Jamaican Song and Story Part 23

An' Annancy ask the woman if he don't have any more corn to beat.

The foolish woman say:--"Yes, Brother Annancy, but not all the corn you going to beat you won't get your son till the master come."

An' Annancy begin to fret for him know when Devil come he won't have no more son again, for Devil will kill him an' eat him.

An' the woman name is Matilda.

An' Annancy took the corn an' begun to beat an' he start to sing:--

[Music:

Wheel oh! Wheel oh Matilda.

Turn the waterwheel oh Matilda!

Matilda mahmy los' him gold ring, Turn the waterwheel oh Matilda.]

An' the woman begun to dance an' wheel. An she dance an' dance till she get tired an' fall asleep. An' Annancy (the clever fellah) took his son out an' light Devil house with fire.

An' when Devil in the bush look an' see his house is burning he t'row down his gun an' 'tart a run to his yard.

Until he come the house burn flat to ground.

An' Devil couldn' find Matilda his faithful mother, an' Devil take to heart an' dead.

An' Annancy take Devil honey-dram for himself an' build up a house in Devil own place, an' from that day Mr. Annancy becomes the smartest man.

_Jack Mantora me no choose any._

NOTES.

=Honey dram.= The ingredients are honey, water, chewstick, ginger and rum. When mixed the dram is put in the sun to ripen. Chewstick (_Gouania domingensis_) is bitter and takes the place of hops.

=beating corn=, _i.e._ maize, to separate the grain from the husks, called also =huxing corn= (husking).

When an animal is found trespa.s.sing it is brought down to the yard, and its owner comes to redeem it by a money payment. John Wee-wee was brought in in the same way and according to custom was given something to do while he waited.

=faithful.= A faithful person is one in whom confidence is reposed.

XXIII. ANNANCY IN CRAB COUNTRY.

One day Annancy form himself as a minister, an' was going out an'

preaching about. An' Annancy preach an' preach till he get in Crab country. An' Crab them wouldn' hear Annancy at all.

An' Annancy went home back, an' dress himself in a black gown, an' get some red paint an' redden his 'tummy, an' ask a few friend to walk with him.

An the friend was Mr. Toad an' Ratta an' Blackbird.

An' they all start.

An' when Annancy reach to Crab country he beguns to preach.

An' he preach an' preach till they wouldn' hear him again.

An' Annancy hire a house from Crab to stop in the night.

An' Annancy, seeing he couldn' catch them with his preaching, made a drum an' a fiddle an' give Blackbird the fiddle to play. An Ratta was playing the drum. An' Annancy see that the music didn't sufficient.

He wait, until the next day he made a flute an' give to Toad.

An' when he done he put up the music them an' got in friendship with Crab, an' begun to do the same as Crab them are doing.

An' poor Crab didn' know what Mr. Annancy mean.

An' Annancy go on go on until they got used to Annancy.

An' when they got used to Annancy, Annancy write out plat-card and put it out an' tell his friend Mr. Crab that he is going to have a nice baptism at his house, an' tell them that he will have a bands of music playing in going home, an' how the music will be so sweet they won't tired walking.

An' when Annancy start with his three friend he tell Ratta to roll the drum, an' Blackbird is to rub the fiddle 'tring till it catch fire, an' Toad is to blow the flute as hard as he can, an' he will be reading the tune.

An' he start like this:--

[Music:

The bands a roll, the bands a roll, the bands a roll, a go to Mount Siney.

Salem is Zakkilow, Some a we da go to Mount Siney.]

An' when Annancy get home he made a bargain with his t'ree friend that he is going to baptize them an' let Crab see.

An' when he baptize them, Crab they were very glad to see this treat which Annancy do to his t'ree friend, an' they say that they want Annancy to do them the very same.

An' Annancy tell them that they must wait till to-morrow.

An' Crab them agree.

An' Annancy made a bargain with his t'ree friend an' is going to baptize Brother Crab with boiling water.

An' he get a deep barril an' order Crab them that they must go in the barril, an' Crab they do so.

At that time Annancy have a good pot of boiling water an' as Crab a settle theirself in the barril Annancy tilt the pot of boiling water on them an' the whole of Crab body get red.

An' Annancy was very glad an' said:--"T'ank G.o.d I have got some of the clever man them for me breakfus'."

An' from that day Annancy was going about an' fool all his friend.

_Jack Mantora me no choose none._