Mitos y leyendas: The Hummingbird that Retrieved Tobacco

Mitos y leyendas shares with you the tale of the hummingbird that retrieved tobacco.

A woman finds herself in trouble when the plant disappears.

All animals attempt to rescue the tobacco, but only one succeeds.

In ancient times, when humans and beasts shared the same tongue, there existed only one tobacco plant in the entire world.

From all corners of the globe, seekers of the plant came. All was well until the greedy geese of Dagul’ku plundered the plant and fled southward, where they guarded it jealously.

Soon, humans and beasts began to suffer greatly from the lack of tobacco.

An elderly woman, who had suffered long, weakened to the point where everyone feared her imminent death, knowing that only tobacco could save her. This revered woman had everyone worried.

Plan to Retrieve the Tobacco

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The concern was such that they decided to convene a Council and devise a plan to retrieve the stolen tobacco. They determined that the beasts should retrieve the seed.

One after another, the beasts tried to reach the plant, but every time the geese of Dagul’ku detected them, they eliminated them before they could get close.

From the mightiest to the tiniest, the quadrupeds failed. Then, the mole proposed that he would try.

Everyone saw hope in the idea, for the mole could dig a tunnel underground to reach the plant without being seen.

The Mole Fails

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He advanced stealthily and approached the plant, but the geese of Dagul’ku had tracked him and waited beside the plant. Upon emerging, he shared the same fate as the others.

The Council was filled with conflicting opinions after this failure. No one could find a way to retrieve the tobacco from the clutches of the greedy geese of Dagul’ku. No other beast wanted to try.

The Hummingbird had been attentive to all the plans and decided to propose one of his own. He informed the Council that he could bring back the plant.

They looked at him incredulously because of his tiny size. How could he accomplish it? He asserted that he would and offered to demonstrate it.

Attempt

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They took him to a meadow where there was a plant visible to all.

They ordered him to perch on it without being seen.

He flew to the meadow, perched on the chosen plant, and returned so swiftly that when they tried to verify it, he was already back in the center of the Council.

Impressed by his feat, they decided to give him a chance.

The Hummingbird Retrieves the Tobacco

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The Hummingbird did not hesitate; he flew directly to the tobacco plant, right under the noses of the geese of Dagul´ki, who did not even suspect his presence.

In the blink of an eye, with his long beak, he cut the top part of the plant containing leaves and seeds, and then returned to the Council circle.

By then, they thought the elderly woman had passed away, but upon blowing tobacco smoke into her nose, the woman exclaimed «Tsa’lu,» opened her eyes, and regained her strength.

Mitos y leyendas bids you farewell for now and hopes that the tale of the hummingbird that retrieved tobacco has been to your liking. Until next time!