In a certain country an old man ground gunpowder. Having ground it
until the time when it became night, he dried it in the sun. In the
evening, at the time when he was preparing (lit., making) to put it in
the powder-horn, the old gentleman's [183] grandson having come said,
"Grandmother, let us burn (pussamu) gunpowder, to look at it."
Then, having scolded the child she said, "Bring a fire-brand." Having
brought it, "Grandmother, give me a little powder," he said. After
that, she put gunpowder into a potsherd. Having put it in she told
him to burn it. When he was placing the fire-brand [to it] the little
powder that was in the potsherd all burnt.
Because the old gentleman was near the potsherd the old gentleman's
beard and body were burnt. On account of the difficulty of his body
he said to his wife, "Warm and give me a little water," he said.
The woman having warmed the water called him to bathe; at that time the
old gentleman came there. After that, while the woman for the purpose
of cooling the water went to bring cold water, the man, taking a piece
of coconut shell, poured [the hot water] over his body. Because there
was too much heat in the water his body began to burn.
While he was crying out on his body's burning, a man having come said
for that burning, "Cowdung (ela-goma) indeed is good." [184]
Afterwards the man having gone running, bringing excrement deposited
by a child called Goma, from the place where they tie the cattle,
smeared it on the burning places. The [old] man perceiving the stench,
at the time when he said to his wife, "What is this stench? Is this
cowdung or what? Look," the woman brought a lamp. When she looked,
perceiving that it was ordure, she said, "The things this foolish
stubborn fellow is doing to himself!" Spitting, having brought water
and bathed him she went with him into the house. Afterwards in many
days she made him well.
North-western Province.