Chapter IX: Part 9

“T’ank God, me know him name,
T’ank God, me know him name,
T’ank God, me know him name!”

“Come, now, tell me!”

“Ai! red yam, t’ank God a red yam!”

(dance and play the fiddle and drum).

When the papa boil the dinner, give him a big dinner fe him call the name. When he eat the big dinner the papa gi’ him the night, boy sing,

Pupa, de yam name red e yam? Yes, ma bwa, name red e yam.

Belly full to-night wid me red yam. Eat, ma bwa, eat, ma bwa, Eat, ma bwa, de yam name red e yam Sing, ma bwa, Sing, ma bwa, Sing, ma bwa, de yam name red e yam. Laugh, ma bwa, laugh, ma bwa, laugh, ma bwa, de yam name red e yam. Pupa ma belly full wid de red yam, Pupa ma belly full wid red yam. Laugh, ma bwa, laugh, ma bwa, laugh, ma bwa, yo’ belly full wid de red yam. Sing, ma bwa, sing, ma bwa, sing, ma bwa, yo’ belly full wid de red yam. [69]

144. GUZZAH MAN.

Mary Jane Roden, Brownstown, St. Ann.

One day Tacoomah, Monkey and Baboon were driving a truck with rum to the wharf fe master. When they were going, Anansi said to Tacoomah they have a dance an’ they invite Monkey an’ Baboon to the dance. An’ while they was dancing, Anansi an’ Tacoomah go t’ief t’ree puncheon of rum from Monkey an’ Baboon, come back to the dance, see Monkey an’ Baboon was dancing. Anansi say,

Guzza man, Guzza man, Brudder Nansi drink rum. Oh, Guzza man, Guzza man, Guzza man. So Anansi tie Tiger, tie him ’til he jump, Tiger. Guzza man, Guzza man, Guzza man. Tom drunk, but Tom no fool, Tom drunk, but Tom no fool, la-la-la-la-la-la-la.

145. FOWL AND PRETTY POLL. [70]

Mary Jane Roden, Brownstown, St. Ann.

Fowl invite Pretty Poll to chapel, den Pretty Poll said to Fowl, “Kyan’t go to chapel for me soso fedder.” Poll said to Kyan-crow, “Make go to chapel.” Kyan-crow said to Pretty Poll him kyan’t to go chapel for him peel-head young man.

Come we go to church, Pretty Poll. Come we go to church, Pretty Poll.
Pretty Poll, wan’ get married Same time as a so so fedder.
John Crow say he be de bride, same time he, peel-head young man.

146. THE CUMBOLO.

Sarah Findley, Santa Cruz Mountains.

An ol’ man an’ a wife was travelling going on walk when they hear a nice music was playing an’ the ol’ man say to his wife, “O Quasiba, [71] hear dat sweet music singing over yonder. I like to know where dat music come from.”—“Ol’ man, you tak time walk an’ we soon hear where dat music from.... But Bruddie, dat ol’ Cumbolo dat was singing las’ night!”—“Den you mus’ come let we dance de Cumbolo, Susan, we all a Cumbolo!” (sing and dance)—

Susan, da’we all a Cumbolo. Susan, da’we all a Cumbolo. [72]

147. JOHN-CROW AND FOWL AT COURT.

Susan Watkins, Claremont, St. Ann.

John-crow and Fowl went to court. Now as Fowl’s baby was prettier than Crow’s, Crow had taken Fowl’s baby and left her baby for Fowl to take. So Fowl took Crow to court. The judge said whichever could sing the sweetest song should have the prettiest baby. Crow sang,

“Periwe, periwa!”

Fowl sang,

“Sun up an’ sun down,
I sing the song to cheer me heart.
’Tis my charming baby dear,
Bam, cluck, cluck!”

So Fowl got back her pretty baby and Crow got her ugly one.

148. WOODEN PING-PING AND COCK.

Matilda Hall, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.

Wooden Ping-ping (there’s a worm in the dirt name so) and Cock. So then Wooden Ping-ping hid in the earth and the Cock hunted for him, couldn’t find him. Wooden Ping-ping said (fine falsetto voice, rising inflection),

“Clay den, clay den, see me, ah?
Clay den, clay den, see me, ah?”

Cock answered,

“Na pullee theng theng,
Na pullee theng theng!”

They kept on singing, this in the earth, that outside; but Cock couldn’t find him.

149. ANIMAL TALK.

James Anderson Hilton, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.

Fowl tell de other fowl say, “Tell odder, one, odder one, odder one!” till it scatter over de whole worl’.

Cock say, “If it tre-ew, yes!”

Horse stamp him foot on de eart’, “What in my stomach, mak it stay in deah!”

Jack-ass say, “De worl’ don’ level!” (for if de worl’ level, don’ hav to wear crupper on his tail.)

Cow say (slowly and drawlingly), “Mas-sa wor-r-r-k ne-v-e-r don-n-ne!”

Mule say (quickly and with energy), “It will done! it will done! it will done! Massa work will done!”

Crab say, “Mustn’t trust shadder after dark!”

Ground Dove say, “My hears! my hears! my hears!” (won’t hear what his parents tell him).

Hopping Dick go up on sharp ’tump an’ White Belly go up on one tall tree an’ bet one bet who can stay de longest widout eat. Hopping Dick say, “Chem chem cheery o!”

White Belly say,

“Coo coo coo, me hearie you!
Coo coo coo, me hearie you!”

Hopping Dick go down to de groun’ pick up worm. White Belly stay up on tree all de time. White Belly fall down an’ die.

WITTICISMS.

OLD-TIME FOOLS.

I.

The master send out one of them for a clock. When he get part of the way home the clock strike. An’ say to the clock, “If you talk on me head again I mash you’ mout’!” An’ up come again the clock strike. An’ he said, “Don’ I tell you if you talk again I mash you mout’?” An’ up came the clock strike again. An’ him put down the clock, say, “If you can talk, you mus’ walk!” An’ as the clock couldn’t walk, take a piece a ’tick an’ mash it up! An’ take up the clock an’ put it ’pon the head. An’ when he go in, Massa ask him how did the clock mash up, an’ said the clock a talk ’pon the head an’ him put him down to walk an’ he won’t walk an’ he mash it up. An’ the massa call the driver an’ give him a good flogging.

II.

Master sen’ them out for two jug o’ rum, an’ when they come to the river, they say they want a drink. An’ one come top o’ the bridge an’ sen’ the other down into the river an’ say he t’rowing out the rum in the river, when the water taste he mus’ tell him. An’ he t’row out the whole jug an’ he couldn’t taste it. An’ after he t’row out the first jug, say, “What kin’ of rum is this have no ’trength?” An’ him begin on the other jug an’ him t’row out the whole of that again, an’ him couldn’t taste. An’ they take the two empty jug an’ go home to the master, an’ they get a flogging for it.

III.

Dey gwine cut a big cotton-tree. Den one of de Congo men said him don’ want de cotton-tree to fall down in him groun’, so mak one big cotta [73] put on head so go ketch de cotton-tree when it go fall down. Cotton-tree fall down kill him.

DUPPY STORIES.

IV.

Once a man was walking in the street on a night. He met a duppy. His teet’ was like fire; so de man went to ask for a light, did not know it was duppy. So de duppy gash his teet’ at him an’ he run. So de duppy went on met him again. De man did not know it was him, went up wid a complain’:—“See, sir, I meet a man jus’ now, ask ’im for a light an’ he gash his teet’ at me!” De duppy grin his teet’ again an’ ask, “Teet’ like dese?” an’ de man run again.

V.

Once a man was travelling in a dray packed with sugar. The molasses off the sugar was trailing underneath the dray. Two duppies came up and was sucking the molasses, an’ say, “After the molasses so sweet, how is the sugar?” The drayman happened to hear it, wheeled his whip in the air an’ give the duppy a good lick. Duppies ran off, crying, “Me dead one time, me dead one time, me can’t dead two time!”

VI.

Once there was two duppies warming themselves over the fire. So one said to the other, “Cubba gwine to married.” The other one said, “Cubba gwine to married? She don’ have frock, she don’ have coat. Shove fire, gi’ me story!”

VII.

Once some duppies were in a house. A man was outside; the duppies didn’t see him. So they peeped all through the window to look at the moon. They said, “The moon is pretty pretty!” Another one said it was wrong, so he said, “Norra you norra me can’t talk it prop-prop!”

VIII.

One man were going out upon an errand an’ night catch him on de way. An’ he see a horse an’ lick de horse an’ de horse go after him an’ he was running. An’ when catch de bridge, run under de bridge mash a Rolling Calf. [74] Said, “Masha masha no hurt me, but de frighten you frighten me!” Horse said de licky licky no hurt him, but de ‘brute’ him call him.

ANIMAL JESTS.

IX.

Louse an’ Dog-flea have a quarrel. Dog-flea, he said, “Brar Louse, when him ketchin’ yo’ a head, how you manage?” Louse said, “Brar, me gwine a knot knot.” Louse said to Dog-flea, say, “Brar, when him ketchin’ you, how you manage?” Dog-flea said, “Me gwine a seam in.” Dog-flea said, “Den, Louse, when dem a comb you, whe’ you go?” Louse said, “I lie down flat ’pon de meat.” Louse said to Dog-flea, “Den, Brar, when dem dip a hot water how you manage? Dog-flea say, “Come, come, sah, dat don’t fe yo’ business!” So de quarrel end.

X.

Ground-lizard and Ground-rat were two friends. Rat said to Ground-lizard, “How black nigger sta’?” Lizard say, “Oh, dey ugly-lookin’ chaps’.” Rat said, “Yes? I see dem but nebber can stan’ to look pon dem. Soon as dem see me dem say, ‘Look Groun’-rat! look Groun’-rat!’ an’ take a stone to kill me, so I get out a dem sight.” Ground-lizard say, “When dey buck up on me suddenly, I jump, but when I go a little way, turn round on dem an’ look; dat how I know dey ugly-lookin’ chap.”

XI.

Puss and Dog went out journeying one day and they found a thruppence. So they divided and now the trouble was they didn’ know which thing to buy with a penny ha’penny. Dog said, “Brar Puss, I goin’ to take fe my quattie to buy a quattie worth of ‘look’.” Puss say, “I won’ buy ‘look’, I wi’ buy cattle!” So the Puss buy a pair of lizard and let them go on the run, and they run to breed. That is why you see a cat always after lizard, and a dog is always looking, looking, looking and doing nothing.

XII.

Han’ a go market. Hear beg Han’ a buy meat. When Han’ come a pass, he cut piece of de meat. Den Mosquito see him, an’ Mosquito come fe go tell Hear say Han’ cut de meat. Den eb’ry time Mosquito go to tell Hear, Han’ knock him. He come back again—“Hearie!” Han’ knock him (striking his ear with his hand). Couldn’t tell him yet.

XIII.

Monkey said to Goat, “I want to make a ball and I have a jacket I don’t want to wear; so I sent for you to see if you will buy the jacket.” And said, “Try on the jacket, see if it will fit you.” So Goat try on the jacket, and Monkey said, “It kyan’t fit you better!” Goat said, “Fit? fit? fit? (strutting about looking at himself) fit fe tre-ew!” So Goat buy the jacket.

XIV.

Anansi an’ Tiger was travelling going thru’ a stream of water. Anansi want to find if Tiger can tell a story. Anansi foot went right down on a sort of stone in de water. Anansi say, “I mash a fish!” Tiger holla out say, “I smell de fat!”

XV.

Tacoomah say, “Anansi, yo’ ma dead!”—“A’ right! bit’s wort’ a meat fe sarve t’day.”—“Anansi, yo’ ma wake!”—“A’ right! one somebody kyan’t live a worl’.”

LIES.

XVI.

Once me an’ pa went to groun’ fe go work. So we carry a gourd of water, go hang it up on a tree. An’ when we ready to go back a yard an’ we go look fe de gourd, we see dat duck come nyam off de gourd an’ lef’ de water hang up ’pon de tree.

XVII.

Once I was carrying a pan of water an’ I had to go’ t’ru a ten bar’ wire fence wid de pan on me head, an’ I run t’ru an’ not one drop never t’row away.

PHILOSOPHY.

XVIII.

Me dear man, look yeah! Jus’ fancy, if life were a t’ing dat money could buy, de rich would all live an’ all like me poor one here would ha’ fe dead!

RIDDLES.

Riddle me riddle
Guess me this riddle
And perhaps not!

1. My father have a thing in his yard; nobody can ride him but little Johnny.

—Grass-quit riding a grass-stalk.

2. My father have a thing in his yard and never ride him till him back break.

—House-roof; a man sits astride it to mend the thatch.

3. My father have a little pony in him yard and there’s only one man, little Johnny, can ride it. Johnny ride with a pair of white reins and he go over a bridge. [75]

—Needle is the pony, thread the reins, the crooked finger is the
bridge, and the thimble is Johnny.

4. My father has a horse in his yard; it jump an’ jump, an’ de rein get shorter an’ shorter.

—Needle and thread.

5. My father have a grey horse in him yard, ride him nowhere but on him tail. [76]

—Pipe.

a) My father saddle his horse at his head an ride him at his tail.

6. My father have a horse in his yard; you can’t ride him or he buck into you.

—Steel-yard.

7. Me fader hab a cock in him yard; eb’ry crow him crow fire.

—Gun.

a) My father have a dog in his yard; every time it bark it bark fire.

b) My fader hab a donkey, an’ eb’ry bray him bray fire.

8. My father have a thing in his yard and he run from yard to yard.

—Dog.

9. My father have a hen in his yard, you kyan’ tell what the chicken be till he hatch. [77]

—Wife; you can’t tell whether the child will be boy or girl until
it is born.

10. My father have a thing in his yard, cry for the crop once a year.

—Coffee-pulper.

11. My father has a thing in his yard; the more him feed, the more him hungry.

—Stove.

12. My father have a thing in his yard, have to blind it to use it.

—Scissors.

13. My father have a t’ing in him yard; when it sick it look up to heaven, when it get better it look down to the devil. [78]

—Bunch of Bananas.

14. My father has a cock in his yard, doesn’t crow till the sun is hot.

—Castor-oil bean, which cracks open in the sun.

15. My father have a thing in his yard, run off cover up the whole ground.

—Pumpkin-vine.

16. My father have ten trees in his yard an’ two taller than the rest.

—Fingers.

17. My father got a tank in his yard, don’t care how the rain come never catch water; but soon as little dirt get into it, it full.

—Eye.

18. My father have a tank in his yard; when the rain fall it doesn’t catch and when the dew fall it catch.

—Coco leaf, because it sheds water like quick-silver.

19. My father have a thing in his yard; it button from head to foot.

—Pingwing, because the leaves are stuck with pitch.

20. My father have a t’ing in him yard, cutting like a tailor cutting cloth. [79]

—Banana leaf (because when the tree begins to fruit, the leaf slits
into ribbons.)

21. My father got a thing in his yard deep as well an’ is not well, an’ the whole sea does not fill it.

—Sieve.

22. Me fader have a t’ing in him yard; the more you cut it the longer it get. [80]

—Grave.

a) My father make a door an’ it was too short; he cut it and it became longer.

b) Me father have a stick an’ cut it an’ it become longer.

23. My father have a thing in his house, cut it every day and kyan’ taste it.

—Cord.

24. We have a t’ing in the yard an’ no man can tell where it end.

—Buggy wheel.

25. My father have a white house in him yard; if you go in you kyan’ come out, if you come out you kyan’ go in. [81]

—Egg.

26. My father have a house without window or door.

—Egg.

a) There is a white house on the hill up yonder without a window, without a door; and yet somebody live in there. [82]

27. Me fader hab a man an’ he kyan’ stan’ up till him belly full.

—Bag.

28. Me father have a black servant and when he feed her she bawl. [83]

—Frying-pan.

29. My father have three daughters and you can’t tell me the oldest one.

—Three tumblers.

30. Me fader hab a lil bwoy sleep wid him every night; and every call him call him, de lil bwoy run.

—Dog-flea.

31. My father have twenty-five white horses in a row; if one trot all trot, if one gallop all gallop, if one stop all stop, and one cannot go on without the other. [84]

—Teeth.

32. Me fader hab a long whip and a number of cows; ebery wield him wield it, it touch ebery one. [85]

—Tongue and teeth.

33. Me fader hab a horse; eb’ry lep em lep em lef’ piece a em gut.

—Needle and thread. [86]

34. My father have a pony; every jump he jump he stop a gap.

—Needle and thread.

35. My father have a horse and a spur; every time he spur, blood will flow.

—Match-box and match.

36. My father have a horse and every walk he walk he drop silver.

—Snail.

37. My father have a horse; carry him down to the river to drink and without he pull out the tongue, can’t drink.

—Bottle and cork.

38. My father have a horse; hol’ him a’ him two ears, him bite a him tail.

—Scissors.

39. My father have a rooster, got no coop can keep him but one.

—Fire; only water can keep fire.

40. My father have a pig; cut him at his head he don’t die, cut him at his tail he die.

—Tree.

41. My father have a pen of sheep an’ don feed nowhere but on the hill-side.

—Lice on the head.

42. My father has a bull, can’t feed but upon three ridges.

—Cooking-pot with three legs.

43. My father have a houseful of children; if you touch one, whole of them cry.

—Gungo peas.

a) My sister have a whole house o’ pickney and if you touch one, everyone cry.

b) I have a whole pen of guinea-pig an’ if you touch one dey all holla.

44. My father has a houseful of children and everyone of them has a red cap. [87]

—Woodpeckers.

a) Me fader come out wid a whole ship-load o’ Guinea people; everyone has red.

45. My father has a houseful of children; every time they come out they come out with red head.

—Annata.

46. Me fader hab a houseful o’ chil’ren an’ eb’ryone a dem a black head.

—Ackee.

a) Me ma ha’ one Guinea ship a pickney; eb’ryone a dem head black.

b) A woman has a whole lot of children and all come out with black heads and red dresses.

47. My father has a houseful of children and everyone of their heads turn out of doors.

—Nails in a house.

48. Me fader have a whole shipload of Bungo nager an everyone have a white head.

—Castor-oil bean.

a) My father hab a whole house of children; everyone have a white head.

b) Me mudder hab a whole shipload o’ guinea-pig, all born at one quality head.

49. My father has a shipload of Guinea people, but all their heads is turned down.

—Bottles packed in straw.

50. Me fader hab a Guinea ship o’ nager; eb’ryone o’ dem a t’ree foot.

—Cooking-pots.

51. My father sent for a ship-load of men and everyone come with arm akimbo. [88]

—Coffee-pots.

52. My father sent for a ship-load of soldiers and everyone come with one eye.

—Needles.

a) Me fader hab a whole Guinea ship a nager; eb’ryone come wid one eye.

b) I hab a pen o’ sheep, but eb’ryone hab one eye.

53. My father have a piece of white yam that serve the whole world. [89]

—Moon.

a) One piece a afoo (white) yam nyam, serve the whole worl’.

b) One piece of yellow yam serve the whole world.

c) Me fader hab a half side o’ bammie (cake of kasava meal) an’ him share it fe de whole world.

54. Me fader hab a pepper-tree; eb’ry night all de pepper ripe, an eb’ry morning you wouldn’t find one pepper an de tree. [90]

—Stars.

a) I go to bed and leave my pepper-tree full of peppers, and wake in the morning, there isn’t one there.

b) Me fader got a rose-tree in him yard; eb’ry night he blow, an by time de fe clean, eb’ry one gone.

c) Me fader hab a heap a white plate pon a blue table; wash de plate in de evening an’ turn him down, an’ in de morning don’ see one.

55. Me fader hab a pepper-tree an i nebber ripe till night come.

—Stars.

56. Me fader hab a tree full apple an’ not a man can count them.

—Stars.

a) My sheet I cannot fold,
My money I cannot count.

—Cloud and stars.

57. My father has a sheet that covers the whole world.

—Cloud.

58. My father has a lamp that shines over the whole world.

—Moon.

59. My father have a house up on one post. [91]

—Umbrella.

60. My father have two ponds; when he lie down at night, he turn up one and turn down one.

—Ears.

61. My father have a well; it have neither top nor bottom, yet it hold water.

—Sugar-cane.

62. My father have something without top or bottom, had it with him wherever he go.

—Ring

a) The king of France sent to the king of Spain to get a tub without a bottom.

63. My father has a house with three doors and can walk only through one.

—Three openings in a cocoanut shell; one drinks through only one.

64. My father has a gig to make; the more him pare it the bigger it get. [92]

—Hole.

65. My father have a thing go up chimbly chip chirrup. [93]

—Fire.

66. My father have one thing in his hand and throw it and it support the whole of Jamaica. [94]

—Corn-grain.

67. Me father sen’ ten men fe ketch one t’ief. [95]

—Ten fingers to catch one louse.

a) Ten men go to Bullinton fe bring down one prisoner; only two bring him down.

b) One prisoner stan’ pon Marley hill; ten policemen go fe tek him down; two bring him to de station do, an’ de sentence pass pon de finger-nail.

c) My father tek a bwoy to court; de sentence pass pon finger-nail.

68. My fader sen’ me fe go pick out a woman fe me wife; those laugh will be the bes’ fe tek, but those not better left, fe they will kill me.

—Ackee; this refers to the common warning that the fruit is safe to
eat only after it has ripened and split in the sun.

69. My father plant a acre a kasava; only one white belly rat a eatey off.

—Grater for preparing kasava meal.

70. My father give me one root kasava an’ a quart of fine salt; if I don clever I wouldn’t taste it.

—Egg; the salt cannot penetrate the shell.

a) I put on one coco on the fire to boil and I put in a gallon of salt, and the salt never tasted it.

b) I have a t’ing and don’t care how much salt I put in it, when I go to eat it I have to put salt on it.

71. My father gave me some seed to sow; the ground is white and the seed is black. [96]

—Black ink on white paper.

72. My father was in Green Island cutting chip and the chip never fly. [97]

—Clock.

73. Mother put on a pot of food to boil; the top boil before the bottom.

—Pipe.

74. Going up to town my face turn to town; coming back from town my face turn to town.

—Climbing a tree.

75. I was going up to town one morning, met a man; I tell him ’Mawnin’ and he wouldn’t speak to me, and when I was coming back early in the evening he speak to me.

—Trash, noiseless to the tread when cold, crackles when warmed by
the sun.

76. I was going up Sand-hill and saw a man and suck his blood and throw him over the wall. [98]

—Orange.

77. When I was going up to town I met a man; his head is fire an’ his mouth is bone. [99]

—Rooster.

a) As I was going through Bramble hall,
An old man gave me a call;
His beard was flesh, his mouth was horn,
And this old man was never born.

b) Got to a gentleman’s yard and his mouth was hard and his beard was flesh.

78. I was going over Dingledown hill and I saw a grey horse.

—Moon.

79. Picking juketa (?) going to town, picking juketa coming from town and can’t get my hands full.

—Dew and sweat.

80. I gwine to town wid a hand o’ ripe plantain; I hungry an’ couldn’t taste it.

—Fingers.

81. I was going to town; I mash a plate and when I was coming back I found it new.

—Ants’ nest.

82. As I was going up to town I hear the bells of heaven ring; man tremble, beast tremble, cause the devil to break his chain.

—Earthquake.

83. Going up a lane I see a drink an’ see a chaw.

—Cocoanut.

a) Dere’s a cup an’ in de cup dere’s a chaw; no man to clear dis chaw.

84. A man was going to Kingston, saw two roads and took both. [100]

—Trousers.

85. I heard that my father was dead in Kingston; I went there and took a piece of his bone and made increase.

—Kasava root.

86. I heave up a t’ing white an’ it come down red.

—Egg.

87. In England I am, in Jamaica I stand.

—A man took soil from Jamaica, put it in his boots, went to
England.

88. I went to town, I walk in town, I eat in town, and yet I don’t know town.

—A woman was breedin’. She went to town an’ after she come home the
baby born, grow a big man, don’ know town.

89. A man going to town and he face town, and when he coming back he face down to Montego Bay.

—Train running between Kingstown and Montego Bay.

90. A man going up to town; he walk on his head going up, he walk on his head going back. [101]

—Horse-shoe-nail.

91. Riding in to town, two talking to each other and none understand what the other was saying.

—Two (?) new saddles creaking ru-u-u-u-u.

92. Four men going up to town; all were talking and not one could understand the other.

—Four buggy wheels.

93. Four bredder walk a road and not one can touch. [102]

—Four buggy wheels.

94. Some white ladies were walking to Kingston, and all the walk they walk they couldn’t catch each other.

—Mile-posts.

95. Three brothers in one house and never see each others’ face until dead.

—Three beans in one castor-oil pod.

96. Two sister on ribber side; no one could never wash the other.

—Two bottles.

97. Two sawyers were sawing from morning till night and never saw a bit of dust. [103]

—Clock.

98. Three man start fe go a heaven; one go half way an’ turn back, one go right up, and one no go at all.

—Fire: spark, smoke and ashes.

99. A man walk around four corners of the world and make a house; rain come catch him a door, dew fall on him, sun burn him, and he have no shelter of his own.

—Ladder.

a) A man build a fine up-stairs house, and he have to sleep outside.

100. A man mek him house an’ him sleep outside.

—Axe.

101. A man work for rich and work for poor and yet his head outside.

—Nail-head.

102. There was an old man that live never building house till rain come. [104]

—John Crow: as soon as rain come he begin to cut posts, say he will
build him a house. When sun comes out, he come to dry himself;
never build house any more.

103. Man mek him house, an’ him bade da a do. [105]

—Ear of corn.

a) Old man in his room and the beard out in the hall.

104. Vineyard man walk through vineyard grass-piece and neither make track nor road.

—Sun.

105. I know a man talk every second.

—Sea.

a) I know a man; every talk he talk his mouth-corner foam.

106. Born from de worl’ mek an’ nebber a month ole yet. [106]

—Moon.

107. Baby born an’ vanish.

—Moon.

108. I know a baby born widout belly.

—Skelion (tin can).

109. Tallest man in Kingston don’ have any belly.

—Bamboo.

a) A man stan’ up widout guts.

110. Holler belly mumma, humpback pupa, pickney wid t’ree foot.

—Cooking-pot.

111. Born in white, live in green, die in red, bury in black. [107]

—Coffee.

112. He laugh plain and talk plain but havn’t any life.

—Talking-machine.

113. Going up to town me coatie torn-torn and not a seamstress in a town could sew it. [108]

—Banana leaf.

a) Mrs. Queen coat-tail tear an’ never mend.

114. I think I will shoot God, and God say I mus’ shoot the earth. [109]

—Banana shoot.

115. I was tying mat ever since an’ I never lay down on one.

—Pumpkin-vine.

116. If me stan’ me kimbo; if me lie me kimbo. [110]

—Coffee-pot.

117. A thousand hungry men kill a thousand bullocks.

—Hunger kill men.

118. And smart as little Tommie be, one man kill the whole world.

—Mr. Debt.

119. Woman have a chile an’ fust begin larnin’ larn him fe t’ief. [111]

—Hawk.

120. Black man dance on white man table.

—Black ink on white paper.

a) Mr. Blackman sit pon Mr. Whiteman table.

b) Black man sit down on white man chair.

c) Black man dance on white man head.

d) Black man dance on white man sheet.

121. A black man sit upon a white man head.

—Ackee.

122. A white man stand upon a black man head.

—Bammie on griddle.

123. A black man sit upon a red man head.

—Pot on fire.

124. John Redman tickle John Blackman till him laugh puco-puco. [112]

—Fire under boiling pot.

a) A red man tickle a black man make him belly boil up.

b) John Redman beat John Blackman till him gallop.

125. Mr. Redman box Mr. Blackman make Mr. Whiteman laugh.

—Fire, baking-pan and bammie.

126. The white man take a red cloth tie his head.

—Tooth and gum.

127. Mr. Blackman was going to town; him drop him kerchief an’ couldn’t pick it up.

—Crow drops a feather.

128. Miss Nancy was going to Kingston; she drop her pocket handkerchief never turn round to pick it up.

—Bird drops a feather.

a) Miss Nancy was going up-stairs and she lose her pocket handkerchief and she would not turn round to pick it up.

b) Queen of Sheba riding out;
Her kerchief drop and couldn’t pick it up.

129. Little Miss Nancy sit at the pass; everyone that come give him a kiss.

—Fly.

130. Little Miss Nancy tie up her frock and wheel round three times.

—Turn-stick in the pot.

131. Little Miss Nancy like to dance and dance so rough.

—Pepper.

132. Miss D. June (?) cutting wood for a year, never get a bundle.

—Woodpecker.

133. Little Johnny fell in the water and never drowned.

—Bottle.

134. Aunty Mary cut two packey, not one bigger than the other. [113]

—Heaven and earth.

a) Ole man Brenta sit on a stump, cut two packey not one bigger than the other.

—Cloud on the earth (?).

135. Send bwoy to fetch doctor, doctor come before bwoy. [114]

—Boy climbing after a cocoanut; nut falls before boy comes down.

136. Dead carry the living over Napoleon’s grass-piece. [115]

—Ship at Sea.

a) Look through a diamond I see the dead carry the living.

137. A hen have six chickens; and hold the hen, the chickens cry.

—Guitar with six strings.

138. Two horses were galloping and neither of them could catch one another. [116]

—Two mill-rollers.

139. One John-crow sit down on three cotton-tree.

—Cooking-pot set on fire-stones.

140. A fleety horse get up over a broken bridge. [117]

—Needle and thread.

a) A frisky horse and a frisky mare was going up to mountain hill.

141. John, the mule, in the stable, his tail outside.

—Fire in the kitchen, smoke outside.

142. Stick a hog at its head and it bleed at its tail. [118]

—Pipe.

143. Kingston bully-dog bark, Montego bully-dog answer.

—Rooster; when one crows at one end of the island, another answers
at the other end.

144. England dog bark, Jamaica dog sound.

—Newspaper.

145. Portland dog bark, Westmoreland dog hear. [119]

—Thunder.

146. Jamaica bully-dog bark, Kingston bully-dog keep silent.

—Great gun.

147. Rope run, horse stan’ up.

—Pumpkin-vine and pumpkin.

148. Old England dead an never rotten.

—Bottle (of ale).

149. Water grow.

—Sugar-cane.

150. Water stan’ up.

—Sugar-cane.

151. No ca how time hard, one coco full pot.

—Foot in a boot.

152. One bammie shingle off Mt. Olivet church.

—Moon.

153. One little bit o’ bag hold three.

—Castor-oil bean-pod.

154. A gully with two notch in it.

—Purse.

155. What water wash, sun can’t dry.

—Butter.

156. Up the hill, down the hill; yet never tired.

—Road.

a) Up the hill, down the hill;
Stand up still.

157. Chaw fine and never tired.

—Saw.

158. This corner, this corner is no corner at all.

—Ring.

159. Chip-cherry, beer, cedar.

—White man (cedar), black-wife (chip-cherry), brown child (beer).

160. Stump to stump; dig out stump out of dogwood heart.

—Jigger.

161. A ’tump in a pond; all the rain can’t cover the ’tump-head.

—Turn-stick in the pot.

162. There’s a rope and every bump a sheet of paper.

—Pumpkin-vine.

163. Sack a back an’ not de front.

—Finger-nail.

164. Roomful, hallful; you can’t get a spoonful. [120]

—Smoke.

165. Knock an’ stan’ up.

—Mat.

166. Water a-bottom, fire a-top.

—Lamp.

167. Hell a-top an’ hell a-bottom.

—Frying-pan.

168. Hair a-top, hair a-bottom; only a dance in the middle.

—Eye-lashes and eye.

169. Hairy within and hairy without; lift up your foot and poke it in. [121]

—Stockings.

170. Outside black, inside red; cock up your foot and poke it in. [122]

—Boot.

171. White a top, black a middle and red a bottom. [123]

—Bammie, baking-iron and fire.

172. White as snow but not snow; green as grass but not grass; red as blood but not blood. [124]

—Coffee-blossom and berry.

173. Green as grass, not grass; stiff standing in the bed; and the best young lady is not afraid of handling it. [125]

—Onion.

174. White within, black within, red without.

—Ackee.

175. Hard as rock, not rock; white as milk, not milk.

—Cocoanut.

176. High as the world; red as blood but not blood; blue as indigo; but not indigo; high as granadillo temple.

—Rainbow.

177. When it come it does not come; when it does not come it come. [126]

—Rat and corn.

178. Four sit down on four waiting till four come.

—Cat on the table waiting for a rat.

179. Six and four waiting for twenty-four.

—Six holes in four horse-shoes waiting for twenty-four nails.

180. Nine run, one come, two run.

—Nine man run for the doctor, one baby born, two nipples run.

181. Ten on to four. [127]

—Ten teats on a cow (?).

182. Six is in, the seventh is out; set the virgin free.

—Hen hatching six chicks.

183. Blackey cover ten.

—Boots cover toes.

184. Two peepers, two pokers, two waddlers, and one zum-zum. [128]

—Cow.

185. Up chip-cherry, down chip-cherry; not a man can climb chip-cherry. [129]

—Smoke.

186. Whitey whitey can’t climb whitey whitey.

—Smoke.

187. Half a ’tumpy sit down on ’tumpy; when a go, a don’ see nothing but half a ’tumpy.

—Broken bottle on stump.

188. Climb up Zion hill, pick Zion fruit, come down Zion hill, drink Zion water.

—Climbing a cocoanut tree, picking the nut, coming down, drinking
the milk.

a) Go up Mount Zion, drink Zion blood, eat de flesh, dash away de bone.

189. Tetchie in, tetchie out; all hands can play on it.

—Lock and key.

a) Tickle me in, tickle me out; all hands can play on tickle.

190. Hip hop; hip hop; jump wide.

—Flea.

a) Dip dup, a yard wide.

191. Drill a hall, drill a room; lean behind the door. [130]

—Broom.

a) Jig a hall, jig a room; go a corner, go stan’ up behin’ de door.

192. Little titchie above ground.

—Ants.

193. Every jump shiney jump, whitey hold it back.

—Needle and thread.

194. Miss Witty wit and wit till she wit out her last wit.

—Needle and thread.

195. Earie, hearie, earie, knock, pom!

—Brushing (the hair).

196. Papa take hairy-hairy put in blackey-blackey.

—Brush and blacking.

197. Unco Joey takin’ long hairy-hairy somet’ing; shubbin’ Aunty Mary hairy-hairy somet’ing.

—Making a broom.

198. Long Aunty Long-long, no one can long as Aunty Long-long.

—Road.

199. Whitey-whitey send whitey-whitey to drive whitey-whitey from eating whitey-whitey.

—White man sends his white boy to drive the white goat out of the
cabbage-patch.

200. Sleepy-sleepy under nyammy-yammy tree; killy-killy come to sleepy-sleepy; nyammy yammy drop, kill killy-killy; walkey-walkey come nyam (eat) nyammy-yammy, leave sleepy-sleepy. [131]

—Man sleeping under a tree; snake comes to kill man; cocoanut falls
and kills snake; another man comes, eats the cocoanut, leaves the
first man.

201. Limb fell lamb; down fell lamb in the cow coram.

—Limb falls, knocks lamb into the cow-dung.

202. If I had my pretty little caney, bigny-pigny could not kill kum-painy.

—If I had my revolver, the wild hog could not kill my dog.

203. I was going out and I saw some pigs, and if I had my hansom-cansom I would carry home some bigny-pigny.

—If I had my gun, I would carry home some pigs.

204. I send for my man Richard to bring me tomery-flemery-doctory to mortify unicle-cornicle-current out of my pinkicle-pankicle-present. [132]

—To bring my three dogs to drive three pigs out of the garden.

205. There is a boat an’ in that boat a lady sat, an’ if I should tell you the name of that lady I should be blamed, for I’ve told you the riddle twice. [133]

—The lady’s name was Anne.

206. I was going up to Hampton lane (a local name); I met a man, an’ drew off his hat an’ drew off his glove, an’ he gave me his love. Take him an’ call him; his name is twice mention as this riddle begun. [134]

—His name is Andrew.

a) As I was going up to St. Andrew’s church, I met St. Andrew’s scholar. St. Andrew’s scholar drew off his hat an’ drew off his gloves: tell me the name of the scholar.

b) I was going up on Oxford street, I met an Oxford boy. He took out his pen an’ drew his name; what was his name?

c) Once as I was crossing the Montego Bay bridge, I met a Montegonian fellow. He took off his hat an’ drew off his glove; guess me his name; I’ve mentioned it in this riddle.

207. I an’ my dog ben up the lane catching a buck an’ a doe. Whoever tell me my dog’s name, there is my dog. [135]

—The dog’s name is Ben.

a) “Good morning, Mr. Ben; ben meke a meet. I come to borrow yo’ dog go hunting. I don’ know his name.” “Take him an’ call him; his name is twice mention as this riddle begun.”

208. Megs, Pegs an’ Margaret is my true lover; but it’s neither Megs, Pegs nor Margaret.

—Anne is my lover.

209. Trick, track and trawndy,
Which was Trawndy Grawnby?

—Witch.

210. There are 4000 people to draw in one carriage; how can they do that?

—Mr. & Mrs. Thousand and their two children.

211. Mr. Lets was walking and Mr. Lets was riding and Mr. Lets was walking again. Can you tell me who the gentlemen were?

—Horse, master and dog, all named ’Lets’.

212. My father has a long bench in his house, an’ to guess me how many people sit on that bench.

—One man named ‘More’. (The trick is, at each guess to say More.)

213. Bees bite honey, honey run.

—A horse named Honey.

214. Twelve pear hanging high,
Twelve men passing by;
Each pick a pear,
How many pear remain? [136]

—Eleven; the man’s name is Each.

215. A man without eyes
Went out to view the skies;
He saw a tree with apples on,
He neither took apples off nor left apples on. [137]

—A one-eyed man; two apples on the tree.

216. I was going up Hampton lane, I met a man have seven wives; the seven wives have seven sacks, the seven sacks have seven kits, how many were there going to Hampton? [138]

—Only one—I.

217. A duck before a duck, a duck after a duck, a duck in the midst of two ducks. How many ducks was going along?

—Three.

218. I was travelling and six ducks flying, one before the five; and I took up my gun and I shoot one of the ducks and drop on the ground. Guess how many ducks remain? [139]

—None; the rest fly away.

219. A parson and his daughter, a doctor and his wife; and there is three apples to share among them. How will they share it? [140]

—Each takes one; the parson’s daughter is the doctor’s wife.

220. Run, Ricky, run; run up the Ahe river, run; run with a long trail, run up the Ahe river, run; run, Ricky, run? How many r’s in that?

—No r’s in ‘that’.

221. Mr. Parott was sitting on a tree; some pigeons were flying by. The pigeon say, “Good morning, Mr. Parrot.” The parrot say, “Good morning, Mr. Hundred.” The pigeon say, “I’m not ‘hundred’; want twice as much, half as much, quarter as much, and you, Mr. Parrot, to make a hundred.” Tell me how many pigeons were flying. [141]

—Thirty-six.

222. I hire laborers for a shilling a day; I get twelve laborers. I give a man two pence, a woman ha’ penny, a pickney one farthing. How many of each do I hire?

—Five men, one woman, six pickney.

223. My father gave me a horse to go sell for ten pounds and to eat my breakfast out of the money and bring home the same ten pounds. How could I do that?

—Take the shoes off the horse and sell them separately.

224. In a rainy season the Cabrietta overflows a path where a poor coolie-man and his family had to cross. He then made a dray for conveying them to and from their work. Dray cannot carry more than 150 lbs. at a time. Coolie-man weighs 150 lbs., wife 150 lbs. and two sons together 150 lbs. How must they get over.

—Two sons go over; one remains, the other returns. The mother goes
over; boy returns, takes over brother returns. Father goes over;
boy brings over brother. [142]

a) The same story with a fox, goose and bag of corn.

225. My fader got six sheep. He send his son to de pen. ‘My son, go an’ count me six sheep, but you musn’ count me “one, two, t’ree, four, five, six”. You musn’t count “four an’ two, six”. You musn’t count “t’ree an’ t’ree, six”. You musn’ count “five an’ one, six”, but count me my six sheep!

—Dis, dat, de other,
De ewe, de ram, de wether.

226. I gwine to make a dance; I want you there. You mus’n’t come a day, you mus’n’t come a night, you mus’n’t ride a horse, you mus’n’t ride a mule, you mus’n’t ride a jackass. An’ if you come, you mus’n’t come into me house an’ you mus’n’t stay outside. [143]

—You must come riding a cow, between day and night; and when you
come, stand on the threshold, neither in nor out.

227. Under the earth I stand,
Silver and gold was my tread.
I rode a t’ing that never was born,
And a bit of the dam I hold in me han’. [144]

a) On green grass I stand
On gravel I stand,
I ride a colt that was never in foal,
And I beat up the mother old dum-skin in me hand.

b) Under de eart’ I go,
Plant trash I stan’;
I ride a t’ing that never was born
Wid an ole be damn in me han’.

228. Little Miss Netticoat with her white petticoat,
She has neither feet nor hands;
The longer she grows the shorter she stands. [145]

—Candle.

a) Miss Nancy sits around de door;
The longer him stan’ deh, de shorter him grow.

229. Hoddie Doddie with a round black body
Three legs and a wooden hat—What’s that? [146]

—Cooking-pot.

230. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
And all the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again. [147]

—Egg.

231. Round as a marble, deep as a cup;
Ten men from Jericho can’t lift it up. [148]

—Sink-hole.

232. Handsome protector dressed in green,
Handsome protector sent to the queen. [149]

—Parrot.

233. Under gravel, top o’ gravel;
Tell the devil I’ll travel.

—Water.

234. Tires a horse, worries a man;
Tell me this riddle if you can. [150]

—Saddle.

235. Hitchity, hitchity on the king’s kitchen door;
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Could never move Hitchity, hitchity off the king’s kitchen door.
[151]

—Sunshine.

236. Flour from England, fruits from Spain,
All met together in a shower of rain;
Had on a napkin tied with a string,—
If you tell me this riddle, I’ll give you a ring.

—Duckanoo (pudding boiled in a cloth).

237. I was going through a field of wheat,
I picked up something nice to eat;
It was neither feather, flesh nor bone,
But I kept it till it walk alone. [152]

—Egg.

238. In a garden was laden a beautiful maiden
As ever was seen in the morn.
She was made a wife the first day of her life,
And she died before she was born. [153]

—Eve.

239. There was a man of Adam’s race,
He had a certain dwelling-place;
He wasn’t in earth, heaven or hell,—
Tell me where that man did dwell. [154]

—Jonah in the whale’s belly.

240. Formed long ago, yet made to-day,
Employed while others sleep;
What few would like to give away,
Or any like to keep. [155]

—Bed.

241. Legs have I but seldom walk,
I backbite all, but never speak.

—Flea.

242. There was a man of Adam’s race
Who had no legs, no body but waist.

—Ring.

243. When first I appear I seem mysterious,
But when I am explained I am nothing serious.

—Riddle.

244. A curtain drawn as fine as silk,
A marble stone as white as milk;
A thief appear and break them all,
Out start the golden ball. [156]

—Egg.

245. I came from beyond the ocean,
I drink water out of the sea,
I lighten a many a nation,
And give myself to thee.

—Sun.

246. My first is a circle, my second a cross;
If you meet my whole, lock out for a toss. [157]

—O-X.

247. My father send me to market to carry home three-fourths of a cross, a circle complete, a right angle with two semi-circles meet, a triangle with a cross, two semi-circles, and circle complete. [158]

—T-O-B-A-C-C-O.

248. Five letters in an invitation spell my name,
Backward and forward it answer the same;
Take away the first letter and the first of humanity race,
Take away the second and the thing that make the water-wheel turn.
Take away the third, and the first of the alphabetical verb.

—Madam, Adam, dam, am.

249. Give a number that isn’t even: cut off the head, you get it even; cut off the tail, your mother’s name you shall find. [159]

—Seven, even, Eve.

250. What word of one syllable, take away two letters and leave two syllables? [160]

—Plague, ague.

251. A word of one syllable which, when two is taken off, ten remain.

—Often, ten.

252. Give me ‘black water’ in three letters.

—I-n-k.

253. Spell me a broken wall in three letters.

—G-a-p.

254. What is it that is once in a minute, twice in a moment, and not once in a thousand years? [161]

—Letter M.

255. What is it that we see every day, King George himself sees, and God never sees? [162]

—Our equal.

256. What is that which if you have not you would not like to get and if you have you would not like to lose? [163]

—A bald head.

257. What is it, when Adam was four days old it was four days old, and when Adam was four-score years and four days old it remained four days old? [164]

—Moon.

258. What is that which Christ had not, Napoleon had, Kaiser has and no woman ever has?

—A wife.

259. What is it that is too much for one, enough for two, and nothing at all for three?

—A secret.

260. The river is bank to bank; how will you get over?

—By bridge.

261. Suppose all the tree was one tree and all the man was one man and all the axes one ax; and suppose the one ax fell the one tree and the one tree kill the one man, who would leave to tell the tale?

—Women.

262. Higher than God, lower than the devil; the dead feed on it but not the living. [165]

—Nothing.

263. There was a woman born, live an’ die; never go to corruption, never see God face.

—Lot’s wife.

264. There is a thing on earth that God could do but didn’t, the devil had’nt got the power, and men do it. [166]

—Baptism.

265. What is the cleanest thing in a dirty woman’s house?

—Egg.

266. What is the bes’ furniture for a man’s house?

—The daughter.

267. Why do a tailor and a plantain resemble?

—One cuts to fit, the other is fit to cut.

268. Why do a well-dressed lady and a chair resemble?

—Because they both use pins.

269. Why does a judge and a mile-post resemble?

—One justifies the mile and the other the law.

270. What makes the devil and a shoemaker resemble?

—The devil seek after a sinner’s soul and the shoemaker after a
boot sole.

271. Mr. Bigger has a baby; out of Mr. Bigger and his baby which is the bigger?

—Baby is a little Bigger.

272. If an elephant’s four feet cover four acres of land, what will his tail cover?

—The skin.

273. What money in the world is the hardest money to change?

—Matrimony.

274. A reason why a moth-eaten coat is like a bible?

—Both of them is holy (holey).

INDEX TO RIDDLES.

Ackee, 46, 68, 121, 174. Andrew, 206. Annata, 45. Anne, (205), (208). [167] Ants, 192. Ants’ nest, 81. Ashes, 98. Axe, 100.

Bag, 27. Baking-pan, 125, 171. Bald head, (256). Bamboo, 109. Bammie, 122, 125, 171. Banana leaf, 20, 113. Banana shoot, 114. Bananas, bunch of, 13. Baptism, (264). Bed, (240). Bird, 128. Birth, 9, 88, 180. Blacking, 196. Boot, 151, 170, 183. Bottle, 96, 133, 187. Bottle of ale, 148. Bottle and cork, 37. Bottles packed in straw, 49. Bridge, (260). Broom, 191, 197. Brush, 195, 196. Butter, 155.