Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/87

Rh said,—"Oh, this is too good for us. Let us take him to the chieftain(ess)." When she saw him, she gave (made) him a robe, a pair of trousers, and a turban, and she bought him a horse. All the good things of sovereignty she gave him. Then she said,—"Now I am going to war," and she said,—"See this small basket. You must not open it." But she said,—"Everything in this house is yours, except this small basket. If you open it, you will have a great shock (your heart will break)." So she started off and went to war, and left him at home. Then he sad,—"Now everything that is in the house is mine, so I shall open this small basket." When he had opened it he saw the centre of his farm, (with nothing) but a leather loin covering and a hoe. He could not see the house any more. So he began to cry, and said,—"Now, where shall I get a Tortoise to take me?" So he went to the edge of the bush, and found a young Tortoise. So he brought him, and said,—"Now, when I farm, you must say "O, farm of the bachelor, rise up in disorder!" When I come to pick up the hoe to beat you, you must say,—"Leave me, leave me, and I will take you to the city of women." "This was done. Then he said,—"Very well. Tell me to make a bundle." Then the little Tortoise said,—"Do so." When he had made it, he got inside, and said,—"Little Tortoise, carry me." So he said,—"Very well." When he had got inside, the little Tortoise, when he lifted him up, began to groan, for he was not strong, and he said,—"Alas, alas." Then he met with a Hyæna. The Hyæna said,—"Oh, little Tortoise, what are you carrying?" Then the little Tortoise said,—"Oh, the bachelor said I must carry him." So the Hyæna said,—"Throw down (term of abuse), and let me eat him." So the little Tortoise threw down the bundle, and the Hyæna came and tore open the bundle, and took the bachelor and ate him.

This one is about a woman who had never given birth. So she said,—"Oh God, wilt Thou not give me even a lame child or a leper to bring forth?" Thus it was that one day God caused her to conceive. So she brought forth a son, and called (his name) Little