The first divisions of her index classifies tales according to Aarne-Thompson. The second division, for which no types were found, groups tales according to their dominant motifs. This corpus of West Indian oral narratives derives chiefly from Africa and reveals various African traits. Men and animals frequently change places and attributes.
Magic plays a prominent role in the tales, but is sometimes superimposed upon Christian elements.
Most striking is the absence of a Western conception of justice. Petty, puny phenomena rather than large natural formations are emphasized in the aetiological tales. This index makes possible the study of the transplantation of African folktales in the New World.