Tiger as Riding-horse

William Forbes, Dry River.

Tiger was walking to a yard an’ see two young misses, an’ he was courting one of de young misses. An’ as Anansi hear, Anansi go up to yard where de young misses is; an’ dey ax him said, “Mr. Anansi, you see Mr. Tiger?” An’ said, “O yes! I see Mr. Tiger, but I tell you, missus, Tiger is me fader ol’ ridin’-horse.” An’ when Tiger come to misses, dem tell him. An’ said him gwine Anansi, mak him come an’ prove witness befo’ him face how he is fader ol’ ridin’-horse!

An’ when him come call Anansi, say, “Want you to come prove dis t’ing you say ’fore de misses,” Anansi say, “I nebber say so! but I kyan’ walk at all.” Tiger said, “If I hab to carry you ’pon me back, I will carry you go!” Anansi said, “Well, I wi’ go.” Anansi go tak out him saddle. Tiger say, “What you gwine do wid saddle?” Anansi say, “To put me foot down in de stirrup so when I gwine fall down, I weak, I can catch up.” An’ tak him bridle. Tiger say, “What you gwine do wid it?” Say, “Gwine put it in you mout’, when I gwine to fa’ down I can catch up.” Tiger say, “I don’ care what you do, mus’ put it on!” An’ him go back an’ tak horse-whip. An say, “Wha’ you gwine do wid de horse-whip?” An’ say, “Fe when de fly come, fan de fly.” An’ put on two pair of ’pur. An’ say, “Wha’ you gwine do wid ’pur?” An’ say, “If I don’ put on de ’pur, me foot wi’ cramp.” An’ come close to yard an’ close in wid de ’pur an’ horse-whip, an’ mak him gallop into de yard. An’ say, “Carry him in to stable, sah! I mak you to know what Anansi say true to de fac’, is me fader ol’ ridin’-horse.”

Tiger tak to wood, Anansi sing a’ter him, “Po’ Tiger dead an’ gone!”

[5]Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom, Eb-ry-bod-y (?) Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom, (?) Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na. Po’ Ti-ger dead and gone, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Eb-ry-bod-y go look fo’ dem wife, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Eb-ry-bod-y go look fo’ dem wife, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na, Si-lay-na bom.