Suriname folk-lore

[p. 164]

9. Tara Poptie̯.

Anansi bɛn go fufuru na Konu 'oso. Ma Konu sɛt' trapu fō kɩsi ęŋ. Konu mɛk' wą tara poptie̯, dą' a pɔti ɛ̨ŋ nąŋga kuku. Dą' Anansi kɔ̨'. A tag' a poptie̯ tai̯gi, mek' a gi wan pɩsi kuku. Dąn na poptie̯ no piki ɛ̨ŋ. A taki, ‘Ɛf' yu no gi' mi, mi 'ɛ nak' yu!’ Fa a naki ɛ̨ŋ, ɛ̨ŋ 'anu fasi. A taki, ‘Mi dɛ skɔp' yu!’ Fa a skɔp' ɛ̨ŋ, ɛ̨ŋ futu fasi. A teki ɛ̨ŋ 'ɛdɛ, a buku ɛ̨ŋ. 'Ɛdɛ fasi. A teki ɛ̨ŋ bɛrɛ, a buku ɛ̨ŋ, dą' ɛ̨ŋ bɛrɛ fasi. Dąn Anąnsi fas' tą' na poptie̯.

Dąn mamantɛm di Konu kɔm, a kɔm kɩsi Anąnsi. A mɛk' dɛn wɩpi ɛ̨ŋ na ɛ̨ŋ bōtu, dat' mɛk' Anąnsi bōtu kɔm fini so.

A kaba.

[p. 165]

9. Tar Baby: Why Anansi's Thighs are Thin.¹

Anansi was robbing the King's house. But the King set a trap to catch him. The King made a tar doll, and put it up with a cake [in its hand]. Then Anansi came. He said to the doll, he said, let her give him a piece of cake. The doll did not speak to him. He said, ‘If you do not give me, I am going to strike you!’ As he struck her, his hand stuck. He said, ‘I am going to kick you!’ As he kicked, his foot stuck. He took his head, and he butted her. Head stuck. He took his belly, and he butted her, then his belly stuck. Then Anansi stood fastened to the doll.

In the morning when the King came, he caught Anansi. He had them whip him on his legs, and that is why Anansi's legs became so thin.

It is finished.

1 Told by 1. References as for preceding tale.