Where Animals Talk; West African Folk Lore Tales/Part 3/Tale 6
Tortoise Covers His Ignorance
Persons
| Kudu (Tortoise) | Njĕ (Leopard) |
| Ihĕli (Gazelle) | A Vine |
NOTE
It is customary for men to do some service for their fathers and mothers-in-law.
Tortoise arose and went to the town of his father-in-law Leopard. Leopard sent him on an errand, saying, "Go, and cut for me utamba-mwa-Ivâtâ." (The fiber of a vine is used for making nets.)
Then he went. But, while he still remembered the object, he forgot the name of the kind of Vine that was used for that purpose. And he was ashamed to confess his ignorance. So, he came back to call the people of the town, and said, "Come ye and help me! I have enclosed Ihĕli in a thicket."
The people came, and at once they made a circle around the spot. But when they closed in, they saw no beasts there.
Then Tortoise called out, "Let someone of you cut for me, utamba-mwa-Ivâtâ." (As if that was the only thing needed to catch the animal which he had said was there.)
Thereupon, his brother-in-law cut for him a vine which he brought to him, saying, "Here is an Ihenga vine which we use for making nets." Whereupon Tortoise exclaimed, "Is it possible that it was the Ihenga vine that I mistook?"