In the second story, you will see that Anansi plays a trick with some boiling water. In a variation that Beckwith reports, Anansi uses boiling porridge instead: The Dance.
[Notes by LKG]
This story is part of the Jamaican Stories unit. Story source: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith (1924). I have removed the eye-dialect.
Why Tumble-Bug Rolls in the Dung
Tumble-bug get a jar of money.
Anansi get a jar and couldn't get no money to put in it, get some cow dung and some horse dung, fill up the jar.
And after them was going up to the young lady, them catch to a shop. And the two jar favor one another.
And Anansi said, "Brer Tumble-bug, let we go in the shop, go get a drink." And Anansi said, "Must buy a bread, come."
And as he come out, him take up Tumble-bug jar and left for him jar. And Tumble-bug take up Anansi jar.
And when them go up to the young lady in the king yard, Anansi said, "Master, must bring a clean sheet go throw out money out of jar!" And he throw out money — wa-a-a-a-a!
And as Tumble-bug throw, him throw out horse-dung and cow-dung.
Anansi said, "Take it up, take it up, take it up, you nasty fellow, carry out the miss's yard!"
That is why you see Tumble-bug roll in filth to-day to-day.
Why John-Crow has a Bald Head
He say he was going to married and he was going to invite no one but Crow. And he have a big dinner and no one was at the table but Crow.
So after the eat and drink done, he said he was going to have a baptism but he don't baptize with nothing but boiling water.
So after the water's boiling, he took it off and order Crow to sit round the copper and so he dip everyone head into the water, and that why Crow have bald-head to-day.
(400 words)
