21. THE BABOON SHEPHERD.—[A. TALE.]

(From Sir James E. Alexander's "Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa," vol. ii. pp. 229, 230.)

THE Namaquas say that, not long ago, a man had brought up a young Baboon, and had made it his shepherd. It remained by the flock all day in the field, and at night drove them home to the kraal, riding on the back of one of the goats, which brought up the rear. The Baboon had the milk of one goat allowed to it, and it sucked that one only, and guarded the milk of the others from the children. It also got a little meat from its master. It held the office of shepherd for twelve moons, and then was unfortunately killed in a tree by a Leopard.

IV.

LION FABLES.

22. THE FLYING LION.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 3, 4.)

THE Lion, it is said, used once to

time nothing could live before him.

fly, and at that

As he was un

willing that the bones of what he caught should be broken into pieces, he made a pair of White Crows watch the bones, leaving them behind at the kraal whilst he went a-hunting. But one day the great Frog came there, broke the bones in pieces, and said, "Why can men and animals live no longer ?" And he added these words, "When he comes, tell him that I live at yonder pool; if he wishes to see me, he must come there."

The Lion, lying in wait (for game), wanted to fly up, but found he could not fly. Then he got angry,

thinking that at the kraal something was wrong, and returned home. When he arrived, he asked, "What have you done that I cannot fly ?" Then they answered and said, "Some one came here, broke the bones into pieces, and said, 'If he wants me, he may look for me at yonder pool!" The Lion went, and arrived while the Frog was sitting at the water's edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. When he was about to get hold of him, the Frog said, "Ho!” and, diving, went to the other side of the pool, and sat there. The Lion pursued him; but as he could not catch him he returned home.

From that day, it is said, the Lion walked on his feet, and also began to creep upon (his game); and the White Crows became entirely dumb since the day that they said, "Nothing can be said of that matter."

23. THE LION WHO THOUGHT HIMSELF WISER THAN HIS MOTHER.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 31, 33.)

It is said that when the Lion and /gurikhoisip* (the Only man), together with the Baboon, the Buffalo, and other friends, were playing one day at a certain game, there was a thunderstorm and rain at ‡uroxaams.+ The Lion and gurikhoisip began to quarrel. "I shall run to the rain-field," said the Lion. /Gurikhoisip said also, "I shall run to the rain-field.” As neither would concede this to the other, they separated (angrily). After they had parted, the Lion went to tell his Mother those things which they had both said.

*The / is the dental click, which is "sounded by pressing the tip of the tongue against the front teeth of the upper jaw, and then suddenly and forcibly withdrawing it."TINDALL.

The is the palatal click, described in note to Fable 24, p. 55, and x is the German ch.

His Mother said to him, "My Father! that Man whose head is in a line with his shoulders and breast, who has pinching weapons, who keeps white dogs, who goes about wearing the tuft of a tiger's tail, beware of him!" The Lion, however, said, "Why need I be on my guard against those whom I know ?" The Lioness answered, "My Son, take care of him who has pinching weapons!" But the Lion would not follow his Mother's advice, and the same morning, when it was still pitch dark, he went to ‡aroxaams, and laid himself in ambush. Gurikhoisip went also that morning to the same place. When he had arrived he let his dogs drink, and then bathe. After they had finished they wallowed. Then also the man drank; and, when he had done drinking, the Lion came out of the bush. The dogs surrounded him, as his mother had foretold, and he was speared by gurikhoisip. Just as he became aware that he was speared, the dogs drew him down again. In this manner he grew faint. While he was in this state, gurikhoisip said to the dogs, "Let him alone now, that he may go and be taught by his Mother." So the dogs let him go. They left him, and went home as he lay there. The same night he walked towards home, but whilst he was on the way his strength failed him, and he lamented: