(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey’s
Library, G. Krönlein’s Manuscript, pp. 15, 16.)
Copper and Weather, it is said, were man and wife, and begat a
daughter, who married amongst other people.
Her three brothers came to visit her; and she did not know them (as
such), though the people said, “Do not you see they are your brothers?”
She determined to kill them at night. They had, however, a Guinea-fowl
to watch them.
When the Copper-Weather relative crept near, in order to kill the men,
the Guinea-fowl made a noise to put them on their guard. They were thus
warned of the danger; but afterwards they fell asleep again. Then she
stole again upon them. The Guinea-fowl made a noise, but broke the rope
by which it had been fastened, and ran home. She then killed her
brothers. When the Guinea-fowl came near home it wept:—
“The Copper-Weather relative has killed her brothers!
Alas! she has killed her brothers!”