narrow spot), and she said, "We are people, behind Stone of my

whom a large (travelling) party comes. ancestors! divide thyself for us.” Then the rock divided itself, and when they had passed through it, it closed again (behind them).

Then came the Elephant, and said to the rock, "Stone of my ancestors! divide thyself also for me." The rock divided itself again, but when he had entered, it closed upon him. Thus died the Elephant, and the earth trembled. The mother at her hut said then, "As my eldest son said, it has happened. The earth shakes."

28. A BAD SISTER.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, pp. 15, 16.)

COPPER and Weather, it is said, were man and wife, and begat a daughter, who married amongst other people.

Her three brothers came to visit her; and she did not know them (as such), though the people said, “Do not you see they are your brothers ?" She determined to kill them at night. They had, however, a Guinea-fowl to watch them.

When the Copper-Weather relative crept near, in order to kill the men, the Guinea-fowl made a noise to put them on their guard. They were thus warned of the danger; but afterwards they fell asleep again. Then she stole again upon them. The Guinea-fowl made a noise, but broke the rope by which it had been fastened, and ran home. She then killed her brothers. When the Guinea-fowl came near home it wept :

F

"The Copper-Weather relative has killed her

brothers!

Alas! she has killed her brothers!"

The wife heard it, and said to her husband

"Do not you hear what the bird weeps for? You who sit here upon the ground working bamboos."

The man said, "Come and turn yourself into a mighty thunderstorm, and I will be a strong wind.”

So they transformed themselves accordingly, and when they came near to the kraal (where their sons had been killed), they combined and became a fire, and as a fiery rain they burnt the kraal and all its inhabitants.

VI.

SUN AND MOON FABLES.

29. WHY HAS THE JACKAL A LONG BLACK STRIPE ON HIS BACK?

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, p. 16.)

way

THE Sun, it is said, was one day on earth, and the men who were travelling saw him sitting by the side, but passed him without notice. The Jackal, however, who came after them, and saw him also sitting, went to him and said, "Such a fine little

child is left behind by the men."

He then took the

Sun up, and put it into his awa-skin (on his back). When it burnt him, he said, "Get down," and shook himself; but the Sun stuck fast to his back, and burnt the Jackal's back black from that day.

30. THE HORSE CURSED BY THE SUN.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, of this little Namaqualand Fable, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, p. 53.)

IT is said that once the Sun was on earth, and caught the Horse to ride it. But it was unable to bear his weight, and therefore the Ox took the place of the Horse, and carried the Sun on its back. Since that time the Horse is cursed in these words, because it could not carry the Sun's weight:—

"From to-day thou shalt have a (certain) time of dying.

This is thy curse, that thou hast a (certain) time of dying.

And day and night shalt thou eat,

But the desire of thy heart shall not be at rest,

Though thou grazest till morning and again until

sunset.

Behold, this is the judgment which I pass upon thee," said the Sun.

Since that day the Horse's (certain) time of dying commenced.