In the town of Ika Roso, smuggling, theft and crime ruled: the governor was very old, and his helpers Ogún and Elegba were in on it, though nothing could be proved. Obatalá, the Obá, decided to hand over command to whoever could set those people straight. A stranger arrived who spoke to nobody and behaved properly: he was Osun. He asked Obatalá for a white dove, orí, omí Olofin and honey. In the bush he cut a trunk of moruro wood, washed it with omí Olofin, gave it the dove, put orí and efún on it, and gave a rooster to Eshu so he would help him find out who was leading the disorder. At night, guided by Eshu, he found the group: among them were Ogún, Elegba and Oshosi — the ones commanding Obatalá's army were betraying him, and the smuggling was in weapons for making war on him. At a signal from Eshu, Osun rushed in swinging the moruro trunk; the men fled thinking more were coming, and the three, found out, begged him not to report them. «Very well, but you are going to put an end to the smuggling, the theft and the killing.» They took the weapons to Obatalá and made a pact with Osun; the town began to go right. When Obatalá went to offer him a share in the government, Osun had disappeared. In his honor, Obatalá ordered that the moruro tree be worshipped and given offerings every year, and hung arrows, bows and spears on it to remember that thanks to Osun there was no war.
In a town called Ika Roso there was smuggling, theft and crime, since the governor was too old for those duties, and his helpers, who were Ogún and Elegba, were in on it, but nothing could be proved against them.
The Obá of that town was Obatalá, who, tired of so much corruption, decided to hand over command to whatever man was able to set those people straight.
Around that time a man came to that town whom nobody knew, who spoke to nobody and behaved properly. Once he learned what was going on there, he presented himself to Obatalá and said: «Let me take charge of the command of this land, and give me a white dove, orí, an omí Olofin and honey, to settle this situation for you.» That unknown man was Osun.
Obatalá handed him everything he asked for, as long as he would settle that situation, and because he had the feeling that this man was honest.
Osun, on leaving Obatalá's house, headed for the bush, where he went in looking for a good trunk of moruro wood, big and strong. Just then he saw Eshu and gave him a rooster he was carrying, and begged him to help him find out who the leaders of all that disorder were. Eshu agreed to help him. Osun cut the moruro wood, washed it with omí Olofin, gave it the dove, and afterward put orí and efún on it, and went back home.
When night fell, Osun left his house with the moruro trunk on his shoulder, and set out walking where Eshu led him. When he reached a place where there was a good-sized group of men, he saw Ogún among them. Osun was about to go up to the group, but he was stopped by Eshu, who said: «Wait a little.» A short while later Elegba arrived and joined the group. Since Elegba and Ogún were the ones commanding Obatalá's army, Osun understood that they were betraying him, and that this way Obatalá would never be able to capture any criminal, since most of the smuggling was in weapons — that is, bows, arrows and spears — so that at the right moment they could make war on Obatalá.
At a signal from Eshu, Osun rushed at the group, swinging the moruro trunk; and those men, taken by surprise, fled, believing that behind the one landing the blows more men were coming. And Ogún, Elegba and Oshosi — who was also there — were left alone, and seeing themselves found out by Osun, they begged him not to report them to Obatalá. Osun said to them: «Very well; but you have to put an end to the smuggling, the theft and the killing.»
They agreed, and by Osun's order they took those weapons to Obatalá. From that moment on, Elegba, Ogún and Oshosi made a pact with Osun, and the town began to go right. Obatalá thanked Osun, and just as he was about to offer him a share in the responsibility of the government, Osun disappeared.
Obatalá, in gratitude and in Osun's honor, ordered his people that every year they had to worship the moruro tree and give it offerings, so as to keep the memory of that unknown and selfless man who settled the situation of his town. Obatalá hung arrows, bows and spears on that tree, to remember that thanks to Osun there was no war in his town.