31. The Yam-hills. [[Story]]
The yam-hill story is very common in Jamaica. Parkes learned it in Kingston. Pamela Smith tells it, page 59 and JAFL 9: 278. Sometimes a song accompanies the story. The number of Yam-hills varies.
Compare Cronise and Ward, 167–171; Parsons, Andros Island, 109. [[254]]
The story depends upon the idea that it is unlucky to reveal to others a marvel one has seen oneself, or to repeat certain taboo words. A lad in the Santa Cruz mountains explained the taboo by saying that Anansi had “six” legs. Another said that Anansi’s mother’s name was “Six.” So in Pamela Smith (JAFL 9: 278), the Queen’s name is “Five.” Compare Rivière, 177; Krug, JAFL 25: 120; Schwab, JAFL 32: 437, and the next two numbers in this collection.
32. The Law against Back-biting. [[Story]]
Parkes learned this story on board ship coming from Africa. It is common in Jamaica, and the wit by which the revenge is effected seems to be an individual invention, as it varies from story to story. In Junod’s Ba-ronga version (156–158), Piti, the fool, amuses himself by the roadside instead of going to herd cattle. Everyone who reproaches him falls dead. Later he restores his victims to life by means of fire.
33. Fling-a-mile. [[Story]]
Jekyll, 152–155, has a good version of this very popular Jamaica story.