African Folktales (The Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library)

by Roger Abrahams

  The young Pygmy was very upset, and could not think what to do. “Here is a bird,” said the old woman with sores. “Take it with you and it will protect you.”

  The Pygmy took the bird, thanked the old woman for her kindness, and went on his way. He traveled on to the next village, and there was the elder, sitting outside his house, singing. He greeted the Pygmy and invited him to sit down. “Have you seen my two brothers?” asked the Pygmy. “Oh, yes!” replied the elder. “They are visiting friends in the village. Why don’t you rest here awhile before going to look for them?” So the Pygmy sat down. Then after a little time had passed the old man said: “There’s a pretty young girl here, looking for a young man just like you!” “Fine!” said the Pygmy, “I’ll sleep here then.” The elder sang, and the Pygmy sang.

  Night came, and the Pygmy went into the young girl’s room. He lay down to sleep with her. Outside, the old man sat in the darkness and sang. The Pygmy sang. And when the Pygmy fell asleep, the bird that he had been given by the old woman with sores sang. The bird went on singing, and the old man outside listened, and said, “I cannot go in and kill him yet, he is still awake. I shall wait.” But the bird sang even louder, and before long the old man himself was asleep. Then the singing bird woke up the Pygmy, and he came out and killed the old man.

  Then, the Pygmy took the girl back to his village, and on the way he passed the old woman with sores. He greeted her and told her what had happened. “Good,” she said. Then he went on to his village, where he told all his friends and relations how he had killed the bad old man who had killed his two brothers, and how he himself had been saved by the talking bird given to him by the old woman with sores.

  And he lived happily then with his young wife.

  —Ituri

  82

  How It Pays Sometimes to Be Small

  There was once a fine young girl who was much sought after in marriage. Sundu the Red Antelope came to her village and announced that he was looking for a wife. Everyone thought what a good husband this handsome sundu would make, and they said: “We have just the wife for you!” “Good!” said Sundu, “I will sleep here.”

  That night he slept with his wife-to-be, and the next morning she said to him: “Go and get me some honey!”

  Off he went. He found a honey tree, cut a long liana and tied it to the tree. He started to climb up to where the honey was, but it was a long, long way, and as big and as strong as he was, the handsome red antelope was unable to reach it. When he gave up and returned without the honey, all the villagers said: “What sort of animal are you, that you can’t even get your wife-to-be some honey? You are no husband for her. Be off with you!”

  So off he went, back to his camp, where he told his sad story. Boloko the Ape listened and said: “Now, I need a wife, and I am strong and handsome. I will surely win this girl.” And he went straight to the village. “I hear that you have a fine young girl here,” he said. “I will sleep with her and I will take her for my wife.” He was very sure of himself. That night he slept with his wife-to-be and in the morning she said to him: “I want some honey—go and find some for me!”

  So off to the woods went Boloko, and found himself a fine Nbanda tree. He, too, cut himself a great big liana and fixed it to the tree where the honey was. But when he started to climb up towards the honey he found that it was much further than he had thought, and the limbs would bend and crack and he stepped on them, and try as he might he could not reach it. At last he was forced to come down without the honey. The villagers said to him: “What sort of animal are you, that you can’t even bring your wife-to-be some honey? You are no husband for her. Be off with you!” And off he went, back to his camp.

  Now, a little mouse lived in that same camp, and he had heard all about the girl. He had thought how much he would like someone like that for his wife. But when he saw Sundu go off he felt sure that the girl would marry him, he was such a fine red antelope. And when Sundu failed and Boloko went off, the mouse said to himself: “Such a handsome animal will surely win his bride!” But now the ape had returned, and little Makatuwa the Mouse got up, and said: “I am only a mouse, but I will go and ask this girl to be my wife.” Everyone laughed at him, but off he went.

  The villagers received him as they had received the antelope and the ape, and that night the mouse slept with his wife-to-be. In the morning he said to her: “I will go and fetch you some honey,” and he went to the forest and found a tall tree filled with it. He, too, cut himself a liana and tied it to the tree. Then he climbed up as quickly and as easily as could be. Working very hard, he dug out all the honey there was, brought it down, and took it back to the village. “Ah!” said the villagers, “here at last is someone who can fetch honey for his wife-to-be. Makatuwa is the husband we want for our daughter!”

  And so it was not the fine red antelope, nor the handsome ape, but the little mouse who won for himself the fine young bride.

  —Ituri

  83

  The Cloth of Pembe Mirui

  Now Amadi loved his wife Fatima with such passionate devotion that he could refuse her nothing. She had only to ask and her request was gratified immediately: silks, muslins, gold, and jewels, all were heaped at her feet by her infatuated husband. Fatima was content, counted herself fortunate to have such a husband, and was lavish in praise of him when she spoke with her neighbors. But after a while the women of the village became jealous of Fatima’s beauty and good fortune, and they went to her one by one and belittled Amadi before her. “These silks,” they said, “are nothing, those jewels are but glass, and that gold is but imitation. If your husband really loved you he would bring you the Cloth of the serpent Pembe Mirui, which is the rarest thing in the world.”

  At first Fatima took no notice of these attempts to poison her mind against Amadi, but the same story was poured daily into her ears until it produced its intended effect, and she became gloomy and discontended. Amadi, whose love for Fatima made him observant of all her moods, observed this, and said, “What is ailing you, Fatima?” Fatima pouted and cast down her eyes, and replied, “Alas, my husband! You don’t love me anymore.” Amadi said, “How can you say that I no longer love you? You are surrounded with proofs of my passion. But tell me what you need, and if it is in my power I will get it for you.” Fatima said, “It is true that you don’t love me anymore. If you loved me you would get me the Cloth of the serpent Pembe Miuri, for there is no other like it, and I want it very much.” Then Amadi answered, “What you say is not true. I love you and no one else. Nevertheless, to prove my love, I will get this cloth, though what it is and how I may gain possession of it, I don’t know.”

  On the next day, Amadi made ready food for a journey, and, placing fifty rupees in his belt, he set out. He traveled for many days, asking on all sides where the serpent Pembe Mirui might be found, but without success. At last he came upon an old woman, wrinkled and bent, and he asked, “Tell me where I can find the serpent Pembe Mirui, and obtain the Cloth that he guards.” The old woman said, “Give me money, and I will help you.” So Amadi gave the crone thirty rupees. Then the old woman called out, and a cat came from the house carrying under his arm a bag. The old woman told this cat to go with Amadi and show him the road. Then, Amadi went out again upon his journey, and the cat went with him, carrying the bag under his arm.

  So they traveled until they came upon a serpent lying asleep. Amadi asked, “Are you Pembe Mirui?” This question he asked three times, and three times the serpent replied, “I am not Pembe Mirui.” A little further on they came upon a serpent having two heads and two tails, and of him Amadi thrice asked, “Are you Pembe Mirui?” Three times the serpent replied, “I am not Pembe Mirui.” Proceeding again upon their way they met with a serpent having three heads and three tails, and, further on, another having four heads and four tails, and then, in succession, one having five heads and five tails, and one having six heads and six tails. To each of these serpents Amadi three times put the question, “Are you Pembe M
irui?” and each serpent thrice replied, “I am not Pembe Mirui.”

  After many days they came to a sunless thicket, dark because of the thick foliage overhead. In the midst of it, they saw a great snake, with seven heads and seven tails, coiled and sleeping. Amadi asked him three times, “Are you Pembe Mirui.” The serpent reared up upon its seven tails, and three times answered, “I am Pembe Mirui.” Having spoken, Pembe Mirui rushed into the thicket, where he concealed himself and lay in wait for Amadi. Then the cat said to Amadi, “Be on your guard. Do not move or he will strike you.” So Amadi drew his sword and waited, and presently Pembe Mirui rushed upon Amadi, hissing and spitting venom. But Amadi evaded his attack, and with his sword, cut off one of the seven heads of the serpent. The cat immediately sprang forward and picked up the head and placed it in the bag he carried. Seven times in all Pembe Mirui rushed Amadi, seeking to destroy him, and each time Amadi cut off one head, which the cat gathered up and placed in his bag. But at the last rush, some of the venom that Pembe Mirui spat forth, hit Amadi in the face, and he, at the completion of his task, fell senseless beside the writhing body of the serpent. Then the cat kindled a fire, and, taking a razor from his bag, he cut open Pembe Mirui and took fat from underneath his skin. He also took a metal bowl from the bag, and in it he heated the fat over the fire. When the fat was melted, the cat went to the bag again and got a small box of medicine, which he added to the melted fat. Taking the mixture, he smeared Amadi’s ears and his nose and his mouth with it, whereupon Amadi recovered his senses and got up.

  When Amadi had regained his strength, he approached the body of Pembe Mirui, and cut open his belly. Reaching inside the serpent, he drew forth the Cloth, which was like silk, but more beautiful, and, which, though large enough to cover a man from head to foot, yet, folded, was small enough to lie in his hand.

  Placing the Cloth carefully in his wallet, he returned, followed by the cat. When they reached the place where the old woman lived, she came out to meet them, and the cat handed her the bag containing the seven heads of Pembe Mirui. Amadi also gave to her the twenty rupees which he had left. As he went his way, she said to him, “Tell your wife to be content with what she has, and not to seek for that which she doesn’t have.”

  When he reached his home, he gave to Fatima the cloth of Pembe Mirui, and told her everything that had happened. Fatima received him with joy, and, hearing of all the dangers through which he had passed, and of what the old woman had said, listened no more to the idle talk of the women, but devoted herself to the care of her husband. The story is finished.

  —Swahili

  84

  The Wooing Battle

  One day a frog emerged from the surface of a little pond and looking around with its two big eyes, discovered a large stone in the warm sunshine. “The water is so cold today,” it said, “I think it is better to bask in the sun for a little while.” So it left the water and crouched on the tepid stone.

  After some time a girl by the name of Ngema came to the pond to fetch some water. The frog remained on the stone, quite unconcerned, till he heard the girl wonder aloud if he were sick. The frog then spoke: “Do you think I am a lazy creature? Why did you say I am sick? Don’t you see how strong I am?” and in saying so, he stretched up on his four legs like a spring. “I am a young man with plenty of cattle and goats enough to buy a beautiful girl.”

  The eyes of the girl grew big, and she said: “The other frogs usually plunge quickly into the water at the approach of people, but you don’t even seem scared. That’s why I thought you must be sick.” The frog said: “Listen to me. I was born here in this very place, and a dying curse rests on me. When my father was on his death bed, he told me: ‘You will spend most of your time in this place until the day comes when you will meet a girl here and ask her to marry you. If she accepts, it will mean happiness for both of you, but if she refuses, she will die.’ Now it is up to you to live or to die.” The girl set to thinking hard and after a while, she answered: “If that curse rests on you, it rests on me as well. I don’t want to die while I am still so young.” So the girl agreed to marry the frog. The frog asked to see her home and parents, and so off they went.

  While on the road, the girl looked at the frog with surprise, and said: “I am puzzled about the way you walk.” “Well, what is the difference? What do you see wrong in me?” he asked. “Why do you bend so much forward in your walking?” “Quite natural. My country is very hilly and so we must keep out buttocks very close together, so that they do not shake too much.” While still chatting about one thing and another, they arrived at the girl’s home. She took him inside to speak to her parents, so that things could be arranged.

  In the courtyard of the homestead there was a beautiful tree. Among the leaves of its branches stood a chameleon looking at these strange happenings. The girl waited near him for the frog to return, and he saw his chance. Moving slowly and cautiously, descending from branch to branch, turning his round little eyes forward and backward, he finally succeeded in approaching the girl. He ventured to speak to her so that he could get closer. The girl said: “Since you began to move from the upper branch, I was looking at how slowly you walked down. Do you know how long you took to reach me?” The chameleon said: “Don’t you know that I am a stranger here? Had I rushed into this house, people would have been alarmed, and asked: ‘Who is there?’ Instead I didn’t disturb anyone and now we can talk quietly without anyone interfering with us. Listen, I came early this morning and I was anxious to meet you. I feel a great attraction for you. Let me tell you the whole truth. I love you from the bottom of my heart, and I am asking you if you will become my wife.” The girl remained silent for a little while, and said: “I cannot become the wife of anyone who moves so slowly.” The chameleon said: “Clever people do not make a great noise when absorbed in their business. Our elders say: ‘Empty gourds make a great noise.’ But you have not yet answered my question. Tell me, my dear, won’t you become my wife and be happy ever after?” The girl looked indifferently at the tree for a moment, and said: “Well, frog is inside talking with my family and asking to marry me. Whichever of you can satisfy my father, he will be my husband.” So the chameleon went inside and had a long talk with the girl’s father. Believing they agreed, and leaving the frog still arguing his case, the chameleon returned home very pleased.

  A few days after, he returned to the girl’s home and to his disgust found the frog still pleading his cause with her parents. The chameleon interrupted in a challenging tone: “You call me a panting animal, you destitute, naked creature, slippery, boneless, and buttockless, you with glazy skin which resembles a piece of wood polished with sandpaper. I am going to shut you up.” They went on insulting each other for some time, because neither of the two wanted to be defeated in front of the one they loved.

  At last the girl persuaded them to stop such abuse and behave. When both were ready to listen, she said: “As I told you before, I do not refuse your proposals: He who satisfies the requests of my father, will be my husband.” Both asked the father of the girl the bride-price he wanted for his daughter. The father told them the desired amount of food and cattle, and gave them an appointment for six days hence. The suitor who arrived first with the promised goods would have the girl for his wife. Both agreed to the proposal and without further discussion returned home.

  The frog invited a great number of she-frogs to help him and prepared a great quantity of beer and food of every kind: sweet potatoes, dove peas, yams, and so on. The chameleon did the same with she-chameleons, preparing in addition a good quantity of porridge.

  At last the appointed day arrived. The frog called the she-frogs and distributed the loads of food to carry. The caravan began to move out, led by the would-be bridegroom. They marched very fast in order not to be beaten by the chameleon. It was a comical spectacle to see the long row of frogs hopping down the road, but especially funny, because at every hop of the carrier, the beer spilt from the gourd, the bananas dropped from the b
asket, and the food crumbled in pieces in the open bags and scattered on the ground.

  When they arrived at the girl’s house, they were received with prolonged cheers and songs of praise by the women of the village. They exchanged greetings and were offered congratulations. But when they came to unfasten the loads, they were horrified to see that all the bowls were empty. The women of the household called the father of the girl, and told him: “Come and see the kind of presents these people have brought you. They gave only empty bowls.”

  The old man looked at the frog with a serious countenance, and said: “What do you mean by this farce? Do you think that I would give you my daughter for a few empty receptacles? I am not yet so needy. How can I trust you if you start with a trick like this? Go and seek a wife elsewhere!” The frog was ashamed and silently slunk away with the gang of she-frogs, hopping slowly along the roadside.

  In the meantime, the chameleon arrived triumphantly with his caravan of carriers. He also was received with prolonged cheers and songs of praise and greetings. This time when the women went to inspect the loads, they found them to be numerous and full of every kind of food and beer.

  There was great rejoicing and offering of congratulations. They made merry for two days, and the satisfied father gave his daughter to the victorious chameleon, who took her for his wife.