{"collection":"African","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/afr/yl/yl09.htm","path":"afr/yl/yl09.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/afr/yl/yl09.htm","text":"Sacred-Texts African Index Previous Next\nA FAMOUS Olofin, or Yoruba King, was once imprisoned by his enemies in a hut without any door or roof-opening, and left to die of starvation.\nAs he sat gloomily on the ground, the Olofin saw a little mouse running across the hut. He seized his knife, exclaiming: \u201cRather than die of hunger, I will eat this mouse!\u201d\nBut on second thoughts he put away his knife, saying: \u201cWhy should I kill the mouse? I shall starve later on, just the same.\u201d\nTo his surprise the mouse addressed him in the following words:\n\u201cNoble King! Greetings to you on your generosity! You have spared my life, and in return I will spare yours.\u201d\nThe mouse then disappeared into a hole in the ground, and returned some time afterwards followed by twenty or thirty other mice, all bearing grains of corn, gari, and small fruits.\nFor five days they fed him in this manner, and on the sixth day the hut was opened by the Olofin\u2019s captors, who were astonished to find him still alive and in good health.\n\u201cThis Olofin must have a powerful charm!\u201d they declared. \u201cIt appears that he can live without eating or drinking!\u201d\nThereupon they released him, gave him a war-canoe, and let him return in freedom to his own country.","title":"VII THE OLOFIN AND THE MICE","type":"page"}