Long ago, when the world was still young and only animals roamed the earth, the elephant ruled as king over all creatures. By his side was his trusted councillor, the hare, who was admired for his cleverness and wit. Yet though he was the king, the elephant was thin and frail, while his councillor, the hare, was plump and well-fed. One day, curiosity crept into the hare’s mind, and he wondered aloud why the mighty elephant, his king, was so thin.
Though spoken privately, the words reached the elephant’s ears. He thought deeply about them, and after much reflection, he approached the hare.
“Perhaps I am thin because I eat only grass and leaves,” said the elephant.
“You may be right, my king,” replied the hare with sympathy. “But then, there may be a cure for it. Why not seek advice from our subjects? Perhaps among them lies the secret of how you may grow fat and strong.”
The elephant agreed eagerly. “Yes! Summon them all at once. Let every animal bring the food they eat so I may see what nourishes them. Let us delay no more.”
The hare sent messengers across the land. The animals were told: “Tomorrow, gather at the king’s court. Each of you must bring the kind of food you eat, so that the king may find what will strengthen him.”
All heard this message, including the sly lizard. But instead of passing it faithfully, he twisted it for his own mischief.
The Lizard’s Deception
The lizard first met the lion. “O mighty lion,” he said, bowing low. “The king commands that you not attend the meeting. Instead, you must guard the kingdom. But he requires a piece of your skin for his magic rites.”
Trusting the word, the lion clawed a strip of skin from his body and gave it to the lizard.
Next came the leopard. “You need not attend,” the lizard told him smoothly. “But the king asks for some of your spots for his use.”
The leopard, though puzzled, obeyed. He removed some of his spots, bleeding as he handed them over.
The lizard then stopped an eagle flying overhead. “Your duty is to keep watch from the skies. What the king requires is one feather for his magic.” The eagle plucked a feather and gave it willingly.
Then he approached a cat. “You, guardian of the king, need not attend. What the king wants are whiskers, to protect him from evil.” The cat cut some whiskers and gave them.
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Finally, the lizard dared to deceive even the elephant himself. “You, kinsman of the king, need not attend. All he requires is one of your tusks to gift to men so they may never harm your people again.” Believing him, the elephant broke off a tusk and handed it over.
Burdened with the skin, the spots, the feather, the whiskers, and the tusk, the lizard arrived at the great meeting and sat silently at the back.
The Meeting Turns to Chaos
The hare, acting as councillor, began inspecting the foods the animals had brought. Roots, fruits, grasses, grains, and meats were laid before him. Then his eyes fell on the lizard.
“What food have you brought for the king?” the hare demanded.
The lizard showed the strange items he carried.
“Do you eat these things?” asked the hare, astonished. “If not, you have insulted the king.”
The lizard quickly bowed. “Hear me, all of you. I had my own food, but on my way here, some creatures begged me to carry theirs, since they could not attend. Their gifts were heavy, so I left mine behind in order to serve them.”
He lifted the lion’s skin for all to see. At once, the eland trembled with fear and fled. He showed the leopard’s spots, and the antelopes and monkeys scattered in panic. He displayed the eagle’s feather, and all the fowls vanished into the sky. He raised the cat’s whiskers, and the doves and mice disappeared. Finally, he held up the elephant’s tusk, and even the king himself fled the gathering.
On his way, the elephant met the lion and declared, “From today, I appoint you the king of the forest.”
Thus, the meeting dissolved into confusion, and fear spread like wildfire.
Lasting Suspicion
From that day onward, distrust settled among the animals. The eland has kept its distance from the lion. Antelopes and monkeys avoid the leopard. The fowls remain wary of the eagle. Doves and mice fear the cat. Suspicion, born of deception, became part of their lives.
As for the elephant, freed from the heavy duty of kingship, he grew fat and strong at last. But still, hunters stalk him for his tusks, reminding him that peace, like kingship, comes with its own dangers.
Moral Lesson
This tale warns of how lies and deceit can sow fear and division among communities. The lizard’s cunning trick not only humiliated the king but also left lasting distrust among animals that had once lived together in unity. It teaches us that dishonesty may bring temporary advantage to the deceiver, but its consequences fracture trust and harmony for generations.
Knowledge Check
Q1: Who was king of the animals in this tale?
A: The elephant.
Q2: Who served as the elephant’s councillor?
A: The hare.
Q3: How did the lizard deceive the animals?
A: By falsely telling each animal the king required parts of their body for magic.
Q4: What items did the lizard collect?
A: Lion’s skin, leopard’s spots, eagle’s feather, cat’s whiskers, and the elephant’s tusk.
Q5: What lasting effect did the lizard’s deception cause?
A: Distrust and suspicion among animals, leading each to fear its natural enemy.
Q6: Which ethnic group preserves this folktale?
A: The Bemba people of Zambia.
Source: Bemba folktales, Folktales of Zambia by Chiman L. Vyas (1969), Zambia.
