The Woman and the Serpent of the Well

A beautiful Fulani woman went to a well to draw water, but the well was guarded by a great serpent. The serpent spoke to her. "I will give you water, but you must promise to marry me." The woman was terrified but, dying of thirst, she agreed. The serpent provided water and then followed her back to her village in the form of a handsome man. The woman's family, however, discovered his true nature. They devised a plan. They told the serpent-man that to marry their daughter, he had to pass a test of strength: he must be bound in ropes and see if he could break free. The serpent, full of pride, agreed. The family bound him with seven thick, wet leather ropes. As the leather dried in the sun, it shrank and tightened until the serpent was crushed and died. The story is often told as a cautionary tale about making promises to powerful, non-human spirits and the ability of human ingenuity to overcome a supernatural threat.