Chapter III: Part 3

Another day the father of Hlakanyana killed an ox. The head was put in a pot to be cooked. Then Hlakanyana considered in his mind how he could get that meat. So he drove all the cattle of the village into a forest, a very thick forest, and tied them by their tails to the trees. After that he cut his arms, and legs, and breast, with a sharp stone, and stood on a hill, and cried out with a loud voice: “The enemy has taken our cattle; the cattle are being driven away. Come up, come up; there is an army going away with the cattle.”

The men ran quickly to him.

He said to them: “Why are you eating meat while the enemy is going away with the cattle? I was fighting with them; just look at my body.”

They saw he was covered with blood, and they believed it was as he said. So the men took their assagais and ran after the cattle, but they took the wrong way. Only one old man and Hlakanyana were left behind.

Then Hlakanyana said to the old man: “I am very tired with fighting; just go to the river, grandfather, and get some water.”

The old man went; and as soon as he was alone, Hlakanyana ate the meat which was in the pot. When the old man returned with the water he was very tired, for the river was far for an old man to go to, therefore he fell asleep. When he was sleeping, Hlakanyana took a bone and put it beside the old man. He also took some fat and put it on the mouth of the old man. Then he ran to the forest and loosened the cattle that were tied by the tails.

At this time the men were returning from seeking the enemy. Hlakanyana was coming also from the other side with the cattle.

He shouted: “I have conquered the enemy.” He also said: “The meat must be eaten now.”

When they opened the pot they found no meat. They found only dung, for Hlakanyana had filled the pot with dung.

Then the men said: “Who has done this?”

Hlakanyana answered: “It must be the old man who is sleeping there.”

They looked, and saw the bone by the side of the old man, and the fat on his mouth. Then they said: “This is the thief.” They were intending to kill the old man because he had stolen the meat of the chief.

When the children saw that the old man was to be killed, they said that he did not eat the meat of the chief.

The men said: “We saw fat on his mouth and a bone beside him.”

The children replied: “He did not do it.”

The men said: “Tell us who did it.”

The children answered: “Hlakanyana ate the meat and put dung in the pot. We were concealed, and we saw him do it.”

Hlakanyana denied. He said: “Let me go and ask the women; perhaps they saw who ate the meat of the chief.”

The men sent a young man with him to the women; but when they were a short distance away, Hlakanyana escaped.

The chief sent an army after him. The army pursued, and saw Hlakanyana sitting by a bush. They ran to catch him. When they came to the bush, only an old woman was sitting there.

They said to her: “Where is Hlakanyana?”

The old woman replied: “He just went across that river. See, you must make haste to follow him, for the river is rising.”

The army passed over the river quickly. Then that old woman turned into Hlakanyana again. He said in himself: “I will now go on a journey, for I am wiser than the councillors of my father, I being older than they.”

The little cunning fellow went to a village, where he saw an old woman sitting beside her house.

He said to her: “Would you like to be made young, grandmother?”

The old woman replied: “Yes, my grandchild; if you could make me young, I would be very glad.”

Hlakanyana said: “Take that pot, grandmother, and go for some water.”

The old woman replied: “I cannot walk.”

Hlakanyana said: “Just try, grandmother; the river is close by, and perhaps you will be able to reach it.”

The old woman limped along and got the water.

Then Hlakanyana took a large pot and set it on the fire, and poured the water into it.

He said to the old woman: “You must cook me a little first, and then I will cook you a little.”

The old woman agreed to that. Hlakanyana was the first to be put in the pot. When the water began to get hot, he said: “Take me out, grandmother; I am in long enough.”

The old woman took him out, and went in the pot for her turn. Soon she said: “Take me out now, my grandchild; I am in long enough.”

Hlakanyana replied: “Not yet, grandmother; it is not yet time.”

So the old woman died in the pot.

Hlakanyana took all the bones of the old woman and threw them away. He left only the toes and the fingers. Then he took the clothing of the old woman and put it on. The two sons of this old woman came from hunting.

They went into the hut, and said: “Whose meat is this in the pot?”

Hlakanyana was lying down. He said in a voice like that of their mother: “It is yours, my sons.”

While they were eating, the younger one said: “Look at this, it is like the toe of mother.”

The elder one said: “How can you say such a thing? Did not mother give us this meat to eat?”

Again the younger one said: “Look at this, it is like the finger of mother.”

Hlakanyana said: “You are speaking evil of me, my son.”

Hlakanyana said in himself: “I shall be discovered; it is time for me to flee.” So he slipped quietly out of the house and went on his way. When he got a little way off, he called out: “You are eating your mother. Did any one ever see people eating their mother before?”

The two young men took their assagais and ran after him with their dogs. They came to the river; it was full.

The cunning fellow changed himself into a little round stone. One of the young men picked up this stone, saying: “If I could see him, I would just throw this stone at him.” The young man threw the stone over the river, and it turned into Hlakanyana again. He just laughed at those young men.

Hlakanyana went on his way. He was singing this song:—

Ndahlangana Nonothloya. I met with Nonothloya.
Sapekapekana, We cooked each other,
Ndagwanya, I was half cooked,
Wapekwa wada wavutwa. She was well cooked.

Hlakanyana met a boy tending some goats. The boy had a digging-stick with him. Hlakanyana proposed that they should pursue after birds, and the boy agreed. They pursued birds the whole day.

In the evening, when the sun set, Hlakanyana said: “It is time now to roast our birds.”

The place was on the bank of a river.

Hlakanyana said: “We must go under the water and see who will come out last.”

They went under the water, and Hlakanyana came out last.

The cunning fellow said: “Let us try again.”

The boy agreed to that. They went under the water. Hlakanyana came out quickly and ate all the birds. He left the heads only. Then he went under the water again. The boy came out while he was still under the water.

When Hlakanyana came out he said: “Let us go now and eat our birds.”

They found all the birds eaten.

Hlakanyana said: “You have eaten them, because you came out of the water first, and you have left me the heads only.”

The boy denied having done so, but Hlakanyana said: “You must pay for my birds with that digging-stick.”

The boy gave the digging-stick, and Hlakanyana went on his way.

He saw some people making pots of clay. He said to them: “Why do you not ask me to lend you this digging-stick, instead of digging with your hands?”

They said: “Lend it to us.”

Hlakanyana lent them the digging-stick. Just the first time they stuck it in the clay it broke.

He said: “You have broken my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”

They gave him a pot.

Hlakanyana carried the pot till he came to some boys who were herding goats. He said to them: “You foolish boys, you only suck the goats, you don’t milk them in any vessel; why don’t you ask me to lend you this pot?”

The boys said: “Lend it to us.”

Hlakanyana lent them the pot. While the boys were milking, the pot broke. Hlakanyana said: “You have broken my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who broke my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”

The boys gave him a goat.

Hlakanyana came to the keepers of calves.

He said to them: “You foolish fellows, you only sit here and eat nothing. Why don’t you ask me to let you suck this goat?”

The keepers of calves said: “Allow us to suck this goat.”

Hlakanyana gave the goat into their hands. While they were sucking, the goat died.

Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my goat, the goat that I received from the boys that were tending goats, the boys that broke my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who broke my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”

They gave him a calf.

Hlakanyana came to the keepers of cows.

He said to them: “You only suck the cows without letting the calf suck first. Why don’t you ask me to lend you this calf, that the cows may be induced to give their milk freely?”

They said: “Lend us the calf.”

Hlakanyana permitted them to take the calf. While the calf was in their hands it died.

Hlakanyana said: “You have killed my calf, the calf that I received from the keepers of calves, the keepers of calves that killed my goat, the goat that I received from the boys that were tending goats, the boys that broke my pot, the pot that I received from the people who make pots, the people who broke my digging-stick, the digging-stick that I received from my companion, my companion who ate my birds and left me with the heads.”

They gave him a cow.

Hlakanyana continued on his journey. He saw a young man going the same way.

He said: “Let us be companions and travel together.”

The young man agreed to that. They came to a forest.

Hlakanyana said: “This is the place for picking up kerries.”

They picked up kerries there.

Then they reached another place, and Hlakanyana said: “This is the place for throwing away kerries.”

They threw the kerries away.

Again they came to another place, and Hlakanyana said: “This is the place for throwing away spoons.”

The companion of Hlakanyana threw his spoon away, but the cunning little fellow only pretended to throw his away. In fact, he concealed his spoon. They went on.

They came to another place, and Hlakanyana said: “This is the place for throwing knives away.”

It happened again as with the spoons. Hlakanyana concealed his knife, when his companion threw his away.

They came to a certain place, and Hlakanyana said: “This is the place for throwing away izilanda” (awls used to make holes in skins when they are sewed together, and also for taking thorns out of the bare feet and legs of pedestrians).

His companion threw his isilanda away, but Hlakanyana kept his. They went on and reached a place where they had to walk on thorns. Afterwards they looked at their feet, and saw many thorns in them.

Hlakanyana said: “Let us sit down and take out the thorns.”

His companion replied: “I cannot do so, because I have no isilanda.”

Then Hlakanyana took the thorns out of his feet, and the other was obliged to walk lame. They came to a village.

The people said to them: “Tell us the news.”

Hlakanyana replied: “Just give us something to eat first; look at our stomachs and behold the pinchings of hunger.”

The people of that village brought meat.

Hlakanyana said to his companion: “Now let us eat.”

The companion of Hlakanyana answered: “I have no knife.”

Hlakanyana said: “You are just a child; I shall not lend you my knife.”

The people of that village brought millet and put before them.

Hlakanyana said to his companion: “Why do you not eat?”

He answered: “I have no spoon.”

Hlakanyana said: “You are just a child; I shall not lend you my spoon.”

So Hlakanyana had all the meat and the millet to himself.

Hlakanyana met a girl herding some goats.

He said: “Where are the boys of your village, that the goats are herded by a girl?”

The girl answered: “There are no boys in the village.”

He went to the father of the girl and said: “You must give me your daughter to be my concubine, and I will herd the goats.”

The father of the girl agreed to that. Then Hlakanyana went with the goats, and every day he killed one and ate it till all were done. He scratched his body with thorns.

The father of the girl said: “Where are all the goats?”

Hlakanyana replied: “Can you not see how I have been fighting with the wild dogs? The wild dogs have eaten the goats. As for me, I will stay here no longer.”

So he went on his way.

As he was going on, he saw a trap for catching birds. There were some birds in it. Hlakanyana took the birds out and ate them. The owners of the trap were cannibals. They saw the footprints of Hlakanyana, and said: “This is a little boy that is stealing our birds.” They watched for him. Hlakanyana came again to the trap and saw a bird caught in it. He was just going to take the bird out when the cannibals caught him. They made a big fire and put a pot on for the purpose of cooking him. Hlakanyana saw two oxen. One was white, the other was red.

He said to the cannibals: “You can take which one of these oxen you like instead of me.”

The cannibals said: “We will take the white one, because it is white inside also.”

Then Hlakanyana went away with the red ox. The cannibals ate the white ox, and then pursued after Hlakanyana. They came up to him by a big stone. He jumped on the stone, and sang this song:—

Ndahamba ndayakuva indaba, I went to hear the news,
Zemvula ku mankazana. About rain from the girls.

The cannibals began to dance when they heard him sing. Then he ran away, and the stone continued to sing that song.

As he was journeying, Hlakanyana came to a place where some baboons were feasting. He asked them for some food.

The baboons replied: “If you will go for some water for us, we will give you food.”

He agreed to that. When he returned with the water, the baboons refused to give him food. Then Hlakanyana shouted loudly and said: “At my village there is a marriage of baboons to-day.”

When the baboons heard that they fled, old and young. So Hlakanyana remained there, and ate all the food.

As he was going along, he saw a hyena building a house, having cooked some meat. Hlakanyana asked the hyena to give him some.

The hyena said: “No, I will not give you any; it is too little even for me.”

Hlakanyana said: “Will you not have me to assist in building?”

The hyena replied: “I would have you without delay if you are intending to help me.”

While they were fastening the thatch, Hlakanyana sewed the hair of the tail of the hyena fast. Then he took the pot and sat down.

The hyena said: “Let that pot alone, Hlakanyana.”

He replied: “I am going to eat now.”

The hyena wanted to come down, but he found his tail was fast. Hlakanyana ate all the meat, and threw the bones at the hyena. The hyena tried to frighten him by saying there were many hyenas coming quickly to devour him. He just answered: “That is false;” and continued eating till the meat was finished. Then he went on his way.

Hlakanyana came to a river. He saw an iguana that was playing on an ugwali (a simple musical instrument).

Hlakanyana said to the iguana: “Lend me your ugwali for a little, please.”

The iguana said: “No, you will run away with my ugwali.”

Hlakanyana replied: “How can I run away with a thing that is not mine?”

So the iguana lent him the ugwali. When Hlakanyana saw that he could play upon the instrument nicely, he ran away with it. The iguana pursued him. Then Hlakanyana changed himself into a rush. The iguana took that rush and threw it across the river, saying: “If I could only see him, I would throw him like this.” Then the rush turned to be Hlakanyana again, and he went on his way playing on the ugwali of the iguana.

Hlakanyana came to the house of a leopardess. He proposed to take care of her children while the leopardess went to hunt animals. The leopardess agreed to that. There were four cubs. After the leopardess had gone to hunt, Hlakanyana took one of the cubs and ate it.

At the time for giving food, the leopardess came back and said: “Give me my children that I may suckle them.”

Hlakanyana gave one.

The mother said: “Give all at once.”

Hlakanyana replied: “It is better that one should drink and then another.”

The leopardess agreed to that. After three had drunk he gave the first one back the second time. Then the leopardess went to hunt again.

Hlakanyana took another of the cubs and ate it. He also made the door of the house very small so that the mother of the cubs could not come in, and then he made a little hole in the ground at the back so that he could go out. The next day the leopardess came to give her children suck. There were only two left now. Hlakanyana gave them both back the second time. After that the leopardess went away as before.

Hlakanyana ate another of the cubs, so that only one was left. When the mother came, he gave this one four times. When he gave it the last time the leopardess said: “Why does my child not drink to-day?” It was already full, and did not want to drink more.

Hlakanyana replied: “I think this one is sick.”

The mother said: “You must take good care of it.”

Hlakanyana promised to do so, but when the leopardess was gone he ate that one also.

The next day when the leopardess came there was no cub left to give her. She tried to get in the house, but the door was too small. She sat down in front to watch. Then Hlakanyana went out through the hole he had made in the ground behind. The leopardess saw him and ran after him. He went under a big rock, and cried out loudly for help, saying the rock was falling.

The leopardess said: “What is that you are saying?”

Hlakanyana replied: “Do you not see that this rock is falling? Just hold it up while I get a prop and put under it.”

The leopardess went to hold the rock up, and Hlakanyana did not return. He just ran away from that place.

Hlakanyana came to the village of the animals. The animals had trees that bore fruit. There was one tree that belonged to the chief of the animals only. This tree was a very good one, bearing much fruit on it. One day when all the animals were assembled, Hlakanyana asked them the name of the tree of the chief. They did not know the name of that tree. Then Hlakanyana sent a monkey to the chief to ask the name of the tree. The chief told the monkey. As the monkey was returning, he struck his foot against a stone and fell down, which caused him to forget the name of the tree.

In the night when all were sleeping, Hlakanyana went up the tree of the chief and ate all the fruit of it. He took a branch of the tree and fastened it to one of the monkeys. In the morning when the animals awoke and found that the tree of the chief was finished in the night, they asked each other: “What became of the fruit of the chiefs tree? What became of the fruit of the tree of the chief?”

Hlakanyana looked at the monkey with the branch on him, and said: “It is eaten by the monkey, it is eaten by the monkey; look at the branch on him.”

The monkey denied, and said: “I don’t know anything about it. I never ate the fruit of the tree of the chief.”

Hlakanyana said: “Let us make a plan to find out who ate the fruit of the tree of the chief.”

All the animals agreed to this.

Hlakanyana said: “Let us put a rope from one rock to another, and let all go over it. He that has eaten the fruit of the tree will fall down from that rope.”

One of the monkeys went over first. The next was Hlakanyana himself. He went over carefully and avoided falling. It came to the turn of that monkey with the branch on. He tried to go, but when he was in the middle he fell down.

Hlakanyana said therefore: “I have told you that it is this monkey.”

After that he went on his way.

Hlakanyana came to the house of a jackal. He asked for food, but the jackal said there was none. Then he made a plan.

He said to the jackal: “You must climb up on the house and cry out with a loud voice, ‘We are going to be fat to-day because Hlakanyana is dead’”

The jackal did so. All the animals came running to hear that news. They went inside the house, because the door was open. Then Hlakanyana shut the door, and the animals were caught. After that Hlakanyana killed the animals and ate.

Hlakanyana returned to the home of his father again. He was told that his sister was gone away for some red clay. When she was returning he shouted: “Let all the black cattle which have white teeth be killed. The daughter of my father is coming who has white teeth.”

The chief said: “What is the matter with you, Hlakanyana?”

He just repeated the same thing.

The chief said: “Let a black ox be killed, but you must not break any of its bones, because it belongs to the daughter of a chief.”

So Hlakanyana got fat meat to eat that day.

Hlakanyana went one day to tend the calves of his father. He met a tortoise.

He said: “Where are you going to, tortoise?”

The tortoise answered: “To that big stone.”

Hlakanyana said: “Are you not tired?”

The tortoise replied: “No, I am not tired.”

Hlakanyana took it and put it on his back. Then he went to the house of his mother.

His mother said: “What have you got there, my son?”

Hlakanyana answered: “Just take it off my back, mother.”

The tortoise held fast to Hlakanyana, and would not be pulled off. His mother then heated some fat and poured on the tortoise. The tortoise let go quickly, and the fat fell on Hlakanyana and burnt him, so that he died. That is the end of this cunning little fellow.

THE STORY OF DEMANE AND DEMAZANA.

Once upon a time a brother and sister, who were twins and orphans, were obliged on account of ill usage to run away from their relatives. The boy’s name was Demane, the girl’s Demazana.

They went to live in a cave that had two holes to let in air and light, the entrance to which was protected by a very strong door, with a fastening inside. Demane went out hunting by day, and told his sister that she was not to roast any meat while he was absent, lest the cannibals should discover their retreat by the smell. The girl would have been quite safe if she had done as her brother commanded. But she was wayward, and one day she took some buffalo meat and put it on a fire to roast.

A cannibal smelt the flesh cooking, and went to the cave, but found the door fastened. So he tried to imitate Demane’s voice, and asked to be admitted, singing this song:—

“Demazana, Demazana,
Child of my mother,
Open this cave to me.
The swallows can enter it.
It has two apertures.”

Demazana said: “No. You are not my brother; your voice is not like his.”

The cannibal went away, but after a little time came back again, and spoke in another tone of voice: “Do let me in, my sister.”

The girl answered: “Go away, you cannibal; your voice is hoarse, you are not my brother.”

So he went away and consulted with another cannibal. He said: “What must I do to obtain what I desire?”

He was afraid to tell what his desire was, lest the other cannibal should want a share of the girl.

His friend said: “You must burn your throat with a hot iron.”

He did so, and then no longer spoke hoarse. Again he presented himself before the door of the cave, and sang,—

“Demazana, Demazana,
Child of my mother,
Open this cave to me.
The swallows can enter it.
It has two apertures.”

The girl was deceived. She believed him to be her brother come back from hunting, so she opened the door. The cannibal went in and seized her.

As she was being carried away, she dropped some ashes here and there along the path. Soon after this, Demane, who had taken nothing that day but a swarm of bees, returned and found his sister gone. He guessed what had happened, and followed the path by means of the ashes until he came to Zim’s dwelling. The cannibal’s family were out gathering firewood, but he was at home, and had just put Demazana in a big bag, where he intended to keep her till the fire was made.

Demane said: “Give me water to drink, father.”

Zim replied: “I will, if you will promise not to touch my bag.”

Demane promised. Then Zim went to get some water; and while he was away, Demane took his sister out of the bag, and put the bees in it, after which they both concealed themselves.

When Zim came with the water, his wife and son and daughter came also with firewood.

He said to his daughter: “There is something nice in the bag; go bring it.”

She went, but the bees stung her hand, and she called out: “It is biting.”

He sent his son, and afterwards his wife, but the result was the same. Then he became angry, and drove them outside, and having put a block of wood in the doorway, he opened the bag himself. The bees swarmed out and stung his head, particularly his eyes, so that he could not see.

There was a little hole in the thatch, and through this he forced his way. He jumped about, howling with pain. Then he ran and fell headlong into a pond, where his head stuck fast in the mud, and he became a block of wood like the stump of a tree. The bees made their home in the stump, but no one could get their honey, because, when any one tried, his hand stuck fast.

Demane and Demazana then took all Zim’s possessions, which were very great, and they became wealthy people.

THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN; OR, THE WONDERFUL FEATHER.

Once in a time of famine a woman left her home and went to live in a distant village, where she became a cannibal. She had one son, whose name was Magoda. She ate all the people in that village, until only herself and Magoda remained. Then she was compelled to hunt animals, but she caught people still when she could. In hunting she learned to be very swift of foot, and could run so fast that nothing she pursued could escape from her.

Her brother, who remained at home when she left, had two daughters, whom he did not treat very kindly. One day he sent them to the river for water, which they were to carry in two pots. These pots were made of clay, and were the nicest and most valuable in the village. One of the girls fell down on a rock and broke the pot she was carrying. Then she did not know what to do, because she was afraid to go back to her father. She sat down and cried, but that did not help, the pot would not be whole again.

Then she said to her sister: “Let us go away to another place, where our father will not be able to find us.”

She was the younger and the cleverer of the two, and so she persuaded her sister. They walked away in the opposite direction from their home, and for two days had nothing but gum to eat. Then they saw a fire at a distance, and went to it, where they saw a house. It was the house of their aunt, but they did not know it. They were afraid to go in, but Magoda came out and talked to them. When he heard who they were, he was sorry for them, and told them their aunt was a cannibal, giving them advice not to stay there. But just then they heard her coming, so they went into Magoda’s house and hid themselves, for he lived in one house and his mother in another.

The woman came and said: “I smell something nice; what is it, my son?”

Magoda said there was nothing.

She replied: “Surely I smell fat children.”

But as she did not go in, they remained concealed that night.

The next morning Nomagoda (so called because she was the mother of Magoda) went out to hunt, but she did not go far, so the children could not get away. They went into her house, where they saw a person with only one arm, one side, and one leg.

The person said to them: “See, the cannibal has eaten the rest of me; take care of yourselves.”

When it was nearly dark, Nomagoda came home again, bringing some animals which she had killed. She smelt that children had been in the house, so she went to her son’s house and looked in.

She said to Magoda: “Why do you not give me some? Do I not catch animals for you?”

Then she saw the children, and was very glad. She took them to her house, and told them to sleep. They lay down, but were too frightened to close their eyes. They heard their aunt say, “Axe, be sharp; axe, be sharp;” and to let her know that they were awake, they spoke of vermin biting them.

After a while the cannibal went to sleep, when they crept out, first putting two blocks of wood in their places, and ran away as fast as they could. When Nomagoda awoke, she took the axe and went to kill them, but the axe fell on the blocks of wood.

As soon as it was day, the cannibal pursued the children. They looked behind, and saw clouds of dust which she made as she ran. There was a tall tree just in front of them, so they hastened to climb up it, and sat down among the branches. Nomagoda came to the tree and commenced to cut it down; but when a chip fell out, a bird (Ntengu) sang—

“Ntengu, ntengu,
Chips, return to your places,
Chips, return to your places,
Chips, be fast.”

The chip then went back to its place and was fast again. This happened three times; but Nomagoda, who was very angry, caught the bird and swallowed it. When she put it in her mouth, one of the feathers dropped to the ground. Then she began to chop at the tree again; but as soon as a chip was loose the feather sang—

“Ntengu, ntengu,
Chips, return to your places,
Chips, return to your places,
Chips, be fast”

The chip then stuck fast again. The cannibal chopped till she was tired, but the feather continued to keep the tree from receiving harm. Then she tried to catch the feather, but it flew about too quickly for her, until she sank down exhausted on the ground at the foot of the tree.

The children, up in the branches, could see a long way off; and as they strained their eyes, they observed three dogs as big as calves, and they knew these dogs belonged to their father, who was seeking for them. So they called them by name, and the dogs came running to the tree and ate up the cannibal, who was too tired to make her escape.

Thus the children were delivered, and their father was so glad to get them back again that he forgave them for breaking the pot and running away.

STORY OF IRONSIDE AND HIS SISTER.

A long time ago a woman who went to cultivate her garden took her little daughter with her, and before she began to hoe the ground she laid the child down in the shade of a tree. About midday there came two birds and flew away with the girl. They carried her across a great river, and laid her gently down in a pumpkin field on a plain.

As the birds were carrying her away, she called to her mother, who took no notice of her cries, because she could not imagine her child was being carried away. In the afternoon the girl was missing, and her mother searched for her without success. She made inquiries of the neighbours, and some of them told her they had heard the child crying, “I am going away with the birds.”

The plain on which the little girl was put down was near a town in which lived a nation of cannibals who had one leg much longer than the other. There she remained alone till the next day.

That night the chief of the cannibals dreamed that he saw a very pretty girl in that place; so in the morning he sent a party of men to look for her. When the girl saw them coming she was afraid, and hid herself among the pumpkins. But the men had already noticed where she was, so they easily found her, and took her home with them.

The chief was very much pleased with her appearance. He gave her to his mother to take care of, and when she grew up he took her to be his wife.

Afterwards she had two children, one very pretty, and with two legs like her own; the other ugly, and like its father, with one leg longer than the other. The cannibals saw the advantage of having two legs of equal length, and they became jealous of the woman and her child. They told the chief it would be dangerous to allow the child to grow up, because then a nation stronger than themselves might arise. They persuaded him to consent to her being put to death, and then they rejoiced greatly, because she was very fat, and they intended to eat her; but one of them, who had more compassion than the others, told the woman what they were about to do.

After the little girl had been taken away by the birds, her mother had a son, one of whose sides was flesh like other people’s, and the other side was iron. His mother told him of his sister who was lost, and when he became a man he determined to go in search of her.

In his journey he came to a great river full of water. He had an iron rod in his hand, with which he struck the water, and at the same time he called out with a loud voice: “River, I have no sister. Be empty.”

Then the river dried up, and he went safely across.

After this he came to the stream where the cannibals drew their water, and concealed himself among the reeds which grew on its banks. While there his sister came to get water, and he at once knew who she was. She, of course, did not know him, but he told her he was her brother. Then she said the cannibals would eat him if he went to their town without an introduction. So they arranged that he should smear himself with mud and go to the top of a high hill, and when he was coming down she would tell the cannibals who he was.

Ironside went on the hill, and as soon as he came in sight of the town, his sister said: “There is the servant of the wife of the chief of the cannibals.” These words she repeated twice.

When Ironside reached the town, a mat was brought to him and spread in front of his sister’s house; but after a time he was allowed to go inside, still covered with mud.

The next day they all went to hunt, and Ironside killed more game than the others, upon which they became envious of him. This was shortly before the cannibals agreed to kill and eat the daughter of their chief. When the one who had compassion made known what was about to be done, Ironside was present and heard what was told. He said to his sister that she must pluck the hair from her head and scatter it about in different directions. This she did, after which Ironside and his sister and her child left the town in haste.

The cannibals came, and when they could not find the child they called her loudly by name. Then the tufts of hair all answered in her voice, and the seekers became confused.

Ironside and his companions, having two legs, could walk much quicker than the cannibals, and soon they were on the other side of the large river. The child trembled, and was very much frightened; but Ironside told her not to fear at all. After they had crossed, Ironside struck the river with his iron rod, and said: “River, I have found my sister. Be full.” Then the water rose very high, quite to the top of the banks.

A party of cannibals who were in pursuit came to the river after it was full, and Ironside made a long rope, and threw the end over to them. They caught hold of it, thinking that he would pull them across; but when they were in the middle of the river he let go the rope, and they were all drowned. Another party then came and asked where their companions were. Ironside said they had gone to a ford further down; but they knew that was not true, so they returned home. Afterwards they discovered who it was that gave warning of their intentions, and they killed and ate that one.

Ironside took his sister home to her mother, who received her with the greatest joy, never having forgotten her during that long time.

STORY OF THE CANNIBAL’S WONDERFUL BIRD.

A number of girls once went away from their homes early in the morning for the purpose of getting imbola (the red clay with which they colour their bodies and clothes). Among them was the daughter of a chief, a very pretty girl. After they had collected the imbola, they were about to return home, when one of them proposed that they should bathe in a large pool of water that was there. To this they all agreed, and so they went into the water and played about in it for a long time. At last they dressed themselves again, and set out for home; but when they had gone some distance, the chief’s daughter noticed that she had forgotten one of her ornaments, which she had taken off when they went to bathe. So she asked her cousin to return with her to get it. The cousin refused. Then she asked another girl, and another, but one and all refused to go back. She was thus obliged to return to the water alone, while the other girls went home.

On arriving at the pool, a big ugly cannibal with only one leg came up to her, caught her, and put her in his bag. She was so frightened that she lay quite still. The cannibal then took her round to the different villages and made her sing for him. He called her his bird. When he came to a village he asked for meat, and when it was given to him he said: “Sing, my bird.” But he would never open the bag so that any one could see what sort of a bird he had.

When the girls reached home, they told the chief that his daughter had reached the age of ntonjane, and they selected one of themselves and shut her up in a hut. The chief believed that story, and so he killed a large ox and said the people must eat. That day they ate fat beef, and were very merry. The boys took meat, and went away from the village to eat it.

The cannibal, who did not know that the girl’s father was chief at this place, came there just at this time. He said to the boys if they would give him meat he would make his bird sing for them. So they gave him meat, and he said: “Sing, my bird.” The girl’s brother was among those boys, and he thought the bird sang like his sister, but he was afraid to ask the cannibal to let him see. He advised the cannibal to go to the village where the men were, and told him there was plenty of meat that day.

The cannibal then went to the village and made his bird sing. The chief wanted very much to see the bird, but the cannibal would not open the bag. The chief offered him an ox for the bird, but the cannibal declined the offer. Then the chief made a plan. He asked the cannibal to go for some water, and said he would give him plenty of beef when he returned. The cannibal said he would go if they would promise not to open his bag while he was away. They all promised not to touch the bag. They gave the cannibal a leaky pot to carry the water in, so that he was gone a long time. As soon as he was out of sight the chief opened the bag and took his daughter out. At first he could not believe it was his daughter, for he thought she was observing ntonjane. But when he knew how those other girls had deceived him he said they must all die, and so they were killed. Then he put snakes and toads in the bag, and tied it up again.

When the cannibal came back he complained of the leaky pot, but they gave him plenty of meat to satisfy him, so he picked up his bag and went away. He did not know what had happened while he was absent. When he came near his own house he called to his wife: “Make ready to cook.” He sent and called all the other cannibals to come to a feast, and they came expecting to get something nice. He let them wait a little to get very hungry. Then he opened his bag and thought to take the girl out, but found only snakes and toads in it. The other cannibals were so angry when they saw this, that they killed him and made their feast of him.

THE STORY OF THE CANNIBAL MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN.

There was once a man and a woman who had two children, a son and a daughter. These children lived with their grandfather. Their mother was a cannibal, but not their father.

One day they said to their grandfather: “We have been long with you, we should like very much to go and see our parents.”

Their grandfather said: “Ho! will you be able to come back? Don’t you know your mother is a cannibal?”

After a time he consented. He said: “You must leave at such a time that you may arrive there in the evening, so that your mother may not see you, only your father.”

The boy’s name was Hinazinci. He said: “Let us go now, my sister.”

They started when the sun was set. When they arrived at their father’s house, they listened outside to find out if their mother was there. They heard the voice of their father only, so they called to him. He came out, and when he saw them he was sorry, and said: “Why did you come here, my dear children? Don’t you know your mother is a cannibal?”

Just then they heard a noise like thunder. It was the coming of their mother. Their father took them inside and put them in a dark corner, where he covered them with skins. Their mother came in with an animal and the body of a man. She stood and said: “There’s something here. What a nice smell it has!”

She said to her husband: “Sohinazinci, what have you to tell me about this nice smell that is in my house? You must tell me whether my children are here.”

Her husband answered: “What are you dreaming about? They are not here.”

She went to the corner where they were, and took the skins away. When she saw them, she said: “My children, I am very sorry that you are here, because I must eat people.”

She cooked for them and their father the animal she had brought home, and the dead man for herself. After they had eaten, she went out.

Then their father said to them: “When we lie down to sleep, you must be watchful. You will hear a dancing of people, a roaring of wild beasts, and a barking of dogs in your mother’s stomach. You will know by that she is sleeping, and you must then rise at once and get away.”

They lay down, but the man and the children only pretended to go to sleep. They were listening for those sounds. After a while they heard a dancing of people, a roaring of wild beasts, and a barking of dogs. Then their father shook them, and said they must go while their mother was sleeping. They bade their father farewell, and crept out quietly, that their mother might not hear them.

At midnight the woman woke up, and when she found the children were gone, she took her axe and went after them. They were already a long way on their journey, when they saw her following them. They were so tired that they could not run.

When she was near them, the boy said to the girl: “My sister, sing your melodious song; perhaps when she hears it she will be sorry, and go home without hurting us.”

The girl replied: “She will not listen to anything now, because she is in want of meat.”

Hinazinci said: “Try, my sister; it may not be in vain.”

So she sang her song, and when the cannibal heard it, she ran backwards to her own house. There she fell upon her husband, and wanted to cut him with the axe. Her husband caught hold of her arm, and said: “Ho! if you put me to death who will be your husband?”

Then she left him, and ran after the children again.

They were near their grandfather’s village, and were very weak when their mother overtook them. The girl fell down, and the cannibal caught her and swallowed her. She then ran after the boy. He fell just at the entrance of his grandfather’s house, and she picked him up and swallowed him also. She found only the old people and the children of the village at home, all the others being at work in the gardens. She ate all the people that were at home and also all the cattle that were there.

Towards evening she left to go to her own home. There was a deep valley in the way, and when she came to it she saw a very beautiful bird. As she approached it, the bird got bigger and bigger, until at last when she was very near it, it was as big as a house (i.e., a native hut).

Then the bird began to sing its song. The woman looked at it, and said to herself: “I shall take this bird home to my husband.”

The bird continued its song, and sang:

“I am a pretty bird of the valley,
You come to make a disturbance at my place.”

The bird came slowly towards her, still singing its song. When they met, the bird took the axe from the woman, and still sang the same song.

The cannibal began to be afraid.

She said to the bird: “Give me my axe; I do not wish for your flesh now.”

The bird tore one of her arms off.

She said: “I am going away now; give me what is mine.”

The bird would not listen to her, but continued its song.

She said again: “Give me my axe and let me go. My husband at home is very hungry; I want to go and cook food for him.”

The bird sang more loudly than before, and tore one of her legs off.

She fell down and cried out: “My master, I am in a hurry to go home. I do not want anything that is yours.”

She saw that she was in danger. She said to the bird again: “You don’t know how to sing your song nicely; let me go, and I will sing it for you.”

The bird opened its wings wide, and tore open her stomach. Many people came forth, most of them alive, but some were dead. As they came forth she caught them and swallowed them again. The two children were alive, and they ran away. At last the woman died.

There was great rejoicing in that country. The children returned to their grandfather, and the people came there and made them rulers of the country, because it was through them the cannibal was brought to death.

The girl was afterwards married to a son of the great chief, and Hinazinci had for his wife the daughter of that great one.

STORY OF THE GIRL AND THE MBULU.

There was once a widow woman who had one son and two daughters. On a certain day she went to her garden, taking with her one of the girls. While she was away the boy quarrelled with his sister and killed her.

In the course of the day the woman sent the girl that was with her to the hut, and when she came there a fly told her what had happened. She did not believe it.

Then a mouse told her the same thing, but still she did not believe it was true.

Afterwards the fly told her to look in a certain place, and there she saw the head and the bones of her sister.

When the woman came home and found out what had happened, she killed her son. Then she gave the girl a stick, and told her to go to her uncle’s house, saying that when she got there she must strike the ground with the stick, and all the clothes and other things that belonged to her would then rise up out of the earth. The woman said she was now all alone, and therefore intended to kill herself.

The girl was very sorry, but she did as her mother told her. When she was a little way off, she looked back and saw smoke coming out of the hut, from which she knew that her mother had burned herself and was no longer a person under the sun.