Domba tshi swa - THE END (lit. BURNING) OF DOMBA   195 no lala no ima vhusiku now you [remember] you spent the night standing: a) Zwi fana na uri arali vhakegulu vho u tanga u tshi yo beba, zwi a vhavha this is like the time when the old ladies surround you when you give birth, and it is very painful. b) Zwi amba uri musadzi a tshi lala na munna zwi a takadza: zwi a vhavha musi a tshi beba this says that when a woman sleeps with a man it is very pleasant: but when she gives birth, it is very painful. 196 tshivhuyu tsho that pole that was rammed into the ground: a) bango -tshelele there it was, and nobody saw it being put there! b) Munna a sa koni u tshimbila na vhasadzi a [real] man who cannot walk around freely with women. 197 ha thanda outside the pole: wa a crocodile's spine. 198 Ngomu ha thanda inside the pole: Tshuvhamo ya a crocodile's stomach. 199 Fhasi ha thanda the bottom of the pole: Munna a konaho a potent man. 200 Muthenga wo the feather which was stuck in on top: Munna a konaho a potent man. 201 Mithenga yo nembelelaho ( a mithenga) the fluttering of the feather in the wind: Milenzhe ya a millipede's legs. 202 Vhathannga vha tshi gonya tshivhuyu when the lads climb the pole: Musadzi a na thumbu: vha songo lala nae a pregnant woman: they must not sleep with her. 203 Vha tshi muthenga when they take out the feather on top: U lutanda nnyoni ya vhasadzi a man withdrawing his 'pole' from a woman. 204 Vhasidzana vha tshi fhulula thanda nga when the girls slide their hands down the pole: Musidzana u tshi lala na munna ha wani a girl who can sleep with a man withoug falling pregnant. One master said that this referred to coitus interruptus, but I forgot to confirm this by further inquiry. 205 zwe vho shela now that stuff that they poured [on your back]: the pods and prickles of the velvet stinging bean. 206 Ri tshi u tika selo: luselo lwa halwa when we come to placing the winnowing tray on stones: the tray that is full of beer: Musidzana a songo tshinywa a girl who has not been deflowered. 207 Lubomo lwa luselo the rim of the winnowing tray: Maremu a an infant's gums. 208 Matswia o tikaho the three hearth-stones which support it: (i) Tshitoko tsha haya dry cowdung from the home. (ii) Tshitoko tsha shango dry cowdung from the countryside. (iii) Phulu ya haya an ox from the home. 209 Vha luunzhi vhukati ha halwa they ram an awl into the middle of the beer: Munna o welaho devhuni a man who has cohabited with a menstruating woman. (See No. 188.) 210 Lwo kiwa luthihi the first draught of beer: Musadzi a na muthili a woman with one child. 211 Lwo kiwa luvhili the second draught of beer: Musadzi a na vhana vhavhili a woman with two children. 212 Masipho the dregs: Vhakegulu old ladies.  Next  To return, click 'Back' in the browser.