Kwayúu
Kwayúu
Púk Atsé
All three stories translated by Barbara Levy,
George Bryant, and Amy Miller
Kwayúu (The One Who Sees) is a giant who gets his name from his tremendous size and the view which it affords him. The narratives in this chapter tell about Kwayúu from three radically different perspectives.
Notes and synopsis: Mary Kelly Escalanti’s story of Kwayúu
Mary Kelly Escalanti told her story of Kwayúu to Abe Halpern on September 15, 1978. Halpern later reviewed his transcript of the narrative with Barbara Levy.
This story focuses on two boys whose parents have been eaten by Kwayúu. The boys are raised by their grandmother. Eventually they decide to avenge their parents’ death by killing the giant. Ignoring their grandmother’s warnings, they make a difficult journey through the four levels of heaven to where the monster lives among the bones of his victims.
The journey is made on foot, and one of the boys sings of the pain caused by his shoe. The lines of the song,
‘Ányxámarúy akáamawépetik aléeletíi
alíiláalaláa alíiláalaláa
are heard, under comparable circumstances, in Tom Kelly’s story ‘Aavém Kwasám in Chapter 6.
When they reach the home of Kwayúu, the boys find that he is blind, and they tease him. Somehow Kwayúu manages to catch them, and he instructs his wife to cook them. The boys use their spiritual powers to summon rain, so that the wife is unable to light a fire. Instead of cooking the boys, she makes shuuvíi (a term which may be translated either as ‘porridge’ or ‘gravy’). When Kwayúu eats it, his insides are cut apart by sharp objects which the boys have placed in the shuuvíi, and he dies.
The boys watch him die. They sing a song which puts the spirits of his victims to rest, and then they go home and tell the news to their grandmother.
Notes and synopsis: Josefa Hartt’s story of Kwayúu
Josefa Hartt’s story of Kwayúu has been extracted from a longer narrative which was recorded on February 12, 1981. Halpern reviewed his transcript of the story with Eunice Miguel.
Josefa Hartt’s story begins with the family of Kwayúu. This family has four sons, the youngest and smallest of whom grows to an extraordinary size and becomes known as Kwayúu.
Kwayúu kills and eats people. His older brother, living at the bottom of the ocean, finds out what is happening. He goes to Kwayúu and orders him to stop. Kwayúu hears him, but he is blind, so he cannot see who is speaking, and he pays no attention. Relatives warn him that someone is coming for him, but he ignores the warnings and just lies there.
The brother tries to drag Kwayúu into the water. This is difficult, because Kwayúu is so big. Finally, Kwayúu grows wings and tries to escape by flying. When he beats his wings, the wings leave an imprint in the wet ground which may still be seen today. He struggles, walks, and sits down, and the imprint left by his buttocks may likewise be seen today.
Eventually the brother succeeds in pulling Kwayúu into the water. When Kwayúu is finally dead, someone pulls his wing feathers into the shape of a teepee.
The Creator, who has been watching, denounces both Kwayúu and the brother who killed him. Dark clouds gather. The brother uses lightning to destroy himself and everything around him.
Notes and synopsis: Rosita Carr’s story Púk Atsé
Rosita Carr told the story Puk Atsé to Abe Halpern on February 1, 1978. Halpern later reviewed his transcript of the story with Mina Hills.
This story begins with a murder. Púk Atsé’s daughter is killed by strangers. Her body is found by Roadrunner, who hurries to the woman’s home to notify her family. The people there do not understand Roadrunner’s language, and one interpreter after another fails to decipher his message. (This passage is very funny: the storyteller laughs, her audience laughs, and everyone who listens to the recording laughs as well.) Finally Púk Atsé himself appears. He is able to understand Roadrunner, and he learns that his daughter is dead.
The daughter’s body is brought home, and the people from Púk Atsé’s household avenge her death by killing the enemy.
A young woman from the enemy camp survives and is taken home by Púk Atsé. A baby and an old woman also survive. The baby becomes the main character of the story. Even as an infant, he has extraordinary spiritual powers. Púk Atsé’s colleagues try to shoot him, burn him, and drown him in the rain, but his powers protect him, and their attempts fail. Finally he is left to starve — and of course this fails as well. Although he is still a baby, he manages to heal the old woman, who has been shot with an arrow, and she takes care of him. He hunts and provides food for them both.
The baby grows into a boy and has a series of adventures. He manages to escape from Old Lady Flesh-Ripper, from a monster called Iiyáam Kwakáap, who swallows him, and from Eagle, who tries to feed him to her chicks. Eventually he sets off to find and kill the giant Kwayúu. This time, he is not so lucky: Kwayúu catches him and takes him beyond the four levels of heaven. When Kwayúu’s four wives try to roast him, he summons rain to extinguish their cooking fire. He adds sharp rocks to the meal which the wives are preparing. Kwayúu gulps his food, and the sharp rocks cut his throat. Once Kwayúu is dead, the boy brings the four wives down to the first level of heaven. He turns himself into an arrow and returns to his home to visit the old woman who raised him.
The boy remains at home and grows up. Eventually he turns himself into a newly hatched dove and begins another adventure. He is recognized and caught. He is taken to an old man (who might be Púk Atsé), but he manages to escape, and there the story ends.
Comparative note
A monster known as Kwayúu is also found in Mojave literature. According to Kroeber (1948:48), his name “means a meteor or fireball, usually conceived of as a monster or man-eater.” His four wives are the daughters of the sun (Kroeber 1948:12).
Xuumáarəts vuunóok, |
There were children, |
xavík vuunóok, |
there two of them there, |
'aankóoyəts viivám. |
and there was a little old lady. |
Namáawk a'ím. |
They called her Grandmother, they say. |
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|
Viivám, |
There she was, |
nyáava, |
and these (children), |
nyáavəts xatáləm, |
these (children) were orphans, |
ayóovək vanyuunóok. |
and (someone) was watching them. |
Maawíik. |
She was a relative. |
|
|
Antáy nyáany, |
That mother of theirs, |
nyakónya, |
and their father, |
giant nyáanyts, |
that giant |
asóo— |
had eaten— |
amáa— |
had eaten— |
asóok nyiitsáavək a'ét. |
he had eaten them up, they say. |
Pa'iipáa, |
People, |
pa'iipáa avawétk vuunóotk. |
he had been doing that to people. |
'Amáyvi alythík, |
He was up in a high place, |
avawétk vuunóot. |
and he had been doing that. |
|
|
Vanyuunóok, |
He was around here, |
kaathóm ta'axánək, |
he really was doing whatever it was, |
Kwayúu a'ím amúlyk viithíkəm, |
and he was named Kwayúu, |
a'éməm. |
they might have said. |
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|
“ 'Aaly'étk vany'uunóok. |
“I’ve been thinking. |
'Awétstanək 'ayóov. |
We will go and take a look. |
'Ayóov |
We will watch him |
'attapóoytxa!” |
and we will kill him!” |
a'ét. |
(one of boys) said. |
|
|
Tapúyúm a'ím. |
He was going to kill him, they say. |
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|
'Aakóoyənyts vanyaavák a'ím, |
The old woman was sitting here, and she said, |
“Makaváarək! |
“You are mistaken! |
Matsaváamúm. |
You won’t be able to do it. |
Pa'iipáa nyiikwanáaməts nyaathúuva. |
He is a dangerous person. |
Matsaváam. |
You can’t do it. |
Matapúy a'ím.” |
He is going to kill you.” |
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|
'Awítsxa. |
“We will do it. |
'Ayóovxa.” |
We will take a look.” |
|
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“ 'Amáyvi athík viithíkəm, |
“He is up in a high place, |
matsaváam alyma'émúm. |
and there’s not a chance you’ll able to do it. |
Mapóoyúm!” |
You are going to die!” |
|
|
A'áv alya'ém. |
They didn’t listen. |
“ 'Awétsk 'ayóovxa,” |
“We’ll go and take a look,” |
nyaa'étka. |
they said. |
|
|
Iiwáa vathíly tsaváw, |
They set their hearts on it, |
viiwétsk. |
and they went. |
'Amáyvi nathómk, |
They headed towards the high place, |
viiwétsəm. |
and they went. |
Nyiináamts athótk, |
It was dangerous, |
nyaayúu tsáaməly, |
everything (was), |
'axótt alya'éməm, |
it wasn’t good, |
viiwéts. |
(but) they went. |
Uuv'áak viiwéts. |
They went walking. |
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|
'Akórəm, |
Long ago, |
'amáy athík aatsuumpápəm, |
there were four levels of heaven, |
a'éta. |
they say. |
Xalyavíim. |
There might have been. |
|
|
Tsuumpápəm, |
There were four of them, |
nakayáamək viiwétsk. |
and (the boys) went heading straight toward them. |
Viiwétsk uuv'óok; |
They went along and they stopped; |
nyaapóoyk uuv'óok. |
when they were exhausted, they stopped. |
|
|
Viiwétsk viiwétsəm; |
They went and went; |
nyiináam, |
it was dangerous, |
nyaayúu tsáaməly aspér tanəm nyamnayémək. |
they went through all (kinds of) very powerful things. |
Matxáts amíim. |
The wind howled. |
Kaawíts stones awíim, |
He had used some kind of stones, |
tsakyévək vaawíim, |
he had put them together like this, |
nyiitsamíim, |
and put them down there, |
nyamuupúuvt. |
and (the boys) went through that. |
Kaawíts awíim, |
He had done something (else), |
nyamuupúuv vanyaawéts, |
and they went through that and went on, |
tsuumpáp. |
(through) four (levels). |
|
|
Makyí nyaawéts, |
Somewhere, as they went along, |
nyáanyi, |
at that (point), |
iiményts arávta, |
their feet hurt, |
uuv'áak vuuwétsəny. |
because of (all) their walking. |
Iiményts aráv. |
Their feet hurt. |
|
|
'Ashénta, |
One of them, |
nyaxmanyéwəts, |
his shoe, |
xamanyéwəts arávəm, |
the shoe hurt him, |
amíim siivám. |
and he sat there crying. |
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|
“ 'Ányxámarúy akáamawépetik aléeletíi? |
“My shoe, what have you done to it? |
Alíiláalaláa alíiláalaláa,” |
Fire is burning, fire is burning,” |
|
|
a'étk siivá. |
he went on saying. |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
siivá. |
there he was. |
Kaa'émək a'íim: |
He said something: |
“Xamanyéw avány, |
“That shoe, |
kamawéməm? |
what did you do to it? |
Arávək!” a'ím, |
It hurts!” he said, |
“Íim,” a'ím, |
“It’s all over,” he said, |
amíim siivát. |
and he sat there crying. |
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|
A'íim, |
So, |
siivák, |
there he was, |
amíim suunóo. |
and he was crying. |
Nyaaxóttəm, |
When it was better, |
viiwétst. |
they went on. |
Viiwétsk viiwétsk viiwéts, |
They went and went and went, |
nyamáam, |
and finally, |
nyaakatánəmək, |
they got there, |
ayóovək vuunóo. |
and they watched for him. |
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|
Kwayúunyts sanyaathík, |
Kwayúu was over there, |
siivák. |
there he was. |
Tasínymək, |
He was blind, |
'atsayúu alya'émk, |
he couldn’t see anything, |
siivák athúum. |
and there he was. |
|
|
Vanyaavák. |
There he was. |
Xuumáarənyts katánmək vuunóony; |
The children got there, and there they were; |
'avány nakwíinək ayóovək vuunóo. |
they went around the house looking. |
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|
Nyamuuéevtək vuunóo. |
They played tricks on him. |
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|
Iisháalyva — |
This arm of his — |
tasínymək, |
he was blind, |
iisháaly vaawéemtiyum. |
and he waved his arm around like this. |
Atháw, |
He (wanted to) get them, |
nyiishtúu a'étk vaawétk awím. |
and he tried to catch them, like this. |
|
|
Tsakaváarəs. |
They laughed. |
Tsakavár apóoy a'étk nakwíinək vuunóo. |
They went around laughing fit to die. |
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Vuunóom, |
There they were, |
suunóonykəm, |
and he was around there, |
kaawémək vanyaavák, |
he was doing something, |
nyiishtót! |
and he caught them! |
Xuuvíkəly! |
Both of them! |
Nyiishtúum. |
He caught them. |
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Nyiishtúum siitháwəm; |
He caught them and there they were; |
“Móo.” |
“Well, now,” (he said). |
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|
Nyaavéets, |
His wife, |
viivák, |
here she was, |
nyáanyts. |
that one. |
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|
“Móo, |
“Well, now, |
'aakóoy! |
old woman! |
'Aakóoyey! |
Old woman! |
Kayúuk kakawéməm, |
Go and do something |
'amáawú!” |
so that I may eat!” |
a'ét. |
he said. |
|
|
“Áa-á, |
“Yes, |
'awéxá,” |
I will do it,” |
a'ím. |
she said. |
|
|
Tashkyénəts viivám, |
There was a pot there, |
nyáany alytsáam. |
and she put those (boys) in it. |
Alyúly a'íim uunóo. |
She was getting ready to cook them. |
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|
Uunóom, |
She went on, |
xuumáarənyts viitháwəny. |
and the children were here. |
Xuumáarəva, |
These children, |
shatuumáts nyiikwanáam, |
(they had) powerful dreams, |
viitháwk athúm. |
there they were. |
|
|
“ 'Awíim 'a'ávxa,” |
“I will try to do it,” |
a'íim viitháwk awím, |
they were saying, and so, |
uuv'áw a'érək. |
they used their power to make it rain. |
Uuv'áwk, |
It rained, |
a'érəm. |
(because) they used their power. |
|
|
'Amátənyts 'axáyk, |
The earth got wet, |
'a'íinyts 'axáykəm, |
and the wood got wet, |
taráalya'ém nyiikwév. |
and she couldn’t get it to burn at all. |
Apóm alya'ém. |
It wouldn’t burn. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
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|
Athúum, |
So, |
viitháw. |
here they were. |
Viitháwm, |
Here they were, |
awétəntim, |
and she did it again, |
athúnti alya'ém; |
and once again it didn’t happen; |
taráa alya'ém. |
she couldn’t get it to burn. |
Vuunóonyk, |
She went on, |
nyaatsaváamək, |
and when she found it impossible, |
nyaa, |
well, |
'aakóoyənyts uukanáav alya'éməxayk, |
the old woman didn’t tell him, |
nyaayúu kwanymé awét. |
she did something else (instead). |
|
|
Shuuvíik, |
She made gravy, |
a'éta. |
they say. |
Shuuvíik. |
She made gravy. |
|
|
Pa'iipáa uu'ítsapatənyts: |
That’s what people say: |
shuuvíik a'étəm. |
she made gravy, they say. |
Awíim vuunóok. |
She went about doing it. |
|
|
Kwara'ákənya, |
As for the old man, |
shamathíi kuu'éyk, |
he didn’t know, poor thing, |
ayúulya'émkəm. |
because he couldn’t see. |
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|
“Móo, |
“Well, now, |
nyaamaavíirkəm?” |
have you finished?” |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
'aavíirək. |
I’m finished. |
Mamáxa,” a'ím. |
You may eat,” she said. |
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|
Xuumáarənyts a'áavək ayóovək avatháw, |
The children were watching and listening. |
vuunóok awím. |
there they were. |
|
|
Nyaatápəm, |
She put (the food) down, |
'apílyk iináaməm, |
and it was very hot, |
aví tsaváwəm. |
and she put it there. |
Kwayúunyts aváak awím, |
Kwayúu got there, and so, |
atháwk, |
he took it, |
*** |
*** |
amáam. |
and he ate it. |
|
|
“ 'Apílyk,” a'ét. |
“It’s hot,” he said. |
“ 'Apílyk. |
“It’s hot. |
'Anóqəm 'apílyk,” a'ét. |
It’s a little bit hot,” he said. |
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|
Xuumáarənyts |
The children |
kaawíts, |
(had done) something, |
mattnamíilək uuváak, |
they had used their powers, |
kaawíts 'asháak athóoyvtanəm alytsamíim. |
and they had put some kind of very sharp bones in it. |
Tsuumpápk viitháw. |
There were four (bones). |
Awím. |
They had done it. |
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|
Axúupxayəm, |
He slurped it down, and all of a sudden, |
vathíly vaawé awét, |
it went like this, right in here, |
maxákəly. |
inside him. |
Aakyéttk, |
It cut him, |
vaawé. |
like this. |
“ 'Apílyk!” a'ét. |
“It’s hot!” he said. |
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|
“ 'Ook, |
“Ooh, |
'apílypaa!” |
it’s so hot!” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
kanáavək siivát. |
and he sat there telling her about it. |
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|
Yeah, |
Yeah, |
a'étk, |
and so, |
viivám, |
here he was, |
nyaa'ávkəm — |
and when they heard him — |
viitháwk, |
here they were, |
aviitháwk a'ávtanək. |
they were right there and they heard him. |
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Nyaawíntim, |
When he did it again, |
nyaawíntim, |
when he did it again, |
'anóqəm vaa'ée a'é ta'axánəm a'áv. |
he really did go like this a little, and they heard him. |
“Xwóott! |
“Oh, my! |
'Uupílyəny!” |
How hot it is!” |
a'ét. |
he said. |
|
|
Viitháwk, |
There they were, |
viitháwk, |
there they were, |
nyaawíntim, |
and when he did it again, |
“ 'Apíly ta'axánək,” |
“It’s really hot,” |
a'étk; |
he said; |
viivá. |
here he was. |
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|
Tsapéetanəm. |
It was overwhelming. |
“Áaaa!” |
“Ahhhh!” |
a'ét, |
he said, |
nyamáam, |
and that’s all; |
aakyítt achémtəm, |
it had almost cut right through him, |
maxákəly. |
(from) the inside. |
Nyaawíim, |
Then, |
viivák. |
here he was. |
|
|
Nyaawíntik, |
He did it again, |
nyamáam, |
and that’s all, |
nyaaxúupəntim, |
when he slurped it up again, |
nyamáam, |
that’s all, |
nyuupáyəm; |
it was all gone; |
axúp vaawée. |
he had slurped it up, like this. |
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|
'Uupílyəny matt-tsapéek. |
It was overwhelmingly hot. |
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|
Avíly aakyéttkəm áam. |
It had cut through, here (inside him). |
Vaa'é. |
He went like this. |
Apúy. |
And he died. |
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|
A'étəm, |
So, |
nyiiyóovək. |
they were watching. |
Viitháwk, |
Here they were, |
'atsakavártanək viitháw. |
and they were really laughing. |
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|
“Móo.” |
“Well, now.” |
'Aakóoyənyts ayúuk suuváa. |
The old woman was watching, over there. |
“Móo,” nyaa'íim. |
“Well, now,” she said. |
Nyaapúyəm ayóovək. |
They watched him die. |
Uuv'óok vuunóok. |
They were standing there. |
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Nyaayúu tsáaməly ayóovək vuunóony. |
All the things were watching. |
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|
Pa'iipáa nyatsasháakənyts, |
People’s bones, |
tsáam vathá lyavíik, |
all of them were like this, |
nyáany lyavíik, |
they were like that, |
kaawítsənyts, |
whatever (they were), |
matt-tsapéetan. |
there were a whole lot of them. |
|
|
Ayóovək vuunóok vuunóok, |
They were watching, on and on, |
nyuuv'óok. |
they stood there. |
|
|
Nyuuv'óok a'ím, |
They stood there, and so, |
aashtuuvárət: |
they sang: |
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“Eemévəts, |
“This foot of his, |
iisháaly, |
his hand, |
akwetsəts awétsəts, |
they did it, they did it, |
awék oonóonóon, |
they were doing it, |
awék oonóonóo. |
they were doing it. |
Awék oonóonóon, |
They were doing it, |
awék oonóonóo. |
they were doing it, |
Eemévəts, |
This foot of his, |
iisháaly, |
his hand, |
akwétsəts awétsəts, |
they did it, they did it, |
awék oonóonóon, |
they were doing it, |
awék,” |
they did it,” |
|
|
a'étk suunóok. |
they were saying it. |
|
|
Aanáaly a'ím — |
They moved aside — |
iisháalya, |
a hand, |
iimé vatháts, |
this foot, |
iisháalyəva, |
this hand, |
alykwatháw tsuuétsəts — |
these bones that were there — |
nyaa'ím. |
(that’s what) it says. |
|
|
Íim, |
It came to an end, |
kanáavka, |
and they told about it, |
aashtuuvár. |
they sang about it. |
|
|
Nyaayúu tsáaməly, |
All those things, |
nyáanyts athótkəm viitháwəsh. |
those (things) were there. |
Íim aashtuuvárək. |
It came to an end and they sang. |
|
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Amíim siiv'áwk a'íikəta. |
(The boys) stood there crying, they say. |
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“Móo, |
“Okay, |
vany'uunóok, |
here we are, |
'ayóovkəm áam, |
we have seen him, |
'atatapóoyt. |
and we have killed him. |
'Ankavék.” |
We’re going back.” |
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|
'Aakóoyəny — |
The old woman — |
namáawk a'étəma — |
they called her their grandmother, they say — |
nyáanya, |
that one, |
ayóovək |
they were going to see her |
uukanáav a'ím. |
and tell her about it. |
|
|
'Avíi natsén a'ím viinathíis, |
They came this way, intending to go down the mountain, but |
matt-tsapéek, |
it was overwhelming, |
nuutsénəxany, |
the way they were to come down, |
'uukórəny matt-tsapéem, |
the distance was overwhelming, |
vanyuuv'óok. |
and they stood there. |
“Ka'thútsk 'ankavék av'úuv'óok 'athómúm,” |
“I wonder how we might get back,” |
nyaa'íima. |
they said. |
|
|
Uuv'óok uuv'óok, |
They stood there and stood there, |
awím, |
and so, |
arrow mattatséwk. |
they turned themselves into arrows. |
Arrow. |
Arrows. |
'Iipá. |
Arrows. |
*** |
*** |
|
|
'Iipá |
Arrows, |
'iipá mattatséwk, |
they turned themselves into arrows, |
nyáanya. |
those (boys). |
Natsénək vinathíik, |
They came down, |
shóx a'étk, |
swiftly, |
'avuumák uuv'óok. |
and they stood behind the house. |
|
|
Ayúum. |
He was watching them. |
Xatalwéts avuuváak; |
Coyote was there; |
Xatalwé uu'ítsəny, |
the one they call Coyote, |
'uuláayəny! |
how bad he was! |
Nyaayúu tsáaməly athúu a'étum! |
He always wanted to do everything! |
Ayúum uuváak, |
He was watching them, |
nyáanyts, |
he was the one, |
'aakóoyəny vasháwk a'étk; |
he was supposed to be taking care of the old woman; |
vuuváak. |
here he was. |
|
|
'Aláaytanəm ayóov. |
They saw that he was bad. |
'Aláayəm nyaayóov, |
When they saw that he was bad, |
“Xwóott,” a'ím, |
“Oh, my,” they said, |
vathí uuv'óok, |
and they stood here, |
matsats'íim uuv'óok |
they stood there crying, |
ayóov. |
and they watched. |
|
|
Uuv'óok awím, |
They stood there, and so, |
uupúuv. |
they went in. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
Xatalwényts, |
That Coyote, |
'atsaráv kamúly a'étk viithík. |
he was lying there pretending to be sick. |
|
|
“Ka'thóməly,” aaly'étk uuváam, |
“What shall I do?” he was wondering, |
ayóovək. |
and they looked at him. |
|
|
“Móo, |
“Okay, |
'atatapóoyta. |
we’ve killed him. |
'Akatánk.” |
We have returned,” they said. |
|
|
“Makyí makwíivəm, |
“Somehow you left (home), |
nyiirísh a'íika 'aaly'íim, |
and I thought you were gone (for good), |
'amétk 'avát,” |
and I cried,” |
'aakóoyənyts a'íim. |
the old woman said. |
|
|
“ 'Attapóoyvək nya'thúuva,” |
“We killed him,” |
a'íim nyuuv'óok. |
they stood there saying it. |
|
|
A'étəm, |
They said it, |
'a'ávək, |
and I heard it, |
nyáamáamta. |
and that’s all. |
Nyáava, |
This one, |
'iipáats, |
a man, |
sanya'ákəm xavík nyiitháwk viitháwk, |
he was with his wife and here they were, |
awím, |
and so, |
nyáava, |
as for these (people), |
xuuméey 'iipátsanyts tsuumpápk a'étəma. |
they had four sons, they say. |
|
|
Tsuumpápk, |
There were four of them, |
tsuumpápk viitháwəm. |
there were four of them here. |
|
|
Viitháwəm, |
Here they were, |
a'ím, |
and so, |
ashíitk. |
and he called them by name. |
“Máanyts, |
“You, |
ma'xóttk, |
you will be good, |
mav'áak, |
you will travel, |
nyaayúu mathúum. |
and you will do things. |
Maxalykwáaxa,” |
You will hunt,” |
a'íim. |
he said. |
|
|
Nya'íim, |
Then, |
*** |
*** |
nyiivántim, |
another one was there, |
a'ím, |
and he said to him, |
“Máanyts, |
“You, |
vanyaamayáak, |
you will go along, |
xaasa'íly tó ta'axán, |
and at the very center of the ocean |
maxákəly manyváyk. |
you will live at the bottom. |
Nyaayúu 'ats'iipáyəts alyuuváak, |
There is a creature or something in there, |
viikwuuváa vathány. |
this one that is there. |
Mayúuk mavasháwk viimathíkxa,” |
You will watch him and take care of him,” |
a'íik a'étəntima. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
áaytəntik a'étəma. |
he gave (the third son a task) too, they say. |
|
|
Nyiiáaytsəntim, |
He gave them (their tasks), |
uuváaxayəm, |
and there they were, and all of a sudden — |
xeekónyts nyaa'íim, |
when white people say it, |
family, |
(in) a family, |
'ashéntts alyvák 'aláayum. |
one (family member) among them might be bad. |
A'épəm 'a'ávənyk. |
I’ve heard them mention this. |
Nya'étəm 'a'áva, |
I’ve heard them say it. |
Nyáany kanáavtəntik a'éta. |
They talk about that too, they say. |
|
|
“Avathóxa. |
“It will happen. |
Kaawémək, |
Whatever he does, |
'axótt tánək viithík alya'éməxa. |
it won’t be very good. |
Alyvák matt-ta'aaláayum. |
He is in (the family) and he might go bad. |
Alyvák 'atsathúts 'aláayum. |
He is in (the family) and what he does might be bad. |
Athóxa.” |
It will happen.” |
A'íntik. |
They say (that) too. |
|
|
“Athúum, |
“So, |
nyáany mayúuk; |
that’s what you (should) look out for; |
mavasháwxa,” |
you must be careful,” |
a'íim. |
he said. |
A'étəntik; |
He said it again; |
nyiikuunáavəts athúum, |
that’s what he told them about, |
nyáava ayúuk viitháwəm. |
(so that) they would keep an eye on this one. |
|
|
Tapáar tanəts, |
The very last one, |
'anóq tanəts, |
the very small one, |
viivák, |
here he was, |
viivátk. |
here he was. |
Nyáavəts amák athíi tanək, |
This one came after (the others), |
vanyaavák. |
and here he was. |
|
|
Saathúu a'étkəm a'ávək athúum. |
They understood that he was like that. |
|
|
Iimáattənyts 'axótt-təm, |
His body was fine, |
nyaathúum, |
and then, |
kaa'íts athúum, |
something happened, |
vanyaathíkəm. |
and here he was. |
|
|
Athúum: |
It happened: |
vatáyk, |
he became big, |
'améek, |
he became tall, |
viiyáanyk viiyáaptəm — |
he went on and on (growing) — |
'ayúunyk — |
I’ve seen this before — |
nyáanyi avathótk, |
it happened there, |
viiyáanyk |
he went on |
viiyáanyk. |
and on. |
|
|
Mattnyiitspéetk, |
He was overwhelming, |
alyméetanək; |
he was really tall; |
nyáanyənyts, |
those (people), |
xeykóts nyáanyts giant a'ím a'ítya. |
those white people call them giants, they say. |
|
|
Nyáanyts avathótk a'étəma. |
That’s what happened, they say. |
Avathótəm. |
It happened. |
Nyáanya, |
That (person), |
'Anykwatsáanənyts nyáany 'ashék; |
we Quechans named him; |
Kwayúu 'a'étəma. |
we called him Kwayúu (The One Who Sees). |
|
|
Vatáyk nyiináamk, |
He was extraordinarily big, |
nyaayúu tsáamk ayúuk a'íikəm a'ím, |
and he could see everything, they say, |
Kwayúu a'étk, |
(so) they called him Kwayúu, |
ashét. |
they named him (that). |
|
|
Təm |
And |
vuuváatk; |
here he was; |
nya'kútsk, |
he got older, |
'atsnyaashuupáwk vanyuuváak, |
and he understood things, |
nyáava. |
this one. |
|
|
Ava'áak vaa'é a'étk viithíitk, |
He came walking this way like this, |
makyí av'áw 'atsayúutk, |
and he stood somewhere and looked around, |
avathótk, |
he did that, |
ava'áak; |
he walked; |
“Vaathóxa,” a'ét, |
“This is how it will be,” he said, |
makyí av'áwk 'atsayúutk, |
and he stopped somewhere and looked around, |
avathótk; |
he did that; |
“Vathík,” a'étk, |
“Here,” he said, |
“Vathík, a'étk, |
“Here,” he said, |
“Vaathótk uuváat.” |
“This is how things are.” |
|
|
Nyuuváavəly, |
He was around there, |
pa'iipáats siitháwəm, |
and there were people over there, |
nyáanya, |
and as for that one, |
atháwk |
(Kwayúu) caught him, |
asóotk a'étəma! |
and he ate him, they say! |
|
|
Asóotk uuváatk, |
He went about eating him, |
uuváaxáyk, |
he was still here, when suddenly, |
nyiithíkəm, |
(someone else) was there, |
viiyáaxáyk. |
and (Kwayúu) went after him. |
Kwanymé awét! |
He did it to another one! |
|
|
Avathíkəm, |
(Someone else) was there, |
viiyáaxáyk, |
and (Kwayúu) went along, |
kwanymé awétk! |
and he did it to another one! |
Athótk vaa'étk uuváat. |
He kept doing this. |
|
|
Uuváatəm, |
There he was, |
nyáavəts awíim. |
he was the one who was doing it. |
Pa'iipáavəts vanyaatháwk, |
These people were there, |
mattáar alya'émək, |
they didn’t like each other, |
nyáava, |
these (people), |
they fight against one another, |
they fought against one another, |
a'íim, |
they say, |
athótkəm a'íiny a'étəntima. |
it happened, they say. |
Athúum athúuk a'étəma. |
That’s how it was, they say. |
|
|
Nyaathúum, |
Then, |
vanyuuváak. |
he was around there. |
*** |
*** |
Nyáavəts, |
This one, |
xavík aváts, |
this brother of his, |
xaasa'íly tóly kwathík, |
the one that was in the middle of the ocean, |
nyáava ayúu lya'émtəm áam. |
he couldn’t see this (bad brother) at all. |
Viithíik. |
And (the bad one) came. |
|
|
Nyiinyaav'áwəntim, |
He was standing there, |
nyiiv'áwk viiv'áwəm ayúut. |
and (his brother) saw him standing there. |
|
|
Nyaayúuk a'ím, |
When he saw him, he said, |
“Ma'uuláayəny! |
“How bad you are! |
Mattmatspéetanək ammuuváantəsh! |
You are going too far with it! |
Máany nyayúum! |
I see you! |
Mata'aaláaytánək mayáam! |
You go along destroying things! |
|
|
“ 'Ayúuk va'athík 'athútya. |
“I am here watching. |
Av'athíktəsáa, |
(As long as) I am here, |
makyík mathúntik ammuuváa alyma'éməxa!” |
you’ll never act this way again!” |
|
|
A'étk. |
He said it. |
Pa'iipáa tsaqwérək vuunóom, |
Someone was speaking, |
a'ávtəsáa, |
and (Kwayúu) heard it, but |
makyíts ayúu lya'émətək; |
he never saw anyone; |
láwaláw a'ím, |
he turned his head from side to side, |
vaa'íim, |
he went like this, |
vathí ayúuk, |
he looked here, |
vathí ayúuk, |
and he looked here, |
uuváanyk uuváany. |
he went on and on. |
|
|
Nyiinyaakwévəm, |
When he failed (to see anyone), |
takavéktək, |
he went back, |
viiyémək, |
he went away, |
aváam. |
and he got there. |
|
|
Suuváatk, |
There he was, |
suuváatənyk, |
there he was, until |
“ 'Ayáantik, |
“I’ll go back again, |
'a'ávxa,” nyaaly'íim, |
and I’ll listen,” he thought, |
nyáany, |
and as for that, |
nyáavəm vanyaathíintik. |
at that (point), he came (back) again. |
|
|
Nyaaváantik, |
He got there again, |
pa'iipáa nyaatháwtəntim, |
he caught (another) person, |
ayúutk avathíkəny. |
and (his brother) was there watching. |
|
|
Ayúutk viithíknyək, |
He was here watching, |
a'íim, |
and he said, |
“Ma'uuláayənyts nyiináamtanəm! |
“How extremely bad you are! |
Muuváatəsáa, |
Here you are, but |
makyík ma'iipáyk ammawínti alyma'éməxa!” |
you will never do (this) again as long as you live!” |
|
|
A'étk, |
He said it, |
vuunóom, |
he went on, |
a'ávək; |
and (Kwayúu) heard him; |
vaa'íim, |
he went like this, |
ayúuny, |
he looked, |
nyiirísh a'ét. |
(but) there was nobody there. |
'Axály athíktək, |
He was in the water, |
kwa'ítsəny, |
the one who had said it, |
ayúulya'ém; |
and (Kwayúu) didn’t see him; |
nyiikwévəm. |
it was no use. |
|
|
Vanyuuváak, |
He was around here, |
siiyémtək; |
and he went away; |
siithík, |
he was over there, |
siithíkxayəm, |
he was over there, and suddenly, |
pa'iipáa — |
people — |
maawíinyts, |
his relatives, |
antáy nyakó nyáanyts siitháw. |
his mother and father were over there. |
Aváamxayk — |
He got there, and suddenly — |
nyaaváamək, |
when he got there, |
awéməly ashmátk. |
he immediately went to sleep. |
Apátk, |
He lay down, |
xaavíly xiipántəkəm, |
the river was nearby, |
iimény 'axály tsanák, |
and he put his feet in the water, |
apátk viithík. |
and he lay down and lay there. |
|
|
Ashmátk viithík. |
He lay there sleeping. |
|
|
Ayóovk avatháwnyək, |
They were watching him, |
a'íim, |
and they said, |
“ 'Eey! |
“Hey! |
Kamánəm! |
Get up! |
Pa'iipáats mathíik avathíi'əsh!” |
Someone is coming after you!” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
|
|
“Kamánək!” a'étk, |
“Get up!” they said, |
shamán vuunóonyk. |
and they went about waking him up. |
“Kaawíts makyím athíikpəm, |
“Someone is coming from somewhere, |
ma'íim,” |
you say,” |
a'ét, |
he said, |
takavék apátk. |
and he lay back down. |
|
|
Ayúutk, |
They looked around. |
“Avathíim, |
“He’s coming, |
nya'íiva! |
I tell you! |
Kamánk!” a'étk vuunóony. |
Get up!” they went on saying. |
Makyík a'ávəny. |
He didn’t pay any attention at all. |
|
|
Nyáava, |
This one, |
antsénvəts, |
his older brother, |
nyamáam, |
finally, |
nyaayáak a'íim, |
he went along, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
kaawíts, |
somehow, |
'axá xamóoləm a'ím, |
the water is foamy, they say, |
xeykóts a'étəm, |
white people say it, |
'a'ávəny. |
and I’ve heard them. |
Xányts xamóolpəm 'ayúunyk. |
I’ve seen how foamy the water is. |
|
|
Nyáany iithóm tapéttk a'étəma. |
He covered his face with that, they say. |
|
|
Iithóm nyaatapéttk, |
He covered his face, |
'axány kavkyéwk, |
and he went upstream, |
xaavíly avány kavkyéwk, |
he went up that river, |
viiyáatk athúuk a'ét. |
and he went along, they say. |
|
|
Viiyáatk, |
He went along, |
viiyáat. |
and he went along. |
|
|
Viiyáatəm, |
He went along, and |
“Kaawíts avathíik!” |
“Something is coming!” |
a'íim, |
(his brother) said; |
“ 'Ashuupáwəsh,” a'étk, |
“I know it,” he said. |
“Avathíik! |
“It’s coming! |
Kamánək!” a'íim. |
Get up!” he said. |
“Kamánək!” a'íim; |
“Get up!” he said; |
shamán vuunóo, |
he kept trying to get him up, |
nyiikwév. |
but it was no use. |
|
|
Amánək, |
He got up, |
ayúuk, |
and he saw it, |
nyaayúuny, |
(this) thing, |
kaly'aaxwáayəny, |
his war club, |
'axály atápk vaawétk awét. |
and he threw it into the water like this. |
“Kaawíts makyém athíikpa, |
“Someone is coming from somewhere, |
ma'ím, |
you say, |
nyiiríish a'ím viitháwk athópəka.” |
(but) there is nothing there.” |
|
|
“Athúum, |
“There is, |
nya'íiva!” a'íim, |
I am telling you!” he said, |
uukanáavək vuunóony, |
and he kept on telling him, |
nyiikwévəm. |
but it was no use. |
|
|
Apátk alyaskyíitk. |
(Kwayúu) continued to lie there. |
|
|
Nyaathíkəm, |
He lay there, |
nyáanyi, |
and at that (point), |
kaawémək — |
somehow — |
makyém 'athíik 'athúm, |
we came from somewhere, and so, |
nyiinyatséwk, |
we were created, |
nyiinyaapáx. |
and we were placed there. |
|
|
Nyáanya, |
As for that, |
vathány, |
this one, |
nyáanya, |
that one, |
Nyi'anykwatséwənyts, |
our Creator, |
ayóov alya'éməts |
what he didn’t see |
kaly'aaxwáayəny. |
(was) the war club. |
|
|
Nyaata'úlyk, |
He carried it, |
'avíiny uushák, |
and he stuck it into the rock, |
vaawé nyaawíim, |
he went like this, and then, |
vaawíim. |
he went like this. |
Xaavíly atséwk, |
He created the river, |
alytsatsénm athúuk a'étəma, |
and he made it go down, they say, |
xaasa'ílya. |
into the ocean. |
|
|
“Vathány, |
“As for this, |
xaavílyəny, |
the river, |
Kwaxwétt-ts a'íim, |
it’s called the Colorado (River), |
maapa'iipáany nyam'axóttk,” |
and it is good for you people,” |
nyaa'ím, |
(that’s what) he said, |
nyuuváa. |
as he was there. |
|
|
“Nyiimuuváat, |
“There you are, |
'axá maa'úurək. |
you are on the edge of the water. |
|
|
“A'íim, |
“So, |
nyiinyaauupáxts athótəm athúum. |
I have placed you here. |
|
|
“Kaawíts makyém athíik, |
“Someone is coming from somewhere, |
avathúwúm,” |
and (something) might happen,” |
nyaa'ét, |
he said, |
takavék apátk a'étəma. |
and he lay back down, they say. |
“Nyáany avathúuk, |
“That (might) happen, |
avathúu kwa'átstəsáa.” |
it (might) happen, just as you said. ” |
|
|
“Kaawíts kamathúum muuváam? |
“What are you doing? |
Nyáany athótəm, |
It is happening, |
'ayúutəm, |
I see it, |
nyaayúunyts 'axótt alya'ém tan,” |
and things don’t look very good,” |
nyaa'íim, |
he said, |
a'ávəx áar alya'émək; |
and (his brother) didn’t want to listen; |
apátk ashmátk; |
he lay down and went to sleep; |
nyiikwév, |
it was no use; |
atháwatanəm, |
(sleep) just took him, |
ashmát. |
and he went to sleep. |
|
|
Ashmátk athótk, |
He slept, |
viithíkəm. |
lying here. |
|
|
“Avathíik, |
“He’s coming, |
nyaaxiipánəm, |
he’s nearby, |
nya'íiva!” |
I tell you!” |
|
|
A'íim, |
He said it, |
shamánək vuunóony, |
he tried to wake him up, |
nyiikwévtək, |
but it was no use; |
ashmáam viithíkəm. |
(Kwayúu) lay there sleeping. |
|
|
Nyamkwatsuumpáp, |
The fourth (time), |
nyamaváamək, |
(his brother) got there, |
iimé taxpályk, |
and he pulled on his legs, |
xály kavathúuntək a'étəma. |
and he submerged them in the water, they say. |
|
|
Vathúunək, |
They were submerged, |
lólələləl awétk. |
and they made (the water) bubble. |
Vuuthíit. |
He brought him this way. |
Vuuthíixaym, |
He brought him this way, and suddenly |
'axányts aráawəm ám, |
the water ran very fast, |
uukavék. |
and it took him back again. |
Vuuthíinyk, |
He brought him this way, |
vuuthíiny. |
and he brought him this way. |
|
|
Vuuthíim, |
He brought him this way. |
“Matsaváam mathúum. |
“You can’t do it. |
Mawíim, |
You are doing it, (but) |
matt'atspéenypatk 'athútya,” |
I am powerful too,” |
a'ét. |
(Kwayúu) said. |
|
|
“ 'Ashuumáany nyi'náam. |
“My dreams are powerful. |
Nyi'anymuukáamxats athúulya'éməxa,” |
You can never defeat me,” |
a'étəm. |
he said. |
|
|
“Kaváarxa. |
“It won’t happen. |
Mamánənti 'a'ím 'a'íim 'awíi aly'a'émək, |
I am not going to let you get up again, |
'awé'əsh,” |
I am doing it,” |
a'étapatk, |
(his brother) said in turn, |
vuuthíit. |
and he brought him along. |
|
|
Vanyuuthíim, |
He brought him along, |
nyáanyi, |
and at that (point), |
kam'úly. |
(Kwayúu) struggled. |
Iiwáam alynyiinyaathúutsk, |
On his own, using his powers of thought, |
malyaxúuyk. |
he grew wings, |
*** |
*** |
uunóok aavíirək. |
he went on and finished. |
Nyaayúu, |
Well, |
athúm, |
so, |
ayérək atspámxalyk a'étk, |
he wanted to fly out away, |
alynyiinyaathúuts. |
he was thinking about it. |
|
|
Nyáavi nyaathík, |
He lay here, |
nyáavi malyxóny vaawíim, |
he went like this with his wings, |
vaa'íim. |
he went like this. |
Vaawé a'íim, |
He went like this, |
nyáanyəm. |
with those (wings). |
|
|
'Amáttəny, |
The ground, |
viikwaváts vatháts, |
this (surface) here, |
'axáyxayíi, |
it must have been wet, |
amányk kaathómtəm awétk awím, |
and it shriveled up somehow, and so, |
nyáanyəm — |
at that (point) — |
malyxóny vaawé nyaa'íim, |
he went like this with his wings, |
nyáanyts |
and those (imprints that he made) |
nyiitháawtək a'étəma. |
are still there, they say. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
Nyáany awíim, |
That’s what he did, |
malyxóny vaawé nyaa'íim, |
he went like this with his wings, |
alyaskyíik nyiitháawtək a'étəma. |
and (the imprints) are still there, they say. |
|
|
Alyaskyíik, |
They are still (there), |
'avíinyi vaa'étk |
they are in the rock, like this, |
athótəm. |
they are. |
|
|
Athótk, |
It happened, |
nyiitháawtəm. |
and there they are. |
*** |
*** |
|
|
Viithíitəntik, |
He was coming this way again, |
makyí atspám a'ély, |
he wanted to get out of wherever he was, |
kaa'íim, |
and somehow, |
'axányts vaa'íim, |
the water was like this, |
athúum, |
and so, |
nyiisáttk, |
it had drained away there, |
'axáyxayətəm, |
(but) it was still wet, |
nyáava, |
and as for this, |
mattmanyúuvtanək vanyuuváak, |
he was really struggling, |
amánək. |
and he got up. |
|
|
Athúum, |
So, |
kaathómək vanyaayáak, |
somehow he went along, |
nyiinák, |
and he sat down there, |
nyaathúum. |
he did. |
|
|
Nyáanyi nyiinákəm, |
He sat down there, |
awíim, |
and so, |
thúutt a'íim, |
(his brother) tried harder, |
uunaxwílyk, |
he dragged him, |
xály nyaa-áaptəntim. |
and he threw him into the water again, |
|
|
Nyáanyts alyarúvk aly'avíik, |
That (place) was dried up and turned to stone, |
alyaskyíitəntik a'étəma. |
and (the imprint) is still (there) too, they say. |
|
|
Alyaskyíitəntim, |
It is still (there), |
nyáany, |
and as for that, |
Kwayúu Iiwéy Atáp a'íim, |
they call it Where Kwayúu Was Thrown Down On His Butt, |
ashém athúuk a'étəma. |
they named it, and so it is, they say. |
Ám, |
Well, |
athúum, |
it happened, |
nyiitháawəm, |
there it is, |
mayúuk; |
and you’ve seen it; |
pa'iipáats 'axáyəm nyiinák athúuk kwalyavíitk a'étəntima. |
it’s as if a person had sat down where it was wet, they say. |
|
|
Athótəm, |
So, |
atháwk, |
he caught him, |
vuuthíinyk, |
and he brought him, |
vuuthíinyk, |
and he brought him, |
viiwáamk, |
he kept on going, |
viiwáamk, |
and going, |
viiwáam. |
and going. |
|
|
Viiwáamk, |
He kept on going, |
xaasa'íly nyáasi nyaakamémək. |
and he brought him to that distant ocean. |
|
|
Nyamnyaapúyəm. |
That’s where he died. |
|
|
Malyxó nyáanyts vatátsk iináam. |
Those wings were very big. |
Nyáavəts ashtúum, |
These (people) picked them up, |
uutsamóq vuunóok, |
they went on pulling the feathers out, |
nyaavíirək. |
and they finished. |
|
|
Nyaayúu atséwk a'étəma — |
They made something (out of them), they say — |
kaathúts? |
what is it? |
Kaawíts teepee a'étəntik, |
It’s something called a teepee, |
'a'ávənyk — |
I’ve heard of it — |
nyáany uutsáawk, |
that’s what they made, |
vaawíny, |
they went like this, |
tasháttk vuunóonyk aavíirək, |
they stood the wings upright and they finished, |
alyathík viithík. |
and he lay there inside. |
|
|
Pa'iipáa Nyi'anykwatséwənyts ayúuk vanyaavák a'ím, |
Our Creator was watching, they say, |
ayúulya'éməs a'étka. |
although he didn’t see it, they say. |
|
|
“Ma'uutsaláaytsəny! |
“How bad you are! |
Malyuuvév mathútya! |
You are both the same! |
Máany, |
As for you, |
muuwéxats, |
it’s what you would do, |
'atsmatuupúyxənyts, |
it’s your urge to kill things, |
matapúyəm 'a'íi ly'a'ém! |
and I don’t want you to kill things! |
|
|
“Mawétk mawítya. |
“You did it. |
Nyaamawíim, |
Whatever you did, |
maaxuuvíkəly, |
the two of you, |
matsláaytsək mathótk mathúum, |
you did it because you are bad, |
makyík 'amátt vathí muunóo alyma'éməxa!” |
and you will never come to this place again!” |
|
|
Nyaa'íim, |
When he said it, |
nyaayúuk |
he looked |
nyáany. |
at that. |
'Akwé vatháts matt-tsapéek, |
There were a lot of these clouds, |
nyíily tan, |
they were really black, |
nyiináaaam a'ím. |
and they were slowly passing by. |
|
|
Athúm, |
So, |
nyiiyúutk viithíkəm, |
as he lay there watching them, |
nyaayúu. |
(those) things. |
|
|
Uuráv aványa, |
That lightning, |
nyaayúu atséwk, |
he made it into something, |
nyáanyəm aaqwéttk, |
and he struck them with it, |
'axányily vaawíi vuunóok, |
he was doing this in the water, |
nyaayúu tsáam ta'aaláayk. |
and it destroyed everything. |
Nyáasi tapúytapatk a'étəma. |
Over there in the distance it killed him too, they say. |
|
|
Apatəm, |
(It killed him), too, |
nyamáam, |
and that’s all, |
nyáanyi íimtəm, |
it came to an end there, |
tək athúuk a'étəma. |
it did, they say. |
|
|
Athótəm, |
So, |
nyáava vaathúum, |
it was like this, |
vuuwíts nyáava. |
this thing that he did. |
Pa'iipáavəts — |
The people — |
nyiikwatháawk, |
the (people) that were there, |
ayúuk vanyaatháwk, |
they were looking, |
nyáavi tsaamánək, |
and starting here, |
mattaashuuqwéttk, |
they spoke against each other, |
mattnyiáar alya'ém, |
they didn’t like each other, |
matt-tapúytək awíik a'étəma. |
and they killed each other, they say. |
Shiitamúuly mattáar alya'émk; |
The tribes didn’t like each other; |
kwanyméts siivám, |
if a different tribe was over there, |
mattáar alya'ém. |
they didn’t like them. |
|
|
A'étk, |
So, |
nyiixwáaytək, |
they made war with them, |
nyáava athúu va'áarək athúuk a'étəma. |
they used to do that, they say. |
|
|
Athúum, |
It happened, |
a'íim, |
they say, |
nyáava vaa'íim. |
this is what they say. |
Kanáavtəma. |
They tell about it. |
Kanáavək vuuthíitəma. |
They tell about it and bring it (to its conclusion). |
Pa'iipáats nyaváyk siivám, |
Someone was living there, |
makyíny, |
and whoever it was, |
Púk Atsé a'étəma. |
he was called Púk Atsé, they say. |
Púk Atsé. |
Púk Atsé. |
|
|
Nyáany nyaváyk siivák, |
He was living over there, |
vatsíim xavíkt. |
he was with his daughter. |
Kwalyavíita. |
It was something like that. |
Vatsíim. |
With his daughter. |
|
|
Viiványək, |
Here he was, |
siitháwk, |
there they were, |
siitháwxayk, |
they were over there, and suddenly, |
kaa'éməntik a'ím, |
for some reason, |
kaváayk a'étəntik a'ím, |
they decided to go from house to house, |
kaváayk, |
and they went from house to house, |
pa'iipáa aaéevək — |
inviting people — |
kaawítsíi, |
perhaps they were going to do something, |
maawíi, |
for their relatives, |
kaawítsk awíi a'ím. |
they were going to do something. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
siivám, |
there he was, |
xa— |
and water — |
vatsíinyts 'axá ayáak a'étəma. |
his daughter went to get water, they say. |
'Axá ayáak. |
She went to get water. |
|
|
Kwaly'ó ta'úlyk, |
She carried a pottery jar, |
viiyáak; |
and she went along; |
'axáts siithíkəm, |
the water was over there, |
alyváamk, |
and she got there, |
nyaasa— |
and over there, |
nyaapó kaa'émk, |
somehow she put (water) into (the pot), |
viithíi a'ím, |
and she was about to come back, |
siiv'áwxaym, |
she was standing over there, when all of a sudden, |
pa'iipáats katánmətək a'ím, |
some people got there and said, |
“ 'Axá nyiinykáaym, |
“Give us some water, |
'asítsú.” |
and we’ll drink.” |
|
|
A'étxay, |
They said it, and immediately, |
“Kaváartək.” |
“No,” (she said). |
'Atáyəm apótk athúm. |
She had put a lot of water (in the pot). |
“Kaváar,” a'étxayəm, |
“No,” she said, and all of a sudden, |
mashtaráts a'íi kaa'émtək awím, |
they must have gotten angry, and so, |
tatapóoyvək a'étəma. |
they killed her, they say. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
Nyaatatapóoyk, |
When they killed her, |
vaanayémtək, |
they left, |
vaanayémtək athúm, |
they left, and so, |
vanyaanayém, |
when they left, |
vathány, |
at this (point), |
nyaayúuts, |
somebody, |
Talypóts, |
it was Roadrunner, |
'axáasíi a'ím siithíik. |
he came from what they call salt water. |
|
|
Siithíixayk, |
He was coming from over there, and suddenly, |
ayúutk. |
he saw her. |
Avathíkəm, |
She was lying there, |
'axá kwaa'úurəny nyaatsamíim, |
they had laid her at the edge of the water, |
ka'ák ka'ák awét, |
they had gone kick, kick, |
tamáar təsáa, |
and they had partially buried her, but |
thomayúutəny. |
she was still visible. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Nyaayúutk, |
He saw her, |
vanyaavák, |
here he was, |
viiyáak. |
and he went off. |
|
|
Viiyáak, |
He went off, |
nyaaváamək, |
and when he got there, |
kanáavk. |
he told them. |
|
|
Kanáavtəs, |
He told them, but |
iiyáa shatmatháavək a'étəntima. |
they didn’t know his language, they say. |
iiyáa uu'áav aly'ém. |
They didn’t understand his language. |
|
|
Iiyáa uu'áv aly'ém. |
They didn’t understand his language. |
Shatmatháavət. |
They didn’t know it. |
|
|
Təm |
And |
uukanáavtək, |
he explained it to them, |
pa'iipáa nyáanya, |
those people, |
kwar'ákəny ashétk. |
and he mentioned the old man by name. |
|
|
“Púk Atsé — |
“Púk Atsé — |
vatsíits apúyk,” |
his daughter is dead,” |
a'étəs, |
he tried to say, but |
“Nyá nyá, |
“Nyá nyá |
nyá nyá, |
nyá nyá |
nyá nyá.” |
nyá nyá,” (is what they heard). |
'Atsa'ítsk avák: |
He was saying things: |
“Póoy! |
“Póoy! |
Póoy!” |
Póoy!” |
a'épətəm a'ávəny. |
(that’s what) they heard him say. |
|
|
Nyáany ava'étk siivát. |
That’s what he was saying. |
|
|
Siivátkəm, |
There he was, and so, |
kaawíts a'étəs, |
he might have said something, but |
iiyáa uu'áavək, |
they didn’t understand his language, |
shtuupáaw alya'ém. |
they didn't know it. |
|
|
Sanyaatháwk, |
There they were, |
kaawíts ayáak a'étəma. |
and they went after someone, they say. |
Kaawíts ayáak; |
They went after someone; |
Kwash'iilá a'étk, |
he was called Mockingbird, |
kwalyavíitəma. |
(his name) was something like that. |
|
|
Kwash'iilá nyáany ayáak, |
They went after that Mockingbird, |
kamíim. |
and they brought him back. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
Kamíim, |
They brought him back, |
a'íi viivám, |
and (Roadrunner) was saying it, |
shamathíitəntík a'étəma. |
and (Mockingbird) didn’t know (what he was saying). |
Shamathíitəntík. |
He didn’t know either. |
|
|
Shamathíitəntik. |
He didn’t know either. |
“Kaa'émək viivák?” a'ítya. |
“What is he saying?” he said. |
|
|
A'étk, |
So, |
vanyuunóotəm, |
here they were, |
pa'iipáa tsuuqwér xáam uu'ítsapat. |
and he said it again in a different kind of human speech. |
Nyáany ayáak, |
They went after those (other people), |
kaméxayəm, |
and when they brought them back, |
shtuupáaw alya'ém. |
they didn’t know either. |
|
|
Vuunóotənyk, |
Here they were, |
nyaa kwar'ák nyáava, |
and this old man, |
nyáanya, |
he was the one, |
ayáak a'étəma. |
they went and got him, they say. |
|
|
Pa'iipáany nyiikanáavəm, |
He told the people, |
“Katsawém, |
“Take him out, |
kawétsk katsaváwk, |
and put him down, |
'atskamuunóotanək, |
you guys are just hanging around, |
kavuuthíik katsatspátsk!” |
bring him out here!” |
|
|
Alyvák siivám, |
(Roadrunner) was in there, |
nyáavəm. |
at this (point). |
|
|
Tsatspátsk, |
They brought him out, |
a'íi kwa'átsk vuunóom, |
and he was saying just what he had said, |
shuupáwk a'étəma. |
and (the old man) knew what he was saying, they say. |
|
|
“ 'Avatsíits apúyk, |
“My daughter is dead, |
a'ím. |
he says. |
Kanáavək viivák, |
He is telling about it, |
nyaa'íiva,” a'ét. |
that’s what he’s saying,” (the old man) said. |
|
|
A'étəm, |
So, |
aayáatk, |
they went after her, |
kamétk; |
and they brought her back; |
uutara'úy 'ím a'ítya. |
they were going to prepare her (for cremation), they say. |
Uutara'úyk. |
They prepared her. |
|
|
Nyaavíirək, |
When they finished, |
“ 'Axwé, |
“The enemy, |
'axwé 'aayáatapatxa,” |
we will go after the enemy,” |
a'ím. |
they said. |
|
|
Nyáa kwawítsa. |
(They meant) the ones who had done that. |
|
|
Nyiitatapóoyapat a'ím. |
They were going to kill them in turn. |
|
|
'Atskanyaatháwk awím, |
(People) were around in various places, and so, |
vaayáak a'étəm ám. |
they were going to go after the enemy. |
Pa'iipáanyts 'atáyk a'étk, |
There were a lot people, they say, |
viitháwkəm. |
here they were. |
|
|
Vaayáak, |
They went along, |
nyáasi — |
and over there in the distance — |
kaawíts? |
which one was it? |
'ats'iipáy xáam kwathútsənyts — |
they were all different kinds of creatures — |
“Nyáasi 'ashmáxa,” |
“I’ll sleep over there,” |
a'étxay — |
he said, and immediately — |
Maamathíits a'éxayk, |
Owl said it, and immediately, |
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
'a'íi paly'ón kwalypáa nyáasi 'aashmátsxa,” |
we’ll sleep over there in the tree stump,” |
a'étk a'étəntima. |
they said in turn. |
Xáam uu'íts. |
(Each one) wanted something different. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
Nyaa'étəntik, |
When they were ready to go again, |
vaayáatk. |
off they went. |
|
|
Vaayáatk, |
Off they went. |
nyaayúu Maxwáa a'étəma. |
and (one) creature was Badger, they say. |
|
|
Maxwáa nyáanyáanyts, |
That Badger, |
nyáanyts, |
he was the one, |
kaawíts ta'úlyk a'étəntim, |
he was carrying something, |
áa, |
yes, |
'aavé a'ét kwalyavíit. |
it seemed to be what they call a snake. |
'Aavé. |
A snake. |
Áa. |
Yes. |
|
|
Nyáany awíim, |
He did that, |
viiwáak, |
he brought it, |
nyáany, |
that (snake), |
nyiikw'aváy nyáasi, |
and over there where (the enemy) was living, |
'avuuyáak atápəm, |
he threw it toward their door, |
pa'iipáa tsakyíwəly a'íi kaa'émk awíim a'ítya. |
he did it so that it would bite people, they say. |
Nyaawíim, |
Then, |
vaayáak apámk a'étəma. |
they went along and got there, they say. |
|
|
Nyaapámkəm, |
When they got there, |
nyiitatapóoyk a'étəma, |
they killed them, they say, |
kwanyváaynya, |
the ones who lived there, |
pa'iipáa nyaakwawítsnya. |
the people who had done it. |
Shuupáwk wór a'ím a'ítya. |
They knew for certain (that they were the ones), they say. |
|
|
Nyaatatpóoyk, |
When they killed them, |
“ 'Anyáats 'atatapóoyk!” |
“We killed them!” (they said). |
Sanya'ákəny awí lya'émtək a'étəma. |
But they didn’t kill the woman, they say. |
Nyamxuuvíka. |
His wife. |
|
|
Nyaawíi lya'émxayəm, |
They didn’t do it, and suddenly, |
xuunmárəts pa'iipáyxaytəntik a'étəma. |
(they saw that) a newborn baby was still alive, too, they say. |
|
|
Piinapáyxaytəm, |
He was newly born, |
nyáanya, |
that (baby), |
tapúy a'étk vuunóoxayəm — |
and they were trying to kill him, and suddenly — |
kaawítsk atápk awím, |
they threw something at him, |
awéxayəm — |
they did, and suddenly — |
vaan'é a'étk, |
he went like this, |
vathík avátsk, |
and here he was; |
vaa'é a'étk, |
he moved back, |
vathík avátsk, |
and here he was; |
athótəm, |
and so, |
makyík kaawém aly'ém. |
they never were able to do anything to him. |
|
|
Kaawém aly'émək, |
They weren't able to do anything to him, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
'a'áw taráak, |
they lit a fire, |
alytsaváwxayəm, |
and they put him in it, and immediately, |
uuv'áwk, |
it (started to) rain, |
tsúu a'étəm, |
(the rain) poured down, |
makyík apúy alya'émətək a'étəma. |
and he never did die, they say. |
|
|
Apúy alya'émtəm. |
He didn’t die. |
|
|
Nyaayóovək, |
When they saw this, |
“Aaíiməm 'antamákəm, |
“We’ll leave him to do as he pleases, |
viivány, |
and he (will) sit here, |
matsáam apúytəxa.” |
and he will starve to death.” |
|
|
Nyaa'étk, |
They said it, |
natuumáak a'étəma. |
and they left him, they say. |
|
|
Nyiaantamáak, |
They left him there, |
xuumára, |
the child, |
nyiaantuumáak. |
they left him there. |
|
|
'Aankóoyts siivántik a'éta. |
A little old lady was over there, they say. |
Xuumárəny namáwəts. |
She was the child’s grandmother. |
|
|
Nyiivántik, |
She was there too, |
nyáanyts, |
and she was the one, |
nyáanyts xweyamántək avathík a'étəma. |
she was lying there unconscious, they say. |
|
|
Akyáam, |
Someone had shot her, |
akyétstəsáa, |
they had shot her, but |
apúy aly'émk a'étəma. |
she wasn’t dead, they say. |
|
|
Apúy lya'émtəm. |
She wasn’t dead, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when he saw that, |
xuumár aváts, |
this child. |
'atsshatamátstəkəm, |
he had dreams (which gave him power), |
kaathóm, |
somehow, |
nyamáam, |
and that’s all, |
vanyaayáak, |
he went, |
'iipány uulyók atháwtək, |
and he pulled the arrow out, |
'aankóoyəny kwakyétsa. |
(out of) the old lady who had been shot. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Aa, |
Yes, |
uulyók atháwtk. |
he pulled it out. |
|
|
Vuunóotk aavíirtəm, |
He went on and finished, |
xótt-tək a'étəma. |
and she was all right, they say. |
|
|
Nyaa'xóttkəm. |
She was all right. |
|
|
'Aakóoyənyts nyaatháwk, |
The old lady took him, |
xuumárəny nyaatháwk, |
she took the child, |
kaawíts kanathíitapatk, |
and they came along doing whatever it was, |
siitháwtək athúuk a'étəma. |
and there they were, they say. |
|
|
Siitháwtəm, |
There they were, |
nyáava, |
and as for this one, |
sanya'ákəva, |
this woman, |
nyaatháwk, |
(Púk Atsé) took her, |
vanyaawáak. |
he took her. |
|
|
Nyáa vatsíi apúy nyáanyts; |
She was (taking the place of) his dead daughter; |
nyamxavík a'étəntima. |
and they were together, they say. |
Nyamxavík. |
They were together. |
|
|
Tək |
And, |
siitháwtək athúm, |
there they were, and so, |
xótt-təntim. |
he was all right again. |
Iiwáa 'aláay aly'ém. |
He didn’t feel bad (any more). |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Siitháwtək, |
There they were over there, |
təm, |
and (meanwhile), |
'aakóoyts, |
the old lady, |
kaalwíts awétk vanyuunóok, |
she was using little things, |
uunakwílytək. |
and making a little cradle. |
|
|
Aanakwílyk, |
She made a little cradle, |
aanaxwílyk, |
and she pulled it along behind her, |
kaawítsk aaxwílyəm a'ítya. |
and she propped it against something, they say. |
Nyaaxwílyk. |
She propped it up. |
|
|
Kaawíts xalykwáak kuu'éeytək, |
She did her best to hunt for something, |
tsuumátsxa. |
so that they could eat. |
|
|
Xalykwáak kuu'éeytəm, |
She did her best to hunt, |
xáyəm, |
and right away, |
shamée kaa'émk, |
somehow the baby missed her, |
amíi viithíkxáyəm |
he lay there crying, and suddenly |
nyaayúuts atháwk a'étəntima. |
creatures were there, they say. |
|
|
Nyaayúuts aváak atháwk. |
Creatures got there and there they were. |
Xam'uulól. |
Crickets. |
|
|
Xam'uulól nyáanyts aváak atháwtək, |
Those crickets got there and there they were, |
ava'étk, |
and they said something, |
nanamíilk a'íi kaa'émk, |
they tried to comfort the child somehow, |
lóləl lóləl a'étk vuunóotxayəm, |
they were going chirp chirp, |
'aakóoyəny nyaaváak, |
and when the old lady got there, |
xam'uulóləny tatapóoyk a'ét. |
she killed the crickets, they say. |
Masharáyk. |
She was angry. |
|
|
Nyaatatpóoyk, |
When she killed them, |
xuumárənyts amíim a'étəntima. |
the child cried, they say. |
Wanyəmnyaavárəntik. |
He had liked them. |
Áa-áa, |
Yes, |
wanymaavárəntik. |
he had liked them. |
|
|
Amíim siivám, |
He was crying, |
nyaayúuk, |
and she saw (this), |
awíi lya'émək táamək a'étəntima. |
and she didn’t do it any more, they say. |
|
|
Namák 'atsknyaayém. |
She left him and went off to various places. |
Suuváaxayk, |
There he was, and all of a sudden, |
xuumárənyts, |
the child, |
iiwáam ayáatk — |
he went off on his own — |
nyaayúu 'uutíish anawéeytsəm, |
she had made a little thing like a bow for him, |
kaawíts akyétk amátk, |
and he shot something and ate it, |
amátk awétk, |
he ate it, |
amátstək a'étəntima. |
they (both) ate it, they say. |
|
|
Asóotstək. |
They (both) ate it. |
|
|
Siitháwtək, |
There they were, |
siitháwtənyək, |
there they were, |
nyáanyəm, |
and at that (point), |
pa'iipáa kwa'atsláytsənyts tsapéenypatk a'étəma, |
there were a lot of bad people, they say, |
nyakóra. |
long ago. |
|
|
Pa'iipáa kaawíts a'étəm ám. |
She mentioned certain people. |
Ashiittəma. |
She listed them by name. |
|
|
Kwayúu a'étk, |
(One of them) was called Kwayúu (The One Who Sees), |
pa'iipáats avuuváatəntik, |
and there was also someone (else), |
'atsathóshk a'étəntik, |
she carried things on her back, they say, |
'Aakóoy Kaa'íts avuuváak, |
Old Lady Something-or-Other was around somewhere, |
Mattkwashtaxathúuk, |
Flesh-Ripper, |
'Aakóoy Mattkwashtaxathúuk a'étəma. |
Old Lady Flesh-Ripper, they say. |
|
|
“Nyáanya, |
“As for that one, |
nyaakwayúuk, |
anyone who sees her, |
sakyínyk!” a'ím. |
(had better) run away!” she said. |
|
|
“Matapúyúm,” a'ím, |
“She will kill you,” she said, |
'aankóoyənyts uukanáavək. |
the little old lady told (the child) about her. |
|
|
'Atsxalykwáak uuváamk, |
He was hunting for things, |
iiwáam, |
by himself, |
nyaayúu uumáxany nyaaxalykwáantik vuuváak. |
he was hunting for things to eat. |
|
|
A'étəm, |
She said it, |
a'ávtəs, |
and he heard her, but |
avathík; |
there he was; |
sakyíny alya'émək a'étəma. |
he didn’t run away, they say. |
|
|
Sakyíny alya'émək, |
He didn’t run away, |
siiv'áwəm, |
he stood (his ground), |
vathíi kwa'átsk a'étəma. |
and she came along, just as he had been told, they say. |
'Aakóoyəts, |
The Old Lady, |
vathíi kwa'áts. |
she came along, just as he had been told. |
|
|
Vathíi kwa'átsk, |
She came along, just as he had been told, |
vaawé a'étk atháwk, |
and she caught him like this, |
uuthóshk alytsaváwət a'étəma. |
and she put him into her bundle, they say. |
Uuthóshkəny. |
(Into) her bundle. |
|
|
Nyaatsaváwk, |
She put him (into her bundle), |
viiwáamk; |
and off she went; |
viiyáak, |
she went along, |
“Ka'wém tanək 'atapúyəly” a'íi viiyáak — |
she went along wondering, “How can I kill him?” — |
'atsuuthóshkəny tapómək a'étəma. |
and she burned her bundle, they say. |
|
|
Nyaatapómək, |
When she burned it, |
atspámək. |
he escaped. |
|
|
Nyaatspám, |
He escaped, |
'aakóoyənyts apómtək, |
and the Old Lady burned, |
apúytək a'étəma. |
and she died, they say. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Áa-áa, |
Yes, |
nyáanyənyts. |
she was the one. |
|
|
Nyaapúyəm, |
When she died, |
viiyémk aváamək, |
he went (home) and got there, |
kanáavək, |
and he told her about it, |
namáwnya, |
his grandmother, |
uukanáav. |
he told her about it. |
|
|
“Av'awé'əsh,” a'íim, |
“I did this,” he said, |
'aakóoyəny uukanáav. |
and he told the old woman about it. |
|
|
“Matháwk, |
“She took you, |
nyaamatapúy a'íim, |
and she was going to kill you, |
nyaathúuva. |
that’s for certain. |
Avathíkəntik, |
There are (other ones) too, |
pa'iipáa 'atsláytsəts,” |
bad people,” |
a'íim, |
she said, |
uukanáavək. |
and she told him about them. |
|
|
Uukanáavəm, |
She told him, |
a'áv alya'emək, |
but he didn’t listen, |
viiyáatəntik. |
and he went along again. |
Viiyáatəntik. |
He went along again. |
|
|
Viiyáaxayəm — |
He was going along, and all of a sudden — |
kaawíts? |
what was it? |
kaa'émək ashíit? — |
what’s his name? — |
'amáyƚy siivák, |
he was up in a high place, |
nyáanyts, |
he was the one, |
Iiyáam Kwakáap a'íik a'émtəma. |
he was called Iiyáam Kwakáap, they say. |
Kaawíts athúm a'ítya. |
He did something, they say. |
|
|
Nyáanyts, |
He was the one, |
atháw a'étk, |
he caught (the boy), |
anyíilyəqətəntík a'étəm, |
and he swallowed him, they say, |
tsanapéevtəm. |
because he was so little. |
|
|
Anyíilyqətəxayəm, |
He swallowed him, and immediately, |
ayúu tank, |
(the boy) looked around, |
vathíi ayúuk viiwáamək, |
he went along looking; |
makyím, |
and someplace, |
matásh alya'éməm, |
(the tissue) was not thick, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when he saw it, |
nyáanya, |
that (place), |
kaawíts atséwəntik, |
he made (a weapon), |
'íi! |
and gee! |
kaa'émək awím: |
he did it somehow: |
uutssúlyk atspámk a'étəntima. |
he ripped through it and he escaped again, they say. |
|
|
Nyaatspámək, |
He escaped, |
vatháts apúytəntik, |
and this one died too, |
pa'iipáavəts. |
this person. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Nyaathúum, |
Then, |
siiyáaxayəm, |
he was going along there, when suddenly |
nyaayúuts awétəntík a'étəma. |
a creature did it again, they say. |
'Ashpáa. |
It was an eagle. |
|
|
'Ashpáa nyáanyts, |
That eagle, |
'avíily sata'ótsəts siitháwəm, |
(she and) her babies were there on the mountain, |
siivám, |
she was there, |
siiyáantim; |
and (the boy) was going along; |
viiyémək. |
and (the eagle) left. |
'Anyáa kwashíintəm, |
Every day, |
athótk, |
it happened, |
kwalyavíitəma. |
it was something like that. |
|
|
Nyiitháaw a'íim, |
There they were, and so, |
viiyáaxayəm, |
(the boy) was going along, and all of a sudden |
kashák! |
she grabbed him with her talons! |
Atháwət a'íikətama, |
She caught him, they say, |
'ashpáanyányts. |
that eagle (did). |
|
|
Nyaatháwk, |
She caught him, |
sata'óts nyáanyts uusáav a'íim nyiitsamíim. |
and she put him down so those babies could eat him. |
|
|
Nyiitsamíim, |
She put him down there, |
a'ím, |
and so, |
'iipáyk, |
he was alive, |
niwaníw a'éxayəm, |
he was wiggling, and immediately, |
mashtatháav. |
they were afraid of him. |
|
|
Mashtatháavək, |
They were afraid of him, |
uusáav aly'émək a'étəntima. |
and they didn’t eat him, they say. |
|
|
Uusáav aly'émək, |
They didn't eat him, |
siitháwxaym, |
there they were, |
kaawémtəntík: |
and somehow he did it again: |
tatpóoyk a'étəma. |
he killed them, they say. |
Tatpóoyk. |
He killed them. |
|
|
Nyaavíirəntik, |
Once again, when he was finished, |
viiyémk, |
he went home, |
'aakóoyəny uukanáavək vuunóok a'étəma. |
and he told the old lady about it, they say. |
|
|
“Ka'wémək, |
“Somehow, |
pa'iipáa 'atsláyts muu'ítsəny, |
these bad people you told me about, |
'tapóoyk va'uunóok,” a'éta. |
I am killing them off,” he said. |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
“Yaamakuupéttənyts tamatháavtək,” a'íim, |
“Your craziness makes (things) difficult,” she said, |
wanyiiráv kuu'éeyk suunóo. |
and she went about scolding him as best she could, poor thing. |
|
|
Vuunóom, |
She went on, |
suuváanyk, |
and there he was, |
siiyáantixáyəm, |
he was still going after (bad people), and suddenly, |
nyáanya — |
that one — |
kaa'émək 'ashéxa? — |
what do we call him? — |
ayúum. |
he saw him. |
Kwayúu a'étəma. |
He is called Kwayúu (The One Who Sees). |
Pa'iipáa vatáyəts athúum a'ítya, |
He was a very big person, they say, |
nyáanyts. |
that (Kwayúu). |
|
|
'Axály avátəntik uuvátk a'étəma. |
He was there in the water, they say. |
'Axály — |
In the water— |
xaatspáay, |
in a well, |
kaawíts. |
or something. |
|
|
Alyvátəntík uuvát, |
He was sitting in it, |
vanyaayáak, |
and (the boy) went, |
alyvakaméek ayúu. |
and he stood at the edge (of the water) and looked. |
|
|
Ayúum. |
He saw him. |
|
|
“Ka'a'émək?” a'étəma. |
“How can I do it?” he said. |
|
|
“Ka''émək?” |
“How can I do it?” |
“Viikayémək,” a'íi. |
“Go away,” (Kwayúu) said. |
|
|
Kaa'ém tan, |
Somehow (the boy) managed to do it, |
nyiiv'áwk, |
he stood there, |
uutíishəny tsa'úlytək awím, |
he held his bow in his hand, and so, |
akyáam 'ím, |
he was going to shoot him, |
ava'áwk a'étəma. |
he was standing there, they say. |
|
|
Nyaakyáam. |
He shot him. |
|
|
Vuunóoxayəly, |
There they were, and suddenly, |
atháwk a'étəma. |
(Kwayúu) caught him, they say. |
|
|
Nyaatháwəntik, |
He caught him, |
nyáany, |
that (boy), |
kaawíts athótk athúm, |
and he did something, and so, |
'amáy takxávək a'étəma. |
he took him up into the sky, they say. |
|
|
Nyáanyts atsénək, |
He was the one who came down, |
pa'iipáa atháwk, |
and caught people, |
viiwémək |
and took them away |
nyáasily. |
to that distant (place). |
|
|
Sanyts'áak uutséts tsuumpápk a'étəma. |
There were four women that he put there, they say. |
|
|
Tsuumpápk, |
There were four of them, |
'amáy alythík aatsuumpáp alyatháwk, |
they were in the four levels of heaven, |
a'étəma. |
they say. |
|
|
Alyatháwəm. |
There they were. |
|
|
Nyáany nyaakamémk, |
He brought those (people) there, |
tapúyk, |
and he killed them, |
tarúvək, |
and he dried (their flesh), |
aax'ák. |
he hung it up. |
Kanyaa'íim, |
Sometimes, |
kamémxayk, |
he brought them, and immediately, |
alyúlytsək, |
they cooked them, |
nyáanyts, |
those (women did), |
kwatsuumpáp nyáanyənyts. |
those four (women did). |
|
|
Shuuvíim, |
They made them into gravy, |
asóo av'áarək. |
and he ate them. |
|
|
Asóo av'árək suuváak awíim, |
He ate them, and so, |
xuumár vathány atháwk, |
he took this child, |
viiwémtək a'étəma. |
he took him there, they say. |
|
|
Vanyaawémk, |
He took him there, |
apáav a'ím a'étəma. |
and he was going to have him roasted, they say. |
|
|
Apáav a'ím. |
He was going to have him roasted. |
“Kawítsk,” a'ítsəm, |
“Do it,” he said, |
awítsxayəly, |
and while they were trying to do it, |
avathótəntik. |
it happened again. |
|
|
Tsanapéevxáyəm, |
(The boy) was small, and right away, |
awítsəm, |
they did it, |
awíim, |
and so, |
tapúy a'íim, |
they tried to kill him, |
vatsuuváarək. |
and they failed. |
|
|
Nyaalyavíitəntik a'étəma. |
It was like that (other time), they say. |
'A'áw taráaxáyəly, |
While they were trying to start the fire, |
uuv'áwtəm, |
it started to rain, |
atspátstək. |
and he escaped. |
|
|
Awétk a'étəntíma. |
He did it again, they say. |
|
|
Awétəntím, |
He did it again, |
kaawémk, |
and somehow, |
tapúy a'ím vuunóonyk, |
they went on trying to kill him, |
nyaavatsuuváarək. |
and they failed. |
|
|
A'ím |
So, |
ayúut uuváanyək, |
they were watching him; |
“Apúytəxa,” |
“He will die,” |
nyaa'étk |
they said, |
antuumáaktək a'étəma. |
and they let him go, they say. |
|
|
Antuumáaktsəm, |
They let him go, |
nyaayúu, |
and, well, |
xaym, |
right away, |
'a'íi kaawíts ayáatk, |
he went to get wood or whatever, |
kaawíts a'ítstəm, |
(he did) whatever they said, |
suuváatk. |
there he was. |
|
|
Suuváatnyək, |
There he was, and eventually, |
“Ka'athóm tank? |
“How can I do it? |
'Atakavék 'atsénəlya,” |
“I want to go back down,” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
alynyiithúutsk suuváak a'étəma. |
and he thought about it, they say. |
|
|
Sanyuuváak. |
There he was. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
Sanyuuváanyk, |
There he was, and eventually, |
nyaayúu nyáany, |
those creatures, |
pa'iipáa tuupúy kwarúv nyáany, |
those people who had been killed and dried, |
sanyts'áak vatháts tawáam vuunóok, |
the women went about grinding them up, |
shuuvíik a'étəma. |
and they made gravy, they say. |
|
|
Shuuvíik, |
They made gravy, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
bowl vatáts tan a'íts awíim, |
they used really big bowls, |
alyaasáarək, |
they poured (the gravy) in, |
aasárək; |
they poured it; |
tsuumpápk a'étəma. |
there were four (portions), they say. |
|
|
Tsuumpáp. |
Four. |
|
|
Nyáanya, |
As for that, |
nyaayúu 'avíi athíik a'étəma. |
(the boy) came to get rocks or something, they say. |
|
|
'Avíi, |
The rocks, |
kayáaíi, |
maybe he sharpened them, |
kaawémk vanyuunóok |
he went about doing something |
nyáany, |
to those (rocks), |
alytsaváwk. |
and he put them in. |
|
|
Alytsaváwk, |
He put them in, |
awíim, |
and so, |
kwatapáar tan vathánya, |
this very last one, |
athóoyvətant, |
it was really sharp, |
kwalyavíita. |
it was like that. |
Athóoyvətanəm, |
It was really sharp, |
alytsaváw. |
and he put it in. |
|
|
Suuváam, |
He was there |
nyaasíim. |
when (Kwayúu) drank it. |
|
|
Atsénək, |
He went down, |
takavék nyaaváamək, |
and when he got back (home), |
asíi va'áarəm a'étəma. |
he always drank, they say. |
Aava'áarəm. |
He always did. |
|
|
Awéxáyəly — |
He did it, and suddenly — |
'ashént aséxayk — |
he drank the first (bowl), and suddenly — |
'aláayəm a'ávək a'éta. |
he felt (something) go wrong, they say. |
'Aláayəm a'ávtəs. |
He must have felt (something) go wrong. |
Awét. |
He did. |
|
|
Tsáam, |
All of them, |
kwaxavík, |
the second, |
kwaxamók, |
the third, |
kwatsuumpáp, |
the fourth, |
vathí, |
and here, |
nyáavəts athóoyvətantək awím, |
this one was really sharp, and so, |
nyáanyats, |
that (sharp rock), |
malyaqényi kaawém, |
it did something in his throat, |
apúyk a'étəntima. |
and he died, they say. |
|
|
Nyaapúyəm, |
He died, |
sanyuuváak. |
and (the boy) was still over there. |
“Ka'thóm tanək? |
“How will I do it? |
Vi'ayéməly,” a'íim suuváak. |
I want to go away,” he was saying. |
|
|
Suuváam, |
There he was, |
sanyts'áakənyts, |
and the women (said), |
“Nyiinyaatuuqwíirək, |
“We’re with you, |
'anayémapatk, |
we’ll go away too, |
'aaly'étka,” |
we think,” |
a'ítsk a'étəma. |
they said, so they say. |
|
|
A'ítsəm. |
They said it. |
“Kaváarək. |
“No. |
Ka'wémək 'awíyúm,” |
I don’t know how I could do it,” |
a'íim, |
he said, |
suuváak. |
and there he was. |
|
|
Ssanyuuváam a'ím — |
There he was, and so — |
kaawíts? — |
what was it? — |
kaawíts mattatséwk a'étəma. |
he turned himself into something, they say. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
Nyaayúu mattatséwk 'éta, |
He turned himself into something, they say. |
'Iipá. |
An arrow. |
Áa-á, |
Yes, |
arrow. |
an arrow. |
Áa, |
Yes, |
mattatséwk. |
he turned himself into it. |
|
|
“Av'awétxa,” |
“I will do it,” |
a'íim, |
he said, |
uukanáavtsəm. |
and they told him (how). |
|
|
“Viimayáak, |
“Go along, |
maváamtəxa,” |
you’ll get there,” |
a'ítsəm, |
they said, |
athúu, |
and he did it, |
viithíik athúuk a'étəma. |
he came along, they say. |
Viithíik. |
He came along. |
|
|
Nyavány 'avuumák ta'axán, |
Right behind his house, |
shátt nyaa'íim. |
he came straight down there. |
|
|
“Nyaamaváamək, |
“When you get there, |
makyík vaathóxa ma'íim, |
she will be like this somewhere, but |
'avá xán alymaxáv alyma'émətxa. |
you must not go into the house. |
|
|
“Shamáts tsuumpáp nyiiyéməm, |
“When four nights have passed, |
mayúuxa, |
you will see her, |
'aakóoynya,” |
the old lady,” |
a'ítstəm. |
they had said. |
|
|
Siiv'áw kuu'éeytənyk, |
He did his best to stand there, poor thing, |
avathúum a'étəma. |
he did that, they say. |
|
|
Avathúum, |
He did that, |
aváamk mattkanáavək, |
he got there and he told about himself, |
'aakóoyəny uukanáavək, |
he told the old lady, |
“Pa'iipáa muu'ítsəny 'atapúyəntik,” |
“I have killed the person you told me about,” |
a'íikəm. |
he said. |
|
|
*** *** *** |
*** *** *** |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
siitháwk a'étəma. |
there they were, they say. |
|
|
Siitháwk amáam, |
There they were, and finally, |
'akútstək, |
(the boy) got older, |
athúm, |
and so, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
'aqwáaq akyáam, |
he shot a deer, |
kamémək, |
and he brought it back, |
aax'ák kuu'éeyk, |
and he did his best to hang it up, poor thing, |
asóotstək athótk. |
and they ate it. |
Siitháwtək a'étəma. |
There they were, they say. |
|
|
Siitháwtənyək — |
There they were, and eventually — |
siitháwtənyək, |
there they were, and eventually, |
kaawíts nyaaxalykwáantik, |
he was hunting for something again, |
suuváaxayəm, |
there he was, and suddenly, |
sanya'ák nyáava — |
this woman — |
sata'óts a'étk kwalyavíita, |
they seemed to be her children, |
suunóok, |
they were around, |
ayóovək a'étəma. |
and they saw him, they say. |
|
|
Xayəm, |
Immediately, |
nyaayúu mattantséwk a'étəma. |
he changed himself into something tiny, they say. |
Kwashkyéevək. |
A dove. |
Kwashkyéevək asan'áw. |
A baby dove. |
|
|
Shuunrémxay. |
A newly hatched (dove). |
|
|
Mattatséwk, |
He changed himself, |
siivám, |
and there he was, |
shuupáwk. |
and they recognized him. |
Shuupáwk. |
They recognized him. |
|
|
“ 'Aakóoy nyaa'aváaməm, |
“When we get to the old lady’s house, |
tapúytsxa 'aaly'íim.” |
I think they will kill him.” |
|
|
Awím, |
So, |
atháwk viiwáak kamémək. |
they picked him up and brought him there. |
Nyáava antáyənyts nyaváyk siivám a'étəma. |
His mother was living over there, they say. |
Antáyənyts. |
His mother. |
|
|
Kamémxáyəm, |
As soon as they brought him there, |
shuupáwtək a'ím, |
they recognized him, and so, |
“Kuuthíim 'ayúuwú,” |
“Bring him so that I can see him,” |
a'ím a'étk kwalyavíita, |
he said something like that, |
kwara'ákats. |
the old man (did). |
|
|
Kwara'ákats shuupáwkəm, |
The old man recognized him, |
ayúuk, |
he saw him, |
a'ím, |
and so, |
awéxay, |
he did, and immediately, |
ayérək a'étəma. |
(the boy) flew away, they say. |
Ayérək. |
He flew away. |
|
|
Uuváak, |
There he was, |
uuváak, |
there he was, |
nyaayúuk, |
and he saw it, |
áa, |
well, |
'avá vaathúts kwa'áts, |
it was a house like this, just as they had said, |
'avá shupétt kwa'áts athótəm, |
it was a winter house, just as they had said, |
nyaayúu atséwtsəntik athúm, |
and they had made something, |
'amáyəny 'avuutsúly a'étəntima. |
it was a smoke hole at the top, they say. |
|
|
Uunakúpk, |
They had made a little hole, |
'amáyəly tsaváwət. |
they had put it in the roof. |
|
|
Nyaanyəm, |
And it was through that (hole), |
nyáanyəm nyaatspák, |
he went out through that, |
viiyém'əsh. |
and he went away. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Xuumárəvəts, |
The boy, |
áa, |
well, |
viiyém'əsh. |
he went away. |
Viiyém'əsh. |
He went away. |
|
|
Viiyémk, |
He went away, |
siiyáak, |
he went along, |
siiyáam, |
he went along, |
tatuuvíirək, |
and they chased him, |
viiwáatsənyk, |
they went on and on, |
alyvatsuuváarək a'étəntima. |
but they couldn’t do it, they say. |
|
|
Atháwəts aly'ém. |
They couldn’t catch him. |
|
|
Siiyáanyək, |
They went along there, |
nyáasi. |
over there in the distance. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Nyáanya, |
As for this story, |
nyaanyamáam, |
that’s all, |
'ashuupáwtək'a. |
(as far as) I know it. |
|
|
Nyaanyamáam, |
That’s all, |
siiyáanyək vatsuuváarək |
they went along in the distance and never did catch him, |
a'étəm 'a'avtək'ash. |
I’ve heard them say so. |
A'étəm 'a'ávtəka. |
I’ve heard them say so. |
|
|
Áa, |
Yes, |
nyiimántək siiyáas, |
he started there and went along in the distance, but |
'ashmátk 'a'áv aly'émk 'a'épəm ma'ám. |
I fell asleep and didn’t hear it all, as I’ve told you. |
|
|
That’s right. |
That’s right. |
|
|
Nyáanyi kanáavtəm 'a'ávtək'ash. |
I heard them tell that story. |