The Fish-basket

During a great famine, Anansi could find nothing to eat. He took his hand-basket and a big pot and went down to the seaside to catch fish. When he arrived, he built a large fire and put the pot on it. He said, "Come, big fish!" He caught some big fish and set them aside. Then he said, "Big fish go, make little fish come!" He caught the little fish. Then he said, "Little fish go, make big fish come!" and again, "Big fish go, make little fish come!" He filled the pot and his hand-basket. He boiled the pot full, sat down, and ate it all. Then he started back home with the pot on his head and the basket. After going a little way, he hid the pot in the bush and continued with the basket.

While walking, he met Tiger. Tiger was very rough, and Anansi was afraid of him. Tiger said roughly, "What do you have in that basket, sir?" Anansi spoke weakly, "Nothing, sir! Nothing, sir!" So they passed each other, but after going a little way, Tiger hid in the bush and watched Anansi.

Anansi sat down under a tree, opened his basket, took out the fish one by one, and said, "Pretty little yellow-tail this!" and set it aside. He took out a snapper and said, "Pretty little snapper this!" and set it aside. He took out a jack-fish and said, "Pretty little jack-fish!" and set it aside. Then Tiger ran up and said, "You said you had nothing in that basket, sir!" Anansi said, "I just went down to the sea for a swim, sir, and caught these few small fish." Tiger said roughly, "Give them to me here, sir!" And Tiger took them, ate them all, and spat up the bones. Anansi then picked up the bones and ate them, grumbling, "But look at the work my boy did!" Tiger said, "What did you say?" Anansi said, "A fly bothers my face, sir!" and brushed his face.

So they both started home with the empty basket, but this time Anansi was plotting against Tiger. When they got part of the way, Anansi saw a fruit tree. " looking up. Tiger said roughly, "Climb it, sir!" So Anansi climbed up and picked some fruit, while Tiger stood under the tree. Anansi looked down at Tiger's head and said, "Look at lice in Brother Tiger's head!" Tiger said, "Come down and catch them, sir!" Anansi came down and said he couldn't catch them without leaning on the tree. Tiger said, "Lean on the tree, sir!" Tiger's hair was very long. While Anansi caught the lice, Tiger fell asleep. Anansi then took the hair and tied it around the tree, fastening Tiger to it. When he finished, he woke Tiger and said he couldn't catch any more. Tiger said roughly, "Come and catch them, sir!" Anansi said, "I won't!" So Anansi ran off. Tiger sprang after him, but found his hair tied to the tree. Tiger said, "Come and loosen me, sir!"

" and sang:

"See how Anansi tie Tiger, See how Anansi tie Tiger, Tie him like a hog, Tiger, See how Anansi tie Tiger, Tie him like a hog, Tiger!"

Then Anansi left him and went home. A hunter came and saw Tiger tied to the tree and killed him.