by Amos Tutuola
This merriment continued on both sides till a late hour in the night. But according to our custom in the Rocky Town, every big merriment as this one must end in front of the “god of the state”. So as soon as it was midnight, the whole of us danced to the bank of the river where the “god of the state” stood sternly on its platform. After its own sacrifice was given to it, we danced round it merrily. Then my father, my mother, my fiancée’s father and mother prayed for both of us, and after we sang and danced for a few twinklings, then the whole of us danced back to the town. Again, having danced and sung to the whole parts of the town till a half of the day, we returned to the house, but we had hardly returned to the house when my wife was brought to my house.
But a few twinklings after my wife was brought, the noble and common people went back to their houses. It was like that I married the daughter of the progenitor of worshippers of gods, idols, spirits, etc.
Now as I was living with my wife, Lola, comfortably in my father’s house, I continued to go to the jungles and forests which surrounded the town. Before this time I had nearly killed all the wild beasts, but the remaining ones were still loitering under the mighty rocks, debris, etc. So I started to kill many of them in a day and I was bringing their bodies to the house for our food.
As I was still doing so, it was so my father who was the chief of priests, pagan, idol, spirit, etc. worshippers and my father-in-law who was the progenitor of the idol, spirit, etc. worshippers, did not fail to perform their duties as well. Because whenever one wanted to give sacrifice to his or her god or idol, etc. in the town, both of them would not keep long behind but they would go there as soon as they were informed. They would perform the sacrifices at the same time. For this, the whole people of the town feared and respected them as though they were the only omniscient persons in the town.
My Wife was Barren
Now I was fed up with my wife, I was not happy at all, because in the four years since I had married her she was not pregnant. My father, mother and father of my wife had tried all their efforts to make her pregnant by using almost all kinds of herbs, but all their efforts had failed. They consulted the spirit of the river but that one did not render any help.
So when I saw that both of them were fed up, I began to think in mind day and night as how to make her pregnant, because a woman or a man without even one issue would, in fact, have no respect or honour among his or her friends and neighbours, but he or she would live a sorrowful life throughout his or her life-time. And a person no matter how poor he or she was but with even one issue would live with happiness. This was a very serious custom of my town. We all admitted that “though, mother is gold but father is looking glass for the child”.
However, I began to implore my “Supreme Second” by both day and night to help me find a powerful herbalist who would make the medicine which would not fail to make my wife pregnant.
My Preparation for My Journey
Having thought for nights and days as how to make my barren wife pregnant, at last it came to my mind that the cause was from my side because I was a “born and die baby” before, who had betrayed many mothers and fathers of their property. Therefore the repercussions of what I had done to the innocent mothers and fathers must come upon me however it might be. But when I remembered this, I became extremely sad. However, when it was daybreak, I asked from my father with sadness, where was the most powerful herbalist who would not fail to make my wife pregnant. My father said that there was one who had never failed to do everything. He explained further that she was called “THE WITCH-HERBALIST” and that her town was called “THE REMOTE TOWN”. My father said that her town was in the remote part of the world and that it was very dangerous to go there because of the dangers and the cruel strange beings of the jungles, forests, etc. through which one must travel to the town.
My father explained further that to reach the town would take one up to six years or more. But it was not certain that one who set his or her foot on a journey to the town could reach there because of the dangers, etc. of the road, etc., thus my father explained to me.
But once I was told that this Witch-Herbalist who was the omniscient and omnipotent mother of the Remote Town, had never failed to solve any problem which was on earth, I did not care about setting my feet on this long journey. I made up my mind to go and see her at all costs, though to travel such a long journey as that at this time was greatly risky.
As soon as I was told of this powerful Witch-Herbalist, I did not waste time in inviting my mother, father, my wife, her father and mother to my room on the third evening after I had heard this information from my father. When all of them sat down, I prostrated for every one of them but excluding my wife. I prayed for all of them for all the help which they had rendered to my wife in order for her to be pregnant, before they became fed up. Then I sat down before them, and then I told them that I had made up my mind to go and see the Witch-Herbalist. I told them further that I was preparing to leave the town the day of the next market-day, to which there remained six days at that time.
But I wondered greatly that I had hardly explained to them like that when my father-in-law said that he too had been hearing of the Witch-Herbalist for a number of years, that she was an omniscient and omnipotent old woman. He warned me not to attempt to go to her, and he warned me further that it was possible for her to detain me in her town because her witch-craft sometimes made her mad. But of course I knew that he simply frightened me to tell me this. I told them that if my “Supreme Second” was kind enough, he would lead me throughout my journey without hurt. It was so I replied to my father-in-law and my father, mother and my wife. He said further that the reason why many people had not attempted to go there was that there was a cruel jungle being who was living in the cave near the path which was at a distance of ten days’ journey from this our town. The father of my wife warned me seriously that this cruel jungle being, if I was unfortunate, might come out from his place of abode at the very time that I was passing through that area.
I nearly gave up going to see the Witch-Herbalist when my father and my wife’s father told me the dangers of the travel and of the witch mother, especially when my mother and my wife burst into tears and were warning me not to go. But later on I did not bother or change my mind to go. Instead, I made it clear to them that so far as I was a hunter of the wild animals and as I had several kinds of juju, I was not afraid at all to go. Of course when I told them like that with bravery, they stopped to warn me again, and they prayed for me that I should reach there and return to them safely. After that both of them left my room and went to the front of the house, except my mother and wife.
After my father and his friend had left the room they sat by the front of the house and both were drinking the palm-wine. I told my mother that she and my wife should go and prepare a rich sacrifice, and take it to my folks who were the “born and die babies” and who were living inside the “Iroko tree” which was my former house. I told them further that if they do so, surely there would be no harm for me throughout my journey. So my mother and my wife were happy when I told them like that. Then both of them left my room.
So it was from that moment I started to prepare many kinds of juju and many other things which could help me on my journey. But before the day of my leaving was reached, my mother and wife had prepared the sacrifice and taken it to the “Iroko tree” inside of which my folks, the “born and die babies”, were lodging till the day they would find a wealthy woman. This sacrifice was to appease them so that they might help me to conquer all of the evils, ghosts, spirits and all other harmful enemies of the road who might want to disturb me on my journey.
When there remained two days to the day that I wanted to start my journey, I sharpened my heavy matchet very well, I put it in its sheath, I made a very strong bow with many poisonous arrows. Then I roasted with the palm-oil, plenty of meat of the wild animals which I had killed the day previously. I wrapped it with the dried broad leaves and I tightened it
tightly with rope. Having done that and kept it in my room, I went to the market. I bought one big cruse which was for the medicine which the Witch-Herbalist would give me for my wife, and I kept it in my room as well. Again, I did not forget that I would need fire greatly on my journey. So I went around the house and I found many flinty stones. I picked two which I supposed would not fail to produce fire whenever I struck one on the other. After that, I ground plenty of pepper into powder, I wrapped it with dried broad leaves and then I kept it in my room.
When I had prepared everything ready, I packed it all into one huge bag, except my juju and the cruse which I put in a separate bag. And I leaned my heavy matchet and bow and arrows of poison on these two bags. In the evening, my father who was the chief of pagan, idol, spirit, god, etc. worshippers, and my father-in-law who was the progenitor of the pagan, idol, spirit, god, etc. worshippers, and also my mother, my wife and her mother, took me to the shrines of the god of iron and god of thunder which were at the bank of the river. Many old men and women followed us to the river as well.
Then without hesitation, my father told me to kneel down before the god of iron. He and my father-in-law prayed for me for ten twinklings while the rest of the people said: “Let it be so, oh god of iron!” And after this we went to the shrine of the god of thunder, which belonged to my mother. She prayed warmly for me for many sixtieths of a twinkling, before the god and the people said: “Let it be so, oh god of thunder!” In their prayers, they said: “The more the thorns never disturb snakes in the bush from gliding, the more there would be no obstacles on your journey! Or if there are, your ‘Supreme Second’ will help you to conquer all! As you volunteer your life for the dangers of your journey in order to make your barren wife pregnant, the god of iron will help you throughout your journey! Even the god of iron and the god of thunder have promised that you would reach the Town of the Witch-Herbalist safely and that you would return to us safely as well! And both have assured us further that your mission with the Witch-Herbalist would be favourable by the help of your wife’s ‘Supreme Second’! But both the god of iron and god of thunder have warned you seriously that you must obey the instructions which the Witch-Herbalist would give you, otherwise a serious thing would certainly happen to you when you return!”
Then as soon as my father, my mother and my father-in-law had explained to me like that, one big dog was slaughtered for the god of iron as its sacrifice. The blood of the dog was poured on top of it while some of it was poured on my head, on both arms and legs.
After that, my mother gave me three thunderbolts and she told me to use them as explosive substance as well whenever I met any danger. And after this, the whole of us sang and danced back to my father’s house when it was the seventh hour of the morning.
I Left My Town
for the Remote Town
Now as it was forbidden for me to sit down again once the sacrifice had been given to the god of iron in respect of me or one who was going on a long journey like me, so immediately we returned to the house, I entered my room and I first drank one keg of the palm-wine. Then I wore my hunting dresses, I wore many kinds of juju in my loin, I wore many on my neck, both on my elbows and limbs. Several others which were the skulls of snakes, birds of prey, lizards, etc. were tied on my huge cap and I put it on my head. Having dressed like that, I took my bow and the poisonous arrows. Many kinds of juju were tied on every part of the bow as well. Then I hung the bow and arrows and my long and heavy matchet on my left shoulder. Then I put the juju ring which could make a person invisible on one of my left fingers.
After, I put my roasted meat, some fresh yams, the parcel of ground pepper, the large cruse, the two flinty stones, etc. and the rest of my juju inside the huge bag which was made from the leather of a wild beast which I had killed long ago. So I hung this huge bag on my left shoulder as well. Having equipped myself like that, again I drank one keg of the palm-wine. Then I took out the heavy matchet from its sheath, I held it with the right hand and then I staggered from my room to the outside of the house. And at the same time, as the custom of the Town under the Rock or Rocky Town was, I knelt down before my father, mother, the father of my wife and other people who had been waiting for me in front of the house to pray for me, and to bid me goodbye.
As I knelt down before the people, and as I began to shake from feet to head for the intoxication of the powers of all the juju which I wore and as well for the power of the strong palm-wine which I had drunk in the room, so they all prayed for me. After the prayer, each of the people including my mother, father, my wife, her mother and her father, hung several kinds of juju gourds all over my dresses, head, neck, breast, loin, etc. After all these juju gourds were offered, I did not waste time at all but I stood up and I started my journey immediately.
As they were accompanying me along, it was so I was bidding them goodbye, and they too were bidding me goodbye and safe journey. But my mother, my wife and many other people were weeping bitterly as they were accompanying me along to the outskirts of the town. I did not bother for that at all. Instead, I was just going along as quickly as I could. But of course I knew that they were weeping bitterly for the hardships, difficulties, dangers, bad spirits, ghosts and the wild jungle people who, they believed, I was going to meet on the way before reaching the Remote Town, if I was fortunate to reach there. But as for me, I had made up my mind ready to face whatever might disturb me on the way.
It was like that my mother, father, wife, my father-in-law, mother-in-law and several other people led me to the outskirts of the town with grief. And again, on the outskirts of the town, the whole of them prayed for me with tears that my “Supreme Second” would guide me to the Witch-Herbalist and that he would also guide me back to them. They did all this because they were afraid that if I failed to return it would be a great grief to them. When they had accompanied me to the outskirts of the town, I bade them the last goodbye and they too bade me goodbye reluctantly. But as the whole of them burst into tears again, I turned my back to them. I faced the path which went to the town of the Witch-Herbalist. I began to walk along as quickly as I could and then they turned their backs to me and went back to the town reluctantly. It was like that I left my Rocky Town that morning for the Remote Town of the Witch-Herbalist, who I believed, would help me to make my barren wife pregnant.
Although I had left my town without human wayfarers or partners, my first “mind” and my second “mind” were my partners, while the third partner which was my “memory” had also prepared itself ready to help me perhaps whenever my two “minds” failed to advise or deserted me. And it was also prepared to record all the offences which the two “minds” might commit. Again, my fourth partner was my “Supreme Second” who was totally invisible and who was entirely supreme to the three of them, yet he had prepared himself ready to guide me throughout my journey.
The Brutal Ape
Soon all of the people were lost to my view and I too was lost to their view. Now, it remained me alone on the road except for my first “mind”, second “mind” and my “memory” which were now my partners, and the three of them were my advisers as well. But my “Supreme Second” was my guard though he was invisible.
I kept going along on the road as quickly as I could so that I might be able to travel very far away from my town before the nightfall, and also to be able to travel to such a suitable safe place where I could sleep in the night. It was so I was travelling on and on, on this clear road, till when it was the second hour of the afternoon. As I continued to travel along, it was so my first “mind” and second “mind” were advising me repeatedly that I must not stop till nightfall. I did not pay heed to their advice at first, but of course they were for me just as if I were with persons.
Although I had two “minds” in me, the first one which was in the left was not so reliable sometimes. It misled me to do wrong things, but its advice was useful sometimes. But the second one which was in the right was very reliable. It spoke the truth always. Whenev
er both of them deserted me when I was in dangers, my “memory” never deserted me and it did not fail or forget to record down the offences which each of the two “minds” committed.
Fortunately, as this time was the middle part of the dry season, it enabled me to travel very far away from my town before that second hour of the afternoon. But immediately my second “mind” told me that it was the second hour of the afternoon, and as I was terribly hungry for food, I stopped under the shadow of a big tree without following the advice of my first “mind” and second “mind”. This big tree had plenty of long and spread branches on top. As its leaves were broad, it was so some of its branches were spread to the road and were also spread on the brook which was behind it, at a little distance of about three hundred metres.
The sun was as hot as fire this day and it had nearly dried me up like a cloth. But every part of my body became very cool as soon as I stopped under this tree. After I had enjoyed this cool shadow of the tree for some twinklings of standing, I put all my loads down and then I sat on a white-ant mound which was also under the tree. As I sat down on the mound, I leaned my back on the other part of it which was bent backward like an easy-chair, with the hope to enjoy more cool breeze before I ate my food. Although I did not hear the voice of any living creature at first, this did not frighten me at all. But my first “mind” told me that something would happen to me if I kept too long there, and at the same time, my second “mind” confirmed that though something might happen to me I would conquer it at last. So when my second “mind” had confirmed it like that, I did not bother to leave there until I was satisfied.