New Releases by Elphinstone Dayrell

Elphinstone Dayrell collected folk tales from the Efik and Ibibio peoples of Southeastern Nigeria. The scope of these tales encompasses local mythology and stories suitable for children, to tales so cruel they will still shock a modern public.

Reproduction of the original: Follk Stories Fron Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell

"Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria" appeal to the anthropologist within me, no less than to the lover of what children and older people call "Fairy Tales." The stories are full of mentions of strange institutions, as well as of rare adventures. I may be permitted to offer some running notes and comments on this mass of African curiosities from the crowded lumber-room of the native mind.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

One of the most important collections of African folklore ever published. "Mr. Dayrell''s "Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria" appeal to the anthropologist within me, no less than to the lover of what children and older people call "Fairy Tales." The stories are full of mentions of strange institutions, as well as of rare adventures. I may be permitted to offer some running notes and comments on this mass of African curiosities from the crowded lumber-room of the native mind. "The most striking point in the tales is the combination of good humour and good feeling with horrible cruelties, and the reign of terror of the Egbos and lesser societies. European influences can scarcely do much harm, apart from whisky, in Nigeria. As to religion, we do not learn that the Creator receives any sacrifice: in savage and barbaric countries He usually gets none. Only Ju Jus, whether ghosts or fiends in general, are propitiated. The Other is ''too high and too far.''" -Andrew Lang INTRODUCTION I. THE TORTOISE WITH A PRETTY DAUGHTER II. HOW A HUNTER OBTAINED MONEY FROM HIS FRIENDS THE LEOPARD, GOAT, BUSH CAT, AND COCK, AND HOW HE GOT OUT OF REPAYING THEM III. THE WOMAN WITH TWO SKINS IV. THE KING''S MAGIC DRUM V. ITUEN AND THE KING''S WIFE VI. OF THE PRETTY STRANGER WHO KILLED THE KING VII. WHY THE BAT FLIES BY NIGHT VIII. THE DISOBEDIENT DAUGHTER WHO MARRIED A SKULL IX. THE KING WHO MARRIED THE COCK''S DAUGHTER X. THE WOMAN, THE APE, AND THE CHILD XI. THE FISH AND THE LEOPARD''S WIFE; OR, WHY THE FISH LIVES IN THE WATER XII. WHY THE BAT IS ASHAMED TO BE SEEN IN THE DAYTIME XIII. WHY THE WORMS LIVE UNDERNEATH THE GROUND XIV. THE ELEPHANT AND THE TORTOISE; OR, WHY THE WORMS ARE BLIND AND WHY THE ELEPHANT HAS SMALL EYES XV. WHY A HAWK KILLS CHICKENS XVI. WHY THE SUN AND THE MOON LIVE IN THE SKY XVII. WHY THE FLIES BOTHER THE COWS XVIII. WHY THE CAT KILLS RATS XIX. THE STORY OF THE LIGHTNING AND THE THUNDER XX. WHY THE BUSH COW AND THE ELEPHANT ARE BAD FRIENDS XXI. THE COCK WHO CAUSED A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO TOWNS XXII. THE AFFAIR OF THE HIPPOPOTAMUS AND THE TORTOISE; OR, WHY THE HIPPOPOTAMUS LIVES IN THE WATER XXIII. WHY DEAD PEOPLE ARE BURIED XXIV. OF THE FAT WOMAN WHO MELTED AWAY XXV. CONCERNING THE LEOPARD, THE SQUIRREL, AND THE TORTOISE XXVI. WHY THE MOON WAXES AND WANES XXVII. THE STORY OF THE LEOPARD, THE TORTOISE, AND THE BUSH RAT XXVIII. THE KING AND THE JU JU TREE XXIX. HOW THE TORTOISE OVERCAME THE ELEPHANT AND THE HIPPOPOTAMUS XXX. OF THE PRETTY GIRL AND THE SEVEN JEALOUS WOMEN XXXI. HOW THE CANNIBALS DROVE THE PEOPLE FROM INSOFAN MOUNTAIN TO THE CROSS RIVER (IKOM) XXXII. THE LUCKY FISHERMAN XXXIII. THE ORPHAN BOY AND THE MAGIC STONE XXXIV. THE SLAVE GIRL WHO TRIED TO KILL HER MISTRESS XXXV. THE KING AND THE ''NSIAT BIRD XXXVI. CONCERNING THE FATE OF ESSIDO AND HIS EVIL COMPANIONS XXXVII. CONCERNING THE HAWK AND THE OWL XXXVIII. THE STORY OF THE DRUMMER AND THE ALLIGATORS XXXIX. THE ''NSASAK BIRD AND THE ODUDU BIRD XL. THE ELECTION OF THE KING BIRD (THE BLACK AND-WHITE FISHING EAGLE)

Sun and Moon must leave their earthly home after Sun invites the Sea to visit.