4. THE JACKAL'S BRIDE.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 7, 8.)

THE Jackal, it is said, married the Hyena, and carried off a cow belonging to ants, to slaughter her for the wedding; and when he had slaughtered her, he put the cow-skin over his bride; and when he had fixed a pole (on which to hang the flesh), he placed on the top of the pole (which was forked) the hearth for cooking, in order to cook upon it all sorts of delicious food. There came also the Lion to the spot, and wished to go up. The Jackal, therefore, asked his little daughter for a thong with which he could pull the Lion up, and he began to pull him up; and when his face came near to the cooking-pot, he cut the thong in two, so that the Lion tumbled down. Then the Jackal upbraided his little daughter with these words: "Why do you give me such an old thong ?" And he added, "Give me a fresh thong." She gave him a new thong, and he pulled the Lion up again, and when his face came near the pot, which stood on

the fire, he said, "Open your mouth." Then he put into his mouth a hot piece of quartz which had been boiled together with the fat, and the stone went down, burning his throat. Thus died the Lion.

There came also the ants running after the cow, and when the Jackal saw them he fled. Then they beat the bride in her brookaross dress. The Hyena, believing that it was the Jackal, said—

"You tawny rogue! have you not played at beating long enough?

Have you no more loving game than this ?"

But when she had bitten a hole through the cowskin, she saw that they were other people; then she fled, falling here and there, yet she made her escape.

5. THE WHITE MAN AND THE SNAKE.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 5, 6.)

A WHITE Man, it is said, met a Snake upon whom a large stone had fallen and covered her, so that she could not rise. The White Man lifted the stone off the Snake, but when he had done so, she wanted to bite him. The White Man said, "Stop! let us both go first to some wise people." They went to the Hyena, and the White Man asked him, "Is it right that the Snake should want to bite me, though I helped her, when she lay under a stone and could not rise ?"

The Hyena (who thought he would get his share of the White Man's body) said: "If you were bitten what would it matter?"

Then the Snake wanted to bite him, but the White Man said again: "Wait a little, and let us go to other wise people, that I may hear whether this is right."

They went and met the Jackal. The White Man said to the Jackal: "Is it right that the Snake wants

to bite me, though I lifted up the stone which lay upon her ?"

The Jackal replied: "I do not believe that the Snake could be covered by a stone and could not rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I would not believe it. Therefore, come let us go and see at the place where you say it happened whether it can be true."

They went, and arrived at the place where it had happened. The Jackal said: "Snake, lie down, and let thyself be covered."

The Snake did so, and the White Man covered her with the stone; but although she exerted herself very much, she could not rise. Then the White Man wanted again to release the Snake, but the Jackal interfered, and said: "Do not lift the stone. She wanted to bite you; therefore she may rise by herself."

Then they both went away and left the Snake under the stone.

6. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME

FABLE.

(From a German original Manuscript in Sir G. Grey's Library, H. C. Knudsen's "Notes on the Hottentots," p. 11.)

A DUTCHMAN was walking by himself, and saw a Snake lying under a large stone. The Snake implored his help; but when she had become free, she said, "Now I shall eat you."

The Man answered, "That is not right. Let us first go to the Hare."

When the Hare had heard the affair, he said, "It is right." "No," said the Man, "let us ask the Hyena."

The Hyena declared the same, saying, “It is right.” "Now let us at last ask the Jackal," said the Man in his despair.

The Jackal answered very slowly and considerately, doubting the whole affair, and demanding to see first the place, and whether the Man was able to lift the stone. The Snake lay down, and the Man, to prove the truth of his account, put the stone again over her. When she was fast, the Jackal said, "Now let her lie there."