The Orange Fairy Book : Large Print

From the SennaA long, long while ago, before ever the White Men were seen in Senna, there lived a mancalled Gopani-Kufa.One day, as he was out hunting, he came upon a strange sight.

An enormous python hadcaught an antelope and coiled itself around it; the antelope, striking out in despair with itshorns, had pinned the python's neck to a tree, and so deeply had its horns sunk in the softwood that neither creature could get away.'Help!' cried the antelope, 'for I was doing no harm, yet I have been caught, and wouldhave been eaten, had I not defended myself.''Help me,' said the python, 'for I am Insato, King of all the Reptiles, and will reward youwell!'Gopani-Kufa considered for a moment, then stabbing the antelope with his assegai, he setthe python free.'I thank you,' said the python; 'come back here with the new moon, when I shall haveeaten the antelope, and I will reward you as I promised.''Yes,' said the dying antelope, 'he will reward you, and lo! your reward shall be your ownundoing!'Gopani-Kufa went back to his kraal, and with the new moon he returned again to the spotwhere he had saved the python.Insato was lying upon the ground, still sleepy from the effects of his huge meal, and whenhe saw the man he thanked him again, and said: 'Come with me now to Pita, which is myown country, and I will give you what you will of all my possessions.'Gopani-Kufa at first was afraid, thinking of what the antelope had said, but finally heconsented and followed Insato into the forest.For several days they travelled, and at last they came to a hole leading deep into theearth.

It was not very wide, but large enough to admit a man. 'Hold on to my tail,' saidInsato, 'and I will go down first, drawing you after me.' The man did so, and Insato entered.Down, down, down they went for days, all the while getting deeper and deeper into theearth, until at last the darkness ended and they dropped into a beautiful country; aroundthem grew short green grass, on which browsed herds of cattle and sheep and goats.

In thedistance Gopani-Kufa saw a great collection of houses all square, built of stone and very tall,and their roofs were shining with gold and burnished iron.