THE STORY OF THE CANNIBAL MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN.
There was once a man and a woman who had two children, a son and a daughter. These children lived with their grandfather. Their mother was a cannibal, but not their father.
One day they said to their grandfather: “We have been long with you, we should like very much to go and see our parents.”
Their grandfather said: “Ho! will you be able to come back? Don’t you know your mother is a cannibal?”
After a time he consented. He said: “You must leave at such a time that you may arrive there in the evening, so that your mother may not see you, only your father.” [[138]]
The boy’s name was Hinazinci. He said: “Let us go now, my sister.”
They started when the sun was set. When they arrived at their father’s house, they listened outside to find out if their mother was there. They heard the voice of their father only, so they called to him. He came out, and when he saw them he was sorry, and said: “Why did you come here, my dear children? Don’t you know your mother is a cannibal?”
Just then they heard a noise like thunder. It was the coming of their mother. Their father took them inside and put them in a dark corner, where he covered them with skins. Their mother came in with an animal and the body of a man. She stood and said: “There’s something here. What a nice smell it has!”
She said to her husband: “Sohinazinci, what have you to tell me about this nice smell that is in my house? You must tell me whether my children are here.”