Why a Cave in Boyee is called "Goffa-bun or Goffa’s Cave"

January 1, 2006 - UNICCO Digest

By Yini Guva A. Sahn

Once there lived Goffa, a renowned hunter, in Yarwein Mesonon Kingdom, now called Yarwin Mesonon Clan. Those days, Goffa was said to have been among the best hunters of the kingdom. But the strange thing about Goffa was that he was not as generous as other hunters.

He gathered meat year round, but only fed his immediate relatives. As a custom, a hunter usually invites elders of the town to dine with him during a big catch. And he is usually made to explain to the town how he successfully hunted such a huge or mysterious animal. But Goffa wouldn’t invite anyone except a few friends and immediate relatives.

As a custom in our culture, good hunters and farmers usually assist others in the community when there is a shortage of food during the rainy season. Goffa was said to have kept his food reserve only for himself and his family, contrary to the local culture. He became known as the meanest hunter in Boyee.

One day on one of his hunting sprees, he hid underneath a Kosene tree (deer stand) eagerly waiting for a dear to pass by. It was around Mid November, most of the trees were bearing fruits. The ripped ones were falling down. As he sat, he heard what sounded like a thunder. He looked in the sky, but they were all blue.

Suddenly, he was hit with such a heavy wind blowing from the east. He changed the shot in his Winchester shotgun. He replaced the fine shot with buckshot, the most powerful-taking precaution, just in case elephants or buffalos were approaching. He became covered by cold fear and began to shiver for no reason.

Apparently he saw this big black deer running down the hill. Goffa took a good aim at the deer and shot it right in the head. In about five minutes, this scary looking creature appeared breathing profusely as if he had been running.

Its eyes were all bloodshot red, very hairy and but it looked like a human being that had probably lived in the jungle for prolonged period. No one could dare look in the eyes of this creature.

When he appeared, Goffa was already butchering up the deer to take home. The creature politely asked Goffa to cut the deer and give it to him. He said, “my wife is pregnant and sick. She had asked me to find her fresh meat for soup and I have been in the forest for almost a week. I found this deer and have been chasing it for hours. If I don’t take this deer, my wife will die. If you let me take the deer, I will show you the top hunting secret and herb in this kingdom. You will be comparable to no hunter that ever lived.’ As you know, I am one of one bush owners in this area.” the creature pleaded. But as he spoke, Goffa didn’t answer, he kept butchering the the deer. After cutting it, he put all the parts into a leaf container locally called kinja, made of palm leaves and took off.

The creature was ahead while Goffa followed. The dwarf thought Goffa would be compassionate enough to follow him with the meat. When they got to the intersection of the road leading to the dwarf’s cave, Goffa took off towards his village instead. The creature was very angry and disappointed and told Goffa to expect him anytime. It was said that the dwarf wept as he went to his ailing wife.

Goffa was upbeat for his catch but remembered the promise the creature made to him. His heart pounded with fear as he arrived at home. In this polygamist family, the head wife was happy because for weeks, they too, have not had any meat. So she sent her younger mates to for cassava. As usual, they made a big fufu that night. And Goffa invited his closest friends.

Goffa was unhappy as they sat in the kitchen eating fufu four days after his encounter with the creature. He stopped taking part in the conversation as he thought of the promise the creature made.

Suddenly a familiar event began. Without notice the cloud started gathering with flashes of lightning. Loud noise of thunder and light rain. And a strong wind blowing towards Boyee. Goffa knew exactly that there was something in the making. His heart began to pound. His friend who sat next to him could hear the heartbeat. Sei asked if he had swallowed a bone and he said no. He was just thinking about what happened during the hunting spree last week.

Immediately this terrible looking creature entered the village. The dogs were barking. The roosters that usually crow, all flew up high to escape the wrath of this powerful little jungle man.

He entered the town and headed directly to the hut where Goffa and his friends were having lunch with the meat. As usual during those days, men, warriors of the clan, prepared for war and any possible adventure when there is an abrupt change of weather. When the hunters saw this short man, they began to shoot at him. All the bullets were flying off this dwarf. He warned the men to leave him alone. He didn’t come to bother the town’s people but only Goffa.

Some of the warriors were terrified and ran away after they ran out of fine or buck shots.
The elf entered the kitchen and all the other men told Goffa to climb and hide up in the kitchen. The elf told him to get down, lest he would break the whole building. As if they were brave, the few remaining men below encouraged Goffa to come down.

When he came down, the elf ordered him to lay down in his kinja, basket like device.
At first he refused and his friends with all their guns cocked, told him follow the creature’s instructions. When he lied down, the creature broke his legs and arms to fit the kinja. He cried out loud for help. The creature told all the men to leave him alone. He didn’t come to them, only Goffa.

He tied the kinja up tightly and took off with Goffa. While he was leaving, some brave and stubborn warriors continued to shoot at him. Some followed him until they reached the cave where he lived. He entered this big hole with Goffa and they were never heard of again. Legend has it that in this little town in Tappeta District that Goffa was taken away by a boogeyman for being mean. That area is now referred to as Goffa-bun, meaning the cave that Goffa was buried in.

This is why it’s not too good to be on the extreme side of everything you do. If you are mean, try to ease up sometimes in some cases. You could be a help to an exotic living creature or your own kind.

The End

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