Once more these two hunted after each other, till at last the ǂGã ǂgorip was pushed down, and he came not up again. Since that day men breathed freely and had rest from their enemy, because he was vanquished. [[112]]
39. THE RAISIN-EATER.
(The original, in the Hottentot language, is in Sir G. Grey’s Library, G. Krönlein’s Manuscript, pp. 34, 35.)
It is said that when Heitsi Eibip was travelling about with his family, they came to a valley in which the raisin-tree was ripe, and he was there attacked by a severe illness. Then his young (second) wife said, “This brave one is taken ill on account of these raisins; death is here at the place.” The old man (Heitsi Eibip), however, told his son ǃUrisip[5] (the whitish one), “I shall not live, I feel it; thou must, therefore, cover me when I am dead with soft stones.” And he spoke further, “This is the thing which I order you to do:—‘Of the raisin-trees of this valley ye shall not eat. For if ye eat of them I shall infect you, and ye will surely die in a similar way.’ ”
His young wife said, “He is taken ill on account of the raisins of this valley. Let us bury him quickly, and let us go.” [[113]]
So he died there, and was covered flatly with soft stones according as he had commanded. Then they went away from him.
When they had moved to another place, and were unpacking there, they heard always from the side whence they came a noise as of people eating raisins and singing. In this manner the eating and singing ran:—
“I, father of ǃUrisip,
Father of this unclean one,