In ancient times, when the world was just beginning, we were like animals and even ate, like them, grass, sorrel, green shoots of bushes, and creeping plants. People planted bushes and collected fresh leaves from them. And there was nothing else: no fruits, no flowers, no cassava - in general, there was no trace of anything that we eat today. Sometimes it was only the wind, and even then out of evil mischief, that brought the seductive and appetizing smell of fruit to the earth. Everyone who felt it immediately and unbearably wanted to taste the unknown dish. Some ran towards this seductive aroma like crazy. But the evil wind was fickle and deceived people. And no one has ever been able to find out where this sweet spirit comes from. Sometimes it seemed that he was already here, close - but no, he would take it and pull it from a completely different direction.
Not only people were teased by this intoxicating aroma, but also animals, their mouths were watering too.
They say that in those days an edible bush grew in the forest, and some animal constantly ate the greens from it.
The owner of the bushes decided to track down the thief.
And then one early morning he saw a guabira rat, it made its way into the very thick of the bushes and began to eat them. Then the owner crept up to the thief and deftly grabbed her - at that very moment a delicious smell hit his nose.
“So you’re the one who gnaws at my bushes?” – the owner asked angrily. “I’ll kill you so that it’s discouraging to destroy other people’s plantings.”
And the smell, the intoxicating smell, became even stronger. And the man decided to change his anger to mercy and suggested:
“Listen, if you tell me where the tree grows, the fruits of which you eat, I won’t kill you.” And you can come to my site whenever you want.
Then, they say, the rat replied:
- Okay! Let's go to the river. There on the shore grows a huge tree with wonderful fruits.
They came to the Huarakaouri waterfall, which is on Alto Buope, and the guabiru said:
– Do you see the big tree? It is completely strewn with delicious fruits, but only Akutipuru monkeys can taste them. Here is a fallen fruit - try to bite it. Well, do you now understand what these monkeys are stealing from us?
Then the man rushed home and told all the people about the amazing tree.
And the people decided to cut it down before the Akutipura devoured all the fruits.
When the axes were already knocking on the trunk, the angry voice of Uansken, the owner of the tree, was heard:
- What fool divulged that the fruits are edible? They haven't matured yet. Stop! I need to know who dared to do this!
He came down from the tree and found cassava husks on the ground, and on it he saw marks from the teeth of Akutipuru monkeys.
And said:
- Ah! So you have completely lost respect for me! Well, you slept at the top of the tree, but you will have to wake up at its roots.
He quickly put the arrow into the blowpipe and found an acutipura in the thick foliage.
The moon was shining, and it was as bright as day.
Uansken took aim at a branch, and soon the animal, which had fallen down on it, fell down. The stone he fell on went underground.
Then Vansken said:
- What a fool you are for spoiling the fruits, because at the appointed time everyone would have received them. Well, there's nothing to do. Both you and the people, apparently, will have to go hungry, and then you will understand how you have punished yourself.
And disappeared.
At dawn, people gathered under the tree and waited until the moon rose for it to fall. A huge stone can still be seen in the middle of the Huarakapuri waterfall. They say these are the remains of that same tree. When it finally fell, everyone rushed to collect cassava, ears of corn, maize, and beans. The birds also attacked the fruits of various palm trees and nuts. They stole all kinds of fruits, beans - everything that they could pick up, and animals. The last one, they say, was the tapir; he only got the holly fruits, but he carried them away too.
This is how great-grandfather Akutipuru harmed us all and deprived us of good harvests.
If it were not for him, we would always have an abundance of choice fruits and vegetables.
After all, they should have ripened, and only then the generous Uansken would have given them to people and we would not have had to work hard, clearing clearings, planting plants.
But akutipuru intervened, and the fruits, which we could have received ripe and sweet in due time, turned out to be green and sour.
Thus our fate was predetermined and the beginning of the hard work of people on earth was laid.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru