The King, Compere Lapin and Compere Tig Novel

 This West Indian folk story is from the island of St Lucia. Unlike most islands in the Caribbean, a dialect based on French rather than English is spoken on St Lucia.

It was a warm sunny morning when the King visited his pool. As soon as he saw the water he knew someone had been to the pool before him, leaving it murky and dirty. The King was furious.

       'O King, Compere Lapin is the culprit. It was he who visited the pool,' said one of his wise men. 

'I will not have it. He must die. No one visits he pool before the King,' thundered the King. 

When Compere Lapin heard what had happened, he said to his friend Compere Tig. "There is a beautiful, cool pool In the yard. The King says you may bathe in it.' Compere Tig was flattered and delighted and went straight to the pool. But as he was coming out the King spotted him and ordered his arrest. He was put in a bag, and the bag was hung: in a tree. Then the king ordered a long iron bar to be heated until it was red hot so that Compere Tig could be burnt. It took two long days for the iron to be heated. Meanwhile, Compere Lapin visited Compere Tig to make fun of him. He stood at the bottom of the tree and called, Tig. Tig, ou kai bwelay!" 

Compere Tig had an idea. 'Compere Lapin, Compere Lapin! Please help me. The King has said I must marry his daughter and because I refused he has said I must die


When Compere Lapin heard this he decided that if he exchanged places with Compere Tig he could offer to marry the princess. Being a very greedy fellow he immediately started to think of the wonderful food and riches that I would be his-not to mention the beautiful daughter of the King. He didn't stop for one moment to consider that he was being fooled, just as he had deceived his friend Compere Tig.

So he quickly untied the bag, and changed places, and Tig securely retied the bag and hauled it back into the tree. 'Goodbye Compere Lapin, ou kai bwelay!' g.."oftss.kai bwelay!'


⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️