Tacoomah Makes a Dance

William Forbes, Dry River, Cock-pit country.

Tacoomah make a dance, get Anansi for de fiddler, an’ Grass-quit was coming as a fiddler too. Robin Redbreast was to play de music, Monkey was to blow de bugle. Well, after de night de dance commence. Anansi gwine to play,

“Queena bunna, ring-ki-ting, You sen’ fe great Grass-quit, You don’ sen’ fe me! Anansi draw bow so sweet, ring-ki-ting, Anansi draw bow so sweet, ring-ki-ting.”

Tacoomah say,

“You ya, you ya, so ya, me ya, Wid a fort tumba like a tenky bunna, Wid a jump, wid a jump, like a tenky bunna.” [64]

Robin Redbreast say,

“Jock, Jock, when you coming home?”

Jock said,

“Tomorrow evening.” “What in your right?” “Boot an’ spur.” “What in your left?” “Bow an’ arrow. [65]”

Jock [66] said,

“Robin redbreast Was pretty well dressed, And he was into his nest, And a puppy went into his nest And broke his neck t’ru distress.”

Well, den, Turtle an’ Duck goin’ in de river fe go an’ swim, an’ dem is to run to a hill-side in de river. An’ Cock is de judge. Den Cock went to sing fe dem—

“Co co re co.”

Duck an’ Turtle swim—

“Shekey, shekey, shee-e-e.”