106 SUDAN NOTES AND RECORDS.

were busy making a very excellent form of food called honey and held forth lengthily on the beneficial results that ensued after eating it. This so impressed Yak that he determined to sample the delicacy and asked how it could be obtained. This was just what Rill wanted and said that it was quite easily procured so long as Yak would comply implicitly with his instructions. Having promised to do this they both cautiously ascended the tree until they were just underneath the hive. Then tying Yak firmly to the trunk by a stout rope, leaving only one arm free from the elbow, Rill placed a long stick in his hand. With this stick Yak was to strike the hive violently in order to frighten off the bees but must be careful not to do so until Rill had given him warning. Rill then hastily jumped to the ground and ran home as fast as his legs could carry him shouting to Yak as he went to hit the hive as hard as he could. Little expecting what would happen Yak smote with all his might and was im- mediately set upon by the infuriated animals who stung him until he became quite unconscious. Remaining in this position for several days he got so thin that he eventually slipped through his bonds to the ground and slowly made his way home swearing vengeance on his newly acquired acquaintance.

3.

Not long afterwards Rill was returning from the River carrying with him a large piece of hippo meat which he had been given by some people he had by chance met. Turning a corner he suddenly came face to face with Yak who at once flew into a rage and threatened to eat Rill for the trick he had played him. Rill, however, was little perturbed and explained that if he had struck the hive properly all would have been well. Seeing that he was about to be eaten Rill produced the hippo meat and handing it over to Yak suggested he should sample it before carrying his threat into execution. A fire was quickly made and the meat cooked and Yak was so taken with it that he promised to forgive Rill if he would tell him how such excellent meat could be procured.

Rill said he had been to the River that morning and finding a young hippo on the bank had tied a rope round his waist and making a noose at the other end had passed it quietly over the head of the hippo whilst he was asleep and then had speared it to death.

Yak then asked Rill to accompany him when they together could have a good feed but Rill said his wife was about to give birth to a child and therefore begged to be excused though he had no objection to lending his rope.

Arriving at the River Yak had no difficulty in finding a hippo and, carrying out the instructions he had been given, speared the hippo in the buttocks and was immediately pulled into the River and very nearly drowned, only escaping

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