Notes

Woss-Woss. The West Indian wasp hangs its paper nest to the twigs of bushes and trees as a rule, though it does not despise the shelter of the verandah. The wasps live in colonies, making many small nests instead of one big one. The nests are shaped like the rose of a watering-pot with the shank turned upwards.

This story clearly owes its origin to Ali Baba. The conversion of Sesame, which meant nothing to the negro, into one-two-three, which at least means something, is not unnatural.

fe true, literally for true is an expressive phrase conveying the idea of intensity. It hot fe true, it is intensely hot. He tief fe true, he steals terribly. It rain fe true, it is raining very hard. He wort'less fe true, he is a regular scamp. He sinnicky fe true, he is a horrid sneak. His ears hard fe true, his ears are outrageously hard, said of a boy who will not do as he is told. He nyam fe true, he eats immensely. Lazy fe true, abominably lazy. Ugly fe true, exceedingly ugly. The water cold fe true, the water is very cold. White yam burn fe true, the white yam is sadly burnt. Orange bear fe true, the oranges bear heavily. Puss catch ratta fe true, the cat catches any amount of rats. Him favour tiger fe true, he looks for all the world like a tiger, said of a man who has a sullen expression. Me head hurt me fe true, I have a very bad headache. Boot burn me fe true, my boots gall me dreadfully.

by get so frighten, through fright; literally, owing to his getting so much frightened.

must be have, must have.

sweet-mout', sweet-mouthed, greedy.