The Origin of the Evergreen Trees

    In the early days of the earth, all trees used to lose their leaves in the fall. Since Erleg Khaan had brought disease to the world, humans sicken and die when they grow old. The raven, however, felt pity for mankind and desired to restore the original immortality of human beings.

    At that early time, a giant mountain, Humber Ula, grew at the centre of the world, and its summit touched the entrance to the upper world. At the top of this peak grew an aspen with golden leaves, which stood by the spring of the water of life. Whoever drank from this spring was restored to health and could live free of all illness.

    The raven flew to the spring of the water of life and took up as much water as he could in his beak. He planned to bring the water to the human beings so that they would get a few drops and become immortal. As he flew back down to earth, he neared a grove of pines standing beside the humans’ camp. Suddenly, an owl cried out from the trees. The raven, startled, opened his beak, and the water spilled down onto the pines.

    This is why pine trees stay green throughout the year, while the leaves of other trees, like humans, grow old, falldown, and die.