A renowned hunter and wrestler named Akiti boasted that he was stronger than any other man or animal. He had easily overcome a giant, a leopard, a lion, a wolf, and a boa constrictor, and as nobody else opposed his claim, he called himself "the King of the forest."
Wherever he went, he sang his triumphant wrestling-song, and everyone feared and respected him. But he had forgotten the Elephant, who is a very wise animal and knows many charms. One day the Elephant challenged him and declared that he had no right to call himself "King," as the Elephant himself was the sovereign of the forest and could not be defeated.
Akiti thereupon flung his spear at his adversary, but because of the Elephant's charm, the weapon glanced off his hide and did him no harm. Akiti next tried his bow and poisoned arrows, and his hunting-knife, but still without effect.
However, the hunter also possessed a charm, and by using it, he transformed himself into a lion and flew at the Elephant, but the Elephant flung him off. Next, he became a serpent, but he could not succeed in crushing the Elephant to death.
At last, he changed himself into a fly and flew into the Elephant's large flapping ear. He went right down inside until he came to the heart, and then he transformed himself into a man again and cut up the heart with his hunting-knife. At last, the Elephant fell dead, and Akiti stepped out of his body in triumph, for he was now without question "the King of the forest.
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