African folklore

The local people of Africa have many fables and legends about the origin of life and about the animals. On one of our trips the guide told us this story around the campfire;
Why the hippo spreads its dung

In the beginning, when the world was young, the hippo lived in the water but instead of grass he ate fish. With his big mouth he could eat a lot of fish and soon he became bigger and rounder.

One day the Creator said to the hippo, "You are too greedy, you will eat all the fish!” The hippo promised to eat not so much
any more but soon he forgot his promises and was eating even more fish then before.

Now the Creator became angry and said “You can’t live in the water anymore!

From now on you must live on the land and eat grass.” The hippo got frightened and promised again not to be so greedy anymore but the maker was relentless.

The hippo was very unhappy on the land with his heavy body and his sensitive skin got sunburned.

Over and over he begged the Creator to forgive him and let him live in the water again.. Finally the Creator felt pity for him and said, “You may live in the water but you can’t eat fish anymore. Every evening you must come on land to eat grass.”

The hippo promised this and to this day, every evening he comes on to the land to eat grass. And as from that day he spreads his dung with his tail to show the Creator that he keeps his promise and that there are no fish bones in it.

Regards from the bush
Miriam