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Updated: June 29, 2025
Then Shasasa took the Magic Mirror and hid it beneath her pillow, and after that for many years Gopani-Kufa ruled his people both well and wisely, so that all men loved him, and never once did he need to ask Sipao to grant him a wish. Now it happened that, after many years, when the hair of Gopani-Kufa was turning grey with age, there came white men to that country.
Go back now to thine own country; Sipao will show you the way. Gopani-Kufa was greatly rejoiced, and, taking farewell of the king, said to the Mirror: 'Sipao, Sipao, I wish to be back upon the Earth again! Instantly he found himself standing upon the upper earth; but, not knowing the spot, he said again to the Mirror: 'Sipao, Sipao, I want the path to my own kraal!
If the king hesitates, go to him the next day, and the day after, and in the end he will bestow the Mirror upon you, for you saved his life. And it was even so. For three days Gopani-Kufa returned the same answer to the king, and, at last, with tears in his eyes, Insato gave him the Mirror, which was of polished iron, saying: 'Take Sipao, then, O Gopani-Kufa, and may thy wishes come true.
'Biz-z-z, hummed Zengi-mizi, 'ask him for Sipao the Mirror. And it flew back into its basket. Gopani-Kufa was astonished at this answer; but knowing that the words of Zengi-mizi were true words, he determined to make the request.
His wife was too astonished at all these wonders to ask any questions, but his daughter Shasasa kept begging him to tell her how he had suddenly become so great; so at last he revealed the whole secret, and even entrusted Sipao the Mirror to her care, saying: 'It will be safer with you, my daughter, for you dwell apart; whereas men come to consult me on affairs of state, and the Mirror might be stolen.
But the king was still much troubled, fearing the loss of Sipao, for the mirror had magic powers, so that he who owned it had but to ask and his wish would be fulfilled; to it Insato owed all that he possessed. As soon as the king left him, Gopani-Kufa again took Zengi-mizi, out of his basket.
Then the white men fell upon the people of Gopani-Kufa and slew them together with the chief and his daughter Shasasa; and since then all the power of the Earth has rested in the hands of the white men, for they have in their possession Sipao, the Magic Mirror. Story of the King Who Would See Paradise
That night he asked Zengi-mizi, in whom sat the spirit of his father, what he had better ask Sipao for next? 'Biz-z-z, said the wasp, 'would you not like to be as great a chief as Insato? And Gopani-Kufa smiled, and took the Mirror and said to it: 'Sipao, Sipao, I want a town as great as that of Insato, the King of Pita; and I wish to be chief over it!
So that night they feasted, and on the morrow Insato came to Gopani-Kufa and, giving him greeting joyfully, he said: 'Now, O my friend, name your choice amongst my possessions and you shall have it! 'O king! answered Gopani-Kufa, 'out of all your possessions I will have the Mirror, Sipao. The king started. 'O friend, Gopani-Kufa, he said, 'ask anything but that!
'Shasasa! my daughter! he cried wildly, 'go fetch me the mirror, for the white men are at hand. 'Woe is me, my father! she sobbed. 'The Mirror is gone! For I loved Butou the traitor, and he has stolen Sipao from me! Then Gopani-Kufa calmed himself, and drew out Zengi-mizi from its rush basket. 'O spirit of my father! he said, 'what now shall I do?
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