Anansi was talking with Shark in the sea.
"You catch the fish," said Anansi, "and I'll cook them for you. Then I'll bring the cooked fish back to you in the water."
"I like cooked fish," said Shark, and he caught lots of fish. "Cook us a good fish soup!"
Then Anansi made a fire and put the fish in boiling water.
"Come dance and sing while I cook!" Anansi said to Shark.
When Shark started dancing on the beach, Anansi threw the boiling water on him.
Then Anansi ate all the fish by himself, and he ate Shark too.
Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: You can see Parsons' story and notes here. Parsons heard the story from Sherman Adolphus Ballantyne and his uncle (not named).
Anansi is so cunning. Not only does he con Shark into catching all the fish for him, but gets to eat all the fish and shark too!
ReplyDeleteBut the shark didn't deserve to die, and wouldn't of died if anansi hadn't been so dishonest :-(
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