“The wisdom of the spider is greater than that of all the world together.”
“Woe to one who would put his trust in Anansi—a sly, selfish, and greedy person.”
The non-Anansi stories are generally of the ‘Just-so’ type—why the ears of the deer are long, why the waist of the wasp is slim, etc. There is nothing in the wide realm of botany, astronomy, or geography of a peculiar or striking character but an explanation is forthcoming in the lore of the folk. There is, of course, the usual sprinkling of magic tales, which bear a striking resemblance to many European märchen, or fairy-tales.
In conclusion, an apology must be offered to the scientific folk-lorist. The stories have been retold in order to appeal to a wider public, but it is hoped that ere long the complete original material may be available for the student of folk-lore.
W. H. B. [[27]]
[1] The cocoa exported in 1891 realized £4; in 1914 £2,193,749. [↑]
[2] Colonial Report, G.C., 1913. [↑]
[3] The Story of the Negro, Booker T. Washington, vol. i, p. 57 [↑]
[4] A History of the Gold Coast and Ashanti, W. W. Claridge, vol. i, pp. 4–5. [↑]