Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/143

Rh grow up before the party ascending the hill. So it came to pass. Again Andrìamihàmina wished to stay to gather some; again the slave-girl refused to eat any; and again they proceeded on their way.

The party now came near the town, messages were sent for food to be cooked, clean mats to be spread, and the people to make ready to receive their chief. All this was done and they entered, being received with honour. After a little while Rafàra arrived at the foot of the hill and sat down near the spring where water was drawn; going up presently into a tree near it, she invoked her ancestors again, and willed that as the party in the town ate there should be no water, not even any saliva; and also that the tree might become dense and thick. And so it came to pass.

Meanwhile they could not induce Itambarìra to eat, but when at last pressed she said she liked grasshoppers. Andrìamihàmina accordingly ordered some to be sought for, and when they were brought he inquired whether she liked them fried or stewed. But she replied that she wished every one to go outside while she ate. So every one was sent out except a little slave-girl, who was concealed under some firewood. Itambarìra then broke off the tails of the grasshoppers, and ate them all in that fashion. And when the people were again admitted the child began to chatter, "Oh dear, the chiefs wife has a tail!" upon which she was scolded by the people.

And as soon as Andrìamihàmina entered, he called for water to wash out his mouth. So they looked for some in the water-pits, but there was none; then they sought in the neighbouring houses, but there was none there; so they sent a slave-girl to fetch water. But when she came she saw the reflection of Rafàra's face in the pool, and, thinking it her own shadow, said, "Such a handsome girl as I am not going to draw water"; so she threw down her water-pot and broke it. Then the chief sent his mother, but she was astonished at what she thought the reflection of her own face, and said, "What a handsome woman I am, although I am old!" and also broke the vessel. Then the chief's father was sent, but he was also deceived, and broke the water-pot. At last he determined to go himself, seeing he could get no water; and there he was called by Rafàra, who requested he would bring her her jewels. He accordingly returned and demanded