220 UGANDA AND HIE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

specimen. Kintu, when he first settled in Uganda, was a great hunter, and also possessed large herds of cattle. He was, moreover, of a very merciful disposition, and the animals which he caught in his traps used frequently to beg to be let off, saying to him, " You be kind to us in the sunshine (i.e. when you are well off), and we will be kind to you in the rain (i.e. when you are in trouble); and so he would often give them their freedom. On one occasion the pursuit of some wild animals had led him to a greater distance from home than usual, and when he returned he found all his cattle gone. After searching in vain for them for some time, he met a man, who asked him what he was looking for, and Kintu replied that he was seeking his cattle. " Oh, you need not look here for them," was the man's answer, " for the gods came down from heaven ' and stole them all." So Kintu went up to heaven, and after gaining admittance, demanded his cattle, but was informed by the gods that before he could recover them he must perform certain deeds. He professed his willingness to try, and a large basket of food, enough to satisfy fifty or sixty men, was brought, and he was told that he must eat it all.

This was impossible ; and while Kintu was wondering how he should accomplish such a feat, a large number of rats whose lives he had spared on earth appeared and ate up the food. So Kintu returned with the empty basket to the gods, hoping to receive