Where Animals Talk; West African Folk Lore Tales/Part 2/Tale 9
What Caused their Deaths?
Persons
| Mbwa (Dog) | Kudu (Tortoise) |
| Mbala (Squirrel) | |
NOTE
Dog and squirrel were of the same age, and they met with the same end. They each had an object of their special liking, the excessive use of which finally was the cause of their death.
Dog, Squirrel, Tortoise and others were living in one town. They all, at that time, ate of the same kind of food. But, they were at peace in that village during only two weeks. Then Squirrel and Dog said to Tortoise, "Let us divide, and have peace each at our separate villages. You, Kudu, and the others can stay at this spot if you like."
Squirrel said he would remove to a place about three miles distant north. Dog went about three miles in the opposite direction. So, each had his own little hamlet.
On another day, Squirrel said to his wife, "I am going on a journey to see my friend Mbwa." He started, came to Dog's place, and entered the house. Dog welcomed him, played with him, and killed a fowl for their dinner. With Squirrel had come one of his wives.
While the women were cooking inside the house, Dog and Squirrel were sitting in the ikenga (reception-room). They were conversing there. After awhile. Dog said to Squirrel "Excuse me, I will go to see about the food." He went inside, and lay down near the fire, and Squirrel was left alone.
Dog stayed there inside the house, until the food was cooked. Then he came out to his friend, and began to set the table, while the women came in with the food, and put it on the table. Dog drew up by the table ready to eat; and Squirrel also; and Squirrel's wife, and Dog's wife also, making four at the table.
During the eating. Squirrel said to Dog, "My friend! when you left me here in the ikenga, where did you go to, the while that the women were cooking the food?" Dog answered, "Ah! my friend, you know that I like fire very much. While we were talking here, you and I, cold seized me."
Then Squirrel said, "Ah! my friend, you like fire too much; I think you will die of fire some day."
They finished the food; and after that, Squirrel prepared his return journey to his village. And he said to Dog, "My friend Mbwa, how many days before you shall come to my place?" Dog answered, "In two days, then will I come."
So, Squirrel returned to his village. His wives and children told him the daily news of what had occurred in the village while he was away. And he told them about what he had seen at Dog's. And he added, "But, there is one thing I noticed; my friend Mbwa likes fire very much."
He waited the two days; Dog came on his visit; and Squirrel killed a fowl for his guest. And he bade his woman cook the fowl. In the meanwhile, Dog and Squirrel sat in the ikenga conversing. Presently Squirrel said to Dog, "Excuse me, I am going. I will return."
Squirrel went out into his garden, and climbed up a banana stalk, and began eating the ripe fruit at the top of the bunch. After awhile, he came down again. And he went into the ikenga to prepare the table for the food. When it was ready, Dog sat up at the table. With him were his wife, and Squirrel and Squirrel's wife.
Presently, Dog inquired of Squirrel, "My friend! when you left me sitting here alone, where did you go to?" Squirrel answered, "My friend! you know I like to eat bananas. So, I was up the tree," Then Dog said, "My friend! you love bananas too much; some day, you will die with them."
When they had finished their food, Dog said, "I am on my return to my village." So he returned thither. But he was arrived there only two days when he happened to fall into the fire-place. And he died in the fire. The news was carried to his friend Squirrel, "Your friend Mbwa is dead by fire." Squirrel replied, "Yes, I said so; for he loved fire too much."
On another day, in Man's town, a person went to look for food at his banana tree. And he saw that the fruit was eaten at the top, by some animal. So, that Man made a snare at the Banana tree. On the next day, Squirrel said to himself, "I'm going to eat my banana food wherever I shall find it."
He came to the town of Man, and climbed the tree. The snare caught and killed him; and he died there. The Man came and found the body of Squirrel; and he exclaimed "Good!"
The news was carried to the village of Squirrel's children, "Your father is dead, at a banana tree."
And they said, "Yes; for our father loved bananas very much. He had said that Mbwa would die by fire because he loved fire. And himself also loved bananas. "