Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales
John Stuart Mill · en
At last, Leopard said, "Ah! this beautiful woman! I hear about her
beauty, and that no one is able to get her. I think I better take my
turn, and try. But, first I will go to Ra-Marânge." He went to that
magic-doctor, and told his story about Ra-Mborakinda's fine daughter,
and how no man could get her because of her fastidiousness about
skins. Ra-Marânge told him, "I am too old. I do not now do those
things about medicines. Go to Ogula-ya-mpazya-vazya."
So, Leopard went to him. As usual, the sorcerer Ogula jumped into
his fire; and coming out with power, directed Leopard to tell what
he wanted. So he told the whole story again, and asked how he should
obtain the clean body of a man. The sorcerer prepared for him a great
"medicine" by which to give him a human body, tall, graceful, strong
and clean. Leopard then went back to his town, told his people his
plans, and prepared their bodies also for a change if needed. Having
taken also a human name, Ogula, he then went to Ra-Mborakinda, saying,
"I wish your daughter Ilâmbe for wife."
On his arrival, at Ra-Mborakinda's, the people admired the stranger,
and felt sure that Ilâmbe would accept this suitor, exclaiming,
"This fine-looking man! his face! and his gait! and his body!" When
he had made his request of Ra-Mborakinda, he was told, as usual,
to go to Ilâmbe and see whether she would like him. When he went to
her house, he looked so handsomely, that Ilâmbe was at once pleased
with him. He told her, "I love you; and I come to marry you. You have
refused many. I know the reason why, but I think you will be satisfied
with me." She replied, "I think you have heard from others the reason
for which I refuse men. I will see whether you have what I want." And
she added, "Let us go into the room; and let me see your skin."
They entered the room; and Ogula-Njegâ removed his fine
clothing. Ilâmbe examined with close scrutiny from his head to his
feet. She found not the slightest scratch or mark; his skin was like
a babe's. Then she said, "Yes! this is my man! truly! I love you,
and will marry you!" She was so pleased with her acquisition, that
she remained in the room enjoying again a minute examination of her
husband's beautiful skin. Then she went out, and ordered her servants
to cook food, prepare water, etc., for him; and he did not go out of
the house, nor have a longing to go back to his town, for he found
that he was loved.
On the third day, he went to tell the father, Ra-Mborakinda, that
he was ready to take his wife off to his town. Ra-Mborakinda
consented. All that day, they prepared food for the
marriage-feast. But, all the while that this man-beast, Ogula-Njegâ
was there, Ra-Mborakinda, by his okove (a magic fetish) knew that
some evil would come out of this marriage. However, as Ilâmbe had
insisted on choosing her own way, he did not interfere.