Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/517

"I do not eat the fruit of the tree.
Do you (i.e. the sultan) take her,—I do not want her.
Put on her anklets and neck-ornaments and a bead girdle." "

This song is not very easy to translate, as is often the case with songs. The first line is, literally, "I do not eat the tree the fruit." Dr. Velten, probably following an explanation given by his informant, says that this is an allusion to the wife being carved out of wood. The words translated "I do not want (her)" (si wajawaja) and "bead girdle" (tunda) are not in any dictionary I have been able to consult, and I have been obliged to depend on Dr. Velten for the above renderings. The bead girdle referred to is the one worn by women of most, if not all. Eastern Bantu tribes under their other clothing. I should imagine that it was in the first instance a protective charm; it is now a convenient way of carrying about one's personal property.

"The woman said,—

"Take these,
Take Makame's things,
Makame is not my husband.
He does not want the things.
He wants me myself."

And she gave him all his things,—chains, and anklets, and rings, and cloth, everything which women wear, and she gave them to Makame. And that bird took them to him, and said,—"Here are your things, Makame. I have brought them all." Makame said,—"My things have not yet come. You have forgotten one thing. Go again." And the bird went again, and sang as before, and the woman answered as before. And she said,—"I have given you your things, what more do you want?" And she cried bitterly, and her husband the sultan came, and said to her,—"Why do you weep, my wife? Give Makame his things. And if it is that amulet, give him that too. I have plenty of amulets here, whether of magic (za uchawi) or silver or gold (ornaments), take them and put them on,—what is Makame's amulet?" And he took it from her by force, and gave it to the bird, and immediately there sprang up a mvinja tree, (i.e. she was turned into one).