No Fish for the Hippo

"This is a story about why the Hippo scatters his dung about. The story is common to most tribes of Africa, although it started with the Bushman.

When the Creator was giving each animal a place in the world, the pair of hippos begged to be allowed to live in the cool water which they dearly loved. The Creator looked at them and was doubtful about letting them live in the water. Their mouths were so large, their teeth so long and sharp and their size and appetites were so big, He was afraid that they would eat up all the fish. Besides, he had already granted the place to another predator - the crocodile. He couldn't have two kinds of large, hungry animals in the rivers. So the Creator refused the hippos' request and told them they could live out on the open plain.

At this news, the two hippos began to weep and wail, making the most awful noise. They pleaded and pleaded with the Creator, who finally gave in. But He made the hippos promise that if they lived in the river, they must never harm a single fish. The were to eat grass instead. The hippos promised solemnly and rushed to the river, grunting with delight. And to this day, hippos scatter their dung on the river bank so the Creator can see that it contains no fish bones. You can still hear the hippos laughing with joy that they were allowed to live in the rivers at all."