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MAMBA
"They are
gone," said the leader of the small men. "They were taken
by the Mamba people, those who file their teeth." The word
‘Mamba’ in most of the river dialects does not refer to a
venomous reptile as might be expected, given its meaning in English,
but, interestingly, is applied rather generally to most types of
predatory river tharlarion. The Mamba people were, so to speak, the
Tharlarion people. The Mamba people ate human flesh. So, too, does
the tharlarion. It Is thus, doubtless, that the people obtained
their name. Within the stockade of the Mamba people there was much
light and noise. I could hear the sounds of their musical
instruments, and the pounding of their drums. Within the stockade,
too, we could hear the chanting of the people and the beating of
sticks, carried in the hands of dancers.
Explorers of Gor,
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John Norman did not
elaborate much when describing the culture of the Mambas to
us in his books. Thus, we have taken the liberty of filling
in the gaps as best we can, using what little information we
have from the books, and combining it with research done on
rainforest tribes and cannibalism today. This is only an
interpretation, put towards how the role-play of the Mambas
works. |
"Within the stockade of
the Mamba people there was much light and noise. I could hear the
sounds of their musical instruments, and the pounding of their
drums. Within the stockade, too, we could hear the chanting of the
people and the beating of sticks, carried in the hands of
dancers."
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The above quote
shows indeed that the Mambas had musical culture. We have inferred
that, along with drums and sticks, the Mambas also used
flutes, insinuated by the term "musical instruments".
Most South American rainforest tribes use flutes, along with
gourds filled with beans to mimic the sound maracas would
make. The quote also shows that the Mamba people must have
had some sort of rituals. Cannibalism was often accompanied
by some sort of ritualistic dance. The quote does not
specify whether or not the dancers are slaves, or simply
members of the tribe. However, a guess can be made that the
Mambas did indeed keep slaves. |
"The chieftain of the
Mamba people rolled screaming at the wall, and then, scratching and
screaming, tried to drag himself toward the gate. The villagers,
however, in their departure, had closed it, hoping thereby to
contain the ants."
Explorers of Gor
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The above quote was
taken from the passage where Tarl leads the marcher ants
into the Mamba village. Once the people are attacked, they
flee, though, interestingly enough, without their leader.
This quote may show what loyalties lie within the tribe.
That none are loyal enough to risk their life to save their
leader. That basically, it is every Mamba for themselves.
The Mambas not only abandon their leader, but leave him to a
horrible and painful death, showing the lack of empathy
towards one-another as well. |
"How many men may I have?" I asked.
"Two or three will be sufficient," said the leader of the
small men, "but because we are so fond of you, I, and nine
others, will accompany you."
"That is perhaps generous," I said, "but how do you
propose that the camp of the Mamba people be stormed with so few
men?"
"We shall recruit allies," said the small man. "They
are nearby even now."
Explorers of Gor
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This quote
shows Tarl's uncertainty about invading the Mamba village
with so few men, suggesting that the Mambas are worthy foes.
Also, the quote shown below states close to the same. The
pygmies fear the Mambas, fear their weapons, size, and
numbers. They thought it not the least bit unusual that Tarl
would abandon his party, thus escaping the Mambas, to save
himself, which is what they thought he was doing. Also, the
keen prowess of the Mamba people can be derived from the
below quote as well, as they were not detected by Tarl, and
were only detected by the pygmies because they are well
educated in terms of the jungle. The quote also shows that
the Mambas use spears and knives as their main form of
weaponry |
"Kisu!" I
called, alarmed. "Ayari! Tende! Alice!"
Unmistakably in the small camp I saw the signs of struggle. Too,
on the ground, I saw shed blood.
"They are gone," said the leader of the small men.
"They were taken by the Mamba people, those who file their
teeth."
The word 'Mamba´ in most of the river dialects does not refer to
a venomous reptile as might be expected, given its meaning in
English, but, interestingly, is applied rather generally to most
types of predatory river tharlarion. The Mamba people were, so to
speak, the Tharlarion people. The Mamba people ate human flesh.
So, too, does the tharlarion. It Is thus, doubtless, that the
people obtained their name.
"How do you know it was the Mamba people?" I asked.
"They came through the forest on foot," said the leader
of the small people. "Doubtless they were following you.
Doubtless they wished to surprise you."
"How do you know it was they?" I asked.
"We saw them," said one of the men.
"It is our country," said another. "We know much of
what occurs here."
"Did you see the attack?" I asked.
"We did not wish to be too close," said another man.
"We are a small people," said another. "There were
many of them, and they are large."
"We saw those of your party being led away," said
another man.
"They were then alive," I said.
"Yes," said another man.
"Why did you not tell me of these things sooner?" I
asked. "We thought you knew of the attack," said one of
the men, "and had fled, thus escaping."
"No," I said. "I was hunting."
"We will give you meat, if you wish," said one of the
small men. "Our hunting earlier today was successful."
"I must attempt to rescue those of my party," I said.
"There are too many of the Mamba people," said one of
the small men. "They have spears and knives."
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"What is wrong?"
I asked.
"I have been looking about the village in
the darkness," he whispered.
"Yes?" I said.
"I have found the refuse dump," he said.
"Within the walls?" I asked.
"Yes," he said.
"That is strange," I said. Normally a village would have
its refuse dump outside the walls.
"I thought it strange, too," said Ayari. "I took
the liberty of examining it."
"Yes?" I said.
"It contains human bones," he said.
"That is doubtless why it is kept within the walls," I
said.
"I think so," said Ayari. "That way strangers will
not see it before, unsuspecting, they enter the village."
"They seemed friendly fellows," I said. They were,
however, I admitted to myself, not the most attractive lot I had
ever seen. Their teeth had been filed to points.
"I never trust a man," said Ayari, "until I know
what he eats"
"Where are the men of the village?" I asked.
"They are not asleep," said Ayari. "They are
gathered in one of the huts."
"I shall awaken Janice and Alice," I said. "Awaken
Kisu and Tende."
"I shall do so," he whispered.
In a few Ehn, our things in hand, we crept from the village. By
the time we heard men crying out in rage, and saw torches on the
shore, we were safely on the river.
Explorers of Gor
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This quote is
important, not only because it tells about the Mambas
tendency towards cannibalism, but also because it shows
their scheming ways. Apparently the Mambas had been friendly
and inviting, though it is obvious that they had planned on
eating their guests, evident by the angered howls prompted
by the dicovery of Tarl's departure. The quote also shows
that the Mamba people file their teeth, suggesting that they
may not cook the flesh before eating it, thereby needing
incisor-like teeth to rip through raw meat. I would doubt
that it would be a sign of agression, or warning, based on
the fact that the Mamba lure their "prey" in by
presenting a friendly facade.
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Thanks to the person or persons who took the time to research the Mamba
people.
This information was taken off another site, the author is not known.
The Mamba People
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