COMPLETE! Entered into SurLaLune Database in August 2018 with all known ATU Classifications.



Origin of Death, The: A Third Version of the Same Fable

THE Moon, on one occasion, sent the Hare to the earth to inform Men that as she (the Moon) died away and rose again, so mankind should die and rise again. Instead, however, of delivering this message as given, the Hare, either out of forgetfulness or malice, told mankind that as the Moon rose and died away, so Man should die and rise no more. The Hare, having returned to the Moon, was questioned as to the message delivered, and the Moon, having heard the true state of the case, became so enraged with him that she took up a hatchet to split his head; falling short, however, of that, the hatchet fell upon the upper lip of the Hare, and cut it severely. Hence it is that we see the "Hare-lip." The Hare, being duly incensed at having received such treatment, raised his claws, and scratched the Moon's face; and the dark spots which we now see on the surface of the Moon are the scars which she received on that occasion.

Bibliographic Information

Tale Title: Origin of Death, The: A Third Version of the Same Fable
Tale Author/Editor: Honey, James A.
Book Title: South-African Folk-Tales
Book Author/Editor: Honey, James A.
Publisher: The Baker & Taylor Company
Publication City: New York
Year of Publication: 1910
Country of Origin: Southern Africa (San)
Classification: unclassified








Back to Top