Long ago, there was a man who had a very serious wound on his leg.
He could not stand or walk.
This man lived in a village with his wife and their children.
Banyalani ba ne ba na le bara ba bararo le moradi a le mong.
The couple had three sons and one daughter.
The daughter’s name was Nangila. Her duty was to take care of her father.
The sons worked on the land and grazed animals.
Bonolo e ne e le ngwanana e motle. Baahi bohle ba motseng ba ne ba mo rata ba bile ba mo hlompha.
Nangila was a beautiful girl. All the villagers liked and respected her.
Her parents wanted a good husband for Nangila.
They set a difficult task in order to find the right man.
Mang kapa mang ya neng a batla ho nyala Bonolo, o ne a lokela ho fumana setlama letsheng le haufi le motse. Setlama sena se ne se tla phekola leqeba la ntatae.
Anyone who wanted to marry Nangila would have to get a herb from a lake near the village.
This herb would heal her father’s wound.
But the lake was filled with dangerous spirits.
Banna ba bang ba ile ba leka ho fumana setlama empa ba kgutla ba sa se fumana.
Nangila felt worried. Not even her brothers would go to the lake. She decided to fetch the herb herself.
Her mother said, “My daughter, if strong men have failed, will you succeed?” But Nangila had made up her mind.
Tseleng e yang letsheng, Bonolo o ile a kopana le mosadimoholo ya rwetseng patsi. O ile a thusa mosadi eo ho rwala patsi ya hae.
On the way to the lake, Nangila met an old woman carrying wood. She helped the woman to carry her firewood.
The old woman was grateful. She said to Nangila, “I will tell you how to reach the spirit lake and what to do when you get there.”
Ha Bonolo a fihla lebopong la letsha, o ile a bona lelapa la meya le nwa ebile le tantsha.
When she reached the shore of the lake, Nangila saw the spirit family drinking and dancing.
She waited and watched. One by one, the spirits fell asleep.
Ha meya kaofela e se e robetse Bonolo o ile a ikakgela ka letsheng.
Kwathi xa sele zilele zonke, uNangila wantywilela echibini. Walifumana iyeza waze walifaka epokothweni yakhe. Uthe xa edada ebuyela enyeleni, suke amaza aba made ukumodlula.
Once the spirits were all sleeping Nangila dived into the lake.
She found the herb and put it in her bag.
As she swam back to land, the waves were high around her.
Ha Bonolo a fihla lebopong, meya e ile ya tsoha. O ne a tshohile, empa o ile a bina pina eo mosadimoholo a mo rutileng yona:
When Nangila reached the shore the spirits were awake. She was afraid, but she sang the song the old woman taught her:
I, daughter of Wekesa,
Am from the lake.
I came because men are too scared to come.
My father needs this herb to heal his wound.
That is why am here,
In the land where many are scared to reach,
For you are the rulers.
Lentswe la Bonolo le ne le le monate hoo meya e ileng ya mo kopa ho e binela kgafetsa.
Nangila’s voice was so sweet that the spirits asked her to sing for them again and again.
Her singing sent the spirits back to sleep.
Then Nangila ran very fast until she got to her village.
Everyone was waiting for Nangila to return.
After treating his wound with the herb her father was able to stand again.
The entire village danced and praised Nangila.
