Translated by Millie Romero, Barbara Levy,
George Bryant, and Amy Miller
Tom Kelly told the story of ’Aavém Kwasám to Abe Halpern twice: the first time on September 20, 1978, and the second time on October 2, 1978. The second version is presented here.
Notes and synopsis
This story begins with a race between ‘Aavém Kwasám and Qal’iitáaq. During the course of the race, ‘Aavém Kwasám sees and falls in love with a woman. (A discussion which takes place after the story is concluded suggests that the woman is actually the wife of Qal’iitáaq.) She agrees to marry ‘Aavém Kwasám, and they end up with two children.
Eventually Coyote hears of their marriage. (There is a suggestion in the post-story discussion that Coyote might actually be the vengeful Qal’iitáaq.) He beats ‘Aavém Kwasám unconscious and takes the woman to the home of his uncle, Xóo Masée. Introducing her as his sister-in-law, he tells his uncle, “Here I am, and I want this person so much that I am going to kill her.” Xóo Masée knows a curse, and when Coyote uses the curse, the woman dies.
‘Aavém Kwasám, distraught, decides to follow his wife into death. Cutting his hair — a sign of mourning — and leaving his two children behind, he goes off in a canoe. He sees the apparition of his wife, tries to embrace it, and drowns.
His body is carried along the river. Eventually two young buzzards find it rotting in a fish trap and take it home, intending to roast it. After four days of roasting, the body is recognizable as that of ‘Aavém Kwasám. The father of the two young buzzards instructs his younger daughter to fix the body up, presumably for cremation. She does so, making four trips underwater and enlisting the help of Beaver to restore hair to the corpse. She then returns home.
At this point, the telling of the story is interrupted. When the narrative continues, it focuses on ‘Aavém Kwasam’s children. After the death of their father, the two children are raised by their paternal grandmother. She makes small hunting bows for them and teaches them about the dangers they will face in the wider world. In spite of her warnings, the boys fall prey to Old Lady Flesh-Ripper. Flesh-Ripper carries them off in a sack on her back, intending to kill them. They manage to start a fire in the sack, and they escape while Flesh-Ripper burns to death. The boys then turn themselves into unfeathered arrows and go up into the four levels of heaven.
The person whom the boys encounter in the four levels of heaven is not their father but Old Lady Flesh-Ripper herself. Once again she tries to kill them — this time by secreting sharp objects in their food — and once again they escape. She herself swallows the sharp objects and dies. The boys return home to their grandmother.
Soon they set off again, one of them reluctantly and with difficulty, the other urging him on. They struggle through strong winds, blazing fire, and impenetrable rocks, and when finally they reach their destination in the east, they find two young women there. They marry, and the couples settle in a “colorful house” in the east. From these circumstances, the narrator explains, arises the song ‘Axtá ‘Amáyəly Aaée (‘Raise the Flute’).
The second half of Tom Kelly’s story of ‘Aavém Kwasám has much in common with the stories of Kwayúu in Chapter 4 and also with the stories of Old Lady Sanyuuxáv in Chapter 5. It leaves the reader with an entirely appropriate sense that many of the stories of Quechan oral literature are interconnected.
'Aavém Kwasám |
'Aavém Kwasám |
Qal'iitáaqəm |
and Qal’iitáaq |
asa'án matt-tsavakyévúm a'ím. |
were going to have a kickball race. |
|
|
Viitháwm, |
There they were, |
pa'iipáats mattaaéevək. |
and people got together. |
'Atsiimák, |
They danced, |
shaavár uuxáyməs a'ét, |
even though they didn’t know (many) songs, they say, |
nyáanyi. |
at that (time). |
|
|
'Atsiimák vuunóom, |
They went on dancing, |
Xatalwéts alyuuváak, |
and Coyote was among them, |
tsáam shuupáwk uuváak. |
and he knew everything. |
|
|
'Aavém Kwasámts, |
'Aavém Kwasam |
Xamashé Vatáyəny asa'ánək, |
kicked the Big Star forward; |
aváts — |
and these things — |
'atapíly a'éta — |
they’re called cattails — |
aváts 'amátt alyathík awím, |
they were sticking out of the ground, and so, |
'atapíly nyáany nyiipáxapat. |
he, in his turn, lost (the ball) in the cattails. |
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|
Nyáany nyiisa'ánək athúm. |
That’s where he kicked it. |
|
|
Viinathíik, |
They came, |
tsavakyévək viinathíim, |
they came running, |
uutáp 'ashénti uuttáwk, |
and he was one length ahead, |
'Aavém Kwasáməts uuttáwk viinathíim. |
'Aavém Kwasám was ahead as they came. |
|
|
Uutáp 'ashéntəm uuttáw, |
He was one length ahead, |
avuuthíitsəm, |
and they brought it along, |
uuttáwk viiyám a'ím, |
and he went ahead intending to pass by here, |
pa'iipáa — |
and a person — |
sanya'ákts sanyuuváak — |
there was a woman over there — |
“Xa 'ayáaw vanyaa'ayáak.” |
“I’m going to go get water,” (she said). |
Xatsapáats ayúum, |
There was a spring over there, |
alyaváam. |
and she got there. |
|
|
'Aavém Kwasám viitápk awím, |
'Aavém Kwasám threw it, |
túlyəly a'ím, |
and it went plop, |
paqátt nyaatháwk — |
and she caught it — |
aavxáy iikwé a'ét — |
there’s a part of her dress — |
avíly tsathúunəm. |
she pushed it in there. |
|
|
“Kuuthíik! |
“Bring it back! |
'Uutáp 'ashént, |
My one-length lead, |
nyamáartsiyúm!” |
they might win it away from me! |
Kuuthíik!” |
Bring it back!” (he said). |
|
|
“Kaváar! |
“No! |
Máanyts kathíik, |
You come |
katháwk!” |
and get it!” |
|
|
“Áa,” |
“All right,” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
nyaayáak atháw. |
and he went and got it. |
|
|
“Móo, |
“Okay, |
nyatsúyk.” |
I’ll marry you,” (he said). |
|
|
“Móo, |
“Okay, |
xótt.” |
all right,” (she said). |
|
|
Xatalwéts nyaa'ávək — |
Coyote heard it — |
kór a'áv — |
later he heard about it — |
avány aaqwíttk vuunóony, |
and he beat him up, |
alythík, |
and he lay there, |
apúyk viithík, |
he lay here dying, |
xweyamánək viithík. |
he lay here unconscious. |
|
|
Nyaaváak — |
They got there — |
Xatalwéts uumáyk viiwém, |
Coyote invited her and they went, |
uunyíik a'ím, |
and he called her his sister-in-law, |
avány antsénək a'í. |
and he called her husband his older brother. |
|
|
Viiwém. |
He took her there. |
|
|
'Avá kamém. |
They got to the house. |
|
|
Nyáanyi uuváash, |
There he was, |
nyáanyts. |
that (person). |
Vanyuuváak, |
There he was, |
Xóo Masée a'étka. |
and he was called Xóo Masée. |
Xóo Masée a'étk, |
He was called Xóo Masée, |
'axwíttk uuvám. |
and he was red. |
|
|
Nyáany, |
That (person), |
iiwám mattkanáav: |
he told about himself: |
“ 'Anavíiya,” |
“My father’s older brother,” |
a'ím. |
he said. |
“Ée, |
“Well, |
'avétta, |
my younger brother’s child, |
kaawíts kamathúum?” |
what are you up to?” |
“Áa-á, |
“Well, |
'athúum va'thúum va'thúum.” |
this is how I am and this is what I’ve done.” |
|
|
“ 'Avák 'athúum, |
“(Here) I am, |
pa'iipáany 'áartanək 'uuvák 'athósh. |
and I want this person very much. |
'Atapúy 'a'ím 'a'ílya.” |
I want to kill her.” |
“ 'Axótt.” |
“All right.” |
“Sanya'áka.” |
“The woman.” |
“ 'Axótt.” |
“All right.” |
|
|
Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
viinathíiik athúm, |
they came, |
'avám katán. |
they got to the house. |
Nyamawítsk nyaayúu awíi vuunóok, |
She was doing things there, |
tawáam, |
she was grinding (grain), |
shuuvíi a'íim, |
she was going to make porridge, |
kaawíim. |
and she was doing whatever it was. |
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|
Avány shuuvíi, |
She made that porridge, |
'axá alytsáam, |
she put in water, |
'axányts alól vaa'é a'ím, |
and the water bubbled like this, |
nyamashtúum alytsáam: |
and she gathered (the ingredients) and put them in; |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
kúur 'aavíirəm, |
soon I will finish, |
mamátsk mathútsxa.” |
and you’ll eat,” |
a'ét. |
she said. |
|
|
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
xótt,” a'ím, |
all right,” he said, |
“A'íis, |
“But |
'amuuvílyk 'uunáam, |
I’m in a great hurry, |
'amuutsavíilyk 'uunáam av'athótəm 'athúum.” |
(that is,) we are in a great hurry,” (he said). |
“Maaíim.” |
“Do as you please,” (she said). |
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|
“ 'Awétk vi'atháwk," a'ítya. |
“I am doing it,” she said. |
A'étəm, |
She said it; |
“ 'Axótt.” |
“All right,” (he said). |
|
|
A'étk a'ím, |
He said it, and so, |
uupúuvək viiwétsk. |
they went in and went along. |
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|
Avawétsk; |
They went along; |
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
'áw aráak kayúuk!” |
look at the fire blazing!” |
a'étəm; |
he said; |
vaa'ée ayúunyk, |
she just glanced at it like this (without really looking), |
kaváar. |
and nothing happened. |
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|
Viiwétsk viiwétsk, |
They went on and on, |
ava'íntik, |
and he said it again, |
xamók, |
three (times), |
nyamkwatsuumpápəm, |
and on the fourth (time), |
“ 'Áw aráanya, |
“That blazing fire, |
kayúuny! |
look at it! |
Maláwxa!” |
You must turn your head!” |
'A'áwənyts aráak, |
The fire blazed up, |
apómək viivám. |
it went on burning. |
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|
“Áa-á, |
“Oh, |
***, |
*** |
'Axótt.” |
All right.” |
|
|
A'ét. |
She said it. |
“Nyaanyamáam, |
“That’s all, |
nyáanya. |
that one. |
Nyaanyamáam, |
That’s all, |
'ashént 'ashuupáwk, |
I (only) know one, |
'awétəm, |
and so, |
nyáanyamáam.” |
that’s all.” |
|
|
Nyaa'étəm, |
When he said it, |
“Aváts nyaapúyk.” |
“She will die,” (he said). |
Sany'áakənyts tawáany av'áwəny; |
The woman was standing there grinding grain; |
“ 'Iiwáats arávxá,” a'étka'a. |
“My heart hurts,” she said. |
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|
Aa'áampət. |
She fell face down. |
Apúyt. |
And she died. |
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|
Nyaapúyəm, |
She died, |
nyiinyaakwévəm, |
that was the end of her, |
'iipáa aváts vanyuuváak, |
and that man was there, |
ii'ényts 'óook a'ím áam, |
and his hair was long, down to here, |
nyamaakyítt viiwáanyk viiwáany, |
and he kept cutting it, on and on, until |
nyiikwévəm nyam. |
there wasn’t any left. |
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|
*** |
*** |
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|
Nyuupáyk, |
It was all gone, |
vanyuuváak. |
and here he was. |
Nyaxuutsamáar xavíkəm, |
There were two children, |
uutsáam vuuváak awét. |
and he was in charge of them. |
'Aakóoyts nyiivántik athúm. |
There was an old woman there too. |
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|
Áa, |
Yes, |
Xatalwé nyuuváantika. |
Coyote was there too. |
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|
Iiwáam viiyém, |
(The man) went off by himself, |
makyé ayémtək, |
he went off somewhere, |
aváat. |
and he got there. |
Makyé ayémək uuváak, |
He went off somewhere and there he was, |
nyáany awím, |
and he used that, |
'a'íi nyáany. |
that wood. |
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|
Áa, |
Yes, |
alykyéttkitya. |
he cut down (a tree), they say. |
Awíi vuunóok vuunóok, |
He went on and on doing it, |
'axaalyáak atséw, |
he made a canoe, |
uutara'úyk aavíir. |
he fixed it up and finished. |
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|
Viiyém a'ím. |
He wanted to go away. |
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|
Nyamkamáyk, |
(He wanted) to go into exile, |
viiyémk apúy a'ím. |
he wanted to go away and die. |
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|
Nyamkanáav aly'émk uuváanyk, |
He didn’t tell anyone, |
viiyáam; |
he (just) went along; |
shatuupáawk viitháwk athúm, |
they knew (what he was up to), and so, |
nyaatuuqwíirək viiwéts. |
they went along following him. |
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|
“Kaváarək,” a'étka. |
“No,” he said. |
“Avkuunóotsk. |
“Stay there. |
Kaawíts 'ayáam, |
I’m going after something, |
'athúum, |
and so, |
'anymaatuuqwíir aly'ém. |
don’t follow me. |
Kuunóotk.” |
Stay (there). |
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|
“Ma'axúutt muunóotəm ám.” |
“You (two) are doing fine.” |
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|
“Ée'é, |
“Yes, |
'awítsapat 'a'étka. |
we want to do it too. |
'Athútsapat 'av'áwk 'aaly'éet,” a'ét. |
We think we’ll do it too,” they said. |
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|
Matsats'étk vuuv'óom, |
They stood there crying, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when he saw them, |
“Ée'é, |
“All right, |
kanéem, |
step back. |
vathány 'atsúutk,” a'étk a'ím, |
I’m going to launch this,” he said, and so, |
awíima. |
he did it. |
|
|
Xalyamuutsáak awím, |
He put it in the water, and so, |
“Ammawét vanyaathúm,” a'étəm; |
“Whatever you do, it will happen,” he said; |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
'axóttk,” |
all right,” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
|
|
Uuv'óotəm awím, |
They stood there, and so, |
tsúut nya'étk, |
he launched it, |
viiyém. |
and he left. |
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|
Xuumáarəts nyuuv'óok, |
The children stood there, |
matsats'étk uuv'óok. |
they stood there crying. |
|
|
Viiyáak, |
He went, |
viiyáak, |
and he went, |
viiyáak, |
and he went, |
viiyáak. |
and he went. |
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|
Vaa'éta: |
This is what he said: |
“ 'Axuumáy kwa'nóq 'anamák,” |
“I’m leaving my little son,” |
a'ét. |
he said. |
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|
“Nuumáka, |
“The one that’s left behind, |
kwiiyáma, |
the one who goes, |
xuumáy kwiinóqa,” |
my little son,” |
|
|
a'étk. |
he said. |
“Aháaa,” |
“Ohhhh!” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
amétk viiyáak. |
and he went along weeping. |
|
|
Nyáany ava'étk, |
That’s what he was saying, |
ava'étk, |
he was saying that, |
viiyáam. |
as he went along. |
|
|
Nyaavée kwapúyənyts, |
His dead wife |
viiyám. |
passed by here. |
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|
“ 'Aavém Kwasáméey!” |
“ 'Aavém Kwasám!” |
a'étk, |
she said, |
iimáatt-ts atspáktək, |
and her body appeared, |
aathómptəm ayúuk, |
and he watched it change course, |
viiyáak. |
and he went after it. |
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|
Nyamkwatsuumpápəm, |
On the fourth (time), |
nyaavíirnyəm, |
when he finished, |
“ 'Awém, |
“I can do it, |
'atháwxa,” 'aaly'étka, |
I can get her,” he thought, |
nyaa'ét. |
and he said so. |
|
|
Nyaa'íntim, |
When he said it again, |
“Manyuuwíts manyáaw,” |
“Go after your loved one,” |
nyaa'ét a'ím, |
she said, and so, |
taxmakyíp, |
he embraced her, |
awíik aaly'ét. |
he thought that he did. |
|
|
Ashváq a'étəm; |
Suddenly there was peace; |
xalypám. |
he fell in the water. |
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|
Apúyk a'ét. |
He died, they say. |
|
|
Apúyk, |
He died, |
viiyáanyk, |
and (his body) went |
viiyáanyk, |
and went |
viiyáanyk, |
and went |
viiyáany, |
and went, until |
'axá — 'axá— |
in the water — the water — |
'aayúu — |
(there was) something — |
'ataakwíily a'éta. |
it’s called a fish trap. |
Xály avák; |
It was in the water; |
'atáyk siivak. |
there were a lot of them there. |
|
|
Siivám. |
There it was. |
|
|
Nyáaly axávək, |
He had gone in there, |
vanyaavák, |
and there he was, |
asháxk siivák, |
he was rotting in there, |
apúyk asháx. |
he was dead and rotting. |
|
|
Siivám, |
There he was, |
'ashée xarák, |
and (there was) a kind of buzzard, |
vatstsáats xavík avuunóok. |
and his two daughters were there. |
'Amáttnya — |
This place — |
kavée 'anyaaxáapk vuunóok vuunóok vuunóom, |
they were hanging around someplace in the southeast, |
avawétsk, |
they did that, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
'atsayér kwavatáts, |
those big birds, |
shat'ura'úurəny kwalyvíiny xalykwáatsk, |
they hunt for things like eggs, |
kaawíts apáavək amátsk, |
they roast something and eat it, |
kaawíts asháx awét. |
they use whatever is rotten. |
|
|
Avathíkəm, |
He lay there, |
nyáava, |
and as for this, |
taxalykwéts av'áar vuunóok. |
and they went hunting as usual. |
Vanyaawéts. |
They went after (things). |
|
|
Nyaayúuny ayúuxayəm, |
They were looking around, and suddenly, |
viivák, |
here he was, |
asháxk awím. |
he was rotting. |
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|
“Áa-á, |
“Well, |
'ana'áy vathány a'éta! |
my father said it was this one! |
Vathány a'íim; |
He said it was this one; |
vathány 'apáavəm amátxa,” |
I’ll roast this one and he’ll eat it,” |
a'étka, |
she said, |
nyaayúu kwáarəny. |
the (sister) who wanted something. |
|
|
“ 'Óo, |
“Oh, |
kaváar, |
no, |
asháxk 'aláay!” |
it’s rotten and bad!” (said her sister). |
|
|
“Kanaqáməlyemk, |
“Let’s not touch it, |
asháx; |
it’s rotten, |
nyaayúu 'uumáxats athúulyəm. |
it’s not the sort of thing we should eat. |
Nyaayúu shtar'úur avány 'awíim, |
We’ll use these eggs and things, |
avány, |
these (things), |
'aqwésxa.” |
they’ll turn brown.” |
|
|
A'ávəlyem. |
(Her sister) didn’t listen. |
“Kaváar. |
“No. |
Nyáava 'awíi 'a'ím 'a'ítya.” |
This is what I’m going to use,” |
a'ét. |
she said. |
Nyaayúu xan'uuthíly a'étəm, |
Something called a pallet, |
'a'íiny awíim, |
she made it of branches, |
nyaapítsk vuunóonyk vuunóony. |
and she went on slapping (the remains of the body) onto it. |
Nyaamáam. |
That’s all. |
|
|
Nyáava apáyk viinathíim, |
They came carrying this, |
“Áa, |
“Oh, |
asháxk,” |
it’s rotten,” (said the older sister), |
nyiixúu shapéttk, |
and she held her nose, |
amákəly athíik awím. |
and she came along behind. |
“ 'Óo, |
“Oh, |
asháxk 'aláaytsəm.” |
it’s rotten and bad,” she said. |
|
|
Viinathíik, |
They came, |
viinathíik, |
and came, |
viinathíik, |
and came, |
viinathíik, |
and came, |
'avá katán, |
and they got home, |
awím, |
and so, |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
nyáany 'a'épəm áam. |
that’s what you heard me say. |
Kapáavət!” |
Roast it!” (he said), |
apáav avuunóok. |
and she went about roasting it. |
|
|
Shamáts 'ashént, |
One night (passed), |
'anyáa xavíkəm, |
and on the second day, |
uutáqt ayúum; |
she opened it up and looked at it; |
uuvátəm, |
there it was, |
ayúut. |
and she looked at it. |
Avawétk awétk, |
She did it, |
kwatsuumpápənyəm, |
and the fourth (time), |
nyamkwaxamókənyəm, |
(or) the third (time), |
shuupáwk a'ím. |
she recognized him, they say. |
“Nyáanya. |
“That’s him. |
Nyáany.” |
That’s him.” |
*** |
*** |
“Kaawíts uuvátəm athúm! |
“Something is there! |
Ka'áv!” a'éta. |
Listen!” she said. |
|
|
“ 'Aavém Kwasáméey!” a'ét. |
“ 'Aavém Kwasam!” she said. |
Aaksáatsk a'ím: |
He said it slowly: |
“ 'Óo,” |
“Oh,” |
a'ét. |
he said. |
|
|
A'áv, |
She listened, |
ayáak uukanáavəm; |
and she went and told (her father) about it; |
“Áa, |
“Yes |
kuutara'úyk! |
fix it up!” (he said). |
Kuutara'úyk, |
“Fix it up! |
avány kuutara'úyəm, |
Fix that (body) up |
'axóttxa! |
(so that) it will be all right! |
Vaathóxa.” |
It will be like this.” |
|
|
A'étəm, |
He said it, |
nyamawítsk, |
and she did it, |
uutara'úyk suunóom, |
she went about fixing it up, over there, |
amákəny, |
and after (that), |
kwatsuumpáp, |
on the fourth (time), |
atspák. |
it came out. |
|
|
Avathótk: |
This is how it was: |
xótt-təm ayúuts, |
it looked all right, but |
ii'ényənyts kaváarək athótk. |
the hair was not (right). |
Vanyaavák. |
There it was. |
|
|
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
ii'é 'awíyú 'avák,” |
I’m going to do something with the hair,” |
vanyaa'íim, |
she said, |
kaawíts 'axály atsénək a'úpk. |
and she dove down into the water for something. |
|
|
'Apén a'éta. |
It’s called a beaver. |
'Apénnya, |
The beaver, |
'aqwéshk viithíkəm, |
he was brown, lying there, |
kanáavəm: |
and she told him about it: |
“Ii'é 'atséwəm atspáa a'étka. |
“I am trying to make his hair grow out. |
Kaváar.” |
It’s not right (the way it is).” |
|
|
A'étəm, |
She said it, and |
“Ka'úpəntik, |
“Dive in again, |
kaxávək! |
go in! |
Avík aviithíkəntik nyaavá. |
There is another one there. |
'Apén vaathúts a'étəm,” |
Beavers are like this, they say,” |
a'íik 'eta. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
Aváam, |
She got there, |
ii'é nyiitápkəm, |
and when she had put the hair there, |
kaváartənti. |
once again it wasn’t right. |
|
|
Aaxavík, |
She did it twice, |
kwaxamók, |
and the third (time), |
awíim, |
she did it, |
kaváartəny a'ét. |
and it still wasn’t right, they say. |
|
|
Nyamkwatsuumpápəm nyaaxávəntim, |
When she went in again for the fourth (time), |
ii'é ta'axán nyiitsaváw. |
she arranged the hair properly. |
|
|
'Apén nyíilyts avathík awím, |
A black beaver was there, and so, |
nyáanyts awíima. |
he is the one that did it. |
Ii'ény uutara'úyəm |
He fixed up the hair |
nyíily, |
(so that) it was black, |
aalywíishm, |
and he twisted it, |
'axótt-tanək atspák, |
and it came out really well, |
a'éta. |
they say. |
|
|
Nyaatspák, |
When it came out, |
viithíik, |
she came, |
'avá aváak; |
she came to the house, |
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
'ats'amáaw,” a'íim; |
let’s eat something,” she said; |
nyaayúu mathílyk, |
(her sister) was making thick-mush corn bread, |
“Vanythály muutsáawva, |
“This little thing you are making, |
'amáts 'athóxa. |
we’ll eat it. |
Shuuvíi 'amátsú.” |
Let’s eat it as porridge.” |
|
|
A'íim, |
And so, |
viivám. |
here she was. |
Mashaxáy kwa'kúts nyaathúuva. |
It was the older girl. |
“Kaváarək” a'ét. |
“No,” she said. |
|
|
“Mana'áyəm kuutáarək,” a'ét. |
“Share it with your father,” she said. |
|
|
“Mana'áy kayém, |
“Go to your father, |
nyaayúu kawéeyk,” a'ét. |
and do something for him,” she said. |
Vaa'étk viiwáatk. |
She went on saying this. |
|
|
A'éta. |
So they say. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
|
|
Nyáany a'étk, |
Anyway, |
xuumáarənyts |
the children (of 'Aavém Kwasám) |
suunóok athúm, |
were around over there, |
alynyuuthútsk vanyuunóok — |
and they were thinking — |
uupúyts athótəm a'étk a'íim, |
it was his death they were thinking about, and so, |
alynyuuthútsk vanyuunóok, |
they were thinking, |
“ 'Anyáats, |
“As for us, |
makyém 'uupúuvəxa? |
which way shall we go? |
'Aaly'íim, |
We (should) think about this, |
'iiwáalyəm 'ayúus,” |
and look into our hearts,” (they said), |
vanyaathót. |
and this is what they did. |
|
|
Nyaayúu, |
Well, |
'aakóoyənyts ava'ét. |
the old woman had something in mind. |
|
|
Xuumáar 'atskuunóom, |
The children were around here and there, |
'uuntíish awéeytk, |
and she made little bows for them, |
iiwáanyi, |
by herself, |
nyamáam, |
and finally, |
nya'kúutsəm, |
when they were older, |
nyaayúu uukanáav a'ét. |
she explained things to them, they say. |
|
|
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
uusóx, |
the (meat) that will be eaten, |
nyaayúu 'aqwáaq, |
a deer or something, |
pa'iipáa nyiikwanáam, |
a creature worthy of respect, |
pa'iipáa 'axán uutssóots. |
(that’s what) a proper person eats. |
'Axánts — |
A proper (person) — |
pa'iipáa 'axán uutssóots athúuk a'ím. |
that’s what a proper person eats, they say. |
*** |
*** |
|
|
“Nyamawítsk awíim, |
“He does it like that, |
tapúyk kamétk, |
he kills it and brings it, |
kaawíts awét. |
he does something. |
Kaawíts awét. |
He does something. |
|
|
“ 'Aakóoy 'Amátt Shaxathúuk aví uuváak uuvák, |
“Old Lady Flesh-Ripper is around here, |
ava'étk, |
and so, |
pa'iipáa atháwk, |
she takes people, |
‘ 'Ashxthúk 'a'ávəlya, |
‘I feel like ripping out his flesh, |
'ashxthúk 'a'ét 'a'ávəlya,’ a'étk, |
I feel like ripping out his flesh,’ she says, |
a'etəs, |
or she might say, |
athúum! |
and she does it! |
Uuvám! |
She’s around! |
|
|
“Nyiimashtúum, |
“If she catches you, |
nyiimakwévəm! |
that (will be) the end of you! |
Mashiithéevək athúm!” |
She is dangerous!” (she said). |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
ayóov awéts,” a'ét, |
if we see her we will leave,” they said, |
viiwéts. |
and off they went. |
|
|
Athúm, |
And so, |
nyamathúts. |
that’s how it happened. |
Siithíik, |
She came along, |
“Pa'iipáa 'ashxathúk 'a'ávəlya!” a'ét. |
“I feel ripping somebody’s flesh!” she said. |
*** |
*** |
|
|
Nyiishtúum, |
She caught them, |
amákəly aapáxk, |
and she threw them behind her, |
nyiithóshk siithíim. |
and she came along carrying them on her back. |
|
|
Kwa'kútsənyts, |
The oldest one, |
“Xwóott! |
“Oh, my! |
'Apóoyt a'ím!” a'étkəm, |
We’re going to die!” he said, |
mattkanáavəm a'ét. |
and they discussed it among themselves. |
|
|
A'étk, |
And so, |
awíim, |
they did it, |
nyaayúuk. |
when they saw (an opportunity). |
'A'áw akyáam, |
They started a fire (with bow and arrow), |
axtáttəly nyaatsavóowk, |
and they set it on her back, |
karáy karáyts a'ím, |
and she went hopping around, |
uutáaqsh, |
and they jumped (out), |
uutspám. |
and they escaped. |
|
|
'Aakóoy nyuuváks, |
The old woman was there, |
axtáttá, |
and her back |
vathá lyavíik. |
was like this. |
*** |
*** |
Apúyk. |
She died. |
Apóm. |
She burnt up. |
|
|
Nyáanyi atsénək, |
They came down, |
viinathíik kanáav, |
they came and told about it, |
a'ét. |
they say. |
Nyaayúuny kanáavətsk: |
They told about the things (that had happened to them): |
“Vaathúum,” |
“It was like this,” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
Nyaany nyiikwanáam ashíittk uuváatəm; |
They listed the dangerous things (that they had done). |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
nyáany 'awítsk,” a'ét. |
we did that,” they said. |
|
|
“Nyáany 'ayóovxa,” a'ét. |
“We saw that,” they said. |
|
|
A'étk, |
And so, |
nyamathúts. |
that’s what happened. |
“ 'Iipá xash'étt matt'iitséw, |
“We will turn ourselves into unfeathered arrows, |
'amáy uutspámxa,” |
and go up into the sky,” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
Nyaayúu ayóov a'ét. |
They intended to see things. |
Xalyuukwéts, |
They intended to look for their father, |
aví vuunóok a'ét. |
as they were there. |
'Amáy uutspám, |
They went up in the sky, |
athík aatsuumpápəly uutspám. |
they went up into the four levels (of heaven). |
|
|
Pa'iipáanyts, |
The people, |
áa, |
yes, |
maawíi kwapúy, |
their dead relatives, |
áa, |
yes, |
matt-tsapéem ayóov. |
they saw so many of them. |
|
|
Pa'iipáats vanyaavák, |
Someone was there, |
uuvám, |
there she was, |
katánəm. |
(when the boys) got there. |
Nyamathútsənyá, |
The (thing) that had happened to them, |
awíts nyáts vuunóot. |
the very (person) who had done it was there. |
|
|
'Aláaytanəm nyaa'ávək, |
When they realized how bad (the situation) was, |
“Ka'athúts av'athú'əm?” |
“What shall we do?” |
a'ím. |
they said. |
|
|
Nyaa'étəm, |
Then, |
nyiikwashtútsənyts, |
the one who had caught them, |
avawétəm, |
she did something, |
a'étəm, |
and they said, |
“Ée-ee.” |
“All right.” |
|
|
“Nyantamáatskəlyemtəm nyii'tháwk.” |
“I’m not going to let you go,” (she said). |
Kaathúts avatháwəm a'ím. |
She intended them to stay where they were. |
“Muuváak ma'ím.” |
“You are going to stay there.” |
“Ée-ee.” |
“All right.” |
|
|
A'étkəm, |
And so, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
shuuvíi awíi vuunóok vuunóok. |
she went on and on making porridge. |
|
|
“Makyény awítsk,” a'étk. |
“She’s going to do it to someone,” they said. |
“Nyatatapóoy a'ím,” a'ítstəsáa, |
“She wants to kill us,” they said, but |
uuxáyk, |
they knew (what she was up to), |
amáatk, |
and they ate the porridge, |
xiipúk awíikəta. |
they ate first, they say. |
|
|
Axúupt. |
They gulped it down. |
Nyaayúuk ayúuk, |
She was watching and watching, |
vaa'éta. |
and (then) she went like this. |
Axúupk axúup. |
She gulped it and gulped it. |
Malyaqénya aakyíttk. |
It cut her throat. |
|
|
Apúyk aatkyéerk, |
She was lying dead, on her back, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when they saw this, |
natsénək, a'éta. |
they came (back) down (to earth), they say. |
|
|
Natsénək, |
They came (back) down (to earth), |
viinathíik viinathíim, |
they came and came, |
'amáy athík aatsuumpápəm, |
from the four levels of heaven, |
aatsavérək, |
and they finished, |
'avuumák uuv'óo. |
and they stood there behind the house. |
|
|
Uuv'óom, |
They stood there, |
namáwənyts uuvám, |
and their father’s mother was there, |
Xatalwényts nyuuváak, |
and Coyote was there, |
*** |
*** |
alynyéxəmk uuvám áam. |
and he was very restless. |
|
|
Uuv'óok a'ét. |
They stood there, and so, |
nyáanya, |
as for that, |
nyaakatánəntik, |
when they got home again, |
“ 'Anyáanya, |
“The east, |
'amáy 'anyáak, |
up high in the east, |
'amáy 'anyáak 'anayém 'a'étk, |
we are going to go up high in the east, |
alynyi'athúutsəntik,” |
we think,” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
|
|
Vuunóok athúm, |
There they were, and so, |
“Muuthóxats alyathóm. |
“(That) is something that you must not do. |
Nyiikwanáam!” |
It’s dangerous!” (she said). |
|
|
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
'athútsəm 'a'ítya,” |
we’ll do it,” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
|
|
Nyamathútsk. |
That’s how it happened. |
Viiwétsk, |
They went, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
kwakútsənyts, |
the older one, |
nyiikwévək, |
he was no good at it, |
uuthóxats athúm awét. |
(but) it was what he had to do and he did it. |
|
|
“Nyaayúu, |
“Well, |
nyiikwanáam. |
it is dangerous. |
Matxá aspérək,” |
The wind is strong,” |
a'ét. |
he said. |
|
|
“ 'A'áw aráak, |
“A fire is burning, |
nyiithík!” |
there it is!” |
a'étkəm; |
he said; |
“Kaawíts — |
“(There is) something — |
'aqwáaq matháwəm alyathík,” a'étk. |
there is a deer in there for you to get,” (his brother) said. |
“ 'Avíits nyiitháwəm, |
“There are rocks there, |
muuyémxats athúmk,” a'ét. |
and you will have to go through them,” he said. |
Kanáavək vuunóok. |
He went on telling him. |
“Ée, |
“Well, |
nyam'uupúuv aly'ém.” |
we’re not going through there.” |
|
|
As'ílyəm, |
He refused, |
a'ávəlyemk, |
(but the younger brother) didn’t listen, |
viiwétstək, |
and they went on, |
avathúum, |
they did it somehow, |
viiwétsk, |
they went on, |
aatsnyavárəm, |
(the older brother) was exhausted, |
avawétk, |
but they did it somehow, |
'amátt tsathóm tsathóm awét, |
they pressed on and pressed on, and so, |
tsuumpápəm, |
in four (days), |
“Nyuukats'éeyk,” |
“I’ll show you how,” (he said), |
tspáyk tspáyk a'ét, |
and they held hands, |
uutspám. |
and they went out. |
|
|
A'étk, |
And so, |
nyáanya, |
that song, |
aashváarək ava'ét. |
he sang it like that. |
'Aashváarək ava'étəm, |
He sang it like that, |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
“ 'Iimé nyáanyts arávəm,” |
“My feet hurt,” |
a'ím. |
he said. |
|
|
A'ím, |
And so, |
“Xamanyéw nyáany,” a'ét. |
“It’s those shoes,” he said. |
|
|
Nyaayúu, |
Well, |
nyamuuyémənya, |
that path, |
walytsaváamtəm, |
he wasn’t up to it, |
nyaayúuk, |
but when he saw it, |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
'anyxamnyéw,” a'étk, |
it’s my shoes,” he said, |
nyáanyəm, |
and at that point, |
“Kamawém, |
“You must be able to do something, |
athúuk təsaa |
that’s how it is, but |
'axóttxa,” a'ét. |
it will be better,” he said. |
|
|
“Ée'é, |
“Well, |
máam, |
that’s all, |
kamawíim, |
you’ll do something, |
vi'nayémxa,” nyaa'ét. |
and we will go,” he said. |
|
|
Nyamnayémk, |
Thus they went away, |
viiwétsk. |
they went. |
|
|
Nyaayúuk: |
They saw it: |
'a'áw aráa a'étk, |
a fire was burning, they say, |
awét, |
and then, |
'xá aspér a'étk. |
the water was powerful, they say. |
*** |
*** |
Naxkyíik, |
They went across; |
nyáanyi, |
and there, |
nyáayúu, |
well, |
iimé nyáany arávək, a'étk, |
those feet of his hurt, he said, |
kanáavək, |
and he told about it, |
nyáanyi av'áwk: |
as he stood there: |
|
|
“Áaliiláalaláa, |
“Fire is burning, burning, |
áaliiláalaláa,” |
fire is burning, burning,” |
|
|
a'étk, |
he said, |
nyiiv'áwk a'ím, |
and he stood there, they say, |
xamanyéw, |
and as for his shoes, |
xamanyéw uu'íts nyáanya, |
those things that they call shoes, |
|
|
“'Anyxamarúy kaamawépətik aléeləteee,” |
“What have you done with my shoes,” |
|
|
a'ét. |
he said. |
|
|
Vaa'étk. |
He said it like this. |
|
|
“Vany'uuváam, |
“I am here, |
'awéxa,” |
and I will do it,” |
a'étk, |
he said, |
nyáany awíim aavíirək, |
and he finished doing it, |
viinayémək a'ét. |
and they went on, they say. |
|
|
Nyamáam, |
That’s all, |
aapárv. |
it was the end. |
'Avíits lyavíik a'íikəm, |
The rocks were like this, they say, |
nyamuupúuvəm áam. |
and they went through them. |
'Avíiny matt-takyév vaa'íim, |
(Then) the rocks came together like this, |
suuváam. |
there they were. |
|
|
“Nyam'uupúuvxa,” |
“We’ll go through it,” |
a'ét. |
(the younger brother) said. |
|
|
Iisháaly tsapáyk, |
They held hands, |
amák nyiuutspám. |
and they came out on the other side. |
|
|
Ava'étk, |
That’s what they did, |
siiwétsk, |
they went on, |
nyaayúu aatsxuukyáavk awím, |
they crossed over something, |
awím, |
and so, |
a'ávək. |
(someone) heard them. |
Anáwəm, |
They made noise, |
matxály viithíim, |
and it was carried by the wind, |
mashtxáats siitháwk, |
and there were some young women over there, |
a'áv. |
and they heard it. |
|
|
A'étəm, |
So, |
nyáanyi, |
at that (point), |
alytsénək awím, |
they went down, and so, |
sanyts'áakənyts viitháwəm, |
the women were over there, |
tsakyévək, |
and they paired off: |
aváts avány atháwk, |
that one took that (boy), |
avány atháwk athúm. |
and (the other one) took that (boy). |
|
|
Siitháwk a'étk, |
There they were, they say; |
nyaayúu, |
well, |
'Axtá 'Amáyəly Aaée a'étk aashváarək, |
they sang a song called Raise the Flute; |
nyáanyi atspáktəm. |
that’s where it comes from. |
|
|
Nyáanyi atspáktəm. |
That’s where it comes from. |
Kwatsáanənyts tsanyót, |
The Quechan (people) perform it, |
'Axtá 'Amáyəly Aaéenya. |
the (song) Raise the Flute. |
|
|
Vanyuu— |
Then— |
'avá kwanyór a'étəm, |
it was a colorful house, they say, |
nyáasi, |
over there in the distance, |
uupúuvətəm. |
and they went inside. |
|
|
Nyáanyi atháwk, |
There they were, |
'Axtá 'Amáyəly Aaée nyáanyi uuvák a'ét. |
and Raise the Flute was there, they say. |
Nyáanyi atspák athúuk, |
It came from there, |
a'ím. |
they say. |
|
|
Nyáany aashváarək viiyémkitya. |
They go on singing that song, they say. |
Kwatsáanənyts, |
The Quechan (do), |
a'étəma. |
they say. |
|
|
Ava'étəm a'áv. |
I’ve heard them say so. |