Notebooks
Story: A certain snake, which, by lying upon its back, announces a death in the family; and must not, in these circumstances, be killed
Title
A certain snake, which, by lying upon its back, announces a death in the family; and must not, in these circumstances, be killed
Collection
Summary
The |||hin is a snake found in !nanni's country which announces death if it lies on its back. If the snake turns over when struck, the people immediately leave it alone and return home. If the snake does not roll over when struck, the people kill and skin it and trade the skin with the Makoba. The snake appears when a person has died and the news has not yet reached other people.
Comments
1) p.9951v: !nanni heard this from his paternal grandfather (Karu) and saw it himself, 2) See also A snake found near a grave and Snakes and spirits of the dead, 3) This story is found in Book XI & XII-12
Contributors
Date
24 Ocober 1881
Categories
Custom and daily life, Plants and animals, Portention
Keywords
death (and a snake which announces a death in the family) , death (and the dead person's snake) , death (signs relating to and news of) , death (in the family) , death (superstitions regarding) , death (omens of) , death (and the ||hin snake) , death (and a snake lying on its back) , death (and a snake which must not be killed) , prohibition (when the ||hin snake must not be killed) , prohibition (and death) , snake (the dead person's snake) , snake (of the dead) , snake (the women cry when it is seen on its back) , snake (is afraid of a woman's skin necklace) , snake (the ||hin) , snake (of !nanni's country) , snake (a description of) , snake (when lying on its back announces death) , snake (when it turns upwards) , snake (in the water of a tree) , snake (is not killed when it lies on its back) , snake (is not eaten) , snake (gives us 'of its stomach') , snake (is feared and respected) , snake (the meat is thrown away) , snake (the skin is traded with the Makoba) , snake (can be omen of death) , snake (its actions which are signs of impending death) , snake (and death in the family) , necklace (and a snake which announces a death in the family) , necklace (dressed in fat) , necklace (that frightens away the ||hin snake) , necklace (worn by a woman) , necklace (is laid on the ground) , necklace (that smells strongly) , respect (for the snake which announces a death in the family) , respect (of the !kun for the ||hin snake) , food (a snake which is not eaten) , food (avoidances of the !kun) , food (and a snake which announces a death in the family) , family (and a snake which announces a death) , Makoba (and a snake which announces a death in the family) , Makoba (!kun trade snake-skin with) , trade (in skin of the ||hin snake) , trade (between the !kun and Makoba) , skin (of the ||hin snake traded with the Makoba) , skin (of the snake which announces a death in the family) , woman (wears a necklace to frightens away the ||hin snake) , jewellery (the necklace worn by women to frighten away the ||hin snake)
Story Pages
9952-9956
