Page:Where Animals Talk (West African folk lore tales).djvu/207

 asked Wild-Rat, "What is it?" He answered, "I'm afraid of Ikingi; Edubu says that it is he who causes both Mankind and Beasts to rot."

Then Porcupine, in fear went out, running, going to the town of Hog. Whereupon Hog, being startled, asked him, "Chum! what is it?" He answered him, "I'm afraid of Ikingi. Ngomba says that he is the one who causes both Beasts and Mankind to rot."

Hog at once ran out in terror, and went to a river with all his family. And the water of the river was promptly crowded out, leaving its channel dry.

Then the Fishes (mistaking this motion of the water) arose in haste, saying, "The people who bail the river have come!" And they fled.

Then Crocodile opened his mouth wide; and the fishes in their flight began to enter into his stomach. Among them was ingongo-Kenda (a young kenda; a fish with spines like a catfish). When Crocodile was about to swallow, the spines caught fast in his throat. And Crocodile died at once.

Then the Fishes sang a song of rejoicing.

Such was the death that Crocodile died, on account of his attempt to swallow Fishes, who had rushed into his open mouth, as they fled, alarmed by the confusion raised by the panic of the other animals.

Among native Africans, in the case of a man and his wife, even if they fight together, her father or her brother usually