The Hunter and the Ape with Sixteen Tails

A hunter arrived at a certain village one day and told the Bále that he had seen an ape with sixteen tails. Parkinson's editor notes the number: "note the common occurrence of the number sixteen in Yoruba myth," referring to Ellis. Sixteen is the organising number of the Ifá system, treated in `ifa-256-odu`. The Bále replied that he had never seen or heard of such a beast. Then said the hunter: come into the bush and see this ape. And he stipulated that if it was indeed as he said, the Bále should be put to death, but that if he lied, his own life should be forfeit. To this the Bále agreed, and the hunter affirmed that he would produce the ape. Then the hunter went into the bush and, covering himself with dirt and horrid things, lay down in a path frequented by the apes. In a short while one of the apes approached, and seeing the hunter lying down, shook him; but the hunter lay like one dead. Then the ape went back to the others and told them what he had seen. And the chief ape, the ape with sixteen tails, said: go and see. And they ran and saw the hunter lying in the path, and they bent over him and shook him, singing in chorus: Original The Yorùbá is not given. Parkinson prints this in English only. Literal gloss Not recorded in source. Idiomatic English (as printed, in the interpreter's phrasing) > Come and see the dead hunter. Translator: John Parkinson They said that he was dead, but they left the bow in his right hand and the arrows in his left. Then the apes all went back to the chief ape and said: it is true that the hunter is dead, for he is getting rotten and worms are inside him. Then the chief ape said: it is true. And added that he too would go and see for himself. Then the ape with sixteen tails came, and bending over the hunter said: ah, I have you now, you who have killed several of my people. And he shook him. But the hunter was ready, and sprang up and knocked the ape down and killed him. The hunter carried the ape home and hid it in the house, and again went to the Bále and said: it is a fact. And he added that he was ready to prove his words, reminding him of the conditions. Then the hunter went into the town and told all the people that they should meet in a certain place and hear the conditions of the bet made with the Bále concerning the ape with sixteen tails, and that the Bále should die if the hunter proved correct, and the reverse if not. And to these things the people consented, and to the conditions of the bet, saying that if the chief of the apes with sixteen tails could be produced they would kill the Bále. When the appointed day arrived the hunter took the body of the ape with the sixteen tails and showed it to the people and to the Bále. And the Bále was slain. But the people all said that no one should make bets on such terms, whether the conditions were to be truly carried out or not.