Folklore Zimbabwe, Korhaan and the trees

There was a man who went to make a garden. First of all he cut down all the trees; which had to be cleared away and went home that night to sleep. Next day he came to dig; but there was no longer a clearing, for all the trees were growing again. He cut down the trees again and went home at night to sleep; but next morning they were growing again in the same place. The third day he cut down the trees again and the next morning they were all growing again in the same place. He cut them all down again and that night he hid in the clearing.



He saw a Khorhaan come, and it said, “Who wants to make a garden here”? The trees answered him. He sang: “Who has done this ? Who has done this ? The man tells lies. Trees, wake again ! Grass, wake again !” Then all the trees grew again. The man killed the bird, and it said, “Kill me properly!” He picked it up, and it said, “Pick me up properly I” He took it home and plucked it, and it said, “Pluck me properly !” He cooked it, and it said, “Cook me properly!” He called his friends to come and eat it, and it said, “Eat me properly !” All who ate it turned into birds.

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Folklore Society (Great Britain). ‘Folklore.’ London, Folk-lore Society.


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