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Jamaica Anansi stories

Jamaica Anansi stories

by Martha Warren Beckwith

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About this eBook

Author
Beckwith, Martha Warren, 1871-1959
Original Publication
New York: The American Folk-Lore Society, 1924.
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman, Jude Eylander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Language
English
LoC Class
GR: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Folklore
Subject
Creole dialects, English
Category
Text
Project Gutenberg
eBook-No. 72735
Release Date
January 16, 2024
Copyright
Public domain in the USA.

Contents

  1. 1.Jamaica Anansi Stories
  2. 2.CONTENTS.
  3. 3.PREFACE.
  4. 4.ANIMAL STORIES.
  5. 5.1. Tying Tiger. [ Note ] — a. The Fish-basket. — b. The Storm.
  6. 6.2. Tiger as Substitute. [ Note ] — a. The King’s Two Daughters. — b. The Gub-gub Peas.
  7. 7.3. Tiger as Riding-horse. [ Note ]
  8. 8.4. Tiger’s Sheep-skin Suit. [ Note ]
  9. 9.5. Tiger Catching the Sheep-thief. [ Note ] — a. The Escape. — b. The Substitute. — c. In the House-top.
  10. 10.6. Tiger’s Breakfast. [ Note ]
  11. 11.7. Eggs and Scorpions. [ Note ]
  12. 12.8. Tiger’s Bone-hole. [ Note ]
  13. 13.9. The Christening. [ Note ]
  14. 14.10. Eating Tiger’s Guts. [ Note ] — a. The Tell-tale. — b. The Monkeys’ Song.
  15. 15.11. Throwing away Knives. [ Note ] — a. Tiger and Anansi. — b. Sheep and Anansi.
  16. 16.12. Grace Before Meat. [ Note ] — a. Monkey and Anansi. — b. Goat and Anansi.
  17. 17.13. Day-time Trouble. [ Note ] — a. Rabbit and Anansi. — b. Rat and Anansi. — c. Goat and Anansi.
  18. 18.14. New Names. [ Note ]
  19. 19.15. Long-shirt. [ Note ]
  20. 20.16. Shut up in the Pot. [ Note ]
  21. 21.17. House in the Air. [ Note ] — a. Tracking Anansi. — b. Rabbit and Children going up to Heaven. — c. Duppy’s House in the Air. — d. Carencro’s 2 House with a Key.
  22. 22.18. Goat on the Hill-side. [ Note ]
  23. 23.19. Dog and Dog-head. [ Note ]
  24. 24.20. Tacoomah’s Corn-piece. [ Note ]
  25. 25.21. Anansi and the Tar-baby. [ Note ] — a. The Escape from Tiger. — b. The Substitute. — c. The Grave.
  26. 26.22. Inside the Cow. [ Note ]
  27. 27.23. Cunnie-More-Than-Father. [ Note ]
  28. 28.24. The Duckano tree. [ Note ]
  29. 29.25. Food and Cudgel. [ Note ] — a. The Handsome Packey. — b. The Knife and Fork.
  30. 30.26. The Riddle. [ Note ]
  31. 31.27. Anansi and Brother Dead. [ Note ] — a. Brother Dead’s Wife. — b. Goat and Plantain.
  32. 32.28. Brother Dead and the Brindle Puppy. [ Note ]
  33. 33.29. The Cowitch and Mr. Foolman. [ Note ]
  34. 34.30. Dry-Head and Anansi. [ Note ] — a. Go-long-go. — b. Dry-head. — c. Brother Dead.
  35. 35.31. The Yam-hills. [ Note ]
  36. 36.32. The Law against Back-biting. [ Note ] — a. Duck’s Dream. — b. Guinea-chick. — c. Dry-head at the Barber’s.
  37. 37.33. Fling-a-mile. [ Note ]
  38. 38.34. But-but and Anansi. [ Note ]
  39. 39.35. Tumble-bug and Anansi. [ Note ]
  40. 40.36. Horse and Anansi. [ Note ]
  41. 41.37. Anansi in Monkey Country. [ Note ] — a. Bunya. — b. Christen Christen.
  42. 42.38. Curing the Sick. [ Note ] — a. The Fishes. — b. The Six Children.
  43. 43.39. Anansi, White-belly and Fish. [ Note ]
  44. 44.40. Goat’s Escape. [ Note ] — a. The Rain. — b. The Dance (1). — b. The Dance (2).
  45. 45.41. Turtle’s Escape. [ Note ]
  46. 46.42. Fire and Anansi. [ Note ]
  47. 47.43. Quit-quit and Anansi. [ Note ] — a. Tailors and Fiddlers. — b. Fiddlers.
  48. 48.44. Spider Marries Monkey’s Daughter. [ Note ]
  49. 49.45. The Chain of Victims. [ Note ]
  50. 50.46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung. [ Note ]
  51. 51.47. Why John-crow has a Bald Head. [ Note ] — a. The Baptism. — b. The Dance.
  52. 52.48. Why Dog is always Looking. [ Note ]
  53. 53.49. Why Rocks at the River are covered with Moss. [ Note ]
  54. 54.50. Why Ground-dove Complains. [ Note ]
  55. 55.51. Why Hog is always Grunting. [ Note ]
  56. 56.52. Why Toad Croaks. [ Note ]
  57. 57.53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood. [ Note ]
  58. 58.54. Why Crab is afraid after Dark. [ Note ]
  59. 59.55. Why Mice are no Bigger. [ Note ]
  60. 60.56. Rat’s Wedding. [ Note ]
  61. 61.57. Cockroach Stories. [ Note ] — a. Cock’s Breakfast. — b. Feigning Sick. (1) — b. Feigning Sick. (2) — c. The Drum.
  62. 62.58. Hunter, Guinea-hen and Fish. [ Note ]
  63. 63.59. Rabbit Stories. [ Note ] — a. The Tar Baby. — b. Saying Grace. — c. Pretending Dead.
  64. 64.60. The Animal Race. [ Note ] — a. Horse and Turtle. — b. Pigeon and Parrot.
  65. 65.61. The Fasting Trial (fragment). [ Note ]
  66. 66.62. Man is Stronger. [ Note ]
  67. 67.OLD STORIES, CHIEFLY OF SORCERY.
  68. 68.63. The Pea that made a Fortune. [ Note ]
  69. 69.64. Settling the Father’s Debt. [ Note ]
  70. 70.65. Mr. Lenaman’s Corn-field. [ Note ]
  71. 71.66. Simon Tootoos. [ Note ]
  72. 72.67. The Tree-wife. [ Note ]
  73. 73.68. Sammy the Comferee. [ Note ]
  74. 74.69. Grandy-Do-an’-Do. [ Note ]
  75. 75.70. Jack and Harry. [ Note ]
  76. 76.71. Pea-fowl as Messenger. [ Note ] — a. John Studee. — b. Contavio.
  77. 77.72. The Barking Puppy. [ Note ]
  78. 78.73. The Singing Bird. [ Note ] — a. Fine Waiting Boy. — b. The Golden Cage.
  79. 79.74. Two Sisters. [ Note ]
  80. 80.75. Asoonah. [ Note ]
  81. 81.76. The Greedy Child. [ Note ] — a. Crossing the River. — b. The Plantain.
  82. 82.77. Alimoty and Aliminty. [ Note ]
  83. 83.78. The Fish Lover. [ Note ] — a. Timbo Limbo. — b. Fish fish fish. — c. Dear Old Juna.
  84. 84.79. Juggin Straw Blue. [ Note ]
  85. 85.80. The Witch and the Grain of Peas. [ Note ]
  86. 86.81. Bosen Corner. [ Note ]
  87. 87.82. The Three Dogs. [ Note ] — a. Boy and Witch Woman. — b. Lucy and Janet.
  88. 88.83. Andrew and his Sisters. [ Note ]
  89. 89.84. The Hunter. [ Note ] — a. The Bull turned Courter. — b. The Cow turned Woman.
  90. 90.85. Man-Snake as Bridegroom. [ Note ] — a. The Rescue. (1) — a. The Rescue (2). — b. Snake Swallows the Bride.
  91. 91.86. The Girls who married the Devil. [ Note ] — a. The Devil-husband. — b. The Snake-husband.
  92. 92.87. Bull as Bridegroom. [ Note ] — a. Nancy. — b. The Play-song. — c. Gracie and Miles.
  93. 93.88. The Two Bulls. [ Note ]
  94. 94.89. Ballinder Bull. [ Note ]
  95. 95.90. Bird Arinto. [ Note ]
  96. 96.91. Tiger Softens his Voice. [ Note ]
  97. 97.92. Hidden Names. [ Note ] — a. Anansi and Mosquito. — b. Anansi plays Baby. (1) — b. Anansi plays baby. (2) — b. Anansi plays baby. (3)
  98. 98.93. Anansi and Mr. Able. [ Note ]
  99. 99.94. The King’s Three Daughters. [ Note ]
  100. 100.95. The Dumb Child. [ Note ]
  101. 101.96. The Dumb Wife. [ Note ]
  102. 102.97. Leap, Timber, Leap. [ Note ] — a. Old Conch. — b. Grass-quit (fragment).
  103. 103.98. The Boy fools Anansi. [ Note ]
  104. 104.99. The Water Crayfish. [ Note ]
  105. 105.MODERN EUROPEAN STORIES.
  106. 106.100. Ali Baba and Kissem. [ Note ]
  107. 107.101. Bull-of-all-the-Land . [ Note ]
  108. 108.102. The Boiling Pot. [ Note ]
  109. 109.103. The Twelve One-eyed Men. [ Note ]
  110. 110.104. Bird and Hunter. [ Note ]
  111. 111.105. Jack and the Devil Errant. [ Note ]
  112. 112.106. The Magic Hat and the Staff of Life. [ Note ]
  113. 113.107. Uncle Green and Jack. [ Note ]
  114. 114.108. Big Begum and Little Begum. [ Note ]
  115. 115.109. The Fool and the Wise Brother. [ Note ]
  116. 116.110. The Children and the Witch. [ Note ]
  117. 117.111. The Boy and the Mermaid. [ Note ]
  118. 118.112. Difficult Tasks. [ Note ]
  119. 119.113. The Grateful Beasts. [ Note ]
  120. 120.114. Jack and the Bean-stalk. [ Note ]
  121. 121.115. Jack and the Devil. [ Note ]
  122. 122.116. Jack’s Riddle. [ Note ]
  123. 123.117. Jack as Fortune-teller. [ Note ]
  124. 124.118. Robin as Fortune-teller. [ Note ]
  125. 125.119. Jack and the Grateful Dead. [ Note ]
  126. 126.120. The Boy and his Master. [ Note ]
  127. 127.121. The Language of Beasts. [ Note ]
  128. 128.122. The Three Pieces of Advice. [ Note ]
  129. 129.123. Three Brothers and the Life-tree. [ Note ]
  130. 130.124. The Skilful Brothers. [ Note ]
  131. 131.125. The Three Sillies. [ Note ]
  132. 132.126. A Misunderstanding. [ Note ]
  133. 133.127. Big-head, Big-belly, and Little-foot. [ Note ]
  134. 134.128. The Goat in the Lion’s Den. [ Note ]
  135. 135.129. The Donkey, the Cat and the Lion’s Head. [ Note ]
  136. 136.130. Clever Molly May. [ Note ]
  137. 137.131. Dancing to Anansi’s Fiddle. [ Note ]
  138. 138.132. Anansi claims the dinner. [ Note ]
  139. 139.133. Anansi seeks his Fortune. [ Note ]
  140. 140.134. The Pannier-jar. [ Note ]
  141. 141.135. Anansi kills his Grandmother. [ Note ]
  142. 142.136. White Belly and Anansi. [ Note ]
  143. 143.137. Monkey hunts Anansi. [ Note ]
  144. 144.138. Anansi and the Pig coming from Market. [ Note ]
  145. 145.DANCE AND SONG.
  146. 146.139. The Fifer. [ Note ]
  147. 147.140. In Come Murray.
  148. 148.141. Tacoomah makes a Dance. [ Note ]
  149. 149.142. Anansi makes a Dance. [ Note ]
  150. 150.143. Red Yam. [ Note ]
  151. 151.144. Guzzah Man.
  152. 152.145. Fowl and Pretty Poll. 1 [ Note ]
  153. 153.146. The Cumbolo. [ Note ]
  154. 154.147. John-crow and Fowl at Court.
  155. 155.148. Wooden Ping-ping and Cock.
  156. 156.149. Animal Talk. [ Note ]
  157. 157.WITTICISMS.
  158. 158.Old-time Fools. — I. — II. — III.
  159. 159.Duppy Stories. — IV. — V. — VI. — VII. — VIII.
  160. 160.Animal Jests. — IX. — X. — XI. — XII. — XIII. — XIV. — XV.
  161. 161.Lies. — XVI. — XVII.
  162. 162.Philosophy. — XVIII.
  163. 163.RIDDLES.
  164. 164.INDEX TO RIDDLES.
  165. 165.ABBREVIATIONS OF TITLES. — 1. Jamaica references. — 2. General References. — 3. Riddle References.
  166. 166.NOTES. — 1. Tying Tiger. [ Story ] — 2. Tiger as Substitute. [ Story ] — 3. Tiger as Riding-Horse. [ Story ] — 4. Tiger’s Sheep-skin Suit. [ Story ] — 5. Tiger Catching the Sheep-thief. [ Story ] — 6. Tiger’s Breakfast. [ Story ] — 7. Eggs and Scorpions. [ Story ] — 8. Tiger’s Bone-hole. [ Story ] — 9. The Christening. [ Story ] — 10. Eating Tiger’s Guts. [ Story ] — 11. Throwing away Knives. [ Story ] — 12. Grace before Meat. [ Story ] — 13. Seeing Trouble. [ Story ] — 14. New Names. [ Story ] — 15. Long Shirt. [ Story ] — 16. Shut up in the Pot. [ Story ] — 17. House in the Air. [ Story ] — 18. Goat on the Hill-side. [ Story ] — 19. Dog and Dog-head. [ Story ] — 20. Tacoomah’s Corn-piece. [ Story ] — 21. Anansi and the Tar Baby. [ Story ] — 22. Inside the Cow. [ Story ] — 23. Cunnie-more-than-Father. [ Story ] — 24. The Duckano Tree. [ Story ] — 25. Food and Cudgel. [ Story ] — 26. The Riddle. [ Story ] — 27. Anansi and Brother Dead. [ Story ] — 28. Brother Dead and the Brindle Puppy. [ Story ] — 29. The Cowitch and Mr. Foolman. [ Story ] — 30. Dry-Head and Anansi. [ Story ] — 31. The Yam-hills. [ Story ] — 32. The Law against Back-biting. [ Story ] — 33. Fling-a-mile. [ Story ] — 34. But-but and Anansi. [ Story ] — 35. Tumble-bug and Anansi. [ Story ] — 36. Horse and Anansi. [ Story ] — 37. Anansi in Monkey Country. [ Story ] — 38. Curing the Sick. [ Story ] — 39. Anansi, White-belly and Fish. [ Story ] — 40. Goat’s Escape. [ Story ] — 41. Turtle’s Escape. [ Story ] — 42. Fire and Anansi. [ Story ] — 43. Quit-quit and Anansi. [ Story ] — 44. Spider Marries Monkey’s Daughter. [ Story ] — 45. The Chain of Victims [ Story ] — 46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung. [ Story ] — 47. Why John-crow has a Bald Head. [ Story ] — 48. Why Dog is always Looking. [ Story ] — 49. Why Rocks at the River are covered with Moss. [ Story ] — 50. Why Ground-dove Complains. [ Story ] — 51. Why Hog is always Grunting. [ Story ] — 52. Why Toad Croaks. [ Story ] — 53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood. [ Story ] — 54. Why Crab is afraid after Dark. [ Story ] — 55. Why Mice are no Bigger. [ Story ] — 56. Rat’s Wedding. [ Story ] — 57. Cockroach Stories. [ Story ] — 58. Hunter, Guinea-hen and Fish. [ Story ] — 59. Rabbit Stories. [ Story ] — 60. The Animal Race. [ Story ] — 61. The Fasting Trial. [ Story ] — 62. Man is Stronger. [ Story ] — 63. The Pea that made a Fortune. [ Story ] — 64. Settling the Father’s Debt. [ Story ] — 65. Mr. Lenaman’s Corn-field. [ Story ] — 66. Simon Tootoos. 4 [ Story ] — 67. The Tree-wife. [ Story ] — 68. Sammy the Comferee. [ Story ] — 69. Grandy Do-an’-do. [ Story ] — 70. Jack and Harry. [ Story ] — 71. Pea-fowl as Messenger. [ Story ] — 72. The Barking Puppy. [ Story ] — 73. The Singing Bird. [ Story ] — 74. Two Sisters. [ Story ] — 75. Assonah. [ Story ] — 76. The Greedy Child. [ Story ] — 77. Alimoty and Aliminty. [ Story ] — 78. The Fish Lover. [ Story ] — 79. Juggin Straw Blue. [ Story ] — 80. The Witch and the Grain of Peas. [ Story ] — 81. The Witch at Bosen Corner. [ Story ] — 82. The Witch and the Three Dogs. [ Story ] — 83. Andrew and his Sisters. [ Story ] — 84. The Hunter. [ Story ] — 85. Man-Snake as Bridegroom. [ Story ] — 86. The Girls who married the Devil. [ Story ] — 87. Bull as Bridegroom. [ Story ] — 88. The Two Bulls. [ Story ] — 89. Ballinder Bull. [ Story ] — 90. Bird Arinto. [ Story ] — 91. Tiger softens his Voice. [ Story ] — 92. and 93. Hidden Names; Anansi and Mr. Able. [ Story ] — 94. The King’s Three Daughters. [ Story ] — 95. The Dumb Child. [ Story ] — 96. The Dumb Wife. [ Story ] — 97. Leap, Timber, Leap. 5 [ Story ] — 98. The Boy fools Anansi. [ Story ] — 99. The Water Cray fish. [ Story ] — 100. Ali Baba and Kissem. [ Story ] — 101. Bull-of-all-the-land. [ Story ] — 102. The Boiling Pot. [ Story ] — 103. The Twelve One-eyed Men. [ Story ] — 104. Bird and Hunter. [ Story ] — 105. Jack and the Devil Errant. [ Story ] — 106. The Magic Hat and the Staff of Life. [ Story ] — 107. Uncle Green and Jack. [ Story ] — 108. Big Begum and Little Begum. [ Story ] — 109. The Fool and the Wise Brother. [ Story ] — 110. The Children and the Witch. [ Story ] — 111. The Boy and the Mermaid. [ Story ] — 112. Difficult Tasks. [ Story ] — 113. The Grateful Beasts. [ Story ] — 114. Jack and the Bean-stalk. [ Story ] — 115. Jack and the Devil. [ Story ] — 116. Jack’s Riddle. [ Story ] — 117. Jack as Fortune-teller. [ Story ] — 118. Robin as Fortune-teller. [ Story ] — 119. Jack and the Grateful Dead. [ Story ] — 120. The Boy and his Master. [ Story ] — 121. The Language of Beasts. [ Story ] — 122. The Three Pieces of Advice. [ Story ] — 123. The Brothers and the Life-tree. [ Story ] — 124. The Skillful Brothers. [ Story ] — 125. The Three Sillies. [ Story ] — 126. A Misunderstanding. [ Story ] — 127. Big-head, Big-belly and Little-foot. [ Story ] — 128. The Goat in the Lion’s Den. [ Story ] — 129. Donkey, Cat and the Lion’s Head. [ Story ] — 130. Clever Molly May. [ Story ] — 131. Dancing to Anansi’s Fiddle. [ Story ] — 132. Anansi Claims the Dinner. [ Story ] — 133. Anansi seeks his Fortune. [ Story ] — 134. The Pannier Jar. [ Story ] — 135. Anansi kills his Grandmother. [ Story ] — 136. White-belly and Anansi. [ Story ] — 137. Monkey hunts Anansi. [ Story ] — 138. Anansi and the Pig. [ Story ] — 139. The Fifer. [ Story ] — 141. Tacoomah makes a Dance. [ Story ] — 142. Anansi makes a Dance. [ Story ] — 143. Red Yam. [ Story ] — 145. Fowl and Pretty Poll. [ Story ] — 146. The Cumbalo. [ Story ] — 149. Animal Talk. [ Story ] — Witticisms.
  167. 167.SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. — 46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung. [ Story ] — 48. Why Dog is always Looking. [ Story ] — 56. Rat’s Wedding. [ Story ] — 66. Simon Tootoos. [ Story ] — 97. Leap, Timber, Leap. [ Story ]
  168. 168.INDEX TO INFORMANTS.
  169. 169.Colophon — Availability — Metadata — Encoding — Revision History — Corrections

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