354, 
IN AFRICA 
ABDl’s STORY ABOUT THE WILY SOMALI AND THE 
LION 
“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 c 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 
