11 – The Hamerkop and the Owl

 (Rakatabola sy Renimborondolo)

 

Based on « Contes dAntakarana » Ed. Foi et Justice

Retold by Michèle Rakotoson, Illustrations by Patoo

 

(p.4) One day, so they say, way over in the north of our country, a hamerkop [also umber bird, Scopus umbrella], called Ratakabola  and a barn owl, called Renimborondolo, made a bet on who would make his nest best.

 In no time the hamerkop had finished his… but as fast as lightning  Mrs Owl slipped into it and  refused to budge.

 

(6) ”The hamerkop shouted, begged, moaned:

 I, the clever hamerkop, have been robbed of my nest. My nest has been stolen

 The cunning Mrs Owl has stolen my nest

 I am the hamerkop that has no nest.”

 

(8) The hamerkop was in a miserable state when the Crow passed by.

 « What’s happened to you, my friend ? », he asked, «Why aren’t you busy on your rice field, and why haven’t you shored up your broken dam ? »

 The hamerkop replied in tears :

 «Woe betide me, I’ve been tricked, I the hamerkop, so clever. Mrs Owl invaded my nest and she won’t leave it. If you can make her leave it, I’ll give you an egg.»

 « She can’t hold on in there », croaked the crow, « just you watch me, I’ll take care of her.»

 

(10) But as soon as he approached Mrs Owl, she rolled her eyes furiously and started to whistle :

 I, Mother Renimborondolo the owl,

 When I look at the sky, it breaks apart,

 When I look at the earth, it’s laid waste

 Ah pffffffffffffouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

In a flash, the Crow made off, shouting out: « Believe me, believe me, I am rather off, this is not a child’s game here »

 

(12) The hamerkop ran about and was inconsolable. He  flew around like a lost soul, in a pitiful state, when he came across Papango, the kite [yellow-billed kite, Milvus migrans]. No sooner had he seen hamerkop that he started to grumble :

 «But what are you doing? Why aren’t you looking after your rice field and why haven’t you repaired your dam ?»

 The hamerkop sighed deeply before replying:

 « I’ve been tricked,  I the umber bird.  Mrs Owl has occupied my nest and won’t let me have it again. If you manage to get her out, I’ll give you a chick.»

 

(14) Papango – the bird of prey - spread his wings and said:

 « Is that all? You’ll see, you’ll see, I’ll take care of that.»

 But he had hardly approached the nest when Mrs Owl opened her eyes wide,  whistling:

 I, Mother Renimborondolo the owl,

 When I look at the sky, it breaks apart,

 When I look at the earth, it’s laid waste

 Ah pffffffffffffouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

Papango, the bird of prey, made off like the wind, swearing: « Oh dear, oh dear, it’s better to flee far away, this is no child’s game. »

 

(16) The hamerkop was in despair, having lost his home and all his possessions, when the little bird Tsintsina [Cisticole] came by.

 « Has something bad happened, big brother ? » he asked « Why have you not tilled your rice fields? And why haven’t you built up your dams again?»

 The hamerkop moaned in a miserable voice:

 « Oh, such bad luck, my little brother. I’ve been tricked, I the umber bird, the cunning hamerkop. Mrs. Owl sneaked into my nest and won’t leave. Help me, little brother. If you can get her out, I’ll give you a grass-hopper.»

 

(18) As proud as could be, Tsintsina – the little bird - puffed out his chest and fluffed out his feathers and flapped his wings singing:

« Don’t worry, I’m here,  just you watch, just you watch.»

 

(20) The hamerkop’s beak fell open in surprise. Just imagine this very small bird claiming to succeed, where even the biggest birds had failed?

 But Tsintsina the little bird seemed very confident.

 

(22) Without hesitation, he faced up to the owl.

 « How dare you take over the hamerkop’s nest? » he said insolently

 Mrs Owl replied as usual:

 I, Mother Renimborondolo the owl,

 When I look at the sky, it breaks apart,

 When I look at the earth, it’s laid waste

 Ah pffffffffffffouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

 

 (24) But the instant the old owl had opened her beak widely  Ratsintsina the tiny bird dived into it and came straight out through the owl’s bottom, then he turned round and went back up through her bottom and came out through her beak ..

Panicstricken the owl made off without further ado.

 

(26) The hamerkop settled himself down in the empty nest, while Tsintsina –the tiny bird perched on the topmost branch to show off his grasshopper.

 

From that day on, it is said that being strong doesn’t mean a thing if you are not wise and clever. 

 

 Tales, tales….

 

(820) C, ropf