The bird Dziu - Mayan Legend

People say there, that one morning, Chaac, the Rain God, he wanted to walk and wanted to walk the fields of the Mayab. Chaac left very happy, confident he would find strong and growing crops, but it just came to see them, their surprise was great, because he found that the plants were weak and the earth dry and worn.

Realizing that the crops would be very poor, Chaac was very troubled. After thinking for a while, he found a solution: burn all the crops and the soil will recover its wealth and new plantings would be good.
After making this decision, Chaac asked one of his servants to call all the birds of the Mayab.

The first to arrive was the Dziu, a bird with colorful feathers and brown eyes. Soon settled into a branch when he rushed the Toh, a black bird whose main attraction was its full of beautiful long tail feathers. The Toh hit the front, where everyone could see.

Gradually other birds gathered, and then Chaac said: “I sent an order for all of you to come because I need something so important that it determines the existence of life. Soon I will burn the fields and I need you all to save the seeds of all plants, since that is the only way to sow them again to have better harvests in the future. I trust you all, go away soon, because the fire is about to begin.

As Chaac finished speaking, the Dziu bird thought: "I'll get the corn seed; I think that is one of the most important to sustain life. And while the Toh bird said:" I have to save seed corn, all will envy me if I find it first.

Thus, the two birds would come out almost simultaneously, but saw the Dziu the Toh ahead and he wanted, then got in his way and pushed him to go first.

The Dziu did not care and went quietly, but very determined to achieve their goal. The Toh flew so fast, that quickly that soon was far ahead of their peers. He was almost in to the camps, but was very tired and said, "I will rest awhile. At last, I'm coming to get and others yet to come away.

Then the Toh lay on a sidewalk. According to him just going to rest but fell asleep without meaning to, so do not mind that it was beginning to get dark and his tail had been crossed over on the road. The Toh was already sounding asleep, when many birds could not fly as passed by the bird not seen in the dark, they stepped on the tail. Feeling the stomping, the Toh woke up, and what would be surprised to see that on its tail was only one feather. The Toh had no idea what had happened, but thought of going for the corn seed, then the birds will see their value and their attention will not set in his tail bald.

Meanwhile, the other birds had already arrived to crops. Most took the seed that was closer, because the fire was very intense. They had saved nearly all, just missing the corn. The flying Dziu was desperate in search of cornfields, but there was so much smoke that he could not see them. In that, Toh arrived, but when he saw the huge flames, forgot about the corn and decided to take a seed that did not offer much danger. Then flew to the green tomato plant, where the fire was not yet very strong and saved the seeds.

Instead, the Dziu did not care that the fire burned his wings and at last found the cornfields, and with great courage, went to them and picked with his peak a few grains of corn. The Toh could not but admire the courage of Dziu and went to congratulate him. Then the two birds found that they had changed: no longer were Toh eyes black, but green as a tomato saved, and Dziu had gray wings and red eyes because the fire got too close. Chaac and the birds were able to recognize the feat of Dziu, therefore they met to seek ways to reward him. And it was precisely the Toh, ashamed of his conduct, who proposed that should be given a special right to Dziu:

"Since the Dziu did something for us, now we must do something for him. I propose that starting today, we allow him to lay his eggs in the nest of any bird and we promises to look as if they were our own. Birds accepted and since then the Dziu do not care to make his home or care for his young. Only screams his name when choosing a nest and a bird watching his case was chosen, is ready to fulfill their promise. Leyendas Mayas - Author: SEPMéxico, written version: Gloria Morales Veyra. Translation: Alicia Dioni .

Note: Since I use the help of a software translator, may be mistakes has being made, I will be happy to receive help to improve this Legend.