Long ago, in a quiet village, a husband and wife welcomed the birth of a daughter. From the very beginning, the father declared that only a man strong enough to cut down the great mahogany tree in his garden would earn the right to marry her. Years passed, and when death drew near, the father reminded his wife of his vow: the suitor who could fell the mighty tree alone would win their daughter’s hand.
Time went on, and one day an Elephant arrived at the village. He sat in the open square and asked the maiden for a drink of water. She carried a calabash, filled it, and offered it to him. After drinking, the Elephant asked gently, “Are you married?”
“No,” she replied, “I am not yet married.”
“I will marry you,” declared the Elephant boldly. But her mother reminded him of the condition: “You may marry her, but only if you first cut down the mahogany tree.”
The Elephant took up an axe and struck the tree with great force, cut, cut, cut, until he grew weary. He then rested in the shade of the house eave. But when he returned, the tree stood as tall and whole as before, as if untouched. Frustrated, he cast the axe aside and sighed, “This marriage is too costly. The woman is not worth such toil.”
READ: The Wise Gazelle and the Deceitful Leopard: A Congolese Folktale
As he departed, he met the Buffalo and told him of his failure. The Buffalo, proud and strong, seized the axe and began to cut. Blow after blow echoed through the forest, but soon he too tired and rested. When he returned, the tree had restored itself once more. Furious, he dropped the axe and fled.
On his way he met the Lion, who asked where he had come from. Hearing the tale, the Lion boasted, “Give me the axe, and I will marry her.” But his fate was the same. He struck and cut until exhaustion overcame him. After resting, he too found the tree untouched and gave up.
The Hyena and Leopard came next, each boasting of his strength, each attempting to bring down the tree, and each leaving in defeat. All were humbled.
As the Leopard bounded away in anger, a small Mouse stopped him. “Why are you troubled, friend?” asked the Mouse.
The Leopard growled, “I sought to marry a woman, but whoever desires her must fell the mahogany tree. None can do it.”
The Mouse listened carefully, then went to the tree. Unlike the others, he did not strike with might. He gnawed, gnawed, gnawed without rest, his tiny teeth working tirelessly. Hours turned to days, but he never ceased. At last, the great tree groaned and toppled with a thunderous crash.
The mother of the maiden, astonished, declared, “Mouse, you may rest here tonight. In the morning, you shall take your wife.”
At dawn, the village feasted in celebration; six pigs were slaughtered, twenty loaves baked. With blessings, the Mouse set out with his new wife, journeying toward his town.
On their way, they camped by a stream. There, the Elephant reappeared. Seeing the maiden, he said, “She is mine. I married her.”
“No,” said the Mouse firmly. “She is my wife. Here, take two pigs instead.”
But the Elephant refused and attacked. The quick-witted Mouse darted into the Elephant’s trunk, biting fiercely until the mighty beast howled in pain. “Come out! Take two pigs, but leave me in peace!” cried the Elephant. The Mouse emerged, collected his gift, and continued with his wife.
At the next camp, the Buffalo arrived. “That woman is mine,” he declared. When the Mouse denied it, the Buffalo struck him with a stick. But the Mouse darted into his ear, gnawing until the Buffalo bellowed, “Come out, and I will give you five sheep!” The Mouse accepted, gathered the sheep, and moved on.
Not long after, the Hyena appeared, claiming the wife as his own. When the Mouse refused, the Hyena beat him cruelly. In his weakness, the Mouse called upon the Squirrels, who rallied and fought off the Hyena. Amid the chaos, the Mouse and his wife escaped.
Farther along, they reached a plateau where a great Rat confronted them. “Give me the woman,” demanded the Rat.
“I cannot,” replied the Mouse, “for I struggled greatly to win her.”
“Very well,” said the Rat. “Let us drink palm wine together.”
As they drank, the Mouse pulled from his bag the head of a rat. Alarmed, the Rat asked, “Where did you get that?”
“I have eaten nine rats already,” the Mouse declared, “and you shall be the tenth.” Terrified, the Rat fled without another word.
At last, the Mouse reached his town. He gave his wife a house, and together they feasted on the pigs and sheep gained along the way. Peace seemed secure until the Leopard visited.
“Uncle Mouse,” said the Leopard slyly, “let us plant a maize farm together.” The Mouse agreed. But while the crop was growing, the Leopard tried to steal away the wife.
The Mouse, pretending hospitality, invited the Leopard to drink wine with him. While they sat together, the Mouse pulled out a Leopard’s head from his bag.
“Where did you get that?” asked the Leopard nervously.
“I killed and ate nine leopards,” said the Mouse coldly, “and you shall be the tenth.” Terrified, the Leopard obeyed when the Mouse commanded him to crawl into a calabash. The Mouse sealed it, placed it on the fire, and the Leopard perished.
Thus, through courage, wit, and unrelenting perseverance, the Mouse secured his wife and claimed leadership in the land.
Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that strength alone does not bring success, perseverance, intelligence, and resourcefulness can achieve what brute force cannot. Even the smallest can overcome the greatest when determination and wit are combined. True leadership lies not in size or might but in wisdom and resilience.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who set the marriage condition for the maiden?
A1: Her father, who declared that only the man who could fell the mahogany tree would marry her.
Q2: Why did the Elephant, Buffalo, Lion, Hyena, and Leopard fail?
A2: They grew tired, rested, and found the tree restored to its original state.
Q3: How did the Mouse succeed in felling the mahogany tree?
A3: By gnawing continuously without rest until the tree toppled.
Q4: What strategy did the Mouse use to defeat stronger animals on his journey?
A4: He used cleverness, entering the Elephant’s trunk, the Buffalo’s ear, and intimidation with trophies.
Q5: What role did the Squirrels play in the story?
A5: They came to the Mouse’s aid when the Hyena attacked him.
Q6: What is the key lesson of the folktale?
A6: Wit and perseverance can overcome strength; intelligence and courage lead to success.
Source: Congolese Folktale, Central Africa
