Page:George McCall Theal, Ethnography and condition of South Africa before A.D. 1505 (2nd ed, 1919).djvu/166

142 broke the bones into pieces, and said, ‘if he wants me he must look for me at yonder pool.’ ” The lion went, and arrived while the frog was sitting at the water's edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. When he was about to get hold of him, the frog said, “ho!” and diving went to the other side of the pool, and sat there. The lion pursued him, but as he could not catch him he returned home.

From that day, it is said, the lion walked on his feet, and also began to creep upon (his game); and the white crows became entirely dumb since the day that they said, “nothing can be said of that matter.”

It will be observed that these tales are of a different class from those of the Bushmen. They differ also greatly in style from those of the Bantu, as can be seen by comparing them with the tales given in succeeding chapters. They show the power of the Hottentot mind, but are not of the great value that the Bantu tales are in tracing the migrations of these people.