Negro Folk Rhymes Part 42

They will turn us all into lizards.

JAMAICA RHYME

BUSCHER GARDEN

This Negro rhyme from rural Jamaica was contributed by Dr. Cecil B.

Roddock, a native of that country. The word _Buscher_ means an overseer or master of a plantation.

All a night, me da watch a brother Wayrum; Wayrum ina me Buscher garden.

Oh, Brother Wayrum! Wha' a you da do, To make a me Buscher a catch a you?

Oh a me Buscher, in a me Buscher garden; Me a beg a me Buscher a pardon!

VENEZUELAN NEGRO RHYMES

These Venezuelan rhymes: "A 'Would be' Immigrant" and "Game Contestant's Song," came to us through the kindness of Mr. J. C. Williams, Caracas, Venezuela, S. A. He is a native of Venezuela.

GAME CONTESTANT'S SONG

We're going to dig!

We're going to dig a sepulcher to bury those regiments.

White Rose Union!

Get yourself in readiness to bury those regiments.

Oh Grentville! [54]Cici! Cici!

Beat them forever.

Sa your de vrai!

We'll send them a challenge, To mardi carnival.

Sa your de vrai!!

[54] Cici = a kind of game.

A "WOULD BE" IMMIGRANT

Conjo Celestine! Oh He was going to Panama.

Reavay Trinidad!

Celestine Revay, la Grenada!

What d'you think bring Celestine back?

What d'you think bring Celestine back?

What d'you think bring Celestine to me?

Twenty cents for a cup of tea.

TRINIDAD NEGRO RHYMES

We are very grateful to Mr. L. A. Brown for his kindness in giving to us the two Venezuelan rhymes which follow. His home is in Princess Town, Trinidad, B. W. I.

UN BELLE MARIE COOLIE

OR

BEAUTIFUL MARIE, THE EAST INDIAN

Un belle Marie Coolie!

Un belle Marie Coolie!

Un belle Marie Coolie!

Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.

Papa est un African.

Mamma est un belle Coolie.

Un belle Marie Coolie!

Vous belle dame, vous belle pour moi.

_Translation_

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!

You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.

Papa is an African.

Mamma is a beautiful East Indian.

Beautiful Marie, the East Indian!

You beautiful woman, you're good enough for me.

A TOM CAT

My father had a big Tom cat, That tried to play a fiddle.

He struck it here, and he struck it there, And he struck it in the middle.

PHILIPPINE ISLAND RHYME

The following rhyme came to me through the kindness of Mr. C. W. Ransom, Grand Chain, Ill., U.S.A. Mr. Ransom served three years with the United States Army in the Philippine Islands.

See that Monkey up the cocoanut tree, A-jumpin' an' a-throwin' nuts at me?

El hombre no savoy, No like such play.

All same to Americano, No hay dique.

Part II

A STUDY IN NEGRO FOLK RHYMES