До Адама

           Itneverenteredmyheadtofillthegourdwithwaterandcarryitintomycave.YetoftenIwasthirstyatnight,especiallyaftereatingwildonionsandwatercress,andnooneeverdaredleavethecavesatnightforadrink.

           AnothertimeIfoundadry;gourd,insideofwhichtheseedsrattled.Ihadfunwithitforawhile.Butitwasaplaything,nothingmore.Andyet,itwasnotlongafterthisthattheusingofgourdsforstoringwaterbecamethegeneralpracticeofthehorde.ButIwasnottheinventor.ThehonorwasduetooldMarrow-Bone,anditisfairtoassumethatitwasthenecessityofhisgreatagethatbroughtabouttheinnovation.

           Atanyrate,thefirstmemberofthehordetousegourdswasMarrow-Bone.Hekeptasupplyofdrinking-waterinhiscave,whichcavebelongedtohisson,theHairlessOne,whopermittedhimtooccupyacornerofit.WeusedtoseeMarrow-Bonefillinghisgourdatthedrinking-placeandcarryingitcarefullyuptohiscave.ImitationwasstrongintheFolk,andfirstone,andthenanotherandanother,procuredagourdanduseditinsimilarfashion,untilitwasageneralpracticewithallofussotostorewater.

           SometimesoldMarrow-Bonehadsickspellsandwasunabletoleavethecave.ThenitwasthattheHairlessOnefilledthegourdforhim.Alittlelater,theHairlessOnedeputedthetasktoLong-Lip,hisson.Andafterthat,evenwhenMarrow-Bonewaswellagain,Long-Lipcontinuedcarryingwaterforhim.Byandby,exceptonunusualoccasions,themennevercarriedanywateratall,leavingthetasktothewomenandlargerchildren.Lop-EarandIwereindependent.