Alexander Archibald, Mandeville.
Anansi call Horse a go bush cut plantain. When dey cut done, dey carry
out in de open, dey begin to play stick, lick stick. Den Anansi said,
“Brar Horse, we hungry now, we don’ have no fire fe roast plantain.” So
say to Horse, “Go see fire quite yonder? Go deh, go tak fire come, mak
we roast plantain!” Horse fling up him tail on back, gallop, gone.
Meanwhile him gone, Anansi ’trike him tinder-box an buil’ a fire roast
every plantain; eat all de plantain, leave only four. Horse gallop away
an’ kyan’ ketch de fire an’ turn back. Anansi say, “Brar Horse, when
you gone, one man pass heah gi’ me fire an’ me roast de plantain; as me
roas’ee done, one man come beat me an’ tak away de plantain on’y lef’
dem four heah gi’ me!” So Brar Horse say, “Never min’! you tak two, me
tak two.” So Horse takee.
Dat time Brar Goat go bush kneel down watch Brar Anansi, watch what
take place; so de nex’ day, Goat say him will go wid Anansi. Dem two
go, dem two cut plantain, an’ dem come out ’pon de open an’ dem play.
So Anansi said, “Brar Goat, we hungry now an’ we ha’ no fire. See fire
quite yonder? gallop go get fire an’ come.” Goat gallop, go roun’ clump
of bush, go kneel down on knee go watch him. Him ’trike him tinder-box
mak a fire, peel ev’ry plantain put a fire. When de plantain roast, he
’crape ev’ry bit. As him ’crapee, Goat get up a come. Goat cut ’tick
an’ him jump one side so him put circle roun’ de fire-side, an’ say to
Anansi, “Put you han’ in now, sah!” an’ jump de odder side an’ put
circle again. So den Anansi begin to beg, an’ Goat tak away eberyt’ing
didn’t gib him one!
Jack man dory!