The Lioness and the Cow

There were once a lioness and a cow living near to each other, though not in the same house; the lioness gave birth to a baby lioness, and the cow gave birth to a male calf. When the two children grew up the cow’s child was mischievous, while the lioness’s child was gentle and meek.

After a time the cow and the lioness dug a well, and got it into splendid order.

The lioness said to the cow, “We have an excellent well, but you can’t imagine how full of mischief your son is; so please warn him lest he come and spoil our well, and cause us to quarrel and end our friendship.” The cow agreed to do so.

Soon after this the lioness went away to obtain food, and asked the cow to look after her child while she was away. The cow consented to do so, and the two children played together near the house for some time. Presently they went farther away and came to the well. The calf first knocked some dirt into it, and after further play he pushed the baby lioness into the well and she was drowned.

The calf ran home to his mother and said his companion had fallen into the well and was drowned.

The cow said, “The lioness will surely kill me for this; let us run away.”

They packed up hastily, then ran away to the bush buck, and hid with him. The bush buck made them welcome and promised to butt the lioness and drive her away should she come.

When the lioness came back from seeking food she found the house empty, and went on to the cow’s house, but that was also empty. She then hunted about and called, but got no reply. After a long search she came upon the body of her child in the well, and wept bitterly and bemoaned her loss. She then hunted the cow and at length came to the bush buck, calling:

The Lioness and the Dead Cub

“Whose, whose?”

To this the bush buck answered, “Yours, yours.”

The bush buck said to the cow, “Run away, you will cause me my death; run away to the antelope.”

The cow did so, and hid there for a time; but when the antelope said:

“Run away, you are bringing me into trouble and will cause my death.”

The cow fled to the elephant and hid with him, but when the lioness came and found her and roared, the elephant said:

Running from the Lioness

“Run away from here, you are bringing me into trouble and will be the cause of my death.”

Again, then, she had to flee.

It thus came about that the cow had constantly to run away from the lioness, and was always in fear. One day as she was fleeing away she met a Wakasanke bird which asked her why she was always running away in this manner.

The cow answered:

“Because my child killed the child of the lioness and she wants to kill me, and I am looking for a place where I may be safe from her wrath.”

The Wakasanke replied:

“Stay with me, I will frighten the lioness and drive her away.”

The Lioness running away

The cow gladly agreed, and stayed.

Wakasanke made ready to receive the lioness. He first brought a flower of the plantain, which is shaped like the heart of an animal and of a reddish-brown color. This he put ready. He then milked some milk into a pot and put that near; he next drew a pot of blood from the cow and put that also ready. When all his preparations were made he waited.

After a time the lioness came and cried, “Whose, whose?”

Wakasanke answered, “Mine, mine,” and took the pot of blood and dashed it on the lioness’s breast and said, “I have killed you, is not this your blood?” He struck the lioness with the flower, shouting, “Is not that your heart? I have killed you. I have killed you.” He then took the pot of milk and dashed it with all his force upon the lioness’s head, saying, “Let me crush in your head and brains and finish you off.”

In this way he so terrified the lioness that she thought it was her blood, and she rushed away leaving the cow in peace.

Thus Wakasanke birds have lived about cows, and every herdsman when he goes to milk his cow, first milks a little on the ground to commemorate the action of the Wakasanke bird. From that time whenever a lion meets a cow the lion tries to kill it.