"Keep this basket as my pledge," Anansi said, giving Buffalo a basket of corn, rice, and ashes. "Just make sure it's all there when I come back to pay you."
The day came for Anansi to pay Buffalo back. He went to Buffalo and said, "Let's make sure everything is still in my basket. Count it!"
Buffalo counted the grains of corn. "Good!" said Anansi.
He counted the rice. "Good!"
"But I can't count the ashes," said Buffalo.
"Then how do I know you haven't robbed me?"Anansi refused to pay back the loan.
Inspired by: Suriname Folklore by Melville J. Herskovits and Frances S. Herskovits
Notes: You can read the 5. Outwitting Creditors: Anansi Tricks Banker Buffalo online. In the original story, Buffalo is the director of a bank.
Poor buffalo is completely honest and gets conned by Anansi, which seems very unfair!
ReplyDeleteHaha not at all, Anansi was just too clever for him!
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