The Snakes and Birds were at war.
When the Snakes seized the palm-trees, the hungry Birds had no palm-nuts.
"Whoever brings us palm-nuts to eat," proclaimed the Bird-King, "shall receive a beautiful cloak of white feathers."
Crow went to a palm-tree and alighted between two Snakes. He looked left, saying, "I'm glad to see you, Brother!" Then he looked right. "I wish you well, Brother!"
Surprised, the Snakes gave him palm-nuts.
Crow did this again and again until he filled his sack.
The grateful Bird-King obtained white feathers from all the birds, and Crow wears his white cloak even now.
[a story from Liberia]
Inspired by: "Crow's Coat of Feathers" in Folktales from Liberia (Journal of American Folklore) by Richard C. Bundy, 1919.
Notes: You can read the original story online. In the original story, the Crow learns wisdom from his mother. The African pied crow (found in Liberia and throughout the continent) has white feathers around its neck.
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