Yum and Dong
often went walking on the beach to meet Song the woman from a different clan
who knew about cures for sicknesses. As it was summer time now they travelled
further afield as sometimes she was not on the beach but in the woods or walking by the streams. They knew where she was because she said she
searched the plants she needed so sang out to them that they were needed.
Yum loved her as
a friend but Dong was a little jealous and she was nervous that the men in
Song’s clan might come across them and steal them for themselves. When Yum told
her this Song laughed so much she almost cried. She went up to Dong and put her
arm around her and assured her she was safe.
“Dong do not be
scared, I am what is called the spirit woman. The men are in awe of me. For I am
the one they turn to when in trouble. If the women or children are sick or if
one of the men has been bitten by an animal, they will come to me for help.”
“Are you not
married Song?” Yum asked. Again Song smiled but shook her head. “When I was but
young they found me one day singing to the hills, and a wind sprang up and
whistled as I did so then the clouds gathered for a storm as if in answer my call. Now no man
dare touch me lest I cast a spell on them. They called me Song from that day
on.”
“So they respect
you now” said Yum.
“You are the
first one Yum not to fear me. Even Dong is still not sure, are you?”
Dong shook her
head doubtfully.
Still smiling
Song said “Come with me and I will show you some of my secrets for there is
much to find in this season”.
So the women and
the children walked with Song and she showed them the plants she used.
First she found
some nettles and while Yum was telling the children not to touch the plants
Song walked up and grasped some firmly in her hands and brought it back to show
them. “This will help if a wound will not stop bleeding. Don’t be afraid that it
will hurt but grab it firmly and then it will not sting. It is only the little hairs on the leaves
that sting.” Yum nodded at her but still checking the children who were pulling
the heads off some yellow flowers nearby.
Song laughed “See
they are doing my job for me. This plant (Dandelion) will help to reduce fever,
look at the white milk inside the stem when we break it".
As they walked on
Song kept on finding plants she used “Look at this little bulb (onion or perhaps garlic) in the ground it
is good to eat with food but is also a medicine. Then spying a large leafed
plant further off “Come, come, if you chew this one (Castor Oil plant) you will
not be constipated. Doesn’t your man sometimes complain about that? We must eat plants as well as meat”.
They spent much
of the day with her and just before they thought they should go home she said, "Stay here. Do you not see the bees flying home to their nest? I will see if they can
give us some honey”.
So while Song
found a long stick Yum, Dong and the children sat in a field of flowers waiting
for her. After a short while she came running towards them stick in hand.
“Have you been
stung, Song?”
Song shook her
head, “No, not this time. They thought that a branch from the tree had damaged
the hive not this woman on the end of a long stick,” she laughed. “Now each of
you have a lick of the honey then tell me what you think.”
So they all
tasted the honey that dripped from the stick and their eyes opened wide with
amazement.
Yum laughed, “I
must not tell Dum. He always says he could eat me up. If he tasted this he wouldn’t
want me anymore.”
Song then said
“It is difficult to get, but it helps wounds heal especially burns.”
Still licking
their fingers they started off for home. Even Dong who was doubtful before was
beginning to like Song.
