Legend of the Hummingbird

At the beginning of the world, when people and animals were the same, there was only one tobacco plant, to which everyone came for tobacco. However, the Dagul'ku geese stole the plant and carried it far south. Without it, the people began to suffer, and one old woman grew so thin and weak that everyone feared she would die unless she could get tobacco to keep her alive.

Different animals tried to retrieve the plant, each offering to go after it. First, the larger animals, and then the smaller ones, but the Dagul'ku saw them coming and killed them before they could reach the plant. Even the Mole attempted to go underground, but the Dagul'ku saw his tracks and killed him.

Finally, the Hummingbird offered to go. The others laughed, saying he was far too small and that he should stay at home. But the Hummingbird, determined, begged them to let him try. They decided to show him a plant in the field to see what he could do. The moment they showed him, the Hummingbird was gone, and in an instant, he was back, having flown so fast that no one saw him go or return.

"This is how I will do it," the Hummingbird said. And so, they allowed him to try.

He flew east, and when he arrived at the tobacco, the Dagul'ku were guarding it, but they couldn’t see him. He was so tiny and quick. The Hummingbird darted down to the plants, swiftly snatching the leaves and seeds and flying away before the Dagul'ku even noticed.

By the time he returned home, the old woman had fainted, and they thought she was dead. The Hummingbird blew the smoke of the tobacco into her nostrils, and with a cry of "Tsa'la!" (Tobacco), she opened her eyes, alive once again.