12 Karijavola and Trimobe
Taken from Angano Malagasy Nofohazina of Moks Razafindramiandra
Text : Jacques Randrianaivo, Illustrations: Roddy
(4) Once upon a time, dear children, according to a tale from the west of our country, there was a pregnant women who had an overwhelming craving for taro [cocoyam]. « I’m going to lose the baby, if I don’t eat taro, » she told her husband. « He replied: « The only person who grows taro around here is Trimobe, go and see him and ask him for some. » However, Trimobe wasn’t a man, but a monster.
(6) The woman went to Trimobe and begged him to sell her some taro. Trimobe refused to sell any to her, unless she gave him her first-born child in return. The woman agreed to this without thinking about what she was saying. Trimobe told her to go and get a basket and allowed her to dig up as much taro as she could eat.
(8) She helped herself to as much taro as she liked until she gave birth. Three months later, Trimobe came to get the child. But the woman said: « He’s still too small and won’t be tasty enough for you, if you eat him now. Let him get taller and fatter. »
« That’s true », Trimobe agreed.
(10) As soon as Trimobe left, the woman took the child to her relatives to hide him. However, one day the boy paid his mother a surprise visit, because he missed her very much, and Trimobe caught him. « I’m going to take the child », said the monster, « because he has been with you long enough. He’s already nicely fattened up.»
(12) « I don’t want you to eat my child, yet I’ve agreed to give him to you, so I must do as promised . But in order not to be blamed and scorned by the people, let me make a suggestion. This is what we should do: I am sending him out to herd the cattle and you can go and take him from there. He’s called Karijavola ».
« That’s a good idea », said Trimobe.
(14) But Karijavola had secretly overheard the conversation between Trimobe and his mother. He said to his friends: « I’ve got an idea. We’ll all call ourselves Karijavola. And when he comes to ask for our names, he won’t be able to eat one of us.»
All his friends agreed to Karijavola’s plan.
(16) As expected Trimobe came to the pasture. When he asked the children «Which of you is called Karijavola ? » they replied: « He’s called Karijavola. He’s called Karijavola. And that one over there, he’s called Karijavola, too. We all are called Karijavola. Which one of us do you want? »
« That woman’s played a trick on me», said Trimobe. And he went back home.
(18) When he came to see the woman she advised him « Go back to the pasture tomorrow, I’ll make him wear a red loincloth»,. But Karijavola asked all his friends to wear red loincloths, which meant Trimobe didn’t know which one of the boys to carry away . He was afraid to eat someone else’s child. And so it went on and on. Karijavola always made sure that his friends had the same things as his mother had given him.
(20) One day, Trimobe said he had enough of that game and he threatened to eat Karijavola’s mother instead. The mother begged for her life and told him to come back during the night, when everyone was fast asleep. Trimobe agreed to this.
(22) When night had come, Trimobe crept up stealthily to the child and carried him off. The child complained bitterly when he woke up: «I’m going to die mother, I am going to die mother! »
« Alas, there’s nothing I can do, » said his mother. I had to give you away in exchange for taro tubers. Try everything you can think of to save yourself »
(24) Back home, Trimobe heated some water in which to cook Karijavola. But when he went to find out whether the water was already boiling, Karijavola tripped up Trimobe and the monster fell head first into the cauldron full of boiling water and died.
(26) After Trimobe’s death, Karijavola returned to his parents’ house. His mother and his father were very happy and they prepared a big feast with Karijavola’s friends and their neighbors.
Tales, tales….