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Overview
Maliane is a chief’s cherished daughter, supplied with rich milk from her own cattle. A quarrel with her mother sends her away. She consults her speaking dog, then becomes a whirlwind, enters the house, gathers her belongings and departs still in that form. The dog advises her to answer a rat politely at a dense reed bed. The rat opens a path and tells her that an old woman waits beyond it. Maliane serves the afflicted woman, who cleanses and strengthens her for the journey to Monyohe. At a fountain she helps the lame Seroalakajana lift her pot and receives further warnings about entry and food.
Following the advice, she refuses the first loaf, uses familiar old grinding and cooking vessels and enters Monyohe’s food-filled hut. He descends from the roof after whistling, eats and coils beside her. Later a mist clears to reveal him at her feet. When she is frightened he identifies himself as her husband and moves aside. She announces a visit home; his household permits it, gives new garments and bracelets and escorts her. Her younger sister immediately rushes off to imitate her fortune, refusing Maliane’s attempt to explain what happened.
The younger sister mocks the speaking rat and rejects the women’s requests, then accepts the food Maliane refused. Monyohe attacks and pursues her home, enters the fountain and stops its flow. A physician removes his serpent covering and heals the sister, after which the water returns. Monyohe leaves with both women as wives. Maliane’s whirlwind transformation occurs at the beginning; the text does not assign it to her dog or extend it into every later escape. Her successful and unsuccessful sister encounters remain contrasted narrative sequences.
Origins & earliest records
Jacottet prints these related contributions as separate numbered tales in Se-Suto with literal English translations. Introduction xxii distinguishes dictation, friends’ collections and a few Sekese texts, but no individual narrator is assigned in these inspected episodes. His theories of ancient common origins remain editorial comparisons rather than first attestation dates.
Records & interpretation
Jacottet (1908), complete XVIII Monyohe pp. 126–135; XIX Monyohe pp. 134–139; XX Maliane pp. 140–147; XXI Monyohe pp. 148–153. English text on even pages, with facing Se-Suto and explanatory notes; introduction xxii on collection and translation.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, vol. I
Jacottet (1908), complete XVIII Monyohe pp. 126–135; XIX Monyohe pp. 134–139; XX Maliane pp. 140–147; XXI Monyohe pp. 148–153. English text on even pages, with facing Se-Suto and explanatory notes; introduction xxii on collection and translation.
- 02
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I, Morija: Sesuto Book Depot; London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1908, actual title-page OCR. Full preface and collection/translation statement introductionxxii independently read, alongside complete complete chaptersXVIII–XXIpp126–153 and notes; selected historical witness only.
Family, evolution & connections
Maliane and her younger sister — XX
XX only, English pp. 140–146.
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- Maliane and the unnamed younger sister (sibling group)
- Unnamed younger sister; also wife of Monyohe
Sister grouping, with each named as a wife of the same husband. The grouping root is not an ancestor. Maliane’s chief father and mother are explicit, but the younger sister’s parentage is not separately narrated, so common biological parents are not added. Monyohe is their husband, not a sibling. No children are supplied; XIX’s baby is not imported into XX.
Unnamed chief, Maliane’s father (XX)
The opening identifies Maliane as a chief’s daughter and subsequently has that father ask after her. No personal name or relationship to Monyohe’s family is supplied.
Unnamed mother of Maliane (XX)
Maliane’s mother appears in the opening household exchange. She is distinct from Mamonyohe, the mother of Maliane’s later husband.
Maliane’s unnamed younger sister (XX)
The returning Maliane is followed by her younger sister. The ending calls them Monyohe’s two wives. No name, children, or separate parents for the younger sister are supplied.
Monyohe in Jacottet XX
Monyohe identifies himself as Maliane’s husband; the ending expressly gives him both sisters as wives. This XX household remains separate from Senkepeng’s marriage and child in XIX.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, vol. I
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I, Morija: Sesuto Book Depot; London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1908, actual title-page OCR. Full preface and collection/translation statement introductionxxii independently read, alongside complete complete chaptersXVIII–XXIpp126–153 and notes; selected historical witness only.
- A whirlwind transformation begins Maliane’s journey, whose outcome differs from her younger sister’s experience.
XX, Maliane, complete bilingualpp140–147, Englishpp140/142/144/146 and notes
One observed narrative transformation is not permanent whirlwind identity. No healing preparation, scarification method, songs or formulas copied; no named sister invented. Sesotho facing-page placement inspected without independent translation. Individual narrator not identified from volume-level credits; Jacottet’s translation and Smith’s English correction acknowledged.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Collected Se-Suto texts with literal English translation and notesJacottet — complete Monyohe and Maliane accountsResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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