Notebooks

Story: The old woman and the hyena (|a!kunta's version which he heard from his mother)

Title

The old woman and the hyena (|a!kunta's version which he heard from his mother)

Collection

Summary

An old woman who was too weak to walk, was left behind by her people, when they, to escape starvation, travelled to another part of the country. She was afterwards picked up by a hyena, and carried off to the mountain on its back. But she contrived to kill it, and finding an old pot, she cooked and ate some of its flesh. From this she became so strong that she followed her people, and arrived in good condition among them, while they were still starving. This popular story, which might perhaps be more properly put among fables, was related by /a!kúnta, as he heard it from his mother Ttoaken-an (L I.-2. 151-158), and also by //kábbo (L II.-2. 369-382).

Comments

1) This story was corrected 14 September 1871; on p.151 the story is also described as: 'Stoffel's version of the story of the Old Woman and the Wolf, as heard from his mother ...', 2) This story describes the practice of leaving the old alone in their huts when too weak to travel and fend for themselves (or geriatricide), 3) |a!kunta heard this version of the story from his mother (Ttoaken-an), 4) See also The old woman's song and Old woman's song (2nd version) and The old woman and the hyena (||kabbo's version), 5) This story is found in Book I-2