Reading Notes: Stories from Congo, Part A

 

River surrounded by the jungle. Source: Wallpaper Safari

Notes: The Vanishing Wife

    Characters: Swarmi, Buite, a beautiful girl, nine little servants one is named Parrot

    Storyline: Buite is jealous that his brother Swarmi is married and has servants so he left. He dreamed of a beautiful girl that called him, so he followed her and she told him to tap on the ground three times. A canoe appeared and so did paddles. She told him to go fish and bring her food to cook for him but to bring the fish with the head cut off. When he woke the next day he did exactly what he dreamed and when he went back to his sleeping place there was a large house with the beautiful girl with nine little servants. She said she was there to comfort him and he loved her very much. His brother then wanted to visit Buite because he could not believe him. Buite went fishing every day with one of the little boys always cutting the heads off until one day he got tired of it. He then would have the little boy carry the fish who cried and went back to the house but then Buite would chase him and cut the head off. This happened with eight of the boys but with the last boy, Parrot, he did not catch up to him in time. When Parrot showed the beautiful girl the fish in the house, servants and her disappeared. There was nothing there when Buite arrived and then did his brother show up. Buite cried and his brother despised him and left him alone.

      Key Points: Loneliness, Following orders, Consequence,

      Bibliography: The Vanishing Wife from the Congo Unit by R.E Dennett