Characters in Tobago Folklore
While some characters are similar to the folklore of the African Diaspora of the Western Hemisphere there are others in Tobago that can only be identified with the islands cultural heritage.
Birds:
Some birds and other animals are always characterized in the folklore; these are some of Tobago’s folk names.
“Doctah Bud” (Doctor Bird) – The Humming bird with its long needle-like beak deeply sucking nectar from the tinniest flower, and sewing threads of cotton to build its nest.
“God Bud” (God Bird) – The house bird or house wren that builds its nest in a corner of the ceiling and feeds on insect pests within the house. It catches scorpions and other harmful insects. The presence of the bird in the house is also a sign of domestic wealth.
“Day Clean” (Sunrise) – The Tropic Mocking bird chirps and whistles at “Day Break”, the start of the day. Planters become awake at the sound of “Day Clean” on mornings and its time to start work.
“Poe-Me-One” ( Poor-Me-One) – An unidentified night bird that makes a mournful sound like poe-me-one in low tones. It is said that the sound of the bird around your house means that some member of the family is going to die soon.
Plants:
Some plants have always played a traditional role in the folk culture of the African Diaspora, like the ” Silk Cotton Tree”, the place where “Spiritual Ancestors” dwell, and the “Baoba Tree”, the tree of knowledge, and the tree for meditating; “Go sit under the Baoba Tree and meditate”. But the tree for transmitting evil is a vine,“Boo-Mar-Doo” or “Tobago Jumbie” which is commonly known as “Cow Itch“.
Place-names:
Throughout the ages traditional place-names have become part of people’s social history. In Tobago there are several well known places that have evolved in the annals of our history, such as “Governor Bridge”. Sometime in 1851 Governor Ross was returning to Governor’s House after attending a Ball in Scarborough. He had had one too many, and at high speed his buggy capsized in a gully at Rockly Vale and he was killed. From that time, the bridge spanning the gully has been called Governor Bridge.
The only source of public potable water for miles on the North Coast Road was at the junction of Concordia and Mt. Grace. It was in the days when people had to walk, and those coming into Scarborough from Runnemede, Moriah, Highlands and Mason Hall stopped at this pipe to quench their thirst. It was called “Fus Pipe” (First Pipe). Fus Pipe still exists and is called by that name.
“Pool of Asylum” is a crater of fresh water atop Pigeon Peak, the highest hill in Tobago in the virgin forest overlooking Man-O-War Bay, 1804 feet above sea level. It is said that this pool of water which cascades into a waterfall on the south-western side of the hill is bottomless and also exits into Man-O-War Bay. It is said that the pool is protected by the “King of the Woods” (Papa Bois) and the “Fairy Maid” or “Water Fairy”. Hunters, their dogs and hikers get lost for days when they approach the Pool. You may only do so safely with the guidance of chosen and protected ones.
Mystery Men:
Through folk songs and stories we learn about the “Mystery Men” or ” Science Men” as they were known. They did not eat salt and retained mysterious powers of their African Ancestors. “Kanga Brown” who attributed his powers to St. Peter was a fisherman who stayed indoors and threw out his fishing line and caught any amount of fish, even from a fresh tub of water in his yard.
“Mahutma Brebuor” was known to plant and reap his garden in one day, and “John Thomas” who was sentenced to two months in prison but slept in his own house every night and mysteriously returned to his cell during the day.
These are some of the light hearted stories while others tell of wicked deeds. While most of the stories are about black Africans there are some about “White Massa” in a white suit, white hat on a white horse. When he needed extra money he wwould dive in the pool at the waterfall naked and emerge at Gran Etang in Grenada where he also had estates. He would return the same way with lots of gold. On his return villagers would hide their boy children for they knew one-ah-dem-boy will soon die. For many years people did not bathe in that pool.