The Rabbit and the Duiker
(Tumbuka [Nyasaland],
collected by T. Cullen Young, early 20th century)
A duiker and a rabbit made up their minds to take a journey and carried a bag of flour. When they came, after travelling, to some water the Duiker said, “It's time for food now, come on and let's cook porridge.” The Rabbit agreed and they cooked the porridge and when it was nearly the right consistency for serving the Duiker said, “I'm going down to the stream bed; I'll go and wash and (when I return) I'll find the porridge cooled.”
Then it went off and skinned itself out of its skin and hid the skin beside the water, then yonder it comes, che! che! che! che! Said the Rabbit, “Something has turned up!” and cleared out as hard as he could go. Up comes the Duiker and has the porridge, gulping it down and then off again to the stream bed and into its skin! It came back and called, “Rabbit, Ho! Rabbit, Ho!” and Rabbit answered the call. Then it said, “Where's the porridge?” and (Rabbit) replied, “A beast came; I ran off and it was it that ate the porridge.” Said Duiker, “That's what has taken it off us! come on! let's be moving.” They proceeded on their way but the Rabbit had hunger and slept foodless.
In the morning they set off again and when feeding time came round the Duiker said, “Come on, let's cook porridge;” and they cooked. When it was ready to come away from the pot the Duiker said, “I'm off to the stream bed and shall wash and then come and eat the porridge.” Said the Rabbit, “Go on then!” but when it was going the Rabbit set off a bit to the side. The Duiker took off his skin and put it on the water. But look! the Rabbit has collared it and spread it out on a flat rock!
When (Duiker) had eaten the porridge it came back intending to take its skin and found it not there. It began to call the Rabbit but by now was dried with the heat. When the Rabbit came, it said, “My skin is lost,” and the Rabbit said, “What did you do? Is it you who eats the porridge?” He got the skin and it was dried (so that) when (Duiker) said, “Let me put it on!” it cracked and he died.
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