Somali Folktales: How the tortoise went for water:
‘Help me to load a camel,’ said a tortoise one day. ‘Tomorrow I’ll bring water for everybody.’
So it was done. The camel was packed, the tortoise was given the end of the leading-rope and he set out.
After three days a rustle was heard from the direction in which the tortoise had gone.
‘Glory be to Allah!’ cried the people. ‘The tortoise has brought water at last!’
The tortoise turned his head.
‘Are you laughing at me?’ he said. ‘I’m still on my way to the well!’



