--- title: The Story of Sikulume. — Kaffir folk-lore · full text with trees description: The Story of Sikulume., «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: There was once in a certain village an old man who was very poor. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/9/) [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 Sikulume. # The Story of Sikulume. The Story of Sikulume. of «Kaffir folk-lore» by George McCall Theal: the whole text, 156 sentences and 2063 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 in a certain village an old man who was very poor.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") He had no children, and only a few cattle.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") One day, when the sky was clear and the sun was bright, he sat down by the cattle-fold.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") While he was sitting there, he noticed some birds close by which were singing very joyfully.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") He listened for a while, and then he stood up to observe them better.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") They were very beautiful to look upon, and they sang differently from other birds.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") They had all long tails and topknots on their heads.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the old man went to the chief and told him what he had seen.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief said: “How many were they?”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The old man replied: “There were seven.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief said: “You have acted wisely in coming to tell me; you shall have seven of the fattest of my cows.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") I have lost seven sons in battle, and these beautiful birds shall be in the place of my seven sons.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") You must not sleep to-night; you must watch them, and to-morrow I will choose seven boys to catch them.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Do not let them out of your sight by any means.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") In the morning the chief ordered all the boys of the village to be assembled at the cattle-fold, when he spoke to them of the birds.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “I will choose six of you, and set my son who is dumb, over you, that will make seven in all.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") You must catch those birds.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Wherever they go, you must follow, and you must not see my face again without them.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave them weapons, and instructed them that if any one opposed them they were to fight till the last of them died.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys set off to follow those beautiful birds.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") They chased them for several days, till at last the birds were exhausted, when each of the boys caught one.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") At the place where they caught the birds they remained that night.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") On the morning of the next day they set out on their return home.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") That evening they came to a hut in which they saw a fire burning, but no one was there.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") They went in, and lay down to sleep.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") In the middle of the night one of those boys was awake.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He heard some one saying: “There is nice meat here.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") I will begin with this one, and take this one next, and that one after, and the one with small feet the last.”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The one with the small feet was the son of the chief.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") His name was Sikulume, for he had never been able to speak till he caught the bird.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he began to talk at once.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") After saying those words the voice was still.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the boy awakened his companions, and told them what he had heard.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") They said: “You have been dreaming; there is no one here; how can such a thing be?”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied: “I did not dream; I spoke the truth.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they made a plan that one should remain awake, and if anything happened, he should pinch the one next him, and that one should pinch the next, till all were awake.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") After a while the boy who was listening heard some one come in quietly.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") That was a cannibal.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") He said the same words again, and then went out for the purpose of calling his friends to come to the feast.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") The boy awakened his companions according to the plan agreed upon, so that they all heard what was said.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore, as soon as the cannibal went out, they arose and fled from that place.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibal came back with his friends, and when the others saw there was no one in the hut, they killed and ate him.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") As they were going on, Sikulume saw that he had left his bird behind.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") He stood, and said: “I must return for my bird, my beautiful bird with the long tail and topknot on its head.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") My father commanded that I must not see his face again unless I bring the bird.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys said: “Take one of ours.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Why should you go where cannibals are?”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied: “I must have the one that is my own.”[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") He stuck his assagai in the ground, and told them to look at it.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “If it stands still, you will know I am safe; if it shakes, you will know I am running; if it falls down, you will know I am dead.”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he left them to return to the hut of the cannibals.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way he saw an old woman sitting by a big stone.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") She said: “Where are you going to?”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") He told her he was going for his bird.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") The old woman gave him some fat, and said: “If the cannibals pursue you, put some of this on a stone.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") He came to the hut and got his bird.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals were sitting outside, a little way back.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") They had just finished eating the owner of the hut.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") When Sikulume came out with his bird they saw him and ran after him.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") They were close to him, when he took some of the fat and threw it on a stone.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals came to the stone, and began to fight with each other.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") One said: “The stone is mine.”[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Another said: “It is mine.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") One of them swallowed the stone.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") When the others saw that, they killed him and ate him.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they pursued again after Sikulume.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") They came close to him again, when he threw the remainder of the fat on another stone.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals fought for this also.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") One swallowed it, and was killed by the others.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") They followed still, and Sikulume was almost in their hands, when he threw off his mantle.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The mantle commenced to run another way, and the cannibals ran after it.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") It was so long before they caught it that the young chief had time to reach his companions.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") They all went on their way, but very soon they saw the cannibals coming after them.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they observed a little man sitting by a big stone.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to them: “I can turn this stone into a hut.”[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") They replied: “Do so.”[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") He turned the stone into a hut, and they all went inside, the little man with them.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") They played the “iceya” there.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") The cannibals came to the place and smelt.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") They thought the hut was still a stone, for it looked like a stone to them.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") They began to bite it, and bit till all their teeth were broken, when they returned to their own village.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") After this, the boys and the little man came out.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") The boys went on.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") When they reached their own home they saw no people, till at length an old woman crept out of a heap of ashes.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") She was very much frightened, and said to them: “I thought there were no people left.”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Sikulume said: “Where is my father?”[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") She replied: “All the people have been swallowed by the inabulele” (a fabulous monster).[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “Where did it go to?”[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") The old woman replied: “It went to the river.”[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") So those boys went to the river, and Sikulume said to them: “I will go into the water, and take an assagai with me.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") If the water moves much, you will know I am in the stomach of the inabulele; if the water is red, you will know I have killed it.”[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he threw himself into the water and went down.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") The inabulele swallowed him without tearing him or hurting him.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") He saw his father and his mother and many people and cattle.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he took his assagai and pierced the inabulele from inside.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") The water moved till the inabulele was dead, then it became red.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") When the young men saw that, they cut a big hole in the side of the inabulele, and all the people and the cattle were delivered.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") One day Sikulume said to another boy: “I am going to the doctor’s; tell my sister to cook food for me, nice food that I may eat.”[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") This was done.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to his sister: “Bring me of the skin of the inabulele which I killed, to make a mantle.”[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") She called her companions, and they went to the side of the river.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") She sang this song:—[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") “Inabulele, Inabulele, I am sent for you By Sikulume, Inabulele.”[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The body of the inabulele then came out.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") She cut two little pieces of the skin for sandals, and a large piece to make a mantle for her brother.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was a young man, Sikulume said to his friends: “I am going to marry the daughter of Mangangezulu.”[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") They replied: “You must not go there, for at Mangangezulu’s you will be killed.”[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") He said: “I will go.”[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he called those young men who were his chosen friends to accompany him.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") On the way they came to a place where the grass was long.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") A mouse came out of the grass, and asked Sikulume where he was going to.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") He replied: “I am going to the place of Mangangezulu.”[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse sang this song:—[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") “Turn back, turn back, Sikulume.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") No one ever leaves the place of Mangangezulu.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") Turn back, turn back, O chief.”[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") Sikulume replied: “I shall not turn back.”[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") The mouse then said: “As it is so, you must kill me and throw my skin up in the air.”[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") He did so.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") The skin said: “You must not enter by the front of the village; you must not eat off a new mat; you must not sleep in a hut which has nothing in it.”[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") They arrived at the village of Mangangezulu.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") They entered it from the wrong side, so that all the people said: “Why is this?”[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") They replied: “It is our custom.”[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") Food was brought to them on a new mat, but they said: “It is our custom to eat off old mats only.”[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") An empty hut was given to them to sleep in, but they said: “It is our custom only to sleep in a hut that has things in it.”[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day the chief said to Sikulume and his companions: “You must go and tend the cattle.”[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") They went.[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") A storm of rain fell, when Sikulume spread out his mantle and it became a hut as hard as stone, into which they all went.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") In the evening they returned with the cattle.[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") The daughter of Mangangezulu came to them.[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") Her mother pressed her foot in the footprint of Sikulume, and he became an eland.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl loved the young chief very much.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") When she saw he was turned into an eland, she made a great fire and drove him into it.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he was burned, and became a little coal.[134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") She took the coal out and put it in a pot of water, when it became a young man again.[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") Afterwards they left that place.[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl took with her an egg, a milksack, a pot, and a smooth stone.[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") The father of the girl pursued them.[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl threw down the egg, and it became a mist.[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father wandered about in the mist a long time, till at length it cleared away.[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he pursued again.[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") She threw down the milksack, and it became a sheet of water.[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father tried to get rid of the water by dipping it up with a calabash, but he could not succeed, so he was compelled to wait till it dried up.[143](143/ "tree and pragmatics") He followed still.[144](144/ "tree and pragmatics") The girl threw down the pot, and it became thick darkness.[145](145/ "tree and pragmatics") He waited a long time till light came again, when he followed them.[146](146/ "tree and pragmatics") He could travel very quickly.[147](147/ "tree and pragmatics") He came close to them, and then the girl threw down the smooth stone.[148](148/ "tree and pragmatics") It became a rock, a big rock with one side steep like a wall.[149](149/ "tree and pragmatics") He could not climb up that rock, and so he returned to his own village.[150](150/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sikulume went home with his wife.[151](151/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to the people: “This is the daughter of Mangangezulu.[152](152/ "tree and pragmatics") You advised me not to go there, lest I should be killed.[153](153/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is my wife.”[154](154/ "tree and pragmatics") After that he became a great chief.[155](155/ "tree and pragmatics") All the people said: “There is no chief that can do such things as Sikulume.”[156](156/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Story of Simbukumbukwana.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/8/) - next →: [The Story of Hlakanyana.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/10/) - ↑ back to [Kaffir folk-lore](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg71335/)