West
African Folk-Tales
by William H. Barker and Cecilia Sinclair
How
We Got the Name "Spider Tales"
How
Wisdom Became the Property of the Human Race
Why
the Lizard Moves His Head Up and Down
Why
White Ants Always Harm Man's Property
Why We See Ants Carrying Bundles As Big As Themselves
Why Spiders Are Always Found in Corners of Ceilings
Anansi
and the Blind Fisherman
The
Grinding-Stone That Ground Flour By Itself
Why the Sea-turtle When Caught Beats Its Breast With Its Forelegs
How
Beasts and Serpents Came into the World
Why the Moon and the Stars Receive Their Light From the Sun
How
the Tortoise Got Its Shell
Why
the Leopard Can Only Catch Prey On Its Left Side
King
Chameleon and the Animals
To Lose an Elephant For the Sake of a Wren Is a Very Foolish Thing To Do
Why Tigers Never Attack Men Unless They Are Provoked
Why the Leopard Can Only Catch Prey On Its Left Side
AT one time leopards did not know how to catch animals for food. Knowing that the cat was very skilful in this way, Leopard one day went to Cat and asked very politely if she would teach him the art. Cat readily consented.
The first thing Leopard had to learn was to hide himself among the bushes by the roadside, so that he would not be seen by any animal passing by. Next, he must learn how to move noiselessly through the woods. He must never allow the animal he chased to know that he was following it. The third great principle was how to use his left paws and side in springing upon his prey.
Having taught him these three things, Cat requested him to go and practise them well. When he had learnt them thoroughly he could return to her and she would give him more lessons in hunting.
Leopard obeyed. At first he was very successful and obtained all the food he wanted. One day, however, he was unable to catch anything at all.
Being very hungry, he bethought himself what he could have for dinner. Suddenly he remembered that the cat had quite a large family. He went straight to her home and found her absent.
Never thinking of her kindness to him—Leopard only remembered that he was hungry—he ate all her kittens. Puss, on discovering this dreadful fact, was so angry that she refused to have anything more to do with the great creature.
Consequently the leopard has never been able to learn how to catch animals that pass him on the right side.
The text came from:
Barker,
William H.
and Cecilia Sinclair. West African Folk-tales. Lagos, Africa: Bookshop, 1917.
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©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 5, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com
