so frighten he was on the tree trimbling. Wolf was quite glad to think
he was going to catch Pig. He couldn' stand his ground, but dance
about with joy.
Pig say:--"The apple is so sweet that I have fe take a good load. Mr.
Wolf, you would like to taste one?"
Wolf say "Yes."
Pig say:--"Let me see if you can run as that apple?"
Pig throw one of the apple far an' Wolf run after it. By the time he
is come back Pig get down off a the tree, leave him baskit an'
everyt'ing, an' run nearly reach home.
Wolf was so sorry when he come, left the apple an' gone home.
Next night he call to Pig an' tell him that he know where there will
be a met, so they must take a walk.
Pig say:--"What hour?" Wolf said "T'ree."
Pig start twelve an' go dance till two. He was the best dancer an'
they give him a butter-churn as a reward. As he walking home he see
Wolf at a distant coming.
He said:--"My goodness King! What I going to do?"
Nevertheless he get in the churn a roll down the hill.
Wolf see the thing. He run for his home.
The next day he go an' ask Pig if he did go to the ball.
Pig said:--"Yes, an' as I was coming home I see you, an' was so
frighten I get in me churn an' roll down to see if you don't run. An'
so you did run, Ha! Ha!"
Wolf get vex. He huff an' cuff all day again to see if he could broke
down the building, but all he do he has to lef' it.
So one rain night he send his wife with a young baby to see if Pig
would take her in by changing her voice.
She went an' call:--"Mr. Pig, please Sir, if you can give a night
rest, Sir; for rain, an' I am from far."
Pig said:--"No, I don't take in no stranger whatever, especially you,
Mrs. Wolf. You husban' try an' try an' can't manage, an' now him send
you to see if you can kill me."
Mrs. Wolf commence to climb the chimley.
Pig put a big copper of water on the fire an', by the time she reach
the top an' was coming down the chimley, she drop in the water an'
dead, she an' the child.
Wolf come again an' call Pig.
An' Pig take up this song:--
[Music:
Wolf, Wolf, Wolf! no use you try fe come in,
You wife dere da ready;
Ha! Ha! Ha!
You wanta try fe come in,
Come Wolf,
Me will put you both together.]
Wolf get worser vex, commence to beat Pig house with all his might an'
couldn' get in. He climb up the chimley, an', by he fe get to the top,
the pot of boiling water was long time ready waiting for him, an' he
going down in a haste make a slip, drop in the water.
Pig salt them an' put them in his cask to soak, an' write to invite
his mother to help him eat them for he find out it was them eat his
two brother.[46]
[Footnote 46: Cf. Joseph Jacobs, _English Fairy Tales_, No. xiv., and
note, p. 233. (C.S.B.)]
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=Pig them.= Read these words together, not, Pig--them come.
=you can give=, can you give.
=huff=, scratch with the hoof.
=kindling=, small wood to light fires with.
=day clean.= Day is clean when you can see to walk.
=big road=, one that is what the Italians call _carozzabile_,
carriageable. In the hills of Jamaica the roads are for the most part
mere mule tracks.
=Simmit=, Smith.
=make we go=, let us go.
=What the time?= at what time?
=By Pig=, as Pig.
=fulling=, =trimbling=, always so.
=when he come, etc.=, when he came back to the tree, that he left the
apples and went home.
=met=, meeting, ball.
=da ready=, already.
=by he fe get=, by the time he got.
=cask to soak.= Salt meat is kept in a tub of brine.
XXVII. DUMMY.
There was a man couldn' talk, called Dummy.
One day Annancy bet the King he going to make Dummy talk.
So the King say:--"If you make Dummy talk I will give you one of my
daughter fe marry."
Well, Annancy went to Hog, ask him:--"Bro'er Hog if I carry you fe
Dummy, whe you wi' say?"
Hog say:--"Me wi' say ugh! ugh!"
Annancy say:--"You won't do."
He went to Goat:--"Bro'er Goat, if I carry you fe Dummy, whe wi' you
say?"
"Me wi' say Meh--eh--eh!"
"You won't do."
So he went to fowl.
Fowl say:--"Me wi' say Clk! Clk! Clk!"
"You won't do."
So he went to Bro'er Peafowl an' ask him:--"What you will say if me
carry you fe Dummy?"
Peafowl say:--"Me wi' say:--
[Music:
"Chirryway,
Chirryway, Chirryway dem de,
Chirryway, Constan' dead to-day,
Chirryway."]
Then Annancy say:--"A you me wanty."[47]
[Footnote 47: See the story of Tangalomlibo in Torrend, _Comparative
Grammar of S. African Bantu Languages_, p. 319, where the cock is
chosen as messenger, when the ox and goat are rejected. (A.W.)]
So Annancy beg Bro'er Peafowl he must come with him to Dummy.
An' when Dummy hear the tune it sweet him so, he commence to shake him
head an' hum.
So them went to the King yard, Peafowl before, Dummy in the middle,
Annancy de a back.
An' as they reach up Annancy say "Wheugh!" being him breat' gone an'
him tired, but peafowl never cease with the song.
When Annancy got him breat' he say to the King:--"Master me a come, me
a go make Dummy talk."
Then the King say:--"I will like to hear Dummy talk."
An' Peafowl sing an' sing, an' make all sort of figure before Dummy.
Dummy commence to shake him head two t'ree time de way de song sweet
him.
At last Dummy begin to hum.
As Peafowl see him commence to hum, Peafowl make a sudden spring, went
up to Dummy with a great flourish, an' at last Dummy sing right out
the same as Peafowl:--
[Music:
Chirryway,
Chirryway, Chirryway dem de,
Chirryway, Constan' dead to-day,
Chirryway.]
An' Annancy get the bet an' the King marry him off.
An' Annancy give Peafowl gold all over his body an' six quarts of
corn. From that Peafowl cover all over with gold.
NOTES.
=Whe you wi' say=, what will you say?
=sweet him so=, pleased him so much.
=Constan'=, Constance.
XXVIII. ANNANCY AND CANDLEFLY.
One day Annancy go to Brother Candlefly yard fe fire.
When him go Candlefly give him fire an' tell him to wait an' he will
go give him a few eggs.
When Annancy get the eggs he go home with the fire.
The next day he go back fe fire an' Candlefly give him more eggs.
Annancy go till him get halfway, out the fire an' turn back.
When him come him say:--"Bro'er Candlefly, the fire out; give me some
more."
When Candlefly give him the fire, him wait an' wait to see if him can
get more eggs. Candlefly never give him one.
Annancy say:--"Bro'er Candlefly, the fire a burn me, please give me
one egg make me wet me han', fe make it better."
Candlefly give him one an' tell him to come an' he will carry him
where any amount of egg da, "But you must not come till close a
night."
Annancy don't wait till night, go about midday. When him go him get a
long bag ready. Every minute him come out of the house an' look on
sun. Annancy couldn' tarry but only praying to see if night can come.
When night come Candlefly get ready an' tell Annancy to stay aback.
Them travel till at last them get. (Annancy going to play out
Candlefly.)
Every gash Candlefly gash an' see a egg going to pick it up, Annancy
say:--"A me first see ahm."
Candlefly gash again: Annancy take away every one till him bag full.
Candlefly don't get one. So as Annancy such a strong man Candlefly
compel was to lef' without say a word.
But Annancy going to feel the blow.
After Candlefly gone with the light Annancy couldn' find nowhere to
put his foot.
Annancy say:--"Poor me boy, I mus' try see if I can fin' the way."
Annancy start.
Him travel till him go an' buck on a house. The way the night was so
dark he never see the house, he just buck on it.
He don't know whose house it was but him call "Godfather!"
The person answer:--"Who is that calling?"
Him say:--"Annancy, you godson, bring some eggs fe you."
During this time Annancy never know that it was Tiger who him hate so
much.
When the door open there come Brother Tiger.
Annancy say:--"Marnin', Godfather Tiger."
Tiger say:--"Come in."
Same time Tiger send his wife to go an' put on the copper on the fire.
So them boil the whole barrel-bag of eggs.
When the eggs boil Tiger ask Annancy if him want any.
The frighten in him, him say "No."
So Tiger eat the whole bag of eggs, he an' his wife an' children.
To find out if Annancy want any of the eggs Tiger tell him wife fe lef
two of the good shell. So Tiger get a lobters an' put with the egg
shell.
When Annancy go in to sleep, Annancy see these two eggs, don't know
that it was shell. Tiger know how the fellah love eggs.
When lamp out Annancy 'tretch him hand to catch the eggs.
Lobters paw give him a good bite. Him jump. Then Tiger know that it
was the egg the fellah want.
Tiger ask:--"What the matter Mr. Annancy?"
"No dog-flea a bit me up so, sir? Me never see place have dog-flea
like a you yard."
Tiger gone back to sleep.
Five minute more Annancy cry out:--"Lahd! me never see place have
dog-flea like a you yard."
During this time he was trying to get the egg-shell. So he try an' try
the whole night an' never get.
When day light Tiger say:--"Me son, me sorry to see dog-flea bit you
so last night. You is the first man come here a me house say dog-flea
bit you."
Annancy say:--"Godfather, I don't get a rest from I go to bed till
now."
Tiger wife get tea an' give him, so he get ready.
Tiger say:--"Go a me goat-pen, you see one goat, fetch him ya fe me
before you go."
Annancy go. When him go he see a big he-goat, him beard was a yard
long. Annancy catch the beard, lift him up t'row him a ground, take a
big stick begin to beat him, give bup! bup! say:--"You b'ute! a you
master nyam all me egg never give me so so one self."
Him beat him so till the goat form 'tiff dead. Now this was Tiger all
the time. Annancy leave him gone to see if he can get any knife to cut
him up.
By Annancy come back him don't see no goat, only a big old man
standing up. Him put after him. Annancy run back to Tiger yard. The
man was after him. Annancy see a gourdy, run right in it. Tiger lost
the fellah.
Well! Tiger take his gourdy going fe water.
Annancy, knowing that Tiger mother was sick, as Tiger get halfway with
the gourdy on his head Annancy call out of the gourdy mouth:--"Bro'er
Tiger, you mumma dead a house from yeshterday."
Tiger stop, him listen, him can't hear.
He make a move.
Annancy bawl out again:--"Bro'er Tiger, you mumma dead a house from
yeshterday."
Tiger stop, him listen, him can't hear.
He go on again, he hear the voice again.
He throw down the gourdy.
Annancy get out, said to Tiger:--"You b'ute! if you been broke me foot
you wouldn' min' me wife and picny."
Tiger hear the voice but never see a soul.
Him run gone home to see if his mother dead. When he go his mother was
still alive.
Annancy go home an' go to Candlefly yard tell him say:--"I never will
be cravin' again, ya, Bro'er? you fe carry me again." An' Candlefly
say "Yes."
Every day Annancy come. Candlefly wife say:--"Him gone long time."
Annancy never get to go with Candlefly again, an' he don't know the
place.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=Candlefly.= Among the smaller fire-flies which twinkle all the year
rushes, in the summer months, the great Candlefly. It makes a roaring
sound with its strong, swift flight, and is a strange and splendid
object. It has three lights, two looking like eyes, and a larger and
much more brilliant one underneath the thorax. When at rest only the
eye lights shine, but with the spread of its wings a shutter is drawn
back and discloses the abdominal light. The insect, which is the size
of a cockchafer but rather longer, is commonly called Big Winky or
Peeny.
=da=, is pronounced like Italian.
=look on sun=, looks at the sun to see if it is sinking.
=a back=, behind.
=get=, get to the place.
=gash=, flash. Lightning is said to gash. As explained above, this
gashing of the great light of the Candlefly is continuous while it is
in flight, but ceases as soon as it rests.
=buck on=, run against. A horse =bucks=, here, when he stumbles. A man
=bucks= his toe when he knocks his naked foot against a stone, and
women fight (men too for that matter) by =bucking= with their heads.
=Marnin'.= Good morning and good evening are used as salutations without
reference to the actual time of day.
=barrel-bag=, a bag of the capacity of a flour barrel.
=the frighten, etc.=, owing to the fright which was in him he said "No."
=fe lef'=, to leave.
=lobters.= This transposition of letters has a ludicrous effect on the
word.
=paw=, pronounced =pah= very broadly.
Fleas are always called dog-fleas, or rather dahg-fleas.
=tea=, the morning sugar-water, is the signal that it is time for the
guest to be soon moving on. Generally, however, he is given something
to do before he goes.
=ya=, here.
=so so one self=, even one.
=form=, pretended.
=Him put after him.= The old man put (ran) after Annancy.
=You couldn' mind, etc.= This piece of pleasantry is common. When two
men are doing anything that requires care to avoid accident, such as
moving a heavy stone, one says to the other:--"No kill me ya, you
couldn' min' me wife an' picny," you can't support my wife and
children.
=ya=, do you hear? Which is also its meaning in the preceding note. Just
now =ya= meant 'here.'
XXIX. PARSON PUSS AND PARSON DOG.
One day Toad was courting for a long time to a very pretty India gal,
an' Toad didn' want marry the gal. An' him didn' want the gal was to
leave him but to live without married.
An' Puss was Toad parson. An' the mother send an' call Puss, an' when
Parson Puss come, the mother lay the matter before Parson Puss.
An' Parson Puss call Toad one of his lovely member in the church, an'
him didn' want Toad was to leave his church. An' Parson Puss talk
until Toad agree to married the gal.
An' Dog himself was a parson.
So Toad send out a invitation to all his countrywoman an' countryman,
an' invite Tacoma an' his families, an' likewise invite his friend Mr.
Annancy an' his families. An' when him done Toad invite Parson Dog.
An' the day when Toad is to married Parson Puss come to married Toad.
An' Parson Dog come with his gown was to take away the business from
Parson Puss.
But Toad say:--"Oh no! he will like to give his Parson the
preference."
An' Dog say:--"Yes, I must have it. If not will be mossiful fight
to-day."
Puss wife, was the organ-player, say:--"What a man fe swear!"
An' Parson Puss say to Toad mother-in-law:--"You don't mustn't listen
what that fellah Parson Dog is saying. He so tief, as soon as they
'tick the hog he will soon forget all this for he has to go an' lick
blood, so when he gone I will marry my member Toad."
An' so Dog did go away.
Until he come back Parson Puss marry off Toad.
An' when they eat cake done, then Parson Puss ask the young ladies
them to let them go an' play in the ring, an' so they did do.
That time Parson Dog didn' know what was doning, but soon he hear this
sing:--
[Music:
When you see a hugly man,
When you see a hugly man,
When you see a hugly man,
Never make him marry you.]
An' as him hear him hold up one of him foot an' listen.
An' he come nearer an' hear again:--
[Music:
Parson Dog won't married me,
Parson Dog won't married me,
Parson Dog won't married me,
Cut your eye an' pass him.]
Then Parson Dog shake him head, run come.
An' as he run come he meet Parson Puss was wheeling all the gal.
Parson Dog get very vex an' he bear an' bear.
But as he hear plain how the sing go, an' see that some of the gal
Puss was wheeling began to laugh after him, say:--"No see how him
mout' long," Parson Dog get fairly upstarted till him run in the ring
an' palm Puss an begin to fight him.
An', as Parson Puss feel Parson Dog 'trength more than fe him, him
look for a very tall tree an' run right upon it to save his life.
An' from that day that why Dog an' Puss can't 'gree until now.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=lovely member.= A certain amount of blarney is supposed to be
admissible to keep your sheep from straying to a rival's flock.
=to married Toad.= Though they sometimes say =marry= (see the first song)
they prefer =married=. The =d= before the =T= of Toad is very awkward to
pronounce, yet the reciter, whose normal speech is of the laziest,
like that of all his kindred, got it out quite plainly.
=mossiful=, unmerciful. Dog really used a bad word here, which is always
put in his mouth. He uses the same word in "Finger Quashy." So much
does it belong to him that it occurs as a descriptive adjective to the
dog in the tune for the third Quadrille figure, which will be found
among the dance tunes. The word is not really very bad, but it was not
considered appropriate to a book which may find its way into the
nursery, so in every case another one is substituted.
='tick=, stick. The pig was killed for the wedding festivities, which
were only just beginning. See note on weddings in "Gaulin."
=play in the ring=, play Sally Water, see Ring Tunes.
=doning=, being done.
=never make him marry you=, never let him, etc.
=cut your eye=, turn your eye aside. Where we use transitive =cut= they
put intransitive =cut eye=.
=wheeling=, turning them in the dance.
=run come=, came running up.
=bear an' bear=, was patient for a while. A picturesque way of
describing Dog's self-restraint. He bears it and he bears it again.
=no see, etc.=, don't you see how long his mouth is. This is always the
joke about Dog. About Puss it is:--"You face too (very) short. Cut off
half inch you don't have nose."
=upstarted=, angry.
=palm=, touch or hold with the hand.
=fe him=, his.
XXX. CHICKEN-HAWK.
Once a lady have t'ree daughter. One of the daughter, the youngest
one, born with a gold teet'. The other sisters h'ard of the teet' an'
ask their sister to show them the teet', but she never would show
them.
One day they get Monkey an' Goat to come an' dance to let the sister
laugh. They make all sort of mechanic. She never laugh all the dance
Monkey an' Goat was dancing.
Those other two pay her so much to see the teet'. She won't show them.
So the second sister tell the big one say:--"Sister, let we go make
bargain with Chicken-hawk to try if we can see the teet'."
So they did go an' see Chicken-hawk about it an' pay Chicken-hawk so
much.
The day come when they fix up to go to the river.
Chicken-hawk was on a tree.
So they gone to swim for a long time, the big sister them swimming an'
laughing in the water for the little one to laugh for them to see the
teet', but she never laugh.
During that time Chicken-hawk took up all three of them clothes an'
gone on a high tree where them can see him.
When the sister know that Chicken-hawk took the clothes they came out
of the water all t'ree of them.
All the clothes was gone.
The first sister commence fe sing:--
[Music:
Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk oh! give me me frock.
Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk!]
An' Chicken-hawk bring come.
The next sister do the same an' get her frock.
Here comes the youngest one. She shut up her mouth an' was calling
from her t'roat:--
[Music:
Hm hm hm
hm hm hm]
Chicken-hawk never give her.
When the big sister see that she won't call for them to see the teet'
they leave her, an' she become 'fraid an' call out:--
[Music:
Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk oh! give me me frock.
Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk oh! Chicken-hahk.]
An' the big sister run come an see the golden teet' an' was so glad.
They go home an' tell their mother that we have gain the battle an'
have seen the gold teet'.
From that day we see gold teet' until now.
NOTES.
=mechanic=, antics.
=so much=, a sum of money.
XXXI. PRETTY POLL.
Once a Duke have a sarvant. So this sarvant was courting to a young
man for a long time.
So one day another friend come to see the Duke. So he love the Duke
sarvant an' the Duke sarvant love him. So this man ask the Duke for
her.
The Duke say:--"No, she is courting already."
So the friend was sorry.
The gal tell the young man say:--"Me love you, an' if you going to
marry me I will lef' my lover an' come."
The young man say:--"How you will manage that the Duke not going to
allow it?"
The gal say:--"You look out."
So one evening, when the gal lover come home, she ask him to let them
go for a walk far away. "I am going to show you a very pretty place."
During this time the gal know where a well was, so she is going to
shub him into the well.
As they reach to the place they see a pretty flowers in the well.
So they was looking at the flowers.
As she see that her lover was gazing at the flowers she just shub him
right in the well an' said:--"T'ank God! me going to get that pretty
young man."
During this time there was a Parrot on a tree seeing all that was
going on, cry out:--
[Music:
Ha ha! Ha ha!
I have a news to take to the Duke at home;
you have your dearest lover an' cast him down to the well.]
The gal look up an' see the Parrot.
She get frighten, call to Poll:--
[Music:
Come, Pretty Poll, come!
There is a house of gold an' silver before you sit 'pon tree.]
Poll sing:--
[Music:
Tree I barn,
Tree I must be stay till my time come to die.]
An' Poll commence to fly from tree to tree an' she was following him
till they get out to a village. Poll was still singing an' she was
begging.
Poll fly from house to house till he get on the Duke house an' sing.
The gal was crying.
The Duke hear, send out man an' they listen until them hear what Poll
said, an' them catch the gal an' chop off her head.
An' Poll get good care.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
This is another version of the "King Daniel" story.
=before you sit=, instead of your sitting.
=Tree I barn=, etc. On a tree I was born, on a tree I must stay.
XXXII. ANNANCY AND HOG.
One day Annancy an' him grandmamma go to a ground.
Annancy left him fife.
When him coming home, he an' his grandmamma, he said:--"Gran'mumma you
know I leave my fife at groun'."
Him grandmamma say:--"Me son a know you well. You is a very bad boy.
Go for it but don't play."
When Annancy coming home he play:--
[Music:
None a we, none a we commando
Sairey gone home commando
Yahka Yahky Yak commando,
Suck your mother bone commando.]
An' as he play he meet Hog.
Hog say:--"Brother, a you a play da sweet sweet tune."
Annancy say:--"No, Bro'er."
Hog say:--"Play, make me hear."
Annancy play twee, twee, twee, all wrong note.
Hog say:--"Tche! you can't play."
Hog gone round short pass.
As Hog go round short pass, him buck the boy was playing the tune.
Hog say:--"Bro'er Annancy I think a you a play, you beggar, you light
fe me dinner, you libber fe me dog."
An' Hog carry home Annancy an' goin' to do him up for him dinner.
An' when Hog think him done up Annancy him done up him own mother.
An' that made Hog nasty feeder up to to-day.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=ground=, a provision ground where yams, etc., are grown. They often
pronounce it =grun=, rhyming to run but even shorter.
=a leave=, I leave.
This tune has a bobbin, see _Digging sings_. Nonsense words of course.
=commando=, pronounced common doe.
=yah=, with French =a=.
=pass=, path. It no doubt should be =gone down short pass=. The paths
circle round the steep mountain sides and short cuts connect the
loops.
=buck=, stumbles on, meet.
=you light, etc.= Your lights for my dinner, your liver for my dog.
XXXIII. DRY RIVER.
Once a man have t'ree daughter. Dem go go pick wacky.
When dem a come, dem come to a river having no water.
Dem meet a old man beg dem a wacky.
The two biggest one give the old man two wacky, one each, an' the
little one wouldn' give any.
An' the old man sing:--
[Music:
You no give me one wacky you can't pass,
You no give me one wacky you can't pass,
You no give me one wacky you can't pass,
Dry River will come an' take you 'way.
Draw me nearer,
Draw me near,
Dry River will come an' take you 'way.]
An' the little one won't give.
An' the two big sister want to give two more of their wacky to the old
man; but the old man say:--"No, the little one must give me one of fe
her wacky."
An' she won't give.
So the old man sing the sing again.
An' still the little one won't give, until at last the river come down
carry him gone.
From that day people drowning.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
In the heavy rains of October and May the rivers rise suddenly, and an
insignificant stream or dry river-bed becomes a raging torrent.
Travellers are delayed in the Seasons, as these rainy times are
called, owing to the fords becoming impassable. This happens now less
frequently than formerly, not because the rivers do not 'come down'
but because many of them are bridged.
=wacky= (French =a= with a turn to =o=, almost "wocky"), guava. This fruit
which makes the well-known jelly is wild. It is the size of a small
apple, and has a delicious scent when ripe and yellow. Raw, however,
it is not a good fruit. The flavour is coarse and the pulp is full of
very hard seeds, which must be swallowed whole.
=when dem a come=, when they reach the place where the wackies are they
come to a river.
=old man beg, etc.=, old man who asks them for a wacky. Much of the
conciseness of negro speech is due to the suppression of relatives and
prepositions.
=you no give=, if you do not give.
XXXIV. YELLOW SNAKE.
Once a woman, name Miss Winky, have four children, three son an' one
daughter. The son them was hunter-man and the youngest son was
old-witch. This sister never can find her fancy. Everybody come she
say: "Lard, this one hugly, me no like him at all!"
Till one day she an' the mother an' old-witch boy was at home.
Snake was on a journey, get to a rum-shop. Talking an' talking they
bring up some talk about this gal, that everybody go for her she
refuse.
Snake say:--"Is she a pretty gal?"
They say:--"Yes, man, she is a beauty to look at."
Snake said:--"I bet anything I get that gal."
Snake change an' fix up himself an' go to the yard.
When he go he said:--"Good day, Miss Winky, I come to ask you for your
daughter."
The gal, was in the room, run out to see if it is a pretty man.
As she come out she said:--"Mamma, this is my love, no one else."
So Snake was invite in the house.
The mother said:--"Well, as you get your fancy I am going to married
you."
So the next day they go an' get marry.
After dinner Snake get ready, an' the gal mother tie up all her
clothes an' they start.
They travel the whole night until daylight an' never could get, till
about midday they reach the place. It was a big stone-hole.
Snake carry her under, put her to sit down.
An' after Snake get a good rest he commence to swallow her.
On the meantime the old-witch boy, name of Cawly, know all what was
going on in the wood, tell his two elder brother to come "an' let us
go hunting for I hear the voice of my dear beloved sister crying for
me in the wood."
The two brother said:--"You always goin' on with your foolishness."
He said:--"Never mind, come let us go an' see."
So they start an' they walk like beast, till at last they nearly reach
where they could hear the sister.
They hear a voice:--
[Music:
Fe me Cawly Cawly oh!
If no hunter-man no come here oh!
Yalla Snake will swallow me.]
Snake, fe all him mout' full, get to say:--"Me will swallow you till
you mumma no fin' piece of you bone."
The brother come close to the place, climb upon the stone.
They hear the voice plainer, come down off the stone an' see that
Snake leave but the head of their sister.
They go down on Snake an' kill him an' split him an' take out their
sister an' carry her home.
From that day she never marry again for she feel the hand of marry.
So everybody that pick too much will come off the same way.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=Snake=, pronounced in two syllables, Se-nake with the exact value of
vowels in the French words _ce n'est que_, and of course stopping at
the _k_ sound of the _q_.
=Tie up all her clothes=, in a bundle which she would carry on her head.
=get=, get to Snake's home.
=beast.= This is the generic name for a beast of burden, horse, mule, or
donkey.
=fe all=, although.
=get to say=, managed to say.
=fe me=, my.
=feel the hand of marry=, a biblical expression. She felt the hand of
matrimony, and behold it was heavy.
XXXV. COW AND ANNANCY.
One day Annancy was passing Cow pastur', saw the whole of them was
cleaning their teeth with chewstick.
He was so frighten for Cow, he stay outside the pastur' on a tree an'
call to Cow, telling them howdy.
Cow never answer him, so he get worser frighten.
He said to himself:--"If I give them piece of cane, fool them say it
is my chewstick, they might a come friend with me."
So Cow them go out in the night to feed.
An' when them gone Annancy go an' get his side-bag full with cane as
quick as he can. An' when him come Cow them gone away for the whole
night, so he climb the tree an' sleep on the tree until daylight.
An' when the sun begin to hot the Cow come under the tree fe throw up
their food fe eat it back. Same time Cow cleaning him teeth with the
chewstick.
Presently the papa Cow see a big piece of something drop out of the
tree.
He look up see Annancy, call to him:--"What you doing de?"
Annancy say:--"Me bring piesh a chewshtick fe you."
Cow take up the cane begin to chew. Instead of cleaning teeth he was
swallowing both juice an' trash.
Cow say:--"Him sweet; you no hab no more de now?"
Annancy say "Yes."
Cow call him down from the tree.
When he come down he give everybody piece of the cane, tell them that
it is fe him chewstick.
During this time he have a big bottle of cane-juice, ask Cow if him
want a taste.
Cow take a taste, he done the whole bottle of it.
So they all get in friend with Annancy.
An' Annancy invite Cow to go home with him, an' he will show him where
he get such good chewstick.
Cow say:--"You no have nobody a you yard."
Annancy say "Yes."
Cow say:--"Me shame fe go."
Annancy say:--"Make me go home an' sen' dem 'way."
Annancy go home, tell all his friend them must look out, him going to
fetch Cow, ya.
Them say:--"If you bring Cow you we will never trust you the longest
day we live."
Annancy say:--"Look out."
He take a rope. When he go back he tell Cow that him no see nobody a
yard, so Cow must come make dem go.
Cow say, "Yes."
Them 'tart.
Annancy tell Cow that as he is such a coward man him have a piece of
rope, Cow must make him put it on his neck, afraid a when him a go the
picny them go see him, go make noise, you go turn back.
Annancy say: "Bro'er Cow, when you go near me yard, if you yerry them
picny a make noise no frighten, fan you tail with strength."
When them get to where all the friend an' children could see him, him
call to them:--"A da come, no see me frien' a come tell you howdy." He
turn to Cow said:--"Fan you tail, no min' dem people."
At last them reach the yard.
Annancy have a big tree at the front of his house. He tell
Cow:--"Bro'er Cow, stay ya, make me go look after the house; me wife
no know, say me a bring 'tranger ya, so we can't carry you in so, so
you can fan you tail as much."
During this time Annancy gone to get all his tool sharpen to kill Cow.
He left his biggest son to watch Cow but he can't trust the boy. Every
minute he come to look if Cow is there.
The first time he come an' look he say to Cow:--"Fan you tail."
When the thing them nearly done sharp he come back, see Cow was
fanning his tail.
He said to Cow:--"You Cow, you no yerry me say 'No fan you tail a me
yard?'"
Cow fan fe the better.
He come with his bill, said to Cow:--"If you no 'top fan you tail
either you kill me or me kill you."
Cow won't stop.
He say to one of the friend:--"Now, now, sir, you see how that man a
frighten me picny a me yard, him mout' so hugly."
Him come up nearer to Cow say:--"If you no 'top fan you tail somet'ing
mus' done."
Cow won't stop, seeing the fly a trouble him.
Annancy set a run with his bill chop at Cow neck.
Cow draw back his head, the bill catch the rope, set Cow free, so he
run for his life.
Annancy say:--"Come back, Bro'er Cow, a fun me a make wi' you, simple
little fun, you run gone home."
But Cow was flying for his home an' never stop.
Annancy take up this song:--
[Music:
Lard! Lard! hasty kill me dead oh!
Poor me boy oh! a whe me a go do?
Me put me pot a fire fe boil Cow liver,
but hasty kill me dead.]
From that day Annancy never can go where Cow is.
Anywhere Cow see him he reach him down with his mouth.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
We have had this story already in another form (Annancy and Cow, No.
20).
=chewstick=, a common climber. A piece of the stem about the thickness
of a pencil is cut and makes a sort of soapy froth as it is chewed. It
has an agreeable bitter taste and is used to clean the teeth.
=howdy=, how do you do?
=cane=, sugar-cane.
=fool them=, take them in, delude.
=side-bag.= Everybody has his side-bag or namsack (knapsack).
=papa=, pronunciation something between puppa and poppa, with slight
accent on the first syllable. Cows in Jamaica are of both sexes.
=de there=; the _e_ is that of "debt" lengthened. French "est" gives it
exactly. Whe has the same _e_.
=trash=, the fibre. Trash is any kind of refuse, such as shells of peas,
husks of maize, the remains of Cassada after the starch is washed out,
withered banana leaves, the outside pulp which encloses the coffee
beans, etc., etc.
=ya= sometimes means _here_, sometimes _do you hear?_
=rope=, pronounced ro-up. So gate becomes ge-ut (French _e_), goat,
go-ut (Italian _o_), much as in some provincial districts in England.
=a da come=, I am coming.
=carry=, lead.
=as much=, as much as you like.
=a fun me a make=, I was pretending. A man is said to make fun when he
is only pretending to work, what schoolboys call "sugaring."
=hasty=, haste, _i.e._ your hurrying away.
=hungry kill me= is a common expression meaning "I am very hungry." Here
_hasty_ is substituted for _hungry_. Your hasting away will leave me
without food, and hunger will kill me.
XXXVI. LEAH AND TIGER.
There was a man an' his wife got one daughter, only the one picny they
got. An' many a people come for her to courten to her, an' she refuse,
an' she would stay a world without marry.
An' the father said to the wife:--"Them people usual trouble me with
my own daughter; we must do something to get her out of them sight."
An' the both of them agree to make up a very big house in the wood to
lef' the daughter there where nobody wouldn' see him.
An' the father said to the wife:--"When the house done you mus' carry
him breakfas' every twelve o'clock an' dinner at four."
An mumma say:--"Yes, me dear, I think so better."
An' they take Leah an' walk with her all night an' lodge her into the
house before daylight.
An' at the meantime Leah got a very valuable ring on one of her
finger, a very pretty young woman too, though me never see him.
Mumma tell him that when him going to bed he must always say him
prayers. An' she tell her that, when she re'ch the hillside she sing
the song, she must know a him honey a come. An' this the song:--
[Music:
Leah! Leah! tingaling,
You no yerry you honey, tingaling?
Honey de a door, tingaling,
Sugar de a door, tingaling.]
An' this time Tiger was under the house hear all the bargain.
An' Tiger lie down very 'teady. (Some days to come he must get meat fe
eat a this bush.)
Then mumma go away, next day come back with him daughter breakfas',
an' 'tart the tune from hillside to the spot of place where the house
is. An' the door was double double double latch. An' the tune 'tarted.
An' the gal open the door an' mumma come in give her her breakfast,
an' make very much of each others, an' eat done an' tell goodbye.
When the mumma gone Tiger creep out of the house with a great rolling
of voice, can't 'tan' him heel. He go down to see Brother Blacksmit'
if he would do a kind favour for him.
An' Brother Blacksmit' say:--"What sort of favour I can do for you?"
An' Tiger say him see a very nice meat a bush, him want go eat it
then, so me want sweet voice fe sing like a him mumma.
Then Brother Blacksmit' put the iron a fire, make him red hot, so tell
him open him mout'. Blacksmit' poke ahm down his t'roat, heap of
smoke come out a him 'tomach.
When him finish he tell him mus' sing make him hear.
So Tiger sing, an' true him voice sound so good.
Then Blacksmit' say:--"Min' mustn' eat no duckanoo nor guava by the
way, else you voice turn rough again."
Tiger gone making his way fe go eat the gal fe meat. He was very hard
on his journey going on. As he get halfway he see guava an' duckanoo,
an' being him so thirsty he say:--"Make me nyam ahm, nothing goin' to
do me voice."
He nyam until he unrestful an' come his voice after was like groun'
t'under.
"Well," he say, "never min'; by the time me re'ch up me voice will
come good."
So he lay down under the floor waiting for twelve o'clock when the
mother usual come.
An' when it nearly come 'pon twelve Tiger creep out under the floor
commence to sing:--
[Music: E2]
Leah! Leah! tingaling,
You no yerry you honey, tingaling?
You sugar de a door, tingaling,
You honey de a door, tingaling.
An' Leah say:--"He! He! it is not my mother dat."
An' Tiger shame, gone under the house back, voice too coarse.
Presently his mother is up, sing with a very sweet voice:--
Leah! Leah! tingaling,
You no yerry you honey, tingaling?
Honey de a door, tingaling,
Sugar de a door, tingaling.
An' the door open, an' she go in give her daughter him breakfas'.
An' her daughter hug her up an' kiss her, an' he commence to tell her
mother that him hear a great rolling like groun' shaking while ago
outside, an' it make her frighten to deat'. She tell her mumma she
would like to go home with her back.
The mother refuse from do so, an' lef' an gone home, tell the father
what happen with Leah in the bush.
An' puppa say:--"What make you lef' me daughter a bush? Go back for
him to-night."
Mamma say:--"No danger wi' me daughter, me wi' carry him dinner four
o'clock, lef' him come back."
Next day Tiger 'tart to Blacksmit' fe run iron down him t'roat back.
Blacksmit' get vex, tell him he going to lick him down with the iron,
for his ears hard.
Tiger said:--"Do Bro'er Blacksmit', me yerry all whe you tell me this
time."
An' Blacksmit' put the iron two hour a fire an' shub him down Tiger
t'roat. Tiger can't take him ground, iron too hot.
When he done with him he tell him to sing make him hear, an' beg him
anything that him see in the way must make him yeye pass it.
An' Tiger say:--"Yes, so me going do."
Him shut him yeye now, take the whole a road for himself, say:--"Me
boy never would a nyam nothing more a pass: sweet, sweet meat like a
that so a bush me could a lef' ahm so?"
He was very hurry to the house, an' just before twelve o'clock he
commence to sing, an' this time his voice sound well.
Leah open the door, t'ought it was her mother, an' Tiger jump right in
an' eat the whole of Leah, lef' one finger with the ring.
Him eat done, half shut the door an' go back a him bed under the
house.
Leah mumma come fe sing now:--
Leah! Leah! tingaling,
Yo no yerry you honey, tingaling?
You sugar de a door, tingaling,
You honey de a door, tingaling.
An' nobody answer her.
She sing two time more: nobody answer.
An' she shub the door an' go inside to find only one finger of her
daughter.
An' him put him hand on him head, bahl, then go home to him husband,
tell him husband him daughter dead, something eat every bit.
Him say:--"Me no min tell you fe bring home me daughter: you will have
fe find ahm gi' me. Then if you know whe good fe you just bring him
go," catch up one big junka 'tick an' lick down the wife.
An' after the wife dead the man take to heart an' dead.
That make you see woman ears hard up to to-day. They want mus' man fe
carry them anywhere they told fe go. A him make them something a
happen a this world up to to-day day.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=usual=, are wont.
=when she re'ch=, when she (the mother) reaches the hillside and she
sings the song, she (the girl) will know that his (her) honey has
come.
=tingaling.= Some tellers of this story have it =tindalinda=.
='teady=, steady, with a peculiar vowel like a dull French _eu_.
=him daughter breakfas'=, came back with her daughter's breakfast and
began to sing when she reached the hillside overlooking the house, and
went on singing till she got to the house.
=An' the tune 'tarted.= The reciter sings it here.
=out of the house=, out from under the house. See note to
"Yung-kyum-pyung."
=rolling=, roaring.
=can't 'tan' him heel=, can't stand on his heel. See, further on, =can't
take him ground=. Both mean that Tiger cannot stand still.
=a bush=, in the bush.
=ahm=, him, it.
=true him voice=, really his voice sounds very well. Only, =true= means
what it says, =truly=, and does not imply the reservation at which it
_really_ hints. Tiger's voice did sound very well.
=duckanoo=, a kind of mango.
=going to do=; eating the fruit is not going to do my voice any harm.
=until he unrestful.= He ate too much.
=groun' t'under=, ground thunder. It is often difficult to distinguish
between distant thunder and an earthquake.
Tiger growls on a low note, and says the words very fast.
=He! He!= French e as in whe and de.
=groun'shaking=, earthquake.
=from do so=, refuses to do what she asks.
=down him t'roat back=, down his throat again.
Blacksmith was vexed because Tiger had eaten fruit on the previous
occasion. His ears had been hard, _i.e._ he had acted against orders.
=make him yeye pass it=, let his eye run over it without desiring to eat
it.
=take the whole a road=, staggering along, first to one side and then to
the other.
=a pass=, in the path, on the journey.
=put him hand on him head=, an expressive action indicating horror and
bewilderment.
=bahl=, bawl, cry out.
=me no min tell=, me no been tell, didn't I tell you?
=you will have fe find ahm gi' me=; when anything is lost, they
say:--You will have to find it and give it to me.
=a him, etc.=, it is that (their ears being so hard) that makes this
sort of thing happen.
XXXVII. TIMMOLIMMO.
Once there was a Bull live in a pastur'. He make a law that every
young Cow born, if it is a Bull, they must kill it. So the Cow them
hear what the master said. The Bull name was Timmolimmo.
So one day one of the Cow have baby an' find out that this child was a
boy. She take him an' go to a deep bush an' hide her child in a
stone-hole, an' feed him till him was growing an' begun to talk.
The place where the mother was taking water when she was at the
pastur' was a mile from the hiding hole, an' she has nowhere to take
water but there.
So every day she go an' fetch water to her son.
One day when the boy was six months old she carry him to the place
where she taking water, an' hide till the master come drink an' gone.
Then she give her son water, and after she take him home back.
An' when another six month come she take him back to the place an'
show him the father footprint, an' commence to tell the son why him
have to hide in the bush is because the father would kill you if he
see you.
The boy said to his mother:--"A so all right, when me come big man I
going to go an' have a fight with him."
The mumma say:--"No, me son, nobody can't fight him."
So the mother take the boy home back till another six months when the
boy catch a year an' a half.
Then they go again an' the boy ask if he no can fight.
The mother say:--"Come, make me measure you foot."
When he go put his foot in his father footprint it was about two inch
short.
He go home.
After six month more he come back, he alone, measure his foot in his
father one. It want half inch to catch.
Him gone home back for six more month.
So one day him get up, tell his mumma that I am going to fight me
puppa.
The mother say "No," but him rist an' go.
When him go to the place he measure his foot. It was one inch wider.
Him say:--"I am going fe the battle."
Him come back, tell his mumma that him going to fight puppa. So him go
on till him get where his father can hear him, an' sing out:--
[Music:
Timmolimmo, man dere,
Timmolimmo, man dere,
Come down make we battle, man dere.]
One of the Cow call say:--"Master, Master, I hear some one calling
your name."
"No, no, not a man can call my name."
The son give out again:--
"Timmolimmo, man dere,
Timmolimmo, man dere,
Come down, make we battle,
Man dere."
Timmolimmo yerry.
Him make one jump, him jump half mile.
The son make one, him go one mile.
So they meet at a cross-pass.
As the father come him lift the son with his horn, send him half mile
in the air.
The son drop on his four leg.
The son lift the puppa, send him three quarter mile.
As him drop, one foot gone.
The puppa stand on the t'ree foot send the son up again in the air.
The son drop on four foot.
The son send him up again, him come down on two.
Him stand on the two, send the son.
Him come down on four.
The son send him up again, an' him come down on one.
The puppa stand on the one foot an' send the son, an' the son come
down on four.
An' the son send him up, an' him come down on him side an' broke him
neck.
The son go home to his mother an' tell him that he has gain the
battle, so they must come go in the pastur' an' him reign.
From that two Bull never 'gree in one pastur'.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=rist=, risks it.
=dere=, pronounced day-er, the French vowel quite abandoned.
=cross-pass=, cross-path.
=foot=, leg.
XXXVIII. CALCUTTA MONKEY AND ANNANCY.
One day Calcutta Monkey work a very large field of corn, an' when the
corn commence to ripe Monkey beguns to miss the corn, an' him couldn'
find out who was tiefing the corn, an' the robbing continually going
on.
Till one day Monkey went to Annancy yard an' suspish upon Annancy. An'
Annancy get very short an' ready to fight Calcutta Monkey.
An' Monkey say to Annancy he won't fight him but he will soon know who
is tiefing the corn.
An' same time Annancy say to Monkey:--"I bet it is that big-voice Mr.
Tiger."
An' Monkey say he won't judge no one again but will find out.
An' him went home back to his yard an' cut his card. An' when he cut
the card he sees no man on the card but Mr. Annancy, an' Monkey think
it very hard to himself that Annancy wouldn' own it.
An' the next day he went to the ground an' he find the robbing was
going on. An' he met Annancy on the road an' he said to Annancy he
well know who tiefing the corn.
An' Monkey send a challis to Annancy an' tell him that if him cut the
card again an' find him in the card he going to give him a terrible
flogging.
An' when Annancy hear about the flogging he get a little frighten, an'
him stop off the robbing for about two days. The day to make t'ree
Annancy couldn' bear no longer an' he beguns again to tief the corn.
An' Monkey made up a drum an' got a hunting-whip.
An' next day when Monkey go back to the ground an' find the corn
tiefing he goes home to his yard, an' take up his drum an' his
hunting-whip an' start looking for Annancy.
An' when he going he beguns to knock the drum ribbim-bim-bim, "Annancy
no dere," ribbim-bim-bim, "Annancy no dere."
An' that time Annancy went an' climb a cullabunka tree.
Annancy hide himself in the heart, an' as Monkey get to the tree he
sound the drum say:--ribbim-bim-bim, "Annancy dere."
An' he put down the drum an' wrap the whip round his neck an' climb
the tree an' give Annancy a good flogging, an' Annancy run off the
tree an' say that he won't do it again.
Till a few days after Annancy broke in the corn-piece again, begun to
tief the corn like witch.
An' Monkey go into the ground an' see the tiefing. An' he went home
an' look over his card.
He sees no one again but Mr. Annancy, an' he took up his drum an' his
whip to look for Annancy again to flog him.
An' this time Tiger have a very large banana-walk.
Annancy wented there an' look for one very large bunch of banana an'
go in the heart of the bunch an' hide himself.
An' as Monkey 'tart playing the drum again he get to the banana-walk.
An' as he get to the spot he sound the drum say:--ribbim-bim-bim,
"Annancy here."
But this time Monkey an' Tiger can't agree, an' this banana is for
Tiger.
Monkey has to leave Annancy an' goes home back.
An' Tacoma says to Monkey, if him want to catch Mr. Annancy he can
catch him for him. An' Monkey was very glad.
An' Tacoma made a dance an' send an' invite Mr. Annancy.
An' when Annancy come to the gate Annancy mind tell him that Calcutta
Monkey is there, an' he only 'tand to the gate an' wave his hand to
the ladies inside, say:--"Good evening, ladies all"; an' he turn right
back an' go in the banana heart an' take it for his own dwelling.
An' from that day Annancy live in banana bunch up to now.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=suspish upon=, suspect. They also use =suspish= alone, a delightful word.
=cut his card.= Monkey is clearly an Obeah-man, a dealer in the black
art.
=ribbim-bim-bim, etc.=, half sung, with strong even rhythm.
=cullabunka=, a kind of Palm.
=banana-walk=, technical name for a banana plantation.
=is for Tiger=, belongs to Tiger.
XXXIX. OPEN SESAME.
One day there was a very hard time, an' Annancy an' his family was
dying for hungry.
An' there was a regiment of soldier find out a silver mine.
An' when they find it out they made a very large house.
An' they move the money an' put it in the house, an' when they are
moving it they t'ought that nobody see them.
What that smart fellah Mr. Tacoma does.
He hide himself on a tree, seeing them when they passing with the
money.
An' when they reach to the house, the house work with no key, an' they
has a certain word to use when they want the door to open. They say
"Open Sesame."
An' they go in an' t'row in the money, an' when they coming out of the
house they say "Shut Sesame," and the door lock.
An' Tacoma hear what they say.
An' he go home an' harness up his cart with his mule an' drive to the
house.
An' when he go him use the same word an' the door open. An' he go in
an' load the cart, an' when he load done he drive home.
When he come home he want to measure the money an' he couldn' get no
quart pot, an' he sent to his neighbour Mr. Annancy an' borrow his
quart pot.
An' continually so he go an' come back, him still borrowing Annancy
quart pot.
An' Annancy think it very hard, say:--"Somet'ing Bro'er Tacoma is
measuring." An' Annancy want to know what it is.
A second day when Tacoma sent for the quart pot again Annancy 'tudy a
plan.
When Tacoma come him give it to him, an' as Tacoma reach his yard
don't begin measure yet, Annancy tell one of his picny that they must
go a Bro'er Tacoma yard an' tell him that him really want the quart
pot, must make haste make haste send it at once.
An' when the picny go he tell him must look an' see what Bro'er Tacoma
measuring. An' he couldn' find out.
An' a third day him sent to the shop an' buy penny halfpenny white
flour, an' when him gone home he make it to paste an' piecen the quart
pot bottom inside, an' said to himself:--"Anyt'ing Bro'er Tacoma
measure, whether fe rice or gungo or flour, or either money, one must
fasten in the flour."
An' when Tacoma come back he sent for the quart pot.
An' when Tacoma measure done he send it back. An' as he send it a very
large two an' sixpence piece fasten in the flour.
An' Annancy say:--"T'ank God I find out what Bro'er Tacoma doing with
my quart pot."
An' same time he goes to Tacoma yard an' begins to cry upon Tacoma
that Bro'er Tacoma must carry him an' show him where he get the money.
Tacoma didn' agree.
Annancy cry an' cry till him tell him that he must get a cart an' a
mule to-morrow evening, an' when him passing he will call to him.
An' Annancy couldn' wait, an' him harness up his cart from morning an'
watching out for Brother Tacoma.
An' he watch an' watch till Tacoma come.
When Tacoma was coming he lash him whip, an' as he lash, Annancy lash
his own too.
An' they started.
An' when they get to the house Tacoma say "Open Sesame," an' the door
open.
An' they run the cart up to the door mout' an' load it, an' they come
out an' drive home.
An' by the time Tacoma get home to his yard Annancy t'row out his
money an' turn back again.
An' when he go he use the same very word an' the door open.
Annancy load his cart an' when him coming home he meet Tacoma on the
road an' through his strongy yeye an' his ungratefulness he want to
shoot Tacoma cart a gully an' to kill his mule, that him one may be
the master of the bank.
An' Annancy made a sing when he is coming home:--
[Music:
Right t'rough, right t'rough de rocky road,
oh Charley Marley call you,
Mid a rock, mid a rock, mid a rock, me Charley,
Charley Marley call you;
Oh de han'some gal are no fe you one;
Oh Charley Marley call you.]
NOTES.
Here is another story founded on Ali Baba, which differs considerably
from the previous one of "Blackbird and Woss-woss." The chief
peculiarity of this version is that the entrapping through
forgetfulness of the password is altogether lost.
=Hard time.= This refers to the months of June and July when provisions
are scarce. The old yams are done and the new ones are not in yet.
Subsistence has to be eked out with a few sweet potatoes and the
mangoes, which are abundant in these months, and go on till the
October rains bring back a season of plenty.
=so he go=, as he goes.
=piecen=, a nice word. They use it also in speaking of the patching of
old clothes.
=lash him whip=, crack his whip as a signal.
=strongy yeye=, covetousness. To give the pronunciation a _y_ has to be
tacked on to strong.
=him one=, he alone.
The exact application of the song is doubtful. The end is pretty
clear, meaning:--all the good things are not for you alone, Tacoma. It
will be observed in this and some other stories that Jack Mantora,
etc., is omitted. That is because they have no tragic termination.
XL. SEA-MAHMY.
One day, height a hungry time, Blackbird have a feedin' tree in a sea.
An' every day Blackbird go an' feed.
Annancy say unto Blackbird:--"Please, Bro'er Blackbird, please carry
me over a you feedin' tree."
Blackbird say unto Annancy:--"Bro'er Annancy, you so cravin' you goin'
to eat every bit from me."
He say:--"No, Bro'er Blackbird I won' do it."
Brother Blackbird say unto Annancy:--"A you no have no wing, how you a
go?"
Well! Blackbird take out two of him tail feather, 'tick upon Annancy.
He pick out two of him wing feather, 'tick upon Annancy. He take two
feather out of him back again, 'tick upon Annancy; two feather out of
him belly feather, 'tick upon Annancy.
Well! Blackbird an' Annancy fly in a the sea upon the feedin' tree.
Every feedin' Blackbird go fe pick, Annancy say that one a fe him.
Blackbird go upon the next limb, Annancy say a fe him.
Blackbird go upon the t'ird limb, Annancy say a fe him.
Till Annancy eat a good tummy-full.
Annancy drop asleep upon the tree.
Well! Blackbird take time, pick out all the feather back, an'
Blackbird fly away.
When Annancy wake out of sleep he say:--"Make me fly."
He can't fly.
He broke a branch off a the tree, t'row in the sea. The branch swim.
Annancy say if the branch swim him will swim, an' he jump off a the
tree, drop in the sea an' sink.
An' when he go down a sea bottom he meet Sea-mahmy.
He said to Sea-mahmy:--"Mumma, mother tell me me have a cousin down a
sea bottom, ya."
Sea-mahmy say:--"I going to see if me and you are cousin."
Sea-mahmy put a pan of sand in the fire for well hot. When him get hot
he take it off a the fire, give to Brother Annancy for drink it off.
Brother Annancy say:--"Cousin Sea-mahmy, it don' hot enough. Put it
out a de sun fe make it hot more."
After him put it out a the sun then he say:--"Cousin Sea-mahmy, I
think it hot now."
An' Sea-mahmy say:--"Well you must drink it off an' make I see if you
an' me are cousin."
An' Annancy do drink it off.
Annancy spend t'ree day down a sea bottom.
Well! the next day Sea-mahmy said to him:--"Whe you going to come
out."
Him said:--"Cousin Sea-mahmy, sen' one of you son fe carry me out a
lan'."
Sea-mahmy give him one of him son, the name of that son call Trapong.
Well! Trapong an' Annancy travel, make middle in a sea.
Sea-mahmy call:--
[Music:
Trapong, Trapong, fetch back 'tranger man, come back.]
An' Trapong say:--"'Top, Brother Annancy, I think I hear my mother
calling me back."
Annancy say:--"No, make way! War de 'pon sea!"
An' Trapong sail with Annancy on him back till they reach shore.
When they go to shore he say:--"Bro'er Trapong, take dis bag weigh me,
see whe me weigh."
Trapong lift him up, say:--"Yes, Brother Annancy you heavy."
So Annancy come back out of the bag.
He say:--"Bro'er Trapong, you come in make I weigh you see."
Trapong went into the bag.
He tie Trapong, tie tight.
Trapong say:--"Brother Annancy you a tie me too 'trong."
He say:--"Me no a tie you fe see if you heavy?"
Trapong say to Brother Annancy:--"Me heavy?"
Annancy say:--"You heavy oh! You light oh! You heavy enough fe me wife
pot." An' for all the bahl Trapong a bahl he gone back to him house
an' Annancy eat him.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=height=, in the height of, at the worst of.
=Sea-mahmy=, Mermaid.
=feedin' tree.= It was a duckanoo mango according to some accounts.
Annancy behaves just as he did with Candlefly and the eggs.
The connecting =wells= of this story, which take the place of the =ands=
and =sos= of other narrators are said with a little upward turn of the
voice.
=Whe you going.= Whe (what) seems to be doing duty for =how= here.
=Trapong=, tarpon, the famous sporting fish of Florida and Santa
Catalina, common also in Jamaica.
=make middle in a sea=, get to the middle of the sea.
=No, make way!= Annancy shouts this out.
The outrageous confidence trick which follows necessitates a Jack
Mantora.
XLI. CRAB AND HIS CORN-PIECE.
One day Brother Crab work a lovely field of corn.
An' when the corns beguns to ripe Crab begin to lose the corn, an' he
couldn' find out who was tiefing it.
An' he get Annancy to be a watchman for tief.
An' this arrangement make between Annancy. Crab tell him that he will
come in the night and see if he is watching. An' Annancy wasn' agree
at first.
Him stand for a good time an' study: an when he study he tell Crab yes
that he can come.
An' when Crab gone he sent an' call his friend Mr. Tacoma an' tell him
that Bro'er Crab leave him here to watch over the corn, an' say that
he is going to come back in the night to see if he is watching. An' as
Crab being 'fraid of Tacoma Annancy tell him that he must set a watch
in the road for Crab an' catch him.
That time Ratta was hearing Annancy bargain which he is making with
Tacoma. An' he went home an' tell Crab that he mustn' go to the
corn-piece in the night for Tacoma going to catch him.
An' so Crab did hear Ratta.
An' him send an' discharge Annancy.
An' Annancy was very sorry, an' same time he goes to Crab an' he ask
Crab what he done.
Crab tell him that he mustn' mind, he must leave the work, he is going
to get another man to watch.
An' Annancy did leave, an' Crab give the job to Ratta.
An', as that wicked man Mr. Annancy know that Ratta frighten for Puss,
he sent an' tell Puss that he must go in Bro'er Crab corn-piece an'
keep a good watch for Ratta an' catch him an' eat him.
An' that time Candlefly was hearing Annancy what he is telling Puss to
do Ratta, an' he went an' tell Ratta that he must leave the work, an'
if he don't leave it he going to lose his life.
At that time Ratta get very 'fraid an' send an' give up his discharge
to Crab.
When Ratta gone Crab couldn' get no one to watch the corn again, an'
he consider to himself that he knows two friend very love corn an' the
meal likewise.
An' the two friend was Mr. Dog an' Mr. Cock.
An' he sent an' call them an' they did come.
When they come he tell them that he have a piece of corn an' he can't
get none, tief is eating out the whole.
An' he says to Dog that him know he is a very good watchman, an' same
time Cock say to Crab that him watch as any soldier.
An' Crab was very glad, say:--"You is the two man that I want."
An' they says to Crab that they won't charge no money, but when the
corn came in Cock is to get his share of dry corn an' Dog get his
share of meal.
An' Cock ask Crab to give him a gun.
An' Crab didn' have a gun, an' he give Cock a flute an' give Dog a
drum, an' tell them that anyone catch a tief they must play an' let
him hear.
An' Cock tell Crab that he can't sleep on the ground, an' he wants to
know if there is any tree in the corn-piece, an' Crab say "Yes."
So Cock an' Dog started.
An' when they go Cock fly upon the tree an' Dog pick up the corn trash
which they cut already an' make a very soft bed an' get into it, an'
Dog lie down until he fall asleep.
An' Cock sing:--
[Music:
Brether Dog oh!
Brether Dog oh!
Brether Dog asleep oh! Brether Dog oh!
Tief come an' gone oh, Brether Dog oh!
Tief come an' gone oh, Brether Dog oh!]
When the tief come Dog didn' know. An' Cock, as he being a brave
soldier, he caught the tief. An' when he catch the tief he start a
tune in his flute:--
[Music:
You Mister Crab oh!
You Mister Crab oh!
Da me same one catch de tief oh!
Bengaday.]
An' as Dog being love sleep an' don't watch to the end he lose his
reward.
An' Cock by him catch the tief takes the corn.
NOTES.
=arrangement between Annancy=; no misprint. =Between= may stand for =with=,
or there may be an ellipsis of the words =and Crab=.
=he mustn' mind.= This is likely to convey a wrong idea. Crab was not
trying to soothe his feelings, but was speaking angrily. What he said
was:--"Never you mind, etc."
XLII. DRY-GRASS AND FIRE.
One day Brother Dry-grass an' Fire get in confusion.
So Fire tell his frien' Annancy (not knowing that Annancy an'
Dry-grass was better friend):--"Brother Annancy I going to burn that
fellah Dry-grass to-morrow."
Annancy say:--"When you a go you fe call me a yard. I goin' to make
one shell. When we nearly get to the place we blow, make the fellah
know that man a come."
During this time Annancy make bargain with Water that any time he hear
the shell blow him must come down like rain.
So Fire reach up an' as the shell blow he see rain coming down.
So Fire has to go home.
Water tell him say that Annancy tell him that you are going to fight
Dry-grass, so I must come an' help to see if we can manage you.
Fire say:--"A so! That fellah Annancy I going at his yard."
So Fire walk at Annancy yard an' tell him:--"Brother Annancy I going
to come an' see you next week."
Annancy say:--"Yes, Bro'er Fire, with all pleasure."
Fire tell him that he must put all his clothes a door to make him find
out the yard for I don't want to lost the way.
So Fire gone.
Annancy wife said:--"Me husband, send go stop Fire from come a you
place."
Annancy say:--"No, me wife, a me best frien' so him have free come."
Just before the time Fire was appoint to come, Annancy go to Brother
Tiger, an' as him walk into the house he saw some clothes.
An' he pick up the clothes an' say:--"See, Bro'er Tiger, how you
clothes damp, you must have fe put dem a sun."
So Tiger hang out all his clothes on a line before the door mout'.
An' presently Fire was coming like a lion bringing Breeze with him.
When Fire see all the clothes he say to Breeze:--"See that fellah
Annancy yard."
So Breeze blow harder an' come with a speed. An' Fire make a jump till
he nearly got to the yard.
Tiger hear the speed Fire was coming, call to him:--"Turn back, you
red-face fellah, me no want you company."
Fire was coming down more and more.
Tiger bawl fe Fire a stop, but Fire coming for the better.
So Fire get in the yard an' burn all Tiger clothes an' house, an' turn
right home back.
Annancy laugh, an' sing:--
[Music:
Me wife say me no fe invite Fire,
Brether Fire bring Breeze oh!
Fire de 'pon lan' Fire,
Fire de 'pon lan' Fire.
He burn up all Tiger yard, ha ha!
Brether Fire an' Breeze oh!
Fire de 'pon lan' Fire,
Fire de 'pon lan' Fire.]
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTE.
The shell looks like a very small cowhorn and gives a similar sound
when blown. It is used as a signal for a variety of purposes. It
summons to work and marks the hour of release. When a train of mules
is nearing a sharp turn in the road, the head muleman blows a fanfare
to give warning of his approach. The shell is in fact to the
mule-track what the whistle is to the railroad. Imitation shells are
sometimes made of bamboo. It was perhaps one of these that Annancy
made.
XLIII. JOHN CROW.
One day there was a lady who have but only one daughter, an' Mr.
Tacoma hear about the gal an' he went to court the gal.
An' when Tacoma go the gal wouldn' receive Tacoma.
An' the mother was really vex.
As the mother being a old lady, when Tacoma going Tacoma carry a brass
mortar to made it a present to the old lady to beat her fee-fee. An'
when the old lady see the brass mortar he really want the mortar.
But Tacoma said to her if him don't get the gal he not going to leave
the mortar.
An' the gal 'treat away himself inside the room an' hide.
An' Tacoma feel very sorry an' he return home back.
When he goes home he tell Annancy about the gal, an' Annancy get a
concentina he going to carry down make a present to the gal.
An' Annancy say if the gal can only take the concentina from him the
gal must be his wife.
An' when Annancy go down Annancy was playing.
The gal wouldn' receive Annancy in.
An' when the mumma hear, the music was so sweet she commence to dance;
an' said to the daughter, this is the son-in-law him want, for he can
get him own dance any time him ready.
Not for all Mr. Annancy playing the gal wouldn' receive Annancy, until
Annancy has to go home back.
When that ugly fellah Mr. John Crow hear it he study between himself
an' get a carriage with his pair of horses an' his coachman, an' the
carpet in the carriage was a gold carpet.
An' John Crow said between himself when him put on him watch an' chain
an' his coat an' shoes, if him don't bring that gal home believe him
no Mr. Goldman.
An' John Crow drive away.
An' when him get to a distant to a look-out, the gal was at his window
sitting down, an' as him look, him see Mr. Goldman was driving coming.
An' him holloa to him mumma:--"Mumma, mumma, my dear love is coming."
An' as John Crow reach the yard the gal was out an' sling Mr. Goldman
out the carriage an' escort him right into the house.
An' after John Crow introduce himself to the gal that his name is Mr.
Goldman.
An' when John Crow tell the gal so, the gal have a old-witch brother
an' says to his sister that that man is John Crow.
An' the gal get vex an' say:--"Oh no, don't use a word like that; it
is my dear Mr. Goldman."
An' when the mumma come the gal introduce him to Mr. Goldman, an' tell
him that his dear love just come now.
An' Mr. Goldman fix a time when to come back an' get married, and the
mother was agree, an' the gal was very glad too.
An', when they settle that, John Crow drive back to his yard.
An' when he is coming back the next night he brought a old-witch boy
with him an' hide him half part of the road near the yard, an' tell
him that as he see day clearing, he must call him that he may got home
before day clear.
An' he reach the yard an' spend the night in a very joyful dance.
So it getting near day an' the boy sing:--
[Music:
Mister Goldman oh!
Goldman oh!
Day da clean oh!]
An' when the boy sing out the people them inside the house hear.
An' when they hear they say:--"Stop! Stop! Stop! some one is calling
Mr. Goldman."
An' the dance so sweet Mr. Goldman he wouldn' stop to listen. He only
says:--"Oh don't listen to that foolish boy." An' when him use the
word him one in the ring wheeling all the gal them.
An' that time him hear a sing:--
[Music:
Poor mirrybimbim ribbimbybimbim,
Goldman a wheel him gal,
Goldman a wheel dem.]
An' when him wheel all the gal him look outside the door an' see that
day catch him; so him cry excuse an' went up'tairs.
An' when he go up he take a piece of meat an' look for a broken sash
an' 'queeze himself t'rough.
An' as him go t'rough, the sash 'crape off the whole of him back head,
an' from that day every John Crow born with a peel head.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=fee-fee=, food.
='treat away himself=, retreats, retires.
=concentina=, always with this =n=.
=him ready=, she is ready for it, wants it.
=a look-out=, a place visible from the house.
=sling=, hand, with a notion of vigorous action.
=an' says=, who says.
=a word=, often a sentence of several words.
=tell him=, tell her mother.
=sweet=, pleased.
=when him use the word=, as he said this.
=excuse=, to be excused; pronounce the =s= like =z=.
John Crow is the vulture-like scavenger bird of Jamaica, and has a
peeled (bald) head.
XLIV. TIGER'S DEATH.
One day Mr. Annancy an' Monkey made a bargain to kill Tiger, an' they
didn' know how to make the confusion for Tiger was Monkey godfather.
An' being Monkey have more strength than Annancy, Annancy try to keep
close Monkey an' wouldn' leave Monkey company at all by he afraid for
Tiger.
Until one day Annancy went to river an' catch some fish, an' send an'
call Brother Monkey to come an' help him enjoy the fish.
An' when the breakfast ready, instead of Mr. Monkey come, it was that
cravin' man Mr. Tiger who Annancy really hate, an' to every piece of
the fish Annancy take up to put in his mouth, Tiger take away every
bit an' never cease till him finish the whole.
An' when Mr. Annancy friend who he invite come, there was none of the
fish to give him.
An' as Monkey being love fish he began to cuss his godfather Tiger.
An' that time Puss was passing when the confusion occurred.
An' they go on an' go on till Puss laugh. An' as Puss laugh Tiger get
worser vex an' begun to cuss Puss, an' Puss said to Monkey:--"Come,
make we beat him off to deat'."
An' Monkey wasn' agree to beat his godfather, but Annancy an' Puss
force him.
An' Tiger get cross begun to lick, an' the first man him lick was his
godson. An' then as him lick him godson Puss catch a fire 'tick, an'
Annancy catch up a mortar 'tick, an' they never cease murder Tiger
till they kill him.
An' they 'kin Tiger an' just going to share.
An' there comes a singing from the tree:--
[Music:
You long-tail Mister Monkey,
Give me piece of de liver,
a no you one tummy fe full.
A message me bring fe Tiger
say buryin' de a yard;
a whe fe do,
a whe fe do oh!
Tiger dead already.]
An' all the look Monkey an' Annancy look, they never find the person
that was singing.
So they salt Tiger.
Then Peafowl come down in the yard say:--"Good evening Mr. Annancy an'
Mr. Monkey, I am very hungry. I was on a long journey bring a message
to Tiger that him wife dead, but Tiger dead already."
So the whole of them stop an' eat of Tiger.
Peafowl never go back with no answer to report, for Puss an' Monkey
an' Annancy give Peafowl gold not to talk that they kill Tiger.
So Peafowl never can be a poor man for he keep the t'ree friend
secret.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=confusion=, quarrel, which was to be made the pretext for killing
Tiger.
=whe fe do=, what to do? what is to be done? To this question the
implied answer is "Nothing." So the phrase means:--"It can't be
helped."
XLV. THE OLD LADY AND THE JAR.
A old lady have two son, one name Dory Dunn an' one name Tumpa Toe,
an' Tumpa Toe an' Dory Dunn is a hunter-man.
Well, they give them mumma enough things an' say:--"Mumma, I am going
a wood, don' interfere with that Jar in my room."
When them gone old lady say:--"I wonder what my son have in that Jar
say me no fe touch."
Old lady go an' shub him hand inside in the Jar.
The Jar hold old lady.
Old Lady say:--
[Music:
Tumpa Toe, Lord!
Dory Dunn oh, Lord!]
An' the Jar say:--
[Music:
Mumma longubelo,
tum tullalullalum tum.]
An' the Jar fire him from the room to the hall.
An' when him reach to the hall him say:--
"Tumpa Toe, Lord!
Dory Dunn oh, Lord!"
Jar say:--
"Mumma longubelo
Tum tullalullalum tum."
An' all this time the Jar holding him by the hand an' can't let him
go.
An' the Jar t'row him outside a door.
When him get out a door old lady say:--
"Tumpa Toe, Lord!
Dory Dunn oh, Lord!"
Jar say:--
"Mumma longubelo
Tum tullalullalum tum."
Jar hold him 'till.
Jar fire him to seaside now.
An' he got one daughter a seaside.
The daughter say:--
[Music:
Do my Jar,
Do my Jar,
will you save,
will you save my mother life!]
Jar say:--
[Music:
Old lady touch me,
old lady touch me,
you never will see him no more.]
The daughter say:--
[Music:
Do my Jar,
Do my Jar!
I will give you some silver fe save my mother life.]
Jar say:--
[Music:
No, my gal,
No, my gal,
I got silver already;
You never will see him no more.]
The Jar fire him in a sea.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=Tumpa=, stump. A man who has lost his arm is called a tumpa-hand man.
=enough things=, plenty of things to eat.
In these curiously simple tunes, if tunes they can be called, it is
most important to mark the time and to pay great attention to the
lengths of the notes. To hear them sing, or rather say, "Lord!" is the
most laughable thing. The first one begins on a note rather below the
=C= of =Toe=, and slides downwards ending with an expiring grunt on a very
low note of the voice. The second one is done in the same way, but is,
all the way through, a little lower than the first. The point is to
let the breath go with the sliding note instead of holding it as in
singing.
=longubelo.= The first syllable is pronounced as in English, and the
rest of the vowels are Italian, the =e= being rather more narrowed, but
never quite reaching to the sound of =bale=.
=tum tullalullalum tum.= Strong accent on the =tull= and clean neatly cut
syllables. Italian vowels.
=mumma.= The =u= between Italian =u= and Italian =o=.
=fire him=, throws her. Yet not quite "throws," for the Jar never lets
her hand go. =Fire 'tone= is the usual expression for throwing stones.
The Jar fires her first from the bedroom to the living-room (hall),
next from the hall to the yard, then from the yard to the seaside, and
all the time it holds her by the hand.
XLVI. JOHN CROW AND FOWL-HAWK.
One day Fowl-hawk go to John Crow yard an' tell him that him fe come
have a walk with me to a country for something promise there to me.
"One day I go out an' in my way I pass a river. As I come to the river
I meet Fowl. Him ask me to help him up, an' the baby any time him born
I must come for it. Well my dear sir, the baby born; an' when I go,
Fowl say him never make a promise with me. Look you, sir, if you see
the picny, nice fresh fe we mouth, an' a no the one, but him hab more.
So you will get a good bag of fresh, but the country danger home."
John Crow say:--"Me yerry dat place hab bad name, me no want go."
Hawk say:--"You too fool, we a man! we'll get 'way, me son, if them
want to catch we. When me go de the first time me go slam in a Fowl
yard. Me an' him stay a whole day a quarrel, an' me no dead. Come, me
good friend, make we go."
Them start.
Them fly an' fly till them get over the country.
Hawk say:--"Brother John, we get over the place. Look down yonder,
look fresh!"
John Crow say:--"Me no go down de."
Hawk say:--"A so! you too fool! Come make we go down little more."
Them go down till them pitch on a tree.
Hawk say:--"Brother, you see them better. I da go sing make them know
say me a come."
John Crow say:--"If them yerry you, dem no will kill we!"
"No, all time me go down me an' Fowl a good friend, no mo' the little
quarrel we have."
Hawk call out:--"See me ya me da come, me da come to the bargain, me
da come, come; twillinky twing ping ya, me da come."
Fowl hear, tell him picny dem fe go hide.
So Dog was a gunner man, an' him an' Fowl a good friend, for Fowl
always give him good treatment.
So Fowl go an' tell Dog say:--"Danger! hawk a come fe me daughter, so
me a beg you fe come a yard an' shot him fe me when him come."
Dog come, an' him an' Fowl hide.
Hawk said to John Crow:--"Come make we go down."
John Crow say "No."
Hawk say:--"Hungry will burn you back."
John Crow say:--"Me no trust, me wi' wait 'pon God leisure."
Hawk say:--"All time you wait 'pon God fe give you you will never get;
no see me a man no wait 'pon no man? Me go look what me know me want,
but me if I get anyt'ing I never give you little piece self, you
foolish fellow you! I gone."
Hawk start the singing again going down:--"See me ya, me da come,
twillinky twing ping ya."
By Hawk get down Dog hit him _bam_.
Hawk dead.
John Crow laugh "Ha ha! let me pull me rusty bosom shirt an' put on me
gown an' go down to see what do that fellah."
John Crow go down.
As him get on Fowl-hawk find that him was dead him say:--"Tank God,
ha, ha!"
John Crow dig out the two eye and say:--"A this eye the fellah take a
see," an' put it in his pocket an' turn on eating.
Dog look, an' say to Fowl:--"You finish with that one, so, sister, any
time them come you send an' call me. I can't stop, I am very vex. I
send out my son yesterday an' Puss meet him on the road an' beat him
an' take 'way the money that I give him to give Brother Monkey. Him
tell me son say him have a old grudge fe me an' him can't get to beat
me, so him will beat all me picny. So, sister, I ha da go home, will
be blue fire when I catch Puss."
When Dog go to Puss yard an' call him, Dog ask Puss for a drink of
water an' a piece of fire.
Puss say:--"Go 'way from me gate, I know whe you come about."
Dog say:--"Ah, me man, will be blue fire!"
Puss gate was lock, for Puss have company the day. This company was
Rabbit.
Dog say:--"I want to see you."
Puss say:--"Go 'way I tell you, you mout' long like a devil fork."
Dog broke the gate an' go in.
Puss lock up his house, an' stay inside an' cuss Dog till Dog has to
go home.
An' Monkey say him will get the money from Puss for them is good
friend.
So Dog go home to his yard an' have a hatred for Puss till death.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=help him up=, with his head-load.
=fresh=, fresh meat.
=a no the one, etc.=, he has not only one, he has several.
=danger home=, is very dangerous.
=over the country=, over the place.
=see me ya, etc.=, see me here, I am coming.
=twillingky twing ping ya=, a good imitation of the Hawk's vengeful
shriek. Strong accent on the =ya=.
=bam=, French =a=, English =m=, imitating the discharge of the gun.
=what do that fellah=, what has befallen that fellow.
XLVII. FINGER QUASHY.
One day Dog invite four Puss to dinner. They were good friend. One of
the Puss name was Tatafelo, one name Finger Quashy, one name
Jack-no-me-touch. The last one was Tumpy John because he has no tail.
When them come, all the Puss was in long coat an' burn-pan hat. Dog
was in trousies an' shirt.
An' Dog tell them all howdy very friendly, for he didn' know what
Finger Quashy doing him.
An' Finger Quashy quite glad fe see how Dog look friendly an' please,
an' didn' have no t'ought that him was tiefing fe him pear.
So the whole of them sit down, Dog making a complain to them that, so
he get a pear an put it to ripe, by the time he ready for it him don't
see none.
An' Finger Quashy was doing it.
An' Finger Quashy jump up tell Dog:--"Mr. Dog, me no tell you all time
say you want one watchman? a da' fellow Ratta a tief you pear. Last
night me dream say me see you put me fe watchman an' me catch the
fellah, so you better put me fe guard you house from that tiefing Mr.
Ratta."
Dog was quite agree.
Dog said:--"After dinner I will tell you better."
Quashy said "Yes."
So Dog lef' them gone to get dinner.
By Dog gone, Quashy come out of the house, go into Dog buttery, see
two green pear, take them out go hide them.
Ratta see him go over the kitchen cry out:--"Why, why, why! Quashy
take you pear; you no yerry? Quashy take ahm gone."
By Dog get in the house Quashy was in already sitting down look quite
meek an' christianable.
Dog lef' them go see if his pear was there.
When he go there was none, an' Dog don't like nothing as his pear an'
bone, an' he get vex, take all the dinner t'row it 'way, go in the
house take down his 'tick.
By the time Dog fe lick one of the Puss everybody was on a tree on the
far side of Dog yard.
Dog swear all sort of bad word fe the one that take him green pear.
Everybody say:--"Thank God me no eat green pear."
Finger Quashy said:--"Lard! what a man fe swear!"
Dog see that he couldn' manage to catch Puss, leave and go away.
An' as Dog turn round, his son playing with fire burn his house an'
all his clothes.
From that day Dog hate Puss till now, for it is Puss cause him to have
one suit till him dead.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=Tatafelo=, Italian =a=, the other vowels English.
=Pear=, _i.e._ the West Indian pear, a delicious vegetable.
=tell you better=, make the final arrangement.
=Why, why, why!= squeaked like a rat.
=by the time Dog fe lick=, as Dog was going to strike.
=everybody=, used also of inanimate objects. They say:--"I going to
water cabbage, tomato, everybody."
=T'ank God, etc.=, a favourite form of exculpation, which, however, does
not necessarily imply innocence.
XLVIII. ANNANCY AND HIS FISH-POT.
One day Brother Annancy always set him fish-pot in a river ober a
fallin' fe catch jonga. Tacoma usual to go an' knock it.
An' Annancy set watch into a river corner, an' Tacoma come fe knock
it; he didn' know Brother Annancy hide there fe watchin' him.
As Tacoma go over de fish-pot Brother Annancy chuck him down, an'
Tacoma catch in de fish-pot.
Annancy go beg Brother Rabbit say:--"Bro'er Yabbit, me fish-pot catch
a big fish, come an' help me knock it, me one can't manage it, Bro'er
Yabbit."
Brother Annancy an' Brother Rabbit went to the river.
Annancy say:--"Bro'er Yabbit, me feel me tummy hurt me dis marnin', no
able fe put me foot in de cold water, see if you one can manage fe
take out de fish-pot."
Brother Rabbit go an' take it out till he nearly make shore with the
fish-pot.
Annancy say:--"Bery well, you kill Brother Tacoma! Bery well, you kill
Brother Tacoma!"
Then Brother Rabbit commence to cry now, an' the frettenation in a
Rabbit he say he kill somebody an' he know they going to hang him, an'
next day Rabbit dead.
Then the case didn' try again.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=fish-pot=, made of bamboo strips and looking like a lobster-pot.
=jonga=, the smallest of the three kinds of crawfish which abound in the
streams and rivers of Jamaica.
=knock=, empty.
=tummy=; a less pretty word is really used. Annancy squeaks his words
more than usual here.
=Bery well, etc.=, in 6/8 rhythm [Music] and he claps his hands to the
measure twice in the bar.
=frettenation=, probably fright, but may have something to do with
fretting. Owing to Rabbit's fright, he says that he has killed a man.
Rabbit, through fright, says that he has killed a man. These
elliptical expressions are hard to understand until one has heard them
often.
=try again=, try after all.
XLIX. HOG AND DOG.
One day Hog was going out to look work, an' Hog name was Cuddy.
An' he got out an' walk all about an' couldn' get no work.
An' when he come home Ratta employ him to keep watch for him when
Broder Puss is coming.
An' Hog ask Rat how much is his pay.
An' Rat tell him that he will give him t'ree an' sixpence a week but
he must find himself every t'ing to eat an' drink.
An' Hog didn' agree. But as the time being so hard he says he will
bear with Ratta till the week out.
An' when the week done Ratta pay Hog, an' Ratta t'ought that Hog was
still keeping watch for him.
So Ratta go out, an' when he come back he didn' fin' Hog.
An' him say:--Wasn' God, Puss would broke in on him.
An' him cuss Hog that Hog would walk an' never get no work, an' some
which worse than Hog will laugh after him.
An' Hog start one morning to look work.
What that fellah Mr. Dog done Hog.
As he, being a market-keeper, he set down at the market gate an' see
Hog was passing, an' he ask Hog where he is going.
Hog tell him that he is going to look a little work.
Same time Dog burst out a laugh. An' as he burst out a laugh he ask
Hog t'ought he was working with Ratta.
An' Hog feel so shame to himself till he wouldn' answer Dog.
An' Dog laugh after Hog with this sing:--
[Music:
Time get so hard
Hog an' all a look work,
Dog sit down a market gate an' go laugh at a Hog distress;
me rarabum Cuddy de da door,
me rarabum Cuddy de da door,
me rarabum Cuddy de da door.]
An' Dog sing an' sing an' sing till Hog get vex an' come home back.
An' from that day that's why Hog must always hate Dog until now.
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=Cuddy=, short for Cordelia.
=wasn' God=, if it wasn't for God.
=rarabum=, nonsense word, Italian vowels.
=de da door=, is at door, is out of doors.
L. DEVIL AND THE PRINCESS.
Once a King has a daughter, an' that gal was a pet to her father.
So one day a Prince come to ask for her.
The father love the young man, but the gal say:--"Puppa, me don't like
him." So the father promise her that anybody she see she like he will
agree to it.
So one night a good friend of the King made a dance an' invite the
young Princess to the ball.
This man who made the dance invite all classes of people. So he invite
Devil too, but they don't know that it was Devil.
When all the guests come everybody give their name. Devil give his
name Mr. Winkler. So the ball commenced.
Devil see the gal. He went an' ask her if she wish to dance with him.
The gal was so glad say:--"Yes, sir, for I love you the most."
When they dance till daylight the gal don't want to lef' Devil.
She say to Devil:--"Come have a walk home with me."
Devil say:--"Yes, I would go, but I am a man have such a great
business, I has to go home very soon to seek after it."
The gal say:--"Come go home with me you will get me to marry, for my
father is a King."
An' as Devil hear about marry he go home with the gal.
When she get to the house she call to her father:--"Puppa, here come
my lover, I have found him at last."
So the servant-boy was an old-witch, said:--"Young mistress, you know
that man is Devil?"
The gal get vex, begin to cry.
She go to her father crying, tell him "the servant-boy cuss me most
shameful."
The father get upstarted, come out to the boy, don't ask the boy
nothing, catch the boy an' put him in prison.
They take Mr Winkler in the palace, an' the father fix up an' they get
marry.
After Mr. Winkler get marry he said:--"I am ready to go."
The King say:--"No, I can't send away my one daughter. You must stay
and I will make you a King too."
Mr. Winkler say "No."
During this time they don't know that it was Devil, for when the boy
tell them they get vex.
Devil marry ten time an' he eat all his wife, so he was going to eat
this Princess too.
So, as he was so anxious to go, the gal have to go with him.
When they ready to start the father give them a long bag full with
money. Devil get a boatman an' they start.
They sail four days before they get to their home.
When the gal get there she go meet a old lady in the house. This lady
was Devil cook.
As he got in he said to the cook:--"I have got a good fat meat for the
party."
So Devil go an' lock up the gal in a bar, an' lef' the old lady to
watch if the gal is going to get 'way. He lef' a Cock that any time
the old lady say that the gal get 'way he must call, an' him lef' a
bag of corn to feed the Cock that he may keep good watch.
The old lady say "Yes."
Devil ready to start, order his t'ree-foot horse saddle, for he is
going to invite his friend to come an' help him eat the gal.
He start, deeble-a-bup, deeble-a-bup.
As he get about a mile the old lady go in to the gal, take her out an'
tell her that her husband is Devil an' he is going to eat you.
The gal begin to cry.
The old lady say:--"Don't cry, I love you an' I going to let you go,
but the Cock is a watchman; he will see you, an' if he see you he will
call for his master, but never min' I will try."
The old lady get ten quart of the corn an' a gallon of rum, soak the
corn in it for about a hour, an' after give it to the Cock.
An' the Cock eat the whole evening till night, an', after him finish
eat, him drop asleep.
The old lady get a boatman an' pay him an' he take the gal over the
sea.
When day nearly light the Cock wake an' go to look if he see the gal
through a hole. When he look the gal was gone. Him go to the cook an'
ask.
The lady said:--"Him gone, an' I was calling you an' you never wake."
Then Cock sing out:--
[Music:
Mister Winkler Winkler oh
coocoorico
the gal is gone.
Awake me wake go look a hole
the gal was gone.]
Mr. Winkler hear an' was coming like lighten with his t'ree-foot
horse, deeble-a-bup, deeble-a-bup.
He call out:--"Me coming", deeble-a-bup, "Me coming", deeble-a-bup.
At last he reach the yard an' see the gal gone. He get a canoe an'
start after her, an' by next day light he see the gal boat was far
away.
He call out:--"Sairey de 'pon sea, Sairey de 'pon sea, come back
darling, you husband de come fe you."
When the gal look he say:--"Shub ahead, boatman, do, to save me life!"
An' by the time they get a land Devil was near them.
An' the boatman shot off a piece of Devil canoe an' water get in, so
Devil has to go home back.
An' when the gal go home, tell her father what was her life, the
father say:--"Don't marry again to nobody, not if even the King."
An' the father take her in an' give her servant to look after her.
_Jack Mantora me no choose any._
NOTES.
=cuss=, abuse. It does not imply swearing. To swear is to =cuss bad word=.
=in a bar=, a barred-up room.
=deeble-a-bup=, the sound of the three-legged horse's step. Compare the
itty-itty-hap of "Mr. Bluebeard."
The Cook adopts Annancy's device in "Annancy and Screech-owl."
=coocoorico.= The Cock's crow is excellent. The Negro is very clever in
his imitation of animals.
=a hole=, at the hole, through the hole.
=canoe=, pronounced with accent on the first syllable and French =a=.
LI. WHEELER.
One day Puss was going out on a journey, an' he travel till he reach
to a river mouth. An' as Puss being afraid for water he couldn' cross
the river.
An' Puss has to stop for two day an' one night, an' Puss climb a tree
which hang over the water.
An' Mr. Annancy was fishening.
An' Annancy fishening till him come where Puss was, an' Puss didn'
call to Annancy.
An' same time Annancy meet up a licking 'tump a river side. Annancy
lick, him lick, him lick, him lick outside till him sen' him han'
inside.
An' when Annancy shub him hand him feel something hold him.
An' Annancy get very frighten an' pull fe get him hand out, an' him
couldn' get 'way.
An' Annancy ask the question:--"Who hold me?"
An' a voice in a the 'tump said:--"Me, Wheeler."
An' Annancy said to him must wheel him make him see.
An' him wheel Mr. Annancy mile an' distant.
An' when Annancy drop he didn' dead, an' he said:--"T'ank God! I met
with a little accident, but I see it going to be a living for me an'
me family."
An' Mr. Annancy went home an' get some lovely iron peg, an' when him
come he plant them in the river course to the very spot which him did
drop.
That time Puss seeing all what Mr Annancy is doing.
Annancy leave, an' come where Wheeler is, an' keep himself very quiet,
an' presently Peafowl was passing.
An' Annancy call upon him say:--"Bro'er Peafowl, a living is here for
me an' you."
An' Peafowl ask him what is it.
An' he take Peafowl an' carry him where Wheeler is, and he
says:--"Bro'er Peafowl, you see that hole. As you hand is so long,
don't be afraid, just shub you hand in there now an' you will find
something grand."
An' as Peafowl shub in him hand Wheeler hold him.
An' Annancy tell him that he must pull.
An' when him pull he couldn' get 'way.
An' Mr. Annancy feel very proud an' happy till he laugh with joy in
his heart.
An' when him done laugh him tell Peafowl to say:--"Who hold me here?"
An' Wheeler say:--"Me, Wheeler."
Annancy tell him to say:--"Wheel me mile an' distant."
An' him wheel Peafowl an' dash him on the iron peg, an' Mr. Annancy
went an' pick him up an' put him in his bag.
An' him went back to his old place a bush an' sat quiet.
That time Puss was seeing all this.
Ratta was passing, an' as Annancy see him Annancy said to him:--"I's
all you deeshent man I like to see."
An' Ratta ask him:--"What for?"
An' Annancy say:--"Don't be afraid; a living is here for you an' me."
An' he carry Ratta an' show him the 'tump.
An' when him show Ratta, Ratta ask him if this is the living.
Annancy say:--"No shub you han', man, in the hole, an' you will fin' a
living."
An' as Ratta shub him hand Wheeler hold him.
An' Annancy tell him that he must pull.
Him say he can't get 'way.
Annancy tell him to ask:--"Who hold me?"
"Me, Wheeler."
Annancy tell him must say:--"Wheel me mile an' distant."
An' he wheel Ratta an' dash him on the iron peg again.
Annancy went an' pick him up an' put him in his bag, an' go back same
place.
After, Puss come down off the tree an' walk through the bush an' go
down the river a little ways an' then turn up back, coming up very
meek an' poorly.
Annancy so glad to see Bro'er Puss him say:--"Walk up my bold friend
Mr. Puss. Come an' see the living which is here for me an' you."
An' Puss playing as to say that he didn' know nothing at all about it.
An' Mr. Annancy begin to show Puss the 'tump, an' he tell Puss to shub
him hand in the hole.
When Annancy show Puss the hole, Puss say that him don' see it.
Annancy get vex and say:--"Shub you han' you so, man! Shub you han'
you so, man! There, there!"
An' Puss put him hand another way, playing to say he don' see it. An'
he go on, go on, till Annancy make a flourish with him own hand, an'
Annancy hand slip in the hole an' Wheeler catch him.
An' Annancy begin to cry as him know the danger which is down below.
An' him cry out:--"Do, me good Bro'er Push, jus' run a river course;
you will see some iron peg, pull them up for me."
An' Puss begin fe walk in him sinnicky way, an' hide a bush where
Annancy can't see.
When Puss come, him say him pull them.
Annancy wouldn' believe, an' crying still say:--"Bro'er Push, mus' go
an' fetch one come make me see."
Puss go, an' when him come back him come without it.
Annancy ask him where is it.
Him tell Annancy that it too heavy, an' him roll it 'way.
An' Annancy, still crying, wouldn' believe. An' he begin to call Puss
Godfather Push, an' beg him hard:--"Do, me good Godfather Push, just
you jump pull dem."
An' him go on, go on, till him believe Puss, an' him ask the
question:--"Who hold me?"
"Me, Wheeler."
"Wheel me mile an' distant."
An' Annancy fly by the air an' drop slam on his own trap.
An' Puss walk down an' pick up Annancy, an' put him in the bag with
Peafowl an' Ratta an' carry off all the living with a jolly song:--
[Music:
Poor me little Cubba boy, barn day no Cubba?
Me da go da Vaylum, barn day no Cubba?]
_Jack Mantora me no choose none._
NOTES.
=licking 'tump=, a tree stump with bees in it. The honey trickling out
makes a licking-stump of it.
=lick, him lick, him lick.= These words are run closely together, then a
pause, and then =him lick outside=. Pause again, after which the
sentence finishes.
=wheel=, to cause to turn or spin. I have no clue to =Mr. Wheeler=.
=mile an' distant=, to the distance of a mile.
=I's all you, etc.=, it's all you decent men.
=What for?= Ratta was suspicious of Annancy's flattery.
=poorly=, poor in spirit, meek.
=sinnicky=, sneaky.
=Bro'er Push, must go=, you must go.
=barn day no Cubba?= is not my born-day (birthday) Cubba. Children used
to be named according to the day of the week on which they were born.
Day. Boys. Girls.
Sunday. Quashy. Quashiba.
Monday. Cudjo. Jubba.
Tuesday. Cubbenna. Cubba.
Wednesday. Quaco. Memba.
Thursday. Qua. Abba.
Friday. Cuffy. Fibba.
Saturday. Quamin. Beniba.
According to this list, Cubba is a girl's name, but it is perhaps
short for Cubbenna.
=me da go da Vaylum=, I am going to Vaylum.