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 ehi (genius) came and asked when he would work for him, and he said, “In seven days.” So on the seventh day he said, “How did I make this mistake? My ehi will kill me; but I can’t go to elimi (heaven) or my father-in-law will take away my wife.” Hence this snake has two heads; it turned its faces one each way, and said it had done its best, and it escaped the palaver.

Ose wanted to send corn into the world, and found out how to cook it. He put it in a pot, and when it was cooked he asked it if it was done, and it said, “Yes.” So Ose put it on a fire and the corn began to shout, “Kata, kata, kata, kata.” And Ose said, “You are a thorough liar; you tell me you are done and now you begin to shout.” So from that day on people have said, “You are a bigger liar than the corn.”

Osalobwa had three sons, and he asked them their names; and the first said, “Ilekiado” (I go to the market to trade), and the second, “Ububo agagbe” (I can only farm), and the third, “Esezagazo” (sacrificer). So he told them to settle in one place, and they went to market and farmed and sacrificed. Then Osa called them to come and see him and I. and U. dressed in fine clothes. But E. had no clothes at all; and they sat down in their father’s house and he brought three yams—white, red and water yam. And inside the white yam he put people and cows and goats and a king’s sword; and he put the same inside the red yam; and in the water yam. And he also put three kola in each. So his sons saluted him and told him their names, and Osa said he wanted to see how they were getting on; but he had only three yams to give them. They were to come back again in seven days.

So they each took their yam in turn but I. and U. were