Long ago Blue-Jay had a wife but after a time he went to God, he went to seek the Daughter of God also as his wife. God replied, “Since you ask for her, you must not take her to the earth, you must stay just here in the sky. Because, if you take her to the earth, she may not eat meat of zebra or gnu or kudu; of any large animal she may not eat. If you desire to carry her to earth, let her eat only of smaller animals.” Blue-Jay answered, “It is well, Chief.”

So Blue-Jay was allowed to bring the Daughter of God to earth. Upon his arrival on earth he told these things to his earthly wife, saying, “I was told by God that his child may not eat of zebra or gnu or kudu; she may not eat of any large animal.” These things he told his wife and mother; when they heard them, his other said, “It is well, my child.” Nevertheless, his first wife was terribly jealous.

One day Blue-Jay went off hunting. He went and killed a zebra and a young duiker. When he returned to his first wife, he ordered her saying, “You must on no account give my wife the meat of the zebra. Let her eat only of the young duiker.” His wife replied, “It is well.”

Another day while Blue-Jay was out walking, the old wife deceived her fellow, the Daughter of God, giving her zebra meat and saying, “Eat, it is young duiker.” But she was simply deceiving her. As soon as the Daughter of God ate it, she died. Then Blue-Jay returned; on his arrival he asked, “My wife! What has she died of?” The old wife replied, “I don’t know.”

Nevertheless God had seen her from the sky. Said he, “It is that one yonder whom killed my child.”

Thereupon Blue-Jay returned to the sky; on arrival he went to tell the news, saying, “My wife is dead, Chief. ” God answered, saying, “You forgot the orders I gave you that my child must not eat of zebra or gnu or kudu; nevertheless, there on earth she was given some. She ate and died.” Then Blue-Jay replied, “It may be so, Chief.” God answered, “Return.”

When thirty days had passed. God gathered together a small cloud. Then he opened wide his mouth and thundered. After a time he descended and swept open the grave in which his child was buried; he took her out and carried her to the sky. Nevertheless, Blue-Jay did not survive; he took him away also. When he arrived midway he thrust him down to earth; but he never arrived: only some small bones reached the ground. He died just there midway. To this very day this is what Blue-Jay does: when he flies he goes up into the air with a loud cry; on the point of descending he dies.

[ BAILA }