Chapter III: Part 3

He got the cow, but he couldn’t manage the removal of the cow alone, and he didn’t want to get any intelligent person to assist him, he wanted a fool; so he got a man by the name of Foolman. Foolman wasn’t such a fool as he thought. They removed the cow to a place to butcher it near to Foolman’s yard, but Anansi did not know that. So he said to Foolman, “Brer Foolman, we mus’ get fire, roast plenty of meat.” Foolman said he didn’t know where to go to get fire. Anansi pointed out a little smoke a long distance off. Foolman refused to go. He got vexed and started to go for the fire himself. He was no sooner gone than Foolman called up his family, butchered the cow, and removed all the parts, leaving the tail. He dug a hole in the earth and drove the root of the tail down as tight as he could. When he thought it time for Anansi to come back, he held on to the hair of the cow-tail and called out, “Brer Nansi, run! Brer Nansi, run!” Anansi come and he say, “Brer Nansi, de whole cow gone, only tail!” He held on to the tail and both of them thought to pull up the cow. While pulling, the tail broke in two. So Anansi had to give Foolman a piece of the tail that popped off. So with all his cunning, he got but a very small piece.

30. DRY-HEAD AND ANANSI.

a. Go-long-go.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

One time Anansi wife have a very large pig. She value the pig for ten pounds, say she was going to sell the pig an’ buy a piece of land. Anansi wanted the pig to eat an’ he wanted to eat him one, [25] so he fawn sick, very very sick; all what the wife could do for him he wouldn’t take nothing. He then call his wife an’ tell her him gwine to die an’ she mus’ take care of herself an’ the chil’ren.

The wife said to him she has to go nex’ day to see the doctor about him, so the nex’ day she dress herself an’ start for the doctor, leaving Anansi very sick at home. When the wife gone one way, Anansi get up, dress himself an’ go short cut the other way. He change himself into a different man. The wife say, “Good-morning, sir.” He say, “Good-morning, ma’am.” He say, “What is the matter?” The woman said, “My husband is sick unto death!” He said, “Well, I am the doctor. Have you any hog at home?” Say, “Yes.” He says, “If you want your husband to live, you better kill the hog and let him alone eat it.” The woman turn back with a very heavy heart. Anansi run back by the short cut, reach home, an’ be in bed sick. When the wife return home he say to her, “Have you seen the doctor?” She says, “Yes.”—“What him say?”—“He say I am to kill the hog an’ let you alone eat it; then you will get better.” Anansi say, “Cho! Doctor talking nonsense! How he t’ink I eat such a big hog like dat?” The woman said, “To get you better I got to comply with the doctor’s order.” [26]

Anansi took away the hog an’ carry into a wood, him one alone. An’ scrape it an’ put it into a copper to cook. An’ he see a wil’ thing called himba [27] an’ he dig it to cook with the meat. He saw Mr. Go-long-go [28] come up. Say, “Brar Anansi, wha’ you do here?” Say, “I boil buckra meat, sah.” Tell him mus’ tak out piece of meat gi’ him. Say, “I kyan’ tak out fe a buckra meat, sah!” Brar Go-long-go say, “If you don’ tak it out I ’top you mout’, I ’top you breat’!” An’ he take it out an’ gi’ him to eat. An’ say, “Tak out de whole of it!” an’ he tak out the whole an’ put it before Brar Go-long-go. Eat off the whole of it!

An’ he said, “Brar Go-long-go, I no pass some plenty guinea-pea deh?” An’ they went there, an’ carry a pint of oil an’ put him into the middle of the plant-trash an’ t’row the oil right around it, an’ him light an’ whole take fire. Brar Go-long-go say, “Come take me out!” Anansi say, “Nyam meat no gimme me no!” [29]

b. Dry-head.

Ezekiel Williams, Harmony Hall.

Brar Nansi trabble away. Him was a man very fond of duckano. So while he was going on, hear somet’ing drop “woof!” An’ say, “Makey stan’ deh!” fe him duckano. At de same time deh was Brar Dry-head drop off de tree. Brar Dry-head say, “Ef you tak me up, you tak up trouble; an’ ef you put me down, you put down yo’ luck!” So Brar Nansi never know what to do. Brar Nansi say, “Brar Dry-head, have big fat barrow in a stye; mak we go kill it!” An’ so dey do. Well, when de pot boil wid de barrow, Brar Nansi say, “Brar Dry-head, you know what we do? Who can’t eat wi’out spoon not to taste it.” So Brar Dry-head, he never have no hand, so Brar Nansi eatee off clean!

c. Brother Dead.

Emanuel Johnson, Brownstown.

Anansi run till he meet up Bredder Dead ... Br’er Dead say, “If you pay me, I will save you.”—“Br’er, me have not’ing to gi’ you, but me have one cock a yard fe me wife, me tek him come gi’ you.” Br’er Nansi run to de yard, get de cock, meet Br’er Dead in de corn-piece an’ gi’ it to him. Now Br’er Dead goin’ to kill him jus’ de same. After Br’er Dead tie de cord gone away to odder side of de corn-piece, Anansi t’ief de cock back from Br’er Dead, get a hawk an’ put up de hawk. Hawk catch Dead now in de corn-piece. Anansi say,

Fly along, Brudder Hawk, fly a-long. Fly a-long, Brudder Hawk,
fly a-long. Car-ry him go ’long, Car-ry him go ’long, Car-ry
him go ’long, Brud-der Hawk, Car-ry him go ’long.

An’ Br’er Hawk fly along wid him till drop him into a sea-ball. [30] Jack man dora!

31. THE YAM-HILLS.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

One time Anansi start to work a groun’ at the road-side. After clearing up his field, he dig nine yam-hills. Now no one is allowed to count up to the nine. If he say nine, he drop down dead. So Anansi say, “I got to eat somet’ing out of this.” So he sat down an’ begin to cry. Hog was passing, say to him, “Br’er Anansi, wha’s the matter with you?” Anansi said, “My dear Bredder Hog, from mawning I dig these few yam-hills an’ trying to count them, but I can’t manage to count them yet.” Hog said, “Cho! you too wort’less! You mean say you can’t say, ‘One, two, t’ree, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine?’” And as Hog say “nine,” Hog drop down dead. Anansi take him up, put him in his bag an’ carry him home an’ eat him.

The nex’ day he came back an’ eat up Goat, who share the same fate as Hog, an’ every day he went back dig the same hills. At that time Monkey was on a tree watching an’ seeing all that take place. He came down from off the tree, an’ while Anansi dig the same nine hills again an’ was sitting down crying, Monkey come up an’ said, “Br’er Anansi, wha’ the matter with you?” Anansi said, “My dear Bredder Monkey, from mawning I dig these few yam-hills, an’ I’m trying to count them but I can’t manage!” Monkey said, “I will count them for you, but you mus’ sit down ’pon one.” Monkey then said, “One, two, t’ree, four, five, six, seven, eight, an’ the one Br’er Anansi sit down upon.” Anansi said, “That’s not the way to count them!” Monkey said, “I’ll count them good for you now!” Monkey began, “One, two, t’ree, four, five, six, seven, eight, an’ the one Br’er Nansi sit down upon deh.” Now Anansi is a man with a very short heart. [31] He got vex an’ say, “You mean to say that you can’t say ‘One, two, t’ree, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine?’” An’ as the word nine come out, Anansi drop down dead. Monkey took him up an’ said, “You can fool the others, but you can’t fool me!”

32. THE LAW AGAINST BACK-BITING.

a. Duck’s Dream.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

One time Anansi were living in a country an’ the country were very hard; so they pass a law that anyone talk one another, that man will drop down dead. So Anansi say he mus’ eat something out of it, because he’s going to fix himself into a place where people mus’ talk him. So he get a hoe an’ a pick-axe an’ a machete an’ go to a broad flat rock near the side of the road where everyone pass, begun to knock, pong pong pong. Hog was passing. Hog say, “Mawning, Brar Anansi.” Anansi say, “Mawning, Brar Hog.” Hog say, “Wha you do deh?” Anansi say, “Governor pass law an’ say famine coming upon lan’ an’ ev’rybody mus’ work groun’, so me deh try see wha’ me kyan’ do.” So Hog went on. As he went a little way he say, “Odder people work groun’ a good place; Anansi deh work groun’ ’pon rock!” As Hog say so, drop down dead. Anansi turn roun’, pick him up put him in his bag, said, “Dat de way oonoo [32] talk a man!” So now he carry Hog go home go eat him.

The nex’ day he went back. Cow was passing. He began to knock, pong pong pong. Cow say, “Mawning, Brar Anansi.” Anansi say, “Mawning, Brar Cow.” Cow say, “A wha’ you deh do deh?” Anansi say, “governor pass a law that a great famine come ’pon land an’ everybody mus’ work groun’.” So cow went on. When he go a little distance he said, “Odder man work groun’ have good place; Anansi work ’pon rock stone!” Cow drop down dead. Anansi tak him up put him in his bag, said, “Dat’s how oonoo talk a man!” He carry home Cow an’ eat him.

Horse and Goat come and they share the same fate. Now a day or two after, while Anansi was there knocking, Duck came up. He said, “Mawning, Brar Anansi.” Anansi said, “Mawning, Brar Duck.” Duck said, “A wha’ you do deh?” Anansi say, “Governor pass law say great famine coming ’pon lan’ an’ ev’rybody mus’ work groun’, so me deh try see wha’ me can do.” Anansi said to Duck, “What is all de strange news a fe you side?” [33] Duck say not’ing strange but only thing he dream a dream las’ night that he’s on the worl’ so long an’ no married yet; so him a go down a bottom yonder go see if him kyan’ get married. So he went on. Anansi then said, “Good people, they get married. Duck an’ all say him want fe married too!” So Anansi drop down dead. Duck turn roun’ an’ pick him up, swallow him, an’ said, “Dat’s de way oonoo talk a man!”

b. Guinea-chick.

Alexander Archibald, Mandeville.

Anansi make law if anyone talk de odder one, he dead. He get up on one cave roadside, go working ground. Cow a pass, go see him. Anansi say, “Des a try a work one groun’ heah.” So when Cow go long, pass him, Cow say, “Chuh! man fool! man kyan’t work groun’ ’pon rock-stone!” As Cow say so, Cow tumble down dead. Den Anansi go pick him up, go eat.

Hog came. Hog ax him say, “A wha’ yo’ a doin’ heah?”—“A try a work a groun’.” Hog pass him.—“Chuh! man kyan’t look upon rock-stone an’ say me work groun’!” As Hog say so, him drop dead. Anansi pick him up, go eat.

Guinea-chick say, “I will go deh!” Guinea-chick put on him clo’es same as a go market. So when he come an’ see Anansi upon de stone a dig, tie him head wid a check handkerchief—dat are Guinea-chick—an’ pass Anansi, no ’peak to him. Dat time him go long Anansi say, “Dat dar fool!” Den Anansi drop dead.

Jack man dory!

c. Dry-head at the Barber’s.

Charles Thompson, Harmony Hall.

Once Anansi and But [34] made agreement that they wasn’t to talk one another. Anansi went to a road and But went to one. Part of the day, Dry-head was passing where Anansi was working and complain to Anansi that he going out to a ball to-night and he going to a barber-shop to get his hair barber. And after he gone Anansi say, “Pardon me, me Lord! whe’ Brar Dry-head get hair on his head to go to de barber-shop to barber?” An’ Anansi fell down an’ died, an’ But went back an’ pick him up an’ eat him.

33. FLING-A-MILE.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

Anansi one day went to a river to catch fish, an’ while fishin’ down the stream, he came across a hole. He put his han’ down in the hole an’ something hol’ the han’. He said, “A who hol’ me?” The something said, “No me!”—“Me who?” The thing said, “No me Fling-a-mile!” Anansi said, “Fling me a mile mak I see.” The t’ing wheel Anansi, wheel him, an’ fling him one mile from the spot. When Anansi drop, he nearly knock out his senses.

He said, “I mus’ eat somet’ing out of dat hole!” He went an’ get six iron fork an’ six wooden one an’ stick up at the place where he drop. Nex’ day he was going back down fe fishing. He meet up Hog. He said, “Bredder Hog, mak we go down a river go ketch fish now?” Hog said yes. When they reach the river, both of them started. Anansi, he walk on the side where the hole are not, Hog, he walk on the side where the hole are. Anansi look over to Hog way and said, “What a pretty hole in front of Bredder Hog deh! You mus’ get somet’ing out of de hole deh. I don’ min’ if it befo’ me!” So Anansi tell Hog to put his han’ in the hole see if him feel anyt’ing. Hog put in him han’. Hog said, “Somet’ing hol’ me han’!” Anansi said, “Ax a who hol’ you!” Hog said, “A who hol’ me?” The t’ing say, “A me!” Anansi say, “Ax him, say ‘A me who?’” Hog say, “A me who?” The t’ing say, “No me Fling-a-mile!” Anansi said to Hog, “Tell him fling you a mile mak you see.” Hog say, “Fling me a mile mak I see!” The t’ing wheel Hog, wheel him, wheel him, drop him right on the fork Anansi fix up. Hog drop dead. Anansi tak up Hog put him in a bag and said, “I well wan’ fe eat you long time!” At that time Monkey was on the tree watching Anansi.

The nex’ day Anansi start back to the river, meet up Bredder Goat. He say, “Bredder Goat, mak we go down a river, go ketch fish?” Goat say yes. Anansi tol’ Goat to walk on the hand where the hole is an’ he walk on the opposite side. While going along Anansi said, “What a pretty hole in front of Br’er Goat deh! You mus’ fin’ somet’ing in a hole like dat. I wish it were me de hole we’ deh befo’!” Anansi said to Goat, “Put yo’ han’ in deh see if you can fin’ anyt’ing.” Goat put the han’ in the hole. Somet’ing hol’ him. He said, “Somet’ing hol’ me!” Anansi said, “Ax a who hol’ you!” Goat said, “A who hol’ me?” The t’ing said, “No me!” Anansi said, “Ax ‘A me who?’” Goat say, “A me who?” The t’ing say, “No me Fling-a-mile.” Anansi said, “Tell him fling you a mile mak you see!” Goat say, “Fling me a mile mak I see!” He wheel Goat, whee’ whee’ wheel, an’ drop him right on the fork one mile. Goat drop dead. Anansi took up Goat an’ put him in his bag, said, “I well wan’ you fe eat a long time!” At that time Monkey was still watching him.

The nex’ day he start to go out again; he met up Br’er Dog. Anansi said to Dog, “Mak we go down a river go ketch fish!” Dog say yes. On reaching to the river, Anansi tell Dog to walk on the side where the hole is an’ he walk on the opposite side. On reaching to the hole Anansi said, “What a pretty hole in front of Br’er Dog! You mus’ fin’ somet’ing in dat hole. I wish it we’ deh befo’ me!” Anansi say to Dog, “Put yo’ han’ in deh if you feel anyt’ing.” Dog put the han’ in the hole. Something hol’ him. He said to Anansi, “Somet’ing hol’ me!” Anansi said, “Ax ‘A who hol’ me?’” Dog said, “A who hol’ me?” The somet’ing say, “No me!” Anansi say, “Ax him ‘me who?’” Dog say, “Me who?” The somet’ing say, “No me Fling-a-mile!” Anansi say, “Tell him fling you a mile mak you see!” Dog said, “Fling me a mile mak me see!” The t’ing fling Dog whee’-a, whee’-a, whee’, an’ dash him one mile on the stake. Dog drop on the stake dead. Anansi tak up Dog, put him in his bag an’ said, “A well wan’ you fe eat long time!”

Now Monkey couldn’t bear it no longer, come off the tree. The nex’ day while Anansi was going down, Monkey put himself in the way where Anansi was to meet him. Anansi said, “Br’er Monkey, mak we go down a river go ketch fish.” Monkey say, “Yes, a well wan’ company fe go down too!” On reaching to the river, Monkey walk on the side where the hole is an’ Anansi on the opposite side. On reaching to the hole Anansi said, “What a pretty hole in front of Br’er Monkey! You mus’ fin’ somet’ing in a hole like a dat. I wish a we’ me i’ deh befo’!” Anansi said to Monkey, “Put yo’ han’ in deh, see if you fin’ anyt’ing.” Monkey say, “No, Br’er, me go put me han’ in deh, somet’ing go hol’ me!” Anansi said, “No, man, me no t’ink not’ing wi’ hol’ you!” Monkey said, “You come put yo’ han’ in deah.” Anansi said, “No, as you de closee, you put fe you han’ in deah.” Monkey said, “No! somet’ing wi’ hol’ me!”—“No! not’ing no in deah fe hol’ you!” So Anansi go near to the hole now and tell Monkey mus’ put down him han’, an’ Monkey refuse. Anansi now make attempt to put his han’,—like that—in the hole, an’ Monkey push it down, an’ the somet’ing hol’ Anansi han’ now. Monkey said to Anansi, “Tak out de han’!” Anansi say, “Me han’ kyan’ come out; somet’ing hol’ it!” Monkey says, “Ask a who hol’ you.” Anansi speak in a very feeble v’ice, say, “A who hol’ me?” The t’ing say, “No me!” Monkey say to Anansi, “Ax ‘A me who.’” Anansi said in a feeble tone of v’ice all ’e time, “A me who?” The t’ing say, “A me Fling-a-mile.” Monkey say, “Tell him fe fling you a mile mak you see.” Anansi now said in a feeble tone of v’ice, “Fling me a mile mak I see!” So tak Anansi an’ wheel him, whee’, whee’! An’ while it was wheeling him he said to Monkey, “Br’er Monkey, run one mile from heah, whe’ you see some iron an’ wooden fork,—jus’ haul dem out fe me!” Monkey tak off him hat an’ run half way an’ stop where he could see when Anansi drop. Anansi drop on de fork an’ belly burst ’tiff dead! An’ Monkey take him an’ put him in his bag, take him go eat him.

34. BUT-BUT AND ANANSI.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

But-but an’ Hanansi dem gwine up to town. When dem ketch a pass Hanansi said, “Brar But-but, let we eat fe you pone!” an’ dey eat half of But-but pone. As’ dem gwine along, But-but feel hungry. He said, “Brar Hanansi, me hungry now.” Hanansi say, “Brar But-but, you too foolish! we no half get to town yet.” But-but walk till him faint away. Hanansi travel ketch roun’ one turn, he ’top an’ eat off of his pone deh.

Hanansi gwine a town an’ get one big cutacoo. [35] Him buy everyt’ing in de whole town gill-gill. But-but lay wait for him part of de way. When he see Hanansi a come, But-but fly go before. He turn one red pocket-han’kerchief. Hanansi come down an’ talk in a head. He took up de han’kerchief an’ say, “Yah! der’s a good red pocket-han’kerchief, but Brar But-but so cunnie, maybe he turn ’e!” an’ fling it down. An’ go on a little furder, But-but fly go on before again an’ turn one cup, one nice silver cup. Hanansi come down. He took up de cup, say, “Der’s yer luck him boy buck up t’-day, but Brar But-but so cunnie maybe he here turn ’e!” an’ t’row ’e down. When Hanansi get to de horse-pond whe’ Hanansi wife was washing clo’es, But-but went before turn one old drawers. When Hanansi go takey up an’ look ’pon it, say, “Careless, eh! look at me ol’ drawers! Des ol’ drawers heah kyan mak baby not skin!” [36] an’ tak de ol’ drawers t’row in de cutacoo. But-but begin an’ eat out everyt’ing ’pon de head.

Hanansi got t’ree sons. When him goin’ a house, put down him basket. As he open de basket, But-but fly out an’ go upon de firs’ pic’ny head. Hanansi say, “’tand ’teady, me baby, mak I kill him!” An’ tak a morter-stick an’ lick upon head an’ kill de pic’ny. An’ go up upon de nex’ head again. An’ say, “’tand ’teady, me baby; dat no deady, on’y sleeping!” an’ he lick de odder one dead. Dat was two gone. An’ go up on de las’ one now. An say, “’tand ’teady, me baby, put yo’ neck good mak I lick him!” an de t’ird one dead. An’ he fly upon de wife head now. An’ he said, “’tand ’teady, me wife, you is de ’tronger head now!” an’ lick de wife dead. An’ But fly upon him head now. An’ him go up on de ridge-pole of de house an’ tu’n down him head a bottom fe kill But-but ’pon him head. As’ him fall down an’ ketch half-way, But-but fly off, an’ Hanansi broke him neck. So But-but destroy de whole family.

35. TUMBLE-BUG AND ANANSI.

Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.

Anansi and Tumble-bug took a job once. After they got their pay Anansi said to Tumble-bug, “We mus’ buy something so as to have a good feed.” They bought a bunch of plantain and a keg of butter.

They commence to eat. Anansi dip, Tumble-bug dip. Anansi said, “No, my Tumble-bug, when I go ‘pluck-um’, you mus’ go ’tip’!” However, Tumble-bug dip all the same. Anansi got vex an’ box him. Tumble-bug fawn dead. Anansi get frightened, said, “Hi! Tumble-bug, the least bit of fun I make with you, you dead?” Tumble-bug never shake. Anansi run, leave the butter an’ the plantain an’ everything, take to the woods for it. Tumble-bug wake up an’ eat up the plantain an’ the butter. After that he fly away after Anansi now.

When he got in the woods near where Anansi was, he hid himself against a tree give a sound like a man cutting. Anansi sing out, “Who are you?” Tumble-bug said, “Gentleman servant cutting bread-nut fo’ gentleman horse.” Say, “Hear any news?”—“Yes.”—“What you hear?”—“Anansi kill Tumble-bug,—life for life!” Anansi start running an’ Tumble-bug after him. He run out to a place call ‘Dead man country’, get among the dry trash, and that’s where he live ever since.

36. HORSE AND ANANSI.

Alexander Archibald, Mandeville.

Anansi call Horse a go bush cut plantain. When dey cut done, dey carry out in de open, dey begin to play stick, lick stick. Den Anansi said, “Brar Horse, we hungry now, we don’ have no fire fe roast plantain.” So say to Horse, “Go see fire quite yonder? Go deh, go tak fire come, mak we roast plantain!” Horse fling up him tail on back, gallop, gone. Meanwhile him gone, Anansi ’trike him tinder-box an buil’ a fire roast every plantain; eat all de plantain, leave only four. Horse gallop away an’ kyan’ ketch de fire an’ turn back. Anansi say, “Brar Horse, when you gone, one man pass heah gi’ me fire an’ me roast de plantain; as me roas’ee done, one man come beat me an’ tak away de plantain on’y lef’ dem four heah gi’ me!” So Brar Horse say, “Never min’! you tak two, me tak two.” So Horse takee.

Dat time Brar Goat go bush kneel down watch Brar Anansi, watch what take place; so de nex’ day, Goat say him will go wid Anansi. Dem two go, dem two cut plantain, an’ dem come out ’pon de open an’ dem play. So Anansi said, “Brar Goat, we hungry now an’ we ha’ no fire. See fire quite yonder? gallop go get fire an’ come.” Goat gallop, go roun’ clump of bush, go kneel down on knee go watch him. Him ’trike him tinder-box mak a fire, peel ev’ry plantain put a fire. When de plantain roast, he ’crape ev’ry bit. As him ’crapee, Goat get up a come. Goat cut ’tick an’ him jump one side so him put circle roun’ de fire-side, an’ say to Anansi, “Put you han’ in now, sah!” an’ jump de odder side an’ put circle again. So den Anansi begin to beg, an’ Goat tak away eberyt’ing didn’t gib him one!

Jack man dory!

37. ANANSI IN MONKEY COUNTRY.

a. Bunya.

Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit Country.

Anansi go to Monkey country. Put on a big pot of water an’ tell the Monkey when him get in the pot of water, when him say “Bunya”, they mus’ take him out of the pot of water. When they take him out, they mus’ go in. So when he go in the pot of water, as soon as he feel the water hot he say, “Bunya.” They take him out. An’ put all of them one time into the pot of water. An’ when them said, “Bunya!” Anansi said, “No bunya yet!” An’ said, “Bunya!” Anansi said, “No bunya yet!” Anansi wouldn’t take them out until them boil. Anansi take them out an’ eat them.

One little one lef’ at the top of the pot that the water didn’t scald. That one run go to the next Monkey country an’ tell them the story about Anansi an’ the ‘bunya.’ When Anansi eat, he start to the other country, an’ him go there an’ tell the Monkey mus’ put him into the pot of water an’ when he say, “Bunya,” mus’ take him out. So when Anansi feel the water hot, he say, “Bunya!” Monkey say, “No bunya yet!” Anansi say, “Bunya!” Monkey say, “No bunya yet!” Monkey keep Anansi in that pot till him kill him.

b. Christen Christen.

Adolphus Iron, Claremont, St. Ann.

One time hard time ketch Brar Nansi. Him couldn’t get not’ing to eat. Him trabble away to Monkey country fe go preach. When him ketch deh, him say, “Well, frien’s, I come here to chris’en, but I chris’en wid a large oben.” De Monkey, dem glad fe hear. Dem jump an’ buil’ up de oben. Anansi say, “You mus’ pack it wid wood an’ light it wid fire. When it well hot, me will go in first, an’ when you hear me say, ‘Chris’en,’ you mus’ open de door.” De Monkey, dem agree.

De oben buil’, de oben light, Anansi go in. Anansi holler, “Chris’en!” Dem open de door. Anansi jump out, dem begin jump in. When de las’ monkey jump in, Anansi shet de door. Monkey begin holler, “Chris’en! chris’en!” Anansi say, “No chris’en yet!” When Anansi t’ink dem a well roas’, him open de door. One scorch-side one jump out an’ run fe de odder Monkey country an’ tell all wha’ done.

Anansi stan’ deh till him eat off de whole ob de roas’ one dem. Him trabble again till him ketch de odder Monkey country. All was prepare to meet him. De scorch-sided one meet him first. Anansi say, “Brar, I t’ink I know you!” De Monkey said, “No, sah, a de firs’ me an’ you buck up!” Anansi say, “Well, I come here to chris’en, but I chris’en wid an oben.” De Monkey, dem buil’ up de oben quicker yet. Anansi say, “I will go in firs’; when you hear I say, ‘Chris’n!’ you open de do’.” All de Monkey say yes. When Anansi feel de fire, him holler, “Chris’n, chris’n, chris’n!” De Monkey say, “No chris’n yet!” An’ dey let Anansi stay all roas’ till he burst!

38. CURING THE SICK.

a. The Fishes.

Rennie Macfarlane, Mandeville.

Three little fish pickney mother was sick an’ Anansi said, “If you want, I get you’ mother better for you!” an the three little fish said, “Yes!” An’ said, “You give me a frying-pan an’ some sweet ile, an’ you lock up in that room an’ when she better, I let you know.” An’ he fry the fish an’ eat it an’ tell the fish pickney that they can come out the room now. An’ they ask, “Where is our mother? Did you get her better?” an’ he said, “No, I eat her!” an’ the fish run after him an’ he run away.

An’ a mule ask the fish, “Do you want me to catch him for you?” an’ they said, “Yes!” And the mule said, “Give me those peas that you have now an’ I catch him for you.” An’ the mule go out to Anansi gate an’ lie down there an’ when Anansi come out, Anansi run up into his belly an’ the mule gallop away again. An’ Anansi cry out in the mule’s belly, “If he go to sea-side, stop him; but if he go anywhere else, let him go!” An’ he gallop to the sea-shore an’ give Anansi to the fish.

An’ he say, “You know what you do, fish? Put me under the trash an’ burn me!” An’ when the fish put him under de trash, Anansi run under a stone, hide, an’ the fish t’ot he was burn.

b. The Six Children.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

An old woman had six children, three sons and three daughters. They grew up to be big men and women. They were living near the roadside. The old woman was sick with sore eyes, so the children came out by the wayside and began to cry. Hog was passing by, said to them, “What’s the matter with you, now?”—“Well, Mr. Hog, our mother became blind and we cannot cure it!”—“I can’t do no good, I can’t cure it!” So Hog went away. Little after that there was Goat come up. Children were still crying. Goat said, “What’s the matter with you, now?” Children said, “Well, Mr. Goat, our mother took in with blindness and we cannot cure it!” Goat say, “I cannot cure it!” and he went on his way. A little after that Cow came up. “What’s the matter with you, now?”—“Well, Mr. Cow, our mother took in with blindness an’ we cannot cure it!” Cow say, “I can’t do no good!” an’ he went on his way. Afterward they heard Jack-ass galloping come along say, “Hee-haw, hee-haw! What’s the matter with you? what’s the matter with you?” The children say, “Well, Mr. Jack-ass, our mother took in with blindness an’ we cannot cure it!” Jack-ass say, “I can’t do no good! I can’t do no good! I can’t do no good!”

Little after that, Anansi come up, hear the children crying, said, “An’ w’at de mattah wid you, now?”—“Well, Mr. Anansi, our mother took in with blindness an’ we cannot cure it!” Anansi said, “I can cure it!” He said, “You know wha’ you all do? Put a barrel of water in the kitchen, get two barrels of white yam put in the kitchen, a pound of butter, a pound of lard, ’nuf meat, an’ put dem in de kitchen, an’ I’ll come back anodder day an’ cure it!” So the day appointed he came back an’ said, “Carry you mother now an’ put in the kitchen,” an’ said, “I am going to shut the door an’ when you heah somet’ing say ‘fee-e-e-e’, you all mus’ say, ‘T’ank God, mama have a cure!’”

So Anansi kill the ol’ lady, cook off all the yams an’ flour an’ everyt’ing, fry up the ol’ lady with the butter an’ the lard. He go “fee-e-e-e” an’ the children, hearing that, said, “T’ank God, mama have a cure! t’ank God, mama have a cure!” Anansi now eat off the ol’ lady an’ all the t’ings, take all the bones an’ pack it put at the fire-side, an’ come out an’ fasten the door, say that they mus’ not open the door until nine days time. That time, take himself away. On the seventh day, the chil’ren couldn’t bear it no longer, went an’ burst the door open fin’ all their mother bones at the fire-side.

They come out, start crying again. Hog pass by, said, “What’s the matter with you now?”—“Well, Mr. Hog, Mr. Anansi come heah an’ kill our mother an’ we cannot catch him!” Hog said, “I can’t help you!” and went his way. A little after, Goat came up, said, “What’ the matter now?”—“Well, Mr. Goat, Mr. Anansi came heah an’ kill our mother eat her off an’ we cannot catch him!”—“I can do no good, I can’t catch him!” Goat went on his way. Cow came up. “What’s the matter with you now? what’s the matter with you?”—“Well, Mr. Cow, Mr. Anansi come heah an’ kill our mother an’ eat her off an’ we cannot catch him!” Cow said, “I can’t do no good! I can’t do no good!” an’ he went on his way. A little after, Jack-ass come, say, “Hee-haw! what’s the matter with you? what’s the matter with you? what’s the matter with you?”—“Well, Mr. Jack-ass, Mr. Anansi come heah an’ kill our mother an’ eat her off an’ we can’t catch him!” Jack-ass said, “I will catch de fellah! I will catch de fellah! I will catch de fellah!”

Jackass went to Anansi gate an’ lay down fawn dead with his belly swell up. Anansi come down an’ said, “Lawd! dat’s a lot me bwoy meet up t’-day!” An’ said, “Me wife, bring de big pot an’ de big bowl an’ de big yabba [37] an’ de big knife!” So when it come, Anansi cut Jack-ass under the belly, put his han’ t’ru the cut. He full the big pot with the fat, and the big bowl, an’ shove his han’ now to fill yabba, clear to his shoulder. Jack-ass hol’ him. He said, “Br’er Jack-ass, me no t’ink you dead!” [38] an’ said, “A little fun me mak wid you, no mean i’!” Jack-ass say, “Fun or no fun, come we go!” an’ Jack-ass get up, gallop straight to the children yard. An’ they make up a big fire an’ put Anansi in an’ bu’n him an’ bu’n him till him belly burst!

39. ANANSI, WHITE-BELLY AND FISH.

Mrs. Ramtalli, Maggotty.

Anansi is accustomed to lie in the sun every morning watching the birds going to feed. One day he said to White-belly, “Brar White-belly, whe’ you go to feed eb’ry day? tek me wid you.” So White-belly promised on condition that he would behave himself. He fitted him out with a pair of wings to fly, and they went to the feeding-trees. These overhung a river. Every tree White-belly went on, Anansi said, “A fe me tree dat!” and White-belly went away to another. Anansi eat so much that he fell fast asleep. White-belly got annoyed. When Anansi was sleeping, he went and took off the false wings. Anansi turned in his sleep and fell into the river.

The Fish picked him up and took him to their home. He said, “Cousin Fish, no eat me!”—“If we are ‘cousin’ we wi’ see!” Fish boiled some hot rice-pop. Anansi said, “It no hot enough! putee in the sun mekee hot more!” When he thought it was quite cooled off, put it to his head, never stopped drinking until it was finished. Then Fish say, “Yes, me cousin fe trew!”

It was getting night and Fish told him to remain over until next day. Fish had a barrel of eggs in the kitchen. Anansi wanted to eat them off, asked Fish to make his bed in the kitchen for the night. He poached all the eggs in the ashes, left one, and they went ‘pop!’ The pickney say, “A wha’ stranger man a do deh?” The Fish mother said, “Have manners, pickney! Let you cousin prosper.” Morning dawn, the mother sent the children to bring the eggs to her to count them. Anansi said, “Mek the child’ren keep quiet; me wi’ work!” and he took the one egg, took it to the mother Fish. Each time she marked it he would wipe it off, take back the same egg, until he had taken the whole barrel full.

After that, he said he wanted to go. Fish said to two of the children, “Me son, get the canoe an’ tek you cousin over the river.” It was looking very breezy and rainy. When they got half way across, Fish bawled out at the top of her voice, “Bring stranger man back he-e-ah! fe he eat off all me eggs; only one is heah!” The children say, “Wha’ ma say?” Anansi said, “You ma say you mus’ row quickly, squall ahead!” The children rowed across. Anansi took them up, put them in his bag and took them home, eat them. And from that day, fishes are eaten!

40. GOAT’S ESCAPE.

a. The Rain.

Richard Pottinger, Claremont, St. Ann.

Anansi and Goat have a little quarrel. Anansi said to Goat, “Brar Goat, I gwine ketch you!” Goat say, “You never live, me frien’, to ketch me!” Goat ’fraid fe rain. So one moist night Goat was coming from his field had to pass Anansi’s house, drizzle drizzle rain fall; Brar Goat have to run up Anansi’s house.—“Come in, me frien’!” Goat go in. Anansi step in a room tak out him fiddle:—

“Me t’ank Brar Rain
Fe run wil’ meat from bush
Come a house.”

Goat didn’t like it, keep to de door-way. Anansi not notice him, only playing de same song. Goat jump down de bottom door Anansi cut after him. Goat can’t cross river, run to de river-side turn a white little stone. Dog see, de odder side of de river, when Goat turned a little stone. Anansi run up de river now.—“Brar Dog, see Brar Goat pass?”—“Yes, Brar! see one little stone a river-side deh? takee up t’rowee, I show you whe’ him deh.” Anansi tak up de stone, t’row it de odder side, give Brar Dog. Goat drop on him four feet. Anansi say, “Luck in me han’ an’ it get ’way!”

b. The Dance (1).

Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.

Assono [39] an’ Anansi make a dance and invite Goat and Dog to the dance. Anansi make bargain with Assono that when Goat an’ Dog come in, he mus’ sit down at one door an’ Anansi at the other. Assono sing, (repeat three times)—

“I sit down a me house deh fe dey come!”

So Anansi sing,

“Whe’ me been tell you!”

Dog sing,

“The somebody kyan’t run, you no hearie?”

Goat sing,

“I kyan’t run, but I cunnie do!”

Anansi say to him, “Brar Goat, you no play de fiddle good! mak me tak de fiddle stan’ ’pon de do’mat play better.” That time he gone to shut the door, Dog and Goat run thru’ the other door before Assono catch them. Assono an’ Anansi run after them an’ get to a big river. Dog can swim an’ Goat kyan’t swim, so Dog swim over the river an’ lef’ Goat. Goat turn a big rock an’ lie by the roadside. Dog say to Anansi, “Brar Anansi, tak a rock-stone, lick me down an’ I wi’ stay mak you come pick me up!” Anansi tak a big rock so an’ fling over the river. Goat get up an’ holla “Baa-a-a-a!” Assono so vex with Anansi that he eat him up same place.

b. The Dance (2).

Alfred Williams, Maroon Town.

Hanansi give a dance, invite any amount of company, an’, de night, everbody come. He invite Brar Goat, an’ when him come, Brar Goat stay outside on de landing, an’ Brar Hanansi inside say him gwine to play, an’ he play,

Meat a da me yard, Meat, come see me. Meat a da me yard, Meat,
come see me. Meat a da me yard, Meat, come see me. Meat a da me
yard, Meat, come see me.

Brar Goat den dance. When he dance he holla,

You no have-y a han’ you no sure of it, You no have-y a han’ you
no sure of it, You no have-y a han’ you no sure of it, You no
have-y a han’ you no sure of it.

41. TURTLE’S ESCAPE.

Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.

Turtle fool Anansi one day. Anansi go out one day an’ him catch one turtle,—quite glad of de turtle! So when he go home, Turtle know Anansi gwine eat him an’ said to Anansi, “Brar Anansi, you know me fat? When you put me on, as de water boil up you tak me off, ’cause fat will mash.” So when de water get warm, him blow him nose mak de water boil up. Anansi get frightened, said de turtle wi’ mash! So he lay him down at de pan-side let de fat cool so him no mash. Turtle run away in de pond. Anansi lose him dinner.

42. FIRE AND ANANSI.

Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.

Anansi an’ Fire were good frien’. So Anansi come an’ see Fire an’ dey had dinner. So he invite Fire fe come see him now. So Fire tell him he kyan’t walk. So Fire tell him from him house him mus’ lay path dry bush, an’ him walk on top of dry bush. Anansi married to Ground Dove. Ground Dove tell him no, he mustn’t invite Fire; him wi’ bu’n him house an’ bu’n out himself. Anansi wouldn’t hear what him wife say, an’ he laid de trash on. An’ Fire bu’n from him house, an’ when he come near Anansi house he mak a big jump, bu’n Anansi, bu’n him house, bu’n eb’ryt’ing but him wife. Fire fool Anansi!

43. QUIT-QUIT AND ANANSI.

a. Tailors and Fiddlers.

David Roach, Lacovia.

Anansi and Lizard go to a ball. Anansi is a fiddler, Lizard is a tailor. Quit-quit was the fiddler. Anansi was playing, “tum, tum, tum” and all the girls were going round Brar Quit-quit. So Anansi play, “Me nyam-nyam taya!” an’ it please the people. All love taya; all the girls crowded round Brar Anansi. Brar Quit-quit says, “Taya no somet’ing!” Then Anansi comes in with his music—“Me nyam de somet’ing! If taya no somet’ing, whe’ are de somet’ing?”

Brar Anansi said mus’ mak a suit of clo’es for him that kyan’t match. Brar Quit-quit tell him mus’ mak a suit out of maggot-fly. An’ after the ball they went to dinner an’ when the maggot-fly smell the meat, they run off leave him naked.

b. Fiddlers.

Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.

Anansi and Tiger bot’ of dem are fiddler an’ go play fe de king ball. So Tiger could play more dan Anansi. So de king say de man could play de best would get married to de king daughter. Dem had dinner after de ball, so after dem play, play, play, Anansi find Tiger playing more dan him, so de lady more cleave to Tiger. So Anansi whisper to Tiger, say Tiger mus’ play,

Nyam nyam no not’ing!

As he commence play, de lady say de meaning “Belly-feed no not’ing, but mus’ somet’ing!” So Anansi set him fiddle, play,

Bittle no somet’ing, what is somet’ing?

De lady cleave to Anansi an’ drive away Tiger.

44. SPIDER MARRIES MONKEY’S DAUGHTER.

May Ford, Newmarket.

Bredder Monkey had a daughter whom Bredder Spider wanted to marry. Monkey didn’t want Bredder Spider to marry his daughter as he thought Bredder Spider was too fast and beneath him; he only kept Bredder Spider company as he thought him useful to him. So he jump to Bredder Green-lizard and said, “Bredder Green-lizard, what you think of such cheek? Fancy! Bredder Spider want to marry me daughter! I don’t want to hurt his feelings as he is useful to us, so help me to get out of it.” So Bredder Green-Lizard say, “I tell you a way, man. Call her ‘Miss Nennan-kennan-wid-a-turn-down-gown’ and whoever guess her name marry her, for Bredder Spider never can guess that!” So Bredder Lizard went direc’ an’ tell Bredder Spider, “When dey call you all up to ax Bredder Monkey daughter name, you fe say, ‘Miss Nennen-kennan-wid-a-turn-down-gown’.” So Bredder Monkey send out word to all the gentlemen who want to marry his daughter to come and guess her name. Not one could tell her name till when he catch to Bredder Spider, Bredder Spider say, “Miss Nennen-kennen-wid-a-turn-down-gown.” So Bredder Spider got Bredder Monkey daughter an’ marry her.

So when Bredder Spider wife had a baby, she left Bredder Spider put the pickney to bed while she go to pond. When Bredder Spider think wife gone, him start to sing,

“Hush, me pickney, hush me baby,
A me cunnie mak me get yo’ mama!”

Spider wife turn back an’ say, “A what a dat you sing?” Spider say, “Me only sing,

‘Hush, me pickney! hush, me baby!
It’s a good t’ing marry yo’ mama?’”

Bredder Monkey been a come see him an’ hear what Bredder Spider singing. Bredder Monkey say, “Wa’ so you get me daughter!” an’ grab away the baby an’ kill Spider. And as him kill Spider the pickney drop out his hand dead.

So never kill a Spider, as whatever you have in hand will be sure to break.

45. THE CHAIN OF VICTIMS.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Hanansi saw Brar Hog an’ said, “Brar Hog, lend me a dollar, to-morrow, twelve o’clock, come fe it.” An’ saw Brar Dog an’ said, “Brar Dog, len’ me a dollar, to-morrow, twelve o’clock, come fe it.” An’ saw Brar Monkey an’ say, “Brar Monkey, len’ me a dollar, to-morrow, twelve o’clock, come fe it.” An’ saw Brar Tiger an’ said, “Brar Tiger, len’ me a dollar, to-morrow, twelve o’clock, come fe it. An saw Brar Lion an’ say, “Len’ me a dollar, to-morrow, twelve o’clock, come fe it.”

Nex’ day hear some one knock at de door. Hanansi said, “Who come deah?”—“Me, Brar Hog.” An’ he say, “Come in.” He an’ Hog stay dere talkin’ an’ hear anodder knockin’. An’ say, “Who come deah?”—“Me, Brar Dog.” He say, “Brar Hog, you run go in dat room, fe Dog too bad; if him catch you him are goin’ to kill you!” Dog come in. Him stay dere talkin’ until hear anodder knock an’ said, “Who come deah?”—“Me, Brar Monkey.” An’ say, “Come in”; an’ say, “Brar Dog, you run go in dat room dere an’ when you go you see Brar Hog un’er de bed, kill him.” Him an’ Monkey talk till Tiger come knock at de door, an’ Hanansi say, “Who knock deah?”—“Me, Brar Tiger.” An’ say, “Brar Monkey, run go in dat room hide or Tiger ketch you!” When Brar Tiger come in, him an’ Hanansi deh talkin’ till he hear anodder knock. An’ say, “Who come deah?”—“Brar Lion.” An’ say, “Brar Tiger, you run go in dat room deh; you see Brar Monkey, kill him!” So as Lion come in he tell Brar Lion, “Look heah! have plenty o’ meat. Brar Tiger gone in dere; you gwine go kill him!” Lion went in an’ kill Tiger. Me’while de Lion kill Tiger, Hanansi go out de kitchen door dig one deep hole an’ ca’ say, “Brar Lion, run come heah! We go put on little hot water fe clean up doze fellah!” As Lion jump out of de house, feel so glad, gallop on to de kitchen, he got down in de hole an bre’k his neck. So Hanansi said, “You brute! look how much money I borrow from you, an’ I have all yo’ bone to crack t’-night!”

46. WHY TUMBLE-BUG ROLLS IN THE DUNG.

William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.

Deh was Mr. Anansi and Tumble-bug. Deh was a young lady, was de king daughter. Her fader said who come wid a jar of money will get dat young lady to marry. Tumble-bug get a jar of money. Anansi get a jar an’ couldn’t get no money to put in it, get some cow dung an’ some horse dung fill up de jar. And after dem was going up to de young lady, dem ketch to a shop. And de two jar favor one anodder. An’ Anansi said, “Brar Tumble-bug, let we go in de shop go get a drink.” An’ Anansi said, “Mus’ buy a bread come,” an’ as he come out, him tak up Tumble-bug jar and lef’ fe him jar. An’ Tumble-bug tak up Anansi jar. And when dem go up to de young lady in de king yard, Anansi said, “Massa, mus’ bring a clean sheet go t’row out money out of jar!” An’ he t’row out money—wa-a-a-a-a! An’ as Tumble-bug t’row, him t’row out horse-dung an’ cow-dung.

Anansi said, “Tak it up, tak it up, tak it up, you nasty fellow, carry out de missis yard!” Dat is why you see Tumble-bug roll in filth to-day to-day. [40]

47. WHY JOHN-CROW HAS A BALD HEAD.

a. The Baptism.

Margaret Brown, St. Anne’s Bay.

Anansi always has a grudge wid John-crow; he say whenever he make his nest, de Crow fly on it an’ catch it up an’ he never can make his nest, so he have a hatred for Crow. He say he was going to married and he was going to invite no one but Crow. An’ he have a big dinner an’ no one was at de table but Crow. So after de eat an’ drink done, he said he was going to have a baptism but he don’t baptize wid not’ing but boiling water. So after de water’s boiling, he took it off an’ order Crow to sit round de copper an’ so he dip ev’ry one head into de water, an’ dat why Crow have bald-head to-day.

b. The Dance.

Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.

Anansi and John Crow had a ball one night, so dey fin’ dinner de night fe all de dancer. John Crow a great ’tepper, can ’tep better’n Anansi. So as Anansi fin’ John Crow can dance neater dan him, he get bex. So after de dinner de pop was hot, so he said to John Crow him mus’ dance up to de pop. So jus’ to get rid of John Crow de night, he got a ladle an’ dash on John Crow wid de hot pop right up on de head, an’ all John Crow head ’trip off. All de John Crow in dis worl’ never have ne feder upon i’ head heah; Anansi bu’n ’em off wid hot pop.

48. WHY DOG IS ALWAYS LOOKING.

Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.

Anansi and Dog were friends. They wanted to go into cultivation, so both of them went out in search of good lands to rent. They came across a nice bit of land. Anansi fell in love with the spot; Dog fell in love with the spot too. Anansi said to Dog he remembered when he was a little boy his father planted yams on that very spot of land,—“An’ the yams did bear.” Dog said, “How they bear big?” Anansi said, “Brar Dog, they bear big, they bear big like me leg!” (Anansi’s leg is jus’ like a thread!) Brar Dog say, “Before I work an’ plant yam, an’ the yam not bigger than you leg, I sooner walk round an’ look!” That’s the reason why, when you’re eating, a dog ’sure to be looking at you.

49. WHY ROCKS AT THE RIVER ARE COVERED WITH MOSS.

Sarah Vassel, Bog, Westmoreland.

Anansi was gwine out one day an’ he stop a ribber-side a-eatin’. A rock-stone beg him, an’ wouldn’t gi’ him none. After eat done, wan’ to get up; rock-stone hol’ him an’ he couldn’t get up. An’ began to bawl. A man was coming pas’ same time an’ ask him, “Bredder Anansi, who been a cry heah?” Anansi said, “Don’ know!” An’ de man go inside de bush, go hide. Anansi holla, an’ he come out an’ he catch him by his two han’ an’ draw him right up. Half a him ’kin lef’ on de stone. Moss a grow upon rock-stone a ribber-side, Anansi skin a grow deah.

50. WHY GROUND-DOVE COMPLAINS.

Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains.