Page:Where Animals Talk (West African folk lore tales).djvu/214

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208
WHERE ANIMALS TALK
TALE 33

The Fights of Mbuma-Tyĕtyĕ and An Origin of the Leopard

Persons

Mekuku, and Two of His Sons
Mbuma-Tyĕtyĕ and Njâ
Ngwaye (Partridge)
Kâ (Snails)
King Njambu Ihonga-Honga (A Giant
Tooth)
Betoli (Rats)
Mwamba (Snakes) Hova (A Magic Gourd)
Ngângâlâ (Millepedes) Tângâ (Horn)
Kedi (Stinging Ants) Ibumbu (Bundle of Medicine)
Njambu Ya Mekuku (Spirits),
and His Town
Kanja (A Bowl)
Ikanga (Spear)
Women Hidden in Chests Ngalo (A Magic Amulet)

NOTE

Ngalo is a powerful fetish-charm. Sitting in a visitor's lap for a few moments, is a mode of welcome.

"Njambu" is one of their forms of spelling the name of the Creator; very commonly used also for human beings. The account of the wrestling-match is suggestive of the surroundings of a modern athletic field.


Njambu built a Town. He continued there a long time. After he had finished the town, he married very many wives. After a short time they all of them bore children. Those births were of many sons. He gave them names: Among them were, Upuma-mwa-penda (Year-of-doubt), and Njâ (Leopard).

And again, his wives, after a short time, all of them became mothers. This time, they gave birth to a large number of daughters. He gave them also names.