35. A ZULU VERSION OF THE LEGEND OF THE "ORIGIN OF DEATH."

(From Manuscript, "Zulu Legends," No. 214 of Sir G. Grey's Library, vol. i. part i. p. 107.)

GOD (Unknlunkuln) arose from beneath (the seat of the spiritual world, according to the Zulu idea), and created in the beginning* men, animals, and all things. He then sent for the Chameleon, and said; "Go, Chameleon, and tell Men that they shall not die." The Chameleon went, but it walked slowly, and loitered on the way, eating of a shrub called Bukwebezane.

When it had been away some time, God sent the Salamander after it, ordering him to make haste and tell Men that they should die. The Salamander went on his way with this message, outran the Chameleon, and, arriving first where the Men were, told them that they must die.

* Ohlangeni. Vide Colenso's "Zulu-English Dictionary," p. 179.

a German original Manuscript in Sir G. Grey's Library, H. C. Knudsen's "Notes on the Hottentots," p. 7.)

SI EIBIP, or Kabip, was a great and celebrated cer among the Namaqua. He could tell secret s, and prophesy what was to happen afterwards. ce he was travelling with a great number of e, and an enemy pursued them. On arriving me water he said, "My grandfather's father, thyself that I may pass through, and close thyafterwards." So it took place as he had said, and went safely through. Then their enemies tried ass through the opening also, but when they were he midst of it, it closed again upon them, and they shed.*

Knudsen, who heard this legend from the Hottentot rus Friedrik, was afterwards informed that Heitsi Eibip

Heitsi Kabip died several times, and came to life again. When the Hottentots pass one of his graves they throw a stone on it for good luck.*

Heitsi Eibip could take many different forms. Sometimes he appeared handsome, very handsome, or his hair grew long down to his shoulders; at other times it was again short.

was not the person meant in this tale. It looks very much like the end of our 27th Fable, of the Woman who outwitted the Elephants.

*Sir James E. Alexander, in his "Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa," vol. i. p. 166, speaking of the people at Warm Bath, or Nisbett Bath, says :-"These Namaquas thought that they came from the East. In the country there is occasionally found (besides the common graves covered with a heap of stones) large heaps of stones, on which had been thrown a few bushes; and if the Namaquas are asked what these are, they say that Heije Eibib, their Great Father, is below the heap; they do not know what he is like, or what he does; they only imagine that he also came from the East, and had plenty of sheep and goats; and when they add a stone or branch to the heap, they mutter, 'Give us plenty of cattle." "

. THE VICTORY OF HEITSI EIBIP.

German original Manuscript in Sir G. Grey's Library, H. C. Knudsen's "Notes on the Hottentots," p. 7.)

est they were two. One had made a large hole ground, and sat by it, and told passers-by to Ia stone at his forehead. The stone, however, nded and killed the person who had thrown it, at he fell into the hole. At last Heitsi Eibip -old that in this manner many people died. So ose and went to the man, who challenged Heitsi o to throw (a stone) at him. The latter, however, ned, for he was too prudent; but he drew the 's attention to something on one side, and while urned round to look at it, Heitsi Eibip hit him nd the ear, so that he died and fell into his own . After that there was peace, and people lived pily.*

Sir James Alexander, in his " Expedition of Discovery the Interior of Africa,” vol. ii. p. 250, states :-“ On 3rd of August the waggon went on to Aneip, or Wet ot, and I went out of the way with Jan Buys, and two or ee men, to see a hole, which was supposed to be inhabited Heije Eibib, and was the wonder of the country."

38. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE SAME

LEGEND.

(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey's Library, G. Krönlein's Manuscript, p. 36.)

ALL men who came near to that hole were, it is said, pushed down into it by the ‡ Gã ‡gorip* (the pusher into the hole), as he knew well where it lay. Whilst he was thus employed, there came the Heitsi Eibip, called also Heigeip, and saw how the Gã ‡gorip treated the people.

Then these two began to hunt each other round the hole, saying

"Push the Heigeip down!"

"Push the Ga ‡gorip down!"

"Push the Heigeip down!"

"Push the Ga ‡gorip down!"

With these words they hunted each other round for some time; but at last the Heigeip was pushed

* The is the palatal click, described in Note to Fable 24, p. 55; and indicates the nasal pronunciation of a syllable.