The woman thought, ‘if only this fine yam were a daughter, how happy I should be.’ To her astonishment the yam answered, ‘If I were to become your daughter, would you promise never to reproach me with having been a yam?’
This is why, if you find a child crying and ask the cause, you will often be told he is ‘crying for nothing.’
Anansi continued his fishing with the help of two men. The latter were exceedingly kind to him, and aided him in every possible way. But instead of being grateful to them, Anansi behaved very badly.
Nyankupon was amazed at Spider's cleverness in fulfilling the three conditions. He immediately gave him permission for the future to call all the old tales Anansi tales.
Next day Kweku Tsin saw his father quietly slip out of the house, with his precious pot hung round his neck. Kweku Tsin followed. Then, selecting the highest and most inaccessible-looking tree, Father Anansi began to climb.
The man bade ‘Morning Sunrise’ lie down on her bed as if she were dead. He then sent the report of her death to each of the three lovers, asking them to come and help him with her funeral.
Spider's cousin, while hunting one morning, had discovered a wonderful stone that ground flour of its own accord. Not being a greedy man, he took away with him only enough for his family's needs.
Squirrel appealed to the law, but the court decided that no one had ever had a farm without a road leading to it, therefore the fields must be Spider’s.
Anansi's first thought was to run home and give all his family a good meal from his wonderful pot. A selfish, greedy fear prevented him. ‘What if I should use up all the magic of the pot on them, and have nothing more left for myself!’ So, his mind full of this thought, he hid the pot.
Meat had become so scarce that only the rich chiefs had money enough to buy it. The poor people were starving. Anansi and his family were in a miserable state.
The harvest was quite ten times greater than any they had ever had before. Egya Anansi was very well pleased when he saw his wealth of corn and beans.
One day the king made a proclamation that his three daughters would be given as wives to any man who could find out their names. Anansi made up his mind to do so.
Anansi took his big sticks and beat so hard that the dwarf fell down dead. The greedy fellow was now thoroughly frightened, for he knew that the dwarf was favourite jester to the King of the country. He wondered how he could fix the blame on some one else.
Leopard and Wolf promised the ants that on their return they would spread a feast for them. Unfortunately, Spider heard the invitation and made up his mind to benefit by it.