There was once a king who was very powerful. He had great influence over the wild beasts and animals. Now the tortoise was looked upon as the wisest of all beasts and men. This king had a son named Ekpenyon, to whom he gave fifty young girls as wives, but the prince did not like any of them.
The king was very angry at this, and made a law that if any man had a daughter who was finer than the prince’s wives, and who found favour in his son’s eyes, the girl herself and her father and mother should be killed.
Now about this time the tortoise and his wife had a daughter who was very beautiful. The mother thought it was not safe to keep such a fine child, as the prince might fall in love with her, so she told her husband that her daughter ought to be killed and thrown away into the bush.
The tortoise, however, was unwilling, and hid her until she was three years old. One day, when both the tortoise and his wife were away on their farm, the king’s son happened to be hunting near their house, and saw a bird perched on the top of the fence round the house. The bird was watching the little girl, and was so entranced with her beauty that he did not notice the prince coming.
The prince shot the bird with his bow and arrow, and it dropped inside the fence, so the prince sent his servant to gather it. While the servant was looking for the bird he came across the little girl, and was so struck with her form, that he immediately returned to his master and told him what he had seen.
The prince then broke down the fence and found the child, and fell in love with her at once. He stayed and talked with her for a long time, until at last she agreed to become his wife. He then went home, but concealed from his father the fact that he had fallen in love with the beautiful daughter of the tortoise.
But the next morning he sent for the treasurer, and got sixty pieces of cloth and three hundred rods, and sent them to the tortoise. Then in the early afternoon he went down to the tortoise’s house, and told him that he wished to marry his daughter.
The tortoise saw at once that what he had dreaded had come to pass, and that his life was in danger, so he told the prince that if the king knew, he would kill not only himself (the tortoise), but also his wife and daughter.
The prince replied that he would be killed himself before he allowed the tortoise and his wife and daughter to be killed. Eventually, after much argument, the tortoise consented, and agreed to hand his daughter to the prince as his wife when she arrived at the proper age. Then the prince went home and told his mother what he had done.
She was in great distress at the thought that she would lose her son, of whom she was very proud, as she knew that when the king heard of his son’s disobedience he would kill him. However, the queen, although she knew how angry her husband would be, wanted her son to marry the girl he had fallen in love with, so she went to the tortoise and gave him some money, clothes, yams, and palm-oil as further dowry on her son’s behalf in order that the tortoise should not give his daughter to another man.
For the next five years the prince was constantly with the tortoise’s daughter, whose name was Adet, and when she was about to be put in the fatting house, the prince told his father that he was going to take Adet as his wife.
On hearing this the king was very angry, and sent word all round his kingdom that all people should come on a certain day to the market-place to hear the palaver. When the appointed day arrived the market-place was quite full of people, and the stones belonging to the king and queen were placed in the middle of the market-place.
When the people saw the girl they agreed that she was very fine and quite worthy of being the prince’s wife, and begged the king to cancel the law he had made altogether, and the king agreed; and as the law had been made under the “Egbo” law, he sent for eight Egbos, and told them that the order was cancelled throughout his kingdom, and that for the future no one would be killed who had a daughter more beautiful than the prince’s wives, and gave the Egbos palm wine and money to remove the law, and sent them away.
Then he declared that the tortoise’s daughter, Adet, should marry his son, and he made them marry the same day. A great feast was then given which lasted for fifty days, and the king killed five cows and gave all the people plenty of foo-foo and palm-oil chop, and placed a large number of pots of palm wine in the streets for the people to drink as they liked.
The prince and his wife lived together for a good many years until the king died, when the prince ruled in his place. And all this shows that the tortoise is the wisest of all men and animals.
Kids and Health
Cooking Can Be Fun—and Safe!
Do you like helping in the kitchen—stirring, baking, or cutting out cookie shapes? Cooking is fun, but staying safe is just as important. With a little care and an adult nearby, you can enjoy making food and avoid accidents.
Work with an adult
Before you start, always ask an adult for permission to cook. If your recipe uses knives, the stove, oven, blender, or any sharp or hot tools, an adult should be there to help and watch you. Some tools look easy, but they can be dangerous if used the wrong way.
Dress for the kitchen
Wear an apron or an old shirt to keep your clothes clean. Avoid loose or baggy clothes, because sleeves can catch fire or get pulled into mixers and other equipment.
Keep everything clean
Wash your hands with soap and water before you start cooking, and always wash them again after touching raw meat, eggs, fish, or chicken. Clean your counters, cutting boards, and tools with warm soapy water after cooking. This helps keep germs out of your food and keeps everyone healthy.
Use the kitchen safely
Always ask before using sharp tools or the stove. When using a knife, keep your fingers away from the blade and pay attention—no distractions. Use oven mitts for hot pots and pans, and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Only use microwave-safe dishes in the microwave, and never put metal inside.
Practice makes better
Cooking is a skill you learn over time. You might not get everything perfect at first, and that’s okay. With practice and help from an adult, you’ll get better—and have fun doing it!
Quiz
· Which Nigerian state is known as the “Treasure Base of the Nation”?
· What is the name of Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber?
· Which Nigerian city is famous for Aso Oke weaving?
· What does the white color on Nigeria’s flag stand for?
· Which Nigerian river flows through Yola?
· Who was Nigeria’s first female Finance Minister?
· Which Nigerian monument is called the “Gateway to Abuja”?
Answer
1. Delta State 2. The Senate 3. Iseyin 4. Peace 4. River Benue 5. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 6. Zuma Rock
Did You Know?
· Delta State is one of Nigeria’s major oil-producing states.
· The Senate and House of Representatives make up Nigeria’s National Assembly.
· Aso Oke is a traditional Yoruba fabric used for special occasions.
· The River Benue is one of the two main rivers in Nigeria.
· Abuja was planned as a purpose-built capital city.
· Nigeria’s flag was first raised on October 1, 1960.
· Zuma Rock is a popular tourist landmark near Abuja.
