The cover image was restored by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

CUNNIE RABBIT, MR. SPIDER AND THE
OTHER BEEF

A GHOST STORY.

[See Chap. XI.]

[v]

Printed by The Motley Press, 18, Eldon Street, E.C.

PREFACE

This little volume is sent forth with manymisgivings. It claims neither literary excellencenor an entrancing theme, but professesfidelity to truth, and a desire to call attentionto certain quaint and interesting phasesof the inner life of a much misunderstoodrace.

In the compilation of these folk-lore tales,the one aim has been to make them accessibleto English readers, and at the sametime to retain as much as possible of theirnative grace and quaintness.

To accomplish this aim, the stories havebeen told in the dialect used by the peoplein their intercourse with the English, andan attempt has been made to embody thetales in a native setting with local atmosphereand colour. In addition it has seemed necessaryto make a rather copious use of footnotesand explanations.

Much care has been exercised not to modifythe spirit and real content of the stories.The plots and the clever little inventionsare wholly native. It has seemed advisableto select only a few of the more readablestories, in the hope that they may win the[vi]sympathy of the general reader, ratherthan to attempt an extended collection thatwould discourage all but special students offolk-lore.

The stories themselves possess much intrinsicmerit; if they fail to enlist the reader, thefault must be ascribed to the compilers.

The sole credit for discovering and collectingthe stories is due to Miss Cronise; thearrangements of the stories here presented,and their setting, have been largely thework of Mr. Ward.

The authors are under many obligationsto Mr. Alfred Sumner, a native African nowin this country at college, whose intimateacquaintance with the life and customs ofhis people proved most helpful; also toRev. D. F. Wilberforce, a native missionary,who has long been interested in the oralliterature of his country, and in consequencehas been able to give us suggestions ofunusual value. To Miss Minnie Eaton ofMoyamba Mission, and to other friends, whospared no pains to place desired informationwithin our reach, and especially to theMission boys and girls in Africa whosesympathetic interest made this collection apossibility, the gratitude of the authors is due.

Florence M. Cronise.

...