Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Week 7 Reading Diary, continued: Western African Folklore



Reading Diary #7, continued: Western African Folktale
·       The Ungrateful Man: There was Hunter, who was extremely poor, who was wondering all through the forest in search of food. He walked and walked and came to a deep hole, in that hold there was a leopard, a serpent, a rat, and another man. All of these different animals and the man fell in the hole, but were unable to get out. They began to constantly heckle and beg the hunter to help them out of the hole they had fell in. The Hunter did not want to release any of them except the man because he said the leopard had stolen his cattle and eaten them, the serpent bit men and caused their death, and the rat did nothing for anyone. Eventually, the animals begged so much that the Hunter gave in and freed them from the pit. I return, each of the animals told the Hunter that they would give him a reward for his kindness, but the man would not because he was very poor. Each animal supplied the Hunter with his rewards with the serpent giving him a very powerful antidote for venom. The leopard killed animals for him and supplied him with food for many weeks. The rat returned with cloths, gold dust, and ivory, these items would help make the man rich. After he had received his gifts, the Hunter was allowed to live in great comfort. The man, on the other hand, was not pleased with the Hunter’s good fortune, and wanted to harm him. His opportunity would quickly arise as the few robbers broke into the King’s palace and stolen his valuables. The man made his way to the King and asked if there was a reward for pointing out the thief. The King told him he would give a half of what was stolen if he found the thief. The Hunter was put in prison and brought to Court and was asked to tell how he became wealthy. They did not believe his story, he was immediately condemned to death the next day. The Hunter asked to use the antidote from the serpent, but needed a traitor’s blood, in which the King pointed out the man. The King proclaimed, “There stands the worst traitor for he gave up the kind host who had saved his life.” The man was beheaded and the King honored the Hunter with honours and sent him home.

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