10 INTRODUCTION. 



diffused from a single geographical centre. The case is one in 

 which any one plausible explanation from natural causes is 

 sufficient to bar the argument from histoincal connection. On 

 the other hand, there is nothing to hinder such an argument 

 in the following case, which is taken as showing the opposite 

 side of the problem. 



The great class of stories known as Beast Fables have of late 

 risen much in public estimation. In old times they were lis- 

 tened to by high and low with the keenest enjoyment for their 

 own sake. Then they were wrested from their proper nature 

 into means of teaching little moral lessons, and at last it came 

 to be the most contemptuous thing that could be said of a silly, 

 pointless tale, to call it a " cock and bull story." In our own 

 day, however, a generation among whom there has sprung up 

 a new knowledge of old times, and with it a new sympathy 

 with old thoughts and feelings, not only appreciate the beast 

 fables for themselves, but find in their diffusion over the world 

 an important aid to early history. Thus Dr. Dasent, in his 

 Introduction to the Norse Tales, has shown that popular 

 stories found in the west and south of Africa must have come 

 from the same source with old myths current in distant regions 

 of Europe. Still later, Dr. Bleek has published a collection 

 of Hottentot Fables,^ which shows that other mythic episodes, 

 long famiUar in remote countries, have established themselves 

 among these rude people as household tales. 



A Dutchman found a Snake, who was lying under a great 

 stone, and could not get a'^ay. He lifted up the stone, and set 

 her free, but when he had done it she wanted to eat him. The 

 Man objected to this, and appealed to the Hare and the Hyena, 

 but both said it was right. Then they asked the Jackal, but he 

 would not even believe the thing could have happened unless 

 he saw it with his two eyes. So the Snake lay down, and the 

 Man put the stone upon her, just to show how it was. " Now 

 let her lie there," said the Jackal. This is only another version 

 of the story of the Ungrateful Crocodile, which the sage Duban 

 declined to tell the king while the executioner was standing 

 ready to cut his head off. It is given by Mr. Lane in his Notes 



1 Bleek, 'Eeynard the Fox in South Africa;' London, 1864, pp. 11-13, 16, 19, 23. 



