HO\r THE COCK BECAME KING OF THE BIRDS 



sion he was generally defeated in the end. Once the ele- 

 phant said to the canary, "Look here, we must once and 

 for all decide as to who is the greater," and so the canary 

 agreed to submit to any suggestion which would prove 

 the superiority of either of them. The elephant there- 

 upon took the canary to the seashore, and said, "Which- 

 ever of us can drink the most water will be chief once 

 and for all." And the canary agreed to compete in the 

 contest and abide by the result. Just then the tide was 

 coming in and the canary said to the elephant, "As you 

 are the bigger you may begin to drink." So the elephant 

 put his trunk into the water and started drinking for all 

 he was worth. Presently he had to stop from sheer ex- 

 haustion for he felt that he must burst. The canary sang 

 his praises and congratulated him for his marvellous per- 

 formance and the elephant was carried away with pride. 



When the tide was about to turn the canary went to 

 the water to drink, dipped his beak into the sea and went 

 sip, sip and waited. Again he walked forward and went 

 sip, sip, and waited. And the elephant was perfectly 

 amazed, and presently it seemed that the canary had 

 been responsible for reducing the volume of water. 

 When the tide had gone right out, the canary flew back 

 to the elephant and said, "See, what I have done." And 

 the elephant had to agree that the canary had won the 

 contest. 



Such stories made me think of the destiny of Europeans 

 in Africa and it was through these proverbs that I be- 

 gan to get back of the black man's mind. Whatever may 



79 



