登陆注册
5156800000002

第2章 The Story of the Hero Makoma(1)

From the Senna (Oral Tradition)Once upon a time, at the town of Senna on the banks of the Zambesi, was born a child.He was not like other children, for he was very tall and strong; over his shoulder he carried a big sack, and in his hand an iron hammer.He could also speak like a grown man, but usually he was very silent.

One day his mother said to him: 'My child, by what name shall we know you?'

And he answered: 'Call all the head men of Senna here to the river's bank.' And his mother called the head men of the town, and when they had come he led them down to a deep black pool in the river where all the fierce crocodiles lived.

'O great men!' he said, while they all listened, 'which of you will leap into the pool and overcome the crocodiles?' But no one would come forward.So he turned and sprang into the water and disappeared.

The people held their breath, for they thought: 'Surely the boy is bewitched and throws away his life, for the crocodiles will eat him!'

Then suddenly the ground trembled, and the pool, heaving and swirling, became red with blood, and presently the boy rising to the surface swam on shore.

But he was no longer just a boy! He was stronger than any man and very tall and handsome, so that the people shouted with gladness when they saw him.

'Now, O my people!' he cried, waving his hand, 'you know my name--I am Makoma, "the Greater"; for have I not slain the crocodiles into the pool where none would venture?'

Then he said to his mother: 'Rest gently, my mother, for I go to make a home for myself and become a hero.' Then, entering his hut he took Nu-endo, his iron hammer, and throwing the sack over his shoulder, he went away.

Makoma crossed the Zambesi, and for many moons he wandered towards the north and west until he came to a very hilly country where, one day, he met a huge giant making mountains.

'Greeting,' shouted Makoma, 'you are you?'

'I am Chi-eswa-mapiri, who makes the mountains,' answered the giant;'and who are you?'

'I am Makoma, which signifies "greater,"' answered he.

'Greater than who?' asked the giant.

'Greater than you!' answered Makoma.

The giant gave a roar and rushed upon him.Makoma said nothing, but swinging his great hammer, Nu-endo, he struck the giant upon the head.

He struck him so hard a blow that the giant shrank into quite a little man, who fell upon his knees saying: 'You are indeed greater than I, OMakoma; take me with you to be your slave!' So Makoma picked him up and dropped him into the sack that he carried upon his back.

He was greater than ever now, for all the giant's strength had gone into him; and he resumed his journey, carrying his burden with as little difficulty as an eagle might carry a hare.

Before long he came to a country broken up with huge stones and immense clods of earth. Looking over one of the heaps he saw a giant wrapped in dust dragging out the very earth and hurling it in handfuls on either side of him.

'Who are you,' cried Makoma, 'that pulls up the earth in this way?'

'I am Chi-dubula-taka,' said he, 'and I am making the river-beds.'

'Do you know who I am?' said Makoma.'I am he that is called "greater"!'

'Greater than who?' thundered the giant.

'Greater than you!' answered Makoma.

With a shout, Chi-dubula-taka seized a great clod of earth and launched it at Makoma.But the hero had his sack held over his left arm and the stones and earth fell harmlessly upon it, and, tightly gripping his iron hammer, he rushed in and struck the giant to the ground.

Chi-dubula-taka grovelled before him, all the while growing smaller and smaller; and when he had become a convenient size Makoma picked him up and put him into the sack beside Chi- eswa-mapiri.

He went on his way even greater than before, as all the river-maker's power had become his; and at last he came to a forest of bao- babs and thorn trees.He was astonished at their size, for every one was full grown and larger than any trees he had ever seen, and close by he saw Chi-gwisa-miti, the giant who was planting the forest.

Chi-gwisa-miti was taller than either of his brothers, but Makoma was not afraid, and called out to him: 'Who are you, O Big One?'

'I,' said the giant, 'am Chi-gwisa-miti, and I am planting these bao-babs and thorns as food for my children the elephants.'

'Leave off!' shouted the hero, 'for I am Makoma, and would like to exchange a blow with thee!'

The giant, plucking up a monster bao-bab by the roots, struck heavily at Makoma; but the hero sprang aside, and as the weapon sank deep into the soft earth, whirled Nu-endo the hammer round his head and felled the giant with one blow.

So terrible was the stroke that Chi-gwisa- miti shrivelled up as the other giants had done; and when he had got back his breath he begged Makoma to take him as his servant.'For,' said he, 'it is honourable to serve a man so great as thou.'

Makoma, after placing him in his sack, proceeded upon his journey, and travelling for many days he at last reached a country so barren and rocky that not a single living thing grew upon it--everywhere reigned grim desolation.And in the midst of this dead region he found a man eating fire.

'What are you doing?' demanded Makoma.

'I am eating fire,' answered the man, laughing; 'and my name is Chi-idea-moto, for I am the flame-spirit, and can waste and destroy what I like.'

'You are wrong,' said Makoma; 'for I am Makoma, who is "greater" than you--and you cannot destroy me!'

The fire-eater laughed again, and blew a flame at Makoma.But the hero sprang behind a rock--just in time, for the ground upon which he had been standing was turned to molten glass, like an overbaked pot, by the heat of the flame-spirit's breath.

Then the hero flung his iron hammer at Chi- idea-moto, and, striking him, it knocked him helpless; so Makoma placed him in the sack, Woro-nowu, with the other great men that he had overcome.

And now, truly, Makoma was a very great hero; for he had the strength to make hills, the industry to lead rivers over dry wastes, foresight and wisdom in planting trees, and the power of producing fire when he wished.

同类推荐
  • 開原縣志

    開原縣志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无尽意菩萨经

    无尽意菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 舒文靖集

    舒文靖集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蚁术诗选

    蚁术诗选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Millionaire of Yesterday

    A Millionaire of Yesterday

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 甜宠101式:恶魔在身边

    甜宠101式:恶魔在身边

    新文已发《宠婚撩人:小娇妻,有点甜》,男主超宠女主的文文~求个收藏求票票~(砂糖文!甜宠!)一朝重生,席柚从退伍特种兵变成了女高中生。花痴,智商低,学渣,是女高中生被贴上的标签。席柚低哂,没关系,她会用实力告诉这群人什么叫女神高不可攀,智商碾压弱鸡,学渣逆袭学霸。重要的是,她会一点一点教会他们怎么做人!最后,席柚成功教会了其他人怎么做人,而陆霁,也成功教会了席柚怎么造人。
  • 纨绔县太爷与神捕夫人

    纨绔县太爷与神捕夫人

    【新作《宴风》连载中,请多支持】那一夜,冰冷的湖水吞没她的身体,她僵硬的手抚摩着扁平的肚子,想着那个未能足月便离开的孩子,心痛不已,这一世,她爱得太卑微太窝囊,最后连自己的孩子都没能保住。如果有来生,她一定,一定不要这样活……再度睁开眼,发现自己重生回到了七岁那年,看着面前那个口口声声命令自己不许跟道姑走的男孩子,冼星暗暗决定改写自己的人生。然而,兜兜转转,转转兜兜,她为何还是绕不过那个家伙……(读者群:281398085敲门砖:任一作品中的男女主名。)
  • 尿童失踪之谜

    尿童失踪之谜

    空旷的草地上绿色茸茸。阳光很强地从东天照下,露珠儿开始消融。绿色的氤氲在阳光里弥漫,然后笼罩草地使得一切缥缈又虚幻。酒神杜康于迷蒙中愈加庄严而神圣,冷兮兮地望着他面前的芸芸众生。几十坛粗陶酒坛一字排开,如一群直立的缩头老龟。粗坛色彩黝黑,凝重拙朴。坛身凸肚之处贴着大红的方纸。红色的方纸上写着粗犷的“酒”字,鲜艳夺目。不远的地方坐着十几位耄耋老翁,精神矍铄,盯着酒坛,满目贪婪。一队神汉巫婆身穿怪服,面目狰狞,给人以面临地狱般的恐怖。相公们赤身露肉,黝黑的光脊上绘着各种图案。阳光在图案的间隙间跳荡,扑朔迷离。正中间站着的是两个赤肚娃娃,面目惶惑又呆然。他们的面前放着一个个大木盆。
  • 孔子世家

    孔子世家

    小说讲述了孔子以及学生们的故事,刻画出欲积极作为且不失人情味的孔子形象。是以现代人的心理去描述古代人的故事,小说既不脱离历史故事的真实,又有现代人的思想和逻辑,两者夹杂在一起,亦庄亦谐,别具一格,在海外有很大影响。富贵是人所共追之的,仁人义士也不例外。仁人义士虽不必富贵,却也不必不富贵。仁者未尝不可以富,富者未尝不可以仁。但凡患得者,既得之后,大都患失。把事情的成败推到天意,其实就是说人谋没有把握。人谋既无把握,其实也就是说败算多。所谓“事君以忠”,只是说一日为某君之臣,一日应当为某君尽忠效力。并不是说一日为某君之臣,一生一世就只能为某君之臣。况且,既已发觉与君不合,如何还能尽忠?
  • 大汉王朝的三张脸谱:白脸汉高祖

    大汉王朝的三张脸谱:白脸汉高祖

    一本书带你读透西汉开国皇帝的御人成王之道,为你揭开老好人刘邦“白脸”真容下的创业真经。一将功成万骨枯。刘邦为了稳定大汉政权,终于露出了“白脸”的真容,手中的屠刀转向了曾为自己打下江山的功臣良将……作者以史籍为蓝本,以人性为内核,用娴熟流畅的笔法将大汉君王事讲得千回百转,有滋有味,刘邦的传奇尽在书中。他究竟是流氓,是无赖,是英雄,还是枭雄?千秋功过,任君评说。
  • 重生之娇医有毒

    重生之娇医有毒

    新书《我的金手指总犯二》,求支持!—————————————————————俗话说得好,大.腿再粗也是别人的,手指再细也是自己的。发现自己到了四十多年前,张见昀有些惆怅,发现自己有金手指,她心态趋稳。张见昀(兴奋):能给我个无所不能的空间吗?金手指:莫得!张见昀(犹豫):那——给个白手起家的超级系统也成。金手指:木有!张见昀(疑惑):那你能干嘛?金手指:我能让你的敌人——酱酱酿酿!张见昀(震惊):啥?金手指:我能让他/她摔个超大的跟头,也能让他/她踩堆特臭的狗屎,然后……张见昀(撞墙):你不会就是个二货吧,这些烂招数,能有什么用?金手指:我……张见昀(握拳):我还是靠自己吧!
  • 庆典贺辞大全

    庆典贺辞大全

    中国人历来爱热闹,节庆礼宴都要举办仪式。如今,各种宴会酒席、商务聚会中,致辞更是必不可少的一项重头戏。你还在为当众讲话语无伦次而烦恼吗?你还在为寻找合适的贺词而手忙脚乱吗?你还在为自己拙劣的口才而沮丧吗?《最新庆典贺辞大全》(作者李貌)可以让你走出困境!《最新庆典贺辞大全》中介绍的适用于各种场合的经典贺辞,能让你将锦词妙语、华丽词章信手拈来,使你纵横宴会庆典游刃有余!
  • 病态王爷难伺候

    病态王爷难伺候

    沐暖暖,携带医学系统穿越到了人尽皆知“废物,丑陋”的沐将军府大小姐身上。被渣爹,渣未婚夫太子,继母,妹妹陷害迫使代嫁给传言中“病秧子”容颜奇丑,活不过二十五岁的三王爷。世人眼中看人三王爷是无能,整天病弱不堪,足不出户的“废人”
  • 嫡女掌家

    嫡女掌家

    前世,今笙痴缠了多年的男人迎娶了她的庶妹云溪,并封她为后,她被封为后的第一件事情便是要了她这个嫡姐的命。那时,她就真的心如死灰、无所眷恋了。谁知,一朝醒来,她又回到青春年少,风华正茂,十四岁那年,一切刚刚好。前世,我错付真心,今生,我心硬如铁。欠我的,我都要讨回来。嫡女重生,所有人的命运都将重新洗牌。新书,盼望各位小仙女收藏评论哈!
  • 老公逼婚无效

    老公逼婚无效

    五年前,苏雨桐遭母亲算计,人生翻天,带着肚子里的孩子她仓皇而逃,五年后,她同女儿一起遭到绑架,阴谋下他收到了一份大礼,“您的老婆请签收,五分好评呦亲~”卡片上的字让他眼角抽搐,快递小哥将一个巨大的精美箱子抬了进来,谁能告诉他,现在的老婆都能快递包邮了么!