let me tell of turtle of koka.

man of lubi la suku caught a turtle in the bush; he came with it to the village. they said: "let us kill it!"

some people said: "how shall we kill it?" they said: "we shall cut it with hatchets." turtle replied, saying:

"turtle of koka,

and hatchet of koka;

hatchet not kill me a bit."

the people said: "what shall we kill him with?" some said: "we shall kill him with stones." turtle, fear grasped him, he said: "i am going to die." he says by mouth:

"turtle of koka,

and stone of koka;

stone will not kill me a bit."

the people said: "let us cast him into the fire!" turtle said:

"turtle of koka,

and fire of koka;

fire will not kill me a bit.

on my back,

it is like stone;

not there can

catch on fire."

the people said: "we will kill him with knives." turtle said:

"turtle of koka,

and knife of koka;

knife will not kill me a bit."

the people said: "this fellow, how shall we do? how shall we kill him?" these said: "let us cast him into the depth of water." turtle said: "woe! i shall die there! how shall i do?" the people said: "we have it! we have found the way we can kill him!"

they carry him; they arrive with him at the river. they cast him into the depth. turtle dives; after a while he emerges. there he is swimming and singing:

"in water, in my home!

in water, in my home!"

the people said: "oh! turtle has fooled us. we were going to kill him with hatchets; he says, 'hatchet will not kill me a bit.' we spoke of casting him into the water; he says, 'i am going to die.' we came; we cast him into the water; but we saved him."

this is what caused the turtle to live in the water: the people were going to kill him; but he was shrewd.