Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/406

 364 Collectanea.

Hyaena wanted to ask him,^^ but felt afraid. She went to the Lion's house, and said, — "The He-goat is always passing my house." She said, — " I should like to ask him what work he does, (but) I am afraid of him." Then the Lion said, — "Very well, if he comes again, call him and come to me." She said, — "Agreed. If he comes you must break a pot,^^ and say he is to sew (it). If he does not sew it, say I am to seize him." So he (Lion) said, — "Very well." Then the Hysena returned home. (When) the He-goat came, she said,— " Here, the great one, the big brother of the forest, is calling you." So he said, — "Very well, let us go." On their arrival, the Lion broke a pot, and said, — "What work (do you do)? " The He-goat said, — " I am a sewer of calabashes." Then the Lion said, — "Very well. Here is a pot of mine (which) is broken. If you do not sew it, I shall make the Hysena seize you." Then the Hyaena said, — " Can you sew? " Then the He- goat said, — "Come, Hysna, is it to be a quarrel? Really I shall do it." Well, as for him, he had a small flask-shaped gourd, and he had poured some honey in it, he the He goat. So he said to the Lion, — " Now, the only thing to sew with (thing of sewing) is Hyaena sinew. Where can it be got ? " Then the Lion said, — "Oh, here is a Hygena." So the Lion said, — "You, Hyaena, bring a little of your sinew." So the Hysena caught hold (put hand) and plucked out a piece of sinew from her leg, and brought (it) to the Lion. And the Lion gave (it to) the He-goat. The He-goat took the piece of sinew, and put it in the honey. Then he took it out of the honey, and handed (stretched) (it) to the Lion, and said, — "Here (see it), smear spittle on it, and give me (it) so that I may commence sewing." Then the Lion, when he put it (in his) mouth, tasted the sweetness of the honey. So he swallowed it. Then the He-goat, when he (Lion) had swallowed (it), said, — " Ah, where shall I obtain a piece of sinew?" Then the Lion said, — "Oh, here is a Hysena." So the Lion said to the Hysena, — " Here, pick out a small piece of your sinew." So she gave the Lion (it), and he gave the He-goat (it). Then the He-goat put (it) in the honey, and gave the Lion (it), and told him to smear spittle on it and give him. He said, —

17 «« What he did " is understood.

^8 Calabashes (gourds) can be sewn, but the pots are made of earth.