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 Sea-turtle When Caught Beats Its Breast With Its Forelegs
MANY centuries ago, the people of this earth were much troubled by floods. The sea used at times to overflow its usual boundaries and sweep across the low, sandy stretches of land which bordered it. Time and again this happened, many lives being lost at each flood. Mankind was very troubled to find an escape from this oft-repeated disaster. He could think of no way of avoiding it.
Fortunately for him the wise turtle came to his help. "Take my advice," said she, "and plant rows of palms along the sea-coast. They will bind the sand together and keep it from being washed so easily away." He did so, with great success. The roots of the palms kept the sand firmly in its place. When the time came again for the sea to overflow, it washed just to the line of trees and came no farther. Thus many lives were saved annually by the kind forethought of the turtle.
In return—one would think—mankind would protect and cherish this poor animal. But no! Each time a turtle comes to the seashore to lay her eggs among the sand, she is caught and killed for the sake of her flesh. It is the thought of the ingratitude of mankind to her, which makes her beat her breast with her forelegs when she is caught. She seems to be saying, "Ah! this is all the return I get for my kindness to you."
The text came from:
Barker,
William H.
and Cecilia Sinclair. West African Folk-tales. Lagos, Africa: Bookshop, 1917.
Amazon.com:
Buy the book in paperback.
Available from Amazon.com
©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 5, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com
