In a certain country there was a house of a Gamarala, it is said. At
that house there were seven children. Out of the seven, the elder
six persons having arisen on all days just at daybreak, go to do work
in the rice field. The young person for the purpose of learning goes
to school.
Having joined with yet [other] children (lamo), the party of children
began to go near a house at which a certain Rakshasi dwells at that
village. During the time when they are going thus, the Rakshasi who
saw these children, from the day on which she saw the children made
ready to seize and eat them.
Although she made ready in that manner, through fear because men
dwelt in the neighbourhood she did not seize the children. But the
Rakshasi being unable to remain without eating the children, thought,
"Seizing the children by a certain device, I must employ my daughter,
and [after] boiling I must eat them." Having broken off all the leaves
of a tree that was on the road on which the children go to school,
and having wrapped strips of white cloth at all places on the tree,
and hung cakes and plantains, etc., at all places on the tree, the
Rakshasi got into the jungle and waited.
At the time when she is staying thus, the party of children who are
going to school, when they approached the root of that tree having
seen the tree on which the cakes and plantains had been hung, said,
"Look here, Bola; a Cake Tree;" and the whole of them having ascended
the tree, plucked the cakes and plantains to the extent to which they
had been hung on the tree, and ate them.
That day, except that the Rakshasi had gone into the jungle, she did
not come to the place where the children are eating the cakes and
plantains. Why? It was through fear that many children having come
to the place where she is, at the time when she is seizing them the
children having become afraid, and run to that and this hand, when
they have told the men they will kill her.
Having thought thus, that day after the whole of the children,
plucking the cakes and plantains, went away, the Rakshasi having
come from the jungle into the open, arrived at her house, and stayed
[there]. On the following day also, as on the former day, at daybreak
having gone taking cakes and plantains, and hung them on the tree,
she got hid, and remained looking out.
That day, when she is thus, out of that troop of children going to
school, the Gamarala's child having arisen more towards daybreak
than on other days, and hurried, and eaten food, and drunk, and gone
in front of the other boys, with the thought that he must pluck the
cakes very quickly went that day quite alone. Having gone in that way,
he ascended the Cake Tree and began to pluck them. At the time when
he is thus plucking them, the Rakshasi having sprung out, quickly
taking the bag also, and having come to the bottom of the tree,
spoke to the Gamarala's boy, and says, "Ade! Son, pluck and give me
one cake," she said.
When the Rakshasi said thus, he plucked one and gave it. The Rakshasi
having thrown on the ground that bit of cake says, "Ane! Son, the cake
fell on the ground. Sand being rubbed on it, I cannot eat it. Give
me still one," she said.
At the time when she said thus, he plucked one more and gave it. Having
dropped that also on the ground, she says, "Ane! Having struck my
hand that also fell on the ground. I cannot catch the cakes that you
are plucking and giving me. I will tell you a very easy work; you
do it. Plucking as many cakes as you can, jump into my bag. Jumping
in that way is easier than descending [by climbing down] the tree,"
she said.
When the Rakshasi told him in that manner, this foolish child,
thinking, "It is an easy work the Rakshasi is telling me," and plucking
as many as possible for both hands and waist-pocket, jumped into the
Rakshasi's bag.
The Rakshasi, tying the mouth of the bag and having gone taking him
without being visible to the men, arrived at her house, and having
spoken to the Rakshasi's daughter, says, "Daughter, to-day I must eat
a good flavour. In the bag that I brought, placing it on my shoulder,
there is a tasty meat. Boil the meat for me and give me it." Having
given it to her daughter, the Rakshasi went about another thing that
should be done.
When the Rakshasi's daughter is unfastening the bag to prepare the
meat, there is a boy [in it]. When the Rakshasi's daughter having
unfastened the bag is going to take the child out, having spoken he
says, "Ane! Elder sister, there are lice on your head."
Thereupon the Rakshasi's daughter says, "Ane! Younger brother, if so,
catch them." Having said [this] she sat down.
The Gamarala's son, having been for a little time turning and turning
over the hairs of her head to that and this side in the manner when
looking at the head, taking the axe that had been brought to kill the
boy, and at once having struck the head of the Rakshasi's daughter
and killed her, and having put her in the cauldron of water which
was there, and placed her on the hearth, and boiled her, and made her
ready and placed her to eat when the Rakshasi is coming, collecting
the rice mortar, pestle, and a great many knives that were at the
house, and having gone and placed them in a Palmira tree that is at
the doorway,--at the time when the Rakshasi comes this one having
also ascended the tree stayed [there]. [233]
When the Rakshasi came [after] bathing, at the time when she is coming
she says, "Daughter, even to-day has tasty food been prepared? Don't
do that work for the men of the village to get news of it; if so, the
men of the village will kill us." Saying this, she came into the house.
Well then, except that having boiled the meat it is there to eat,
the daughter is not to be seen. While calling her on that and this
hand, at the time when she is seeking her that youth, sitting on the
Palmira tree, says, "Their own flesh they themselves will eat. On
the Palmira tree at the doorway; tan, tun." Saying [this] he began
to beat a tom-tom (rambana).
Then the Rakshasi having looked up when coming running to seize this
one, this one threw at the Rakshasi the rice mortar and pestle that
he had taken to the top of the tree, and struck her. The Rakshasi
died at the bottom of the tree.
This one having descended from the tree, and gone home, and given
information to the other brothers of this circumstance, came with them,
and took away the goods of the Rakshasi's that there were. Having
gone away they lived in happiness.
Western Province.
In Kaffir Folk-Lore (Theal), p. 120, a cannibal placed in a bag a girl
whom he intended to eat. When he went for water her brother took her
out and put a swarm of bees in her place. These stung the cannibal
when he opened the bag, and he fell into a pool, where he became a
block of wood.