Zanzibar Tales: Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa by Bateman and Bobbett
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"Zanzibar Tales: Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa" by George W. Bateman is a collection of traditional tales written in the early 20th century. The book captures a vibrant tapestry of folklore narrated by the native people of Zanzibar, reflecting their culture, beliefs, and values through a selection of engaging stories. The tales feature various anthropomorphic characters, including animals like monkeys, sharks, lions, and hares, who navigate moral dilemmas
and often deliver witty insights. The opening portion introduces the reader to the premise of the collection, where Bateman recalls how he gathered stories from local tribesmen who shared their ancestral knowledge. In the initial stories, such as "The Monkey, the Shark, and the Washerman's Donkey," readers are introduced to Keema, a clever monkey who uses wit to outsmart his friend, the shark, under the pretense of seeking his heart. This storytelling is laced with humor, commentary on human nature, and deep-rooted cultural references, establishing a whimsical and instructive tone that suggests the depth of the native traditions waiting to be explored in this compilation. The narrative style engages the audience, inviting them into a world of enchantment and moral lessons. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Translator | Bateman, George W. |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Bobbett, Walter |
| Title | Zanzibar Tales: Told by Natives of the East Coast of Africa |
| Contents | To my readers -- The monkey, the shark, and the washerman's donkey -- The hare and the lion -- The lion, the hyena, and the rabbit -- The kites and the crows -- Goso, the teacher -- The ape, the snake, and the lion -- Haamdaanee -- Mkaaah Jeechonee, the boy hunter -- The magician and the sultan's son -- The physician's son and the king of the snakes. |
| Credits |
Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 87.2 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | GR: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Folklore |
| Subject | Swahili-speaking peoples -- Folklore |
| Subject | Tales -- Africa, East |
| Subject | Tales -- Tanzania |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 37472 |
| Release Date | Sep 18, 2011 |
| Last Update | Jan 8, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 499 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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