sábado, 17 de noviembre de 2007
viernes, 16 de noviembre de 2007
THE JUDGEMENT OF BABBON
ONE day, it is said, the following story happened:Mouse had torn the clothes of Itkler (the tailor), who then went to Baboon, and accused Mouse with these words:"In this manner I come to thee: Mouse has torn my clothes, but will not know anything of it, and accuses Cat; Cat protests likewise her innocence, and says, 'Dog must have done it; but Dog denies it also, and declares Wood has done it; and Wood throws the blame on Fire, and says, 'Fire did it'; Fire says, ' have not, Water did it'; Water says, 'Elephant tore the clothes'; and Elephant says, 'Ant tore them.' Thus a dispute has arisen among them. Therefore, 1, Itkler, come to thee with this proposition: Assemble the people and try them in order that I may get satisfaction."Thus he spake, and Baboon assembled them for trial. Then they made the same excuses which had been mentioned by Itkler, each one putting the blame upon the other.So Baboon did not see any other way of punishing them, save through making them punish each other; he therefore said,"Mouse, give Itkler satisfaction."Mouse, however, pleaded not guilty. But Baboon said, "Cat, bite Mouse." She did so.He then put the same question to Cat, and when she exculpated herself, Baboon called to Dog, "Here, bite Cat."In this manner Baboon questioned them all, one after the other, but they each denied the charge. Then he addressed the following words to them, and said,Wood, beat Dog.Fire, burn Wood.Water, quench Fire.Elephant, drink Water.Ant, bite Elephant in his most tender parts."They did so, and since that day they cannot any longer agree with each other.Ant enters into Elephant's most tender parts and bites him.Elephant swallows Water.Water quenches Fire.Fire consumes Wood.Wood beats Dog.Dog bites Cat.And Cat bites Mouse.Through this judgment Itkler got satisfaction, and addressed Baboon in the following manner:"Yes! Now I am content, since I have received satisfaction, and with all my heart I thank thee, Baboon, because thou hast exercised justice on my behalf and given me redress."Then Baboon said, "From to-day I will not any longer be called Jan, but Baboon shall be my name."Since that time Baboon walks on all fours, having probably lost the privilege of walking erect through this foolish judgment.
jueves, 15 de noviembre de 2007
THE STORY OF TANGALIMLIBO
Here was once a man who had two wives, one of whom had no children. She grieved much about that, till one day a bird came to her and gave her some little pellets. The bird said she must eat of these always before she partook of food, and then she would bear a child. She was very glad, and offered the bird some millet.
But the bird said: "No, I do not want millet."
The woman then offered an isidanga (an ornamental breast-band which women wear), but the bird said it had no use for that. Then she got some very fine gravel and placed before the bird, which it received at her hands.
After this the woman had a daughter. Her husband knew nothing of what had happened, because he never went to her house. He did not love her at all, for the reason that she bore no children. So she said:
"I will keep my daughter in the house till my husband comes; he will surely love me when he sees I have such a beautiful child."
The name given to the girl was Tangalimlibo.
The man went always to the house of the other wife, and so it happened that Tangalimlibo was grown to be a young woman when her father first saw her. He was very much pleased, and said:
"My dear wife, you should have told me of this before."
The girl had never been out of the house in the daytime. Only in the night-time she had gone out, when people could not see her.
The man said to his wife:
"You must make much beer, and invite many people to come and rejoice with me over this that has happened."
The woman did so. There was a big tree in front of the kraal, and the mats were spread under it. It was a fine sunny day, and very many men came. Among them was the son of a certain chief, who fell in love with Tangalimlibo as soon as he saw her.
When the young chief went home he sent a message to the father of the girl that he must send her to him to be married. The man told all his friends about that. He told them also to be ready at a certain time to conduct his daughter to the chief. So they came and took her, and the marriage feast was very great. The oxen were many which were killed that day. Tangalimlibo had a large and beautiful ox given to her by her father. That ox. was called by her own name. She took off a piece of her clothing and gave it to the ox, which ate it.
After she had been married some time, this woman had a son. She was loved very much by her husband, because she was pretty and industrious; only this thing was observed of her, that she never went out in the daytime. Therefore she received the name of Sihamba Ngenyanga (the walker by moonlight).
One day her husband went to a distant place to hunt with other men. There were left at his home with this woman only her father-in-law, her mother-in-law, and a girl who nursed the little child.
The father-in-law said
"Why does she not work during the day?
He pretended to become thirsty, and sent the girl to Tangalimlibo to ask for water, saying:
"I die with thirst."
The woman sent water to her father-in-law, but he threw it on the ground, saying:
"It is water from the river I desire."
She said:
"I never go to the river in the daytime."
He continued to ask, saying again
"I die with thirst."
Then she took a milk-basket and a calabash ladle, and went weeping to the river. She dipped the ladle in the water, and it was drawn out of her hand. She dipped the milk-basket in the water, and it was drawn away from her. Then she tried to take some water in her mantle, and she was drawn under the surface. After a little time the girl was sent to look for her, but she came back, saying:
"I found her not who is accustomed to draw water only in the night."
Her father-in-law drove oxen quickly to the river. He took the big ox that was called by her name and killed it. He put all the flesh and everything else that was of that ox into the river, saying:
"Let this be instead of my child."
A voice was heard saying:
"Go to my father and my mother and say to them that I am taken by the river."
That evening the little child of Tangalimlibo, was crying very bitterly. Its father was not yet home. Its grandmother tried by every means to keep it from crying, but in vain. Then she gave it to the nurse, who fastened it on her back. Still the child continued to cry. In the middle of the night the nurse went down to the river with the child, singing this song
"It is crying, it is crying,The child of Sihamba Ngenyanga;It is crying, it will not be pacified."
Then the mother of the child came out of the river, and wailed this song:
"It is crying, it is crying,The child of the walker by moonlight.It was done intentionally by people whose names are unmentionable.They sent her for water during the day.She tried to dip with the milk-basket, and then it sank.Tried to dip with the ladle, and then it sank.Tried to dip with the mantle, and then it sank."
With the name as a chorus at the end of each line.
Then she took her child and put it to her breast to suck.
When the child had finished sucking, she gave it back to the nurse, telling her to take it home. She commanded the nurse never to say to any one that she came out of the water, and told her that when people asked where the child got food she must say she gave it berries to eat.
Thit continued for some days. Every night the nurse took the child to the river, when its mother came out and suckled it. She always looked round to see that no one was present, and always put the same command on the girl.
After a time the father of the child returned from hunting. They told him of Tangalimlibo's going to the river and not returning. Then the nurse brought the child to him. He inquired what it ate, and was told that berries were given to it.
He said: "That cannot be so; go and get some berries, and let me see my child eat them."
The girl went and brought some berries, but they were not eaten by the child. Then the father of the child beat the girl until she told the truth. She said she went at niaht to the river, when the mother came out and caressed her child and gave it of her milk.
Then they made a plan that the husband of Tangalimlibo should hide himself in the reeds and try and catch his wife when she came out of the water. He took the skin of an ox and cut it into a long riem, one end of which he fastened round his waist. The other end he gave to the men of that village, telling them to hold it fast and to pull hard when they felt it being drawn from them.
At night the man hid himself in the reeds. Tangalimlibo came out of the water and looked all round while she was singing her song. She asked the girl if any one was there, and when the girl replied that there was no one she took her child. Then her husband sprang upon her, clasping her very tight. She tried to pull back, but the men at the village drew upon the riem. She was drawn away, but the river followed her, and its water turned into blood. When it came close to the village, the men who were pulling at the riern saw it, and became frightened. They let the riem. go, when the river at once went back, taking Tangalimlibo with it.
After that her husband was told of the voice which came from the water, saying:
"Go to my father and my mother and tell them I am taken by the river."
He called his racing ox, and said:
"Will you, my ox, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The ox only bellowed.
He called his dog and said:
"Will you, my dog, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The dog only barked.
Last of all he called the cock.
He said: "Will you, my cock, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The cock answered: "I will do so, my master."
He said: "Let me hear what you will say."
The cock answered: "I will sing-
"I am a cock that ought not to be killed-Cock-a-doodledoo!I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo-Cock-adoodle-doo!Tangalimlibo is dead-Cock-a-doodle-doo!She dipped water for a person that cannot be named-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send a dog; it barked-Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
The chief said That is good, my cock, go now.
As the cock was going on his way, some boys who were tending calves saw him.
One of them said to the others: "Come here, come here, boys; there is a cock for us to kill."
Then the cock stood up, and sang his song.
The boys said: "Sing again, we did not hear you plainly."
So he sang again:
"I am a cock that ought not to be killed-Cock-a-doodledoo!I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo-Cock-a-doodle-doo!Tangalimlibo is dead-Cock-a-doodle-doo!She dipped water for a person that cannot be named-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed- Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send a dog; it barked--Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
Then the boys let him go on his way.
He travelled far from that place and came to a village, where the men were sitting in the kraal. He flew up on the back of the kraal to rest himself, and the men saw him.
They said: "Where does this cock come from? We thought all the cocks here were killed. Make haste, boys, and kill him."
The cock began to sing his song.
Then the men said Wait, boys, we wish to hear what he says."
They said to him: "Begin again, we did not hear you."
The cock said: "Give me some food, for I am very hungry."
The men sent a boy for some millet, and gave it to him. When he had eaten, he sang his song.
The men said: "Let him go;" and he went on his way.
Then he came to the village of the father of Tangalimlibo, to the house of those he was seeking. He told the message he was. sent to carry. The mother of Tangalimlibo was a woman skilful in the use of medicines.
She said to her husband: "Get a fat ox to go with us."
They arrived at the river, and killed the ox.
Then that woman worked with her medicines while they put the meat in the water. There was a great shaking and a rising up of the river, and Tanoalimlibo came out. There was great joy among those people when they took her home to her husband.
So she had to go away in sorrow, and Mbulukazi remained the great wife of the chief.
But the bird said: "No, I do not want millet."
The woman then offered an isidanga (an ornamental breast-band which women wear), but the bird said it had no use for that. Then she got some very fine gravel and placed before the bird, which it received at her hands.
After this the woman had a daughter. Her husband knew nothing of what had happened, because he never went to her house. He did not love her at all, for the reason that she bore no children. So she said:
"I will keep my daughter in the house till my husband comes; he will surely love me when he sees I have such a beautiful child."
The name given to the girl was Tangalimlibo.
The man went always to the house of the other wife, and so it happened that Tangalimlibo was grown to be a young woman when her father first saw her. He was very much pleased, and said:
"My dear wife, you should have told me of this before."
The girl had never been out of the house in the daytime. Only in the night-time she had gone out, when people could not see her.
The man said to his wife:
"You must make much beer, and invite many people to come and rejoice with me over this that has happened."
The woman did so. There was a big tree in front of the kraal, and the mats were spread under it. It was a fine sunny day, and very many men came. Among them was the son of a certain chief, who fell in love with Tangalimlibo as soon as he saw her.
When the young chief went home he sent a message to the father of the girl that he must send her to him to be married. The man told all his friends about that. He told them also to be ready at a certain time to conduct his daughter to the chief. So they came and took her, and the marriage feast was very great. The oxen were many which were killed that day. Tangalimlibo had a large and beautiful ox given to her by her father. That ox. was called by her own name. She took off a piece of her clothing and gave it to the ox, which ate it.
After she had been married some time, this woman had a son. She was loved very much by her husband, because she was pretty and industrious; only this thing was observed of her, that she never went out in the daytime. Therefore she received the name of Sihamba Ngenyanga (the walker by moonlight).
One day her husband went to a distant place to hunt with other men. There were left at his home with this woman only her father-in-law, her mother-in-law, and a girl who nursed the little child.
The father-in-law said
"Why does she not work during the day?
He pretended to become thirsty, and sent the girl to Tangalimlibo to ask for water, saying:
"I die with thirst."
The woman sent water to her father-in-law, but he threw it on the ground, saying:
"It is water from the river I desire."
She said:
"I never go to the river in the daytime."
He continued to ask, saying again
"I die with thirst."
Then she took a milk-basket and a calabash ladle, and went weeping to the river. She dipped the ladle in the water, and it was drawn out of her hand. She dipped the milk-basket in the water, and it was drawn away from her. Then she tried to take some water in her mantle, and she was drawn under the surface. After a little time the girl was sent to look for her, but she came back, saying:
"I found her not who is accustomed to draw water only in the night."
Her father-in-law drove oxen quickly to the river. He took the big ox that was called by her name and killed it. He put all the flesh and everything else that was of that ox into the river, saying:
"Let this be instead of my child."
A voice was heard saying:
"Go to my father and my mother and say to them that I am taken by the river."
That evening the little child of Tangalimlibo, was crying very bitterly. Its father was not yet home. Its grandmother tried by every means to keep it from crying, but in vain. Then she gave it to the nurse, who fastened it on her back. Still the child continued to cry. In the middle of the night the nurse went down to the river with the child, singing this song
"It is crying, it is crying,The child of Sihamba Ngenyanga;It is crying, it will not be pacified."
Then the mother of the child came out of the river, and wailed this song:
"It is crying, it is crying,The child of the walker by moonlight.It was done intentionally by people whose names are unmentionable.They sent her for water during the day.She tried to dip with the milk-basket, and then it sank.Tried to dip with the ladle, and then it sank.Tried to dip with the mantle, and then it sank."
With the name as a chorus at the end of each line.
Then she took her child and put it to her breast to suck.
When the child had finished sucking, she gave it back to the nurse, telling her to take it home. She commanded the nurse never to say to any one that she came out of the water, and told her that when people asked where the child got food she must say she gave it berries to eat.
Thit continued for some days. Every night the nurse took the child to the river, when its mother came out and suckled it. She always looked round to see that no one was present, and always put the same command on the girl.
After a time the father of the child returned from hunting. They told him of Tangalimlibo's going to the river and not returning. Then the nurse brought the child to him. He inquired what it ate, and was told that berries were given to it.
He said: "That cannot be so; go and get some berries, and let me see my child eat them."
The girl went and brought some berries, but they were not eaten by the child. Then the father of the child beat the girl until she told the truth. She said she went at niaht to the river, when the mother came out and caressed her child and gave it of her milk.
Then they made a plan that the husband of Tangalimlibo should hide himself in the reeds and try and catch his wife when she came out of the water. He took the skin of an ox and cut it into a long riem, one end of which he fastened round his waist. The other end he gave to the men of that village, telling them to hold it fast and to pull hard when they felt it being drawn from them.
At night the man hid himself in the reeds. Tangalimlibo came out of the water and looked all round while she was singing her song. She asked the girl if any one was there, and when the girl replied that there was no one she took her child. Then her husband sprang upon her, clasping her very tight. She tried to pull back, but the men at the village drew upon the riem. She was drawn away, but the river followed her, and its water turned into blood. When it came close to the village, the men who were pulling at the riern saw it, and became frightened. They let the riem. go, when the river at once went back, taking Tangalimlibo with it.
After that her husband was told of the voice which came from the water, saying:
"Go to my father and my mother and tell them I am taken by the river."
He called his racing ox, and said:
"Will you, my ox, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The ox only bellowed.
He called his dog and said:
"Will you, my dog, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The dog only barked.
Last of all he called the cock.
He said: "Will you, my cock, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?"
The cock answered: "I will do so, my master."
He said: "Let me hear what you will say."
The cock answered: "I will sing-
"I am a cock that ought not to be killed-Cock-a-doodledoo!I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo-Cock-adoodle-doo!Tangalimlibo is dead-Cock-a-doodle-doo!She dipped water for a person that cannot be named-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send a dog; it barked-Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
The chief said That is good, my cock, go now.
As the cock was going on his way, some boys who were tending calves saw him.
One of them said to the others: "Come here, come here, boys; there is a cock for us to kill."
Then the cock stood up, and sang his song.
The boys said: "Sing again, we did not hear you plainly."
So he sang again:
"I am a cock that ought not to be killed-Cock-a-doodledoo!I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo-Cock-a-doodle-doo!Tangalimlibo is dead-Cock-a-doodle-doo!She dipped water for a person that cannot be named-Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed- Cock-a-doodle-doo!It was tried to send a dog; it barked--Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
Then the boys let him go on his way.
He travelled far from that place and came to a village, where the men were sitting in the kraal. He flew up on the back of the kraal to rest himself, and the men saw him.
They said: "Where does this cock come from? We thought all the cocks here were killed. Make haste, boys, and kill him."
The cock began to sing his song.
Then the men said Wait, boys, we wish to hear what he says."
They said to him: "Begin again, we did not hear you."
The cock said: "Give me some food, for I am very hungry."
The men sent a boy for some millet, and gave it to him. When he had eaten, he sang his song.
The men said: "Let him go;" and he went on his way.
Then he came to the village of the father of Tangalimlibo, to the house of those he was seeking. He told the message he was. sent to carry. The mother of Tangalimlibo was a woman skilful in the use of medicines.
She said to her husband: "Get a fat ox to go with us."
They arrived at the river, and killed the ox.
Then that woman worked with her medicines while they put the meat in the water. There was a great shaking and a rising up of the river, and Tanoalimlibo came out. There was great joy among those people when they took her home to her husband.
So she had to go away in sorrow, and Mbulukazi remained the great wife of the chief.
THE STORY OF MBULUKAZI
There was once a man who had two wives, one of whom had no children, and for that reason she was not loved by her husband. Her name was Numbakatali. The other wife had one daughter who was very black, and several children besides, but they were all crows. The one who had no offspring was very downcast on that account, and used to go about weeping all day.
Once when she was working in her garden, and crying as usual, two doves came and perched near her. One of them said to the other: "Dove, ask the woman why she is crying." So the dove questioned her.
She replied: "It is because I have no children, and my husband does not love me. His other wife's children are crows, which come and eat my corn, and she laughs at me."
The dove said: "Go home and get two earthen jars, and bring them here,"
Numbakatali went and got them. Then the doves scratched her knees till the blood flowed, and put the blood in the jars. The woman gave the doves some corn to eat, after which she took the jars home to her hut, and set them carefully down in a corner. Every day the two doves came to be fed, and always -told the woman to look at what was in the jars.
At last, when she looked one day, she saw two children, one a boy, the other a girl, and both very handsome. She was very much delighted at the sight, but she did not tell any one.
When the children grew a little she made a snug place for them in the hut, where they were to sit all day, because she did not wish them to be seen. Always before she went to her work she charged them not to go out, and as her husband never came to see her, no one knew of the existence of these children except herself and a servant girl.
But one day, when they were big, she went out, and aftcr she was away some time, the boy said to his sister:" Come, let us help our mother by bringing water from the river."
So they went for water; but they had not reached the river when they met a company of young men with a chief's son, who was looking for a pretty girl to be his wife. The young chief was called Broad Breast, because his chest was very wide, and it was also made of a glittering metal that shone in the sun. These men asked for water to drink. The boy gave them all some water, but the young chief would only take it from the girl. He was very much smitten with her beauty, and watched her when she left, so as to find out where she lived.
As soon as the young chief saw the hut that the girl went to, he returned home with his party and asked his father for cattle with which to marry her. The chief, who was very rich, gave his son many fine cattle, with which the young man went to the girl's mother's husband, and said: "I want to marry your daughter."
So the girl who was very black was told to come, but the young chief said:"That is not the one I want; the one I saw was lighter in colour and much prettier."
The father replied I have no other children but crows."
But Broad Breast persisted, so the man called his wives, both of whom denied that there was such a girl. However, the servant girl went to the man and privately told him the truth. In the evening he went to his wife's hut, and to his great joy saw the boy and his sister. He was so delighted that he remained there that nicht, and after talking it over with his wife, he agreed to let Broad Breast marry the girl.
In the morning a mat was spread in the yard, and the young chief was asked to sit down. The two children and the servant girl who told their father about them wgre also called, and they all sat down on the mat.
The young chief, as soon as he saw her, said: "This is the girl I meant."
He stayed part of the day, and then with his attendants went to his father for more cattle, which, having obtained, he brought them to the father of the girl.
The mother of the very black girl and the crows was very jealous when she saw such a fine young chief coming with so many cattle. She wanted her daughter to be the one that was to be married; so she dressed her as finely as she could, but she had no such pretty clothes as the other girl had. Her name was Mahlunguluza, for she was called after the crows, who were the other children of her mother. The pretty girl's name was Mbulukazi, which name was given to her because her handsome dress was made of the skin of a mbulu.
The mother of Mahlunguluza spoke to the young chief about her daughter, and so he married both the girls. Their father gave to each an ox, with which they went to their new home. Mbulukazi's ox was a pretty young one, and Mahlunguluza's ox was an old and poor one. When they arrived, Broad Breast gave to Mbulukazi a very nice new house to live in, but to Mahlunguluza was given an old one quite in ruins.
Then the very black one saw she was not loved, and she became jealous, so she made a plan to kill her sister. One day she told her she heard their father was sick, and proposed that they should go to see him. Mbulukazi consented, and as soon as they obtained leave from their husband they left. Their road led them along the edge of a cliff, below which was a deep pool of water.
Mahlunguluza lay down on the rock, and said: "Come, see what is here in the water."
Her sister lay down with her head over the edge of the rock, when Mahlunguluza jumped up quickly and pushed her over. Mbulukazi sank in the water and was drowned. Then the very black one returned home, and when her husband asked where Mbulukazi was, she said that she was still with their father.
The next day the ox of the drowned one came running to the village and walked about lowing for a while, after which it tore down the old ruined house of Mahlunguluza with its horns. Its actions attracted the notice of the men, and the), said: "Surely this ox means something, why is it doing this?"
Then it went to the deep pool of water, the men following it; it smelt all over the rock, and then jumped into the water and brought out the body of Mbulukazi. The ox licked her till her life came back, and as soon as she was strong once more, she told what had happened.
They all went home rejoicing greatly, and informed Broad Breast. When the young chief heard the story he was angry with Mahlunguluza, and said to her: "Go home to your father; I never wanted you at all; it was your mother who brought you to me."
Once when she was working in her garden, and crying as usual, two doves came and perched near her. One of them said to the other: "Dove, ask the woman why she is crying." So the dove questioned her.
She replied: "It is because I have no children, and my husband does not love me. His other wife's children are crows, which come and eat my corn, and she laughs at me."
The dove said: "Go home and get two earthen jars, and bring them here,"
Numbakatali went and got them. Then the doves scratched her knees till the blood flowed, and put the blood in the jars. The woman gave the doves some corn to eat, after which she took the jars home to her hut, and set them carefully down in a corner. Every day the two doves came to be fed, and always -told the woman to look at what was in the jars.
At last, when she looked one day, she saw two children, one a boy, the other a girl, and both very handsome. She was very much delighted at the sight, but she did not tell any one.
When the children grew a little she made a snug place for them in the hut, where they were to sit all day, because she did not wish them to be seen. Always before she went to her work she charged them not to go out, and as her husband never came to see her, no one knew of the existence of these children except herself and a servant girl.
But one day, when they were big, she went out, and aftcr she was away some time, the boy said to his sister:" Come, let us help our mother by bringing water from the river."
So they went for water; but they had not reached the river when they met a company of young men with a chief's son, who was looking for a pretty girl to be his wife. The young chief was called Broad Breast, because his chest was very wide, and it was also made of a glittering metal that shone in the sun. These men asked for water to drink. The boy gave them all some water, but the young chief would only take it from the girl. He was very much smitten with her beauty, and watched her when she left, so as to find out where she lived.
As soon as the young chief saw the hut that the girl went to, he returned home with his party and asked his father for cattle with which to marry her. The chief, who was very rich, gave his son many fine cattle, with which the young man went to the girl's mother's husband, and said: "I want to marry your daughter."
So the girl who was very black was told to come, but the young chief said:"That is not the one I want; the one I saw was lighter in colour and much prettier."
The father replied I have no other children but crows."
But Broad Breast persisted, so the man called his wives, both of whom denied that there was such a girl. However, the servant girl went to the man and privately told him the truth. In the evening he went to his wife's hut, and to his great joy saw the boy and his sister. He was so delighted that he remained there that nicht, and after talking it over with his wife, he agreed to let Broad Breast marry the girl.
In the morning a mat was spread in the yard, and the young chief was asked to sit down. The two children and the servant girl who told their father about them wgre also called, and they all sat down on the mat.
The young chief, as soon as he saw her, said: "This is the girl I meant."
He stayed part of the day, and then with his attendants went to his father for more cattle, which, having obtained, he brought them to the father of the girl.
The mother of the very black girl and the crows was very jealous when she saw such a fine young chief coming with so many cattle. She wanted her daughter to be the one that was to be married; so she dressed her as finely as she could, but she had no such pretty clothes as the other girl had. Her name was Mahlunguluza, for she was called after the crows, who were the other children of her mother. The pretty girl's name was Mbulukazi, which name was given to her because her handsome dress was made of the skin of a mbulu.
The mother of Mahlunguluza spoke to the young chief about her daughter, and so he married both the girls. Their father gave to each an ox, with which they went to their new home. Mbulukazi's ox was a pretty young one, and Mahlunguluza's ox was an old and poor one. When they arrived, Broad Breast gave to Mbulukazi a very nice new house to live in, but to Mahlunguluza was given an old one quite in ruins.
Then the very black one saw she was not loved, and she became jealous, so she made a plan to kill her sister. One day she told her she heard their father was sick, and proposed that they should go to see him. Mbulukazi consented, and as soon as they obtained leave from their husband they left. Their road led them along the edge of a cliff, below which was a deep pool of water.
Mahlunguluza lay down on the rock, and said: "Come, see what is here in the water."
Her sister lay down with her head over the edge of the rock, when Mahlunguluza jumped up quickly and pushed her over. Mbulukazi sank in the water and was drowned. Then the very black one returned home, and when her husband asked where Mbulukazi was, she said that she was still with their father.
The next day the ox of the drowned one came running to the village and walked about lowing for a while, after which it tore down the old ruined house of Mahlunguluza with its horns. Its actions attracted the notice of the men, and the), said: "Surely this ox means something, why is it doing this?"
Then it went to the deep pool of water, the men following it; it smelt all over the rock, and then jumped into the water and brought out the body of Mbulukazi. The ox licked her till her life came back, and as soon as she was strong once more, she told what had happened.
They all went home rejoicing greatly, and informed Broad Breast. When the young chief heard the story he was angry with Mahlunguluza, and said to her: "Go home to your father; I never wanted you at all; it was your mother who brought you to me."
THE LEOPARD AND THE COCODRILE
Once a man and his many wives lived in a certain town far away in the bush. His wives refused to work, and he was at his wit's ends to know what to do to feed them and himself.
One day a happy thought struck him, and away he went into the bush to cut palm-kernels. He cut twenty bunches in all. Then he sought out the leopard, and made him his friend by presenting him with ten bunches of palm-nuts. The leopard thanked him very much, and told him that if he would cut palm-nuts for him, and him only, he would never more be without fresh meat to feed his wives. The man thanked the leopard, and promised to supply his wants.
Then the man went to the crocodile and presented him. with ten bunches of palm-nuts. The crocodile was indeed thankful, and promised to supply the man daily with a quantity of fish, if he would only promise in his turn to cut palm-nuts for him and no other.
The next day, the leopard came to the man's town and presented him with a wild pig. The crocodile came soon afterwards and brought him plenty of fish. Thus the town was full of food, and the man and his wives were never hungry.
This continued for a long time, until, in fact, the crocodile and leopard were getting tired of palm-nuts, and asked the man to present them with a dog, as they had heard that dog's flesh was excellent. Hitherto neither the crocodile nor the leopard had met each other, nor had they ever seen a dog. The man did not wish to lose his dogs, so he told them that he had none. But they each day became more anxious to eat dog's flesh, and so they worried the man, until at last he promised them a dog each. But he did not mean to give them the dogs. However, they bothered and vexed him so much that they became a nuisance to him, and he determined to rid himself of them.
The next day, the leopard came and asked for a dog, which as yet he had neither seen nor tasted. The man told him that if he went to such and such a place he would there find a dog just to his taste. The leopard left him to find the dog.
The crocodile also came, bringing plenty of fish, and again asked for a dog. The man told him to go to the same place he had indicated to the leopard, and told him that he would there meet a dog that he would enjoy immensely.
The crocodile arrived at the spot first, but saw nothing that he could imagine a dog. So relying upon the word of the man he closed his eyes and basked in the hot sun. After a time the leopard came along and found the crocodile, as he thought, asleep.
"This is indeed a much larger animal than I had imagined the dog to be," he murmured.
The crocodile, aroused by the rustling noise made by the leopard as he approached, slowly opened his eyes, and thought the leopard was a very large kind of dog, if all he had heard about dogs was true. Hardly had he moved, when the leopard sprang upon him. Then there was a terrible fight, and the man called all the town to witness it. After a prolonged struggle the beasts killed each other, and the man and his people returned to town and feasted upon the food the crocodile and leopard had given him, and sang and danced until the next day.
One day a happy thought struck him, and away he went into the bush to cut palm-kernels. He cut twenty bunches in all. Then he sought out the leopard, and made him his friend by presenting him with ten bunches of palm-nuts. The leopard thanked him very much, and told him that if he would cut palm-nuts for him, and him only, he would never more be without fresh meat to feed his wives. The man thanked the leopard, and promised to supply his wants.
Then the man went to the crocodile and presented him. with ten bunches of palm-nuts. The crocodile was indeed thankful, and promised to supply the man daily with a quantity of fish, if he would only promise in his turn to cut palm-nuts for him and no other.
The next day, the leopard came to the man's town and presented him with a wild pig. The crocodile came soon afterwards and brought him plenty of fish. Thus the town was full of food, and the man and his wives were never hungry.
This continued for a long time, until, in fact, the crocodile and leopard were getting tired of palm-nuts, and asked the man to present them with a dog, as they had heard that dog's flesh was excellent. Hitherto neither the crocodile nor the leopard had met each other, nor had they ever seen a dog. The man did not wish to lose his dogs, so he told them that he had none. But they each day became more anxious to eat dog's flesh, and so they worried the man, until at last he promised them a dog each. But he did not mean to give them the dogs. However, they bothered and vexed him so much that they became a nuisance to him, and he determined to rid himself of them.
The next day, the leopard came and asked for a dog, which as yet he had neither seen nor tasted. The man told him that if he went to such and such a place he would there find a dog just to his taste. The leopard left him to find the dog.
The crocodile also came, bringing plenty of fish, and again asked for a dog. The man told him to go to the same place he had indicated to the leopard, and told him that he would there meet a dog that he would enjoy immensely.
The crocodile arrived at the spot first, but saw nothing that he could imagine a dog. So relying upon the word of the man he closed his eyes and basked in the hot sun. After a time the leopard came along and found the crocodile, as he thought, asleep.
"This is indeed a much larger animal than I had imagined the dog to be," he murmured.
The crocodile, aroused by the rustling noise made by the leopard as he approached, slowly opened his eyes, and thought the leopard was a very large kind of dog, if all he had heard about dogs was true. Hardly had he moved, when the leopard sprang upon him. Then there was a terrible fight, and the man called all the town to witness it. After a prolonged struggle the beasts killed each other, and the man and his people returned to town and feasted upon the food the crocodile and leopard had given him, and sang and danced until the next day.
THE FETISH OF CHILUNGA
At a place called Chilunga, north of Loango, there is a fetish called Boio, who by his representative in the flesh, a princess, rules the country with a rod of iron. His dwelling-place is the earth; and as people pass that part which is dedicated to him, they bear his voice. People place their offerings here, and while yet they are looking at them they disappear. The spirit, or fetish, has, besides this human voice, the voice of a certain bird.
The sister of my cook, married to a man in Chilunga, was one day gathering sticks in a wood, when she heard a bird singing very loudly. Half in fun, half seriously, she spoke roughly to it, telling it to keep quiet; when to her astonishment her hands were roughly tied behind her back by some invisible force. She stood rooted to the place, as it were, by fear, and was found there by her husband who, wondering at her delay, had come to look for her.
"How have you angered Boio?" he asked.
She told him what had happened, and said that she did not know that the voice of the bird was that of Boio. The husband ran to the princess, and, having explained the matter, made her a peace-offering. The princess then gave the woman her liberty.
On another occasion some natives laughed at two men who were carrying a hammock-pole as if a hammock was hanging from it. Immediately they were made prisoners by invisible bands, and only released upon a heavy payment being made to the princess by their relations. The men, you see, were carrying the fetish in his hammock, although both it and the hammock were invisible to the passers-by.
Girls who are given in marriage by their parents to ugly men, and who object to them on that account, are taken to the holy ground. Then they hear a voice speaking to them, saying: "Are you then so beautiful that you can afford to despise these good men on account of their ugliness?" Then their hands are tied behind them; and there they remain prisoners until such time as they are willing to marry the men. When the whole town, men, women, and children, go to the holy ground to praise this fetish, it takes a great delight in those who dance well, and punishes those who dance badly.
A certain white man would not believe in the sudden disappearance of the offerings made to this spirit. So he was asked by the princess to come to the holy ground and bring some presents for the spirit. The white man immediately set out with many presents, laughing at the whole matter as if it were a huge joke. His servants placed the gifts upon the ground, while he looked sharply after them. Then they cleared the ground and left him there. And lo! while he was yet looking, the presents disappeared. Then he said he believed in that spirit.
Only two men have the power of seeing this fetish in his earthly home; and they are the men appointed to carry food to him.
The sister of my cook, married to a man in Chilunga, was one day gathering sticks in a wood, when she heard a bird singing very loudly. Half in fun, half seriously, she spoke roughly to it, telling it to keep quiet; when to her astonishment her hands were roughly tied behind her back by some invisible force. She stood rooted to the place, as it were, by fear, and was found there by her husband who, wondering at her delay, had come to look for her.
"How have you angered Boio?" he asked.
She told him what had happened, and said that she did not know that the voice of the bird was that of Boio. The husband ran to the princess, and, having explained the matter, made her a peace-offering. The princess then gave the woman her liberty.
On another occasion some natives laughed at two men who were carrying a hammock-pole as if a hammock was hanging from it. Immediately they were made prisoners by invisible bands, and only released upon a heavy payment being made to the princess by their relations. The men, you see, were carrying the fetish in his hammock, although both it and the hammock were invisible to the passers-by.
Girls who are given in marriage by their parents to ugly men, and who object to them on that account, are taken to the holy ground. Then they hear a voice speaking to them, saying: "Are you then so beautiful that you can afford to despise these good men on account of their ugliness?" Then their hands are tied behind them; and there they remain prisoners until such time as they are willing to marry the men. When the whole town, men, women, and children, go to the holy ground to praise this fetish, it takes a great delight in those who dance well, and punishes those who dance badly.
A certain white man would not believe in the sudden disappearance of the offerings made to this spirit. So he was asked by the princess to come to the holy ground and bring some presents for the spirit. The white man immediately set out with many presents, laughing at the whole matter as if it were a huge joke. His servants placed the gifts upon the ground, while he looked sharply after them. Then they cleared the ground and left him there. And lo! while he was yet looking, the presents disappeared. Then he said he believed in that spirit.
Only two men have the power of seeing this fetish in his earthly home; and they are the men appointed to carry food to him.
THE GAZELLE AND THE LEOPARD
The gazelle said to the leopard: "It is now the dry season, and we should be cutting down the bush, that our women may plant as soon as the first rains come."
"Well", said the leopard, "I cannot go to-day, but you may as well go."
And the gazelle went; and all that day he cut the bush, and cleared the ground for planting. And the next day he went also alone.
On the third day the leopard called on the gazelle and asked him to go to the plantation with him. But the gazelle said he was sick, and could not go, so the. leopard went by himself.
The next day the leopard again called for the gazelle, but he was not in.
"Where has he gone?" enquired the leopard.
"Oh, he has gone to another part."
And each day the leopard called upon the gazelle he was either sick or out of town; so that the leopard had nearly all the bard work to himself. When the women had planted, and the harvest was ripe, however, the gazelle went to look at the plantation. He was greatly pleased to find so much planted, and thought how pleased his friends would be if he invited them to a feast; so he called in all the antelopes and other beasts of the field, and they had a splendid feast.
By and by the leopard thought he would go and see how his plantation was getting on, and no sooner had he arrived there than he exclaimed: "Hullo, who has been feeding on my plantation and eaten up my corn? Surely I will set a trap for them and catch the thieves."
The next day the animals, led by the little gazelle, came again; and he warned them, saying: "Be careful, for the leopard will surely set a trap for us." But the antelope became careless, and finally fell into the leopard's trap. "There," says the gazelle," I told you to be careful. What shall we do? They have all run away and left us, and I am not strong enough to release you."
Then the leopard came, and rejoiced greatly at having caught a thief. He took the antelope to his town. "Please, Sir, the gazelle told me to go," cried the antelope, "don't kill me, don't kill me."
"How am I to catch the gazelle?" the leopard replied.
"No, I must kill you." And so he killed the antelope and ate him.
When the gazelle heard what the leopard had done, he was greatly annoyed, and declared that us the leopard was their chief, they were quite right in eating the food he had provided for them. Was it not the duty of the father to provide for his children?" Well, well, never mind, he will pay us for this."
Then the gazelle made a drum, and beat it until all the animals came as if to a dance. When they were assembled, he told them that they must be revenged upon the leopard.
The leopard heard the drum, and said to his wife: "Let us go to the dance." But his wife said she would rather stay at home, and did not go. The leopard went; but no sooner had he arrived than they all set upon him and killed. him. And when the dance was over, the leopard's wife wondered why he did not return. The gazelle sent her the head of her husband skinned as her part of the feast; and not knowing that it was her husband's head, she ate it.
"Oh, for shame," said the gazelle, "You have eaten your husband's head."
"Nay, Sir, the shame rests with you; for you gave it to me to eat, after having murdered him." And she wept and cursed the gazelle.
"Well", said the leopard, "I cannot go to-day, but you may as well go."
And the gazelle went; and all that day he cut the bush, and cleared the ground for planting. And the next day he went also alone.
On the third day the leopard called on the gazelle and asked him to go to the plantation with him. But the gazelle said he was sick, and could not go, so the. leopard went by himself.
The next day the leopard again called for the gazelle, but he was not in.
"Where has he gone?" enquired the leopard.
"Oh, he has gone to another part."
And each day the leopard called upon the gazelle he was either sick or out of town; so that the leopard had nearly all the bard work to himself. When the women had planted, and the harvest was ripe, however, the gazelle went to look at the plantation. He was greatly pleased to find so much planted, and thought how pleased his friends would be if he invited them to a feast; so he called in all the antelopes and other beasts of the field, and they had a splendid feast.
By and by the leopard thought he would go and see how his plantation was getting on, and no sooner had he arrived there than he exclaimed: "Hullo, who has been feeding on my plantation and eaten up my corn? Surely I will set a trap for them and catch the thieves."
The next day the animals, led by the little gazelle, came again; and he warned them, saying: "Be careful, for the leopard will surely set a trap for us." But the antelope became careless, and finally fell into the leopard's trap. "There," says the gazelle," I told you to be careful. What shall we do? They have all run away and left us, and I am not strong enough to release you."
Then the leopard came, and rejoiced greatly at having caught a thief. He took the antelope to his town. "Please, Sir, the gazelle told me to go," cried the antelope, "don't kill me, don't kill me."
"How am I to catch the gazelle?" the leopard replied.
"No, I must kill you." And so he killed the antelope and ate him.
When the gazelle heard what the leopard had done, he was greatly annoyed, and declared that us the leopard was their chief, they were quite right in eating the food he had provided for them. Was it not the duty of the father to provide for his children?" Well, well, never mind, he will pay us for this."
Then the gazelle made a drum, and beat it until all the animals came as if to a dance. When they were assembled, he told them that they must be revenged upon the leopard.
The leopard heard the drum, and said to his wife: "Let us go to the dance." But his wife said she would rather stay at home, and did not go. The leopard went; but no sooner had he arrived than they all set upon him and killed. him. And when the dance was over, the leopard's wife wondered why he did not return. The gazelle sent her the head of her husband skinned as her part of the feast; and not knowing that it was her husband's head, she ate it.
"Oh, for shame," said the gazelle, "You have eaten your husband's head."
"Nay, Sir, the shame rests with you; for you gave it to me to eat, after having murdered him." And she wept and cursed the gazelle.
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