Jamaican Song and Story Part 45

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 'c.r.a.pe 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; p.r.o.nounce 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 G.o.dfather.

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 G.o.dfather Tiger.

An' that time Puss was pa.s.sing 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 G.o.dfather, but Annancy an' Puss force him.

An' Tiger get cross begun to lick, an' the first man him lick was his G.o.dson. An' then as him lick him G.o.dson 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' d a yard; a wh fe do, a wh 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.