Moses Hendricks, Mandeville.
A gentleman had a cowitch[1] property. He wanted to have it cut down, but whoever cut it must not scratch their skin. Anyone who cut it down without scratching, he would give the pick of the best cow on his property. Many tried, but failed. Anansi says that he will cut it down. So the gentleman sent his son to watch and see that he cut the tree without scratching his skin at all. Anansi began cutting and the juice of the tree began to eat him. He wanted to scratch. He said to the boy, "Young massa, de cow yo' papa goin' to gi' me, white here (scratches one side), black here (scratches the other), had a red here, had anodder black here, blue jus' down at his feet." He went on that way until he cut down the tree.
He got the cow, but he couldn't manage the removal of the cow alone, and he didn't want to get any intelligent person to