Page:Swahili tales.djvu/471

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STORY OF LIONGO.
451

is dead we will give you the kingdom." And he answered them, "Very well."

And he went. When he arrived he welcomed him and said, "What have you come to do?" And he said, "I have come to see you." And he said, "I know that you have come to kill me, and they have deceived you."

And he asked him, "Father, what is it that can kill you?" And he said, "A copper needle. If any one stabs me in the navel, I die."

And he went away into the town, and answered them, and said, "It is a copper needle that will kill him." And they gave him a needle, and he went back to his father. And when he saw him, his father sang, and said—

"Mimi muyi ndimi mwe mao, situe
Si mbwenge mimi muyi ndimi mwe mao."

Which means, "I, who am bad, am he that is good to you; do me no evil. I that am bad, am he that is good to you." And he welcomed him, and he knew, "He is come to kill me."

And he stayed two days, till one day he was asleep in the evening, and he stabbed him with the needle in the navel. And he awoke through the pain, and took his bow and arrows and went to a place near the wells. And he knelt down, and put himself ready with his bow. And there he died.

So in the morning the people who came to draw water saw him, and they thought him alive, and went back running. And they gave out the news in the town, "No water is to be had to day." Every one that went came back running. And many people set out and went, and as they arrived, when they saw him they came back, without being able to get near. For three days the people were in distress for water, not getting any.