Folk Tale

The Friendship of the Thorn and the Mud-Fish

Translated From

Boseka oki lilenge la lokamba

AuthorE. A. Ruskin
Book TitleMongo Proverbs and Fables
Publication Date1921
LanguageMongo
AuthorE. A. Ruskin
LanguageEnglish
OriginDemocratic Republic of Congo

The Thorn grew on a bush on land far away from the river ; and the Mud-fish lived in the soft marsh along the edge of the river. But one day a man came and cut a lot of Thorns, and took them home with him, and prepared them for fishing.

A number of Thorns were placed at intervals on long strips of strong plantain fibre. Next morning, the man took the Thorns he had prepared to the river-bank and having dug up a lot of worms from the marsh, he proceeded to hide every Thorn in a worm for bait. This finished, the strings of Thorns were placed under the water of the marsh, the ends being safely fastened to a stick to prevent them from floating away.

One of the Thorns felt lonely being taken away from his home; but by and by a nice long Mud-fish came swimming along, and the Thorn which was quite safely hidden in a worm, said to the fish, "O Mud-fish, I am far from home and do not know this place ; come, let us be friends."

The foolish Mud-fish saw only a fine worm which she thought would make a meal, so she said, "Very well; let us be friends."

She swam nearer, opened her mouth, and swallowed the worm at a gulp— and the Thorn ! The Thorn stuck in her throat, and caused her death: and so ended their short-lived friendship.

If you have a friend, do not treat him as the Thorn treated the Mud-fish.


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