Saturday, October 14, 2023

The Legends of Makoma - Part Four

After all this Makoma walked on and he came to a meadow. The meadow was pleasantly well watered and gave Makoma everything that he wanted. He decided to start a village which was surrounded by a fence in this meadow. 

He let the other giants out of the sack and called them. "I am going to collect timber to set up a fire. I want all the other giants to come and help me."

Chi-eswa-mapiri stayed back and he decided to look after the fire and the cooking. 

The other four giants and Makoma went deep into the forest. 

When they came back, they were stunned. Chi-eswa-mapiri was bound by what seemed like very thick hair and he was lying helplessly bound near the fire.



When Makoma freed Chi-eswa-mapiri with his own hair, the giant told Makoma all that had happened. "A very strong man with a thick mustache which did not seem to end, came at midday. When he wanted to know who my master was, I gave him your name." Chi-eswa-mapiri sadly shook his head after that. "Using the hair of his mustache, he bound me and left me the way you found me."

The same thing happened the next few days too. 

Finally, Makoma himself stayed back near his hut to see who this man was and that day Makoma asked the others to go to the forest to get timber. 

Around midday a very powerful looking huge man with a long never ending mustache came near the hut. 

Makoma pulled up his hammer and came forward. "Before I kill you I want to know your name."

"My name is Chin-debou Mau-giri. My home is in the river and my mustache is the gray mist which hangs on top of the river and using this I bind all those who stand against me." The man with the huge stature roared angrily.



Makoma tried to throw his hammer at the man. But the river man was slippery and the blow slid off the river-man's chest. In return he threw his mustache at Makoma which tripped him and Makoma fell back.

Makoma was helpless for a second. Then he remembered the flame spirit's power, which he had imbibed. He used the fire and cut the hair around him.

This time, both the people fought again and after a huge fight Makoma killed Chin-debou Mau-giri.

That evening when the other giants came back from the forest they rejoiced at what Makoma had done. 

They all had a feast that night and then went to sleep.


Adapted from Rhodesian folk tales


No comments:

Post a Comment