{"collection":"African","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/afr/jas/jas139n.htm","path":"afr/jas/jas139n.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/afr/jas/jas139n.htm","text":"The story is common in Jamaica. See Jekyll, 98-99. It was told me as a \"speak-acting\" story, but as I could get no other of exactly the same character, I do not know how common it used to be to present a Nansi story in this way. The Nansi story is now given in the form of a dramatic monologue or rehearsed simply as a tale.\nFor the story of \"The Fifer,\" six actors were required, one to represent the boy, one the father, and four others the \"wild beasts.\" \"Anansi,\" \"Dry-head,\" \"Tacoomah\" and \"Tiger\" were the \"beasts.\" Roe said that \"the one who takes the son's part tells the story.\" The dramatization went on much like a school exercise performed by grown men, with improvised action and (probably) extemporized dialogue. It ended in a dance in which all six joined.\nCompare Tremearne, 301; Harris, Nights, 370-373; Edwards, 87-88; Parsons, Andros Island, 137-138.\n{p. 287}\nThe story seems to be drawn from such prohibitions against whistling at night or whistling more than twice when walking at night or through a haunted forest as are quoted by Sebillot, Le Folk-lore de. France 1:159, 283. He tells a Breton story of a lad who forgot the prohibition and found himself mocked and followed by the Devil, who bore him off just as he had reached home, Compare number 66, note.","title":"Note 139. The Fifer.","type":"page"}