Anansi and Tiger wanted to see whose hand was strongest.
Anansi hid a hammer up his sleeve and hit Tiger on the head.
Tiger was surprised. He didn't know Anansi's hand was so strong.
"I'll come hit you tomorrow!" Tiger said.
So Anansi invited Deer to his house. "I'm going to take a nap now," Anansi said, "but Tiger is bringing me good food for dinner! When he knocks, let him in."
Tiger knocked, and Deer opened the door.
Tiger hit him and ran off, thinking he had hit Anansi.
Deer was dead, so Anansi roasted Deer and ate him.
Inspired by: Suriname Folklore by Melville J. Herskovits and Frances S. Herskovits
Notes: You can read the story The Boxing Contest online. The storyteller is Frederik Bekker. In the second part of the story, Anansi hits Tiger again, and then he has Rabbit come stay with him, but Rabbit isn't fooled. Tiger comes and hits Anansi and kills him.
Deer seems to be nearly as gullible as Tiger. Anansi wins again!
ReplyDeleteThat seems unfair on Tiger and particularly Deer who was totally innocent and kind.
ReplyDeleteHaha he should have known better than to trust Anansi ;-)
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