The Ape, the Snake, and the Lion

Long ago, in a small village called Keejee'jee, there lived a poor woman and her baby boy. The boy’s father had passed away, leaving the mother to work hard every day to get food. Despite her efforts, they were often hungry.

As the boy grew older, he began to wonder about his father. One day, he asked, “Mother, what did my father do to feed us?”

She replied, “Your father was a hunter. He set traps to catch animals, and we ate what he caught.”

“Trapping animals sounds like fun!” said the boy, whose name was ’Mvoo Laana. “I will do the same and see if we can have more to eat.”

The next day, ’Mvoo Laana went into the forest and cut branches from the trees. The second day, he made the branches into traps. On the third day, he twisted ropes from coconut fibers. On the fourth and fifth days, he set up traps all over the forest.

When he checked the traps on the sixth day, he found many animals. He took home enough for his mother and himself to eat. With the extra meat, he went to a nearby town, sold it, and bought corn and other food. Soon, their home was filled with food, and they lived comfortably for a time.

But one day, the traps were empty. Day after day, he caught nothing. Then, one morning, he found an ape caught in one of the traps. As he was about to kill it, the ape spoke.

“Please don't kill me,” it said. “I am Neea’nee, the ape. Free me from this trap, and I will repay your kindness one day.”

Surprised, ’Mvoo Laana released the ape. From a tree, the ape called down to him, “Remember this: Men are not as kind as animals. If you help a man, he might harm you later.”

The next day, ’Mvoo Laana found a snake in the same trap. He was about to call for help when the snake spoke.

“Please don’t harm me,” it said. “I am Neeo’ka, the snake. Let me go, and one day, I will help you in return.”

’Mvoo Laana freed the snake, which moved away quickly but warned him, “Be careful of men. They may repay your kindness with harm.”

On the third day, he found a lion in the trap. Frightened, ’Mvoo Laana started to run, but the lion called out.

“Don’t be afraid. I am Simba Kongway, the old lion. Release me, and I will help you one day if you are in need.”

Gathering his courage, ’Mvoo Laana freed the lion. The lion thanked him but repeated the same warning: “Do not trust men; they might hurt you after you’ve helped them.”

The next day, a man was caught in the trap. ’Mvoo Laana released him. The man thanked him repeatedly and promised to repay his kindness. However, the young hunter soon learned that the traps no longer caught any animals. He and his mother grew hungry again.

One day, ’Mvoo Laana said, “Mother, bake me seven cakes with the little meal we have left. I will go hunting with my bow and arrows.”

With the cakes in hand, he wandered deep into the forest but found no animals. After eating all but one of the cakes, he realized he was lost. Tired and hopeless, he sat down, but suddenly he heard a voice.

It was Neea’nee, the ape. “Are you lost?” it asked.

“Yes,” said ’Mvoo Laana sadly. “I don’t know how to get home.”

“Don’t worry,” said the ape. It ran off and returned with bananas and paw-paws. It even brought water in a calabash. After eating and drinking, ’Mvoo Laana felt stronger. He thanked the ape and continued his journey.

Later, he met Simba Kongway, the lion. “You look tired,” said the lion. “Rest here. I will help you.”

The lion brought him meat and even started a fire for him to cook it. After eating, ’Mvoo Laana thanked the lion and moved on.

Farther along, he came to a well. As he looked in, Neeo’ka, the snake, came out. “I recognize you! You freed me. Let me help you now.”

The snake filled ’Mvoo Laana’s bag with gold and silver chains and told him to use them wisely. Grateful, the young man continued his journey until he reached a city.

There, he met the man he had freed from the trap. The man welcomed him into his home. But while ’Mvoo Laana rested, the man went to the sultan and lied. “A stranger has come to town with a bag full of treasures. He says he got them from a snake, but I think he’s a wizard!”

The sultan sent soldiers to arrest ’Mvoo Laana. They tied his hands and brought him before the sultan. Just then, Neeo’ka, the snake, appeared and stayed by the lying man’s feet. The people were shocked.

“Release the young man,” the sultan ordered. “Why would this man accuse you after inviting you to his home?”

’Mvoo Laana told the sultan everything: how the animals had warned him never to trust men, but he had helped the man anyway. The sultan nodded and said, “It is true that some men are ungrateful, but not all. This man deserves to be punished for returning kindness with cruelty.”

And so, justice was served. As for ’Mvoo Laana, he returned home, wiser but still kind, knowing that kindness is a treasure—even if it isn’t always repaid.