The First Eland and the Hunter's Pact

The first hunter was a man named Savara, who was known for his skill and his respect for the wild. One day, he tracked a magnificent Eland, the largest and most sacred of all antelope, deep into the Matobo Hills. He cornered the Eland, but instead of killing it, he was overcome by its beauty and majesty. The Eland spoke to him. "Hunter," it said, "you have shown respect. I am the spirit-mother of all elands. Make a pact with me. My children will offer themselves to you and your people for food, but you must honor them. You must never be wasteful, and you must perform a ritual of thanks after every kill." Savara agreed. He became the founder of the Eland (Nhofu/Shava) totem clan. To this day, his descendants do not eat the eland, for it is their sacred relative. They are known as the people of the Eland, and their identity is based on this ancient pact of respect between a wise hunter and the spirit of his prey.