# How Tortoise Lost the Magic Drum and Foo-Foo Tree

In ancient Calabar lived King Efriam Duke, a peaceful ruler who possessed a magical drum that produced abundant food and drink whenever beaten. The only drawback was that if the owner stepped over any stick or fallen tree, the food would spoil, and 300 Egbo men would appear to beat everyone severely. The king used this drum to maintain peace by feeding his enemies rather than fighting them.

One day, the tortoise tricked one of the king's wives after she gave his palm nut to her child. When brought before the king, the tortoise refused all compensation except the drum. The king reluctantly gave it away but never explained the dangerous condition. Tortoise initially enjoyed his newfound wealth, hosting a successful feast for skeptical villagers who then respected him greatly.

Growing lazy and boastful, tortoise one day drunkenly walked over a stick, breaking the drum's magic. When he next used it, Egbo men appeared and beat his family. Seeking revenge, tortoise invited everyone to another feast where he deliberately summoned the Egbo men to beat all the guests while he hid.

After this cruel trick, tortoise returned the drum to the king, who gave him a magic foo-foo tree instead, with the condition that he could collect food only once daily. This worked well until his greedy son secretly followed him by leaving ash trails and later overharvested from the tree with his brothers. The next day, the tree had disappeared behind dense, prickly tie-tie palm. As punishment, tortoise and his family were forced to make their home under this prickly palm—which is why tortoises are still found living beneath tie-tie palms today.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

https://mythopia.io/story/58/the-king-s-magic-drum