Part 9 (1/2)

The talisman of the lion is like that of cattle; it is a hairy pellet, and he carries it about with him in his mouth.

When he goes out to hunt he digs a hole in the ground and hides it there. Then he goes to hunt, and when he has finished hunting and eating meat till he is satisfied, he comes back to that place where he has hid his charm and digs it up and swallows it.

When he sees that he is about to die, he throws it far away, so that it may not be found at his death.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BLESBOK]

Should a man get it, he becomes possessed of great good fortune. If he wishes he can put it away and keep it, or if he desires he can sell it for much money, or he can make it into a charm and wear it himself. If a man wearing this charm meets with a lion, that lion is unable to do anything to him, by reason of that charm.

X

THE STORY OF KIBARAKA AND THE BIRD

Once upon a time there was a Sultan, and he had one son, a very handsome youth, called Hasani.

Every day at noon the Sultan and his son used to go to the mosque to pray. After they had gone the Sultan's wife used to sort out the seeds of every kind of grain in the Sultan's store. Those that needed drying she gave to a slave, called Kibaraka, to put out in the sun to dry.

One day, after the Sultan and his son had gone to prayer, she called to the slave, ”Kibaraka, take these seeds and put them out in the sun.”

Kibaraka took the grain and spread it out to dry, each kind by itself.

Suddenly a wondrously fine bird came and sat down by the grain and called out--

”Kibaraka! Kibaraka!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: The bird]

He answered, ”Here, lady, here.”

Then the bird sang--

_Bird._ ”Shall I eat of this wheat?

Or shall I not eat?

Or shall I eat millet?”

_Kibaraka._ ”Eat, Lady, I will it.”

_Bird._ ”Shall I eat rape instead?

Or must I not be fed?

Shall I eat maize to-day?”

_Kibaraka._ ”Eat, Lady, eat, I pray.”

_Bird._ ”Shall I eat all the grain?

Or must I now refrain?