FOLK-LORE TALES OF CENTRAL
AFRICA.
[collected in nyassaland.]
Story of the Man who lived by Overreaching Others.
ONCE upon a time there was a great famine, and a certain man went to the forest, and found some figs, which he plucked and put into his bag. Having secured the figs he went on his way, and in his journey he came upon a man who was eating grass.
He said to him, "Why do you eat grass?"
The other replied, saying, "Because there is no food; thou thyself seest that this is a time of hunger."
Then the deceiver said, "Here are some figs; eat," and the other replied thanking him.
As the man who was eating the grass finished eating the figs, the deceiver turned and said, "Give me my figs."
To this the man replied, "Why did you give me your figs? Did I ask them of you?"
Then the two men disputed, the one saying that no man who is hungry would refuse to eat when food is offered to him, and the other only saying, "Give me my figs." After they had disputed a long time the man who had eaten the figs gave the other his fishing-net. So the dispute ended, and the man went on his way carrying the fishing-net.
It came to pass that while continuing his journey he came upon certain people who were trying to catch fish with their hands. Coming up to them he said, "Why are ye trying to catch fish with your hands?"
