OLD STORIES, CHIEFLY OF SORCERY.
63. The Pea that made a Fortune. [[Note]]
Etheline Samuels, Claremont, St. Ann.
One day an old lady was travelling on the road and she picked up a green pea and she planted it. And after it grew, her goat ate it off. She cried upon the goat and told it that she wanted the peas. The goat said that he didn’t have anything to give her, but she could take one of his horns. She took the horn and went to the river-side to wash it. The river took it away from her. She cried upon the river, and the river said it didn’t have anything to give her but a fish. She went further. She met a man who was very hungry. She gave the man the fish. After the man ate it, she cried upon the man. The man gave her a moreen. She went a little further and saw a cow-boy. She gave him the moreen. After he had worn it out, she cried upon him for it. He said he didn’t have anything to give her but his whip. She went a little further and saw a man driving cows. She gave the whip to the man. After the man had lashed it out, she cried upon him, so he gave her a cow; and from the cow she made her riches.
64. Settling the Father’s Debt. [[Note]]
Simeon Falconer, Santa Cruz Mountains.
A man owe another one five pounds, and the other called in and asked the son who was at home, “Where is your father?”—“Me father gone to break a new fence to mend a rotten one.”—“Where is your mother?”—“Me mother gone to the market to sell sweet to buy sweet.”—“Where is your older brother?”—“Gone to sea to catch what in catching will kill and what him don’ catch will carry home alive.”—“Where is your sister?”—“Me sister in the house weeping over what she was rejoicing about last year.”—“What are you doing?”—“Taking hot bricks out [[70]]of oven.”—“Now, me good boy, you give me some hard puzzle. If you tell me the meaning I’ll give you five pounds.”—“When I tell you me father gone to break a new fence to mend an old one, mean to say me father owe you five pound and gone to borrow five pound to pay you. When I tell you me mother gone to the market to sell sweet to buy sweet, gone to sell honey to buy sugar. When I said me brother gone to the sea to catch what in catching he kill and what him don’ catch him bring home alive, I mean to say he goes to bed and he will catch the lice from his head and kill them; what he don’ catch he mus’ carry back in the head. When I said me sister was in the house weeping over what she was rejoicing over last year, she was rejoicing last year in getting her baby; she is weeping over it now because it is dying. When I tell you I’m taking hot bricks out of oven, I am pulling chiggers out of me feet.”—“Now all your puzzles are put through, you are worthy of the five pounds.”—“Please settle me father’s debt, then.” So he make a receipt and give his father five pounds.
65. Mr. Lenaman’s Corn-field. [[Note]]
George Parkes, Mandeville.
There was a man named Mr. Lenaman. He went to a place to rent a piece of ground. He didn’t know that it was a burial ground. It was about twenty acres of land. When he went, he chopped with his machete “pom!” He heard a voice say, “Who chop bush deh?” He answered, “Me, Mr. Lenaman.” The v’ice said,
“Big an’ little, get up an’ help Mr. Lenaman chop bush!
No mo’ bush mustn’t lef’ to-day.”
So all de ghosts, big an’ small, get up chop off de bush clean.
Mr. Lenaman was very glad. He went home and told his wife of the luck he had met. When the bush dry up, he went back to burn it an’ starting to burn it he hear de v’ice say, “Who burn bush deh?” He said, “Me, Mr. Lenaman.” The v’ice said,
“Big an’ little, get up an’ help Lenaman bu’n bush!
No mo’ bush mustn’t lef’ to-day.”
An’ all de ghost get up an’ help Mr. Lenaman bu’n off de bush clean.
The nex’ day, himself an’ wife went to plant corn. As they make the firs’ chop say “pom!,” hear de v’ice say, “Who plant corn deh?” He say, “Me, Mr. Lenaman.” De v’ice say,
“Big an’ little, get up help Lenaman plant corn!
No mo’ corn mustn’t lef to-day.”
[[71]]
An’ all de ghost get up an’ help him plant de corn, plant off de whole twenty acres.
When de corn grow up, he went back to mol’ it. As he started, the v’ice says, “Who mol’ corn deh?” He said, “Me, Mr. Lenaman.” The v’ice said,
“Big an’ little, get up help Lenaman mol’ corn!
No mo’ corn mustn’t lef’ to-day.”
An’ all de ghost get up an’ help dem mol’ off de corn dat day.
Now de corn grow up an’ bear an’ dry. Mr. Lenaman send his wife an’ boy one day to go an’ see how dey stay, an’ tol’ ’em not to break any because if dey break one, de ghosts will break it all off an’ den Mr. Lenaman won’t get none. He is going to get a lot of people to go there with him one day to help him break them, so that he can get a plenty. Now the wife an’ boy went to the groun’, but when they go, they forget what Mr. Lenaman tol’ them. In coming away, they broke one each. They hear the v’ice say, “Who broke corn deh?” They said, “Mr. Lenaman wife an’ boy.” The v’ice say,
“Big an’ little get up an’ help Lenaman wife an’ boy break corn!
No mo’ corn mus’ be lef’ to-day.”
An’ dey break off every bit!
The wife an’ boy went home an’ tol’ it to Mr. Lenaman. The three of them went back to the groun’. Mr. Lenaman got vex an’ started to beat the wife an’ boy. The v’ice said, “Who beat wife an’ boy deh?” He said, “Me, Mr. Lenaman.” V’ice said,
“Big an’ little, get up go an’ help Mr. Lenaman beat wife an’ bwoy!
No mo’ wife an’ bwoy mustn’t lef’ to-day.”
So dem beat de wife an’ boy so dat dem kill dem.
So Mr. Lenaman stan’ up now didn’t know what to do, start to scratch his head. The v’ice said, “Who ’cratch head deh?” He said, “Me, Mr. Lenaman,” The v’ice said,
“Big an’ little, get up an’ help Lenaman ’cratch head!
No mo’ head mustn’t lef’ to-day.”
An’ de whole of dem start to ’cratch his head, ’cratch it until he dead.
66. Simon Tootoos. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
Der was once a woman dat have a child. Him name was Simon Tootoos. De mudder him was a church woman, an’ him used to send de boy to church; and after, de mudder come an’ [[72]]die. An’ when de mudder die, he take de world upon his head. And Simon Tootoos mek colbon[1] and set it on Sunday day, and he go to wood on Sunday to go and search his colbon. And when he go to catch him bird, he catch a snake in de colbon. When he go to raise up de colbon an’ fin’ it was a snake, him leave it. An de snake answer to him,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 80
Come take me up, Come take me up, Simon Tootoos, lennon boy. Come take me up, oh, lennon boy, Too na too.
It was his dead mudder cause de snake to sing like dat. And when he go to leave—
“Come back you’ colbon, come back you’ colbon.
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come back you’ colbon, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
make him come an’ tek him up carry him come back to yard. And him put him down—
“Come ’tretch me out, come ’tretch me out,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come ’tretch me out, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
And stretch him out and cut him neck.—
“Come wash your pot, come wash your pot,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come wash your pot, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
And wash de pot. And cut him up an’ put in de pot, an’ he set it on de fire, mak up him fire under him, and him start boiling. After it start boiling, it boil until it tell him to season in skelion[2]. When it boil, it tells him to come down pot off de fire. So
“Come wash you’ plate, come wash you’ plate,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come wash you’ plate, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
He wash de plate. [[73]]
“Come clean you’ knife, come clean you’ knife,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come clean you’ knife, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
He clean him knife.
“Come lay you’ table, come lay you’ table,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy!
Come lay you’ table, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
He lay him table. An’ say,
“Come pick me out, come pick me out,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come pick me out, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
And pick him out.
“Come lay me on table, come lay me on table,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come lay me on table, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
Put him on table.
“Come draw you’ chair, come draw you’ chair,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come draw you’ chair, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
He draw him chair.
“Come eat me now, come eat me now,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy!
Come eat me now, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
He eat him dead mother now.
“Come call you’ grave-digger, come call you’ grave-digger,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come call you’ grave-digger, O lennon boy!
Too na too!
“Come call you’ carpenter, come call you’ carpenter,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come call you’ carpenter, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
As him eating done—
“Come say you’ prayer, come say you’ prayer,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come say you’ prayer, O lennon boy!
Too na too!
[[74]]
“Come go to you’ bed, come go to you’ bed,
Simon Tootoos, lennon boy,
Come go to you’ bed, O lennon boy!
Too na too!”
After him go to him bed, him mudder come out of him belly; an’ dat was de las’ of Simon Tootoos.
67. The Tree-wife. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
It was a man didn’t have no wife an’ he was a hunter-man; he hunt in de bush all day. An’ one day he go in de bush, go an’ shoot, an’ when he coming home, him saw a pretty tree name of Jessamy, an’ he say, “O me biddy boy, das a pretty tree!” An’ he says, “If dis tree could tu’n a wife to me, I would like to be marry to him!” An’ so he said, it done de very same as what him said; de tree do tu’n a wife for him. De woman was naked, an’ he lef’ him at de said time an’ went home back, an’ he get some clot’ing for de woman, an’ got him dress up nicely an’ carry him home at house.
An’ deh he an’ de woman was fo’ a long time until one day he were gwine out a bush fe gwine shoot, an’ leave him wife a house. Him go an’ sleep an’ never come home till de nex’ day. An’ after he gone to de wood, it’s anudder man go dere an’ inveigle him wife an’ tek’ him away from him house an’ go to dis man house. An’ when de poor man come home from bush de nex’ day, he couldn’t fin’ him wife. An’ what de wife did, after de wife come out dis man’s house go to de nex’ house, she was frighten how him husban’ gwine fin’ him. An’ de nex’ man house about a two mile off him husban’ house, an’ as she leaving for him house, she spit all de way until she ketch to dis odder man’s house.
An’ de man was into a rage dat him couldn’t fin’ him wife an’ didn’t know what was to ever do. An’ him sing,[1]
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Jesta be-yo, eh-e-eh-eh-eh-o—— Jesta
be-yo, A, a wi’ die, oh, wi’a go die, oh, fe trees bear-e, oh,
A, a wi’ die, oh, wi a go die, oh, fe trees bear-e, oh.
[[75]]
When de man sing, de spit dat de woman spit answer him,—
“Jesta be-yo, eh, eh, eh, o!
Jesta be-yo, a wi’ die-o,
Wi’ a go die-o, fe trees bear-e o!”
To every place where de woman spit, de man go dere an’ stan’ an’ call—
“Jesta be-yo, eh, eh, eh, o,”
at each stopping-place of half a mile until two miles are passed. An’ jus’ as de woman hear de voice of de man, stan’ at door-mout’ an’ see dat de man coming. An’ de man go tak him wife an’ catch him right back to home yard.
Jack man dory, choose none!
[1] The song sung is the Koromanti Death Song, always used by the Maroons at a burial. [↑]
68. Sammy the Comferee. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
It was a woman had one son, an’ it was a boy dat very unruly by him mudder an’ fader. He had not’ing to do but fire bow an’ arrow all day. An’ one day he tek up him bow an’ arrow an’ fire de arrow an’ de arrow drop in a Massa Jesus yard. An’ he went in de yard to go an’ pick up de arrow, an’ Massa Jesus wife was in de yard an’ Massa Jesus was gone out—wasn’t at home. An’ all dem clo’es was out of doors sunning. An’ de wife detain de boy in de yard fo’ de whole day until rain come de day an’ wet up all Massa Jesus clo’es a-do’. Dis boy was Sammy de Comferee, an’ jus’ t’ru Sammy de Comferee mek de clo’es a wet up a-do’. An’ when Massa Jesus come in, him was wet an’ him want some dry clo’es to put on an’ him couldn’t get no dry clo’es to put on. An’ him tu’n to him wife an’ ask him what him was doin’ de whole day at de house an’ mek him clo’es wet up a-do’. Him answer to Massa Jesus dat as he, Sammy de Comferee, was in de house, das why came de clo’es to wet a-do’. Massa Jesus say to him as he was along in de house de whole day if is de reason to mek him clo’es a wet up a-do’, an’ de woman reply to Massa Jesus dat if him been pretty as Sammy de Comferee, him would a do more. An’ Massa Jesus answer to him wife dat him know dat is him made Sammy de Comferee, an’ if Sammy de Comferee is prettier den him, him would see about it.
An’ Massa Jesus put up iron rod, an’ de iron rod hot as a fire, hot until it red. An’ him sen’ for Sammy de Comferee. An’ when Sammy de Comferee come, Massa Jesus says to him what he was doin’ in him yard de whole day. An’ he says dat him [[76]]fire him bow an’ arrow an’ de arrow drop into de yard, an’ after, he went in de yard to pick up de arrow an’ de wife detain him in de yard an’ him couldn’t get away from de woman until rain tek him in de yard. And Massa Jesus said dat de wife tell him dat Sammy de Comferee is prettier ’an him dat made him. An’ he order Sammy to climb de iron rod. An’ he commence to melt away an’ he sing,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 88
Ah, me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a-e-ro, Gi-ra
no, ah, in din ro. Ah, e do me da de a, Gi-ro no.
Ah, me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a-e-ro, Gi-ro no, ah, in din
ro. Ah, e do me ma me-a, Gi-ro no. Ah, me Sammy de
Con-fa-ri-a-e-ro, Gi-ro no, ah, in din ro.
He melt off to him leg. An’ sing again—
“A me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a!”
He melt off to his middle. He sing again—
“A me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a!”
an’ him melt off one of him hand. He sing again—
“A me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a!”
an’ him melt off to him neck. An’ him sing again,
“A me Sammy de Con-fa-ri-a!
Gi-ra no a in din ro!”
an’ him melt off to not’ing. An’ when you look at de iron rod, de whole heap of fat heap up about de iron rod. An’ all de pretty men dat come into de worl’ get some of Sammy de Comferee’s fat, but all de ugly ones don’t get none of it.
Jack man dory, me story done! [[77]]
69. Grandy-Do-an’-Do. [[Note]]
a. Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.
There was an old woman, a witch, but she was very wealthy. She lived quite to herself. Plenty of stock—horses, cows, sheep, mules, each kind kept by itself in a separate pasture. The old lady’s name was Grandy Beard-o, but nobody knew that name. She wanted a person to sup with her. She came across a little girl one day. Then took that girl home. After she prepared her meal, she called the girl and asked her if she knew her name. The girl said, “No, ma’am.” She said to the girl, “Unless you tell me my name, I will not give you anything to eat.”
She started out the girl to go and fetch some water. The girl had to go through all the pastures to get where the water was—mules to themselves, cows to themselves, horses to themselves, sheep to themselves. She went along crying, being hungry. So she got into cow-pasture—that was first pasture. The cow said to her, “What’s the matter with you, me baby?”
The girl said, “The old lady will not give me anything to eat except me can tell her her name!” Cow was afraid to tell her.
From there she went into mule pasture, crying all the same. Mule said, “What’s the matter, me baby?”
The girl said, “The old lady will not give me anything to eat, except me can tell her her name!” Mule wouldn’t tell her.
She got into horse pasture, crying all the way. Horse said, “What’s the matter, me baby?”
“Old lady in there won’t give me anything to eat except me can tell her her name!” Horse wouldn’t tell her.
From there she went into bull pasture, still crying. Bull said, “What’s the matter, me baby?”
“Old lady won’t give me anything to eat except me can tell her her name!”
Bull says, “Cho! when you go home, tell her her name Grandy Beard-o.” Bull was a mighty man; he didn’t care!
The girl was so glad, hastened home so as to get something to eat. Old lady said, “You can tell me my name make me give you something to eat?”
The girl said, “Your name Grandy Beard-o, ma’am.”
Old lady got so indignant! She gave the girl a good feed and after that she started to find who told the girl. Went into cow pasture.
“You cow, you cow, you cow,
Why you tell the girl
Me name Grandy Beard-o?”
[[78]]
Cow said,
“A ring ding ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
A ring ding ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
No me tell.”
She jump into horse pasture now.—
“You also horse tell the girl
Me name Grandy Beard-o?”
Horse said,
“A ring ding ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
A ring ding ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
No me tell him.”
She got into bull pasture now.—
“You bull, you bull, you bull,
Why you tell the girl
Me name Grandy Beard-o?”
Bull said,
“A ring ding ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
A ring ding, ding, mamma, ring ding ding;
Damme, me tell ’m!”
The old lady gripped the bull and tossed him in the air. The bull dropped; nothing happened. The bull tossed her in the air now, and she dropped; one leg broken. She tossed the bull again; the bull came down unhurt. The bull tossed her up again; she came down, another leg was broken.
She tossed the bull; nothing happened. The bull tossed her; she came down, one arm broken. She tossed the bull again; the bull came down unhurt. The bull tossed her again; she came down, the other arm was broken.
She tossed the bull again; the bull came down unhurt. The last toss the bull made, her neck broke. That was the end of her. The girl became mistress of all she possessed, and that is why the land goes from hand to hand in legacy up to to-day.
Jack man dory!
b. Julia Gentle, Malvern, Santa Cruz Mountains.
A very bad woman have only one daughter an’ say, “Go to the river for water an’ when you come back, if you cannot tell my name I will destroy you.” When him goin’ fe water see Crab. An’ Crab axin’ where him go. An’ say, “Grandy sen’ me go a river fe water an’ say when me come back, if me cannot tell him name, her will kill me.” The Crab tell him say, “When you go, tell her dat her name Grandy Do-an-do.” [[79]]
So when she come back, she forget the name. An’ she say mus’ kill him, so dash away the water an’ send him back. Then when she go back, the Crab say, “Sing it all the way!” Then when the girl go back she sing,
“You name Grandy-do-an-do.
You name Grandy-do-an-do.”
Then the woman mad when she hear it an’ she travel. An’ she meet Cow, an’ say,
“You Cow, a you tell de girl a name Grandy Do-an-do?”
Cow say,
“No, no me tell him so you name Grandy Do-an-do!”
She travel an’ she meet Sheep, an’ say,
“You Sheep, a you tell de girl a name Grandy Do-an-do?”
Sheep say,
“No, no me tell him so you name Grandy Do-an-do!”
Meet Horse, say,
“You Horse, a you tell de girl me name Grandy Do-an-do?”
Horse say,
“No, no me tell him so you name Grandy Do-an-do!”
Meet Duck, say,
“You Duck, a you tell de girl a name Grandy Do-an-do?”
Duck say,
“No, no me tell him so you name Grandy Do-an-do!”
Meet Crab, say,
“You Crab, a you tell de girl a name Grandy Do-an-do?”
Crab say,
“Yes, a me tell him a you name Grandy Do-an-do!”
An’ tak de machete an’ chop after de Crab, an’ Crab sink in de hole an’ stay in de hole till now.
70. Jack and Harry. [[Note]]
William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.
Jack an’ Harry, de two was gwine out for a walk. An’ de mo’ning was cool, an’ catch to an ol’ man dah in watch-house. Harry said, “Ol’ Massa, beg you a little coffee if you have any.” An’ he said, “Yes, me pickney!” an’ him give Jack a cup o’ coffee [[80]]an’ Harry a cup o’ coffee. An’ de ol’ man didn’t drink fe him coffee yet. Jack say, “Harry, I gwine drink fe de ol’ man coffee.” Harry said, “No, Jack, don’ do it!” An’ Jack tek ’way fe de ol’ man coffee an’ drink it. An’ de ol’ man tek him ’tick after dem, dem run.
An’ when dem run, see a hen wid some chicken. Harry said, “Do, me good hen, cover me wid you wing!” An’ cover dem wid her wing de same as her own chicken. An’ de ol’ man was coming after dem didn’t see dem, tu’n back. An’ Jack say, “I gwine to pop de hen wing.” An’ Harry say no, an’ Jack say mus’ pop it. An’ de hen begin to flutter after dem an’ Jack an’ Harry run an’ de hen was after dem.
An’ see a poor lady ’tan’ up in de way. An’ Harry said, “Do, lady, tek you coat an’ cover we up!” An’ after she cover dem up, Jack had a stick an’ say, “I gwine to choke de ol’ lady.” An’ Harry say, “Don’ do it!” An’ as he choke de ol’ lady, ol’ lady shake dem out an’ run after dem.
An’ when dey run, dey see a kyan-crow[1] in de way an’ Harry said, “Do, me good kyan-crow, tek we up on you wing, carry we away from dis ol’ lady!” An’ de kyan-crow tek up Jack an’ Harry an’ fly up wid dem right up in de sky, an’ de ol’ lady couldn’t catch after dem. An’ Jack say, “I gwine to pop de kyan-crow wing mek him drop.” Harry said, “No, Jack, don’ do it!” An’ as ’em drop, ’em knock ’emself out of senses.
An’ when dey come to demselves, see a land turtle was coming. An’ Harry call to de land turtle, an’ as he shove out his head. Jack cut off de head.
71. Pea-fowl as Messenger. [[Note]]
a. John Studee.
Matilda Hall, Maroon Town.
The husband and wife married people, and the husband a great gambler, never at home with the wife; until the wife going to have a baby, and the ninth month come now. So they send for the mid-wife; so when the mid-wife come, there is no husband in. She said she want some one to go call the husband, name of him is John Studee. So she call for all the thing they have in the yard. She call for a fowl, a cock, and say, “What will you say to call the husband?” The cock crew,
“Ko ku ru ku-u-u!”
“You won’t do.”
[[81]]
She calls for the dog and says, “What will you say?” Dog says,
“Hoo-oh!”
“No, won’t do.”
Said to Puss what he will say. Puss says,
“Me-oo!”
“Won’t do.”
Then ’he call for the pea-fowl now; ’he provide a quart of corn for the pea-fowl, ask what he will say. Pea-fowl sing,
“You John Studee, you John Studee,
Fe me master, John Studee,
There’s a pretty gal from Silo,
There’s a handsome gal from Silo,
Want the care of a new John bwoy,
’t almost deh.”
“Yes, you’ll do!”
Then when the pea-fowl fly miles off, he didn’t see the master, John Studee. He fly, he fly away now, take up the quart of corn and fly away. Then he pitch upon the house-top, sing,
“You John Studee, you John Studee,
Fe me master, John Studee!
There’s a pretty gal from Silo,
There’s a handsome gal from Silo
Want the care of a new John bwoy,
’t almost deh!”
The people say, “John Studee, was here, but jus’ gone away,—that great gambler!” He fly about a mile off again, go to another great house, go upon the house-top. He sing loud of voice now,
“You John Studee, you John Studee,
Fe me master, John Studee!
There’s a pretty gal from Silo,
There’s a handsome gal from Silo
Want the care of a new John bwoy,
’t almost deh!”
John Studee come now, say, “Who call my name?” See the bird up on the house-top, say, “Well, he want me!” Then he took up the fowl an’ get the buggy in haste; and take off his gold chain off his neck an’ put it on the pea-fowl. Pea-fowl have the golden feather round his neck on account of that gold chain. So when the feather came home, he got a boy chil’ an’ call his name John Studee after him. [[82]]
b. Contavio.
Oliver D. Witter, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Miss Nancy married Contavio. One day, Contavio went to market, but before he left home he locked up Miss Nancy till he came back. He did not come back that day, and as Miss Nancy was hungry and saw a sheep passing she said, “Do, my dear sheep, call Contavio for me and I will throw a lump of gold on your head.” Bra Sheep goes, “Bep, baah baah baah.” She said, “No, my dear Bra Sheep, that will not do.” Soon after she saw a billy-goat and said the same thing to him. Bra Billy said, “Bep, bep, ba, ba, ba, bep-ba-ba-bep, bah, bah.” She said, “No, my dear Bra Billy, that will not do.” She then saw Bra Peacock coming up an’ she said, “Bra Peacock, if you call Contavio, my husband, for me, I will give you a lump of gold,” and Bra Peacock flew right away until he saw Contavio, and he picked him in his head and picked off all the feathers, and spurred him the whole way home until all Bra Peacock’s spurs dropped off. When he got Contavio home, Miss Nancy flung the lump of gold on Bra Peacock’s head and that’s why the feathers on a peacock’s head look like gold. That’s also the reason why it has no spurs, and a crow has no feathers on its head.
72. The Barking Puppy. [[Note]]
Alfred Williams, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
Deh is old lady live at home wid one little puppy, an’ ev’ry night a gentleman come to pay her a visit, but dis little puppy snap an’ bark, have fo’ to tu’n back. An’ de ol’ lady catch de puppy an’ mak up a big fire an’ bu’n de puppy. Nex’ night again de gen’leman come back. Ol’ lady sing,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 84
Heah, heah, Phin-ney man, heah, oh, heah, Phin-ney man, No-bod-y heah,
Phin-ney man, Dick an’ Dan-dy heah, Phin-ney man, No-bod-y heah,
Phin-ney man, Dick an’ Dan-dy heah, Phin-ney man.
De ashes bark as de puppy. De ol’ lady get up, tak up de ashes [[83]]dash ’em in de river, say, “Dis gen’leman goin’ to pay me visit an’ kyan’ because de ashes bark!”
Nex’ night, de gen’leman come back again, holla out, “Hulloo!” Ol’ lady sing,
“Heah, heah, Phinney man,
Nobody heah, Phinney man,
Dick an’ Dandy heah!”
De puppy ashes bark in de river an’ de gen’leman wouldn’t come. De ol’ lady tak de river water dash in de sea to hinder Dick an’ Dandy from barking. Nex’ night de gen’leman come back fo’ de las time; counsel a sing now. Old lady raise up an’ sing,
“Heah, heah, Phinney man,
Nobody heah, Phinney man,
Dick an’ Dandy heah!”
Meanwhile de gentleman dance. He come in now, draw a chair, say, “So long I couldn’t come on account of Dick an’ Dandy!” an’ say, “I coming to marry you.” Old lady say yes, but don’ know but dog shadow come; sometime shadow come back. Ol’ lady sing,
“Heah, heah, Phinney man,
Nobody heah, Phinney man,
Dick an’ Dandy heah!”
An’ de gentleman catch de ol’ lady an’ tear him up to inch pieces.
73. The Singing Bird. [[Note]]
a. Fine Waiting Boy.
Alfred Williams, Maroon Town.
A gentleman have him servant, and one day he said to de servant, “Collin, go an’ look about de horse harness my buggy.” An’ Collin go an’ harness him master horse an’ put in de buggy. Well, him master drive on an’ him drive on till him get to a well; an’ de master said, “I want some water.” An’ Collin said, “Massa, der’s a well is down before.” An’ he an’ Collin come out de buggy against de well-side, an’ meanwhile de massa sit against de well-side, Collin pitch him master in de well. An’ Collin tu’n back an’ go on half way wid de buggy, an’ when he get home de missus ask him, “Where is de master?” an’ Collin said, “He goin’ pay a visit an’ comin’ to-morrow; de buggy goin’ meet him.” Collin go de day wid de buggy. When he went back, de missus said, “Where is de master?” He said, “Go to pay a visit, won’t be back till to-morrow.” When Collin gone, de nex’ servant in de yard say, [[84]]“Missus, hear what little bird singing?” Missus come to de doorway an’ listen, an’ hear de little bird whistling,[1]
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 84
Fine wait-in’ boy, fine wait-in’ boy, Throw his mas-ter in-to a well,
Col-lin, Col-lin, no ben see da lit-tle bird up-on tree so long?
When de missus hear de little bird singing so, couldn’t understand, called a sensible person understand de bird. An’ go search de well, fin’ de master body, an’ go tak Collin hang him.
b. The Golden Cage.
William Harris, Maggotty.
A king had a daughter. He had two servants who did not like the daughter. One day the two servants were going to the well for water and the daughter said she wanted to go with them. And they catch the little girl and cast her in the well. Three days after, the little girl went home to her father an’ the father catch the two servants and throw them in the well. And he get his child and thus end the story.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 84
Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep. I brought a news to tell you. Cheep, cheep, cheep,
cheep. I brought a news to tell you. Miss Chee Chee take you,
one dear love an’ cast her in-to a well. Be qui-et, be qui-et, I will
make a gold-en cage an’ put you in-to it. No, no, no, no.
Same me will do it to dear love too, you will do with me the same.
[[85]]
[1] Sung by Mrs. Williams. [↑]
74. Two Sisters. [[Note]]
Margaret Morris, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
Two sister dey to house. One sister fe servant to a Busha[1] in one pen[2], an’ tell de Busha marry odder sister. De sister name Miss Grace my fair lady, de older sister Lady Wheel. An’ Miss Wheel servant to him sister. Busha gone to him work, never come back till midnight. Busha come, never hear not’ing stir. Till one day him gone out, Miss Wheel call Miss Grace to let dem go pick peas. So dem went away an’ tek a basket pick de peas, an’ have a baby in de hand, Miss Grace my fair lady baby. An’ when dem pickin’ de peas aroun’ sea-ball, Miss Wheel mek Miss Grace tek off dress an’ Miss Wheel shove Miss Grace my fair lady in de hole. She pick up de peas an’ come home, tek water wash her breast, tek de baby fe her own self; when night come, suckle de baby. So when de Busha come home midnight, she give him de dinner, eat an’ drink dat time, no notice him wife at all. T’ree day after dat he keep on coming but never notice. Till a day when he come, he ax fo’ de servant. Say, “No, my dear, I sen’ her out to de common, soon come.” De husban’ fall in sleep an’ never hear if de servant come in. Till one day when de husban’ coming back, one of de neighbor call to him, “Busha, you don’ hear what harm done in your house?” He say no. Dem tell him he mustn’t even drink cold water into de house de night an’ him hear what alarm done. So de Busha go, an’ what de lady gi’ him he never tek, never drink cold water even. Him force him an’ he never touch it. An’ de Busha lay down midnight an’ seem to doze asleep, but he no ’sleep.
Have a little dog an’ call de dog “Doggie.” Dog see when dead woman come. She call to de dog,
“Han’ me my baby, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
Gi’ him de baby.
“Gi’ me some water, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
“Han’ me my bowl, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
“Gi’ me some water, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
“Gi’ me my comb, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
[[86]]
“Gi’ me my baby, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
De gentleman hear ev’ry word. De lady say, “Oh, not’ing, my dear!” Don’ want de Busha fe hear not’ing. An’ de las’ night come, de neighbor put him up to put a pail of milk an’ a pail of hot water at de doorway an’ to cover it wid a sheet. De dead woman come an’ call out de same:
“Gi’ me my clo’es, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
“Take my baby, my little doggie.”
“O yes, Miss Grace, my fair lady.”
Tek de baby an’ put it to bed. An’ step in de hot water, pitch into de milk cover wid de white sheet. Take him out of de cover an’ wrap her up, an’ she look up eyes fix up. De gentleman say, “What do you, me dear?” An’ say, “My sister shove me down in de ball. Him call to me fe go an’ pick peas an’ shove me in deh.” When de gentleman fin’ out wife dead, take Miss Wheel, build a lime-kiln an’ ship into a barrel an’ pitch down de hill-side roll it in de fire.
Jack man dory!
Dat’s de end of de story.
[1] An overseer on an estate. [↑]
[2] An estate devoted to cattle-raising. [↑]
75. Asoonah. [[Note]]
Philipp Brown, Mandeville.
Asoonah is a big skin t’ing. When it come in you’ yard it will sink de whole place. One day, de lady have t’ree chil’ren an’ leave dem out an’ him go to work. An’ den dis Asoonah comin’ in eb’ry day, an’ de chil’ren know what time it comin’ an’ deh ’tart a singing—
“Hol’ up fe me ’coolmaster tail,
Limbo, Limbo, Limbo,
Hol’ up fe me ’coolmaster tail,
Limbo, Limbo, Limbo.”
An’ come again, he ax de small one, “Whar yo’ mudder?” An’ say, “Gone a washin’-day.” An’ ax, “Whar de pretty little one?” Tell him, “Inside de room.” Ax, “Whar de house whar’s de guinea corn?” an’ holla out, “Whar’s de mortar?” Tell him, “Inside de kitchen.” So one day now when de mudder come, de chil’ren say, “Eb’ry day a big t’ing come in yeah an’ kyan’t tell what is what.” De mudder said to de husban’, “Well, you better ’top an’ see a wha’ come yeah a daytime.” Got de gun an’ go off in de [[87]]loft in de kitchen-top an’ sit. When him see Asoonah come, he was so big he get frightened an’ dodge behin’ de door soon as Asoonah mount de hill.… As he reach de gully, he fire de gun and Asoonah fall down in gully an’ break him neck.
An’ de king hear about dis Asoonah, but he couldn’t tell what it is. De king say anybody can come in dere and tell what is dis, he give t’ree hundred pound. De little boy hear about it an’ he was so tear-up about it. An’ de ol’ lady keeping a jooty at de king gate said, “What way Asoonah ’kin a go bring in yeah t’-day?” When de king ax eb’rybody an’ couldn’t tell what is it, he went an’ call up de little boy. De boy went to tek it up an’ de king ax him if he know what is it. An’ him hol’ it up like dis an’ say, “Eh! no Asoonah ’kin?” Eb’rybody got frightened and come right out, an’ de king offer de boy t’ree hundred pound and give a plenty ob clo’es an’ got de boy work again.
76. The Greedy Child. [[Note]]
a. Crossing the River.
George Barrett, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
De chil’ren was gwine to school an’ ev’ry day de ol’ man tek de chil’ren dem ober de ribber. De ol’ man ax dem fe some of ’em breakfas’. All de chil’ren gi’ him some but one don’ gi him some. Till he ’point a day come, de ol’ man say he wan’ somet’ing from him, an’ he wouldn’t gi’ it. When he coming back, de ribber come down. Tek ober de rest of de chil’ren an’ wouldn’t tek ober dat. Little boy sing,
“Mudder Galamo,
I gwine dead t’-day!”
De ol’ man says, “Stop singin’.” Eb’ry time sing, de water come up a little higher. Jus’ to heah, dat time his mudder comin’. Ol’ man say, “I mus’ hev two pounds.” She say all right, an tek him ober. An’ dat time, eb’ry day he offer de ol’ man breakfas’.
b. The Plantain.
Philipp Brown, Mandeville.
Eb’ry night de Debbil go out. An’ as him go out, come in an’ say, “Wife, I scent fresh blood!” De wife said to him, “No, me husband, no fresh blood in heah!” Was de wife’s sisters come an’ look fe him. So eb’ry night when de debbil coming in, de wife know when him coming in an’ put up de sister into a barrel. [[88]]
Daylight a mo’ning, de Debbil gone back ober de ribber gone sit down. So gi’ de sister a plantain an’ tell her when she reach de hill, him will see her husband sit down right ober de hill, an’ de Debbil will say, “Go s’y (go your way), madame?” An’ mus’ say, “No one go s’y, no two go s’y, no t’ree go s’y, but, ’im go s’y fe him mamma,” an’ de Debbil let him pass. Got a little small sister. Dis sister greedy. An’ de Debbil come in de night say, “Me wife, eb’ry night I come, I smell fresh blood!” An’ de wife said, “No, me husband!” An’ when de daylight, de Debbil go away ober to de hill an’ de sister send away de little girl an’ gi’ him a plantain. An’ when de little girl go on de hill, him see de Debbil. De Debbil say, “Go s’y?” De little girl say (him so greedy now), “No, go s’y fe mamma, no one go s’y, no two go s’y, no t’ree go s’y, no go s’y fe mamma.” De Debbil ketch him ober de hill an carry him right ober to de ribber an’ kill him. An’ from dat day, de Debbil hair off him head at de sea-side; an’ from dat de sea got moss.
77. Alimoty and Aliminty. [[Note]]
Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains.
One day a lady have two daughter, but her sister have one. Sister daughter name Alimoty. An’ everybody love Alimoty, but nobody love him daughter. An’ him go to de Lion an’ say to de Lion he mus’ kill Alimoty for him. Den de Lion say him mus’ put on red frock on Alimoty an’ blue frock on to him daughter when him going to bed. An’ after him going to bed, de girl say, “Cousin Alimoty, yo’ red frock don’ fit you; let us swap!” An’ deh swap. An’ de Lion kill de lady daughter, lef’ one. Den de lady tell de Lion mus’ kill Alimoty whom everybody love an’ don’ love him daughter. Den he said, “To-night you mus’ sew on de red frock on Alimoty an’ de blue frock on to you daughter, an’ I come an’ kill him to-night.” And when deh go to bed, deh swap again, an’ de Lion kill de lady daughter,—have none now! Den de Lion said, “Tomorrow sen’ Alimoty to me yard; I will kill him.” Den Alimoty was going t’ru de yard an’ de dead mudder give him a bottle of milk, drop it an’ run off. Alimoty sing,—
“Poor me, Alimoty,
Poor Alimoty,
A me Dickie sahnie o-o,
See me go long a wid two.”
An’ Aliminty was a hunter and hear de singin’ an’ say, “Dat is Alimoty v’ice!” An’ he came to de Lion yard an’ kill de Lion. [[89]]
78. The Fish Lover. [[Note]]
a. Timbo Limbo.
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
A man had one daughter an’ de daughter was name’ Lydia. An’ him wife die an’ him married to anudder woman. An’ she have some chil’ren fe de man, an’ she like fe him chil’ren more ’n de daughter-in-law. Mostly it’s de daughter-in-law she impose upon to do de work. An’ she sen’ Lydia fe water, give him a big jug fe go to de ribber; an’ de jug is mor’n Lydia weight, dat she alone can’t help up de jug, an’ de mudder-in-law won’t sen’ none fe him pickney fe go an’ help up Lydia. When Lydia get to de ribber-side, Lydia was crying dat de jug is too hebby an’ him kyan’t get no one to help him up. An’ a Jack-fish was in de ribber hear de lament, an’ went up an’ said to de young woman if him wi’ be a wife fe him he wi’ help him up when him come to de ribber-side. An’ Lydia consent to de Jack-fish to be a wife to him, an’ Lydia fill him jar wid water an’ de Jack-fish help him up an’ ’he went to de yard.
De mudder-in-law ask him who ’he had a ribber-side to help him up wid de jar, an’ Lydia says dat ’he has no one. De mudder-in-law says, “Yes, you mus’ have some one!” She says, “No, mudder-in-law, I had no one to help me but me alone; it’s me alone helping up myself.” An’ one mo’ning Lydia tek up de jug an’ went to de ribber-side. An’ what de mudder-in-law did, him sen’ one of him chil’ren to follow Lydia an’ to watch him at de ribber-side to see who help him up wid de jar. An’ when Lydia go, him had to sing to call de Jack-fish; when de Jack-fish hear de voice of Lydia, him will come up to help her. De fish name is Timbo Limbo an’ de song is dis,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 88
Timbo, Limbo, Timbo, Limbo, Timbo, Limbo,
Same gal, Lydia, Timbo, Limbo, Timbo Limbo,
Timbo Limbo, Timbo Limbo. Same gal, Lydia. Timbo Limbo.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Timbo Limbo.
A slight variation which sometimes appeared in the third measure, but without regularity was: [[90]]
An’ de little child do see de Jack-fish dat were helping up Lydia, an’ went back home an’ tell him mamma, “Mamma, me sister Lydia do have a man-fish at de ribber-side fe help him up.” At night when de man come from work, him wife said to him dat Lydia have a big Jack-fish fo help him up at ribber-side. So de man tell him wife, “When daylight a mo’ning, you mus’ get Lydia ready an’ sen’ him on to Montego Bay an’ buy black pepper an’ skelion.” In de mo’ning, mudder-in-law call de girl fe sen’ him on to de Bay. Lydia start crying, for Lydia mistrus’ dat is somet’ing dey gwine do in de day. When him gone, de fader load him gun an’ him call de little girl fe dem go to de ribber-side. De little girl gwine sing, sing t’ree time, change him voice,—
“Timbo Limbo,
Same gal Lydia,
Timbo Limbo o-o-o!”
An’ de water go roun’ so, an’ de Jack-fish come out. An’ de fader shoot him eh-h-h-h, an’ de Jack-fish tu’n right over; an’ de fader tek off him clo’es an’ jump in de water an’ swim an’ tek out de Jack-fish an’ carry to de yard.
An’ as him begun to scale de fish, one of de scale fly all de way some two miles an’ go an’ meet Lydia an’ drop at Lydia breast. An’ when Lydia tek off de scale of de fish an’ notice de fish-scale, him fin’ it was Timbo limbo scale. An’ she start crying an’ run on to de yard, an’ didn’t mek no delay, only tek up him jar an’ went to de ribber an’ him ’tart him song,—
“Timbo Limbo,
Same gal Lydia,
Timbo Limbo o!”
De Jack-fish didn’t come up. An’ ’tart a-singin’ again,
“Timbo Limbo,
Same gal Lydia,
Timbo Limbo o-o!”
De water stay steady. An’ tek up de song again,
“Timbo Limbo,
Same gal Lydia,
Timbo Limbo o-o-o!”
An’ de water tu’n blood. An’ when him fin’ dat Timbo Limbo wasn’t in de water, Lydia tek up himself an’ drown himself right in de water.
Jack man dory, choose none! [[91]]
b. Fish fish fish.
Florence Thomlinson, Lacovia.
It was mother and two daughters. One of the daughters go to river-side worship a little fish. She commence to sing and the fish will come up to her,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Fish, fish, fish, fish, pengeleng, Come on the river, come pengeleng.
So the little fish come to her and she play play play, let go the fish and the fish go back in the river.
An’ when she go back home, her mother quarrel, say she wait back so long. Next day, wouldn’t send her back to river, send the other daughter. So when the other daughter went, she sung the same song she hear her sister sing,—
“Fish fish fish fish, pengeleng,
Come on the river, pengeleng.”
She catch the fish, bring it home, they cook the fish for dinner and save some for the other daughter. When she came, she didn’t eat it for she knew it was the said fish. She begin to sing,
“Fish fish fish fish, pengeleng!”
The other sister said, “T’ank God, me no eat de fish!” The mother said, “T’ank God, me no eat de fish!” She go on singing until all the fish come up and turn a big fish, and she take it put it back in the river.
c. Dear Old Juna.
Richard Pottinger, Claremont, St. Ann.
A man and a woman had but one daughter was their pet. The girl was engaged to a fish, to another young man too. She generally at ten o’clock cook breakfas’ for the both. That man at home eat, then she took a waiter wid the fish breakfas’ to the river. When she go to the river, she had to sing a song that the fish might come out,—
“Dear old Juna, dear old Juna,
Oona a da vina sa,
Oona oona oona oona,
You’ mudder run you fader forsake you,
You don’ know you deh!”
Fish coming now, sing
“Kai, kai, Juna, me know you!”
The fish come out to have his breakfas’. [[92]]
Go on for several days, every day she sing the same; the fish give her the same reply. The young man thought of it now. One morning, he went a little earlier wid his gun, sing the same tune. The fish come out, sing the same tune as it generally do. The young man shot it, carry the fish home, dressed it, everybody eat now, gal an’ ev’rybody. At the end of the eating, she found out it was the said fish. She dropped dead at the instant.
79. Juggin Straw Blue. [[Note]]
David Roach, Lacovia.
There was a woman have a daughter and a neice, and the neice was courting by one Juggin Straw Blue. She love the daughter more than she love the neice and always want the neice to do more work than what the daughter do. Well, the lady send the neice to a river one day with a big tub to bring water in it. The girl went to the river and get the tub fill and she couldn’t help it up. An Old Witch man was by the river-side, and he help her up and tol’ her not to tell nobody who help her up with the water. But when she went home, the aunt pumped her to know who help her up and she told her. Therefore the aunt know that the Old Witch man will come for her in the night, and she lock her up into an iron chest. Part of the night, the Old Witch man comes in search of the girl. So the girl was crying into the iron chest and the tears went through the keyhole and he wiped it and licked it and says, “After the fat is so sweet, what says the flesh!” And he burst the door open and take her out.
And the Old Witch man travel with the girl and he have a knock knee and the sound of his knee was like a music,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Na koo-ma no year-ie de knee bang cri’ bang cri’ bang.
And the Old Witch man says to her, “Your head and your lights is for my dog, and your liver is for my supper!” So the girl started a song,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Why, why, why, my Jug-gin Straw Blue, No Mam-my don’ know, No
Dad-dy don’ know, This rot-ten stuff, this stink-in’ stuff, then
[[93]] car-ry me down to gul-ly True Blue, you’ll see me no more.
So as this girl was courting by Juggin Straw Blue, his mother was an Old Witch too. And the courtyer’s mother waked him up and gave him eight eggs; for the Old Witch man has seven heads and seven eggs, and each egg is for one of the Old Witch head. Well, the boy went after the Old Witch man and overtake him and mash one of the egg, and day light. And he cut off one of the head. An’ the Old Witch man mash one of his egg and night came back. An’ the boy mash the next one of his, and day light again; an’ the Old Witch man mash one of his egg and night come back again. And so they went on that way until the boy mash seven egg and cut off the Old Witch seven heads and take away his girl. And he went home with his girl and marry.
80. The Witch and the Grain of Peas. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
It was a man were married to a woman first and he had one child wid de first woman he were married to. An’ de first woman dat he married to dead an’ he go married to anodder one; an’ de girl has to call her “mudder-in-law.” An’ de mudder-in-law doesn’t like de daughter-in-law. An’ one day de mudder-in-law go to him field gone work. In de morning she wash some peas an’ put on de peas on fire an’ went away to ground. An’ de daughter-in-law doesn’t live at dis house, live in house by herself. An’ de daughter-in-law come deh, ketch de daughter, louse and comb him hair. At de same time de mudder-in-law is Old Witch, know dat de daughter-in-law come to house. So as she was gwine away de eb’ning, de daughter said, “Look yeah, sister, mamma put on some peas on de fire; why don’ you tek one grain of de peas?” An’ she open de pot an’ tek out one grain of de peas. An’ when de Old Witch woman know dat de daughter-in-law tek out one grain of de peas, shet put up de hoe an’ went from ground an’ come back to house an’ tek down de pot an’ tu’n out all de peas in bowl, an’ she couple eb’ry grain of de peas until she fin’ one don’ have a match. And said to child, “Look yeah! you’ sister come to-day?”—“No, never come to-day!”—“Yes, don’ control me, for I see at de grain dat you’ sister come an’ tek out one grain from de pot.” An’ gwine to swear him at de river to drown her because she tek de peas. An’ she say, “If you don’ eat my peas [[94]]to-day you won’ drownded, but if you eat my peas you will drownded.” So de girl took up de song,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 80
Oh, me dear-est ma-ma, me mu-ma, oh, Poor me one, oh, Peace,
rit.
oh, a ring down. Ah, me dear-est ma-ma,
ring down peace, oh, a ring down, Ah, ye ring down.
And at de said time, de young girl had a sweetheart outside name of William. An’ William mamma heard de song ’pon de ribber-side and send away to carpenter-shop an’ tell William heard his girl singing quite mournful on ribber-side. An’ him go up on lime-tree an’ pick four lime an’ gwine a fowl-nest an’ tek four fowl-egg an’ gwine a turkey-nest an’ tek four turkey-egg an’ tek four marble, an’ call de girl an’ put her before him. An’ William an’ de girl mudder-in-law come to a battle at de ribber-side an’ William kill de woman. An’ he put de girl before him an’ carry her home an’ marry her.
81. Bosen Corner. [[Note]]
Martha Roe, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
A woman have two daughter; one was her own chil’ an’ one was her daughter-in-law. So she didn’t use her daughter-in-law good. So de place whe’ dem go fe water a bad place, Ol’ Witch country. De place name Bosen Corner. One day she sen’ de daughter-in-law fe water. So when she go long, she see so-so[1] head in de road; she put her hand on belly mek kind howdy. Go on again, see two foot go one in anudder so (crossed) in de road. An’ say, “Howdy, papa.” So-so foot say, “Gal, whe’ you gwine?” She said, “Mamma sen’ me a Bosen Corner fe water.” He say, “Go on, gal; good befo’ an’ bad behin’.” She go on till she ketch to a little hut, see one ol’ lady sit down deh. She say, “Howdy, nana.” De ol’ lady say, “Whe’ you gwine?” Say, “Ma sen’ me a Bosen Corner fe water, ma’am.” De ol’ lady say, “Come in here; late night goin’ tek you.” De Ol’ Witch go pick up one piece of bone out dungle-heap an’ choppy up putty in pot, an’ [[95]]four grain of rice. Boil de pot full of meat an’ rice an’ get de gal dinner. De gal eat, an’ eat done call her say, “Me gal, come here ’cratch me back.” When she run her han’ ’cratch her back so, back pick all de gal han’ so it bleed. Ol’ Witch ask her, “What de matter you’ han’?” Say, “Not’ing, ma’am.” Even when it cut up all bleed, never say not’ing. When she go sit down, ol’ lady go out of door come in one ol’ cat. De ol’ cat come in de gal lap, an’ she hug it up an’ coax de cat an’ was so kin’ to de cat. An’ de gal sleep an’ get up to go away in de mo’ning. De ol’ lady tell her say mus’ go roun’ de house see some fowl-egg. She tell de gal say, de egg whe’ she hear say “Tek me! tek me!” dem are big egg; she musn’t tek dem; small egg say, “No tek me!” she mus’ tek four. First cross-road ketch, she mus’ mash one. Firs’ cross-road she mash one de egg, an’ see into a big pretty common. Second cross-road she mash udder one; de common pack up wid cow an’ goat an’ sheep an’ ev’ryt’ing dat a gentleman possess in property. De t’ird cross-road she mash anudder one; she saw a pretty young gentleman come out into a buggy. De fourt’ cross-road she mash de las’ egg an’ fin’ de gentleman is a prince an’ he marry her.
De daughter-in-law come, her an’ her husban’, drive into de yard see mudder-in-law. She expec’ de Ol’ Witch kill de gal didn’t know she was living. So she sen’ fe her own daughter, sen’ a Bosen Corner fe water, say de udder one go get fe her riches, so she mus’ get riches too. De gal tek a gourd an’ going now fe water too. Go long an’ see so-so head an’ say, “Ay-e-e! from me bo’n I nebber see so-so head yet!” So-so head say, “Go long, gal! better day befo’.” An’ go long an’ meet upon so-so foot, an’ say, “Eh! me mamma sen’ me fe water I buck up agains’ all kind of bugaboo, meet all kin’ of insect!” An’ say, “Go long, gal! better day befo’.” An’ go de ol’ lady house now. De ol’ lady go tek de ol’ bone go putty on de fire again, an’ say, “Nana, you gwine tell me so-so bone bile t’-day fe me dinner?” An’ when she see de four grain of rice she say, “Nebber see fo’ grain of rice go in a pot yet!” Till it boil de pot full de same wid rice an’ meat. De ol’ lady share fe her dinner give her, an’ she go tu’n a puss an’ come back in. When de puss beg fe little rice, de gal pick her up fling her out de door. Ol’ lady call her fe come, ’cratch him back too, an’ put him han’ to ’cratch him back, draw it back say, “Nebber see such a t’ing to ’cratch de back an’ cut han’!” Nex’ mo’ning, de ol’ lady tell her mus’ look in back of de house tek egg. De big egg say, “Tek me! tek me!” mus’n’t tek dem; de little [[96]]egg say, “No tek me! no tek me!” mus’ tek four. She don’ tek de small one, tek four of de big egg. De firs’ cross-road she break one an’ see a whole heap of snake. At de secon’ cross-road she break anudder an’ see a whole lot of insect. At de las’ cross-road she massoo one, an’ see a big Ol’ Witch man tear her up kill her ’tiff dead in de road.
82. The Three Dogs. [[Note]]
a. Boy and Witch Woman.
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
Olden time it was a young man an’ him brudder. Dem two of ’em was bred up on a property penning cow. Eb’ry morning dat dey wan’ to pen, carry dem breakfas’ an’ carry dem fire. An’ one morning dat dem going, ’em carry food but dey didn’ carry no fire. An’ dem pen cow until twelve o’clock in de day an’ de smaller one feel hungry. He say, “Brar, me hungry! how we gwine to get fire?” An’ dey look ’pon a hill-side,—jus’ as out deh, an’ see a smoke an’ de smaller one go look fe fire. An’ he go right up de hill an’ see a big open house; lady in open kitchen. An’ she was Old Witch. An’ he frighten an’ come back. So now de bigger brudder go, name of William. An’ as he go up, stop behin’ one big dry ’tump, stan’ up deh an’ look what de Ol’ Witch do. An’ dis Ol’ Witch got on a pot on fire, an’ tek off de pot an’ him dish out all vessels right t’ru, de boy don’ see no pickney in kitchen, only de Ol’ Witch. An’ Ol’ Witch knock on side, pon pon pon, an’ all pickney come out, twenty big man and small children, women and boy pickney. An’ dey all sit down deh an’ eat. When dey done, who fe smoke de pipe dem smoke. An’ Ol’ Witch get up an’ knock, pon pon, an’ all de chil’ren go up in him back.
An’ den de boy call to him now, say, “Mawnin’, Nana!” She frightened and ask if he been deh long time an’ he say, “No, jus’ come up to beg fe fire.” An’ she says, “Tek fire, but don’ tek me fire-stick;” an’ de boy tu’n back an’ break a piece o’ rotten wood an’ hol’ it ’gainst de steam of de fire an’ ketch de rotten wood. An’ Ol’ Witch say to him, “Boy, you jus’ a good as me!” Boy said, “No, Nana, I’m not so good!” An’ de boy go down in cow-pen an’ when in de height of penning up de cow, tell de smaller brudder not to mek up fire, pen de cow an’ go home quick quick. An’ dis bigger brudder was a witch himself an’ know all about what come after him, an’ when he go home, go inside de house, fawn sick. [[97]]
An’ in a quick time de Ol’ Witch was upon dem. An’ she go in de yard, say, anyone as would knock de packey off ’im head she would tek for a husband. De smaller brudder fling an’ couldn’t knock off de packey. De Ol’ Witch woman call to William mamma if she don’ have a bigger son. “Yes, but he have fever in bed, kyan’t come out.” An’ de Ol’ Witch never cease till William have to come out. As he come out, he pick up a little trash an’ knock off de packey. Ol’ Witch say, “Yes, you is my husban’!”
An’ him sleep at William house de night; nex’ mo’ning dem gwine to go ’way. In de night, when William an’ de wife gone to bed, part of de night when William was in dead sleep, de Ol’ Witch tek one razor to cut William t’roat. An’ William have t’ree dog, one name Blum-blum, one name Sinde, one name Dido. An’ when de Ol’ Witch tek de razor, Blum-blum grumble an’ de razor mout’ tu’n over. William wake. He drop asleep again, Ol’ Witch raise up,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 72
Sharpen me razor, Sharpen me razor, shar come schwee, sho am schwee!
Sinde grumble an’ razor mout’ tu’n over. An’ drop asleep again, an’ when de Ol’ Witch raise up again, Dido grumble an’ de razor mout’ tu’n over.
Daylight a mo’ning, get up William mamma, boil coffee, give dem chocolate. William an’ wife gwine away now, an’ he tell him mudder chain dem t’ree dog dey got, Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido; an’ him get a big white basin an’ he set de basin jus’ at de hall middle, an’ him tell de mudder dat as soon as see de basin boil up in blood, him mus’ let go de t’ree dogs. An’ he tell good-by, gwine now in witch country. Travel an’ travel till dem come to clean common. An’ he fling a marble so far, de place wha’ de marble stop is one apple-tree grow, had one apple quite in de branch top. An’ ’he said, “My dear William, I ask you kindly if you will climb dis tree an’ pick dis apple fo’ me.” When William go up in de apple-tree, Ol’ Witch says to William, “Hah! I tell you I got you t’-day! for de place wha’ you see me knock out pickney out o’ me skin, you wi’ have to tell me t’-day.” William says, “Yes, I know about dat long time, for it will be ‘iron cut iron’ to-day!” For oftentimes him an’ fader go to wood an’ him saw fader fall a green tree an’ leave a dry one. As Ol’ Witch got William on apple-tree, Ol’ Witch knock out ten axe an’ ten axe-men, gwine fall de tree. Den William start song,— [[98]]
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 168
Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido di-i-i-i-i-i. Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido.
Den de Ol’ Witch sing,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Chin, fallah, fallah, Chin, fallah, fallah, Chin, fallah, fallah, Chin.
When de tree goin’ to fall, William said, “Bear me up, me good tree! Many time me fader fell green tree, leave dry one.” De witch knock out twenty axe-men, t’irty axe-men.
“Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido,
Um um eh o,
Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido!”
Den de Ol’ Witch sing,
“Chin fallah fallah, chin fallah fallah.”
When de tree goin’ to fall, William said, “Bear me up, me good tree; many time me fader fell green tree, leave dry one.” De Witch knock out twenty axe-men, t’irty axe-men.
“Blum-blum, Sinde, Dido-o-o!”
Den de Ol’ Witch sing,
“Chin fallah fallah, chin fallah fallah.”
While William in de tree, white basin boil up wid blood. An’ William got a deaf-ears mamma. An’ de nex’ neighbor come in an’ chattin’ wid William mudder de whole day; an’ in height of basin boil over an’ run a stream slap on de frock of de ol’ lady chattin’ in de kitchen. When de ol’ lady see de blood hot, she cut de chain of Blum-blum an’ Sinde. Dido cut de chain himself, an’ de t’ree dog gallop ’way. When William up tree see de t’ree dog coming, he only shake his hand an’ de t’ree dog drop. An’ de t’ree dog wait till de Ol’ Witch get forty axe-man round de tree. In de height of cutting de tree, de t’ree dog destroy ev’ry one of dem an kill de Ol’ Witch herself.
An’ William come down off de tree an’ tek his machete an’ scatter Ol’ Witch over de whole earth, an’ everywhere you go you can see dat bad cowitch is not’ing else den de pieces of de Ol’ Witch.
Jack man dory, choose now! [[99]]
b. Lucy and Janet.
Martha Roe, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.
Once a woman have two daughter. Lucy an’ Janet were de two girl name. She sen’ dem far to school. Der is Ol’ Witch live along de road. An’ she had t’ree dog, one name Dick, one name Dandy, an’ one name Bellamo. August, Lucy was going home, going spend time wid her mamma, an’ de mudder has to sen’ dose t’ree dog to go carry her home. An’ all her breakfas’ fe her an’ t’ree dog she put all togedder. Lucy were kind. When Lucy catch to her breakfas’, she an’ de t’ree dog eat togedder; she never consider dem as dog, she take dem as frien’. So when she catch half-way, de t’ree dog stop back an’ one big Ol’ Witch man come out to destroy Lucy. Dat time, de dog leave her quite back; now she gwine call dem:
“Yah! Bellamo, Dick an’ Dandy,
Yah! Bellamo, yo!”
De t’ree dog run in an’ dem tear up de Ol’ Witch an’ kill him. So ev’ry time Lucy come, dose t’ree dog guide her to her mamma go an’ spen’ August, an’ de t’ree of dem carry her back to her school-missus place.
Well, Christmas, Janet a go. De dog come to carry home Janet. When dey come, she say, “I wonder what you all doin’ so long!” an’ begin to quarrel. When she ketch fe to eat breakfas’, she eat her breakfas’ first den she divide what left give de t’ree dog. So as she started on, de dog dem start back de same as usual. When de Ol’ Witch man come out, going call de dog now. And say, (harshly)
“Yah! Bellamo, Dick an’ Dandy,
Yah! Bellamo, yah!”
Dog wouldn’t come. An’ de Ol’ Witch kill dat girl t’ru her bad manner. So you fin’ plenty of young people don’ have manners.
“Money won’t take you ’round de island like civility.”[1]
[1] The proverb is added from an old mammy of over a hundred years. [↑]
83. Andrew and his Sisters. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
A woman have t’ree daughter an’ one son, an’ de son was a yawzy ’kin.[1] De t’ree sister, one name Madame Sally, one name [[100]]Madame Queen Anne, one name Madame Fanny, an’ de brudder name Andrew. De t’ree sister don’ count much by de brudder. An’ one day dem goin’ out to see frien’, an’ bake pone an’, in de mo’ning, tell der mudder good-by an’ tell der fader good-by; dey never speak to de yawzy boy Andrew. Travel de whole day till late tek dem. An’ dey look out on a common, dey saw a big white house an’ dey call up an’ ax fe a lodging fe de night, an’ de woman in de house tell dem yes. An’ it was an Ol’ Witch house dem goin’ to sleep. De Ol’ Witch woman cook dinner give dem, an’ bed-time get a nice bed to sleep in. An’ de Ol’ Witch woman drug dem, an’ dey fallen in sleep.
At de said time, de yawzy ’kin brudder Andrew was half Ol’ Witch an’ he know what his sister was goin’ to meet in de night. An’ he follow dem whole day, until night, when de girl gone to bed, de Ol’ Witch brudder fin’ himself under de Ol’ Witch house. An’ dis Ol’ Witch woman had t’ree copper hung up into her house. An’ part of de night when de girl were in sleep, Ol’ Witch went to kill one of de girl. As him catch de girl t’roat for go cut i’, yawzy boy Andrew cry out,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 69
Ya bwa, ya bwa, ya bwa, ya bwa. Raise up an’ you, madam
Fan, you. Raise up an’ you, madam Sal, you. Raise up an’ you,
madam Queen Anne, An’ me name An’, an me name Andrew, an’ me name An’.
As him sing out, razor-mout’ tu’n over. Ol’ Witch woman said, “But, bwoy, whe’ you come from come here?” Andrew say, “Hi, Nana! me follow me sister dem come deh. But I have yawzy an’ when de yawzy bite me, me mudder kill a cow an’ tek de blood an’ wash me.” De Ol’ Witch kill a cow an’ tek de blood an’ wash de boy, an’ de boy fall in sleep back. So she go an catch Madame Queen Anne to cut him t’roat, an’ de boy Andrew bawl out again,
“Ya, bwoy, ya, bwoy, a me name o
A me name Andrew,
Rise up, Madame Fanny,
Rise up, Madame Queen Anne,
Rise up, Madame Sally,
[[101]]
A me name o,
A me name Andrew, a me name o.”
Ol’ Witch razor mout’ tu’n over. Ol’ Witch gi’ out, “Bwoy, whe’ you come from, torment me so?” Boy said, “Hi, Nana! when me to home, when me yawzy bite me, if it is de bigges’ barrow me mamma got, ’m kill him an’ tek de blood wash me.” An’ Ol’ Witch kill a barrow an’ wash him, an’ de boy gone to bed, gone sleep. Day coming fast, Ol’ Witch mad to eat de girl. When she t’ink dat Andrew asleep, him not sleeping. Well, de ol’ lady wait for a good time an’ him went in de room an’ him catch Madame Fanny t’roat to cut him. An’ him hear,—
“Ya, bwoy, ya, bwoy,
A me name Andrew, a me name o
Rise up, Madame Fanny,
Rise up, Madame Queen Anne,
Rise up, Madame Sally,
A me name o
A me name Andrew, a me name o.”
Boy jump out an’ say, “Hi, Nana! de yawzy bite me dat I kyan’ sleep. Nana, when I to home me mamma tek de bigges’ sheep, tek de blood wash me.” Dat time, Ol’ Witch copper deh ’pon fire was boiling hard, an’ Andrew ketch de Ol’ Witch an’ knock him down in de copper an’ kill him dead. An’ Andrew detain de t’ree sister ’pon Ol’ Witch property, an’ him claim de property as his own, an’ sen’ away for his mudder an’ his fader, an’ tek all de Ol’ Witch riches an’ live upon it, mek himself a man.
Jack man dory, choose none!
[1] Framboesia, popularly called “yaws” is a contagious though curable skin disease common among young negroes of the West Indies. It begins with a blister and spreads over the whole body. See Lewis, West Indies, p. 208. [↑]
84. The Hunter. [[Note]]
a. The Bull turned Courter.
George Barret, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
Deh is an ol’ man live into a big large city an’ ev’ry day he go out an’ shoot some cow. Ev’ry time he go out an’ see dem come to de pond drink water, he shoot one. An’ when de rest mek a’ter him to come an’ kill him, he say “Chee!” an’ he tu’n a stone; an’ dey come an’ couldn’t see him an’ dey have to leave him. An’ he tek up dat one, cut it up an’ carry to his house. When dat done, he come again, an’ dey come drink water until de las’ one come out, an’ he shoot him. An’ ev’ry day continually de one t’ing.
So he leave one bull, an’ go a’ter de bull many days an’ couldn’t overtake him. An’ dat ol’ man get dead an’ leave his wife an’ one [[102]]daughter, big woman now. Den de bull change himself into a man. He go to de tailor an’ mek him a suit of clo’es an’ a pair o’ boot to put on, an’ was comin’ soon in de mo’nin’ about ten o’clock. An’ de daughter say, “Well, since I live here, deh is not a man come here yet an’ dat is me husban’!” An’ on de day he come, say, don’ eat beef, anyt’ing else gi’ it to him he wi’ eat. Den ’he begin to tell him say, “When me fader go to de pond-side an’ shoot a cow, he say ‘Chee!’ an’ tu’n a stone.” De mudder in a dif’rent room say, “De firs’ time you get a husban’ you tell him all yo’ belly-word? Save somet’ing!”
Nex’ day dem gwine away. Den de young woman walk wid him t’ru de common till him ketch de place whe’ him hide him skin; den he say, “You sit down an’ wait a while.” Den, she sit down dis way, an’ hear a stick broke, an’ when she tu’n round so, see de bull was comin’ on upon him. Den him buck him, an’ say “Chee!” an’ tu’n dry trash. He ’crape up all de trash an’ mash dem up to lint. Dat time de girl say “Chee!” an’ she tu’n a tree. He buck de tree, ’crape off all de bark. Girl say “Chee!” an’ tu’n a needle fasten at de tail; when him going away swinging tail, him drop ’pon a leaf. When see him gone to a distance, him say “Chee!” an’ tu’n de same somebody again. An’ run to him house, holla “Mamma, open do’!” De ma say, “Wha’ I tell you? Save somet’ing! De firs’ day you get a husban’, you tell all yo’ belly-word.”
b. The Cow turned Woman.
Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.
One time a woman have one single child,—a boy. An’ choose out a hunter. Mother fret an’ cry a good deal an’ say not a good trade, he might get dead in the bush. Sometime, go ’way for two or three months an’ don’ return, and where he shooting, only wild cow is there. The cow is so cross he has to turn stick an’ stone to live amongst the cow.
One day when he go shooting, he see a beautiful young lady—one of the cow turn a beautiful young lady. An’ he married her an’ carried her home. When he go a-bed a’ night his wife say, “How you live among those wil’ cow an’ they never kill you, an’ no other hunter ever could return home?” Said, “Me love, when the cow come to buck me, I turn a piece of stick, an’ they buck me all the same, I turn a rock,—I turn all different things.” An’ the mother call to him an’ say, “Hi, me son! you jus’ married to a ’trange woman, you tell him all you secrets? Tell some, lef’ some!” Only one thing that he didn’t tell,—that when he turn something, [[103]]he fasten at the cow tail an’ the cow couldn’t buck him. An’ the girl turn a cow, go back in cow country; an’ the nex’ time he go back in bush, all the cow buck him no matter what he turn an’ the only way he escape, he fasten at the cow tail.
85. Man-Snake as Bridegroom. [[Note]]
a. The Rescue. (1)
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Der is a woman to court. Every man come to court her, she said she don’ want him, till one day she saw a coal-black man, pretty man. ’he said, “O mudder, dis is my courtier!” She tek de man. Breakfas’ an’ dinner de man don’ eat, only suck couple raw egg. So her got a brudder name of Collin. She didn’t count de brudder. De brudder tell her, said, “Sister, dat man you gwine to marry to, it is a snake.” She said, “Boy, you eber hear snake kyan tu’n a man?” Collin said, “All right! De day you are married, me wi’ be in de bush shootin’ me bird.”
So de weddin’ day when de marry ober, de man took his wife, all his weddin’ garment, he borrow everyt’ing; so him gwine home, everywhere him go all doze t’ing him borrow, him shed dem off one by one till de las’ house he tek off de las’ piece an’,—de Bogie! He walk wid his wife into de wood an’ to a cave. He put down his wife to sit down. He tu’n a yellow snake an’ sit down in his wife lap an’ have his head p’int to her nose to suck her blood to kill her. An de woman sing,
“Collin now, Collin now,
Fe me li’l brudder callin’ come o!”
De Snake said,
“Um hum, hum he,
A han’some man you want,
A han’some man wi’ kill you.”
De woman sing again,
“Collin now, Collin now,
Fe me li’l brudder callin’ come o!”
De Snake say,
“Um hum, hum he,
Deh han’some man,
Deh han’some man wi’ kill you.”
Collin said, “Wonder who singin’ me name in dis middle wood?” an’ he walk fas’ wid his gun. When he come to de cave, de snake-head jus’ gwine to touch de woman nose. An’ Collin shoot him wid de gun an’ tek out his sister. So she never count her brudder till her brudder save her life. [[104]]
a. The Rescue (2).
Matilda Hall, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.
A woman got one daughter that mother and father had, a very loving daughter to them. So draw up to womanhood, a young man come for her; she don’t like. Another young man come; she don’t like. An’ a nice young man come one day to the yard, an’ when that one come she was well pleased with him, say, “That is my beloved! me like him well!” An’ that time was a Yellow Snake jes’ come fe her now.
So them well pleased of it, father an’ mother, an’ them marry, Snake an’ daughter. An’ when the wedding-day come, everything was well finish until getting home now at the husband house in a wil’ wood. An’ when he got half way, begun to drop the clo’es now that he wear, drop him trousers, drop him shirt, an’ jacket, an’ going into one hole an’ long out his head. An’ he lay hol’ of the leg of his wife an’ he swallow to the hip an’ he couldn’t go further. Yellow Snake begin to sing,
“Worra worra, me wi’ swallow yo’,
Worra worra, me wi’ swallow yo’,
Swallow yo’ till yo’ mamma kyan’ fin’ yo’!”
So the girl sang now,
“I’m calling fe me hunter-man brother,
Harry, Tom an’ John!
I’m calling fe me hunter-man brother,
Harry, Tom an’ John!
Yellow Snake a wi’ swallow me,
So me mamma kyan’ fin’ me!”
The brothers were hunter-men, heard her crying and run to see what it was. And they killed the Snake and took away the sister and said, “Well, you will have it! Pick an’ choose isn’t good. You wasn’t pick an’ choose, you wouldn’t marry to Yellow Snake that was going to kill you now.”
b. Snake Swallows the Bride.
William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.
A lady had one daughter. All de young men come co’tin’, she didn’t like none. Till Snake tu’n a man, come in wid epaulette, everyt’ing, well dress up, an’ he ax fe de girl fe marry. Say, “You is de man I want!” An’ give up ’hem daughter to dat man de said night. Very well, middle of de night de girl was singing in de bed,
“Me me me me!”
[[105]]
Snake go,
“Um um do, kom go yeng!”
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 84
Me, me, me, me, kom go yeng, me, me, me, me, me, kom go yeng,
me, me, me, me, me, kom go yeng.
Snake go
“Um um do kom go yerry.”
Well, him singing de whole night till him swallow her. When de mamma get tea, papa get up an’ drink, say, “Where dese young people? past time!” Mamma say, “Dem is young people, let ’em lie down!” An’ when de fader shove de door gwine see, de Snake swallowed de daughter.
Jack man dory fe dat!
86. The Girls who married the Devil. [[Note]]
a. The Devil-husband.
William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.
There was two sister an they had a yawzy brudder who de two sister didn’t care about. They was faderless and mudderless. An’ see a man come to court de two sister to carry dem away; an’ de man tek dem into de boat to carry home, an’ de little yawzy boy tu’n a cockroach an’ get into de boat. An’ when deh get home, de house-maid tell de two girl, “Wha’ you follow dis man come heah now? He is Devil!” An’ de Devil tell de house-maid dat she mus’ feed dem well, an’ de little boy come out of de boat.
Well, deh had a big cock a de yard, an’ de house-maid said, “I gwine to sen’ you home into de boat.” An’ t’row out a bag o’ corn gi’ de cock, say, “When him fe eat it done, de boat will catch home”. So de cock commence to eat de corn—
“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”
knock him wing bap bap bap bap! After he knock him wing, he crow—
“Ko ko re ko!
Massa han’some wife gone!”
Devil didn’t hear him, crow again—
“Ko ko re ko!
Massa han’some wife gone!”
[[106]]
Devil hear now; as he hear, he come—
“Zin-ge-lay, wid dem run come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem jump come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem walk fas’!”
So de boat name “John Studee.” As he run into de yard, stamp him foot an’ said, “John Studee!” An’ stamp again, “John Studee-ee-e!” So de boat tu’n right back wid de two girl an’ de little boy. An’ as dey mos’ come, de little boy tu’n cockroach again; go in garden. Devil didn’t see him.
Nex’ day mo’nin’, Devil go back in fiel’ put up de two girl again. De maid t’row out a bag o’ corn an’ a bag o’ rice. Same t’ing happen. Las’ day when him gone, de maid t’row out a bag o’ corn, a bag o’ rice an’ a bag o’ barley. An’ after him t’row, de cock commence to eat—
“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”
After dem bag o’ corn, tu’n upon rice now—
“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”
An’ de rice he eat now, tu’n upon de barley—
“Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!
Hock kaluck kum ka tum swallow!”
Eat off de t’ree bag, time de girl catch home; leave de boat at de shore-side. De cock clap him wing—
“Plop plop plop plop
Massa han’some wife gone!”
As Devil hear, him come—
“Zin-ge-lay, wid dem run come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem jump come,
Zin-ge-lay, wid dem walk fas’!”
As he come, ’tamp him foot an’ say, “John Studee-e!” De boat t’un right back come home. If it wasn’t fo’ dat little yawzy boy, de Devil will kill ’em.
b. The Snake-husband.
Emilina Dodd, Lacovia.
A woman have a daughter, oftentimes engaged and wouldn’t marry, said that the gentlemen weren’t to her sort; until one day [[107]]she see a well-dressed gentleman, came and proposed to her. But she has a brother was an Old Witch, told her that man was a snake. She said the man was too well-dressed to be a snake, but the brother was going home with them under the carriage as a lizard. The first place, as he was going on, somebody ask, “Mr. Snake, I beg you give me my collar,” and the next, “Mr. Snake, I beg you give me my jacket,” and so on until he show himself plain as a snake.
When they get home, he lock her up wanting to kill her, but couldn’t kill her without the thing called “bump.” Go out in the yard looking for it. After them gone, the mother-in-law said, “Me daughter, dis man you marry going to kill you because he is a bad man and he marry a wife already and kill her and he gwine to kill you too. I would let you go, but him have one cock, him so chat!” So she threw a barrel of wheat an’ a barrel of corn. When the cock was picking it up he say, “I don’ care a damn, I will nyam an’ talk!” sing,—
“Ko ko re kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”
Then they throw a double quantity. The cock pick it up an’ sing,
“Ko ko re ko kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”
Then Snake come from the wood while the brother was taking her on the water. Snake overtake her, take her home again and lock her in, go back in the wood again in search of “bump.” And mother-in-law throw a double quantity of wheat and corn. Cock say again, “I don’t care a damn, I will nyam an’ talk!” The cock eatey all and sing,—
“Ko ko re kom on do!
Girl gone, him no gone,
Ko ko re ko kom on do!”
So when Snake come out from the wood, he couldn’t get her again because she was near on land. So he went back home an’ tek a stick an’ lick the mother-in-law on the head, kill her.
(The following songs are taken from other versions of the Snake-husband story.)
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 76
I will lick you so fine, I will lick you so sweet, yo’
[[108]] fadder an’ mudder will never fin’ de hair ob yo’ bone.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 76
Poor me Lydie gal, oh, poor me Lydie gal, oh,
han’some man sinake undone me.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 76
1. Variant.
Carlie, oh, me Carlie, oh. If a no been Carlie come heah,
yallow snake could’ a’ swallow me whole.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 108
Mu-ma, mu-ma, snake a swallow me. You lie, you lie, me
dis I put ma han’ ’pon you, you cum come tell yo’ lie on me, you
cum come tell yo’ lie on me.
2. Variant.
cum come tell yo’ lie on me.
87. Bull as Bridegroom. [[Note]]
a. Nancy.
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Deh is one woman get a daughter. One day in de yard ’he saw a man, big stout man. He put co’tin’ship to her. De woman said yes. When de man come to de yard breakfas’ time, he didn’t eat; always went away where some clean grass is. ’he got a brudder watchin’ him all ’e time. When he go, de man begin to sing,
“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”
[[109]]
De man tu’n bull an’ eat his belly full o’ grass. When he eat done, he sing again,
“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me gone.”
Den he tu’n de shape a de man back.
When day of de wedding, de boy said, “Sister, you know wha’ dat man coming here is? Dat man a bull.” His sister said, “O bwoy, go ’way! Where you ever hear cow can tu’n a living soul?” Dey come home from church, sit roun’ de table, everybody giving toast. Dey call upon de woman brudder to give toast. De brudder said, “I won’ give toas’, but I wi’ sing.” De man said, “No, give toas’ better ’an de sing!” De guest said dat dey would like to hear de sing as much as toast; so de little boy commence to sing,
“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”
De man begin to bawl out an’ knock his head, call out fe toast. De boy begun to sing again,
“See me, Nancy, a wind,
T’ink a me, Nancy, me come.”
De ha’r of de cow grow, an’ de four foot, an’ de big bull begun to jump an’ buck down all de people in de house, an’ he gallop an’ dey never see him no more again.[1]
b. The Play-song.
George Parkes, Mandeville.
Deh was an ol’ woman who had a daughter an’ a son. De son was an Ol’ Witch, an’ de girl was well kep’ up by de ol’ woman. Deh were several gentlemen who make application fo’ de girl to marry, but de mudder refuse dem. At las’ de debbil dress himself nicely an’ went, an’ he was accepted by de ol’ lady, an’ begun to co’t de girl. [[110]]
De boy, being an ol’ witch, know dat it was de debbil. He tol’ de mudder not to allow his sister to marry to de man, for de man is de debbil. De mudder said, “Go ’way, sah! what you know? You can call a gentleman like dat de debbil?” So when de debbil walking, his knee sing a song like ringing a bell. It go like dis:
“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing,
Belling belling beng, bell i’ leng beng.”
De boy overhear de debbil knee singing. But, now, anybody else sing de song, de debbil clo’es will drop off, a horn grow on head, an’ tail grow out on him too. So one night while he was in de house talking, de little boy was underneat’ de table singing de song quietly:
“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing.”
When de debbil hear dat he say, “Look heah, mistress, stop dat bwoy from singing dat song! I don’ like it.” De ol’ woman say, “Massah, me kyan’ stop him singing, because it mus’ of been his little play-song[2] what he have singing.” So de debbil say, “Well, I don’ like to hear it!”
De boy now sing de song much louder, an’ de debbil knee begin to sing it very loud—
“Dirt i’ room a yerry, double bing, double bing!”
an’ de clo’es drop off an’ de tail an’ horns grow out. So de boy say to de mudder, “Didn’t I tell you dat man was a debbil, an’ you would not believe it!”
c. Gracie and Miles.
Florence Thomlinson, Lacovia.
There was once a girl by the name of Gracie and a man Miles. They were engaged. And Miles always came to see Gracie most every evening, and he would always sing for her. Song was about Gracie; says that Gracie is a fine girl, but he is going to kill her.
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
Me a Miles a moo me a Miles a moo Fe me Gracie is a
[[111]]fine gal Fe me Gra-cie have a kill her. Pong, me la-dy, pong moo!
Pong, me la-dy, pong moo! Me a Miles a moo me a Miles a moo. Fe me
Gra-cie is a fine gal Fe me Gra-cie have a kill her.
She didn’t know he would kill her fe true.
She has a little brother stop in the yard with her. (Miles) worked in the field every day; they would send his breakfast by the little boy to him. When (the boy) nearly got to him, he wasn’t a man; he was a bull. When he see the boy coming, he turn a man. The boy tell his sister, “You know that man is not a man, he’s a bull!” and she said, “Oh, cho! nonsense! How you could expect that?” The little boy said, “If you think it is not true, you go with me, stop back.” Next day she went after the boy and stay far back and see it was a bull eating grass, not a man. He sing,
“Me a Miles a moo, me Gracie is a fine girl,
Me Gracie me wi’ kill her.”
She know it is a bull now. When he come, the sister say tomorrow evening must have a ball now. So he says he will come. So she get up a lot of men with ropes and have music and all in the house. So the little boy begin to sing the song now:
“Me a Miles a moo, me Gracie is a fine girl,
Me Gracie me wi’ kill her.”
Miles said, “Oh, where that little boy come from? Turn him out!” Hoof begin to grow, horn begin to grow, tail begin to grow and he get a big bull, and they toss him and rope him and pole him, turn him out.
[1] Thomas White’s version of this song is as follows:
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 86 1st.
Pon, pon, me dearie. Pon, pon, me dearie. Ah, me Nancy, me dear, dear.
2nd
Oh, oh, you, oh, oh, you, da me Nancy, da me Nancy, What a fine gal!
[2] Jamaica children compose a “secret song” which they amuse themselves with at play or sing when they are walking alone. [↑]
88. The Two Bulls. [[Note]]
Alexander Foster, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
One time there is a bull range the common,—call the pen “Garshen pen.” That bull wouldn’t ’low no bull-calf to born an’ to raise in that pen barring out him one; but every heifer born, [[112]]him nurse them, go about lick them, nourish them, make them grow fine! Until one time cow was heavy, climb up into a high mountain an’ have a calf, an’ when the calf born he is a bull calf. Now that ol’ bull we call him “Ol’ Moody,” an’ the young bull name ‘Tep’y-tep’y to-day.’
The mother stay until the calf grow a tremendous bull, carry down that bull come to de river to drink water. Every time the father come to drink water, him go away, so then when the son come, the son try to put foot in the father track, an’ the bull mamma say to him, “No, me son, de track no fit fo’ you fader yet,” make her carry him back a couple of days more. Now at twelve o’clock in the day, mother carry down the bull again, try foot for him father again. Now he feel to himself that he come a man, an’ he stan’ up same place an’ say to him mother, “Mus’ see me father to-day.”—“Massy, me son, yo’ pa so cruel, have a dread to carry son go!” He stan’ up holla, “Ma, I gwine go! I gwine try to see me father!” an’ he raise a sing now,—
“Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep’y deh!
Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep-y deh!”
De ol’ bull gwine answer him now,—
“Hum-um-m, wha’ you say?
Me jus’ a go a brudder Dickey an’ Sandy,
Moody say me mustn’t go.”
Coming up the common to meet him father, (like) when a pretty man coming up, you see all de young girl for dat gentleman; an’ he sing coming,
“Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep’y deh!”
De ol’ bull answer him,
“Hum-um-m, wha’ you say?
Me jus’ a go a brudder Dickey an’ Santy,
Moody say me mustn’t go.”
Meet to fight now, an’ de ol’ toss up him son into the air an’ he drop on four feet. An’ the son lif’ him up in de air now; when de fader coming down, one foot break. An’ he ’tamp on de t’ree foot an’ lif’ him son higher again. An’ him son lif’ him up again in de air, an’ when he coming again, break one of de other foot. An’ all de cow now running to the river for water wouldn’t bother with the ol’ bull at all, everybody for the young one. An’ lif’ up de young bull again deh ’pon him two foot, lif up in de air, an’ de young bull drop on him four foot back. An’ de young bull lif’ him up again; when he drop, he break de udder [[113]]foot. Lif’ up de son again, but he couldn’t go too far wid him; an’ his son lif’ him up in de air again break de udder foot. An’ he lay down on him belly fe fight an’ lif’ up him son, but him couldn’t go too far wid him foot. An’ him son lif’ him up de las’, now, lif’ him up in de air; an’ when him come down, break him neck. An’ from dat day, all young bull grow in pen; not’ing to destroy dem.
89. Ballinder Bull. [[Note]]
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Der is a bull de name of Ballinder Bull, but dem right name King Bymandorum. It is a wicked bull. De king said whoever kill Ballinder Bull, he will get his two daughter to marry to. All de men in de worl’ try, an’ couldn’t kill him. One day, an’ ol’ lady stood by an’ a woman was breedin’ go to de horsepon’ to tek water. De bull buck out de baby out of her an’ went away. De ol’ lady tek de baby an’ rear him. When him come a good-sized boy, he send him to school. Every twelve o’clock when dey play marble, he lucky to win. De res’ a chil’ tell him said, “A da you mek so!” Four o’clock when him coming home, him say, “Ma, why de reason when I win doz odder chil’ sai, “A da you mek so?” Him ma tell him tomorrow twelve o’clock get one switch play wid de least one an’ after you win him tell you “A da you mek so!” gi’ him two good lick an’ you will come to know why dey use de word. So twelve o’clock he play an’ win, an’ tell him “A da you mek so!” He gi’ him de two lick, an’ after he give him de lick he said, “Hit let Ballinder Bull buck you out of you mudder belly.” When de boy return home he said, “O mudder, you is not me right mudder!” De ol’ lady said no, begun to tell him all dese t’ings were happen. De boy said, “Anywhere Ballinder Bull, a gwine kill him!”
Dis bull got gol’en tongue an’ gol’en teet’. When de boy gwine along, him meet some noblemen and said, “My little boy, where am you goin’?” An’ said, “I gwine a fight Ballinder Bull.” De men said, “Boy, we after Ballinder Bull fe dis many year an’ kyan’t ketch him; what you t’ink upon you?” De boy said, “Never min’, I gwine fight him!” De boy went where him feedin’. Bull never see him, go drink water. De boy go to de cotton-tree an’ say, “Bear down, me good cotton-tree, bear down!” De cotton-tree bear down. Said, “Bear up, me good cotton-tree, bear up!” When de bull was coming, he hear de singin’, [[114]]
“Anywhere Ballinder Bull,
De’ will kill him to-day!”
Ballinder Bull say, “What little boy up in de air jeering me as dis?” When he come, he fire bow an’ arrow; de boy catch it. Him fire anodder one, an’ he fire out de seven; de boy caught every one. De boy look on him an’ sen’ one of de bow an’ arrow, peg down one of de han’. An’ tek de odder one an’ sen it t’ru de odder han’. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down one of de foot. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down de odder foot. He sen’ anodder, he peg down one of de ears. He sen’ anodder an’ peg down de odder ear. De las’ one, he sen it t’ru de head. An’ he say, “Bear down, me good cotton-tree, bear down!” When de cotton-tree bear down, he catch de ears an’ pinch it an’ fin’ dat de bull was dead. An’ he came off an’ say, “Bear up, me good cotton-tree, bear up!” an’ de cotton-tree bear up. An’ tek a knife an’ tek out de teet’, tek out de tongue an’ travel.
De same day, he never went to de king yard. Hanansi goin’ to ground an’ saw de bull an’ said, “Buck, Ballinder Bull! buck, Ballinder Bull!” De bull don’ shake. Hanansi said, “You damned son of a bitch, you won’ get me fe kill to-day!” an’ tek up de stone an’ stone him an’ fin’ out dat de bull dead. De gladness in Hanansi! He went up chop off de bull head, bear it on to de king. When he go he said, “I kill Ballinder Bull, Sir!” De king say, “Oh, yes! you shall be my son-in-law tomorrow morning.” Now der is a bell, every gate has a bell. So Hanansi gettin’ ready to go to church, dey hear de bell ringin’ at de gate an’ dey sing,
“A who a knock a Nana gate, bing beng beng?
A who a knock a Nana gate, bing beng beng?”[1]
When de boy come, de king say “What you want?” An’ say, “I kill Ballinder Bull, Sir.” Hanansi come out. (King says) “You’s a little liar! Little boy like you couldn’t fight Ballinder Bull!” An’ [[115]]Hanansi run in, said, “Der is de head!” De boy put his han’ in his pocket said, “Der de tongue an’ de teet’!”
Dey ketch Hanansi an’ ’tretch him out on a ladder, an’ beat him. After dat, dey sen’ him to look wood fe de weddin’. Dey sen’ Dog to watch him. Hanansi carried de wood, carry about ten bundle. Ev’ry trip, Dog go wid him. When him come back, ’im say, “Brar Dog, you love meat? I hear one hog over yonder; run go see if we kyan’ get little!” By time Dog return back, Hanansi gwine under wood ’kin an’ hide, an’ all de hunt Dog hunt, kyan’t fin’ him till dis day.
[1] In a Brownstown version of the same story, the song is as follows:—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 69
Gashawnee, oh, Gashawnee, oh, Gashawnee, Look how little bit a
Sammy call yo’ name, why.
90. Bird Arinto. [[Note]]
Mrs. Ramtalli, Maggotty.
There was a bird Arinto; it used to feed on human flesh. In the district there was a little boy by the name of David Lawrence who was lame in both feet. When the boy heard the bird fly, he asked his sister to take him; but she refused, saying if she remained Arinto would eat her too. The boy, having no other resource, dug a hole in the ground where he lived for some time. When the bird came and perched on the house-top, he said, “Smell flesh; somebody about here!” Then David Lawrence sang,
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 108
You Arintoe, You Arintoe, Shake, shake, come down to David Lawrence.
Then the bird pitched off the house to the spot where he heard the singing. As it was an underground passage, the boy would move along and the bird would follow him up and down. As he went to the foot (of the passage), the bird would go there; as he went above, the bird would go there,—all day like that. At night the bird would go to rest,—couldn’t eat he was so tired. But the boy cooked at night and had his rest.
It went on for some weeks until the bird got tired an’ weary and one night fell off the roost. David Lawrence came out, cut out the tongue, and took it to the king, who had promised whoever killed Arinto would get his daughter’s hand in marriage. Anansi, passing the nex’ day, saw the dead bird, cut off the head and hurried with it to the king. A wedding feast was made to have Anansi married to (the king’s) daughter. Just as that was going on, a ragged boy called at the gate, but Anansi told the king to have nothing to do with him. But he appealed so loudly that the king after all went out, and the boy said to him, “Anansi [[116]]is a usurper, because, king, have you ever seen a head without a tongue?” Anansi, on hearing that, ran under the table and from there into the house-top. David Lawrence was taken in, dressed, married to the king’s daughter, and lived happily.
Jack man dora!
91. Tiger Softens his Voice. [[Note]]
George Parkes, Mandeville.
Once upon a time a woman had one daughter, an’ that daughter was the prettiest girl in an’ around that country. Every man want the girl to marry, but the mother refuse them as they come. Tiger, too, wanted the girl, an’ demands the girl, an’ the mother says no. Tiger said if he don’t get the girl he will kill her. So they remove from that part of the country and go to another part, into a thick wild wood where no one live. And she made a house with a hundred doors and a hundred windows and a large staircase; and the house is an upstairs, an’ there both of them live.
Tiger hear of it, always loafing aroun’ the house to see if he can catch the girl, but the girl never come out. During the day, the mother went to her work, leaving the girl at home. When going out, the mother fasten all the doors an’ windows; coming home in the evening, at a certain spot where she can see the house an’ notice that all the windows an’ doors are close as she leave it, then now she have a song to sing, go like this,—
“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”
(that’s the name of the girl). Girl now—
“Deh lo, madame!”
Woman said to her now,
“Fare you well, fare you well, fare you well,
Fare you well, me dear; fare you well, me love!
A no Tiger, deh la, ho, deh la, ho?
Me jus’ come, ho!”
Then the door open, so—
“Checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky knock umbar.”
The door don’t open without that song now, and when it open, the mamma go into the house.
At that time, Tiger in the bush listening to the song. So one day while she was away, hear time for her to come home, Tiger approach the spot where she always sing. He now in a very coarse voice sings the song,—
“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”
[[117]]
The girl look from the window, said, “Tiger, a who no know sa’ a you!” So now Tiger go ’way an’ hide till mamma come. When she come, he listen good. Next day, Tiger go to a blacksmith an’ ask de blacksmith what he t’ink can give him, Tiger, a clear v’ice. De blacksmit’ say he must hot a long iron an’ when it hot, mus’ take it push down his t’roat. An’ de blacksmit’ give him a bit of meat to eat after he burn the throat an’ that will give him a clear v’ice. So Tiger go away eat de meat first an’ den burn de t’roat after. Nex’ day he went to the spot where the woman always sing from. An’ that make his v’ice more coarser. He sing now—
“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”
The girl look thru the window an’ say, “Cho! a who no know sa’ a you!” So Tiger got vex’ now, an’ he went home, burn the throat first and afterward eat the meat, and that give him a clearer v’ice than the woman. The nex’ day, when most time for the woman to come home from her work, Tiger went to the spot where he can see the house. He begin to sing,
“Tom Jones, Tom Jones, Tom Jones!”
The girl answer (tho’t it was her mother now)—
“Deh la, madame!”
Then Tiger say,
“Fare you well, fare you well, fare you well,
Fare you well, me dear; fare you well, me love!
A no Tiger deh lo o-o-o
Me jus’ come, h-o-o-o!”
The door commence to open now,—
“Checky checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky checky knock umbar,
Checky checky checky knock umbar!”
And as the door open, Tiger step up an’ caught the girl an’ swallow her.
And when the mother coming home, reach to the spot and saw the doors and windows open, she throw down what she carry and run to the house. And she saw Tiger lay down. And the mother then went away an’ get some strong men come an’ tie Tiger, kill him, an’ open de belly an’ take out de daughter. At that time, little life left in her an’ they get back the life in her. The woman then leave the house an’ go off away far into another country, and that is why you always fin’ lot of old houses unoccupied that no one live in. [[118]]
92. Hidden Names. [[Note]]
a. Anansi and Mosquito.
George Parkes, Mandeville.
An ol’ lady have a daughter which no one know the name, an she never call the name at all make no one hear it. So she offered a hundred pound to anyone who could tell the girl name. Anansi say he mus’ get that money. Now he went an’ mak a bargain with Mosquito that Mosquito mus’ go in the girl room, as he’s a small man an’ can go thru crevices, an’ he, Anansi will go underneath the mother room. In the night while the girl was sleeping, Mosquito went an’ sing at her ear; an’ the girl then knock her han’ up on Mosquito an’ say, “Go ’way!” At that time the mother stop into her room an’ hear. After a little time, Mosquito went back to the girl ear an’ sing again. The girl knock after him an’ say, “Go ’way!” again. Anansi underneath the mother’s room give a clear listening. A little time after, Mosquito went back to the girl an’ sing at her ear. She then knock after him again an’ say, “Go ’way!” The mother then called to the girl, said, “Zegrady, Zegrady, what’s the matter?” The daughter said, “It is something worrying me in my sleep, mum.” Anansi never wait now for Mosquito, run right to his house, take up his fiddle an’ begin to play,—
“Zegrady, Zegrady, Zegra, Zegrady,
Come shake up Anansi hand,
My dear!”
The next morning he start for the house and play. So the girl hear her name and say, “Mother, I heard someone call my name!” So the old woman invite Anansi to come in an’ Anansi get the money, never give Mosquito none. So from that day is why Mosquito flying at people ear making noise, because Anansi rob him out of the money.
b. Anansi plays Baby. (1)
Eliza Barrett, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit country.
There was t’ree sister living to a house. Nobody was to know their names. An’ Anansi want to hear them an’ he couldn’t get them. An’ he have a young man an’ turn the young man into a baby (an’ turn himself the baby mother), an’ he carry the baby go an’ ask them if they min’ the baby for her; tell ’em say, when part of the day the baby crying they mus’ bathe the baby for her. [[119]]An’ one of the sister name Santa Cruka. Santa Cruka take the baby an’ ’trip him an’ put him into a bowl, an’ Santa Cruka said, “Run come a sister Aminty! ever see such a little baby have such a big man place?” An’ Aminta say, “Run come, Sister Amata! ever see such a little baby have such a big man place?” So when de baby mother come now an’ carry the baby under a tree, the baby tell the mother, “That one name Santa Cruka, an’ the other one name Aminta, an’ the other one name Amata.” An’ he put down the baby an’ he turn a big tall man before him. An’ he go up to de t’ree lady an’ said, “Missus, is not you name Mistress Santa Cruka? An’ she go into her room an’ drop down dead. An’ go back to Aminta an’ say, “Sister, is not you right name Sister Aminta?” An’ she drop down die. An’ go back to Sister Amata an’ say, “Is not you right name Sister Amata?” An’ (she) drop down dead. An’ (Anansi) take all the richness of the three sisters an’ never care to go home.
b. Anansi plays baby. (2)
Henry Spence, Bog, Westmoreland.
Anansi go to a groun’. Nobody know dose two sister name, not from dem born. So he come bet dat him will fin’ out dem two sister name. When he come home, he said to his wife him going to fawn himself a baby an’ de wife mus tek job grass-weeding at de groun’ fe dem two women, when him gwine, mus’ put him quite unter de shady tree as a baby. An’ de wife did so. So when de two woman go under de tree, mek much of de baby, nice baby! So as dem woman play wid de baby, de baby laugh, mout’ full of teeth. Two sisters frighten to see young baby have so much teeth. So one of de sister say, “Sister Agumma, run see Anansi baby mout’ full of teet’!” Sister Agumma run come an’ see. Anansi catch dat name. Sister Agumma come say, “O sister Agumma, a-a-ah! Anansi baby mout’ full of teet’ fe true!” Anansi catchy bot’ name an’ win de money.
b. Anansi plays baby. (3)
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Der is a man livin’ at a town for eight years, nobody know his name. Hanansi say, “Ma tek off me trousers, put on me long shirt, kyar’ me go a man yard, let him nurse me till you come home from ground.” De baby stay good all de while. When he see h’ mudder comin’ home, de baby creep, cryin’, go to his mudder. [[120]]De man went to tek him back, said, “What kind of baby dis count fe, he see he mudder he start to cry?” Meanwhile he go to tek de baby an’ saw de shirt jump up in de back. Him ’toop down, him peep, him knock him han’. “Mercy, me Lord! what kind of a baby got such long hair on him so, poor me, Tom Goody!” Den de baby gwine to his mudder cryin’ “Tommy Goody!” So from dat day, de whole town fin’ out de man dat he name Tommy Goody.
93. Anansi and Mr. Able. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
Able have two daughter an’ dey was pretty young women. Anansi hear about dese two women, did want dem for wife, didn’t know what way he was to get dem. Able is a man couldn’t bear to hear no one call him name; for jus’ as he hear him name call, him get disturb all to kill himself. So Anansi get two ripe plantain an’ give de young women de two ripe plantain, an’ dey tek de two ripe plantain from Anansi an’ dey eat de two ripe plantain. Das de only way Anansi can get dese two young women.
An’ Able nebber know ’bout it until one day Mr. Able deh at him house an’ him hear de voice of a singin’,—
“Brar Able o, me ruin[1] o
Me plant gone!”
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 192
Brar Able, oh, me ruin, oh, Brar Able,
oh, me ruin, oh, Brar Able, oh, me ruin,
oh, Brar Able, oh, me plantain gone.
Brar Able say, “Well, from since I born I never know man speak my name in such way!” So he couldn’t stay in de house, an’ come out an’ went to plant sucker-root. Anansi go out,—
“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”
[[121]]
Mr. Able went out from de sucker-root an’ he climb breadfruit tree. Anansi go just under de breadfruit tree, sing,
“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”
Mr. Able went up in a cotton-tree. Anansi went up to de cotton-tree root, give out—
“Brar Able o, me ruin o,
Me plant gone.”
An’ Mr. Able tek up himself off de cotton-tree an’ break him neck an’ Mr. Anansi tek charge Mr. Able house an’ two daughters.
Jack man dory, choose one!
94. The King’s Three Daughters. [[Note]]
Vincent Morrison, Mandeville.
Once a king had three daughters and the king die and some young fellows go up to the fence, but as they come they run them. The fellows meet Brar Nansi one day and they said to Anansi, “I bet you never go to that house!” Mr. Anansi said, “I bet you I go up there!”
Anansi went an’ got some horse-mane and get a cotton-tree spar an’ dig out a fiddle. An’ he come out de road de evening, an’ he start to play de fiddle say,
“Tom body tom ting,
Tweety tweety tweety tweety tweety twee
Linga linga loo
Nobody never go deh yet,
Linga linga ling
Anansi go deh t’-night
A go linga linga ling.”
The ladies call out and ask who is it playing that sweet music. Anansi say, “It’s me, missus!” And the ladies ask who. He says, “Me, Mr. Anansi, missus.” The ladies carry him up to the house and he play for two hours and come away. So the fellows who did bet him, he win them.
Jack man dora!
95. The Dumb Child. [[Note]]
George Parkes, Mandeville.
There was once a little child born into a country, born with golden tongue an’ golden teet’, an’ from de day she born, nobody [[122]]see de teet’ excep’ de mother an’ de father; she never talk for no one to hear her nor to see neither the teeth nor the tongue. Now the king of the country hear of it, an’ he offer a gran’ reward for anyone who would get to make the chil’ talk, because he, the king, never seen a golden tongue an’ teet’ yet. So lot of men went to the house an’ try all sort of mechanic; the chil’ wouldn’t talk.
So Anansi heard off it, went to the king an’ tol’ the king that he would make the chil’ talk; an’ the king say if Anansi make the chil’ talk before him, he will make the reward much larger, but if he don’t make the chil’ talk before him, he, the king, will kill Anansi. So Anansi went away, got his fiddle, cord it up, an’ went to the place of the little chil’; an’ he played on his fiddle to make the chil’ hear,—
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”
The chil’ look upon Anansi an’ smile; Anansi shake his head. He play the tune again—
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”
The chil’ laugh; Anansi get to see de teet’. Now Anansi play stronger again de same t’ing,—
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”
The chil’ begin hum it now,—
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”
Anansi play again harder now,
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”
The chil’ make,
“Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya.”
Anansi shake de head an’ laugh an’ he play much stronger now,
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do.”
[[123]]
The chil’ now sing louder,
“Poly don ya sin do!
Poly don ya sin do!”
As the chil’ sing that time, Anansi pick up the chil’, run right away to the king palace, call for the king, put the chil’ in the chair, tol’ the king he make the chil’ sing, see tongue an’ teet’. The king wouldn’t believe him. Anansi play him fiddle before the king, play the same tune,—
“Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Merry day t’-day ya,
Sin do, sin do-o!”
Chil’ begin now,
“Poly don ya sin do,
Merry day t’-day ya!”
And the king was very glad, an’ Anansi was nicely rewarded and the king took the child in his own home, an’ dere she live wid de king forever.
96. The Dumb Wife. [[Note]]
Thomas White, Maroon Town.
Deh was a man name of Goolin. He had a wife. He married him wife fe so many years dat de wife turned dummy,—she couldn’t speak to nobody. An’ Mr. Goolin reward out a certain amount of money, if anyone could make him wife talk, he would pay dem dat amount of money. Anansi hear about it an’ go to take up de job from Mr. Goolin. Anansi says if he had a mountain groun’, an’ Mr. Goolin says yes. An’ Mr. Anansi an’ Mr. Goolin go up to de mountain groun’ an’ Mr. Anansi tell Mr. Goolin he mus’ get a coffin made an’ send get up some men to carry de coffin. An’ Mr. Anansi sen’ tell de wife dat Mr. Goolin dead; an’ when de message reach Mrs. Goolin dat her husband dead, Mrs. Goolin commence to cry; an’ when she look an’ see de amount of men goin’ up to de mountain fe gwine carry down Mr. Goolin, de wife was crying but she couldn’t talk. An’ Anansi come down wid Mr. Goolin, an’ dey hev’ to come down a high hill, an’ de house was upon a flat before de hill. Well, Mrs. Goolin da in de house, she hear de great noise was coming down de hill an’ come jus’ at de [[124]]house door, she come an’ stan’ up an’ look out an’ see de majority of men comin’. Anansi gi’ out,
“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”
An’ when de wife hear dat mournful singin’ de wife sing now very faintly,
“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”
An’ when Goolin hear he say, “Sing up, man!” Anansi sing,
“Goolin gone t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’de-e-e!”
An’ wife sing now,
“Goolin gone, t’de-e-e,
Goolin gone, Goolin gone,
Goolin gone home t’dee-e-e!”
So Mr. Anansi tek out Mr. Goolin out of de coffin as a live man, an’ Mr. Goolin an’ him wife was talking up to t’-day.
97. Leap, Timber, Leap. [[Note]]
a. Old Conch.
Emanuel Johnson, Brownstown, St. Anne.
There was a king have a lumber to bring into the palace, an’ that lumber was one mile in length and there was not one man could carry it except one old man name of Old Conch. The king sen’ for him; him tek five days to do one mile. Anansi hear, an’ he can walk a little faster than him, an’ went to the king an’ say he will go an’ the king say if he can carry it quicker than Old Conch, he can go. Anansi mek a cotta an’ travel for the lumber, an’ when Old Conch ketch up the five days, fin’ Anansi beside the lumber trying to lift it up and couldn’t lift it. Old Conch were beside the timber an’ commence a song,—
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 96 ♩ = 78
Fol-low, timber, follow, fol-low ’long road, timber follow. Leap, timber, leap,
leap tim-ber, leap. Follow, timber, ’long road fol-low, fol-low, timber, follow. [[125]]
♩ = 76 ♩ = 96
Leap, tim-ber, leap, leap, tim-ber, leap.
♩ = 76
Fol-low, ’long road, timber fol-low,
fol-low, ’long road, tim-ber, fol-low. Leap, tim-ber, leap, leap tim-ber, leap.
Timber pick up himself an’ mek a leap in two mile.
Anansi went on before an’ stood beside the timber trying to help it on again. Now when Old Conch went up and see Anansi by the timber again, Old Conch go beside the timber an’ say,
“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap, timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”
Timber pick up himself mek one jump two more mile; that’s four miles timber gone now. Now go on, an’ fin’ Anansi beside it again, an’ start him song say,
“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap; timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”
The timber pick up himself two more miles an’ drop in the king yard now.
Then Old Conch go on, an’ Anansi run ahead an’ say, “King, I brought de timber!” King were very glad to see the timber come an’ say, “You done well, Anansi!” an’ say, “I wan’ de timber in dat corner.” Anansi go beside the timber an’ couldn’t fix it in; were trying an’ frying an’ couldn’t fix it in. Now Old Conch come, says, “King, I brought de timber.” King says, “No! Anansi brought it; but, however, I wan’ de timber to go in dat corner, an’ I’ll prove out of de two of you which bring it!” Anansi first go to the timber, an’ couldn’t manage it. Now Old Conch start an’ say,
“Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Follow long road, timber, follow!
Leap, timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!
Leap, me timber, leap! leap, timber, leap!”
The timber pick up himself an’ fall in the corner. Now the king [[126]]tek after Anansi was to kill him, couldn’t catch him, run under a stone an’ by the time they get up the stone, slip beneath the door crevice!
Jack man dora!
b. Grass-quit (fragment).
Howard Robinson, Retirement, Cock-pit country.
Grass-quit went to the bottom place an’ he haul a little grass-straw an’ tak a knife an’ slit the timber-head like this an’ he fix the grass-straw into it, an’ he say,[1]
[[audio/mpeg]] | [MusicXML]]
♩ = 88
a) Come, lit-tle tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay.
♩ = 88
b) Come, lit-tle tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay,
Big tim-ber, fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay. Lit-tle tim-ber,
fol-low me, hur-rah me a lay. Big tim-ber, fol-low me.
An’ the timber follow him right into man yard, an’ as it catch into the yard, the daughter marry Grass-quit same time. An’ he sen’ for a police an’ tak up Anansi same time. When Anansi come out of prison, he make Grass-quit ride grass-straw until to-day.
[1] The song appears twice in the story, the first time only four measures; it was explained that the second time the song must stop as given because that is how the Anansi Story ends. [↑]
98. The Boy fools Anansi. [[Note]]
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
One boy went to Hanansi yard, an’ Hanansi an’ he mudder made up to kill de boy. Me’while, de boy hear what dem say. Hanansi went away fe one of his country-men help him to kill de boy. As Hanansi gone, de boy kill Hanansi mamma, tek off de coat an’ de sucker, put it on an’ cook up de ol’ lady. When Hanansi come, de ol’ lady gi’ dem deh dinner. An’ he say, “Ma, [[127]]wha yo’ got stren’t te kill a big big boy?” De boy said, “Yes, me pickney.”—“Ma, a wan’ water.” De ol’ lady gi’ him de water. An’ said, “Lawd, dis fellah fat!” De boy tek time an’ tek off de coat an’ de sucker, t’row it down an’ run, went away. Hanansi tumbled down,—“Lawd! a me mamma been nyam!” An’ run after de boy but couldn’t catch him. So it’s only de boy ever fool Hanansi!
99. The Water Crayfish. [[Note]]
Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.
There was a wealthy woman, but she had no children. She was always wishful of adopting a child. So she went down to the river to bathe one morning as usual and she saw a pretty baby. She was so glad she took it home and she made a pet of it. She employed a girl called Tamanty to care for the child, and Anansi to be the watchman to watch and see if the girl cared for the child.
So it happened one day she had to go out, so she left them to take care of the child. Anansi wanted all along to get rid of this girl Tamanty. Tamanty was sweeping the house and the little child was playing with the broom. Anansi winked to the girl and said, “Lick him wi’ the broomstick! lick him wi’ the broomstick!” The girl took the broomstick and hit the child. The child started running for the river. Anansi and Tamanty started after her, calling out, “Come back, Miss Nancy, come back!” The child said,
“No na no, Tamanty! no na no, Anansi!
Me a river craw-fish, me no have a mu-ma,
Poor me, river craw-fish! river a me mu-ma.”
The child ran right into the river and became a cray-fish.
[[129]]