Page:George McCall Theal, Ethnography and condition of South Africa before A.D. 1505 (2nd ed, 1919).djvu/132

108 All the actions ascribed to him were those of a man, but of one endowed with supernatural power.

Thus he was said on one occasion to have been pursued by an enemy, and with his family and his followers to have come to a large river. He said, “my grandfather's father, separate thyself that we may pass through, and close thyself afterwards.” The river did so. Heitsi-eibib and his people passed through in safety, and when the enemy followed them, the river closed again and they were all drowned. This tale may seem to have had its origin in the teaching of missionaries, but it has been obtained from so many sources, some of which were never directly or indirectly under missionary influence, that it is beyond doubt original.

Another of the tales related of Heitsi-eibib is as follows: ǂGāǂgorib sat by a large hole in the ground, and when people passed by he told them to throw a stone at his forehead. When they did this, the stone rebounded and stunned them, and they fell into the hole and died. Heitsi-eibib heard of this, so he went to the place, and ǂGāǂgorib challenged him to throw a stone. He declined to do so, and they then began to chase each other round the hole, saying “Push Heitsi-eibib down! Push ǂGāǂgorib down! Push Heitsi-eibib down! Push ǂGāǂgorib down!” At last Heitsi-eibib was pushed down, but he said “my grandfather's father, raise up thy bottom and let me out.” The hole did so, and he came out. They began to chase each other round it again, saying “Push Heitsi-eibib down! Push ǂGāǂgorib down! Push Heitsi-eibib down! Push ǂGāǂgorib down!” and Heitsi-eibib was thrown in the second time. He said “my grandfather's father, raise up thy bottom and let me out.” The hole did so. This happened many times, but at last when ǂGāǂgorib was looking on one side, Heitsi-eibib struck him behind the ear and stunned him, so that he fell into the hole and could not get out again. From that time onward the people had rest, because ǂGāǂgorib was conquered.

Still another of these tales is given, as it records one of the deaths of Heitsi-eibib, and of his coming to life again. It is in the words of the reverend G. Krönlein, as translated by him from the Nama original.