African Tales

36. Sotho (Lesotho) Monyohe

188 36 Monyohe 133 Sotho (Lesotho)134 There was a young woman called Senkepeng, the sister of Masilo. Senkepeng refused to be married. On a certain day, they went to a singing party at Morakapula’s. They arrived, they sang, they sang the whole day. In the afternoon, Morakapula called for rain, saying that Senkepeng refused to dance with him. It rained, it rained the whole night. Morakapula gave the order to his people not to allow Senkepeng into their homes; they must drive her out. Senkepeng went to an old woman and said, “Allow me to come into your house.” The old woman said, “My house is full.” Senkepeng said, “I shall kill you.” She said then, “Come into the house.” She went in and slept. The night cleared up. Then Masilo said, “Let us return home.” Morakapula said to Masilo, “All the rivers are full.” Masilo said, “We will cross them.” Masilo’s people went away, returning home. They found that the river was full. They crossed. Senkepeng was in their midst, but the river forced her back. They came back, took her, held her fast, and went into the water with her. It forced her back again. Then Masilo himself came. When he was near her, he said, “Senkepeng, why do you stay here?” She said, “I cannot come. As soon as I go into the water, it forces me back.” Masilo said, “Come here, I shall hold you.” She came, he held her, going into the water with her. It forced her back. Masilo came back, fetched her, and went into the water with her. It forced her back. Masilo left her and went on. Senkepeng said, “Masilo of my mother, alas! alas! alas! Masilo of my mother, alas! alas! alas! Go and tell my mother at home, alas! alas! alas! Tell her that all the rivers are full, alas! alas! alas! Even the Motikoe River is full, alas! alas! alas! I have refused the son of Morakapula, alas! alas! alas!” Masilo said, “Senkepeng, sister of Kali, son of Tsoloe, alas! alas! alas! Senkepeng, sister of Kali, son of Tsoloe, alas! alas! alas! Go down along the river of Motikoe, alas! alas! alas! Go on, hiding yourself in the flotsam of the stream, alas! alas! alas! All, all the rivers are full, alas! alas! alas! Even the Motikoe River is full, alas! alas! alas!” So they parted. Masilo went on. Senkepeng also went on, going down along the Motikoe River, still carrying her musical instrument. When she stopped, she found a heap of asparagus plants that the river had carried there. She opened the heap and entered. Her musical instrument remained outside, the staff of the musical instrument projecting above. This was near a fountain. The next morning, ‘Mamonyohe went to the fountain. She saw the musical instrument that was projecting. She said, “What is it that projects so?” She went, arrived, opened the heap of asparagus, and said, “Ah! I have found a beautiful wife for my son! Come out, my daughter-in-law, let us go home.” Senkepeng came out, still carrying her musical instrument. They went home. They arrived and entered ‘Mamonyohe’s house. ‘Mamonyohe found that oxen and sheep had already been slaughtered, a quantity of strong beer had been brewed, much bread had been cooked. It was food that had been cooked for Monyohe. Sotho (Lesotho) 189 Monyohe was living inside the roof of the house, seen by nobody. ‘Mamonyohe said, “Take this food, carry it to your husband. There is the house of your husband.” Senkepeng took a full load of meat in the basket and carried it. She arrived, entered the house, put it down, and went out. She took a pot of beer, went and put it down. She went to take the bread; she arrived and put it down. She went to take thick milk; she arrived and put it down. She went out and returned to ‘Mamonyohe. Then she received this order: “Go and bring back the utensils on which you have taken the meat over there to your house.” She went there and found that nothing remained; only the bones were left. She wondered, “What invisible thing is eating that food and finishing it off in an instant?” She returned, and the mother said,“Take some corn, my dear, and grind it for your husband.” She took the corn, ground it, and cooked...