--- title: The Story of Five Heads. — Kaffir folk-lore · full text with trees description: The Story of Five Heads., «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: There was once a man living in a certain place, who had two daughters big enough to be married. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/5/) [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 Five Heads. # The Story of Five Heads. The Story of Five Heads. of «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole text, 110 sentences and 1313 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. There was once a man living in a certain place, who had two daughters big enough to be married.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") One day the man went over the river to another village, which was the residence of a great chief.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The people asked him to tell them the news.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied, that there was no news in the place that he came from.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the man inquired about the news of their place.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") They said the news of their place was that the chief wanted a wife.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The man went home and said to his two daughters: “Which of you wishes to be the wife of a chief?”[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The eldest replied: “I wish to be the wife of a chief, my father.”[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The name of that girl was Mpunzikazi.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The man said: “At that village which I visited, the chief wishes for a wife; you, my daughter, shall go.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The man called all his friends, and assembled a large company to go with his daughter to the village of the chief.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") But the girl would not consent that those people should go with her.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") She said: “I will go alone to be the wife of the chief.”[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father replied: “How can you, my daughter, say such a thing?[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it not so that when a girl goes to present herself to her husband she should be accompanied by others?[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Be not foolish, my daughter.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl still said: “I will go alone to be the wife of the chief.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the man allowed his daughter to do as she chose.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") She went alone, no bridal party accompanying her, to present herself at the village of the chief who wanted a wife.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") As Mpunzikazi was in the path, she met a mouse.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse said: “Shall I show you the way?”[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl replied: “Just get away from before my eyes.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse answered: “If you do like this, you will not succeed.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she met a frog.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The frog said: “Shall I show you the way?”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi replied: “You are not worthy to speak to me, as I am to be the wife of a chief.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The frog said: “Go on then; you will see afterwards what will happen.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") When the girl got tired, she sat down under a tree to rest.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") A boy who was herding goats in that place came to her, he being very hungry.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy said: “Where are you going to, my eldest sister?”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi replied in an angry voice: “Who are you that you should speak to me?[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Just get away from before me.”[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy said: “I am very hungry; will you not give me of your food?”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") She answered: “Get away quickly.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy said: “You will not return if you do this.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") She went on her way again, and met with an old woman sitting by a big stone.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") The old woman said: “I will give you advice.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") You will meet with trees that will laugh at you: you must not laugh in return.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") You will see a bag of thick milk: you must not eat of it.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") You will meet a man whose head is under his arm: you must not take water from him.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi answered: “You ugly thing! who are you that you should advise me?”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The old woman continued in saying those words.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl went on.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") She came to a place where were many trees.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The trees laughed at her, and she laughed at them in return.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") She saw a bag of thick milk, and she ate of it.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") She met a man carrying his head under his arm, and she took water to drink from him.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") She came to the river of the village of the chief.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") She saw a girl there dipping water from the river.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl said: “Where are you going to, my sister?”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi replied: “Who are you that you should call me sister?[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") I am going to be the wife of a chief.”[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl drawing water was the sister of the chief.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") She said: “Wait, I will give you advice.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Do not enter the village by this side.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi did not stand to listen, but just went on.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") She reached the village of the chief.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The people asked her where she came from and what she wanted.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") She answered: “I have come to be the wife of the chief.”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") They said: “Who ever saw a girl go without a retinue to be a bride?”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") They said also: “The chief is not at home; you must prepare food for him, that when he comes in the evening he may eat.”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") They gave her millet to grind.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") She ground it very coarse, and made bread that was not nice to eat.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") In the evening she heard the sound of a great wind.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") That wind was the coming of the chief.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") He was a big snake with five heads and large eyes.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzikazi was very much frightened when she saw him.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") He sat down before the door and told her to bring his food.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") She brought the bread which she had made.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Makanda Mahlanu (Five Heads) was not satisfied with that bread.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “You shall not be my wife,” and he struck her with his tail and killed her.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Afterwards the sister of Mpunzikazi said to her father: “I also wish to be the wife of a chief.”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father replied: “It is well, my daughter; it is right that you should wish to be a bride.”[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The man called all his friends, and a great retinue prepared to accompany the bride.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") The name of the girl was Mpunzanyana.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") In the way they met a mouse.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse said: “Shall I show you the road?”[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana replied: “If you will show me the way I shall be glad.”[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the mouse pointed out the way.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") She came into a valley, where she saw an old woman standing by a tree.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") The old woman said to her: “You will come to a place where two paths branch off.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") You must take the little one, because if you take the big one you will not be fortunate.”[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana replied: “I will take the little path, my mother.”[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") She went on.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Afterwards she met a cony.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") The cony said: “The village of the chief is close by.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") You will meet a girl by the river: you must speak nicely to her.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") They will give you millet to grind: you must grind it well.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") When you see your husband, you must not be afraid.”[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") She said: “I will do as you say, cony.”[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") In the river she met the chief’s sister carrying water.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s sister said: “Where are you going to?”[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana replied: “This is the end of my journey.”[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s sister said: “What is the object of your coming to this place?”[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana replied: “I am with a bridal party.”[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s sister said: “That is right, but will you not be afraid when you see your husband?”[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana answered: “I will not be afraid.”[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief’s sister pointed out the hut in which she should stay.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Food was given to the bridal party.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother of the chief took millet and gave to the bride, saying: “You must prepare food for your husband.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") He is not here now, but he will come in the evening.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") In the evening she heard a very strong wind, which made the hut shake.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") The poles fell, but she did not run out.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she saw the chief Makanda Mahlanu coming.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") He asked for food.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") Mpunzanyana took the bread which she had made, and gave it to him.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very much pleased with that food, and said:[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") “You shall be my wife.”[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave her very many ornaments.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") Afterwards Makanda Mahlanu became a man, and Mpunzanyana continued to be the wife he loved best.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Story of the Bird That Made Milk. II.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/4/) - next →: [The Story of Tangalimlibo.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/6/) - ↑ back to [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/)