Hyena, Goat, and Cassava arrived at a river at the same time, wanting to cross.
But there was just one boat, and it was very small.
"I can take only one passenger at a time," said the boatman.
"Take me across!" snarled Hyena.
"No!" shrieked Cassava. "Don't leave me with Goat; he'll eat me. Take me across!"
"No!" bleated Goat. "Don't leave me with Hyena; he'll eat me. Take me across!"
What did the boatman do? He took Goat across. Then he went back, brought Hyena across, took Goat back, and brought Cassava.
Then he brought Goat again.
Clever boatman!
Inspired by: "The Clever Boatman" in West African folktales by Jack Berry, 1991.
Notes: You can read the original story online. This is a story from a Krobo storyteller in Ghana. There are many variations on this story, but this is the first one I've read where the Hyena (Leopard, etc.), Goat, and Cassava (Grass, etc.) get to speak up for themselves!
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