THE MAGIC POOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 224, 22 September 1938, Page 30

THE MAGIC POOL.

. ■ WHT HATXVES HATS CKAMEXEOMS. A visitor to Southern Khodesis noticed a chameleon crossing the road at the usual rate of a yard an hour. He* stopped his car, picked up the creature, and returned to his seat, whereupon his hunting "boy," who seemed to fear nothing in the veld, jumped out with every sign of horror. That evening, over the camp fire, the native hunter explained the African's loathing of the harmless and interesting reptile. "Long ago," he said, "the black men asked the Great Spirit to make them white. The Great Spirit told them to follow a chameleon which he ordered to lead them to a pool in the forest, and to bathe themselves in its water. The black men were very glad and followed the chameleon, but it went very slowly, often stopping on the way to climb a bush to hide under the leaves to catch Insects with its long yellow tongue. The black men were patient and sat down to wait until it was satisfied, but all the time the sun blazed down and there was no rain. Days and night* passed, and still the chameleon dallied and moved slowly on. At last they < came in sight of the magic pool, but the sun had been so hot and the chameleon had taken so long-that there was only enough water to allow the black men to wet the palms of their hands and soles of their feet. That, master, is why we natives have white palms and soles, and why we hate chameleons."