was told; amongst the small ones also the Gazelle was told that the Spider had died, the Oribi was told, the Duiker was told, the Reed-buck was told, the Hare was told, the Jerboa was told, the Francolin was told. So they all came and assembled at the house. Each one who (he) came looked at his eyes and started crying, and said,—"Alas, the Spider is dead." All the animals here cried until only the Francolin was left. She was more knowing than they. When she came, she watched and saw the eyeball bright, so she flew up (on to a tree) and began to sing. As for the Spider, he had put an axe close to his head (neck). The Francolin was going to put the small ones on their guard (make cunning to). She said,—"Jerboa, Hare, the Spider is dead, but, if a man dies in his town, does one eye blink? (Does he put) an axe by (his) head?" She said "Jerboa, Hare, run away." She flew thus,—turrrr. As she arose, the Spider heard, and saw (that) the other animals were about to flee, so he jumped up "boop." When he appeared, the Elephant, the Buffalo, the Roan Antelope, and the Hartebeeste ran away, and they trampled on the Gazelle, the Reed-buck, the Hare, and the Jerboa, and killed them (all died). Then the Spider came and took the meat. He said he had been cunning enough to get (he had made the cunning which got) meat.
7. How the Spider obtained a Feast. (M.).
This is about a Spider. He was longing for a feast, so he set fire to his house and burnt (it). When he had burnt (it), he went to the Fowl's house, and said,—"To-morrow I am having a "working-bee."[1] My (his) house is burnt." So the Fowl said,—"Very well, (but) do not tell the Wild Cat." So he said,—"Oh, come." When he had left (he went straight to) the Wild Cat's house. When he had gone to the Wild Cat's house he said,—"Peace be to you." He (Wild Cat) then said,—"On you be peace." Then (thus it was until) he said,—"Now my house[2] is
- ↑ If a person has such an accident, his friends assemble and help him to repair the damage free of charge.
- ↑ Gidda is really the whole dwelling, and da(i)ki a single hut, but both terms are used to describe the same thing. I have used the word house here instead of den, hole, or web as the case might be, as the idea is evidently that the abodes have grass roofs.
