WILLIAM BASCOM (1912–1981) was Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Robert L. Lowie Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. The author of Ifa Divination and Sixteen Cowries, he co-authored Continuity and Change in African Cultures and A Handbook of West African Art.

"These essays ... are of immense importance to anyone interested in the issues of origins and folklore texts." Choice " ... this is Bascom at his best... an attractive and full-bodied book." Fabula

• Foreword by Alan DundesAcknowledgmentsPrefaceONE Oba's Ear: A Yoruba Myth in Cuba and BrazilTWO The Talking Skull Refuses to TalkTHREE Trickster Seeks Endowments; Measuring the Snake: Challenging Birds (Insects) to Fill a Container; Milking a Cow (Deer) Stuck in a TreeFOUR Bird's Head (Leg) under Its WingFIVE Inside Cow's (Elephant's) BellySIX Deer's Hoof and Ear; Dog and Dog HeadSEVEN Holding the RockEIGHT Taught an Icriminating Song (Saying)NINE Moon Splits Hare's Lip (Nose)TEN Dogs Rescue Master in Tree RefugeELEVEN Agreement to Sell Mothers; Agreement to Kill Mothers; Cutta Cord-La!TWELVE Knock Dust (Water) Out of Rock; Waiting on the LordTHIRTEEN Birds' Fasting (Singing) ContestFOURTEEN Diving Contest

WILLIAM BASCOM (1912–1981) was Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Robert L. Lowie Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. The author of Ifa Divination and Sixteen Cowries, he co-authored Continuity and Change in African Cultures and A Handbook of West African Art.

"These essays ... are of immense importance to anyone interested in the issues of origins and folklore texts." Choice " ... this is Bascom at his best... an attractive and full-bodied book." Fabula

• Foreword by Alan DundesAcknowledgmentsPrefaceONE Oba's Ear: A Yoruba Myth in Cuba and BrazilTWO The Talking Skull Refuses to TalkTHREE Trickster Seeks Endowments; Measuring the Snake: Challenging Birds (Insects) to Fill a Container; Milking a Cow (Deer) Stuck in a TreeFOUR Bird's Head (Leg) under Its WingFIVE Inside Cow's (Elephant's) BellySIX Deer's Hoof and Ear; Dog and Dog HeadSEVEN Holding the RockEIGHT Taught an Icriminating Song (Saying)NINE Moon Splits Hare's Lip (Nose)TEN Dogs Rescue Master in Tree RefugeELEVEN Agreement to Sell Mothers; Agreement to Kill Mothers; Cutta Cord-La!TWELVE Knock Dust (Water) Out of Rock; Waiting on the LordTHIRTEEN Birds' Fasting (Singing) ContestFOURTEEN Diving Contest

WILLIAM BASCOM (1912–1981) was Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Robert L. Lowie Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. The author of Ifa Divination and Sixteen Cowries, he co-authored Continuity and Change in African Cultures and A Handbook of West African Art.

"These essays ... are of immense importance to anyone interested in the issues of origins and folklore texts." Choice " ... this is Bascom at his best... an attractive and full-bodied book." Fabula

• Foreword by Alan DundesAcknowledgmentsPrefaceONE Oba's Ear: A Yoruba Myth in Cuba and BrazilTWO The Talking Skull Refuses to TalkTHREE Trickster Seeks Endowments; Measuring the Snake: Challenging Birds (Insects) to Fill a Container; Milking a Cow (Deer) Stuck in a TreeFOUR Bird's Head (Leg) under Its WingFIVE Inside Cow's (Elephant's) BellySIX Deer's Hoof and Ear; Dog and Dog HeadSEVEN Holding the RockEIGHT Taught an Icriminating Song (Saying)NINE Moon Splits Hare's Lip (Nose)TEN Dogs Rescue Master in Tree RefugeELEVEN Agreement to Sell Mothers; Agreement to Kill Mothers; Cutta Cord-La!TWELVE Knock Dust (Water) Out of Rock; Waiting on the LordTHIRTEEN Birds' Fasting (Singing) ContestFOURTEEN Diving Contest