me. The Negroes repeating
this rhyme did not always give the names Jack, Dinah, and Billy, as we
here record them, but at their pleasure put in the individual name of
the Negro in their surroundings whom the stanza being repeated might
represent. Thus this little rhyme was the scientific dividing, on the
part of the Negroes themselves, of the members of their race into three
general classes with respect to the matter of Freedom.

[52] The Ohio River.

[53] White guards who caught and kept slaves at the master's home.

FOREIGN SECTION

AFRICAN RHYMES

The rhymes "Tuba Blay," "Near Waldo Tee-do O mah nah mejai," "Sai
Boddeoh Sumpun Komo," and "Byanswahn-Byanswahn" were kindly contributed
by Mr. John H. Zeigler, Monrovia, Liberia, and Mr. C. T. Wardoh of the
Bassa Tribe, Liberia. They are natives and are now in America for
collegiate study and training.

NEAR-WALDO-TEE-DO O MAH NAH MEJAI

OR

NEAR-WALDO-TEE-DO IS MY SWEETHEART

1. A yehn me doddoc Near Waldo Tee-do.
Yehn me doddoc o-o seoh-o-o.
Omah nahn mejai Near Waldo Tee-do.
Omah nahn mejai Near Waldo Tee-do.

_Translation_

Near Waldo Tee-do gave me a suit.
He gave me a suit.
Near Waldo Tee-do is my sweetheart.
Near Waldo Tee-do is my sweetheart.

TUBA BLAY

OR

AN EVENING SONG

1. Seah O, Tuba blay.
Tuba blay, Tuba blay.

2. O blay wulna nahn blay.
Tuba blay, Tuba blay.

_Translation_

1. Oh please Tuba sing.
Tuba sing, Tuba sing.

2. Oh sing that song.
Tuba sing, Tuba sing.

THE OWL

We are indebted for this Baluba rhyme to Dr. and Mrs. William H.
Sheppard, pioneer missionaries under the Southern Presbyterian Church.
The little production comes from Congo, Africa.

Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.
Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.
Meme taya wewe, Cimpungelu.
Sala wa m[)e]n t[)e]nge, Cimpungelu.

_Translation_

The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.
The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.
I now tell you by my dancing, I'm the owl.
The dancing owl waves his spread tail feathers.
I'm the owl.

SAI BODDEOH SUMPUN KOMO

OR

I AM NOT GOING TO MARRY SUMPUN

1. Sai Sumpun komo.
De Sumpun nenah?
Sumpun se jello jeppo
Boddeoh Sumpun.

2. Sa