Page:Swahili tales.djvu/59

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SULTAN DARAI.
39

yonder.' And she took away the tango and gave it to her daughter. And so I was angry in my soul, and felt my soul oppressed, and bowed myself down, and thought of my mother and said, 'If I had my mother, this one would not be able to rob me of my tango, and give it to her daughter.' And I feared to tell her that I went and gathered this tango there by the grave of my mother; she would go at once and gather them all and give to her daughter, and I should lose them. So I myself left them on purpose there by the grave, that when hunger hurts me, I may munch one and deceive my soul, and one I may make a doll of. So I did not steal those tangos, father: if you do not believe me, father, go yourself, and under the grave are seven large tangos, and there are little ones and flowers without number. So you have tied me up oppressively. There is nothing I have done wrong, either towards you or towards your wife."

And he untied his daughter and said, "Mother, forgive me for what I have done to you, for I did not know, I had not heard, and did not understand." "Ah! my father, I am contented with everything you do to me." "Well then, to-morrow, my child, I will buy you a female slave, and you shall change houses, and I will put you in the house of your deceased mother, you and your slave, and I will give you food."

When the night dawned, he went into the market, and the sun marked nine o'clock, and he chose a fine woman slave, who pleased him, and sent her to the house. And he said, "My child, this is your slave, she is your nurse, and she is your mother, and do you live with her." "You, woman!" "Here, master." "I have bought you because of my child, that you may cook for her good food, that you