Anansi's Bath

Anansi was about to steal a cow when he heard the cowboy coming, so he decided to hide inside the cow.
"Open Sesame," Anansi said. He got inside the cow, then said "Shut Sesame."
The cowboy butchered the cow, then he gave the guts to his daughter.
"Go wash the cuts in the river," he told her.
When she put the guts in the river, Anansi jumped out.
"I was taking my bath," Anansi shouted, "and you threw nasty cow-guts on me! You must pay me for it."
They went back to the cowboy, and he gave Anansi a cow.


Inspired byJamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith
Notes: This is story 22 in the book. Beckwith heard this story from George Parkes; additional information in Beckwith's notes. In the original story, it is the master's daughter, not the cowboy's daughter, who takes the entrails to the river. Also, Anansi was not hiding from the cowboy in the cow in the original story; instead, he was already in the cow whom he had killed by accident: Anansi inside the Cow.


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