The Witch-Herbalist of the Remote Town (14 page)

It was like that this delicate damsel sang her song in front of me as the delicate boy supported this song of
encouragement
with flatteries at intervals. But as I was much
encouraged
by the warnings of these two delicate young fellows, I was not aware when I dropped my head down heavily again. Then I began to sort out hundreds of useful and various kinds of meanings from it with my second “mind”. But I was so
surprised that when I lifted up my head, I did not see them again. Both of them had returned to their house. And this time I had ample time to look at their house very well. This house was as beautiful as the palace of a king. But it was so small that it could not contain more than two rooms, even, each of the rooms could not be more than twelve by twelve metres, but excluding the sitting room which was not more than ten metres.

The walls were well painted with very beautiful
multi-coloured
paints. The doors and windows were well polished. Many kinds of beautiful flowers surrounded the house, and the ground which surrounded it was very clean. Those
beautiful
flowers hid the tiny house from the view of the people, except those who had already known that there was a house. It was about two hundred metres from the road of the Remote Town. A very clean and attractive path went from there to the road, and various kinds of beautiful flowers also hid the path from the view of the people.

So as I was still in great embarrassment at their
disappearance
, I saw that both of them walked out from their small fine house. The delicate boy held one bowl and the delicate damsel held in each hand one covered basin. Both of them walked abreast gently to me and they put all in front of me. Then the girl told me to remove the covers of the basins and bowl. I was greatly happy when I removed the covers of the basins and bowl and I saw in the basins different kinds of nice food. And in the bowl, there was clean and cold water.

But when I saw all these things, I hastily lifted my head and I fastened my eyes on both of them with contentment of mind. Having seen that I was happy with the food and water, they told me to eat and to drink the water, because they knew that I was nearly dying of hunger at that time. But as I bent my head down and started to eat the nice food, they turned their eyes to the two-headed spear which I had seized from the hideous devil-worshipper when I fought him and his raiders on the shrine-field. Both were very confused as to
whether I was a human being or the spirit of the devil, because it was not easy at all to get or to be in possession of the spear of the devil. They were also confused when they saw the two Crazy Removable-Headed Wild Man’s heads on top of the spear.

As I was still enjoying the food, I did not know when both of them went back to their house. Of course, I did not mind their disappearance at all but I continued to eat the food with greediness. And as the food was very nice and as it was my most favourite food, my morsels were so big and were
swallowed
so ravenously that within a few twinklings, I swallowed all of it. Although the different kinds of people who were passing on the road in lukewarmness saw me eating the food with such greediness that they made mockery of me, I did not bother about that.

So as soon as I had finished the food, I drank the clean cold water. But when I lifted my head, I did not see these two delicate fellows in front of me. They were just coming out from their house with one beautiful colt. The colt was already saddled and a small rein was in its mouth. The boy held the rein of the colt as he and the girl were coming back to me. Having brought it before me, they told me to stand up and I did so at the same time. Then the girl told me to pack up all my belongings. And as soon as she told me, I packed all, I put the juju-bag, food-bag and bow and arrows on my left shoulder as usual. I held the spear on top of which the two “removable heads” were pierced with the left hand, while I held my heavy matchet with the right hand.

As I was doing all this, the delicate girl packed both basins and the bowl, and she returned them to their house. Then as soon as she returned, she mounted the colt, and she told me to mount it behind her while the delicate boy mounted it as well at my back, which meant the three of us had mounted the colt but I was in the middle. After that, the girl who held the rein directed the colt to the road. It was like that the three of us were riding the colt along on the road toward the Remote
Town. Then these two delicate little fellows began to sing a kind of song unexpectedly. This song was so fascinating that the three of us began to dance madly along on the road. I danced with happiness even more than these two fellows because I had never heard such a fascinating kind of song as this one since when I was born.

But I continued to notice all of the gods, idols, images, etc. which were lined up on both banks of this road like soldiers. And many villagers were also lined up along both sides of it. Several people who carried the dead bodies of their sons, daughters, fathers, etc. were seen travelling on this road. All were going as hastily as they could to the Witch-Herbalist to help them.

As I took part in this fascinating and lovely song which these two little delicate fellows were singing and dancing on the back of the colt, this strange song was also intoxicating the pretty colt as if it had drunk a strong drink. It was so intoxicated by the song that it also was dancing with us along the road of the Remote Town. Alas! as all of us were still dancing and singing loudly with great joy along the road, we came to the large gate of the Remote Town when it was about the sixth hour of the evening. But the usual deceitful sun of the evening was still in the sky, for this time was the dry season.

As soon as we rode to the large gate, the gateman stopped us and all of us reluctantly dismounted. Then the gateman, who had already known the two delicate fellows, shook hands with them as all of them smiled. Then he turned his eyes to me and asked gently: “What are you going to do in the town of our Omniscient Witch-Herbalist, my friend?” I explained to him: “I am going to the witch-mother to help me make the juju-medicine which can make my barren wife pregnant!” But when I explained to him like that with a very sad voice, and as the two delicate fellows were looking on, he fastened his eyes on the two “removable heads” and the spear. He looked at both with confusion and fear for a few twinklings.
After that he shook his head up and down, and when he stopped he paused for many twinklings as he still stared at the heads and spear marvellously.

Then after a while he said loudly: “Your own burden is quite simple. Quite different from those who are going there with their dead and half-dead people! But you have to pay the gate-fee first before you can be allowed to pass through the gate to the town! And the gate-fee is four copper
pennies
!” When this gateman asked for the gate money I breathed in heavily with sorrow, because I had got not even one copper penny in hand for the past six years. But to my surprise and great joy, before I breathed out, the delicate little girl had brought out four copper pennies from her pocket and then she gave them to the gateman.

When he received the money from the delicate girl, he said that he agreed for me to enter the town, but that would be tomorrow morning. These two delicate fellows stretched the rein of the colt to me. When I took it from their hands, they told me with a smile that the colt was a gift to me and that it had become my own property as from that evening. They told me further that I should ride it back to my town
whenever
I finished with the Witch-Herbalist. “All right, goodbye, the sufferer, goodbye!”

When both of them had bade me goodbye, they turned their backs to the gate and then both began to walk along gently on the road. And when I had looked at them until when they were lost to my eyes, I tied the rope of the colt to one small tree near the gate. After that, I put my belongings down and then I lay down in front of them and I slept within a few twinklings. But as soon as it was daybreak, the gateman woke me up, he told me to tie all my belongings together. Having done so, except for the cruse, I put them near my colt. But I fixed on the ground before the colt the two-headed spear on top of which the two “removable heads” were pierced.

Having done all that, this gateman explained to me that my property, such as these things, was not allowed to be
taken to the Remote Town. He said further that it was only the cruse that he could allow me to take to the town. But he assured me that I would meet all my belongings as I left them, whenever I returned from the town. He gave further assurance that he would be feeding my colt till when I returned. So as soon as I had done all that he asked me to do, he opened the gate for me and then I passed through there to the road of the Remote Town.

But I was greatly happy when I took the cruse out from my juju-bag and I saw that it had not broken or cracked at all on the way to this gate of the Remote Town, despite several kinds of hardships, etc. which I had met in the wild jungles, etc. Now this gave me much hope that my mission with the Witch-Herbalist would be successful. And again, I believed this day that, indeed the “Supreme Second” of my wife was so kind to her that she was really ready to help her, otherwise the cruse should have been broken on the way or at the several times that I fought with the wild people of the wild jungles, etc. Again, I thanked my own “Supreme Second” greatly, who was also my guard, who was so kind to me that he guided me from my town to the Remote Town.

But when I had travelled very fast this morning for one hundred and eighty twinklings, I reached the town at the tenth hour of the morning. So, after I had experienced much hardship, punishment, etc. in the wild jungles, etc. at last, I reached the town of the Witch-Herbalist. As I began to travel along in this town, I noticed that it was very big, beautiful, and very clean and that it flourished with all the wealth of the world. The shrines of gods, images, idols, etc. were seen in every part of the town. The houses were very beautiful
and were in rows. All the inhabitants were dressed neatly and tidily. They were happy always because the Omniscient Mother helped them to overcome all of their difficulties every time.

The Witch-Mother was the ruler of the town. Although she had many paramount chiefs who also assisted her, there was no king. She controlled everything there with kindness. Every one of the houses was lavishly painted with multi-coloured paints, and it was so for the shrines of their gods, etc. They spoke only one language which I understood very well. The people of this town were semi-deathless because their
Witch-Mother
was omniscient and she had a very powerful
omnipotence
. The whole people were forced to worship the Mother every morning and evening, but a special ceremony was performed for her once a year as if she was God, Almighty. And so everyone worshipped his or her own god, etc. every day.

As I held the cruse with my left hand and went further into the town, I came to the palace of the Witch-Mother and I went direct to the entrance, with the rags on my body and with my dirty bushy beard. But when I came to the entrance and as I wanted to pass through there to the palace, the porter hastily stopped me and then hastily walked back a bit with fear before he asked from me that what was my purpose to go to the palace. This porter asked this question from me with fear because he thought I was a mad man and, in fact, my appearance was so rough and fearful to see at this time that anyone who took me as a mad man was not mistaken and was not to be blamed at all. But I explained to him that I came from a very far town just to see the Witch-Mother to help me make my barren wife pregnant. He allowed me to go in when he listened to my explanation which he thought was reasonable and sensible.

Then I walked into the palace without fear, with the cruse on my left shoulder in which the juju-soup would be prepared for my barren wife. Although as soon as I had walked a bit
in the palace, I came to one strange, mighty, tall, corpulent and very fearful man who leaned his back on one of the mighty pillars of the palace ready to challenge anyone who came to see the Mother.

Then this fearful corpulent man challenged me with his fearful voice: “Who are you?” But I replied at the same time and with a sad voice: “I am one of the burdensome persons.” “Well, if that be the case, go direct to the Mother!” he pointed his hand to where the throne of the Mother was in the palace. Then I went direct to that part of this very beautiful palace. After a while, I walked with fear to the throne of the Mother. The throne was in the centre of the half-circle. The half-circle was so large that it contained many well and fine stuffed high seats on which her paramount chiefs or subjects were sitting. But of course the throne of the Witch-Mother was very big and high that it was seen clearly from the entrance of the hall or palace.

As I was allowed to walk to the throne by the fearful corpulent man, I noticed that several kinds of images of living creatures, such as those of tigers, lions, boa constrictors, elephants, cows, crocodiles, mermaids, rhinoceros, etc. were hung all over the walls. But after a while, and as I stopped before the throne, one of the paramount chiefs of the mother challenged me, he shouted horribly without making any motion: “Who are you?” I nearly fainted for fear at this time, because his voice was too strange to me and it was heard very far away as if one stood far away and shouted at me in a very terrible way, especially when none of them opened their mouth and shouted like that unexpectedly. All of them seemed as if they were already dead.

However, I replied with a trembling voice: “I am the wild hunter of the wild animals who has come to see the Omniscient Mother for help!” But I had hardly replied when another one shouted horribly on me: “All right, sit down on one of the big chairs which are in front of the throne!” To my surprise the voice of this one was heard far away in the palace as well. However, I sat on that big chair which was a bit far from the half-circle. And then I waited for the Witch-Mother to return because she was not on the throne at that time.

But as I began to look at all the strange things which were hung on the throne and around it, I saw one small house which was for the private meeting between the Mother and her paramount chiefs. It was at the extreme end of the palace. It had one entrance, but I did not know yet whether it had another entrance which went through to the premises of the palace. As I still fastened my eyes on this small house, I saw the Mother coming out through the entrance with four of her attendants. All were following at her back. Then when she walked to the half circle, and before she sat on the throne, I observed that all of her paramount chiefs lifted their heads at this time from their chairs. They bowed for her with due respect and then she sat down on the throne as soon as she had responded. So it was at this time that these paramount chiefs made a motion like a living thing for the first time in my presence.

But before the Witch-Mother or Omniscient Mother turned her face to me, she first turned her face to her chiefs and made some fun with them for about thirty twinklings.
Although
these paramount chiefs were so old that they had become almost deathless people, when they burst into funny laughter, their voices were heard loudly all over the palace like an echo.

As she was still making fun with them, I had ample time to watch her appearance. This Witch-Herbalist was also called the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient Mother by her people and by her grandchildren, who were the two delicate
fellows who gave me one colt, and by the burdensome people. She was so old that she had already become a deathless old woman as well as or like her chiefs. She was very beautiful and her body was still as strong and fresh as that of a young woman. Although short white hair was on her chin and all over both cheeks, the strange crown which was on her head made it difficult for me to see whether there was black or white hair on the forehead.

She had various kinds of voices such as a huge voice, a light voice, a sharp voice, the voice of a baby, the voice of a girl, the voice of an old woman, the voice of a young man, the voice of an old man, the voice of a stammerer, the voice of boldness, the voice of boom, the voice of a weeping person, the voice which was amusing and which was annoying, the voice like that of a ringing bell, the voice of various kinds of birds and beasts. And she spoke and understood all kinds of languages, of humans, beasts, birds, evil spirits, immortal beings, etc.

Therefore, this Witch-Herbalist had no interpreter who interpreted for her the languages of the thousands of various kinds of people who were bringing their burdens to her. Furthermore, she used the voice which sounded like a bell whenever she called one or more of her attendants, instead of using a call-bell. What I observed as well of this Omnipotent Witch-Mother, was that the kind of crown which was on her head was made of superior polished silver. It was very high and lavishly ornamented with the images of a vulture, parrot, lion, leopard, and cock, and with the full-length image of a small stuffed lion on the pinnacle of the crown. All these made the Mother very horrible to see as well.

But another thing which I observed was that each of her eye-balls, which were very tiny but sharp and bright, sent a hot ray to a long distance. The hot ray was so hot that it would burn the eyes of one who looked at her eyes for more than five-sixtieths of a twinkling. Therefore, it was hard for one to look at both eyes as long as he or she wanted to.
Then the third thing which I noticed was that on her neck and both wrists there were more than fifty beads of silver and more than fifty beads of coral on her neck as well. All of them were flowing down to her breast, and small images of all kinds of creatures, carved from superior elephant tusk, were fastened to both silver and coral beads.

Again, her elbows downward to her wrists were lavishly decorated with the most superior diamond beads. All were brightening every place where she rested her arms. Then her thighs downward to her ankles were also lavishly decorated with the well-polished leather of boa constrictor, and also highly polished complete skeletons of snakes were tied round them. Again, strange shoes which were made from the
well-refined
skin of the tiger were on her feet. And as she sat on her throne, she rested each foot on the back of each of the two living tigers which faced the front wildly and with furious dark brown eyes.

The strange and fearful frock which ran from her neck down to her lap so beautified her that she was indeed the pride of this Remote Town. So there was not any woven cloth on her body at all. Again, I noticed that all the walls of this palace were beautifully freckled with different kinds of colours of very expensive paints which could only be found in this town of the Omniscient Mother.

So when she had made some fun with her paramount chiefs for some twinklings, and as I was still looking at her fearful appearance and also at uncountable wonderful things which were in the palace, she turned her eyes to me unexpectedly. Without hesitation, she asked from me loudly at first with a hoarse voice: “Who is the Chief Priest of gods, idols, spirits, etc. of your town?” But as her voice was too hoarse, I did not understand her question. So, without fear, I told her: “Your voice is too hoarse for me to understand it!” When I told her so, she changed her voice to that of a cock, and she asked the same question from me. But I told her: “I do not understand the language of the cock!”

Having heard this from me, she changed her voice to that of beasts, and she asked the same question from me. But I told her that so far I did not belong to the beast race, and I did not understand the language of the beasts at all. Then she changed her voice to that of the evil spirits. But I hastily shook my head to show that we did not speak the language of the evil spirits in my town, nor did we understand those of birds, snakes, immortal creatures, etc.

But at last, when the Witch-Mother saw that I did not understand any of these strange languages, she asked the question from me with the stutterer’s voice. Yet, I shook my head to left and right, and I told her that so far I was not a stammerer, I did not understand what she was asking from me. When I did not understand, she asked again the same question from me with the voice of that of a weeping person, the voice of a laughing person, the voice which was amusing and the voice which was annoying. Then at last she changed her voice to that of human languages. So this time she first asked the question from me in the language of the Tiv, but I told her that I had not even been to Northern Nigeria. Then in the language of the Igbo, yet I told her that I had not even been to the boundary of Western Nigeria. Having heard this from me again she paused for a while.

Now, at this stage, her paramount chiefs who were so old that they had already become deathless, had been seated motionless on their beautiful and well-stuffed chairs all the time, expecting the next language which the Omniscient Witch-Mother was going to speak to me. But as the Mother looked at both my eyes, and as the hot ray of her eyes
penetrated
into my eyes and was so hot that it nearly burnt my eyes, she asked in plain language, in Yoruba, the language of Western Nigeria: “Who is the chief of the idols, gods, images, etc. worshippers in your town?” This she asked with a sharp voice.

But now, as this time she asked the question from me in the language of my town, and as I now understood what she asked
from me at last, I replied at the same time with a clear voice: “My father is the Chief of the idols, gods, images, god of the river, etc. worshippers, and sometimes people call him the Chief Priest of gods, god of the river, idols, images, etc.” So having heard so from me, she and her paramount chiefs nodded for a while, and then she stood up from her throne, and her paramount chiefs hastily stood up as well from their chairs. They bowed for her for a few sixtieths of a twinkling, or till a horrible cry of a bird was heard from where I did not know.

So as soon as the horrible cry of a bird was heard loudly like the echo, all of the paramount chiefs stood upright now in attention, and the Witch-Mother began to walk gently along to that small private house which was at the extreme end of the palace. It was in this private house that the Omniscient Witch-Mother and her paramount chiefs were holding very important meetings. So the chiefs, the attendants and the two tigers on whom she used to rest her feet, stood up and followed them as well. And as I was in the middle of them, I began to wonder whether they were going to sacrifice me to the god of the Mother.

But when I walked with them to the small house, two of the attendants ran to the door and opened it widely. Then the Mother entered first with her two tigers. After that the rest of us entered. All of us had hardly entered when the two attendants shut the door back at the same time. The inside of the small house was dark immediately the door was shut, but I saw the inside by the help of the flaring light which was hung on the wall. I was greatly surprised that the inside of this small house was so big that it contained many large rooms, sitting rooms, etc. As the Witch-Mother who was in front of us was walking along in the wide passage and the rest of us were following her, I noticed that hundreds of various kinds of birds were the occupants of the big rooms. And to my surprise again, as we were following the Mother, these birds began to flap their wings loudly and were crying loudly. But
having noticed their moods very well I understood that they were not ordinary birds but the birds of Witch, so this gave me real credence that the Mother was indeed powerful.

After a while, we followed the Mother to the extreme end of the small house where there was a large gate through to the premises, and we followed her to those premises. These premises, as I called them, were so wide that they contained more than one thousand big houses. These houses were for people who were bringing their burdens to the Mother. But the Mother and her paramount chiefs lived in a mighty
building
which was not too far from those which were for the burdensome people. And it was in these same premises, which were like a very large town, that the Hall of Assembly of the Mother was built.