Ture is surprised by Leopard.

They may have other functions, as well.  Because the trickster blatantly ignores society’s standards of morality and social values, they are all the more obvious for being slighted.  As such, they may be more conveniently reflected upon—and perhaps more appreciated—by those who enjoy his adventures.

In no folk tradition are the moral ambiguities of the trickster more appreciated than among the Azande, a population of agriculturalists living in Zaire, Sudan, and the Central African Republic, on the Nile-Congo divide.  Their trickster is a fictional human being known as Ture.

Putting spots to Leopard

The Azande profess to know nothing regarding Ture’s origins, and none presumes to know where he lives.  His name means “spider” in the Zande language (Zande is the adjectival form of the noun Azande), but they are uncertain what else it may signify.  What they do know, however, is that Ture’s scandalous and enthralling escapades provide a never-failing source of amusement.

The leading authority on the Azande is the late E. E. Evans-Pritchard; the following stories are adapted from his book The Zande Trickster.  In it, Evans-Pritchard suggests that Ture appeals to the Azande because he does just what he pleases, what in their hearts they themselves would like to do.  Ture is a braggart, a monster of depravity, a liar, a lecher, an adulterer, and a murderer.  He is vain, totally selfish, cowardly, treacherous, and utterly irresponsible.

The trickster in Ture is vividly depicted in his many encounters with Leopard.  In one such narrative— which also functions as a just-so story describing how leopards acquired spots— Leopard had captured some rats.  He tied them in a bundle, placed it beside his fire, and stretched out nearby.  Along sauntered Ture, who immediately spied the rats and resolved to eat them.  He tied some resin into a small package and placed it near Leopard’s bundle of rats.  When the resin melted and was dripping into the fire, Ture said to Leopard, “My rats’ fat is dripping.  Let one of us lie on his back with his mouth open so the other may feed him.”  When Leopard opened his mouth wide, Ture seized the burning resin and banged it against Leopard’s mouth.  The dripping resin spread over Leopard’s body, burning many spots into his hide. Ture snatched the rats and kept running until he met his wife.