Engoro (God) was tired of the constant wailings of men, so one day he sent a trusted servant to earth with the message: 'Send me an offering of fresh, untainted fat and I will remove death from the earth.' The fat, he said, was to be as clean and sparkling as the moon on a clear cloudless night. So the people slaughtered the fattest goat, removed the pure white fat, and placed it in a clean clay dish overspread with fine, fresh water lily leaves.

Then they summoned the Chameleon, regarding him as the most careful of animals, and ordered him to take their offering to Engoro. To help him they erected a long pole which reached up to heaven where Engoro dwells in his splendid glory.

But the Chameleon accidentally soiled the fat with his clumsy feet and on his arrival before Engoro he presented a dirty and unsightly offering.

Engoro was furious and rejected the dirty fat, shouting, 'Who do they think I am? Tell the people of earth that because of this insult they must continue to die, just as their ancestors have done!'

The Chameleon descended the pole with a heavy heart, delivered Engoro's message, and handed over the soiled fat to the furious people. Ever since then death has continued to visit mankind. For his clumsiness the Chameleon was cursed by the people. Now he must always walk on all fours, and his steps must be hesitant and slow. That is why you always see him carrying one leg raised from the ground as he tries to decide exactly where to tread.