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The Waterlord is a seven headed hydra. The
Fulani bring it small offerings to insure that the river's water will
continue to flow.
One tale of the Waterlord concerns a young woman and
her child. The tale starts as the young woman and her co-wife
where filling their water jugs at the river. The co-wife decided
to play a trick on the young woman and filled her water jug with
mud. The young woman was so distraught that she called on the
Waterlord for help. In return for his help, she pledged her first
born child, whom she was already carrying, to him. The Waterlord
appeared, cleaned and filled her jug and sent her off.
Soon after she gave birth to a daughter who she named
Jinde Sirinde, 'the one whom the Water Spirit will claim.' Once
she was old enough to fetch water on her own, her mother sent her day
& night to do so. One day as Jinde was cleaning her jar the
Waterlord grabbed her ankles and dragged her down into the river.
She to live there with him from then on. Jinde asked the Waterlord
to let her see her mother one last time. The Waterlord granted her
request, allowing her one day on land. However he warned her that
if she were not to return, he would come and take her back.
Jinde swam to the shore and ran to her mother's
house. Her mother would not open the door since a married woman
belongs to her husband. Her father would not open his door
either. Jinde then ran to her lover's house. He came out
with his sword to protect her. The Waterlord rose up from the
river as promised. Jinde's lover cut off all seven heads freeing
Jinde from him.
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