In the northeastern part of the South African province of Transvaal, about 300 kilometers from Pretoria, Lake Funduji is surrounded by bizarre rocks. It is small in size, but for some unknown reason, it seems to obey the laws characteristic of the seas and oceans: the lake has ebb and flow. The water level in Funduji fluctuates daily and evenly, and the magnitude of these fluctuations is approximately one and a half meters.
Unexplained deaths
However, this is not the only mystery of Lake Funduji. Residents of the nearby town of Louis Trichardt try to stay away from him. Many of them believe that anyone with white skin, if they wash their feet in the inky shade of Funduji water, will certainly die. Local tribes - Wavenda - also believe that the water in the lake is enchanted and no one can take it with them, not even a bottle.
Sometimes strange things do happen there. So, in 1947, the farmer brothers Gendrik and Yakubos Van Bllerki decided to visit Funduji. Returned only Yakubos, almost lost his mind. Before his eyes, his brother boldly set off from the coast in a canoe. Hendrik was known as a skillful rower, and the light boat glided swiftly over the surface. Suddenly she stopped. although the one sitting in it worked with the oar with all his might. It seemed that someone had firmly gripped the bottom and prevented the canoe from moving. Then, for a split second, the water seemed to part, and in front of the amazed Yakubos the boat sank like a stone.
In 1955, Professor Henry Burne-side and his colleague Thacker. driven by purely scientific interests, they also reached the shores of the mysterious lake. Scientists filled glass bottles and metal flasks with water from Funduji, which they brought with them. Paradoxically, the next morning all the vessels were empty, although in the evening they were hermetically sealed with corks and sealed. In the following days, the phenomenon was repeated. and shortly after their return from Africa, both researchers died under mysterious circumstances.
Spirit lodge
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Many other strange beliefs are associated with this lake among local tribes. For a long time the natives considered the lake to be bottomless. They argue that if you throw an object into the waves, then the next morning you will certainly find it again on the shore, since the spirits of ancestors living in the sacred reservoir will return it. Scientists believe. that Funduji was formed several tens of millennia ago as a result of a landslide, but local residents see something more mysterious in it. Three rivers and hundreds of streams flow into the lake, not a single tiny stream flows out, but it never overflows. J3epo Funduji is sacred to all seven Wavenda communities living nearby. They believe that lake water has healing properties, and by the color of the water and by that. how much the reservoir is full, the natives judge the mood of the spirits living in the lake, and about that.what the weather will be like. Swimming in Funduji is not accepted. Tourists still rarely come here, and in former times the lake could be reached only with the permission of special priests and with the help of old-time guides. The new roads have made the reservoir, sacred for the Wavend, more accessible, but even now very peculiar ceremonies will not be superfluous here. The locals will be sincerely grateful to you. if you greet the lake like that. as is their custom. To do this, you need to stand with your back to the lake, bend down and look at it between your own widely spaced legs. This greeting is called a "prick" wavend. It will also not be superfluous to throw several of your hairs into the oncoming wave.and in former times the lake could only be reached with the permission of special priests and with the help of old-time guides. The new roads have made the reservoir, sacred for the Wavend, more accessible, but even now very peculiar ceremonies will not be superfluous here. The locals will be sincerely grateful to you. if you greet the lake like that. as is their custom. To do this, you need to stand with your back to the lake, bend down and look at it between your own widely spaced legs. This greeting is called a "prick" wavend. It will also not be superfluous to throw a few of your hairs into the oncoming wave.and in former times the lake could only be reached with the permission of special priests and with the help of old-time guides. The new roads have made the reservoir, sacred for the Wavend, more accessible, but even now very peculiar ceremonies will not be superfluous here. The locals will be sincerely grateful to you. if you greet the lake like that. as is their custom. To do this, you need to stand with your back to the lake, bend down and look at it between your own widely spaced legs. This greeting is called a "prick" wavend. It will also not be superfluous to throw a few of your hairs into the oncoming wave. To do this, you need to stand with your back to the lake, bend down and look at it between your own widely spaced legs. Such a greeting is called a "prick" wavend. It will also not be superfluous to throw a few of your hairs into the oncoming wave. To do this, you need to stand with your back to the lake, bend down and look at it between your own widely spaced legs. This greeting is called a "prick" wavend. It will not be superfluous to also throw a few of your hairs into the oncoming wave.
Half man
The history of the Wawende dates back to the 9th century, when their kingdom Mapungubwe first emerged. They came to the shores of Funduji much later. Vavenda has always revered rivers and lakes as sacred, and rains - dedicated to the divine python. They believe that water spirits - zvidudvans - live in all bodies of water, except for the spirits of ancestors. These spirits have only one eye, one hand and one leg. They are half a man. Sometimes zvidudvans dig deep holes and from there they call people for help. But woe to those who respond to these calls.
The world for wavend is full of perfume. For the people of this nation, even beads can be sacred because they believe. that the spirit of the ancestor may be hidden in the bead. If there is a slight cloudiness in the bead, then for them it will be just a sign that a spirit has lurked in a drop of glass.
White python and thunderbird
A local legend tells of a man whose heart was broken by the loss of love. In his grief, he entered the waters of the sacred lake and turned into a huge white python. There are pythons and crocodiles in Funduji. Both are sometimes white. Pythons are revered as sacred animals, believing that the deity of fertility is embodied in them. In the old days, a young woman was sacrificed to them every year, but over time, the traditions of the Wavend became more humane. Now they pleasure the divine python with spring sacrifices in the form of beer, which are poured into the water, while performing the sacred domba dance. The dance is performed by thirty young girls. They line up in a line reminiscent of a giant python, and dance along the village, imitating his movements.
The lake is surrounded by forests, which are considered the abode of many spirits. Especially the natives are afraid of the white lion Netate and the thunderbird Ndadzi, which flies on the wings of thunder, Her eyes sparkle dazzlingly, she carries rain in her beak, and if she drops her egg to the roots of trees, they burn out. Ferns and lianas grow in these forests, making them almost impassable. There is also a very revered giant baobab growing here, which is more than three millennia old and has a trunk girth of 43 meters. On one of the hills near Funduji live baboons, which are also considered sacred. In ancient times, they warned the Wavend about the approach of enemies and since then have become objects of admiration.
In 1999, Johannesburg newspapers amazed their readers by describing Funduji as a lake where zombies live at night and play drums underwater. When the water is clear. Zombies living at the bottom can be seen from the boat. All this bizarrely echoes the Wavend's belief in corpses that come to life, which do not cast shadows and from time to time dance on the shore.
Sacred white stone
Wavenda are known as the finest artists in Africa. They are also good potters and woodcarvers and are very fond of carving their homes.
This nation has a clearly defined male and female responsibilities. Men plow the land, graze livestock and build houses. Women harvest and perform all household chores.
Polygamy is still widespread among the Wavend.
The life of the Wavend has hardly changed since time immemorial. They still keep their ancient traditions. To this day, the supreme leaders of this people, assuming office, swallow the sacred white stone. When they die. their bodies are left to rot on a special platform until a sacred stone is found among the remains. After that, the new supreme leader swallows him, and the old one is buried with honors.
Valdis Peipinsh. Magazine "Secrets of the XX century" No. 23 2010