[Notes by LKG]
This story is part of the South African unit. Story source: South African Folk-Tales by James Honey (1910).
The White Man and Snake
The White Man said, "Stop! Let us both go first to some wise people."
They went to Hyena, and the White Man asked him, "Is it right that Snake should want to bite me, when I helped her as she lay under a stone and could not rise?"
Hyena (who thought he would get his share of the White Man's body) said, "If you were bitten, what would it matter?"
Then Snake wanted to bite him, but the White Man said again, "Wait a little, and let us go to other wise people so that I may hear whether this is right."
They went and met Jackal. The White Man said to Jackal, "Is it right for Snake to want to bite me, when I lifted up the stone which lay upon her?"
Jackal replied, "I do not believe that Snake could be covered by a stone so she could not rise. Unless I saw it with my two eyes, I would not believe it. Therefore, come let us go and see the place where you say it happened whether it can be true."
They went, and arrived at the place where it had happened. Jackal said, "Snake, lie down, and let thyself be covered."
Snake did so, and the White Man covered her with the stone, but although she exerted herself very much, she could not rise.
Then the White Man wanted again to release Snake, but Jackal interfered, and said, "Do not lift the stone. She wanted to bite you; therefore she may rise by herself."
Then they both went away and left Snake under the stone.
Next: Jackal, Dove, and Heron
(300 words)
