Where Animals Talk; West African Folk Lore Tales/Part 3/Tale 10
The Treachery of Tortoise
Persons
| Mbâmâ (Boa Constrictor) | Kudu (Tortoise) |
| Njĕ (Leopard) | |
NOTE
Observe the cannibalism of the story.
Leopard married a wife. After awhile she was about to become a mother.
Boa also married a wife; and, after awhile, she also, was about to become a mother.
In a short time, like the drinking of a draught of water, the month passed, both for Leopard's wife and for Boa's wife also. Then Boa's wife said, "It is time for the birth!" So she gave birth to a child. And she lay down on her mother's bed. When they were about to cook food for her, she said, "I want to eat nothing but Njĕ!"
The next day, the wife of Leopard said, "It is time for the birth!" And she also gave birth to a child. Food was given to her. But she said, "I am wanting only Mbâmâ!"
When told of his wife's wish. Boa said, "What shall I do? Where shall I go? Where shall I find Mangwata?" (A nickname for Leopard.) Also, Leopard said, in regard to his wife's wish, "Where shall I find Mbâmâ?" Then Leopard went walking, on and on, and looking. He met with Manima-ma-Evosolo (a nickname for Tortoise). Leopard asked him, "Can you catch me Mbâmâ?" Manima said, "What's that?" And he laughed, Kyĕ! Kyĕ! Kyĕ; and said, "That is as easy as play." Leopard said, "Chum, please do such a thing for me." And Tortoise said, "Very good!"
When they separated, and Tortoise was about to go a little further on ahead, at once he met with Boa. And Boa asked him, "Chum! Manima-ma-Evosolo! Where have you come from?" Tortoise answered, "I have come, going on an excursion." Boa asked to Tortoise, "But, could you catch me Njĕ?" He replied, "That is a little thing." Then Boa begged him, "Please, since my wife has born a child, she has not eaten anything. She says she wants to eat only Njĕ."
Tortoise returned back at once to his village. He called to the people of his village, saying, "Come ye! to make for me a pit." They at once went, and dug a pit. When they had finished it, Tortoise went to Leopard, and said to him, "Come on!"
Leopard at once started on the journey (thinking he was going to get Boa). When they came to the place of the pit. Leopard fell suddenly into it headlong, volomu! He called to Tortoise, saying, "Chum! Where is Mbâmâ?" (Leopard did not understand that he was being deceived.)
Tortoise did not reply, but started off clear to the village of Boa. He said to Boa, "Come on!" Boa did not doubt at all that he was going to get Leopard. He started, and went with Tortoise towards the pit. When he was passing near the spot, Boa fell headlong into the pit, volumu! And Leopard exclaimed, "Ah! now, what is this?"
Tortoise only said to them, "You yourselves can kill each other."