A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The bull attacks a pregnant woman and casts her baby out; an older woman raises the child. Taunts at school lead the boy to learn what happened and seek Ballinder Bull. At the encounter he commands a cotton tree to lower and raise him. The bull shoots seven arrows, which he catches and returns, pinning its limbs, ears and head. He verifies its death and removes the golden teeth and tongue.

Anansi finds the body, takes its head and claims the royal marriage reward. The boy arrives before the wedding and produces the missing teeth and tongue as proof. Anansi is punished and sent to gather firewood under Dog’s supervision, but distracts the guard and hides. This continuation makes the authentication of the kill and the false claimant’s escape part of the complete bull story.

Golden tongue and teethUses bow and arrowsKilled by its victim’s grown child
01

Origins & earliest records

Martha Warren Beckwith published this account in Jamaica Anansi Stories (1924), explicitly credited to Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains. Her preface dates the collection visits to summer1919 and winter1921; a particular interview date is not supplied here. The published witness does not establish the first oral telling.

02

Records & interpretation

The full story89, including the false-claimant ending, was inspected. King Bymandorum is a second name within the same telling, not a separately counted being. The bull’s hands, feet and archery remain the narrative’s humanlike features rather than natural bovine anatomy.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Jamaica Anansi Stories

    Martha Warren Beckwith; music recorded by Helen H. Roberts · 1924

    Story89, Ballinder Bull, printed pp.113–114. Complete selected narrative read, with teller heading and preface.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary textBeckwith1924: Story89, Ballinder Bull, printed pp.113–114.Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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