Once upon a time, two men met on the street, both carrying a donkey. The men greeted each other and chatted. The donkeys also greeted each other and seemed to be chatting by putting their noses together. The two men didn't miss this and one of them asked: "Tell me, what do the two donkeys have to say to each other?"

"Don't you know?" asked the other. "The donkeys have sent the strongest of all the donkeys as a messenger to the Lord to ask when he will finally free them from the tyranny of man. Whenever two donkeys meet, they ask each other whether the messenger has already returned with an answer." As the donkeys still put their heads together when they meet, they are probably still waiting for the messenger to bring them freedom.

Märchen aus Eritrea, Fassung Djamila Jaenike, nach: E. Littmann, Tales, Customs, Names and Dirges oft he Tigre Tribes, Vol. II, Leyden 1910, englische Fassung Lysander Jaenike © Mutabor Märchenstiftung