7. CLOUD-EATING. (The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 30, 31.) THE HYENA. Thou who makest thy escape from the tumult! Thou wide, roomy tree! Thou who gettest thy share (though with trouble!) Thou cow who art strained at the hocks! * Thou who hast a plump round knee! Thou the nape of whose neck is clothed with hair! Thou big-toothed one! THE Jackal and the Hyena were together, it is said, when a white cloud rose. The Jackal ascended upon it, and ate of the cloud as if it were fat. When he wanted to come down, he said to the Hyena, "My sister, as I am going to divide with "When the Hyena first starts, it appears to be lame on the hind legs, or gone in the loins, as one would say of a horse."-L. LAYARD. catch me well." So she caught him, and broke 11. Then she also went up and ate there, high the top of the cloud. hen she was satisfied, she said, "My greyish er, now catch me well." The greyish rogue said is friend, "My sister, I shall catch thee well. e therefore down." e held up his hands, and she came down from the 1, and when she was near, the Jackal cried out fully jumping to one side), "My sister, do not it ill. Oh me! oh me! A thorn has pricked me, sticks in me." Thus she fell down from above, was sadly hurt. nce that day, it is said, that the Hyena's left hind is shorter and smaller than the right one. 8. FISH-STEALING. (From Sir James E. Alexander's "Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa," vol. ii. pp. 246, 247.) THE HYENA. (Addressing her young ones, on her return from a marauding expedition, with regard to the perils she had encountered). The fire threatens, The stone threatens, The assegais threaten, The guns threaten, Yet you seek food from me. My children, Do I get anything easily? ONCE upon a time a Jackal, who lived on the borders of the colony, saw a waggon returning from the seaside laden with fish. He tried to get into the waggon from behind, but he could not; he then ran on before, and lay in the road as if dead. The waggon came up to him, and the leader cried to the driver, "Here is a fine kaross for your wife! Throw it into the waggon," said the driver, and ackal was thrown in. e waggon travelled on through a moonlightnight, all the while the Jackal was throwing the fish out the road; he then jumped out himself, and se1 a great prize. But a stupid old Hyena coming ate more than her share, for which the Jackal I her a grudge; so he said to her, "You can lenty of fish, too, if you lie in the way of a wagas I did, and keep quite still whatever happens." So!" mumbled the Hyena. ccordingly, when the next waggon came from the the Hyena stretched herself out in the road. What ugly thing is this ?" cried the leader, and ed the Hyena. He then took a stick and thrashed within an inch of her life. The Hyena, accordto the directions of the Jackal, lay quiet as long he could; she then got up and hobbled off to tell misfortune to the Jackal, who pretended to comher. What a pity," said the Hyena, "that I have not a handsome skin as you! 1!" 9. WHICH WAS THE THIEF? (From Sir James E. Alexander's “Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa," vol. ii. p. 250.) A JACKAL and a Hyena went and hired themselves to a man to be his servants. In the middle of the night the Jackal rose and smeared the Hyena's tail with some fat, and then ate all the rest of it which was in the house. In the morning the man missed his fat, and he immediately accused the Jackal of having eaten it. "Look at the Hyena's tail," said the rogue," and you will see who is the thief." The man did so, and then thrashed the Hyena till she was nearly dead. |