TABULATION OF FOLKTALES.
137
[No. 52.]
Title Of Story.—The Story of Demane and Demazana.
Dramatis Personae.—Demane.—Demazana.—Relations.—Zim, his wife, daughter, and son.—Cannibal.
Abstract Of Story.—(1) A brother and sister, orphan twins, Demane and Demazana, ran away from relations' ill-usage. They lived in cave protected by strong door. Before going one day to hunt, Demane told sister not to cook meat, lest cannibals should discover by smell their retreat. She disobeyed, and roasted buffalo-meat; cannibal smelt it, found door fastened, sang song trying to imitate Demane's voice, and asked admittance; refused, for his voice was hoarse, not like Demane's. Cannibal left, consulted with another cannibal, who advised him to burn throat with hot iron, which he did, and, when he again sang song, Demazana, deceived by his not being hoarse, let him in.—(2) As cannibal was carrying Demazana away she dropped ashes along path, so that Demane, who returned home from hunting with a swarm of bees, all he had taken, guessed what had happened, followed ashes till he came to Zim's dwelling.—(3) Cannibal's family gathering firewood; Zim was in, and had put Demazana in a bag till fire was made. Demane asked for water; Zim said he must promise not to touch bag if he got him some, but, whilst cannibal was away, Demane took sister out, put bees in her place, and they hid. Zim returned with water and family with firewood. He told daughter to get something out of bag; bees stung her hand; same thing happened with wife and son. Zim opened bag; was so stung he could not see; escaped through thatch; fell headlong into pond; head stuck in mud, and he became like block of wood, in which bees made their home. No one could get any honey, as, when a hand was put in, it stuck fast. Demane and Demazana, taking Zim's possessions, became wealthy.
Alphabetical List of Incidents.—
Cannibal imitates Demane (1); turned into wood (3)
Demazana drops ashes on path (2).
Where published.—Theal's Kaffir Folk-lore. London. Preface dated 1882. Story No. 9, pp. 111-14.
Name Of Collection, whether:——
- Original or translation.—Translated by G. M. Theal.
- If by word of mouth, state narrator's name.
- Other particulars.
