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| All stories are the property of Baba Jamal Koram. All Rights Reserved. This stories may not be reproduced by any means. The Washitaw are a Black nation of indigenous people commonly referred to as "Black Indians." Many Black folks in American who claim "Indian" heritage share common lineage with the Washitaw. Click on the Black Indians page for more information. Here is a fictional account of: The Washitaw Queen A Folktale By Baba Jamal Koram ©2004 Baba Jamal Koram The queen of the Washitaw Empire had just returned from a trading trip with the Garifuna, Arawak and Inca. She was attended by her elite guard as her ship move slowly up the Mississippi River. The guard was trained to protect the queen at any cost. It was a labor of love for these Washitaw warriors. It wasn’t like any one was going to mess with dem, they were panther quick, powerful as grizzlies, some were 5 feet tall, and many were as tall as 7 feet. Their black skins shined with imported oils, and with auras, their hair locked long and strong. Not only were these men and women powerful, but they were beautiful to behold. Stretches of the mighty winding river were lush with trees and other vegetations. Here and there were waterways that meandered into the darkness away from the big Mississippi. The queen, Ma Nu of de Washitaw de dug dey Moundah Empire had surveyed vast reaches of her more than six million acre land, but she had never been up one of these swamp like Big River waterways. “Turn dere,” she commanded, pointing to an east bound inlet. “But, Ma Nu,” the helmsman insisted, “Darkness descends, and this particular passage has a history of being dangerous, and unpredictable.” Ma Nu glanced at the brother, “You didn’t hear we stutter,” said the queen, “Go dere right now.” The ship slowly veered into the inlet waterway. It was close sailing, as this was a large vessel. Ma Nu peered into the encroaching darkness, as if she was looking for something in particular. Lamps were lit, sailors and soldiers assumed protective positions around the boat. They traveled for two hours up this water, when the big ship could go no further. The Capitan asked the queen what she would want to do now. “Lower de small boats,” she directed, and pointing she said, “We travel toward dat glow of green light.” Indeed there was a faint glow on the eastern horizon. No one questioned her. You see, her people knew when to open their mouths, and when to keep dem shut. Boats were lowered quietly, as night life splashed and slithered in and out of the murky swamp water. The Captain of the guard, with gestures and signs, ordered his men to be alert. He knew that the Queen knew dat dey were in Alligator head country. Many people knew of these Alligator people, but only through myths and stories told under de cottonwood trees. Stories were told of a race of massive people with human bodies and alligator heads, who protected de swamp and dey secrecy by any means necessary, so most times if you went in de swamp, you never came out. The light the crew had seen on the horizon melted into the full moon rising, as lunar light laid over de land like transparent fog. Ma Nu spoke softly, “We shall soon come to an island, and we will disembark and wait dere.” The Captain spoke protectively, “Wait for what my Queen?” “For our people of the swamp,” she replied. The night grew cooler, fires were lit, food prepared, perimeters set. Queen Ma Nu was made comfortable in her tent. An area outside the tent was cleared and made ready to receive guests. The warriors didn’t have too long to wait. There was a sound that only the alert elite guard heard. There wasn’t any, “Did you hear, dat?” or “I wonder what dat noise was?” Unh uh. The perimeter guards crouched down, the tent guards stiffened, the tree guards stilled, peering into the night. No one would penetrate their watch. So they thought. The camp was well lit but Ma Nu sensed a security breach and she motioned to the Captain to have her guard stand down. Soon after, they all heard a voice. It sounded as if it were right dere in their midst. “Do not be alarmed,” said the voice, “Queen Ma Nu has sent for us, and we are here.” The Queen called out, “Den show we self, now!” The guards braced, and were more than surprised, as the earth near the tent loosened and shook and a body rose up from the ground. It was a huge body, wide and massive. Everyone in the Queen’s entourage got de wide eye, when de appeared to be an Alligator looking head with red eyes on top of this wide brown body. Queen Ma Nu spoke first. “Ah, my beloved Hadegator, it is always good to see you. Where are the rest of we troop?” “Awaiting your command my Queen,” responded the visitor. Ma Nu turned to the Captain of the Elite Guard to assemble her warriors, almost 50 in number. Let it be known that 12 of the elite were always around her and 8 more were somewhere very near these eight were never seen. They had been surprised, but they were always prepared to protect the Queen. When the elite had gathered, Queen Ma Nu, signaled to Hadegator, the leader of the mythological Alligator- head people . And one by one, just as he did, Alligator humans rose up from out of the ground. The guard had been walking over them since they arrived hours ago to set up camp! Twenty five or more, and who knows what others were hidden, rose from in the ground and presented themselves to the Washitaw Empress. There was a brief murmur of admiration among the guard for the discipline and skill of these Alligator - head soldiers, who stood as tall as some of the other Washitaw, and appeared to be just as strong. The Queen expressed approval of their tactics and discipline. “I have gathered this meeting,” explained Queen Ma Nu, “To form a strategy for a coming invasion from a Wachunga people to the east. We have, maybe 100 years to prepare for dem.” HadeGator pressed for permission to speak. “We people have served the Washitaw Royalty for more than fifty thousand years,” he said, and nothing in the future can change dat.” And so, they sat and talked. The Queen, and her guard stayed in the swamp for forty days. During that time, the troops planned, and hunted and learned of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They trained and prayed, and followed the ceremonies and rituals of the Washitaw culture. They pledged commitment to the Queen and to each other and to the empire, to endure over time and through sacrifice. When the Empress Ma Nu and her guard left to resume their travels north, she felt that the empire would be secure for years to come. Little did she know, nor could she imagine, that the anticipated enemy would be so full of venomous deceit and treachery, vile and dishonor, and that the new age coming would be so destructive. All stories are the property of Baba Jamal Koram. All Rights Reserved. This stories may not be reproduced by any means. |
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