Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/500

 464 Collectanea.

(where) the house (is) from here." Then he (Auta) said, — "Very well. Let us change into crows and I'll take you home." So they changed into crows, and they started. When they (had come) close to the town, he (Auta) said, — "Now do you see?" So he (seeker of magic) became a man, and went to the chief, and said, — "Well, I followed and followed him for three days, (but) I did not catch him." Then the chief said, — "Very well. Where is your horse?" He said, — "I left him in the forest." So another horse was brought for him, a present worth a million cowries was brought for him, because he had suffered ^^ for three days on the chief's account.

50. The Ltuky Youngest Son. (S. D.)

There was a certain lucky man, Ahmadu the rich man, (who had) three children, and three wives (his wives also three). Each had exactly one son. Then he fell ill, and knew he was about to die. So he called his eldest son (his son the eldest), and said, — " If I die, of all these riches do not take anything except (my) stick and boot." Then the eldest son said, — " Father (great one), is that the kind you are? Of all your goods I am not to take anything except the stick and boot ? Well, I shall not take the stick and boot." So he (Ahmadu) said, — "Very well. Go and stay with your mother." Then he called the second of them, and said, — " Listen, Mahamma, if 1 die, do not take anything except the prayer-jug." i'' Then he (Mahamma) said, — " Is that the sort (my) father is? I shall not take the prayer-jug." Then he called Auta also, and said, — " If I die, do not take anything except the stick and boot." Then he (Auta) said, — " Father, I love you (wish your life) better than anything." He said, — "Whatever you tell me to take I will take." He (Ahmadu) said, — "Very well. Take the boot and the stick." Now when Auta had taken (them), and had left, the father died. Then the women of the house mourned and ceased. Then they went to the chief for the division of the heritage. When it had been divided up, the eldest son was given (his share), the second was given his also, (but)

16 Or "worked hard;" lit., "made trouble."

^'' Small earthenware jug taken by a man going to the mosque, and holding water to wash with.