Author Description

Once upon a time, at the town of Senna on the banks of the Zambesi, was born a child. Hewas not like other children, for he was very tall and strong; over his shoulder he carried abig sack, and in his hand an iron hammer. He could also speak like a grown man, butusually he was very silent.One day his mother said to him: 'My child, by what name shall we know you?'And he answered: 'Call all the head men of Senna here to the river's bank.' And his mothercalled the head men of the town, and when they had come he led them down to a deepblack pool in the river where all the fierce crocodiles lived.'O great men!' he said, while they all listened, 'which of you will leap into the pool andovercome the crocodiles?' But no one would come forward. So he turned and sprang intothe water and disappeared.The people held their breath, for they thought: 'Surely the boy is bewitched and throwsaway his life, for the crocodiles will eat him!' Then suddenly the ground trembled, and thepool, heaving and swirling, became red with blood, and presently the boy rising to thesurface swam on shore.But he was no longer just a boy! He was stronger than any man and very tall andhandsome, so that the people shouted with gladness when they saw him.