Tall Tale Curiosity Killed the Husband African Folklore
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| Curiosity Killed the Husband African Folklore |
Tall Tale Curiosity Killed the Husband African Folklore
Once there was a husband named Jabir, who had come from a foreign country to marry the most beautiful native girl Fembar.
Jabir settled in the new country, and one day when he was working on his farm, he saw a very strange snake; it was huge and had large and small parts alternating, and everywhere he went on the farm he met some part of that snake.
Soon he noticed that he understood the language of all animals, reptiles, and birds—for all have their own tongue—but he was warned not to tell to any one knowledge gained in this way, but to keep an unbroken secret of everything he heard. This gift of understanding was the result of having seen the snake.
For years, Jabir kept the secret, and greatly enjoyed hearing what all the animal kingdom had to say, for they are often very wise. However, one day, as he was eating dinner with his wife, they received news of the death of her father. The next day she put her home in order and prepared to go to her native town to join the mourners.
In the morning, when she had everything arranged and ready to start, her husband heard a bird say, "Since you are putting everything away, how about us whom you are leaving here?" and then laughed.
His wife became angry and declared that he was laughing because of her sadness and because she was going to leave him for a while; and though he denied it, she remained suspicious, and finally in desperation Jabir told her that if he revealed the cause of his laughter it would result in his death.
Fembar insisted, however, and at last, he told her.
Regrettably, shortly afterwards Jabir died for having told the secret of the snake. This sad blow taught the wife that one should never be so curious as to insist upon knowing something which it is better for one not to know.
