Little Leopard and Little Otter were best friends.
Then each went to visit his father's village.
When Leopard learned his son's friend was Little Otter, he said, "Otters are not our friends. Catch him, bring him here, and I'll show you how to kill him."
Meanwhile, Otter warned his son, "If you must be friends, play only on the riverbank near the water."
When the friends met again, Little Otter kept near the water. "My father warned me about you," he said.
Little Leopard said, "My father likewise." Then he pounced, but Little Otter jumped into the river and escaped.
[a Bulu story from Cameroon]
Inspired by: "How Knowledge Spoils Friendship" in Bulu Folk-Tales (in Journal of American Folklore) by George Schwab, 1919. The Bulu are a people who live in Cameroon.
Notes: You can read the original story online. Compare the Ekoi story of Little Frog and Little Snake.
No comments:
Post a Comment