Anansi and Tacoomah were neighbors.
During the night, somebody was stealing Tacoomah's crops.
It was Anansi! But Tacoomah didn't know that.
Tacoomah made a tar-stump to trap the thief.
When Anansi found the tar-stump blocking his way to the field, he got angry. "Move along!" Anansi shouted at the tar-stump.
Tar-stump didn't move.
Anansi fought with the tar-stump and got stuck.
At dawn, Goat walked by.
"Help me fight this devil!" said Anansi.
Goat got stuck, and Anansi pushed himself loose.
Tacoomah came and found Goat. "You're the thief!" Tacoomah shouted.
Tacoomah killed Goat and shared the meat with Anansi.
Inspired by: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith
Notes: This is story 21b in the book. Beckwith heard this story from George Parkes; additional information in Beckwith's notes. In Parkes's story, Anansi has an elaborate scheme to convince Tacoomah that he has been with Tacoomah in the house all night, so when Goat protests his innocence and blames Anansi, Tacoomah is sure Goat is lying. Dance has a version of this where Anansi is stealing bananas and the landowner smears tar on the banana which catches Anansi and then catches Goat while Anansi gets away: The Tar Banana Tree.
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