Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/141

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The hero of this story, a chief named Andrìamihàmina, is desirous of getting a third wife, and, being unsuccessful, goes for advice to an old man named Rangàhìbeatòdihào. The old man, in return for a small service (commonly enough rendered by one native to another, but needless to be particularised here), tells his visitor to go along the banks of a large river, and then go up to a town he will see, together with all kinds of musical instruments. There he will find two women who are mother and daughter, but who are so alike that it is impossible to tell which is the younger. But he gives him a wasp, which he is to let go; the daughter will cry out, "Oh dear! I'm killed, mother!" so that she will be immediately known.

Andrìamihàmina accordingly goes off, rows down the river, comes to the town, and goes up to it with drums and music. Arrived at the gateway, he sends in word that a stranger is come to visit the chief. He is received with the usual native hospitality, an ox is killed for him and his followers, and he eats. After the meal, the chief, father of the girl his visitor wishes to marry, inquires the errand of his guest. The latter says that he has come to seek a wife, and inquires whether his host is willing to give him one. The chief replies that he is perfectly willing, but his wife and daughter are alike in appearance, and he must find out which is the daughter, and, if successful, he shall take her for his wife. Andrìamihàmina tries to find out, but is unable; so he sets free the wasp, the daughter cries out as the old man had predicted, and he claims her for his wife, to which the father consents, and in due time he sets off to take her home. Before their departure, however, the mother warns the bridegroom that his wife is a girl who will not fetch fuel or pound rice, or collect manure or do work in the field, so that if he cannot put up with this he had better leave her. But he replies that if she will do none of these things he will do the work himself, and then she will surely join him. To this the mother agrees, and gives her daughter a slave-girl named Itambarìra to attend her. So they went off home.

The journey back was made by canoe, and, as they came near to the old man's house, Itambarìra proposed to Rafàra that they should