Tremearne. Hausa Superstitions and Customs

Today's free book is Hausa Superstitions and Customs by A. J. N. Tremearne. You can read about the Hausa people at Wikipedia; they live mostly in Nigeria and Niger, althoug there are also Hausa-speaking people in other parts of Africa.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.



1. There is no King but God
2. The Punishment of the Sabbath-Breakers
3. The Tender-Hearted Maiden and the Fish
4. The Spider, the Old Woman, and the Wonderful Bull
5. The False Friend
6. A Lie Can Give More Pain than a Spear
7. The King who Fulfilled his Promise to the Leper
8. The Friendly Lion, and the Youth and his Wife
g. However Poor You Are, There is Someone Even Worse off
10. The Boy, the Girl, and Dodo
11. Falsehood is More Profitable than Truth
12. Virtue Pays Better than Greed
13. The Victim does not Always See the Joke
14. Dodo, the Robber, and the Magic Door
15. The Deceitful Spider, the Half-Man, and the Rubber-Girl
16. The Rich Malam, the Thieving Spider, and the Hyena
17. Little Fool, or the Biter Bit
18. How the Spider ate the Hyena Cubs' Food
19. The Slave who was Wiser than the King
20. The Cock by his Wit Saves His Skin
21. The Hen seeks a Charm from the Wild-Cat
22. The Battle between the Beasts and the Birds
23. The Goat Frightens the Hyena
24. The Spider, the Guinea-fowl, and the Francolin
25. How the Cunning Jerboa Killed the Strong Lion
26. The Camel and the Rude Monkey
27. The Boy who was Lucky in Trading
28. One Cannot Help an Unlucky Man
29. The Wonderful Ring
30. The Greedy Girl and Her Cure
31. The Gluttons
32. How Dodo Frightened the Greedy Man
33. Bortorimi and the Spider
34. The Hyena and the Spider Visit the King of a Far City
35. The Hyena Confesses Her Guilt
36. The Greedy Spider and the Birds
37. The Hare Outwits the Hyena
38. Everything Comes to Him who Waits
39. The Lazy Frog and his Punishment
40. The Snake and the Scorpion
41. The Spider which Bought a Dog as a Slave
42. The Wooing of the Bashful Maiden
43. The Girls and the Unknown Youth
44. The Son of the King of Agaddez
45. The Boy who Became his Rival's Ruler
46. The Wild Cat and the Hen
47. The Dishonest Father
48. The Contest for Dodo's Wife
49. The Man and His Lazy Wives
50. The Two Wives, the Hyaena, and the Dove
51. The Man and his Wives, and Dodo
52. The Wife who Would not Work Alone
53. The Thoughtful and the Thoughtless Husbands
54. Solomon and the Birds
55. The King who Coveted His Son's Wife
56. The Girl who Married Dodo's Son
57. The Man who Married a Monkey
58. The Monkey-Woman
59. The Despised Wife's Triumph
60. The Good Kishia and the Lucky Boy
61. The Determined Girl and the Wicked Parents
62. The Wicked Girl and her Punishment
63. The Two Half-Brothers and the Jealous Mother
64. The Origin of the White-Breasted Crow
65. The Brave Mother and the Cowardly Father
66. The Fighting Ram
67. The Lucky Foundling
68. The Wicked Father and the Kind Stranger
69. The Woman who Could not Keep a Secret
70. The Boy who Refused to Walk
71. The Woman who Bore a Clay Pot
72. The Woman whose Offspring were a Mouse and a Cake
73. How the Beautiful Girl escaped from Dodo
74. The Precocious New-Baby Settles his Father's Debts
75. Dodo's Debt
76. How the Eagle Outwitted the Townspeople
77. The Spider Passes on a Debt
78. The Spider Pays his Debts
79. The Youngest Son and the Wise Ewe
80. The Lucky Youngest Son
81. The Division of the Inheritance
82. The City of Women
83. The Town where None Might Go to Sleep
84. The Mender of Men
85. The Porcupine Becomes a Step-Father
86. How Auta Killed Dodo
87. How the Zankallalla Killed Dodo
88. The Wrestlers and the Devil
89. The Two Girls and the Demons
90. The Three Youths and the Three Demons
91. The Ungrateful Men
92. The Man, and his Wives who Were Witches
93. How the Ill-treated Girl Became Rich
94. Dan-Kuchingaya and the Witch
95. The Boy, the Witch, and the Wonderful Horse
96. The Boy who Cheated Death
97. The King with Cannibal Tastes
98. The Many-Headed Cannibals
99. Why the Young Giant Lost His Strength
100. The Youth and the One-Sided Giantess

Tremearne. Fables from Hausaland

Today's free book is Fables and Fairy Tales for Little Folk, or Uncle Remus in Hausaland by A. J. N. Tremearne. You can read about the Hausa people at Wikipedia; they live mostly in Nigeria and Niger, althoug there are also Hausa-speaking people in other parts of Africa.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.



I. How the Scorpion Saved the Goat's Life
II. The Spider Deceives the Hippopotamus and the Elephant
III. How the Hyaena was Blamed for the Spider's Wickedness
IV. The Crafty Spider Replenishes his Larder
V. The Fairy Baby
VI. Hausatu and the Enchanted Spider
VII. The Hunter and the Fairy Buffalo
VIII. How The Thieving Spider was Caught by the Half-Man
IX. The Billy-Goat who Said He Was a Magician
X. Why Hawa Prevented the Beasts from Drinking
XI. The Boy who Refused to Walk
XII. Why the Hare is Afraid of the Dog

Honey. South African Folktales

Today's free book is South African Folktales by James Honey. You can find out more about this book in the South African Folktales unit of the Myth-Folklore UnTextbook.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Sacred Texts Archive, Google Books, and Hathi Books. There is also a free Kindle eBook.


Hottentots And Bushmen
The Lost Message
The Monkey's Fiddle
The Tiger, The Ram, And The Jackal
The Jackal And The Wolf
A Jackal And A Wolf
The Lion, The Jackal, And The Man
The World's Reward
The Lion And Jackal
Tink-Tinkje
The Lion And Jackal
Lion And Jackal
The Hunt Of Lion And Jackal
Story Of Lion And Little Jackal
The Lioness And The Ostrich
Crocodile's Treason
The Story Of A Dam
The Dance For Water Or Rabbit's Triumph
Jackal And Monkey
Lion's Share
Jackal's Bride
The Story Of Hare
The White Man And Snake
Cloud-Eating
Lion's Illness
Jackal, Dove, And Heron
Cock And Jackal
Elephant And Tortoise
Tortoises Hunting Ostriches
The Judgment Of Baboon
Lion And Baboon
The Zebra Stallion
When Lion Could Fly
Lion Who Thought Him Self Wiser Than His Mother
Lion Who Took A Woman's Shape
Why Has Jackal A Long, Black Stripe On His Back?
Horse Cursed By Sun
Lion's Defeat
The Origin Of Death

Dennett. Folklore of the Fjort

Today's free book is Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort by Richard Edward Dennett. You can find out more about this book in the Stories from Congo unit of the Myth-Folklore UnTextbook.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Sacred Texts Archive, Google Books, and Hathi Books.




I. The Folklore Of The Fjort.
II. How A Native Story Is Told.
III. How The Wives Restored Their Husband To Life.
IV. How Nsassi (Gazelle) Got Married.
V. The Vanishing Wife.
VI. Another Vanishing Wife.
VII. The Jealous Wife.
VIII. Ngomba's Balloon.
IX. The Wicked Husband.
X. The Wonderful Child.
XI. How Kengi Lost Her Child.
XII. The Twin Brothers.
XIII. The Younger Brother Who Knew More Than The Elder.
XIV. The Chimpanzee And Gorilla.
XV. The Antelope And The Leopard.
XVI. How The Spider Won And Lost Nzambi's Daughter.
XVII. The Turtle And The Man.
XVIII. Killing A Leopard.
XIX. The Gazelle And The Leopard.
XX. The Wild Cat And The Gazelle.
XXI. The Crafty Woman Overreaches Herself.
XXII. How The Fetish Sunga Punished My Great-Uncle's Twin Brother, Basa.
XXIII. The Rabbit And The Antelope.
XXIV. The Fight Between The Two Fetishes, Lifuma And Chimpukela.
XXV. The Fetish Of Chilunga.
XXVI. The Leopard And The Crocodile.
XXVII. Why Some Men Are White And Others Black.
XXVIII. The Bird-Messengers.
XXIX. Nzambi Mpungu's Ambassador.
XXX. Why The Crocodile Does Not Eat The Hen.
XXXI. The Three Brothers.
XXXII. Death And Burial Of The Fjort.
 


Rattray. Stories and Songs in Chinyanja

Today's free book is Some Folklore Stories and Songs in Chinyanja by R. S. Rattray. The Chinyanja (also Chewa or Nyanja) is a Bantu language that is spoken in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe; learn more at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.




I. THE ORDEAL POISON
II. A FUNERAL
III. THE FUNERAL OF AN ANGONI CHIEF
IV. THE UNAMWALI CEREMONY
V. THE BIRTH OF A CHILD
VI. A VILLAGE EXODUS
VII. MARRIAGE BY PURCHASE
VIII. MARRIAGE (CHIPETA)
IX. THE RAIN TEMPLE
X. THE LOTS
XI. HUNTING
XII. THE WITCH-FINDER
XIII. AN ANGONI PRAYER FOR RAIN
XIV. THE FUNERAL OF AN NSUTU
XV. THE CHIEF OF THE KUKA AND HIS SON-IN-LAW
XVI. THE TORTOISE AND THE ANTELOPE
XVII. THE TWO-HEADED PYTHON
XVIII. KACHIRAMBE
XIX. THE RABBIT AND THE LION
XX. THE RABBIT AND THE ELEPHANT
XXI. THE COCK AND THE SWALLOW
XXII. THE TORTOISE AND THE BABOON
XXIII. THE TORTOISE AND THE LEMUR
XXIV. THE BLIND MAN AND THE HUNCHBACK
XXV. SOME RIDDLES AND PROVERBS

Hollis. The Nandi

Today's free book is The Nandi: Their Language and Folklore by Alfred C. Hollis. The Nandi are an east African people whose traditional home is the Nandi Hills in Kenya; see Wikipedia for more information.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



The Hare and the Elephant
The Hare who Acted as Nurse
The Hare and the Old Woman .
The Hyena's Prophecy
The Origin of the Leopard and Hyena
The Hyenas and Their Medicine Man
The Tapkos Bird and the Child
The Masai Repulsed by the Nandi
The Warriors and the Devil
The Demon who Ate People
How the Dorobo Discovered Poison
The Philosophy of the Dorobo
The Sayings of Animals and Birds
The Story of the Creation
The Story of the Dogs
The Story of the Cattle
The Story of the Eleusine Grain
The New Moon
Goats' Dung

Hollis. The Masai

Today's free book is The Masai: Their Language and Folklore by Alfred C. Hollis. You can learn more about the Masai people of east Africa at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



The hare and the elephants
The warriors and the devil
The warrior and his sisters
The devil called Sae-Kidongoi and the children
The warriors and the monkeys
Konyek and his father
The old man and his knee
Greed of the old man and his wife
The woman and the children of the sycamore tree
The father of Marogo
The two wives and the twins
The caterpillar and the wild animals
The warrior and the Lumbwa
The boy, his brother, and their song
The ostrich chicks
The crow who married a woman
The hare, the hyena, and the lioness's cave
The demon and the child
The two Dorobo
The Dorobo and the giraffe
The story of the gods
A devil
The beginner of the earth
The story of Le-eyo's disobedience
The origin of the Masai and Bantu people
The story of the sun and moon
The eclipse of the moon
Suurise and sunset
The stars
A halo round the moon and the milky way
The rainbow
Comets
Sheet lightning
The story of the flocks and the rain and sun
The story of the night and day
The story of the sky and earth

There are additional sections on a wide range of Masai folk beliefs and customs.

Jacottet. The Treasury of Basuto Lore

Today's free book is The Treasury of Basuto Lore by E. Jacottet. The Basotho (Basuto) are one of the Bantu peoples of southern Africa. You can learn more about them at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.



The Nyamatsanes
The Little Hare
The Mphotanyane
The Jackal
The Jackal, the Dove, the Crane, and the Leopard
Leobu
The Four Young Men
Moleso oa Okhomo
Masilo and Masilonyane (multiple versions)
Tselane
Moshanyana oa Senkatana (multiple versions)
Masilo and Thakane
Bulane and Tselane
The Bird that Excretes Milk
Seetetelane
Kumonngoe
Monyohe (multiple versions)
Maliane
Bulane and Senkepeng
Ntotoatsana
Mosimoli and Mosimotsane
Marailane 'abo Khosi
Ntetekoane
Seilatatsi oa Mohale
The Child with a Moon on His Breast
Nkolobe
The Nanaboleles
Selomakupu
Sekholomi and Takalasi
The Mothemelle
Soenyane oabo Seontseng
Kooma
Polo and Khoahlakhubelu
Litokotoko
Limo and 'Maliepetsane
Moriana
Obu
Rasertsana

Jephson. Stories Told in an African Forest

Today's free book is Stories Told in an African Forest by A. J. Mounteney Jephson. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. As the author explains in the preface, these are caravan stories from Zanzibar in east Africa. Jephson was one of the officers who accompanied Henry Stanley to what was then called Equatoria (now the southern Sudan); you can read more about Zanzibar at Wikipedia.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



Mahomet
The Lion and Mr. Hunger
The Leopardess and the Dog
Kintu
Daoud the Fisherman
Kilindi
The Cat and the Rat



Stanley. My Dark Companions and Their Strange Stories

Today's free book is My Dark Companions and Their Strange Stories by Henry M. Stanley. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. Yes, this is the Henry Stanley who is famous for his search for the explorer David Livingstone ("Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"). You can read more at Wikipedia. As he explains in the preface to this book, "The following legends are the choicest and most curious of those that were related to me during seventeen years" in Central Africa.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can get a free Kindle ebook from Amazon too!



The Creation of Man.
The Goat, The Lion, and The Serpent.
The Queen of the Pool.
The Elephant and the Lion.
King Gumbi and his Lost Daughter.
The Story of Maranda.
The Story of Kitinda and her Wise Dog.
The Story of the Prince who Insisted on Possessing the Moon.
How Kimyera Became King of Uganda.
The Legend of the Leopardess and her Two Servants, Dog and Jackal.
How the Dog outwitted the Leopard.
The Legend of the Cunning Terrapin and the Crane.
The Legend of Kibatti the Little who Conquered all the Great Animals.
The Partnership of Rabbit and Elephant, and what came of it.
The Adventures of Saruti.
The Boy Kinneneh and the Gorilla.
The City of the Elephants.
The Search for the Home of the Sun.
A Hospitable Gorilla.



Steere. Swahili Tales

Today's free book is Swahili Tales (as told by natives of Zanzibar) translated by Edward Steere. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. You can read more about the Swahili language at Wikipedia, and you will see the influences of Arabic culture in the stories below; for the geography, see this article on the Swahili Coast.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



THE STORY OF THE WASHERMAN'S DONKEY
SULTAN DARAI
AN INDIAN TALE
MOHAMMED THE LANGUID
PROVERBS
SULTAN MAJNUN
GOSO THE TEACHER
"SELL DEAR, DON'T SELL CHEAP"
THE HARE, THE HYENA, AND THE LION
THE STORY OP HASSEEBU KAREEM ED DEEN AND THE KING OF THE SNAKES
THE KITES AND THE CROWS
THE HARE AND THE LION
THE SPIRIT WHO WAS CHEATED BY THE SULTAN'S SON
BLESSING OR PROPERTY
THE CHEAT AND THE PORTER
TOBACCO
ENIGMAS
THE APE, THE LION, AND THE SNAKE
THE LIONESS AND THE ANTELOPE
THE STORY OF LIONGO
POEM OP LIONGO
GUNGU DANCE SONG
BEGINNING OF THE UTENZI ON JOB

Torrend. Specimens of Bantu Folklore

Today's free book is Specimens of Bantu Folklore by J. Torrend. There are Bantu-speaking peoples throughout central and southern Africa, and the stories in this book come from what was then northern Rhodesia, now Zambia; you can read more about Zambia at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.




First Part —Tales of the Bene-Mukuni
I. How Can I Silence Katubi?
II. Father, Wait for Me
III. As I am Be-thankful, I Go Back
IV. Let the Big Drum Roll
V. Njerenjere
VI. Alas! Father, at the Temple
VII. What do You Mean, Block of Wood?
VIII. I am Calling you Loud
IX. Open, Open, Little Bird
X. Little Bead! Little Bead!
XI. How I Shall Be Admired!
XII. I am Tembwe
XIII. First Let Me Hand Over
XIV. Little Old Woman There!
XV. To be Marked!
XVI. Mother, Come Back
XVII. Branch Off, Blaze of Fire
XVIII. KAPEPE, the Little Feather
Drums, You Have Hurt Me
At My Father's Abode
Pretty Little Bird, a Feather!
Is This the Road?
Shall We Go into this Hut? ...
Shall We Sit on this Mat?
Is This Our Wife?
Peel Off Some Fibre
This is the Child of the Rain-Lord
Hold for Me My Son-in-Law
Bring Me My Cat-Skin
Mother of Loads!
Let Us Sit Down
I Go, I Go, My Little Brother

Second Part — Tales in Rhodesian Tonga
Drum, You Have Hurt Me
I Don't Want To
How Thick the Bush is Today!
Camundari
I Shall Reveal Thee
My Berries!
The Little Iron House
Dance Like That!
Give Me a Little Tobacco

See also a few stories in Specimens of Kaffir Folk Lore:

The Bird that made Milk
Mlonjaloniani, his Sister, and a Mbulu
The Gqongqos and Qajana
Tanga-lo-mlibo

Savory. Zulu Fireside Tales

Today's free book is Zulu Fireside Tales by Phyllis Savory and illustrated by Sylvia Baxter. You can read more about the Zulu people of southern African at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust.

1. Ntunjambili
2. The Adventures of Nomvula
3. The Wicked Mazimuzimu
4. The Son of the Tortoise
5. Makhandu Mahlanu or The Five Heads
6. Nkalimeva
7. Fenisana
8. The Love of Kenelinda
9. Nabulela
10. The Song of the Doves
11. The Marriage Feast
12. The River Maiden

African Stories in Andrew Lang's Fairy Books

Below is a list of the stories in Andrew Lang's Fairy Book series which come from Africa.

I have singled out the North African stories because Lang's books are very valuable in that regard. For the other regions of Africa, there are lots of colonial English-language sources, but not for North Africa because the 19th-century sources are in German or French. Update. I did find one book by Rene Basset in English which contains Berber and Kabyle stories; you can see those stories here: Moorish Literature.

The "view" link takes you to a presentation of the stories at the MythFolklore.net site (no illustrations); you can also use the link to the specific fairy book itself (by color) to access a version online that might have an illustration. The bibliography information, such as it is, comes from Andrew Lang's brief notes (sometimes very brief notes) for each story.


NORTH AFRICA:

ADVENTURES OF A JACKAL 
Berber. Nouveaux Contes Berberes. par Rene Basset. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

ADVENTURES OF YOUNGER SON OF JACKAL 
Berber. Contes Berberes. par Rene Basset. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

ADVENTURES OF JACKAL'S ELDEST SON 
Berber. Contes Berberes. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

CLEVER CAT 
Berber. Contes Berberes. (adapted) 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

SAMBA THE COWARD 
Contes Soudainais. Par C. Monteil 
VIEW - included in the Olive Fairy Book

DAUGHTER 0F BUK ETTEMSUCH 
Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme. 
VIEW - included in the Grey Fairy Book

MOHAMMED WITH THE MAGIC FINGER 
Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme. 
VIEW - included in the Grey Fairy Book

STORY OF DSCHEMIL AND DSCHEMILA 
Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme. 
VIEW - included in the Grey Fairy Book

UDEA AND HER SEVEN BROTHERS 
Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme. 
VIEW - included in the Grey Fairy Book

STORY OF HALFMAN 
Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme. 
VIEW - included in the Violet Fairy Book

DEATH OF ABU NOWAS 
Tunisian. Tunische Märchen. 
VIEW - included in the Crimson Fairy Book
EAST AFRICA:

ROVER OF THE PLAIN
Baronga. Etude Ethnographique sur les Baronga. par Henri Junod. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

MOTIRATIKA 
Baronga. Junod. 
VIEW - included in the Crimson Fairy Book

HEART OF A MONKEY 
Swahili Tales. by Edward Steere. LL.D. 
VIEW - included in the Lilac Fairy Book

ONE-HANDED GIRL 
Swahili Tales. by Edward Steere. LL.D. 
VIEW - included in the Lilac Fairy Book

STORY OF A GAZELLE 
Swahili Tales. 
VIEW - included in the Violet Fairy Book

NUNDA. EATER OF PEOPLE 
Swahili Tales. (adapted) 
VIEW - included in the Violet Fairy Book

STORY OF HASSEBU 
Swahili Tales. (adapted) 
VIEW - included in the Violet Fairy Book

You can find Steere's book here: Swahili Tales.

SOUTH AFRICA:

HOW ISURO THE RABBIT TRICKED GUDU 
Mashona Story. 
VIEW- included in the Orange Fairy Book

MAGIC MIRROR 
Senna. Rhodesian Tale. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

STORY OF HERO MAKOMA 
Rhodesian Tale. 
VIEW - included in the Orange Fairy Book

SACRED MILK OF KOUMONGOE 
Contes Populaires des Bassoutos. traduits par E. Jacottet 
VIEW - included in the Brown Fairy Book

JACKAL AND SPRING 
Contes Populaires des Bassoutos. traduits par E. Jacottet 
VIEW - included in the Grey Fairy Book

JACKAL DOVE AND PANTHER 
Contes Populaires des Bassoutos. traduits par E. Jacottet 
VIEW - included in the Pink Fairy Book

LITTLE HARE 
Contes Populaires des Bassoutos. traduits par E. Jacottet 
VIEW - included in the Pink Fairy Book

You can find Jacottet's book in English here: The Treasury of Basuto Lore.





Dayrell. Ikom Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria

Today's free book is Ikom Folk Stories from Southern Nigeria by Elphinstone Dayrell. For more about the Ikom region of Nigeria, see the Wikipedia article on the Oyono (Cross) River.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive and Hathi Trust.


How an Inkum Woman Abandoned One of Her Twins in the Forest, and How It Was Saved by the Hawk
The Cunning Hare; or, Why the Tortoise Has a Patched Shell
The Story of Igiri and Her Husband Inkang, Who Brought Up a Mushroom Baby Boy
How Elili of Inkum Died, and Was Brought Back to Life Again
Concerning the Human Sacrifices which Took Place on the Death of Chief Indoma
The Story of the Witch who Tried to Kill Her Husband; Or, Why Native Dogs Refuse to Obey Their Masters
How Two Friends Fell Out: The Spider and the Grasshopper
How Ewa Abagi, an Inkum Woman, Was Drowned in the Cross River, and How She Was Rescued by the Young Men of Insofan
The Story of the War between Inkum and Enfitop
How an Inkum Boy Was Drowned by His Companions and How They Were Punished
How a Father Tried to Kill One of His Sons but Failed
Concerning the Okuni Witches and Cannibalism
Of Chief Amaza, His Wife Achi, and the Tortoise
The Fate of Agbor the Hunter, Who Killed His Wife and Children
What Happened at Okuni When Anyone Was Killed by Accident
How Oghabi Poisoned His Friend Okpa and Family, or, Why a Host Should Always Eat First
How Chief Alankor and All His Family Were Killed by a Big Frog, or Why the Cock Crows at Dawn
How the River Came into Existence, or Why a Crab Has No Head
Why the Mist Rises from the Water
How Ibanang Okpong and Her Mother Were Swallowed by a Man-Eating Drum, and How They Escape from its Inside
Why the Head of the Male Goat Smells So Strong
A Story of the Great Famine
Why Edidor Killed Her Husband and Her Lover
How 'Nyambi Punished Chief Oga for Trying to Commit Adultery with His Wife Obim
How Two Bendega Young Men Changes Their Skins
Concerning the Ju-Ju against Elephantiasis, or How the Hares Lost Their Long Tails
How a Cruel Inkum Chief Was Poisoned by His Slaves
How the Frog Beat the Bush Buck in a Race
Why a Python Never Swallows a Tortoise
The Game of Hide-and-Seek as Played by the Hawk and the Bush Cow
Chief Kekong's Daughter 'Ndere who Married a Python
How Agbor Adam Broke the Hunting Law of Okuni
How Essama Stole Her Father's Goat in the Fatting-House
Quomodo Evenit ut Penis Primum Cum Vagina Coiit (you'll notice that this last one is in Latin, and the whole story is in Latin too... to protect innocent women and young readers from such scandalous content!)


Gonzales. With Aesop (in Gullah)

Today's free book is With Aesop along the Black Border by Ambrose E. Gonzales. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. This is a version of Aesop's fables in the Gullah dialect, and you can read about Ambrose Gonzales and his publications in Gullah at Wikipedia. (And for a harsh reminder of Southern thoughts about race at the time, take a look at the preface to this book, which refers to the "kindly" institution of slavery...!)

The book is available at Hathi Trust.



THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES
THE BULL AND THE GNAT
THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
THE SUN AND THE WIND
THE ETHIOP
THE FOX AND THE CROW
THE FARMER AND THE BIRDS
THE FOX WHO HAD LOST HIS TAIL
THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN
THE MULE
THE FROGS WHO ASKED FOR A KING
THE ASS AND THE SHADOW
THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
THE LION AND THE MOUSE
THE LION AND THE BOAR
THE WOOD AND THE COUNTRYMAN
THE MISER
THE FARMER AND THE SNAKE
THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
THE SHE-GOATS AND THEIR BEARDS
THE FOX AND THE GOAT
THE FATHER AND HIS SONS
THE FOX IN THE WELL
THE OXEN AND THE AXLETREES
THE HARE AND THE HOUND
THE FIGHTING COCKS AND THE EAGLE
THE CROW AND THE PITCHER
THE MAN AND HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS
THE THIEF AND HIS MOTHER
THE FOX AND THE CRANE
THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER
THE MICE IN COUNCIL
THE PLAYFUL ASS
THE HEN AND THE GOLDEN EGGS
THE STAG AT THE POOL
THE BOY BATHING
THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAW
THE DOG AND HIS SHADOW
THE BOY AND THE NETTLES
THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN
THE BOYS AND THE FROGS
THE BOY WHO CRIED "WOLF"
THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
THE OAK AND THE REEDS
THE DOG IN THE MANGER
THE WILD BOAR AND THE FOX
THE VAIN JACKDAW
THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOATS
THE KID AND THE WOLF
THE CAT AND THE COCK
THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP
THE MAN AND HIS WIFE
HERCULES AND THE WAGONER
THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE
THE TRAVELER AND HIS DOG
THE TWO POTS
THE BOASTING TRAVELER
THE LION, THE BEAR AND THE FOX
THE ASS AND THE GRASSHOPPER





Bell-Woodward. The Golden Ship and Other Swahili Tales

Today's free book is The Golden Ship and Other Swahili Tales with illustrations by Lilian Bell and Alice B. Woodward. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. You can read more about the Swahili language and about the Swahili Coast at Wikipedia.

The book is available at Hathi Trust and Google Books.


The Golden Ship
Riches or Happiness
The King and the Beggar
The Wonderful Warrior
The Biter Bit

Bender. African Jungle Tales

Today's free book is African Jungle Tales by C. J. Bender. You can read more about the very popular "Little Blue Book" series at Wikipedia. The author, Carl Jacob Bender worked as a Baptist missionary Cameroon, working with the Bakweri (Wakweli) people. See Wikipedia for more information about the Bakweri people and about Cameroon.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Hathi Trust.


The Punishment of the Turtle
Why the Weaver-Bird and the Woodpecker
Are Enemies
One Ought Not to Despise the Little Things
The Leopard and the Goat
The Horns of the Buffalo
How the Antelope's Wife Came to Her Death
The Curse of Selfishness
The Singing Skeleton
The Woman and the Parrot
How the Sparrow and the Hen Became Friends
Sad Fate of Three Little Flies
How Mafani Earned His Bride
Punished Indifference
The Ant and the Cricket
How the Elephant Made a Fool of Himself
No One Can Live on Beauty Alone
Why Chameleons and Snakes Are Hated by Men
Prudence and Indolence
The Fox and the Hen
A Test of Friendship
How the Turtle Outwitted the Pip
The Man Who Wanted to Fool Death
The Parrot and the Owl
How the Hen and the Duck Became Friends
All for the Skin of a Lion
How the Monkey Saved the Antelope from Death
The Leopard and the Python
The Race Between the Turtle and the Antelope
The Leopard and the Crane

Stafford. Animal Fables

Today's free book is Animal Fables from the Dark Continent by A.O. Stafford.

This is an odd little book because it contains stories from Africa (20 stories) along with African-American stories (14 stories), but the author provides no further information beyond those numbers; there is no source information provided story by story.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



THE HAPPY AGE IN THE ANIMAL WORLD
THE SQUIRREL AND THE KINGSHIP
THE DOG AND THE KINGSHIP
THE DOG AND THE CLEVER RABBIT
THE DOG AND THE LEOPARD
THE CAT AND THE HEN
THE CAT, THE RAT, AND THE FOX
WHY THE CAT CAME TO MAN'S HOUSE
THE RABBIT AND THE OTHER ANIMALS
THE RABBIT AND THE ANIMAL WIZARD
THE RABBIT AND THE ELEPHANT
THE RABBIT AND THE ALLIGATOR
THE WOLF'S BUTTER
THE RABBIT ESCAPES THE WOLF'S ANGER
THE RABBIT AND HIS EARS
THE RABBIT AND THE MOON
WHY THE GOAT LEFT THE JUNGLE
THE FROG AND THE ELEPHANT
THE FROG AND THE LEOPARD
THE JACKAL AND THE LEOPARD
THE JACKAL AND THE HERON
THE JACKAL AND THE HYENA
THE HYENA'S SPOTS
THE HYENA'S PUNISHMENT
THE WOLF AND HIS TWO DINNERS
THE SENSE OF THE WEASEL
THE TURTLE, THE WOLF, AND THE HYENA
THE HOME OF THE RAT
THE ALLIGATOR AND THE MOOR HEN
THE HAWK AND THE ROOSTER
THE OWL AND HIS FRIENDS
THE RIVAL ROOSTERS
THE MONKEY FINDS WORRY
JAN THE ANIMAL JUDGE

Vaughan. Old Hendrik's Tales

Today's free book is Old Hendrik's Tales by Arthur Owen Vaughan. The author is best known as a Welsh patriot and nationalist; he fought in the Boer War, and this book dates to the time he spent in South Africa. You can read about his life and career at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can get a free Kindle ebook from Amazon too!



Why Old Baboon has that Kink in his Tail.
Old Jackal and Young Baboon.
Why Old Jackal Danced the War-Dance.
How Old Jackal got the Pigs.
When Ou’ Wolf built his House.
Ou’ Wolf lays a Trap.
Ou’ Jackalse takes Ou’ Wolf a-Sheep Stealing.
When the Birds would choose a King which tells also why the white owl only flies by night.
Why Old Jackal slinks his Tail.
Why Little Hare has such a Short Tail.
The Bargain for the Little Silver Fishes.
Why the Tortoise has no Hair on.
Why the Ratel is so Keen on Honey.



Stigand. Swahili Tales

Today's free book is Swahili Tales: Black tales for white children by C. H. Stigand. The stories come from the Swahili Coast, and they show a mixture of both African and Arabic storytelling elements.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, and Hathi Trust. You can get a free Kindle ebook from Amazon too!



I THE LION OF MANDA
II PEMBA MUHORI
III THE CAT'S TAIL
IV THE YOUNG THIEF
V THE TRAPPER, THE LION AND THE HARE
VI NUNDA THE SLAYER AND THE ORIGIN OF THE ONE-EYED
VII THE WOODCUTTER AND HIS DONKEY
VIII KITANGATANGA OF THE SEA
IX THE LION'S TALISMAN
X THE STORY OF KIBARAKA AND THE BIRD
XI THE STORY OF THE FOOLS
XII THE HYAENA AND THE MOONBEAM
XIII THE SULTAN'S SNAKE-CHILD
XIV THE POOR MAN AND HIS WIFE OF WOOD
XV BINTI ALI THE CLEVER
XVI SEGU THE HONEY-GUIDE
XVII LILA AND FILA
XVIII THE STORY OF THE HUNTERS AND THE BIG SNAKE
XIX ALI OF THE CROOKED ARM
XX FEEDING THE HUNGRY
XXI SHANI AND TABAK
XXII A MAN AND HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW
XXIII THE JACKAL, THE HARE AND THE COCK
XXIV THE MAGIC DATE TREES
XXV PAKA THE CAT
XXVI THE TALE OF THE MERCHANT AND HIS BAG OF GOLD
XXVII BATA THE DUCK
XXVIII THE SULTAN'S DAUGHTER
XXIX THE LION, THE HYAENA AND THE HARE

Cronise-Ward. West African Folk Tales

Today's free book is Cunnie Rabbit, Mr. Spider, and the Other Beef: West African Folk Tales by Florence M. Cronise and Henry W. Ward. Cronise was a teacher at a mission school in Sierra Leone, and you can read more about Sierra Leone at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



I. WHEN THE NIGHT HAS COME
MR. SPIDER WINS A WIFE.
II. WITH THE SPIRITS OF THE WOOD
GORO, THE WONDERFUL WRESTLER.
MR. SPIDER A CLEVER TRADER.
MR. TURTLE MAKES A RIDING-HORSE OF MR. LEOPARD.
III. A BACK-YARD KITCHEN
CUNNING RABBIT AND HIS WELL.
GOATS OF THE WOOD AND OF THE TOWN.
IV. EVENING ON THE WATER
SPIDER DISCOVERS THE WAX GIRL.
MR. CHAMELEON IS TRANSFORMED INTO A BOAT.
SPIDER, ELEPHAN' EN PAWPAWTÁMUS.
V. A PURRO INITIATION
CUNNING RABBIT BECOMES A KING.
MR. SPIDER INITIATES THE FOWLS.
VI. THE BURNING OF THE FARM
SPIDER TRIES TO BRUSH THE DEVIL'S FARM.
THE DEVIL TURNS PIGEON.
VII. MAMMY MAMENAH AND HER FRIENDS
A STONE THAT WORE A BEARD.
THE GIRL WHO PLAITED THE DEVIL'S BEARD.
"MARRY THE DEVIL, THERE'S THE DEVIL TO PAY."
VIII. CHILDREN OF NATURE
THE THREE TWINS.
WHICH TWIN RESTORED HIS FATHER TO LIFE.
WHICH ONE WAS MOST GREEDY.
MR. SPIDER CREATES A FRIGHTFUL TORNADO.
MR. LEOPARD SHOWS HIS HAND.
MR. LEOPARD FOOLS THE OTHER ANIMALS.
A CASE OF TIT FOR TAT.
DR. SPIDER'S FATAL PRESCRIPTIONS.
MR. SPIDER "PULLS" A SUPPLY OF MEAT.
IX. AN AFTERNOON IN THE BARREH
THE DANCING BIRD.
THE WICKED IS TAKEN IN HIS OWN SNARE.
AN OLD MAN TURNS ELEPHANT.
THE MAN WHO COULD NOT KEEP SECRETS.
X. KONAH TURNS STORY-TELLER
THE DEVIL'S MAGIC EGGS.
TOOTHACHE ENTAILED.
WHY MR. SPIDER'S WAIST IS SMALL.
XI. WHILE THE BIRDS DID NOT COME
MR. SPIDER SECURES A POWERFUL WITCH MEDICINE.
MR. SPIDER GETS INTO TROUBLE AGAIN.
A GHOST STORY.
XII. A HARVEST HOME IN TEMNE-LAND
WATCH-POT AND GREEDY.
THE ORIGIN OF THE AXE.
XIII. KONAH HAS A WONDERFUL DAY
THE NEW VERSION OF EVE AND THE APPLE.

Nassau. West African Folk Lore Tales

Today's free book is Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales by Robert Hamill Nassau. These stories come from the Mpongwe, Benga, and Fang (Beti-Pahuin) tribes of Gabon; you can read more about Gabon, located on the west coast of central Africa, at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



Mpongwe Tribe
1 Do not Trust your Friend
2 Leopard's Hunting-Camp
3 Tests of Death
4 Tasks done for a Wife; and, The Giant Goat
5 A Tug-of-War
6 Agenda: Rat's Play on a Name
7 "Nuts are Eaten Because of Angangwe": A Proverb
8 Who are Crocodile's Relatives?
9 Who is King of Birds? and, Why Chickens live with Mankind
10 "Njiwo Died of Sleep:" A Proverb
11 Which is the Fattest:—Manatus, Hog, or Oyster?
12 Why Mosquitoes Buzz
13 Unkind Criticism
14 The Suitors of Princess Gorilla
15 Leopard of the Fine Skin
16 Why the Plantain-Stalk Bears but One Bunch

Benga Tribe
1 Swine Talking
2 Crocodile
3 Origin of the Elephant
4 Leopard's Marriage Journey
5 Tortoise in a Race
6 Goat's Tournament
7 Why Goats Became Domestic
8 Igwana's Forked Tongue
9 What Caused their Deaths?
10 A Quarrel about Seniority
11 The Magic Drum
12 The Lies of Tortoise
13 "Death Begins by Some One Person": A Proverb
14 Tortoise and the Bojabi Tree
15 The Suitors of Njambo's Daughter
16 Tortoise, Dog, Leopard, and the Njabi Fruit
17 A Journey for Salt
18 A Plea for Mercy
19 The Deceptions of Tortoise
20 Leopard's Hunting Companions
21 Is the Bat a Bird or a Beast?
22 Dog, and his Human Speech
23 The Savior of the Animals
24 Origin of the Ivory Trade
25 Dog and his False Friend Leopard
26 A Trick for Vengeance
27 Not My Fault!
28 Do not Impose on the Weak
29 Borrowed Clothes
30 The Story of a Panic
31 A Family Quarrel
32 The Giant Goat
33 The Fights of Mbuma-Tyetye; and, An Origin of Leopard
34 A Snake's Skin Looks like a Snake

Fang Tribe
1 Candor 233
2 Which is the Better Hunter, an Eagle or a Leopard?
3 A Lesson in Evolution
4 Parrot Standing on One Leg
5 A Question of Right of Inheritance
6 Tortoise Covers His Ignorance
7 A Question as to Age
8 Abundance: A Play on the Meaning of a Word
9 An Oath: With a Mental Reservation
10 The Treachery of Tortoise
11 A Chain of Circumstances

Bleek. Hottentot Fables and Tales

Today's free book is Reynard the Fox in South Africa: Or, Hottentot Fables and Tales Wilhelm Heinrich Immanuel Bleek. The Khoikhoi (Hottentot) are a pastoral people of southwest Africa; you can read more at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



I. Jackal Fables.
1. The Lion's Defeat
2. The Hunt of the Lion and Jackal
3. The Lion's Share
4. The Jackal's Bride
5-6. The White Man and the Snake
7. Cloud-Eating
8. Fish-Stealing
9. Which was the Thief?
10. The Lion's Illness
11. The Dove and the Heron
12. The Cock
13. The Leopard and the Ram
II. Tortoise Fables.
14. The Elephant and the Tortoise
15. The Giraffe and the Tortoise
16. The Tortoises Hunting the Ostriches
III. Baboon Fables.
17. The Judgment of the Baboon
18. The Lion and the Baboon
19. The Zebra Stallion
20. The Lost Child (a Tale)
21. The Baboon Shepherd (a Tale)
IV. Lion Fables
22. The Flying Lion
23. The Lion who thought himself Wiser than his Mother
24. The Lion who took a Woman's Shape
25. A Woman transformed into a Lion
26. The Lion and the Bushman (a Tale)
V. Various Fables.
27. How a Nama Woman outwitted the Elephants
28. A Bad Sister
VI. Sun and Moon Fables
29. Why has the Jackal a long black Stripe on his Back?
30. The Horse cursed by the Sun
31-35. The Origin of Death
VII. Heitsi Eibip and Other Legends.
36. Heitsi Eibip
37-38. The Victory of Heitsi Eibip
39. The Raisin-Eater
40. Origin of the Difference in Modes of Life between Hottentots and Bushmen
VIII. Household Tales.
41. The Little Wise Woman
42. The Unreasonable Child




Metelerkamp. South African Folklore Tales

Today's free book is Outa Karel's Stories: South African Folk-Lore Tales by Sanni Metelerkamp. These stories were originally told in Afrikaans, so be sure to check out the glossary of Afrikaans words that you will find here and there in the stories. For more about Afrikaans, see Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, and Hathi Trust. You can get a free Kindle ebook from Amazon too!



I. The Place and the People
II. How Jakhals Fed Oom Leeuw
III. Who was King?
IV. Why the Hyena is Lame
V. Who was the Thief?
VI. The Sun
VII. The Stars and the Stars’ Road
VIII. Why the Hare’s Nose is Slit
IX. How the Jackal got his Stripe
X. The Animals’ Dam
XI. Saved by his Tail
XII. The Flying Lion
XIII. Why the Heron has a Crooked Neck
XIV. The Little Red Tortoise
XV. The Ostrich Hunt




Callaway. Tales and Traditions of the Zulus

Today's free book is Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus by Henry Callaway. You can read more about the Zulu people of southern African at Wikipedia. This book is one of the sources for Native Fairy Tales of South Africa by Ethel L. McPherson.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.





The Tale of Uthlakanyana
Usikulumi-kathlokothloko
Uzembeni; or, Usikulumi's Courtship
Untombinde
Amavukutu
Usitungusobenthle
Usitungusobenthle and the Amajubatente
Uluthlazase
Ulangalasenthla and Ulangalasenzansi
Ubabuze
The Man and the Bird
Ukcombekcansini
The Little Birds
The Honey-bird
The Rock of Two-holes; or, The Cannibal's Cave
The Girl and the Cannibals
The Heaven-country
Umbadhlanyana and the Cannibal
Cannibals
The Mode of Eating a Eival Chief
Ugunggri-kubantwana
The Izingogo
The Origin of Baboons
The Cannibal whom Umasendeni received into his house
Umkasikaza-wakogingqwayo
The Two Brothers
Ubongopa-kamagadhlela
Umdhlubu and the Frog
The Girl-king
Unthlangunthlangu
The Great Fiery Serpent
The Rainbow
Utshinfesha and the Rainbow
Untombi-yapansi
Umkatshana
The Tale of Uncama-ngamanzi-egudu
Umamba
Unanana-bosele
The Wise Son of the King
The Great Tortoise
Fabulous Animals
The Abatwa
The Dreadfulness of the Abatwa
The Hyrax went without a Tail because he sent for it
The Hyena and the Moon
The Baboons and the Leopard
The Tale of a Man who threw away some
Bread
The Tale of a Crow
Another Tale of a Crow
The Tale of a Dog which made a Song
Riddles


Ogumefu. Yoruba Legends

Today's free book is Yoruba Legends by M. I. Ogumefu. You can read more about the Yoruban people of west Africa at Wikipedia; the stories in this book come from southern Nigeria.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Sacred Texts.



I THE KINGDOM OF THE YORUBAS
II HOW TRIBAL MARKS CAME TO BE USED
III AKITI THE HUNTER
IV SONS OF STICKS
V WHY WOMEN HAVE LONG HAIR
VI WHY PEOPLE CRY “LONG LIVE THE KING!” WHEN THUNDER FOLLOWS LIGHTNING
VII THE OLOFIN AND THE MICE
VIII THE IROKO TREE
IX ORISA OKO
X MOREMI
XI THE BAT
XII THE LEOPARD-MAN
XIII THE WATER-BIRD
XIV THE ANTS AND THE TREASURE
XV THE VOICES OF BIRDS
XVI THE THREE MAGICIANS
XVII ISOKUN AND THE BABY
XVIII THE TWIN BROTHERS
XIX HOW LEOPARD GOT HIS SPOTS
XX ANOTHER STORY OF LEOPARD’S SPOTS
XXI THE HEAD
XXII OLE AND THE ANTS
XXIII THE BOA-CONSTRICTOR
XXIV OLURONBI
XXV THE STAFF OF ORANYAN
XXVI THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK
XXVII THE SECRET OF THE FISHING-BASKETS
XXVIII THE TEN GOLDSMITHS
XXIX THE COOKING-POT
XXX THE PARROT
XXXI THE GHOST-CATCHER
STORIES OF TORTOISE
XXXII TORTOISE AND THE KING
XXXIII TORTOISE AND MR. FLY
XXXIV ERIN AND ERINOMI (THE LAND- AND WATER-ELEPHANTS)
XXXV THE THREE DEATHS OF TORTOISE
XXXVI TORTOISE AND THE COCK
XXXVII TORTOISE AND CRAB
XXXVIII TORTOISE AND PIGEON
XXXIX TORTOISE AND THE WHIP-TREE
XL TORTOISE AND THE RAIN

Shaihua. Hausa Folklore

Today's free book is Hausa Folklore by Maalam Shaihua, translated by R. Sutherland Rattray. You can read about the Hausa people at Wikipedia; they live mostly in Nigeria and Niger, althoug there are also Hausa-speaking people in other parts of Africa.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Internet Archive, Sacred Texts, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.


(bronze castings)


1. The story of the slave by name 'The World'
2. How brothers and sisters first came to quarrel and hate each other
3. The story of the boy and the old woman, and how the wasp got his small waist
4. The story about a beautiful maiden, and how the hartebeest got the marks under its eyes like teardrops
5. How the whip and the 'maara' spoon (a broken bit of calabash) came to the haunts of men
6. A story about a chief, and how his sons observed his funeral, and the origin of the spider
7. A story about an orphan, showing that 'he who sows evil, it comes forth in his own garden'
8. A story about a witch, and how the baby of the family outwitted her, and invented the first walled town
9. The doctor who went a pilgrimage to Mecca on a hyena
10. A story about a chief and his cook
11. A story about three youths all skilled in certain things, and how they used that skill to circumvent a difficulty.
12. A story about a giant, and the cause of thunder
13. A story about an orphan which was the origin of the saying 'The orphan with a coat of skin is hated, but when it is a metal one he is honoured'
14. A story of a jealous man and what befell him
15. A story of a great friendship and how it was put to the test
16. A story about a test of skill
17. A story about Miss Salt, Miss Pepper, &c.
18. The story of Muusa (Moses) and how it came about that brothers and sisters do not marry each other
19. A story about a hunter and his son
20. A story about a maiden and the pumpkin
21. The Gaawoo-tree and the maiden, and the first person who ever went mad


Wyndham. Myths of Ífè

Today's free book is Myths of Ífè by John Wyndham. You can read more about the Yoruban people of west Africa at Wikipedia; the stories in this book come from Nigeria. You can also read at Wikipedia about the ancient Yoruban city called Ife.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Internet Archive, Sacred Texts, and Hathi Trust.




I. THE BEGINNING.
II. THE DESCENT
III. THE WAR OF THE GODS.
IV. THE SACRIFICE OF MÓRIMI.
V. THE ÚBO WARS.
VI. THE PASSING OF ÓGUN.

Theal. Xhosa Folk-Lore

Today's free book is Kaffir (Xhosa) Folk-Lore by George McCall Theal. You can read more about the Xkhosa people of southern African at Wikipedia.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Internet Archive, Sacred Texts, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



Story Of The Bird That Made Milk. I
The Story Of The Bird That Made Milk. II
The Story Of Five Heads
The Story Of Tangalimlibo
Story Of The Girl Who Disregarded The Custom Of Ntonjane
The Story Of Simbukumbukwana
The Story Of Sikulume
The Story Of Hlakanyana
The Story Of Demane And Demazana
The Runaway Children; Or, The Wonderful Feather
Story Of Ironside And His Sister
Story Of The Cannibal's Wonderful Bird
The Story Of The Cannibal Mother And Her Children
Story Of The Girl And The Mbulu
The Story Of Mbulukazi
The Story Of Long Snake
The Story Of Kenkebe
Another Story Of Kenkebe
Story Of The Wonderful Horns
The Story Of The Glutton
Story Of The Great Chief Of The Animals
Story Of The Hare
Story Of Lion And Little Jackal
Proverbs And Figurative Expressions

Church. Stories of the Magicians

Today's free book is Stories of the Magicians Alfred J. Church. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Baldwin Project, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



The Story of Thalaba
The Meeting of the Magicians
Aswad
How Abdaldar the Magician sought for Thalaba
How Thalaba Went on his Errand
How Thalaba Fared on his Journey
What Thalaba Saw at Babylon
The Paradise of Sin
How Oneiza was Saved and Lost
The Deliverance of Thalaba
The Magic Thread
Leila
The Sledge and the Boat
The Doom

The Story of Rustem
Of Zal, the Father of Rustem
The First Exploits of Rustem
Rustem and his Horse Raksh
Rustem Fights with Afrasiab
How King Kaous Marched against the Land of the Gen
The Seven Adventures of Rustem
The Seven Adventures of Rustem (continued)
Sohrab
Sohrab (continued 2)
Sohrab (continued 3)
Sohrab (continued 4)
The Last Victory of Rustem
The Death of Rustem

The Story of Kehama
The Curse
The Glendoveer
Ladurlad
The Ancient Tombs
The Refuge
The Doom

Church. Stories from the Greek Comedians

Today's free book is Stories from the Greek Comedians by Alfred J. Church. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Baldwin Project, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books.



Stories from the Old Comedy (Aristophanes): 
The Acharnians
The Knights
Peace
The Wasps
The Clouds
The Birds
The Frogs
The Parliament of Women
Plutus

Stories from the New Comedy (Philemon, Menander, Diphilus, Apollodorus):
The Buried Treasure
The Ghost
The Shipwreck
The Brothers
The Girl of Andros
Phormio

Lamb. Tales from Shakespeare

Today's free book is Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb; some versions, like the one at Project Gutenberg, are illustrated by Arthur Rackham. There's also an edition illustrated by Louis Rhead. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Baldwin Project, Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. There is also a free audiobook at LibriVox. You can get a free Kindle ebook from Amazon too!



The Tempest
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Winter's Tale
Much Ado About Nothing
As You Like It
Two Gentlemen of Verona
The Merchant of Venice
Cymbeline
King Lear
Macbeth
All's Well That Ends Well
Taming of the Shrew
Comedy of Errors
Measure for Measure
Twelfth Night; or, What You Will
Timon of Athens
Romeo and Juliet
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Othello
Pericles, Prince of Tyre