Black Horse

Do Not Trust Your Friend

In short: When Wild Rat Ntori visits Leopard, he sets his chair near the door. Then he proposes that they become friends.

Do Not Trust Your Friend · A test of trust FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 81 Do Not Trust Your Friend When Wild Rat Ntori visits Leopard, he sets his chair near the door. Origin Mpongwe oral tradition around Libreville. Atlas record 1912 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF A test of trust Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Mpongwe oral tradition around Libreville.

In Nassau’s account, Leopard tells Ntori which animal he plans to hunt. At night Ntori sells that information to the animals in question. By the time the hunter reaches the forest the next morning, they are hiding. The chair by the door shows that Rat takes precautions before the friendship begins. In the nights that follow, information gives him a way to protect himself and make a profit.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1912 · Libreville, Gabon
    R. H. Nassau · Where Animals Talk · I · Published collection

Country pages

Origin
Black Horse. Do Not Trust Your Friend. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-mpongwe-friend/