Nursery Rhymes in Pidgin

Pidgin

INSPIRED by “Pidgin is Discovered,” in the April issue of the “PIM,” “FPA” has sent us the story of Nopu and her rendition —in Pidgin—of some well known nursery rhymes.

Everyone knows the one about Simple Simon and also how the Pussy-cat went to see the Queen; but not, we are sure, in this version. However, even non- Pidgin-ists should have no difficulty in understanding the context.

Nopu was the Boss Boy’s small child, and she had acquired a well-illustrated book of nursery rhymes from the local mission. These rhymes had often been read, and explained, to her, and she took great pleasure in passing on her know ledge to a mystified but intensely inter ested audience of plantation boys who often came to her father’s house for a game of cards and a smoke after work was over for the day.

With the audience all expectant, she would open the book and begin with “Simple Simon” —pictured as a vacant looking youth, in a hat with a drooping feather, a red doublet and green hose, talking to a fat pie-man.

Nopu explained the strange-looking clothes by saying; “Clothes belong before too much. Savvy?”

She then introduced Simon: “Name belong dis fella man, SI-MON. Him he no got plenty savvy belong him.”

Then the Pie-man: “Name belong dis fella man, PIE-MAN. Him he like trade all this fella pie. Him he man belong cross too! Orright! Simon he hungry too much, now he talk-talk along Pie man: ‘Me like kai-kai one fella pie, plese.’ Now Pie-man he speak: ‘Or right! You can catchim one fella das all. You must give me one fella mark first time, savvy? Price belong this kind pie, one mark, one fella. Come on, givim me one mark belong you.’

“Simon he no got mark, das all he gammon along findim mark inside bas ket belong him. Lik-lik time he talk talk along Pie-man: ‘Me no got mark.

Behind me payim you.’ Pie-man he cross now—bel belong him he hot too much along this fella fashion. Him he speak: ‘You ’ere! You bush kanaka true! You think me can givim you one pie suppose you no got mark along payim me? You blurry fool you! Rouse —quicktime!’”

So ended “Simple Simon,” while the audience clicked their tongues and shook their heads.

The next page showed a surprised-look ing cat, explaining to an elderly dame just why he had to go to London. Nopu, indicating the dame, told how the “Missus” has questioned the “pussi” and then went on:— “Now, this fella pussi he savvy plenty.

Him he savvy talk-talk too. Now he talk-talk along Missus: ‘Me go along

LON-DON, number one place belong all master. Me like lookim Missus belong King. Dis fella Missus belong King, he sit down along big fella chair belong him; now me like go shake hands along Missus. Along time me come close-to along chair me lookim one fella rat ne stop unnerneath along chair. Orright!

Me run quicklime too much, now me holdim fast this fella rat, now me kai kai this fella rat algether—now head, now tail, now bel belong him. Now Missus belong King he talk: ‘You good fella pussi. You savvy too much along work oelong you.’ Now Missus givim one cup tea, now me drinkim finish, now me shake hands along Missus belong King, now me come back along place belong you.’

“Pussi he talk-talk all the same,” Nopu would say, as she closed the evening session.

The audience would sigh, and seem incredulous over the remarkable adven tures of the cat. A doubter once remarked, “I think this fella pussi he nother fella kind. I think he tambaran (spirit).”

Mr. A. F. Hayes, who was well known to many of the older residents of Pacific Territories, died in Sydney on April 21.

He served for many years as a super cargo on Burns Philp ships—mostly around the Gilbert and Ellice Islands — and about 16 years ago was transferred to the firm’s Islands Department in Sydney. He retired several years ago, and since has been living in Sydney.