BECHUANA LEGEND. 115 



With the Bechuanas, legends regarding the lion 

 are especially rife : 



" ' How dare you roar ?' said one day that beast 

 to the ostrich. * Why, because I can kill game like 

 yourself!' was the proud rejoinder. * I should like 

 to see that,' said his offended majesty. ' Very 

 well, you shall ;' and pointing to a herd of zebras 

 just then appearing in view, he continued : ' You 

 see those animals ?' and with that the ostrich set 

 off at full speed, and ere many minutes had elapsed, 

 the brave bird was in the midst of the troop kicking 

 violently to the right and left, and with such a good 

 will that he laid two of his victims prostrate with so 

 many blows. On seeing this, the lion felt both sur- 

 prised and annoyed, and, in his turn, attacked the 

 zebras ; but all his efforts proved vain. Notwith- 

 standing his bad luck, however, he did not despise 

 partaking of his rival's spoils, who, however, ab- 

 stained from eating. ' How,' said the lion ; * don't 

 you eat meat ?' ' Oh, I am not particularly fond 

 of it ; nevertheless, if you have any to spare, just 

 hand me a piece of the liver.' Having at last satis- 

 fied his hunger, the lion laid himself down, feigning 

 to sleep. In this position he perceived the ostrich 

 picking away, and gulping down sundry buds 

 and gravel pebbles. ' Aha,' thought he, * you 

 have got no teeth ; now we shall soon see who is 

 master !' with that his Majesty sprung to his feet, 

 and pouncing on his unsuspecting acquaintance, he 

 endeavoured to slay him. But he had reckoned 

 without mine host, for the ostrich laid about him so 

 lustily with his powerful legs, that ere long he suc- 



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