A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The little old woman appears from the last in a long row of pots found by two brothers while hunting. The elder is afraid to turn them over, but the younger turns every pot and releases her. She asks the elder to accompany her and is refused, then asks the younger, who agrees. The elder follows despite the refusal, and she takes them to a country containing a tree with cattle.

She directs the younger boy to cut the tree with an axe. Cattle emerge, followed by a sheep, a goat and a white ox; she gives the herd to the willing younger brother. The woman remains there as they set off. The elder later abandons the younger below a precipice and falsely claims that the woman rewarded him. The eventual rescue restores the actual sequence of her request and gift. Callaway’s comparative note describes a different Basotho pot creature; that being’s unequal legs and death are not transferred to this old woman.

Emerges from last potRewards willing escortReveals livestock-bearing tree
01

Origins & earliest records

The bilingual tale closes with Ukofana Dhladhla. Callaway’s note 62 identifies the contributor as Amakuza and comments on the language style; the separate Basotho comparison is editorial evidence, not the contributor’s main episode.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete Izelamani (The Two Brothers), printed pp. 217–220; pot woman pp. 217–218, warning bird and living-son rescue pp. 219–220.

In the literature

“a little old woman came out of the last.”
Ukofana Dhladhla · Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus
Izelamani (The Two Brothers), printed p.217 · Henry Callaway

The pot woman’s emergence.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus

    Ukofana Dhladhla, named contributor; Henry Callaway, translator and annotator · 1868

    Izelamani (The Two Brothers), complete pp. 217–220; note 57 contrasts Casalis’s Basotho account and note 62 identifies contributor context.

  2. 02

    Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus — Izelamani (The Two Brothers)

    Ukofana Dhladhla; Henry Callaway, translator/editor · 1868

    HenryCallaway, Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus, VolumeI, Springvale,Natal:JohnA.Blair1868; bilingual Princeton scan. Complete Izelamani217–220 and notes57–62 read. Original pages217/220 visually inspected; UkofanaDhladhla closing signature belongs to Izelamani, while Lydia’s earlier217 signature closes the preceding Umkxakaza tale.

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.

Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus

HenryCallaway, Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus, VolumeI, Springvale,Natal:JohnA.Blair1868; bilingual Princeton scan. Complete Izelamani217–220 and notes57–62 read. Original pages217/220 visually inspected; UkofanaDhladhla closing signature belongs to Izelamani, while Lydia’s earlier217 signature closes the preceding Umkxakaza tale.

  1. Two hunting brothers find a row of pots. The younger overturns them and releases a little old woman from the last. The elder refuses her request for an escort, but the younger agrees; both follow her to a livestock-bearing tree. She directs the younger to cut it, releasing cattle, a sheep, a goat and a white ox, and gives him the herd. The elder later abandons him below a precipice and falsely claims the gift. A speaking bird brings the parents, who rescue their living son; the elder has fled.

    Izelamani, complete printed pp.217–220, notes57–62 and contributor signature

Callaway’s note57 describes Casalis’s different Basotho pot-monster with unequal legs and a murdered brother. Those features are not anatomy or events of this main telling.

References

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

  1. Digitized bilingual primary collected narrativeCallaway — Izelamani (The Two Brothers)Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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