a. Bunya.
Elizabeth Hilton, Harmony Hall, Cock-pit Country.
Anansi go to Monkey country. Put on a big pot of water an’ tell the
Monkey when him get in the pot of water, when him say “Bunya”, they
mus’ take him out of the pot of water. When they take him out, they
mus’ go in. So when he go in the pot of water, as soon as he feel the
water hot he say, “Bunya.” They take him out. An’ put all of them one
time into the pot of water. An’ when them said, “Bunya!” Anansi said,
“No bunya yet!” An’ said, “Bunya!” Anansi said, “No bunya yet!” Anansi
wouldn’t take them out until them boil. Anansi take them out an’ eat
them.
One little one lef’ at the top of the pot that the water didn’t scald.
That one run go to the next Monkey country an’ tell them the story
about Anansi an’ the ‘bunya.’ When Anansi eat, he start to the other
country, an’ him go there an’ tell the Monkey mus’ put him into the pot
of water an’ when he say, “Bunya,” mus’ take him out. So when Anansi
feel the water hot, he say, “Bunya!” Monkey say, “No bunya yet!” Anansi
say, “Bunya!” Monkey say, “No bunya yet!” Monkey keep Anansi in that
pot till him kill him.
b. Christen Christen.
Adolphus Iron, Claremont, St. Ann.
One time hard time ketch Brar Nansi. Him couldn’t get not’ing to eat.
Him trabble away to Monkey country fe go preach. When him ketch deh,
him say, “Well, frien’s, I come here to chris’en, but I chris’en wid a
large oben.” De Monkey, dem glad fe hear. Dem jump an’ buil’ up de
oben. Anansi say, “You mus’ pack it wid wood an’ light it wid fire.
When it well hot, me will go in first, an’ when you hear me say,
‘Chris’en,’ you mus’ open de door.” De Monkey, dem agree.
De oben buil’, de oben light, Anansi go in. Anansi holler, “Chris’en!”
Dem open de door. Anansi jump out, dem begin jump in. When de las’
monkey jump in, Anansi shet de door. Monkey begin holler, “Chris’en!
chris’en!” Anansi say, “No chris’en yet!” When Anansi t’ink dem a well
roas’, him open de door. One scorch-side one jump out an’ run fe de
odder Monkey country an’ tell all wha’ done.
Anansi stan’ deh till him eat off de whole ob de roas’ one dem. Him
trabble again till him ketch de odder Monkey country. All was prepare
to meet him. De scorch-sided one meet him first. Anansi say, “Brar, I
t’ink I know you!” De Monkey said, “No, sah, a de firs’ me an’ you buck
up!” Anansi say, “Well, I come here to chris’en, but I chris’en wid an
oben.” De Monkey, dem buil’ up de oben quicker yet. Anansi say, “I will
go in firs’; when you hear I say, ‘Chris’n!’ you open de do’.” All de
Monkey say yes. When Anansi feel de fire, him holler, “Chris’n,
chris’n, chris’n!” De Monkey say, “No chris’n yet!” An’ dey let Anansi
stay all roas’ till he burst!