“El Rifai” and the two snakes
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful village, called (Alothaim), the village was a safe place, did not know fear. But day (Alothaim) was a very sorrowful place, for two big snakes lived on the hill-side and came down every day to the village and caught people and ate them. Every day this happened, until the people ran away to other villages, and (Alothaim) was left desolate and empty.
The king heard about this village, he asked his advisors for an advice, and what can be done, and they did not know what to do, because there was no brave man could go to (Alothaim) and kill the snakes. Then passed a wayfarer, called “Rifai”, to the Council of the Sultan, and he said: "Gentlemen, I'll kill the snakes." and they offered him big hunting spears, he refused, but said: "Give me a big bowl of water and some blue beads and some copper and ivory bracelets, and it will be finished."
They gave him all that been required, and he set out on his journey, his little assistant carrying the water-pot with the other things inside it; and as he walked he played this tune on his reed pipe:, and said the words:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
“Rifai” holds an offering.
Sultan celebrates another.
The purposes are precious.
Give me the opportunity to get close.
Whenever approaching “Rifai” from the village, the snakes heard him, and because that snakes love music, it captured their attention. “Rifai” muttered again:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
Two intruders others do not see.
But as long as we bring gifts.
We will be welcoming.
They entered the village and sat in the courtyard of an abandoned house, and sat on the ground “Rifai”, putting a bowl of water in front of him, and there was silence. After a period, “Rifai” heard something coming from afar, and the snakes began to approach him, to see who that stranger is? And what with him? . “Rifai” said some words in a whisper:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
Enter this water-pot here.
The King has sent you a bed
on which you shall sleep for a year.
When the great snakes heard these words, they got into the water-pot and coiled themselves round and settled down to sleep and Rifai” played very softly over and over again:
“Osman”, king of snake…“Osman”, king of snake…
“Osman”, king of snake…
When he confirmed that the great snakes was sound asleep he calledh his assistant softly to put the lid on the water-pot and tied it tightly down, and they picked it up and went on their way back to the king, and “Rifai” played all the way on his pipe and said this words:
“Osman”, king of snake
sleeps on the bed of a King.
do not care about the voice and do not care about any thing ,
And do not carry doubt in your heart.
When “Rifai” arrived to the king’s place, And the King commanded the people to make a bonfire, and they burnt the great snakes. And Mark Sultan Rifai governor of the village, bequeath his sons after him, and is the name of the village, becoming a village Rifai. And maybe that I went to visit the village in one day, she tells you about her family Rifai Savior of Alosmanin.
Then the King said to “Rifai”: "I will give you the village of (Alothaim), and you shall be chief of that place, you and your children after you, and they shall be called “Rifai” village. And if you go there you will see them, and perhaps they will tell you about “Rifai” their Savior.
Based on / Taken from “FOLK-LORE STORIES FROM UGANDA”BY MRS. GEORGE BASKERVILLE
From the story “THE KING OF THE
SNAKES”
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful village, called (Alothaim), the village was a safe place, did not know fear. But day (Alothaim) was a very sorrowful place, for two big snakes lived on the hill-side and came down every day to the village and caught people and ate them. Every day this happened, until the people ran away to other villages, and (Alothaim) was left desolate and empty.
The king heard about this village, he asked his advisors for an advice, and what can be done, and they did not know what to do, because there was no brave man could go to (Alothaim) and kill the snakes. Then passed a wayfarer, called “Rifai”, to the Council of the Sultan, and he said: "Gentlemen, I'll kill the snakes." and they offered him big hunting spears, he refused, but said: "Give me a big bowl of water and some blue beads and some copper and ivory bracelets, and it will be finished."
They gave him all that been required, and he set out on his journey, his little assistant carrying the water-pot with the other things inside it; and as he walked he played this tune on his reed pipe:, and said the words:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
“Rifai” holds an offering.
Sultan celebrates another.
The purposes are precious.
Give me the opportunity to get close.
Whenever approaching “Rifai” from the village, the snakes heard him, and because that snakes love music, it captured their attention. “Rifai” muttered again:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
Two intruders others do not see.
But as long as we bring gifts.
We will be welcoming.
They entered the village and sat in the courtyard of an abandoned house, and sat on the ground “Rifai”, putting a bowl of water in front of him, and there was silence. After a period, “Rifai” heard something coming from afar, and the snakes began to approach him, to see who that stranger is? And what with him? . “Rifai” said some words in a whisper:
“Osman”, king of snakes,
Enter this water-pot here.
The King has sent you a bed
on which you shall sleep for a year.
When the great snakes heard these words, they got into the water-pot and coiled themselves round and settled down to sleep and Rifai” played very softly over and over again:
“Osman”, king of snake…“Osman”, king of snake…
“Osman”, king of snake…
When he confirmed that the great snakes was sound asleep he calledh his assistant softly to put the lid on the water-pot and tied it tightly down, and they picked it up and went on their way back to the king, and “Rifai” played all the way on his pipe and said this words:
“Osman”, king of snake
sleeps on the bed of a King.
do not care about the voice and do not care about any thing ,
And do not carry doubt in your heart.
When “Rifai” arrived to the king’s place, And the King commanded the people to make a bonfire, and they burnt the great snakes. And Mark Sultan Rifai governor of the village, bequeath his sons after him, and is the name of the village, becoming a village Rifai. And maybe that I went to visit the village in one day, she tells you about her family Rifai Savior of Alosmanin.
Then the King said to “Rifai”: "I will give you the village of (Alothaim), and you shall be chief of that place, you and your children after you, and they shall be called “Rifai” village. And if you go there you will see them, and perhaps they will tell you about “Rifai” their Savior.
Based on / Taken from “FOLK-LORE STORIES FROM UGANDA”BY MRS. GEORGE BASKERVILLE
From the story “THE KING OF THE
SNAKES”
