Chapter VI: Part 6

“Zin-ge-lay, wid dem run come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem jump come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem walk fas’!”

So de boat name “John Studee.” As he run into de yard, stamp him foot an’ said, “John Studee!” An’ stamp again, “John Studee-ee-e!” So de boat tu’n right back wid de two girl an’ de little boy. An’ as dey mos’ come, de little boy tu’n cockroach again; go in garden. Devil didn’t see him.

Nex’ day mo’nin’, Devil go back in fiel’ put up de two girl again. De maid t’row out a bag o’ corn an’ a bag o’ rice. Same t’ing happen. Las’ day when him gone, de maid t’row out a bag o’ corn, a bag o’ rice an’ a bag o’ barley. An’ after him t’row, de cock commence to eat—

“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”

After dem bag o’ corn, tu’n upon rice now—

“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”

An’ de rice he eat now, tu’n upon de barley—

“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”

Eat off de t’ree bag, time de girl catch home; leave de boat at de shore-side. De cock clap him wing—

“Plop plop plop plop
Massa han’some wife gone!”

As Devil hear, him come—

“Zin-ge-lay, wid dem run come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem jump come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem walk fas’!”

As he come, ’tamp him foot an’ say, “John Studee-e!” De boat t’un right back come home. If it wasn’t fo’ dat little yawzy boy, de Devil will kill ’em.

b. The Snake-husband.

Emilina Dodd, Lacovia.

A woman have a daughter, oftentimes engaged and wouldn’t marry, said that the gentlemen weren’t to her sort; until one day she see a well-dressed gentleman, came and proposed to her. But she has a brother was an Old Witch, told her that man was a snake. She said the man was too well-dressed to be a snake, but the brother was going home with them under the carriage as a lizard. The first place, as he was going on, somebody ask, “Mr. Snake, I beg you give me my collar,” and the next, “Mr. Snake, I beg you give me my jacket,” and so on until he show himself plain as a snake.

When they get home, he lock her up wanting to kill her, but couldn’t kill her without the thing called “bump.” Go out in the yard looking for it. After them gone, the mother-in-law said, “Me daughter, dis man you marry going to kill you because he is a bad man and he marry a wife already and kill her and he gwine to kill you too. I would let you go, but him have one cock, him so chat!” So she threw a barrel of wheat an’ a barrel of corn. When the cock was picking it up he say, “I don’ care a damn, I will nyam an’ talk!” sing,—

“Ko ko re kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”

Then they throw a double quantity. The cock pick it up an’ sing,

“Ko ko re ko kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”

Then Snake come from the wood while the brother was taking her on the water. Snake overtake her, take her home again and lock her in, go back in the wood again in search of “bump.” And mother-in-law throw a double quantity of wheat and corn. Cock say again, “I don’t care a damn, I will nyam an’ talk!” The cock eatey all and sing,—

“Ko ko re kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”

So when Snake come out from the wood, he couldn’t get her again because she was near on land. So he went back home an’ tek a stick an’ lick the mother-in-law on the head, kill her.

(The following songs are taken from other versions of the Snake-husband story.)

I will lick you so fine, I will lick you so sweet, yo’
fadder an’ mudder will never fin’ de hair ob yo’ bone.

Poor me Lydie gal, oh, poor me Lydie gal, oh,
han’some man sinake undone me.

1. Variant.

Carlie, oh, me Carlie, oh. If a no been Carlie come heah,
yallow snake could’ a’ swallow me whole.

Mu-ma, mu-ma, snake a swallow me. You lie, you lie, me
dis I put ma han’ ’pon you, you cum come tell yo’ lie on me, you
cum come tell yo’ lie on me.

2. Variant.

cum come tell yo’ lie on me.

87. BULL AS BRIDEGROOM.

a. Nancy.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Deh is one woman get a daughter. One day in de yard ’he saw a man, big stout man. He put co’tin’ship to her. De woman said yes. When de man come to de yard breakfas’ time, he didn’t eat; always went away where some clean grass is. ’he got a brudder watchin’ him all ’e time. When he go, de man begin to sing,

“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”

De man tu’n bull an’ eat his belly full o’ grass. When he eat done, he sing again,

“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me gone.”

Den he tu’n de shape a de man back.

When day of de wedding, de boy said, “Sister, you know wha’ dat man coming here is? Dat man a bull.” His sister said, “O bwoy, go ’way! Where you ever hear cow can tu’n a living soul?” Dey come home from church, sit roun’ de table, everybody giving toast. Dey call upon de woman brudder to give toast. De brudder said, “I won’ give toas’, but I wi’ sing.” De man said, “No, give toas’ better ’an de sing!” De guest said dat dey would like to hear de sing as much as toast; so de little boy commence to sing,

“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”

De man begin to bawl out an’ knock his head, call out fe toast. De boy begun to sing again,

“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”

De ha’r of de cow grow, an’ de four foot, an’ de big bull begun to jump an’ buck down all de people in de house, an’ he gallop an’ dey never see him no more again. [56]

b. The Play-song.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

Deh was an ol’ woman who had a daughter an’ a son. De son was an Ol’ Witch, an’ de girl was well kep’ up by de ol’ woman. Deh were several gentlemen who make application fo’ de girl to marry, but de mudder refuse dem. At las’ de debbil dress himself nicely an’ went, an’ he was accepted by de ol’ lady, an’ begun to co’t de girl.

De boy, being an ol’ witch, know dat it was de debbil. He tol’ de mudder not to allow his sister to marry to de man, for de man is de debbil. De mudder said, “Go ’way, sah! what you know? You can call a gentleman like dat de debbil?” So when de debbil walking, his knee sing a song like ringing a bell. It go like dis:

“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Belling belling beng, bell i’ leng beng.”

De boy overhear de debbil knee singing. But, now, anybody else sing de song, de debbil clo’es will drop off, a horn grow on head, an’ tail grow out on him too. So one night while he was in de house talking, de little boy was underneat’ de table singing de song quietly:

“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing.”

When de debbil hear dat he say, “Look heah, mistress, stop dat bwoy from singing dat song! I don’ like it.” De ol’ woman say, “Massah, me kyan’ stop him singing, because it mus’ of been his little play-song [57] what he have singing.” So de debbil say, “Well, I don’ like to hear it!”

De boy now sing de song much louder, an’ de debbil knee begin to sing it very loud—

“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing!”

an’ de clo’es drop off an’ de tail an’ horns grow out. So de boy say to de mudder, “Didn’t I tell you dat man was a debbil, an’ you would not believe it!”

c. Gracie and Miles.

Florence Thomlinson, Lacovia.

There was once a girl by the name of Gracie and a man Miles. They were engaged. And Miles always came to see Gracie most every evening, and he would always sing for her. Song was about Gracie; says that Gracie is a fine girl, but he is going to kill her.

Me a Miles a moo me a Miles a moo Fe me Gracie is a
fine gal Fe me Gra-cie have a kill her. Pong, me la-dy, pong moo!
Pong, me la-dy, pong moo! Me a Miles a moo me a Miles a moo. Fe me
Gra-cie is a fine gal Fe me Gra-cie have a kill her.

She didn’t know he would kill her fe true.

She has a little brother stop in the yard with her. (Miles) worked in the field every day; they would send his breakfast by the little boy to him. When (the boy) nearly got to him, he wasn’t a man; he was a bull. When he see the boy coming, he turn a man. The boy tell his sister, “You know that man is not a man, he’s a bull!” and she said, “Oh, cho! nonsense! How you could expect that?” The little boy said, “If you think it is not true, you go with me, stop back.” Next day she went after the boy and stay far back and see it was a bull eating grass, not a man. He sing,

“Me a Miles a moo, me Gracie is a fine girl,
Me Gracie me wi’ kill her.”

She know it is a bull now. When he come, the sister say tomorrow evening must have a ball now. So he says he will come. So she get up a lot of men with ropes and have music and all in the house. So the little boy begin to sing the song now:

“Me a Miles a moo, me Gracie is a fine girl,
Me Gracie me wi’ kill her.”

Miles said, “Oh, where that little boy come from? Turn him out!” Hoof begin to grow, horn begin to grow, tail begin to grow and he get a big bull, and they toss him and rope him and pole him, turn him out.

88. THE TWO BULLS.

Alexander Foster, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.

One time there is a bull range the common,—call the pen “Garshen pen.” That bull wouldn’t ’low no bull-calf to born an’ to raise in that pen barring out him one; but every heifer born, him nurse them, go about lick them, nourish them, make them grow fine! Until one time cow was heavy, climb up into a high mountain an’ have a calf, an’ when the calf born he is a bull calf. Now that ol’ bull we call him “Ol’ Moody,” an’ the young bull name ‘Tep’y-tep’y to-day.’

The mother stay until the calf grow a tremendous bull, carry down that bull come to de river to drink water. Every time the father come to drink water, him go away, so then when the son come, the son try to put foot in the father track, an’ the bull mamma say to him, “No, me son, de track no fit fo’ you fader yet,” make her carry him back a couple of days more. Now at twelve o’clock in the day, mother carry down the bull again, try foot for him father again. Now he feel to himself that he come a man, an’ he stan’ up same place an’ say to him mother, “Mus’ see me father to-day.”—“Massy, me son, yo’ pa so cruel, have a dread to carry son go!” He stan’ up holla, “Ma, I gwine go! I gwine try to see me father!” an’ he raise a sing now,—

“Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep’y deh!
Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep-y deh!”

De ol’ bull gwine answer him now,—

“Hum-um-m, wha’ you say?
Me jus’ a go a brudder Dickey an’ Sandy,
Moody say me mustn’t go.”

Coming up the common to meet him father, (like) when a pretty man coming up, you see all de young girl for dat gentleman; an’ he sing coming,

“Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep’y deh!”

De ol’ bull answer him,

“Hum-um-m, wha’ you say?
Me jus’ a go a brudder Dickey an’ Santy,
Moody say me mustn’t go.”

Meet to fight now, an’ de ol’ toss up him son into the air an’ he drop on four feet. An’ the son lif’ him up in de air now; when de fader coming down, one foot break. An’ he ’tamp on de t’ree foot an’ lif’ him son higher again. An’ him son lif’ him up again in de air, an’ when he coming again, break one of de other foot. An’ all de cow now running to the river for water wouldn’t bother with the ol’ bull at all, everybody for the young one. An’ lif’ up de young bull again deh ’pon him two foot, lif up in de air, an’ de young bull drop on him four foot back. An’ de young bull lif’ him up again; when he drop, he break de udder foot. Lif’ up de son again, but he couldn’t go too far wid him; an’ his son lif’ him up in de air again break de udder foot. An’ he lay down on him belly fe fight an’ lif’ up him son, but him couldn’t go too far wid him foot. An’ him son lif’ him up de las’, now, lif’ him up in de air; an’ when him come down, break him neck. An’ from dat day, all young bull grow in pen; not’ing to destroy dem.

89. BALLINDER BULL.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Der is a bull de name of Ballinder Bull, but dem right name King Bymandorum. It is a wicked bull. De king said whoever kill Ballinder Bull, he will get his two daughter to marry to. All de men in de worl’ try, an’ couldn’t kill him. One day, an’ ol’ lady stood by an’ a woman was breedin’ go to de horsepon’ to tek water. De bull buck out de baby out of her an’ went away. De ol’ lady tek de baby an’ rear him. When him come a good-sized boy, he send him to school. Every twelve o’clock when dey play marble, he lucky to win. De res’ a chil’ tell him said, “A da you mek so!” Four o’clock when him coming home, him say, “Ma, why de reason when I win doz odder chil’ sai, “A da you mek so?” Him ma tell him tomorrow twelve o’clock get one switch play wid de least one an’ after you win him tell you “A da you mek so!” gi’ him two good lick an’ you will come to know why dey use de word. So twelve o’clock he play an’ win, an’ tell him “A da you mek so!” He gi’ him de two lick, an’ after he give him de lick he said, “Hit let Ballinder Bull buck you out of you mudder belly.” When de boy return home he said, “O mudder, you is not me right mudder!” De ol’ lady said no, begun to tell him all dese t’ings were happen. De boy said, “Anywhere Ballinder Bull, a gwine kill him!”

Dis bull got gol’en tongue an’ gol’en teet’. When de boy gwine along, him meet some noblemen and said, “My little boy, where am you goin’?” An’ said, “I gwine a fight Ballinder Bull.” De men said, “Boy, we after Ballinder Bull fe dis many year an’ kyan’t ketch him; what you t’ink upon you?” De boy said, “Never min’, I gwine fight him!” De boy went where him feedin’. Bull never see him, go drink water. De boy go to de cotton-tree an’ say, “Bear down, me good cotton-tree, bear down!” De cotton-tree bear down. Said, “Bear up, me good cotton-tree, bear up!” When de bull was coming, he hear de singin’,

“Anywhere Ballinder Bull,
De’ will kill him to-day!”

Ballinder Bull say, “What little boy up in de air jeering me as dis?” When he come, he fire bow an’ arrow; de boy catch it. Him fire anodder one, an’ he fire out de seven; de boy caught every one. De boy look on him an’ sen’ one of de bow an’ arrow, peg down one of de han’. An’ tek de odder one an’ sen it t’ru de odder han’. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down one of de foot. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down de odder foot. He sen’ anodder, he peg down one of de ears. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down de odder ear. De las’ one, he sen it t’ru de head. An’ he say, “Bear down, me good cotton-tree, bear down!” When de cotton-tree bear down, he catch de ears an’ pinch it an’ fin’ dat de bull was dead. An’ he came off an’ say, “Bear up, me good cotton-tree, bear up!” an’ de cotton-tree bear up. An’ tek a knife an’ tek out de teet’, tek out de tongue an’ travel.

De same day, he never went to de king yard. Hanansi goin’ to ground an’ saw de bull an’ said, “Buck, Ballinder Bull! buck, Ballinder Bull!” De bull don’ shake. Hanansi said, “You damned son of a bitch, you won’ get me fe kill to-day!” an’ tek up de stone an’ stone him an’ fin’ out dat de bull dead. De gladness in Hanansi! He went up chop off de bull head, bear it on to de king. When he go he said, “I kill Ballinder Bull, Sir!” De king say, “Oh, yes! you shall be my son-in-law tomorrow morning.” Now der is a bell, every gate has a bell. So Hanansi gettin’ ready to go to church, dey hear de bell ringin’ at de gate an’ dey sing,

“A who a knock a Nana gate, bing beng beng?
A who a knock a Nana gate, bing beng beng?” [58]

When de boy come, de king say “What you want?” An’ say, “I kill Ballinder Bull, Sir.” Hanansi come out. (King says) “You’s a little liar! Little boy like you couldn’t fight Ballinder Bull!” An’ Hanansi run in, said, “Der is de head!” De boy put his han’ in his pocket said, “Der de tongue an’ de teet’!”

Dey ketch Hanansi an’ ’tretch him out on a ladder, an’ beat him. After dat, dey sen’ him to look wood fe de weddin’. Dey sen’ Dog to watch him. Hanansi carried de wood, carry about ten bundle. Ev’ry trip, Dog go wid him. When him come back, ’im say, “Brar Dog, you love meat? I hear one hog over yonder; run go see if we kyan’ get little!” By time Dog return back, Hanansi gwine under wood ’kin an’ hide, an’ all de hunt Dog hunt, kyan’t fin’ him till dis day.

90. BIRD ARINTO.

Mrs. Ramtalli, Maggotty.

There was a bird Arinto; it used to feed on human flesh. In the district there was a little boy by the name of David Lawrence who was lame in both feet. When the boy heard the bird fly, he asked his sister to take him; but she refused, saying if she remained Arinto would eat her too. The boy, having no other resource, dug a hole in the ground where he lived for some time. When the bird came and perched on the house-top, he said, “Smell flesh; somebody about here!” Then David Lawrence sang,

You Arintoe, You Arintoe, Shake, shake, come down to David Lawrence.

Then the bird pitched off the house to the spot where he heard the singing. As it was an underground passage, the boy would move along and the bird would follow him up and down. As he went to the foot (of the passage), the bird would go there; as he went above, the bird would go there,—all day like that. At night the bird would go to rest,—couldn’t eat he was so tired. But the boy cooked at night and had his rest.

It went on for some weeks until the bird got tired an’ weary and one night fell off the roost. David Lawrence came out, cut out the tongue, and took it to the king, who had promised whoever killed Arinto would get his daughter’s hand in marriage. Anansi, passing the nex’ day, saw the dead bird, cut off the head and hurried with it to the king. A wedding feast was made to have Anansi married to (the king’s) daughter. Just as that was going on, a ragged boy called at the gate, but Anansi told the king to have nothing to do with him. But he appealed so loudly that the king after all went out, and the boy said to him, “Anansi is a usurper, because, king, have you ever seen a head without a tongue?” Anansi, on hearing that, ran under the table and from there into the house-top. David Lawrence was taken in, dressed, married to the king’s daughter, and lived happily.

Jack man dora!

91. TIGER SOFTENS HIS VOICE.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

Once upon a time a woman had one daughter, an’ that daughter was the prettiest girl in an’ around that country. Every man want the girl to marry, but the mother refuse them as they come. Tiger, too, wanted the girl, an’ demands the girl, an’ the mother says no. Tiger said if he don’t get the girl he will kill her. So they remove from that part of the country and go to another part, into a thick wild wood where no one live. And she made a house with a hundred doors and a hundred windows and a large staircase; and the house is an upstairs, an’ there both of them live.

Tiger hear of it, always loafing aroun’ the house to see if he can catch the girl, but the girl never come out. During the day, the mother went to her work, leaving the girl at home. When going out, the mother fasten all the doors an’ windows; coming home in the evening, at a certain spot where she can see the house an’ notice that all the windows an’ doors are close as she leave it, then now she have a song to sing, go like this,—

“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”

(that’s the name of the girl). Girl now—

“Deh lo, madame!”

Woman said to her now,

“Fare you well, fare you well, fare you well,
Fare you well, me dear; fare you well, me love!
A no Tiger, deh la, ho, deh la, ho?
Me jus’ come, ho!”

Then the door open, so—

“Checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky knock umbar.”

The door don’t open without that song now, and when it open, the mamma go into the house.

At that time, Tiger in the bush listening to the song. So one day while she was away, hear time for her to come home, Tiger approach the spot where she always sing. He now in a very coarse voice sings the song,—

“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”

The girl look from the window, said, “Tiger, a who no know sa’ a you!” So now Tiger go ’way an’ hide till mamma come. When she come, he listen good. Next day, Tiger go to a blacksmith an’ ask de blacksmith what he t’ink can give him, Tiger, a clear v’ice. De blacksmit’ say he must hot a long iron an’ when it hot, mus’ take it push down his t’roat. An’ de blacksmit’ give him a bit of meat to eat after he burn the throat an’ that will give him a clear v’ice. So Tiger go away eat de meat first an’ den burn de t’roat after. Nex’ day he went to the spot where the woman always sing from. An’ that make his v’ice more coarser. He sing now—

“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”

The girl look thru the window an’ say, “Cho! a who no know sa’ a you!” So Tiger got vex’ now, an’ he went home, burn the throat first and afterward eat the meat, and that give him a clearer v’ice than the woman. The nex’ day, when most time for the woman to come home from her work, Tiger went to the spot where he can see the house. He begin to sing,

“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”

The girl answer (tho’t it was her mother now)—

“Deh la, madame!”

Then Tiger say,

“Fare you well, fare you well, fare you well,
Fare you well, me dear; fare you well, me love!
A no Tiger deh lo o-o-o
Me jus’ come, h-o-o-o!”

The door commence to open now,—

“Checky checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky checky knock umbar!”

And as the door open, Tiger step up an’ caught the girl an’ swallow her.

And when the mother coming home, reach to the spot and saw the doors and windows open, she throw down what she carry and run to the house. And she saw Tiger lay down. And the mother then went away an’ get some strong men come an’ tie Tiger, kill him, an’ open de belly an’ take out de daughter. At that time, little life left in her an’ they get back the life in her. The woman then leave the house an’ go off away far into another country, and that is why you always fin’ lot of old houses unoccupied that no one live in.

92. HIDDEN NAMES.

a. Anansi and Mosquito.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

An ol’ lady have a daughter which no one know the name, an she never call the name at all make no one hear it. So she offered a hundred pound to anyone who could tell the girl name. Anansi say he mus’ get that money. Now he went an’ mak a bargain with Mosquito that Mosquito mus’ go in the girl room, as he’s a small man an’ can go thru crevices, an’ he, Anansi will go underneath the mother room. In the night while the girl was sleeping, Mosquito went an’ sing at her ear; an’ the girl then knock her han’ up on Mosquito an’ say, “Go ’way!” At that time the mother stop into her room an’ hear. After a little time, Mosquito went back to the girl ear an’ sing again. The girl knock after him an’ say, “Go ’way!” again. Anansi underneath the mother’s room give a clear listening. A little time after, Mosquito went back to the girl an’ sing at her ear. She then knock after him again an’ say, “Go ’way!” The mother then called to the girl, said, “Zegrady, Zegrady, what’s the matter?” The daughter said, “It is something worrying me in my sleep, mum.” Anansi never wait now for Mosquito, run right to his house, take up his fiddle an’ begin to play,—

“Zegrady, Zegrady, Zegra, Zegrady,
Come shake up Anansi hand,
My dear!”

The next morning he start for the house and play. So the girl hear her name and say, “Mother, I heard someone call my name!” So the old woman invite Anansi to come in an’ Anansi get the money, never give Mosquito none. So from that day is why Mosquito flying at people ear making noise, because Anansi rob him out of the money.

b. Anansi plays Baby. (1)

Eliza Barrett, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.

There was t’ree sister living to a house. Nobody was to know their names. An’ Anansi want to hear them an’ he couldn’t get them. An’ he have a young man an’ turn the young man into a baby (an’ turn himself the baby mother), an’ he carry the baby go an’ ask them if they min’ the baby for her; tell ’em say, when part of the day the baby crying they mus’ bathe the baby for her. An’ one of the sister name Santa Cruka. Santa Cruka take the baby an’ ’trip him an’ put him into a bowl, an’ Santa Cruka said, “Run come a sister Aminty! ever see such a little baby have such a big man place?” An’ Aminta say, “Run come, Sister Amata! ever see such a little baby have such a big man place?” So when de baby mother come now an’ carry the baby under a tree, the baby tell the mother, “That one name Santa Cruka, an’ the other one name Aminta, an’ the other one name Amata.” An’ he put down the baby an’ he turn a big tall man before him. An’ he go up to de t’ree lady an’ said, “Missus, is not you name Mistress Santa Cruka? An’ she go into her room an’ drop down dead. An’ go back to Aminta an’ say, “Sister, is not you right name Sister Aminta?” An’ she drop down die. An’ go back to Sister Amata an’ say, “Is not you right name Sister Amata?” An’ (she) drop down dead. An’ (Anansi) take all the richness of the three sisters an’ never care to go home.

b. Anansi plays baby. (2)

Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.

Anansi go to a groun’. Nobody know dose two sister name, not from dem born. So he come bet dat him will fin’ out dem two sister name. When he come home, he said to his wife him going to fawn himself a baby an’ de wife mus tek job grass-weeding at de groun’ fe dem two women, when him gwine, mus’ put him quite unter de shady tree as a baby. An’ de wife did so. So when de two woman go under de tree, mek much of de baby, nice baby! So as dem woman play wid de baby, de baby laugh, mout’ full of teeth. Two sisters frighten to see young baby have so much teeth. So one of de sister say, “Sister Agumma, run see Anansi baby mout’ full of teet’!” Sister Agumma run come an’ see. Anansi catch dat name. Sister Agumma come say, “O sister Agumma, a-a-ah! Anansi baby mout’ full of teet’ fe true!” Anansi catchy bot’ name an’ win de money.

b. Anansi plays baby. (3)

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Der is a man livin’ at a town for eight years, nobody know his name. Hanansi say, “Ma tek off me trousers, put on me long shirt, kyar’ me go a man yard, let him nurse me till you come home from ground.” De baby stay good all de while. When he see h’ mudder comin’ home, de baby creep, cryin’, go to his mudder. De man went to tek him back, said, “What kind of baby dis count fe, he see he mudder he start to cry?” Meanwhile he go to tek de baby an’ saw de shirt jump up in de back. Him ’toop down, him peep, him knock him han’. “Mercy, me Lord! what kind of a baby got such long hair on him so, poor me, Tom Goody!” Den de baby gwine to his mudder cryin’ “Tommy Goody!” So from dat day, de whole town fin’ out de man dat he name Tommy Goody.

93. ANANSI AND MR. ABLE.

Thomas White, Maroon Town.

Able have two daughter an’ dey was pretty young women. Anansi hear about dese two women, did want dem for wife, didn’t know what way he was to get dem. Able is a man couldn’t bear to hear no one call him name; for jus’ as he hear him name call, him get disturb all to kill himself. So Anansi get two ripe plantain an’ give de young women de two ripe plantain, an’ dey tek de two ripe plantain from Anansi an’ dey eat de two ripe plantain. Das de only way Anansi can get dese two young women.

An’ Able nebber know ’bout it until one day Mr. Able deh at him house an’ him hear de voice of a singin’,—

“Brar Able o, me ruin [59] o
Me plant gone!”

Brar Able, oh, me ruin, oh, Brar Able,
oh, me ruin, oh, Brar Able, oh, me ruin,
oh, Brar Able, oh, me plantain gone.

Brar Able say, “Well, from since I born I never know man speak my name in such way!” So he couldn’t stay in de house, an’ come out an’ went to plant sucker-root. Anansi go out,—

“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”

Mr. Able went out from de sucker-root an’ he climb breadfruit tree. Anansi go just under de breadfruit tree, sing,

“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”

Mr. Able went up in a cotton-tree. Anansi went up to de cotton-tree root, give out—

“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”

An’ Mr. Able tek up himself off de cotton-tree an’ break him neck an’ Mr. Anansi tek charge Mr. Able house an’ two daughters.

Jack man dory, choose one!

94. THE KING’S THREE DAUGHTERS.

Vincent Morrison, Mandeville.

Once a king had three daughters and the king die and some young fellows go up to the fence, but as they come they run them. The fellows meet Brar Nansi one day and they said to Anansi, “I bet you never go to that house!” Mr. Anansi said, “I bet you I go up there!”

Anansi went an’ got some horse-mane and get a cotton-tree spar an’ dig out a fiddle. An’ he come out de road de evening, an’ he start to play de fiddle say,

“Tom body tom ting,
Tweety tweety tweety tweety tweety twee
Linga linga loo
Nobody never go deh yet,
Linga linga ling
Anansi go deh t’-night
A go linga linga ling.”

The ladies call out and ask who is it playing that sweet music. Anansi say, “It’s me, missus!” And the ladies ask who. He says, “Me, Mr. Anansi, missus.” The ladies carry him up to the house and he play for two hours and come away. So the fellows who did bet him, he win them.

Jack man dora!

95. THE DUMB CHILD.

George Parkes, Mandeville.

There was once a little child born into a country, born with golden tongue an’ golden teet’, an’ from de day she born, nobody see de teet’ excep’ de mother an’ de father; she never talk for no one to hear her nor to see neither the teeth nor the tongue. Now the king of the country hear of it, an’ he offer a gran’ reward for anyone who would get to make the chil’ talk, because he, the king, never seen a golden tongue an’ teet’ yet. So lot of men went to the house an’ try all sort of mechanic; the chil’ wouldn’t talk.

So Anansi heard off it, went to the king an’ tol’ the king that he would make the chil’ talk; an’ the king say if Anansi make the chil’ talk before him, he will make the reward much larger, but if he don’t make the chil’ talk before him, he, the king, will kill Anansi. So Anansi went away, got his fiddle, cord it up, an’ went to the place of the little chil’; an’ he played on his fiddle to make the chil’ hear,—

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”

The chil’ look upon Anansi an’ smile; Anansi shake his head. He play the tune again—

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”

The chil’ laugh; Anansi get to see de teet’. Now Anansi play stronger again de same t’ing,—

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”

The chil’ begin hum it now,—

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”

Anansi play again harder now,

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”

The chil’ make,

“Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya.”

Anansi shake de head an’ laugh an’ he play much stronger now,

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”

The chil’ now sing louder,

“Poly don ya sin do!
Poly don ya sin do!”

As the chil’ sing that time, Anansi pick up the chil’, run right away to the king palace, call for the king, put the chil’ in the chair, tol’ the king he make the chil’ sing, see tongue an’ teet’. The king wouldn’t believe him. Anansi play him fiddle before the king, play the same tune,—

“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”

Chil’ begin now,

“Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya!”

And the king was very glad, an’ Anansi was nicely rewarded and the king took the child in his own home, an’ dere she live wid de king forever.

96. THE DUMB WIFE.

Thomas White, Maroon Town.

Deh was a man name of Goolin. He had a wife. He married him wife fe so many years dat de wife turned dummy,—she couldn’t speak to nobody. An’ Mr. Goolin reward out a certain amount of money, if anyone could make him wife talk, he would pay dem dat amount of money. Anansi hear about it an’ go to take up de job from Mr. Goolin. Anansi says if he had a mountain groun’, an’ Mr. Goolin says yes. An’ Mr. Anansi an’ Mr. Goolin go up to de mountain groun’ an’ Mr. Anansi tell Mr. Goolin he mus’ get a coffin made an’ send get up some men to carry de coffin. An’ Mr. Anansi sen’ tell de wife dat Mr. Goolin dead; an’ when de message reach Mrs. Goolin dat her husband dead, Mrs. Goolin commence to cry; an’ when she look an’ see de amount of men goin’ up to de mountain fe gwine carry down Mr. Goolin, de wife was crying but she couldn’t talk. An’ Anansi come down wid Mr. Goolin, an’ dey hev’ to come down a high hill, an’ de house was upon a flat before de hill. Well, Mrs. Goolin da in de house, she hear de great noise was coming down de hill an’ come jus’ at de house door, she come an’ stan’ up an’ look out an’ see de majority of men comin’. Anansi gi’ out,

“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”

An’ when de wife hear dat mournful singin’ de wife sing now very faintly,

“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”

An’ when Goolin hear he say, “Sing up, man!” Anansi sing,

“Goolin gone t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”

An’ wife sing now,

“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’dee-e-e!”

So Mr. Anansi tek out Mr. Goolin out of de coffin as a live man, an’ Mr. Goolin an’ him wife was talking up to t’-day.

97. LEAP, TIMBER, LEAP.

a. Old Conch.

Emanuel Johnson, Brownstown, St. Anne.

There was a king have a lumber to bring into the palace, an’ that lumber was one mile in length and there was not one man could carry it except one old man name of Old Conch. The king sen’ for him; him tek five days to do one mile. Anansi hear, an’ he can walk a little faster than him, an’ went to the king an’ say he will go an’ the king say if he can carry it quicker than Old Conch, he can go. Anansi mek a cotta an’ travel for the lumber, an’ when Old Conch ketch up the five days, fin’ Anansi beside the lumber trying to lift it up and couldn’t lift it. Old Conch were beside the timber an’ commence a song,—

Fol-low, timber, follow, fol-low ’long road, timber follow. Leap, timber, leap, leap tim-ber, leap. Follow, timber, ’long road fol-low, fol-low, timber, follow. Leap, tim-ber, leap, leap, tim-ber, leap. Fol-low, ’long road, timber fol-low, fol-low, ’long road, tim-ber, fol-low. Leap, tim-ber, leap, leap tim-ber, leap.

Timber pick up himself an’ mek a leap in two mile.

Anansi went on before an’ stood beside the timber trying to help it on again. Now when Old Conch went up and see Anansi by the timber again, Old Conch go beside the timber an’ say,

“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap, timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”

Timber pick up himself mek one jump two more mile; that’s four miles timber gone now. Now go on, an’ fin’ Anansi beside it again, an’ start him song say,

“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap; timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”

The timber pick up himself two more miles an’ drop in the king yard now.

Then Old Conch go on, an’ Anansi run ahead an’ say, “King, I brought de timber!” King were very glad to see the timber come an’ say, “You done well, Anansi!” an’ say, “I wan’ de timber in dat corner.” Anansi go beside the timber an’ couldn’t fix it in; were trying an’ frying an’ couldn’t fix it in. Now Old Conch come, says, “King, I brought de timber.” King says, “No! Anansi brought it; but, however, I wan’ de timber to go in dat corner, an’ I’ll prove out of de two of you which bring it!” Anansi first go to the timber, an’ couldn’t manage it. Now Old Conch start an’ say,

“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap, timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”

The timber pick up himself an’ fall in the corner. Now the king tek after Anansi was to kill him, couldn’t catch him, run under a stone an’ by the time they get up the stone, slip beneath the door crevice!

Jack man dora!

b. Grass-quit (fragment).

Howard Robinson, Retirement, Cock-pit country.

Grass-quit went to the bottom place an’ he haul a little grass-straw an’ tak a knife an’ slit the timber-head like this an’ he fix the grass-straw into it, an’ he say, [60]

a) Come, lit-tle tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay.

b) Come, lit-tle tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay,
Big tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay. Lit-tle tim-ber,
fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay. Big tim-ber, fol-low me.

An’ the timber follow him right into man yard, an’ as it catch into the yard, the daughter marry Grass-quit same time. An’ he sen’ for a police an’ tak up Anansi same time. When Anansi come out of prison, he make Grass-quit ride grass-straw until to-day.

98. THE BOY FOOLS ANANSI.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

One boy went to Hanansi yard, an’ Hanansi an’ he mudder made up to kill de boy. Me’while, de boy hear what dem say. Hanansi went away fe one of his country-men help him to kill de boy. As Hanansi gone, de boy kill Hanansi mamma, tek off de coat an’ de sucker, put it on an’ cook up de ol’ lady. When Hanansi come, de ol’ lady gi’ dem deh dinner. An’ he say, “Ma, wha yo’ got stren’t te kill a big big boy?” De boy said, “Yes, me pickney.”—“Ma, a wan’ water.” De ol’ lady gi’ him de water. An’ said, “Lawd, dis fellah fat!” De boy tek time an’ tek off de coat an’ de sucker, t’row it down an’ run, went away. Hanansi tumbled down,—“Lawd! a me mamma been nyam!” An’ run after de boy but couldn’t catch him. So it’s only de boy ever fool Hanansi!

99. THE WATER CRAYFISH.

Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.

There was a wealthy woman, but she had no children. She was always wishful of adopting a child. So she went down to the river to bathe one morning as usual and she saw a pretty baby. She was so glad she took it home and she made a pet of it. She employed a girl called Tamanty to care for the child, and Anansi to be the watchman to watch and see if the girl cared for the child.

So it happened one day she had to go out, so she left them to take care of the child. Anansi wanted all along to get rid of this girl Tamanty. Tamanty was sweeping the house and the little child was playing with the broom. Anansi winked to the girl and said, “Lick him wi’ the broomstick! lick him wi’ the broomstick!” The girl took the broomstick and hit the child. The child started running for the river. Anansi and Tamanty started after her, calling out, “Come back, Miss Nancy, come back!” The child said,

“No na no, Tamanty! no na no, Anansi!
Me a river craw-fish, me no have a mu-ma,
Poor me, river craw-fish! river a me mu-ma.”

The child ran right into the river and became a cray-fish.

MODERN EUROPEAN STORIES.

100. ALI BABA AND KISSEM.

Alexander Townsend, Flamstead, St. Andrew.

Ali Baba was the brother of Kissem, but Ali Baba was a poor man and Kissem was a rich man. Ali Baba had two donkeys and an ox,—all his living. Ali Baba was cutting wood one day, he heard a company of horse coming afar. Took his donkeys and hid them in the bush, hid himself in a tree. Forty men were coming on; the head man came right to the cave where he was. Name of the cave was “Sesame.” This cave was shut, would open by the word “Open, Sesame.” And they brought forty bags of gold an’ put in. Shut without word. Ali Baba saw them from the tree-top. When gone, Ali Baba came down to the cave, said, “Open, Sesame, open!” Ali Baba took all the money he could, loaded it on the donkey.

Must measure the money, but didn’t have any measure. Brother said, “What Ali Baba got to measure?” Took stuck the measure. Ali Baba measure, measure, measure, measure thousands of dollars. One piece stuck on the bottom. Brother aska; Ali Baba tells all about it, teaches brother, “Open, Sesame, open.” Next day, Kissem took wagon, oxen, servants, went to the place, said, “Open, Sesame, open!”. When he went inside, cave shut. When he went on, saw all the money, he forgot the word, said, “Open, kem! Open, wem! Open, rim! Open, sim!” Forgot that word entirely, can’t get out. The men came back; “Open, Sesame, open!” Find Kissem. “How came you here?” No answer. Cut Kissem up in five pieces, hung them up in the cave.

Kissem’s wife went to Ali Baba, said, “Kissem no come here yet!” Ali Baba went next day to the place. “Open, Sesame, open!” Finds the five pieces, takes them down, gets a cobbler to sew the five pieces up into a body. Robber comes back, finds body gone. Who took away that body, signifies some one knows the place; must find out who that is. Goes about town, finds a cobbler who said he joined five pieces into a body. Cobbler shows the house. He gets jars, puts a robber in each jar; one jar has oil. Takes the jars to Ali Baba, says will he buy oil. Ali Baba says yes.

He makes sport for the great governor. Ali Baba had a maid by the name of Margiana, and she was very wittified,—discovered the whole thing, but she didn’t say anything. She danced so well, danced up to the governor to give her something. He put his hand in his pocket to get her something; Margiana get one dagger, killed the governor dead. Margiana got the oil red-hot, poured into all the jars that got men. Ali Baba said, “Well, Margiana, you saved my life and you shall have my son and as much money as you want, and as much money as will put you in heaven!”

101. BULL-OF-ALL-THE-LAND.

William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.

Der was a bull name King Henry and, in de day, Bull-of-all-de-Land. Well, in de day him put on bull clo’es an’ de night him turn man. An’ one night de wife him lib wid mek up fire and bu’n de bull clo’es, an’ after she bu’n de bull clo’es, de man lef’ de wife. Have t’ree pickney; an’ she tell him to give him clo’es and she take her finger, prick, an’ drop t’ree drops of blood on de shirt-front. An’ him go away lef’ ’em fe t’ree years.

An’ after him lef’ ’em, she mash t’ee pairs of shoes to fin’ him. An’ she walk till she catch a river-side see a washer-woman. An’ he said who would wash but de t’ree drops of blood, him will marry to her. Den de woman dat was washing de shirt-front say, “Me lady, if you wash out de t’ree drops of blood, I will show you King Henry.” Well den, only cut a lime an’ ’queeze it pon de t’ree drops a blood an’ wash off! An’ de washer-woman run leave de woman at river-side an’ run up to King Henry, say, “I wash de blood!” An’ after she go up, him kep’ her in de yard, send off fe a minister, say in t’ree days fe marry de woman a wash out de blood.

In de night, dem put de strange lady into a close room against King Henry, but de woman didn’t know de king is dere. And dis woman dat say him wash out de blood, gib him laudanum in tea an’ he drop asleep. Den when de minister come, him hear it de two night de woman was singing; and he talk to King Henry say what woman singing to him at night. And say, “What woman?” And say what he drink in his tea. Nobody in de district know his name Bull-of-all-de-Land, only dis woman; all other know him King Henry. Well de next night sing again:

Phonograph record 35, transcribed by Helen Roberts.

Return to me! Return to me, Return to me, me bull ob a’ de
lan’. Return to me king Henry Return to me I hab
t’ree drops ob blood, I wash fe you. Return to me. Return to me I hab
t’ree drops ob blood, I hab wash fe you. Return to me, king
Henry, Return to me, Return to me, me bull ob a’ de lan’. [61]

As King Henry hearing de singing, jump right up. An’ de nex’ day marry de woman, mek her a lady. Fe nobody else know he is Bull-of-all-de-Land.

102. THE BOILING POT.

Maud Baker, Dry River, Cock-pit country.

Once Cinderella and her godmother lived together, and godmother told her there was a certain room in the house that she wasn’t to enter at all. One day while godmother was out, Cinderella said she must see what was in that room. After going there, she was extra frightened to meet up a large pot boiling with blood and no fire underneath. When godmother came back, she found out that Cinderella had gone into the room. Calling her to her, she told her that she must tell her the truth now; when she went into the seventh chamber, what did she see? Cinderella replied, “Dear Godmother, I saw nothing and nothing shall I talk until my dying day!” She asked her the same question again, and Cinderella repeated the same answer. Then she was so annoyed that she took Cinderella into a deep wood about ten miles away and asked again, “Cinderella, when you went into the seventh chamber, what did you see?” The girl again repeated, “Dear Godmother, I saw nothing and nothing shall I talk until my dying day!” The godmother threatened to cut out her tongue if she wouldn’t tell her the truth, but she kept saying the same as before, so then the godmother was so annoyed she cut out her tongue and left her there weeping extra.