The people and the chief whispered among themselves, “Anansi is wise indeed.” Anansi nodded in sage agreement and continued his pronouncements:

Wisdom has three friends,
Courage, sense, and insight.

The chief and the people applauded Anansi and danced in his honor.  Then they placed all kinds of foods at his feet, for poor Anansi loves to eat more than anything, although he hates to plant and harvest his food.  “I am very wise indeed,” thought Anansi as the people and their chief returned to their homes.  He should have stopped this deception, but he was too greedy.  Too bad he did not listen to his own wisdom.

Anansi’s deception.  One morning the chief’s daughter and her husband had a terrible argument.  The chief and his advisers could not solve the dispute.  “Send for Anansi,” commanded the chief.  “He will advise us.”

Anansi shares his ill-gotten wisdom.

The guards looked throughout the entire village, but Anansi was nowhere to be found.  When the guards reported that Anansi was missing, the chief suddenly realized that since Anansi had become very wise he was never seen during the day.  “Perhaps we had better use the three friends of wisdom that Anansi told us about,” the chief said to his advisers.  So he sent for the honey guide, a brave and trustworthy bird, and instructed it to hover over Anansi’s house and follow him wherever he might go.

That night Anansi had made his proverbial announcements, bid his farewells to the chief and the people, and ate the delicious foods they had brought him.  Then, when all was quiet, he began a journey through the bush.  He napped a little bit and walked a little bit, traveling deep into the bush.  The honey guide followed, carefully making sure that Anansi could not see it.

After several hours, nearing daybreak, Anansi reached a swampy area where a great thicket of thorns and vines surrounded a savanna.