The egg-counting trick generally occurs in a different connection. The trickster visits Tiger’s house, eats all the cubs but one, and counts that one many times. Compare Callaway, 24–27; MacDonald 1: 55–56; Theal 111; Jacottet, 40–45; Rattray, Chinyanje, 137–138; Harris, Nights, 346–348.
(4) In Jekyll, Anansi visits “Sea-mahmy,” who is a mermaid, and her son, “Trapong,” or tarpon, takes him home. In Milne-Home, “Alligator” is host; a “boatman” the ferryman. Lob gets “aunt” sea-horse to carry him to shore. In my Jamaica versions, the sons are the ferrymen and are generally cooked and eaten at the other end. The misinterpreted call occurs in all Jamaica versions and in Tremearne, Head-hunters. In the Lob story, Lob mutters an insult; when asked to repeat his words, he declares that he has merely praised the sea-horse’s swimming; compare Parsons, Sea Islands, 54–56. For the fate of the ferryman, see also note to number [38] and compare Anansi’s treatment of Rat in the note to number [7].
40. Goat’s Escape. [[Story]]
The story of Goat’s Escape is a favorite in Jamaica. See Milne-Home, 58–60; 65–66. It falls into two parts. (1) Goat and Dog are pursued and Dog escapes over a river which Goat cannot [[258]]cross. (2) Goat transforms himself into a stone, which the pursuer himself throws across the river. The introduction to the flight varies but (2) remains constant.
Compare: Jacottet, note page 262; Parsons, Andros Island, 103 and note; Jones, 121–123; 133–136.
Version (a). Compare Jones, and Milne-Home, 58–60.
Version (b). In Jekyll, 46–47, Puss gives the rats a ball and only those members of the family escape who attend to little Rat’s warning, for he has heard the cat’s song. Compare Chatelain, 189–191, and see note to number [86], where the little brother or sister discovers by the words of a song a treacherous intention.