On the morrow she came again to fetch water; and, washing her face again, saw a reflection in the water, and breaking the water-pot said, "A handsome face like mine, indeed, and have to carry water on my head!" But it was Ifàra's face she saw there. And again Ifàra spoke from up the tree, "Father spends money buying, and you a break." And again Itrétrikandévo looked about her, saying, "Whoever was that speaking?"
So she ran off to the village, saying to her master and mistress, "There was somebody speaking yonder at the well, but I could not see who it was; yet the voice was like Ifàra's!" So the pair went off to see; and when they got there, Ifàra came down, and all three wept for joy. Then Ifàra told them how her sisters had deceived her so that she might be seized by Itrìmobé. So they disowned the two daughters and kept Ifàra as their child.—(Translated from a story contributed by the Rev. J. Richardson to the Publications of the Malagasy Folk-Lore Society.)
IKÒTOBÒRIBÒRY; THE LITTLE ROUND BOY.
A certain couple desired to have a child and said, "O, that we had a child, no matter whether like a ball, or of any shape whatever." After some time they had a child, for a son was born who had no legs or arms, for "God was disregardful," said the people. The father said, "Come, let us kill it,[1] for it's an unnatural thing." But the mother replied, "No, for I desired it earnestly from God, and that would be tempting God, so I don't agree, lest he should not give us another."
After some time the child grew, and one day his father went to the forest, and fastening up some food for the journey in a bag, the child jumped in too, for the name they had given him was Ikòtòbòribòry. Some of the food he put in a basket to be eaten on the road until he came to the forest, and that in the bag was for the journey home; but the child in the bag was not seen. So the foresters set out on their journey. "When night came on the child could not be found (at home); and for some time afterwards they searched for him but could not find him, and so at last they gave it up.
- ↑ The word here employed, ahòhoka, is that used to describe killing new-born children born on one of the unlucky days, by putting them face downwards in a shallow wooden dish filled with water.
