and his wife went to the forest. When I rose from my sleep, I found the woman Eyâle cracking ngândâ, and throwing away the kernels, and keeping the husks. And I told her, 'The good ones which you are throwing away are the ones to be eaten.' And, at once she died."

While he was speaking thus to his mother, she also fell dead on the ground. The news was carried to the town of Dog's mother's brother, and very many people came to the Mourning. His Uncle came to Dog, and said, "Mbwa! what is the reason of all this?" But Dog would not answer. He only said, "No! I won't speak." Then they all begged him, "Tell us the reason." But he replied only, "No! I won't speak."

Finally, as they urged him, he chose two of them, and said to the company, "The rest of you remain here, and watch while I go and speak to these two." Then Dog spoke to those two men with the same voice as he had to his mother. And, at once they died, as she had died. Then he exclaimed, "Ah! No! If I speak so, people will come to an end!" And all the people agreed, "Yes, Mbwa! it is so. Your human speech kills us people. Don't speak any more."

And he went away to live with Mankind.

TALE 22

DOG, AND HIS HUMAN SPEECH (2nd Version)

Persons

Njambo, His Wife Nyangwa-Mbwa, and His Son Mbwa (Dog) The Prophet, Totode, and a Sorcerer, Nja-Ya-Melema-Mya-Bato His Three Other Wives, Majanga, Inyanji, Mamendi; and Her Two Twins.

NOTE

Some African ant-hills are built in upright pillars, varying in diameter from 3 to 10 inches, and in height from 1 ft. to 3 ft.

The bearing of a monstrosity formerly was punished (and in some tribes still) by driving the mother into seclusion in the forest, and generally with killing of the child. In some tribes, twins were considered monstrosities.

The "Heart-beat" of Nyangwa-Mbwa was the commonly believed premonition of coming evil.

There are many kinds of food, of which women are not allowed to partake.

Though the three sisters were daughters of the same mother, the jealousy of two of them for the other one led them to hatred, and an attempt at murder. Their curse laid on Mbwa caused him to be a speechless beast; for, previous to that, he was talking as a human being. "Heart-life" is an entity distinct from both Body and Soul.

Njambu married a woman named Nyangwa-Mbwa. She bore a creature that looked like no animal that existed at that time. But, because he spoke as a human being, he was not considered a Beast. He was given part of his mother's name, Mbwa.

Njambu added other marriages. Among them he obtained three women, each one of whom had a special office. That of Majanga was to keep things clean. That of Inyanji for planting. Mamendi said that her work should be to bear twins. Now, these three women were sisters. The other two were jealous of Mamendi, because her work was greater and more honorable than theirs.

In the course of time, Mamendi conceived; her pregnancy went regularly on. And the time for her confinement came. Majanga and Inyanji went to deliver her. But they tied a napkin over her face, and covered her eyes lest she should see what they would do to her. When the time of the birth was at hand, she bore twins.

Then Inyanji and Majanga threw the twins into the pig-pen. And they took two ant-hills (slender conical structures). They smeared them with blood. And they went and showed them to Njambu as the things which Mamendi had borne. Njambu said, "Go! and throw those things into the forest."

But Mbwa was going about; and as he went, he was scenting, till he came to the pig-pen; and he saw the twins. He took them, and carried them to his mother in their hut, which was isolated from the town. When the two women had left the twins in the pig-pen, their intention was that the pigs might kill them; and the women did not know that Mbwa had removed them. The twins stayed with Nyangwa-Mbwa, and she fed them and nursed them.

But, when Majanga and Inyanji heard that those children were in the hamlet of Mbwa's mother, they said, "We will go there tomorrow."

Early in the morning, Nyangwa-Mbwa had gone to the forest to her garden. When the two women came, they found the twins lying down. So, they struck them a blow; and they died.

The while that Nyangwa-Mbwa was in the forest, her heart beat with anxiety. She at once picked up her basket, and came to her village, and found the corpses of both the twins. Then she began to cry.

Mbwa also came, and found the dead bodies stretched out. Right away, he knew what had happened. So he went to the Prophet Totode, and inquired what he should do. Totode asked him, "Are you able to go to the town of Doctor Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato? (Hunger-for-the-hearts-of-people)." He agreed "Yes, I will go there." Then he went to the town of the Doctor.

A child of the Doctor spoke to Mbwa, and asked, "What have you come to do?" He answered, "I have come to seek heart-life; because my father's wives have killed from me two children."

Already Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato had gone to kill people for himself. In a little while he returned and suddenly, pieces of meat (from the dead bodies) began to fall, kidi! kidi! being thrown out on the ground in the street. Mbwa, awaiting a chance, hid himself under a bed.

Then came the Doctor bringing in the heart-lives of the men he had killed. Mbwa, without permission, seized two of the hearts, and ran out quickly. Nja-ya-melema-mya-bato followed after him, running rapidly, da! da! da! But he did not overtake Mbwa.

Mbwa ran in haste with the hearts, on to his village. There he thrust the new lives into the children. The twins arose again to life and stood, to show themselves, and then they sat down.

Those twins went on growing, and became stout young men.

One day they said to Mbwa, "We want guns." He went to his father, in the town, and said, "I want two guns." His father produced two guns for him. He took them, went to his home, and handed them to the twins. Then they tried the guns, and loaded them.

Next day, in the morning, they went out early to hunt; they killed two gazelles; and they took them to their village. Mbwa cut up one of the beasts; and he said to his mother, "Cook it." Then he took the other one to his father. His father cut it up; and he called Majanga and Inyanji; and, dividing the meat, he said to them, "Go ye, and cook these in the pot, and those in a jomba." (Mbwa himself was still in the house watching them.) They boiled, and cooked; they put in the salt and pepper; and were about to taste the soup when Mbwa said, "Not so! This meat is not to be eaten by women."

They took the food to the Reception-house, where their husband Njambu ate; and he laid aside some for them. But, what he laid aside for those women, Mbwa drew away and ate. Then he returned to his home. His mother made food; and they ate, all four of them.

Next morning, the twins returned to their hunting. They killed also three antelopes, and they carried them to take them to their home, and left them in the path on the way outside of the village. In the village, they said to Mbwa, "Go, and bring the beasts from the forest."

Mbwa started, and brought them to the village. He carried two to his father. His brothers exclaimed, "Where does Mbwa kill all those animals?" His father cut up the animals, and divided one with his children. He cut up the other, saying, "This belongs to myself." Then he prepared some to be cooked in momba (bundles tied in plantain leaves), and some to be dried, and some to be boiled.

The women boiled the food (Mbwa still watching them). When it was cooked, they lifted up the pot from the fire, and they were about to taste it, when Mbwa said, "No! you must not taste it!" They put it in bowls, and set the food before their husband; and he ate. When he was about to give some to his wives, Mbwa said, "Not so!"

The twins continued with their hunting just the same as at the first. Almost every day they were killing some animal. And Mbwa continued also with carrying meat to the town of his father.

Finally, the twins became full-grown men. Then Mbwa said to himself, "Now, I'm ready to bring this matter to the ears of the people." When another day came, he said to his father, "Tomorrow, call all the people of the town together, in the afternoon."

On the next day, his father did so. Mbwa dressed the twins very finely; and brought out three chairs, two for the twins, and one for his mother. All the people collected together. Thereupon, he brought forward his mother, and the twins. The people fixed their eyes on them; for they had not seen them in their little hamlet in the forest. The people exclaimed, "What fine-looking persons!"

Then Mbwa stood up. He said, "Ye people! I have called you all that ye may recognize these two young men." The people said that they did not know them. He continued, "These are my father's children. For, my father had married these three women. Also, they had three duties; Majanga, her duty of keeping the house clean; Inyanji, her duty of planting; and Mamendi's was the bearing of twins. Mamendi became a mother. On the day of her confinement, her two sisters went to deliver her. They took a napkin and covered her eyes. And she bore these two twins. They threw them inside the pig-pen. And they took two small earthen pillars instead, and they went and showed them to their husband. Then, I entered the pig-pen; and I took these children out; and brought them to my mother. So, these children grew up. And they began hunting. You, my father, you remember when I brought you the wild meat, and you were about to give to these women; but, I went and took away the food. The reason is, because they are the ones who tried to kill the children. I brought them up from childhood to be men as now. So, this caused me to bring this case before the presence of all people; for, I say that those two women were murderesses. So, then, my father, these are your children; but, if you retain those women, these two twins shall not be your sons."

Upon this, the father of Mbwa said, "Catch ye both of the women!" And they were bound in that self-same hour. (They had supposed that the twins had died when they had struck them in the hamlet of Mbwa's mother.) They could not deny. In their anger, as they were led away, they called out to Mbwa, "Mbwa-O!" He assented, "Eh? What is it?" They replied in anger, for having informed on them. And they laid a curse on him, saying, "You will never speak again with the voice of a human being. You shall be a dumb beast."

But, the people took them, to be thrown into the depth of the sea.

TALE 23

THE SAVIOR OF THE ANIMALS

Persons

Njambo and Wife and Son Utigebodi Ngwayi (Partridge) The Prophet Njambi Yungu (Eagle) Etoli (Rat) Njâku (Elephant) Nyati (Ox) Kudu (Tortoise) Njâ (Leopard) Ngomba (Porcupine) Inâni (Bird)

NOTE

This story plays on the meaning of the name U-tige-bode. It is an ancient word, not now used, meaning, "He-Who-Saves-People." In the Son's given name; his saving of the unworthy, in response to their appeals for mercy; his bearing of his father's wrath; his punishment on a tree; the derision of the very passers by, for whom he was to die, I think the legend echoes, even though faintly, the story of the Christ.

Njambo married two women. He begot twenty-three children. And they all died. Also one of the wives died. There were left only himself, and one wife.

The woman was old, and the man also was old. But, the woman was again to become a mother; and, at the proper time, she bore a child. The child was a male. The woman called the husband, saying, "Come! and give your boy a name." The husband said, "The name of the child is Utigebode."

After this, the child grew to be a large man. One day, he said to his father, "Paia! I'm going to set snares in the forest." The father replied, "Yes! go! and catch me food!" He went. And he returned that morning. In the afternoon, he went back to examine the snares. And he found that two Partridges were caught. He exclaimed, "I'm very glad! My father shall eat one today, and the other shall be kept for tomorrow." Then the Partridges asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "One-Who-Saves-People." Then the Partridges said, "If that is so, why are you about to kill us?"

On another day, in the morning, he went again to examine his snares. And he found two Antelope (Tragelephas). He was glad; and he said, "I feel very good! My father shall eat one; and the other can be cooked for another day." The Antelopes asked him, "What's your name?" He answered, "One-Who-Saves-People." Again, they asked, "Why then are you about to kill us?" He replied, "That's so! Well! go!" And he returned to town.

That afternoon he went out again, and found two Gazelles. And he said, "I'll take these two to town at once; and my father shall eat one today, and the other tomorrow." But the Gazelles said, "No!--you are the One-Who-Saves-People! Why then should you kill us?" So he loosed them, and let them go.

He did the same way to two Elephants. And with two Oxen. At another time he found two Tortoises. And the Tortoises spoke to him as had done the others. And on another day, he found two Leopards. And, he released the Leopards, in the same way. At another time, two Porcupines, in the same way.

One after another, almost all the Beasts were thus trapped and released. There was not one beast brought by Utigebode to his village; he freed them all.

So, his father said to him, "My child! since you have set your snares, I have not seen you bring in a single beast, even an Etoli. What are you doing? I shall change your name. For, now that I am old, it is right for you to save me, and help me with food."

Utigebode replied evasively, "Since I set the snares, I have not caught even a Inâni." The father said, "Well! if it is true that you have not killed any Beast or Bird, I will know tomorrow."

The next day broke; and the father went to the village of Prophet Njambi. The Prophet saluted him, "What have you come for?" Njambo replied, "I come to you for you to tell me about my son, whether in his hunting he kills beasts, or whether he does not." Njambi answered, "He snares them constantly; but, because of the name you gave him, he saves the lives of the people of the tribes of Beasts."

The prophet added, "If there be a doubt, I will show you a way to prove my words. When you go back to town you will meet Iheli at the end of the village. When you meet with him, call for the people to set nets to catch him. But, yourself shall stand and watch what the Beast does before your eyes."

Njambo arose to go, and bade goodbye, saying, "This is my return journey to my village."

And it was so that, on nearing the end of the village, he met with Gazelle. Njambo shouted, "Men! spread your nets! Here is a Beast! Let us catch it!" His men brought their nets, and began to surround Gazelle. And the son Utigebode came to assist. The men were shouting, "Hâ-hâ! Hâ-hâ!" to frighten the animal towards the nets. Gazelle looked forward, watching Utigebode closely; and it said to itself, "If I go toward the nets, I shall be caught; but, I will go toward Utigebode and shall be saved."

So, Gazelle ran toward Utigebode, and he caught it as if to kill it. But Gazelle cried out, "Eh! Utigebode! you, the savior, will you be the one to kill me?" So, Utigebode said, "Pass on! for, it is true that I am The-One-Who-Saves." And Gazelle fled to the forest.

Then Njambo was very angry, and said to Utigebode, "Ah! my child! I have found you in your falsehood! Was it not you who said you caught no Beast? So! you have been releasing them!"

Then the company all went back to their village with their nets. They arrived there during the daytime. And the father ordered his son, "Go! climb that coco tree, and bring me a nut." The son began to climb the tree. But, as he climbed, the father, by Magic-Power, caused the tree to grow rapidly upward. When, finally, Utigebode reached the top, he was unable to come down the excessively long tree-trunk. He began to call to his father for help, "My father!" But the father was still very angry, and replied, "Call your friends, the Beasts and Birds, to save you. I will not help you." And Njambo went to sit down in his village, leaving his son in the treetop.

The son saw Eagle passing, and he called to it, "Yungu! Help me!" Eagle replied, "I am not able to carry a Man; you are heavy;" so, Eagle passed on. Utigebode saw many Beasts one after another passing below, and he called to them, "Save me!" But, they said, "We have no wings with which to go up to you. How can we get you down? We are not Birds that could let you down. We Beasts are unable to help you. Do not expect us."

He was left there in the tree-top a period of two weeks, living only on the coconuts; and then he died, and his body fell to the earth. Njambo came out to see the corpse, and he said to it, "You have died through lack of obedience. You disobeyed me; and your beasts did not help you."

The father and the mother lived another year in their village; and then they died, because they had no children to help them with food or clothes. And the people came from other villages to bury them.

TALE 24

ORIGINS OF THE IVORY TRADE (1st Version)

Persons

King Ukanakâdi, and His Son Lombolokindi, and His Mother, With Birds and Other Animals Tombeseki (A Magic-Spear); An Old Woman Njâku (Elephant); An Ox (A Metamorphosed Man) A Foreign Vessel, and Traders