The Frog and the Pool of Silence

There was a small pool deep in a granite kopje that was enchanted. Any creature that made a sound near it would be swallowed by the water. All the animals knew this rule. During a drought, this pool was the only water left. The animals would come, drink in absolute silence, and leave. A boastful young Frog, new to the area, came to the pool. The other animals warned him of the rule. "Nonsense!" croaked the Frog. "My voice is a gift! It celebrates the water!" And he let out the loudest croak he could. Instantly, the ground shook, and a great wave rose from the pool and swallowed the foolish Frog. The pool then became still again. The story is a powerful lesson about the importance of respecting sacred places and ancient rules (mitemo). It teaches that some places require silence and reverence, and that boastfulness in the face of the sacred leads to destruction.