Rabbit and Hyena went hunting. Whatever Rabbit shot, Hyena put in her sack. "It's mine!" she growled.
Finally Rabbit got angry and left. He went and rolled in red mud, covering his body, and then made spots with white clay. Thus disguised, he waited atop an ant-hill.
Hyena was terrified when she saw the weird creature.
"I demand tribute!" shouted Rabbit.
"O Something-on-the-Ant-Hill," replied Hyena, trembling, "I'll give you all I have!"
Hyena pulled out the animals Rabbit had shot, one by one.
When he knew the sack was empty, Rabbit yelled, "Enough! Be gone!"
Hyena fled, and Rabbit laughed.
[a Hausa story from northern Nigeria]
Inspired by: "The Hare Outwits the Hyena" in Hausa Superstitions and Customs by A. J. N. Tremearne, 1913.
Notes: You can read the original story online.
Haha it serves the foolish Hyena right for trying to take Rabbit's food. Fortunately he was cunning enough to get it back!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can't keep that cunning rabbit down for long!
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