Distant Drums Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Antheia: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

Please avoid geolitter by removing any remaining traces of your cache or contact a local cacher to do so for you. If you are having difficulty doing so then please contact me via my profile and I will try to get someone to assist. This is particularly important if your cache appears to contain Travelbugs or Geocoins.

Please do not e mail me in case I do not recieve it.

Regards

Yvonne
Antheia - Volunteer UK Reviewer
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Hidden : 11/17/2013
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This is a puzzle cache to be solved at home.

During November 2013 local Geocaching hero Tentmantent went to Malawi to help with local charity work, delivering books and help to the children of the Country by delivering reading books for them to enjoy.

The following puzzle is based on the African Fable and although a little tongue in cheek it recognises the work that Tentmantent did. If your solution appears a little short, then don't worry about nothing.

This is the ancient story of how monkey got his long tail. The story may or may not be true, and like most stories of this age may or may not be accurate.

This story has been passed down from Grandmother to first Granddaughter in the Nyanja language of native Malawi and tells of a time when animals roamed the land before the arrival of man.

Close to the great lake Nyasa many, many years ago there lived a monkey, he was a cheeky animal and he would make fun of the other animals who came to visit the lake from time to time. The animals would come from the North to enjoy the cool water of the Great River Rukuru which flowed into the beautiful lake. The animals would sit on the banks of the lake and chat until the sun set. They all got on so very well, all that is except for the mischievous monkey.

The monkey was called ‘Blue’ not because of his colour but due to some of the language that he spoke when teasing the other animals. Blue would spend most of his time running around the jungle floor near to the makumi asanu tatu plants, but also falling out of trees, you see he had a very short tail and was forever climbing the trees to avoid getting into trouble, but he found it difficult to balance. The others thought that this caused the monkey to be troublesome and often suggested that he should gain help from the Great Stones of Sindidziwa.

Blue would regularly hide behind the great Osatukwana tree and jump out on the slow-witted elephant causing the great beast to trumpet loudly, ‘Hey Nayi,‘ (for that is the elephants name), ‘bet you can’t catch me’. And with that the little monkey would run off into the trees laughing, leaving the elephant behind.

The elephant grew tired of the constant tricks and frights that Blue played upon him and went to see his friend, the wise old tortoise. The learned creature lived in the caves of khumi n'zitatu and would often be found sunning himself close to the large grasses on the banks of the Zambesi River and quietly chewing on a Abambo leaf.

Elephant told tortoise of his trouble and together they hatched a plan to teach Blue a lasting lesson, ‘You must head to the West, there you will find nothing but inspiration. There is a magical place there called Muli bwanji. And your plans will turn to reality if you make them there.

The Elephant headed to a clearing near to Mchinji where he found peace, and here on the plains of Makumi asanu and whilst bathing in the cool waters of the Likuni river the plan became clear.

Inspiration came, he was sure that his plan would work, but he needed help. The elephant returned to the lake with his plan in mind, but first he needed to see his friend crocodile,
‘Modzi, my good friend, I would like you to come with me to see the cheeky monkey’, said the grey beast, and after a short conversation the elephant and crocodile headed through the Sanu n'ziwiri valley and came upon a clearing. This was a special place and often referred to as Ndapita, a significant location.

The two friends grabbed hold of a long jungle creeper from the Sindimalankhula chinyanja tree, the elephant held the vine in his long trunk and the crocodile bit down on the other end with his large teeth. They began to grunt and groan as they pulled the ends of the vine tight, it was like a tug of war between the two friends. The other animals heard the noise and came to watch the contest.

Of course it wasn’t long before Blue heard the disturbance and the cheeky monkey pushed his way through the other animals to the front of the crowd. He had found a shiny stone, probably from the bed of the Osapanga chipongwe delta, he was intent on having some fun.

The monkey saw a way of profiting from this spectacle and he began to run around all of the watching animals asking who they wanted to win. The majority of them said that they thought that elephant would win because of his great size and strength.

Blue climbed up onto the back of Mau Otukwana, the oldest hippo present and made an announcement. Blue said that if elephant did indeed win the contest that he would promise to stop playing tricks on everyone for the whole of the rainy season. But if crocodile won the competition then all of the animals would have to serve him food until the great floods of Sanu n'chimodzi came.

The crowd agreed, and with that the monkey jumped up onto the elephants back and began to tickle the great animal with a leaf from the nearby Usiku wabwino tree.

Whilst the monkey was busy trying to distract the elephant he dropped the creeper and reached up with his trunk and grabbed hold of the monkey. He then tied the creeper around the monkeys wrists and held them tightly while Crocodile caught hold of the monkeys stubby tail and pulled with all of his might.

The monkey shrieked and tried to escape but the two friends held tight and pulled until the monkeys face turned blue and the stub of a tail became longer and longer. They stopped when lion roared, ‘enough.’ And sat back laughing at what they saw.

And that is how the diademed monkey got his blue colour and his elegant long tail.

 Once the puzzle is solved you will find yourself at a location where you should hear the sound of distant drums.




You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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