Lion once had the power to fly, making him invincible. He entrusted White Crows to guard bones at his kraal while hunting. When Great Frog broke the bones and challenged Lion to find him at a pool, Lion lost his flight. Despite attempting to catch Frog, Lion failed, forcing him to hunt on foot. The White Crows fell silent, unable to explain the events.
Source
South-African Folk Tales
by James A. Honey, M.D.
New York,1910
► Themes of the story
Cunning and Deception: Great Frog’s clever actions lead to Lion’s downfall, showcasing the use of wit to outsmart a more powerful adversary.
Mythical Creatures: The tale features anthropomorphic animals with extraordinary abilities, such as a flying lion and a talking frog.
Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts lessons about the consequences of pride and the effectiveness of intelligence over brute strength.
► From the same Region or People
Lion, it is said, used once to fly, and at that time nothing could live before him. As he was unwilling that the bones of what he caught should be broken into pieces, he made a pair of White Crows watch the bones, leaving them behind at the kraal whilst he went a-hunting. But one day Great Frog came there, broke the bones in pieces, and said, “Why can men and animals live no longer?” And he added these words, “When he comes, tell him that I live at yonder pool; if he wishes to see me, he must come there.”
► Continue reading…
Lion, lying in wait (for game), wanted to fly up, but found he could not fly. Then he got angry, thinking that at the kraal something was wrong, and returned home. When he arrived he asked, “What have you done that I cannot fly?” Then they answered and said, “Some one came here, broke the bones into pieces, and said, ‘If he want me, he may look for me at yonder pool!'” Lion went, and arrived while Frog was sitting at the water’s edge, and he tried to creep stealthily upon him. When he was about to get hold of him, Frog said, “Ho!” and, diving, went to the other side of the pool, and sat there. Lion pursued him; but as he could not catch him he returned home.
From that day, it is said, Lion walked on his feet, and also began to creep upon (his game); and the White Crows became entirely dumb since the day that they said, “Nothing can be said of that matter.”
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