The Cattle That Came from the Sky-Country (The Brother and the Magic)
Xhosa folktale · iintsomi
Kwesukasukela. There was a youth who was scorned by his elder brothers and given the poorest portion when their father divided the inheritance, so that he was left with almost nothing. Cast out or set wandering, the despised younger brother came through hardship and danger, and because of his good heart, his courage, or the help of a magical being he encountered, he gained a great herd of fine cattle, or descended into the country beneath the water or beyond the sky where wondrous wealth was kept. He returned home rich and respected, his fortune far surpassing that of the brothers who had cheated him. Seeing his success, the greedy elder brothers tried to follow the same path to win wealth for themselves, but lacking his good character and acting only out of envy, they met misfortune and came back with nothing, or were destroyed by the very powers that had blessed their younger sibling. The tale was told to show that those who are despised and treated unjustly may yet be lifted up, while the proud and greedy are brought low. Cosu cosu, iyaphela.
The lesson: The humble and good-hearted, though wronged, are often rewarded, while the greedy who scorn others are punished.