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Lalishisa ngelinye ilanga ehlobo, ehlathini elomile.
Lalishisa ngelinye ilanga ehlobo, ehlathini elomile.
Ilanga laligqats’ ubhobhoyi kwihlathi elomileyo.
It was a hot summer
day in the dry forest.
Kwase kuyizinsuku eziningi uTsheketshe omncane engenamanzi.
Kwase kuyizinsuku eziningi uTsheketshe omncane engenamanzi.
Kwakusele kuziintsuku ezininzi imbovane encinane ingawaseli amanzi.
Little Ant had no water
for many days.
Ngidinga iconsi lamanzi, noma ngabe kungathiwa liconsa eqabungeni nje.
Ngidinga iconsi lamanzi, noma ngabe kungathiwa liconsa eqabungeni nje.
“Ndidinga ithontsi lamanzi nokuba liwa egqabini.”
“I need a drop of water,
even if it falls from a
leaf.”
Kodwa akusekho ngisho amazolo lawa.
Kodwa akusekho ngisho amazolo lawa.
Kodwa nombethe wawusele womile.
But even the dew had
dried up.
“Uma ngingaphuzi ngizofa, kuzomele ngiye kulomfula engake ngezwa ngawo,” kusho uTsheketshe omncane.
“Uma ngingaphuzi ngizofa, kuzomele ngiye kulomfula engake ngezwa ngawo,” kusho uTsheketshe omncane.
“Ukuba andiseli manzi ngoku, ndiza kufa,” yatsho imbovane encinane inyembezana. “Kufuneka ndiye kula mlambo bendive ngawo.”
“If I don’t drink, I will
die,” cried Little Ant.
“I must go to the river I
have heard about.”
“Uzomuka nomfula, ” kuxwayisa uNgwejeje ohlakaniphile.
“Uzomuka nomfula, ” kuxwayisa uNgwejeje ohlakaniphile.
“Umlambo uza kumka nawe,” watsho unomatse okrelekrele eyilumkisa.
“The river will sweep
you away,” a wise
squirrel warned him.
Kodwa uTsheketshe omncane wayenxanwe kakhulu. “Ngizofa uma ngingaphuzi,” kusho yena.
Kodwa uTsheketshe omncane wayenxanwe kakhulu. “Ngizofa uma ngingaphuzi,” kusho yena.
Kodwa yayomile lunxano imbovane encinane. “Ndiza kufa ukuba andiseli manzi ngoku.”
But Little Ant was so
thirsty.
“I will die if I don’t drink
some water.”
UTsheketsheke omncane wahamba wayofuna umfula.
UTsheketsheke omncane wahamba wayofuna umfula.
Imbovane encinane yahamba isiya kukhangela loo mlambo.
Little Ant went to look
for the river…
Wayenqamula otshanini obomile, nasemagatsheni omile.
Wayenqamula otshanini obomile, nasemagatsheni omile.
Yahamba yahamba idlula kwingca eyomileyo nakumahlahla awomileyo.
across dry grass and
over dry branches…
Kwaze kwaba uzwa umsindo wamagagasi echaphaka lapha nalaphaya.
Kwaze kwaba uzwa umsindo wamagagasi echaphaka lapha nalaphaya.
Yahamba yade yeva ukugwinkciza kwamanzi omlambo.
…until he heard the
waves of the river
splashing.
UTsheketshe omncane wahabula amanzi engaphezi.
UTsheketshe omncane wahabula amanzi engaphezi.
Imbovane encinane yathatha ithamo lamanzi ixesha elide.
Little Ant took a long
sip of cool water.
Wayejabule kangangoba akalibonanga igagasi elikhulu elabe liza lizomemboza.
Wayejabule kangangoba akalibonanga igagasi elikhulu elabe liza lizomemboza.
Ngendlela eyayivuya ngayo ayizange ilibone iliza elikhulu lamanzi elalisiza.
He was so happy he did
not see the huge wave
coming.
UTsheketshe wazama ukubambelela otshanini obomile eduze kwakhe. Kodwa wathathwa amanzi amphonsa kude.
UTsheketshe wazama ukubambelela otshanini obomile eduze kwakhe. Kodwa wathathwa amanzi amphonsa kude.
Imbovane yazama ukubambelela emcingeni owomileyo wengca owawudlula ngakuyo. Kodwa yemka namanzi.
Ant tried to grab the
dry grass floating past
him.
But he was swept away
by the water.
“Ngisizeni bo! Ngisizeni bo!”
“Ngisizeni bo! Ngisizeni bo!”
“Ndincedeni bantu. Khanindincede.”
“Help someone. Help
me please.”
“Shesha gibela lana, ” kusho uJuba omhlophe ebambe ukhuni ngomlomo wakhe.
“Shesha gibela lana, ” kusho uJuba omhlophe ebambe ukhuni ngomlomo wakhe.
“Khawuleza, bambelela apha,” latsho ihobe elimhlophe liphethe ikhuni ngomlomo.
“Quick, climb on,” said
White Dove, holding a
branch in his beak.
“Angizukuhamba ngize ngibonge kujuba. Ngizolinda aze abuye azophuza futhi, ” kusho Utsheketshe.
“Angizukuhamba ngize ngibonge kujuba. Ngizolinda aze abuye azophuza futhi, ” kusho Utsheketshe.
“Andinakuhamba ndingekalibuleli ihobe. Ndiza kulinda lide lize kusela amanzi.”
“I cannot leave until I
say thank you to the
dove. I will wait until he
comes back to drink.”
Ngelinye ilanga esaloku alinda njalo uTsheketshe, kwaqhamuka abafana ababili bephethe izihlilingi.
Ngelinye ilanga esaloku alinda njalo uTsheketshe, kwaqhamuka abafana ababili bephethe izihlilingi.
Ngenye imini isalindile njalo, kwafika amakhwenkwe amabini emlanjeni ephethe iiketi zawo.
One day as he waited,
two boys came to the
river with their
slingshots.
“Kunejuba elikhulu elimhlophe eliphuza kulomfula, lizoba ukudla kwethu kwasebusuku, ” kusho omunye umfana.
“Kunejuba elikhulu elimhlophe eliphuza kulomfula, lizoba ukudla kwethu kwasebusuku, ” kusho omunye umfana.
“Kukho ihobe elikhulu elimhlophe elidla ngokuza kusela amanzi apha,” yatsho enye inkwenkwe. “Siza kutya lona ngale ngokuhlwa.”
“There is a big white
dove that comes here
to drink,” said one boy.
“We will have it for
supper tonight.”
“Angeke ngavumela labafana babulale uJuba omhlophe. Kodwa ngimncane kakhulu, yini nje engingayenza?”.
“Angeke ngavumela labafana babulale uJuba omhlophe. Kodwa ngimncane kakhulu, yini nje engingayenza?”.
“Andinakuwavumela la makhwenkwe alibulale eli hobe limhlophe. Kodwa njengokuba ndimncinane kangaka nje, ndingenza ntoni?”
“I cannot let the boys
kill White Dove.
But I am so tiny, what
can I do?”
Ngawo lowo mzuzu uJuba omhlophe wandiza wehlela phansi ukuzophuza.
Ngawo lowo mzuzu uJuba omhlophe wandiza wehlela phansi ukuzophuza.
Kanye ngelo xesha ihobe elimhlophe labhabha lisuka emthini lisiya kusela.
Just then White Dove
flew down from the tree
to drink.
UTsheketshe omncane waba nesu.
UTsheketshe omncane waba nesu.
Imbovane encinane yavela necebo.
Little Ant had an idea.
Wagxumela onyaweni lomfana wamluma ngamandla akhe wonke.
Wagxumela onyaweni lomfana wamluma ngamandla akhe wonke.
Yatsibela unyawo lwenye yala makhwenkwe, yaza yalithi nkxii kanobom.
He jumped onto one
boy’s foot, and bit him
as hard as he could.
Umfana wagxuma. “Ishuuu!” wakhala.
Umfana wagxuma. “Ishuuu!” wakhala.
Le nkwenkwe yaxhuma. “Yhoo!” yakhwaza isitsho.
The boy jumped.
“Ouch!” he cried.
UJuba omhlophe wethuka wandizela kude. Kwaba ukuphepha kwakhe.
UJuba omhlophe wethuka wandizela kude. Kwaba ukuphepha kwakhe.
Ihobe elimhlophe lothuka laza labhabha lisiya kwindawo ekhuselekileyo.
White Dove was
startled and flew away
to safety.
Kwaba ikona kubonga kwakhe uTsheketsheke kuJuba omhlophe.
Kwaba ikona kubonga kwakhe uTsheketsheke kuJuba omhlophe.
Yaba ke ngolo hlobo imbovane encinane ibulela ihobe elimhlophe ngokuyihlangula.
That was how Little Ant
thanked White Dove for
saving him.
Written by: Kholeka Mabeta
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Zimbili Dlamini
Read by: Beauty Ngwenya
Language: Zulu
