Mbwa started, and brought them to the village. He carried two to
his father. His brothers exclaimed, "Where does Mbwa kill all those
animals?" His father cut up the animals, and divided one with his
children. He cut up the other, saying, "This belongs to myself." Then
he prepared some to be cooked in momba (bundles tied in plantain
leaves), and some to be dried, and some to be boiled.
The women boiled the food (Mbwa still watching them). When it was
cooked, they lifted up the pot from the fire, and they were about to
taste it, when Mbwa said, "No! you must not taste it!" They put it
in bowls, and set the food before their husband; and he ate. When he
was about to give some to his wives, Mbwa said, "Not so!"
The twins continued with their hunting just the same as at the
first. Almost every day they were killing some animal. And Mbwa
continued also with carrying meat to the town of his father.
Finally, the twins became full-grown men. Then Mbwa said to himself,
"Now, I'm ready to bring this matter to the ears of the people." When
another day came, he said to his father, "Tomorrow, call all the
people of the town together, in the afternoon."
On the next day, his father did so. Mbwa dressed the twins very
finely; and brought out three chairs, two for the twins, and one for
his mother. All the people collected together. Thereupon, he brought
forward his mother, and the twins. The people fixed their eyes on them;
for they had not seen them in their little hamlet in the forest. The
people exclaimed, "What fine-looking persons!"
Then Mbwa stood up. He said, "Ye people! I have called you all that
ye may recognize these two young men." The people said that they did
not know them. He continued, "These are my father's children. For,
my father had married these three women. Also, they had three duties;
Majanga, her duty of keeping the house clean; Inyanji, her duty of
planting; and Mamendi's was the bearing of twins. Mamendi became
a mother. On the day of her confinement, her two sisters went to
deliver her. They took a napkin and covered her eyes. And she bore
these two twins. They threw them inside the pig-pen. And they took two
small earthen pillars instead, and they went and showed them to their
husband. Then, I entered the pig-pen; and I took these children out;
and brought them to my mother. So, these children grew up. And they
began hunting. You, my father, you remember when I brought you the
wild meat, and you were about to give to these women; but, I went and
took away the food. The reason is, because they are the ones who tried
to kill the children. I brought them up from childhood to be men as
now. So, this caused me to bring this case before the presence of all
people; for, I say that those two women were murderesses. So, then,
my father, these are your children; but, if you retain those women,
these two twins shall not be your sons."