The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-01-17
Folklore of the Southern Negroes


Folklore of the Southern Negroes.
The folklore of Africo-Americans, as
appearing in our southern states, is a
medley of fables, songs, sayings, incanta-
tions, charms and superstitious traditions
brought from various tribes along the
west African coast, and so far condensed
into one mass in their American homes,
that often part of story or tradition
belonging to one tribe is grated, without
much regard to consistency, upon a part
belonging to another people, while they
are still further complicated by the fre-
quent infusion into them of ideas evil
IDENTIFY derived from Communication with
the white race.
Multifarious as are the forms and as
poets of folklore among this remarkable
and, in some respects, highly-interestin0
people, the chief bulk of it lies stored
away among thelr fables, which are as
purely African as are their faces or their
plaintive melodies.
Travellers and missionaries tell us that
the same sweet airs which are so often
heard in religious meetings in America,
set to Christian hymns, are to be recOg-
nized in the boats and palm-roofed house
of Africa, set to heather words, and that
the same wild stories of Buh Rabbit, Buh
Wolf, and other Buhs that are so charm
ing to the ears of American children, are
to be heard this day in Africa, differing
only in the drapery necessary to the
change of scene.
Almost without exception the actors
in the fables are brute animals endowed
with speech and reason, IN whom miDgle
or,1 Nth lr1IiarOI1S innOnnrn-
ity, the human and brute characteristics.
The dramntis perscn9 are always honored
with the title of Buh, which is generally
supposed to be an abbreviatiOn of the
werd "brother" (the br being sounded
without the whir of the ~, but it
probably is title of respect equivalent
to our Mr.. The animals which figure in
the stories are chiefly Buh Rabbit, Buh
Lion, Buh Wolf and Buh Deer, though
sometimes we hear of Buh Elephant,
Buh Fox, Buh Cooter and Buh Goose.
As rule, each Buh sLstaiDs in every
fable the same general character. Buh
Deer is always a simpletOn; Buh Wolf
always rapacious and tricky; Buh Rab-
bit foppish, vain, quick-witted, though
at times a great fool; Buh Elephant
quiet, sensible and dignifed.
Or the Buh fables, that which is by all
odds the greatest faverite, and which
appears in the greatest variety of forms,
is the story of Buh Babbit and the Tar
Baby" Each variation preserves the
great landmarks, particularly the closing
scene. According 10 the most thoroughly
African version, it runs thus: Buh Rab-
bit and Buh Wolf are neighbOrs. In a
conversation one day Buh Wolf proposes
that they two shall dig a we'll for their
E
chance rainfalls or going to distant pools
or branches, as they have etten to do, to
uuench their thirst. To this Buh Rab>
bit, who has no fendness for labor, though
| willing enough to enjoy its fruits, effers
various objections, and finally gives a
fat refusal.
" Well" says Buh Wolf, who per-
! fectly understands his neighbOr, off you
no help dig well, yon mustn't use de
water"
What for l gwine to use de water d
responds Buh Rabbit, with affected dis
dsin; "what use l got for well? In de
m0rnin' l drink de dew, an in middle o
day,I drink from de cow-tracks."
The well is dug by Buh Wolf alone,
who after while perceives that some one
besides himself draws from it. He
watches, and soon indentifies the intru'
der as Buh Rabbit, who makes his visits
by night. Ebery mornin' he sees Buh
Rabbit tracks-eberY mernin' Buh Rab
bit tracks" Indignant at the intrusion
he resolves to set trap fer his tbievish
neighbor and to put him to death
| Knowing Buh Rabbits love for The
ladies, he fits up tar baby made Il
look like beautiful girl, and sets it nea
the well. By what magical process thi
manufacture of an attractive-loOkin;
lady out of treacherous adhesive tar i
ccomplished VIC arc not informed. Blu
listeners to stories must not be inquisi
tive about the mysterious parts the,
must be content to hear.
Buh Rabbit, emboldened by lsDg i'm
punity, goes to the well as usual atte
dark, sees this beautiful creature stand
ing there motionlesS, peeps at it time ant
again fuspiciously but being satisfies
that it is really young lady, he make
polite bow and addresses her in gallan
language. The young lady makes n
reply. This encourages him to ask if b
+ NAV not come to take!!a kiss. Still no reply
He sets his water-bucket on the grounc
marches up boldly and obtains the kis
but finds to his surprise that he can nc
getaway his lips are held fast by the Ia
! He struggles and tries to persuade her
; let him go. How be is able to speak wit
his lips sticking fast is another une1
, planned mystery but no matter: he doc
+ speak, and most eloquently, yet in van
. He now changes his tone, and threaten
! her with a slap. Still no answer. r
! administers the slap, and his hand sticl
q fast. One after the other, both hand
r and both feet, as well as his mouth, al
thus caught, and poor Buh Rabbit n
o mains prisoner until Buh Wolf come
I the next morning tO draw water.
q ter Eh ! eh Buh Rabbit, wah de ma
! teri" exclaims Buh Wolf, affecting II
. greatest surprise at his neighbor's wOefl
2 plight.
Buh Rabbit, who has as little regal
: for truth as for honesty, replies, attemp
a ing to throw all the blame upon the d.
ceitful maiden by whom he has been eI
trapped, not even suspecting yet--sO y
are TO infer-that she is made of tar il
a stead of living flesh. He declares wit
IS all the earnestness of injured innocen'
a that he was passing by, in the swee
Q honest moonlight, in pursuit of his la'
4 full business, when this girl hailed hir
and decOyed him into giving her ki'