Anansi and the Hot Water

Anansi had stolen the king's yams.

"Who stole my yams?" shouted the king. "We'll do the hot-water test: if you feel pain from the hot water, it means you are the thief!"

"I'll serve the hot water," said Anansi. "Put the pot down here."

He gave a cup of hot water to Rat. "That hurts!" shrieked Rat. Goat, Tapir, Deer, all the animals shrieked.

Then Anansi said, "I want a big bowl!" Then he showed everyone, one by one. "Look at my big bowl! Look! Look!"

By the time Anansi drank his big bowl of water, the water was cool.

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Inspired by: The Magic Pot: Nansi Stories from the Caribbean by Odeen Ishmael

Notes: This is story 30. The Hot Water Test. There are other Anansi stories about Anansi kinship tests based on drinking hot water.