Part 24 (1/2)

So the Merchant-insect obtained his employment, drove his a.s.s, and went from our Lord, picked up ant-heads at the entrance of the black ants, loaded his a.s.s, and went his way to the market. As he went the a.s.s threw off the large bag. Then, he alone not being able to lift the bag, he called people, saying: ”Come, be so good as to help me; let us take the sacks and load mine a.s.s;” but not any of the people would do so. Then the little red ants came after him, and when they were come to where he was, he said to them, ”Please come and help me to load mine a.s.s”. The little red Ants said to the Merchant-insect, ”We will not help thee for nothing.”

The Merchant-insect said to the little red Ants, ”If you will not help me for nothing, then come and help me, and when I have come back from the market, I will pay you.”

The little red Ants helped him to load his a.s.s, and the Merchant-insect drove his a.s.s to the market, put down his sacks in the midst of the market-place, prepared the ground, spread his mat there, and having sold his ant-heads, he bought his things, and the market people began to disperse.

Then the Merchant-insect started on his way home, and as he went the little red Ants saw him, and said to him, ”Father-merchant, give us what thou owest us.”

The Merchant, however, refused them their due, and went on his way.

Now as he went he got fever so that he sat down under a tree, tied his a.s.s fast, and took off the sacks from his a.s.s's back. As he sat there the fever overpowered him, and he lay down. On seeing him lying the little red Ants a.s.sembled and came to him. Now the fever was consuming the Merchant-insect's strength, and when the little red Ants saw this they a.s.sembled together and killed him.

There was one Insect who saw them kill him, and he ran to our Lord, and said to him, ”All the little red Ants a.s.sembled together and killed a man in the midst of the town--that I saw it.”

When our Lord heard what the Insect said he called a man and sent him, saying: ”Go and call the little red Ants which kill people and bring them to me.”

The messenger arose, went, called all the little red Ants and brought them before our Lord. On seeing the little red Ants, our Lord asked them, ”Why did you kill the man?” The little red Ants answered, and said to our Lord, ”The reason why we killed this man is this: When he went to market and his a.s.s had thrown off the sacks, those sacks were too heavy for him to take alone, so he called us, and when we came to him, he said to us, 'Please help me to take my large bag and load it upon mine a.s.s, that I may go to market. When I have sold my things and come back, I will pay you.' Accordingly we helped him to load his a.s.s; but when he had gone to market and sold all his things there, we saw him on his return home, and went to him, to ask him for what he owed us; but he refused it, drove his a.s.s, and went homeward. However, he was only gone a little while, when he got fever, sat down under a tree, tied his a.s.s fast, took off his sacks and laid them down; and on the same spot where he sat down, the fever overpowered him that he lay down. Then on seeing him lying we went, a.s.sembled ourselves and killed him, because he had refused what he owed us.”

Our Lord gave them right.

Our Lord said to the Merchant, ”Thou goest to market until thy life stands still.” Our Lord said to the Cricket, ”Do thou give notice whenever it is time! This is thy work.”

Our Lord said to the little red Ants, ”Whenever ye see any Insect unwell and lying down in a place, then go, a.s.semble yourselves and finish it.”

Now the Cricket begins to give notice as soon as it is evening and does not keep silence in his hole until the morning comes; this is its employment. The Merchant has no farm and does not do any work, but constantly goes to market; this is its employment, given to it by the Lord. Now the little red Ants, whenever they see an Insect unwell and lying down they go and a.s.semble themselves against that Insect, and, even if that Insect has not yet expired they finish it. This our Lord gave to the little red Ants for their employment.

I have now told thee the fable of the Insects, which I have heard of Omar Pesami. This is finished.

Man and Turtle

Let me tell of Turtle of Koka.

Man of Lubi la Suku caught a Turtle in the bush; he came with it to the village. They said: ”Let us kill it!”

Some people said: ”How shall we kill it?” They said: ”We shall cut it with hatchets.” Turtle replied, saying:

”Turtle of Koka, And hatchet of Koka; Hatchet not kill me a bit.”

The people said: ”What shall we kill him with?” Some said: ”We shall kill him with stones.” Turtle, fear grasped him, he said: ”I am going to die.” He says by mouth:

”Turtle of Koka, And stone of Koka; Stone will not kill me a bit.”

The people said: ”Let us cast him into the fire!” Turtle said:

”Turtle of Koka, And fire of Koka; Fire will not kill me a bit.

On my back, It is like stone; Not there can Catch on fire.”

The people said: ”We will kill him with knives.” Turtle said:

”Turtle of Koka, And knife of Koka; Knife will not kill me a bit.”