129. The Donkey, The Cat And The Lion's Head : 129. THE DONKEY, THE CAT AND THE LION'S HEAD. Joseph Macfarlane, Moneague, St. Ann. One day a donkey an' a cat was out trab'ling an' when dey went half way, dey saw some lion head, an' de cat pick i' up, put i' in de donkey hamper. An' when dey went round de corner, dey saw two lions working on de...
137. Monkey Hunts Anansi : 137. MONKEY HUNTS ANANSI. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Hanansi borrow Monkey money, so him tell Monkey fe come Wednesday. When Monkey come, Hanansi knock in 'tomach, say, "Broad enough you can knock, oh!" Monkey ketch him, beat him. Nex' day when Monkey come he say, "Mudder Hanansi, whe'...
Note 77. Alimoty And Aliminty : 77. ALIMOTY AND ALIMINTY. For the exchange of colors see Bolte u. Polvka 1:124-126. For place-changing and killing of the wrong victim see the same, 499-501. Compare Parsons, Sea Islands, 128. The incident is common in African story, e. g, Tremearne, 430; Dennett, 47; Torrend, 33; Junod, 163...
90. Bird Arinto : 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...
Note 3. Tiger As Riding Horse : 3. TIGER AS RIDING-HORSE. The story is very common in Jamaica and presents no local variations from the form familiar in America. In Parkes's version, the "two misses" become two "post-mistresses". In a version by Knight, a school-master in the Santa Cruz mountains, Tacoomah is the horse...
89. Ballinder Bull : 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...
73. The Singing Bird : 73. THE SINGING BIRD. A. Fine Waiting Boy. Alfred Williams, Maroon Town. A gentleman have him servant, and one day he said to de servant, "Collin, go an' look about de horse harness my buggy." An' Collin go an' harness him master horse an' put in de buggy. Well, him master drive on an' him drive...
Note 43. Quit Quit And Anansi : 43. QUIT-QUIT AND ANANSI. A story which turns upon teaching the wrong song to a dull-witted rival, never fails to raise a laugh in Jamaica. See numbers 4, 106 in this collection.
1. Tying Tiger : 1. TYING TIGER. A. The Fish-basket. George Parkes, Mandeville. One great hungry time. Anansi couldn't get anyt'ing to eat, so he take up his hand-basket an' a big pot an' went down to the sea-side to catch fish. When he reach there, he make up a large fire and put the pot on the fire, an' say...
127. Big Head, Big Belly, And Little Foot : 127. BIG-HEAD, BIG-BELLY, AND LITTLE-FOOT. a. Arthur Brown, St. Ann's Bay. Once there was a man have three sons, one name Big-head, one name Big-belly, one name Little-foot. Dey went for a walk one evening. Big-head saw a berry-tree. He went up on it an' pick one of de berry an' taste it. Big-belly...
46. Why Tumble Bug Rolls In The Dung : 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...
39. Anansi, White Belly And Fish : 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...
Note 113. The Grateful Beasts : 113. THE GRATEFUL BEASTS. See Grimm 197, The Crytal Ball, Bolte u. Polvka 3:424-443; and compare: Chatelain, 65-81; Lenz, 25-27; Mason and Espinosa, JAFL 24:398; discussed by Espinosa, JAFL 27:212-213.
Note 39. Anansi, White Belly And Fish : 39. ANANSI, WHITE-BELLY AND FISH. Jekyll, 129-131, and Milne-Home, 35-39, have excellent versions of this very popular Jamaica story, which, in its full form, is made up of four episodes. (1) The birds take Anansi across the water to their feeding-place where; because of his bad behavior, they...
Note 59. Rabbit Stories : 59. RABBIT STORIES. These three and number 17 b are the only Rabbit stories I heard in Jamaica. A woman named Ellen told the stories to the lads from whom I heard them, but she refused to be interviewed. See numbers 21 a, 12, 23.
103. The Twelve One Eyed Men : 103. THE TWELVE ONE-EYED MEN. Henry Pottinger, Claremont, St. Anne. I'll give you a plain story that you may be able to write it down and the words may not puzzle you to spell,--all plain words. There was a lady and her maid lived in a palace upon a very high mountain. There was nobody allowed...
Note 45. The Chain Of Victims : 45. THE CHAIN OF VICTIMS Common as is the story of the "chain of victims" in Africa, Falconer gave me the only version I heard in Jamaica Compare Koelle, 158-161; Dayrell, 6-10; Nassau, 245-247; Tremearne, 373-374; FL 21:211-212; Lenz, 39-40; Boas, JAFL 25:207-209; Rattray, 2:58-72.
76. The Greedy Child : 76. THE GREEDY CHILD. A. Crossing The River. George Barrett, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. De chil'ren was gwine to school an' ev'ry day de ol' man tek de chil'ren dem ober de ribber. De ol' man ax dem fe some of 'em breakfas'. All de chil'ren gi' him some but one don' gi him some. Till he 'point...
Note 136. White Belly And Anansi : 136. WHITE-BELLY AND ANANSI. See note to number 106. The trick corresponds to F' or G' in Bolte u. Polvka's analysis of The Little Peasant.
86. The Girls Who Married The Devil : 86. THE GIRLS WHO MARRIED THE DEVIL. A. The Devil-husband. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. There was two sister an they had a yawzy brudder who de two sister didn't care about. They was faderless and mudderless. An' see a man come to court de two sister to carry dem away; an' de m...
67. The Tree Wife : 67. THE TREE-WIFE. Thomas White, Maroon Town. It was a man didn't have no wife an' he was a hunter-man; he hunt in de bush all day. An' one day he go in de bush, go an' shoot, an' when he coming home, him saw a pretty tree name of Jessamy, an' he say, "O me biddy boy, das a pretty tree!" An' he...
62. Man Is Stronger : 62. MAN IS STRONGER. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. The Lion and the Tiger were very good friends. Tiger says, "No one beat us in strength!" Lion said, "No, my friend, somebody that's stronger than we. Tiger said no, no, he cannot believe that. Lion said there was a little something called...
34. But But And Anansi : 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."...
Note 62. Man Is Stronger : 62. MAN IS STRONGER. Compare Koelle 177-179; Harris, Nights, 33-38; 330-333; Radin, JAFL 28:397-398, and see Grimm 72, discussed by Bolte u. Polvka 2:96-100, and Sebillot, Le Folk-lore de France, 3:63.
Note 31. The Yam Hills : 31. THE YAM-HILLS. The yam-hill story is very common in Jamaica. Parkes learned it in Kingston. Pamela Smith tells it, page 59 and JAFL 9:278. Sometimes a song accompanies the story. The number of Yam-hills varies. Compare Cronise and Ward, 167-171; Parsons, Andros Island, 109. {p. 254} The story...
128. The Goat In The Lion's Den : 128. THE GOAT IN THE LION'S DEN. Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland. Goat wid two kids were trabbling one day long trabbling, an' trabble till almost evening, an' rain commence to fa' now. So {p. 161} 'eh see a great rock, an' mudder an' two kids went under de rock to shelter, didn't know dat was de...
97. Leap, Timber, Leap : 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...
Note 47. Why John Crow Has A Bald Head : 47. WHY JOHN-CROW HAS A BALD HEAD. The explanatory story of "John-crow peel-head" is very popular in Jamaica. See Pamela Smith, 25-26, and number 17 d.
58. Hunter, Guinea Hen And Fish : 58. HUNTER, GUINEA-HEN AND FISH. Thomas Williams, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country. Hunter always hunting an' he meet up a spendid piece of land, rich land, and he t'ink to cultivate it an' he begin same day cut bush. Piece of land is Guinea-hen feeding-ground. Guinea-hen come out at night...
33. Fling A Mile : 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...
Note 48. Why Dog Is Always Looking : 48. WHY DOG IS ALWAYS LOOKING. In Milne-Home, 121, "Jack Spaniard" (a wasp-like fly) laughs at Mosquito's boast till "he broke his waist in two." In Jones, 22, Sparrow makes the boast about his father's crop of potatoes.,
88. The Two Bulls : 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, {p. 112} him nurse them, go about lick them...
112. Difficult Tasks : 112. DIFFICULT TASKS. Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains. A boy live with a very rich gentleman, and he have no children and he believe that when he die, the boy get all the fortune; so he want to kill the boy. And he throw out a barrel of rice and say boy must pick up every grain before he come...
Note 24. The Duckano Tree : 24. THE DUCKANO TREE. Tacoomah in this tale plays the part of Cunnie-more-than-father of the preceding as a spy to discover a hidden food-supply. It is a very popular Jamaica story, told by Milne-Home, 120-124; Wona, 62-66; Pamela Smith, 78. {p. 248} Compare Edwards, 79; Dayrell, 26-28. The story...
Note 92. And 93. Hidden Names. Anansi And Mr. Able : 92. AND 93. HIDDEN NAMES; ANANSI AND MR. ABLE. These two numbers are closely related to number 69. The plot turns upon tricks to discover a hidden name. The only difference between them is that in one story it is possession of one or more girls' names, in the next, that of a person whose name...
Note 94. The King's Three Daughters : 94. THE KING'S THREE DAUGHTERS. This story may be a fragment of the hidden name series in which the song has lost the revelation of the name, and the introduction omits the trick to discover it. If so, it has become a fixed variant. P. Smith, 35-37, tells it much as in the present versi...
53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood : 53. WHY WOODPECKER BORES WOOD. Samuel Wright, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. There was a bird name of Woodpecker promise his mother to bury him into a stone, an' go all about an' tell all his frien' dat him gwine to bury him mother into a stone. An' de mother was poorly unto death an' he went to go...
145. Fowl And Pretty Poll : 145. FOWL AND PRETTY POLL. 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 m...
Supplementary Note 46. Why Tumble Bug Rolls : 46. WHY TUMBLE-BUG ROLLS IN THE DUNG. In Seidel's story of the "Miracle of the Sidi" (Geschichten und Lieder der Afrikaner, 105), the devil dares the Sidi to marry a slave to a princess. The father of the princess has set to her wooers the supposedly impossible task of filling a bag with hyacinths...
Note 114. Jack And The Bean Stalk : 114. JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. See Joseph Jacobs, English Fairy Tales (Putnam, 1898), 59-68, and compare Parsons (Maryland and Pennsylvania), JAFL 30:212-213. {p. 284}
Note 90. Bird Arinto : 90. BIRD ARINTO. Jekyll, 54-57, Man-Crow, tells the same story. See also numbers 70 and 89. The story occurs as an episode in Zeltner's Kama, 54-61 and Tremearne's How Auta Killed Dodo, 408-412. For the golden tongue and teeth see numbers 90, 95, and Jekyll, 56; and compare Zeltner, 5.
52. Why Toad Croaks : 52. WHY TOAD CROAKS. Richard Morgan, Sonia Cruz Mountains. One man got a darter. He said, "Got one cotton tree; de man cut dat cotton tree, he marry to me darter." Every man go cut, soon dey cut de chip fasten back; so dem couldn't get de girl to marry. Toad said him go fall him. Toad full...
75. Asoonah : 75. ASOONAH. Philipp Brown, Mandeville. Asoonah is a big skin t'ing. When it come in you' yard it will sink de whole place. One day, de lady have t'ree chil'ren an' leave dem out an' him go to work. An' den dis Asoonah comin' in eb'ry day, an' de chil'ren know what time it comin' an' deh 'tart...
21. Anansi And The Tar Baby : 21. ANANSI AND THE TAR-BABY. A. The Escape From Tiger. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Tiger got a groun' plant some peas an' get Hanansi to watch it. Me'while Hanansi are de watchman, himself stealin' de peas. Tiger tar a 'tump, put on broad hat on de 'tump. Hanansi come an' say, "Who are...
123. Three Brothers And The Life Tree : 123. THREE BROTHERS AND THE LIFE-TREE. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. A woman got t'ree son. One day he said, "Mamma, I gwine out to seek fe' a little work." She said, "Yes, me chile, but care me little last son!" De mudder bake two pone an' after dey travel, de little bredder said, "Bredder...
125. The Three Sillies : 125. THE THREE SILLIES. Charles Roe, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. There was a young man one day was courting a young lady. So when he got to the house, it was one of the young ladies and father and mother in the yard. So the mother said to the daughter, "You mus' go look for some orange...
114. Jack And The Bean Stalk : 114. JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. Clarence Tathum, Mandeville. Jack's father died an' leave he an' his mother. And all them money finish an' they didn't have more than one cow leave. An' the mother gave him to go to the market an' sell it. When he catch part of the way, he swap it for a cap of be...
42. Fire And Anansi : 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...
82. The Three Dogs : 82. THE THREE DOGS. A. Boy And Witch Woman. Thomas White, Maroon Town. Olden time it was a young man an' him brudder. Dem two of 'em was bred up on a property penning cow. Eb'ry morning dat dey wan' to pen, carry dem breakfas' an' carry dem fire. An' one morning dat dem going, 'em carry food but...
Note 42. Fire And Anansi : 42. FIRE AND ANANSI. A less witty version of this popular Jamaica story occurs in Jekyll, 129-131. In Dayrell, 64-65, Sun and Water are great friends. Sun visits Water, but Water never visits Sun. At length, Sun invites Water and builds a great compound to receive him and his friends. All come...
50. Why Ground Dove Complains : 50. WHY GROUND-DOVE COMPLAINS. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. Tiger planting corn, and birds and everyt'ing destroying de corn, so him get Dove to help him fe watch who is destroying de corn. So after dey sit up de whole night fo' to watch de corn, next day Tiger him go sleep. Bredder Dove...
Note 133. Anansi Seeks His Fortune : 133. ANANSI SEEKS HIS FORTUNE. See note to number 106, and Grimm 104, Wise Folks, Bolte u. Polvka, 2:440-451. One version from Parsons, Andros Island, {p. 286} 93-94, connects this episode with those of the frightened robbers and the tongue-cutting in number 109.
143. Red Yam : 143. RED YAM. Mary Jane Roden, Brownstown, St. Ann. Anansi and Tacoomah have two little boy. So Anansi go to him ground, he have a yam name of 'red yam'. So when he carry home de yam, if de two little boy don' tell him de name of de yam, don' give 'em no dinner, So one night de little boy say...
Note 83. Andrew And His Sisters : 83. ANDREW AND HIS SISTERS. The story appears in Milne-Home, 114-120. Compare Chatelain, 145-151; 103-111; Renel 1:77-81; 2:261-265; 265-267; Ferrand, 119-122; Torrend, 159-163; Tremearne, 432-441; Callaway, 53; Theal, 124-126; Cronise and Ward, 178-186; Dennett, 52; Barker, 97-101; Junod, 144-148...
Note 51. Why Hog Is Always Grunting : 51. WHY HOG IS ALWAYS GRUNTING. See number 10. In Pamela Smith's "Dry-head" story, Anansi's nose turns long, and he goes about persuading other people to screw on snouts.
108. Big Begum And Little Begum : 108. BIG BEGUM AND LITTLE BEGUM. Emily Alexander, Mandeville. There was two sons named Big Begum and Little Begum. Big Begum was very rich and Little Begum was very poor. One {p. 144} day, Little Begum found a bag of money and sent to Big Begum to borrow his quart pan to measure the money. Big...
Note 61. The Fasting Trial : 61. THE FASTING TRIAL. See number 149, where the bird in the tree starves and Hopping {p. 262} Dick on the ground picks up worms and wins the match. In this story, though incomplete, it is intimated that the bird in the tree wins, Compare Dayrell, 153-155; Harris, Nights, 370-373; Fortier, 34-37;...
Note 108. Big Begum And Little Begum : 108. BIG BEGUM AND LITTLE BEGUM. See note to number 106. The story is a version of Hans Anderson's Big Claus and Little Claus, Grimm 61; Bolte u. Polvka 2:1-18 and contains three episodes. (1) "Little Begum" tricks "Big Begum" into killing his oxen to get gold. (2) and (3) He exchanges places...
Note 79. Juggin Straw Blue : 79. JUGGIN STRAW BLUE. The story is confused in the telling. It has three parts. (1) A water-being helps a girl who is abused by her aunt and sent to fetch water with too heavy a jug. (2) The water-being pursues and carries off the girl, though she is locked in an iron chest. (3) The girl's lover...
80. The Witch And The Grain Of Peas : 80. THE WITCH AND THE GRAIN OF PEAS. Thomas White, Maroon Town. It was a man were married to a woman first and he had one child wid de first woman he were married to. An' de first woman dat he married to dead an' he go married to anodder one; an' de girl has to call her "mudder-in-law." An' de...
118. Robin As Fortune Teller : 118. ROBIN AS FORTUNE-TELLER. Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland. Robin fawn himself to be fortune-teller. So he bet a lot of money dat whatever dey have fe dinner to-night, him will tell it. So Robin name Fox,--call him "Mr. Fox Robin,"--an' dey didn't know his name. So it was a fox underneat' de...
Old Time Fools : 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...
Note 146. The Cumbalo : 146. THE CUMBALO. Sarah Findley was an old-time negress who lived in a little hut far out in the bush. She danced to the song with a queer jumping motion like boys playing leap-frog and with all the agility of a young girl. The dance as a wake game is performed upon two parallel bars held by four...
105. Jack And The Devil Errant : 105. JACK AND THE DEVIL ERRANT. Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country. Jack was a great gambler,--no one could ever beat him a game; and he went and gambled with the Devil Errant. Jack won the first, second and third games; the Devil Errant won the fourth and the fifth games, The Devil...
Title Page : JAMAICA ANANSI STORIES BY MARTHA WARREN BECKWITH WITH MUSIC RECORDED IN THE FIELD BY HELEN ROBERTS NEW YORK PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY G. E. STECHERT & CO., Agents [1924] {This book is in the public domain because it was not registered or renewed at US Copyright Office, as required...
Note 64. Settling The Father's Debt : 64. SETTLING THE FATHER'S DEBT. For similar "enigmatic phrase" stories compare Basset 2: 147148; Rivire, 160-162; Renel 2:82-84; 89-90; 164-165. The version, however, resembles the drolls from the Wye valley recorded in FL 16:178, 352.
Note 125. The Three Sillies : 125. THE THREE SILLIES. See Grimm 34, Clever Elsie, Bolte u. Polvka 1:335-342, and Clouston, Book of Noodles, 7. Compare Parsons, Andros island, 128-129; Sea Islands, 94.
Note 101. Bull Of All The Land : 101. BULL-OF-ALL-THE-LAND. Old Forbes gave me the only version of this story I heard in Jamaica. In Trowbridge, JAFL 9:284-285, the song and the incident of the three drops of blood occur, but the king is "King Tonga" and there is no beast transformation. The husband is lost [1. See supplementary...
110. The Children And The Witch : 110. THE CHILDREN AND THE WITCH. Emily Alexander, Mandeville. There was a poor man and his wife and two children. He had nothing to give them but a slice of bread and cold water for the day. So one day he got up, took the children into the bush and pretended to be chopping the tree; then...
Note 35. Tumble Bug And Anansi : 35. TUMBLE-BUG AND ANANSI. The story of Tumble-bug's revenge is even more common than the last number. In Wona, 51-55, Tumble-bug is carrying butter and Anansi only lard. Anansi proposes that they put their loads together, sees that Tumble-bug's is at the bottom, and makes the ruling in order th...
Note 110. The Children And The Witch : 110. THE CHILDREN AND THE WITCH. See Grimm 15, Hansel and Gretel, Bolte u. Polvka 1:115-126. Numbers 83, 98, 115, 119, have some points in common with this story.
23. Cunnie More Than Father : 23. CUNNIE-MORE-THAN-FATHER. George Parkes, Mandeville. Anansi has seven children. He ask them how they would like to name. Six of them like different name, but one boy say he would {p. 28} like to name "Cunnie-mo'-than father." So for every tack Anansi put up, Cunnie-mo'n-father break it down. One...
98. The Boy Fools Anansi : 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...
Note 128 And 129. The Goat In The Lion's : 128. THE GOAT IN THE LION'S DEN. 129. Donkey, Cat And The Lion's Head. The familiar episode of the Wolf's head which occurs early in the Reynard cycle (see Percy Society Publications 12, Introduction, pages xxxiii-xxxiv) is, in African stories, often combined with that of the Goat in the Lion's den...
Note 18. Goat On The Hill Side : 18. GOAT ON THE HILL-SIDE. This well-known East Indian fable is common in Jamaica. Jekyll gives a version, 20-22. Compare: Parsons, Andros Island, 88-89 and note for references; also Chatelain, 189-191; Junod, 123-124; Edwards, JAFL 4:52. The ruse is one generally planned by the weak trickster...
11. Throwing Away Knives : 11. THROWING AWAY KNIVES. A. Tiger And Anansi. Benjamin Collins, Mandeville. Once upon a time Brer Tiger an' Brer Anansi was gwine on. Brer Anansi tell Brer Tiger says, "Brer Tiger, I'm gwine to t'row away my knife an' when you see I t'row away mine, you mus' t'row away yours, too." Brer Anansi tak...
Note 15. Long Shirt : 15. LONG SHIRT. Hendrick's version of this good story is the only one I heard in Jamaica. It has a European coloring in the speaking garment, which resembles the English versions of Jack and the Bean-stalk. The setting of the dance resembles number 4, but in this story the dance plays no motivating...
Note 67. The Tree Wife : 67. THE TREE-WIFE. Compare Torrend, 40-44. For the answering spittle, compare Tremearne, 210; answering tufts of hair, Theal, 131; see note to number 15 and Bolte u. Polvka 1:499; 2:526-527. For beliefs about tracing something lost by means of spittle, see JAFL 2:51, 52.
131. Dancing To Anansi's Fiddle : 131. DANCING TO ANANSI'S FIDDLE. Sarah Vassel, Bog, Westmoreland. Assono a run a gang. Assono sen' one of de men for water. When he go a take water, him couldn't take it; Anansi play fiddle into de water-hole-- "Zing a little ting!" T'row down de gourd an' begin to dance. Assono a come to look fe...
Note 88. The Two Bulls : 88. THE TWO BULLS. See Jekyll's version, 114-116, called "Timmolimmo," a name which is also given to the bull of number 89 in some versions. In Theal, 56-66, a mysterious and beautiful woman who goes to the river only at night is named "Tangalimlibo." Her enemies persuade her to go out by day...
107. Uncle Green And Jack : 107. UNCLE GREEN AND JACK. Thomas Williams, Harmony Hall, cock-pit country. Uncle Green is a rich old man and he never married. Jack is a young man and is poor and preparing to get married, but {p. 142} cash is hard to get; so he t'ink to get somet'ing from Uncle Green. So he appoint his wedding...
Note 37. Anansi In Monkey Country : 37. ANANSI IN MONKEY COUNTRY. Mrs. W. E. Wilson (Wona) thinks that the second version of the story, told by Jekyll, 70-72, is not a true negro form, because of the great respect in which Jamaica negroes hold the rites of the established church. Compare Cronise and Ward, 133-145; Fortier, 24-27...
Note 84. The Hunter : 84. THE HUNTER. The story is popular in Jamaica and is told interchangeably of man or woman wooer. Compare Barker, 123-128; Cronise and Ward, 261-262-, Tremearne, 292-293; FL 22:457-458; Harris, Friends, 91-100; Parsons, Andros Island, 65 and reference note 3. The point of the story is voiced...
106. The Magic Hat And The Staff Of Life : 106. THE MAGIC HAT AND THE STAFF OF LIFE. Maud Baker, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Once Jack's wife gave him a cow to sell, and she told him the cow cost twenty pounds. Three men bet they could get the {p. 140} cow cheap. They bid at different places along the wayside, and one came out and asked...
47. Why John Crow Has A Bald Head : 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 [1. The repetition is distributive and means "until to-day."] {p. 57} can make his nest, so...
40. Goat's Escape : 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...
Note 13. Seeing Trouble : 13. SEEING TROUBLE. The complete story is made up of three parts. (1) Some inexperienced animal wants to know "what trouble is". (2) The rascal gets him into difficulty; (3) and helps him out again. Compare: Zeltner, 105-107; Tremearne, FL 21:499-500; Jones, 107-109; Parsons, Sea Islands, 59-61...
Note 21. Anansi And The Tar Baby : 21. ANANSI AND THE TAR BABY. For the distribution of the Tar-baby story in negro folk-lore and its relation to negro practices compare: Boas, JAFL 25:247-250; Tremearne, 20--24; Parsons, Andros Island, 12-13; Sea Islands, 26-29. For Spanish see Espinosa (Cuentos populares espaoles, Stanford...
7. Eggs And Scorpions : 7. EGGS AND SCORPIONS. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Blinkie an' Anansi was gwine in a wood. Dem gwine in a wood fe go look egg, bird egg. An' Anansi tell Blinkie when little bird say, "Who wan' little egg?" Blinkie fe say him want little egg, an' when de big bird say, "Who wan' big...
28. Brother Dead And The Brindle Puppy : 28. BROTHER DEAD AND THE BRINDLE PUPPY. Charles Roe, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Deh was an Ol' Witch call Brar Dead, never talk to nobody; if him talk to anybody, him be dead. But him only making some bow all day an' set it to catch all wil' animal, an' when he catch dem, he put dem over fire...
149. Animal Talk : 149. ANIMAL TALK. James Anderson Hilton, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Fowl tell de other fowl say, "Tell "OD"der, one, "OD"der one, "OD"der 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!"...
Note 69. Grandy Do An' Do : 69. GRANDY DO-AN'-DO. In a Jamaica version by P. Smith, the story takes the form of the transformed mistress (numbers 84, 87). Toad betrays the witch to her suitor and teaches him the name by pronouncing which he discovers her true nature. In another Jamaica story (P. Smith, 38-40), the monster...
69. Grandy Do An' Do : 69. GRANDY-DO-AN'-DO. a. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. There was an old woman, a witch, but she was very wealthy. She lived quite to herself. Plenty of stock-horses, cows, sheep, mules, each kind kept by itself in a separate pasture. The old lady's name was Grandy Beard-o, but nobody knew that name...
144. Guzzah Man : 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'...
Note 139. The Fifer : 139. THE FIFER. The story is common in Jamaica. See Jekyll, 98-99. It was told me as a "speak-acting" story, but as I could get no other of exactly the same character, I do not know how common it used to be to present a Nansi story in this way. The Nansi story is now given in the form of a dramatic...
74. Two Sisters : 74. TWO SISTERS. Margaret Morris, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Two sister dey to house. One sister fe servant to a Busha in one pen, an' tell de Busha marry odder sister. De sister name Miss Grace my fair lady, de older sister Lady Wheel. An' Miss Wheel servant to him sister. Busha gone to him...
Note 23. Cunnie More Than Father : 23. CUNNIE-MORE-THAN-FATHER. Parkes gave me the only version of this admirable story that I found in Jamaica and I did not find it in this form in other American collections. The essential idea is that of repeated attempts by a parent to turn over to an enemy an adroit child, who each time outwits...
Note 98. The Boy Fools Anansi : 98. THE BOY FOOLS ANANSI. Jekyll, 99, uses the same motive. Compare Callaway, 19-21; Theal, 99; Renel 1:109--110; Ferrand, 75; Rivire, 229; Chatelain, 191-195; Hollis, Nandi, 101-102; Jacottet, 260; Uncle Remus, Nights, 315-318.
Note 26. The Riddle : 26. THE RIDDLE. Hendricks called this riddle test a "Nansi story," although another which he told me,--that of bringing water in a basket by daubing the basket with clay--he said was "not exactly a Nansi story." {p. 249}
Note 57. Cockroach Stories : 57. COCKROACH STORIES. For version (a) compare number 6. For version (b) compare Tremearne, 314; Parsons, Andros Island, 90-91 and note.
Note 82. The Witch And The Three Dogs : 82. THE WITCH AND THE THREE DOGS. This is one of the longest stories I heard in Jamaica. The leading Maroon story-teller recited it to me in full audience, and I heard it repeated by another Maroon in much less detail. Numbers 83, 84 and 89 have points of likeness to it. It has five parts. (1) Two...
Note 106. The Magic Hat And The Staff Of Life : 106. THE MAGIC HAT AND THE STAFF OF LIFE. Numbers 106-109 and 133-136 belong to the Little Peasant cycle of stories, Grimm 61, Bolte u. Polvka 2:1-18. This number contains three episodes. (1) Three men trick another into selling a cow cheap by pretending it is a goat. He avenges himself by selling...
Note 124. The Skillful Brothers : 124. THE SKILLFUL BROTHERS. See Grimm 129, Four Skillful Brothers, Bolte u. Polvka 2:165-169 and compare Cronise and Ward, 200-205; Renel 1:215-223; Dennett, 33-34; Parsons, Sea Islands, 75.
Note 11. Throwing Away Knives : 11. THROWING AWAY KNIVES. The story furnishes a good instance of local setting for an old tale, the pine-apple being well known in Jamaica. It takes two forms, that of leaving behind an implement necessary for the enjoyment for some food-supply, and that of throwing it: away, in both cases under...
4. Tiger's Sheep Skin Suit : 4. TIGER'S SHEEP-SKIN SUIT. George Parkes, Mandeville. Anansi was a head-man for a man by the name of Mr. Mighty, who employed Anansi for the purpose of minding some sheep. The sheep numbered about two thousand. And from the first day Anansi took over the sheep, the man began to miss one. An' he...
Note 73. The Singing Bird : 73. THE SINGING BIRD. In Jekyll, 14-16, the incident of the warning bird is employed in the story of the two sisters, number 74. Version b is a poor tendering of Jekyll, 96-97. In Theal, 217-220, the younger of two brothers secures a magic gift of cattle. The elder lets him down into a water-hole...
Note 12. Grace Before Meat : 12. GRACE BEFORE MEAT. The same story is told in Jekyll, 77. For the introduction, compare Tremearne, FL 21:502, and many Berber trick stories, I e. g. Basset 1:1, 3; 2:12, 18, 76, 87. A version from Henry Spence, the Bog song leader, exactly follows the Aesopic model of Grimm 75 discussed in Bolte...
44. Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter : 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...
60. The Animal Race : 60. THE ANIMAL RACE. A. Horse And Turtle. Alfred Williams, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Horse bet Turtle say a get to Kingston before him. Turtle bet him say him will get to Kingston before him, Brar Horse. An' Turtle tak up one of him pickney an' drop dem ev'ry mile-post, an' drop de last one...
Note 60. The Animal Race : 60. THE ANIMAL RACE. The wit of the animal race turns upon the fact that a slow animal, contrary to all expectation, wins over a swift. The story takes three forms. (1) The swift animal is so sure of winning that it delays and "slow but sure wins the race." (2) The little animal wins by hanging...
71. Pea Fowl As Messenger : 71. PEA-FOWL AS MESSENGER. A. John Studee. Matilda Hall, Maroon Town. The husband and wife married people, and the husband a great gambler, never at home with the wife; until the wife. going to have a baby, and the ninth month come now. So they send for the mid-wife; so when the mid-wife come...
130. Clever Molly May : 130. CLEVER MOLLY MAY. Emily Alexander, Mandeville. Once Anansi went out to invite a friend to dinner, Little Molly May was his servant, so he left her to roast a turkey for dinner, Anansi filled the wine-jug, laid the table, put on his frock coat and his top hat, took his walking-stick and went...
Note 32. The Law Against Back Biting : 32. THE LAW AGAINST BACK-BITING. Parkes learned this story on board ship coming from Africa. It is common in Jamaica, and the wit by which the revenge is effected seems to be an individual invention, as it varies from story to story. In Junod's Ba-ronga version (156-158), Piti, the fool, amuses...
32. The Law Against Back Biting : 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...
Note 81. The Witch At Bosen Corner : 81. THE WITCH AT BOSEN CORNER. This nursery tale was commonly recited to me by women, and a great many versions differed only in trifling respects from the pattern employed in the oldest Jamaica version on record, Lewis, 255-259. Here the girl breaks a jug and is sent to get a new one. Three old...
Supplementary Note 66. Simon Tootoos : 66. SIMON TOOTOOS. For the music of these songs see Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 39 (1924): 482.
Note 10. Eating Tiger's Guts : 10. EATING TIGER'S GUTS. The "Just so" story, number 51, is another version of the diving plot, which is popular in Jamaica. Jekyll tells it, 7-9, in form (b). Compare: Chatelain, 205; Junod, 208; Renel, 254; JAFL 32:395; Nights, 373-377; Parsons, Sea Islands, 40. In all these cases, the trickster...
136. White Belly And Anansi : 136. WHITE BELLY AND ANANSI. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. White Belly plant some peas. Hanansi come a White Belly yard and say, "Brer White Belly, dem peas not fat an' you know what you do? if you want 'em to be fat, mek up little fire at de root." Tomorrow morning when White Belly were...
148. Wooden Ping Ping And Cock : 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)...
Notes On Witticisms : WITTICISMS. I Cock tells her that Rat is a thief, can't be seen in the market. In Koelle, 174-177, Toad and Rat have a wager to see if one can do what the other cannot. Toad passes a crowd with a whole skin; Rat is pursued with sticks and stones. XI. See number 48. XII. From Alexander Archibald...
Note 46. Why Tumble Bug Rolls In The Dung : 46. WHY TUMBLE-BUG ROLLS IN THE DUNG. Compare Tremearne, 261; FL 21:498--499; Christensen, 96-98; and note to number 35 in this collection. [1. See supplementary note, p. 289.] {p. 259}
72. The Barking Puppy : 72. THE BARKING PUPPY. Alfred Williams, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Deh is old lady live at home wid one little puppy, an' ev'ry night a gentleman come to pay her a visit, but dis little puppy snap an' bark, have fo' to tu'n back. An' de ol' lady catch de puppy an' mak up a big fire an' bu'n de...
24. The Duckano Tree : 24. THE DUCKANO TREE. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Deh was Anansi.--Tacoomah was Anansi son. Den was a hard time. Anansi had a Duckano tree had some Duckano on it. An' he had t'ree pickney; when he go out a night, eat him belly full, come back carry 'em a bag. Now when him wife mak...
Note 115. Jack And The Devil : 115. JACK AND THE DEVIL. See Jekyll, 35-37, Mr. Bluebeard, and Grimm 46, Fitcher's Bird, Bolte u. Polvka 1:398-412.
Note 28. Brother Dead And The Brindle Puppy : 28. BROTHER DEAD AND THE BRINDLE PUPPY. The second story of "Brother Dead" is mixed up with obeah beliefs and it is hard to tell where the pattern ends and improvisation begins. Brother Dead, like the sorcerer, evidently sends a shadow in the shape of a brindled pup to pursue and catch Anansi...
Note 109. The Fool And The Wise Brother : 109. THE FOOL AND THE WISE BROTHER. The detail of this story proves a folk rather than a literary source. The story has three parts. (1) The, foolish brother kills his mother in the bath. (2) The two brothers hide in a tree under which robbers are dividing their spoil and frighten the robbers {p...
Duppy Stories : 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...
92. Hidden Names : 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...
83. Andrew And His Sisters : 83. ANDREW AND HIS SISTERS. Thomas White, Maroon Town. A woman have t'ree daughter an' one son, an' de son was a yawzy 'kin. De t'ree sister, one name Madame Sally, one name [1. The proverb is added from an old mammy of over a hundred years. 2. Framboesia, popularly called "yaws" is a contagious...
142. Anansi Makes A Dance : 142. ANANSI MAKES A DANCE. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Again, Anansi make a dance. Him playing de fiddle, Ke-lly bam bom ba, Ke-lly bam ya Mor-ree! Ke-lly bam bom ba, Ke-lly bam ya Mor-ree! Ke-lly bam born ba, Ke-lly bam ya Mor-ree! Kel-ly bam born ba, Kel-ly bam ya Mor-ree! Dem...
115. Jack And The Devil : 115. JACK AND THE DEVIL. Richard Pottinger, Claremont, St. Anne. Devil had his company in his house, had a woman also locked up while Jack, his servant, was heating the oven. Somebody was expected from home. Jack was very fond of that girl, promised her that if anybody will come from home, he will...
Note 14. New Names : 14. NEW NAMES. The trick to save a mother in time of famine from a mutual agreement of sacrifice to hunger, has a great vogue in Jamaica. I got two versions, and Pamela Smith tells it as "Parrot, Tiger and Anancy," 52-54. Compare: Dayrell, 86-90; Dennett, 85; Harris, Nights, 233-236; 237-241;...
29. The Cowitch And Mr. Foolman : 29. THE COWITCH AND MR. FOOLMAN. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. A gentleman had a cowitch property. He wanted to have it cut down, but whoever cut it must not scratch their skin. Anyone who cut it down without scratching, he would give the pick of the best cow on his property. Many tried, but failed...
81. Bosen Corner : 81. BOSEN CORNER. Martha Roe, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. A woman have two daughter; one was her own chil' an' one was her daughter-in-law. So she didn't use her daughter-in-law good. So de place whe' dem go fe water a bad place, Ol' Witch country. De place name Bosen Corner. One day she sen' de...
37. Anansi In Monkey Country : 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'...
10. Eating Tiger's Guts : 10. EATING TIGER'S GUTS. A. The Tell-tale. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. Brer Tiger and Brer Anansi went to river-side. Brer Anansi said, "Brer Tiger, tak out your inside an' wash it out." Brer Tiger did so. "Now, Brer Tiger, dip your head in water wash it good." The moment Brer Tiger put...
5. Tiger Catching The Sheep Thief : 5. TIGER CATCHING THE SHEEP-THIEF. A. The Escape. Joseph Macfarlane, Moneague, St. Ann. One day was an old lady name Mis' Madder, had twenty sheep. Mr. Anansi went an' gi' her a hen an', couple week after, Mr. Anansi went back fe de hen. An' said, "Didn't you gi' me de hen, Mr. Anansi?" An' said...
66. Simon Tootoos : 66. SIMON TOOTOOS. Thomas White, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Der was once a woman dat have a child. Him name was Simon Tootoos. De mudder him was a church woman, an' him used to send de boy to church; and after, de mudder come an' {p. 72} die. An' when de mudder die, he take de world upon his...
94. The King's Three Daughters : 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...
Philosophy : 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! {p. 183}
Note 72. The Barking Puppy : 72. THE BARKING PUPPY. On the whole, the bird is a friendly spirit, the dog an unfriendly in African story. Here, as in number 28, the dog takes the place of the warning bird. The idea seems to be here that the dog, by calling his master's name, invokes his spirit. {p. 266} Compare Junod, 93;...
19. Dog And Dog Head : 19. DOG AND DOG-HEAD. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Hanansi an' Tacoomah dey goin' out huntin' to steal cow. De two of dem have der dog. Dey walk. Hanansi, hungry tak him; he eat de dog body an' tak de dog-head put into his side-bag. Me'while dey gwine in de bush, Tacoomah dog tackle a cow...
78. The Fish Lover : 78. THE FISH LOVER. A. Timbo Limbo. Thomas White, Maroon Town. A man had one daughter an' de daughter was name' Lydia. An' him wife die an' him married to anudder woman. An' she have some chil'ren fe de man, an' she like fe him chil'ren more 'n de daughter-in-law. Mostly it's de daughter-in-law she...
Animal Jests : 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-fle...
Note 121. The Language Of Beasts : 121. THE LANGUAGE OF BEASTS. See Grimm 17, The White Snake, Bolte u. Polvka 1:131-134; and Aarne's study, Der Tiersprachen verstehende Mann, in FF Communications No. 15. Compare Koelle, 143-145; Basset 2:119-124; Junod, 314-317; Chatelain, 219-223; Smith, 565.
Note 127. Big Head, Big Belly And Little Foot : 127. BIG-HEAD, BIG-BELLY AND LITTLE-FOOT. The story is very common in Jamaica. See Grimm 18, The Straw, the Coal and the Bean, Bolte u. Polvka 1:135--137, and compare Parsons, Andros Island, 147.
Note 53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood : 53. WHY WOODPECKER BORES WOOD. In Barker, 123, three sons wish to do honor to their mother and the first declares that he will make her a "sepulchre of stone."
Note 86. The Girls Who Married The Devil : 86. THE GIRLS WHO MARRIED THE DEVIL. The flight from a Devil husband has also taken on a fixed form in Jamaica in contrast to the number of variants related on Andros Island and the much more complex versions known in Africa. It is possible that this is true only for the localities visited...
124. The Skilful Brothers : 124. THE SKILFUL BROTHERS. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. One woman got t'ree son. One of de son name Look-up-in-de-sky, de odder one name Fling-me-stick, de t'ird one name Brer Buck. One day, Look-up-in-de-sky saw a eagle flyin' away wid de mudder. He said, "Fling-me-stick, de eagle tek...
Note 104. Bird And Hunter : 104. BIRD AND HUNTER. Common as is this story in Africa, I heard only one version in Jamaica. See also numbers 82 a and 103 and Grimm 60, Two Brothers, Bolte u. Polvka 1:528-556. Compare Junod, 276-292; Jacottet, 56; Basset, 2: 103-107; Rivire, 193; Dennett, 60-64; Chatelain, 89-97; Lenz, 15-17.
120. The Boy And His Master : 120. THE BOY AND HIS MASTER. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Der is Old Witch. One boy larnin' old witch, too. De man want a book-clerk. De boy go to him and said, "You want a book-clerk, sir?" An' say, "Yes, but you cannot read?" Boy say no, an' say, "All right, you shall be my clerk." He...
96. The Dumb Wife : 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 d...
8. Tiger's Bone Hole : 8. TIGER'S BONE-HOLE. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Tiger had a big pot o' meat, an' him boil an' let' it gone a groun'. An' he have a bone-hole; when he ate de meat, t'row it into de hole. An' Anansi tak him wife an' t'ree pickney an' he say dey five gwine to de house an' get...
51. Why Hog Is Always Grunting : 51. WHY HOG IS ALWAYS GRUNTING. Norman Hilton, Harmony Hall. Brar Hog and Brar Dog live close by river-side, so Brar Dog said to Brar Hog, "Come! we get a bathe!" Brar Hog said yes, so Brar Hog took off his mout' and Brar Dog an' Brar Hog jump in the water. Brar Dog said to Brar Hog, "Come! let us...
Note 8. Tiger's Bone Hole : 8. TIGER'S BONE-HOLE. The popular story of the bone-hole is better in action than on paper. A lad in Ballard's Valley gave me a similar story of John-Crow's bone-hole, ending with the dash of boiling water which has rendered John-Crow permanently bald (see number 47). After dictating the story he...
147. John Crow And Fowl At Court : 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...
93. Anansi And Mr. Able : 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...
41. Turtle's Escape : 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, "Brat Anansi, you know me fat? When you put me on, as de water boil up...
85. Man Snake As Bridegroom : 85. MAN-SNAKE AS BRIDEGROOM. A. The Rescue. (1) Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Der is a woman to court. Every man come to court her, she said she don' want him, till one day she saw a coal-black man, pretty man. 'he said, "O mudder, dis is my courtier!" She tek de man. Breakfas' an' dinner...
54. Why Crab Is Afraid After Dark : 54. WHY CRAB IS AFRAID AFTER DARK. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Crab go to God to gi' him head. God tell him he mus' go back, "Tomorrow come, I will give you head." After Crab gwine home, he rej'ice into him, he singin', "T'ank God, tomorrow God a'mighty gi' me head! "T'ank God, tomorrow...
Note 17. House In The Air : 17. HOUSE IN THE AIR. The story of obtaining entrance to a hidden food-supply "in the air" takes two general forms in Jamaica--first, that in which a song serves as pass-word, as in the voice-softening Rapunzel plot, number 91; second, that of the lost pass, numbers 22 and 100. The lost pass takes...
56. Rat's Wedding : 56. RAT'S WEDDING. Thomas Williams, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country. Rat got married, an' dere was rice and peas provide for de helping of food fe de dinner. It was so richly cook an' so much dat it get burn. So Rat remember dat de rice burn in de pot, an' Rat like 'crapin', an' while he was goin'...
Note 4. Tiger's Sheep Skin Suit : 4. TIGER'S SHEEP-SKIN SUIT. Parkes heard this story in St. Ann Parish. Wona, 62-67, tells how Anansi steals Monkey's clothes and passes the theft off on "Bone." Compare: Tremearne, FL 21:352; Harris, Nights; 68-74; Parsons, Sea Islands, 145: JAFL 32:366. The common theme of teaching...
Note 105. Jack And The Devil Errant : 105. JACK AND THE DEVIL ERRANT. The story is told by Monk Lewis, 301-307. See also numbers 101, 111, 112, 113, 119. Compare Ferrand, Madagascar, 102-113; Parsons, Andros Island, 54-60 and note for references. See Boas, JAFL 25:256, for the relation of the story to "John the Bear." See Grimm 113...
Note 6. Tiger's Breakfast : 6. TIGER'S BREAKFAST. For the first breakfast trick, compare number 57a; for the second, 43. For Tiger's revenge, see number 38.
6. Tiger's Breakfast : 6. TIGER'S BREAKFAST. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. One day, Hanansi go Tiger house an' eat breakfas' every day, an' tell Tiger, say, "Brar Tiger, to-morrow you mus' come a my house; but when you hear me makin' noise you mus' come, for dat time breakfas' is on, but when you hear me stay...
Note 63. The Pea That Made A Fortune : 63. THE PEA THAT MADE A FORTUNE. Compare: Bleek, 90-94; Callaway, 37-40; Theal, 102-105; Renel 2:60-63; Rivire 93-97; Tremearne 237-242; FL 21:213-214; Barker, 177-180; Cronise and Ward, 313; Torrend, 169-172; Elmslie, FL 3:92-95; Krug, JAFL 25:113-114; Harris, Friends, 182-186, and see Grimm 83...
63. The Pea That Made A Fortune : 63. THE PEA THAT MADE A FORTUNE. Etheline Samuels, Claremont, St. Ann. One day an old lady was traveling on the road and she picked up a green pea and she planted it. And after it grew, her goat ate it off. She cried upon the goat and told it that she wanted the peas. The goat said that he didn't...
Note 49. Why Rocks At The River Are Covered : 49. WHY ROCKS AT THE RIVER ARE COVERED WITH MOSS. See Milne-Home, 94-95; Jekyll, 52. Compare Parsons, Andros Island, 119-121 and note for references; Bundy, JAFL 32:412-413, and see note to number 138. For a discussion of Grimm 110, The Jew among Thorns, see Bolte u. Polvka 2:490-503.
77. Alimoty And Aliminty : 77. ALIMOTY AND ALIMINTY. Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains. One day a lady have two daughter, but her sister have one. Sister daughter name Alimoty. An' everybody love Alimoty, but nobody love him daughter. An' him go to de Lion an' say to de Lion he "MUS'" kill Alimoty for him. Den de Lion say...
22. Inside The Cow : 22. INSIDE THE COW. George Parkes, Mandeville. Anansi an' Tacoomah while they were frien's they had a quarrel, so it was an envy between both of them an' they never speak. One day Anansi sen' one of his chil' over to Tacoomah's yard fe some fire. Tacoomah give him the fire an' some beef-fat. Anansi...
102. The Boiling Pot : 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...
43. Quit Quit And 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, {p. 54} tum, tum" and all the girls were going round Brar Quit-quit. So Anansi play, "Me nyam-nyam...
Note 123. The Brothers And The Life Tree : 123. THE BROTHERS AND THE LIFE-TREE. See Grimm 107, The Two Travellers; Bolte u. Polvka 2:468-482 and compare Dayrell, 58-60; Espinosa, JAFL 27: 191-195. {p. 285}
70. Jack And Harry : 70. JACK AND HARRY. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Jack an' Harry, de two was gwine out for a walk. An' de mo'ning was cool, an' catch to an ol' man dah in watch-house. Harry said, "Ol' Massa, beg you a little coffee if you have any." An' he said, "Yes, me pickney!" an' him give Jack...
3. Tiger As Riding Horse : 3. TIGER AS RIDING-HORSE. William Forbes, Dry River. Tiger was walking to a yard an' see two young misses, an' he was courting one of de young misses. An' as Anansi hear, Anansi go up to yard where de young misses is; an' dey ax him said, "Mr. Anansi, you see Mr. Tiger?" An' said, "O yes! I see Mr...
Note 40. Goat's Escape : 40. GOAT'S ESCAPE. The story of Goat's Escape is a favorite in Jamaica. See Milne-Home, 58-60; 65-66. It falls into two parts. (1) Goat and Dog are pursued and Dog escapes over a river which Goat cannot {p. 258} cross. (2) Goat transforms himself into a stone, which the pursuer himself throws...
113. The Grateful Beasts : 113. THE GRATEFUL BEASTS. James Smith, Claremont, St. Anne. A poor man was once traveling and saw a dog and a lion and a crow and ants fighting over dead prey. The poor man had nothing but a knife. He said, "Let me try and see if I can help you all." He cut one quarter gave to the lion, cut one...
Note 9. The Christening : 9. THE CHRISTENING. The Jamaica version of this wide-spread tale (Grimm 3, discussed in Bolte u. Polvka, 1:9-13), has no local peculiarities. Compare Parsons, Sea Islands, 5-9 and references; also Frobenius 3:13-16. It consists of two parts. (1) A rascal excuses himself three times for leaving his...
12. Grace Before Meat : 12. GRACE BEFORE MEAT. A. Monkey And Anansi. Samuel Christie, St. Anne's Bay. Anansi and Monkey were travelling; they were two good friends together. Anansi ask Monkey, "Brer Monkey, how much cunnie you have?" Said, "Brer, me have plenty plenty!" Anansi said, "Brer, me only have one one-half; I...
45. The Chain Of Victims : 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...
111. The Boy And The Mermaid : 111. THE BOY AND THE MERMAID. Emily Alexander, Mandeville. Once a little boy went to the river to bathe. He was washed away to sea and his parents heard nothing about him, but he was told before going that if he went he would be drowned. But he was a smart little boy. A mermaid came and took him...
Note 76. The Greedy Child : 76. THE GREEDY CHILD. The idea of a water spirit who allows no one to cross a river without an offering of food, seems to be common in West Africa; e. g. Dayrell, 107-114. Jekyll, 100-101, Dry River, has a Jamaica version of this story. Compare also Tremearne, 209-210, 307-314.
Note 107. Uncle Green And Jack : 107. UNCLE GREEN AND JACK. See Bolte u. Polvka 2:1-18. The story is composed of three episodes. (1) A nephew sells to his miserly uncle a means for making pots self-cooking. (2) In revenge, he is put into a bag to be thrown into the sea; exchanges places with a shepherd and gets his sheep, (3) then...
Note 149. Animal Talk : 149. ANIMAL TALK. Again there are, in this medley which imitates animal sounds, reminiscences of consecutive Nansi stories--Crab's words, in number 54; Ground Dove's in 50. For the fasting contest, see number 61. Tremearne, 28, says that the imitation of animal cries is a favorite device in Afric...
109. The Fool And The Wise Brother : 109. THE FOOL AND THE WISE BROTHER. Emily Alexander, Mandeville. Once a lady had two sons; one was very foolish and the other was very wise. The wise one was hired to look after some sheep white the foolish one was to stay at home and mind the mother. One day the mother became very ill and the wise...
Note 130. Clever Molly May : 130. CLEVER MOLLY MAY. See Grimm 77, Clever Gretel, Bolte u. Polvka 2:129-131; and Parsons, Sea Islands, 140. From this point in the group of stories Anansi is introduced in the role of hero.
48. Why Dog Is Always Looking : 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...
Note 116. Jack's Riddle : 116. JACK'S RIDDLE. See Grimm 22, The Riddle, Bolte u. Polvka 1:188-202 and compare Barker, 171-175; Fortier, 62-69; Recinos, JAFL 31: 475-476.
Note 138. Anansi And The Pig : 138. ANANSI AND THE PIG. See Grimm 72a, Bolte u. Polvka, 2:100-106; and compare Parsons, Andros Island, 108 and note; discussion of Spanish forms by Boas, JAFL 25:252, note; by Espinosa, JAFL 27:222-227.
Note 89. Ballinder Bull : 89. BALLINDER BULL. This is one of the best-known stories in Jamaica. See Milne-Home, 67-69, Garshan Bull; P. Smith, 55-58, Bull Garshananee. All follow about the same pattern, and the same may be said of other versions collected in Jamaica which are not set down here. {p. 276} In a version given...
Note 134. The Pannier Jar : 134. THE PANNIER JAR. See note to number 106. This is episode F' in Bolte u. Polvka's analysis of Grimm's Little Peasant. Compare Parsons, Sea Islands, 89; JAFL 32: 372, and note for references.
Note 119. Jack And The Grateful Dead : 119. JACK AND THE GRATEFUL DEAD. See number 113 and Boas's discussion, JAFL 25:256-257. This is the story of Thorsteinn, the King's Son in Icelandic Legends (Arnason) translated by Powell & Magnussen (London, 1866), 527-540.
Note 141. Tacoomah Makes A Dance : 141. TACOOMAH MAKES A DANCE. Medleys of this character seem to have been a popular form of entertainment and may still be common, though the examples I have were given me in every case by old men. They are composed of scraps of song or whole scenes from well-known Nansi stories, together with...
119. Jack And The Grateful Dead : 119. JACK AND THE GRATEFUL DEAD. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. A boy an' a girl made match to marry, an' doze people who dey call de fairy t'ief away de girl from Jack. But dey give one anodder different name; dis girl name 'Catch 'em' an' dis boy name 'If-you-can'. An' Jack was travelling...
59. Rabbit Stories : 59. RABBIT STORIES. A. The Tar Baby. Rennie Macfarlane, Mandeville, When Brer Fox tried to catch Brer Rabbit, he could not catch him. He stick up a tar-pole in his common, an' when Brer Rabbit come an' see it', say, "Come out of Brer Fox place or I kick you!" An' the tar-pole wouldn't come out, An'...
64. Settling The Father's Debt : 64. SETTLING THE FATHER'S DEBT. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. A man owe another one five pounds, and the other called in and asked the son who was at home, "Where is your father?"--"Me father gone to break a new fence to mend a rotten one."--"Where is your mother?"--"Me mother gone...
132. Anansi Claims The Dinner : 132. ANANSI CLAIMS THE DINNER. Edward Daley, Mandeville, Anansi an' certain number of men was going to a certain place. Certain men give dey own names; Anansi start to give his name now, said, "Mine is 'Dem-men-came-here-las'-night'." When deh get where deh go to, deh bring out dinner. Deh say it...
100. Ali Baba And Kissem : 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...
68. Sammy The Comferee : 68. SAMMY THE COMFEREE. Thomas White, Maroon Town. It was a woman had one son, an' it was a boy dat very unruly by him mudder an' fader. He had not'ing to do but fire bow an' arrow all day. An' one day he tek up him bow an' arrow an' fire de arrow an' de arrow drop in a Massa Jesus yard. An' he...
99. The Water Crayfish : 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...
84. The Hunter : 84. THE HUNTER. A. The Bull Turned Courter. George Barret, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Deh is an ol' man live into a big large city an' ev'ry day he go out an' shoot some cow. Ev'ry time he go out an' see dem come to de pond drink water, he shoot one. An' when de rest mek a'ter him to come an'...
117. Jack As Fortune Teller : 117. JACK AS FORTUNE-TELLER. T. Brown, Claremont, St. Anne. Der was a day Jack says he was a fortune-teller. De king call him dat his wife los' her marriage ring and he want him to tell him where it go. Jack didn't know not'ing all de same, but jus' working his head. De king got t'ree servant...
16. Shut Up In The Pot : 16. SHUT UP IN THE POT. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. There was a very hard time, no food whatsoever could they get, so Anansi him family well fear. So when Bredder Tiger and Bredder Tacoomah go see him, he tell them for last three or four days his wife and children didn't eat bread. Say...
Abbreviations Of Titles : ABBREVIATIONS OF TITLES. 1. Jamaica references. Bates, JAFL 9 Creole Folk-lore from Jamaica; I. Proverbs; II. Nancy stories; by William C. Bates. JAFL 9:38-42; 121-126. 1896. Bell Obeah, by H. J. Bell. London 1889. Cundall FL 15, 16 Folk-lore of the Negroes of Jamaica, by Frank Cundall. FL 15...
Note 87. Bull As Bridegroom : 87. BULL AS BRIDEGROOM. The story of the beast-husband transformed by means of a song is very common in Jamaica. It occurs in Milne-Home, 42-45, and Jekyll, 73-77; 132-135. Compare Junod, 246-253; Parsons, Andros Island, 39-43 and references in note 1. In Parsons's Andros Island variants...
15. Long Shirt : 15. LONG-SHIRT. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. Anansi, Tacoomah and Tiger made a dance; Anansi was the fiddler, Tacoomah the drummer and Tiger the tambourine man. They travel on till they get to a country where all the people were naked--no clothing except the head-man, who wore a long shirt; he had...
91. Tiger Softens His Voice : 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'...
Note 80. The Witch And The Grain Of Peas : 80. THE WITCH AND THE GRAIN OF PEAS. There are two parts to this story. (1) The witch step-mother discovers that the girl has eaten food in her house and threatens to drown her. (2) The lover comes to rescue her and fights the step-mother. (1) Compare Jacottet, 166-175, and Lewis, 253-255. (2)...
36. Horse And Anansi : 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...
2. Tiger As Substitute : 2. TIGER AS SUBSTITUTE. A. The King's Two Daughters. William Forbes, Dry River. Deh was Anansi. He go out an' court two young lady was de king daughter an' mak dem a fool, an' dem ketch him an' tie him, an' de two sister go an' look a bundle a wood fe go an' mak a fire under a copper fe bu'n him...
Untitled : JAMAICA ANANSI STORIES BY MARTHA WARREN BECKWITH Music Transcribed By HELEN ROBERTS [1924] This classic of Jamaican folklore was collected by Martha Warren Beckwith, whose translation of the Hawaiian Creation epic, the Kumulipo, is also at sacred-texts. Beckwith studied under the famous...
Note 58. Hunter, Guinea Hen And Fish : 58. HUNTER, GUINEA-HEN AND FISH. The story as Williams tells it is made up of three parts. (1) Bird and Hunter set up the same home without either knowing of the other. (2) Bird supplies Fish with wings and brings him to the feeding-patch, then takes the wings and flies away when Hunter comes...
57. Cockroach Stories : 57. COCKROACH STORIES. A. Cock's Breakfast. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. One day Cockroach said lo Cock, "Brar Cock, get little breakfas' so I will come an' have breakfas' wid you." Cock said yes. Cockroach come, Cockroach eat. When he done 'e said, "Brat Cock, when you know time my...
27. Anansi And Brother Dead : 27. ANANSI AND BROTHER DEAD. A. Brother Dead's Wife. Grace Doran, Whitehall, Cock-pit country. One day Anansi was walking an' walk till he go into a wood and see a man have a barbecue--plenty of meat. An' him go an' say, "Hi, Brar! how you do?" Man no 'peak. "Brar, you have plenty of meat an' you...
Note 111. The Boy And The Mermaid : 111. THE BOY AND THE MERMAID. This fragment must belong to a story of a child promised before its birth to a water-spirit, as in Grimm 181 and Parsons, Sea Islands, 137.
Riddles : 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...
135. Anansi Kills His Grandmother : 135. ANANSI KILLS HIS GRANDMOTHER. William Cooper, Mandeville. Anansi an' Tiger were travelling. Anansi kill him old grandmother, him put him into a little hand-cart was shoving him t'ru de town. After him catch to a shop jes' like out here, de shopkeeper was a very hasty-temper man; an' went in de...
Note 75. Assonah : 75. ASSONAH. This story has some elements in common with number 90. It falls into two parts. (1) A huge beast comes daily to the house and is finally shot. (2) A boy who must discover the name of the beast learns it by chance from an old woman and wins the reward. (1) Compare Backus, JAFL 13:27...
38. Curing The Sick : 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...
Note 142. Anansi Makes A Dance : 142. ANANSI MAKES A DANCE. The songs of this medley at first follow the story of Goat's escape from the dance, number 40, combined with the parallel story of Pat's escape from Puss's dance. The song is taken from a popular game in which one player represents the cat, another the rat; all the others...
Note 38. Curing The Sick : 38. CURING THE SICK. In Parkes's version, the substitution of the human for the fish victim not only spoils the wit of the story but obscures its relation to the story of Anansi's visit to fish-country as it appears in number 39. The identity of the two is proved by the structure of the {p. 256}...
55. Why Mice Are No Bigger : 55. WHY MICE ARE NO BIGGER. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Deh is, a man de name of Robin Mice-rat gwine to his uncle house. Him an' de uncle stay dere in dark de whole time. When [1. A local place-name.] {p. 60} him gwine away, he tell de uncle good-by an' tak a stick an' he lick 'e uncle...
Lies : 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...
31. The Yam Hills : 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-bills. 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...
26. The Riddle : 26. THE RIDDLE. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. Tacoomah and Anansi were great friends. Tacoomah got into trouble. He was tried and sentenced to be hung. Anansi said, "Brer Tacoomah, no fret! I'm a good liar; I play you off." Anansi went to the king to beg for Tacoomah. The king said to him, "If you...
Note 71. Pea Fowl As Messenger : 71. PEA-FOWL AS MESSENGER. Jekyll, 84-85, connects the animal competitors with the story of making the dumb girl speak, as in numbers 95, 96. In Milne-Home, 73-77, the animals compete to sing at the king's dance. In African parallels, some peril is involved of which a bird is to bear warning. But...
95. The Dumb Child : 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 {p 122} see de teet' excep' de mother an' de father; she never talk for no one to hear her nor to see neither the teeth n...
133. Anansi Seeks His Fortune : 133. ANANSI SEEKS HIS FORTUNE. Stanley Jones, Claremont, St. Ann. Anansi was very poor and he went out to seek his fortune, but he had no intention of working. He clad himself in a white gown. And he met a woman. She said to him, "Who are you, sah? an' whe' you from?"--"I am jus' from heaven."...
65. Mr. Lenaman's Corn Field : 65. MR. LENAMAN'S CORN-FIELD. George Parkes, Mandeville. There was a man named Mr. Lenaman. He went to a place to rent a piece of ground. He didn't know that it was a burial ground. It was about twenty acres of land. When he went, he chopped with his machete "pom!" He heard a voice say, "Who chop...
Note 7. Eggs And Scorpions : 7. EGGS AND SCORPIONS. Jekyll tells the same story in Annancy and Candle-fly, 86-89, Wona, in Anancy and Fire-fly, 24-29; Pamela Smith, in Anancy and Ginger-fly. Milne-Home, 35-39, contains the scorpion episode, Compare Tremearne FL 21:360. The plot is in two parts. (1) Anansi goes on an egg-hunt...
49. Why Rocks At The River Are Covered With Moss : 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. {p. 58} An' began to bawl...
87. Bull As Bridegroom : 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...
Note 2. Tiger As Substitute : 2. TIGER AS SUBSTITUTE. The two episodes do not, so far as I know, occur in African collections, and in American collections they belong to a single story, Compare: (Mexico), Boas, JAFL 25:205; Parsons, Andros Island 82-85; Sea Islands, 40-43; Edwards, 63; JAFL 30:229); Backus, JAFL 13:22-24; JAFL...
139. The Fifer : 139. THE FIFER. Richard Roe, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. There's a boy once, mother got only the one boy an he love him so much that 'he give him a flute. So one day they go to far groun' an' coming back the boy leave the flute at the groun'. When he catch half-way, he remember it an' he tell...
Note 68. Sammy The Comferee : 68. SAMMY THE COMFEREE. This curious story seems to be a cross between the Potiphar's wife episode with which the ballad of "Young Seidal" opens, and the African tale of the lard girl who melts if exposed to the sun. Compare Dayrell, 1-2; Tremearne, 192; Parsons, Andros Island, 125 and note 2...
138. Anansi And The Pig Coming From Market : 138. ANANSI AND THE PIG COMING FROM MARKET. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. Anansi took the job to sweep the market. After he swept the market and got the pay, he bought a pig called 'wee pig'. On his way home he had to cross a stream. He couldn't get the pig across. He wouldn't carry it himself...
25. Food And Cudgel : 25. FOOD AND CUDGEL. A. The Handsome Packey. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville. Once the times was very hard. So Anansi had a wife an' six children dependent on him; wherever he goes he gets something, so he gets seven plantains, one apiece. His wife said to him, "Where is yours?" Said 'he mustn't mind...
Note 25. Food And Cudgel : 25. FOOD AND CUDGEL. The first form of this story is very common in Jamaica. It is told by Pamela Smith, Candoo, 28-30; Wona, Do-mek-I-see, 9-18. The introductory trick is generally told as an independent witticism. Compare: Basset 11, 93-95; 102; Barker, 39-44; Dayrell, 20-28; Parsons, Andros...
Note 16. Shut Up In The Pot : 16. SHUT UP IN THE POT. This common African story is not popular in America in this form, either because the idea is repulsive or because it is too simple to make a good story. The essential feature, that of taking turns going into the pot, is employed in number 37, and resembles the playing at tie...
Note 74. Two Sisters : 74. TWO SISTERS. Jamaica versions of this popular story appear in Milne-Home, 70-72; Jekyll, 14-16; Trowbridge, JAFL 9:283-284. Parsons Andros Island, 150-152, has equivalent versions. The False Bride motive is very common in African story. Compare Callaway, 105-130; 303-316; Theal, 56-66; 144-117;...
Note 117. Jack As Fortune Teller : 117. JACK AS FORTUNE-TELLER. See Grimm 98, Doctor Know-all, Bolte u. Polvka 2:401-413, and compare Jones, 68-72; Fortier, 116; Harris, Friends, 32-33; Smiley, JAFL 32:370; Espinosa, JAFL 24:415-419; discussed by Boas, JAFL 25:251, and by Espinosa, JAFL 27:215-216.
Note 70. Jack And Harry : 70. JACK AND HARRY. This fragmentary story belongs, with the Man-crow story of number 90, to a much longer African story which relates the adventures of a child-hero whose father, dying, leaves instructions that the child's will shall never be crossed. Incidents succeed one another of inhum...
134. The Pannier Jar : 134. THE PANNIER-JAR. Vassel Edwards, Retirement, Cock-pit country. There was a man at slave time had a wife, and the wife kept two other men. The husband of that wife was working out. One night, one came first and then the house-master came home. And they had a big jar called a pannier-jar...
Note 54. Why Crab Is Afraid After Dark : 54. WHY CRAB IS AFRAID AFTER DARK. The story represents a very wide-spread folk motive--that of a weak being who appeals to some deity for more power, but whose request is proved to be either needless or disastrous. In Tremearne, FL 21:360, an old woman is to teach Spider cunning. She sends him...
9. The Christening : 9. THE CHRISTENING. Charles Wright, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country. Anansi an' Tiger bot' of them fin' one keg of butter. Anansi says to Tiger, "Let us hide it in the bushes." Some days after, Anansi says to Tiger, "I receive a letter for a christening." When he return, Tiger ask him the name...
Note 96. The Dumb Wife : 96. THE DUMB WIFE. I take this story to be a modern adaptation of 95, invented in the Maroon section. Another Maroon gave me a similar version under a different name. The whole point lies in the constant repetition of the burial song.
Note 143. Red Yam : 143. RED YAM. Old Mary Roden was bed-ridden and lived in a one-roomed hut, the floor of which was falling in. The little grandchild, when prompted to "make a figure," danced quite spontaneously to the rhythm of the grandmother's quavering song. The same is true of the next two numbers. Songs sung...
Note 27. Anansi And Brother Dead : 27. ANANSI AND BROTHER DEAD. The story of "Brother Dead" is one of the best known of Jamaica stories. Trowbridge, 282, says Death is looked upon as Anansi's brother. "Anansi fool 'em all; nobody can fool Anansi, only Bredder Dead," old Forbes said at the end of a trick story. Every Jamaic...
Note 91. Tiger Softens His Voice : 91. TIGER SOFTENS HIS VOICE. Parkes heard his version on Cape Coast, Africa. Jekyll, 108-113, Leah and Tiger, tells the story. In my number 17 a, it is the mother who is hidden away. In Bahama versions, Parsons, 35-39, the plot turns upon the rescue of the lost girl through song rather th...
141. Tacoomah Makes A Dance : 141. TACOOMAH MAKES A DANCE. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. Tacoomah make a dance, get Anansi for de fiddler, an' Grass-quit was coming as a fiddler too. Robin Redbreast was to play de music, Monkey was to blow de bugle. Well, after de night de dance commence. Anansi gwine to play...
Note 100. Ali Baba And Kissem : 100. ALI BABA AND KISSEM. Versions of Ali Baba in Jamaica differ in no way from those with which we are familiar.
Note 5. Tiger Catching The Sheep Thief : 5. TIGER CATCHING THE SHEEP-THIEF. The story of the sheep-thief and the disguised watchman is popular in Jamaica, especially in St. Ann Parish, and I have given three versions in order to show the range of variation and the persistence of the essential plot. I have abbreviated White's versi...
Note 145. Fowl And Pretty Poll : 145. FOWL AND PRETTY POLL. Literally this means, Fowl wants to be married to Parrot in church, but Parrot has no good clothes. Parrot wants Crow to marry her in church, but he says he can't because of his peelhead (or perhaps he wants to in spite of this peelhead). Compare the witticism vi.
Note 66. Simon Tootoos : 66. SIMON TOOTOOS. I heard this story more than once in Jamaica. Compare Renel 2:167-168; 283-286; Bundy, JAFL 32:420; Parsons, Andros Island, 62-65 and 62, note 1, for references. In a manuscript story shown me by Mrs. W. E. Wilson (Wona) which she took down from her old nurse, the same song is...
Note 103. The Twelve One Eyed Men : 103. THE TWELVE ONE-EYED MEN. See The Third Kalender's Tale in Burton's Arabian Nights' Tales (Burton Club 1885), 1:151-160.
Note 36. Horse And Anansi : 36. HORSE AND ANANSI. For the trick of sending after fire in order to enjoy the whole of a common store compare Koelle, 166-167; Tremearne, 255, 263; Hartt, 34; Harris, Friends, 79-80; Nights, 282-284; Christensen, 89; Georgia, JAFL 32:403. For the trick of leaving the knife or the spoon behind...
Note 78. The Fish Lover : 78. THE FISH LOVER. This story is very common in Jamaica. See Milne-Home, 91-93, and compare Renel 1:203-204; 206-208 (origin of water-beings); Renel 2:268-269; Parsons, Andros Island, 61, and note for references; Sea Islands, 137. {p. 268} In Smith, 573-584, a young man changes into a fish...
126. A Misunderstanding : 126. A MISUNDERSTANDING. Florence Tomlinson, Lacovia. There was a gentleman engaged to a young lady and he was out riding one evening. And the young gentleman made the lady believe he was rich, go along to a logwood property and told her 'all was his'. And go on an' go on an' come to another...
116. Jack's Riddle : 116. JACK'S RIDDLE. Clarence Tathum, Mandeville. A little boy once heard of a king's daughter who would answer any riddle, and so he told his mother that he was going to ask the king's daughter a riddle. Whatever riddle the king's daughter asks him, if he can't answer, the king's daughter will kill...
Note 33. Fling A Mile : 33. FLING-A-MILE. Jekyll, 152-155, has a good version of this very popular Jamaica story. Compare the Bulu tales, Schwab, JAFL 27:284-285; 32:434. In JAFL 27, Turtle sets a trap and by pretending to teach other animals who come along one by one how to use it, he catches one victim after another...
Preface : PREFACE. The stories in this collection were taken down from the lips of over sixty negro story-tellers in the remote country districts of Jamaica during two visits to the island, one of six weeks in the summer of 1919, the other of five weeks in the winter of 1921. The music was all recorded...
14. New Names : 14. NEW NAMES. Samuel Christie, St, Ann's Bay. There was four friends; one was Anansi, name of the other was Tiger, name of the other Tacoomah, name of the other Parrot. So they go for a journey, and Anansi bargain with them that the four mus' change their name an' when they come home, each one...
79. Juggin Straw Blue : 79. JUGGIN STRAW BLUE. David Roach, Lacovia. There was a woman have a daughter and a neice, and the neice was courting by one Juggin Straw Blue. She love the daughter more than she love the neice and always want the neice to do more work than what the daughter do. Well, the lady send the neice...
61. The Fasting Trial : 61. THE FASTING TRIAL (FRAGMENT). Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains. Jumpin' Dick say he would bear longer hunger than White Belly. So White Belly up a tree where a grape a drop, an' Jumpin' Dick pick up on de ground. White Belly say, "Coo coo, me lovin'! coo coo, me lovin'! Everybody goin'...
Supplementary Note 48. Why Dog Is Always Looking : 48. WHY DOG IS ALWAYS LOOKING. A Jamaica negro proverb runs, "Darg say befo' him plant yam fe look like masquita' foot, him satisfy fe tun beggar." See Cundall's collection (Kingston, 1910), 211.
Note 29. The Cowitch And Mr. Foolman : 29. THE COWITCH AND MR. FOOLMAN. The very popular Jamaica story of the "cowitch tree" is here combined with another equally popular story. (1) Anansi wins a bet to fell a tree in a cowitch property without scratching himself. (2) He loses the reward by being out-tricked by another fellow whom he...
Note 22. Inside The Cow : 22. INSIDE THE COW. According to Mrs. Parson's analysis in Andros island, 2-10, the story of the lost pass takes four forms: (1) across water, (2) inside a tree, (13) to the sky, (4) inside the cow. To all these passages, a magic pass is attached, and either a violated prohibition or a forgotten...
Note 85. Man Snake As Bridegroom : 85. MAN-SNAKE AS BRIDEGROOM. Besides the last number, three other types of monster marriage stories are common in Jamaica, all of which, though versions overlap or vary, follow a fairly fixed pattern. They may be distinguished as the Snake husband, the Devil husband, and the Bull husband. The Snake...
Supplementary Note 56. Rat's Wedding : 56. RAT'S WEDDING. It is not the wooden foot-bridge but any drain beside the road--the gutter--which Jamaicans call a 'water table.'
Note 120. The Boy And His Master : 120. THE BOY AND HIS MASTER. See Grimm 68, The Thief and his Master, Bolte u. Polvka 2:60-69; and compare Tremearne, 223-224; Mason and Espinosa, New Mexico, JAFL 24: 423-424.
146. The Cumbolo : 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, hear dat sweet music singing over yonder. I like [2. Two school-mistresses in Bethlehem, Santa Cruz...
30. Dry Head And Anansi : 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, so he fawn sick, very very sick; all...
20. Tacoomah's Corn Piece : 20. TACOOMAH'S CORN-PIECE. Adolphus Iron, Claremont, St. Ann. Tacoomah plant a piece of corn. When it commence to dry, den begin to t'ief it. Tacoomah charge Hanansi. Hanansi say, "Brar, no me!" By dis time Hanansi was a fiddler. Hanansi tell Tacoomah say, "Brar, you say me broke you' corn, you mek...
104. Bird And Hunter : 104. BIRD AND HUNTER. Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country. The king have two son. The first one went out to hunt. He see a pretty little bird! An ol' man said to him, "Say, massa, you better not follow dat bird!" He see the bird a pretty golden bird and he still follow the bird. Then...
35. Tumble Bug And Anansi : 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...
Note 135. Anansi Kills His Grandmother : 135. ANANSI KILLS HIS GRANDMOTHER. See note to number 106. This is episode G" in Bolte u. Polvka's analysis of Grimm's "Little Peasant." Compare Parsons, Andros Island, 87 and note for references.
101. Bull Of All The Land : 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...
Note 95. The Dumb Child : 95. THE DUMB CHILD. Parkes heard this story in Sierra Leone, Africa. In Jekyll, 84-85, Dummy, it is Pea-fowl whose song the child imitates, and the story follows that of the sweet-voiced bird of number 71. It resembles the European task-theme which turns upon making some over-serious person laugh...
Note 131. Dancing To Anansi's Fiddle : 131. DANCING TO ANANSI'S FIDDLE. See Grimm 110, The Jew among Thorns, Bolte u. Polvka 2:490-503; and compare Bundy, JAFL 32:412-413.
122. The Three Pieces Of Advice : 122. THE THREE PIECES OF ADVICE. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Der is a man; he married; he got t'ree chil'ren, he became poor. He said to his wife, "I goin' to look somet'ing to do." She said, "Yes, me dear husban'." He went an' walk one hundred mile. When he got to a pen de master said...
13. Day Time Trouble : 13. DAY-TIME TROUBLE. A. Rabbit And Anansi. Susan Watkins, Claremont, St. Ann. Brar Nansi and Brar Rabbit went for a walk one day. Brar Rabbit ask Brar Anansi to show him 'daytime trouble'. An' while dey go on, Brar Anansi saw Tiger den wid a lot of young Tiger in it. Brar Anansi took out one an'...
140. In Come Murray : 140. IN COME MURRAY. William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country. It was said when you go you see a man going to play dat Nansi story. Get anodder wid a pint a water, den him gwine to turn a drunkard, begin to totter, say, "Tiger, tiger, lie down"-- Zin come Mur-ray. I take drink, lay down, Z...
Note 122. The Three Pieces Of Advice : 122. THE THREE PIECES OF ADVICE. Compare Steere, 413; Mason & Espinosa, JAFL 24: 408-411 discussed by Espinosa, JAFL 27: 213-214.
Note 19. Dog And Dog Head : 19. DOG AND DOG-HEAD. This story is told everywhere in Jamaica, but I find no African version and Mrs. Parsons says (JAFL 32:391) that, although she heard it "over and over again" in South Carolina, it was altogether unknown in North Carolina; see Sea Islands, 1-5. Such a distribution argues...
17. House In The Air : 17. HOUSE IN THE AIR. A. Tracking Anansi. Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains. Anansi live into a tree with wife and children, then go about and robber the others and they can't find where he live. So Tiger and Bredder Tacoomah dog him and see when he send down the rope and swing up whatever he...
Note 65. Mr. Lenaman's Corn Field : 65. MR. LENAMAN'S CORN-FIELD. Parkes gave me the only version I got of this good story in Jamaica; he heard it in the parish of St. Ann. Barker, 181-184, tells the same for "Farmer Mybrow," but only to the harvesting. In Cronise and Ward, 152-159, a man tries to harvest rice in Devil's Town...
Note 30. Dry Head And Anansi : 30. DRY-HEAD AND ANANSI. The "Dry-head" episode is very popular in Jamaica. From Jekyll's version, 48-49, I have corrected my version 30 c as Johnson gave it and made Dry-head, not Anansi, the victim of the bag trick. Johnson was not a reliable informant. Other Jamaica versions occur in Pamel...
Supplementary Note 97. Leap, Timber, Leap : 97. LEAP, TIMBER, LEAP. An old man over eighty who was present at the recital of this story remembered hearing it when he was a little boy. Hauling lumber was in old days accompanied by song. The story turns upon a theme common in American Indian hero cycles, that of a trickster's claim to magical...
Note 1. Tying Tiger : 1. TYING TIGER. Parkes heard this story in St. Ann Parish. Milne-Home, 99-108, tells it of Anansi and "Lion," who takes the place of Tiger in earlier Jamaica story-telling. In a famous Jamaica digging-song, the words "Tiger-Lion" are coupled much as we should say "John Smith." The story falls...
Note 99. The Water Cray Fish : 99. THE WATER CRAY FISH. In Jacottet, 166-174, Mosimoli has been killed by her stepmother for cooking and eating taboo food. When her step-sister comes to the water to fill her pitcher, Mosimoli comes out of the water, beats her and gives her muddy water to drink, singing, "My father and mother are...
Note 34. But But And Anansi : 34. BUT-BUT AND ANANSI. The very popular story of Butterfly's revenge is a somewhat obscured version of an old theme--the Jataka story of The Quail's Friends, Francis and Thomas, 247-250, Compare Steel-Temple, Wide Awake Stories, 184; Gerber, Great Russian Animal Tales, Pub. Mod. Lang. Asso. of Am...
121. The Language Of Beasts : 121. THE LANGUAGE OF BEASTS. Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. One boy was along wid a man. He was a shepherd boy; every Wednesday he go in de wilderness go look after his master sheep. He saw one snake. De snake said, "Do, I beg you carry me go to me fader; but when you go, if me fader give...
18. Goat On The Hill Side : 18. GOAT ON THE HILL-SIDE. Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains. The time hard. Anansi said to Tacoomah, "How going to manage wid de hard time?" So Tacoomah said, "You know we do? I will get me machete an' I go half shut de door, den I will say, 'Police, I sick!'" Den, when people come, Tacoomah take...
