The Rhino and the Bees: 5 African Fables of Rivalry and Rules

The hymenopterous insects didst approach the rhinoceros's watering hole. 'Depart hence!' he exclaimed with considerable vehemence.

'But we are athirst,' they responded with due meekness.

'Quaff elsewhere!' the rhinoceros snarled, exhibiting a most unsavoury disposition.

'Pray, permit us to imbibe here this day, merely for this singular occasion.'

The rhinoceros, with a modicum of reluctance, didst concede, and the bees partook of the aqueous refreshment.

Subsequently, the bees convened a council of their number.

'We are possessed of greater puissance than the rhinoceros!'

'We are capable of appropriating his water supply!'

'He is impotent to impede us!'

Upon the subsequent morn, they didst return. When the rhinoceros didst challenge their presence, they emitted sounds of derision. 'Thou dost underestimate our collective strength!'

The bees engaged the rhinoceros in a contest, inflicting stings upon his nostrils until the sanguine fluid didst flow, and the rhinoceros proved incapable of repelling their assault.

'Thou art victorious,' he groaned, acknowledging their triumph. 'We are now brethren; partake of this water at thy pleasure, whenever the fancy doth strike.'

A Serpent, of the Python kind, did insinuate itself into the nest of a Guinea-Fowl, there to coil about her eggs with mal intent.

The Guinea-Fowl, perceiving this intrusion, did emit a most piercing scream.

An Elephant, hearing the commotion, did arrive upon the scene. “Pray tell,” quoth he, “what aileth thee?”

“Alas,” replied the Guinea-Fowl, her voice heavy with sobs, “that serpent Python doth harbour designs upon my progeny.”

The Elephant, upon beholding the Python, was seized with apprehension and did make haste to depart.

Thereafter, a Lion did approach. “Declare thyself,” he enquired, “as to the cause of this disquiet.”

“Woe is me,” lamented the Guinea-Fowl, her eyes brimming with tears, “for the Python doth seek to devour my offspring.”

The Lion, too, upon setting eyes upon the Python, did yield to his fears and betook himself to flight.

Subsequently, an Ant, of diminutive stature, did draw nigh. “Explain, I beseech thee,” it queried, “the source of thy lamentations.”

“The Python,” quoth the Guinea-Fowl, “doth threaten to consume my young.”

The Ant, displaying remarkable courage, did seize the Python and inflict upon it a most grievous bite.

The Python, smarting from the assault, did slither away in discomfiture, leaving the eggs unharmed.

“Thou art the most valiant of creatures, Ant!” exclaimed the Guinea-Fowl, her heart overflowing with gratitude. “Thou hast preserved my children from a most certain doom.”

The beasts of the realm did convene to elect a sovereign. Certain creatures favoured the Elephant; others, the Lion. The Lion's faction did triumph, and he was thusly crowned king.

For a brief interval, the Lion subsisted upon grasses, yet anon he did find himself beset by hunger. He did extend invitations, one by one, to his subjects, bidding them to his den. Then, in secrecy, he did devour them.

The Boar received an invitation but, feeling indisposed, did dispatch his son in his stead. The son did not return. Suspicion thusly arose in the Boar's breast, and he discovered his son's bones nigh unto the Lion's den.

'The Lion is no king!' the Boar did exclaim. 'He is our enemy, and a treacherous one at that!'

From that day hence, the animals harbour a deep loathing for the Lion and do not afford him the honour due to a king.

Within the precincts of His Majesty's palace, the Cat held the esteemed position of Royal Steward, whilst the Rat occupied the more humble station of Royal Janitor.

The Rat, in the throes of affection for a housemaid, found himself bereft of material wealth, rendering him unable to proffer tokens of esteem. Driven by a fervent desire to demonstrate his ardour, he surreptitiously entered the storeroom and purloined divers pears, which he then bestowed upon the object of his affections.

Upon the King's discovery of the pears' absence, suspicion immediately fell upon the Cat, in his capacity as steward.

Subsequently, the Cat, having ascertained that the Rat had pilfered the aforementioned pears for the housemaid, did denounce both culprits to the King.

The King, in his royal prerogative, ordered the housemaid to be subjected to corporal punishment, whilst the Cat, with ruthless efficiency, dispatched the Rat.

Thus it is that Cat and Rat remain, to this very epoch, implacable adversaries.

A Mother and Father, being labourers, did betake themselves to toil in the fields. “Upon no account shall ye meddle with the stew!” the Father did admonish his Son and Daughter.

The Son, however, did succumb to disobedience and partook of the aforementioned stew.

Thereupon, forthwith did horns sprout from his brow, and he did develop a tail, transforming him into a creature akin to a rhinoceros!

The Daughter, in a state of alarm, did flee from the abode, exclaiming, “Father! Mother! Behold!”

Your Son hath undergone a transformation into a rhinoceros, but I remain unaffected; your Daughter is yet no rhinoceros!”

The Mother, hearing the commotion, did raise her gaze.

“Return to thine labour,” the Father did command.

But presently, they espied their Daughter being pursued by a veritable rhinoceros.

The Father, seizing his firearm, did discharge a shot at the beast.

Thus, the disobedient Boy met his demise.