A myth of the Fire Bull clan of the Sambari tribe.
During the Great Darkness the Fire Bull clan was called the Mountain
Bull
clan. The Great Bull, Urox, was their Chief and protector. When
foreigners
came to steal their food, the mighty bellow of Urox drove off the
thieves.
When Uz came to eat their herd, the mighty horns of Urox slew the
monsters.
When Himile, the icy air, settled on the tula, Urox stepped forward
to meet
the foe. He sounded his mighty bellow, but Himile did not flee. He
gouged
with his mighty horns, but Himile was unwounded. Soon the carls
turned blue.
Then they were frozen solid. The Great Bull was ashamed, because he
could
not protect his people. He slouched dejected in the centre of the
herd.
Uralda the Cow Mother then addressed Urox, and enquired why he was so
dejected. `I am the Chief and protector of my people, yet I can not
protect
them Himile. I sounded my mighty bellow, but Himile did not flee. I
gouged
with my mighty horns, but Himile was unwounded.' Uralda replied, `As
my
mother always said, there is always another way. Perhaps defeat of
Himile is
not by terror or weapons. You are the scorching air of the desert
wind, so
now give forth that heat so it permeates our sons and daughters, and
you
will drive the chill from them.' So Urox took a deep breath, then
slowly
exhaled. The hot air steamed as it billowed from his nostrils. As the
clouds
of hot air expanded, they displaced the icy air. Soon Urox's
exhalation
filled the tula, and so the enemy was driven off. As the warm clouds
enveloped the frozen carls, the hoar frost melted, and their blue
skin
turned healthy pink.
This is how Urox drove off the icy air. He taught his secret to all
his sons
and daughters, and so every winter the Fire Bull clan keeps warm with
their
animals' hot breath, by stalling their bulls and cows in their
long-houses.
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