“A Scifella stea abballe agliu Canale.” The Scifella, a black creature with wings, lived down by the Canale, where the village women went to wash their clothes. And the women were afraid whenever they went there: they always carried a stick hidden in the bagnarola, the washtub, and slipped a few stones to throw into the pocket of their parnanza, their apron, because while they were washing, “veneno assopre pure e garafole” rose up from the water.
The Scifella’s tricks
The story of the Scifella is still frightening. Many a time the women found their sheets all twisted up inside the washtub, and their corroglia, the cloth ring used to carry loads on the head, undone “comme na’ fiétta e agli”.
The Scifella was ’mpunita, mischievous, and played tricks on everyone. The women who went to fetch water at the cannelle, the little fountains, knew it well: she would smash their water jugs and never let a single one off. And if she noticed they were scared, she would even steal o cetratu from them: “’nne ficea sarva una”, she spared no one.
The night of the watermelons
Once the villagers brought cucummeri, watermelons, down to the Canale. One evening the Scifella wanted a slice, but the villagers were waiting for her with torches and sticks: “piglià na scallata e botte ché ancora nsarefredda”, she got scorched and took such a beating that she still hasn’t cooled down.