222 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

similar to jEsop's fables, of which the following is an instance. Once upon a time the hare and the crocodile made a treaty of friendship, and when the ceremony was concluded the hare said to the crocodile, " Take me to your house, my friend, that I may see it." So they crossed over to the other side of the island, and when they reached the place the crocodile said to the hare, " Go into the house while I seek for a present, and let my wife and children come and pay their respects to you." So the hare went in, and the crocodile's wife came with her children and saluted him. Then the wife went into the garden to cut bananas, leaving the children in the house. "When she was gone the hare noticed the children under the eaves of the house, and seized and ate them. Then, fearing lest he should be caught, he called to the wife, " Oh, my friend, call your husband, that he may take me to the mainland, for the houses on the other side of the island are on fire." So she called her husband, who took the hare on his shoulders and plunged into the lake. When he was halfway across, the wife came running to the shore, calling out, " Crocodile ! crocodile ! ! crocodile ! ! ! " But her husband, who was making a great splashing in the water, did not hear clearly what she said, and asked the hare, " What does my wife say ? " " She says," replied the latter, " that you are to make haste, for the houses are all on fire." So the crocodile swam to the mainland, and