Long ago, when the earth was still new and the balance between animals was being written through trials, quarrels, and trickery, the elephant and the tortoise were close companions. Their friendship, however, would be tested in a way that changed not only their lives but also the lives of the worms, forever altering the way creatures of the earth look and live.
In those early days, the elephant had magnificent, large eyes. They were round, bright, and clear, allowing him to see great distances across the plains. The worms, too, could see perfectly well, wriggling happily in the soil and observing the world above. Tortoise, with his small but steady eyes, relied more on wit than size, for he was small compared to his mighty friend. Yet in matters of cleverness, he was unmatched.
A Game Turns Sour
One day, as the sun cast long shadows over the land, Elephant and Tortoise decided to play cards. They sat together for hours, dealing, shuffling, and laying down their hands. The game went on into the evening, but no matter how hard Elephant tried, he lost again and again.
At first, he laughed it off, but with each defeat his temper grew. Finally, with his pride wounded and frustration boiling over, Elephant slammed his trunk against the ground.
“You cheat, Tortoise!” he bellowed, his large eyes flashing with anger.
Tortoise, calm and unshaken, simply shook his head. “I have not cheated, friend. Perhaps luck is not with you today.”
But Elephant would not accept this. His voice rumbled like distant thunder as he declared, “If you are so certain, then let us fight. Tomorrow, in the market-place, we shall see who is stronger and who is right.”
Tortoise, though small, was not afraid. He agreed, nodding firmly. “Tomorrow it is.”
A Secret Plan
Elephant went home confident that his great size would easily crush his small rival. But Tortoise was not foolish. He knew that strength alone could not win against such a massive opponent. So, under the cover of night, he visited the worms, his quiet allies beneath the soil.
“My friends,” Tortoise whispered, “tomorrow I must fight Elephant. If I face him with strength alone, I will surely lose. But if you will help me, I can win.”
The worms, who respected Tortoise’s cleverness and disliked Elephant’s arrogance, agreed. Tortoise instructed them to crawl into Elephant’s large eyes while he slept, to weaken him and take away his sharp sight. The worms wriggled with determination. That very night, they crept softly into Elephant’s eyes, burrowing deep until his vision blurred. By morning, his once-proud eyes were swollen and painful, reduced to narrow slits.
The Fight in the Market-Place
The next day, the market was alive with excitement. Animals gathered from far and wide to witness the fight between mighty Elephant and small but cunning Tortoise. The air buzzed with anticipation, and whispers passed through the crowd like wind through tall grass.
When Elephant arrived, he staggered, squinting to see through his swollen eyes. Tortoise, on the other hand, stood calm and ready, his shell gleaming under the sun.
The fight began. Elephant swung his trunk, but his poor vision betrayed him. He struck only the empty air, missing Tortoise again and again. Meanwhile, Tortoise darted quickly about, striking Elephant’s legs and shelling him with blows.
The worms inside Elephant’s eyes writhed, making his pain worse. His great eyes, once so full of power, shrank into small, pained slits. He roared and stomped, but every move was clumsy. The crowd gasped and cheered as Tortoise cleverly outmaneuvered him at every turn.
At last, exhausted and in agony, Elephant surrendered. “Enough!” he groaned. “I cannot fight you, Tortoise. I yield.”
The Aftermath
From that day forward, Elephant’s eyes remained small, a reminder of his defeat and his pride. The worms, however, paid dearly for their part in the trick. Their punishment was blindness. Having given up their sight to destroy Elephant’s vision, they became creatures that live in darkness, forever feeling their way through the soil without seeing the world above.
The Moral
This tale carries a timeless truth: even the smallest among us, with wisdom, courage, and the help of friends, can overcome the strongest adversary. Strength alone cannot guarantee victory, unity and cleverness often prevail.
Knowledge Check
Q1: What were Elephant’s eyes like before the fight?
Elephant once had very large, bright eyes that allowed him to see far and wide.
Q2: Why did Elephant challenge Tortoise to a fight?
Elephant grew angry after repeatedly losing at cards and accused Tortoise of cheating.
Q3: How did Tortoise plan to defeat Elephant?
Tortoise asked the worms to crawl into Elephant’s eyes during the night, blinding him.
Q4: What happened to Elephant during the fight?
His swollen eyes made him nearly blind, allowing Tortoise to outmaneuver and defeat him.
Q5: Why are worms blind today, according to the folktale?
The worms lost their sight after burrowing into Elephant’s eyes to help Tortoise.
Q6: What is the moral lesson of the story?
Even the smallest creatures, with friends and cleverness, can overcome those stronger than them.
Source: Nigerian Folktale
