The Story of the Sons of Squeezer
and Mr. Water-Lizard

(Lamba)

Mr. Squeezer had three children; and he carved two flutes. He said, “My children, don’t blow the ‘going-right-away,’ blow the ‘near-at-hand.’” When one of the children went, he blew, “Ne ne near near e near near e...!” But the honey-guide didn’t come. Then he took the flute ‘going-right-away,’ and blew, “Away ay...!” Behold, a honey-guide flew down. (Away) flap flap flap, (and) they (the bees) are sitting in a tree. When he had gone swish swish swish swish, he said, “Indeed, ah! ah!” (and) he found that the bough was growing stretched out over the middle of a pond.

Then he arrived, and put down his weapons, and lit a fire; then he climbed. When he had chopped with the axe chop chop, lo, the head flew off—whirr—into the pond. Then he climbed down, and undressed, and dived in to look for his axe. While he was searching in the water, he came upon a Water-Lizard lying. It said, “Who are you?” He said, “I am the son of Squeezer!” It said, “First squeeze me, let us feel!” He said, “I do not know how, he who knows how to squeeze is my father.” Then it swallowed him.

And another brother (was) where he remained in the village. Then his father said, “You children, don’t blow the ‘going-right-away,’ blow the ‘near-at-hand!’ Isn’t it your brother who hasn’t come back, he went to die in the veld, because he blew the ‘going-right-away’?” Then one of them said, “Today I’m going to the veld, I won’t blow ‘near-at-hand,’ I shall blow ‘going-right-away.’” And indeed he blew, and the honey-guide came, and led (him) to the same place. Then he climbed and chopped, and the axe (went) whirr. He came down, and dived in, saying, “Let us see what Father does.” As he was feeling about everywhere, he came upon the Water-Lizard rising to the surface. It asked, “Who are you?” He said, “I am the son of Squeezer.” It said, “Squeeze, let us see!” He said, “I don’t know how to squeeze, he who knows how to squeeze is Father.” And it swallowed him.

Then the one who remained hastened to blow the ‘going-right-away.’ Indeed it came—flap flap flap—and reached the tree over there. He came down and reached the pond; and came upon the Water-Lizard. It said, “Who are you?” “I am the son of Squeezer.” It said, “First squeeze me, let us feel!” He said, “I don’t know how, he who knows how is my father.” And it swallowed him.

Where the father was, he thought, “Now (my) children are finished, I myself remain.” Then he hastened to blow the ‘going-right-away.’ It sounded, “Away ay...!” And the honey-guide came, and led the way to the tree. Then he hastened to climb, and chopped his axe into it, slip! and it fell in. Then he dived in to look (for it). And he came upon Mr. Water-Lizard. He said, “Who are you?” He said, “I am Squeezer.” He said, “First squeeze me, let us feel!” And he caught (him) and squeezed. Lo, a child and an axe. And he squeezed (again). Lo, a child and an axe. And he squeezed (yet again). Lo, a child and an axe. And he cast (the Water-Lizard) on the land, and went to the village with his children.

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