In a quiet village of Zambia, there once lived a humble hunter whose life revolved around the forest. He was not a man of wealth or power, but he possessed two great treasures: his skill with the hunt and his loyal companion, a clever dog. The dog was more than a helper; he was a partner in survival, protecting his master from wild beasts and guiding him through the vast wilderness. To the dog’s collar, the hunter had tied a small bell. This bell tinkled with each movement, a sound that usually comforted the hunter and warned others of their presence.
The hunter knew every corner of the forest. He knew where swamps lay hidden, where the hills rose, and where certain birds nested or animals roamed. Hunting was his trade, his craft, and his lifeline. With his homemade gun and his faithful dog, he ventured into the forest day after day.
The Storm in the Forest
One day, as usual, the hunter set off into the forest. He roamed for hours, searching high and low, but not even the weakest animal appeared for him to shoot. After walking for miles, fatigue crept into his bones, and he sat down beneath a tree to rest.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Heavy clouds rolled in, swallowing the sun, and before long, rain began to fall. Soon it was pouring so fiercely that the hunter and his dog were drenched despite taking shelter under a broad tree. Water streamed down their bodies, and soon they began to shiver with cold.
Scanning the surroundings, the hunter spotted a hollow in a large tree trunk, wide enough to offer refuge. Guiding his dog, he entered the hollow. To his surprise, it stretched much deeper than it seemed from the outside. They first paused near its mouth, then cautiously stepped farther into the darkness, hoping to escape the storm.
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The Lion’s Arrival
Just as they ventured about five yards inside, another figure entered the hollow. It was a lion, seeking shelter from the same rain. The beast settled itself near the entrance, and in doing so, its massive body blocked out most of the faint light, plunging the space into near-total darkness.
The hunter froze. His dog, usually quick to bark at danger, cowered in silence, too terrified to make a sound. The smell of the lion’s musky sweat filled the hollow, pressing on their senses and reminding them of the danger they faced. Trapped within, the hunter knew they could not remain for long. If the lion discovered them, death would be certain.
The Hunter’s Clever Trick
As fear gripped him, an idea sparked in the hunter’s mind. Carefully, he removed the bell tied to his dog’s collar. Then, stripping off his loincloth for silence, he waited for the right moment. When the lion finally drifted into deep sleep, the hunter crept forward with steady hands. With all the cunning he could muster, he tied the bell securely to the lion’s tail.
For a few tense moments, nothing happened. Then the lion stirred in his sleep, shifting his massive body. The bell gave a faint jingle. The lion’s eyes blinked open, puzzled. As he turned, the bell rang louder, its metallic notes echoing strangely in the hollow.
Confusion struck the beast. He leapt to his feet, and the bell rang furiously. Fear surged through the lion. In his mind, the sound was no mere noise, it was a deadly sign. He remembered tales of the hunter and his bell, a man said to be unmatched with a gun. Panic consumed him.
The lion bolted from the hollow, charging into the forest. The faster he ran, the louder the bell clanged. He dared not look back, convinced the hunter was upon him. He ran faster, faster, until he could run no more, collapsing from exhaustion far away.
Victory in Silence
Meanwhile, the hunter emerged from the hollow with his dog, both unharmed. Relief washed over him. He had survived not by force or weapon but by cleverness. Whistling in triumph, he walked home, praising his fortune and his quick wit, the bell jingling softly now from his hand instead of a lion’s tail.
Moral Lesson
This tale shows that courage and wisdom can outmatch brute strength. The hunter, though small and simple, overcame the greatest of beasts not with violence but with intelligence. It reminds us that fear often magnifies danger, and that a calm, clever mind can turn even the darkest trap into a path of escape. True strength lies not in power, but in wisdom.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What role did the hunter’s dog play in his life?
The dog was both a hunting companion and protector from wild beasts.
Q2: Why did the hunter and his dog seek shelter in the hollow tree?
A heavy rainstorm forced them to find refuge.
Q3: How did the hunter realize a lion was inside the hollow?
By the smell of the lion’s sweat and its presence in the darkness.
Q4: What clever trick did the hunter use to escape the lion?
He tied his dog’s bell to the lion’s tail while it slept.
Q5: Why did the lion flee in terror when the bell rang?
He believed it signaled the hunter’s deadly presence and gun.
Q6: What cultural lesson does this Kaonde tale emphasize?
That intelligence and courage can triumph over fear and brute strength.
Source: Kaonde folktale, Zambia. Collected in Folktales of Zambia (see: Chiman L. Vyas, comp., “Folktales of Zambia” collection).
