{"collection":"African","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/afr/jas/index.htm","path":"afr/jas/index.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/afr/jas/index.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Africa\u00a0\n \nJamaica Anansi Stories\nBY\nMARTHA WARREN BECKWITH\nMusic transcribed by HELEN ROBERTS\n[1924]\nJump to Index\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n Start Reading\nThis classic of Jamaican folklore was collected by Martha Warren Beckwith,\n whose translation of the Hawaiian Creation epic,\n the Kumulipo,\n is also at sacred-texts.\n Beckwith studied under the famous ethnographer\n Franz Boas, who also encouraged the\n pioneering Afro-Caribbean ethnographic field work of Zora Neale Huston.\n Jamaica Anansi Stories\n includes folklore, transcriptions of folk music,\n and a large collection of riddles, all cross-referenced with\n folklore studies from other cultures.\n The index below includes links to scanned images of music\n notation in the text;\n note that the song titles have been assigned arbitrarily.\n To assist search engine robots and visually impaired readers\n using text-to-speech programs,\n I have also transcribed the\n song lyrics below each image of scanned music notation.\n Each story is cross-linked to the notes, both in the index and\n the particular file.\n \n The transcription of Jamaican patois in these texts may be jarring to modern\n sensibilities, and occasionally impenetrable.\n It must be recognized that the purpose of this transcription\n was to respect the subject matter,\n and place it in context, rather to trivialize it.\n This is not a minstrel show.\n These texts prove that African folklore survived the 'middle passage' of the\n slave ships.\n In fact, these oral traditions were the only possessions which survived\n that harrowing journey, and should be treasured appropriately.\n The trickster Anansi, originally a West African spider-god,\n lives on in these tales.\n Why is this figure so universal?\n And why did so many African American folk tales recount his exploits,\n under one name or another?\n Anansi is the spirit of rebellion; he is able to\n overturn the social order; he can marry the Kings' daughter,\n create wealth out of thin air; baffle the Devil and cheat Death.\n Even if Anansi loses in one story, you know that he will overcome in the next.\n For an oppressed people Anansi conveyed a simple message from one\n generation to the next:--that freedom and \n dignity are worth fighting for, at any odds.\nTitle Page\nContents.\nPreface.\nANIMAL STORIES.\n1. Tying Tiger.\u00a0[Note]\n2. Tiger as Substitute.\u00a0[Note]\n3. Tiger as Riding-horse.\u00a0[Note]\n4. Tiger's Sheep-skin Suit.\u00a0[Note]\n5. Tiger Catching the Sheep-thief.\u00a0[Note]\n6. Tiger's Breakfast.\u00a0[Note]\n7. Eggs and Scorpions.\u00a0[Note]\n8. Tiger's Bone-hole.\u00a0[Note]\n9. The Christening.\u00a0[Note]\n10. Eating Tiger's Guts.\u00a0[Note]\n11. Throwing away Knives.\u00a0[Note]\n12. Grace Before Meat.\u00a0[Note]\n13. Day-time Trouble.\u00a0[Note]\n14. New Names.\u00a0[Note]\n15. Long-shirt.\u00a0[Note]\n16. Shut up in the Pot.\u00a0[Note]\n17. House in the Air.\u00a0[Note]\n18. Goat on the Hill-side.\u00a0[Note]\n19. Dog and Dog-head.\u00a0[Note]\n20. Tacoomah's Corn-piece.\u00a0[Note]\n21. Anansi and the Tar-baby.\u00a0[Note]\n22. Inside the Cow.\u00a0[Note]\n23. Cunnie-More-Than-Father.\u00a0[Note]\n24. The Duckano tree.\u00a0[Note]\n25. Food and Cudgel.\u00a0[Note]\n26. The Riddle.\u00a0[Note]\n27. Anansi and Brother Dead.\u00a0[Note]\n28. Brother Dead and the Brindle Puppy.\u00a0[Note]\n29. The Cowitch and Mr. Foolman.\u00a0[Note]\n30. Dry-Head and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Fly Along, Brudder Hawk]\n31. The Yam-hills.\u00a0[Note]\n32. The Law against Back-biting.\u00a0[Note]\n33. Fling-a-mile.\u00a0[Note]\n34. But-but and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n35. Tumble-bug and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n36. Horse and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n37. Anansi in Monkey Country.\u00a0[Note]\n38. Curing the Sick.\u00a0[Note]\n39. Anansi, White-belly and Fish.\u00a0[Note]\n40. Goat's Escape.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Meat a da me yard]\u00a0[Music: You no havey a han' you no sure of it]\n41. Turtle's Escape.\u00a0[Note]\n42. Fire and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n43. Quit-quit and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n44. Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter.\u00a0[Note]\n45. The Chain of Victims.\u00a0[Note]\n46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Supplementary Note]\n47. Why John-crow has a Bald Head.\u00a0[Note]\n48. Why Dog is always Looking.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Supplementary Note]\n49. Why Rocks at the River are covered with Moss.\u00a0[Note]\n50. Why Ground-dove Complains.\u00a0[Note]\n51. Why Hog is always Grunting.\u00a0[Note]\n52. Why Toad Croaks.\u00a0[Note]\n53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood.\u00a0[Note]\n54. Why Crab is afraid after Dark.\u00a0[Note]\n55. Why Mice are no Bigger.\u00a0[Note]\n56. Rat's Wedding.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Supplementary Note]\n57. Cockroach Stories.\u00a0[Note]\n58. Hunter, Guinea-hen and Fish.\u00a0[Note]\n59. Rabbit Stories.\u00a0[Note]\n60. The Animal Race.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Iyaa yao sa (1)]\u00a0[Music: Iyaa yao sa (2)]\n61. The Fasting Trial (fragment).\u00a0[Note]\n62. Man is Stronger.\u00a0[Note]\nOLD STORIES, CHIEFLY OF SORCERY.\n63. The Pea that made a Fortune.\u00a0[Note]\n64. Settling the Father's Debt.\u00a0[Note]\n65. Mr. Lenaman's Corn-field.\u00a0[Note]\n66. Simon Tootoos.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Supplementary Note]\u00a0[Music: Come take me up]\n67. The Tree-wife.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Jesta beyo]\n68. Sammy the Comferee.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Sammy de Confaria]\n69. Grandy-Do-an'-Do.\u00a0[Note]\n70. Jack and Harry.\u00a0[Note]\n71. Pea-fowl as Messenger.\u00a0[Note]\n72. The Barking Puppy.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Phinney man]\n73. The Singing Bird.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Fine waitin' boy]\u00a0[Music: Golden Cage]\n74. Two Sisters.\u00a0[Note]\n75. Asoonah.\u00a0[Note]\n76. The Greedy Child.\u00a0[Note]\n77. Alimoty and Aliminty.\u00a0[Note]\n78. The Fish Lover.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Timbo, Limbo]\u00a0[Music: Fish, fish, fish]\n79. Juggin Straw Blue.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Na Kooma]\u00a0[Music: Juggin Straw Blue (1)]\u00a0[Music: Juggin straw Blue (2)]\n80. The Witch and the Grain of Peas.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Dearest Mama]\n81. Bosen Corner.\u00a0[Note]\n82. The Three Dogs.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Sharpen Me Razor]\u00a0[Music: Blum-blum Sinde Dido]\u00a0[Music: Chin Fallah]\n83. Andrew and his Sisters.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Ya, Bwa]\n84. The Hunter.\u00a0[Note]\n85. Man-Snake as Bridegroom.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Kom Go Yeng]\n86. The Girls who married the Devil.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Handsome Man Snake]\u00a0[Music: Carlie]\n87. Bull as Bridegroom.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Pon, pon, Me Dearie]\u00a0[Music: Gracie and Miles (1)]\u00a0[Music: Gracie and Miles (2)]\n88. The Two Bulls.\u00a0[Note]\n89. Ballinder Bull.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Geshawnee]\n90. Bird Arinto.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Arintoe]\n91. Tiger Softens his Voice.\u00a0[Note]\n92. Hidden Names.\u00a0[Note]\n93. Anansi and Mr. Able.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Brar Able]\n94. The King's Three Daughters.\u00a0[Note]\n95. The Dumb Child.\u00a0[Note]\n96. The Dumb Wife.\u00a0[Note]\n97. Leap, Timber, Leap.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Supplementary Note]\u00a0[Music: Leap, Timber, Leap (1)]\u00a0[Music: Leap, Timber, Leap (2)]\u00a0[Music: Come, Little Timber]\n98. The Boy fools Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n99. The Water Crayfish.\u00a0[Note]\nMODERN EUROPEAN STORIES.\n100. Ali Baba and Kissem.\u00a0[Note]\n101. Bull-of all-the-Land.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Return To Me, Bull-of-all-the-Land]\n102. The Boiling Pot.\u00a0[Note]\n103. The Twelve One-eyed Men.\u00a0[Note]\n104. Bird and Hunter.\u00a0[Note]\n105. Jack and the Devil Errant.\u00a0[Note]\n106. The Magic Hat and the Staff of Life.\u00a0[Note]\n107. Uncle Green and Jack.\u00a0[Note]\n108. Big Begum and Little Begum.\u00a0[Note]\n109. The Fool and the Wise Brother.\u00a0[Note]\n110. The Children and the Witch.\u00a0[Note]\n111. The Boy and the Mermaid.\u00a0[Note]\n112. Difficult Tasks.\u00a0[Note]\n113. The Grateful Beasts.\u00a0[Note]\n114. Jack and the Bean-stalk.\u00a0[Note]\n115. Jack and the Devil.\u00a0[Note]\n116. Jack's Riddle.\u00a0[Note]\n117. Jack as Fortune-teller.\u00a0[Note]\n118. Robin as Fortune-teller.\u00a0[Note]\n119. Jack and the Grateful Dead.\u00a0[Note]\n120. The Boy and his Master.\u00a0[Note]\n121. The Language of Beasts.\u00a0[Note]\n122. The Three Pieces of Advice.\u00a0[Note]\n123. Three Brothers and the Life-tree.\u00a0[Note]\n124. The Skilful Brothers.\u00a0[Note]\n125. The Three Sillies.\u00a0[Note]\n126. A Misunderstanding.\u00a0[Note]\n127. Big-head, Big-belly, and Little-foot.\u00a0[Note]\n128. The Goat in the Lion's Den.\u00a0[Note]\n129. The Donkey, the Cat and the Lion's Head.\u00a0[Note]\n130. Clever Molly May.\u00a0[Note]\n131. Dancing to Anansi's Fiddle.\u00a0[Note]\n132. Anansi claims the dinner.\u00a0[Note]\n133. Anansi seeks his Fortune.\u00a0[Note]\n134. The Pannier-jar.\u00a0[Note]\n135. Anansi kills his Grandmother.\u00a0[Note]\n136. White Belly and Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n137. Monkey hunts Anansi.\u00a0[Note]\n138. Anansi and the Pig coming from Market.\u00a0[Note]\nDANCE AND SONG.\n139. The Fifer.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Minnie, Minnie]\n140. In Come Murray.\u00a0[Music: In Come Murray]\n141. Tacoomah makes a Dance.\u00a0[Note]\n142. Anansi makes a Dance.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Kelly Bambomba (1)]\u00a0[Music: Kelly Bambomba (2)]\u00a0[Music: Jump Shandelay]\u00a0[Music: Timmo Limmo]\n143. Red Yam.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Red Yam (1)]\u00a0[Music: Red Yam (2)]\u00a0[Music: Tom Drunk]\n144. Guzzah Man.\u00a0[Music: Guzza Man (1)]\u00a0[Music: Guzza Man (2)]\n145. Fowl and Pretty Poll.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: Pretty Poll]\n146. The Cumbolo.\u00a0[Note]\u00a0[Music: the Cumbolo]\n147. John-crow and Fowl at Court.\n148. Wooden Ping-ping and Cock.\n149. Animal Talk.\u00a0[Note]\nWITTICISMS.\nOld-time Fools.\u00a0[Note]\nDuppy Stories.\u00a0[Note]\nAnimal Jests.\u00a0[Note]\nLies.\u00a0[Note]\nPhilosophy.\u00a0[Note]\nRIDDLES.\nINDEX TO RIDDLES.\nABBREVIATIONS OF TITLES.\nNOTES.\nNote 1. Tying Tiger.\nNote 2. Tiger as Substitute.\nNote 3. Tiger as Riding-Horse.\nNote 4. Tiger's Sheep-skin Suit.\nNote 5. Tiger Catching the Sheep-thief.\nNote 6. Tiger's Breakfast.\nNote 7. Eggs and Scorpions.\nNote 8. Tiger's Bone-hole.\nNote 9. The Christening.\nNote 10. Eating Tiger's Guts.\nNote 11. Throwing away Knives.\nNote 12. Grace before Meat.\nNote 13. Seeing Trouble.\nNote 14. New Names.\nNote 15. Long Shirt.\nNote 16. Shut up in the Pot.\nNote 17. House in the Air.\nNote 18. Goat on the Hill-side.\nNote 19. Dog and Dog-head.\nNote 20. Tacoomah's Corn-piece.\nNote 21. Anansi and the Tar Baby.\nNote 22. Inside the Cow.\nNote 23. Cunnie-more-than-Father.\nNote 24. The Duckano Tree.\nNote 25. Food and Cudgel.\nNote 26. The Riddle.\nNote 27. Anansi and Brother Dead.\nNote 28. Brother Dead and the Brindle Puppy.\nNote 29. The Cowitch and Mr. Foolman.\nNote 30. Dry-Head and Anansi.\nNote 31. The Yam-hills.\nNote 32. The Law against Back-biting.\nNote 33. Fling-a-mile.\nNote 34. But-but and Anansi.\nNote 35. Tumble-bug and Anansi.\nNote 36. Horse and Anansi.\nNote 37. Anansi in Monkey Country.\nNote 38. Curing the Sick.\nNote 39. Anansi, White-belly and Fish.\nNote 40. Goat's Escape.\nNote 41. Turtle's Escape.\nNote 42. Fire and Anansi.\nNote 43. Quit-quit and Anansi.\nNote 44. Spider Marries Monkey's Daughter.\nNote 45. The Chain of Victims\nNote 46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung.\nNote 47. Why John-crow has a Bald Head.\nNote 48. Why Dog is always Looking.\nNote 49. Why Rocks at the River are covered with Moss.\nNote 50. Why Ground-dove Complains.\nNote 51. Why Hog is always Grunting.\nNote 52. Why Toad Croaks.\nNote 53. Why Woodpecker Bores Wood.\nNote 54. Why Crab is afraid after Dark.\nNote 55. Why Mice are no Bigger.\nNote 56. Rat's Wedding.\nNote 57. Cockroach Stories.\nNote 58. Hunter, Guinea-hen and Fish.\nNote 59. Rabbit Stories.\nNote 60. The Animal Race.\nNote 61. The Fasting Trial.\nNote 62. Man is Stronger.\nNote 63. The Pea that made a Fortune.\nNote 64. Settling the Father's Debt.\nNote 65. Mr. Lenaman's Corn-field.\nNote 66. Simon Tootoos.\nNote 67. The Tree-wife.\nNote 68. Sammy the Comferee.\nNote 69. Grandy Do-an'-do.\nNote 70. Jack and Harry.\nNote 71. Pea-fowl as Messenger.\nNote 72. The Barking Puppy.\nNote 73. The Singing Bird.\nNote 74. Two Sisters.\nNote 75. Assonah.\nNote 76. The Greedy Child.\nNote 77. Alimoty and Aliminty.\nNote 78. The Fish Lover.\nNote 79. Juggin Straw Blue.\nNote 80. The Witch and the Grain of Peas.\nNote 81. The Witch at Bosen Corner.\nNote 82. The Witch and the Three Dogs.\nNote 83. Andrew and his Sisters.\nNote 84. The Hunter.\nNote 85. Man-Snake as Bridegroom.\nNote 86. The Girls who married the Devil.\nNote 87. Bull as Bridegroom.\nNote 88. The Two Bulls.\nNote 89. Ballinder Bull.\nNote 90. Bird Arinto.\nNote 91. Tiger softens his Voice.\nNote 92. and 93. Hidden Names; Anansi and Mr. Able.\nNote 94. The King's Three Daughters.\nNote 95. The Dumb Child.\nNote 96. The Dumb Wife.\nNote 97. Leap, Timber, Leap.\nNote 98. The Boy fools Anansi.\nNote 99. The Water Cray fish.\nNote 100. Ali Baba and Kissem.\nNote 101. Bull-of-all-the-land.\nNote 102. The Boiling Pot.\nNote 103. The Twelve One-eyed Men.\nNote 104. Bird and Hunter.\nNote 105. Jack and the Devil Errant.\nNote 106. The Magic Hat and the Staff of Life.\nNote 107. Uncle Green and Jack.\nNote 108. Big Begum and Little Begum.\nNote 109. The Fool and the Wise Brother.\nNote 110. The Children and the Witch.\nNote 111. The Boy and the Mermaid.\nNote 112. Difficult Tasks.\nNote 113. The Grateful Beasts.\nNote 114. Jack and the Bean-stalk.\nNote 115. Jack and the Devil.\nNote 116. Jack's Riddle.\nNote 117. Jack as Fortune-teller.\nNote 118. Robin as Fortune-teller.\nNote 119. Jack and the Grateful Dead.\nNote 120. The Boy and his Master.\nNote 121. The Language of Beasts.\nNote 122. The Three Pieces of Advice.\nNote 123. The Brothers and the Life-tree.\nNote 124. The Skillful Brothers.\nNote 125. The Three Sillies.\nNote 126. A Misunderstanding.\nNote 127. Big-head, Big-belly and Little-foot.\nNote 128/129. The Goat in the Lion's Den. / Donkey, Cat and the Lion's Head\nNote 130. Clever Molly May.\nNote 131. Dancing to Anansi's Fiddle.\nNote 132. Anansi Claims the Dinner.\nNote 133. Anansi seeks his Fortune.\nNote 134. The Pannier Jar.\nNote 135. Anansi kills his Grandmother.\nNote 136. White-belly and Anansi.\nNote 137. Monkey hunts Anansi.\nNote 138. Anansi and the Pig.\nNote 139. The Fifer.\nNote 141. Tacoomah makes a Dance.\nNote 142. Anansi makes a Dance.\nNote 143. Red Yam.\nNote 145. Fowl and Pretty Poll.\nNote 146. The Cumbalo.\nNote 149. Animal Talk.\nNotes on Witticisms.\nSUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.\nSupplementary Note 46. Why Tumble-bug Rolls in the Dung.\nSupplementary Note 48. Why Dog is always Looking.\nSupplementary Note 56. Rat's Wedding.\nSupplementary Note 66. Simon Tootoos.\nSupplementary Note 97. Leap, Timber, Leap.\nINDEX TO INFORMANTS.","title":"Jamaica Anansi Stories Index","type":"page"}