HARE AND JACKAL STORIES 307
him about the farm and is wofully cheated), his most serious offences are allowed to go unpunished. Yet the old rogue sometimes comes in for a good beating . . . for instance, when he behaves with excessive arrogance towards the Fla- mingo family. When persecuted by powerful enemies and defeating them by his own ready wit, he enjoys the Hottentot’s unlimited sympathy — still more so, when he avenges the wrongs he has himself suffered; but most of all, when he appears as avenger and benefactor of the weak in general.”
There is a curious story“ which represents the Jackal as falling in love with the Sun (here, of course, feminine) and trying to carry her off on his back, with the result that his fur got burnt and remains black to this day (this of course, is the South African variety known as the black-backed jackal). Other versions © represent the Sun as a baby, apparently for- saken by the wayside, which the Jackal picks up and carries off. “When it burnt him, he said: ‘Get down,’ and shook himself, but the Sun stuck fast to his back.”
We all remember the delightful episode in Uncle Remus, when Brer Rabbit presents Brer Fox in the character of “ my fambly ridin’ hoss.” This appears to be a genuine jackal- story, perhaps because the peoples who have made the Hare their hero do not ride, or have only learnt to do so recently.” The Hyena is the victim. Both were invited to a wedding, but the Jackal pretended he was too ill to walk and so induced the Hyena, not only to take him on his back, but to provide him with saddle, bridle, and spurs, on the plea that he would be unable to keep his seat without them.
We cannot conclude this chapter without a reference to the remarkable parallels contained in the Indian story of Mahdeo and the Jackal.° The Jackal gets himself himself carried on the Elephant?s back; he is caught by Mahdeo (who hides under water and seizes him by the leg), and calls out that Mahdeo is holding the root of a tree. Mahdeo then catches �
