: Seeing herself all withered,
the woman took the fan with which her companion had been winnowing
maize for the manufacture of beer and shut herself into her hut,
carefully closing the door. There she began to tear off her old
skin, throwing it on the fan. The skin came off easily, a new one
appearing in its place. The operation was nearing completion. There
remained the head and neck only when her companion came to the hut
to fetch her fan and before the old woman could speak, pushed open
the door. The almost rejuvenated woman fell dead instantly.

This is the reason we all die. The two survivors gave birth to a
number of sons and daughters, from whom all races have descended.
Since that time God does not trouble about His creatures. He is
satisfied with visiting them incognito now and again. Wherever He
passes the ground sinks. He injures no one. It is therefore
superfluous to honour him, so the Balubas offer no worship to Him.

The animal story has a high place in the legends of these peoples. They
represent a combination of Kipling's Jungle Book, Aesop's Fables, and
Br'er Rabbit. Nor do they fail to point a moral. Naturally, the elephant
is a conspicuous feature in most of them. The tale of "The Elephant and
the Shrew" will illustrate. Here it is:

[Illustration: NATIVES PILING WOOD]

[Illustration: A WOOD POST ON THE CONGO]

One day the elephant met the shrew mouse on his road. "Out of the
way," cried the latter. "I am the bigger, and it is your place to
look out," replied the monster. "Curse you!" retorted the shrew
mouse furiously. "May the long grass cut your legs!" "And may you
meet your death when you walk in the road!" replied the other
crushing him under his huge foot. Both curses have been fulfilled.
From that day the elephant wounds himself when he goes through the
long grass, and the shrew-mouse meets her death when she crosses the
road.

The story of the elephant and the chameleon is equally interesting. One
day the chameleon challenged the elephant to a race. The latter accepted
the challenge and a meeting was arranged for the following morning.
During the night the chameleon placed all his brothers from point to
point along the length of the track where the race was to be run. When
day came the elephant started. The chameleon quickly slipped behind
without the elephant noticing. "Are you not tired?" asked