The Feather of Glory ( a Novella )

By David Aoloch Bion

Chapter Seventeen

Madut Kuol’s four wives had been bearing him many children, fourteen sons and eight daughters. His eldest son Ajieng was by his first wife Abuk. His eldest daughter Akon by Abuk had just been married. The husband to Akon gave forty five cattle including a bull to the father of the daughter, Madut.

Madut moved to the cattle camp for the first time in many years. He had gone to the cattle camp to rear his new cattle brought by his daughter. He sharpened the horns of his bull so that his bull could pierce the other bulls well. He groomed his cattle while singing.

Every evening Madut had been going to look for wine. He was going to drink with his oldest friends of other clans and villages. These friends were Deng Mawut, Mayuol Kon, Alier Abung, Mattieng Mac. When they were drank they started narrating  clever and funny stories. Old brave grandfathers of each clan. From there they could move to other libelous songs sang satirically against some clans and ridiculous stories narrated as a mockery to other clans.

“Madut, do you have cattle?” Alier asked.

“Why not?” Madut answered.

“You have cattle. You were just brought up on the pond in the village. You have never been in a cattle camp since you were born” Alier said.

Madut made long laughing and said “I bought a bull for ten cows until the poor looked with cold, cold, cold eyes.” Madut was referring to the bull he bought in his youth. “Have you ever bought a bull?” Madut asked

“I can’t buy a bull. I don’t have ugly cows that are going to be changed to beauty. A man who has ugly cows buys a bull to change his cows’ stomachs to give birth to beautiful cattle” Alier said.

“How many men from your clan have been marrying with one hundred cattle as bride price?” Madut asked. “You are just a fisherman” Madut added. There was a fisherman standing behind them.

“Why do you mention a fisherman?” the fisherman asked.

“You go away fisherman. Go and talk to farmers. This is a cattlemen’s conversation. Do you have cattle?” Madut asked. “Who have you ever seen giving fish as bride price among the fishermen. You are just pouring water on your face and some of men from cattle keeping clans have their wives being taken away with their children because they don’t have cattle. Take this fisherman way. I can’t talk with him.” Madut urged.

“My clan is a clan of beauties. Every good thing is found in my clan. If a girl wanted a most handsome man, she comes to my clan. That’s why girls always say if you are not engaged by a man from Riet clan you would wish you were not born or the god might hate you. And if a man is looking for the most beautiful girl, he comes to Riet clan. That is why the men say that is you haven’t engaged a girl from the riet clan, you haven’t engaged any girl on earth.”

“I hate a liar, Madut you are a liar!” Alier said.

“How many children do I have? And how many children do you have? How many cattle herds do I have and how many cattle herds do you have? How many people does my clan have? And how many people does your clan have?” Madut poured these questions to Alier.

“I will not tell you the number of my people. That evil witching thought is a death wish for my clan because of the jealousy from your heart” Alier said.

Other friends stopped Madut and Alier from arguments. At that point they departed to their respective places.

In the following morning of the argument day, the girl engaged by Madut’s son Ajieng came and said she loved  Ajieng and she wanted to be married by Ajieng, but Ajieng refused her. The parents of the girl came for bride price negotiations but the payments didn’t take place because Ajieng had refused to marry the girl.

“Why do you refuse my daughter, madut and Ajieng?” Anyang Lual, the father of the girl asked.

“There is a relationship between us and you now. If the relationship had not reached sixth generation people, we can’t marry from that relation. You know the result of marrying among related people kills”.

“Tell me that relationship. Is it from me or from my wife?” Anyang asked

You are taking us back again.” Madut

“I will not argue too much. Your son was the one who went and spoilt my daughter. I will take my daughter.” Anyang said.

Okay. That is good. Your daughter has been to our home, and our custom allows two cows to be give to the father even if she is not married. The cows are given for closing her thigh,Arook marriage.” Madut’s brother said.

“No. I don’t want your cows.” Anyang said.

When Anyang was leaving with his daughter and his clan members, Anyang said “you Madut , we are not related. But if you want a marriage with a relative you will get it.”

After six months, it had emerged that Madut’s son Ajieng had slept with his own sister and had impregnated her.

“What a story. I have no words to express my thoughts, emotions and decision.” Madut cried.

Madut had kept quiet for one week. He had refused to eat or drink. His son Ajieng was tightened down with lassos for fear that he might commit suicide, and Ajieng was taken to his maternal parent home and his sister he impregnated was taken to her aunt’s home in another village. Madut also went from Abuk’s home to Amou, but he was not talking to anyone. He stayed with Amou for nine days and he quarreled with Amou. Amon threatened that she would reveal the secret. Madut beat Amou and she cried as usual that she was going to reveal the secret. Madut said that “you said it”. foolish woman am already dead

“Children of Mareng Lual, Madut was the one who cut the testicles of your father at the elephant carcass.” Amou said.

The children of Mareng Lual heard that and left for cattle camp and killed Dut, the first born son of Amou. They said they could not kill Madut because he was very old.

After days, news just reached Amou that her son had been killed by Mareng Lual’s sons. Amou howled like a dog “what shall the daughter of man do?” she asked crying.

“What shall we do? You just celebrate, because you have been saying that ‘I will tell, I will reveal the secret’ everyday. Now you have told. It is good for you.” Madut said.

After these two incidences, Madut was disheartened. He went to the magician. The magician told him that the man whom his son you claim to be your son was responsible for the death of your son. And the man you refused his daughter was responsible for the incest between your daughter and your son. Invite the two men to perform the sorry ritual. Madut invited both men

Anyang came and put the two twins of he-goat and she-goat over one another and removed them and said “no more incest, no more humiliation again. Evil go away.”

The child of Madut’s son and daughter was taken and sold to a distant tribe with fifteen cattle. After Madut recovered from incest evil and started his chief duties.

   Chapter Eighteen

By the time Chief Madut Kuol resumed his duties at his clan court tree, one of his eldest friends Wel Mac whom they had been dancing and wrestling with came to him at midnight. The two men discussed many issues. They talked until the day was about to break. So Wel said that he wanted to leave. Madut escorted him to the path of his clan.

On the path, Wel said they were eyes of the clan. “What shall we do now? Our cattle are rustled. Our people are killed, and our children are abducted.” Wel asked.

Nothing we can do. There are just thugs” Madut replied

“We must attack them. We must raid their cattle. We must revenge our people they must be killed” Wel urged.

Okay. Give me time to talk to my people about it” Madut requested.

“No. Don’t talk of time. You mention days” Wel said.

“One month” Madut said.

“No. One month is too long.” Wel said.

“Come back after seven days,” madut said.

Wel left and Madut returned to his home. After seven days Madut realized that Wel was coming back. He went to the pond, picked mud, put it on his feet, and covered himself with a piece of goat skin. Madut told his wife Abuk that when Wel comes tell him that I am sick of guinea worm. In the morning, Wel came and stood outside.

“Where is Madut?” Wel asked.

“He is inside.” Abuk answered.

“Why is he sleeping up to this time?” Wel asked

“He is sick of guinea worm.” Abuk answered.

“Really? When did the guinea worm affect him because I left him well seven days ago.” Wel said doubtfully.

Wel entered the Luak and he found Madut moaning in pain. He called out “ Madut, Madut, Madut,” but Madut could not answer. He had covered his head. Wel called out loudly. Madut raised his head painfully.

“How are you? How do you feel now?” Wel asked

“It is just as you have seen” Madut answered.

“ Make your heart strong. The guinea worm will come out” Wel said.

Wel tried to remove the goat skin but Madut refused. Wel was trying to spit saliva on the wound as a spiritual medicine to cure the wound. Wel had just put saliva on the skin. Wel stayed with Madut and Abuk prepared food for them. They ate and when Wel was leaving he asked Madut the time he would come back. Madut told him to come within fifteen days. After he had left, Madut removed the mud and washed his legs “ don’t agree to go to the war” Abuk advised her husband Madut.

After fifteen days, Abuk reminded her husband “Wel is coming tomorrow. Put on the mud” Madut put the mud on his foot. When Wel came, he found Madut was still suffering from guinea worm. Wel was bitterly disappointed and left without spending any day with his friend. On his way to home, Maduts cousin asked him “why do you come here?”

“I have something I want to do with Madut , but he is infected with guinea worm” Wel answered.

“Which Madut? Madut Kuol, my cousin?” the cousin asked.

“Yes” Wel replied

“He is not. Why can’t I know?” his cousin urged.

Wel had realized that Madut was deceiving him about his health, but he didn’t talk too much. He continued going to his home. That night he returned and climbed a willow tree in Madut’s farm.

That morning, Madut brought his cows out of Luak, he groomed them, and took them out for pastures. As he was coming to his Luak, the sun was not so hot and Madut walked speedily.

Wel climbed down and said “I just graze the thief and I catch them. Why do you deceive me Madut that you are sick of guinea worm?”

“No, I am not deceiving you. But I am not interested in that war.” Madut answered.

“If you are afraid, just tell me” Wel requested.

“I have never been afraid of any enemy in this land of my people. Nothing I fear-nothing I couldn’t look into whether it is blood, wound, unless other wise it is my mother’s thigh” Madut explained.

“If your are not afraid, tell your clan about the war” Wel said

“I can’t tell them about the war” Madut refused.

“What I am telling you is not shameful of disgraceful thing. It is pride, it will be a pride of your clan. If they go and fight in this great battle, it will be an honour for them to shed blood” Wel revealed.

“No, I am not a foolish man like the neibouring tribes men who put several marks on their arms according to the number of people they have been killing. I don’t take pride in killing human beings.” Madut confessed.

“Why did you kill the raiders at Aceer cattle camp?” Wel asked.

“That is self defense. I can kill at the cattle camp when an enemy attacks me and I can’t go and kill an enemy in his home”. Madut said.

“You just remain, you’re a coward. A coward has no clan”. Wel said

“I am not a coward. Cattle rustlers are poor men not rich men like me.” Madut said

 Chapter Nineteen

It was the beginning of dry season. The harvest of sorghum had just ended. It was a time of producing a lot of wine in the village. Madut and his four friend chiefs-the chiefs were Anei Atem, Kuol Athian, Alier Atem, Mabior Ateny. The four chiefs drank three pots of sorghum wine and became drunk. They began a talk, an idle talk of teasing and bullying one another using the foolish acts, decisions, claver and funny behaviour of each clan.

“Look Anei, a man from your village had borrowed his friend’s spear to go for an engagement with it because he had no spear or cattle. When he reached the forest, he ate some wild fruits. At his girl friend’s home, his stomach was boiling with wild fruits and was making disturbing sounds.”

He had been telling the girls that he had many cattle

“I have a lot of cattle. I told the boy not to mix milk with colostrums but he didn’t listen. That is why my stomach is boiling now” the young man explained.

After he had finished his words with his girl friend, the girls escorted him out and the girls returned. They didn’t go back home but instead hid. When he was alone, the young man put the spear under a tree and climbed back up to eat more wild fruits. The girls came and took the spear and returned into hiding. After the young man finished eating, he climbed down and never found the spear. The man started crying.

“Mou,mou, mooooou! What shall the son of man do now? The spear that I begged from a friend is stolen and I have no cattle, even a hen is not in our home. What shall I pay the spear with?” The man cried. The girls came out with the spear laughing. “Here is your spear.” the girl said, Madut narrated.

Anei had fired back by saying “a man from your clan Madut, went to my brother’s cattle camp tracing his lost cow. He reached in the evening and sat as a guest he was given milk but refused saying that he had no blood relation. He was young and unmarried and he didn’t know where he would marry. He was persuaded by many young men of his age but he refused completely. So all young men left and drunk their milk. At night, he woke up when hunger was biting his stomach. He called my brother’s son “Bring my milk, there is a small relation I have remembered.” The man requested.

“We have drunk the milk, there is no milk.” My brother answered. The crowd that was around didn’t leave and they laughed at Madut’s clan.

“Don’t laugh people” Madut stopped them and they listened. “A man from Anei used to eat in the neighbour’s home before he came to his home when he arrived. He would tell his wife to remove the upper dry layer of food. This became a custom for his wife. Every he came his wife removed the dry upper layer of the food. One day he failed to eat from the neighbour where he used to eat. While his wife was busy removing the dry upper layer of the food “What are you doing you woman?’ the man asked.

“I am removing the dry upper layer of the food” his wife said. The man jeered at the woman and said “put the food back into the food. Does food have a skin? Is it a cow?” the man questioned the woman.

“You’re the one who told me.” The woman replied.

The crowed laughed as Madut narrated.

“What about the man from your village who went to hunt? He found buffaloes sleeping and he ran back to his home. He burnt his granary and when his wife asked him, he told her that they would have more meat than the granary would contain. When he returned, he found the buffaloes had awoken and gone.” Anei narrated and the crowed laughed.

What about the man from your village Madut who was sleeping in the hut with his wife? The hyena attacked the cattle in Luak. His wife awoke him “the hyena is eating the cows.” The wife said. He raised his hand struck the wall of the hut and went back to sleep.

You man, hyenas are finishing the cows.” The woman urged him.

“Why don’t you go and protect the cows?” the man told his wife.

“Am I a man?” the woman asked.

“Okay you go and chase the female hyenas and leave the male hyenas.” The man said.

“What a coward?” the woman wondered. Anei narrated and the crowed laughed.

“What about a man” Madut said “who came as a guest who was from your village Anei. The mother who hosted him told her children that my children you would sleep with head and neck and your milk would be given to the guest. The guest said he would be the one to sleep with the head and neck and the milk be given to the children. The mother gave the milk to the children. The guest waited almost to midnight and he was dosing he said “bring my head and neck so that I eat I want to go and sleep.” The guest from your village said.

“Sorry, there is no head and neck,” the mother said “it is just an ironic way of sleeping without food.”

“I thought it was a goat’s head and neck.” The guest said.

What about the man from your village Anei.” Madut said “who was heard by his friend that he had food. His friend took some sorghum to him. His friend first went to his home and gave him the sorghum and went to the Luak where his friend was and his friend saw him angry because there was no food and there was one cow that was milked. He knew that his friend guest would share the milk with him.

“How are you?” His guest greeted him.

“What is it?” His host replied.

“How are your things here?” The guest asked again.

“I don’t know things.” The host replied.

“There was no rain here.” The guest said.

“Has it rained in your village and it is this village that it hasn’t rained in? Let it rain.” The host said.

His friend guest was not happy with such words from his friend and he left. The host’s wife prepared a meal from the sorghum the guest brought and the wife thought that the guest was with her husband. In the evening she brought food.

“Where did you get the food?” the host who had chased the guest away asked

“Your friend brought the sorghum. Hasn’t come here? He told me he was coming to you.” The man ate the food and he invited his friend back to apologize. Madut narrated and crowed laughed so much.

What about the man from your village Madut” Anei said “Who slaughtered a bull he cut open the stomach of the bull, he removed the liver, the pancreas, the heart and the kidneys and gave them to his wife to cook for him. He said that he was hungry. His wife cooked for him. He ate them and told his wife that he would rest for some minutes and then skin the bull. The man fell asleep until the sun was about to set.

“Come and skin the bull.” The wife said.

“No I can’t do that.” The man said.

“What shall I do?” his wife asked

“If you want to throw the bull in the forest, throw it to the forest. If you want to call the community to take it, call the community to take it. When I am satisfied I don’t want any with the hair on it.” The man said.

The crowed laughed very much and dispersed from the wine drinking tree.

Chapter Twenty

There had been many young men in Madut’s village and cattle camps. Maker Magal had been one of these young men. Maker was big and strong. He was an elephant of a man. It happened that he had impregnated a girl from the next clan. The girl Ameer Nyok came to their home. Maker refused to marry her. Madut the chief said that child should be exchanged by five cattle but Maker and his father rejected that suggestion.

“Please Maker and your father, you will dangerous problems over this issue.” Madut warned.

“You ask the owner (his son) of the wife.” Magar the father said.

“You are his father, you must force him.” Madut said.

“How can I force him when he (son) says that child is not his.” Magar explained.

The father of the girl Nyok Biar said that if the family of Maker Agou has refused my daughter with her child, there was no problem. He was taking his daughter with her child. He took his daughter.

When Nyok Biar had arrived at his home, he told his son Biar that at the time they were growing with their sisters, there were no men joking with them. If a man touched their skin on the dance ground his head would bleed. Our sisters were much feared and respected because of our toughness. Now your sisters were just played with like prostitutes and you just look on in cowardice.

Biar, his son and the brother to Ameer had been keeping quite when his father was abusing. After two days, Biar left for his aunt’s home. When Biar was at his aunt’s home, some one came to Nyok that your daughter was an evil-eyed. “Really?  Where has that evil-eyed-ness come from? In our family, there is no evil eyed person” Nyok revealed.

At his aunt’s home, Biar got up one night and said “Why is Maker refusing my sister? Is it some thing in our family? Is it a vice from my father? A vice from my mother? Or what is it exactly?” he pondered and puzzles.  “What a humiliation.” Biar added.

The dance was danced at three O’clock in the after noon. Biar went the dance to relieve himself of the great distress of humiliation. He found Maker dancing with his friends. His eyes grew dark, and he speared Maker in the stomach. Maker fell down dead. The dancers and spectators ran away in shock.

The news reached Akoi village that Maker Magar had been killed by Biar Nyok his in-law. His father started crying.

“Nyok son of my father.” Madut said “What did I tell you?” Madut ironically said and chanted “I bought it with ten cows until the poor looked with cold,cold and cold eyes.”

Maker Magar was buried with forty five pieces of elephant grass. His brothers tried to take revenge against Biar but they failed many times.

After six months, Magar, Madut and clan members went to Atuk clan for the compensation of Maker. Atuk clan refused to pay fifty cattle as compensation. The Riet clan returned to their Akoi village. A meeting was held to discuss what would be done but it ended without a concrete decision.

Another month passed and nothing was done about Maker’s problem. There were no cattle given as compensation and no avenged his soul. In Boralian tribe, there are two ways of solving a murder case-compensation or revenge.

The women of Riet clan had realized that the men had failed about Maker’s case. All the women in Akoi village didn’t cook one evening. When the men asked them, “We didn’t cook because we were in the meeting discussing how to handle Maker’s case.” Abuk told her Madut.

This provoked Madut Kuol the chief of Akoi village into calling a clan meeting and passing an ultimatum of ten days to Atuk clan to pay fifty cattle or face a fatal war.

Atuk clan replied that Riet clan had been doing evils to other clans on the land of Boralian people.

“We are the same people, how can Riet clan say they are brave. We shall show them strength and courage.”

Madut and the clan were now facing a difficult decision but Madut’s son said they were ready for war. They sent a messenger with this message

“Riet clan hates the lie, it is better to be bitten by snake than to tell a lie. Let your wives shave their hair and start mourning early so you will see how deeply they will mourn you, take part in your funeral rite. so Atuk clan mentioned days the clan would fight, and which place the war would be fought. And give the massager to return this message to Riet clan

“by thunder striking Atukclan dodge the spear and an arrow. If we don’t chase you the anuses will full down from each Atuk clan man. If you chase Aluk clan, that will only message that the Atuk clan chief will take to dead mother” It was agreed that the battle would be fought at the cattle camp ground between the two clans. Four days were given for each clan to prepare itself for the battle.

After four days, the two clans met on the cattle camp ground. They were carrying sharp spears and shields. The war organizer came from Abung clan. Alen Mathiang and briefed each clan. He said, each clan must line up facing another. Each man must know the man he is fighting  from another clan. After the two clans lined facing each other, the war organizers broke the shaft and he moved between the two clans and they “started fighting.”

Riet clan speared, Riet clan killed forty-five men from Atuk clan. Atuk clan ran away. Forty five man were killed, forty five men were the number of the pieces of an elephant grass that was buried with Maker by his father Magar.

Atuk clan buried his people. After twelve months mourning, all thirty five of Baralian tribe gathered and declared war against Riet clan or they compensate the forty five men they killed from Atuk clan.

Riet clan had been accused by doing many bad things. Madut Kuol went to negotiate with the chiefs of the thirty five until they agreed the compensation.

The compensation was made each man compensated with fifty one cattle. Riet clan became poorer and p

Chapter Twenty one

After the compensation, the tails of horses and buffaloes that were fastened at the horns of bulls were taken to Luak. Gongs and thong-lassoed and palmettoed were taken to Luak also. Old men and children were taken home to eat sorghum food. The whole of Akoi village was in miserable life. They had no cattle. Every man went to their relatives, daughters and aunts’ homes to bring cows that could be milked to their children and the elderly.

Wel Mac invited Madut to his home village. He slaughtered a goat for his old friend. They had eaten their goat. Wel’s wife brought sorghum wine. They drank their wine. They discussed many burning issues including the poverty that was prevailing in Riet clan.

“You know friend, the old women tell the stories of love to their children. How they were engaged by handsome men. How much they loved them. The old men tell the stories-the victory stories of the wars they had been fighting in their youth-indeed men always converse of war and women always converse of love that is why there is a Boralian proverb “men are great warriors and women are great lovers” Wel explained.

“That is true if you have never been to one of the greatest battles, nothing good you can tell the children when you become old.” Madut said.

“You know I have not given up my dream you had rejected some years ago?” Wel said

“Which dream?” Madut asked.

“Taking war to neighbouring tribe.”  Wel said

“An ouch of foolish decision or action is as powerful as an earth quake. It explodes like a volcano, smoking out the lives of people and humiliated the society of the tongue that pronounced it and ouch of wise decision could save million lives and exulted the society the tongue that pronounced.” Madut explained.

“Exactly friend, this decision will save your clan from cycle of poverty, we shall bring cattle to replace with the cattle you paid in compensation to the useless poor Atuk clan.” Wel said.

“I have never been defeated and the side I am in is always victorious, I shall go back and tell my people  about the war.” Madut said.

Madut Kuol put on his feather of glory and left, he informed his people about the war. He explained that, big poverty they had would  be alleviated by the cattle they would raid from neighbouring tribe of Apinyding. He had sent a messenger back to Wel Mac that the war would be taken after fifteen days.

Madut brought a bull and gave it to Ringdit to clean up the path to the war. It was on first of the ninth moon of the year. The service-ant had bumped the drum to every morning. The youth warriors jumped in with different kinds of decoration on their bodies. They were singing doxologies. Their feet were shuffling and their legs were clanking. The gongs on were neng and tinkled. The cloud of dust darkened the shrine. The elders punctuated drum tone with long live eulogies and war slogans!!

“We worship our Ringdit with blood.” The elders said. One of the elders invoked and the multitude of men, women and children murmured thundering “Naluka hie”.

Suddenly, the magician was wobbled by the holy power of Ringdit, the compassionate heart and said, “This is the beginning of the war, you will fight well and bring a lot of cattle and the smoke of my cattle will spiral up and be by many clans.” The magician branded the wand to the bull, the giant bull urinated. Urinating of the bull was a sign of divine acceptance by Ringdit. Urine was the purification water for many social indecencies, sins and problems. The magician mixed the urine with sand and smeared the mixture on the fore head and toes of the youth warriors. Then the bull was buffeted and was butchered by the Ringdit shrine butchers and the elderly women crawled in with pots of water as liberation, the magician spate saliva in the water and he sprayed the crowd with the water. He also sprayed the cud of the bull over youth warriors. The sun set and they dance continues.

The youth warrior were hooting and hooting horns in happiness, there was drumming and drumming of drum that night.

When the day was about to break, Ringdit called in Madut.

“My son, what you thought is a noble thought. Go and bring the cattle.” Ringdit said.

“Long live my father.” What about the children, are they coming back safely?” Madut asked.

“There is no war ever fought without some people dying in the battle field.” Ringdit told him.

“Unless I must do some thing “Ringdit said.

“Do it my father.” Madut said.

“One must go and die in the battle, and I need him.” Ringdit said.

“I Madut kuol, I have seven sons, I will be the one to die in the battle field. I mist die so that my youth warriors come back safely and with cattle.” Madut made a sacrifice.

“Call in for Wuol Kuek.” Ringdit said.

Wuol was summoned.

“Long live my father I am here.” Wuolsaid.

“Wuol, tomorrow when the youth warriors are leaving for the war, you take the white bull and slaughter and all the youth warriors must hurdle the bull and they must pass between your legs.” Ringdit said.

“Madut must not hurdle the bull; he must not jump over the bull and must not pass between your legs.” Ringdit added, “You must note this seriously”.

Madut told the elders not to tell the prophesy of his death to his sons or wives. When the youth warrior jumped over the white bull in the morning, Mabior the son of Madut asked his father why he was not jumping the bull.

“I will tell you Mabior the secret when we come back from the war.”

The youth warrior had walked for three days and they reached Ampinyding. The war was  fought. There were two clans who went to raid cattle, they were Wel Mac and Madut Kuol’s clans. Eight men from Wel’s clan were killed and Wel himself came back. There was no one killed in Madu’s clan. Only Madut was killed. Many cattle were brought.

Chapter Twenty Two

The thousands of raided cattle stirred the as they were approaching Akoi. The women saw the dust and they came in jubilation to welcome their youth warriors. The youth warriors had thatched themselves with gar and leaves. They were gamboling, singing victory songs. The mothers, wives and sisters of the youth warriors ran out singing and joyfully crying sweet ululation. They mixed up with the youth warriors. They were cheering, worshiping, kissing, hailing, praising, honoring, adoring and glorifying the youth warriors with undying love for their bravery and mighty on earth

Abuk Deng noticed immediately that Madut Kuol her husband was not among the people coming from the war.

“Where is Madut?” Abuk inquired.

“He is coming” some one answered.

Abuk suddenly fell down in shock. When men came back from war, they didn’t say so and so is killed, they just said, they were coming. Abuk was taken to her home by the women.

“Madut had died in honourable way. If he died peacefully, and buried at the left side of his hut, it would have been a disgrace to him, his family, and entire community.” his brother Nyok Kat said.

“I wish I knew when Madut was taking his feather of glory I could have gone and die with him.” Abuk stated.

“What I hate most Madut died I didn’t was him and buried him in a dignified way. He was eaten by wild creatures.” Ameer his other wife said.

“Great and brave die that way.” One of the community elders said.

“Madut have many children a man who is mourned so much is the childless man.” Another elder said.

Four bulls were slaughtered each bull represented each of the four wives. All his family members’ hair was shaved except unmarried daughters. His four wives put on black skins.

After six months, four bulls were slaughtered for the final funeral rite. The black skins were removed from the wives.

Nhai Bior the cousin of Madut stood up and said, “Marriage is second birth of man. That is why every child must marry whether he is dead or alive. If the first born son passes away, his second brother must marry a wife for him first and then he marries his own wife later. If your son brother died, you must take on his wife to produce children for him, his wife must not be divorced. If your father is too old and he has his young wife, you must take over his wife to produce children for him. If you have two wives and one is childless, the son of the other wife must marry a wife for her. All things are done in order the names of the people don’t perish.”

The wives of Madut were given a choice to choose among the sons of Madut and brothers of Madut, the eldest son of Abuk said that, “No son of Madut shall sleep with his father’s wife. I can’t take my father’s wife when my uncles are there.” The first chance was given to Abuk Deng to choose her new husband.

“I will never choose.” Abuk Deng said. Madut Kuol has not died. He had gone to prepare my home down. I will meet him soon down or in the evening at Kiir shrine cattle camps where the holy and brave dead come and drink milk. I don’t want any man to go to my hut as my husband. On 11-7-7051 R.C.P I met Madut Kuol at the dance ground “outside the bed, it had been taking the man (Madut) whom I love six hundred and seventy five days to kiss me”. On 11-7-7069 R.C.P he married me, “inside the bed, the man (Madut) whom I loved had been giving me a very non breathing, non stop kiss for two thousand four hundred and thirty day” until the day he put on his “feather of glory” and went to war. Should I learn about the prophesy of Ringdit about Madut’s death, I would have been going to war and die with him. If it is children, I have them. If it is happiness, it has ended. Nothing I want from men again.” Abuk explained and sat down. Other three wives chose their new husbands.

Chapter Twenty Three

After the death of Madut Kuol, Abuk Deng had taken two responsibilities of mother and father. The new husbands chosen by the three wives of Madut were just children producers only. The major decision of Madut’s home were made by Abukdit. The suffix after Abuk’s name was added due to her old age. The suffix dit was always added to differentiate the children of the same father who had the same name. If a cow is given to Madut from bride cattle of Riet clan because of his chiefness of the clan, Abuk was the one to give to other wives. Other wives had to wait.

Abuk taught the children and grandchildren of Madut many things like dangerousness of the tailed human, spelluord, adultery of related people. If the cattle was slaughtered the head belonged to the man. The head was not given out, it could bring back luck that man could get cattle. If the bull was slaughtered, there are some pieces of meat were given to some clan members and lineages. This was to maintain relationship. One would give bones to enemies. Abuk told her daughters that let you not be deceived by men with strong tongues and cunning eyes. Some families had long stories of poverty, so they should bring hungers to his orphanage family.

One night, an engagement man of her co-wife’s daughter came. When the man was leaving in the morning, Abuk stopped her step-daughter and her would be husband.

“Who’s an engaged man is this?” Abuk asked.

“Mine mother.” The daughter answered.

“You daughters, don’t bring insults to the family of Madut Kuol, what he has not done is known by God. Why do you let your self to be engaged by an ugliest man? Why don’t you let your self be engaged by those of Chan Lual?” Abuk said.

The man smiled and walked away when he heard the name Chan Luak. Her step- daughter escorted the man. The step-daughters started laughing .

“Why do you laugh? Let the truth be told.” Abukdit said.

“That was chan Luak mother.” One of the daughters said.

“The famous Chan Luak, he is not the one.” Abuk said.

When her step-daughter returned, she said the same that was Chan Luak.

“Why is he much famous?” Abuk asked.

“Because he sing nice songs.” Her step-daughter said.

Chan Luak was so angry with her mother-in law’s words. He struggled until he married the step-daughter of Abuk. After the daughter gave birth to two children. Chan Luak came and visited his mother-in-law. His mother-in-law gave him a mat he sat on. His mother-in-law asked him about her daughter. Chan said that she was fine but had stolen sorghum from her neighbour’s farm. Abuk was greatly disturbed by this vice her daughter did. She called other wives of Madut , went to their daughter, they found that their daughter didn’t steal any sorghum. Abuk started wailing loudly, the people and in-laws came and asked why the mother-in-law of Chan was crying. She told them that Chan went to and told her that her daughter had stolen sorghum from her neighbour’s farm.

“This children, we brought them up with my husband Madut Kuol, they didn’t know hunge.” Abuk said.

One of the elders persuaded Abuk to stop crying he said there was a way such a problem would be solved.

“You break of one taboos against your in-laws you give a cow as a sign of respect. You should give your mother-in-law a cow.” The elder said.

Before I married her daughter, she abused me that I was the ugliest man.” Chan said.

“Don’t talk as if you’re not a man. The elders said.

“You have committed an indecent thing.” The elders said.

Chapter Twenty Four

Abuk de Deng had grown much older and older. She had lost her memories about every thing. Her sons had all married. Her daughters had all been married either. Her cattle had increased, she had twelve herds of cattle. She was not recognizing any one including his own sons. If one of his sons came to her and greeted her, she would ask him

“Which child are you?” Abuk could ask

“I am Kuol Madut?” The son of might say so.

“Kuol Madut, which Madut?” Abuk asked.

“I am your son.” The son says so.

“I am old though I am not blind I don’t see well.” Abuk said.

Abuk was like a baby. She could not eat food or drink milk any more. She was not able to walk or crawl. Her children-sons and daughters met and decided to end her life in dusting ceremony. A great deal of food was prepared as well as wine. Her children invited the thirty five clans of Boralian tribe. After the people had gathered, her eldest son introduced the subject matter.

“Our Abudit is great woman on earth. We love her so much. Today although she is not dead, we are going to her blessing with her. We are going to make her join our father Madut Dow. Blessing and peace be upon our beloved mother.” Her step-son said as he started beating the drum.

The song of dance was put and all people started dancing. The dancers stirred up the happy dust on the floor. Abukdit was brought out from her hut by the sons and followed by her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in songs of praise and she was taken to the centre of dance. She shocked to death by the happy dust stirred up by the dancers. Her grave was dug up quickly she was washed with savory milk and she was cleaned up with fresh milk, she was buried and people danced on her grave until it became leveled. It was until it appeared as nobody was buried there. Forty cattle were slaughtered on the grave. No one shaved the hair and nobody mourned. It was a mourning celebration which the people of Riet clan had been enjoyed in eating food and drinking wine.

About Post Author