Page:George McCall Theal, Ethnography and condition of South Africa before A.D. 1505 (2nd ed, 1919).djvu/161

Rh After that they became companions again, and went hunting another time. They killed an ox. The lion said: “I will watch it while you carry the pieces away.” The lion gave him the breast, and said, “take this to my wife.” Little Jackal took it to his own wife. When he returned, the lion gave him a shin, and said: “take this to your wife.” Little Jackal took the shin to the lion's house. The lion's wife said: “I cannot take this, because it should not come here.” Little Jackal thereupon struck the lion's wife in the face, and went back to the place where the ox was killed. The lion gave him a large piece of meat, and said: “take this to my wife.” Little Jackal took it to his own wife. This continued till the ox was finished. Then they both went home.

When the lion arrived at his house he found there was weeping in his family. His wife said: “is it you who sent the jackal to beat me and my children, and is it you who sent this shin? Did I ever eat a shin?” When the lion heard that, he was very angry, and at once went to the jackal's house. When he reached the rock, Little Jackal looked down and said: “who are you, and what is your name, and whose son are you, and where are you from, and where are you going to, and whom do you want, and what do you want him for?” The lion replied: “I have merely come to see you. I wish you would let the rope down.” Little Jackal let down a rope made of mouse skins, and when the lion climbed a little way up, the rope broke, and he fell and was hurt. He then went home.

A tiger (leopard) was returning home from hunting on one occasion, when he lighted on the kraal of a ram. Now the tiger had never seen a ram before, and accordingly, approaching submissively, he said, “Good day, friend! what may your name be?”

The other, in his gruff voice, and striking his breast with his fore foot, said, “I am a ram. Who are you?”

“A tiger,” answered the other, more dead than alive; and then, taking leave of the ram, he ran home as fast as he could.

A jackal lived at the same place as the tiger did, and the latter, going to him, said, “Friend jackal, I am quite out of