Taino
When Creator, Yayjaba' created the world, he created first the Spirit of Water and the Spirit of Wind. Then Yajaba' 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 eve".
"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 willbe washed away, and
the waters will carry away those that lack respect - to others that lack respect,
he will withhold 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.