The Witch-Herbalist of the Remote Town by Amos Tutuola Read Free Book Online

were included. Also, all kinds of the songs which were sung in the whole world’s languages were included.
    As the songs were singing in all languages of this world in baritone, bass, treble, etc. etc., it was so the instruments of all races were playing continuously. So as the night went deeply it was so the music was full in the air and around this white rock. And it was hearing clearly at a distance of three kilometres. My surprise and fear this night was that every living human being who listened to these songs would easily recognize his or her own town’s songs clearly among the others. He or she could also easily recognize his or her own native drums or other kinds of instruments from the rest. This kind of lovely music could make one who heard it but did not dance to it, mad.
    Now, I hesitated again with wonder and I was dauntless for anything which might happen to make me miss all these strange lovely happenings. But after a while, I understood that the lovely music was coming from a long distance and notfrom the stream or from the white rock as I had supposed it to be.
    When it was exactly at the first hour of the morning, the lovely music came in full onto the top of the water of the fast-flowing stream. And within a few twinklings more, it was hearing clearer and louder, so loud that the air was full of music more than before. Now, I paid more attention in keeping watch of this stream, thinking that probably I might see those who were playing the lovely music. But to my surprise, I did not see anyone. Although there was dark all over that area, I could see what was happening there through the brilliancy of the white rock. At last, and to my surprise, as I was still keeping watch of this stream with all my attention, there I saw unexpectedly that multi-coloured floodlights were spread all over the stream. These kinds of floodlights which I had never seen in my life, shone brightly to every part of this stream and that area as well. Each of its colours was changing to a more lovely colour as the music went up and down.
    As I stood upright on top of the white rock I was craning at these wonderful floodlights with confusion. I was also thinking in “memory” that the white rock was most marvellous of its kind, and that these floodlights were the most wonderful of their kind.
    I still diverted the whole of my attention to the strange things which were happening on this fast-flowing stream. The sounds of the various kinds of drums and songs were becoming louder gradually, as if they had been far away but were now coming nearer and nearer. Within a few sixtieths of a twinkling my first “mind” began to ask from me: “What kind of wild jungle beings are playing this kind of a lovely music and singing the lovely songs in the night like this?” And as soon as I started to explain to it: “Perhaps they may be the wild people who were playing the music and singing the lovely songs!”, I saw uncountable faint shadows which were appearing from sundown of this wild jungle. But those who were playing the music and singing the lovely songs had not yetappeared, except the music and songs were still hearing louder and louder.
    As soon as the faint shadows appeared they were divided or separated into groups and each group went to a different part of the stream. Then each group sat in a circle on high stools while a big round table was before them. Both stools and the round table for each group were on top of the stream. And it was at this time I recognized that they were the wealthy wild people. I wondered greatly that the fast-flowing water did not carry them away or even shake them. But now, just as my second “mind” was assuring me that I should not be afraid of these shadows because they were superable wild people, though they were wealthy, my first “mind” hastily reminded me that although the wild people are superable, I must not forget at all that I am going to the Witch-Herbalist in order to make the medicine