Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/497

 Collectanea. 46 1

up for her, and drummers and big drummers, and female attend- ants. So she came back to the town, and alighted at the place where the games were held, and sat (there). The metal chair was placed for her. Then the chief's son came and said he wanted her in marriage. She said, — "Very well. As for me I like you." He said, — "Shall I give you ten slaves?" She said, — "No." She did not want them. He said, — " Shall I bring you ten cala- bashes of kola-nuts ? ".^^ She said she did not want them. So it was that she said, — "That small ring on your hand, that (is what) I want." So he said, — "Very well. Is that all you want?" So she said, — " Yes." Then she arose and went to her mother's house. And he escorted her (a part of the way), and returned home. So the girl reached the house, and the mother again swallowed the girl, and brought her up ugly, not pretty. Then she got wood for her, and she returned to the chiefs house, (she) the girl. Then she whom she was with said, — " Where have you been ? " She said, — " I went to the forest and lost myself" (head). So she said, — " Oh." Then the chief's son brought some porridge, and said the girl was to mix (it) for him. So she mixed (it), and took the ring which he had given her and put it into the porridge. So the boy when he drank saw the ring. Then he said, — " Where did you get this ring?" She said, — "Oh, you saw it (then)?" Then he said, — "This ring is mine." Then he recognised her. So the boy told his father the chief. He said he wanted the girl in marriage. So he was given (her), he married (her). Then the girl went and told her mother in the forest. So the mother gave her finery. That is all. They remained (happy).

49. The Wonderful Horse. (B. G.)

(There were) three boys. The mother was dead. The father was dead. The two elder ones did nothing except play draughts. Auta (the youngest) did not play draughts ; (he) only went about learning magic (obtaining charms). If he heard of a learned man who possessed magic, he went to him (and asked) to be given

^1 These nuts are sold at 5 for 3d. in the Jemaa district, and always form part of a ceremonial gift. See Tremearne, The Tailed Headhunters of Nigeria. Many are brought from Ashanti.