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From: "EREC - Fort, Don" <DFORT@nciinc.com>
To: Taino-L <Taino-L@corso.ccsu.ctstateu.edu>
Subject: Timucua Legend
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 97 06:25:00 PDT
Message-Id: <33CCCCD1@204.243.73.3>
Sender: owner-taino-l@corso.ccsu.ctstateu.edu
Timucua Legend
By Adonaset - Walk in Harmony 16 July 1997
Oyea Tau
Please note, that the name of the Creator "Yayjaba'" differs slightly from
the Taino name - but am telling story that was told to me when i was a
child - even though, i have heard the story many times, i have never seen
the story in writing, and so, many times i have to try and write a word or
name as it "sounds". Also, the story was told to me by descendants of
Timucua, and the exact or correct pronunciations of many words have been
lost or distorted. The story itself should be correct, it is only the
spelling of some words that may be in error. Adonaset
Timucua Legend
When Creator, Yayjaba' created the world, he created first the Spirit of
Water and the Spirit of Wind. Then Yayjaba' created the large pond and in
the middle of the pond he placed the land. Into the waters of the pond he
placed the swimmers - those that breathed above the water and those that
breathed under the waters. Then Yayjaba' saw that the land was beginning to
slide down into the water, so he created the swimmers that would live on the
bottom of the waters - there they would always live, feed on the bottom and
helping to hold the land steady, to keep it from sliding further into the
waters.
Then Yayjaba' opened the Great Cave and brought out all of the two-legged,
four-legged, winged, crawlers, and the oriri' (insects). Each moved out
onto the land and found a place for their home. Wind and Water roamed over
the land, wind bringing cool breeze in the heat of the day, and Water
bringing refreshing rain to the face of the land. But as they roamed,
Yayjaba' saw that move land was being lost into the water - the swimmers
living on the bottom were holding as tight as they could, but they could not
stop the land from falling into the waters. It was then that Yayjaba'
created the one-legged ones. He said to them "you are my silent ones, you
have been given no voice with which to speak, and you have been given but
one leg, so that you can stand but can not move. But you are to do wondrous
things - you will be the protectors of the land. Where I place you, you are
to grab the land and hold it still. When Wind wanders the land, you must
hold the land steady so that his breath does not blow the land into the
waters, and when Water wanders the land, you must hold the land steady so
that his rain does not push the land into the waters. All of you, from the
mightiest oak to the smallest flower, to the single blade of grass, you are
to hold tight to the land."
"For doing this, the one-legged ones are to be given special gifts - you
will amaze all others with your ability to live anywhere, you will find
homes in the crevices of rocks, on the face of mountains, in burning sands,
fertile land, arid land, you will live in fresh water, and water having
salt, some will be given stinging needles, and some will provide food for
many - many others will seek your shade, and others will find homes in your
arms. Some of you will live but for a single cycle, but will have many
children, thus you will continue for ever, and some of you will see more
cycles than any other - you will become the true 'ancient ones' of this
land. You will also be the beginning of the cycle and the continuation of
the cycles. When you fall to the land that you so faithfully held , you
will become a part of the land, and your children will take hold where you
once stood, and they will draw strength from you, thus you will continue for
ever."
"All that have come out of The Cave, and onto the land must show you great
respect - they will know that you are the protectors of the land. When they
lose that respect, and cast you down before your time, then the breath of
Wind will blow the land, and dust will fill the air, and those lacking
respect will suffer greatly - Water will roam the land, and to those lacking
respect, he will give too much rain, and the land will washed away, and the
waters will carry away those that lack respect - to others that lack
respect, he will with-hold his rain giving them none until they dry up and
are blown away by the breath of Wind. To any that brings you to
destruction, they bring themselves to destruction. You are my silent ones,
you have been given no voice with which to speak, and you have been given
but one leg, so you can stand but can not move - but you are my protectors
of the land"
This is why we can take no one-legged one without first asking for
permission, we must explain our need - we must approach with respect and ask
forgiveness with respect. To cast down a one-legged one before its time and
without respect will bring about our own destruction.
Adonaset
Walk in Harmony
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