Suriname folk-lore

79. Dagu nąŋga Babų'.

Dagu nąŋga Babų' bɛn dɛ bɩgi mati. Ma nō, Babųn dɛ leri Dagu fō krɩ̨ŋ na brabakɔto. Ma, dɛ a leri ɛ̨ŋ, dąn wą' mati f'ɛ̨ŋ tai̯g' ɛ̨ŋ taki, a no mu' leri Dagu fō krɩ̨ŋ na hei̯. Bika' a bɛn wani fō leri Dagu fō krɛ̨ŋ na bom.

So na mati tai̯g' gi' ɛ̨ŋ taki, meki den drɩ̨ŋgi sopi wąn dei̯, dąn a sɑ si. Di dɛm drɩ̨ŋgi kaba, no mō Dagu bɩgɩn taki, ‘Mat' Babų', ler' mi krɛ̨ŋ bom, mi 'ɛ go sɔri yu!’ No mō Babų yeri dati, a taki, ‘Soooo? A bǫ'. Te na brabakɔto no mo i sɑ krɩ̨ŋ.’

Odo: Te opo wąn suma luku dąnsi, a opo yu luku feti.

79. Baboon Teaches Dog to Climb.¹

Dog and Baboon were great friends. But now Baboon was teaching Dog to climb to the barbecue rack. But, while he was teaching him, then a friend of his said to him, said, he must not teach Dog to climb high. Because he had wanted to teach Dog to climb a tree.

So the friend said to him, said, have them drink rum some day, and then he would see. When they had finished drinking, at once the Dog began to speak, ‘Friend Baboon, teach me to climb a tree, and I will show you!’ No sooner did the Baboon hear this than he said, ‘So? All right. You will climb only to [as high as] the barbecue rack.’

Proverb: When you pick up someone to watch a dance, he picks you up to watch a fight.

1 Told by 1.