BANTU NEGEOES 709 



heap, but in his gratitude the boy decided to tell the leopard so that he might have 

 a share. 



"As a return for all this kindness," began the boy, "I will tell you some- 

 thing." 



" If it is about guns or spears, don't tell me. I am always angry when 1 hear 

 of guns." 



" No, it is about food " (" Emeri "). 



"Ah, food; yes, tell me quick, quick, quick." 



"There is an ant-heap near Gabunga's garden, and " 



" What 1 Is there a goat there 1 " 



" No, not a goat, but " 



" A sheep, then ? " 



'■ No, but " 



"Perhaps a dog, or a calf, or an antelope, or a " 



" No," said the boy, " but ' Nswa ' " (white ants). 



At this the leopard fainted with sheer rage. " White ants ! " said he. " White 

 ants ! Obusa, bisasiro, vunda, gaga " 



(The interpreter here stopped the story-teller, and explained that these were very 

 vulgar words, and even a leopard would not have used them, but that he had 

 gone mad.) 



The leopard went out and brought in a stone. Then he put it down by the fire, 

 and said to the boy : " I have something nice to tell you." 



"Have you?" replied the boy. "Then tell me quick." 



"It is about food." 



"Then tell me quick." 



" It is delicious," continued the leopard, and he licked his lips and smiled. 



" Oh ! " gasped the boy, " where is it 1 " 



" Here it is," said the leopard, and he handed him the stone. The boy angered 

 much, and they spoke no more. 



After a while the leopard remembered that he had promised to reconnoitre 

 Kamswaga's village that night, and started out. " Weraba," said, he to the boy, and 

 he was gone. After a minute he returned and said : " Otya," and then, addressing 

 the boy, said : " To-morrow morning you might take a piece of meat, and go round 

 to some of the gardens near the village, and barter it for a cooking pot." 



" All right," answered the boy, and the leopard went away. 



Next morning he accordingly took a piece of meat, and went to a garden and 

 found a woman hoeing. He held up the meat, and the woman asked him what he 

 wanted. 



"I am trying to* barter this foi a pot." 



" Bring it here," said the woman. He brought it, and when the woman smelt it 

 she said it was good. She then called to two girls who were in an adjoining garden, 

 and they came to where she stood. 



" What a nice boy ! " said one of the girls. 



"Do you like him?" asked the mother. 



" Yes." 



"Go first and fetch a pot to exchange for the meat." 



" Oh, go for the pot yourself, mother. I want to ask him where he live?." 



The mother went to fetch the pot, and the girl askedi : " Where do you live 1 " 



" I have a hut in the forest." 



" What is your name ? " 



" Sikilya Muniku." 



