The Sacred Milk of Koumongoé

Far away, in a very hot country, there once lived a man and woman who had two children, a son named Koané and a daughter called Thakané.

Early in the morning and late in the evening, the parents worked hard in the fields. When the sun was high, they rested in the shade of a tree.Early in the morning and late in the evenings the parents worked hard in the fields, resting, when the sun was high, under the shade of some tree. While they were away, the little girl looked after the house alone. Her brother always got up before dawn, when the air was fresh and cool, and drove the cattle out to the sweetest patches of grass he could find.While they were absent the little girl kept house alone, for her brother always got up before the dawn, when the air was fresh and cool, and drove out the cattle to the sweetest patches of grass he could find.

One day, when Koané had slept later than usual, his father and mother went to work before him. Only Thakané was there, busy making the bread for supper.his father and mother went to their work before him, and there was only Thakané to be seen busy making the bread for supper.

‘Thakané,’ he said, ‘I am thirsty. Give me a drink from the tree Koumongoé, which has the best milk in the world.’

‘Oh, Koané,’ cried his sister, ‘you know that we are forbidden to touch that tree. What would father say when he came home? He would be sure to know.For he would be sure to know.’

‘Nonsense,’ replied Koané, ‘there is so much milk in Koumongoé that he will never miss a little. If you won’t give it to me, I won’tsha’n’t take the cattle out. They will just have to stay all day in the hut, and you know that they will starve.’ And he turned from her in a rage, and sat down in the corner.

After a while Thakané said to him: ‘It is getting hot, wouldn’t it be better tohad you not better drive out the cattle now?’

But Koané only answered sulkily: ‘I told you I am not going to drive them out at all. If I have to do without milk, they will do without grassthey shall do without grass.’

Thakané did not know what to do. She was afraid to disobey her parents, who would most likely beat her. Yet the animals would be sure to suffer if they were kept inside, and perhaps she would be beaten for that too.She was afraid to disobey her parents, who would most likely beat her, yet the beasts would be sure to suffer if they were kept in, and she would perhaps be beaten for that too. So at last she took an axe and a tiny bowl made of clay. She cut a very small hole in the side of Koumongoé, and out gushed enough milk to fill the bowl.So at last she took an axe and a tiny earthen bowl, she cut a very small hole in the side of Koumongoé, and out gushed enough milk to fill the bowl.

‘Here is the milk you wanted,’ she saidsaid she, going up to Koané, who was still sulking in his corner.

‘What is the use of that?’ grumbled Koané; ‘Why, therewhy, there is not enough to drown a fly. Go and get me three times as much!’

Trembling with fright, Thakané returned to the tree, and struck it a sharp blow with the axe. In an instant, such a stream of milk poured out that it ran like a river into the hut.In an instant there poured forth such a stream of milk that it ran like a river into the hut.

‘Koané! Koané!’ she cried, ‘comecried she, ‘come and help me to plug up the hole. There will be no milk left for our father and mother.’ But Koané could not stop it any more than Thakané could. Soon the milk was flowing through the hut and downhill towards their parents in the fields below.But Koané could not stop it any more than Thakané, and soon the milk was flowing through the hut downhill towards their parents in the fields below.

The man saw the white stream a long way off, and guessed what had happened.

‘Wife, wife,’ he called loudly to the woman, who was working at a little distance: ‘Do you see the milk from Koumongoé running fast down the hill?Do you see Koumongoé running fast down the hill? That is some mischief of the children’s, I am sure. I must go home and find out what is the matter.’ And they both threw down their hoes and hurried to the side of the stream of milkhurried to the side of Koumongoé.

Kneeling on the grass, the man and his wife made a cup of their hands and drank the milk from it. As soon as they had done this, the milk from Koumongoé flowed back up the hill and entered the hut.And no sooner had they done this, than Koumongoé flowed back again up the hill, and entered the hut.

‘Thakané,’ said the parents, severely, when they reached home panting from the heat of the sun, ‘what have you been doing? Why did the milk from Koumongoé come to us in the fieldsWhy did Koumongoé come to us in the fields instead of staying in the garden?’

‘It was Koané’s fault,’ answered Thakané. ‘He would not take the cattle out to feedtake the cattle to feed until he drank some of the milk from Koumongoé. So, as I did not know what else to do, I gave it to him.’

The father listened to Thakané’s words, but made no answer. Instead, he went outside and brought in two sheepskins, which he stained red. Then he sent for a blacksmith to make some iron rings.Instead, he went outside and brought in two sheepskins, which he stained red and sent for a blacksmith to forge some iron rings. The rings were then passed over Thakané’s arms and legs and neck, and the skins were fastened on her, one in front and one behindand the skins fastened on her before and behind. When all was ready, the man sent for his servants and said:

‘I am going to get rid of Thakané.’

‘Get rid of your only daughter?’ they answered, in surprise. ‘But why?’

‘Because she has eaten what she ought not to have eaten. She has touched the sacred tree which belongs to her mother and me alone.’ And, turning his back, he called to Thakané to follow him, and they went down the road which led to an ogre’s homethe dwelling of an ogre.

They were passing some fields where the corn was ripening when a rabbit suddenly sprang out at their feet. Standing on its hind legs, it sang:They were passing along some fields where the corn was ripening, when a rabbit suddenly sprang out at their feet, and standing on its hind legs, it sang:

Why do you give to the ogre
Your child, so fair, so fair?

‘You had better ask her,’ replied the man, ‘she is old enough to give you an answer.’

Then, in her turn, Thakané sang:

I gave Koumongoé to Koané,
Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts;
For without Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows:
Without Koumongoé they would starve in the hut;
That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father.

And when the rabbit heard that, he cried: ‘Wretched man! It isWretched man! it is you whom the ogre should eat, and not your beautiful daughter.’

But the father paid no attention to what the rabbit said. He only walked faster, telling Thakané to keep close behind him. After a while they met a herd of large antelopes called elands. The elands stopped when they saw Thakané and sang:But the father paid no heed to what the rabbit said, and only walked on the faster, bidding Thakané to keep close behind him. By-and-by they met with a troop of great deer, called elands, and they stopped when they saw Thakané and sang:Explanation: Elands are large antelopes. The original calls them deer; the modernized version identifies the animals correctly while keeping their name.

Why do you give to the ogre
Your child, so fair, so fair?

‘You had better ask her,’ replied the man, ‘she is old enough to give you an answer.’

Then, in her turn, Thakané sang:

I gave Koumongoé to Koané,
Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts;
For without Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows:
Without Koumongoé they would starve in the hut;
That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father.

And the elands all cried: ‘Wretched man! It isWretched man! it is you whom the ogre should eat, and not your beautiful daughter.’

By this time it was nearly dark. The father said they could travel no further that night and must go to sleep where they were.By this time it was nearly dark, and the father said they could travel no further that night, and must go to sleep where they were. Thakané was thankful indeed when she heard this. She was very tired and found the two skins fastened round her almost too heavy to carry.Thakané was thankful indeed when she heard this, for she was very tired, and found the two skins fastened round her almost too heavy to carry. So, in spite of her dread of the ogre, she slept till dawn. Then her father woke her and told her roughly that he was ready to continue their journey.So, in spite of her dread of the ogre, she slept till dawn, when her father woke her, and told her roughly that he was ready to continue their journey.

Crossing the plain, the girl and her father passed a herd of gazelles feeding. They lifted their heads, wondering who was out so early, and when they caught sight of Thakané, they sang:

Why do you give to the ogre
Your child, so fair, so fair?

‘You had better ask her,’ replied the man, ‘she is old enough to answer for herself.’

Then, in her turn, Thakané sang:

I gave Koumongoé to Koané,
Koumongoé to the keeper of beasts;
For without Koumongoé they could not go to the meadows:
Without Koumongoé they would starve in the hut;
That was why I gave him the Koumongoé of my father.

And the gazelles all cried: ‘Wretched man! It isWretched man! it is you whom the ogre should eat, and not your beautiful daughter.’

At last they arrived at the village where the ogre lived, and they went straight to his hut. The ogre was nowhere to be seen. In his place was his son Masilo, who was not an ogre at all, but a very polite young man.He was nowhere to be seen, but in his place was his son Masilo, who was not an ogre at all, but a very polite young man. He ordered his servants to bring a pile of skins for Thakané to sit on, but told her father he must sit on the ground. Then Masilo caught sight of the girl’s face, which she had kept turned down. Struck by its beauty, he asked the same question as the rabbit, the elands and the gazelles.Then, catching sight of the girl’s face, which she had kept bent down, he was struck by its beauty, and put the same question that the rabbit, and the elands, and the gazelles had done.

Thakané answered him as before. Masilo instantly ordered the servants to take her to his mother’s hut and place her in his mother’s care. They were to lead Thakané’s father to the ogre.Thakané answered him as before, and he instantly commanded that she should be taken to the hut of his mother, and placed under her care, while the man should be led to his father. As soon as the ogre saw him, he ordered the servant to kill him, and in five minutes he was dead.Directly the ogre saw him he bade the servant throw him into the great pot which always stood ready on the fire, and in five minutes he was done to a turn.Explanation: The father is still killed on the ogre’s orders, within five minutes. The graphic cooking of a person is softened for children in the modernized version. After that the servant returned to Masilo and related all that had happened.

Now Masilo had fallen in love with Thakané the moment he saw her. At first he did not know what to make of this strange feeling, for all his life he had hated women, and had refused several brides whom his parents had chosen for him. However, they were so eager for him to marry that they willingly accepted Thakané as their daughter-in-law, though she brought no dowry with her—no property for the marriage.However, they were so anxious that he should marry, that they willingly accepted Thakané as their daughter-in-law, though she did not bring any marriage portion with her.Explanation: A marriage portion is a dowry: property brought to a marriage.

After some time, Thakané had a baby. She thought it was the most beautiful baby that had ever been seen.After some time a baby was born to her, and Thakané thought it was the most beautiful baby that ever was seen. But when her mother-in-law saw it was a girl, she wrung her hands and wept, saying:

‘O miserable mother! Miserable child! Alas for you! WhyAlas for you! why were you not a boy!’

Very surprised, Thakané asked why her mother-in-law was so upset. The old woman told her that the custom in that country was to give every newborn girl to the ogre to eat.Thakané, in great surprise, asked the meaning of her distress; and the old woman told her that it was the custom in that country that all the girls who were born should be given to the ogre to eat.

Then Thakané clasped the baby tightly in her arms, and cried:

‘But it is not the custom in my country! There, when children die, they are buried in the earth. No one shall take my baby from me.’

That night, when everyone in the hut was asleep, Thakané got up. Carrying her baby on her back, she went down to a place where the river spread out into a large lake, with tall willows all round the bank.Thakané rose, and carrying her baby on her back, went down to a place where the river spread itself out into a large lake, with tall willows all round the bank. Here, hidden from everyone, she sat down on a stone and began to think what she should do to save her child.

Suddenly she heard a rustling among the willows, and an old woman appeared before her.

‘What are you crying for, my dear?’ she saidsaid she.

And Thakané answered: ‘I was crying for my baby. I cannot hide her forever, and if the ogre sees her, he will eat her. I would rather she died than be eaten.I was crying for my baby—I cannot hide her for ever, and if the ogre sees her, he will eat her; and I would rather she was drowned than that.Explanation: Thakané still fears that her baby will be eaten and would prefer her death to that fate. The manner of death is softened for children in the modernized version.’

‘What you say is true,’ replied the old woman. ‘Give me your child, and let me take care of it. And if you will choose a dayfix a day to meet me here I will bring the baby.’

Then Thakané dried her eyes, and gladly accepted the old woman’s offer. When she got home, she told her husband she had ended her baby’s life. He had watched her go towards the river, so he never thought of doubting her words.When she got home she told her husband she had thrown it in the river, and as he had watched her go in that direction he never thought of doubting what she said.Explanation: Thakané still falsely tells her husband that she has ended her baby’s life. The method is softened for children in the modernized version; she has actually entrusted the baby to the old woman.

On the appointed day, Thakané slipped out when everybody was busy, and ran down the path that led to the lake. As soon as she got there, she crouched down among the willows, and sang softly:

Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one,
Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast out!

And in a moment the old woman appeared holding the baby in her arms. Dilah had become so big and strong that Thakané’s heart was filled with joy and gratitude. She stayed as long as she dared, playing with her baby.Dilah had become so big and strong, that Thakané’s heart was filled with joy and gratitude, and she stayed as long as she dared, playing with her baby. At last she felt she must return to the village, in case anyone noticed she was gone. She handed the child back to the old woman, who vanished with her into the lake.At last she felt she must return to the village, lest she should be missed, and the child was handed back to the old woman, who vanished with her into the lake.

Children grow up very quickly when they live under water. In less time than anyone could imagine, Dilah had changed from a baby to a woman.Children grow up very quickly when they live under water, and in less time than anyone could suppose, Dilah had changed from a baby to a woman. Her mother came to visit her whenever she could. One day, as they sat talking together, they were spotted by a man who had come to cut willow branches to weave into baskets.Her mother came to visit her whenever she was able, and one day, when they were sitting talking together, they were spied out by a man who had come to cut willows to weave into baskets. He was so surprised to see how much the girl’s face resembled Masilo’s that he left his work and returned to the village.He was so surprised to see how like the face of the girl was to Masilo, that he left his work and returned to the village.

‘Masilo,’ he said, as he entered the hut, ‘I have just seen your wife near the river with a girl who must be your daughter. She looks so much like you.I have just beheld your wife near the river with a girl who must be your daughter, she is so like you. We have been deceived, for we all thought she was dead.’

When he heard this, Masilo tried to look shocked because his wife had broken the law; but in his heart he was very glad.

‘But what will we do now?’ he askedwhat shall we do now?’ asked he.

‘The next time Thakané says she is going to bathe in the river, hide among the bushes and wait until the girl appears. Then you can see for yourself that I am telling the truth.Make sure for yourself that I am speaking the truth by hiding among the bushes the first time Thakané says she is going to bathe in the river, and waiting till the girl appears.’

For some days Thakané stayed quietly at home. Her husband began to think that the man had been mistaken. But at last she said to him:For some days Thakané stayed quietly at home, and her husband began to think that the man had been mistaken; but at last she said to her husband: ‘I am going to bathe in the river.’

‘Well, you can go,’ he answeredanswered he. But he ran down quickly by another path, got there first and hid himself in the bushes.But he ran down quickly by another path, and got there first, and hid himself in the bushes. An instant later, Thakané arrived, and standing on the bank, she sang:

Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one,
Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast out!

Then the old woman came out of the water, holding the girl, now tall and slender, by the hand. As Masilo looked at her, he saw that she was indeed his daughter. He wept for joy that she was still alive.And as Masilo looked, he saw that she was indeed his daughter, and he wept for joy that she was not lying dead in the bottom of the lake.Explanation: Masilo is still overjoyed to find his daughter alive. The image of her dead body at the bottom of the lake is softened for children in the modernized version. The old woman, however, seemed uneasy, and said to Thakané: ‘I feel as if someone was watching us. I will not leave the girl todayto-day, but will take her back with me.’ With that, she sank beneath the surface and drew the girl after her.with me’; and sinking beneath the surface, she drew the girl after her. After they had gone, Thakané returned to the village, which Masilo had managed to reach before her.

All the rest of the day he sat in a corner weeping, and his mother who came in asked: ‘Why are you weeping so bitterly, my son?’

‘My head aches,’ he answered; ‘Ithe answered; ‘it aches very badly.’ And his mother passed on, and left him alone.

In the evening he said to his wife: ‘I have seen my daughter, in the place where you told me you had ended her lifewhere you told me you had drowned herExplanation: Masilo still refers to the false account of his daughter’s death. The manner of death is softened for children in the modernized version.. Instead, she lives at the bottom of the lake, and has now grown into a young woman.’

‘I don’t know what you are talking about,’ replied Thakané. ‘I buried my child under the sand on the beach.’

Then Masilo begged her to give him back his child. But Thakané would not listen and only answered:Then Masilo implored her to give the child back to him; but she would not listen, and only answered: ‘If I gave her back, you would only obey the laws of your country and take her to your father, the ogre. She would be eaten.If I were to give her back you would only obey the laws of your country and take her to your father, the ogre, and she would be eaten.’

But Masilo promised that he would never let his father see Dilah. Now she was a woman, he said, no one would try to hurt her. So Thakané’s heart melted, and she went down to the lake to consult the old woman.But Masilo promised that he would never let his father see her, and that now she was a woman no one would try to hurt her; so Thakané’s heart melted, and she went down to the lake to consult the old woman.

‘What am I to do?’ she asked, when, after clapping her hands, the old woman appeared before her. ‘Yesterday Masilo sawbeheld Dilah, and ever since he has begged meever since he has entreated me to give him back his daughter.’

‘If I let her go he must pay me a thousand cattlea thousand head of cattle in exchange,’ replied the old woman. And Thakané carried her answer back to Masilo.

‘Why, I would gladly give her two thousand!’ cried he, ‘for she has saved my daughter.’ He told messengers to hurry to all the neighbouring villages and tell his people to send him all his cattle at once.And he bade messengers hasten to all the neighbouring villages, and tell his people to send him at once all the cattle he possessed. When all the cattle had been gathered, he chose a thousand of the finest bulls and cows. He drove them down to the river, followed by a great crowd wondering what would happen.When they were all assembled he chose a thousand of the finest bulls and cows, and drove them down to the river, followed by a great crowd wondering what would happen.

Then Thakané stepped forward in front of the cattle and sang:

Bring to me Dilah, Dilah the rejected one,
Dilah, whom her father Masilo cast out!

Dilah came from the waters, holding out her hands to Masilo and Thakané. In her place, the cattle sank into the lake. The old woman drove them to the great city filled with people that lies at the bottom.And Dilah came from the waters holding out her hands to Masilo and Thakané, and in her place the cattle sank into the lake, and were driven by the old woman to the great city filled with people, which lies at the bottom.

[ Contes Populaires des Bassoutos. ]