45. The Rabbit and the Elephant's Garden

Elephant caught Rabbit stealing vegetables from his garden. He chased Rabbit down to the riverbank; then Rabbit jumped in the water.
"I'll get you, Rabbit!" Elephant shouted.
Rabbit finally climbed out of the water. 
Elephant was gone. 
Rabbit hopped onto the road. 
Elephant was there!
"Have you seen Rabbit?" Elephant asked.
Rabbit smiled; Elephant didn't recognize him because he was all wet and muddy. "What?" said Rabbit. "I don't understand! I speak Water-Animal language. I don't understand you Land-Animals." Then he jumped back in the river.
Rabbit had barely escaped, so he decided to steal from other people's gardens instead.
[a Nyanja story from Zimbabwe]


Inspired by: "The Hare and the Elephant" in Folklore of the Banyanja (published in Folklore) by Madeleine Holland, 1916.
Notes: You can read the original story online.






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3 comments:

  1. Gavin LeeAugust 21, 2022 at 11:27 AM

    Haha Elephant is so stupid!

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    Replies
    1. Danielle BentleyDecember 6, 2022 at 9:54 AM

      I know! He is all brawn and no brain! Complete opposite of Rabbit!

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  2. Jonathan LeeJuly 23, 2024 at 4:34 PM

    I feel so sorry for Elephant, not managing to catch the thief

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