[0:07]The crature relates how Anancy and the chameleon used to live in the same town. Anancy was a rich man and had plenty of children to help him with his farming. But the chameleon was only a poor man and alone had to till his farm. Now, it chanced that one year, the rain fell only on the chameleon's farm. And on Anancy's, there was a complete drought. Thus, the spider's farm did not come up at all, and the chameleon's was already well up and a good harvest was promised. This annoyed Anancy, and one day he called on the chameleon and asked him if he would sell him his farm. But the chameleon said he would not, as if he did, he would not be able to get any food during the dry season. Then, Anancy was even angrier than before and swore he would have revenge on the chameleon. Now, it happens that the chameleons do not make any roads as others do. They like to walk over the grass and bushes. Thus, there was no path leading from the chameleon's house to his farm. So that night, Anancy called all his children together and told them to clean and make a good path from his compound to the chameleon's farm. At first, they begged their father not to do this, but as he insisted, they obeyed him. And in the morning, there was finished a clean road and well used, one leading from Anancy's house to the farm. Anancy at once went to the farm and began to pull up some cassava. Presently, the chameleon came along and saw Anancy taking his cassava and called out. Hi, Anancy. What are you doing in my farm? Go away, and do not vex me. Can you not see that I am busy working in my farm? Your farm? Why? It is my farm and everyone knows. Do not be silly. Go away, or I shall get angry and kill you.
[2:24]So, the chameleon went away and laid a complaint before the chief. Anancy was sent for. And when both had told him how the farm was theirs, the chief asked for proofs. That is easy. I have a pot from my house straight to the farm, which chameleon is falsely claiming. He has no pot. The chief saw that if Anancy was speaking true, then very, the farm must be his. So, he sent his messenger to see and the man came back and said that it was so. Then, the chameleon was asked what he had to say. And he said that he did not know anything about the path, that he always used to go there over the bushes and grass. This made the chief laugh. And he at once gave the farm to Anancy, who took all his children with him and gathered the crops. The chameleon didn't know what to do. He was very poor and had but little food left to keep him alive. So, he went to his house and shut the door and refused to see anyone. For many days he remained thus, thinking over his wrongs and wondering how to get revenge. Then, he began to dig a hole. He dug and dug and dug and made an immense well. It went far down. No man had ever seen such a well. When the chameleon thought he had made it large enough, he made some mud and began to roof the well so that soon only a very small hole was left. Then, the chameleon went out to see Anancy. He came to the latter's house and greeted him. Master, I'm only a poor man. May I go to your farm and clean what you have left there? Anancy was pleased at that chameleon's humility and told him he could. But there was a little in the farm to gather.
[4:34]Then, the chameleon, who had deceived the spider into thinking that he was properly humbled, again sat alone in his house. This time he amused himself in catching hundreds and hundreds of the great fly, which makes so big and buzzing noise. This he tied to some dried yam vines, which he had bought back from his farm. One day, the chief sends messengers to all the land to call his people together. And from every place, people came into the town. Then, the chameleon arose and covered himself with the dried yarn vines and walked slowly like a proud and rich man to the chief's compound. And as he went, he kept swinging his strange costume and the flies being shaking buzzes, more and more. Everyone admired it and the chief himself asked to buy it. But the chameleon refused and went home. Now, Anancy was late for the meeting. And when he did arrive, everyone was talking about his wonderful costume. The chief told Anancy that the chameleon had refused to sell it. And Anancy said that that was nothing, and that he would buy it and would bring it to the chief. He went and called on the chameleon. Friend, I hear you have the most wonderful cloak which you never you walk, sings to you. Is this so? The chameleon answered that it was so. And then Anancy asked him if he would sell it. The chameleon at first refused, but after a time did agree to sell it, if Anancy would give him some food. Anancy asked him how much he would want.
[6:25]And the chameleon said that he did not require a great deal, merely enough to fill the hole which Anancy himself could see. Then, Anancy laughed and said that he would willingly do that and to show that he bore him no grudge, he would give him twice as much.
[6:46]Then, Anancy went to his own house and called his children and told them to come with him and each to carry a little food. They went to the chameleon's house and began to fill the hole with the food they had bought. But that hole could not be filled. All the family of Anancy work and for many days, they carried the corn and other food to fill the hole and always the chameleon reminded Anancy that he had promised twice the amount. Anancy didn't know what to do. He had finished all the food that he had been stored in his own bins and granaries and he had sent out in all direction to buy food. But still, the hole was not filled. He sold his sheep and his cows and everything that he had. For he knew that when he did get the cloak, the chief would repay him. But he could not fill the hole. Then, when the chameleon saw that Anancy was no longer a rich man and that he had no food left for himself, he called him and said, Friend, you have not paid me the agreed on price, but I'm not a hard man, and will not forgive you the rest of the debt. Here's the cloak. Saying this, he took out a cloak from its box and put it over the shoulder of Anancy. But the cloak had been a long time in the box and the strings which held the flies were all rotten.
[8:18]This Anancy did not know. And when he went outside and began to swing the rope, the flies all buzzed. But suddenly, there came a strong blast of wind and shook the cloak too much. All the flies were released and flew away and left Anancy dressed only in the dried vine stocks of the yams. Then all the town laughed, and Anancy grew so ashamed that he began to hide himself from that day. Away from the sight of man and did not walk in the streets. Thanks for watching!
