52. WHY TOAD CROAKS.

Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.

One man got a darter. He said, “Got one cotton tree; de man cut dat

cotton tree, he marry to me darter.” Every man go cut, soon dey cut de

chip fasten back; so dem couldn’t get de girl to marry. Toad said him

go fall him. Toad full in pocket a hashes an’ every chop him chop him

fling de hashes upon de tree when de chip fly, and ’ey kyan’t fasten.

So Toad do an’ do till he fell de cotton tree.

De master hab a long barbecue an’ tell him say, “Now you mus’ go down

dere and ’trip yo’self an’ I wi’ pour on de water to let you skin.” All

dis time one big pot hot water on de fire boil up, so dem turn over de

pot o’ hot water an’ say, “Brar Toad, water come! tak you rubbin’

clot’.” An’ Toad jump in wild pine; up to dis day, ev’ry night you hear

him cry out, “Kwoka soaka!”

Jamaica Anansi stories · 第 62 / 554 题