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Basque (3 stories)
Brazilian (3)
> The Legend of the Vitória Régia
> The Creation of Guaraná
> The Sleeping River
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The Sleeping River
People of the São Francisco River communities tell the story of the awesome River Mother, a mermaid-like spirit who lives in its deep waters. It is said that every night at midnight she casts a spell and puts the river to sleep for two minutes. During the time it is asleep, the river simply stops running. Its rapids stop flowing. The fish drift to the bottom. The poisonous snakes lose the power of their venom. And the River Mother herself at times comes out of the water seeking a boat where she can sit and comb her long hair.
It is said that when she puts the river to sleep those who have recently drowned rise out of the São Francisco and ascend to the stars. Experience boatmen who travel the São Francisco are careful not to disturb the river when it is sleeping. If they are thirsty around midnight, first they will throw a small piece of wood into the water to see if the river is flowing before dipping in a cup to take a drink.
They tell with terror the tale of a brash young boatman who simply did not believe in the legend of the River Mother, and who invited all of the other boatmen of his region to watch him defy her curse. Out they went, with the young man boasting to all and accepting bets on his ability to dive into the river at midnight and come back safe and sound. At midnight, one of the men threw a little piece of wood into the water, and it did not move...
The river, clearly, had been put to sleep.
The young boatman then dived into the clear water, and stayed down for several minutes. Just when all the companions had given up hope, he reappeared in midstream. “Impossible...” muttered one of the believers. “Wait!” shouted another. “Something must be terribly wrong!”
And, indeed, the young man was pulled onto one of the boats in a state of total confusion. He recognized none of his companions. He spoke nonsense. He looked around with a vacant gaze. And then, before anyone could stop him, he dived back into the São Francisco, and never again was seen.
All believed it was his punishment for having awakened the sleeping river.
Life along the São Francisco River continues today much as in the past, and the fishermen and boat people take care not to provoke the spirits which, they believe, still haunt this beautiful body of water.
*Extracted from Brazilian Legends series - Editora FTD
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