Mokhali oa Molata

Overview

Mokhali oa Molata first appears as the wife who demands Nyamatsane liver as proof of her husband’s love. He undertakes a long hunt, survives pursuit by the fabulous animals and returns with the liver. He sends the children away and requires her to eat it alone. Her resulting thirst consumes her own pitcher, then the supplies of one household after another. Even a whole pitcher cannot satisfy her. Once the village’s stored water is gone, she drinks its fountains, then brooks and rivers, including their mud.

At the great pool of the animals she empties the final water and can no longer leave. Her belly rises above her head and is described as larger than the mountains. Great Lion and the thirsty animals initially see an enormous object, then recognize Mokhali. Asked why she remains at their ancestral fountain, she replies that it holds her fast. Rabbit, Little Hare and Reebock refuse or doubt their ability to pierce her, as do the others; eventually Little Hare uses his nail, releasing enough water to refill the pool, rivers, brooks and fountains.

The narrative moves into Hare’s later deceptions after the waters return; it supplies no further fate for Mokhali and does not describe her becoming a lake goddess. Jacottet explains her name as Mokhali, daughter of Molata. His note compares Casalis’s version, where an ostrich releases the swallowed lake and Elephant rules the animals. Those different rescuing animals belong to separate printed witnesses, rather than a single combined attack.

Origins & earliest records

Jacottet’s first tale is printed in Se-Suto with a literal English translation. Introduction xxii explains that most contributions were dictated to him or friends, including the Dieterlens, with a few taken from A. Sekese; this episode does not identify an individual contributor, so none is supplied here.

Records & interpretation

Jacottet (1908), I The Nyamatsanes, complete bilingual pp. 2–17; fabulous-animal qualification p. 3, disguise and chase pp. 2–7, thirst and water release pp. 8–11, separate Hare continuation pp. 12–17; introduction xxii on collection and translation.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, vol. I

   Édouard Jacottet, collector and translator; J. C. Smith, English text assistance · 1908

   Jacottet (1908), I The Nyamatsanes, complete bilingual pp. 2–17; fabulous-animal qualification p. 3, disguise and chase pp. 2–7, thirst and water release pp. 8–11, separate Hare continuation pp. 12–17; introduction xxii on collection and translation.

2. 02

   The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I

   Unnamed Sesotho narrative contributor; Édouard Jacottet, editor and translator; J. C. Smith, English text correction · 1908

   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 chapterIpp2–17 and notes; selected historical witness only.

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.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Collected Se-Suto text with literal English translation and notesJacottet — Mokhali’s impossible thirstResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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