Page:Swahili tales.djvu/279

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SULTAN MAJNÚN.
259

when he was come, and had ended half the way, he sang,

"O mother, I have killed
The Nunda, eater of people." (Seven times.)

"My son, this is not he,
The Nunda, eater of people." (Four times.)

And he threw it away.

And she said, "Where will you find this nunda. It is far off, and you do not know where; you will be sorely troubled, boy; your face is changed by these three days, I beg of you stay at home." And he said, "Mother, I cannot help going." And he said, "Mother, of three things, I shall obtain one of God." And she said, "The first, my son?" And he said, "The first is, I shall die." And she said, "The second, my son?" "Or else I shall find the nunda and kill it." And she said, "The third, my son?" "Or else I shall miss the nunda and come back. So of these three, mother, I shall not miss one from God." And she said, "For myself, my son, I should like for you to get this nunda and come with it, and for my soul to see it, that it may be clear." And he said, "Good-bye, then, mother, I am going."

And he went further than the other day, and met with a zebra, and he killed it, and bound it, and dragged it, and came home half the way, and sang,

"O mother, I have killed
The Nunda, eater of people." (Eight times.)

"My son, this is not he,
The Nunda, eater of people." (Five times.)

And he left it.

And she said, "I beg of you, my son, stay at home; my soul is afraid, my son." And he said, "What are you afraid of, mother?" And he said, "If, mother, your