SOUTH-AFRICAN FOLK-TALES

WHY HAS JACKAL A LONG, BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK?

THE Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were travelling saw him sitting by the wayside, but passed him without notice. Jackal, however, who came after them, and also sitting, went to him and said, "Such a fine little child is left behind by the men." He then took Sun up, and put it into this awa-skin (on his back). When it burnt him, he said, "Get down," and shook himself; but Sun stuck fast to his back, and burnt Jackal's back black from that day.

HORSE CURSED BY SUN

IT is said that once Sun was on earth, and caught Horse to ride it. But it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore Ox took the place of Horse, aud carried Sun on its back. Since that time Horse is cursed in these words, because it could not carry Sun's weight:

From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying.
This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying.
And day and night shalt thou eat,
But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest,
Though thou grazest till morning and again until sunset.
Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee," said Sun.

Since that day Horse's (certain) time of dying commenced.

LION'S DEFEAT

The wild animals, it is said, were once asembled at Lion's. When Lion was asleep, Jackal persuaded Little Fox to twist a rope of ostrich sinews, in order to play Lion a trick. They took ostrich sinews, twisted them, and fastened the rope to Lion's tail, and the other end of the rope they tied to a shrub. When Lion awoke, and saw that he was tied up, he became angry, and called the animals together. When they had assembled, Lion said (using this form of conjuration)--

"What child of his mother and father's love,
Whose mother and father's love has tied me? "

Then answered the animatl to whom the question was first put--

I, child of my mother and father's love,
I, mother and father's love, I have not done it.

All answered the same; but when he asked Little Fox, Little Fox said--

I, child of my mother and father's love,
I, mother and father's love, have tied thee!

Then Lion tore the rope made of sinews, and ran after Little Fox. But Jackal said:

"My boy, thou son of lean Mrs. Fox, thou wilt never be caught."

Truly Lion was thus beaten in running by Little Fox.

from Africa: Religion: South African Folk Tales
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