Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/138

 130 accomplish the task. On their way to hunt the white guinea-fowl they pass by the hut of their brother, and fetch him out to go with them. He consents, and tells his mother not to allow his dogs to starve, but to kill a bullock for them every day. And he also points out a banana-tree, which is to be a sign of his condition; its withering being a proof that he would be ill, its dying away a sign that he would be dead. Off the four brothers go to hunt; but the bird flies far away into the forest. The three soon gave up the chase; but Isìlakòlona, invoking his ancestors, caused the guinea-fowl to approach him. The bird obeyed; he secured it, and goes off home with his prize. On the way, however, his brothers threaten him with death if he does not give it up to them, which he is obliged to do, and he then goes home without anything to show for his pains.

The same kind of thing happens when they go to procure the red bees; the three brothers ask the youngest one to accompany them. Again he assents, but when the three hear the loud hum of the bees they run off. But Isilakblona threw a large empty gourd into the midst of the bees, and, invoking his ancestors, commands the insects to enter peacefully into the gourd. This they do, and he thereupon takes them home. But again the three elder brothers threaten him with loss of life unless he gives up the bees to them. He is obliged to consent, and they take the gourd to their father.

After a time again the three go to hunt the bull Ilàisambìlo. Again the younger brother is fetched, and goes, although against his mother's wish. This feat is a more difficult one to accomplish, but by getting up into a tree Isìlakòlona succeeds in leaping upon the bull's back, and patting his head he binds him securely and brings him away. Again he is made to yield his spoils to his brothers by threats of their killing him, and for the third time he returns home empty. At length, for the fourth time, the brothers go away to perform the last difficult task given them to do. They again fetch the youngest brother, and again the mother objects to his going. He tells her that it is the last time, and that he will take his chief dog, and that if the other dogs bark she is to let them go, as that will be a sign that he is in danger; and again he cautions her to look carefully at the