Mythology and Folklore UN-Textbook: Unit: Jamaican Stories

Showing posts with label Unit: Jamaican Stories. Show all posts

Myth-Folklore Unit: Jamaica Anansi Stories

Overview. The trickster Spider Anansi is a famous folklore figure in West Africa, and slaves abducted from West Africa brought the stories of Anansi with them to the Americas. This book of Jamaica Anansi Stories contains stories collected in Jamaica during the early years of the 20th century by Martha Warren Beckwith, a professor of folklore and well-known ethnographer. Beckwith recorded the stories in dialect as told to her by Jamaican storytellers. She also used variant spelling to try to record their pronunciation. I have removed the variant spelling, but the stories are still in Jamaican dialect. My advice: read the stories out loud so that you can get used to what the dialect is like. The stories are also highly oral, without complex sentences (such as this one!) that are typical of written language. So, that's another good reason to read the stories out loud, getting a sense of how these storytellers express themselves.

Language. In addition to standardizing the spelling, I've also glossed the unfamiliar dialect words, so it should be not too hard to understand. If you have questions, let me know and I can add some more glosses and commentary to the stories.

Story Length. These are all single-page stories; some of them are very short stories, so that you will find two separate stories on a single page.

Navigation. You will find the table of contents below, and you can also use this link to see the story posts displayed on two pages total: Jamaican Anansi Stories. Click "Older Posts" at the bottom of that page to see the second page.

READING A:

READING B:

(mango tree)

Jamaica: Tying Tiger

There is a similar African American story about Brer Rabbit and Lion tied to a tree, but that story does not include the second part of the story here where the tiger/lion is rescued and where Anansi then plays a further trick, taking advantage of the tiger's gratitude to his rescuer.

The Duck-Ant is a type of white ant or termite which builds nests in trees. Brer But, meanwhile, is Brer Butterfly. In another Anansi story, he is called "Brer But-But."

[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.

(mango tree)

Tying Tiger

Brer Tiger got a mango-tree in his place. Brer Nansi go and ask if he could sell him a half penny worth of mango. Brer Tiger say no.

Brer Nansi well want the mango. Brer Nansi say, "Law pass that every man have tree must tie on it 'cause going to get a heavy storm."

Brer Tiger say, well, must tie him to the mango-tree.

After Brer Nansi tie Tiger, climb up in the mango-tree, and every mango he eat take it and lick Brer Tiger on the head.

After he eat done, he shake off all the ripe mango and pick them up go away leave Brer Tiger tie up on the mango-tree.

Brer Tiger see Brer But pass and ask Brer But to loose him.

Brer But say that he can't stop.

Brer Tiger see Brer Ant passing, ask Brer Ant to loose him; Brer Ant say he can't because of haste.

Brer Tiger see Brer Duck-ants passing and ask him for loose him. and don't know if him will loose him, for don't know if him will put up with him slowness, for Duck-ants is a very slow man.

After him loose him, Brer Tiger tell him many thanks and tell him must never let him hear any of Duck-ants's friends pass him and don't call up "Howdy-do."

Brer Nansi in a cotton tree were listening when they talking.

The next evening, Brer Nansi go to Brer Tiger yard and knock at the door. and say, "Who is there?" and say, "Mr. Duck-Ants's brother."

And they take him in and make much of him, get up tea because it was Mr. Duck-ants's brother, and after that go to bed.

In the morning provide tea for Mr. Duck-ants 'fore he wake, and when he wake and was washing his face he got to take off his hat. And Brer Nansi is a man with a bald head, and they got to find out it was Brer Nansi and they run him out of the house.

Next: The Gub-Gub Peas

(400 words)

Jamaica: The Gub-Gub Peas

This is a story about goober peas, or "gub gub" peas, i.e. peanuts, The word goober most likely comes from one of the Bantu languages of Africa (there were many Bantu-speaking slaves brought to the Americas). More about the Bantu languages at Wikipedia.

In this story, Anansi tricks the watchman by giving him written orders... that the watchman can't read because he doesn't know how to read. Then, in the end, Anansi is able to trick the Lion too!

[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.

(peanut plants)

The Goober Peas

A man plant a big field of goober peas. He got a watchman put there. This watchman can't read.

The peas grow lovely and bear lovely; everybody pass by, in love with the peas. Anansi himself pass and want to have some. He beg the watchman, but the watchman refuse to give him.

Anansi went and pick up an old envelope, present it to the watchman and say the master say to give the watchman.

The watchman say, "The master know that I cannot read and he send this thing come and give me?"

Anansi say, "I will read it for you." He said, "Hear what it say! The master say, 'You must tie Mr. Anansi at the fattest part of the goober peas and when the belly full, let him go.'"

The watchman did so; when Anansi belly full, Anansi call to the watchman, and the watchman let him go.

After Anansi gone, the master of the peas come and ask the watchman what was the matter with the peas. The watchman told him. Master say he see no man, no man came to him and he send no letter, and if a man come to him like that, he must tie him in the peas but no let him away till he come.

The next day, Anansi come back with the same letter and say, "Master say, give you this." Anansi read the same letter, and watchman tie Anansi in the peas.

And when Anansi belly full, him call to the watchman to let him go, but watchman refuse.

Anansi call out a second time, "Come, let me go!"

The watchman say, "No, you don't go!"

Anansi say, 'If you don't let me go, I spit on the ground and you rotten!"

Watchman get frighten and untie him.

Few minutes after that the master came; and told him if he come back the next time, no matter what he say, hold him.

The next day, Anansi came back with the same letter and read the same story to the man. The man tie him in the peas, and, after him belly full, he call to the man to let him go; but the man refuse -- all that he say he refuse until the master arrive.

The master take Anansi and carry him to his yard and tie him up to a tree, take a big iron and put it in the fire to hot.

Now while the iron was heating, Anansi was crying. Lion was passing then, see Anansi tie up underneath the tree, ask him what cause him to be tied there.

Anansi said to Lion from since him born he never hold knife and fork, and the people want him now to hold knife and fork.

Lion said to Anansi, "You too worthless man! Me can hold it. I will loose you and then you tie me there."

So Lion loose Anansi and Anansi tied Lion to the tree.

So Anansi went away, now, far into the bush and climb upon a tree to see what taking place.

When the master came out, instead of seeing Anansi he see Lion. He took out the hot iron out of the fire and shove it in in Lion ear. And Lion make a plunge and pop the rope and away gallop in the bush and stand up underneath the same tree where Anansi was.

Anansi got frighten and begin to tremble and shake the tree, Lion then hold up his head and see Anansi. He called for Anansi to come down.

Anansi shout to the people, "See the man who you looking for! See the man underneath the tree!"

And Lion gallop away and live in the bush until now, and Anansi get free.

Next: Tiger as Riding-Horse

(600 words)

Jamaica: Tiger as Riding-Horse

There is a Brer Rabbit parallel in the story where Brer Rabbit rides Brer Fox to show off in front of the ladies, boasting, just as Anansi does here, that Brer Fox had been his father's riding horse before him: "'Ladies, Brer Fox was my daddy's riding-hoss for thirty year; maybe more, but thirty year that I knows os,' says he" (Mr. Rabbit Grossly Deceives Mr. Fox).

Of course there are not tigers in Jamaica, but the English word tiger has also been used to other large cats. So, for example, it was regularly used in southern Africa to refer to leopards and panthers, and it was used in the Americas to refer to jaguars, pumas, and cougars (compare the phrase "mountain lion" to refer to cougars, pumas, and panthers).

You will see that there is a song here, and many of the Anansi stories are connected with singing and dancing; both Anansi and Brer Rabbit are not only tricksters, but also musicians.

[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.

Tiger as Riding-Horse

Tiger was walking to a yard and see two young misses, and he was courting one of the young misses.

And as Anansi hear, Anansi go up to yard where the young misses is; and they ask him, said, "Mr. Anansi, you see Mr. Tiger?"

And said, "O yes! I see Mr. Tiger, but I tell you, misses, Tiger is me father old riding-horse."

And when Tiger come to misses, them tell him.

And said him going Anansi, make him come and prove witness before him face how he is father old riding-horse!

And when him come call Anansi, say, "Want you to come prove this thing you say before the misses."

Anansi say, "I never say so! But I can't walk at all."

Tiger said, "If I have to carry you upon me back, I will carry you go!"

Anansi said, "Well, I will go."

Anansi go take out him saddle.

Tiger say, "What you gonna do with saddle?"

Anansi say, "To put me foot down in the stirrup so when I gonna fall down, I weak, I can catch up."

And take him bridle.

Tiger say, "What you gonna do with it?"

Say, "Gonna put it in you mouth; when I going to fall down I can catch up."

Tiger say, "I don't care what you do, must put it on!"

And Anansi go back and take horse-whip.

And Tiger say, "What you gonna do with the horsewhip?"

And say, "For when the fly come, fan the fly."

And put on two pair of spur.

And say, "What you gonna do with spur?"

And say, "If I don't put on the spur, me foot will cramp."

And come close to yard and close in with the spur and horse-whip, and make him gallop into the yard, and say, "Carry him in to stable, sir! I make you to know what Anansi say true to the fact: is me father old riding-horse."

Tiger take to wood.

Anansi sing after him,
Poor Tiger dead and gone!
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom,
Everybody!
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom,
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na.
Poor Ti-ger dead and gone,
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na,
Everybody go look for them wife,
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na,
Everybody go look for them wife,
Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom.

Next: Tiger Catching the Sheep-Thief

(spider)

(400 words)

Jamaica: Tiger Catching the Sheep-Thief

In this story, Anansi gives a chicken to Miss Madder and, thinking it is a gift, so she eats it. Anansi, though, comes back and demands the hen, and then argues that not only should he be getting back a hen; he should be getting back a hen and eggs and more chickens that came from those eggs. So Miss Madder is now in Anansi's debt, which is a very dangerous place to be! This repeats over and over until only one sheep is left, when the desperate woman turns to Tiger for help.

You will see that this story also turns into an aetiology story at the end, a story about the origin of things; this story is about the origin of the water spider. You can read about water spiders at Wikipedia, also known as "diving bell" spiders because of how they manage to keep breathing under the water.

[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.

Tiger Catching the Sheep-Thief

One day was an old lady name Miss Madder, had twenty sheep. Mr. Anansi went and give her a hen and, couple week after, Mr. Anansi went back for the hen.

And said, "Didn't you give me the hen, Mr. Anansi?"

And said, "Oh, no! Missus, me hen would have egg, egg, on egg, chicken on chicken!"

And said, "The only thing I can do, Mr. Anansi, go in the sheep-pen and take a sheep!"

It went on till the nineteen was gone, leave one.

Tiger says, "Miss Madder, I'll kill the sheep, take a half, and catch Mr. Anansi."

Tiger kill it, put he skin over himself.

When Mr. Anansi come, Tiger bawl like a sheep "Ba-a-a-a!"

Miss Madder say, "All right, Mr. Anansi, I don't want to hear any more talking; take the last sheep and go."

Anansi say, "Thank you, Miss Madder, won't come back and worry you for no more fowl!"

When he went off, on the way said, "Yah! This sheep heavy, sir!"

Went home, the wife and children sit round him with bowl and knife. Mr. Anansi take the knife cut the throat and say, "Lord! Me wife, this fellow fat till no have any blood!"

Cut the belly come down, Tiger jump out hold him.

Mr. Anansi say, "Hey! Hey! Brer Tiger, what you do?"

Tiger say, "Miss Madder have twenty sheep and if me no tie you, him will say you and me eat them."

Anansi say, "If them take them big banana trash tie me, I will be glad, but if they could a take that little bit of banana thread tie me, I should be so sorry!"

And they tie him with the small banana trash and throw into the sea, and he just open his leg and run under water.

And from that time you see Anansi running under water.

Next: Tiger's Breakfast / Tiger's Bone-Hole

(water spider)

(300 words)

Jamaica: Tiger's Breakfast and Tiger's Bone-Hole

In the first story, you'll see that Anansi teases and tricks Tiger, but in the end, Anansi is the one who gets in trouble, trying to do what Tiger does (or what he says he does!) in order to get meat out of the cow.

In the second story, you will meet some of Anansi's "pickney," i.e. children (literally "little ones," from Spanish pequeño). You will learn more about Anansi's children and his wife in the stories to come.

The second story ends with a ritual folktale formula, "Jack man dora!" (sometimes "Jack man dory!"). A longer form is "Jack man dora, me nuh chose none," in which the storyteller disclaims responsibility for what happened in the story. In other words, he's just telling the story as he learned it.

[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.

Tiger's Breakfast

One day, Anansi go Tiger house and eat breakfast every day, and tell Tiger, say, "Brer Tiger, tomorrow you must come-a my house; but when you hear me making noise you must come, for that time breakfast is on, but when you hear me stay still you mustn't come at all."

So when Tiger go, Anansi eat done. And say, "Brer Tiger, you foot short!"

Tiger say, "No, me no hear you make noise!"

Anansi say, "No, so me said, for when man making noise he can't eat." And say, "Well, next day come back."

When Tiger come, Anansi take shame, give him little breakfast but say, "Brer Tiger, when we go for eat, when I say 'eat eat eat' you must say, 'don't want anything to eat'."

So Anansi stay there eat everything, Tiger never get one.

Tiger study for him. Next day he go to Tiger yard. When Tiger give him breakfast and give him enough meat he said to Tiger, "Brer Tiger, a-where you get meat every day so?"

Tiger said, "You know how me come by this meat? When I see a cow lie down, I go up and run me hand inside of the cow and hold the man tripe, so I never out of meat."

So Anansi went his way and do the same. The cow frighten on the hill-side and turn head right down to lowland. Anansi say, "Do, Brer Cow, don't shut up me hand!"

Cow fasten the hand the better and gallop right down the hill and drag Anansi over the stone.

That's the reason let you see Anansi belly white.

(white-bellied spider)

Tiger's Bone-Hole

Tiger had a big pot of meat, and him boil and left it gone a-ground. And he have a bone-hole; when he ate the meat, throw it into the hole.

And Anansi take him wife and three pickney and he say they five going to the house and get into the pot eat the meat. And after they hear Tiger was coming, him and him wife and the three pickney, five of them, go in the hole.

And Tiger come and say, "Not a critter eat this meat but Brer Nansi!"

And Tiger begin now eat meat, and the first bone him throw into the hole, him knock one of the pickney. And as he go for holler, Anansi says, "Shut your mouth, sir, don' cry!"

And he eat again, throw out another bone, knock another pickney. As him go for cry, say "Shut your mouth, sir!"

As he eat another bone again, he knock the last pickney, make three. Tell him say him mustn't cry.

Ate another bone and throw it in the hole, knock the mother. As him go for cry, say, "Shut your mouh!"

And the last bone he eat, knock Anansi in-a head. Anansi say, "Make we all holler now in-a the hole!" So they all holler "Yee! Yee-e-e!" in-a the hole, and as they holler, Tiger get frightened and run left the house, and Anansi and wife and pickney come out take all the meat go away, run him out of his house account of that bone-hole!

Jack man dora!

Next: Eggs and Scorpions / The Christening

(600 words)

Jamaica: Eggs and the Christening

In the first story here, you will meet "Brer Blinkie," the firefly, also called a "candle-fly." In this story, Anansi tricks Firefly out of the best eggs, and he also tricks Tiger out of his magical sheep.

The second story is one that has a close Brer Rabbit parallel which you can read here: Mr. Rabbit Nibbles Up the Butter. You can also find a German version in the Brothers Grimm unit for this class: Cat and Mouse in Partnership. In this story, Anansi does something that tricksters often do: not content merely to trick somebody, they boast about their trick, admitting exactly what they did but in an elusive way so that their victim does not even understand what the trickster is saying to them.

[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.

(fireflies in the woods)

Eggs and Scorpions

Blinkie and Anansi was going in a wood. Them going in a wood for go look egg, bird egg.

And Anansi tell Blinkie when little bird say, "Who want little egg?" Blinkie for say him want little egg, and when the big bird say, "Who want big egg?" Anansi say, "Me want big egg!"

And in the night when Anansi get all the big egg, Blinkie get vexed and left Anansi in the bush and him fly away with the light.

And Anansi come-a Tiger house in-a night. Tiger had a sheep in yard.

Anansi say, "Brer Tiger, if you give me dinner for eat tonight, I give you all the egg."

And Tiger say yes, and Tiger go to the sheep and say, "Lay out, lay out, sheep!" He lay out roast fowl, roast duck, and all sort of things. Anansi get at it.

When he eat, say want to sleep Tiger house.

Tiger set scorpion round the egg. When Anansi put hand in to take the egg, scorpion bite him.

And holler, "Aye-e-e!"

Tiger say, "Brer Anansi, what have you?"

And say, 'Me three little pickney and me wife make me a-cry."

Then, when Tiger gone to bed, he thief away the sheep.

The Christening

Anansi and Tiger both of them find 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 of the child. He says the name is "Top take off."

Another week came again. He say receive another letter for another christening. After he come back, Tiger ask him what's the name of the child again. He says, "Catch in the middle."

And the last week he went back for another christening. Tiger ask him when he come back what's the name of the child. He says, "Lick clean."

Now he says, "Tiger, let us go look for this keg of butter."

He carried Tiger all over the place walking until he get tired, and when he nearly catch to the place where they hid the butter he said, "Tiger, we are tired, let us go for a sleep!"

And after Tiger was sleeping, he went to the keg, he took a bit of stick and he scrape as much as he can get from the keg, and he wipe a little on Tiger mouth and he wipe a little at the tail. Then he climb a tall tree now and he make a wonderful alarm that Tiger eat butter until he melt butter!

Next: Eating Tiger's Guts / Monkey and Anansi

(500 words)

Jamaica: Tiger, Monkey, and Anansi

In these two stories, you will see Anansi's "cunnie" (cunning, tricks) at work. In the first story, though, one of Anansi's children gives him away, which is why spiders now stay on the ceiling where we can't catch them.

In this first story, Anansi's wife is named Tacoomah but, as you will see in other stories, sometimes Tacoomah is the name of one of Anansi's friends, and sometimes it is name of Anansi's son (although the usual name for Anansi's son is "Cunnie-more-than-father").

In the second story, Anansi uses the "saying grace" trick, which you can also find in a Brer Rabbit story: Brer Wolf Says Grace.

[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.

Eating Tiger's Guts

Brer Tiger and Brer Anansi went to river-side.

Brer Anansi said, "Brer Tiger, take out your inside and wash it out."

Brer Tiger did so.

"Now, Brer Tiger, dip your head in water, wash it good."

The moment Brer Tiger put his head in water, Anansi took up the inside and run away with it give to his wife Tacoomah to boil.

Next morning he heard that Tiger was dead. He called all the children to know how they were going to cry. Each one come say, "Tita Tiger dead!"

The last child he called said, "Same something Papa bring come here last night, give Ma Tacoomah to boil, Tita Tiger gut."

"Oh, no!" said Anansi. "Pickney, you can't go." So they lock up that child.

So man hear him crying, ask him what's the matter.

"I want to go to Tita Tiger's funeral!"

Let him out to go.

When Anansi see him coming, he run away and take house-top and since then he never come down.

(photo by rkimpeljr)

Monkey and Anansi.

Anansi and Monkey were travelling; they were two good friends together.

Anansi ask Monkey, "Brer Monkey, how much cunning you have?"

Said, "Brer, me have plenty plenty!"

Anansi said, "Brer, me only have one one-half; I keep the one for meself and give me friend the half."

Travel on, travel on, until they see Tiger in one deep hole.

Anansi say, "Brer Monkey, you have plenty cunning and long tail; send down tail into the hole and help Brer Tiger!"

While him send down him tail, Anansi climb one tree. Tiger come out of the hole now, lay hold on Monkey, say, "I eat you today!"

Anansi on the tree laughing. Monkey into a fix now, don't know how to get away. So Anansi call out to Tiger, "Brer Tiger, you catch Monkey, now you gonna eat him?"

Tiger say, "Yes, I gonna eat him."

Anansi say, "Do like me now. Open you two hand and clap with joy, say, 'I get Monkey!'"

That time he open his two hand, Monkey get free.

Tiger run after Monkey, Anansi make his way down from the tree, go home.

Next: Sheep and Anansi / Rabbit and Anansi

(400 words)

Jamaica: Sheep and Rabbit

In these two stories, you see Anansi paired up with two very foolish creatures. Anansi is dangerous, to be sure, but the main lesson here is that you shouldn't do what Anansi tells you to do and, most of all, don't ever ask him to show you what trouble means.

In the first story, Anansi gets to eat all the food by telling the Sheep to leave his spoon behind, and the foolish Sheep does what Anansi tells him.

Beckwith reports three different versions of the "trouble" story: one with Rabbit as the foolish partner, one with Rat, and one with Goat. You will see a "reindeer" in this story, which is how the storyteller refers to a deer with big horns (but no, there are no reindeer, or caribou, in Jamaica!).

[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.

(sheep)

Sheep and Anansi

Mr. Anansi and Mr. Sheep going out walking over the country. Carry two spoon; Sheep carry one, Anansi carry one.

Anansi tell Sheep, "Mr. Sheep, leave you spoon here, don't carry it."

Then go to the second house and get some breakfast again. After Anansi get the breakfast, him say, "Mr. Sheep, where you spoon?"

And said, "Don't you tell me to leave it at the first house?"

"You must go back for it now!"

Mr. Sheep gone for it, Anansi eat off all the breakfast.

And said, "Come, Mr. Sheep, but you must leave you spoon."

"Me won't carry it at all."

Then go up to the next yard and get dinner now. Night is coming. and said, "Mr. Sheep, where is you soon?"

And said, "I left it at the last yard you eat."

Well, then, Sheep have to go back for his spoon again; till Sheep come back again and Anansi eat off the dinner.

Sheep couldn't get nothing to eat.

Rabbit and Anansi

Brer Anansi and Brer Rabbit went for a walk one day. Brer Rabbit ask Brer Anansi to show him 'daytime trouble.'

And while they go on, Brer Anansi saw Tiger den with a lot of young Tiger in it. Brer Anansi took out one and kill it and give Rabbit a basket with a piece of the Tiger's meat to carry for the Tiger's father, and took Rabbit along with him to Tiger's house and told Brer Rabbit to hand Tiger the basket.

Anansi run, and Tiger catch at Rabbit to kill him, but he get away.

Brer Anansi run up a tree and say, "Run, Brer Rabbit, run! Run for stone-hole!" Took a razor and give it to Rabbit.

And Tiger got up a lot of men to get Rabbit out the hole and Tiger sent for Reindeer to dig him out, as he had a long neck to put down his head and dig him out.

But Anansi told Rabbit when Reindeer put down his head in the hole, he must take the razor and cut it off. A lot of people gather to see Reindeer take Rabbit out of the hole, but instead, Reindeer head was taken off and he drop and was dead and the whole crowd run away with fright.

After Rabbit come out, Brer Anansi say to him, "Brer Rabbit, so 'daytime trouble' stay. So, as long as you live, never ask anybody to show it to you again!"

Next: New Names

(400 words)

Jamaica: New Names

In her note to the story, Beckwith reports a West African story where four brothers-in-law will not give food to their brother's wife because she does not know their names, but a bird alerts her to their names in a song, thus saving her life, very similar to what you will see happen in this story. Here is the bird's song from the West African story:
Listen, I will tell thee;
(One is) Tumba Sekundu;
(One Is) Tumba Sekundu Muna;
(One is) Tumba Kaulu;
(One is) Tumba Kaulu Muna.

[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.

New Names

There was four friends; one was Anansi, name of the other was Tiger, name of the other Tacoomah, name of the other Parrot.

(Jamaican parrot, photo by jamdowner)

So they go for a journey, and Anansi bargain with them that the four must change their name and when they come home, each one must go to their mother house and if their mother call them the old name they must eat their mother. So the new name: Anansi name was Che-che-bun-da, Parrot new name was Green-corn-ero, Tiger name was Yellow-prissenda, Tacoomah name was Tacoomah-vengeance; the four new name. Any mother call them the old name, they must eat the mother.

So they come to Tacoomah house first. Anansi say Tacoomah name Tacoomah-vengeance. The mother didn't understand the new name, so she say, "Look me pickney Tacoomah come!" And kill Tacoomah mother and eat him.

Second, them go to Tiger mother. Anansi say Tiger name Yellow-prissenda. So they fall upon Tiger mother, eat her.

So that night Anansi cry to excuse the night and go over to his mother house and say, "Mother, if you call me Anansi, they will kill you! But the name Che-che-bun-da."

The next night they come to Parrot house. Anansi say Parrot name Green-corn-ero. Eat Parrot mother the same.

At night, again Anansi cry excuse and go to his mother, say, "Mother, last night what me tell you say me name?" The mother say, "Me pickney, you no name Anansi?" Anansi say, "Ma, coming here tomorrow night and if you call me so they kill you! You must call me Che-che-bun-da!" Ask his mother again, "What me tell you say your pickney name?" She say, "Anansi?" Anansi say, "No, mother! They kill you! Me name Che-che-bun-da, Che-che-bun-da, Che-che-bun-da, Che-che-bun-da!" Keep tell the name over and over that the mother no forget.

So the night now Anansi turn come and they come along singing,
Anansi name-a Che-che-bun-da,
Cherry-senda, Yellow-prissenda,
Parrot name a Green-corn-ero,
Cherry-senda, Yellow-prissenda,
Tiger name a Yellow-prissenda,
Cherry-senda, Yellow-prissenda,
Tacoomah name Tacoomah-vengeance,
Cherry-senda, Yellow-prissenda.

And as Anansi mother see Anansi coming and the rest, say, "Look me pickney Che-che-bun-da!" Call the new name, so her life save, and didn't eat Anansi mother. Anansi make the bargain to feast on the others and save his mother!

Next: Long-Shirt

(400 words)

Jamaica: Long-Shirt

This story features a piece of clothing — the "long-shirt" of the title — that is able to talk!

Beckwith notes that her source for this story was "Moses Hendricks of Mandeville," and she comments that the ending about just why goats smell so bad is probably something he added to the story himself: "The conclusion is no doubt a turn of Hendrick's own, as he was fond of explanatory endings and got one in whenever he could."

[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.

Long-Shirt

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 a wooden leg. So they invite up all these people to come to the dance. Mr. Ram-goat was in the lot.

(goat)

So they start playing and the people start dancing, dance until they get so tired everybody fell asleep. And Anansi stole the head-man's shirt — good shirt! — and put his own old one upon him while he was sleeping.

The man got awake, miss his shirt. Now this shirt could talk. The man call out, "Long-shirt, where you there?"

Longshirt answer, "Brer Anansi have me on-o!"

They start up now. Anansi got so frightened!

He met Brer Ram-goat. He said, "Brer Ram-goat, I swap me shirt, give you one new one for you old one!"

Ram-goat readily make the exchange.

The head-man call out, "Long-shirt, where you there?"

Long-shirt call out, "Brer Ram-goat have me on now-o!"

Ram-goat run until he was exhausted, couldn't go any further. He dug a hole and bury himself into the hole leaving one horn outside and didn't know that horn was projecting outside.

The man with the wooden leg couldn't go as fast as the rest. All the rest ran past Ram-goat; the head-man came along, buck the wooden leg upon the horn and he fell down. When he got up, he thought it was a stump, so he got out his knife to cut off that stump to prevent it throwing him down again. He cut and cut and cut till he saw blood. He call out to the rest, "Look! Come now-o, the tree have blood!"

All the rest come around say, "Dig him out! Dig him out! Dig him out!"

After they dug him out, they took off head-man long shirt, put on his own old one, and they wet him with all the dirty slops — they drench poor Ramgoat.

They thought he was dead and they leave him and go away. After they was gone, Ram-goat got up. He wring the dirty clothes, he wring with all the slop they throw on him; he never remember to wring his beard.

Jack man dora! That's the reason the goat have such an offensive smell until this day: he didn't remember to wring his beard!

Next: Shut Up in the Pot / House in the Air

(400 words)

Jamaica: Shut Up in the Pot and House in the Air

For a similar trick with a pot of soup, compare this story in the Nigerian reading unit for this class: Why the Bat Flies by Night.

Brother Tiger and Brother Tacoomah seek their revenge in the second story, but Anansi is just too sly for them to catch! The Brer Rabbit version of this story is called Cutta Cord-La.

[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.

Shut Up in the Pot

There was a very hard time, no food whatsoever could they get, so Anansi him family well fear. So when Brother Tiger and Brother Tacoomah go see him, he tell them for last three or four days his wife and children didn't eat bread. Say they will go back home and send him some of them food.

And the two go back from Anansi yard and just dodge him now and hear his wife call, "Here! Dinner ready!"

And Brother Tiger and Brother Tacoomah go back to the house knock on the door. The wife open the door and Anansi go right out of the house — ashamed! The wife give them some of the food to eat and it was only fresh beef.

They come back to Brother Anansi now and Anansi tell them say, "I will get the beef, but whatever I tell you to do, you must be sure to do it."

And he put on a big pot of water on fire, and him, Anansi, get into the pot of water and gonna tell them shut him up in him pot, and tell them as soon as him knock the pot, open the pot.

And him come out now, tell Brother Tiger he must get in the pot. Tacoomah alongside in the pot too. And shut them up, and he get a heavy weight and put it on the pot top.

And he went right outside and tell him wife must shove up the fire, make the fire bigger and bigger. And when him come back, them was properly cooked,

They gonna eat now, he was tuning up his fiddle:
I got them now! I got them now!
Them think they got me, but I got them now!

House in the Air

(tree in Jamaica; photo by 326)

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 Brother Tacoomah dog him and see when he send down the rope and swing up whatever he provide for the family. So Brother Tiger go to a tin-smith to give him a fine voice and went to the tree and him sing,
Mama, mama, send down rope,
Send down rope, Brer Anansi there ground-a!

Then the mother find out it was not Brother Anansi from the coarseness of the voice.

So he go to a gold-smith now, and he come back again and sing again. Now he get a voice same as Brother Anansi.
Mama, mama, send down rope,
Send down rope, Brer Anansi there ground-a!

Then the mother let the rope down to receive him.

Brer Anansi coming from a distance see the mother swinging him up in the tree now and say,
Mama, cut the rope! Mama, cut the rope!

And she cut the rope and Brother Tiger fell and broke his neck. Brother Anansi take him and have him now for him dinner.

They couldn't eat Brother Anansi at all; him was the smartest one of all.

Next: Goat on the Hill-Side / The Duckano Tree

(500 words)

Jamaica: Goat on the Hill-Side and the Duckano Tree

This first story might remind you of the famous Aesop's fable about the fox does not enter the lion's den when it sees the tracks leading in, and none leading out. You can read that story in the Aesop unit for this class: The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts.

The second story is about a pudding, dokunnu (duckano), wrapped in leaves from the banana tree or plantain tree. Find out more at Wikipedia.

For an African version of the second story, see Tit for Tat in the West African unit for this class (in that story, Anansi's son is named Kweku). The West African story does not contain the second part about the dog which Anansi uses to get the charmed food from the tree in the Jamaican tale.

[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.

Goat on the Hill-Side

The time hard. Anansi said to Tacoomah, "How going to manage with the hard time?"

So Tacoomah said, "You know we do? I will get me machete and I go half shut the door, then I will say, 'Police, I sick!'" Then, when people come, Tacoomah take the machete and chop them, put them in the barrel for the hungry time. Anansi say, "Brer Tacoomah, barrel nearly full?"

"No, Brar."

He cry out again how Tacoomah poorly; and the people come and as they come, he kill them put in barrel to serve in hungry time.

Then Goat up on the hill-side say he see everybody going in, nobody come out; the house so little, how is it going to hold all those people? So Goat come down now off the hill-side to see how Tacoomah. He peep in.

Tacoomah say, "Come in!" and Goat run right back up hill-side. and from that day, Goat stay up on hill-side.

The Duckano Tree

There was Anansi. Tacoomah was Anansi son.

Then was a hard time. Anansi had a Duckano tree had some Duckano on it. And he had three pickney [children]; when he go out a night, eat him belly full, come back carry 'em a bag.

Now when him wife make a little dinner for him, tell him no, he don't want it, give it to pickney them.

Tacoomah tell mama cut little hole in Anansi traveling bag and throw ashes in it. Fast as he go along, ashes drop straight to the Duckano tree.

Then Tacoomah follow the ashes till him find out the Duckano tree. And when him fetch to the Duckano tree, pick off all, left one, and him tell the Duckano, "As Anansi come for pick you, drop a dirt!"

And as the Duckano drop a dirt, Anansi say, "Yes, that the best place I want you for go!" Come down to pick him up, Duckano go back on tree.

Anansi say, "Cho! That the best place I pick you today." Go back on tree, couldn't catch it.

And not a creature can pick the Duckano, but Tacoomah!

Then, as Anansi go up the Duckano tree, him see Dog a come. And said, "Brer Dog, go pick up Duckano for me!"

And as the Duckano drop, dog come pick him up; then, as Dog pick him up, Dog nyam [eat] the Duckano. Dog run 'round so, Anansi go after him so.

Dog go into one deep hole, just two eye look out of there. Little out the two eye, Anansi pass and see him, draw him out of the hole and squeeze out the Duckano.

What make the two sink place in Dog side, Anansi squeeze out Duckano.

Jack man dora!

Next: Anansi and the Tar-Baby / The Yam-Hills

(500 words)

Jamaica: Tar-Baby and Yam Hills

You will find the tar baby story in the Brer Rabbit unit for this class, and also in the Mississippi Valley unit, where it is a story told by the Biloxi people.

Meanwhile, in the second story, you will finally get to see the trickster tricked, when Monkey beats Anansi at his own game based on a "taboo" word; in this story, the taboo word is the number nine.

[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.

Anansi and the Tar-Baby

Tiger got a ground, plant some peas and get Anansi to watch it. Meanwhile Anansi are the watchman, himself stealing the peas.

Tiger tar a stump, put on broad hat on the stump.

Anansi come and say, "Who are you in the ground?"

Him don't hear no answer. He hold him. His hand fasten. He hold him with the other hand. That hand fasten.

He said, "Alright! You hold me two hand, I bet you I buck you!"

He head fasten.

Said, "I bet you, I kick you!"

Him two feet fasten.

Then he say, "Poor me boy! You a watchman and me a watchman!"

So begin to sing, "Mediany dead and gone."

Next morning Tiger come and say, "Why Brer Anansi, you been mashing me up?" [getting me into trouble]

Tiger take him out. Tiger said what for him do with him now?

Anansi say, "What you for do? Make a fire, burn me."

Tiger go away, make up him fire, catch Anansi go for throw him in the fire. Anansi say, "Brer Tiger, you don't know to burn somebody yet? You must jump over the fire three time, then me a-count."

Tiger jump one, and jump again, two, and jump again, three, and go for jump again. Anansi kick down Tiger into the fire, then go back now go finish off the peas.

The Yam-Hills

One time Anansi start to work a ground 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 something out of this." So he sat down and begin to cry.

Hog was passing, say to him, "Brer Anansi, what's the matter with you?"

Anansi said, "My dear Brother Hog, from morning I dig these few yam-hills and trying to count them, but I can't manage to count them yet."

Hog said, "Cho! You too worthless! You mean say you can't say, 'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine?'"

And as Hog say "nine," Hog drop down dead. Anansi take him up, put him in his bag and carry him home and eat him.

The next day he came back and eat up Goat, who share the same fate as Hog, and every day he went back dig the same hills.

At that time Monkey was on a tree watching and seeing all that take place. He came down from off the tree, and while Anansi dig the same nine hills again and was sitting down crying, Monkey come up and said, "Brer Anansi, what the matter with you?"

Anansi said, "My dear Brother Monkey, from morning I dig these few yam-hills, and I'm trying to count them but I can't manage!"

Monkey said, "I will count them for you, but you must sit down upon one." Monkey then said, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and the one Brer Anansi sit down upon."

Anansi said, "That's not the way to count them!"

Monkey said, "I'll count them good for you now!" Monkey began, "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and the one Brer Anansi sit down upon there."

Now Anansi is a man with a very short heart. He got vex and say, "You mean to say that you can't say 'One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine?'" and as the word nine come out, Anansi drop down dead.

Monkey took him up and said, "You can fool the others, but you can't fool me!"

Next: Guinea-Chick / Horse and Anansi

(chimpanzee)

(600 words)

Jamaica: Guinea-Chick and Horse

In the first story, Anansi makes a law against insulting other people: "if anyone talk de other one, he dead," i.e. if you talk about someone, you will die. Once again, as in the story about the yam hills, you will see Anansi fall into his own trap, this time tricked by Guinea-chick.

In the second story, you get to see one animal, Goat, learn from the foolish mistakes made by Horse, so that in the end of the second story, Anansi is again outwitted!

[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.

(speckled guinea fowl)

Guinea-Chick

Anansi make law if anyone talk the other one, he dead. He get up on one cave roadside, go working ground.

Cow a-pass, go see him.

Anansi say, "Just a-try a-work one ground here."

So when Cow go long, pass him, Cow say, "Chuh! Man fool! Man can't work ground upon rock-stone!"

As Cow say so, Cow tumble down dead. Then Anansi go pick him up, go eat.

Hog came. Hog ask him say, "What you a-doing here?"

"A-try a-work a ground."

Hog pass him. "Chuh! Man can't look upon rock-stone and say me work ground!"

As Hog say so, him drop dead. Anansi pick him up, go eat.

Guinea-chick say, "I will go there!" Guinea-chick put on him clothes same as a-go market. So when he come and see Anansi upon the stone a-dig, tie him head with a check handkerchief — that are Guinea-chick — and pass Anansi, no speak to him.

That time him go long Anansi say, "That there fool!" Then Anansi drop dead.

Jack man dory!

Horse and Anansi

Anansi call Horse a-go bush, cut plantain. When they cut done, they carry out in the open, they begin to play stick, lick stick.

Then Anansi said, "Brer Horse, we hungry now; we don't have no fire for roast plantain." So say to Horse, "Go see fire quite yonder? Go there, go take fire come, make we roast plantain!"

Horse fling up him tail on back, gallop, gone.

Meanwhile him gone, Anansi strike him tinder-box and build a fire, roast every plantain, eat all the plantain, leave only four.

Horse gallop away and can't catch the fire and turn back.

Anansi say, "Brer Horse, when you gone, one man pass here, give me fire and me roast the plantain; as me roastee done, one man come beat me and take away the plantain only left them four here give me!"

So Brer Horse say, "Never mind! You take two, me take two."

So Horse takee.

That time Brer Goat go bush, kneel down, watch Brer Anansi, watch what take place; so the next day, Goat say him will go with Anansi.

Them two go, them two cut plantain, and them come out upon the open and them play.

So Anansi said, "Brer Goat, we hungry now and we have no fire. See fire quite yonder? Gallop go get fire and come." Goat gallop, go round clump of bush, go kneel down on knee, go watch him. Him strike him tinder-box make a fire, peel every plantain, put a fire. When the plantain roast, he scrape every bit.

As him scrapee, Goat get up a-come. Goat cut stick and him jump one side so him put circle round the fire-side, and say to Anansi, "Put you hand in now, sir!" And jump the other side and put circle again.

So then Anansi begin to beg, and Goat take away everything, didn't give him one!

Jack man dory!

Next: Anansi in Monkey Country / The Fishes

(500 words)

Jamaica: Monkeys and Fishes

The first story here has the motif of "boiling in the pot" again, but this time, things do not turn out as Anansi expects!

In the second story, the "ile" here is "oil" ... for frying the fish in!

[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.

Anansi in Monkey Country

Anansi go to Monkey country. Put on a big pot of water and tell the Monkey when him get in the pot of water, when him say "Bunya," they must take him out of the pot of water. When they take him out, they must go in.

So when he go in the pot of water, as soon as he feel the water hot he say, "Bunya." They take him out, and put all of them one time into the pot of water.

And when them said, "Bunya!" Anansi said, "No bunya yet!"

And said, "Bunya!" Anansi said, "No bunya yet!"

Anansi wouldn't take them out until them boil. Anansi take them out and eat them.

One little one left at the top of the pot that the water didn't scald. That one run go to the next Monkey country and tell them the story about Anansi and the 'bunya.'

When Anansi eat, he start to the other country, and him go there and tell the Monkey must put him into the pot of water and when he say, "Bunya," must take him out.

So when Anansi feel the water hot, he say, "Bunya!"

Monkey say, "No bunya yet!"

Anansi say, "Bunya!"

Monkey say, "No bunya yet!"

Monkey keep Anansi in that pot till him kill him.

The Fishes

Three little fish pickney [children] mother was sick and Anansi said, "If you want, I get your mother better for you!"

And the three little fish said, "Yes!"

And said, "You give me a frying-pan and some sweet oil, and you lock up in that room and when she better, I let you know."

And he fry the fish and eat it and tell the fish pickney that they can come out the room now.

And they ask, "Where is our mother? Did you get her better?"

And he said, "No, I eat her!"

And the fish run after him and he run away.

And a mule ask the fish, "Do you want me to catch him for you?"

And they said, "Yes!"

And the mule said, "Give me those peas that you have now and I catch him for you."

(mule)

And the mule go out to Anansi gate and lie down there and when Anansi come out, Anansi run up into his belly and the mule gallop away again.

And Anansi cry out in the mule's belly, "If he go to sea-side, stop him; but if he go anywhere else, let him go!"

And he gallop to the sea-shore and give Anansi to the fish.

And he say, "You know what you do, fish? Put me under the trash and burn me!"

And when the fish put him under the trash, Anansi run under a stone, hide, and the fish thought he was burn.

Next: Anansi, White-Belly and Fish

(500 words)

Jamaica: Anansi, White-Belly and Fish

In this story, Anansi engages in a whole series of triumphs, turning his one setback (being marooned on an island and falling into the water) into an occasion to get even more food to feed his insatiable hunger!

White-Belly is the white-bellied Jamaican dove.

The "rice-pop" referred to in the story is a Jamaican rice porridge, sometimes called rice-cog. Bob Marley made Jamaican porridge famous in the lyrics to "No Woman No Cry" of course!

[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.

(white-bellied dove)

Anansi, White-Belly and Fish

Anansi is accustomed to lie in the sun every morning watching the birds going to feed. One day he said to White-belly, "Brer White-belly, where you go to feed every day? Take me with you."

So White-belly promised on condition that he would behave himself. He fitted him out with a pair of wings to fly, and they went to the feeding-trees. These overhung a river.

Every tree White-belly went on, Anansi said, "For me tree that!" and White-belly went away to another. Anansi eat so much that he fell fast asleep.

White-belly got annoyed. When Anansi was sleeping, he went and took off the false wings. Anansi turned in his sleep and fell into the river.

The Fish picked him up and took him to their home.

He said, "Cousin Fish, no eat me!"

"If we are cousin, we will see!"

Fish boiled some hot rice-pop. Anansi said, "It no hot enough! Putee in the sun makee hot more!"

When he thought it was quite cooled off, put it to his head, never stopped drinking until it was finished.

Then Fish say, "Yes, me cousin for true!"

It was getting night and Fish told him to remain over until next day. Fish had a barrel of eggs in the kitchen. Anansi wanted to eat them off, asked Fish to make his bed in the kitchen for the night. He poached all the eggs in the ashes, left one, and they went 'pop!'

The pickney [child] say, "What stranger man a-do there?"

The Fish mother said, "Have manners, pickney! Let you cousin prosper." Morning dawn, the mother sent the children to bring the eggs to her to count them.

Anansi said, "Make the children keep quiet; me will work!" and he took the one egg, took it to the mother Fish. Each time she marked it he would wipe it off, take back the same egg, until he had taken the whole barrel full.

After that, he said he wanted to go. Fish said to two of the children, "Me son, get the canoe and take you cousin over the river."

It was looking very breezy and rainy. When they got half way across, Fish bawled out at the top of her voice, "Bring stranger man back he-e-ere! For he eat off all me eggs; only one is here!"

The children say, "What ma say?"

Anansi said, "You ma say you must row quickly, squall ahead!"

The children rowed across. Anansi took them up, put them in his bag and took them home, eat them. And from that day, fishes are eaten!

Next: The Rain / Fire and Anansi

(500 words)

Jamaica: Rain and Fire

In the first story, you will see that the Goat is able to magically change himself into a white stone in order to escape from Anansi's trap, with a little help from Dog.

In the second story, Anansi has a new wife, Ground-Dove, but he fails to listen to her very good advice, although she is smart enough to escape. For a similar story, see Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky (where it's water, not fire, that is the problem).

[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.

The Rain

Anansi and Goat have a little quarrel.

Anansi said to Goat, "Brer Goat, I going catch you!"

Goat say, "You never live, me friend, to catch me!"

Goat afraid for rain. So one moist night Goat was coming from his field, had to pass Anansi's house, drizzle drizzle rain fall; Brer Goat have to run up Anansi's house.

"Come in, me friend!"

Goat go in. Anansi step in a room take out him fiddle: —
Me thank Brer Rain
For run wild meat from bush
Come a-house.

Goat didn't like it, keep to the door-way. Anansi not notice him, only playing the same song; Goat jump down the bottom door, Anansi cut after him.

Goat can't cross river, run to the river-side, turn a white little stone.

Dog see, the other side of the river, when Goat turned a little stone.

Anansi run up the river now. "Brer Dog, see Brer Goat pass?"

"Yes, Brer! See one little stone a-riverside there? Takee up, throwee, I show you where him there."

Anansi take up the stone, throw it the other side, give Brer Dog.

Goat drop on him four feet.

Anansi say, "Luck in me hand and it get away!"

Fire and Anansi

(ground dove)

Anansi and Fire were good friend. So Anansi come and see Fire and they had dinner.

So he invite Fire for come see him now. So Fire tell him he can't walk, So Fire tell him from him house him must lay path dry bush, and him walk on top of dry bush.

Anansi married to Ground Dove. Ground Dove tell him no, he mustn't invite Fire; him will burn him house and burn out himself.

Anansi wouldn't hear what him wife say, and he laid the trash on. And Fire burn from him house, and when he come near Anansi house he make a big jump, burn Anansi, burn him house, burn everything but him wife. Fire fool Anansi!

Next: Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter

(300 words)

Jamaica: Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter

For another story about rivalry between Anansi and Lizard in getting a wife by guessing her name, see this story in the West African unit: Why the Lizard Moves His Head up and Down.

[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.

Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter

(Jamaican lizard)

Brother Monkey had a daughter whom Brother Spider wanted to marry. Monkey didn't want Brother Spider to marry his daughter as he thought Brother Spider was too fast and beneath him; he only kept Brother Spider company as he thought him useful to him.

So he jump to Brother Green-lizard and said, "Brother Green-lizard, what you think of such cheek? Fancy! Brother Spider want to marry me daughter! I don't want to hurt his feelings as he is useful to us, so help me to get out of it."

So Brother Green-Lizard say, "I tell you a way, man. Call her 'Miss Nennan-kennan-wid-a-turn-down-gown' and whoever guess her name marry her, for Brother Spider never can guess that!"

So Brother Lizard went direct and tell Brother Spider, "When they call you all up to ask Brother Monkey daughter name, you for say, 'Miss Nennen-kennen-wid-a-turn-down-gown'."

So Brother Monkey send out word to all the gentlemen who want to marry his daughter to come and guess her name. Not one could tell her name till when he catch to Brother Spider; Brother Spider say, "Miss Nennen-kennen-wid-a-turn-down-gown."

So Brother Spider got Brother Monkey daughter and marry her.

So when Brother Spider wife had a baby, she left Brother Spider put the pickney [child] to bed while she go to pond. When Brother Spider think wife gone, him start to sing,

Hush, me pickney, hush me baby,

A me cunning make me get your mama!

Spider wife turn back and say, "A what a that you sing?"

Spider say, "Me only sing,

Hush, me pickney! hush, me baby!

It's a good thing marry your mama!"

Brother Monkey been a-come see him and hear what Brother Spider singing. Brother Monkey say, "What so you get me daughter!"

And grab away the baby and kill Spider. And as him kill Spider the pickney drop out his hand dead.

So never kill a Spider, as whatever you have in hand will be sure to break.

Next: The Chain of Victims

(300 words)

Jamaica: The Chain of Victims

As you follow the "chain of victims," you might notice that no mention of made of just who does away with Brar Dog. Of course, it could be Monkey or Tiger or Lion!

[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.

(photo by jasminejennyjen)

The Chain of Victims

Anansi saw Brer Hog and said, "Brer Hog, lend me a dollar, tomorrow, twelve o'clock, come for it."

And saw Brer Dog and said, "Brer Dog, lend me a dollar, tomorrow, twelve o'clock, come for it."

And saw Brer Monkey and say, "Brer Monkey, lend me a dollar, tomorrow, twelve o'clock, come for it."

And saw Brer Tiger and said, "Brer Tiger, lend me a dollar, tomorrow, twelve o'clock, come for it.

And saw Brer Lion and say, "Lend me a dollar, tomorrow, twelve o'clock, come for it."

Next day hear some one knock at the door. Anansi said, "Who come there?"

"Me, Brer Hog."

And he say, "Come in."

He and Hog stay there talking and hear another knockin'. And say, "Who come there?"

"Me, Brer Dog."

He say, "Brer Hog, you run go in that room, for Dog too bad; if him catch you him are going to kill you!"

Dog come in. Him stay there talking until hear another knock and said, "Who come there?"

"Me, Brer Monkey."

And say, "Come in" and say, "Brer Dog, you run go in that room there and when you go you see Brer Hog under the bed, kill him."

Him and Monkey talk till Tiger come knock at the door, and Anansi say, "Who knock there?"

"Me, Brer Tiger."

And say, "Brer Monkey, run go in that room hide or Tiger catch you!"

When Brer Tiger come in, him and Anansi there talking till he hear another knock. And say, "Who come there?"

"Brer Lion."

And say, "Brer Tiger, you run go in that room there; you see Brer Monkey, kill him!"

So as Lion come in he tell Brer Lion, "Look here! Have plenty of meat. Brer Tiger gone in there; you going go kill him!"

Lion went in and kill Tiger. Meanwhile the Lion kill Tiger, Anansi go out the kitchen doorm dig one deep hole and call, say, "Brer Lion, run come here! We go put on little hot water for clean up those fella!"

As Lion jump out of the house, feel so glad, gallop on to the kitchen, he got down in the hole and break his neck. So Anansi said, "You brute! Look how much money I borrow from you, and I have all your bone to crack tonight!"

Next: Why Tumble-Bug Rolls in the Dung / Why John-Crow has a Bald Head

(400 words)

Pages