The Genesis of Fish; The Inaugural Serpent; The Bovine and the BuGalo, Inter Alia
A woman, being so inclined, procured bark-cloth and did enshroud herself therein.
As she was indulging in ablutions within the river's embrace, the aqueous element did seize the bark-cloth from her person.
'Pray lend assistance!' she did exclaim unto her companions. 'The river hath absconded with my bark-cloth!'
They did wade into the water, intent on retrieving the bark-cloth, whilst the woman remained seated beside the riverbank, her person unadorned.
Thereupon, she espied her bark-cloth. 'Observe!' she cried. 'It doth move with the semblance of a creature animate.'
They seized the bark-cloth, which had undergone a transformation into a fish, and did dissect it. Within were found numerous ova, which they cast into the water.
From these ova did emerge a multitude of fish.
Such is the genesis of fish, according to this account.
The Genesis of the Serpent
A certain gentleman, desirous of safeguarding his garden from the depredations of thieves, did procure strips of bark-cloth, which he meticulously twisted and fortified with keen thorns. Addressing the cloth, he declared, “Bark-cloth, should any miscreant trespass upon this domain, inflict upon them a puncture with thy thorns!”
In due course, a robber did indeed make his unwelcome appearance, whereupon the bark-cloth, true to its charge, did bite him.
The robber, in a state of considerable agitation, exclaimed, “Pray, wherefore didst thou perpetrate such an act?”
The bark-cloth, with a semblance of sentience, retorted, “My master hath stationed me here for the express purpose of assailing robbers.”
Alas, the robber succumbed to his injury and expired.
Thereafter, the chieftain of the locality arrived upon the scene.
Addressing the bark-cloth, he pronounced, “Bark-cloth, thou hast brought about the demise of a man; verily, thou possessest a heart of wickedness.”
Subsequent to this pronouncement, the bark-cloth did slither away into the undergrowth.
And now, whenever it doth espy human beings, it doth bite them with malicious intent.
Thus, according to this account, did snakes originate.
The First Bird
A gentleman possessed of two sons.
'Pray, furnish us with a bow!' they entreated.
He acceded to their request, bestowing upon them a bow, cautioning, 'Ye must not employ it against one another.'
Notwithstanding, the lads fell to discord. One, gathering blades of grass, discharged them at his sibling. The verdant missile struck the youth, causing his demise.
'Thou hast slain thy brother!' the father exclaimed in anguish.
'I am not culpable in his death,' the boy retorted. ''Twas the grass that wrought his end.'
'Indeed, I am the cause,' lamented the grass, imbued with sorrow, 'and I desire no longer to remain upon this earthly plane.'
Whereupon, the grass ascended into the boughs of a tree, transforming into a bird.
Thus, according to this narrative, originated the feathered denizens of the air.
Of Cattle and the Buffalo
The cattle and the buffalo did engage in conflict, and the cattle prevailed.
The cattle, having thus secured their dominance, decreed, 'You must needs alter your visages, that all may discern that ye are not cattle. Your horns must needs spread wider asunder, and your hooves must needs transform in shape, lest any mistake our footprints for yours. Ye shall dwell in the wild, subsisting upon wild grasses, whilst we shall inhabit the villages of men, grazing in their pastures, rendering unto them our milk in exchange.'
Now, owing to the presence of cattle, strife doth arise amongst humankind.
Without cattle, there would be no such thing as war, for none would wage war over buffalo.
The Rabbit and the Moon
The lunar orb doth wane into oblivion, thereafter to be reborn in resplendence.
Quoth the Moon unto the Rabbit: 'The populace must be apprised. Go forth and proclaim unto them: as I succumb to death, yet am resurrected, so too shall ye be raised from mortality.'
The Rabbit, in his embassy to the people, conveyed a message of starkly contrasting tenor, declaring: 'As I perish, never to regain life, thus shall ye too meet thine end.'
Upon the Rabbit's return and the revelation of his perfidious declaration, the Moon, incensed beyond measure, seized a cudgel and smote the Rabbit upon his maw, cleaving his lip asunder.
Whereupon the Rabbit, seized by fury, did lacerate the visage of the Moon with his claws and fled thence withal… and continueth his flight unto this very day.