Part II:
The Quechan Legend of the Creation
'Amattáam nyakór,1 |
Many years ago, |
Pa'iipáa Nyiikwanáam 'amáy kuuváatsənyts |
the Great Person who was in the sky |
'amáttva vikavátsnya atséwk. |
made this earth that is here. |
'Atsaayúu ashtúum — |
He gathered things — |
vathí atháwətk vathí atháwətk athúm, |
they were here and there, and so, |
ashtúum, |
he gathered them, |
nyáanyəm atséwk. |
and with those (things) he made it. |
. |
|
'Amáttnya atséwəm athum, |
He made the earth, and so, |
'axányənyts 'amáttnya aamáarək, |
water covered the earth, |
maxáknyi, |
and under it, |
'aayúu, |
well, |
'amátt akúp vatáyts siivám, |
there was a big cave, |
pa'iipáats xavík nyatsuuváayk. |
and two people lived there. |
'Ashéntits Kukwiimáatt a'ét. |
One was Kukwiimáatt (Body of Flesh), they say. |
Nyáanyts avuuváatk athúum, |
There he was, and so, |
'ashéntəntínyənyts 'Asákwiimáatt 'et. |
the other one was 'Asákwiimáatt (Body of Fog), they say. |
Nyáanyəny, |
That one, |
iimáatt-ts thómayúuv aly'ém,2 |
his body was not visible, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
xaly'aatsxánəm lyavíik, |
he was like a ghost, |
athúuk 'ét. |
he was, they say. |
. |
|
Athúm, |
So, |
viitháwk, |
here they were, |
'akór alynyaayém, |
and after a long time, |
Kukwiimáattányts, |
Kukwiimáatt (said), |
“ 'Ashútsáa!”3 |
“Little brother!” |
or “Older brother!” |
|
he said something like that. |
|
“ 'Anyáats vi'ayáak, |
“I will go, |
'axám 'áamk vi'ayáanyək, |
I will go swimming along, |
kaawíts makyí atháwəm 'ayúuxa. |
and I will see whatever is there. |
Nya'ayáam, |
When I have gone, |
máanyts aaíim nyáavi mavák 'anyshuutháwk. |
you just sit here and wait for me. |
Av'uuváanyək, |
I will stay there, |
xaméer 'atkavékxá.6 |
and later on I will come back. |
Nya'váak, |
When I arrive, |
nya'váak 'athúm, |
when I arrive, then |
nyáany nyakanáavxa, |
I will tell you about that, |
kaawíts 'uuyúunya.” |
(about) what I have seen.” |
. |
|
Vanyaa'íim, |
Having said this, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts |
Kukwiimáatt |
'amátt uukúpənya atspámək. |
came out of the cave. |
'Axáts mattapéek viitháwm athúm, |
There was a tremendous amount of water, and so, |
'axám áamk viiyáanyək, |
he went swimming along, |
'amáyəny nyaaváamk, |
and he got to the surface, |
athót. |
he did. |
. |
|
Viiyáaxayk, |
He went along, |
eethóny shatpíittk, |
he had his eyes closed, |
viithíinyk, |
and he came, |
viithíinyk, |
and he came, |
llyóq a'ím atspák. |
he popped up (out of the water) and appeared. |
Avuuváaxaym, |
There he was, and suddenly, |
kaawíts a'ávək; |
he heard something; |
kaawíts makyík thomayúuv aly'émtəsáa, |
he couldn’t see anything, but7 |
'atsuukanáavək uuváak 'etá, |
things had been explained to him, they say,8 |
viiyáaxáym. |
as he had gone along. |
. |
|
Viiyáanyək — |
He went along, |
viiyáanyək, |
he went along, |
nyaaváamk. |
and he got there. |
'Amáy nyaaváamk, |
When he got to the surface, |
eethónyəm uutstáaq ayúuk, |
he opened his eyes and looked, |
a'étá. |
they say. |
Nyáany, |
As for that, |
nyáany a'íim kanáav 'etá. |
|
A'étəm athúm, |
And so, |
'atsayúuk uuváak; |
he sat looking at things; |
tsáaməly ayúuk. |
he looked at everything. |
Athótəsáa, |
However, |
kaawíts makyí avá aly'émk, |
there was nothing there, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'anyáanyənyts 'anyáaytank uuvám, |
the sun was really bright, |
ayúuk; |
and he saw it; |
'axáts aaíim makyí atháw aaly'íim, |
water was just everywhere, it was all over the place, |
aamáarək viitháwəm, |
it had flooded (the land) and there it was, |
ayúuk. |
and he saw it. |
. |
|
Alynyiithúutsk viiv'óowxayk athúm, |
He stood here thinking, and so, |
“Kaawíts nyatséwəm athúm |
“Something made me, so that |
'amatt vathí |
here on earth |
'atsaayúu 'uuxúuttk viitháwm;10 |
there would be good things; |
nyáanya 'atséw 'ím, |
I am going to make them, |
'awíi 'ím, |
I am going to do it, |
va'oonóom, |
here I am, |
pa'iipáa kwanyatsamíits nyáavi voonóontixá 11 |
and there will be different kinds of people here |
'atséwk nya'aavíirəm.”12 |
when I have finished making them.” |
. |
|
Nyáanyənyts, |
That (person), |
'atsaayúu ootséwənya alyuuváak.13 |
there he was, among the things he had made. |
“Pa'iipáyxá,” |
“They will be alive,” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
kanáavək viiwáat. |
and he went on talking. |
Alynyiithúutsk viitháwk, |
He sat here thinking about it, |
iisháaly nyamshoo'órnya 'axály shathúunk, |
and he put his index finger into the water, |
shaakwíink vaawée vaawée awétk.14 |
and he stirred it, he went like this and like this. |
Voonóonyək, |
He went on doing it, |
aashváarək nyamaatsítsk awíntik: |
he sang and accompanied (his song) with movement: |
. |
|
“This water, |
|
'ashawáamk av'oonóok |
I am moving it around, |
'ashawáamk av'oonóok. |
I am moving it around. |
Kuur a'ím |
In a little while, |
'amátt-ts atspákxa. |
land will appear. |
Kúur a'ím |
In a little while, |
'amátt-ts atspákxa.” |
land will appear.” |
. |
|
A'íim voonóot. |
He went on saying it. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
mas'éets athúum, |
there was mud, |
nyaathúum; |
there was; |
maxák atháwətk athúm, |
it had been at the bottom, and so, |
awíim avoonóoxaym, |
he went on doing this, and suddenly, |
'amáynyi kayáamk vaayáa, |
it went straight up to the surface, |
nyáany, |
that (mud), |
kúur a'ím, |
and in a little while, |
land was there. |
|
. |
|
Athúm, |
So, |
viitháwnyək, |
there it was, |
arúvək 'et. |
and it dried out, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
'anyáanyányts |
that sun |
'amáy nyiivák athúum, |
was in the sky, and so, |
arúvəm aviivák 'eta. |
(the mud) dried and there it was, they say. |
. |
|
Kukwiimáatt-ts 'atsaayúu 'a'íi 'antaqór ashtúum, |
Kukwiimáatt got little sticks and things, |
mas'éenyily shtav'ótsk, |
and he stood them upright in the mud, |
awíim, |
and so, |
voonóoxaym, |
there they were, and suddenly, |
'atsaayúu 'a'íits aatspáatsk athúm.17 |
trees and things emerged from them. |
. |
|
'Eethóots athótk, |
There were willows, |
'ax'áats athótk awím,18 |
there were cottonwoods, and so, |
'atsaayúu nyikamáanəntínyts, |
(there were other) things that came from there as well, |
nyáany nyiitséwəntík 'et. |
he made those too, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
'aanáaly, |
mesquite, |
'aanáaly atséwəntik awim. |
he made mesquite too. |
Avuuváaxaym, |
There he was, and suddenly, |
someone else was there too: |
|
he was called 'Asákwiimáatt, |
|
nyáanyts,21 |
that one, |
thomayúuv alya'ém, |
he was not visible, |
iimáattənyts thomayúuv alya'émk,22 |
his body was not visible, |
'asá lyavíik. |
it was like fog. |
. |
|
Nyáanyts |
That (person) |
shuutháwk uuváanyk; |
had been waiting; |
'akórtan lyavíim nyaa'ávək,23 |
it seemed like a long time to him,24 |
iiwáanyts kaa'émtan avathúum. |
and he felt uneasy about it. |
Viiyáak, |
(Kukwiimáatt) had gone, |
'akóortan viiyáak, |
he had gone a very long time ago, |
'amáy kayáamk viiyáam, |
he had gone straight up, |
nyáanyi, |
and at that point, |
shuutháwk uuváanyk, |
('Asákwiimáatt) had been waiting for him, |
nyiirísh a'ím, |
but there was nothing, |
nyaayúum, |
and when he saw this, |
iiwáanyts apúyəm, |
he was alarmed,25 |
avuuváak 'etá. |
there he was, they say. |
. |
|
He was eager to go too, |
|
'amáyəly. |
up above. |
'Amáy axávək ayúunypat a'ím, |
He wanted to go up above and look around too, |
avuuváak a'etəma. |
there he was, they say. |
Kukwiimáatt-ts makyí ooyémənya. |
(He wanted to go) the way Kukwiimáatt had gone. |
. |
|
Nyaa'íim, |
So, |
aaíimk muuvílyk viiyáak 'etəmá. |
he hurried off without a thought, they say. |
He swam, |
|
makyí ooyémxanya shamathíis athótk, |
he did not know where he was going, |
aaíimk viiyáak 'étəma. |
he went along without a thought, they say. |
Viiyáak, |
He went along, |
viiyáaxaym, |
he went along, and suddenly, |
'atsaayúu nyiuukanáavək 'etá. |
|
Xiipúk Kukwiimáatt uu'ítsənya, |
Whatever had been said first to Kukwiimáatt, |
nyáany uukanáavəntík 'etá. |
that (same thing) was told to him too, they say.29 |
. |
|
Avathúum: |
This (is what) happened: |
nyáanya uukuunáavnya makyík a'áv aly'émk, |
he did not listen at all to what was said to him, |
makyík athúu lya'émk, |
not at all, |
athóxaym, |
and suddenly, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'aayúu, |
well, |
'axám áamk viiyáaxayk, |
he was swimming along, and suddenly, |
viiyáany, |
he was going along, |
uutstáaqtsəm athúum, |
and he opened (his eyes), |
'axányts alyaxávək, |
and the water went in, |
eethónyily.30 |
into his eyes. |
Eethó kwa'ura'úur alyaxávək athúum, |
It went into his eyeballs, and so, |
nyáanyəm, |
at that point, |
nyaanyiimánk, |
from then on, |
'atsaayúulya'émk 'etá. |
he couldn’t see anything, they say. |
Eethóts tár 'ím.31 |
He was blind. |
. |
|
Nyáanyi, |
At that point, |
athúum, |
it happened, |
avuuváak 'éta. |
and there he was, they say. |
Athúm, |
It happened, |
uuváatəsáa, |
and there he was, but |
'Asákwiimáatt 'atsaayúu tsáaməly alykwaskyíitanəny athúuk a'ét.32 |
all of 'Asákwiimáatt’s other senses still remained, they say.33 |
Viitháwxáyk,34 |
There they were, |
makyík tsáaməly 'aláay lya'émk 'et. |
they had not all gone bad, they say. |
Eethónyts athótk athót. |
It was just his eyes. |
. |
|
Viiyáak, |
He went along, |
'amáttəny ayúunypat a'ím, |
intending to look at the land in his turn, |
viiyáak. |
he went along. |
Kukwiimáatt ootséwəts, |
It was what Kukwiimáatt had made, |
nyáanya. |
that (land). |
'Amáttəny apáask viiyáak viiyáak, |
He went and went, feeling his way along the ground, |
kaathómk siiyáak athúm, |
he went along somehow, and so, |
“ 'Amáttənyts tsapéev eekwéevək!” |
“The land is too small!” |
he said, going along. |
|
“Pa'iipáa — |
“People — |
xalyavímtəm |
it might be the case |
pa'iipáa 'atáyk nyáavi nyatsuuváay nyaa'íim, |
that many people are going to live here, |
makyí, |
and where, |
makyí atíivxa'ənká?” |
where will they settle?” |
aaly'íim viiyáak. |
he thought, going along. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu 'ashéntits — |
One being — |
xaly'aatsxánəm kwalyavíintinyts avuuváak awím, |
the one who resembled also a ghost was there, and so, |
nyáanyts kanáavəm a'íik 'etəma. |
that one talked to him, they say. |
Kukwiimáatt-ts a'íim,36 |
Kukwiimáatt said, |
“Wàkatsavák! |
“Be patient! |
Máam, |
Now, |
'atsaamánxayk va'oonóom, |
we are just beginning, |
mayúumək,” 'eta. |
as you can see,” he said. |
Pa'iipáa Eethó Kwatáarənyts a'íim,37 |
('Asákwiimáatt) was called the Blind Person, |
nyáany a'íim ashétəmá. |
that’s what he was called, they say. |
Eethó Táar a'íim. |
He was called the Blind One. |
'Atsayúu lya'émk a'ím. |
He couldn’t see things, they say. |
Nyáanyi, |
At that point, |
'amátt nyiinák, |
he sat down there on the ground, |
nyiinák, |
he sat there, |
kaawíts ashtúum, |
and he picked something up, |
mas'ée kaawíts ashtúum, |
he picked up some kind of mud, |
nyáanyəm, |
and with that, |
'atsaayúu kaawíts atséw aaly'íim voonóok 'etá, |
he went about making various kinds of things, they say, |
pa'iipáa kwalyavíinya. |
(things) that resembled people. |
Nyaayúu kwapa'iipáynya. |
Living things. |
. |
|
Nyáanyts |
Those (things) |
'amáttnyi nyatsuuváay a'ím. |
intended to live on the land. |
Kukumáatt,38 |
As for Kukwiimáatt, |
Kukumáattənyts 'amátt atséwəntik |
Kukwiimáatt was still |
avoonóo lyaskyíik 'eta. |
making more land, they say. |
Láw 'ím ayúuk; |
He turned his head quickly and looked; |
Piipáa Eethó Kwatáarny kaawíts kaawémem ayúu 'ím, |
he wanted to see what the Blind Person was doing, |
athúuk 'et. |
he did, they say. |
Pa'iipáa Eethó Kwatáarənts a'ím, |
The Blind Person said, |
“Mayúu alyma'émtək ma'íiva? |
“Can’t you see? |
Pa'iipáa 'atséwk av'uuváak 'awitya. |
I am making people. |
Nyáavəts 'amátt vathí nyatsuuváayəxá,” |
They will live here on the land,” |
a'íik 'et. |
he said, they say. |
. |
|
Kukwiimáatt-ts |
Kukwiimáatt |
iiwáam xiipúk atséw 'ím, |
had intended to make them himself first, |
and he had intended the people to settle there, |
|
'amáttnya, |
(on) the land, |
'amátt 'ootséwnyá. |
(on) the land he had made. |
Nyáanyəm, |
At that point, |
makyík aváts awíilya'ém a'éxaym, |
he had not made any yet, |
'akór awíim avuuváat. |
but ('Asákwiimáatt) was already doing it. |
Uuváantixaym, |
As he was there, |
the Blind Person |
|
'atsaayúu atséwk, |
made things, |
awím, |
and so, |
kaawíts atséwk, |
he made something, |
pa'iipáats nyiitséwk, |
he made people, |
a'étk, |
they say, |
uuváatəsá, |
there he was, but |
Kukwiimáatt-ts uuváam |
Kukwiimáatt was there, |
nyáany aatsooyóoyk 'eta. |
and (the Blind One) showed him those (people), they say. |
. |
|
Iisháalyányts, |
The hands, |
eeményənyts, |
and the feet, |
'atsaayúu lyavéek 'etəmá: |
they resembled something, they say: |
xanamóo. |
a duck. |
Iimáattənyts kaawíts pa'iipáa lyavíi lya'émk; |
Their bodies were not like people’s (bodies); |
pa'iipáa mashoopóownya, |
the people you know about, |
nyáany lyavée lya'émk. |
they weren’t like them. |
Kúur 'ím, |
Soon, |
kuutsanyúuv mattapéek voonóoxáym, |
they were having a terrible argument, and suddenly |
Kukwiimáatt-ts athúum: |
Kukwiimáatt did it: |
ka'ak ka'ák awíim, |
he went kick! kick!, |
'axály aatspáxk. |
and he cast them into the water. |
. |
|
Athúunyək, |
This happened, |
xáak uuthúutsk 'étəma.41 |
and they became something different, they say. |
'Axály kwanytsuuváayányts uuthúutsk 'im. |
They became water dwellers, they say. |
. |
|
Pa'iipáa Eethó Kwatáarənyts |
The Blind Person |
masharáyk mattapéek 'ím, |
was terribly angry, and so, |
mashuuráyəny nyamathótk ayáak |
in his anger he went |
'axály atáqshk, |
and he jumped in the water, |
nyáany nyiaatooqwérək siiyáak 'etá. |
he went following them, they say. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
'axám shuukwíin athúuk a'ét.42 |
he became a whirlpool, they say. |
Athúm, |
So, |
nyáany, |
as for that, |
nyaanyiivák athúuk 'etəmá. |
there he was, they say. |
'Axám shuukwíints.43 |
A whirlpool. |
Nyáany athúum, |
That’s what he became, |
nyiivák athúum. |
and there he was. |
. |
|
Matxáts viithíik 'etá. |
A wind came, they say. |
Nyáanyənyts, |
That (wind), |
'atsaayúu 'atsiiráav apáyk vuuthíik 'et. |
it came carrying sicknesses and things, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaathúum, |
So, |
nyaayúuk, |
when he saw this, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts athúum, |
Kukwiimáatt did it, |
eeménya, |
(with) his foot, |
'atsaayúu, |
or something, |
'axám shuukwíin nyáanya sharéq a'íinyək,44 |
he tried to stop up that whirlpool, |
nyeekwévək, |
but he didn’t succeed, |
tsáaməly awíi lya'émtəm athúm, |
he didn’t do all of it, and so, |
kaa'íts aatspáatsk, |
some escaped, |
'atsaayúu, |
(some) things, |
'atsiiráav, |
sicknesses, |
awíim, |
and so, |
nyáany, |
as for that, |
nyáanyənyts athúum, |
that’s what happened, |
nyiimánk, |
and because of that, |
pa'iipáa 'atsuuráav av'áarək athópk 'eta. |
people have gotten sick, they say. |
. |
|
Viiyáantik 'ím, |
It goes on, they say, |
'atsaayúu kaanáaványts. |
the story. |
Kukwiimáatt-ts tsaamánk, |
Kukwiimáatt got started, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
xaly'ánya atséwk 'etəmá. |
he made the moon, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
iisháaly nyamooshoo'óora nyáanyəm awíim: |
he did it with his index finger: |
'amáyk tsayóq awím, |
he spat on it, |
nyáany awíim; |
and that’s what he used; |
'amáynyi, |
in the sky, |
'anyaaxáap avány, |
that place where the sun sets, |
'amáy nyiivák, |
it was there in the sky, |
in that (place), |
|
tsasvék avoonóoxáym, |
he went about wiping it, and suddenly, |
nyáanyiivák, |
there it was, |
'anyáayk uuvák 'et. |
and it was bright, they say. |
Nyáanya |
That |
xaly'áts athúuk 'eta. |
was the moon, they say. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu 'anóqəm, |
There were small pieces of things,46 |
'amáy kwatháwənya 'anóqəm, |
there were small pieces of the sky,47 |
shalóxk oonóok, |
he went about gouging them out, |
nyáany awíim, |
that’s what he did, |
'atsaayúuts athúuk 'étəma. |
and they became things, they say. |
Xamshéts. |
(They became) stars. |
. |
|
Nyaanyəm, |
With that, |
tiinyáaməm, |
at night, |
'anyáayk athúuk 'et. |
they shine, they say. |
Viitháwət. |
There they are. |
'Aayúu 'antaqór avkwatháwənya, |
As for the small things that are there, |
asílyk athúm, |
they fall in showers, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
athúum, |
they do, |
ayáak, |
they go along, |
'amátt asílyək,48 |
they fall in showers to earth, |
'amáttnyi asílyək. |
they fall in showers to the earth. |
Mattapéek athúm, |
There are a whole lot of them, and so, |
shíiq shíiq a'íim viiyáanyək, |
they leave streaks as they go, |
nyáany, |
and as for that, |
'amátt aváamək 'eta. |
they reach the earth, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts, |
Kukwiimáatt (said), |
“Vatháts, |
“This, |
xaly'á vatháts |
this moon |
makyík 'ashénti nyiivá alya'emxá. |
will not stay in one place. |
Viiyáak, |
It will travel, |
vuu'áats lyavíik viiyáanyək, |
it will travel as if (taking) steps, |
kwanyamék atspámk aváamxá.” |
and it will come out at the other side.” |
. |
|
He said to the Blind Person, |
|
“Xaly'ányts viiyáanyək, |
“The moon goes along, |
amákəly nyaaváamk, |
it goes behind, |
takavék viithíik; |
and it comes back; |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'amátt nyamathíik, |
it comes to that place, |
viithíinyək, |
it comes this way, |
takavék nyiuumáni aváaməntixá. |
and it will return to its starting point. |
Nyáavəts athóxá. |
This will happen. |
Because I make everything turn, |
|
because I make the things in the sky turn, |
|
nyáavəts athóxá.” |
this will happen.” |
. |
|
Pa'iipáa Eethó Kwatáarənyts a'étk a'íim, |
The Blind Person said, |
“I don’t believe that. |
|
Nyáany makyík athúulya'émxá, |
That will never happen, |
'aaly'étka'e,” |
I think,” |
a'íik 'et. |
he said, they say. |
. |
|
Nya'íim oonóok. |
He went on saying it. |
. |
|
It started here, they say: |
|
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
Kukwiimáattənyts, |
Kukwiimáatt, |
xiipúk, |
first, |
pa'iipáa ootséwənya kats'ák, |
he kicked the people that (the Blind Person) had made, |
'axály aatspáxəm, |
he cast them into the water, |
nyaanyiimánk, |
and from then on, |
masharáyk uuváak athúuk 'etá. |
(the Blind Person) was angry with him, they say. |
. |
|
Amák uuthíik athúm, |
After that, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts, |
Kukwiimáatt, |
'aayúu, |
well, |
'amátt ootséwənya shaaxwérək, |
he caused the earth he had made to spin, |
shaaxwérəm athúum, |
he caused it to spin, and so, |
xwérər 'ím viivák. |
here it is spinning. |
. |
|
Awíim uuváanyək, |
When he had done this, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
viitháwəntim, |
there were (other things) too, |
oowéxats viitháwəntim, |
|
nyáany alynyiithúutsk viivát. |
and those (things) are what he was thinking about. |
. |
|
Kukwiimáattányts, |
Kukwiimáatt, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
pa'iipáa nyiitséw 'ím, |
he intended to make people, |
avuuváaxáym, |
there he was, and right away, |
aváts awíi awétəsáa, |
that (Blind One) did it (too), but |
nyáanya aatspáxk, |
(Kukwiimáatt) threw those out, |
alyaatspáxəmk awítya. |
he threw them away. |
A'íim, |
So, |
uuváak athúm, |
there he was, and so, |
'amáttnyi anák, |
he sat on the ground, |
mas'ée ashtúum, |
and he picked up some mud, |
awíim: |
and he did it: |
pa'iipáa nyiitséwk 'etəma. |
he made people, they say. |
'Aayúu, |
Well, |
there were couples in four places; |
|
nyáanyts 'amáttnyi nyatsuuváay a'ím. |
he intended them to live on the land. |
'Atsaayúu xiipúk atséwk 'etá. |
They were the first things he made, they say. |
Kwatsáants athúuk 'ím. |
They were Quechans. |
Nyáany 'iipáats athúuk 'etá. |
That one was a man, they say. |
Sanya'ák atséwəntik 'etá. |
He also made a woman, they say. |
Kukwiimáatt-ts nyaawíntik athúm, |
When Kukwiimáatt had done this, |
Kwa'aapá 'iipáa atséwk, |
he made a Cocopa man, |
'iipáa atséwk, |
he made a man, |
sanya'ák atséwəntik awíik 'etəmá. |
and he also made a woman, they say. |
Nyaawíim, |
Then, |
Kamayáa nyáany nyiiuutsáawəntík 'etá. |
he made those Kamias in the same way, they say.56 |
'Iipáa atséwk, |
He made a man, |
sanya'ák atséwk. |
and he made a woman. |
Nyaawíntik awíim, |
When he had done this, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
Xattpáa 'Anyáa 'iipáa atséwk, |
he made a Maricopa man, |
a'ím, |
and so, |
sanya'ák atséwəntik 'etá. |
he made a woman too, they say. |
Nyáavəts avoonóom, |
These (people) were around here, |
***57 |
*** |
iiyáam oo'éevənya, |
and as for the languages that they spoke, |
nyáany nyiioo'éeyk 'et. |
he taught these to them, they say. |
. |
|
Athúum, |
So, |
viitháwtəsáa, |
there they were, but |
Kwatsáan, |
as for the Quechan, |
sanya'ákənyts, |
the woman, |
“Makyík 'axóttk athúulya'émk,” |
“It’s not good at all,” |
a'íim avuuváak 'etá. |
she said as she was there, they say. |
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
xavíkəm ootséwənya,58 |
(each) pair that he had made, |
nyáanya |
that (pair) |
mattxavík nyaathúum, |
became a couple, |
xáak atháwk athúts a'éxayk— |
and (the couples) were supposed to be in different places— |
and she did not want that at all, |
|
sanya'ákənyts. |
the woman. |
. |
|
Nyáany, |
As for that, |
sany'ákənyts avuuváanyək, |
the woman was there, |
makyík nyáava áar aly'émtək athúm, |
and she did not want this at all, and so, |
viiyáak, |
she went off, |
makyí avák, |
and she stayed somewhere, |
kaathómk siivák. |
she stayed over there doing something. |
. |
|
Pa'iipáa Eethó Kwatáarənyts |
The Blind Person |
was never very far away, |
|
nyáanyi, |
and at that point, |
viithíik, |
he came, |
viithíik a'ím, |
he came, they say, |
'axám athíik atspák a'ím; |
he came up out of the water, they say; |
sanya'áknya, |
and as for the woman, |
ayúuk, |
he saw her, |
siithíik, |
and he came, |
aváamk a'im.61 |
and he got there, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáany a'íim, |
That’s what he said, |
kanáavək,62 |
he told her, |
“Kukwiimáatt-ts 'atsaayúu 'atáyəm atséwk,63 |
“Kukwiimáatt makes many things, |
kanáavtəsáa, |
and he tells about them, but |
makyík ma'áv alyma'émtəxá. |
you must never listen to him. |
Makyík kaawíts mawéeyəntiyúm,” |
He can never do anything for you,” |
a'íim, |
he said, |
a'íik 'etəma. |
he said it, they say. |
. |
|
“ 'Anyép 'anyka'ávək, |
“Listen to me, |
'anyáa 'uu'ítsəny kathúum, |
and do what I say, |
nyaanyiimánək,64 |
and from now on, |
'atsaayúu 'atáyəm manyuuwítsxá. |
you will have many things. |
'Atsaayúu 'atáyəm mamáam avmuuváaxá |
You will eat many things |
'anyáa kwashíintənyám.”65 |
each day.” |
. |
|
Nyaamák, |
After that, |
Kukwiimáatt knew about it, they say. |
|
Shoopóow; |
He knew about it; |
“Makyík 'anyáa nya'áv aly'émk67 |
“She never listens to me |
nyaa'uuváam,” a'íim, |
when I am there,” he said, |
uukanáavək 'etá. |
and he explained it to her, they say. |
“Máanyts makyík 'anyép 'uu'ítsəny ma'áv alyma'émk, |
“You never listen to what I say, |
*** |
|
nyáany, |
and as for that, |
nyaanyiimánk, |
for that reason, |
máanyts mathúum! |
it is you! |
'Anyakamáanənyts mathúm, |
Even though you are my offspring, |
nyiinyatatpóoyxá!” |
I will kill you!” |
'íik 'eta. |
he said, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
matxávik shathómpk, |
he faced the north, |
uuráwk, |
and he did it fast, |
tsaqwérək viiv'óowk a'im. |
he stood there talking. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
kwas'eethéets,69 |
a doctor, |
the doctors that were there, |
|
nyáany nyiikwakyáavək a'ím, |
he asked them for something, |
'atsaayúu, |
and, well, |
avuuváaxaym, |
there he was, and suddenly, |
the rain was terrible, they say. |
|
Oov'óowk mattapéem, |
It rained terribly, |
viitháwnyək, |
it continued, |
viitháwnyək, |
and it continued, |
'anyáa tsuumpápəm kayáamk 'eta. |
it went on for four days, they say. |
. |
|
At that point, |
|
'amáttəny aamáarəm'áshk, |
once again (water) flooded the land, |
'étəma. |
they say. |
It flooded it again, they say. |
|
. |
|
Uuváxáyk,74 |
There he was, and suddenly, |
Kwatsáan 'iipáany nyáanyi aatsoonóoy aly'émk 'etá.75 |
he decided not to abandon the Quechan man there. |
Nyáanyi xáak uuváam athúm,76 |
He was there on one side, and so, |
then, |
|
nyáanyi, |
at that point, |
amúlyk a'ím,78 |
he decided to name him, |
Marxókavék a'ím. |
and he called him Marxókavék. |
'Íis, |
But, |
nyiikamáanənyá — |
as for the others — |
pa'iipáats athúulya'émtəsáa, |
they weren’t people (any more), but |
kaawíts 'iipáyk viithíkəntím — |
they were other kinds of living things79 — |
he did that and they became (animals), they say. |
|
Xáak athúum, |
They were different, |
awíim, |
and so, |
vanyoonóom; |
there they were; |
aváts xáak avám,81 |
and this one was different from them, |
nyáanya, |
and as for him, |
makyík awíi lya'émtəm; |
(Kukwiimáatt) didn’t do anything to him; |
Marxókavék a'ím amúly. |
Marxókavék was his name. |
Nyáany Kwatsáan xiipúkts athúum 'ityá. 82 |
He was the first Quechan, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáanyiimánk, |
Starting there, |
kaawíts atséwəntík avoonóok 'etá. |
(Marxókavék) went about making other things, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
'Ashpáa atséwk, |
he made Eagle, |
Xatalawé atséwk, |
he made Coyote, |
Xatakúly awiim, |
he did Mountain Lion, |
'Aqáaq awíim, |
he did Raven, |
Namás, |
Raccoon, |
Maxwét, |
Bear, |
'Amó, |
Sheep, |
'Apén, |
Beaver, |
Maxwáa, |
Badger, |
'Atsa'ór, |
Hawk, |
'Aqáaq, |
and Raven, |
awíim siiwáak 'etá.83 |
he went about doing them, they say. |
Xiipúk, |
At first, |
'atsaayúu ootséwənyts tsáaməly takyéevək, |
the things he had made were all together, |
'axóttk avoonóok 'etəma. |
and they were fine, they say. |
'Axóttk avatíivk athúm, |
They were fine, and so, |
nyatsuuváayk avatíivəm. |
they were living (together). |
Avoonóoxaym, |
They were there for some time, and suddenly, |
iiwáanyts sàqasáq a'íi kaa'émk viitháwəm athúm, |
they must have gotten restless, and so, |
matta'íim, |
they were talking about each other, |
nyiixúu 'etk; |
and they were making a ruckus; |
mattanyúuv 'etk, |
they were going to fight with each other, |
voonóok 'étəmá. |
there they were, they say. |
Nyáava ayúuk athúm, |
Seeing this, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts masharáyk. |
Kukwiimáatt got angry. |
Kaawíts aqásəm'áshəm; |
Once again he summoned something; |
tsáaməly íim, |
they would all come to an end, |
shaaíiməntixá. |
he would destroy them again. |
Nyaa'étk awíim athúm, |
When he decided to do it he did it, and so, |
'axány kwiixáalyts viithíik,84 |
a flood of water came, |
'amáttnya aamáarək 'et. |
and it flooded the land, they say. |
Viiyáak viiyáaxaym — |
It went on and on — |
'atsaayúuts viiyáanyək, |
there was something there, |
'Aqáaqts siivám,85 |
Raven was sitting there, |
nyáanya, |
and at that point, |
makyík nyáany tapúy lya'émxá, |
(the flood) would not kill any of them, |
a'íim awíim, |
he decided, and so, |
kaa'émk avoonóom, |
he went about saying something (to end the flood), |
nyáanyi asáttk 'etəma. |
and the water receded, they say. |
'Axányts asáttk. |
The water receded. |
. |
|
Then, |
|
“Nyaanyamáam, |
“Finally, |
nyáanyi amánəm, |
from now on, |
pa'iipáa xáam uuthúutsxá. |
people will be different. |
Makyík matsakyéevək manytsuuváay lya'émxá. |
You won’t live together any more. |
Makyím xáak moonóok mathúm, |
You will be in different places, and so, |
nyáanyi, |
there, |
malyavíik avmoonóotiya.” |
you will do things in your own way.” |
. |
|
***87 |
*** |
Athúum, |
So, |
viitháwxáym, |
they were there, and suddenly, |
Kukwiimáattənyts, |
Kukwiimáatt, |
nyaa'íntik |
when he said it again, |
kaawíts atséw 'ím avuuváak, |
he was intending to make something, |
a'étəntiva. |
he must have been intending (to do so). |
Pa'iipáats, |
People, |
pa'iipáa uu'ítsənya,88 |
the ones he called people, |
nyiitséwəntík.89 |
he made more of them. |
Nyáanyts aaíimk avoonóok, |
They went about doing as they pleased, |
'atsaayúu xiipúk oowéxanyá, |
and the things they should have done the first time, |
makyík awíts aly'émtúm, |
but never did, |
nyáanyiimánk awítsxá.90 |
starting now they would do them. |
A'íim a'íik 'etá. |
He said so, they say. |
Athúm, |
So, |
pa'iipáats,91 |
people, |
pa'iipáa nyáanyányts — |
those people — |
'iitspátsəts, |
men, |
mashtxáats — |
girls — |
sanyts'áakts athúum, |
there were women, |
xuumáarts nyaathúum. |
and there were children. |
Nyáavəm kwaatspáatsənyts, |
The (people) who appeared at this point, |
avoonóom athúm, |
there they were, and so, |
'atsaayúu nyiioo'éeyk 'etəma. |
he taught them things, they say. |
Nyáanyəm, |
At that point, |
nyaanyiimánk, |
starting there, |
nyiioo'éeyəm, |
he taught them |
kaawíts shoopóowk athúm; |
(so that) they would know something; |
iiwáam uuthúuts a'ím. |
he intended them to do things for themselves. |
Pa'iipáanyənyts, |
Those people, |
they asked for things, they say, |
|
viikwatháwənyts. |
the ones who were there. |
Nyáany, |
In that way, |
'atsaayúu shoopóowk athúm. |
they came to know things. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
uushíit tsáaməly shoopóowəntik athúum, |
they came to know all of their names, and so, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts |
Kukwiimáatt |
iiwáam athúum: |
did it himself: |
pa'iipáa 'ashénti, |
one person, |
sanya'ák 'ashént xo |
one woman, or |
áa, |
yes, |
pa'iipáats — |
it was a person — |
sanya'ák 'ashénti, |
one woman, |
uutháavək 'etá. |
(Kukwiimáatt) got together with her, they say. |
Uutháavəxáym, |
He got together with her, and right away, |
maxáyts nyiivák 'etá. |
there was a boy, they say. |
. |
|
Sanya'ákənyts as'áwəm, |
The woman had given birth, |
'ashéntits avuuváantik 'etá. |
and soon another child was there too, they say. |
Nyáanya |
That one |
vatsíits athúuk 'et. |
was a daughter, they say. |
Kumastamxó, |
Kumastamxó, |
Kumastamxó a'ím, |
(the boy) was called Kumastamxó, |
shiimúlyts a'ityá. |
that was his clan name, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
Xaanyé uu'íts, |
what they called (the girl) was Xaanyé (Frog), |
nyáanya shiimúlyts. |
that was her clan name. |
. |
|
Nyáanyənyts, |
That one, |
avuuváak 'et. |
there he was, they say. |
Nyáanyts xiipúk alytanák athúuk 'et. |
|
Avoonóontik 'etá. |
(Others) were there too, they say. |
Shiimúlyts avoonóok athúm,94 |
The clans were there, and so, |
Xiipáa 'etk, |
Xiipáa, they say, |
'atsaayúu xatalwénya a'ím 'etá. |
that means coyote or something, they say. |
Mat'á a'íim,95 |
Mat'á, they say, |
talypó uu'íits, |
what it means is roadrunner, |
Maavé, |
and Maavé, |
'aavé taaxán nyáany a'íim 'íikəta. |
that means rattlesnake, they say. |
Alya'óots uu'ítsnyá, |
The one they call Alya'óots, |
'ashée a'íim 'íik 'et. |
(that) means buzzard, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáava, |
As for these, |
shiimúly vatháts, |
these clan names, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'iipáak ayémk athúum, |
they follow the male line of descent, |
siiwáak athúuk 'etəma. |
and they continue, they say. |
***96 |
*** |
Mashaxáyts na'áyvək avuuváak, |
A girl has a father, |
nyáanyəm shiimúly atháwk awityá. |
and from him she gets her name. |
Na'áyənya. |
(From) her father. |
Nyaathúum, |
Then, |
makyík sata'ótsəny nyiiáay lya'émk avuuváak; |
she never does pass the name on to her children; |
mashtxáats nyaathúum makyík shiimúly nyiiáaylya'émk. |
if they are girls they do not pass on their clan names. |
Maxáyənyts, |
The boy, |
uuxamíixaym, |
when he fathers children, |
maxáyənyts shiimúlyk 'ityá. |
the boy carries the clan name, they say. |
Nyáanyts xuutsamáar shiimúly nyiiáayk.97 |
He is the one who gives his children their clan name. |
Sanyts'áakənyts |
The women |
a'íim voonóonyək, |
go on being called (by their clan name all their lives), |
nyaapúyəm, |
and when they die, |
nyaanyamáam. |
that is the end of it. |
Namák 'et. |
They leave it behind, they say. |
'Íis |
But |
aváts, |
that (man), |
siiwáa lyaskyíik. |
(his clan name) still continues. |
. |
|
'Aavé kwatáyənyts, |
The big snakes, |
nyáanyi, |
at that point, |
aatspáatsəntik 'etəmá. |
they appeared, they say. |
Atséwəm aatspáatsk; |
He made them and they appeared; |
'aavé taaxán a'ím,98 |
they were called rattlesnakes, |
'aavé síi a'ét, |
they were called gopher snakes, |
kwaatsnyii'áalyk 'et, |
they were called red racers, |
xam'aavíir a'ím, |
they were called water snakes, |
'aksár, |
and sidewinders, |
and they were called king snakes; |
|
nyáany tsáaməly atséwk 'eta. |
he made all of those, they say. |
'Aavéts, |
Snakes, |
'aavéts avuuthúutsk athúm 'ítya. |
|
. |
|
Marxókavékts |
Marxókavék |
avuuváak 'eta. |
was there, they say. |
Piipáa nyiiwík — |
He helped people — |
Kukwiimáatt-ts uuváam, |
Kukwiimáatt was there, |
nyáanyts nyiiwík.101 |
and he was the one who helped people. |
Avuuváaxaym, |
(Marxókavék) was there, and suddenly, |
'aavényts tsakyíwk 'etəma. |
a snake bit him, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáany avuuváaxaym, |
There he was, and suddenly, |
tsakyíwətəm athúm, |
and it bit him, and so, |
apúyk 'eta. |
he died, they say. |
. |
|
Apúyəm ayúuxayk, |
When he saw that (Marxókavék) had died, |
Kukwiimáatt-ts ookavék, |
Kukwiimáatt brought him back, |
ookavékəm 'iipáyk athúntik 'et. |
he brought him back (so that) he was alive again, they say. |
Aványa, |
That one, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'aavé, |
the snake, |
'aavé kwatsakyíwəny,102 |
the snake that had bitten him, |
nyáanyi, |
at that point, |
nyáany atháwk, |
he took that (snake), |
aaxwésxwéshk, |
and he spun him, |
he threw him and sent him spinning to the north, |
|
aváts.104 |
this one (did). |
Nyáanyi, |
There, |
nyáanyiiáapk 'etá. |
he threw him there, they say. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
Starting then, |
mattooxaméeyk voonóoxaym, |
(the snake) went about reproducing, |
'atsaayúu, |
and, well, |
'axály oonóots, |
they are in the water, |
'amáy oonóok athum, |
they are in the sky, |
athúuk 'etá. |
they are, they say. |
'Aavéts uuthúutstəsáa, |
They are snakes, but |
they are different kinds. |
|
. |
|
'Amáy 'Aavé a'ét. |
He is called 'Amáy 'Aavé (Sky Snake). |
Nyáanyts 'amáyəny uuváak; |
He is the one who is up in the sky; |
ayérək lyavíik uuváak 'ityá. |
he seems to be flying, they say. |
Nyáanyiimánk,106 |
Starting then, |
pa'iipáats, |
people, |
pa'iipáanyənyts — |
the people — |
xuumáar nyiivasháwk uuváxaym,107 |
when they were taking care of children, then suddenly, |
'aláayk avuuváxaym, |
if (one of the kids) was bad, then suddenly, |
'aayúu kanáavək 'etá. |
they would tell him things, they say. |
“Athúum, |
“So, |
nyamuuvám, |
as you are here, |
'atsaayúu 'aave kwa'atsláytsəny nyii'aqáasəm,108 |
I will summon the bad snakes and things, |
apák |
and they will come here |
veemawémxá!” |
and take you away!” |
a'íik 'eta. |
they said, they say. |
. |
|
Athúum, |
So, |
viitháwnyək, |
there they were, |
pa'iipáany iiwáatsənyts sàqasáq 'etəm; |
and people were restless; |
makyík mattshoopóow 'ím athúulya'émk, |
they never had gotten to know each other, |
mattvaashqwék 'ím. |
and they disliked each other, they say. |
. |
|
Kukwiimáattənyts |
Kukwiimáatt |
nyáany ayúuk awétsáa, |
must have seen that, but |
***109 |
*** |
“Viitháwnyək, |
“Here they are, |
and if they are bad, |
|
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
aví 'a'áw aráa 'ím; |
a fire will blaze up there; |
nyáanya, |
as for that, |
'aayúu aráak mattapéem mayúutxá.” |
you will see things blaze up in a terrible way.” |
Nyáany a'ét. |
That’s what he said. |
. |
|
'Amátt énən, |
As for earthquakes, |
énənən 'í av'áarəm, |
(the earth) has always quaked, |
nyáany ashék 'ityá. |
and that’s what he named them, they say. |
Nyáanyi aqásəm, |
He summoned them there, |
nyiiqáasəm, |
he summoned them, |
pa'iipáa nyiitatpóoy 'ím. |
and they killed people, they say. |
A'étəsáa, |
However, |
Kumastamxó |
Kumastamxó |
xuumáyənyts, |
was his son, |
nyáany xuumáyənyts a'ím.111 |
he was his son, they say. |
Pa'iipáa 'atáyəm ashtúum — |
He got many people together — |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'amátt akúp mattapéets viivák 'etəma. |
there was a great cave there, they say. |
Vatáyk, |
It was big, |
nyáanya, |
that (cave), |
nyáanyily tsakxávək awim, |
and he took them in there, and so, |
'atsaayúu 'avíits mattapéek viitháwm athum, |
there were big rocks and things, and so, |
awíim, |
he did it, |
'asá kwanályts athúuk awím, |
and there was snow that had fallen, and so, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
xatsúurək nyiináamk viitháwm,112 |
it was terribly cold, |
nyáanyi. |
there. |
Nyáany awíim |
That’s what he did, |
ashtúum, |
he gathered it, |
nyáany, |
that (snow), |
'atsaayúu, |
and, well, |
he blocked the entrances to the cave. |
|
. |
|
'Atskwaráanyts athúum, |
There was a fire, |
'amátt énənyts athúum, |
and there was an earthquake, |
'atsaayúu 'axá sa'ílynya awíim, |
and he did something to the ocean, |
'aayúu, |
well, |
kaawémtəm athúm, |
I don’t know what he did, but |
'amáytan axávək athúm, |
it went right up into the sky, and so, |
viiyáanyk viiyáanyk viiyáanyək, |
it went on and on and on, |
viiyáaxaym, |
it went on, and suddenly |
asáttəm. |
it receded. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
nyaanyiimánək, |
from then on, |
'atsaayúuts nyiitháwəm ooyóov av'áarək 'ityá. |
things have been there that are still seen today, they say.114 |
'Avíits, |
Rocks, |
'avíi kwa'uutta'úuttányts athótk, |
there are round rocks, |
'avíi kwa'alméenyənyts athótk athúum 'ityá, |
and there are tall mountains, they say, |
nyáanyəm. |
because of that. |
'Axányənyts awíim 'ityá. |
The water did it, they say. |
'Axá mattkwatsapéets. |
A huge amount of water. |
. |
|
Athúum, |
So, |
viiyáaxaym, |
(life) went on, and soon, |
viitháwnyək, |
there they were, |
taarawíik viitháwk 'etá. |
they recovered, they say. |
'Atsaayúu tsáaməly viiyáak, |
Everything went on, |
'axóttk kayáamk viiyáat, |
it was going straight in a good (direction), |
athót kwayuulyavíim ayúuk 'etəma. |
that’s how it appeared to be, they say. |
Athúum, |
So, |
oonóoxaym, |
there they were, and suddenly, |
'anyáa 'ashéntək alyaváamk athúm,115 |
one day came, and so,116 |
Kukumáatt vatsíinyənyts masharáyk 'etəmá. |
Kukwiimáatt’s daughter got angry, they say. |
Makyík uutar'úy lya'émk a'ím, |
He didn’t take care of her at all, she said, |
kaathómk a'ím. |
that’s how he was, she said. |
Kaawíts awéey lya'émk 'et. |
He didn’t do anything for her, she said. |
A'étk 'étəma. |
She was just saying that, they say. |
Women have always been like that, as you see. |
|
Ayúutk av'áartəm athúm,118 |
He ignored her, and so, |
nyáanyiimánk, |
starting then, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
kaawém, |
she did something, |
kaathóm, |
she behaved somehow, |
'aláayapat aaly'íim uuváak uuváaxáym,119 |
she was thinking about being bad in turn, and suddenly, |
kwas'iithíik awíi 'ím, |
she decided to use her powers, |
mattatháwk 'eta. |
and she bewitched him, they say. |
Nyáanyts mattatháwk awíim, |
That (daughter of his) bewitched him, and so, |
nyáanya, |
as for him, |
apúyk a'ávtank waatsavátank, |
|
apúyk viiyáak 'etəma. |
he was going along dying, they say. |
. |
|
Athúum, |
So, |
viithíknyək,121 |
he lay there, |
Kumastamxó kanáavək a'ím. |
and he talked to Kumastamxó. |
“Máanyts, |
“You, |
'atsaayúu nyikamáanənya matséwxá,” |
you will make the rest of the things,” |
a'íim, |
he said, |
kanáavək 'eta. |
and he told him (what to do), they say. |
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
apúyk 'etəma. |
he died, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaapúyəm, |
When he died, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
iimáattənya, |
as for his body, |
awíim, |
they did it, |
'atsaayúu mapís uuwítsnya lyavíik uutsáaw, |
they did what they do nowadays, |
nyáany uutsáawk awím, |
that’s what they did, and so, |
ootanyéy a'ím avoonóonyək, |
they went about getting ready to cremate him, |
awíik 'etəma. |
they did it, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaanyiimánk, |
From then on, |
tsuunyúuts av'áarək athútya.122 |
(people) have always followed that example. |
Nyáavəm, |
At this point, |
athúu av'áarək. |
they always do it. |
. |
|
Xatalwéts |
Coyote |
'atsaayúu nyáava avkwathútsəny ayúutank uuváanyək, |
had been watching all these things that had happened, |
mattáam nyakórtanəm ayúuk uuváak. |
he had been watching for a very long time, for years. |
Nyáany lyavíi xalyavíik 'eta. |
Perhaps he wanted to be like that, they say. |
Pa'iipáa nyiikwanáamts athúu a'ím, |
He wanted to be a great person, |
Kukwiimáatt 'atsuuthúutsnya lyavíi a'ím,123 |
he wanted to resemble Kukwiimáatt in character, |
athótəsáa, |
he did, but |
makyík shoopóow aly'émk, |
he didn’t realize, |
təsáa, |
however, |
'atsaayúu nyáany uuthúutsənyts |
that those things that (Kukwiimáatt) had done |
aaíimk athúuly'émk athópka 'et. |
were not done lightly, they say. |
Uuthútsənyts 'atsaayúu nyiikwanáamtan, |
(The things) he did were great things, |
nyiikatsámtank viitháwm, |
they outdid (all other deeds), |
nyaanyiimánk, |
and from then on, |
athúum, |
(people) have done them, |
athúu av'áark athúuk 'etəma. |
they have always done them, they say. |
. |
|
A'ávaly'émk, |
He didn’t listen, |
avuuváak athúm. |
and there he was. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
Kukwiimáatt nyáany iimáatt atháwnyək kaathómxas awíi kaawémxayk, |
he was planning to take a piece of Kukwiimáatt’s body somehow, |
and from that point, |
|
nyiináam a'ím, |
he intended to be great, |
nyiikwanáamts athúu 'ím. |
he intended to be a great (person). |
Athúum, |
So, |
atséwk, |
he made it, |
'atsaayúu atséwk avoonóot. |
he went about making it. |
Ootanyék, |
They cremated (Kukwiimáatt), |
awíim, |
and so, |
nyáavi athíkxáym, |
he lay here, and suddenly, |
viithíkəm, |
as he lay here, |
pa'iipáanyənyts a'ítsk voonóok 'etá.125 |
the people went about saying things, they say. |
Mattuutsuupáayk, |
They comforted each other, |
mattuutsuupáayk athúum a'íim, |
they said things in order to comfort each other, |
viiwáak, |
they went along (saying), |
“Be strong! |
|
Kakwanamíik! |
Be brave! |
Take care of each other!” |
|
a'íik a'ím. |
they said, they say. |
Voonóoxáym, |
There they were, and suddenly, |
Xatalwényənyts avéshk axávək, |
that Coyote ran in, |
iiwáanya atháwk 'et. |
and he took (Kukwiimáatt’s) heart, they say. |
Nyaatháwk athúm, |
He took it, and so, |
'anyáavik shathómpk veeyémk 'etá.128 |
he went off heading east, they say. |
Avéshk viiyáanyək viiyáanyəm, |
He ran on and on, |
'atsaayúu, |
and, well, |
'avíits 'améek 'ashéntək nyáanyi av'óowk, |
there was one tall mountain standing there, |
av'óowm, |
it was standing there, |
ayúuk athúm, |
and he saw it, and so, |
nyáanyi nyaaváamk, |
when he got there, |
'atsaayúunya — |
that thing — |
iiwáanya — |
the heart — |
asóok 'et.129 |
he ate it, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáany 'atsaayúu 'axáyts,130 |
It was a wet thing, |
it came out of (Kukwiimáatt’s) body, |
|
iiwáa, |
his chest, |
iiwáanyək. |
from his chest. |
Avík aatspáatsk, |
It came from there, |
'amáttnyi atúsk 'et. |
and it dripped on the ground, they say. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
Starting then, |
'atsaayúu a'íim ashét: |
they named it something: |
'Avíi 'Axás a'íim. |
they called it Greasy Mountain. |
Nyaanyiimánk a'ím 'itya. |
Since then it has been called (that), they say. |
. |
|
Nyáany athúntim athúm, |
That’s what he did, and so, |
Xatalwényənyts,132 |
that Coyote, |
nyaamáam, |
that’s all, |
pa'iipáa nyaakwévəts athótəsáa, |
he’s a good-for-nothing person, but |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
nyaakwév athúum, |
he’s good for nothing, |
athóoyvək uuváanyək. |
that’s his character. |
Nyáanyiimánk, |
That’s where it comes from, |
'atsaayúu kamánk athúuk 'etá,133 |
things result from that, they say, |
the things he does. |
|
'Atsaayúu iiwáa aathóm, |
He turns his heart towards it, |
nyáanya aaxnók. |
and he gets sick from it. |
Athúum, |
So, |
nyáany lyavíik athúuk 'eta.135 |
that’s what he was like, they say. |
Pa'iipáa nyaakwévəts. |
He was a good-for-nothing person. |
Pa'iipáa — |
A person — |
pa'iipáa tsakwshá nyaakwévəts athúum, |
he was a person whose head was good for nothing, |
athúum, |
and so, |
it happened, they say. |
|
. |
|
Kumastamxóts nyáanyi tsaamánək,137 |
Kumastamxó started there, |
nyakóny uuwítsnya awíinypátk uuváak athúm, |
he went about doing the things his father had done, and so, |
uuváaxayk, |
there he was, and suddenly, |
'atsaayúu a'ávək 'et. |
he heard something, they say. |
Kaanáav viithíkəm: |
There was a story: |
'atsaayúuts — |
something — |
'aavé taaxan vatáytants |
a big rattlesnake |
avuuváak, |
was around there, |
'atsaayúu 'axótt lya'émk, |
he was not a good thing, |
'atsaayúu 'aláay athúm, |
he was a bad thing, |
awím, |
and so, |
pa'iipáanyts uuwár aly'ém. |
the people did not want him. |
. |
|
Nyáanyi ayúu lyavíik |
At that point, it seemed that |
piipáa, |
a person, |
'iipáats, |
a man, |
nyiikwanáamts avuuváanypatk awim |
a great one was there too, and so, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'atsaráav mattkwatspée athúuk 'etəmá.138 |
he got a terrible sickness, they say.139 |
Athúm, |
So, |
nyaayúuk athúm, |
when he saw this, |
piipáa, |
the person, |
piipáanyənyts avuuváam avathíkəm, |
the (sick) person was around there, he was lying there, |
nyaayúuk athúm, |
and he saw him, |
Kumastamxóts. |
Kumastamxó (did). |
'Aavé taaxán, |
The rattlesnake, |
'aavé nyáasily alykuuváatsnya, |
the snake that was off in the distance, |
aaxweshxweshk makyí áap athúum |
(Kukwiimáatt) had thrown him spinning away somewhere |
uuváany, |
and there he was, |
nyáanyi, |
and at that point, |
nyáany aqásk 'etá, |
(Kumastamxó) summoned him, they say, |
vathány. |
this (snake). |
Piipáa vathánya mattawík awim uumán a'ím. |
He intended (the snake) to help this person and cure him. |
The rattlesnake got there, |
|
athúm, |
and so, |
tapúyk 'etəma. |
he killed him, they say. |
. |
|
Kumastamxó took (the snake) and killed him, they say. |
|
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
nyeexwéttənyts |
his blood |
'óorts athúuk 'et. |
became gold, they say. |
Tsooyóqənyts |
His spittle |
'óor kwalyavíits kaxmáalyənyts athúuk 'et. |
became something white that’s similar to gold, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
tsakwshányənyts — |
his head — |
'avíi xóorəts viitháwm, |
there is gravel here, |
his head turned into that (gravel), they say. |
|
His body |
|
'amátt kwa'ora'órnya shakwíinək, |
encircled the earth, |
'atsaayúu, |
and, well, |
nyáanyənyts 'apínyk athúuk 'éta. |
that (area) became warm, they say. |
Nyaanyiivák, |
There it is, |
aamél lyavíik, |
it’s like a belt, |
'apínyk 'eta. |
and it’s warm there, they say. |
Kumastamxó uu'íts nyáanyts,144 |
The one they call Kumastamxó, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'a'íi qweraqwér atháwk, |
he picked up a pointed stick, |
and he stuck it in the ground, |
|
a'ét. |
they say. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
From then on, |
'axányənyts avéshk viiyáak 'et.146 |
water has run there, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
'uutáp nyáany atháwk, |
he picked up that spear, |
(something) like that was there and he picked it up, and so, |
|
'amáttnyi awíim, |
he did (something) to the earth, |
aaqíirək, |
he made a line in it, |
aaqíishk viiwáanyək viiwáanyək, |
he made a line and extended it and extended it, |
nyáasily, |
and way over there, |
'axá sa'íly kamémək 'et. |
he took it (all the way) to the salt water, they say. |
. |
|
Nyaanyiimánk, |
From then on, |
nyáanyi amáarək,148 |
it has flowed there, |
vatháts nyiithík 'ityá. |
this (river) has been there, they say. |
'Axá Kwaráw Kwaxwéttnya.149 |
The Colorado River. |
Nyáanyts aviithík 'itya. |
That (river) has been there, they say, |
Kwatsáan nyamátt atóm viikwáama.150 |
the one that goes through the middle of Quechan territory. |
Nyáany nyaawíim, |
Having done that, |
'atsíi atséwk 'eta. |
he made fish, they say. |
'Atsíi 'atáyəm atséw, |
He made many fish, |
xáam uuthútsnyəm,151 |
different kinds (of fish), |
'atsayérəts, |
and birds, |
the ones that live near the water,153 |
|
nyáany awíntik, |
he did those too, |
'axály avkwathíkənya nyiitséwk voonóok 'ityá.154 |
he went about making the water birds, they say.155 |
Nyamáam, |
Finally, |
nyikapílym viithíixaym, |
as soon as it got to be summer, |
'atsíinyənyts vaathíik 'et. |
the fish would come, they say. |
Vaathíinyək vaathíinyək vaathíinyək, |
They would come and come and come, |
makyéely apám. |
and they would reach some distant place. |
'Aayúu, |
Well, |
xatsúurək siitháwm, |
it was cold there, |
nyáanyily aváam, |
and they got there, |
apámk. |
they all got there. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
From that point, |
'atsíinyənyts 'atáyk athúuk 'etəma. |
there were a lot of fish, they say. |
The old fish, |
|
nyáanya, |
as for them, |
nyáanyts oopóoyk 'etá. |
they died, they say. |
Nyakaváayk. |
They were worn out. |
Nyiikamáanənyts aakavék, |
Their offspring went back, |
'axá sa'íly kayáamk vaayáanyk, |
they went straight to the salt water, |
apámk. |
and they got there. |
Nyáasily athík athíknyək,157 |
There they were, over there, until |
xaméera, |
eventually, |
aakavék, |
they went back, |
avathútsəntik athúu 'ím athúm, |
they were going to do the same thing, and so, |
nyaanyiimánk athúu av'áarək athópəka. |
since that time they have always done it. |
. |
|
Viithíik, |
They came, |
viithíinyək, |
they came, until |
kaawíts kanyaathúum kanyaathúm, |
somehow they managed to do it, |
aakavék athót. |
and they went back. |
Nyaanyiimánk athúum 'ityá. |
Since then they have done it, they say. |
. |
|
Kumastamxóts pa'iipáa nyiishtúum. |
Kumastamxó got people together. |
'Avíits, |
A mountain, |
'avíits viivám,158 |
a mountain was here, |
nyáany nyiiuukayáamk 'etá. |
and he brought them towards it, they say. |
Nyáany a'íim: |
That’s what it was called: |
'Avíi Kwa'amée 'et. |
it was called 'Avíi Kwa’amée (High Mountain). |
Nyáanyi, |
At that point, |
'atsaayúu atséwk athúum,159 |
he built something, and so, |
nyaanyiivák athúuk 'etəma. |
there it was, they say. |
'Avá mattkyáaly uu'íts, |
It was called a ramada, |
nyáany atséwk 'etəma.160 |
that’s what he built, they say. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
***161 |
*** |
uuthúutsxanyá, |
it was for them to use, |
a'íim. |
he said. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
alyoovar'é lyavíik awíim,162 |
he made something like a church,163 |
he intended them to use it, |
|
a'íim, |
and so, |
nyáany atséwk, |
that’s what he made, |
nyiioo'éeyk voonóok, |
and he went about teaching them, |
aavíirək 'eta. |
and he finished, they say. |
. |
|
Nyáanyi, |
At that point, |
nyáanyts viitháwnyək, |
these (people) were here, |
viitháwnyək, |
here they were, |
xaméera, |
and later, |
siiyáanyək, |
they went along, |
nyáava, |
and as for this, |
uuwíts vatháts nyaanyamáam; |
it is what he did, and that’s all; |
“Pa'iipáa avkoonóonyá, |
“The people who are around there, |
aatsuuxáymək, |
they have no expertise, |
shatamatháavəxá,” |
they won’t know,” |
a'íim a'íikəta. 165 |
he said, they say. |
Nyaawíim, |
Then, |
kaawíts nyiioo'éeyəntik avoonóok athúm, |
he went about teaching them something, and so, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
'atsaamáats nyáanya tsavóow a'ím, |
he intended them to plant crops, |
nyiioo'éeyk athúm; |
and he taught them; |
'atsaayúu xáam kuuthúutsnya uumáxats athúm, |
there were other things that they could eat, |
viitháwm, |
there they were, |
nyáany nyiioo'éeyəntik, |
and he taught them about those too, |
atháak kaawémk avoonóo 'ím. |
he intended them to gather them and do whatever it was. |
'Atsaayúu tsáaməly alynyiithúutsk viitháwk: |
They were thinking about all these things: |
kaawíts tsavóowxaym, |
as soon as they planted something, |
xáak athótk athúm, |
it became different, and so, |
nyáanya, |
as for that, |
vanyaa'íim: |
this is what happened: |
merasíints athúuk 'etəma. |
it became medicine, they say. |
'Iipá uutsáawəntík 'eta. |
They made arrows, they say. |
Oo'éeyəm, |
He taught them how, |
'iipá uutsáawk, |
and they made arrows, |
'uutáp awíim, |
and they did spears, |
kaawíts xáam kuuthútsnya nyáanyəm awíim.166 |
and they did the (other) different things. |
'Axwáayk nyaathúum, |
When there was war, |
nyáanya uuwíits a'ím. |
he intended them to use these things. |
Nyáany nyiiaatsooyóoyk: |
That’s what he showed them: |
'atsaayúu oowéxanya, |
how to make things, |
'a'áw awíim ootséwxanya,167 |
how to make fire, |
nyioo'éeyəntík 'et. |
he taught them that too, they say. |
Awim, |
So, |
mattáam vikwayáanya, |
(in) the years that passed, |
uushíitənya nyiioo'éeyəntik 'et. |
he taught them names too, they say. |
Nyáanyi, |
At that point, |
xáam uuthútsəm 'ityá. |
there were different (seasons), they say. |
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
“ 'Apínyək,” |
“It’s warm,” |
“ 'Apílyk,” |
“It’s hot,” |
“Ayúushk,” |
“It’s cooling off,” |
and “It’s cold,” and so, |
|
nyáany a'ím, |
that’s what (the seasons) are called, |
nyiioo'éey 'ím 'et. |
he tried to teach them that, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
shiimúlynya nyiiáayk athúm, |
he gave them clan names, and so, |
nyáavəm a'ím, |
at this point he said, |
“Whatever you make of yourself, |
|
pa'iipáa nyiimashíitk awím a'étxá,”170 |
that’s what people will call you,” |
a'íim, |
he said, |
and he gave them their clan names, they say. |
|
. |
|
Nyáanyiimánk, |
Starting there, |
pa'iipáa xáak tsawémk 'eta.172 |
he took the people in different (directions), they say. |
Nyiikanáavək a'et:173 |
He told them (things), they say; |
nyáany makyí nyatsuuváay 'ím: |
he said where they would live: |
'anyaavi awétk, |
they (would) do it in the east, |
kavéevik awétk, |
they (would) do it in the south, |
'anyaaxáapk awíim, |
they (would) do it in the west, |
matxávik awíim. |
or they (would) do it in the north. |
Marxókavék, |
As for Marxókavék, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
Kwatsáan pa'iipáa nyiikwanáamts.174 |
he was a great Quechan person. |
Uuváaxáyk, |
He was there, and all of a sudden |
'atsaráavək 'eta. |
he got sick, they say. |
'Atsaráavək awim, |
He got sick, and so, |
nyamáam, |
finally, |
kwara'ák athúm,175 |
he got old, and so, |
'atsaráavək, |
he got sick, |
apúyk athúm. |
and he died. |
. |
|
Kwatsáanənyts, |
The Quechans, |
uu'ítsənyts, |
the ones called (by that name), |
nyáanyts iimáatt atháwk, |
they took his body, |
viiwáak, |
they took it here, |
ootanyék aavíirk a'ím. |
and they cremated it and finished, they say. |
. |
|
'Atsaayúu tsáaməly, |
All (these) things |
ookavék kanáavək athum. |
get told over and over again. |
. |
|
Nyáanyi viiwáak, |
They took him there, |
'Avíi Kwa'mée kwa'ítsəny alyawémk, |
they took him to what is called 'Avíi Kwa'amée, |
nyáanyi, |
and there, |
nyáanyi athík athutyá. |
that’s where he lies. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
Since that time, |
'avíi nyáanyi alynyaayém. |
(people) have gone to that mountain. |
Nyuuwítsk uuthúutsk a'ím, |
They own it, they say, |
nyáanya. |
that (place). |
Pa'iipáa mattkamaawíinyts athúuk 'ím, |
The people are his relatives, and so, |
Kwatsáants athótk, |
they are Quechans, |
Xamakxáavəts athúum, |
they are Mojaves, |
'Axá Xavashúupáayts athúum, |
they are Havasupais, |
Xawáalyapáayts athúum, |
they are Hualapais, |
Yáavapáay. |
and Yavapais. |
Amák athíintisáa, |
(Some) might have come afterwards, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
Xattpáa 'Anyáa a'étəma. |
they are called Maricopas. |
Iiwáa mattashék Pa'iipáa a'ét. |
They called themselves the People. |
. |
|
Vathány awíim voonóok nyaavíirək. |
He went on doing this and finished. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
pa'iipáats 'uuxúutt nyaa'íim, |
he intended the people to be good, |
pa'iipáats 'uuxúuttk 'iipáyk voonóow 'ím, |
he intended the people to be good and live (their lives), |
Kumastamxó uu'ítsənyts. |
the one called Kumastamxó (did). |
He went into the earth, they say. |
|
Nyaanyiimánk; |
He came from there; |
nyakónyənyts nyáanyi kamánk atspák awityá.177 |
his father had come up from there. |
Nyáanyəm, |
At that point, |
mattwaaxáavək athúum, |
he fasted, and so, |
makyík 'atsamáa lya'émk, |
he didn’t eat anything, |
oovar'ék, |
and he prayed, |
nyáasik awémk, |
he sent (his prayer) over there, |
Pa'iipáa Nyiikwanáam nyáanyi, |
to that Great Person, |
awémk, |
he sent it, |
'atsaayúu tsáaməly kwatséwənya.178 |
to the one who had created everything. |
Athúum, |
So, |
viitháwnyək, |
there he was, |
'anyáa tsuumpápəm, |
for four days,179 |
nyaavíirək, |
and he finished, |
awim, |
and so, |
viithíik, |
he came, |
'atsaayúu 'ashpáa tsuumpápk xáam kuuthúutsəny mattatséwk 'et. |
and he turned himself into the four different kinds of eagles, they say. |
Nyaanyiimánk, |
Starting there, |
pa'iipáany nyiiyúuk nyiiuutar'úyk avoonóow 'ím,180 |
he intended to watch over the people and take care of them, |
a'íik 'et. |
they say. |
. |
|
Nyáava 'uu'íts vathány, |
This that I have said, |
kaanáav vathány, |
this story, |
Kwatsáananyts kanáavk 'ityá. |
the Quechan people have told it, they say. |
'Atsaayúu, |
Well, |
avoonóok, |
they are around, |
'axótt a'ím, |
and they intend to be good, |
Pa'iipáats Nyiikwanáam nyiiáaytan kwathútsəny. |
because the Great Person gave them (this intention). |
Athúum athót. |
That’s how it is. |