Spirituals and Other Folklore from the Bahamas- Parsons 1928
[Not proofed yet. Footnotes moved to the end,]
Spirituals and Other Folklore from the Bahamas
by Elsie Clews Parsons
Source: The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 41, No. 162 (Oct. - Dec., 1928), pp. 453-524
THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLK-LORE
VOL. 41. OCTOBER- DECEMBER, 1928 - No. 162.
SPIRITUALS AND OTHER FOLKLORE FROM THE BAHAMAS
BY ELSIE CLEWS PARSONS.
Page
Anthems ............... ........................ 457
Toasts and other verses ...................466
Riddles .......... ............................. 471
Folk-tales ......................................485
List of informants ..............................485
Lignum Vitae Cay
I. Sheep Thieves: Take my Place .................486
2. Playing God-father ..........................486
Great A baco
3. The River Swallows the Girls ................. 487
4. Jack Plays his Fife on the Giant ............. 488
5. Playing Dead ........... ........................... 489
6. Greenleaf .......................................... 490
7. The Candle drips .................................. 492
New Providence.
8. Variant (Playing God-father) ......................... 494
9. Refugees in the Roof ................................. 494
'o. Hidden Lovers ................................. 495
ii. Two Captains and the Woman .......................... 495
12. Boukee Lies to his Task Master ......................... 496
Rum Cay.
13. The Pass-word: In the Cow's Belly ..................... 497
14. Variant. (Playing Dead) ...................................497
15. His life in an Egg ........................................... 498
16. Variant (Playing God-father): Tell-tale Grease ... 500
17. Tar Baby .............................. .......... 500
18. Take my Place: Fruit Dropping ........................ 501
19. The Bird from the East Tests Pundo ................... 50I
20. Cripple and Blind ................................ 502
21. Rabbit Cuts Down the Tree .......................... 502
22. Escape up the Tree .................................. 503
23. Variant (Greenleaf) ................................ 504
Watlings Island.
24. Tug of W ar ........................... ............. 504
25. Back in the Same Hole ............................ 505
26. Spider's Teeth ...................................506
27. Variant. (Greenleaf) ............ .............. 506
28. Guessing a Name .................... .............. 507
29. Variant. (In the Cow's Belly) ......................... 507
30. The Deserted Children ................................. 507
31. Variant. (Playing God-father: Tell-tale Grease) ........... 509
Long Island.
32. Ber Debil and Ber Rat ............................. 510
33. The Changed Call ...... ... ......................... 511
34. Playing Dead: Blinding the Watcher .................. 511
35. Roach Plays Sick .................................... 512
36. Ber Rabbit fixes up Ber Duck .......................... 513
37. Jack Fools the Sailors and Dick ....................... 513
38. Sharing' up de Sinners an' de Righteous ................. 513
39. The Two Sweethearts ............................... 514
40. Horns for Sticks .................................... 514
41. Tar Baby ................ ........................ 515
42. Diving for Bananas ................................. 516
43. Mr. Rainy Day: Over the Indians' Mine ................. 517
Great Inagua.
44. Inside the Shark .................................. 519
45. Alive by the Power of God............................519
46. Sand Fly and Mosquito, Sailors ......................... 519
47. Bug Wears Waistcoat and Beaver ..................... 520
48. Flea, Street Car Driver ............................. 520
49. Very Swift ....................................... 520
50. Prolific ....................................... . 520
51. Silly Man .................... .................. 520
52. Lawd, Ile! .............................. ............. 521
53. Betrayed by Pease Water ............................ 521
54. Rabbit Makes Boukee his Horse....................... 521
55. Trouble, Ber Elephan', Trouble! ....................... 522
56. Pay for the Guinea Hen: Refugees in the Roof ............ 522
57. Cat Plays Sick with Dog ............................ 523
58. Going to Heaven .................................. 523
59. Big as the Hills of Scotland .......................... 524
The summer and early autumn of 1926 brought three terrific hurricanes to the Bahamas, destroying fishing and sponging fleets, snapping off the tops of cocoanut trees or uprooting them, tearing off the roofs, tipping or leveling the walls of the houses of the settlements. One day the following January, I went ashore on the beach at Devil's Point, Cat Island, and with a group of welcoming islanders walked up the dunes to look at the devastated settlement. "Mah sister house; she have no man to build it up again." This was a pile of coral rubble. Other houses had been more or less restored, if only with palm leaf thatch, but the
usual warm invitations to visit failed, so I turned into the Zion chapel, part stone, part palm leaf, to sit down and lead away from the tale of hurricane to ol' time tale and riddle. But a chapel is not a proper place for riddling. "Wouldn' mistress cyare to hear anthum?" And then and there I learned that spirituals were as common in the Bahamas as, let us say, in the Carolinas, whence in post-revolutionary days they were probably introduced by the slaves of the United Loyalist immigrants.
The middle-aged woman who had asserted herself as hostess became the leader, carrying the tune and the new lines, the others coming in with the refrain. The leader remained seated, but she so swung the upper part of her body, gesticulating with her arms and tossing her head, as to produce virtually a dance accompaniment to the song. The other girls and women shared in some of these motions, but were far less vehement than the leader, particularly the younger ones. Later in my voyage, in Hayti, when I heard at a spirit dance (danse' loi[1]) what sounded like very much the same harmonies sung to actual dancing, I wondered if in the South the spiritual had not also been a dance song until Anglo-Saxon influence subdued the bodily motions. Just as a shuffle came to substitute in the "shout" for crossing the feet, "which would be dancing," and just as at a later day when "rags" were introduced into the "shout," the "shout itself was frowned upon."[2]
In Rum Cay where only one White woman lives, dance steps are actually associated with the spiritual. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve a rushin' meetin' is held in the chapels, to raise a collection. The "money-man" sits behind the collection plate on the altar and the choir girls sing "anthum" and clap for those who strut or dance-step in antisunwise circuit around the chapel. The rule is that after two circuits a copper is to be deposited in the plate; "but some boys cheat." I attended
the rushin' meetin' which was held on New Year's Eve of 1927 in the school house for the benefit of the chapel that had been destroyed by "dee gale." The two front rows of girls sang "Shine, Shine, Shine," "Honey in de Rock," and other "anthum." Both sexes, young and old, performed a strut or one step dance around the benches, the women holding out their petticoats and the men, the flaps of their coats. Some of the paraders joined in the singing.
This meeting was after midnight. Earlier a service had been held in Zion, the Baptist chapel. Moody and Sanchy hymns as well as spirituals were sung between addresses and testimonials. As midnight approached the minister announced, "Three minutes more!" The congregation became somewhat hysterical, weeping, sniveling or moaning. As the first bell rang out the minister exclaimed impressively, "Watchman, whey de night (what of the night)?" The bell rang on, and again and again the deep voice called out, "Watchman, whey de night?" At the last peal all began to sing, "Happy New Year," singing the three words over and over to the characteristic rhythms of the "anthum." Then with a great outburst by all, and the song leader gesticulating up and down the aisle, was sung the "anthum," "I want to be among de number when de saints come marching home." During this the minister and the elders descended from their platform to shake hands with everyone in the congregation.
The "toasts," tales, and riddles which follow the spirituals recorded at Cat Island and Rum Cay, were heard during very brief stays in various islands. The riddles form a fuller collection than any hitherto made in the Islands. The tales are variants of the fuller collection made in Andros Island in I918,[3] and show how homogeneous is the character of the folklore of the Bahama Islands. Exceptional are the tales from Inagua, the most southern of the Islands. Inagua is a port of call, and exports salt
and sailors. My informants were mostly young men I met in Mathewstown in the office of the Commissioner waiting to sign papers for a ship expected the next day. The tales I recorded were just such a miscellany as might be expected of coastwise Negro sailors - a variant of the Jonah tale I once heard from a Negro sailor of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, (no. 44), and one of the exaggeration type also heard at Yarmouth, (no. 40); grotesques about insects (nos. 46, 47, 48) such as may be heard in the
Sea Islands or elsewhere in the South; a variant of the "Seeking Trouble" tale of the South, (no. 55), given in terms of Rabbit and Elephan' instead of Rabbit and 'Gator; a variant of the Virginia tale of Cat playing sick with Dog (no. 57); even two tales of the farcical southern preacher-tale variety (nos. 58, 59); a variant of "Refugees in the Roof" told in the Bahamas and in Jamaica - the Inagua tale (no. 56) given in the Jamaica form; finally an incident out of the tale of "Devil Marriage" so popular
in the Bahamas (no. 53).
Longer acquaintance with the stay-at-home part of the Inagua population might have brought tales of a more homogeneous Bahama character. Given its travellers, and its position between the French and Spanish story tellers of Hayti and San Domingo and the English speaking Bahamans, Inagua has been a point of distribution, I surmise, for certain tales and riddles in Bahama folklore that point to French-Spanish provenience.
A fuller collection of tales from Inagua were desirable - together with pictures of the great flock of flamingoes that frequents its
salt ponds and rivals the flock of Andros, at the other extremity of the coral archipelago.
ANTHEMS
Cat Island
I. An' de blin' man been on de road so long,
Dere's a blind man been on de road so long
Cryin', "Oh Lawd save me!"
An' de blin' man been on de road so long.
[Known now as "Blind Man Stood by the Road and He Cried]
2. One day when I was walkin'
Down ter Heaven I go
My Savior's talkin' to me
I spoke on
An' he fill mah heart wid love.
3. Come by heah, Lawd.
Come by heah, Lawd.
Come by heah, Lawd.
Heh Lawd, stand by heah.
My fader talkin', "Stand by heah."
Somebody talkin', "Stand by heah."
Somebody preachin' "Stand by heah."
Heh Lawd, stand by me.
Somebody callin', "Stand by heah."
Halleluh! Stand by me.[4]
{This is related to Kumbaya]
4. Some gwine ter bury in de graveyard,
Some gwine drown in de sea.
Get up in de mornin' shoutin'
Hallenluia my soul.
Mayew, Ma'k, oh Luke an' John,
Hallenluia, my soul,
All dem 'postle died an' gone,
Oh my soul.
5. I went to der rock,
Some time, some time,
For ter hide myself,
Some time, some time,
De rock cried out
Some time, some time,
No hidin' place time
Time gone, time gone.
Gwine to meet him in de glory
Time gone, time gone.
Yes, de rock cried out, time gone,
No hidin' place.
Yes, I had a moder (2nd time: fader)
Some time
I gwine ter meet him in glory (2nd time: Heaven)
Yes, I had a uncle
Some time
I gwine ter meet him in Heaven.
He gone to glory,
Time, time,
I gwine ter meet him in Heaven.
[Known as "Hiding Place"]
6. Jesus, spare me anoder year,
Oh Lawd, time gone (2nd time: Oh Lawd. Oh Lawd)
For my Jesus love his chillun
An' he bless my soul, one mornin'.
Spare me anoder year, oh Lawd.
7. In mah name,
In mah name,
Go clean de leper sin
In mah name.
Luke an' John
Mathew, Ma'k, Luke an' John,
Go clean' de leper sin in mah name,
Halleluia.
8.[5] De Lawd got his eyes on me.
My Lawd settin' in de Kingdom
Have (2nd time: Got) his eyes on me.
An' he lookin' down on me,
An' he lookin' down on me.
I would not be a drunkard,
I would not be a liar,
An' I tell yer de reason why
Fah my Lawd settin' in de Kingdom
Have his eyes on me.
9. I'll be deah,
Dontcher doubt me,
I'll be deah in de mornin',
When de rule (roll) is call, I'll be deah.
I don't mean when de sea-billows rollin' (2nd time: t'under)
I don't mean when de Jordan rollin'
I'll be deah.
Whey over dere in de heavenly land
When de rule is call
I'll be deah.
When you get in de Heaven
I'll be deah.
I'll be deah wid mah golden slippers on mah feet.
Yer people, don't yer doubt me,
When yer get to Heaven,
I'll be dere
Wid a golden girdle roun' mah waist
An' a palm of victory in mah hand
I'll be deah.
10. Good bye, worl'[6]
I'm gwine ter leave dis worl' behin'
I'm gwine ter cross dat separated lan'
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46 o Journal of Ameirican Folk-Lore.
An' leave dis worl' behin'.
Good bye, church
I'm gwine ter leave dis worl' behin'.
II.
I goIt h a daughter name' Nancy,
Oh Ihad
She couldn' read an' write.
She get a little book wid fifteen leave
An' I sent her off ter school.
Get on board, little chil'ren.
Let's get on board, little chil'ren,
Let's get on board.
Dere is room fah many an' more.
See dem people with a concubine
Dey live in de worl' like swine.
Dey can't go ter heaven,
Wid a villain mind.
An' you leave yer hat behin'.
Get on board, little chil'ren.
I2.
When de cloud are hangin' low,
Shine, shine!
An' you know not whey ter go,
Shine fah Jesus.
Take yer burden to de Lawd
You can take it at his word
See an' praise him every day,
An' shine, shine, shine!
Keep yer eyes on Jesus
Shine, shine, shine!
Sing an' praise him eve'y day,
An' shine, shine, shine!
When frien' forsake you
All de way, every day,
Sing an' praise him eve'y day,
An' shine, shine, shine!
13.
I have a moder' in de Beulah lan'
I want to go to see her
I want ter see her, in der Beulah Beulah Beulah land.
1 Repeat with fader, sister, broder.
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Spirituals ia d other Folklorc firomi the Ba/lamas. 46 I
Le's go, le's go, le's go!
I want ter go to see him
In der Beulah land.
14.
Oh too late, sinner,
My soul los'.
Too late, sinner,
Fah judgment day
Too late, too late.
Oh, sinner, why make yer head so ha'd ?
Too late, too late.
Oh de bell was ringin'
An' you wouldn't come.
Too late, too late
Fah de minister preach,
You would not come.
Too late.
O Jesus call,
You would not come,
Too late, too late fah Judgment day.
15.
Jubilee, jubilee, my Lawd.
Oh dis is de year of jubilee.
Ah jubilee.
Come my broder, come join me.
Ah jubilee.
Come my sister,1 come join me.
Ah jubilee.
Dis is de year of jubilee.
Ah jubilee.
Jubilee is come again.
16.
I am on a strange lan'
So far from home.
Stranger walkin' on strange lan'
So far from home.
I heard dat voice
I couldn't get deah.
Jesus call, an' would not go.
I heard dat voice
But I couldn't tell where.
1 Repeat with moder, fader, etc.
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462 7ournal of American Folk-Lore.
17.
I'm goin' to lay my burden down,
Burden down, burden down,
Lay mah burden at Jesus feet,
My burden down.
I get tired wid my burden
An' I lay him down,
Lay my burden at Jesus feet,
Lay my burden down.
I tired of my burden
Lay him down.
18.
De same train goin' cyarry my moder,
De same train comin' back again.
Dat train is de gospel train.
Same train, same ol' train,
De same train cyarrin' my body,
Same train, same ol' train.
19.
Sheep know shepherd voice.
Yes Lawd, I know.
Come along, I know de way,
Come along, I know de way.
Come along, king Jesus call yer,
Come along, I am de way.
20.
Joe horse in de valley,
Joe horse in de low lan',
Bis.
In de low lan',
Fah he ride um wid a golden saddle
In de low lan'.
He ride um wid a golden bridle
In de low lan'.
21.
Come in, my Lawd,
Come in, my Lawd, come in.
Come in, my Lawd, don't pass.
Oh de onliest t'ing dat worry me,
Worry me, worry me,
Dat is my po' soul.
Don't pass de door, my Lawd!
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Spirituals and other Folklore from the Bahamas. 463
22.
Hail Mary, shout for joy!
Hail Mary, shout for joy!
Mary is a wonder,
Mary is a wirgin.
Shout for joy,
Hail Mary, shout for joy!
23.
I am in dis dark worl' of trouble
I have no need ter fear
I heard of dat city call' Heaven
I determine ter make it my home.
Home! home!
24.
Oh gwine ter climb up Jacob ladder,
Soldier of de cross.
Oh when you get home, r'ember me,
Soldier of de jubilee.
Oh if yer reach home before I go,
Jus' tellin' my Lawd I'm on de way,
I am climbing Jacob ladder,
I am climbing higher an' higher,
Me Lawd, soldier of de cross.
Rum Cay.
I. Jesus lover of my soul,
Shine, shine, shine!
Let me to dy bosom fly
Fah Jesus while de neares' water rule (roll),
While de tempes' still on high,
Leave me, leave me, not alone.
You gwine shine fah Jesus.
Some go ter meetin' ter show de dress,
Dey goin' ter shine.
When trouble taky you, shine!
When frien' forsaky you all de way,
Cyas' yer eyes on Jesus.
Shine, shine, shine!
2. I went to de rock, Time,
Ter hide myself, Time.
De rock cried out, Time,
My Lawd, no hidin' place, Time.
I went to der mountain
Ter hide myself.
De mountain cried out, Time,
My Lawd, no hidin' place, Time.
I went to de sea, Time,
Ter hide myself.
De sea cried out, Time,
My Lawd, no hidin' place, Time.
3. John saw, John saw,
John saw John.
'Tisn' so!1
John saw de holy angels settin' on de holy altar.
'Tisn' so!
John saw de angels settin' on de golden altar.
'Tisn' so!
All de people sayin'
Love de Lawd! Love de Lawd!
'Tisn' so!
Wheder he love de Lawd or not,
'Tisn' so!
Love de Lawd! love de Lawd!
Behol' de lamb of Gawd.
4. Gi' me dat ol' time religion2
It is good enough fah me.
It is good fah when I'm dyin'2
It is good enough fah me.
It was good fah all dem apostles.2
Gi' me dat ol' time religion2
It was good fah my dyin' moder (fader) 2
It was good fah Mary an' Marta2
It was good fah Simon Peter.
It was good fah John de Baptist.
1 Spoken, with vehemence.
2 Repeat twice.
5.
Leader: Come, my sister, join me!
All: Dis is de year of jubilee
Halelu halelu haleluja.
Las' year of jubilee.
Leader: Come, my broder, join me!
my chil'run
6. Too late, sinner,
Fah de judgment day,
too late, too late.
I and you will hurry home,
Too late, too late.
De gate will shut
An' you would' get in.
Too late, too late.
Judgment day will surely come.
Too late, too late.
7.1
When Moses smote de water,
De chil'run all passed over.
When Moses smote de water,
De sea gave way.
My chil'run, aren't you glad
To leave dis sinful army?
My chil'run, arent' you glad
De sea gave way?
broder, aint you glad,
My sister
Imother
You left.
8.
What kind er shoes you goin' ter wear?
Golden slippers. Bis.
Golden slippers I'm goin' to wear
An' outshine de glittering choir.
Yes, yes, yes, my Lawd.
I'm goin' to jine the heavenly choir. Bis.
I'm goin' to join the band.
1 Out of book.
---------------
What kind a robe you goin' ter wear ?
White robe. Bis.
What kind er streets you goin' to walk ?
Golden streets. Bis.
What kind er palms you goin' ter cyarry ?
Golden palms. Bis.
9. Mary weep an' Mart'a mourn.'
Jesus de man wid de dyed gyarment.1
Jesus died on Calvary
One of dese morning bright an' early'
Jesus died on Calvary.
Hitch on my wings an' I try de yair (air)
Mary weep and Mart'a mourn.
TOASTS AND OTHER VERSES
Lignum Vitae Cay, Berry Islands.
Dere's many man
Swear he love his wife alone.
Dere's many man
Love anoder man wife
And swear he love his own.
Abaco.
Seal skin pertect me f'om de col'.
Ice cream fountain springin' at mah feet.
Sausage boun' to play while I eatin'.
An' I will be satiswy in life.
Oh if I only could own dat Soudern Union cable,
Ella Gran would surely be my wife,
An' I will be satiswy in life.
Woman is de lovelest' of wine,
Out of ten she bought once a nine.2
She roll t'rough an' fro' likes de ocean swell.
She brought glad tiding from England
Widout crackin' a shell.
1 Repeat twice.
2 She had a chil' in de nine months.
------
On a dark an' squally wintry night,
When de dew fell on de ground,
A sailor boy was standin' by
Wid his sweetheart by his side.
He hugged her tight,
Embracin' her fast.
Yer partin' give me pain,
We will never never meet again.
Til in de countree bright an' fyair.
BALLAD[1]
One day I was walkin' along the street
I met a fine, pretty looking boy.
I went up to him an' I ax him pardon.
My deah, my deah, would you marry me ?
How cyan I impose upon dis fair maiden
Who had a true love gone to sea. Bis.
Suppose yer lover he get drowned,
Suppose yer lover in some foreign port,
Suppose yer lover some pretty fair marry him.
I love de gyirl dat marry him.
He shove he hand right into he pawket.
His finger wa' long an slimified
An' shine de ring dat part between dem.
Never mind gyirl, never mind.
WAR SONG.
Keep yer head down you Fritzi boy,
Keep yer head down you Fritzi boy.
Last night in the star twilight
I saw you, I saw you,
You were mending yer broken words,
You were opening yer rapid fire.
If you want ter see yer daddy
In yer daddy land,
Keep yer head down, Fritzi boy.
Jack and Gill went up de hill
Jack fell down an' break his neck
Jack swear by Gawd he win de race.
1 Heard in Andros.
--------------------
I had a little pony,
His name is Dample Grey.
Dey whip him, dey lash him.
I would not let my little pony go.
Nassau, New Providence.
Ol' England
De lan's of de sea
She rounded wid water
An' dat we all know.
Only a penny that I may buy
A small loaves of bread
For de baby and I.
I pint my rifles in de sky,
I shoot de pigeons as they flies.
I bid farewell f'om ev'y fear
An' I'll wipe my weeping eyes.
Dere is home, dere is home
To my own countree.
Heah comes a sailor
Which I have never seen before.
De sailor fel' drowsy,
He hangs down his head,
He call fur a cyandle
To light himself to bed.
Come along you fair maids,
Come along too.
Early in dee mornin'
He rose f'om his bed.
He called fah Maree
To square up the bill.
Mind, Mary,
How do you let it out.
Don' you let yer fader know
Whatsh you wuz about.
If is a boy, send him to sea
Wid his high heel boots
An' his bonnet, jacket blue,
For I will make him reeve de topsail
As his fader used to do.
John steal my Jimmie John
An' I bid de bugger not ter run.
An 'as he run
I shot de bugger in de --.
When I was a young girl in my prime,
I asked ter kiss every young boy I meet.
But now I'm so old an' so cold
I cyant get one kiss to save mah soul.
When I was a young girl
My moder keep me in,
Now I was an ol' girl
My moder let me out.
I went to Jim Brown
I set myself down
An' I call fah a glass of Jim Toddy.
De toddy was so warm
An' I was so ol'
It filled up my hon hon hon.[1]
Cat Island
Snake take de hoe cake,
Lizard come an' steal it.
Yer long tail nanny,
Bring back mah hoe cake.
Watlings
Dere's a ball in from London town
Mus' be on de groun'.
Take all de ladies in de town
Ter roll de ball all around.
Didn't it ramble,
Didn't it ramble,
Til de butcher cut him round.
Hecter perteker,
King of de Jews,
Walk in mah stockin',
Step in mah shoe.
Jennie, my darlin',
I love you so well,
I'll stick ter yer side
Like a lime to an ol' stone wall.
1 Yer got me ?
-----------------------
BALLAD (Version of Sir Hugh; Child 155)
Dere is many fine ladies
Dere is many putty yellow girl
I was cou'tin' my time.
Ladies, ladies, gentle and all,
I will sing you a fine song
Of a noble school boy.
One day one day I war camin' from school,
I bounced my ball so high,
I bounced my ball in de queen own yard,
No one could hear when it fall.
Come in, come in, my brave young boy,
Come in come get yer ball.
Oh no, oh no, I cyant come in
Except my shipmate follow.
She showed me an apple was green as grass,
She showed me an' ol' gold ring,
She showed me a cherry red as a rose.
Dat did entice me in.
She sat me down on t'ree ol' chairs.
She pas' me down wid pas'.
With a basin of water rubbed my feet
Ter ketch my blood when it spill.
Oh, do, young woman, spare my life,
Do spare my life little longer.
If I ever live ter grow a man,
I would marry to Barbary Ellen.
Oh no, oh no, said she,
I wouldn' spare your life no longer.
If you only live to grow a man,
You will marry to some one oder.
Do put a bible at mah feet,
A prayer book at mah head.
If any my schoolmates you do meet,
Do tell him I've gone ter sleep.
Ditto to my big toe
You know where grass grow.
RIDDLES
Lignum Vitas Cay, Berry Islands.
I. My fader had a house wid t'ree doors an' only one could open.
Cocoanut.,
2. Round as an apple
An' busy as a bee.
Tell me dis riddle,
I give you a ring.
Clock.2
3. My fader had a bunch of banana. He couldn't eat it, his
wife couldn't eat it, an' none in de house could eat it.
Dat's his daughter.
Soldier Row, Great A baco
4. T'ree forth of a cross
An' a circle complete.
Let two semicircle
An' a perpendicular meet.
Nex' comes anoder triangle
It stands on two feet.
Den two semicircle
An' a circle complete.
A pipe an' tobacco.
(As you smokin' de smoke in de air makes a circle.)
5. I climb an' he ride; yet still he get dere before me.
Cocoanut. You climb and pick de cocoanut, yet still
he get down on de ground before you.3
6. Dere was seven pyear hangin',
An' seven man passin',
An' each pick a pyear,
An' yet still leaves seven
An' dat was de seven pyear left.
Man name' Each.4
1 See no. 68.
2 See no. 104.
3 See no. 44.
4 See no. 31.
----------------------
7. Me riddle me riddle
I know somet'in',
Two heads on one body,
Nee dee noddy.
Barrel.1
8. I know somet'in',
Hole all aroun',
Hole in de middle.
An' yet still hol' water.
Sponge.
9. Me riddle me riddle
I know somet'in',
Round as an apple
An' sweet as not'in.
Well.
To. Humpy Dummy on de wall
Upset she on de wall.
All de doctah in de town
Couldn' cure Humpy Dumpy
When she fell.
Egg.2
II. Chick chick up,
Chick chick down.
Machine.
12. I sen' a letter to England
I tell you when it reach.
Fishin' an' line.
113. My fader had somet'in', ev'y time it crow, it crow fiah.
Gun.3
14. My moder had somet'in', every way it go, it leave a trackin'.
Trackin' of needle.
15. My moder had a pon' wid no bottom, but still yet it hol' a junk
of meat.
Ring on yer finger.4
1 See no. 63.
2 See nos. 52, 82, 93.
3 See nos. 32, 90, 95.
4 See nos. 40, I02.
i6. Me riddle me riddle
Me randyo.
Perhaps yer could clear dis riddle,
Perhaps yer cyant.
My moder had two daughters,
De ol' one could a talk,
De young one cyant.
Dat's de dry pease an' de green one.'
17. My fader had one son an' he ruled de whole worl'.
Dat's de sun.
18. Whitey sent Whitey in de gyarden to dri' Whitey f'om eatin'
Whitey.
De white mistress sent a white servant to drive
de white horse f'om eatin' de white close (clothes).2
19. I know som'tin',
My fader had two duff3 serve de whole worl'.
Sun an' de Moon.4
20. Bellee to bellee,
Han' round de back.
Take a big piece o' meat
Ter fill de crack.
A woman nursin' a chil'.
21. Round an' green outside and yellow inside.
Watermelon.5
22. I drinks St. Paul blood,
I eat his meat,
I t'row away de shell.
Cocoanut.6
23. Four laig up an' one broad top.
Bed.
24. If you don' go dere, it never come to you.
Bed.
1 See nos. 6o, 116.
2 See no. 105.
3 Similar to a pie, out of flour, boil it.
4 See nos. 83, io8.
5 See nos. 65, 113.
0 See nos. 46, Iio.
--------------
25. 01' England dead an' never rotten.
Glass bottle.1
26. It goes to school every day.
It carry ten an' bring ten.
Fingers, toes.
Nassau, New Providence
27. My fader had a t'ing, it suck a pon' o' water dry.
Rice.
28. My fader had a tree, it bear fruit, outside green and inside
white. Cocoanut.
29. Perhaps you can 'clare dis riddle an' perhaps you cyant.
My fader had a house.
In de house dere was a table.
On de table dere was a saucer.
On de saucer dere was a cup.
An' in de cup dere was his heart.
Yer heart in de cup.
30. De man who made it
Never use it.
De man who use it
Never made it.
Cawfin.2
31. Niddy, noddy,
Two head on one body.
Barrel.
32. My fader hat a t'ing,3 ev'y time she crow she crow fiah.
Gun.
33. Black hen settin' on a red aigg.
Pot settin' on de fiah.4
34. My fader had a thing,
Green as grass,
Ripe as an apple,
Soon get rot.
Fowl aigg.
1 See nos. 37, 76, 114.
2 Rooster.
3 See no. 72.
4 See nos. 43, 71, 107.
-----------------
35. My fader had a son, only got one eye.
Needle.'
36. Once was a time my fader had a bunch o' banana an' not
a mahn could a gone an' pick one.
Was'.2
37. 01' England die an' never rotten
Glass bottle.
38. White gyirl walkin' on a red bay.
Teet' an' yer gum.
Cat Island
39. Me riddle me riddle.
Four up a stander,
Four down stander,
One sweep arounder.
Cow.3
Rum Cay.
40. Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh.
Fader had a t'ing,
Perhaps you could clear dis riddle or not
Tub hol' water wid'out no bottom.
Ring on de finger.
41. Woman got baby t'ree head.
Banana.
42. Some t'in got two eyes an' only can cry out o' one.
Cocoanut.
43. Black hen settin' on red aiggs.
Pot on de fiah.
44. I went upstairs,
I sent a message downstairs,
An' it get before me.
Cocoanut.4
1 See no. 67.
2 Variant: My fader had a t'ing, no one couldn' touch it. See nos. 57, 99.
3 See nos 91, 98.
4 See nos. 112, ii8.
----------------------
45. I went upstairs,
A bag of beans drop down an' leave me.
Cocoanut.
46. I went up Saint Paul hill.
T'rew away Saint Paul skin.
Drink Saint Paul blood.
T'rew away Saint Paul bone.
I eat Saint Paul meat.
Cocoanut.
47. Fifteen rafters, one pos'.
Umbrella.1
48. I was ridin', but yet was walkin'.
De dawg name' Yet was walkin'.
49. Limber, limber, horse slippery.
Fish.
Watlings.
51. A house full, a kitchen full,
Can't ketch a spoonful.2
Smoke.
51. Me riddle, me riddle
Me randy-o
I saw my fader cook a pot o' hominy3, on top done an' de
bottom raw.
When you light yer pipe.4
52. Humpy Dumpy on de wall.
Humpy Dumpy had a fall.
All de doctors in de worl'.
Can't cure Humpy Dumpy.
Egg.
53. My fader had a horse, saddle him on his back an' ride him on
his tail.5
Machine.
1 See nos. 66, 87, 1oo.
2 T'imbleful.
3 Variant: I saw my fader have a t'ing.
4 Variant: My mother had a pot of pease and rice, done on the top and
raw on the bottom. Pipe and tobacco.
5 See no. 85, 97.
-----------------------
54. Me riddle me riddle
Me dandy o
Perhaps you can clear dis riddle,
An' perhaps you can't.
I saw my fader had a t'ing,'
Eve'y ba'k he ba'k
He ba'k fiah.
Gun.
55. Me riddle me riddle
Perhaps you can clear dis riddle.
Up Saint Cherry,2
Down Saint Cherry,
No man can climb up Sin Cherry.
Smoke.3
58. Two groun' holder,
Two cross stander,
Two swing around.
Cane mill.
58. My fader had a bunch o' bananas an' no one could touch it but
his own.
Was' nest.
58. My fader had a house
With no windows an' no doors,
Yet thieves broke in an' steal de gol'.
Egg.
59. My father had a thing, it hang and it never bear.
Rudder.
6o. My father4 had two things, the old can talk, but the young cannot.
Pigeon pea.5
61. My father had a blanket, it cover the whole world.
Sky.
1 Variant: A big ol' barrel dawg, rooster.
2 Variant: Sancharies.
3 See no. 126.
4 Uncle.
5 Variant: Two boys going along one could speak and the other could
not. Green peas and dry peas.
--------------------------
62. My father had a thing, it had three feet.
Pot.
63. Twelve men passing by.
Twelve pears hanging high.
Each took a pear
And left eleven hanging high.'
The man's name was Each.
64. A man riding and still walking.
Stick horse.
65. Red inside and green outside.
Watermelon.
66. Perhaps you can clear these and perhaps you can't.
Fifteen rafter on one post.
Umbrella.2
67. Poor little Susy on the hill with one eye.
Needle.
68. My father has a girl with three eye, but only one he could see out.
Cocoanut.3
69. My father had a son,4 the more he eat the more he want.
Mill.
70. My father had a field, what was the first crop he made?
His track.
71. A black hen setting on a red hen nest.
Pot sitting on fire.
72. The man who sells it don't buy it, and the man who buys it don't
want it, and the man who gets it don't know it.
Coffin.
1 Variant: Eleven pears hangin' high,
Eleven men passin' by,
Each man take one,
Leave eleven hangin' dere.
Each.
2 Variant: My father built a house with one rafter.
3 See no. 81.
4 Hen.
-----------------------
73. My father had ten son and every one wear their cap face turned
in the back.
Finger nail.
74. Four ground holders, four upholders, soft in the middle, hard all
around.
Bed.
75. My father had a thing, it walk all night and all day and can't see
where it walk.
Vessel.
76. Old England dies, but she will never rot.
Glass bottle.
77. Four foot jump on four foot looking for four foot.
Cat jump on the chair looking for rat.
78. My father had a house setting on one pin, with no windows, no
doors.
Cocoanut.
Long Island.
79. De livin' jump out de daid to save de life of de seven' son.
A lady had seven sons, one of de sons done a crime an' he
have to go to court. An' de moder of de son cry so much,
so de judge take a feelings to de moanin' of de moder, so de
judge tol' de moder of de son dey'll put de case off ef de
moder could bring fort' a puzzle befo' de court dat de
jury couldn' clear. In goin' home de moder met a dead
cow in de road, an' a little dawg jump out de dead cow.
So when he went back to de court he put fort' de puzzle
to de judge. De livin' jump out de dead. An' all dat was in
de court couldn't clear de puzzle, an' dey set de son free.
80. My fader had six sons and seven shirts. He give each one de sons
one shirt an' he take one, made de seven. De six sons wa' out
deir shirts an' still help de fader to wear his.
Dere seven days in de week. Ef you work six days in de
week an' still work Sunday, you help Gawd wid his own.
(You do somet'in' you shouldn' do, you should res' on de
Sabbat'.)'
1 See no. 128.
-----------------------------
8i. My fader had anoder article, had t'ree eyes an' only one he could
see out.
Cocoanut - have t'ree eyes, only one de water can come
out.
82. Humpy Dumpy was on de wall
An' he had a fall,
An' all de docter in de town
Couldn' cure him.
Aigg.
83. My fader had one dumpling an' he served de whole worl'.
Moon.
84. My fader had one crowd o' sheep an' all de people in dat town
couldn' count dem.
Stars.
85. My fader had a ol' white horse, he ride it no way but on he tail.
Pipe.
86. Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh.
Perhaps you can clear' me dis riddle,
Perhaps you cyan't.
My fader hat a t'ing go all night an' all day an' he cyan't get his
bellie full.
Sea an' de rock.
87. Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh.
Perhaps you can tell me dis riddle,
Perhaps you cyan't.
My fader had a upstairs house set up on one pos'.
Umbrella.
88. My fader had an ol' sow hawg, de higher you buil' de pen de more
he jump.
Cookin' ochry in de pot - de more fiah, de more he will
boil out.
' "Clear dis!" Stanly Turnquest of Long Island would say of any riddle.
"Das de way dey t'row it to you ?" he asked of one I "threw" him. Like other
Bahamans he distinguished little between riddle and tale; a tale was also
a riddle, merely "a heavy one."
-----------------------------------
89. Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh.
Perhaps you can tell me dis riddle
Perhaps you cyan't.
My fader had a little t'ing, white outside, red inside.
Fowl aigg.
go. My fader had a big rooster fowl an' eve'y time he crow, he crow
fire.
Gun.
91. My fader hat a t'ing, four groun' holders, two lookers, two
swingers (yeres, ears).
Cow.
92. My fader had a t'ing', had two lookers an t'ree standers.
Pot - two eye, an' t'ree foot.
Great Inagua.
93. Humpy on de wall,
Humpy get a fall.
No doctah in de worl'
Can't cure po' Humpy Dumpy.
Egg.
94. Every time de win' blow it blow on Ber Nancy coat tail.l
Banana leaf.
95. My fader had a roost', ev'y time it crow it crow fiah.
Gun.
96. Under de water,
Ower de water,
Yet not touch de water.
A lady passin' ower de water wid a pail o' water on her
head.
97. My fader had a horse, he ride him on he tail.
Pipe.
98. Four down standers,
Two upstanders,
One sweep arounder.
Cow.
1 Variant: Ber Nancy co' tail teer.
99. My fader had a bunch o' bananas an' he could' touch one.
Was' nest.
Ioo. My fader had a t'ing wid one pos' an' eight rafters.
Umbrella.
IoI. One man on de jail take five man to take him down.
Lice.
102. Me fader had a bucket wid no bottom.
Ring.
103. Ise was walkin' one day an' meet wid a little gyirl, an' I ax her
where is her moder ? She say her moder was dyin' t'ree days befo'
she was born.
Her moder was dyein' clo'se t'ree days befo' she was born.
104. Roun' as an apple,
Busy as a bee.
Clock.
105. Ber Whitey sen' Ber Whitey to drive Ber Whitey f'om eatin'
Ber Whitey.
A White lady sen' a White servan' ter drive a white cow
f'om eatin' a white clo'se.
io6. When Ber Reddy stick Ber Blacky, make Ber Whitey laugh.
When fiah stick de pot, make de water boil.
107. De black hen sittin' on de red hen nes'.
Pot.
io8. Mah fader have a johnny cake serve de whole worl'.
Sun.
og9. Mah fader had a trunk. When he open it, no man can shet it.
Peanut.'
IIo. Mah fader had a t'ing, eat he flesh, drink his blood, an' t'row away
his bone.
Cocoanut.
1 Variant: He open it, but he couldn't shut it. - Groun' nut.
---------------------------
III. Roun' as an apple,
Deep as a cup,
All King George's horses
Couldn' drag it up.
Well.
112. I start f'om England wid mah trunk. Mah trunk reach befo' me.
Cocoanut.
113. Red inside, white inside, black inside, green outside.
Melon.
114. 01' Englan' dead but never rotten.
Bottle.
115. Humpy dumpy dead an' he never run.
Me broke a bottle an' t'row it away an' it never run.
II6. I speak to de young an' dey wouldn' speak; I speak to de ol' an'
dey speak.
You shake de young pease an' dey wouldn' shake; you
shake de ol' pease an' dey shake.
II7. Cow broke down a wall an' buil' it up wid his tail.
You pull a needle wid t'read, an' after it comes out you
full it up again.
118. My fader went ter England ter buy some corn, de corn reach
befo' him.
If you let go a cocoanut f'om de cocoanut tree it will reach
down befo' you.
119. Dere is a creature he born widout sole, he live widout sole, he
die widout sole, an' yet he save his soul.
Jonah. De whale save him.
120. I was in a ship bound to Maderia. For de want of water I drink
water an' if I had water, I would ha' drink water.
121. Dere was a man owe anoder man ten pound, an' dis man come fah
it when de time was up. He on'y meet his daughter one home, an'
he ax de girl whey her fader ? Say her fader gone ter bruk down
one gyap to bull' up anoder. Axe' whey was de moder ? Say
moder gone huntin'; all she ketch she kill an' what she don't ketch
------------------------------------
she bring home live. Ax de girl what she was cookin' ? Say she
cookin' go an' come.
His fader gone to one man to borrow ten pound to pay
anoder. His moder gone to de pond wid his little broder
ter wash his head; all de lice she ketch she kill; what she
don' ketch she bring home alive. De girl cookin' pease,
ev'y time de pot boil up, de pease goin' up an' down....
So de gentleman ax de girl what he charge um to interpret
fah him ? She say twenty pound. She take de ten pound to
pay fah her fader an' she have ten pou' in rase've. De girl
wa' wise'
122. Dere was two king, one black king an' one white one. So de
white king ax de black one ter make his law an' he gwine sign it.
So de black feller make a law ter kill out all de ol' people. So de
white king tell him to send him a pig fah his dinner widout no
color, musn' be black, white, grey or no color. He couldn' get no
one ter put him in de way how he was ter get dis pig. Den his
moder tell him to write to de king dat he got dis pig, but he mus'
come fah it. He mus' come by air, he mus' come by water, he mus'
come under de lan', but he mus' come fah it. So he tol' de black
king, "You fool, you, if you kill all de ol' people, I kill you."
I couldn' get no one to interpret how he fin' de hawg. (His moder
tol' him).
123. Dere is two men, not de livin', not de dead, but dey de onnies
[only] two man obey de Lawd's command.
De bible an' de prayer-book.
124. Little Miss Etticoat in a white petticoat,
De longer she stan' de shorter she grow.
Cyandle.
125. A tall white man wid a red cap on.
Cyandle.
126. Up chin cherry,
Down chin cherry,
Not a man could climb chin cherry.
Smoke.
127. My fader had a t'ing,
Run roun' an round de house,
Don' make but one track.
Wheelbarrow.
1 Heard in Nassau, by John J. Taylor, aged about seventy.
128. My fader had six sons. He gave each son a shirt. Dey wear deirs
an' help him wear his own.
Six days in de week an' people still work on de seven'.
129. Bull frawg jump f'om bank ter bank, an' his little feet never touch
water.
Spider.
130. My fader had a house, had two doors an' all windows.
Fish pot.
131. My fader had a house, have a t'ousand windows an' one door.
Thimble.
132. I was goin' ter town, lookin' before; comin' out of town lookin'
before.
Cocoanut tree.
133. My fader have a horse, ev'y time he jump he leave a piece of his
tail.
Needle an' t'read.
134. Roun' as an apple,
An' flat as a pond.
Woman on one side, man on de oder.
Das a penny.
FOLK-TALES
LIst oF INFORMANTS.
I. Ella Brennan. About 40. Born on Lignum Vitae Cay, where live
three interrelated families.
2. Caretaker at beach pavilion. About 70. Nassau, New Providence.
3. Elizabeth Rolle. About 38. From Mastic Point, Andros Island;
visiting at Soldier Row, Great Abaco.
4. Uriah Barr. About 30. Occasional keeper at Hole in the Wall
Lighthouse, Great Abaco.
5. Elizabeth Miller. About 25. From Andros Island; visiting at
Soldier Row, Great Abaco.
6. Felix Young. About 30. Born at Wemys Bight, Eleuthera; has
lived at Nicoll's Town, Andros, and at New Providence.
7. Samuel Johnson. About 50. From Nicoll's Town Andros; living
at Nassau.
8. Octavio Dorset. About 68. Rum Cay.
---------------------------
9. Percy Kelly. About 17. Rum Cay.
Io. Man of 73. Rum Cay.
II. Alice E. Dorsett, school girl. Rum Cay.
12. Solomon Reckley. About 40. United Estates, Watlings.
13. John H. Bullard. School boy. United Estates, Watlings.
14. George Cumberbatch. School boy. United Estates, Watlings.
15. Louis Burrows. School boy. United Estates, Watlings.
16. Stanley Turnquest. About 42. Fisherman and pilot. Clarencetown,
Long Island.
17. George Strong. About 40. Fisherman. Clarencetown, Long Island.
I8. Joseph Charles. About 25. Great Inagua.
19. Raymond Johnson. About 20. Great Inagua.
20. John Johnes. About 18. Born in Trinidad; lives in Great Inagua.
21. William Darling. About 20. Born in Nassau; lives in Great Inagua.
22. John I. Taylor. About 70. Great Inagua.
Lignum Vita Cay. Berry Islands.
I. SHEEP THIEVES: TAKE MY PLACE1
Once was a time
A wery good time
Monkey chew tobacco
An' spit white lime.
Rabbit and Boukee went into a pasture to ketch sheep whete they
always used ter steal de people's sheep. The mahster went an' lay down
amongst the sheep wid a white sheet over him. An' now dis sensible
fellah, when he went, he knew it was de mahster of de sheep. An' now he
say to de oder fellah, "Go ahead, Jack. I ketch dis little one an' you ketch
dat big one deah." Now he knew he was de mahster of de sheep. Ven he
see who aint got eye fah see got sence fah know. An' he put off, an' de
mahster ketch de oder one.
Once again he done some crime. Dey caught him and put him in a
bag ter kill him. De nex' day Rabby passin'. He call, "Rabby, come on!
Dey want me to marry de king daughter. Me don' want to marry. Me don'
marry, Jack, you come on." He jump off, de oder one jump in, bang up in
de bag. De mahster come an' kill him.
2. PLAYING GOD-FATHER2
De two had a kag of butter. Dey was cuttin' a field. So now while dey
was cuttin', Robby holler, "Hu! You hear dat person callin' ? Don' know
1 Informant i. See MAFL 13: 82 n. 6; JAFL 30: 229; MAFLS 16: 37
n. i.; JAFL 35: 260 n. I.
2 Informant i. See MAFL 13: I n. i; MAFLS 16: 5 n. 4; JAFL 35: 253
n. 2.; MAFLS 17: 12-13, 238.
-----------------------------
why dey callin'." - "No min', go dere!" He gone. He open de kag of
butter, he eat much as he want. When he come back, de oder ax him, say,
"What 'e name ?" - "Begin 'um. Nex' day again gone to work. Jirectly
holler. "What's dat ? Dey callin' me again. I can't do me work. Dey callin'
me again." He say, "All right, sah. I wait here til you come. Go on!"
When he come back again, he say, "What 'e name?"--"Middle 'um."
Nex' day again he holler, "Hu -! I cyant do my work. You better go
terday." - "No, Jock, I can't do dat, you go again. Christen 'um!" So
when he come again, de las' time, he say, "What 'e name ?" - "Scrape
de bottom." Dey vent home dat night fah supper. Ven dey serve de supper,
dip in fin' (finger) only, kag only full of water. Say, "De heat melt it."
Great Abaco.
3. THE RIVER SWALLOWS THE GIRLS'
Once 'pon a time
Was a very good time
Monkey chew tobacco
And spit white lime.
Dis was an old ladee had two daughters. Ev'y day she go out, she
leave dem at home. Had one pease. Girls always goin' ter pick de pease,
an' she tol' dem not to pick it. She tol' dem, "You see dat riber out dere,
name' Cojer River." Say, "Dat's de river goin' swaller you all if you don'
stop pickin' de pease." Ev'y day she come home she miss de pease, an"
de girls say dey haven t pick de pease. Say, "Moder, I didn't pick no
pease." Cojer River ahead. Girl sing.
Me no picky de pease,
Me no picky de pease.
Today Cojer River goin' swaller me.
Cojer River swaller her down to de knees. Das de nex' girl.
Me no picky de pease,
Me no picky de pease.
Today Cojer River goin' swaller me.
River swaller bot' girls.2
Says old ladee, "You shouldn' treat my girl like dat."
E bo ben
Dat old storee is ended.
If you don't believe me,
Go an' ask de captain of de long boat crew
An' he will put you true.
1 Informant 3.
2 Told properly the River swallows each girl, piece by piece, as she sings.
33'
4. JACK PLAYS HIS FIFE ON THE GIANT'
Once was a time,
Was a very good time,
Cockeroach keep high low time
In papa ol' house.
Once was a woman had one son named Jack. He gone to de city an'
he buy him a little fife. It was Christmas time jus' like how it is now.
(December 24) Christmas day Jack say, "Moder, give me de fife and let
me go in de woods ter have some play." An' he started, and he went
an' he started playin',
Fee fa Mis fountain teree
Teree de mon
Teree de mon
Come plo teree ter me giant
Play fountain teree.
When he get furder down in de woods he meet a ten-head giant. De
giant said, "Me little boy, me little boy, where you goin' ?" Jack said,
"I'm goin' to look fah my livelihood." - "So jump on my big toe an'
play 'Fountain teree'." He play Fountain teree. "Come on my big knee
and play 'Fountain teree'." - He play. "Jump on my big gut and play
'Fountain teree'."
Fee fa Mis fountain teree
Teree de mon
Teree de mon
Come plo teree ter me giant
Play fountain teree.
"Jump on my big lips," he say, "and play 'Fountain teree'."
Fee fa Mis fountain teree
Teree de mon
Teree de mon
Come plo teree ter me giant
Play fountain teree.
When he say dat, he swaller um. Jack had one little piece o' knife an'
he shot by an' cut 'e gut an' he slip out. De giant tu'n round an' he say,
"Hie! Hie! Me little boy, me little boy, is as sma't as dat!" Jack says,
"Oh yes, is somet'in' smarter." Den de giant make atter Jack. Jack
started runnin' an' he started singin',
1 Informant 3.
-------------------------------
Hot water, moder, hot water.
Hot water, moder, hot water.
I am runnin', my moder.
Hot water.
Ahm in trouble, moder.
Hot water.
By dat time Jack moder was layin' down on de floor, was sleepin'. An
a little parrakeet fly in and pick um on de eye. An' ven he wake, de water
dat was in de basin tu'n to blood. She said, "My son in trouble!" By
dat time you could a hear Jack runnin'. When Jack got in de house, said,
"Moder, Ahm in trouble. Set de trap door in de floor and set de dinin'
table an' set a chair on de trap door." Jack went under de floor. Giant
came. "Good mornin', mah love." De ol' ladee said, "Good mornin'."
"Di'n' you see a little boy pass here jus' now?" She said, "No." By
dat time he was mos' out o' breat'. Said, "Come in an' get a res' !" An'
he come in an' set in de same chair. An' he commence ter dine. An' de
las' spoonful he take, Jack pulled de trap door an' down tumbled de tenhead
giant an' he shattered table, plate, spoon an' all. "I said so," he
said, "I said so. Dat damn little Jack cause' my deat'."
Be bo ben
My storee en'.
5. PLAYING DEAD1
Once 'pon a time
Was a very good time
Monkey chew tobacco
And spit white lime.
Dis was Brer Hunterman. Was a big seven head king by de name of
Brer Ring Tail Monkey. Dis was a fellah, he was huntin' Brer Ring Tail
Monkey, an' his name was Brer Hunterman. An' de King say he would
give anyt'ing in life who could catch Ring Tail Monkey. So dis day Brer
Hunterman went out hunting' into de fores'. It was summer spring. So
Brer Ring Tail Monkey could' get any water. So Brer Hunterman dug
a well. So dat was de only well in dat lan'. It was sev'ral small monkies
around dee well an' Brer Hunterman wa' lyin' down ter ketch dee Ring
Tail Monkey. So he couldn' caught him at all. So one night more dan all
dey had a settin' up ower Brer Hunterman. So dey sung out fah a lot of
visitors ter come to de settin' up, an' all de little monkey wa' in de house too.
So older girl say to der nex' younger one, "Chil', you better go an' get
1 Informant 4. See p. 497; also MAFLS 13: 91 n. 1.
------------------------------
some sour limes ter clear yer woice for singin' ter night." So Brer Hunterman
says' to Brer Ring Tail Monkey, "Start dat tune for me."
Primo primo
Brer Nancy dead an' gone along
Primo primo
When I come ter tell yer a little mo' yet
An' a debil an' a debil an' a debil it be.
So I was passin' along, Ring Tail Monkey fired a slap at me. I dart
an' I run an' I come right heah to tell you dat ol' lie.
So e bo ben
Dat ol' storee ended.
An' if you don' believe me' go an' ask de captain of dat schooner lyin'
out dere.
6. GREENLEAF2
Once was a time
A very good time
Monkey chew tobacco
An' spit white lime.
Cockeroach jump from pint to pint
He turn quarter never touch water.
Once was Jack. He said to his mama, "Bake me a loaf of bread and
give me two bottles of water." Moder ax him whey he goin' ? "Ahm goin'
to look fah my livelihood." An' he started. An' he traveled all day in
de woods until de sun set an' he get to a big fig tree an' he sleep dere til
nex' mornin'. In de mornin' when he waked up he went up in de tree an'
he looked down de sout' west an' he saw de city an' he say, "I will travel
fur dat city." He get dere about nine o'clock. When he get deah, he meet
de man was de ol' devil. Said, "Good mornin', good mornin' !" He said,
"Good mornin' !" Was very glad to see him. "Hah hah hah!" Said, "Whey
are you goin' ?'" - "Ahm come to look for a livelihood." He said dat was
his dwellin'. Jack axed him de name of de dwellin'. De name of de
dwellin' was de cyastle. De devil had one daughter, name was Greenleaf.
Jack fall in love wid Greenleaf an' he ax de devil dat he would marry
to Greenleaf. Devil tell him he will give him a puzzle an' if he could clear
dat puzzle, he le' him marry his daughter Greenleaf. De firs' puzzle he
gi' un, he take him in de farm an' tell him he wanted him to cut twenty
1 Here the narrator forgets the conclusion of the tale.
2 Informant 3. See MAFLS 13: 54 n. 2; MAFLS i6: 52-53.
--------------------------------
acre dat one day, plant it wid vegetAble an' le' him get vegetAble fah his
dinner. An' he had Jack startin' cuttin'. About twelve o'clock Greenleaf
come to him, an' dey sat under a tree. Greenleaf said, "Jack, lay yer head
in my lap an' le' me crack it." An' Jack says, "No," an' he commence ter
cry an' he say, "See dis job what yer fader give me. If I don' get dis
job ready he will kill me." An' Greenleaf urge him an' he lay his head
in her lap. An' Greenleaf crack his head until he went ter sleep. An'
when he waked up, he waked up in a fright. De fiel' was done cut an' all
vegetable was fittin'. In de evenin' when de devil come he was in a great
'maze. He says, "Hello, Jack! You smart as dat!" He tell him yes. He
say, "Somet'in' smarter!" Nex' day he give him anoder puzzle. He had
a vwell. He give Jack a sifter, to bale de water out de vwell, an' as soon as
de vwell dry, he le' him marry his daughter Greenleaf. Nex' day Greenleaf
come an' crack his head de same, an' when he waked de vwell was
dry. So de devil was pleased wid him, an' he married to Greenleaf. An'
dis night de devil got six aiggs an' he put it in de safe' an he tell Jack, said,
"I mus' go dere in de mornin' an' take t'ree. De t'ree what say, 'Don'
take me,' take dem. An' de t'ree what say, 'Take me!' don't take dem."
An' Greenleaf wake Jack, said, "Now, Jack, let us go in de pasture an'
take out de smartes' horse dat fader got an' saddle it up. Let us get away
from heah. Fader want ter kill us." Said, "Now go in de safe an' take out
t'ree aiggs an' dem what say, 'Take me,' don' take dem, an' de t'ree what
say, 'Don't take me,' take dem!" An' dey started. An' de ol' devil was
'sleep. Greenleaf get six peck of corn an' t'rows it to de big rooster an'
when de rooster done eat de corn, dey bin a good ways off in de distan'.
Rooster crow, "Kokiroko! Massah, Jack an' Greenleaf gone!" An'
crow again, "Kokiroko! Massah, Jack and Greenleaf gone!" De devil
jump up in a fright. "Ma wife! ma wife, Jack an' Greenleaf gone!" When
he gone in de pasture de smartes' horse was gone. An' he harnes' up de
one was nex' to de smartes' one. An' he speed on behin' Jack and Greenleaf.
Dey wait on de devil on de half way. Says, "Hello, Jack!" Jack
says, "Hello!" When de devil 'mos' reach up to dem, dey t'row down one
of de egg. Says, "G'ow, g'ow to a mountain. He on one side of de mountain,
I on de oder side." Says, "Hello, Jack!" Jack says, "Hello!"-
"How you get over de mountain ?" Jack says, "I cut, my wife cut, my
horse cut!" 01' devil leave he horse, he tu'n back, he gone home. He
bring he wife an' he pickax. He had two sons, one name' Cyan, one
name' Spoon, an' he bring dem and dey all chop, chop rock till dey
bring down de mountain. Jack wait on dem. After dey done cut down
de mountain, Jack speed, an' he speed behin' Jack again. Jack went
on tel he could hear him. Says, "Hello, Jack!" Jack says, "Hello!" Jack
t'rew down one of de eggs again. It growed a big river of water. He was
on one side and Jack on de oder side. Says, "Hello, Jack, how you get
acrosst here ?" - "I drink, mah horse drink, mah wife drink." Den de
devil start adrinkin', his wife start adrinkin', Cyan an' Spoon start
-------------------------------------
adrinkin'. His horse start adrinkin'. Dey drink untel dat horse bellee
bu'st. Any how dey dried de river. Den Jack gone, he speed off on de
devil again. (Dis de las' trial now). Jack t'row down de las' egg an' it
growed a big cyarpet.' Say, "Jack, how you get t'rough de cyarpet ?" -
"I bu'n, mah horse bu'n, mah wife bu'n." De devil start a bu'n. Say,
"Bu'n, me wife! Bu'n, Cyan an' Spoon!" De cyarpet bu'n untel he get
at de las' end. To de las' end was a big hole. When de devil get dere,
he wife an' Cyan an' Spoon an' all fall in de hole. An' Jack get a wood
an' t'row on 'em an' light de fire, an' dat make you see de devil in Hell
today.
E bo ben
My story is end.
7. THE CANDLE DRIPS 2
Once'pon a time was a werry good time
Monkey chew tobacco and spit white lime
Cockerroach jump from pint to pint
T'in quarter never touch water.
Now dis was a widow and son. Son was-name' Jack. He pah was dead
an' warn him not to go fishin' on de rock. When he went fishin', he fell
down in de sea an' he travel untel he reach a city. Vwhen he reach dere,
he heard a person talkin' to him, but he couldn' see. Dat was one girl.
Yer could come in, Jack.
Yer could come in.
Yer could come in,
Only I an' you too.
Go sit down, chil'.
Go sit down, chil'.
Go sit down, chil',
Only I an' you too.
Jack came in an' sit down. Den she vwent an' got dinner fah Jack.
Den she start singin' again,
Go to get yer dinner, Jack.
Go to get yer dinner, Jack.
Go to get yer dinner,
Only I an' you too.
1 Bush.
2 Informant 5. Compare MAFLS 13: 126- 127.
---------------------------
Jack done get his dinner. Den she get a basin of water an' she sing
again,
You go to wash yer hand, Jack.
You go to wash yer head, Jack.
You go to wash yer head,
Only I an' you too.
Jack done wash his hand.
You could sit down, Jack.
You could sit down, Jack.
You could sit down,
Only I an' you.
All de time Jack aint seen de person what singin' yet. She went an'
she fix a place fah Jack to sleep. Den she sing,
You could lay down, Jack.
You could lay down, Jack.
You could lay down,
Only I an' you.
Jack went an' he lay down. He didn' see der person yet.
You could get your cover, Jack.
You could get your cover, Jack.
You could get your cover,
Only I an' you.
Jack went an' he lay down an' cover. He say to Master Jack, "Now,
Master Jack, if you want to see me, don't hold dis cyandle in mah
face." De lady was so pretty, Jack hold de cyandle an' wait to see her,
an' de cyandle grease drop an' de lady melt away. Jack rested dat night,
an' de nex' night again until de nex' mornin'. Den he travelled his way
home again. When he got on de bay, de gyirl come back ter life again.
Give Jack a sword an' she take one, say, "Mister Jack, how I love you!
Before you leave me one heah, I more rather for me an' you too to die
togeder." She take a bay'net an' she point it on Jack's heart. An' Jack
point his on her heart, an' de two died togeder. As I was passin' and say,
"Look at how dem two big fool kill one anoder," the slap from Jack didn't
catch me, but de wind from it knock me right here tell dat big lie. If you
don' believe me, go an' ask de captain of de long boat crew.
-------------------------------
New Providence.
8. VARIANT (PLAYING GOD FATHER)1
Ber Boukee an' Ber Rabby, de two was goin' along one day in de fiel'.
Before dey got to de farm dey found a tin of butter. So Ber Boukee took it
and took it up to de high water mark. During de time he went in to his
work. Later on he heard a call. So he said, "Ber Rabby, someone call."
He said, "Brer, go an' see what he want." So he went. When he came
back, Ber Rabby ax him what de man wanted. He said, "Brer, de ladee
had a baby an' he wanted me to name him."--"Well, didsher name him ?"
He said, "Yes. His name was 'I begin umrn'.L"a ter on he went back again,
he heard anoder call. "I say, Ber Rabby, I can't do mah work. Didn'
you hear dat woman call me again?" He said, "Brer, go an' see what
he want again." Say, "He want ter christen dat baby. I name'um 'Ber
Half Um'." Later on he went back, he heard anoder call. He said,
"Ber, dey want me to christen anoder baby." - "Brer, what did you
name dat one ?" - "I finish um."
If you don't think this story is true,
You could ax de captain of de long boat crew.
9. REFUGEES IN THE ROOF2
Cockeroach keep time on de ol' man baid.
Bull frawg jump f'om stone ter stone.
Never touch not 'in' at all.
Now Ber Rabby and Ber Boukee goes out ev'y night ter cou't. Dey
leaves de way f'om cou'tin' an' went stolin sheep. Ber Boukee eye was
so big untel he went after a lion. De lion set chase after him an' he run
fah his house. Before he reach his house, he holler, "Oh, mah wife an'
chil'un, get up in de top." An' vwhen Ber Boukee get at de door, he mount
fur de house top. His chil'ren said, "Fader, I am tired hangin' up." He
said, "You damn fool!" He said, "You see Ber Lion down deah? If you
drop, he'll eat you. He smalles' one drop. Ber Lion wobbled him up. De
nex' size one drop, he destroy him. Dee t'ird one drop, he destroy him
same. His wife made answer, "Ber Boukee, I am tired hangin' up." He
said, "De lion destroy myt'ree chil'ren an' he want ter destroy you." His
wife drop on de flo'. Dee lion destroy her. Ber Boukee holler, "Oh me
wife an' chil'un is gone! What mus' I do ? I mus' die myself." Ber Boukee
drop down an' Ber Boukee an' de lion had a fight. De lion overpower Ber
Boukee an' destroy Ber Boukee an' his fambly, an' dey all die an' gone to
Hell, an' dat was de en' of Ber Boukee.
1 Informant 2.
2 Informant 6; heard while sponging, off Andros. See MAFLS 13:117 n.
2; MAFLS 16: 19; MAFLS 17: 8-9, 236-237.
-----------------------------
10. HIDDEN LOVERS'
Now once was a wery good time,
Monkey cher terbacer, spit white lime.
Now dis was a woman an' his husban'. Dis woman had a wery sweetheart
dat he love more dan his husban'. Dis poor man goin' out every day
strugglin' hard fur a livin'. When he come home, give him not'in' but
dry food ter eat. Vhen his sweetheart come in, he fix up de bes' dat he can
afford an' put on de table. On Sat'day mornin' he took his gun an' went
out shootin'. Vhen he come home he ax his little boy what he got to tell
him. He said, "Fader, I have not'in' to tell you now." He went out again
nex' day. He ax him if he have no story ter tell popper now. He tol' him,
" I have not'in' to tell yer terday." Dee nex' day he went out. Vhen he come
home, he ax his wife fur he b'eakfas'. His wife put a plate of dry hominy
on dee table. He said ter her, "Dis what you give me fah mah b'eakfast an'
I am workin' so hard ?" He call his little boy an' said, "What you have ter
tell fader terday ?" He said, "Fader, if I go ter tell you what I know, it
would make uproar in your home." He said, "Fader, go an' look in dee big
trunk, you'll see Mammer had a man shut up deah." He said, "Go an'
look under de bed an' behin' de room doo' you'll fin' one deah, too." He
said, "When you go out ter work Mammer an' dis man jus' havin' a good
time all day long." Dee husban' set chase after dem, an' one run to de
eas', one run to de wes', an' one run to de nort'. He took his wife an' put
him on de door step an' kick him down de step an' break his bloody neck.
An' das why dere is so much bad woman today in de worl'.
If you don' believe me go an' ax de captain of de long boat. Dey will
tell you all about bad woman.
II. TWO CAPTAINS AND THE WOMAN2
Now oncet dere was two ship an' de two captain was great frien'.
De two o' dem loadin' de ship wid cargoe an' went ter Baltimore. Dee
captain frien' ship sail fas' dan de captain own. Got in ter Baltimore,
unloadin' befo' de captain, an' now he wa' ready ter pull out. De captain
ax him what time he got ter leave. He said, "I want ter leave about
twelve o'clock." He said, "When you goin', let me know. I'll give you
a message ter give my wife." He said, "Tol' mah wife I am jus' got in an'
I want ter leave tomorrow night." He went an' deliver de message to his
wife. It was so calm de ship didn' reach at home dat night. De nex' night
de ship reach at home about twelve o'clock. De captain went home at
once to his residence. Ven he got dere, he get in his home an' no one know
how he get in. He meet de lights screwed down very low. He went in his
1 Informant 6. See MAFLS 13: 79 n. I; MAFLS 16: go.
2 Informant 6. Possibly this is a ballad-tale. Compare MAFLS 13: 163.
-----------------------
bedroom an' he foun' his wife an' his great frien' was in bed. He never
distu'b dem one bit. He let dem have deir res' out. About two o'clock
dey all vake. Dey foun' de lamp was screw' up. Dey wonder why de lamp
screw up high as it have. She comes out his room an' went in de hall. She
found his husban' was sittin' at de table readin'. De husban' replied
to her, "Go back an' take yer res', you an' your lovin' sweetheart." She
went back an' lie in de bed wid de tears rollin' out de eyes. Nex' morning
he wake up, his sweetheart start ter go. De husban' said ter her, "Go an'
get yer swetheart tea an' b'eakfas' an' set it on de table." He said, "An
get him a towel to wipe off his face." An' dey all went at b'eakfas'. He
said, "Now give her what you goin' ter give her. If I wasn' here you even
wa' to give her money." His sweetheart took a ten dollars bill out er
pocket an' give to her. An' he bid good mornin' an' went. An' eve'y
time dat her an' his husban' go ter b'eakfas' an' dinner he took dis ten
dollars bill an' place it in a golden cup, an' every time dat she looks on
dis money, she could not eat her food, fer she know dat she has done his
husban' wrong. An' she die an' went ter Hell wid a breakin' min'.
If you don' believe me, go an' ax de captain of de long boat.
12. BOUKEE LIES TO HIS TASK MASTER.1
Once 'pon a time was a werry good time
Monkey chew tobacco and spit white lime.
Cockrooch keep good time.
Bull frawg jump f'om pint to pint
An' he never skip a bank.
Now dis day Boukee he started ter rig a trap fur Ber Rabbit. Ber
Boukee gone. After he (Rabbit) heard it he gone an' he get a beeg sack,
what you call a bag. An' he full it up wid some kind of shavin' stuff an'
he make dat baggin' to an image of a person. Den Ber Rabbit pass by.
He (Boukee) had on a pot of boiling water ter seal' Ber Rabbit. Dey want
to ketch him an' kill him. When Ber Boukee come he gone to his tas' (task)
mahster an' he tol' his tas' mahster, say he got Ber Rabbit. He sen' him
back fer him. He vwent back. An' after he vwent back, he took him up,
he goin' to cyarry him befo' he tas' mahster. When he get him befo' his
tas' mahster, his tas' mahster tell him to fling him in de fiah. Den he
come to fin' out he had a bag of shavin' ter fling in de fiah. Den his tas'
master ketch hol' Ber Boukee an' had him fling in de fiah fah tellin' a
lie to his task mahster, bu'n him.
Ber Nancy dead an' gone oh
Brina Brina
Time fah him to shed dat dough
Lickin' dat drum.
1 Informant 7.
--------------------------------------
Rum Cay.
13. THE PASSWORD: IN THE COW'S BELLY.1
Boukee gone to Ber Rabby cookin' meat. He ask where he got dis
meat from. Ber Boukee tell Ber Rabby, "Come soon in de mornin!"
Dey meet dis cow standin' up. Boukee say, "Open, Ber Bajer, open!"
Ber Rabby gone in. Ber Boukee holler, "Open, Ber Bajer, open!" Now
when dey get in, Ber Rabby know jus' what to do. Dis t'ing dat hangin'
up, don' touch dat. After Ber Rabby come Boukee couldn' satisfy. He
cut an' cut tel he cut de t'ing dat was hangin' up. He say, "Open, Ber
Bajer, open!" Ber Bajer jus' shut up closer. He staid in dere an' dat was
de las' of Ber Boukee.
Variant.2
Dere was an ol' mahn livin' to hisself. In livin' to hisself he find dis
fellow ev'y day go to dis mahn house an' eat meat. "How come you ter
get meat ?" - "I can tell you if you don' tell 'um. Come in de mornin'
at de first fowl crow." Gone in de mornin'. Meet a cow. Gone inside de
cow. Cut, cut, cut. Carryin' on dat every mornin'. Las' mornin, see de
cow dere, go in get some meat. Go inside, cow drop down rambling.
14. VARIANT (PLAYING DEAD3)
Dey want a nine tail monkey. Eve'y day dey gets lots o' men to go, get
down to de pon' where de monkey get water. Dis big head fellow stan'
up in de tree. Little monkies come down an' dance on de man.
Condjou condjou condjou
What de dead de day.
As dey dance dey pick. Dance all day on de man. Dat beeg one wouldn'
come down. De king tell um any man bring dat nine tail monkey have
a half what he got. One mornin' a po' ol' man come to de king. Dat ol' man
gone, get in cross dat place. T'rough de day all dem little monkies come
down, dance on dat ol' man, den bite um, dance on dem, bite um. Dat
beeg monkey sing (in base voice),
01' man lie down, dead
Hit um bap! bap!
He lick de tail clean off. He say, "Hunter no dead! Hunter no dead!"
He bade hisself in de pon', get home late dat night. Knock at de door.
1 Informant 9. See MAFLS 13: 8 n. 3; MAFLS 15: 14 n. 2; MAPLS 16: 35
n. 2; Folk-lore, 29: 206-218; JAFL 35:274; MAFLS 17:26-27, 245-246.
2 Informant 8.
3 Informant 8.
-----------------------------------
01' woman say, "01' good fah not'in' t'ing! Mah daughter, he got um!"
01' man dress hisself off, went to de king to p'esent dat tail. Guns was
firin'. When de ol' woman look see cyarriage an' t'ing comin' home.
15. HIS LIFE IN AN EGG'
Two broders an' one sister. De sister name Mary, was married to
de debil. Gone years an' years. One mornin' dat younges' broder ax he
moder, "Whey mah sister ?" - "Hardly much use fah me to tell you
'bout dat sister. You won't fin' her." - "Moder, bake me a loaf of bread,
an' a bottle of water." Goin' ter hunt fah his sister. Walk on de bay.
'Bout twelve o'clock, he see an' ol' woman befo' him wid de head off. De
boy whistle. De ol' woman listen, clap he head right back on. "Good
mornin', moder!" - "Good mornin', son. Whey you gone ?" - "Gone
to look fah mah sister." - "All right, son, look mah head!" Boy sat
down an' look dat ol' woman head ter perfection. "If you hunger, here an
egg an' a marble stone, grain of corn; egg dropped down, a pon'; grain of
corn, heave it down, a fiel' of corn. Look to westward, tel you see a house,
dat de house you sister Mary live." Heave down de stone, tu'n a bird. Fly
fah dis house til he get close by to de yard. Stood on de tree. Here come
now he sister Mary, de debil wife, feedin' he fowl. When he look on de
tree he saw dis bird. He made ansah, he say, "Oh das a pretty bird!" An'
dat bird fly 'roun' an' 'roun' de yard de whole day, tel evenin'. An' when
de debil come in f'om his work dat evenin', den Mary said to his husban',
"My husban', oh is a fine, pretty bird dat I saw today." Den de husban'
make answer, say, "Mary, why you didn' ketch him ?" She said by 'm
being a strange bird of cou'se he couldn' coax him in, but nex' mornin'
when he feed de fowl he try ter coax him in as fas' as he could get him in.
De nex' day de bird come in again. De ladee feed de fowl. De bird light
clean down between de fowls pickin' up. As soon as she make a ketch at
him he flies off again. He didn't light no more dat day in de yard, but
flyin' right around de yard. In de evenin' when de ol' gentleman come
home, de firs' t'ing he holler, "Mary, did you ketch dat bird today ?" -
"No, de fowl was eatin' but he wouldn' let me come up to him." Den
he says, "Mary, do termorrow try an' ketch him." De nex' day Mary
start again ter go feed de fowl til he come down. Den when he came down
dere Mary start at him. She flies fer de house. After she flies fer de house
she become a man. He set down in de house an' look after his sister an'
his sister look after him. An' he made answer to his sister, "Do you know
me ?" His sister said, "No, I don't know you." - "You don' know me!"
Sister said no. He said, "Don' you remember dat befo' you leave home
you had two broders, de younges' one you call Jack ?" De sister say, "Well,
I can hardly bring it now to mind dat I had a broder name' Jack." Den
1 Informant 8. See MAFLS 15: 208 n. 2.
------------------------------------
he say, "Sister, remember good!" - "Yes, it jus' comin' now to my
memory. Yes, when we was young you was call' Jack fah true. I am
sorry, Jack, dat you come because my husban' is very bad." So Jack
say, "Don' matter how bad he is, but I come fah you." He say, "Well, all
right. Dis evenin' you turn bird, you go in de cyage. Den let mah husban'
meet you." He had Jack in de cage. When de ol' man come back, as quick
as he get to de do' he says, "Mary, did you get dat bird today ?" -
"Yes, he is in de cage." He went an' look at de bird. "Oh, Mary, what
apretty bird! Take care of it." Dey sit down an' talk, devil an' his wife.
De boy listen to ev'y word dey say. Nex' mornin' ol' man gone out, say,
"Mary, take good care of dat bird!" Mary gone to feed de fowl again. As
he lift him out de cage, he become a man again. De broder said to de
sister, "Your husban' name' de debil. Don' fear, your husban' wouldn'
kill me, but one t'ing I want you to ax your husban' when he come, ax
him whey is he life ?" Dat evenin' when de devil get in, he ax, "Mary,
whey is de bird ?" Mary say all right. Dey talkin' an' laughin', talkin'
an' laughin'. Mary say, "Sence we been togeder for years you never
tell me whey is your life ?" - "Been togeder fer years, you never ax
me question like dat yet. Look like somet'ing strange. My life is way
up in de eas', in an' elephan' bellie. An' in dat bellie is a pigeon, an' in
dat pigeon is a aigg, an' in dat aigg is my life." De debil gone an' comin'
back, say, "Mary, I smell de blood of an Englishman." Mary say, "Well,
man come here today I dun no whey he spring f'om." He meet dis man.
"Ho ho ho!" he say, "No man lives in dis town but myself. Any man
come in I shall kill him." De young man says, "All right, sir, I am here."
- "Well, we got ter get to fight." De devil get in his sto'e room, he
bring out two sword, one shine one, one rusty one. He said, " Now, my
dear man, you take one, an' I'll take one." De young man went an'
took de rusty sword. An' dey all two get ter fight. As fas' as dey come
up to one anoder dey lickin' to one anoder neck. Dey fightin'. When
Jack was to swing so, de debil swing so. De two was walkin'. Mary
broder cut one o' de devil head off. When Jack do so, de nex' head go.
He knock an' knock tel Jack take off de las' head of de debil. (Devil
have ten head). After de las' head fall, Mary made answer to he broder,
"Well, broder, you kill off de debil, now how was we ter get home ?"
Jack tu'n a bird again. Fly up in de air. Come to a pon' of water, wid
a big flock of sheep. Every day one sheep gone, de people didn't take
good care of dem. Is an alligator, in dat alligator is a pigeon, in dat
pigeon is an aigg. Now Jack fightin' ter get dis aigg. So Jack gone to
dis gen'leman who got dis sheep. Say, "Good mornin', sir!" - "Good
mornin', sir. What is yer erran' ?"-"You got a lot o' sheep ?"- "Yes."
"I come ter take care of dem. Every mornin' you sen' me a bottle of
water an' a crus' of bread, please, sah." Sure enough dat mornin' Jack
take dat flock of sheep, gone out in de wood, got dem all right befo'
him feedin' tel about twelve o'clock. Twelve o'clock ev'y sheep start right
---------------------------
den fah de pon' an' drink water. Jack start fah de pon'. As de las' sheep
was goin' to drink water, de alligator make at him. As he make at him
like dat, Jack make at him an' he tare him in half, an' de pigeon was
goin' ter fly. Jack make at him an' ketch him an' tear him in half, an'
he took de aigg out an' put him in his pawket. Jack came in dat evenin'
after four o'clock, cyarrin' all de sheeps. An' after he came in de gen'mun
count de sheeps. Dis man brings in de hundred. De gen'mun says, "Now
I'll give you a cyarridge, an' take dis cyarridge an' go back fah yer
sister." An' after he went back, he take his sister an' drive his sister up
home. Den he gone home den a rich man.
16. VARIANT( PLAYING GOD-FATHER): TELL-TALE GREASE1
Once 'pon a time
Was a very good time
Monkey chew tobacco
And spit white lime.
Toe toe to my big toe flasher.
Dis day Ber Rabby an' Ber Boukee goin' a cyan bushin' party. On de
way start acuttin'.... Who call him ? People call him give chil'en a name.
"Begin um." Cut a little bit again. Keep a cuttin'. "Half um." Dey start
acuttin' again. "You go. You know how ter gi' chil'en name." "Done
um." Dey comin' home. Dey shove de spoon in de kyag o' butter. Ber
Rabby holler, "Who eat dis butter ?" - "Tain' me." - "Take off you
pants, in de sun de butter star'." For tellin' dis big storee, he hit me one
slap, he hit me right heah.
17. TAR BABY2
De king had a very fancy fiel' one. Miss his stuff out de fiel'. Goin'
fah several years, keep amissin'. Put up a form of a man. It was a tar
baby. When de robber take charge of de fiel' dat mornin', he saw dis
man in de fiel' an' hail him. "You been stealin' mahster, stealin' fah
so many years. Goin' to tell mahster. I struck you." Hand stick. "You
better look out dis hand. If I struck wid dis, I kill you dead"... "You
see dis one hundred foot heah? If I kick wid dis I tear you to pieces."
Dat foot stick. Dis is his las' foot out. You see dis t'ousen' foot heah ?"
Dat foot stick. De king come an' dey caught him.
1 Informant 9. See MAFLS 13: 2 n. I; MAFLS 16: 8ff.; MAFLS 15: 66
n. I; JAFL 35: 256.
2 Informant io. See MAFLS 13: 12 n. i; MAFLS 16: 25 n. 2; Folk-lore
XXX, 227--234; JAFL 35: 256 n. 2; MAFLS 17: 23-26, 244--245.
-------------------------
18. TAKE MY PLACE: FRUIT-DROPPING1
Ber Rabby goin' stealin'. Lef' orders when he come, put on a big
barrel, dey goin' ter seal' him. Fader caught Ber Rabby. Ber Boukee
come, he hail him. "Dey put me heah ter marry de king daughter. I don'
want ter marry de king daughter." - "You don' want ter marry dat high
rich woman!..." "Dis is a great big black man. You put in a white." -
"Whether white or black, pink or blue. I gwine scal' um... " Ber Rabby
went up a pyeare tree. Ber Boukee sit under. Drop down a green pyeare.
"My goodness, I all scal' up, an' yet dey beat me!" Drop down a green
pyear. Eat it, say, "De Lawd love me." Mahster comin'. Run to de sou'erd,
run to nort'erd, run to de east.
19. THE BIRD FROM THE EAST TESTS PUNDO2
Dere was a po'ol' man, name of Pundo. He was livin' in a ol' cyamp for
some years. No way to live on. Get some ol' grasses, put in a little place
ter res' hisself on. Po' ol' chap! No wife, no chillun. Well, in settin' down
in dat place, he heard f'om de eas' a bird comin', an' when dat bird come,
he light on top of de house. He sing out to him, he say, "Pundo !" Pundo
say, "Yes, sir." He say, "Hol' yer han' !" He drops he aigg in he han'.
An' after he drop dat aigg in he han', he been deah' bout four or five
mont's f'om Pound. After he come back to dat place, he holler, "Pundo !"
- "Yes, sir." - "Pundo, whey mah aigg?" - "I got him, sah." He
say, "T'row him down." An' after Pundo t'row dat aigg down, Pundo
become a young man, was in a city, wid a wife an' one son. Dat bird been
away f'om Pundo fah five years. After he come back again, he say,
"Pundo!" - "Yes, sir." Say, "Hol' yer han'!" Put anoder aigg into
Pundo han'. An' after he gone, aigg was lock' up in an iron cage. He had
one son. De fader give de son de whole parole. One day more dan all de
boy was searchin' an' searchin' an' searchin' an' he meet up wid dis
aigg. De boy sing out to his moder, he say, "Moder, I want dis aigg ter
boil." De moder said to him, "Son, more dan my head wort' to give you
dat aigg because yer fader put it dere." Den when de fader come home,
de ol' woman say to de fader, "Yer son cryin' out fah de aigg he seen
heah terday. Oh, my husband, only one son you got, you goin' to let
yer son die fah dat aigg ? " So de ol' fader tell um, "All right, you can have
um an' boil it." An' den after dey done boil dat aigg, in bout t'ree days
time de bird tu'n back. An' after he t'urn back, de bird call, "Pundo!" -
"Yes, sir." Say, "Whey me aigg?" Pundo say, "I use it, sir." He say,
"All right. Hol' yer han'. I drop anoder aigg into it." An' in t'ree days
time he been back. An' he tell Pundo broke dat aigg. An' after Pundo
broke dat aigg, he tu'n back in dat same ol' camp, no wife, no children.3
1 Informant io. See MAFLS 13: 86 n. I.
2 Informant io.
3 "He broke orders !" was the comment on this tale.
-----------------------
20. CRIPPLE AND BLINDMAN.1
Once dere was an ol' man livin' in de wi'derness, livin' in a tent was
an ol' blin' eye man. He said he couldn' see to do not'in, an' dere was him
an' a cripple man. Yet still in de mornin' dis blin' eye man manage to
go out, an' he does go down eve'y mornin' an' set his fish pot an' in de
even' go an' fin' no fish in it, but when he comes home he meets de bes'
of fish cook' fah breakfas'. Den he fancy to say, "I don' see how dis happen.
I don' see how dis fish come out de pot." After he done breakfas' he
ax dis blin' one whey he got dis fish. "It seems very funny you here blin',
I go to my fish pot, I done meet no fish. I come on heah, you got fish
cook' fah breakfas'." Dat goin' on fah about four weeks right on a
stretch. So after he goin' on dat morn an' he don' meet no fish in de pot,
he get mad, he say, "I'm goin' home dis mornin', I get a club. When I
hit him dis morning, he will see after dis." So he did. He up wid dat club
an' he soak' dat blin' eye one. An' after he soak that one, he see, an'
he up an' soak dat cripple one an' he could walk straight. One blow bring
de cripple straight an' de blin' in sight.
21. RABBIT CUTS DOWN THE TREE2
Once upon a time a woman issued a proclamation that she had an
ockro tree, that it grow so tall that she was unable to pick and she promised
that the one who cut it down for her she would give them her only
daughter for their wife. The horse came and he cut all day until 5 p. m.
No success in cutting down; he went home. The next day Ber Sheep came.
All day long the same until 5 p. m. No success. The next to come was the
goat. No success. He went home. The next was Elephant. No success,
so he went home. The next was Rabbit. He came that morning and said,
"Good morning, mam." She reply to him, "What do you know-nothing
creater want ?" He said, "I come to cut the tree for you, mam." She said
to him, "All them big creater was here. They could not cut it down.
I don't see how you know-nothing creater could cut it down. But never
mind, go 'head!" So he went to the tree and took out his hatchet an'
start bang, bangling mer fare forjafar mere bangling bang; bang, bangling
mer fare forjafar mere bangling bang; all day long. The old lady get
worried in mind, don't know what to do. She went to work an' cook
breakfast for him and went to him and said to him, "Come, you knownothing
creater, aint you going to take breakfast." - "No, mam," he reply
to the lady, "I have my breakfast in my bag." Every time he cut and
found that his hatchet get dull he put his hand in his bag an' it became
sharp again, until 4 p. m. came. The old lady see that Rabbit had the tree
most down. She began to cry. He cut and cut until about 5 p. m. the tree
1 Informant 8.
2 Written by Informant ii.
---------------------------------
came down lim! to the ground. He ran to the house to the old lady for a
basket to pick the ockro. She with tears in her eyes give him a bushel basket
to pick it in. He pick and pick until he pick all of it and brought it to the
old lady. She said with tears in her eyes, "It was my agreement; I would
not fall from it." So away he went with his wife. In this country all of
the creater have their own town. So when he reached the Horse town
with his wife, they say, "Who that dere pass there ?" He reply, "Me,
Ber Goat." - "Don't walk the big road, little road walk, the big road,
trap set there for Ber Rabbit and his wife." So he went the little road.
And went on a little further he came to Sheep town. They said, "Who
that dere pass there." - "Me, Ber Horse." The sheep reply to him,
"Don't walk the big road, walk the little road. Trap set there for Ber
Rabbit and his wife." So he went the little road. And when he went a
little further he get to the Cow town. They said to him, "Who that dere
pass there ?" - "Me, Sheep." - "Don't pass the big road, pass the little
road. Trap set there for Ber Rabbit an' his wife." So he went on until
he reached home with his wife. After they heard that all the trap they
set for him was in vain; so send Elephant to take away his wife. As he
was the harbour master, they know he would take away his wife. So he
went and take his wife. So Rabbit went to the rivet and take up a bottle
of water an' all the river became dry. Elephant and all get worried.
They told him to carry his wife back. He went back to Rabbit with his
wife; but Rabbit did not want to take his wife any more. But after
Elephant pleaded so much, he take her back. After he went Rabbit
went and take the bottle of water and empty it in the river and all became
full again.
22. ESCAPE UP THE TREE1
The boy of the old lady used to travel in the woods by himself. One
day more than all he met with these three young ladies. They told him
that they was going to lay in wait for him to kill him. So he went home and
told his mother about it. One day he said to his mother that he is going
for a walk; and if he meet with these three ladies again that he got three
dogs, the name of Crack-bone, Suck-blood, Tearer-eat-all. "When you
hear his (my) voice say, 'Crack-bone, Suck-blood, do your duty!' let
them go." But when the ladies rush upon him, he run up in the tree for
his life. And the three ladies got to the tree and began to cut it down
to kill him. And he sing out for Crack-bone, Suck-blood and Tearereat-
all. The old lady was asleep, and one of the dog, hearing his master
voice, brake his rope and ran to the door, awoke the old lady. She cut
loose the others away then in search of their master. When he saw them
coming a little way off, he said to them, "One to east, one to west, one
1 Written by Informant ii. See MAPLS 13: 66 n. 2; MAFLS 16: 80 n.
3; Zeitscbrift
fiir Ethnologie, 1922, 1-29; MAFLS 17: 96-99, 269-271.
--------------------------
to north, do your duty!" In no time the three dogs had the three ladies
tear in pieces.
23. VARIANT(G REENLEAF)1
Jack one day went to the devil house for a night lodging. The devil
at once took him in for that night and give him a place with his daughter
in the bed, for his intention was to kill him that night. But while the
devil was asleep, the daughter told Jack what his father intend to do
with him. So they both make up in their mind to escape. The daughter
went out an' cut two large stick and laid it in the bed and cover it up
very nicely. Then she took her father three golden eggs an' went to the
stable and took out the donkey, and away they went. When the devil
awake, he caught the bed on fire, and when it burn so much, the wife
said to him, "Don't let the liver burn." He went in, take the fork and
stuck it in the bed and said, "Oh my, it tough yet!" And after a while
he went back and found the house burn down and everythings smack
and smooth, and Jack and his daughter were gone. He went to the stable
to look for his donkey. He found that was gone. He said to his wife,
"What must we do ?" She said, "Jump on me!" and he jump on his wife
for the donkey. On they pace until they came in sight of Jack. The
daughter threw down one of the egg, and it came to a field of grass.
He sing out for Jack, "How you pass ?" - "You eat and your donkey
eat." They eat and eat until they eat all of it, and they pass. They went
on again until they came in sight of them again. She threw down one
of the egg again. It came to a big patch of (?) hall-back. He sing out
again for Jack and said, "How you pass ?" - "You cut and your donkey
cut." They cut until they cut all of it down, and they pass. They went
on again until they came in sight of them again. She threw down the
last egg, and it come to river of water. He sing out for him again and
said, "How you pass ?" He said to the devil, "You is a wicked old man!
You drink and your donkey drink." They drink and drink until they
found that they could not dry the river. They turn back for home again,
and Jack took the daughter home with him.
Watlings Island
24. TUG OF WAR2
Ber Rabbit an' Ber Whale. Onct on a time Ber Rabbit and Ber Whale
get into a bet; one bet each oders dat dey could beat one anoder. Ber
Rabbit say, "Ber Whale, I could bring yer on lan' !" Ber Whale say,
"Ber Rabbit, I could bring yer in de sea." Dat come up a question
between de two o' dem. Dey compromise de day when dey would act
1 Written by Informant ii. See p. 490.
2 Informant 12. See MAFLS 13: 74 n. i.
------------------------------
dis battle. Dis day come forward. Ber Rabbit said to Ber Whale, "I am
ready. Now, Ber Whale, I will pull you on dee land." Ber Whale said
to Ber Rabbit, "You cyant do it, but I will tell you what I will do, I
will pull you in de sea." (Now dis is de sweet part comin'.) De day was
appointed for each of um. Ber Rabbit fixed de plan. Ber Whale fix his'n.
"When I am ready I vill letchyer know." Ber Rabbit get a rope, Ber
Whale get one. Each of 'em tie a rope to each oder. De day would be
appointed ven I ready I'll say to you. Ven dis day come, Ber Rabbit
went up in a tree. Ber Whale blow out de water. Each of 'em says, "I
am ready." Ber Whale says to Ber Rabbit, "Come, let's go!" Ber Rabbit
says to Ber Whale, "I am ready." Each of dem pull, Ber Rabbit bring
Ber Whale jock to land. Ber Whale bring Ber Rabbit jock to sea, til
he hip touch water. It bring Ber Rabbit straight in to water, he say,
"I'm not business heah." Tu'n dat same hip to sea. Say, "Ber Whale,
let's go inland." Ber Rabbit up in de tree. Ber Whale and Ber Rabbit,
dose two men pull until dey weary, den dey was cut off fo'm dat rope.
Hip hip hurrah. Ber Rabbit beat de race, an' he was in de tree, didn'
do no work. If you don' believe dis storee, go an' ax de captain of de
long boat.
25. BACK IN THE SAME HOLE1
One time Ber Lion fell in a hole for sev'ral days. One day Ber Monkey
came by an' he heard de groanin' in dee hole. He had a chance of peepin'
down in hole, him an' Ber Lion eye meet. He said to Ber Lion, "Byare
(broder), what are you doin' down dere ?" - "Ah, Ber Monkey, I fall
down in dis hole, an' I can not get out." Ber Monkey seys, "I could
getshyer out." Ber Lion says, "No, Ber Monkey, I am too big. You can
not get me out." An' dey had a growl ower it. Ber Rabbit was passin'
by an' he heard dis noise an' he came dere ter fin' out what dis noise
were. An' as soon as Ber Monkey heard Ber Rabbit, he was glad. He said,
"Come here, Ber Rabbit." Ber Rabbit says, "What is de trouble, Ber
Monkey ?" Ber Monkey says, "Ah, Ber Rabbit, look what I have done for
Ber Lion. He were down in dee hole an' I took him out." Ber Rabbit
says, "Oh, Ber Monkey, how can you get a big animal like Ber Lion out
of de hole ?" - "I did it."
--"How
did you did it ? I don't believe dat
you do it." - "All right," says Ber Rabbit, "Ber Lion, jump back in dis
hole, I would see if Ber Monkey could get you out." He did come to make
a peace; because Ber Lion was goin' ter eat Ber Monkey. An' when Ber
Lion jump back in hole, Ber Rabbit says to Ber Monkey, "Now you
could go yer way. Let Ber Lion stay down where he was."
An' if you don't believe dis, go an' ax de captain of de long boat, an'
he would tell ver better.
1 Informant 12. See MAFLS 13: 11o n. 6.
--------------------------
26. SPIDER'S TEETH1
Ber Boukee and Ber Spider was ask to a ball. Ber Spider say, "If
you gimmie teeth I will give you a ball." Ber Boukee give Ber Spider teeth,
but it was bennie teeth. And they went and when they reach they
commence to dance. Every time Ber Spider get to the girls he grin hee!
hee! hee! because he have teeth. He dance till he was tired and went
aside and sleep. The rat went up and eat out all his teeth. When he
awoke he dance and every time he get to the girls grin hee! hee! hee!
All the girls fell down with the laugh because he haven' teeth. He went
to Ber Boukee for his ball. He was beating and didn't pay attention to
him. He crept up to him sly and took his ball away from him and they
commence to pull one way to another. This is the end of my story.
27. VARIANT (GREENIEAF)2
The devil had a daughter named Greenleaf. Jack asked the devil to
give him some work so he told him to go and dig out a well and dig it
dry. So he went to dig and dig till he got tired. So Greenleaf came with
his breakfast, so she called him, but he said he can't come, "for the work
your father gave me to do is so hard." So she told him not to mind that,
so he came out and after eating she told him to lie down and let her look
his head, but he said," No, I have to go and get to my work," but she
told him not to mind that. So he lay down and he went fast to sleep,
so when he awake and went, as soon as he began to dig, in a moment
the well was dry. So they went home. The next day he told Jack to go
cut bush, burn, and plant corn and bring home dry corn for breakfast.
Ber Jack said, "It is a hard thing," but he went, and Greenleaf said the
same as before. And the boy did the work. Next day he asked the devil
for his daughter. But he would not agree to it. So one night when Jack
and Greenleaf went to bed, Devil made up his mind to kill Jack and his
daughter. But when the time came, Jack put two banana trees in the
bed and cover it over, and when the devil pull the rope, the trees fell
in the hot water, and when the devil put his fork in the pot, only the
leaves came out. Then Greenleaf got three eggs and the donkey and
Jack got on one ant they went and Devil started behind them as soon
as they got out of sight. They saw the devil coming on his three feet donkey
and as they got near she dropped one of the eggs and a large prickle tree
came in the way. And he asked, "How am I to past?" So she told him
to get his axe and cutlass and rake, and they sat to work and cleared
it. And she dropped another, and a large wasp nest came, and she dropped
another, and a large river came. So he went and got his wife, his cattles,
and he came also, and they began to drink, till at last they drank so much
1 Written by informant 13.
2 Written by Informant 14.
----------------------------------
until they burst and they had to stitch up each other. Thus ends the
story of Ber Devil and Jack.
28. GUESSING A NAME1
Once upon a time Granny Slipper told a man if he could tell her name
that she would let him marry her daughter. So she went and told him
that she would give him three days. So he went. When he got a good way
up the road he met a goat and he asked him if he could tell him the
king's daughter wife name, and he said no. So he met a sheep and he
said the same as the goat. So he met the crab coming, and he said, "Her
name is Granny Slipper." So he went. At the and of three days she came,
so he said, "May your name be Lucy?" She said, "No." Hesaid, "Itis
Mary." She said, "No." Then he said, "May your name be Granny
Slipper ?" And she went right down the road and she met a goat, and he
said he did not tell him so, and she met a sheep, and he said the same,
and she met the crab, and he said yes, and as she held him, he shed his
fin and he went in his hole, and she put her hand down there, but she
did not catch him. That is why they are in those holes.
29. VARIANT (IN THE COW'S BELLY)2
Once upon a time Rabby and Bouky wanted some fresh meat, so they
made up their minds to kill a cow. So they went to the cow and said,
"Open, cabangy, open!" and they went inside of the cow with their knife
and pan. So Rabby told Bouky not to cut that red thing, "for you will
kill the cow." But when Rabby got his pan full, he came out, but Bouky
was so greedy he went and cut the heart of the cow and the cow died.
And they threw the cow in the sea with Bouky in her. But they heard
a loud crying in the cow and they went and caught the cow. When they
cut the cow open, he found the man in him. And he never tried that
again.
30. THE DESERTED CHILDREN3
Once upon a time a man had two children. After his wife died, he married
again. The step-mother did'nt like the children. This night, when they
t'ought the children was 'sleep, the step-mother told their father to carry
them in the woods and leave them the next day. The little boy heard
what his step-mother told his father. When he got up the next morning,
he fill his pocket with corn. As they walk, who was behind? The little
boy; he dropped the corn by the way. When they got in the field, the
1 Written by Informant 14. See MAFLS 13: I14 notes I, 2; MAFLS
16: 22 - 3.
2 Written by Informant 14.
3 Written by Informant 15. See MAFLS 16: 83-84.
----------------------------
father said, "You all stay here till I come, am gone to look for a cane for
you all." He didn't come back, so the boy say, "Ah, well, sister, let's
go home, papa isn't coming no more." The little girl said, "How will we
find the home ?" The boy said, "I dropped some corn along the road."
When they reached home their parents were surprised. Next morning
he carried them again. The boy fill his pocket with peanuts and drop
them by the way; his little sister pick them up and eat them. When they
reached the field their father said, "Stay here, am gone to look for potatoes."
They waited about two hours. The little boy said, "Come, sister,
let's go." The little girl said, "How you're going to find home ?" The
little boy said, "I drop some nuts along the road." The little girl said,
"I was hungry and I pick umup and eat um." The boy said, "Ah, well,
we done for." So he went up in a tall tree, and when he look through the
bush he saw a woman with her own head in her lap looking at it; she had
a pot in the kitchen frying pancake. The boy said, "Sister, you stay here
till I come. He went and took out the pancake. When his finger knock
to the pot, the old woman said, "Sue cat!" and he run. Him and his
sister eat that. When he started go again, his sister say, "Brother, let
me go here." He said, "No. When the woman say, 'Sue cat,' you will
laugh." She pleaded so that her brother carried her. When the woman
say, "Sue cat!" the little girl laught. The old woman went in the kitchen
and catch all two. She put the boy in a cage and left the little girl
to help her work. The little boy had a pin under his finger-nail and when
she stick him no blood didn't come; as long as she didn't see blood, she
say he was not fat enough to eat. This day the old woman went out.
The girl went to her brother and asked him to lend her the pin. He said,
"No; as soon as I take it out, the old woman will come and kill me."
The little girl said, "Lend the pin to me." Soon as he pull it out, the old
woman came and stick him and said, "Oh, old boy, you are fat." She went
and put on a boiler of hot water to skin the boy. The old woman told
the little girl to peep in the boiler to see if it was boiling. She said, "I
don't know how to peep in the boiler, ma'am." She said, "You mean
you don't know how to peep in the pot ?" She said, "No, ma'am." The old
woman said, "You peep so, so so, and so." When she say, "You peep
so, so and so," the little girl tumble her in the boiler of hot water. Then
she went and let her brother out of the cage. They went in the house and
search it; they found two bags of gold. They went home to their parents.
When their parents saw them coming and had all that gold, the father
and mother went to meet them, and they fell on the ground and begged
them pardon for leaving them in the wilderness. The children lived with
them for ever. If that is not so, ask the captain of the long-boat story.
-------------------------------
3I. VARIANT (PLAYING GOD-FATHER: TELL-TALE GREASE)1
Once upon a time
Was a very good time
Monkey chew tobacca
And spit white lime.
Bull-frog jump from bank to bank.
Cockroach knock a very good time.
Once Ber Rabbit and Ber Bookie had a field together; they went
in it one day to work. Soon as they began to work Ber Rabbit went up
in a tree and say, "Hello, hello, what you say?" Ber Bookie say, "Wast
that, Rabbie ?" He said, "Some stupid people call me to stand god-father
and I don't wa' stand god-father." Bookie say, "What, you don't wa'
stand god-father, man! I wish that was me. You don't wa' stand godfather?
Go ahead!" It was nobody calling Ber Rabbit, but the cag of
butter which they had hide he went to eat it. Ber Rabbit gone, leave
Ber Bookie working. He start to eat the butter, then come back. "Rabbie,
what the baby name ?" He say, "Begin um." After that they start to
work ten minutes after, Ber Rabbit gone in a tree and say, "Hello,
what you say?" Bookie say, "What is that Rabbie ?" He said, "Them
old people call me to stand god-father again." Bokie say, "Never mind,
go 'head!" He went and ate half the cag of butter. When he come back,
Bookie say, "What the baby name ?" He said, "Ber Half um." Ber Rabbit
did the same thing again. As soon as he come back, Bookie say, "What
the baby name ?" He say, "Ber Done utm." Ber Rabbit eat all the butter,
full the cag with dirt, and put a little bit of butter over it. Ber Rabbit
say, "Bookie, man, it is time for we to go home. Ber Bookie say, "Well,
Rabbie, let's go get a belly full of butter and then go home." When they
got there, Ber Rabbit said, "Bookie, you share butter, I tired of walking."
When Bookie dip the butter up, nothing but black dirt. Ber Rabbit
said, "Ah ah, you use to come here and eat the butter when I use to stand
god-father." Ber Bookie say, "It dain't, it's you, Rabbie." Ber Rabbit
say, "All right, you wa' test it who eat the butter ? Let the two of us lay
down in the sun and sleep; the one who have the melt on their belly tis
them who eat it." Soon as they lay down, Ber Rabbit start to snore like
he was 'sleep. Poor Ber Bookie so sleepy head, he soon fell fast asleep. Then
Ber Rabbit take all the butter off his belly and put it on Ber Bookie's
own. When Ber Bookie awake, Ber Rabbit say, "Ent I say you eat the
butter, see here!" Ber Bookie say, "No, I didn't eat it." Ber Rabbit said,
"Yes, you too like to lie." He got a stick of wood and run Ber Bookie
square home.
1 Written by Informant 15.
-----------------------------
Variant'
A kaig of butter was given to Ber Bookie and Ber Rabbit. Ber Rabbit
took the butter and hid it away. When he want to eat it, he will say,
"Ha! I diner what these people want me to give their chillun name for."
He went and when he come, Ber Bookie ask him, "What the child name ?"
- "It name Begin um." .... "Ha! I diner what these people want me to
gi' their chillun name for." When he come, Ber Bookie ask him, "What
the child name ?" - "Half um.".... "Ha! I diner what these people
want me to gi' their chillun name for." When he come, Ber Bookie say,
"What the child name?" - "It name Finish um." It mean he finish
eat the butter. Now it came to the time Ber Bookie said, "Let us go and
eat the butter!" When they reach, wasn't no butter. Ber Bookie ask Ber
Rabbit where the butter was. He said, "I do not know." Ber Bookie said,
"Let us lie down and who the butter melt out it is them who eat it."
Ber Bookie went asleep and Ber Rabbit caught the place with fire where
Ber Bookie were and when he awoke he find fire around him. At last
he got out.
Long Island.
32. BER DEBIL AND BER RAT2
One time a little boy an' his fader went out shootin' an' fishin'. On
de way in dey stopped to a cay, sen' his boy asho' to get a piece o' fiah.
When de boy reach whey he saw de smoke, he didn't saw no one, but
he took piece o' fiah. Up comes de debil risin', ax de boy what he doin'
heah? He ax de boy whey is he fader? De boy tol' him his fader down
to de seasho'. He went down wid de boy to de seasho'. When de boy
fader saw it was de debil, he went to shove de boat off f'om de beach,
de debil ketch hol' de jib stay of de boat an' hol' de boat to de sho'.
He ax de man what he got in de boat ? De man tol' him he got some fish.
So de debil tol' him to give him one of de fish. De man give him one.
So when de man pass one to de debil, de debil say, "You better give me
all." So de debil take all de man fish. He ax de man what else he got in
de bags in de boat? Man tol' him he got some bird. So he tol' de man
to give him one of de bird. De man giv' him one. So de debil tell him,
"You better give me all." So he took all de fish, all de bird, de boy, de
man, de boat, an' all, an' put em into his own sack. An' on his way home
wid dem in de sack, he rested on de road an' met his wife. His wife ax
him whey he was? De debil tol' he was gettin' some fresh. De debil sent
his wife home to set on de big pot. He goin' to get some wood, leave de
sack wid de man, boat, an' all in de road. So ups come a horse an' ax,
"Who dis in dis sack?" De man tell him de debil got him tie up in dis
1 Written by Informant 13.
2 Informant 16.
---------------------------------
sack, mus' tu'n him loose. Ber Horse tell him he can't do dat 'cause
de debil been out for him dese two weeks ago. Ber Cow come by, ax,
"Who dis in dis sack ? " De man tell him it's him, an' de debil got himtie up
dere, to tu'n him loose. Ber Cow tell him he cyant do it 'cause he on a
trail hese'f to clear de debil. So Ber Rat come by. Ber Rat ax, "Who
dis in dis sack?" De man tol' him tis him de debil got tie up in de sack,
him and his boy and boat an' all. He ax Ber Rat to tu'n him loose. So
Rat say, "All right, I'll tu'n you loose." For he's out for de debil dis long
time, so dis a good time for him an' de debil to have a tuzzle. Ber Rat
got to work an' he tun' him loose. An' took de man, boat an' all back to
de seasho'. When de debil come wid a load of wood, man, boy, an'
boat all gone. He speak to hese'f, say, "Wonder who been here, move
my bag wid all my fresh?" Ber Rat jump out, say, "It's me tu'n dem
loose." When Ber Rat say so, de debil make for him. So when de debil make
for him, Ber Rat say, "Two hill never meet, but Ber Debil an' Ber Rat
meet today." De rat den jump t'rough de debil bellie an' come out
t'rough his back. De debil say, "Yes, good as dat ?" De rat jump
t'rough his yeres (ears) an' come out t'ough his head. An' by passin' t'rough
de debil's brains, kill him. De vind f'om de devil knock me here to tell
you dat ol' storee.
33. THE CHANGED CALL1
Now Ber Giant had a lot of fowls, and Ber Rabbit been stayin' wid
him. So he give Ber Rabbit de job of mindin' dese fowls. Ber Rabbit
in tendin' to de aiggs an' nes', he used to go bore a hole into de aiggs,
an' suck dem out an' set de aiggs back into de nes'. Now dis day Ber
Rabbit time was up to go 'cross to de beach to his home. After Ber
Rabbit gone, Ber Giant went around to dese hen nests to see how much
aigg in each nest. When Ber Giant gone, all de aiggs was done suck.
Now Ber Giant went down on de beach an' hailed to his boy what was
rowin' Ber Rabbit 'crosst an' tol' him to bring Ber Rabbit back. Now Ber
Rabbit heard what Ber Giant say, but de boys didn't hear it. De boys
say, "What's dat Pa said ?" He said, "Pa say, 'For Gawd sake try get'
cross, gale comin'.' " He holler again, say, "Bring Ber Rabbit back!"
De boys say, "What das Pa say?" - "For Gawd sake try get 'cross,
de gale is down." An' I was standin' on de bay at de time when de boat
reach, an 'Ber Rabbit pitch out de boat wid sich a weight de vin' f'om
him knock me here to tell you dat good ol' story. An' if you don' believe
me, you can ax de captain of de long boat.
34. PLAYING DEAD: BLINDING THE WATCHER1
Now Ber Boukee an' Ber Nancy been livin' togeder. Now dey get out
o' relish. So dey make up to boun' Ber Nancy jaw an' lay him out in de
1 Informant 16.
-------------------------------------
baid. An' he will go out in de yard wid his hand on his head an' wid a
loud cry say, "Ber Nancy dead!" When he look, he see dem rabbits
comin', see deir long years (ears) t'rough de grass. All dem ol' rabbits,
some ain't got a piece o' tail. Dey all get inside de house now, commencin'
moanin' round, say, "Ber Nancy dead an' gone!" De house gets full.
One little rabbit come de las' one. Dat little one look at de oder ones.
Say, "Nancy ain't dead. Ef Nancy dead, Nancy would a pu'ge."1 He
dash out de do'. Ber Nancy spring up out de baid an' Ber Boukee all two
grab de stick, commence alickin' down rabbit.
Dey kill all 'cep' dey get to de oldes' rabbit been in de place. He gone
up de roof of de house, hol' on dere. Rabbit say now, "Boukee, you know
me fat!" He say, "You go out de do' now, you see dat pile ashes, you
pile up neat' me, so de fat wont waste." (He got a scheme.) Now when Ber
Boukee had enough totin', Ber Rabbit tol' him "Now look out, Boukee,
I goin' drop!" When he let go in de pile of ashes, he blin' Ber Boukee,
all de ashes go in Ber Boukee eye, an' when Ber Boukee done get de ashes
out his eyes, Ber Rabbit done tu'n Spider an' went under de bottle.
An' for de sorriness of Boukee knock me heah tonight to tell you dat
good ol' story. An' ef you don't believe me what I tell you, you can go
'sho' here an' ax de wireless man.2
35 ROACH PLAYS SICK3
Now you know one time all Ber Roach family died out, an' Ber Roach
went an' stayed wid Ber Fowl. An' every day Ber Fowl went out to
prawg (to get something to eat), Ber Roach stayed home, played sick.
Well one day more'n all, what Ber Roach done? He gone an' gader up
a lot o' more roach. An' made a dance in Ber Fowl own house. Get
anoder roach to play de fiddle. Fowl is not in, Fowl out workin'. De ol'
roach now pullin' de fiddle f'om way back sayin' he got Fowl foolie.
Ber Fowl comin' in now at even' time. Roach got long horn, lappin'
round one anoder, goin' round slowly, call 'em slow drag. Ups come Ber
Fowl arrive. When Ber Fowl look an' see de dancin' in de house an' de
flo' set wid roach, Ber Fowl flash in, an' swallow dem two two. When de
one dat playin' de fiddle see Ber Fowl swallow dem dancin' on de flo',
he faint off wid de fiddle in de hand. An' f'om dat day to dis you fin'
Fowl will eat Roach. An' de weight from de roach dat was playin' de
fiddle knock me here to tell you dat good ol' story. An' if you don't believe
what I tell you, you can go asho' here an' ax Clarence Sims.
1 Here the pattern incident of the tale sometimes called the Give-away is
begun, but not carried through. Blinding the watcher is the incident generally
given as the conclusion of Refugees in the Roof. See p. 494.
2 There is a wireless station at Clarencetown.
3 Informant 16. See MAFLS 13: 90 n. 2; MAFLS 17: 61-62, 260;
Thomas, N. W. Anthrop. Rep. on Sierra Leone. Pt. III, Timne Grammar and
Stories, 64--65. London, 1916.
--------------------------------------------
36. BER RABBIT FIXES UP BER DUCKI
A lot o' girl was stayin' up on de hill. Ber Duck an' Ber Rabbit used
to goes dere. Now de girls love Ber Duck more so dan dey does Ber
Rabbit. Now when Ber Rabbit an' Ber Duck went back, Ber Rabbit
tol' Ber Duck, he say, "Ber Duck, I tell you somet'in' what I will do.
As you let me fix you up and dress you, de girls will even love you better
dan dey do now." Now Ber Rabbit gone an' cut off all dem glossy feder Ber
Duck had round he neck an' put on ol' free mason beaver an' ol' totsin2
hat an' take off Ber Duck shoes an' put on a wampus [sandals]. Now
dat night Ber Duck went up on de hill again to de girls, knocked on de
do'. Say, "Who's dat ?" - "Me, Ber Duck. You don' know me ?" De
girls say, "No." Say, "I don't know you. Who is you ?" Say, "You don't
know de gentleman dat been here las' night ?" De girls tol' him, "No."
He say, "I am de same man." De girls say, "You' se Ber Duck?" Say,
"Yes, I dress so vell you don' know me." So de girls ax Ber Rabbit if
dis Ber Duck. So Ber Rabbit tell him yes, he fix him up like dat. An'
when I tu'n roun' an' see Ber Duck I couldn' stop laughin' tel I getsh
you to tell you dis story.
37. JACK FOOLS THE SAILORS AND DICK3
Jack moder was dead. An' some 'Merican sailors been in de city at
de time, an' jus' when dey goin' to pass by, Jack deah, an' lay his moder
on de wall, an' wid a pan o' aiggs settin' close. Ups come dese 'Merican
sailors come by, axin' de ol' lady how she sell aiggs ? De ol' lady didn't
make answer, so de sailors up hand an' slap de ol' woman off de wall.
Jack come up now f'om de woods an' sing out, "You kill my poor Mamy!"
De sailors all get scared, dey paid Jack so much money. Jack den took
de money an' went back in town an' showin' Dick de amount of money
what he made off'n poor Mamy. Now Dick not knowin' what scheme Jack
work. Dick ax Jack ef he go home an' kill his wife, ef he will make any
money. Jack tol' him yes, but still Jack did'n tell him how he get dat
money for he Mamy. So Dick went home an' kill his wife, an' put him in de
wheelbarrow. Cut him up in de wheelbarrow an' went t'rough de town
hollerin', "Who want to buy dead people ?" He been all day wheelin'
dat dead body t'rough de town, an' he hasn't sell a pound of de meat,
and he wind f'om Dick f'om not sellin' any of de meat knock me here,
to tell you how fool Dick was, wid dat ol' story.
38. SHARIN' UP DE SINNERS AN' DE RIGHTEOUS4
Two mens go fishin' one night an' comin' in dey didn't share de fish
on de bay, dey cyarried de fish in to de churchyard. An' cyarrin' de fish
1 Informant 16.
2 Stetson.
3 Informant 16. See MAFLS 13: 87 n. I; JAFL 34: 181.
4 Informant 16. See MAFLS 16: 68 n. I.
----------------------------------------------
in to de churchyard, his dropped at de gate. Late in de night de sexton
when passin' by de churchyard, not knowin' dat dese two men been
fishin' an' cyarrin' de fish in to de churchyard, hear de two men sayin',
"Dis one fah me, dat one fah you!" Now ups come de sexton goin' to
de pries', wake de pries' up tellin' him, "De Lord an' de debil in de
churchyard sharin' up de sinners an' de righteous." De pries' went wid
de sexton goin' down to de church. Bof of dem stop right at de church
gate. De pries' listen, sayin', "Dis one fah you, dis one fah me." When
dey done sharin' de fish, one man say to de nex' one, "How 'bout dem
two to de gate ?" De sexton t'ought he could ha' run, but he didn't beat
de priest dat night. An' de way de pries' was goin' home, he passed by
me an' de win' f'om him knock me here to tell you dat good ol' story.
39. THE TWO SWEETHEARTS'
Dis man used to go sponging, leave his wife home. An' he wife used
to keep two oder mens, an' bof of dem didn't know 'bout one anoder.
But de husban' have foresight of what his wife doin'. Now befo' de husban'
reach dere, de firs' sweetheart went to de woman. An' de man used to
keep a big jar in his house. Time he get in, de veeman husban' knock to
de door. De man what been inside he went into de big jar an' dodge.
Whiles de man was inside talkin' to his wife de nex' sweetheart come,
he t'ought de husban' was gone on a trip. So he says when he meet de
veeman husban' he too struck. "I comin' to ax you to len' me de big
jar." De man say, "See de jar dere ? Take it up ef you want to borrow
it." He picked de jar up an' when he got out on de bay, he put de jar
down an', not knowin' dere was anoder man in de jar, he say, "You
saved my life tonight." De nex' one into de jar said, "You saved mine
too."
40. HORNS FOR STICKS2
Once was a time,
A very good time,
Monkey chew tobacco
An' he spit white lime.
Coackroach jump from bank to bank
Cross a tin quart er salt water
An' he never touch salt water.
1 Informant 16. See MAPLS I6: 89 n. I.
2 Informant I6. See MAFLS 13: 103 n. I; Nassau, R. H. Where Animals
Talk, 45. Boston, 1912; Claus, H. Die Wagogo, Baessler-Archiv, II, 53. 1911;
Baissac, C. Le Folk-lore de L'Isle Maurice, 109--10o. Paris i888; FL X,
285; Koch-Griinberg, T. Vom Roroima zum Orinoco, II, 138. Berlin, I916;
Bompas, C. H. Folk-lore of the Santal Parganas, CXXIII. London I9O9.
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Spirituals and other Folklore from the Bahamas. 515
All Ber Goat family was dead out, an' he went stay wid Ber Dawg.
Now dis day Ber Dawg an' Ber Goat went out prawging, an' he ketch
in a squall of rain an' dey stop in to Ber Wolf house. Now de water
drippin' out de goat beard, Ber Wolf get his fiddle, sing,
Man fatty in he beard,
Whey t'ink his side.
Ber Wolf play so sweet Ber Goat got on de flo' an' danced. Ber Dawg
tell Ber Wolf lend him de fiddle. Ber Wolf lend Ber Dawg de fiddle. Ber
Dawg start a playin',
Who can't run fas'
Go befo' rig plan.
Ber Goat didn' understan' Ber Dawg. He keep adancin'. So Ber Wolf
come out de house an' went in de kitchen an' set on a big pot o' water,
hot de water, to kill Ber Goat. Dat time Ber Dawg say, "Ber Goat,
you don' know what Ber Wolf say?
Man fatty in he beard,
Whey t'ink his side.
Now you cyant run as fas' as me. You mus' go befo' an' rig plan.
Go to de river an' dig a hole into de san' an' bury up youse'f, jus' left
you two horn out." When Ber Wolf come in, he ax Ber Dawg whey
is Ber Goat? Ber Dawg tol' him Ber Goat went oatside. Ber Wolf didn'
stan' an' he fly at Ber Dawg, an' Ber Dawg down fiddle an' turn tail,
Ber Wolf behin' him. An' Ber Dawg go out to de river an' he didn' meet
Ber Goat half bury. An' he took Ber Goat out, dig hole, bury Ber Goat,
jus' leave he horns out, an' he jump in de river an' swam across. By dat
time Ber Wolf reach, Ber Dawg done cross de river, he turn round an'
he bark at Ber Wolf. So Ber Wolf say, "If I only had two little stick,
I fling across an' knock yer daid!" So Ber Dawg say, "Look behin',
see two little stick stan' up in de san'. Fling um at me den!" Ber Wolf
did'n take no time, he turn right aroun' an' grab de two stick an' fling
'em across. When Ber Goat see de water he holler. Ber Wolf say, "Lord,
I had um an' I los' um!" An' de weight Ber Wolf fall by miss Ber Goat
knock me here to tell you dat good ol' story.
41. TAR BABY.1
Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh.
Once 'pon a time is a man used to go huntin'. An' fah every time
he shoot any creetures, no matter what sort o' animal he is, dere
1 Informant 16.
--------------------------------
is a one laig man dey call Dumpy' will come take it. So dey couldn't
cepdo (?intercept to) de man f'om taking de creeture. So dey made up
to make a stashel in de shape of a woman and set him in de road whey dis
one laig dumpy got to pass. An' fix de stashel in a way ef he put han'
on him he can't get away, he stick fas'. De nex' day dis one laig dumpy
pass by whey de stashel was. So when he saw him an' look so pretty,
he laugh. He ax de woman what he name ? De woman gi' him no answer.
He didn't stan', he up hand an' he slap de woman. When he slap de
woman he right han' stick. He say, "Le' me go! Me hand fasten dere."
He took de nex' han' an' he slap 'em. Dat fasten'. He tol' him to let him
go. He two han' fasten now, only one laig he standin' on. Say, "Girl, le'
me go, betshyou I keep you!" He didn' stan' now, he kick um. He not
on de groun' now. He two han' stick an' he foot stick. When de people
come who made de stashel, dey was so glad dey kick up so until de wind
f'om dem knock me heah to tell you dat good ol' story. Ef you don'
believe me, when you pass by de yard of forgetful, ax Bruce Cyar.2
42. DIVING FOR BANANAS.3
Me riddle me riddle
Me randy oh
Perhaps you can clear dis riddle.
Monkey chew tobacco
An' he spit white lime.
Now onct Ber Rabby an' Ber Boukee was travellin' togeder. Each one
travellin' apart f'om one anoder. Ber Boukee he butt [ ? b'ought, brought]
up to a ripe bunch o' bananas. He pick off two an' eat it an' he put de
skin in his pawket. So when he butt up to Ber Rabby, Ber Rabby ax
him, say, "Boukee, you get ripe bananas." He say, "Ah, Broder, you
1 For one leg duppy or one foot dup who is, as George Strong of Long Island
described, "a speerit, ghos'," see MAFLS 13: 142 n. 2.
Strong had sailed the north coast of Hayti and knew about the soucouyan,
- "witchcraf', woodoo, natural people, dey flies in de night." Off
Hayti, "you put a lot o' salt on your deck. Dey aint agoin' to light on your
deck wid salt. Haulin' teckle I see dem myself - ball of fire."
Between these foreign soucouyan and the Island "hag" Strong distinguished.
"Hig don't fly, dey suck de blood f'om you. Shed de skin, put it
in corner. Speak to de skin: 'Skinny, Skinny, you know me ?' If you put
pepper in de skin, cyant touch de skin. Dey caught one once, put in a tar
barrel, burn him up." (See MAFLS 13: 41 n. ).
Strong also knew about the magical or fetich stick of Hayti, coco macaque
- "das a stick dey sells inHayti, walks by itself, you can send it into
somebody's house. If I hit you wid dat stick, wouldn' live to see de mornin'."
2 "Coal black man," now living in Nassau.
3 Informant 17. See MAFLS 13: io6 n. I.
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Spirituals and other Folklore fromn the Ba/amas. 5 7
don' know what I been t'rough to get dis banana." - "Well, show me
whey you get dis banana." He say, "All right, you wait here til I come
back an' den I'll show you whey I get it." He gone an' he cut de bunch
o' banana an' he hang it up ower a vwell. An' he come an' cyarry Ber
Rabby, he didn' show him de bunch what hang up on top, he show him
de shadder down in de vwell. "Ah, Broder, dose look pretty down dere."
An' Boukee show him how he has to dive, das how he get dem. All two
was goin' to dive now. Every time Ber Boukee go down, Ber Rabby stand
up an' pull off one ripe one an' wait til Ber Boukee come up from divin'.
He say, "See, I get mine !" Boukee say, "You get yours. I ain't get none."
He keep on makin' Ber Boukee dive, he done eat de whole bunch o'
bananas. Bookie ain't got none. Fas' Rabby eat de banana, he t'row de
skin one side. He say, "See, every time I go down, I eat mine, see de pile
o' skin dere!" Now Rabby an' Ber Boukee ketch afightin'. Now de
bunch o' bananas wha' Ber Rabby steal belongs to a man. An' he hear a
man sayin', "I wonder who cyarry ma bunch o' bananas." An' Ber Boukee
say, "See, Ber Rabby what t'ief you' banana." An' de dash Ber Rabby
dash pas' me knock me down an' cause me to come here tonight tell you
dat good ol' story.
43. MR. RAINY
DAY:1 OVER THE INDIANS' MINE'.
Is a man used to go out work, an' all de money he brings at home he
tell his wife mus' put up for Mr. Rainy Day. Now de woman not knowin'
is fah hard time when dey cyan't get notin' to eat dey have money to
spen'. Now dis day de man went out again. Ups come an ol' gentleman,
ax de lady ef he have anyt'ing to eat ? De lady tell him dey haven't got
anything at all to eat, but some money he husban' gi'e her to put for
Mr. Rainy Day. De man say, "I'se Mr. Rainy Day now." De woman
didn't know no better. She went an' take de whole sack of money ani
give it to de man. De man took de money an' went about his business.
When de husban' come in, he ax his wife give him de money he tell her
put up for Mr. Rainy Day, le' him count it, see how much it is. De
woman tell her husban den, "Mr. Rainy Day been here today an' I give
him de bag." De man den turn tail behin' Mr. Rainy Day. De woman den
pick up an ol' table out de house, travellin' now behin' her husban' to
fin' de man she give de money to. Dey travel all dat day tel dey come
to a big tree, an' dey stop dere. Dey vwent up in de tree. Dat night up
in de tree dey heard a crowd of Indian comin 'to de tree. When dey got
to dis tree dey stop. For a while after dat one Indian say, "Hun! I smell
turkey up in dis tree." (Dat mean stranger nation.) De head Indian say,
"Go ahead set on de pot, an' vwhen you finish will see 'bout dat."
1 Informant 16. See MAFLS 13: 93-94; MAFLS 15: 194 n. 3; Southern
WorkmanX, XVIII, 231- 232.
See MAFLS 13: 92 n. 2; MAFLS 15: I n. I; JAFL 34: 160--I, 204-7.
------------------------------------
After a while, de table de woman had in her back, she say, "Husban',
I tired keep dis table up." Husban' tol' her, "Let go de table den."
Down come de table, an' de Injun all rush off f'om de tree. Little while
dey come back to de tree again. So when it comin' to daylight, de
woman say, "Me husban', I tired holdin' dis chain." Husban' say,
"Turn loose de chain, ef you want to." He turn loose de chain. Now
all de Indian run, 'cep' one. It come to daylight de woman star' to singin'.
De Indian want to ketch dis sing. De woman tol' him if he let him clip
piece of his tongue off he will sing 'zactly like her. He went up to de
woman, an' de woman took de scissors an' clipped de en' of his tongue
off. In clippin' de en' of his tongue off, he start br-r-r-! He run in de bush,
an' he cause de balance dat went in de bush to run furder.
Under dat tree was a mine, something like privateers, whey dey keep
de money. De woman went into de place an' took out as much money as
him an' her husban' could carry home. After dey finish, dey went back
de nex' day wid two horses and get dem load'. Dis man sent to his broder
to borrow his peck tub. De broder ax de bearer what his nex' broder
goin' to do wid his peck tub? De bearer tol' him what he going to do.
Befo' he sent de peck tub, he went an' put some tallow on de bottom of
de peck tub, dat when dis peck tub come back to him, he'll see 'zactly
what dey was usin' it fur. When de peck tub went back, it was a half
a dollar stick on to de peck tub bottom. A couple of weeks after, dese
Indians come about in town enquirin' dat dey loose so much money out
of de mine. Dis man who len' de peck tub notify de Indian, direc' him
to de man house who got de money. De Indian den went back to de man
place and stay til dat night. Took a piece o' chalk an' went an' mark ten on
de house do'. Vwhen he come de nex' night wid his troop dat he'll know
de direc' house to go to in dat city. Up comes de servant, de bearer what de
man sent for de peck tub, find dat de Indian mark ten on dis man house
do', de bearer went an' took a piece o' chalk an' mark ten on eve'y house
do' dat ben in dat block. When de Indian come de nex' night, he didn't
know what houses to go to, all house look alike. So he had to put it off,
an' went back. De nex' day he come back again, an' ax him ef he could
sell some oil for him. De man tol' him yes, sell oil for him. When he
went, he bring twelve head of horses wid dese big jar on de horse. He set
dem down in de man yard, and each jar had a man in it. De servant went
an' set on a big boiler. Dat night, de servant went f'om one jar to de oder
an' scal' eve'y man to deat'. An' when de Indian get up twelve o'clock dat
night, an' wentter eachjar an' call, "Are you ready?" no answer. He got
on his horse an' made his escape. Nex' mornin' de servant tol' what de
Indians was after. An' when de man went to de jar, he found a dead man
inside. De man den took what money he had an' divide it in half for de
servant, for his (her) smartness. An' de gladness f'om de servant she
knock up to me, an 'de wind f'om her knock me here to tell you dat jolly
good story.
--------------------------------
44. INSIDE THE SHARK.1
I was on a ship name de - . Passin' jus' goin' to Europe. We have
three hundred passengers on board. I was de bosun on board. De way
we goin' in de Atlantic Ocean. About seven o'clock Captain tell passengers
gale expectin' 'bout eight. One passenger ol' lady name' Asperet. She
said she want ter know what is de gale. She sit on deck. Water wash on
deck. She wash her ower board. Nex' mornin' Captain look an' said,
"Come an' see how many passengers are missin'." Said, "One missin'."
Stay fifteen days in Southampton, England. On de way returnin' back
we hook a shark. De captain said to me, "Get piece of dat shark fah
supper." Whiles I was cuttin', I had some sailors on deck doin' some work.
I said, "Len' me yer knife." I start ter cut. I heard, "Be careful how you
cuttin'." I run. Captain said, "What do you run fo', bosun ?" I said,
"Somet'in' is wrong." Said, "Keep on cuttin'." Whiles I cuttin', de ol'
woman says, "You don' know I am heah ?" Den I said, "I don' know no
one was'n heah because dis was a fish." Den she said to me, "Heh! Be
careful! I'm here." When I look inside, I see de woman was settin'
on a chair. Have a tray of peanuts an' ripe bananas an' a demijohn of
rum, was sellin' inside a bar room. Den she said, "Drink, my boys! Don't
get drunk." Then she said, "Who is de bosun on board ?" - "Who is you ?"
She said, "Drink, you could get drunk, but don't behave unruly."
45. ALIVE BY THE POWER OF GOD.1
Once I was on board a fishin' schooner, de Halifax. We was out fah
t'ree mont's. We was coinin' fish fah market. After our t'ree mont's
was up, we would leave for market. We had nine days to market. Mahster
came aboard. Said, "What was yer cargo ?" - "A load of cong fish." De
people come long ter buy fish. We open our hatches, look down below in
ice box, we meet ev'y fish was alive. So de Captain ax me, " George, what
de matter ?" Said to me, "George, dey all fish alive down below heah ?"
I says, "Yes, sir." --"Deres men was on board was coinin' fish." I said,
"Well, we had men aboard coinin' fish, dey could come alive jus' as well
by de power of God." He said, "Youse a smart fellow, aint it ?" I said
I wasn' smart, but I jus' usin' my moder's wit.
46. SANDFLY AND MOSQUITO, SAILORS.2
I get up one mawnin', I come out heah on de wharf. Ven I listen
I hear, "Hip oh heeda!" San' fly an' Mosquito pullin' nor'wes' pint to
Inagua.
1 Informant 18.
2 Informant 18. See MAFLS 16: 98-99.
------------------------------
47. BUG IN WAISTCOAT AND BEAVER.1
T'ree days comin' an' de steamer couldn' go ahead. Ven I look up
foreward, I see a bug got on wais'coat an' beaver. Had to tek a ten pound
sledge ter kill him. Ven he crack, de captain run off de bridge an' holler,
"Who fiah off revolver on board de ship ?"
48. FLEA, STREET CAR DRIVER.2
One time I went to New Orleans I see a street car was comin'. I hail
de street car an' when I reach de place whey I was goin' I didn' see de
driver at de time. So afterwurd, de driver say, "Pay off!" An' whatcher
t'ink it was ? It was a flea was de driver, an' I was dat so struck when
I saw de fleas was de driver I fall down an' struck my head. I pitched
t'rough de glass. I fall down an' break my mout' an' I never cut, an' dere
was no blood.
49. VERY SWIFT.2
Oncet I sail on a ship from Nassau to Inagua. Den I was up on de
smoke stack cleanin' some brass, an' de fireman strike up de smoke,
an' I was dat so struck I fall down in dee furnace. An' when de fireman
shook his sledge bar in de furnace, I said, "Oh, Lawd, don't shook me!"
When I came out de furnace, say, "Do you get hurt?" I said, "No,
on'y my shirt is tear; but I haven't get hurt." So he went to de captain
an' tol' de captain what he see happen and de captain said, "Joe, well,
boy, how did you fall in de furnace an' you didn' get burn' ?" - "I was
very swif', so I didn' get burn'."
50. PROLIFIC.2
Oncet we leave Inagua wid a load of sheep an' goats an' we close'
up de hatch. None of dem didn' have a kid. An' when we reachin' Nassau,
when we open de hatch, all of dee goat an' sheep have young ones.
51. SILLY MAN.2
One time I was goin' over a hill I meet a frien' of mine an' we jump
over a little. He went down in a hole. An' de hol' was dark. When I get
to de hol', I said, "My frien', you' se down!" He said, "Yes." I say,
"How mus' I get down?" He said, "Come right on down, Charlie."
So I 'mediately got down in de hol'. I hol' up mah two han' an' I stretch
my two feet. I was tryin' to get down. I let go myself, an' I strike my
side. All my frien' bus' out an' laugh. Say, "Oh, look at dat silly man!"
Say, "He take foolish advice an' get his side bus' up."
1 Informant 18.
2 Informant 2 1.
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Spirituals and other Folklore from the Bahamas. 5 2 I
52. LAWD, ILE!1
One time dere was a dawg very like ter t'ief, an' de dawg find some
fish one day, he put it into a pot wid some hot oil, an' when de man back
tu'n, de dawg shub his head into de pot until all his eyes was in. When de
heat of de oil strike de dawg, de dawg holler out, "Lawd, ile! Lawd, ile!'"
53. BETRAYED BY PEASE WATER.2
I hear onct ol' man was caught. He only had one white suit. He
had not'in' ter eat. Ev'ry time he go to der house, dis ladee offer him
dinner. He say his belly full. One day he went in. She was boilin' some
pease. He had on a derby, he had a little butt o' cigarette, sayin' he goin'
ter get a light. Full up he derby wid de pease. An' de lady happen ter
come out at de time, an' he had ter put on he hat. She said, "Oh my, it's
rather cool, an' you sweatin' like dis." (Dat de pease water runnin' down).
Ven she pull off he hat, he didn' have a grain on he head. F'om dat day
he tu'n a preacher right away.
54. RABBIT MAKES BOUKEE HIS HORSE.3
Once was a time
Was a wery good time
Monkey chew terbacco
An' spit white lime.
Ber Rabby was engage'. Ber Boukee was his broder. So he said,
"Broder, I am engage' ter marry an' I wantcher to go ter see my intended."
De firs' night he went he get in love wid de girl. So Ber Rabby didn' see
not'in'. De two of dem went home. Nex' night dey started to go again.
Ber Rabby take wid a bad pain in he bellee. He said, "Ber Boukee, man,
carry me far as de gate." After he get on he back, he said, "Man, I could
fall down. Put on a small piece o' rope an' put it in yer mou' so I could
keep myself up on." (He tol' de gyirl dat dat was his fader cyart horse.)
Den he ax fah a small piece o' switch ter hol' in he han' make him feel
good. At dat time Bo couldn' fin' no small piece o' switch, he got a good
piece o' wood. After dey got to de gate, he say, "Jump off now!" Ber
Rabby say, "No, man! Cyarry me inside de gate." Ven he get inside,
he couldn' stop. Ber Rabby, he broke off, runnin' up side de house. After
dat he hail de gyirl an' tell her, "See here, I tell yer dis was my fader ol'
cyart horse." An de dash Ber Boukee make f'om deah, he met me on de
road wid a pail o' water an' he knock me down an' I hail him an' he
said, "All in de play."
1 Informant 21.
2 Informant 18. See MAFLS 13: 46.
3 Informant 19. See MAFLS 13: 30 n. i; MAFLS 16: 53 n. 2; MAFLS
15: 66 n. i; also JAFL 9: 195-196; MAFLS 8: 277, 357; JAFL 35: 265-
266; MAFLS 17: 5-6, 235.
---------------------------------------
55. TROUBLE, BER ELEPHAN', TROUBLE!'
Ber Rabby an' Ber Elephan'. Dey was talkin' one day 'bout trouble.
Ber Elephan' say, "Oh I aint scared of trouble, I'm a big man." Walk
until he get ter some grass. Ven he get to dese grass, Ber Rabby say,
"'Ber Elephan', man, le' take a little res' !" Ber Elephan' say, "All right."
When Ber Elephan' went asleep, Ber Rabby went all 'roun' an' light
de grass. Ven he done light de grass, he holler ter Ber Elephan', say,
"Trouble, Ber Elephan', trouble!" When Ber Elephan' wake, he couldn'
do not'in' else but run out er trouble. Den he said ter Ber Rabby, "Vere
you an' me meet grass never grow!"
56. PAY FOR THE GUINEA HEN: REFUGEES IN THE ROOF.2
De ol' lady an' de guinea hen. Ber Boukee had a guinea hen. De ol'
lady had a dozen head o' cows. One day Ber Boukee give dis hen to
Ber Rabby. So he take it an' give it to dis ol' lady, an' de ol' lady cook de
hen. 'Bout twelve o'clock dat day Ber Rabby come out, say, "I wan' me
guinea hen." So she say, "How you could wan' de hen an' yer done gi'
it to me ?" So he said, "Don' tell me not'in'! You eider gi' me de guinea
hen or gi' me one of dem cow." So de ol' lady say, "Befo' you make any
talk, you mus' take two head (of de cows)." So he take dem an' went home
wid dem. Four o'clock dat evenin' he come back again. He said, "Dat
aint no satisfaction, give me two more." So de ol 'lady say she can't
give him all de cows like dat. He said he eider give dem or die. So she
tell him, "All right, take de two!" De nex' day he came back again.
He say, "Well, you got to give me t'ree dis time." - "Well, you mus'
take it; but don' come back." He gone home an' he leave dem wid de.
chil'ren. Nex' mornin' he came back fah four, leave one more deah.
De ol' lady start acryin'. He said, "Cry! but ahm comin' back." So
Ber Lion was passin'. He ax de ol' lady What she cryin' about. She said
she had twelve head o' cow an' Ber Rabby give her one guinea hen an' he
make her give him all de cows, only one more left. So he cower him all up in
de cow's skin an' cyarry him out an' leave him dere. When he come dat
night, about six o'clock, he bring he little son John wid him. He leave
his wife home dancin' an' de chil'ren singin',
Trouble don' live to my door mout'.
Dat time Ber Boukee jump Ber Tyger. After get down de road,
John say, "Fader dis cow eye look too bright fah cow." So he say,
"Hush yer mout', son, come long wid de t'ing." After dat Ber Tyger
shake out dis skin an' he started in de middle of de road. Ber Rabby
an' his son run. He gone hide behin' one box. He ax his son, "John,
1 Informant 20. See MAPLS I6: 59 n. 2; JAFL 35: 272.
2 Informant 20. See MAFLS I7: 8-9, 236--237.
-----------------------------------------
yer see me ?" De boy say, "Yes." Pa say, "I don't want nobody ter
say dey see me." Dat time Ber Tyger was goin' up to de house. So
Ber Boukee run home an' tell he wife mus' take roof. Den Ber Boukee
get deah an' meet all of dem in de roof of de house. Dey all was hangin'
up on de rafters, jus' hangin' wid de foot down. So one of de chil' say,
"Pa, cyan' hol' out no longer." So he say, "If you drop, you drop. You
see who down dere ?" De little girl drop an' Ber Tyger eat her. De oldes'
daughter say, "Pa, you know dis plague o' rheumatic in mah arm." So
he said, "I got not'in' ter say to it. You didn' say so when yer eatin' dat
ol' woman cow, keepin' yer belly full." De wife made answer," Mah
husban', I cyan' hol' out no longer." He said, "I was lovin' yer once, but
not now." After dat was only he an' one hangin'. So he tell Ber Tyger,
"You know dis is a werry big man. Get a barrel of white lime, so when
I drop yer could ketch de oil." So Ber Tyger gone an' get de lime an'
put it under him. An' when he lan' off f'om de roof of de house he take
him two han'ful of lime an' rub it in Ber Tyger eyes. Ber Rabby tu'n
Ber Tyger head in de barrel of lime an' dat kill him right deah. An' he
cut open his bellee, an' let out -all his chil'ren an' he say,
E bo ben
My story is en'.
57. CAT PLAYS SICK WITH DOG.1
One time a cyat an' a dawg was stayin' togeder. De cyat was playin'
sick wid de dawg. De dawg say, "Cyat, how you feelin' ?" He say, "Oh,
Dawg, I'm still feelin' sick." Dis dawg had a tin of butter an' dis cyat
wa' tryin' ter get at dis butter. An' when de dawg ba'k to him de cyat went
to de roof of de house, an' he went to de kettle and shub his head in an'
star' ter eat de butter. An' one of de dawg frien' call de dawg. Say, "My
frien', how is dis cyat dat was sick!" An' when de dawg came, he said,
"Oh, Cyat, you playin' sick, you not sick, you make me wo'k nine long
months an' you wusn' sick." An' so come Cyat an' Dawg can't agree today
an' every time de cyat see de dawg, de cyat have ter raise up her tail an'
say fyuh!
58. GOING TO HEAVEN.2
Onct Ber Man went under a tree an' he look up an' say, "Lawd, I want
ter get ter Heaven widout dyin'." - "Yes, John." Was two man in dis
tree talkin' ter John. Dey tol' him, "Come back termorrer 'bout twelve
o'clock." Nex' day he wen' back. He look up, he say, "Lawd!" Dem two
fellahs say, "Yes, John." Say, "I come." Say, "All right." Dey lower
1 Informant 21. See JAFL 33: 279.
2 Informant 20. See JAFL 35: 294.
---------------------------
down a hemp rope wid a slippery nyoose. Say, "John, put dat round yer
neck." An' dem two fellahs start apullin'. Ven dey start, say,"Easy,
Lawd!" Ven dey did set fah true, he look up, say, "Lawd, dontcher know all
dings?" De two fellahs say, "Yes, John." Say, "Yes. Well you be know
dis rope is chockin' me." An' he know he couldn' go ter Heaven widout
dyin'.
59. BIG AS THE IIILLS OF SCOTLAND.1
Dere was a baker name' Macdonell. Dere was two of dem chu'ch people
dey got aquarrelin'. So one call' de oder one a liar. So dey was takin' to de
chu'ch priest ter decide it. So de priest tell him, "Whenever you broder
tell you a liar, you mus' call him a liar, you mus' jus' whistle." So Sunday
dey went to church, an' de pries' take his tex' from de five loaves of
bread feed de multitude. He say, "My dear friends, one of dose loaves
of bread in dose days was as big as de hills of Scotland." De baker sittin'
down deah whistle. De pries' ax ,"Who is down dere dat call me a liar ?"
- "Me, Macdonell, baker. I like to see de size oven dat bake dem loaves
of bread as big as de hills of Scotland."
1 Informant 22.
_____________________________________
Footnotes:
1 See Spirit Cult in Hayti, Journal des Americanistes, in proof.
2 Parsons, E. C. Folk-Lore of the Sea Islands, South Carolina. MAFLS XVI (1923), 206.
3. Parsons, E. C. Folk-Tales of Andros Island, Bahamas. MAFLS 13. See, too, MAFLS 3; Cleare, W. T. Four Folk-Tales from Fortune Island, Bahamas. JAFL XXX, 228--9; Riddles from Andros Island, Bahamas, JAFL XXX, 275-7.
4. "You can feel de sweetness of dem," was the comment on this anthem.
5. To the tune of "Everybody works but fader."
6. Repeat with moder, son, daughter, wife, sister, frien'.