Reynard the fox in South Africa : or, Hottentot Fables and Tales, chiefly…
"Reynard the Fox in South Africa; or, Hottentot Fables and Tales" by W. H. I. Bleek is a collection of fables and tales written in the mid-19th century. This work translates various traditional Hottentot stories, previously collected from native sources in South Africa, that center around animal characters, notably the cunning jackal and the powerful lion, often conveying moral lessons and cultural insights. The collection aims to celebrate and preserve the rich
oral traditions of the Hottentot people, showcasing their unique literary heritage. At the start of the collection, the reader is introduced to a range of fables primarily featuring the jackal, the lion, and other animals, each tale illustrating cleverness, deception, and the natural order of the animal kingdom. The opening stories recount various interactions where the jackal often outsmarts the lion, such as tying the lion's tail to trick him and cunningly stealing food. The narratives not only entertain but also reflect on themes of wisdom and foolishness, control and rebellion, setting a foundation for the moral lessons woven throughout this compilation of South African folklore. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reynard the fox in South Africa : or, Hottentot Fables and Tales, chiefly translated from original manuscripts in the Library of His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B.
Original Publication
London: Trübner and Co., 1864.
Note
Reading ease score: 80.1 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Contents
I. Jackal fables -- II. Tortoise fables -- III. Baboon fables -- IV. Lion fables -- V. Various fables -- VI. Sun and moon fables -- VII. Heitsi Eibip and other legends -- VIII. Household tales.
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
