The greedy tortoise

The tortoise tries to get all the wisdom on earth for himself alone.Once upon a time, a long, long time ago Tortoise awoke one morning and decided very strongly that he was going to own all the wisdom in the world alone. So he packed a few clothes, took some food and travelled for seven days and seven nights through the desert and the evil forest to the home of the most powerful herbalist in the land. He told the herbalist what he wanted, and after presenting some kola nuts and a c**k to him, the herbalist made some incantations and handed a gourd to Tortoise.‘This gourd,’ the herbalist informed him solemnly, ‘contains all the wisdom in the world. Take it and go home.’The greedy Tortoise was overjoyed and trembled with excitement, but then a suspicious thought entered his mind and he addressed the herbalist reverently:‘My father', ‘Tortoise said, his right hand on the ground in respect. ‘Do you advise me to return through the desert and evil forest or to go to the nearby village and join a caravan going my way?’The herbalist struggled to answer but at length looking confused said, ‘I don’t know my son.’‘Don’t worry my father,’ Tortoise said his forehead now on the ground in farewell greeting. ‘I will find my way home.’ Tortoise smiled into the ground and thought to himself, ‘he has no more wisdom.’ So Tortoise said goodbye to the herbalist and travelled back to his village.Early the next morning after he returned Tortoise arose, and quietly, without awaking his wife and five children, took the gourd containing all the wisdom in the world where he had hid it in a hole in the ground under his bed and went to his farm. He planned to hide the gourd at the top of a very tall palm tree. As he walked whistling along the path he imagined being an all wise all powerful king with all the foolish animals as his servants and subjects, even the mighty lion and the terrible leopard.When Tortoise got to the tree he placed the gourd in front of him and began climbing up the tree. But he slid downwards again and again because he found it difficult to grip the tree firmly.A hunter stood quietly watching Tortoise climb up the tree and slide down several times. Then the hunter called out to Tortoise, ‘Mr Tortoise, if you are trying to climb the tree, why don’t you put the gourd behind you so you will have enough freedom to grip the tree.'When Tortoise thought about what the hunter said he saw that it made perfect sense, and then he became furious because he realized that the wisdom the hunter offered him was not in his gourd. In great anger he smashed the gourd at the foot of the palm tree. The Tortoise and the SnailI want to tell a story. One which on the surface has a childish feel, but beneath it is a strong life lesson.Told to me many years back, when I was but a child, it is one of the many Ijapa(tortoise) stories which the elders among the Yoruba nation employ when about to teach and thrill the little ones...SourceThe Tortoise and the SnailA long time ago, the tortoise was very good friemds with the snail. Now you see, these two friends even though quite similar with respect their speed, they were yet very different in their work ethics.While the snail was a hardworking and diligent fellow, the tortoise was lazy and despised honest work.Because of their friendship however, the snail allowed his daughter to get married to the tortoise.The tortoise after his marriage, had serious problems in providing food for his wife, the snail's daughter. Being a lazy fellow, he then decides to steal food from the snail's farm. So every night when the snail was asleep, the tortoise would go to his farm and cart away food.When the snail found out that his farm produce were getting missing, he reported the matter to the king. But after days of searching, the thief still remained elusive.So the snail decides to take matter into his hands. He builds a trap designed to catch the thief, and waits outside for the thief to come....Sorry, I must break here. I feel like a child all over again, or am I still one? Nevermind, let's go ahead....When night arrives, the tortoise comes again, cleverly, as only the cunnimg tortoise can. But then he did not anticipate a trap waiting for him. And wham! The tortoise was caught in the trap.The snail approached the tortoise angrily. And even when the tortoise pleaded that he should be merciful as they were inlaws, the snail was determined to pumish the tortoise for his actions.The snail tied the tortoise, and the next morning he takes him to the center of town to display. He places a label on the tortoise as a thief, and keeps him tied to a tree on the middle of the road.As traders were passing through to the market, they hauled curses at the tortoise and insulted him with as many nasty words as they could. All the while, the snail kept telling whoever was willing to listen that tortoise had been stealing from him as long as he can remember.