Page:Neuroomia.djvu/166

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154
NEUROOMIA: A NEW CONTINENT.

befall the people, and there was a proverb to the effect that calamities overwhelmed when the sons and daughters of chiefs became wed. The father of the girl, however, became aware of the meetings, and their trysting places were made known to him; so he placed a guard over his daughter, and they were no longer able to meet. But Wawena pined for her lover, so much indeed that her life began to be despaired of. As for Gulpanzi, he was prohibited from hunting in the forest, and made to remain in the camp, which was humiliating to his proud nature. After a time, however, he appeared not to care for anything, and wandered about as if he no longer wished to live.

"Now it happened that in a wild place among the hills there was a certain fountain which had the peculiar property of healing hearts known to be wounded from love; but for this purpose the water had to be drank by the sufferer from the spring, for the moment it was raised, it lost its charm.

"Now it came to pass that those councillors who were in favour of keeping the lovers apart, made the chief, her father, believe that it would be a good thing for Wawena to drink of the fated water, and it was agreed that she should be led to the fountain.