Then take the ninth jar and wash yourself carefully in its water. It will give you the knowledge of the languages of all the jinn and the animals, the birds, the reptiles, and the fishes.  You will then ask to speak to the oldest of the jinn.  He will tell you where Tabele, my big drum, is.  Only when you possess Tabele will you be able to find Wagadu, the hidden city.”

So Lagarre found the four Jalla trees, dug up the nine jars, washed himself in the water of the first eight, rolled in the mud, and then washed himself carefully in the water of the ninth.

Meanwhile, the eldest prince at last overcame his sloth, raised himself from his couch, and went to see his sick father, saying, “Here I am.   You called me?” 

“Did I not speak to you earlier?” asked the king.  “Have you not gone to find the nine jars?”

“No, you have told me nothing yet.  Why should I go and dig up old pots?” the arrogant son demanded.

“Then someone else has found them.  If so, you will never be king.  It is too late.”

While the elder prince fumed in frustration, Lagarre was standing in the forest listening to what the birds were chattering about.  The king of the jinn sent his oldest subject to the young prince. When this old jinni appeared, he said, “I am old, but there is one creature in this forest who is seven years older than I.  It is Kuto, the monitor lizard.  Go and ask him where Tabele is hidden.”

The jinni vanished, and Lagarre went in search of Kuto, who is as green as the grass in which he hides.  He found Kuto sitting on the riverbank, in the early sunshine.  “I am Lagarre, son of Dinga,” spoke the prince.  “Where can I find Tabele?”  “Dinga was the son of Kirijo,” answered old Kuto.  “Go and ask the jackal Turume, he is seventeen years older than I.”