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Overview
When Mosimoli’s mother kills her and casts the remains into a pool, its crocodile moulds them until she is again the woman she was. Mosimoli afterwards lives beneath the water and repeatedly emerges with an iron staff. When her father appeals to her, she calls the crocodile her father and mother: it has taken the parental role that her own household betrayed.
The father brings many cattle to the pool and addresses the crocodile as chief. It goes underwater to consult Mosimoli before agreeing to return her. After she consents, the cattle are driven in and sink beneath the surface. The crocodile makes repeated journeys to fetch her mat, garments, bead ornaments and bracelets, then brings her out. It gives her cattle and a pack ox for her possessions, promising to receive her again if her family kills her. She returns to her married home. The narrative’s protective remaking is distinct from comparative stories where a water animal merely rescues a still-living child.
Origins & earliest records
Jacottet’s bilingual XXIV includes comparisons to Sekese, Casalis and Junod, but its complete main narrative is kept distinct. No individual contributor is named in this inspected witness.
Records & interpretation
XXIV, Mosimoli and Mosimotsane, complete bilingual pp. 166–175; English pp. 166, 168, 170, 172, 174. Crocodile’s restoration p. 168; iron-staff appearances pp. 170–174; consent, cattle, belongings and departure p. 174. Translation caveat for grinding-stone term p. 168.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, vol. I
XXIV, Mosimoli and Mosimotsane, complete bilingual pp. 166–175; English pp. 166, 168, 170, 172, 174. Crocodile’s restoration p. 168; iron-staff appearances pp. 170–174; consent, cattle, belongings and departure p. 174. Translation caveat for grinding-stone term p. 168.
- 02
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I, Morija/London, 1908, title-page OCR. Full preface and introduction xxii method statement read; complete XXIV, Mosimoli and Mosimotsane, bilingual printed pp.166–175, English pp.166/168/170/172/174 and all explanatory notes independently read. Facing Sesotho placement inspected without independent translation.
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.
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, vol. I
The Treasury of Ba-suto Lore, volume I, Morija/London, 1908, title-page OCR. Full preface and introduction xxii method statement read; complete XXIV, Mosimoli and Mosimotsane, bilingual printed pp.166–175, English pp.166/168/170/172/174 and all explanatory notes independently read. Facing Sesotho placement inspected without independent translation.
- A crocodile restores and protects Mosimoli, consulting her before agreeing to her return.
The hard grinding-stone expression is explicitly Jacottet’s guess, not a secure technical translation. Mosimoli’s father-and-mother claim and the crocodile’s child address express protective affiliation after restoration, not demonstrated biological reproduction. The parents’ ghosts holding the pitcher are the girls’ explanation, not separately confirmed narration. Sekese’s hippopotamus/crocodile song variant remains a comparison; no lyrics or procedure copied. Specific narrator unresolved; J. C. Smith English correction credited.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Collected Se-Suto text with English translation and notesJacottet — complete Mosimoli narrativeResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
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