The Clever Ram and the Cowardly Tiger: A Traditional African Trickster Tale

Tiger (leopard) was returning home from hunting on one occasion when he came upon the kraal of Ram. Now, Tiger had never seen Ram before, and accordingly, approaching submissively, he said, "Good day, friend! What may your name be?"

The other, in his gruff voice and striking his breast with his forefoot, said, "I am Ram. Who are you?"

"Tiger," answered the other, more dead than alive. Then, taking leave of Ram, he ran home as fast as he could.

Jackal lived at the same place as Tiger, and when Tiger came to him, he said, "Friend Jackal, I am quite out of breath and am half dead with fright, for I have just seen a terrible-looking fellow with a large and thick head. When I asked him what his name was, he answered, 'I am Ram.'"

"What a foolish fellow you are," cried Jackal, "to let such a nice piece of flesh escape! Why did you do so? We shall go tomorrow and eat it together."

The next day, the two set off for the kraal of Ram. As they appeared over a hill, Ram, who had come out to look about him and was calculating where he should that day crop a tender salad, saw them. He immediately went to his wife and said, "I fear this is our last day, for Jackal and Tiger are both coming against us. What shall we do?"

"Don't be afraid," said his wife, "but take up the child in your arms, go out with it, and pinch it to make it cry as if it were hungry."

Ram did so as the confederates approached.

No sooner did Tiger cast his eyes on Ram than fear again took possession of him, and he wished to turn back. Jackal had provided against this and tied Tiger to himself with a leather thong, saying, "Come on!"

At that moment, Ram cried in a loud voice, pinching his child at the same time, "You have done well, Friend Jackal, to have brought us Tiger to eat, for you hear how my child is crying for food!"

Upon hearing these dreadful words, Tiger, notwithstanding the entreaties of Jackal to let him go, to let him loose, set off in the greatest alarm. He dragged Jackal after him over hill and valley, through bushes and over rocks, and never stopped to look behind him until he brought himself and the half-dead Jackal back to his place again.

And so Ram escaped.