The Story of Mani
Near Santarém, a chief’s daughter is expecting a child whose birth will astonish the neighbouring communities. This legend tells the story of little Mani and gives a magical origin to cassava.
Content warning: This tale includes family threats and violence, and the death of a young child.
It Is Snowing!
"Long ago the daughter of a chief, near Santarem, was found to be pregnantwas discovered to be with child. The chief wished to punish the man whom he blamed for his daughter’s dishonor and for wounding his own pridethe author of his daughter's dishonor, and the wound to his own pride ; but despite pleas and threatsbefore prayers and threats, and even blows, the girl steadfastly declared her innocence. The chief was considering killing herwas deliberating to kill her, when a white man appeared to him in a dream, and told him not to kill the girl, because she was really innocent and virgin. When the time cameIn the fulness of time the girl gave birth to a beautiful baby girla beautiful female child, who was white, like the vision ; this caused great surprise, not only in her own tribe, but among the neighboring nations, many of whom came to visit her. The child was called ManiManí ; she walked and talked at a very early ageprecociously ; but at the end of a year she died, without being ill or giving any sign of pain.
"She was buriedwas interred in the house, which was unroofed, and the grave was watered daily. After some timeAt the end of some time a plant sprang up fromsprang out of the grave ; and because it was unknown to them, the people did not pull it up. It grew, flourished, and gave fruit. The birds who ate the fruit became intoxicated, and this phenomenon increased the care with which the people tended the plantthe superstitious care of the IndiansExplanation: The historical description dismisses the people’s beliefs. The modern version preserves their increased care without repeating that judgement or inventing a particular magical belief.. EventuallyAt length the earth cracked open ; they dug into it, and in the root which they found they believed that they saw the body of ManiManí. They ate it, and thus learned the use of mandioca. Hence also the name, ManiManí-oca, the house or hiding place of ManiManí."1
Footnotes
1. This is, in fact, the original name of the plant. Oka, oca, og, in Tupi-Guarany, is a house. On the Amazons the root is often called manniva, or maniua, no doubt from ManiManí-uá, fruit of ManiManí.