the crocodile and the hunter

The crocodile and the hunter

A hunter went out into the countryside far from his village looking for food. after many hours he was sitting by his fire eating the meat of the animal he had killed when he noticed two eyes watching him from the bushes . the hunter picked up his knife stood and asked who are you?? 

a wildcat then appeared i am boaji the cat said i can see that youre skill has brought you a good days kill.i am afraid i havent had such good luck and iam very hungray. could you share youre meat with me? if you do Ill return youre kindness in the future. the hunter shared his meat with boaji . boaji ate will and rested for some time by the fire. he then got up stretched his long thin body repeated his promise to the hunter and walked away into the bushes. the next day the hunter went out again. he came to a place where the wild grass grew very tall. it was difficult to see where he was going. as he was pushing  through the grass he found a crocodile . what are you doing here ? the hunter asked the crocodile . you should be in the water. the crocodile told the hunter his story. the night before he had gone hunting . he had traveld too far from the river and now he couldnt find his way back. he begged the hunter to help him. please show me the way back to the river. if yoy do this Ill bring you five loads of fish. the hunter was happy to help. he tied a rope around the crocodiles foot and led him to the Niger River.

At the waters edge the crocodile thanked him im very grateful for youre kindness. now if you untie the rope Ill go into the river and bring you back five loads of fish as i promise the hunter waited high up on the riverbank  while the crocodile dived into the dark water. after a few moments the crocodile rose up out of the water with an enormous fish in his mouth. he swam quickly to the waters edge came out of the river moved slowly up the riverbank and laid the fish in front of the hunter. he then moved slowly back down the riverbankk and slid silently into the water. the hunter inspected the fish and thought this will make a fine meal. soon the crocodile brought out a second load of fish. these fish were smaller but equally fine-looking. he laid this load lower downthe riverbank. the hunter came down and carried the load higher laying it down next to the big fish. the crocodile then returned with a third enormous load of fish saying oh dear this is heavy. this time he left the load at the waters edge. the hunter came down took hold of the load and pulled it further up the riverbank.

The crocodile raced through the water to his brother crocodiles who were lying on a small island in the middle of the river. he called to his friends that he had caught  a hunter for their dinner and invited them all to come and enjoy the meal. crocodiles suddenly appeared from every side and crowded round the hunter moving their heads and tails from side to side and making hungry noises. wait! shouted the hunter. i helped youre friend! he lost his way and I helped him! and now he,s going to eat me! I ask you is this fair?

The crocodiles repied lets see if its fair. you must get four opinions on this question and then well decide.

just then an Asubi a colored mat floated down the river. it was old and torn.

The piece of cloth replied you are a man.I know what men are like. while a cloth is young bright and colorful they wrap it around their bodies. they belive that the beauty they see in the mirror is their own and not the cloths. they say look at me. see how beautiful I am. but it is the cloth that is beautiful not them. and the people know this although they will not admit it because they fold the cloth up carefully to keep it beautiful when they fold the cloth up carefully to keep it beautiful when they are not using it. but as soon as the cloth is old they forget how it used to make them beautiful. they throw it in the river.

you ask me if life is fair. life is not fair. you will be fortunate if the crocodile treats you as well as men have treated me!

The piece of cloth then floated away down the river.

The crocodile asked did you hear? did you hear what the bcloth said? what do you think now?

A horse came down to the riverbank to drink. the horse was old and thin. her owners had forced her to leave their farm because she was too old to work.

Then a wildcat came down to the riverbank looking for fish.

it was Boaji.

the hunter cried Boaji please help me!

whats wrong? asked Boaji.

the hunter told Boaji what had happened and asked him if this was fair. Boaji thought for a momoent ans replied that is difficult to judge. first I must know all the facts. I want to hear the cricodiles side of the story too. but if I do this the crocodile must accept my final decision.

of course the crocodile replied.

Boaji asked the crocodile how did the hunter bring you here?

He tied a rope around my foot and dragged me here answered the crocodile.

Boaji asked did it hurt?

The hunter interrupted thats not true! he,s lying!I didnt drag him!

This is the place said the hunter.

Boaji asked the crocodile was at here?

yes it was here. and from here the hunter dragged me behind him to the river.

Boaji asked and you were not satified?

the crocodile answered no I wasnt.

Baji told the crocodile good. you punished the hunter for hurting you by dragging him into the river. so now this argument is finshed. to avoid more quarrels of this kind the hunter must untie the rope and leave you here in the tall grass.

This is my decision.

The end