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Story from Senegal |
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Subject: Story from Senegal From: Auxiris Date: 20 Jun 01 - 11:36 AM LANDING'S FIELD (originally "Le Champ de Landing", translated from collection of stories and legends in French from Senegal, published by Fernand Nathan, editor, © 1963)
Dear friends, a long, long time ago, way out in the bush of Casamance, there lived a poor farmer named Landing, who had no land of his own to cultivate. The only land left available was overgrown forest, which was also very far away from the village and it was said to be the property of djinns and devils who forbid anyone to set foot on it. However, Landing, who was living in misery and desperate, called together his friends one day and said:
The next day, Landing did exactly as he said. . . he took his machete, his felling axe and his daba (local tool, a type of pickaxe) and started off toward the forest. As soon as he touched the first tree with his axe, there appeared before him a sort of little devil, half red and half black, with an antilope horn on its forehead and a monkey tail trailing behind it.
The momment the djinn had finished speaking, a swarm of devils sprang out from every part of the forest, from termite hills, hollow trees, rat holes and springs. As soon as Landing had cut a tree with his axe, a hundred devils chopped trees a hundred times and made a hundred wood chips fly. As many trees were chopped down and cleared. That evening, Landing made a large bundle of branches that he loaded on his head to take home to his wife. As he came in sight of his hut, he found a hundred bundles already piled up. His friends were waiting for him and were thus obliged to believe his story of the djinn's help. But the wise man of the village did not share the other's enthusiasm.
I know it's a longer story than usual and hopefully the cut-and paste bit worked this time and it hasn't cut things off in the middle, but perhaps if I type in enough drivel and the end it will only cut off the useless junk I've typed in after the story and blah, |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: SINSULL Date: 20 Jun 01 - 11:49 AM AUXIRIS, A lot to think about in this one. Very provocative. |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: Auxiris Date: 20 Jun 01 - 04:52 PM Thanks, Sinsull; I thought so, too and am not at all sure I've really understood the story that well myself. cheers, Aux
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Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: SINSULL Date: 20 Jun 01 - 05:08 PM So many messages: Don't mess with the devil Mess with the devil if you dare Make sure you set the right goals when messing with the devil If you mess with the devil and prosper (which is unlikely), you can benefit from the success. HMMMM Will think about this some more. |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: mousethief Date: 20 Jun 01 - 05:37 PM If you mess with the devil, make sure you tell all your subordinates the ramifications of the deal. Alex |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: katlaughing Date: 20 Jun 01 - 11:16 PM Thanks very much for this one, Auxiris. Good lessons about accomplishing things through our own efforts, false friendships, meddling where one shouldn't, etc. Always look forward to your stories. They are an inspiration. kat |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: Mrrzy Date: 21 Jun 01 - 12:45 AM Indeed, I saved this to savor with time, very nice story. Now, if only the devil and she-devils had only beaten their OWN ten children... Hmmm, I wonder in what way, had this farmer believed the wise elder, he couldn't have turned the "helping" to his advantage? As in, stubbing his toe so they'd all break their legs, or something Ananziesque...? |
Subject: RE: Story from Senegal From: Auxiris Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:05 AM Hello, everyone. . . glad to see that the translation must have come out well (I did re-read before posting, but errors do have a way of hiding in the text). I have another Senegalese story to translate about a magic drum, but it may be a few days before I get it done. I have to get out the strimmer/weed eater and chop down the tall grass (some of which will then be used as stuffing for the scarecrow) in the orchard today and tomorrow, if the weather be good! cheers, Aux
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