Chapter VIII: Part 8

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 keep heating the oven. The two of them arrange that she will keep singing—

“Wah wah oo, wah wah oo, wah wah oo,
Nobody coming from Prince of Wales?”

Jack now (answers),

“No, no, madame; no, no, madame; no, no, madame;
Nobody coming from Prince of Wales.”

The master came to the window; “Jack, is the oven hot?”—“No, Master, not yet hot.” Jack put in two bundles of wood more. About an hour after, the girl began the same song. Jack gave the same reply. Master came again; “Jack, is the oven hot?”—“No, Master, not yet hot.”

The girl’s father came. The girl started singing—

“Wah wah oo, wah wah oo, wah wah oo,
Nobody coming from Prince of Wales?”

Jack says,

“Yes, yes, madame! yes, yes, madame! yes, yes, madame!
Somebody coming from Prince of Wales!”

The master came to the window; “Jack, is the oven hot?”—“Yes, Master, red-hot!” Coming down the staircase the father drew a revolver and shot him. Jack has to put him in the oven, and Jack, the girl, and all the company make a feast of him. The father took Jack and the girl back to his house and married them both for life.

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 him; or else, he will get the king’s daughter. And the mother made some dumpling and gave to him, made six, poisoned one. And he eat four and gave two to the donkey he was riding, and one of those two was the one that was poisoned. So “Poor Lo” died. So seven John-crow came to eat Poor Lo; so while the seven John-crow were eating Poor Lo, they were dying one after another by the poison of Poor Lo. And he saw an orange-tree with one ripe orange on it, and he went and picked it and eat it, and he picked up one under the tree and eat it. And Jack went to the king’s daughter, and she asked him the riddle; and after he answered it, he asked her this one:

“Two kill one and one kill seven; the top of the tree was sweet, but the bottom was sweeter yet.”

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 in his house. De t’ree of dem steal de ring. De king give Jack four days to tell him. One mo’ning, one carry Jack breakfas’. Jack says, “Praise de Lord, I got one!” Same day, one carry his dinner; same day, one carry his supper. Jack says, “Praise de Lord, I got de t’ree!” (Jack meant he get t’ree meals, but de servant think Jack mean them.) One of the servant go in the house, say, “Let us tell Jack we get de ring, for he know it.” De t’ree of dem come to Jack one night and told Jack dat ’ey steal de ring. Jack said, “Oh, yes, I did know a long time dat it you t’ief it!” Jack says, “If I tell de king about de ring, king will behead de t’ree of you.” Jack says, “Make a little ball and put de ring in it and put it down a big turkey’s mout’.” De morning, nine o’clock, de king called Jack to tell him where his wife’s ring goes; if Jack can not tell him, he will kill Jack. Jack says, “If you want to know how you’ wife ring go, kill dat big turkey an’ look in his craw.” Dey kill de turkey, an’ saw de ring; and from dat day, de king believe what Jack do and give Jack his daughter to marry. And I pass roun’ de house last week and I saw dem an’ dey give me a good piece of beef-bone. Dear how Jack got his richness by working his head!

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 dish fe de dinner. So when him come in, frighten’, t’ink him goin’ to lose, him sit down, say, “Aye, poor Fox is caught to-day!” When dey hear him say dis, everybody give a shout. Him win; for it was a fox underneat’ de dish.

Once de good man again go out to shoot. So him coming home, hear about Fox too,—same Fox. So him catch a robin redbreast an’ kill it an’ roast it an’ put it under de dish de very same as dey do de fox. So at dinner when he come to a certain time, say, “I want to know what underneat’ de dish now, Mr. Fox?” So said, “Well, poor Robin is well caught to-day!”

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. When he get part of de way, he see whole heap of people beatin’ a dead man. He say, “O my! what de reason dey do dis?” Dey said, “De man owe me a lot of money!” Jack pay all de money an’ bury de man. He went a little furder an’ see anodder an’ he do de same. He went a little way off again, he see anodder, he do de same.

So he get broke now. He hear dat de fairy want a servant. De fairy said, “Yes, I want a servant!” an’ gi’ him every key open all de door excep’ one room. Jack said, “All right, sir!” De fairy is a people dey go out every day. Jack open every door, an’ after him open de las’ door he fin’ de girl in dat room. An’ ’he say, “Jack, what you open dis door for? De fairy bin goin’ kill you, for dey dey got me here an’ fatten to kill.” Jack said, “I am jus’ as smart as dem!” an’ tek down de girl an’ comb her hair, ketch her louse, gi’ her somet’ing to eat an’ hang her up same way. When de fairy come an’ say, “Jack, you goin’ into dis room?” Jack said, “No, sir.” De fairy tek de key, he walk in de door an’ fin de girl same way as he leave her.

Every day Jack do de same t’ing, till de las’ day he took down de girl an’ dey walk. He goin’ in a vessel. De girl was so pretty, one of de men dat in de vessel grudge Jack an’ fling Jack overboard. Anodder little boy, gi’ de name of Jack, he t’row one piece of board, said, “Poor man! paddle on dis.” An’ de girl is de king daughter who was going to marry to Jack de nex’ day. An’ Jack paddle till him get one part of de sea upon some stone an’ sit down hol’ing his head. Dat was night. Pelican fly an’ pick him in his head, gi’ him a piece of bread, tek him up an’ sail wid him drop him into anodder place. Anodder pelican tek him an’ sail wid him drop him into anodder place again. De las’ pelican gi’ him somet’ing to eat, fly wid him right into town. So dat was de t’ree dead men he buried; dat t’ree dead save his life.

Nex’ morning in de whole town nobody to be found in de street. An’ when Jack couldn’t get a house to rent, all de house was rented, one woman said ’he don’ get nowhere only a loft to de roadside. Jack said, “Dat’s de place I want!” an’ was dere until de couple going to church. Den, after she come at de said place, Jack look out an’ saw her, an’ Jack said, “Catch him!” De girl said, “If-you-can!” an’ she call to de coachman to turn back home to de yard. An’ after she went home, she sent a constable t’rough de whole town, an’ everyone he bring she said no. De las’ one de ol’ lady said, “Only one man lef’ here an’ he drunk, for he drink a great bottle of rum!” but Jack do dat in gladness as he saw de girl. An’ de girl said, “Bring him come!” An’ after him come, he catch him an’ kiss him an’ goin’ in de house bathe an’ shine himself an’ tell all what distress happen to him.

Dey catch de man what do dis t’ing, hang him by de p’int of his tongue.

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 never trouble de boy on de book for a long time. When he going tek up de book, ’e say, “Oh-h-h-h! you expect to be my master!” an’ de man say, “Go home!”

Him mudder an’ fader was poor. He said, “Ma, I gwine to turn a fat pig tomorrow; kyar’ me go sell, don’ lef’ de rope on me.” He ma get two pound. Nex’ day he say, “Ma, I gwine to turn a pretty mare; kyar’ me sell me, don’ lef’ de rope.” When de fader get part of de way, he meet a man. De man say, “Ho-o-o, what a pretty mare! How much you want?”—“One hundred.” De ol’ man go to tek off de rope. De man said, “What a damn fool is you! I buy de mare an’ you want de rope!” De Old Witch tek de mare. At de same time de Old Witch know dat de mare is de boy an’ de boy know dat is de Old Witch. So he hitch him in de market an’ gwine in de shop to tek a drink. Some school-children gwine past. De mare said, “Do, you kyan’ slip off dis rope off me head?” De chil’ren said, “’top! you ever hear a horse talk?” De mare said, “Never mind! you slip it off.” As dey slip off de rope, de mare gallop away. De chil’ren call out, “You’ mare get away!”

De Old Witch come out. He turn a stallion, an’ two race fo’ it. An’ de mare up again a pigeon-hawk an’ she fly. De Old Witch turn a big fowl-hawk an’ dey sail in de air. De mare turn a dove an’ sail till she ’py a house wid glass windeh. De dove sail right t’ru de windeh, drop into a woman lap; de dove turn a ring, get on de woman finger. De fowl-hawk fly exactly to de door. When de hawk fly away, de ring come off de finger an’ turn de boy an’ tell de woman a man will come here in de mo’ning; he will have her marry fo’ dis ring, but don’ receive it. Nex’ day de boy turn de ring, get on de finger. De man dribe up an’ said, “You have a ring here?” De woman said yes. He said, “I give you one husband,” an’ de woman said yes and slipped off de ring to give to de man. De ring drop on de floor an’ turn a corn-grain. De man come out of de buggy, turn a rooster to pick up de corn-grain. De corn-grain jump up, turn a puss an’ wipe off de cock head. So dat de boy get up and tek de buggy an’ go to de Old Witch yard and tek all what he get.

So de boy learn one mark more dan de Old Witch.

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 you money, don’ you tek it, but ax him to give you de knowledge of every animal.” So de boy tek de snake to his fader. When he go, de snake ax him if he want money. He said, “No, I wan’ to understan’ de knowledge of every animal.” De snake tol’ him to lie down, an’ he spit in his mouth an’ tol’ him whatever animal dat he hear talk he mus’ not tell it to nobody, fo’ de day he venture to talk it he shall surely die.

De odder Wednesday he went de same place, he saw some pigeon on one tree. De pigeon was cooing, an’ de pigeon tell him he mus’ come an’ dig under de tree an’ he will fin’ a lot of money. De boy went an’ dig, an’ he fin’ de money. He tek it home to his master. His master deliver all dat money to him, he tek it, settle himself an’ married a wife.

One evening him an’ his wife went for a ride. He was before, de lady was behin’. De horse turn round and whicker to de mare which de lady was riding. De mare answer him an’ said, “I kyan’ go wid you; for you, it is two of you, but me, it is four of us. I have to carry meself an’ me colt, de missis an’ de missis baby in her, so I cannot walk fas’ as you.” De man turn roun’ an’ laugh. De lady said, “Why de reason let de two animal whicker an’ you look pon me an’ laugh? Der is somet’ing in dis matter!” She nag her husband to tell her de meaning why mek him laugh. De husband said to her, “De day dat I tell you, I will surely die. Sen’ for a carpenter mek me box an’ den I wi’ tell you!” De carpenter come mek de box, an’ he went an’ lie down in it.

He got one rooster in his yard. De rooster come near de box an’ begin to crow. De missis said, “Oh, go away! makin’ such a noise over yo’ master head!” De master said, “Let de bird stay!” De rooster said to his master, “Master, you fool to gi’ up yo’ life fo’ de count of woman! Look how much wife I have in de worl’, an’ de least nonsense all of dem come round me, I begin to peck ’em an’ walk away from dem. So, Master, you come out of de box an’ tek yo’ supple-jack an’ go in de house give yo’ wife two good lick, an’ den you fin’ if she would ’noy you again.” De man do so. He got up, he went in de house, he tek de supple-jack an’ hit her t’ree lick over de shoulder; an’ from dat day de woman never ax him a word again.

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, “You little too late; I jus’ got a butcher dis mo’ning.” He walk anodder one hundred mile an’ when he go he succeed a butcher. He was doin’ his work one year, never drew no money—one hundred pound a year. When de year was up, de missis said to him, “Out of you money an’ t’ree advice, which one you rather?” He said, “I rather de t’ree advice.” She give him one revolver an’ give him a loaf of bread an’ give him some money to serve him on de way; was not to touch de bread till him get home. De t’ree advice—“Not to forsake de bridge which you cross; not to interfere in politics; you mustn’t in haste in temper.” An’ him tek his journey.

When he was going, he went to tek anodder road; he remember de first advice, mustn’t forsake de bridge which he cross. He go on a little furder. He saw some people beatin’ one dead man; he went to call to dem, but he remember de second advice. He pass. When he go on till he saw his home, he saw his wife an’ his chil’ren an’ a man walkin’ side on side. He took de revolver to shoot de man, he remember de t’ird advice; de missis said, “You mus’ not haste in temper,” an’ he put it by. When he went on a little furder, it was his wife bredder hear dat de husband was not at home, so come to look for his sister.

When dey goin’ in de house he began to tell how many mile he went, an’ he say to his wife, “De missis gave me t’ree advice, out of me money which of dem I rather; I said I rather de t’ree advice, and she give me dis loaf of bread; not to cut it till I reach home, but she give me my pocket-money.” De wife said, “What about de t’ree advice an’ lef’ yo’ money.” De husband said, “I can’t help it.” De chil’ren cry out, “Papa, cut de bread! papa, cut de bread!” Tek de knife, an’ after him cut de bread, de one hundred pound scatter out upon de table.

So de t’ree advice, if he turn a different road he never will see home. De second advice, doze people was beating de dead man, if him was to call to ’em, dem people would destroy him. An’ de t’ird advice, he would shoot his own bredder-in-law.

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, I hungry!” He said, “De only way you will get dis pone, let I pluck out one of yo’ eye.” De little boy said, “Pluck it out now,” an’ he did so. After dey walk a far way again, de little bredder cry out, “Bredder, I hungry!” He said, “De only way you will taste de odder piece, let I pluck out de odder eye.” De little boy said, “What mus’ I do after I hungry?” An’ him pluck out de odder eye an’ gi’ him de balance of pone lef’. An’ de two bredder walk, lef’ dat poor one.

When night come, he went feeling. He feel a tree. He went up into de tree. After midnight, he hear people talkin’ come on an’ stop right under de tree. So i’ was two duppy. One king from de day de king was born, he blin’. De duppy said, “If people know dat dis tree was a life tree, dey would tek it an’ cure de king eye.”

Me’while de poor blin’ boy hearing dem. De boy feel an’ tek de leaf an’ rub his two eye. De two eye were open. De boy came down. Nex’ day morning tek two of de leaves an’ went to de king yard. After he went de soldier said, “My man, what you want?” He said, “I want to see de king.” Dey let him in. When he gwine to de king he said, “O king!” He said, “What do you want?” De boy said, “I hear dat yo’ eye blind; I come to open it.” He said, “O my boy, you cannot open my eye again!” De boy said, “I will open it; but when I rub it you mus’ not mek alarm.” De boy took de leaf out of his pocket and rubbed de king eye. De king eye were open, an’ de king let de boy married to his daughter.

An de same week dem two bredder which injure his little bredder eye hear dat de same young king which married lately have plenty of work. So de two bredder went in an’ ax fe work. De king said, “O me men, if you come a little sooner! my son-in-law jus’ go down to de village.” Dey went down after him. When de men go down, ’ey saw him own bredder an’ do not know him at all. Dey said, “Good-morning, king!” Dey said, “Yo’ fader-in-law send we down here to get some work.” De king said, “Oh, yes!” He said, “Seem like you feel hungry.” Dey said, “Oh, yes, king!” He let de people den pick some breadfruit an’ dey roast it. Me’while dey eating dey was talkin’. De king said, “But, my men, where is de odder bredder that travelled togedder?” He said, “He knock up in de way, so we have to leave him; so we don’ know whether if he alive or not.” De king said, “Dis is yo’ lost brother which you pluck out de eye for that two piece of pone!” An’ dey was ’stonish.

So de bredder said all how him get de eye open, an’ dey never stop to work again; dey travel on to de said life tree, an’ when dey get dere, dey go up in de tree. Part of de night dey hear two somebody talkin’; soon as dey ketch to de tree dey stop dere to res’. One of de duppy said, “But you know, dis odder night when we was talkin’ here, some one mus’ hear me when I was talkin’ ’bout dis life tree, for I hear dat de king eye open.” An’ after he said dat, one said, “I scent fresh blood!” an’ he run right up in de tree an’ ketch de two men an’ break dem neck.

An’ come to a time de king an’ his wife go pay de mudder a visit. An’ ’e mudder askin’ for de rest. He tell his ma all what de bredder hev done to him, an’ if don’t two duppy, ’he never would see him no more.

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 away me mudder!” Fling-me-stick lick out of de eagle mout’. Brer Buck stoop down an’ ketch de mudder. An’ de mudder lef’ t’irty pound fe t’ree of dem. Out of doze t’ree son, which of dem deserve de money?

Some said, “Look-up-in-de-sky deserve it!” Odder said, “Fling-me-stick!” De nex’ one said, “Brer Buck!” But if Look-up-in-de-sky didn’t see de mudder, de eagle would fly away wid her. If Fling-me-stick didn’t fling an’ lick out de mudder out of de eagle mout’, she would be gone. If Brer Buck didn’t stoop down an’ ketch de mudder, she would mash up. So, out of de t’ree of dem, de t’ree deserve de ten pound apiece.

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 for the gentleman breakfas’.” So when the young lady gone, the mother wait till she catches the young lady come with the orange. So when she (the mother) come, she say, “Hi! what you doing so long you can’t come with the orange?” So the young lady say to her, “Mamma, me considering when me have the first pic’niney, what fe gi’ ’im name. So the mother say, “Yes, missis.” So they sit down and was considering the name. So the father wait until he can’t see them come. Him start, an’ when he go to orange tree him say, “Hi! what you so long you can’t come yet?” The mother say, “Me husband, me an’ me daughter considering what to give the first pickney name.” So the father sit down and say, “Yes, missis, we consult now.”

So the man there waiting say, “Let me see what these three people gone look for orange in the house, can’t come yet!” So when he come he say, “What you a doing so long? You no come pick this orange fe me, I hungry killing me at the yard.” Said young lady, “My dear, we considering the first pickney we have, what mus’ we give him name.” The young man said, “I goin’ away. So if I meet t’ree fool as unoo (you), I will come back an’ marry you.”

So he start, an’ when he get to the firs’ cross-road, he see one man he wet him finger an’ pick it up an’ grab it out of the road. So he say, “What you doing?” The man say, “I pick up the gravel out of the road, see if I could pick out all of the gravel out of the road.” The man say, “I saw one fool!”

Him pass him an’ go on, till he see another one cut two stick an’ hol’ up his trousers an’ run jump see if he can jump into his trousers. So he say, “Oh! you fool, hol’ your trousers an’ put you’ two foot in. This make two fool I have buck up since I leave the other three fool!”

So pass this one an’ go on to the sea-side an’ see another one get a pan an’ fetch out water, see if he could dry the sea. So him say, “Well done, O you fool! This make three fool since I lef’ the other three fool behin’. How mus’ you dry the sea? You may fetch water until you are dead you never may dry the sea.”

So then he turn back. So when he got back he say, “Well, my dear, I buck up three fool fooler than you three; so I come back to marry you.”

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 property covered with stock—cow and sheep—and told her it was his. That was two property now. And went to the next property where were horses and mules, and said (wiping his face), “All these are mine, me dear.” The lady believed he was rich, and they got married and went home and lived together until all the house things were going, all the crockery was going, want a fresh supply. And she said to him, “Me dear, everything is going now, want a fresh supply. Let me have some money.”

“No, me dear, I havn’t got any.”

“Then why don’t you sell some of the things off some of the property?”

“Oh, I have no property, me dear!”

“Yes! don’t you remember when we used to go out riding you showed me three properties? One had logwood, one had cows and sheep, and the next had horses. Why don’t you sell some of those things?”

“Oh, ho! ho! ho! ho! me dear, I wipe with me pocket handkerchief and I mean me whiskers!”

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 ask him if it sweet. He bow his head; his head drop off. Big-belly laugh at him till his belly burst. Little-foot start running home to tell the news, his foot broke. That was the end of the three.

b. James Smith, Claremont, St. Ann.

Three little brother went out to catch meat. So them hunt till the day was in and caught nothing. Return home hungry and jokify, coming out of the forest saw a tar-apple tree have on two fruit on it. Big-Belly couldn’t climb. Maugre-Foot couldn’t climb. Maugre-Neck climb the tree, pull the first fruit, eat off that one. Pull the second fruit, bite it and tempting the others, his little head broke off fell on the ground. Big-belly laugh till him belly pop. Maugre-Foot set out run fo’ carry home the news, till him little foot broke off a pass.

Jack man dory, this story done!

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 ’eh see a great rock, an’ mudder an’ two kids went under de rock to shelter, didn’t know dat was de lion house. So de lion see de t’ree goat coming, he grunt like a great rolling. De mudder of de goat frighten. ’he said to de lion, “Good-evening, minister!” an’ de lion tell him “Evening.” An’ he said to de lion him looking fe a minister to baptize dese two kids, an’ say, want to give dese two kid a name. De lion said to him, “Dis one name is ‘Dinner’ an’ dis one name is ‘Breakfas’ tomorrow’ an’ you, de mudder, name is ‘Dinner tomorrow’!”

So after him get dese t’ree name, de goat was well frighten how to come out back; an’ de two kid hear de name dem got, so de heart commence to leap bup, bup, bup! De lion ax de mudder what’s de matter wid de two kid. De mudder said, “As de room is so hot, dey seem terrify.” An’ de mudder said as dey is in heah, kyan’ go, if he would jus’ allow de two kid to go outside get a little air. De lion agree, until when dinner-time come on ’em mus’ go in back. An’ de mudder whisper to de two kid mus’ mek de way as sharp as ever dey can mek it befo’ dusk. So when de lion see it coming on evening an’ no see de two kid come back, commence to roll again, she commence wonder how dem stay out too long, so ax de lion if de lion allow him to go bring dem back in befo’ de time too late. De lion agree. An’ when de mudder go out, neber see one back—eb’rybody gone!

Meaning of dat, a woman have more knowledge dan a man.

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 road, an’ dey lef de hamper roun’ de corner wid de lion head. De lions said, “We are jus’ having breakfas’!” De Donkey an de Cat said, “We have plenty!” Donkey said, “Brer Puss, you go tek up de lions’ heads fe see which one we eat to-day.” Puss went, took up de head an’ said, “Dis one?” Donkey said, “De odder one.” An’ said, “Dis one?” Donkey said, “De odder one,” till dey count about twenty (when it was only one). De lions whisper to each odder, say, “Dey kill so many lion one day, what you t’ink of we couple?” An’ dey eat an’ went home.

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 out for his friend. Molly May roasted the turkey. Seeing that it looked so nice and charming, she thought that she would take a piece; so she did, and it tasted so nice she took another piece. That tasted so nice she took a next piece and a sip of the wine, and she sipped and tasted till at last she had eaten up the whole turkey and drunk the whole of the wine.

She saw the master coming; so she ran in swift haste, took up the bones, fixed them nicely in the dish, covered the dish, and carried it and laid it on the table. When the master came, he sent the visitor into the house and said to Molly May, “Hullo, deh! everyt’ing all right?” She said, “Yes, sah! all is right.” So the master took up the carving-knife and went outside to sharpen it. Molly ran inside and told the visitor that the master was sharpening the knife to cut off one of his hands; the visitor in swift haste left the house. Then Molly went outside and told the master that the visitor had eaten all the turkey and drunk the wine. The master ran through one door and, seeing all the bones on the table, went through the other. The visitor was running for his life and Anansi went running after him, calling “Leave one! leave one!” He meant leave one (side of) the turkey, but the visitor thought he meant one of his hands, so he ran for his life.

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 de man. When he come, (Anansi stop playing). He call to him say, “Massa, no quarrel!” Him come give de massa de gourd a go fill it. Anansi begin playing. De Massa t’row down de gourd, begin dance. Assono dance till him drop. Anansi cut off him head an’ tek de head make a water-cup.

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 is for ‘de-men-came-here-las’-night’. Anansi claim de dinner, an’ nobody else get any.

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.” The woman said, “Did you see my husban’ dere?” He said, “Well, my dear woman, heaven is a large place; you will have to tell me his name, for perhaps I never met him.” She said his name was James Thomas. Anansi said, “Oh, he is a good friend of mine! I know him well. He is a big boss up there and he’s carrying a gang. But one trouble, he has no Sunday clo’es.” The woman ran away and got what money she could together and gave it to Anansi to take to her husband.

But he wasn’t satisfied with that amount; he wanted some more. He went on a little further and saw a man giving a woman some money and telling her to put it up for ‘rainy day’. After the man had left, Anansi went up to the woman and told her he was “Mr. Rainy Day.” She said, “Well, it’s you, sah? My husband been putting up money for you for ten years now. He has quite a bag of it, and I’m so afraid of robbers I’m glad you come!” So Anansi took the money and returned home and lived contentedly for the rest of his days.

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, and the wife took the man and put him into the pannier-jar. Afterward the other man came in, and when he saw the house-master was frightened and he told the house-master he had come to borrow the pannier-jar. The house-master told him he could take it, and the woman helped him up with the pannier-jar. And when he got part of the way, he said, “Poor me bwoy! if it wasn’t for this pannier-jar, I would be dead tonight!” The other man in the pannier-jar said, “Brar, same meself!” And he got frightened and heaved down the pannier-jar, mashed it up and killed the man in there.

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 shop-keeper was a very hasty-temper man; an’ went in de shop an’ call fe some whiskey an’ give it to one of de shopkeeper carry it to his grandmother. An’ said he mus’ go up to de han’-cart an’ call twice. An’ de ol’ lady did not hear. So Anansi said to de shop-keeper him mus’ holla out to de ol’ lady; him sleeping. So de ol’ lady didn’t hear, he fire de glass in de ol’ lady face, an’ de ol’ lady fell right over. Then the shop-keeper get so frighten he cry out to Anansi, say Anansi mustn’t mek no alarm in de town; he will give him a bushel of money to mek him keep quiet.

So dem was going along an’ borrow a quart can from Tiger an’ was measuring dis money. Tiger said, “Where you get all dat money?” Anansi say, “I kill my ol’ grandmother.” Tiger, him went home an’ kill his grandmother an’ put her up in a little hand-cart an’ was goin’ along t’ru de town hollerin’ out to all de people, “Who want a dead body to buy?” So Anansi said to Tiger he shouldn’t do anyt’ing like dat; too foolish!

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 come, every peas dead!

White Belly is a carpenter. He mek a box. He mek bargain wid de mudder; he say, “Ma, I gwine put you in dis ’ere box, put some money in de box; den I will holla out “Me mudder died!” White Belly put de han’ ’pon de head, say, “Me mamma dead o-o-o!” Hanansi run come. White Belly say, “Ma, what you have to give me? Let good an’ bad see!” De box turn up an’ t’row out all de money. Hanansi go back home an’ say, “Ma, I wan’ a little water to wash me foot.” Mother carried the water come. He dip him feet in dere, say, “Good Lord, ol’ lady, you give cramp me!” Tek de mortar stick, lick ’im in de head. An’ cobb’e one box an’ put his mudder in an’ call out, “Me mudder dead!” White belly come. Hanansi said, “Ma, what you have to give me? Give me back good an’ bad see!” De box raise up an’ ’tamp him down flat. So Hanansi kill him ma, an’ White Belly mudder save.

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’ you son?” Him say, “Brer Monkey, fe you murder him yesterday, don’ know if you him dead!” Monkey call one roos’ cock an’ cut de craw an’ tek out Hanansi an’ beat him.

When him gone, Hanansi say, “Ma, you goin’ mek Brer Monkey kill me? You know wha’ you do, Ma? Put on yo’ pot, dig de fire ashes, put me in deh, mek up de fire, put on de pot. I will see if dat fellah, Monkey, wi’ fin’ me when him come!” Nobody knew Monkey was a Obeah man. When Monkey come he say, “Mo’nin’, Mudder Hanansi; wha you son?” Mudder Hanansi said, “Massa, dis two day you beat him, an’ don’ know wha’ he do?” Monkey gwine a kitchen, tek off de pot an’ dig out de fire-ashes an’ tek out Hanansi an’ beat him.

Anodder Obeah woman tell Mudder Hanansi said, “You gwine to let Monkey kill yo’ son? Yo’ can twis’ rope?” De ol’ woman said, “No me trade?” [62] She said, “Twis’ one rope. When you look out o’ one en’, you see horse you t’ink o’ ants.” Put Hanansi upon it. When Monkey come, Hanansi deh ’pon de rope. When Monkey go up ’pon de rope, holla till Hanansi cut de rope. Me’while de rope cut, Monkey tumble down broke hi’ neck. So Hanansi come down, clean up Monkey.

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 and he wouldn’t pay anyone to assist him,—wanted free help. So he saw a dog coming along. He said, “Br’er Dog, I beg you bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home.”

Dog said no, couldn’t do it.

He saw a stick coming along, said, “Do, Br’er Stick, I beg you lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home.”

Stick said no, couldn’t do it.

He see Fire, say, “Do, me good Fire, burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home.”

Fire says no.

He sees Water. “Do, me good Water, I beg you out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home.”

Water said no.

He saw a cow coming. “Do, Br’er Cow, drink this Water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get to go home.”

Cow said no.

He saw a butcher coming. “Do, me good butcher, I beg you butcher this cow, make this cow drink this water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home!”

Butcher said no, wouldn’t do it.

He sees Rope coming along. “Do, Br’er Rope, I beg you hang this butcher, make this butcher kill this cow, make this cow drink this water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home!”

Rope said no.

Saw Grease coming along. “Do, me good Grease, grease this rope, make this rope hang this butcher, make this butcher kill this cow, make this cow drink this water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home!”

Grease said no.

He saw a Rat. Said, “Do, me good Rat, gnaw this grease, make this grease grease this rope, make this rope hang this butcher, make this butcher kill this cow, make this cow drink this water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home!”

Rat says no.

Saw Puss coming along. “Do, Br’er Puss, I beg you kill this rat, make this rat gnaw this grease, make this grease grease this rope, make this rope hang this butcher, make this butcher kill this cow, make this cow drink this water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home!”

Puss says, “Yes, I will kill your rat!”

Rat says, “Before you kill me, I will gnaw the grease!”

Grease says, “Before you gnaw me, I will grease the rope!”

Rope says, “Before you grease me, I will hang the butcher!”

Butcher says, “Before you hang me, I will kill the cow!”

Cow says, “Before you kill me, I will drink the water!”

Water says, “Before you drink me, I will out the fire!”

Fire says, “Before you out me, I will burn the stick!”

Stick says, “Before you burn me, I will lick the dog!”

Dog says, “Before you lick me, I will bite the pig!”

Pig says, “Before you bite me, I will jump over the river!”

So away went the pig over the river; and him and Anansi went home safe and without expense.

DANCE AND SONG.

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 him papa. Papa say to go back for it, but he mus’ be careful not to blow it coming back because he got a lot of wil’ beasts to pass. So as he come home he begin to blow, [63]

Minnie, Minnie, wa-yo da Lim-ba, Minnie, Minnie, wa-yo da Lim-ba.
Minnie, Minnie, wa-yo da Lim-ba, Minnie, Minnie, wa-yo da Lim-ba.

Wild beast rush out, say, “Who’s dat blowing de pipe, sah?”—“Oh, no, not me blowing!” An’ go ’way, blow again. Wil’ beast rush out. “Ha! you?”—“No, grandpapa, not me blowing!”—“Den who blowing?”—“He gone on befo’, massa; not me blowing!”—“Blow, let me see.”—“Flee flitty flee, flee flitty flee.”

Wil’ beast go away. He commence the right tune now,

“Minnie Minnie, wa-yo da lim-ba,
Minnie Minnie, wa-yo da lim-ba,
Minnie Minnie, wa-yo da lim-ba.”

(Wild beast rush out, catch him, compel him to play.)

“Ah, I catch you now, sah! Play de tune now, sah! blow, sah!”

Then he began to blow the right tune, both dance. Different wil’ beasts—Tiger, Asoonah, all the wil’ beasts come out an’ dance. An’ the father get frightened, come shoot all the wild beasts, all drop save him boy. An’ flog the boy.

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 Murray. I take drink, lay down, Zin come Murray.
Murray, ah, lay down, Zin come Murray. I take drink lay down,
Zin come Murray. Oh, poor Murray. Zin come Murray.
I take drink, lay down, Zin come Murray.

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,

“Queena bunna, ring-ki-ting,
You sen’ fe great Grass-quit,
You don’ sen’ fe me!
Anansi draw bow so sweet, ring-ki-ting,
Anansi draw bow so sweet, ring-ki-ting.”

Tacoomah say,

“You ya, you ya, so ya, me ya,
Wid a fort tumba like a tenky bunna,
Wid a jump, wid a jump, like a tenky bunna.” [64]

Robin Redbreast say,

“Jock, Jock, when you coming home?”

Jock said,

“Tomorrow evening.”
“What in your right?”
“Boot an’ spur.”
“What in your left?”
“Bow an’ arrow. [65]”

Jock [66] said,

“Robin redbreast
Was pretty well dressed,
And he was into his nest,
And a puppy went into his nest
And broke his neck t’ru distress.”

Well, den, Turtle an’ Duck goin’ in de river fe go an’ swim, an’ dem is to run to a hill-side in de river. An’ Cock is de judge. Den Cock went to sing fe dem—

“Co co re co.”

Duck an’ Turtle swim—

“Shekey, shekey, shee-e-e.”

142. ANANSI MAKES A DANCE.

William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.

Again, Anansi make a dance. Him playing de fiddle,

Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam ya Morree! Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly
bam ya Morree! Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam ya Morree!
Dem dat kyan’ run, dey no hearie! etc. [67]

Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam ya Morree! Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly
bam bom ba, Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam ya Morree! Kelly
bam bom ba, Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam ya Morree! Kelly
bam bom ba, Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly bam bom ba, Kelly
bam ya Morree! — — — — — — — — — —

Goat dere a dance, say,

“Me kyan’ run, but me cunnie do!”

Dog begin to sing,

“Na way you lie, Samedy,
Pussy no dead at all!”

Den Puss an’ Rat begin to dance an’ say,

“Massa Puss an’ Massa Rat a jump shandelay, [68]

Oh, jump shandelay, jump shandelay, den a jump shandelay. Oh, oh, jump shandelay—Missa Rat a jump den a jump shandelay! Oh, oh, jump shandelay. Jump shandelay, will you jump shandelay! Oh, oh, jump shandelay, oh, Missa Rat a jump, will you jump, shandelay! Den she went an’ jump it, den she went an’ jump it, den she went an’ jump it, den she went an’ jump it, den she went an’ jump it, den she went an’ jump it.

Well, Anansi boy was blowing de fife,

“Ti-li-harry-ham, handsome ben-in-ben!”

Den de bull was coming along, hear dem, say,

Oh who dey ca’ me Timmo Limmo? Timmo Limmo, oh?
Zin kuma Ya ya ya, oh, Zin kuma.

Timmo Limmo, oh, Timmo Limmo oh, Zin kuma.
Ya, ya, ya, oh, Zin kuma. Ah, who dey ca’ me Timmo Limmo?
Ah, who dey ca’ me Timmo Limmo, oh, Zin kuma. Ya, ya, ya oh,
Zin kuma Timmo Limmo, oh, Zin kuma. Ah who dey ca’ me
Timmo Limmo? Ah, who dey ca’ me, Timmo Limmo,
Timmo Limmo, oh, Zin kuma. Ya, ya, ya, oh, Zin kuma.

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, (dance to the fiddle and drum),

“Poor me bwoy, papa no gi’ me no dinner!
If I don’ know de yam name, papa no gi’ me no dinner!
Poor me bwoy, me go fe dead fe hungry, da la!”

Another day papa go to ground. So the little boy follow him go right outside a bush, go set for him. When him coming back he fall down, say, “Now me little red yam mash up!” So when him come home an’ said to the little boy, “Come, me pickney, pupa come an’ if you tell me de name of dis yam to-night, I goin’ to give you a good supper,” the little boy say,