--- title: The Story of Tangalimlibo. — Kaffir folk-lore · full text with trees description: The Story of Tangalimlibo., «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 who had two wives, one of whom had no children. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/6/) [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 Tangalimlibo. # The Story of Tangalimlibo. The Story of Tangalimlibo. of «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole text, 151 sentences and 2003 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 who had two wives, one of whom had no children.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") She grieved much about that, till one day a bird came to her and gave her some little pellets.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The bird said she must eat of these always before she partook of food, and then she would bear a child.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") She was very glad, and offered the bird some millet.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") But the bird said: “No, I do not want millet.”[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman then offered an isidanga (an ornamental breast-band which women wear), but the bird said it had no use for that.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she got some very fine gravel and placed before the bird, which it received at her hands.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") After this the woman had a daughter.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Her husband knew nothing of what had happened, because he never went to her house.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") He did not love her at all, for the reason that she bore no children.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") So she said:[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will keep my daughter in the house till my husband comes; he will surely love me when he sees I have such a beautiful child.”[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The name given to the girl was Tangalimlibo.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") The man went always to the house of the other wife, and so it happened that Tangalimlibo was grown to be a young woman when her father first saw her.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very much pleased, and said:[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “My dear wife, you should have told me of this before.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl had never been out of the house in the daytime.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Only in the night-time she had gone out, when people could not see her.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The man said to his wife:[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “You must make much beer, and invite many people to come and rejoice with me over this that has happened.”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman did so.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a big tree in front of the kraal, and the mats were spread under it.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a fine sunny day, and very many men came.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Among them was the son of a certain chief, who fell in love with Tangalimlibo as soon as he saw her.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") When the young chief went home he sent a message to the father of the girl that he must send her to him to be married.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The man told all his friends about that.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He told them also to be ready at a certain time to conduct his daughter to the chief.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") So they came and took her, and the marriage feast was very great.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The oxen were many which were killed that day.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Tangalimlibo had a large and beautiful ox given to her by her father.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") That ox was called by her own name.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") She took off a piece of her clothing and gave it to the ox, which ate it.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") After she had been married some time, this woman had a son.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") She was loved very much by her husband, because she was pretty and industrious; only this thing was observed of her, that she never went out in the daytime.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore she received the name of Sihamba Ngenyanga (the walker by moonlight).[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") One day her husband went to a distant place to hunt with other men.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") There were left at his home with this woman only her father-in-law, her mother-in-law, and a girl who nursed the little child.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The father-in-law said:[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why does she not work during the day?”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") He pretended to become thirsty, and sent the girl to Tangalimlibo to ask for water, saying:[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “I die with thirst.”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman sent water to her father-in-law, but he threw it on the ground, saying:[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is water from the river I desire.”[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") She said:[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “I never go to the river in the daytime.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") He continued to ask, saying again:[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “I die with thirst.”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she took a milk-basket and a calabash ladle, and went weeping to the river.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") She dipped the ladle in the water, and it was drawn out of her hand.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") She dipped the milk-basket in the water, and it was drawn away from her.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she tried to take some water in her mantle, and she was drawn under the surface.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") After a little time the girl was sent to look for her, but she came back, saying:[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “I found her not who is accustomed to draw water only in the night.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father-in-law drove oxen quickly to the river.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") He took the big ox that was called by her name and killed it.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") He put all the flesh and everything else that was of that ox into the river, saying:[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let this be instead of my child.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") A voice was heard saying:[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go to my father and my mother and say to them that I am taken by the river.”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") That evening the little child of Tangalimlibo was crying very bitterly.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Its father was not yet home.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Its grandmother tried by every means to keep it from crying, but in vain.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she gave it to the nurse, who fastened it on her back.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Still the child continued to cry.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") In the middle of the night the nurse went down to the river with the child, singing this song:[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is crying, it is crying, The child of Sihamba Ngenyanga; It is crying, it will not be pacified.”[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the mother of the child came out of the river, and wailed this song:[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is crying, it is crying, The child of the walker by moonlight.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") It was done intentionally by people whose names are unmentionable.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") They sent her for water during the day.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") She tried to dip with the milk-basket, and then it sank.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Tried to dip with the ladle, and then it sank.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Tried to dip with the mantle, and then it sank.”[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") With the name as a chorus at the end of each line.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she took her child and put it to her breast to suck.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") When the child had finished sucking, she gave it back to the nurse, telling her to take it home.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") She commanded the nurse never to say to any one that she came out of the water, and told her that when people asked where the child got food she must say she gave it berries to eat.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") This continued for some days.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Every night the nurse took the child to the river, when its mother came out and suckled it.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") She always looked round to see that no one was present, and always put the same command on the girl.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") After a time the father of the child returned from hunting.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") They told him of Tangalimlibo’s going to the river and not returning.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the nurse brought the child to him.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") He inquired what it ate, and was told that berries were given to it.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “That cannot be so; go and get some berries, and let me see my child eat them.”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl went and brought some berries, but they were not eaten by the child.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the father of the child beat the girl until she told the truth.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") She said she went at night to the river, when the mother came out and caressed her child and gave it of her milk.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they made a plan that the husband of Tangalimlibo should hide himself in the reeds and try and catch his wife when she came out of the water.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") He took the skin of an ox and cut it into a long riem, one end of which he fastened round his waist.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") The other end he gave to the men of that village, telling them to hold it fast and to pull hard when they felt it being drawn from them.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") At night the man hid himself in the reeds.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") Tangalimlibo came out of the water and looked all round while she was singing her song.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") She asked the girl if any one was there, and when the girl replied that there was no one she took her child.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") Then her husband sprang upon her, clasping her very tight.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") She tried to pull back, but the men at the village drew upon the riem.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") She was drawn away, but the river followed her, and its water turned into blood.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") When it came close to the village, the men who were pulling at the riem saw it, and became frightened.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") They let the riem go, when the river at once went back, taking Tangalimlibo with it.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") After that her husband was told of the voice which came from the water, saying:[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go to my father and my mother and tell them I am taken by the river.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") He called his racing ox, and said:[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") “Will you, my ox, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?”[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The ox only bellowed.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") He called his dog, and said:[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") “Will you, my dog, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?”[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") The dog only barked.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") Last of all he called the cock.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Will you, my cock, take this message to the father and mother of Tangalimlibo?”[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") The cock answered: “I will do so, my master.”[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Let me hear what you will say.”[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") The cock answered: “I will sing——[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am a cock that ought not to be killed—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") Tangalimlibo is dead—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") She dipped water for a person that cannot be named—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") It was tried to send a dog; it barked—Cock-a-doodle-doo!”[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief said: “That is good, my cock, go now.”[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") As the cock was going on his way, some boys who were tending calves saw him.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") One of them said to the others: “Come here, come here, boys; there is a cock for us to kill.”[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the cock stood up, and sang his song.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys said: “Sing again, we did not hear you plainly.”[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") So he sang again:[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am a cock that ought not to be killed—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") I have come to intimate about Tangalimlibo—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") Tangalimlibo is dead—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") She dipped water for a person that cannot be named—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") It was tried to send an ox; it bellowed—Cock-a-doodle-doo\![129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") It was tried to send a dog; it barked—Cock-a-doodle-doo!”[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the boys let him go on his way.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") He travelled far from that place and came to a village, where the men were sitting in the kraal.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") He flew up on the back of the kraal to rest himself, and the men saw him.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") They said: “Where does this cock come from?[134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") We thought all the cocks here were killed.[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") Make haste, boys, and kill him.”[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") The cock began to sing his song.[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the men said: “Wait, boys, we wish to hear what he says.”[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") They said to him: “Begin again, we did not hear you.”[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") The cock said: “Give me some food, for I am very hungry.”[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") The men sent a boy for some millet, and gave it to him.[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had eaten, he sang his song.[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") The men said: “Let him go;” and he went on his way.[143](143/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he came to the village of the father of Tangalimlibo, to the house of those he was seeking.[144](144/ "tree and pragmatics") He told the message he was sent to carry.[145](145/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother of Tangalimlibo was a woman skilful in the use of medicines.[146](146/ "tree and pragmatics") She said to her husband: “Get a fat ox to go with us.”[147](147/ "tree and pragmatics") They arrived at the river, and killed the ox.[148](148/ "tree and pragmatics") Then that woman worked with her medicines while they put the meat in the water.[149](149/ "tree and pragmatics") There was a great shaking and a rising up of the river, and Tangalimlibo came out.[150](150/ "tree and pragmatics") There was great joy among those people when they took her home to her husband.[151](151/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Story of Five Heads.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/5/) - next →: [Story of the Girl Who Disregarded the Custom of Ntonjane.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/7/) - ↑ back to [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/)