Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/101

Rh They replied, "We have no net, and the fish are defeating us."

The deceiver said, "Just try this net of mine."

They tried the net and caught a great many fishes.

Then the deceiver turned round and said, "Give me my net which I took from the man who was eating grass; the same who ate my figs. Give me my net; give me my net."

They gave him many fish, and he went on his way.

At length he came to a village, and saw some people who had nothing to serve as relish with their porridge, for they were dipping their porridge on the ulcers on their bodies.

The man said, "Why are ye doing thus?"

They replied, "Because we have no relish."

He said, "Here are some fish for you."

They thanked him, and took them, not knowing that he would turn again and ask for them. So, when they had eaten the fish he said, "Give me my fish; the fish which I took from the people who used my net; the net which I took from the man who ate my figs, even he who was eating grass. Give me my fish; give me my fish."

They brought some millet and gave to him, and he went on his way.

While he continued his journey he came upon some guinea-fowls eating white ants, and he said to them, "Why are you eating white ants?"

The guinea-fowls replied, saying, "They are our food."

The deceiver said, "Here is proper food."

The guinea-fowls said, "Give us that we may eat."

He poured it out, and they consumed it all.

When he saw that they had eaten the millet, he said, "Give me my millet; the millet which I took from the people who were dipping their porridge on their ulcers; the people who ate my fish; the fish which I took from the people who appropriated my net; the net which I took from the man who ate my figs, even he who was eating grass. Give me my millet; give me my millet."