IV. Animal Fables

THE HYENA’S REVENGE. First Version

The Hyena was the one who went to the Lion’s house, then, he deceived the Lion; while he felt that the Lion had acted grudgingly towards him about the quagga’s flesh; therefore, the Lion came to the Hyena’s house, when the Hyena was boiling there in the Hyena’s pot; the Hyena boiled ostrich flesh in it.

Therefore, the Hyena gave soup to the Lion; therefore, the Lion took hold of the pot, while the pot was hot; the Hyena also grasped the pot with his hands; the Hyena said: “O Lion! Allow me to pour soup into the inside of thy mouth.” The Hyena poured soup into the Lion’s mouth; then, he put the mouth of the pot over the Lion’s head, while the pot was hot; the soup was burning the Lion’s eyes; the soup also burned the inside of his mouth. Then, he swallowed hot soup with his throat, he swallowed, causing himself to die with hot soup; he died, while his head was inside the pot.

The Hyena took up the Hyena’s stick, the Hyena was beating him with the stick, while his head was inside the pot; the Hyena was beating him; the Hyena struck, cleaving the pot asunder; while the Hyena felt that the Hyena had deceived him; therefore, he came to the Hyena.

The Hyena killed him, with hot soup; while he felt that the pot had stood upon the fire; he took the pot off from the fire, while he felt that he intended to burn the Lion to death, with the soup’s heat; while he felt that the Lion had been niggardly towards him about the quagga’s flesh; therefore, he deceived him with the ostrich flesh; while he felt that he intended to put the Lion’s head into the pot; therefore, he deceived him; while he felt that he had married a female Hyena, he also is a male Hyena; therefore, he is a “Decayed Arm”,* on account of it.

The Lion also marries a Lioness, as the Lion is a male Lion. The Hyena also marries a female Hyena, as the Hyena is a male Hyena. The leopard also marries a leopardess, as the leopard is a male leopard. The hunting leopard † marries a hunting leopardess, as the hunting leopard is a male hunting leopard.

THE HYENA’S REVENGE. Second Version

The Hyena was the one who went to the Lion’s house, then, the Lion acted grudgingly towards the Hyena; then, the Hyena became angry about it, therefore, the Hyena deceived the Lion, that he should also come to his house. The Hyena said: “O Lion! Thou must also visit my house;” while he felt that he deceived the Lion; therefore, the Lion visited his house on account of it; he went to deceive the Lion with soup.

The Hyena said: “I am accustomed to pour soup into this child’s mouth, I also pour soup into this child’s mouth, I also pour soup into the child’s mouth; I also pour into my wife’s mouth soup.”

Therefore, he poured soup into the Lion’s mouth, he put the Lion’s head into the pot, while he felt that he altogether put the Lion’s head into the pot; that he might altogether kill the Lion with the soup’s heat; while he feels that he is a Hyena who deceives other people; he speaks; therefore, he talked to the Lion about it. The Lion also speaks; they talked to each other; therefore, the Lion assented, because he also is a foolish Lion, because he is a Lion who kills people; he also eats people. The Hyena also kills people, while the Hyena feels that he also eats people; therefore, the Hyena carried off the old woman * on account of it.

Therefore, the Hyena took up the stick, he struck the Lion down, while the Lion’s head was inside the pot; he beat him with the stick, while he felt that the Lion died, when his head was inside the pot.

The Lion Jealous of the Voice of the Ostrich

“It is the Story of the Lions and the Ostrich.”

And the Lions conspired † together that they might deceive the Ostrich; for, the women† were wont, with regard to the Ostrich, they only praised the Ostrich for calling finely; the women did not praise them. And they (the Lions), speaking, said: “In what manner shall we deceive?” And another Lion answered, he said: “We must tell the women to make a (game of) ǂgébbi-ggú,* that we may see whether the women will again do as they are wont to do; when they only admire (?) the Ostrich; that we may really see whether it be true that the women admire(?) the Ostrich. We shall see what the Ostrich will do.” And another Lion spoke, he said: “Why can it be that the Ostrich calls so well (lit. does not a little call sweetly)?” And the other Lion answered, he said: “The ostrich calls with his lungs; therefore, his throat sounds in this manner; his chest’s front. Thou dost call with thy mouth; therefore, thou dost not call nicely.”

The other Lion answered, he said: “Ye must make a (game of) ǂgébbi-ggú, that ye may kill the Ostrich, that ye may take out the Ostrich’s lungs,

(in) the ǂgébbi-ggú. Therefore, the nail of the Ostrich decayed, while it felt that he (the Ostrich) had kicked the Lion’s ǀuań-ttú. Therefore, it decayed. Therefore, the people, with regard to the soar yonder on the Ostrich’s ǁhátten-ttú, they say that it is (from) the Lion’s nail. that ye may eat them; and ye will call, sounding like the Ostrich, when ye have eaten the Ostrich’s lungs.”

And the Lions spoke, they said to the women: “Make a (game of) ǂgébbi-ggú.” They would listen whether it were true that the Ostrich calls finely.

And the women made a (game of) ǂgébbi-ggú on account of it; and the Lion called. The Ostrich was still yonder at his house; the Lion called; the women did not applaud the Lion, because they felt that the Lion did not call well; for, they continued to look at the Lion; and the Ostrich came; and the Ostrich called, sounding afar. And the women exclaimed: “I do wish that the Lion called in this manner; for, he sounds as if he had put his tail into his mouth, while the Ostrich calls in a resounding manner.”

And the Lion, answering, said: ‘Dost thou not see that the women act in this manner towards the Ostrich? and it is only the Ostrich whom they cherish, because he possesses this sweet call. The women cherish him only.”

And the other Lion became angry on account of it; namely, that the Ostrich was the one whom the women cherished; and he seemed as if he were about to move away; and he scratched the Ostrich’s ǁhátten-ttú; scratched, tearing it. And he called out: “Is it a thing which calls sweetly?” while he kicked the Ostrich’s ǁhátten-ttú. And the Ostrich also quickly(?) turned back. And the Ostrich also kicked, tearing his ǀuań-ttú; and the Ostrich, speaking, said: “This person, it is his ǀuań-ttú, he is wroth with me, because he is the one who is wont to hold his tail in his mouth when he calls; this is why the women do not praise him; while the women feel that he does not call nicely for the women. This is why the women are not willing to make a ǂgébbi-ggú for him; the women feel that he does not call, sounding like me; in that case the women would have praised him.”

Therefore, my grandfather spoke, he said to us* about it, that we should also do as the Lion formerly did to the Ostrich about it, when he had formerly killed the Ostrich; he ate the Ostrich’s lungs, while he wished that he might call, sounding like the Ostrich. Therefore, he ate the lungs.

My grandfather also gave us the Ostrich’s lungs to eat, that we might also resemble the Ostrich; and we spoke, we asked our grandfather, whether we should not baking cook the Ostrich’s lungs; and our grandfather spoke, he said to us about it, that we should not cook the Ostrich’s lungs; for, we in this manner eat the Ostrich’s lungs, eat them raw. For, we should, if we were to eat the Ostrich’s lungs when they were cooked, we should not call, sounding like the Ostrich, if we ate them when they were cooked. Our grandfather, speaking, told us about it, that, we should not chew the Ostrich’s lungs, we should swallow them down, while they were whole. For, we should, if we had chewed the Ostrich’s lungs, we should not call, sounding like the Ostrich, if we had chewed them.

And, our grandfather, speaking, said: “Ye must come and stand around, that I may be cutting off from the Ostrich’s lungs, that I may be giving

“We who were little boys,” the narrator explains. them to you, that ye may be swallowing them down.” And we, answering, said: “O my grandfather! We do not wish to eat the Ostrich’s lungs when they are raw.’ And our grandfather answered, he said to us about it, that we also wished to resemble the Lion; he formerly became angry with the Ostrich, about the Ostrich’s fine calling. We also should be wont if we heard that our companions called, sounding very sweetly, we should become angry with our companions, when we heard that they called, sounding very sweetly; we should fight with them, if we felt that the women did not applaud(?) us. Therefore, we become angry. We are fighting with them, because we are angry that the women do not applaud (?) us.

Translation of Notes

The Lion was a man, the Ostrich was also a man, at that time when the Lion kicked the Ostrich’s ǁhátten-ttú; when they were calling the ǂgébbi-ggú. Therefore, the nail of the Ostrich decayed; while it felt that he had kicked the Lion’s ǀuań-ttú. Therefore, it decayed on account of it. Therefore, the people are used to say to the scar which is yonder upon the Ostrich’s ǁhátten-ttú, that it is the Lion’s nail.

The time when the Lion had not killed the Ostrich, was the one at which they made the ǂgébbi-ggú’s fight. He, afterwards, killed the Ostrich; and he ate the Ostrich; it was at a new time that he ate the Ostrich; and he made “a food’s thing” of the Ostrich; therefore, the old people say, that, the Lion is a thing which is wont, when it has killed an Ostrich, it is not willing to go away in fear, leaving the Ostrich; for, it is wont, even if we are speaking very angrily to it, it is not willing to go away in fear, leaving the Ostrich. For, it would be very angry with us, if we even thought that we would drive it away.

The Resurrection of the Ostrich

The Bushman kills an Ostrich at the Ostrich’s eggs; he carries away the Ostrich to the house. And his wife takes off the Ostrich’s short feathers which were inside the net, because they were bloody; she goes to place them (on the bushes). They eat the Ostrich meat.

A little whirlwind comes to them; it blows up the Ostrich feathers. A little Ostrich feather that has blood upon it, it blows up the little feather into the sky. The little feather falls down out of the sky, it having whirled round falls down, it goes into the water, it becomes wet in the water, it is conscious, it lies in the water, it becomes Ostrich flesh; it gets feathers, it puts on its wings, it gets its legs, while it lies in the water. It walks out of the water, it basks in the sun upon the water’s edge, because it is still a young Ostrich. Its feathers are young feathers (quills); because its feathers are little feathers. They are black; for a little male Ostrich it is. He dries (his feathers) lying upon the water’s bank, that he may afterwards walk away, when his little feathers are dried, that he may walk unstiffening his legs. For he had been in the water; that he may walk strengthening his feet, for he thinks that his feet must be in (Ostrich’s) veldschoens, because his feet become strong. While he walks strengthening his feet, he lies down, he hardens his breast, that his breastbone may become bone. He walks away, he eats young bushes, because a young Ostrich he is. He swallows young plants which are small, because a little Ostrich he is. His little feather it was which became the Ostrich, it was that which the wind blew up, while the wind was a little whirlwind; he thinks of the place on which he has scratched; he lets himself grow, that he may first be grown, that he may afterwards, lying (by the way), go to his house’s old place, where he did die lying there, that he may go to scratch in the old house,* while he goes to fetch his wives. He will add (to the two previous ones) another she Ostrich; because he did die, he will marry three Ostrich wives. Because his breastbone is bone, he roars, hardening his ribs, that his ribs may become bone. Then he scratches (out a house), for he does sleeping (by the way) arrive at the house’s place; he roaring calls the Ostrich wives, that the Ostrich wives may come to him. Therefore he roaring calls, that he may perceive the she Ostriches come to him; and he meets them, that he may run round the females; for he had been dead; he dying left his wives. He will look at his wives’ feathers, for his wives’ feathers appear to be fine.

When he has strengthened his flesh, he feels heavy, as he comes, because his legs are big, his knees are large; he has grown great feathers, because the quills are those which are great feathers; these feathers become strong, they are old feathers. Therefore he roars strongly, for the ribs are big. And he is a grown up Ostrich; his wings’ feathers are long. He thinks that he will scratch, that the females may lay eggs; for his claws are hard, they want to scratch; for he brings the females to the house’s place. The females stand eating. Therefore he goes back, he scratches, while the she Ostriches eat there. He first goes to scratch drying the house, because it is damp, that the inside of the house may dry. The she Ostriches shall look at the house; one she Ostrich, she lies down to try the house, she tries whether the house seems to be nice; she first sleeps opposite the house, because the inside of the house is wet, as the rain has newly fallen. Thus they first lie opposite the house, they sleep opposite the house. She shall lie, making the ground inside the house soft; she first lies, making the ground inside the house soft, that the inside of the house may be dry, that another female may come and lay an egg in the inside of the house which is dry, for the earth of the house is wet. She first goes to lie opposite the house. One other female again comes, she comes to lay another new egg; she first comes to flap her wings in the house, for two small eggs stand (there); she again goes to sleep opposite the house. All the females are those who sleep at the house. He galloping in the dark drives the females to the house; he shall running take the females to the house; they all walking arrive at the house. Another female, a different one, lays another egg; they again flapping their wings peck at it. He drives the females away; he lies inside the house. These females, following each other, reach him at the house; these females send him off, they all lay eggs. He goes, for he goes away to eat. Two wives lie in the house; another wife also goes with him, they go to eat together; they sleep. The two wives sleep in the house. They two (the male and female) return early, they shall early send off the two wives, who had lain in the house. The wife who had been with him, lays another egg; the wives go, all the wives, whilst he lies down, that he may sleep at the house. He will drive away the jackal, when he thinks that the jackal is coming to the eggs, the jackal will push the eggs. Therefore he takes care

Part of the Preceding Tale Parsed by Dr. Bleek

[Section omise dans cette édition : analyse grammaticale, mot à mot, des formes ǀxam du conte précédent (p. 144 à 153 de l’édition de 1911).]

The Vultures, Their Elder Sister, and Her Husband

The Vultures formerly made their elder sister of a person;* they lived with her.

They, when their elder sister’s husband † brought (home) a springbok, they ate up the springbok. And their elder sister’s husband cursed them, he scolded at them.

And their ‡ elder sister took up the skin of the springbok, she singed it. Their elder sister boiled the skin of the springbok, their elder sister took it out (of the pot).

And they were taking hold* of the pieces of skin,† they swallowed them down. Their elder sister’s husband scolded them, because they again, they ate with their elder sister, of the springbok’s skin, when they had just eaten the body of the springbok, they again, they ate with their elder sister of the springbok’s skin.

And they were afraid of their elder sister’s husband, they went away, they went in all directions, they, in this manner, sat down. And they looked at their elder sister’s husband, they were looking furtively at their elder sister’s husband.

Their elder sister’s husband went hunting. He again, he went (and) killed a springbok; he brought the springbok home, slung upon his back.† They again, they came (and) ate up the springbok. Their elder sister’s husband scolded them. And they moved away, they sat down.§

Their elder sister singed the springbok’s skin; she boiled the springbok’s skin. Their elder sister; was giving to them pieces of the skin, they were swallowing them down.

Therefore, on the morrow, their elder’ sister’s husband said that his wife must go with him; she should altogether eat on the hunting ground; for, his younger sisters-in-law were in the habit of eating up the springbok. Therefore, the wife should go with him. Then, the wife went with him.

Therefore, they,* when their elder sister had gone, they went out of the house,† they sat down opposite to the house,† and they conspired together about it. They said, this other one said: “Thou shalt ascend, and then thou must come to tell us what the place seems to be like.” And another said: “Little sister § shall be the one to try; and then, she must tell us.” And then, a Vulture who was a little Vulture girl, she arose, she ascended.

They said: “Allow us, that we may see what little sister will do.” Then, she went, disappearing in the sky, they no longer perceived her.

They sat; they were awaiting the time at which their younger sister should descend. Then, their younger sister descended (it. fell) from above out of the sky, she (came and) sat in the midst of them.

And they exclaimed: “Ah! What is the place like?” And their younger sister said: ‘Our mate ‖ who is here shall ascend, that she may look. For, the place seems as if we should perceive a thing, when we are above there.”

Then, her elder sister who was a grown up girl, she arose, she ascended, she went, disappearing in the sky. She descended from above, she sat in the midst of the other people.*

And the other people said: “What is the place like?” And she said: ‘There is nothing the matter with the place; for, the place is clear. The place is very beautiful; for, I do behold the whole place; the stems of the trees,† I do behold them; the place seems as if we should perceive a springbok, if a springbok were lying under a tree; for the place is very beautiful.”

Then, they altogether arose, all of them, they ascended into the sky,† while they wished that their elder sister should eat; for, their elder sister’s husband scolded them.

Therefore, they used, when they espied their elder sister’s husband coming, they ate in great haste. They said: ‘Ye must eat! ye must eat! ye must eat in great haste! for, that accursed man who comes yonder, he could not endure us.” And, they finished the springbok, they flew away, flew heavily away, they thus, they yonder alighted; while their elder sister’s husband came to pick up the bones.

They, when they perceived a springbok, they descended, and their elder sister perceived them, their elder sister followed them up.§ They ate, (they) ate, they were looking around; they said: “Ye must eat; ye should look around; ye shall leave some meat for (our) elder sister; ye shall leave for (our) elder sister the undercut,* when ye see that (our) elder sister is the one who comes.” And they perceived their elder sister coming, they exclaimed: “Elder sister really seems to be coming yonder, ye must leave the meat which is in the springbok’s skin.” † And, they left (it).† And, when they beheld that their elder sister drew near to them, they went away, they went in all directions.

Their elder sister said: “Fie! how can ye act in this manner towards me? as if I had been the one who scolded you!”

And their elder sister came up to the springbok, she § took up the springbok, she returned home; while the Vultures went forward(?), they went to fly about, while they sought for another springbok, which they intended again to eat.

DdĬ-ΧÉrreten, the Lioness, and the Children

Ddĭ-χérreten,‖ formerly, when the Lioness was at the water, dipping up,¶ (when) she had gone to dip up water there, Ddĭ-χérreten felt that the Lioness was the one who had gathered together the people’s children, because the Lioness felt that she was an invalid on account of (her) chest; therefore, she gathered together the people’s children, that the children might live with her, that the children might work for her; for, she was an invalid, and she could not do hard work.

Therefore, Ddĭ-χérreten went to her house, when she was dipping up water. Ddĭ-χérreten went in her absence to the house, Ddĭ-χérreten went to the children, at the house. Ddĭ-χérreten went to the house reaching the children. Ddĭ-χérreten sat down. And Ddĭ-χérreten said: ‘O children sitting here! The fire of your people is that which is at the top of the ravine which comes down from the top (of the hill)” Therefore, two children arose, they went away to their own people.

Ddĭ-χérreten again said: “O children sitting here! The fire of your people is that which is below the top of the ravine which comes down on this side (of the hill)” And three children* thus went, while they went away to their own people.

And he again said: “O little child sitting here! Thy people’s fire is that which is below the top of the ravine which comes down on this side (of the hill)” And the child arose, it thus went, while the child went away to its own people.

He again said: “O children sitting here! The fire of your people is that which is below † the top of the ravine* which comes down on this side (of the hill)” And two children arose, they thus went away, while they went away to their own people.

And he again said: “O children sitting here! Your people’s fire is that which is at the top of the ravine which comes down from the top (of the hill)” And two children arose, they thus went away.

And he again said: ‘O children sitting here! The fire of your people is that which is at the top of the ravine which comes down from the top (of the hill)” And. three children arose, they thus went away; while they went away to their own people.

And he again said: “O children sitting here! † The fire of your people is that which is at the top of the ravine which comes down from the top (of the hill).” And two children arose, they thus went away; while they went away to their own people; while Ddĭ-χérreten sat waiting for the Lioness.

And the Lioness came from the water, she thus returning came. She came along looking (at the house); she did not perceive the children. And she exclaimed: “Why do the children (stammering with rage) children children children, the children not do so to me? and the children do not play here, as they are wont to do? It must be this man who sits at the house; his head resembles Ddĭ-χérreten.” ‡

And she became angry about it, when she perceived Ddĭ-χérreten.* She exclaimed: “Ddĭ-χérreten indeed (?) sits here!” She walked up to the house. She exclaimed: “Where are my children?” † And Ddĭ-χérreten said: “Our children (they) are not.” And the Lioness exclaimed: ‘Out on thee! leave off! thou must give me the children!” Ddĭ-χérreten said: “Our children (they) were not.”

And the Lioness caught hold of his head. She exclaimed: “χábbabbu” ‡ (growling) to the other one’s head. And she exclaimed: “Oh! Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! my teeth! This must be why this cursed(?) man’s big head came to sit in front of my house!” While Ddĭ-χérreten said: “I told thee that our children they were not.” The Lioness exclaimed: “Destruction! Thou hast been the one whose big head came to sit (here).” ‘Our children § (they) were not.”

And he arose, he returned (home); while the Lioness sat in anger at her house; because he had come (and) taken away from her the children, who had been (living) peacefully with her; for she felt that she had done well towards the children; she did not a little love the children while she was doing so.

The Mason Wasp* and His Wife

The Mason Wasp † formerly did thus as he walked along, while (his) wife walked behind him, the wife said: “O my husband! Shoot for me that hare!” And the Mason Wasp laid down his quiver; the Mason Wasp said: ‘Where is the hare?” And (his) wife said: ‘The hare lies there.”

And the Mason Wasp took out an arrow; the Mason Wasp in this manner went stooping along.† And the wife said: ‘Put down (thy) kaross! Why is it that thou art not willing to put down (thy) kaross?” Therefore, the Mason Wasp, walking along, unloosened the strings of the kaross; he put down the kaross. Therefore the wife said: “Canst thou be like this?§ This must have been why thou wert not willing to lay down the kaross.”

Therefore, the Mason Wasp walked, turning to one side; he aimed at (his) wife, he shot, hitting the (head of) the arrow on (his) wife’s breast ‖ (bone). And (his) wife fell down dead on account of it. Then he exclaimed: “Yiu hihi! O my wife hi!” (crying) as if he had not been the one to shoot (his) wife. He cried, that he should have done thus, have shot