Melu was a giant being who lived on the clouds. He created the earth from the dead skin he rubbed off his body (1). He then fashioned the first two humans from leftover materials, but Tau Tana from below the earth wanted to help and placed the noses upside down, causing problems (3-4). When a heavy rain came, the humans nearly drowned until Melu turned their noses right-side up, saving them (5). The grateful people asked Melu for companions, so he instructed them to collect materials to make more people, and that is how humanity began multiplying on earth (6).

1. Lesson 2: EXPLORING TONE
The Story of Creation (B’laan)
1 In the very beginning there lived a being so large that he cannot be
compared with any known thing. His name was Melu, and when he sat on
the clouds, which were his home, he occupied all the space above. His
teeth were pure gold, and because he was very cleanly and continually
rubbed himself with his hands, his skin became pure white. The dead skin
which he rubbed off his body was placed on one side in a pile, and by and
by this pile became so large that he was annoyed and set himself to
considerwhat he could do with it.
2 Finally Melu decided to make the earth; so he worked very hard in
putting the dead skin into shape, and when it was finished he was so
pleased with it that he determined to make two beings like himself,though
smaller, to live on it.
3 Taking the remnants of the material left after making the earth he
fashioned two men, but just as they were all finished excepttheir noses,
Tau Tana from below the earth appeared and wanted to help him.
4 Melu did not wish any assistance, and a great argument ensued.
Tau Tana finally won his point and made the noses which he placed on the
people upside down. Whenall was finished, Melu and Tau Tana whipped
the forms until they moved.Then Melu went to his home above the clouds,
and Tau Tana returned to his place below the earth.
5 All went well until one day a great rain came, and the people on the
earth nearly drowned from the water which ran off their heads into their
noses.Melu, from his place on the clouds,saw their danger, and he came
quickly to earth and saved their lives by turning their noses the other side
up.
6 The people were very grateful to him, and promised to do anything
he should ask of them. Before he left for the sky, they told him that they
were very unhappy living on the great earth all alone, so he told them to
save all the hair from their heads and the dry skin from their bodies and the
next time he came he would make them some companions.And in this way
there came to be a great many people on the earth.