Heitsi-eibib

Heitsi-eibib Africa
Legendary hero of the Hottentots. Son of a cow and some miraculous grass, eaten by the cow, Heitsi-eibib is a great magician, a patron of hunters, and a superb fighter. Only he could rid the Hottentots of the monstrous Ga-gorib, ‘thrower down’. This creature was in the habit of sitting on the edge of a great pit and daring passers-by to throw stones at him. The stone always rebounded and killed the thrower, who then fell into the pit. When Heitsi-eibib approached Ga-gorib, he declined to aim a stone, until he had diverted the monster's gaze. Then he struck Ga-gorib under the ear and tumbled him into his own trap. Another version of the contest relates the near defeat of Heitsi-eibib, who was chased round the pit before he slipped and fell into it. Though he managed to escape, the hero was hard pressed and only succeeded in pushing Ga-gorib into the pit after a prolonged wrestle. According to legend, Heitsi-eibib was killed on numerous...

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