The Mason Wasp, page171, historical printed text witness; documentary source-page facsimile
Primary text witness to The Mason Wasp, page171 in the 1911 edition. Documentary text facsimile, not creature artwork; historical terminology and collector interpretations belong to the original publication.
Overview
The Mason Wasp is described as formerly a man, and the narrator’s note connects that condition with his bow and his ability to shoot. He walks with his wife following behind him. She points out a hare and asks him to kill it for her. He puts down his quiver, asks where it lies and takes out an arrow. He approaches in a stooping posture, which an explanatory note associates with encouraging a hidden hare to remain still while people pass nearby.
The intended hunt changes when his wife tells him to put down his kaross, or skin cloak. He at first seems unwilling, then loosens its strings and removes it. She mocks the slender middle of his body, treating that appearance as the reason he had kept it covered. Instead of shooting the hare, he turns aside, aims at his wife and shoots her in the breastbone. The note explains the blow as breaking that bone, and the narrative says she falls dead. He then cries over her death although he caused it himself. The final sequence records his grief and responsibility; it supplies no restoration of his wife or later reconciliation.
The represented animal name has a separate descriptive note. The contributor had seen the small flying creature in the collectors’ garden at Mowbray, and says that it occurs near water in summer. Its appearance and size are compared with the edition’s Palpares and Libellula labels. Those comparisons support the historical description without securely assigning a modern insect species. The original heading credits |han#kass’o’s June 1878 dictation and says that he heard the account from his mother |xabbi-an. The human marriage narrative, contributor’s animal observation and collectors’ comparisons remain distinct kinds of evidence.
Origins & earliest records
Selected tale in Bleek and Lloyd’s bilingual collection, edited from recorded narratives and explanatory notes. London: George Allen & Co., 1911. Dictated in June 1878 by |han#kass’o, learned from his mother |xabbi-an; printed heading p. 170.
Records & interpretation
Complete IV.—47 narrative and notes, pp. 170–172, read in the original 1911 edition. The p. 170 heading names June 1878 |han#kass’o and mother |xabbi-an; contributor’s Mowbray observation and historical insect comparisons are explanatory evidence, not a modern species identification.
In the literature
“And (his) wife fell down dead on account of it.”
IV.47, The Mason Wasp and his Wife, pp. 170–173; Complete hunting and domestic conflict episode · W. H. I. Bleek and Lucy C. Lloyd
Mason Wasp’s wife asks him to shoot a hare, then mocks his narrow body when he removes his kaross; he shoots her in the breast and laments as though someone else killed her.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Specimens of Bushman Folklore
IV.—47, The Mason Wasp and His Wife, complete pp. 170–172, including former-man note, hunting posture, fatal shot and Mowbray animal comparison.
- 02
Specimens of Bushman Folklore — IV.47, The Mason Wasp and his Wife, pp. 170–173
London: George Allen & Co., 1911. Dictated in June 1878 by |han#kass’o, learned from his mother |xabbi-an; printed heading p. 170.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Located primary passages
Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.
Specimens of Bushman Folklore — IV.47, The Mason Wasp and his Wife, pp. 170–173
George Allen & Co., London, 1911. Dictated in June 1878 by |han#kass’o, learned from his mother |xabbi-an; printed heading p. 170.
- Mason Wasp’s wife asks him to shoot a hare, then mocks his narrow body when he removes his kaross; he shoots her in the breast and laments as though someone else killed her.
IV.47, The Mason Wasp and his Wife, pp. 170–173; Complete hunting and domestic conflict episode
The evidence excerpt supports one clause; the complete chapter was read for the full episode. This historical translation is a mediated witness, not an exhaustive account of present community beliefs.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Collected oral narrative in translationThe Mason Wasp and His WifeResearch access: 2026-10-05
- Primary collected narrative and explanatory notesSpecimens of Bushman Folklore, original bilingual editionResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical text facsimileThe Mason Wasp, page171, historical printed text witness; documentary source-page facsimile
Primary text witness to The Mason Wasp, page171 in the 1911 edition. Documentary text facsimile, not creature artwork; historical terminology and collector interpretations belong to the original publication.
