Just So Stories

In “the Time of the Very Beginnings” (53), the Eldest Magician prepares the world. He prepares the Earth and the Sea, then invites the animals to come out and play in the new world. Once all of the animals are assembled, he takes them one by one and tells them “what to play at” (53). As he sends the animals off, a Man arrives “with his own best beloved little girl-daughter sitting upon his shoulder” (53). The Eldest Magician tells the Man they are arranging “the play of the Very Beginning” (53): The Man is too intelligent to participate, but the Magician assures him that he will make all the animals obedient to the Man.

As they talk, the daughter notices Pau Amma the Crab scuttling into the ocean without waiting for the Magician’s instructions, pledging he will never be obedient to Man. After sending all the animals on their way, the Eldest Magician travels around the world to see how they are doing. He finds each one playing its part, helping to create the new world. Each animal asks, “Kun?” to know if they are doing the right thing, and the Magician always responds, “Payah kun,” meaning “that is quite right” (54).