Princess, won by a bull - Short Story

Literary Review, Spring, 2002 by Taban Lo Liyong

Long long ago there was a king in a faraway place who had many enemies. After suffering many harassments from these enemies he called his councillors together and asked them what he should do in order to protect himself, his family, his people, and all their belongings. After the councillors had deliberated long and hard, they gave the king their decision. And this was it:

The reason why they were being attacked with impunity was because they were weak. They were weak because they lacked, not manpower--for they had boys as well as girls enough--but manhood: that is, courage; that is courageous people. Since they lacked these, they should use all their resources for acquiring them.

Previously the king's daughters had been given free to the sons of his chiefs and other councillors for buying them off. Henceforth, they urged, we the councillors are ready to forgo that privilege. Could the councillors and the king please use their daughters to attract brave sons-in-law? For, then if an attack on the kingdom was imminent, the king and councillors could call on their brave sons-in-law and their troops to come to their defence? So, it was agreed. And the king's most beautiful daughter was to be the first bait for attracting courageous suitors.

What test of courage was there? Jumping over fire was ruled out, as very reckless youths would try it and end up the worse for wear, and useless to themselves or their own afterwards. Swimming over the long river was ruled out as it favoured the riverain people. Whereas most attacks on the kingdom had come from the plains. Chasing gazelles and catching them with one's hands was ruled out as the hunters normally have their eyes on animals as flesh for eating and are not necessarily courageous people. So, what better test was there than persevering the mosquito bites? This was a forested palace. With waters running all around. And puddles everywhere. Besides there was verdant foliage of the forestland in which the mosquitoes took their rest from harassing people.

So, on the second month of the big rains, when the mosquitoes had multiplied to their greatest number, word was sent out to the neighbouring tribes/kings that the king intended to give his daughter in marriage to the most courageous prince. Whichever prince was ready for the test of courage, was to give notice of his arrival so he could be welcomed by both the princess--whom he would never see again unless he wins the test--and the king.

A prince came. In the evening. He was welcomed. And sat on the testing chair. He was given the rules of the game: He was to sit still on the stool till sun-rise without slapping himself. The prince thought this was no big deal. He was told: your test begins now: 09.00 p. m.

Within five minutes he had slapped his ears very hard: a mosquito had hovered around his ear. That was how he lost the wager. Immediately he and his entourage were dismissed and sent returning to their palace.

The next prince came. He, too, a big hulk of a man, thought surely the princess would be his. Courage he had in plenty. So, come 09.00 p.m. He was installed on the stool. And the mosquitoes came and bit him here and there. When one of them administered a long and unendurable bite on his shank he could stand it no longer. He hit it: pat. Then urged his entourage: Let us go!

Then came the third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth. Now the queen was beginning to despair. For some of the defeated stalwarts looked noble, looked physically fit, were respectful, and gave one the feeling of royalty bred by the opponents of one's kingdom seeming better brought up than one's own. The seventh came. And the princess thought, surely this will be the one to end my ordeal. But no, even he was defeated by the persistent war against humanity of the tiny mosquitoes. If the mosquitoes bit one silently, perhaps one could endure them. But no, that is not their mode. They need must announce their presence to you, son of man. And that begins to infuriate you. How dare a tiny creature who is bent on depleting one's blood make it a point of announcing his arrival? In fact most people slap here and there in order to drive the mosquito away. That is why they do not kill it and end up slapping their bodies more painfully than they needed for killing the mosquito.

Besides, if one wants to kill a mosquito, the worst way to go about it is to slap at random, in the general area where the mosquito's last noise was heard. Don't slap a mosquito as if it is an ugly insect like the fly. Smack the mosquito as if it is a white ant you would want to see dead, and then eaten. That way you will succeed in killing it. But, slapping here and there you simply deafen the mosquito's ears, you maim its feet, or wings. But to kill a mosquito, try to kill it as if you wanted to eat it too. You will be amazed how many you would kill.

At last a weakly man came. He said he too was a prince. Of a principality far away, who was attracted by the proposal of enduring a test in order to marry the princess. Everybody did not give him much chance for success. For, surely, that body of his had little blood left in it. One or two of our mosquitoes' sucking would drain him completely dry.