Illustration of the Method of Recording Indian Languages / From the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution
Author: James Owen Dorsey; Albert S. Gatschet; Stephen Return Riggs
Date: 2005-11-11T00:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Indians of North America -- Languages

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Title: Illustration of the Method of Recording Indian Languages

Author: James Owen Dorsey

Albert S. Gatschet

Stephen Return Riggs

Release date: November 11, 2005 [eBook #17042]
Most recently updated: December 12, 2020

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Carlo Traverso, William Flis, and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ILLUSTRATION OF THE METHOD OF RECORDING INDIAN LANGUAGES ***

Transcriber's note: The following notations are used to represent special characters:
[K] = turned (inverted) "K"
[T] = turned "T"

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY.

J.W. POWELL, DIRECTOR.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE METHOD

OF

RECORDING INDIAN LANGUAGES.

FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS OF MESSRS. J.O. DORSEY, A.S. GATSCHET, AND S.R. RIGGS.

HOW THE RABBIT CAUGHT THE SUN IN A TRAP.

An Omaha Myth, obtained from F. LaFlèche by J. Owen Dorsey.

Egi¢e | mactciñ'ge | aká | iʞaⁿ' | ¢iñké | ená-qtci | ʇig¢e | júgig¢á | -biamá.

It came
to pass

rabbit

the
sub.

his
grandmother

the st.
ob.

only

dwelt

with his
own,

they say.

Kĭ | haⁿ'egaⁿtcĕ'- | qtci | -hnaⁿ' | `ábae | ahí | -biamá. | Haⁿegaⁿtcĕ' | -qtci | a¢á | -bi

And

morning

very

habitually

hunting

went
thither

they say.

morning

very

went,

they
say

ctĕwaⁿ' | níkaciⁿga | wiⁿ' | sí | snedĕ' | -qti | -hnaⁿ | síg¢e | a¢á-bitéamá. | Kĭ | íbahaⁿ | 3

notwith-
standing

person

one

foot

long

very

as a rule

trail

had gone, they say.

And

to know
him

gaⁿ¢á | -biamá. | Níaciⁿga | ¢iⁿ' | ĭⁿ'taⁿ | wítaⁿ¢iⁿ | b¢é | tá | miñke, | e¢égaⁿ | -biamá.
wished | they say. | Person | the mv. ob. | now | I-first | I go | will | I who, | thought | they say.

Haⁿ'egaⁿcĕ' | -qtci | páhaⁿ | -bi | egaⁿ' | a¢á | -biamá. | Cĭ | égi¢e | níkaciⁿga | amá
Morning | very | arose | they say | having | went | they say. | Again | it happened | person | the mv. sub.

síg¢e | a¢á | -bitéamá. | Égi¢e | akí | -biamá. | Gá | -biamá: | ʞaⁿhá, | wítaⁿ¢iⁿ | b¢é | 6

trail

had
gone,

they say.

It came
to pass

he reached
home,

they say.

Said as
follows,

they say:

grand-
mother

I-first

I go

aʞídaxe | ctĕwaⁿ' | níkaciⁿga | wíⁿ' | aⁿ'aqai | a¢aí te aⁿ'. | [K]aⁿhá, | uʞíaⁿ¢e

I make for
myself

in spite
of it

person

one

getting ahead of me

he has gone.

Grand-
mother

snare

dáxe | tá | minke, | kĭ | b¢íze | tá | miñke | hă. | Átaⁿ | jaⁿ' | tadaⁿ', | á | -biamá
I make it | will | I who, | and | I take him | will | I who | . | Why | you do it | should? | said, | they say

wa`újiñga | aka. | Níaciⁿga | i¢át'ab¢é | hă, | á- | biamá. | Kĭ | mactciñ'ge | a¢á- | 9
old woman | the sub. | Person | I hate him | . | said, | they say. | And | rabbit | went

biamá. | A¢á- | bi | ʞĭ | cĭ | síg¢e | ¢étéamá. | [K]ĭ | haⁿ' | tĕ | i¢ápe | jaⁿ' | -biamá.
they say. | Went | they say | when | again | trail | had gone. | And | night | the | waiting for | lay | they say.

Man'dĕ | -ʞaⁿ | ¢aⁿ | ukínacke | gaxá- | biamá, | kĭ | síg¢e | ¢é | -hnaⁿ | tĕ | ĕ'di | i¢aⁿ'¢a-
bow | string | the ob. | noose | he made it | they say, | and | trail | went | habitually | the | there | he put it

biamá. | Égi¢e | haⁿ'+egaⁿ-tcĕ' | -qtci | uʞíaⁿ¢e | ¢aⁿ | giʇaⁿ'be | ahí | -biamá. | Égi¢e | 12

they say.

It came
to pass

morning

very

snare

the ob.

to see
his own

arrived

they say.

It came
to pass

miⁿ' | ¢aⁿ | ¢izé | akáma. | Taⁿ'¢iⁿ | -qtci | u¢á | ag¢á- | biamá. | [K]aⁿhá | ĭndádaⁿ

sun

the cv.
ob.

taken

he had,
they say.

Running

very

to tell

went
homeward,

they say.

Grandmother.

what

éiⁿte | b¢íze | édegaⁿ | aⁿ'baaze | -hnaⁿ' | hă, | á- | biamá. | [K]aⁿhá, | man'de- | ʞaⁿ | ¢aⁿ
it may be | I took | but | me it scared | habitually | . | said | they say. | Grandmother, | bow | string | the ob.

ag¢íze | kaⁿbdédegaⁿ | aⁿ'baaze | -hnaⁿ'i | hă, | á- | biamá. | Máhiⁿ | a¢iⁿ' | -bi | egaⁿ' | 15
I took my own | I wished, but | me it scared | habitually | . | said | they say. | Knife | had | they say | having

ĕ'di | a¢á- | biamá. | Kĭ | ecaⁿ' | -qtci | ahí- | biamá. | Píäjĭ | ckáxe. | Eátaⁿ | égaⁿ
there | went, | they say. | And | near | very | arrived | they say. | Bad | you did. | Why | so

ckáxe | ă. | Ĕ'di | gí- | adaⁿ' | iⁿ¢ická-gă | hă, | á- | biamá | miⁿ' | aká. | Mactciñ'ge
you did | ? | Hither | come | and | for me untie it | , | said, | they say | sun | the sub. | Rabbit

aká | ĕ'di | a¢á- | bi | ctĕwaⁿ' | naⁿ'pa | -bi | egaⁿ' | hébe | íhe | a¢é- | hnaⁿ' | -biamá. | Kĭ | 3

the
sub.

there

went

they
say

notwith-
standing

feared

they
say

having

partly

passed by

went

habitually

they
say.

And

ʞu`ĕ' | a¢á- | bi | egaⁿ' | mása | -biamá | man'dĕ | -ʞaⁿ | ¢aⁿ'. | Gañ'ki | miⁿ' | ¢aⁿ | maⁿ'-

rushed

went

they
say

having

cut with
a knife

they say

bow

string

the
ob.

And

sun

the cv.
ob.

on

ciáha | áiá¢a- | biamá. | Kĭ | mactciñ'ge | aká | ábáʞu | hiⁿ' | ¢aⁿ | názi- | biamá

high

had gone,

they say.

And

Rabbit

the
sub.

space bet. the shoulders

hair

the
ob.

burnt
yellow

they say

ánakadá- | bi | egaⁿ'. | (Mactciñ'ge | amá | akí- | biamá.) | Ĭtcitci+, | ʞaⁿhá, | 6

it was hot
on it

they
say

having.

(Rabbit

the mv.
sub.

reached
home,

they say.)

Itcitci+!!

grandmother,

ná¢iñgĕ- | qti- | maⁿ' | hă, | á- | biamá. | [T]úcpa¢aⁿ+, | iⁿ'na¢iñgĕ' | -qti-maⁿ' | eskaⁿ'+,

burnt to
nothing

very

I am

—

said,

they say.

Grandchild!!

burnt to
nothing for me

very I am

I think,

á- | biamá. | Cetaⁿ'.
said, | they say. | So far.

NOTES.

581, 1. Mactciñge, the Rabbit, or Si¢e-makaⁿ (meaning uncertain), is the hero of numerous myths of several tribes. He is the deliverer of mankind from different tyrants. One of his opponents is Ictinike, the maker of this world, according to the Iowas. The Rabbit's grandmother is Mother Earth, who calls mankind her children.

581, 7. a¢ai te aⁿ. The conclusion of this sentence seems odd to the collector, but its translation given with this myth is that furnished by the Indian informant.

581, 12. haⁿ+egaⁿtcĕ-qtci, "ve—ry early in the morning." The prolongation of the first syllable adds to the force of the adverb "qtci," very.

582, 3. hebe ihe a¢e-hnaⁿ-biama. The Rabbit tried to obey the Sun; but each time that he attempted it, he was so much afraid of him that he passed by a little to one side. He could not go directly to him.

582, 4. 5. maⁿciaha aia¢a-biama. When the Rabbit rushed forward with bowed head, and cut the bow-string, the Sun's departure was so rapid that "he had already gone on high."

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS MYTH.

cv. | curvilinear.
mv. | moving.
st. | sitting.
sub. | subject.
ob. | object.

TRANSLATION.

Once upon a time the Rabbit dwelt in a lodge with no one but his grandmother. And it was his custom to go hunting very early in the morning. No matter how early in the morning he went, a person with very long feet had been along, leaving a trail. And he (the Rabbit), wished to know him. "Now," thought he, "I will go in advance of the person." Having arisen very early in the morning, he departed. Again it happened that the person had been along, leaving a trail. Then he (the Rabbit) went home. Said he, "Grandmother, though I arrange for myself to go first, a person anticipates me (every time). Grandmother, I will make a snare and catch him." "Why should you do it?" said she. "I hate the person," he said. And the Rabbit departed. When he went, the foot-prints had been along again. And he lay waiting for night (to come). And he made a noose of a bow-string, putting it in the place where the foot-prints used to be seen. And he reached there very early in the morning for the purpose of looking at his trap. And it happened that he had caught the Sun. Running very fast, he went homeward to tell it. " Grandmother, I have caught something or other, but it scares me. Grandmother, I wished to take my bow-string, but I was scared every time," said he. He went thither with a knife. And he got very near it. "You have done wrong; why have you done so? Come hither and untie me," said the Sun. The Rabbit, although he went thither, was afraid, and kept on passing partly by him (or, continued going by a little to one side). And making a rush, with his head bent down (and his arm stretched out), he cut the bow-string with the knife. And the Sun had already gone on high. And the Rabbit had the hair between his shoulders scorched yellow, it having been hot upon him (as he stooped to cut the bow-string). (And the Rabbit arrived at home.) "Itcitci+!! O grandmother, the heat has left nothing of me," said he. She said, "Oh! my grandchild! I think that the heat has left nothing of him for me." (From that time the rabbit has had a singed spot on his back, between the shoulders.)

DETAILS OF A CONJURER'S PRACTICE.

In the Klamath Lake Dialect. Obtained from Minnie Froben, by A.S. Gatschet.

Máḵlaks | shuákiuk | kíuksash | ḵá-i | gú'l’hi | húnkĕlam | ládshashtat, | ndéna
Indians | in calling | the conjurer | not | enter | his | into lodge, | they halloo

sha'hmóknok; | kíush toks | wán | kiukáyank | mú'luash | m’na | kaníta | pî'sh.
to call (him) out; | the conjurer | red fox | hanging out on a pole | as sign | his | outside | "of him."

Kukíaks | tchú'tanish | gátp’nank | wigáta | tchélχa | mā'shipksh. | Lútatkish | 3
Conjurers | when treating | approaching | close by | sit down | the patient. | The expounder

wigáta | kíukshĕsh | tcha’hlánshna. | Shuyéga | kíuks, | wéwanuish
close to | the conjurer | sits down. | Starts choruses | the conjurer, | females

tchīk | winóta | liukiámnank | nadshā'shak | tchútchtníshash. | Hánshna
then | join in singing | crowding around him | simultaneously | while he treats (the sick). | He sucks

mā'shish | hú'nk | hishuákshash, | tátktish | î'shkuk, | hantchípka | tcī'k
diseased | that | man, | the disease | to extract, | he sucks out | then

kukuága, | wishinkága, | mú'lkaga, | ḵáḵo | gî'ntak, | káhaktok | nánuktua
a small frog, | small snake, | small insect, | bone | afterwards, | whatsoever | anything

nshendshkáne. | Ts’ú'ks | toks | ké-usht | tchékĕle | ítkal; | lúlp | toks | mā'- | 3
small. | A leg | | being fractured | the (bad) blood | he extracts; | eyes | but | be-

shisht | tchékĕlitat | lgú'm | shú'kĕlank | ḵî'tua | lú'lpat, | kú'tash | tchish
ing sore | into blood | coal | mixing | he pours | into the eyes, | a louse | too

kshéwa | lúlpat | pú'klash | tuiχámpgatk | ltúiχaktgi gíug.
introduces | into the eye | the white of eye | protruding | for eating out.

NOTES.

583, 1. shuákia does not mean to "call on somebody" generally, but only "to call on the conjurer or medicine man".

583, 2. wán stands for wánam nī'l: the fur or skin of a red or silver fox; kaníta pî'sh stands for kanítana látchash m'nálam: "outside of his lodge or cabin". The meaning of the sentence is: they raise their voices to call him out. Conjurers are in the habit of fastening a fox-skin outside of their lodges, as a business sign, and to let it dangle from a rod stuck out in an oblique direction.

583, 3. tchélχa. During the treatment of a patient, who stays in a winter house, the lodge is often shut up at the top, and the people sit in a circle inside in utter darkness.

583, 5. liukiámnank. The women and all who take a part in the chorus usually sit in a circle around the conjurer and his assistant; the suffix -mna indicates close proximity. Nadshā'shak qualifies the verb winóta.

583, 5. tchútchtníshash. The distributive form of tchú't’na refers to each of the various manipulations performed by the conjurer on the patient.

584, 1. mā'shish, shortened from māshípkash, mā'shipksh, like ḵ'lä'ksh from k’läkápkash.

584, 2. 3. There is a stylistic incongruity in using the distributive form, only in kukuàga (kúe, frog), káhaktok, and in nshendshkáne (nshekáni, npshékani, tsékani, tchékĕni, small), while inserting the absolute form in wishinkága (wíshink, garter-snake) and in ḵáḵo; mú'lkaga is more of a generic term and its distributive form is therefore not in use.

583, 2. káhaktok for ká-akt ak; ká-akt being the transposed distributive form kákat, of kát, which, what (pron. relat.).

584, 4. lgú'm. The application of remedial drugs is very unfrequent in this tribe; and this is one of the reasons why the term "conjurer" or "shaman" will prove to be a better name for the medicine man than that of "Indian doctor".

584, 4. kú'tash etc. The conjurer introduces a louse into the eye to make it eat up the protruding white portion of the sore eye.

Kálak.

THE RELAPSE.

In the Klamath Lake Dialect by Dave Hill. Obtained by A.S. Gatschet.

Hä | náyäns | hissuáksas | mā'shitk | kálak, | tsúi | kíuks | nä'-ulakta | tchu-
When | another | man | fell sick | as relapsed, | then | the conjurer | concludes | to

tánuapkuk. | Tchúi | tchúta; | tchúi | yá-uks | huk | shläá | kálak a gēk. | Tchi
treat (him). | And | he treats; | and | remedy | this | finds out | (that) relapsed he. | Thus

huk | shuî'sh | sápa. | Tsúi | nā'sh | shuī'sh | sáyuaks | hú'mtcha kálak, | tchúi | 3

the

song-
remedy

indicates.

And

one

song-
remedy

having
found out

(that) of the kind
of relapsed (he is),

then

nánuk | húk | shuī'sh | tpä'wa | hú'nksht | kaltchitchíkshash | heshuampĕlítki
all | those | remedies | indicate | (that) him | the spider (-remedy) | would

gíug. | Tchúi | hú'k | káltchitchiks | yá-uka; | ubá-us | húk | káltchitchiksam
cure. | Then | the | spider | treats him; | a piece of deer-skin | | of the spider

tchutĕnō'tkish. | Tsúi | húkantka | ubá-ustka | tchutá; | tätáktak | huk | 6

(is) the curing-tool.

Then

by means
of that

deer-skin

he treats
(him);

just the size
of the spot

that

kálak | mā'sha, | gä'tak | ubá-ush | ktú'shka | tä'tak | huk | mā'sha. | Tsúi | húk
relapse | is infected, | so much | of deer-skin | he cuts out | as where | he | is suffering. | Then

káltchitchiks | siunóta | nä'dsḵank | hú'nk | ubá-nsh. | Tchú'yuk | p'laíta
the "spider" song | is started | while applying | that | skin piece. | And he | over it

nétatka | skútash, | tsúi | sha | hú'nk | udú'pka | hänä'shishtka, | tsúi | hú'k | 9
he stretches | a blanket, | and | they | it | strike | with conjurer's arrows, | then | it

gutä'ga | tsulä'kshtat; | gä'tsa | lú'pí | kiatéga, | tsúi | tsulē'ks | ḵ'läká, | tchúi
enters | into the body; | a particle | firstly | enters, | then | (it) body | becomes, | and

at | pushpúshuk | shlē'sh | húk | ubá-ush. | Tsúi | mā'ns | tánkĕni ak | waítash
now | dark it | to look at | that | skin-piece. | Then | after a while | after so and so many | days

hú'k | púshpúshli at | mā'ns=gîtk | tsulä'ks=sitk | shlä'sh. | Tsí | ní | sáyuakta; | 12
that | black (thing) | at last | (is) flesh-like | to look at. | Thus | I | am informed;

túmi | hú'nk | sháyuakta | hú'masht=gîsht | tchutī'sht; | tsúyuk | tsúshni
many men | | know | (that) in this manner | were effected cures; | and he then | always

wä'mpĕle.
was well again.

NOTES.

585, 1. náyäns hissuáksas: another man than the conjurers of the tribe. The objective case shows that mā'shitk has to be regarded here as the participle of an impersonal verb: mā'sha núsh, and mā'sha nú, it ails me, I am sick.

585, 2. yá-uks is remedy in general, spiritual as well as material. Here a tamánuash song is meant by it, which, when sung by the conjurer, will furnish him the certainty if his patient is a relapse or not. There are several of these medicine-songs, but all of them (nánuk hú'k shuī'sh) when consulted point out the spider-medicine as the one to apply in this case. The spider's curing-instrument is that small piece of buckskin (ubá-ush) which has to be inserted under the patient's skin. It is called the spider's medicine because the spider-song is sung during its application.

585, 10. gutä'ga. The whole operation is concealed from the eyes of spectators by a skin or blanket stretched over the patient and the hands of the operator.

585, 10. kiatéga. The buckskin piece has an oblong or longitudinal shape in most instances, and it is passed under the skin sideways and very gradually.

585, 11. tánkĕni ak waítash. Dave Hill gave as an approximate limit five days' time.

SWEAT-LODGES.

In the Klamath Lake Dialect by Minnie Froben. Obtained by A.S. Gatschet.

É-ukshkni | lápa | spú'klish | gítko. | Ḵúḵiuk | ḵĕlekapkash | spú'klishla

The lake
people

two
(kinds of)

sweat-lodges

have.

To weep over

the deceased

they build
sweat-lodges

yépank | käíla; | stutílantko | spú'klish, | käíla | waltchátko. | Spú'klish a

digging up

the ground;

are roofed

(these)
sweat-lodges

with
earth

covered.

(Another)
sweat-lodge

sha | shú'ta | kué-utch, | kítchikan’sh | stinága=shítko; | skú'tash a | wáldsha | 3
they | build | of willows, | a little | cabin looking like; | blankets | they spread

spú'klishtat | tataták sĕ | spukliá. | Tátataks a hú'nk | wéas | lúla, | tatátaks
over the sweating-lodge | when in it they | sweat. | Whenever | children | died, | or when

a híshuaksh | tchímĕna, | snáwedsh | wénuitk, | ḵú'ḵi | ḵĕlekátko, | spú'klitcha
a husband | became widower, | (or) the wife | (is) widowed, | they weep | for cause of death | go sweating

túmi | shashámoks= | lólatko; | túnepni | waítash | tchík | sa | hú'uk | spú'klia. | 6
many | relatives | who have lost | five | days | then | they | | sweat.

Shiúlakiank a | sha | ktái | húyuka | skoilakuápkuk; | hútoks | ktái | ḵá-i tatá
Gathering | they | stones | (they) heat (them) | to heap them up (after use); | those | stones | never

spukliú't’huīsh. | Spúklish | lúpĭa | húyuka; | ḵélpka a | át, | ílhiat | átui,

having been used
for sweating.

Sweat lodge

in front of

they heat
(them);

heated
(being)

when,

they bring
(them) inside

at
once,

ḵídshna ai | î | ámbu, | kliulála. | Spú'kli | a sha | túmĕni | "hours"; | ḵélpkuk | 9

pour

on them

water,

sprinkle.

Sweat

then
they

several

hours;

being quite
warmed up

géka | shualkóltchuk | péniak | ḵō'ḵs | pépe-udshak | éwagatat, | ḵóḵetat, | é-ush

they
leave

(and) to cool
themselves off

without

dress

only to go
bathing

in a spring,

river,

lake

wigáta. | Spukli-uápka | mā'ntch. | Shpótuok | i-akéwa | kápka, | skú'tawia

close by.

They will sweat

for long
hours.

To make themselves
strong

they bend
down

young
pine-trees

(they) tie
together

sha | wéwakag | knú'kstga. | Ndshiétchatka | knú'ks a | sha | shúshata. | 12
they | small brushwood | with ropes. | Of (willow-)bark | the ropes | they | make.

Gátpampĕlank | shkoshkî'lχa | ktáktiag | hú'shkankok | ḵĕlekápkash, | ktá-i
On going home | they heap up into cairns | small stones | in remembrance | of the dead, | stones

shúshuankaptcha | î'hiank.
of equal size | selecting.

NOTES.

No Klamath or Modoc sweat-lodge can be properly called a sweat-house, as is the custom throughout the West. One kind of these lodges, intended for the use of mourners only, are solid structures, almost underground; three of them are now in existence, all believed to be the gift of the principal national deity. Sudatories of the other kind are found near every Indian lodge, and consist of a few willow-rods stuck into the ground, both ends being bent over. The process gone through while sweating is the same in both kinds of lodges, with the only difference as to time. The ceremonies mentioned 4-13. all refer to sweating in the mourners' sweat-lodges. The sudatories of the Oregonians have no analogy with the estufas of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, as far as their construction is concerned.

586, 1. lápa spú'klish, two sweat-lodges, stands for two kinds of sweat-lodges.

586, 5. shashámoks=lólatko forms one compound word: one who, or: those who have lost relatives by death; cf. ptísh=lúlsh, pgísh=lúlsh; hishuákga ptísh=lúlatk, male orphan whose father has died. In the same manner, ḵĕlekátko stands here as a participle referring simultaneously to híshuaksh and to snáwedsh wénuitk, and can be rendered by "bereaved". Shashámoks, distr. form of shá-amoks, is often pronounced sheshámaks. Túmi etc. means, that many others accompany to the sweat-lodge, into which about six persons can crowd themselves, bereaved husbands, wives or parents, because the deceased were related to them.

586, 7. Shiúlakiank etc. For developing steam the natives collect only such stones for heating as are neither too large nor too small; a medium size seeming most appropriate for concentrating the largest amount of heat. The old sweat-lodges are surrounded with large accumulations of stones which, to judge from their blackened exterior, have served the purpose of generating steam; they weigh not over 3 to 5 pounds in the average, and in the vicinity travelers discover many small cairns, not over four feet high, and others lying in ruins. The shrubbery around the sudatory is in many localities tied up with willow wisps and ropes.

586, 11. Spukli-uápka mā'ntch means that the sweating-process is repeated many times during the five days of observance; they sweat at least twice a day.

A DOG'S REVENGE.

A Dakota Fable, by Michel Renville. Obtained by Rev. S.R. Riggs.

Śuŋka | waŋ; | ḳa | wakaŋka | waŋ | waḳiŋ | waŋ | taŋka | hnaka. | Uŋkan
Dog | a; | and | old-woman | a | pack | a | large | laid away. | And

śuŋka | ḳoŋ | he | sdonya. | Uŋkaŋ | waŋna | haŋyetu, | uŋkaŋ | wakaŋka
dog | the | that | knew. | And | now | night, | and | old-woman

iśtinman | kećiŋ | ḳa | en | ya: | tuka | wakaŋka | kiŋ | sdonkiye | ć̣a | kiktahaŋ | 3
asleep | he thought | and | there | went: | but | old woman | the | knew | and | awake

waŋke, | ć̣a | ite | hdakiŋyaŋ | ape | ć̣a | kićakse, | ć̣a | nina | po, | keyapi.
lay, | and | face | across | struck | and | gashed, | and | much | swelled, | they say.

Uŋkaŋ | haŋḣaŋna | hehaŋ | śuŋka | tokeća | waŋ | en | hi, | ḳa | okiya | ya.
And | morning | then | dog | another | a | there | came, | and | to-talk-with | went.

Tuka | pamahdedaŋ | ite | mahen | inina | yaŋka. | Uŋkaŋ | taku | ićante | niśića
But | head-down | face | within | silent | was. | And | what | of-heart | you-bad

heciŋhaŋ | omakiyaka wo, | eya. | Uŋkaŋ, | Inina | yaŋka wo, | wakaŋka | 3
if | me-tell, | he-said. | And, | still | be-you, | old-woman

waŋ | teḣiya | omakiḣaŋ do, | eya, | keyapi. | Uŋkaŋ, | Tokeŋ | nićiḣaŋ he, | eya.
a | hardly | me-dealt-with, | he-said, | they say. | And, | How | to-thee-did-she, | he-said.

Uŋkaŋ, | Waḳin | waŋ | taŋka | hnaka e | waŋmdake | ć̣a | heoŋ | otpa | awape:
And, | Pack | a | large | she-laid-away | I-saw | and | therefore | to-go-for | I waited:

k̇a | waŋna | haŋ | tehaŋ | k̇ehan, | iśtiŋbe | seća e | en | mde | ć̣a | pa | timaheŋ | 6
and | now | night | far | then, | she-asleep | probably | there | I went | and | head | house-in

yewaya, | uŋkaŋ | kiktahaŋ | waŋke | śta | hećamoŋ: | k̇a, | Śi, | de | tukten
I-poked, | and | awake | lay | although | this-I-did: | and, | shoo, | this | where

yau he, | eye, | ć̣a | itohna | amape, | ć̣a | dećen | iyemayaŋ | ce, | eye | ć̣a | kipazo.

you-come,

she-
said,

and

face-on

smote-
me,

and

thus

she-me-left

he-said

and

showed-
him.

Uŋkaŋ, | Huŋhuŋhe! | teḣiya | ećanićoŋ do, | ihomeća | waḳiŋ | kiŋ | uŋtapi | 9
And, | Alas! alas! | hardly | she-did-to-you, | therefore | pack | the | we-eat

kta ce, | eye | ć̣a, | Mnićiya wo, | eya, | keyapi. | Ito, | Minibozaŋna | kićo wo,
will, | he-said | and, | Assemble, | he-said, | they say. | Now, | Water-mist | call,

ka, | Yaksa | taŋiŋ śni | kico wo, | Tahu | waśaka | kico wo, | k̇a, | Taisaŋpena
and | Bite off | not manifest | call, | Neck | strong | invite, | and, | His-knife-sharp

kico wo, | eya, | keyapi. | Uŋkaŋ | owasiŋ | wićakićo: | ḳa | waŋna | owasiŋ | en | 12
call, | he-said, | they-say. | And | all | them-he-called: | and | now | all | there

hipi | hehaŋ | heya, | keyapi: | Ihopo, | wakaŋka | de | teḣiya | ećakićoŋ će;
came | then | this-he-said, | they-say: | Come-on, | old-woman | this | hardly | dealt-with;

miniheić̣iyapo, | haŋyetu | hepiya | waćonića | wakiŋ | waŋ | teḣiŋda | ḳa | on
bestir-yourselves, | night | during | dried-meat | pack | a | she-forbid | and | for

teḣiya | ećakićoŋ | tuka, | ehaeś | untapi | kta | će, | eya, | keyapi. | 15
hardly | dealt-with-him | but, | indeed | we eat | will | | he-said, | they say.

Uŋkaŋ | Minibozaŋna | ećiyapi | ḳoŋ | he | waŋna | maġaźukiye | ć̣a, | aŋpetu
Then | Water-mist | called | the | that | now | rain-made, | and, | day

oṡaŋ | maġaźu | ećen | otpaza; | ḳa | wakeya | owasiŋ | nina | spaya, | wihutipaspe
all-through | rained | until | dark; | and | tent | all | very | wet, | tent-pin

olidoka | owasiŋ | taŋyaŋ | ḣpan. | Uŋkaŋ | hehaŋ | Yaksa taŋiŋ śni | wihuti- | 18
holes | all | well | soaked. | And | then | Bite-off-manifest-not | tent-fast-

paspe | kiŋ | owasiŋ | yakse, | tuka | taŋiŋ śni yaŋ | yakse | nakaeś | wakaŋka
enings | the | all | bit-off, | but | slyly | bit-off | so that | old-woman

kiŋ | sdonkiye | śni. | Uŋkaŋ | Tahuwaśaka | he | waḳiŋ | ḳoŋ | yape | ć̣a | maniŋ-
the | knew | not. | And | Neck-strong | he | pack | the | seized, | and | away

kiya | yapa iyeya, | ḳa | tehaŋ | eḣpeya. | Hećen | Taisaŋpena | waḳiŋ | ḳoŋ | 21

off

holding-in-
mouth-carried,

and

far

threw-it.

So

His-knife-
sharp

pack

the

ćokaya | kiyaksa-iyeya. | Hećeŋ | waḳiŋ | ḳoŋ | haŋyetu | hepiyana | temya-
in-middle | tore-it-open. | Hence | pack | the | night | during | they-ate-

iyeyapi, | keyapi.
all-up, | they say.

Hećen | tuwe | wamanoŋ | keś, | saŋpa | iwaḣaŋić̣ida | wamanoŋ | waŋ | hduze, | 24
So that | who | steals | although, | more | haughty | thief | a | marries,

eyapi | eće; | de | huŋkakaŋpi do.
they-say | always; | this | they-fable.

NOTES.

588, 24. This word "hduze" means to take or hold one's own; and is most commonly applied to a man's taking a wife, or a woman a husband. Here it may mean either that one who starts in a wicked course consorts with others "more wicked than himself," or that he himself grows in the bad and takes hold of the greater forms of evil—marries himself to the wicked one.

It will be noted from this specimen of Dakota that there are some particles in the language which cannot be represented in a translation. The "do" used at the end of phrases or sentences is only for emphasis and to round up a period. It belongs mainly to the language of young men. "Wo" and "po" are the signs of the imperative.

TRANSLATION.

There was a dog; and there was an old woman who had a pack of dried meat laid away. This the dog knew; and, when he supposed the old woman was asleep, he went there at night. But the old woman was aware of his coming and so kept watch, and, as the dog thrust his head under the tent, she struck him across the face and made a great gash, which swelled greatly.

The next morning a companion dog came and attempted to talk with him. But the dog was sullen and silent. The visitor said: "Tell me what makes you so heart-sick." To which he replied: "Be still, an old woman has treated me badly." "What did she do to you?" He answered: "An old woman had a pack of dried meat; this I saw and went for it; and when it was now far in the night, and I supposed she was asleep, I went there and poked my head under the tent. But she was lying awake and cried out: 'Shoo! what are you doing here?' and struck me on the head and wounded me as you see."

Whereupon the other dog said: "Alas! Alas! she has treated you badly, verily we will eat up her pack of meat. Call an assembly: call Water-mist (i.e., rain); call Bite-off-silently; call Strong-neck; call Sharp-knife." So he invited them all. And when they had all arrived, he said: "Come on! an old woman has treated this friend badly; bestir yourselves; before the night is past, the pack of dried meat which she prizes so much, and on account of which she has thus dealt with our friend, that we will eat all up".

Then the one who is called Rain-mist caused it to rain, and it rained all the day through until dark; and the tent was all drenched, and the holes of the tent-pins were thoroughly softened. Then Bite-off-silently bit off all the lower tent-fastenings, but he did it so quietly that the old woman knew nothing of it. Then Strong-neck came and seized the pack with his mouth, and carried it far away. Whereupon Sharp-knife came and ripped the pack through the middle; and so, while it was yet night, they ate up the old woman's pack of dried meat.

Moral.—A common thief becomes worse and worse by attaching himself to more daring companions. This is the myth.

INDEX.

Conjurers' practice 583

Dog's revenge, a Dakota fable 587

Omaha myth 581

Revenge, A dog's; a Dakota fable 587

Sweat lodges 586

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Table of Contents

- RECORDING INDIAN LANGUAGES.

- FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS OF MESSRS. J.O. DORSEY, A.S. GATSCHET, AND S.R. RIGGS.

- HOW THE RABBIT CAUGHT THE SUN IN A TRAP.

- An Omaha Myth, obtained from F. LaFlèche by J. Owen Dorsey.

- NOTES.

- ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS MYTH.

- TRANSLATION.

- DETAILS OF A CONJURER'S PRACTICE.

- In the Klamath Lake Dialect. Obtained from Minnie Froben, by A.S. Gatschet.

- NOTES.

- Kálak. THE RELAPSE.

- In the Klamath Lake Dialect by Dave Hill. Obtained by A.S. Gatschet.

- NOTES.

- SWEAT-LODGES.

- In the Klamath Lake Dialect by Minnie Froben. Obtained by A.S. Gatschet.

- NOTES.

- A DOG'S REVENGE.

- A Dakota Fable, by Michel Renville. Obtained by Rev. S.R. Riggs.

- NOTES.

- TRANSLATION.

- INDEX.

- THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE