Suriname folk-lore

70. Anąnsi nąŋga Dagu.

Anąnsi no bɛn sab'-taki na sɔrt' Dagu mɔfo wroko. Dąn a i kari Dagu ‘mati P'kin-mɔfo.’ Ma nō, te den go nyąm makandra, ɛf' Dagu meki tu hop, a i kaba nąŋga ala na nyąm. Anąnsi dɛ prakseri taki, ‘Wɛ, fa Dagu mɔfo wroko so? Ɛ̨ŋ n'e si a bɩgi na dɔro, ma i nyąm so.’ Nō, den gi wąn fei̯st. Dąn Puspusi kɔ̨' na tafra. Ma di Puspus' kɔm, Dagu nąŋga hɛm den no nyąm makandra. Fa-i-si Puspusi kɔm na Dagu sei̯, Dagu pir' hɛm tifi gi hɛm. Nō mō Anąnsi si fa Dagu mɔfo wroko. Nō, a taig' Dagu taki, ‘ai̯, mati, na soso mi bɛn dɛ kari yu 'mati P'kin-mɔfo', ma mi no bɛn sab'-taki na so yu mɔfo wroko. No so, noi̯t' mi bɛn sɑ nyąm nąŋga yu makandra na tafra. Ma no Puspusi mi habi fō tak' tąŋgi. A mek' mi sab' tide tak' a so yu mɔfo wroko.’

Dɑt' meki tɛ Puspusi nąŋga Dagu kɔm 'a fes' wan preti nanyąm, Dagu dɛ pir' hɛm tifi gi Puspusi. Den n'e nyąm makandra. A kaba.

70. Why Cat and Dog are Enemies.²

Anansi did not know how Dog's mouth worked. Then he called Dog ‘Friend-little-mouth.’ But now, when they went to eat together, if Dog made but two swallows he finished all the food. Anansi studied, and said, ‘Well, how is it that Dog's mouth works so? It does not look big from the outside, but it devours so.’ Now they gave a feast. Then Cat came to the table. But now when Cat came, she and Dog did not eat together. Just as Cat came to Dog's side, Dog bared his teeth at her. Instantly he saw how Dog's mouth worked. Now he said to Dog, said, ‘Yes, friend, I have been calling you “Friend-little-mouth” for nothing, but I did not know that your mouth worked this way. Otherwise, I would never have eaten together with you at the table. But now I have to thank Cat. She made me see today that that is how your mouth works.’

And that is why when Cat and Dog come before a plate of food, Dog bares his teeth at Cat. They do not eat together. It is finished.

2 Told by 1.