Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/395

 Collectanea. 353.

(thing) has stolen the ram." Then the Lion said, — "That is a lie." He said, — " To-morrow I shall summon all the beasts of the forest to come and dance before me." Then the Spider went home. He went and called the Hyaena. He came and said, — " To- morrow there is to be a feast in front (at the door) of the Lion's house. See here a skin (for) you to wear." Then the Hyaena took (it) and put it on. Then the Spider tied the bell on her neck. He brought the fat and anointed the Hyaena's mouth. Then he said, — "Now, do not eat the fat, leave it. It is an ornament." So the Hyaena felt very proud, saying the Spider had given her finery. (When) morning came all the beasts of the forest assembled. When they were assembled, the Spider came with his little drum. He came (he was) drumming, " Who has eaten Babba randam.'* The Hyaena is the devourer of Babba randam. The skin on her back (is) the skin of Babba randam. The bell on her neck (is) the bell of Babba randam. The fat on her mouth (is) the fat of Babba randam." The Hyaena was dancing and playing, and said, — " That is so (thus the word is), beat your drum, oh Spider, that is so." Then the Lion got angry,, and he went and felled the Hyasna and killed (her), and then all the beasts of the forest ran away. " The Lion has revenged (him- self) " said the Spider. " Truly the Hyaena ate the ram."

12. The Cunning Spider and his Bride. (U. G.)

This is about a certain handsome ^ girl. Each one who came to marry her she told that she was not to be had by the bringing of presents.*^ Then her father made a dung-heap at the door of the house. . . . Everything that was filthy (he put) there. He said, — " There, whoever comes and clears (opens) the place, (and) does not spit (and) does not eat food, he shall be her husband." Now every youth who came said he was not able. Then the Spider

^This is a play on the words. "Babba randam" means "large bull," and the Hysena was proud of having killed one.

^ Handsome or fine is about the nearest meaning we can give to da keau when applied to women, but it must be remembered that the Hausa's idea of beauty is very different from ours.

'' Marriage is a modified form of purchase. The acceptance of the presents by the girl's parents would signify an engagement.