South
African Folk-Tales
by James A. Honey
Origin
of the Difference in Modes of Life Between Hottentots and Bushmen
The
Tiger, the Ram, and the Jackal
The
Lion, the Jackal, and the Man
The
Story of Lion and Little Jackal
The
Dance For Water or Rabbit's Triumph
Another
Version of the Same Fable
Another
Version of the Same Fable
Lion
and Baboon
Lion
Who Thought Him Self Wiser Than His Mother
Why
Has Jackal a Long, Black Stripe On His Back?
Another
Version of the Same Fable
A
Third Version of the Same Fable
A
Fourth Version of the Same Fable
A
Zulu Version of the Legend of the "Origin of Death"
Lion and Baboon
BABOON, it is said, once worked bamboos, sitting on the edge of a precipice, and Lion stole upon him. Baboon, however, had fixed some round, glistening, eyelike plates on the back of his head. When, therefore, Lion crept upon him, he thought, when Baboon was looking at him, that he sat with his back towards him, and crept with all his might upon him. When, however, Baboon turned his back towards him, Lion thought that he was seen, and bid himself. Thus, when Baboon looked at him, he crept upon him.1 When he was near him Baboon looked up, and Lion continued to creep upon him. Baboon said [aside], "Whilst I am looking at him he steals upon me, whilst my hollow eyes are on him."
When at last Lion sprung at him, he lay [quickly] down upon his face, and Lion jumped over him, falling down the precipice, and was dashed to pieces.
Footnotes
1. Whilst Baboon did this, Lion
came close upon him.
Return to place in story.
The text came from:
Honey, James A. South African Folk-tales. New York: Baker & Taylor Company, 1910.
Available from Amazon.com
©Heidi
Anne Heiner, SurLaLune Fairy Tales
E-mail: surlalune@aol.com
Page last updated September 6, 2006
www.surlalunefairytales.com
