The Osceola times., 1878-01-19
Folklore OF the Southern Negroes,

| " T. Observer.
Folk Lore 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.interesting
people, the chief bulk of it lies stored
away among then 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.rooted house
of Africa, set to heather words, and tEat
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 mingle
strangely, and with ludicrous incongru-
! ity, the human and brute characteristics.
The dramatis perscnH are always honored
with the title of Buh, which is generally
supposed to be an abbrevistion 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 a 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 ioppish, vain, quick-witted, though
at times a great fool; Buh Elephant
quiet, sensible and dignified.
or the Buh fables, that which is by all
odds the greatest fav0rite. 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 to 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 thev two shall dig well for their
joint benefit, instead of depending upon
chance rainfalls or going to distant pools
or branches, as they have sften to do, to
quench their thirst. To this Buh Rab-
bit, who has no fondness 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, "if you
no help dig well, yon mustn't u,e de
water"
"What for gwine to use de water ?"
responds Buh Rabbit, with affected dis
dsin; "what use l got for well? In de
mornin' drink de dew, an in middle O.
day drink from de cow-tracks."
The well is dug by Buh Wolf alone,
who after awhile perceives that some one
besides himself draws from it. He
watches, and soon indentifes the intru-
der as Buh Rabbit, who makes his visits
..,...,...f 10 R,,l,
Rabbit tracks-ebcry msrnin' Buh Rab-
bit tracks," Indignant at the intrusion,
he resolves to set trap for his thievish
neighbor and TO put him to death.
Knowing Buh Rabbits love for the
ladies, he fits up tar baby made TO
look like a beautiful girl, and sets it near
the well. BY what magical process this
manufacture of an attractivc-lo looking
lady out of treacherous adhesive tar is
accomplished we arc not informed. But
listeners to stories must not be inquisi-
tive about the mysterious parts they
must he content TO hear.
Puh Rabbit, emboldened by lepg i'm
punity, goes to the well as usual after
dark, sees this beautiful creature stand.
ing there motionless, peeps at it time and
again tuspiciously but being satisfied
that it is really young lady, he makes
a polite bow and addresses her in gallant
language. The young lady makes no
reply. This encourages him to ask If he
may not come to takt..a kiss Still no reply.
He sets his water.bucket on the ground,
marches up boldly and obtains the kiss,
but finds to his surprise that he can not
get away his Iips are held fast by the tar.
lie struggles and tries to persuade her to
let hirl go. How he is able TO speak with
his lips sticking fast is another unex-
planned mystery but no matter he does
speak, and most eloquentiy, yet in vain.
He now changes his tone, and threatens
her with slap. Still no answer. He
administers the slap, and his hand sticks
fast. One after the other, both hands
and both feet, a. well an his mouth, are
thus caught, and poor Buh Rabbit re.
maius prisoner until Buh Volt comes
the next morning to draw water.