--- title: The Story of Hlakanyana. — Kaffir folk-lore · full text with trees · page 3 description: The Story of Hlakanyana., «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Once upon a time there was a village with many women in it. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/page/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/) / The Story of Hlakanyana. # The Story of Hlakanyana. · page 3 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/page/2/) **3** So he went on his way.[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") As he was going on, he saw a trap for catching birds.[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") There were some birds in it.[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana took the birds out and ate them.[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") The owners of the trap were cannibals.[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") They saw the footprints of Hlakanyana, and said: “This is a little boy that is stealing our birds.”[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") They watched for him.[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana came again to the trap and saw a bird caught in it.[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") He was just going to take the bird out when the cannibals caught him.[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") They made a big fire and put a pot on for the purpose of cooking him.[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana saw two oxen.[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") One was white, the other was red.[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to the cannibals: “You can take which one of these oxen you like instead of me.”[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals said: “We will take the white one, because it is white inside also.”[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana went away with the red ox.[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals ate the white ox, and then pursued after Hlakanyana.[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") They came up to him by a big stone.[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") He jumped on the stone, and sang this song:—[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") Ndahamba ndayakuva indaba, I went to hear the news, Zemvula ku mankazana.[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") About rain from the girls.[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals began to dance when they heard him sing.[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he ran away, and the stone continued to sing that song.[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") As he was journeying, Hlakanyana came to a place where some baboons were feasting.[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") He asked them for some food.[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") The baboons replied: “If you will go for some water for us, we will give you food.”[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") He agreed to that.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") When he returned with the water, the baboons refused to give him food.[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana shouted loudly and said: “At my village there is a marriage of baboons to-day.”[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") When the baboons heard that they fled, old and young.[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") So Hlakanyana remained there, and ate all the food.[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") As he was going along, he saw a hyena building a house, having cooked some meat.[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana asked the hyena to give him some.[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") The hyena said: “No, I will not give you any; it is too little even for me.”[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said: “Will you not have me to assist in building?”[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") The hyena replied: “I would have you without delay if you are intending to help me.”[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") While they were fastening the thatch, Hlakanyana sewed the hair of the tail of the hyena fast.[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he took the pot and sat down.[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") The hyena said: “Let that pot alone, Hlakanyana.”[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied: “I am going to eat now.”[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") The hyena wanted to come down, but he found his tail was fast.[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana ate all the meat, and threw the bones at the hyena.[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") The hyena tried to frighten him by saying there were many hyenas coming quickly to devour him.[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") He just answered: “That is false;” and continued eating till the meat was finished.[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went on his way.[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana came to a river.[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") He saw an iguana that was playing on an ugwali (a simple musical instrument).[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said to the iguana: “Lend me your ugwali for a little, please.”[331](../../331/ "tree and pragmatics") The iguana said: “No, you will run away with my ugwali.”[332](../../332/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana replied: “How can I run away with a thing that is not mine?”[333](../../333/ "tree and pragmatics") So the iguana lent him the ugwali.[334](../../334/ "tree and pragmatics") When Hlakanyana saw that he could play upon the instrument nicely, he ran away with it.[335](../../335/ "tree and pragmatics") The iguana pursued him.[336](../../336/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana changed himself into a rush.[337](../../337/ "tree and pragmatics") The iguana took that rush and threw it across the river, saying: “If I could only see him, I would throw him like this.”[338](../../338/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the rush turned to be Hlakanyana again, and he went on his way playing on the ugwali of the iguana.[339](../../339/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana came to the house of a leopardess.[340](../../340/ "tree and pragmatics") He proposed to take care of her children while the leopardess went to hunt animals.[341](../../341/ "tree and pragmatics") The leopardess agreed to that.[342](../../342/ "tree and pragmatics") There were four cubs.[343](../../343/ "tree and pragmatics") After the leopardess had gone to hunt, Hlakanyana took one of the cubs and ate it.[344](../../344/ "tree and pragmatics") At the time for giving food, the leopardess came back and said: “Give me my children that I may suckle them.”[345](../../345/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana gave one.[346](../../346/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother said: “Give all at once.”[347](../../347/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana replied: “It is better that one should drink and then another.”[348](../../348/ "tree and pragmatics") The leopardess agreed to that.[349](../../349/ "tree and pragmatics") After three had drunk he gave the first one back the second time.[350](../../350/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the leopardess went to hunt again.[351](../../351/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana took another of the cubs and ate it.[352](../../352/ "tree and pragmatics") He also made the door of the house very small so that the mother of the cubs could not come in, and then he made a little hole in the ground at the back so that he could go out.[353](../../353/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day the leopardess came to give her children suck.[354](../../354/ "tree and pragmatics") There were only two left now.[355](../../355/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana gave them both back the second time.[356](../../356/ "tree and pragmatics") After that the leopardess went away as before.[357](../../357/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana ate another of the cubs, so that only one was left.[358](../../358/ "tree and pragmatics") When the mother came, he gave this one four times.[359](../../359/ "tree and pragmatics") When he gave it the last time the leopardess said: “Why does my child not drink to-day?”[360](../../360/ "tree and pragmatics") It was already full, and did not want to drink more.[361](../../361/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana replied: “I think this one is sick.”[362](../../362/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother said: “You must take good care of it.”[363](../../363/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana promised to do so, but when the leopardess was gone he ate that one also.[364](../../364/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day when the leopardess came there was no cub left to give her.[365](../../365/ "tree and pragmatics") She tried to get in the house, but the door was too small.[366](../../366/ "tree and pragmatics") She sat down in front to watch.[367](../../367/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana went out through the hole he had made in the ground behind.[368](../../368/ "tree and pragmatics") The leopardess saw him and ran after him.[369](../../369/ "tree and pragmatics") He went under a big rock, and cried out loudly for help, saying the rock was falling.[370](../../370/ "tree and pragmatics") The leopardess said: “What is that you are saying?”[371](../../371/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana replied: “Do you not see that this rock is falling?[372](../../372/ "tree and pragmatics") Just hold it up while I get a prop and put under it.”[373](../../373/ "tree and pragmatics") The leopardess went to hold the rock up, and Hlakanyana did not return.[374](../../374/ "tree and pragmatics") He just ran away from that place.[375](../../375/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana came to the village of the animals.[376](../../376/ "tree and pragmatics") The animals had trees that bore fruit.[377](../../377/ "tree and pragmatics") There was one tree that belonged to the chief of the animals only.[378](../../378/ "tree and pragmatics") This tree was a very good one, bearing much fruit on it.[379](../../379/ "tree and pragmatics") One day when all the animals were assembled, Hlakanyana asked them the name of the tree of the chief.[380](../../380/ "tree and pragmatics") They did not know the name of that tree.[381](../../381/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana sent a monkey to the chief to ask the name of the tree.[382](../../382/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief told the monkey.[383](../../383/ "tree and pragmatics") As the monkey was returning, he struck his foot against a stone and fell down, which caused him to forget the name of the tree.[384](../../384/ "tree and pragmatics") In the night when all were sleeping, Hlakanyana went up the tree of the chief and ate all the fruit of it.[385](../../385/ "tree and pragmatics") He took a branch of the tree and fastened it to one of the monkeys.[386](../../386/ "tree and pragmatics") In the morning when the animals awoke and found that the tree of the chief was finished in the night, they asked each other: “What became of the fruit of the chiefs tree?[387](../../387/ "tree and pragmatics") What became of the fruit of the tree of the chief?”[388](../../388/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana looked at the monkey with the branch on him, and said: “It is eaten by the monkey, it is eaten by the monkey; look at the branch on him.”[389](../../389/ "tree and pragmatics") The monkey denied, and said: “I don’t know anything about it.[390](../../390/ "tree and pragmatics") I never ate the fruit of the tree of the chief.”[391](../../391/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said: “Let us make a plan to find out who ate the fruit of the tree of the chief.”[392](../../392/ "tree and pragmatics") All the animals agreed to this.[393](../../393/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said: “Let us put a rope from one rock to another, and let all go over it.[394](../../394/ "tree and pragmatics") He that has eaten the fruit of the tree will fall down from that rope.”[395](../../395/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the monkeys went over first.[396](../../396/ "tree and pragmatics") The next was Hlakanyana himself.[397](../../397/ "tree and pragmatics") He went over carefully and avoided falling.[398](../../398/ "tree and pragmatics") It came to the turn of that monkey with the branch on.[399](../../399/ "tree and pragmatics") He tried to go, but when he was in the middle he fell down.[400](../../400/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said therefore: “I have told you that it is this monkey.”[401](../../401/ "tree and pragmatics") After that he went on his way.[402](../../402/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana came to the house of a jackal.[403](../../403/ "tree and pragmatics") He asked for food, but the jackal said there was none.[404](../../404/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he made a plan.[405](../../405/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to the jackal: “You must climb up on the house and cry out with a loud voice, ‘We are going to be fat to-day because Hlakanyana is dead’”[406](../../406/ "tree and pragmatics") The jackal did so.[407](../../407/ "tree and pragmatics") All the animals came running to hear that news.[408](../../408/ "tree and pragmatics") They went inside the house, because the door was open.[409](../../409/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Hlakanyana shut the door, and the animals were caught.[410](../../410/ "tree and pragmatics") After that Hlakanyana killed the animals and ate.[411](../../411/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana returned to the home of his father again.[412](../../412/ "tree and pragmatics") He was told that his sister was gone away for some red clay.[413](../../413/ "tree and pragmatics") When she was returning he shouted: “Let all the black cattle which have white teeth be killed.[414](../../414/ "tree and pragmatics") The daughter of my father is coming who has white teeth.”[415](../../415/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief said: “What is the matter with you, Hlakanyana?”[416](../../416/ "tree and pragmatics") He just repeated the same thing.[417](../../417/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief said: “Let a black ox be killed, but you must not break any of its bones, because it belongs to the daughter of a chief.”[418](../../418/ "tree and pragmatics") So Hlakanyana got fat meat to eat that day.[419](../../419/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana went one day to tend the calves of his father.[420](../../420/ "tree and pragmatics") He met a tortoise.[421](../../421/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Where are you going to, tortoise?”[422](../../422/ "tree and pragmatics") The tortoise answered: “To that big stone.”[423](../../423/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana said: “Are you not tired?”[424](../../424/ "tree and pragmatics") The tortoise replied: “No, I am not tired.”[425](../../425/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana took it and put it on his back.[426](../../426/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went to the house of his mother.[427](../../427/ "tree and pragmatics") His mother said: “What have you got there, my son?”[428](../../428/ "tree and pragmatics") Hlakanyana answered: “Just take it off my back, mother.”[429](../../429/ "tree and pragmatics") The tortoise held fast to Hlakanyana, and would not be pulled off.[430](../../430/ "tree and pragmatics") His mother then heated some fat and poured on the tortoise.[431](../../431/ "tree and pragmatics") The tortoise let go quickly, and the fat fell on Hlakanyana and burnt him, so that he died.[432](../../432/ "tree and pragmatics") That is the end of this cunning little fellow.[433](../../433/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/page/2/) **3** - ← previous: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/page/2/) - next →: [The Story of Demane and Demazana.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/11/) - ↑ back to [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/)