Collectanea. 351
Fifty Hausa Folk-Tales {continued). 10. The Jackats Revenge on the Spider. (B. G.)
This is about the Spider. He was friends with the Jackal. Then the Jackal said, — " Look here, Spider, I am going away, and (but) the seed-time ^ has come." He brought seeds of the millet, and said, — "When the rain comes (and) you go to your farm and sow, will you sow mine for me ?" Then the Spider said, — " Very well." When the rain had come, then the Spider sowed millet on his (own) farm. When he had finished, then he came to the Jackal's farm. Although he hoed (cut), he did not sow the seed. He merely trod (the ground). When the Spider's millet had sprung up, it looked very well. On the Jackal's farm only grass came up. The Jackal did not start on his return (returning) until the millet had begun to ripen (was in ear). At this time there was no more sowing. Anything which might be sown would not come up. On his arrival the Spider went to him and said, — " Look here, I sowed your farm, but the Francolin came and picked (up) the seed from your farm." The Jackal said, — " Oh, did she not ruin yours, (since) she ruined mine ? " Then he (Spider) said, — " Oh, it was at night. She was pecking in the ground. She did not do it up above. There was no one to see." Then the Jackal said, — "Very well. Thank God, but I shall be revenged." Then the Jackal left (the matter) until harvest came, until the Spider had put guinea-corn in his store, and millet, and dauro^ and beans. Then the Jackal procured a small calabash, and poured some honey in it and brought it to the Spider. Then the Spider put in his hand and tasted (it), and said, — " Ah, what is (this) so sweet?" Then he (Jackal) said, — " Ah, that is guinea-corn which I left in my store. (When) I came back from my journey I burnt (it), and filtered (water through) the ashes." Then the Spider went and set fire to his store and burnt (it), and filtered the ashes of his guinea- corn. He tasted (it). The water was not sweet like the honey, so he returned to the Jackal and said, — " Really I did not find it
^ Rains commence about April, and after the ground has become well soaked the sowing is done.
^A high plant, something like a bulrush, which gives a species of millet grain.
