Feather Woman of the Jungle (3 page)

“What is your name? From which village did you come to this hut which belongs to the Witch of the Jungle?” the prince caressed and asked her again, but Ashabi did not reply at all, she was simply looking on as if she was a real dump lady. “Are you dump?” the prince paused for a while
probably
she would reply this time but Ashabi would not. “If you are a dump lady or not, I will take you to my town to be my wife!” When the beauty of Ashabi attracted the prince, he simply helped her to stand up (the rain had stopped then). He
took her to his horse and put her on it and after that he started to loose the rope of the horse away from my waist. But as he was doing so, Ashabi, with tears rolling down her cheeks, was giving sign to the hunter or prince that I was her brother but had changed into the image through her fault but the prince did not understand the sign she made.

As the prince was taking her to his town which we did not know, she was looking at her back just to see us whether we would change back to our own forms that time but it was in vain. As we were in form of images, I was telling the prince repeatedly to tell me the name of his town so that I might know where Ashabi was but he did not pay heed to all what I told him because he did not hear my voice. It was like that Ashabi was taken away by an unknown man to an unknown town. She could not refuse to go and could not tell the prince not to tie the rope of his horse on my waist because she must not talk for two years and that meant we would remain in form of images for two years before we would be able to change back to our former forms or if Ashabi was mistakenly talked it meant we would remain as images for ever and that was another fear and sorrow to us. The horse had kicked me, bit me, snorted on my body which was mud and scratched my head with its snout but I could not move my hands to defend myself.

When the hunting prince brought Ashabi to his town and showed her to his royal family, they were very happy but they were very sad at last when they discovered that she was dump. Because it was against the law of their town for a prince to marry a dump lady. The reason was that the people of that town did not like the son of a dump woman to become their king in the future. Therefore, the kingmakers and the royal family advised the prince not to marry Ashabi and to return her to where he had brought her at once. But he rejected their advice entirely.

At last, the royal family and the kingmakers gathered
together
, they made a secret meeting that whenever Ashabi gave birth to a baby, they would kill the baby on the very day it was named. Although the prince was not present when they had plotted to do so but Ashabi was present and she heard what they were going to do to her baby, but of course, she must not talk otherwise both of us would remain as images for ever. The royal family and the kingmakers did not hide that secret plot from Ashabi for they believed she was real dump and by that she would not be able to hear words. It was a great sorrow to her to hear what would be done to her baby, but she was still pretending to be a dump lady.

After a few months, Ashabi gave birth to a male baby and according to the royal family’s and the kingmakers’ plot. The beautiful baby was killed after a few minutes that a name was given to it. It was killed on the present of Ashabi and she was about to talk to them that she was not dump so that her baby might be spared. But it came to her mind that moment that if she talked, both of us would remain as images for ever. And each time she gave birth to a baby, thus it was killed without mercy on the naming day by the kingmakers. But when she gave birth to the third baby, her Creator was so good that it was on the very day that her baby would be named and then be killed like others, the two years that she must not talk expired. Her baby was hardly named when it was lay down and as the killer was just taking his knife nearly to touch its neck. Then the moment that Ashabi was at liberty to talk was reached. So she hastily held the hand of the killer and then she talked loudly: “Please, don’t kill my baby! I was not dump as all of you had thought!” But the people were very surprised when she talked and then her baby was spared at once.

After that she explained to them why she had pretended to be dump for two years. And when she told them about her
brothers who had changed into the images since two years ago by the Jungle Witch, the people accompanied her to the jungle. But to her surprise, we had changed back to our own forms before she arrived with the people, but the rest images were still there. With gladness and shout of joy, Ashabi ran to us and embraced us when she met us in the form of persons and all those people wished us good luck after they had looked at us with wonder for a few minutes.

As we were dancing, singing loudly with great joy and
telling
those people about the Jungle Witch that after Ashabi had been taken away by the hunting prince, she (Jungle Witch) had been giving us double punishment when she did not see Ashabi in the hut any more. We were still telling them the story when she rode her usual ostrich to the hut but after she had put the bunch of whips down, she saw many people in her hut. She hesitated and scowled at us for a few minutes before she walked nearer and then asked: “Who are you? What do you want in my hut? Oh, I am very happy, I shall have more images today!”

But when none of us paid heed to all of her questions, but we were still enjoying our new lives with the people. Then with great anger, she was walking along to that pit in which there were two ostrich eggs, to expose them to us so that the whole of us might be changed into the images. Having
understood
what she wanted to do, Ashabi hastily took one of the firewood from the hearth, she went to the pit. After she had closed her eyes well, she removed the cover of it and then broke them before the Jungle Witch wobbled to the pit. But to our surprise, immediately the eggs exploded loudly, the rest images and that ostrich changed into persons suddenly and the Jungle Witch herself fell down and fainted at the same time. It was that time it revealed to us that the rest images, the ostrich and also those birds which were following her about, were persons like ourselves and it was that time it
had just revealed to us that if the two eggs were broken, all the images, etc. would change back to their proper forms, otherwise Ashabi should had broken them the very day that we had become images. Great noises arose as soon as they had changed into persons. They were thanking the Creator and were shouting with great joy as we had done.

Some of them were women of about forty years of age and some were young ladies, boys and middle-aged men. They told us that they had changed into the images when they had removed the cover of the pit and seen the two ostrich eggs which were inside it. Then I entered the room of the hut, I took the money which we had saved in selling the cola-nuts but all the dresses had been damaged by the insects. So the whole of us left the hut and were singing and dancing along on the road to the town of the hunting prince.

When we got to that town, we were taken to the king direct by that people. Luckily when we related the story of our father and mother to the king, the father of the hunting prince, he gave us many presents and money. After we had lived with him for about one month, we returned to our
village
, but some of the rest people who had been changed into persons like ourselves, stayed with the king because they could not trace out their respective towns and villages.

My father and mother and the people of the village were very sorry when they heard what had happened to us. Out of the money that we brought to them, they paid all their debts and bought all their needs as well.

Now my people, I will repeat it before you this night, that I will not forget the Jungle Witch or the Feather Woman of the jungle throughout my life time. I believe, every one of you had heard the hardship, punishment, etc. of my first journey? Then the people roared at a time: “It was a terrible journey indeed although you had returned with money!”

“I thank you very much for listening to the story of my
past adventures and I shall start to tell you another
entertainment
of my second journey, tomorrow night, good night to every one of you!” Then my people sang and danced for a few minutes before they went back to their houses, because they brought their drums and many other musical
instruments
this night.

It was hardly nine o’clock of the third night when the people of my village came to my house to enjoy the
entertainment
of my second adventure. All sat as usual and everyone was served with one keg of palm-wine. But this third night, they brought with them some drums, horns and many other of the native musical instruments, because we were badly
disappointed
about the musical instruments the first night. Then I sat on my usual old armchair in front of them. As the moon was shining and the cool breeze of that dry season was
blowing
very quietly. Then after everyone had drunken of his or her palm-wine and I put fire in my smoking pipe. I first addressed the people: “You see, my people, my motto this night is that this world is not equal. So all my adventures were not the same. One who has head has no money to buy hat and one who has money to buy hat has no head on which to put it. But my people, please put it in your minds as from this night that under this sun, there is nobody who is above temptation. So this night, I am going to tell you about a treacherous queen who had not pleased with all money that her husband, the king, had been giving to her. Please listen well.”

Then with one voice my people shouted that they are listening to me. So after they drank some palm-wine and then sang and danced for a while, I started to relate the story of my second adventure as follows:

After a few months that I had returned from my first journey in which I had been changed into an image for the period of two years. I thought over one midnight that
although
, I had met much difficulties, etc., in my first journey, but yet, I had not experienced it as much as of those old people. Because if an old man tells all his difficulties,
hardships
, losses, etc., which he had met before he becomes old. Many young men would prefer to die while young just to avoid these things. Therefore, if I gave up my adventures this time, it would be shameful to me. So for that reason, in the following morning, I invited almost all the people of the
village
to my father’s house. After the drinks were served, then I announced loudly that I would start my second journey the following morning. So all the old men among the people praised me greatly for my bravery and after that the whole gathering wished me good luck before they went back to their houses after many songs were sung and drums were beaten.

In the following morning, I took one gun, hunting-bag, matchet and some yams and then I bade my father and mother good-bye before I left the village. But my junior brother, Alabi, did not follow me this time. I told him to stay at home to be taking care of them. I travelled more than two weeks before I reached a town. That town was not so big but almost all the inhabitants were rich, so this made me to stop my journey there.

When I was escorted to the king, I explained to him that I was finding wealths about. But he laughed at me first before he said that I would get what I wanted from him provided I could help him to find out his lost prince for him. But I asked with wonder whether his prince had been kidnapped,
disappeared
or lost. He explained to me that he could not say what had happened to him because one morning, when he went to the town in which his prince lived, there was nothing found, there were no houses and people as before, all had
been disappeared, but there was a fearful quiet bush instead. That king explained to me further that since that time, he heard nothing about his prince or the people of that town.

Having told me the story of his prince, the food and drink were brought and I dined and drank together with him. In the following morning, I took my gun, hunting-bag and my matchet and then I told the king to take me to the spot of the disappeared town. Without a word, he followed me and we travelled more than ten miles before we reached the spot of the disappeared town at about one o’clock p.m. When he showed the spot to me, he returned to his town at the same time and then it remained I alone in that quiet bush.

Having travelled far away in it, I stopped, I made the fire near a tree, I roasted some yams and ate them. After that I stood up and continued to roam about, just to find out what had happened to the prince, etc. But after a while, I stopped near a big tree just to listen to the cries of the doves because I liked to know the time or the hour of the day. But of course, there was no any voice of a bird or any living creature was heard. In that quiet bush, there was no single living creature, even there were no ants or flies and again, to my fear, all of the trees were stood still as if there was no breeze or air. Everything was very quiet in a terrible way so that I was always shocked with fear every moment.

Anyhow, I was still travelling deeply into this bush of quietness until when the darkness disallowed me to see. Then when I could not see, I stopped, I lay down as I was thinking about the disappearance of the prince and his wife, etc. It was not so long when I fell asleep when I began to dream. And it was not so long when I was dreaming when I saw that I was in a big town. I saw many people and the prince that they were in a great severe punishment. Some could not walk while some were walking about in that disappeared town but with much difficulties. Having seen them in my dream like
that, I was so feared that I attempted to go away from that bush so that I might not be one of them. But as I attempted to go away, one of the people held my arm and then he was dragging me back.

As I was trying to take my arm back from him and I was unable to do so, I shouted with fear: “Leave my arm and let me go away from this town!” But as I shouted with fear, I woke and that time was about twelve o’clock in the night. Then I stood up and rubbed my eyes with palm. But hardly walked to a short distance from that spot when I began to hear that a person was bitterly groaning from a long distance.

Without fear, I started to find the person who was groaning like that about in the darkness. And I did not go far when I was seeing a big house in front. When I went nearer to it, I saw that a dim ray of light was penetrated to the outside through one of the windows. Then I went to that window with fear, I peeped in but I could not see anything in that house except the bitter groan of a person which was hearing. Again, I held my gun ready on my shoulder while I held the matchet ready with the right hand, then I walked cautiously to the main gate of the house which had no door and I peeped in as I dangled my right foot on that entrance. But yet, I did not see anything in there except the flame of a native mud lamp which I saw far away in one of the rooms at the extreme left. That lamp was dimly burning with the palm-oil.

As I still dangled my right foot on the door, I noticed that the main gate had a portico which resembled that of an ancient palace of the olden days king. Several images like that of the lions, tigers, deers, antelopes, monkeys, crocodiles, lizards, men, women, etc. were carved on that portico from bottom to top. But some parts of them had been washed away by the rains and all together with the portico were very old. In the veranda, there were several sprouts of the small trees. The frames, roof, ceiling, etc. were nearly eaten off by the
white ants. Chairs, stools, benches, mats and tables were so old that they had fallen and scattered all over the veranda. Several insect moulds were seen everywhere. Again I noticed that this house had a very big and square premises which resembled that of the premises of the ancient palace. There were many shrines of the god of smallpox, god of thunder, god of iron, god of river, etc. which had been worshipped from a long time. So all these things showed me that this house was the palace of a powerful king before. But what had happened to the king who had been living in there, I could not say yet.

But as the groan of a person was still hearing more terribly from the extreme right of the house, so I entered and I was walking very cautiously along on the veranda to the extreme right. It was so I was walking along with great fear until when I came to a large room. Then I stopped and peeped in and to my surprise and fear, I saw one man who lay on the floor. One big mud lamp which was burning with the
palm-oil
was in a little distance in front of him, one old chair which had been damaged by the insects was in the right corner of that room. One of its four legs had been broken off and this made it to lean against that corner.

But to my surprise, that man did not see me when I entered the room, stood before him and I was listening to his groan. Of course, with fear, I noticed that he had been a very beautiful man before. He was about forty-five years old, his beard and moustache had over-grown and were touching his breast so these showed me that he was lay down there from a long time. His body was full of sores which were caused by whip and pieces and splits of whip were lying all over that room.

As he was groaning loudly and continuously as if he was put in the fire and as his pains were so much that he could not see me. So I walked cautiously nearer to him, I leaned my gun on my waist, I hung my matchet back to my shoulder and
then I clapped hands very quietly. He was first startled with fear as if I were the person who was giving him the pains, then he lifted up head very slightly as if it was tied to the floor and then he hesitated to hear what I came in to tell him. But as fear and wonder did not allow me to say one word that moment, so he rested his head back on the usual place and continued to groan as loudly as before. My hope was that he would sit up or stand up if he heard my claps, but he could not do neither of these things.

Having listened again for a while, with a quiet voice, I asked: “Hello! How? But what is happening to you, which is so much painful that you are groaning repeatedly as if you are in the fire?” Then he tried all his best and lifted up his head a bit, he breathed out heavily with grief and with a harsh and sorrowful voice, he replied: “Yes, you are quite right to ask such a question from me. But if you know my grievances you would not be surprised to hear my groan.” But when I heard his voice which showed me that he would be able to explain his grievances to me, and that he was willing to, I walked to the corner, I leaned my gun, after that I dragged that old chair, which had three legs, before him. But as I was sitting on it, I fell down and the chair itself fell apart, because I had forgotten that its fourth leg had been broken off. Therefore I stood up, I supported it with that leg and then I could sit on well.

Again, I asked quietly: “Please, tell me all your grievances probably I may be able to help you.” And then after he had breathed out heavily with grief and hesitated for a while, he started to relate his story to me: “I was the king of this palace (the house in which I met him) and my father is a powerful and kind king in his town which is about ten miles away from here. During the time that I was the king of this town (the quiet bush in which that house was), I married one wife. She is very beautiful and in respect of this, I loved her
so wholeheartedly that I told her every one of my secrets. Not knowing she is a powerful treacherous woman who has also supernatural power.

“But as she had noticed that I preferred to drink the drinks such as palm-wine, guinea corn-wine, bamboo-wine, etc. every night, before I slept. So not knowing that my wife had one kind of a powerful juju which she used to put in the drinks before she was bringing it to me to drink. That juju was to make me to sleep and not to wake till when the cocks crowed in the morning or I would not be able to wake from the sleep for several days if cocks were failed to crow. Alas, I did not know or outwit this beautiful clever wife that she was mixing up my drinks with juju before bringing it to me and she did so for many years successfully.

“But one midnight, as I sat in my beautiful armchair to rest for a few minutes, and as I kept very quietly as if I was sleeping. Then my attendants who thought that I had slept and as they noticed that my wife had gone to somewhere in the town, started to lament. One said to the others: ‘It is a pity indeed, that our master (king) does not suspect his wife yet, that she is mixing up his drinks every night with a
powerful
juju!’ The second lamented: ‘I wonder! But the juju powder is so powerful that when our master drinks it will fall asleep at the same time and will not be able to wake by
himself
if cooks do not crow in the morning!’ Then the third lamented: ‘Very wonderful! I had noticed too that
immediately
our master had slept last night, the woman went out but she returned as soon as the cocks had started to crow!’ And the fourth asked from the rest: ‘By the way, what is she going out to do every midnight?’ The rest suggested: ‘
Perhaps
, she is going out to sleep with another man!’

“Again, the first attendant asked: ‘If she is going to sleep with another man. Is that man richer than our master, the king? And that means that man is giving her more money
than the king!’ The fifth said angrily: ‘An ordinary man can never give her enough money like our master. But of course, women are never satisfied….’ And the fourth suggested: ‘Is it possible to tell our master the secret of his wife?’ But the rest shook heads and said: ‘No!’ Here my attendants stopped when my wife entered.

“Thus my attendants had lamented about me without knowing that I did not sleep but I had put all they had said about my wife in mind. In the night, when I was ready to go to bed, she brought my drinks as usual. But as soon as she had left the room I threw it away and then I pretended as if I had drunken it. After that I lay on my bed and pretended as well as if I had slept. After a while she came back, she examined the tumblers just to make sure whether I had drunken it. When she saw that all the tumblers were empty, she quenched the light of the room and then she lay on the bed with me. And it was not so long when I had pretended to be asleep when she stood up. She walked to her cupboard, she opened it and took out the best of her dresses such as gold beads, rings, headgear, clothes, etc. Then she dressed up as if she was going to marry that night and after that she took out one covered calabash from the cupboard.