354 IN AFRICA 



ABDl's STORY ABOUT THE WILY SOMALI AND THE 

 UON 



"Once upon a time there was a Somali who was 

 warned not to go down a certain road on account 

 of the man-eating lions. But he started out, armed 

 with knife and spear. For a week he marched, 

 sleeping in the trees at night and marching during 

 the day. One day he suddenly came upon a big lion 



He Hastily Cut a Stick 



sitting in the road. He stopped, sharpening a little 

 stick which he held in his left hand. Then he 

 wrapped his 'tobe' or blanket around his left hand 

 and arm. He then advanced to the lion and when it 

 opened its mouth to bite him he thrust the sharp 

 stick inside, up and down, thus gagging the lion. 

 Then with his two hands he held the lion by its ears 

 for three days. He couldn't let go because the lion 

 would maul him with its heavy paws. He was thus 

 in quite a fix. 



"Finally another Somali came along and he 



