Er tin tin, (Once upon a time) women had no respect for men. They were always scolding their husbands, and calling them all kinds of bad names, such as "Stupid," "Lazy," "Beast." Anansi, too, was treated in this manner, and it humiliated him very much indeed.

"I must put an end to this," he muttered. "I'll teach my wife better manners; I'll make her respect me. Mi sa sori hem fa watra de go na kokronoto bere." [1]

Anansi set to work and dug a deep well; and when it was deep enough, he called his wife, and asked her to bring him a ladder so that he could climb out. Scolding and jawing, as usual, she brought the ladder and set it in place. With spade in hand, Anansi climbed out of the pit; but, just as he reached the top of the ladder, he slyly

dropped the spade into the pit, pretending that it was an accident.

"Ke!" [2] he exclaimed, turning to his wife, "I have just dropped the spade into the well, and I am so tired. Tangi tangi, (please) will you go down and get it for me?"

His wife scolded him dreadfully, but she went down the ladder to fetch the spade. As she stooped to pick it up, Anansi quickly pulled up the ladder, and his wife was caught in the trap.

She began to rave and tear, called Anansi everything that was bad, and commanded him to lower the ladder; but Anansi paid no attention. He just smiled, and noted with satisfaction that the water was beginning to flow into the new well. And as the water rose, his wife scolded less and less, until it was on a level with her stomach. Then she asked her dear Anansi for the ladder, but Anansi paid no attention. When the water was up to her breast, she beseeched her good Boss (Basi) for the ladder; but Anansi paid no attention. When the water was up to her neck, she tearfully begged her beloved master to lower the ladder; then Anansi gave in. He lowered the ladder; and his wife, wet and shivering, meekly climbed out of the well.

But after that day she became very obedient and respectful; she never scolded her husband any more, and always addressed him as "mi masra" ("my master"). Other women followed her example and also became very obedient; and so to this day every woman respects her husband, and calls him "Basi," or "mi masra."