Once upon a time there were two hunters. One was always lucky because he knew how to burn copal incense and pray to Mama before going hunting. And the other knew nothing about incense and prayers, and therefore was extremely unlucky.
Once they were hunting together in the place where a successful hunter usually did it. As always, he smoked copal, prayed and stuffed a lot of game. The loser was unpleasantly surprised by his success and then decided to go hunting on his friend’s property.
But nothing worked out for him, and out of frustration he began to curse Mamov for all his failures.
In the end, he got into such a fight that a little boy suddenly appeared in front of him and said that Mom himself was calling him to come. The man resisted for a long time, but then he finally went.
Mom asked him why he went to hunt on land where he had no right, and besides, he reviled him, Mom, with the last words. The man complained that his friend always got a lot of game, but he, poor fellow, did not.
Then Mam, whose name was Yaluk, called the younger mothers, whose names were Shukaneb and Koha. When he arrived, they sent a messenger for the chief Mam, named Kitsan.
Kitsan did not want to go. They sent a second time, but Kitsan told the messenger that he was very busy. But called for the third time, he came to the council.
Yaluk pointed to the man and told how he went hunting without burning incense and scolded him.
“I don’t know him,” added Yaluk, “and I think we should eat him!”
“You don’t know this man,” Kitsan objected, “but I know him.” He is very poor and ignorant of our affairs.
Kitsan talked to the man and explained that his friend gets a lot of game because he smokes copal and is a sign of Mamu, who rules his land. He ordered him to be released and given two peccaries. Then the man opened his eyes, and, having walked a little, shot two peccaries.
From that day on, he went to his old hunting ground, where Kitsan knew him.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru