116 TI1E LION. 



ceecled in dispatching his treacherous acquaintance. 



" The low booming, so peculiar to the ostrich, 

 and which even experienced ears are apt to mistake 

 for the subdued growl of the lion, is supposed to 

 have been the consequence of this successful victory 

 over the most dreaded of the denizens of the forest." 



Amongst other curious legends treasured up by 

 the Bechuanas is that relating to the lizard and the 

 chameleon, which runs as follows : 



" Thus spoke Morimo, the great spirit, to Chame- 

 leon, viz. : ' Go to men and say, As I die and am 

 born again, so shall you die and be born again ;' but 

 JMorimo feeling impatient to have his message 

 speedily delivered, sent for the lizard, charging him 

 with the same errand. The lizard soon overtook the 

 sluggish chameleon, and passing him on the road 

 came and said to man : ' You shall die.' Soon after- 

 wards the chameleon also reached his destination, and 

 delivered his friendly message; but man refused to 

 credit it, saying: 'We are bound to believe the 

 first word.' But in revenge t hey killed both the lizard 

 and the chameleon ; the former on account of his 

 unfortunate message, and the latter because he was 

 ,so slow; and this is the reason why they always 

 destroy these animals, whenever encountered." 



Another of their legends runs thus : " The stein- 

 bock once took the liberty to ridicule the tortoise, 

 on account of its sluggish movements, when the 

 latter indignantly exclaimed : '1 can get on just as 

 well as you, and challenge you to try your speed 

 with me.' Though, of course, incredulous as to the 

 truth of the bold assertion, the swift antelope agreed 



