[bintcbil uut'aa' = Red-shafted Flicker's feather] Rattlesnake Husband 1
Cahto Language

from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)


California Athabaskan Languages & Cultures homepage Index of Stories Goddard's translation

Cahto 2English Translation 3

---- Ch'naalhdang stiing yaa'nii, saahding-haa'. ---- An adolescent girl was lying, they say, alone.
-------tc'.na;.du^n)---stin)---yaE.n"Ü---sac.du^n).haE
---- Adolescent girl / was lying, / they say, / alone.
Lh'ghish ninyaa yaa'nii. Rattlesnake came, they say.
;E.gu^c---nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Rattlesnake / came / they say.
Tc'eek bilh tc'neestiing yaa'nii. He lay with the woman, they say.
tc'ek---bu^;---tc'.nes.tin)---yaE.n"Ü
Woman / with / he lay / they say.
"Daantshang neestiing?" yoonii yaa'nii. "Who lay down?" she thought, they say.
---------------dan.t.ca7n)---nes.tin)---yo#.n"Ü---yaE.n"Ü
"Who / lay down?" / she thought / they say.
Ch'naalhdang s'iswootc yaa'nii. He tickled the adolescent girl, they say.
---------------tc'.na;.du^n)---s'u^s.wo#tc---yaE.n"Ü
Tc'naLduN / he tickled / they say.
Lh'ghish nin'isdik'ee', too yiighintoo' yaa'nii. Rattlesnake got up and drank all the water, they say.
;E.gu^c---nu^n.u^s.du^k.k'eE---to#---y"Ü.gu^n.to#E---yaE.n"Ü
Rattlesnake / got up, / water / he drank all / they say.
---- "Too oshlang'," tc'in yaa'nii. ---- "I will fetch some water," he said, they say.
-------to#---o#c.la7n)E---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
---- "Water / I will get," / he said / they say.
"Danjii aanoht'ee?" ch'naalhdang tc'in yaa'nii. "Who are you?" said the adolescent girl, they say.
---------------da7n.dj"Ü---a.no#c.t'e---tc'.na;.du^n)---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Who / are you?" / tc'naLduN / said / they say.
"Lh'ghish aasht'ee-yee," tc'in yaa'nii. "I am Rattlesnake," he said, they say.
---------------;E.gu^c---ac.t'e#.ye---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Rattlesnake / I am," / he said / they say.
"Tl'ee' nilh siitiin-ee. "I lie with you at night.
;eE---nu^;---s"Ü.t"Ü.ne
"Night / with you / I lie.
Doo-kwininsin-ee. You didn't know it?
do#.kwu^n.nu^n.su^n.ne
You did not know it.
Shiiyee' tc'eek aanint'ee-yee. You are my wife.
c"Ü.yeE---tc'ek---a.nu^n.t'e.ye
My / woman / you are.
Doo-daanshoo' shilhsis'-ee. Nobody has seen me.
do#.dan.co#E---cu^;.su^s.e
Nobody / sees me.
Doohaa'-shghinkiinik-bang. You must not tell about me.
do#.haE.c.gu^n.k"Ü.nu^k.bu^n)
You must not tell about me.
Nee'ohdin-nan wankwnik-dee'." You will die if you tell about it.
ne.o#.du^n.nu^n---wu^n.kw.nu^k.deE
You will die / you tell about when."
Yoo' tc'teelhbilh-kwan yaa'nii. He had hung up beads, they say.
---------------yo#E---tc'.te;.bu^;.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
Beads / he had hung up / they say.
Yoo' ghitl'oong' tc'teelhbilh-kwan yaa'nii. He had hung up 'woven beads', they say.
yo#E---gu^t.;o#n)---tc'.te;.bu^;.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
Beads / woven / he had hung up / they say.
Ghilhgheel-it ch'naalhdang bilh tc'neestiing-kwan yaa'nii. When it was evening the adolescent girl had lain down, they say.
gu^;.gel.lu^t---tc'.na;.du^n)---bu^;---tc'.nes.tin).kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
Evening when / tc'naLduN / with / had lain down / they say.
Ch'naalhdang tl'ee' kiineesh yaa'nii. The adolescent girl talked at night, they say.
tc'.na;.du^n)---;eE---kin.nec---yaE.n"Ü
Tc'naLduN / night / talked / they say.
Yiiskaan naaheestyai-kwan yaa'nii. At dawn he had gone home, they say.
y"Üs.kan---na.hes.t.yai.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
It was day / he had gone home / they say.
Yiiskaan naa'antyai-kwan yaa'nii. In the morning he had come back, they say.
y"Üs.kan---na.u^n.t.yai.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
Morning / he had come back / they say.
Kiitsaa' daasidintaang. The basket-pot (for drinking water) was standing there.
k"Ü.tsaE---da.sit.du^n.tan)
Basket-pot / was standing.
Too-tc'ing' oonghilaang tc'eek baa. He had gone to the water and fetched some for the woman.
to#.tc'u^n)E---o#n).gu^l.lan)---tc'ek---ba
Water toward / he brought / woman / for.
---- Naaheestyai. ---- He went back.
-------na.hes.t.yai
---- He went back.
Ghilhgheel'. Evening.
gu^;.gel'
Evening.
Naa'antyai. He came back.
na.u^n.t.yai
He came back.
Lheenee'haa' naahneesh nteeslaal-it tc'eek bilh tc'neestiing. When all the people were asleep he lay down with the woman.
---------------;e.neE.haE---na.nec---n.tes.lal.lu^t---tc'ek---bu^;---tc'.nes.tin)
All / people / were asleep when / woman / with / he lay down.
Tl'ee': "Ch'naalhdang kiineesh-'angii." At night, "The adolescent girl is talking."
---------------;eE---tc'.na;.du^n)---kin.nec.u^n).g"Ü
Night / "Tc'naLduN / is talking."
Kwnang: "Daahiintcii shiiyaatc'eetc?" Her mother (asked), "What did you say, my daughter?"
---------------kw.na7n)---da.hin.tc"Ü---c"Ü.ya.tcetc
Her mother / "what you say / my girl?"
"Lh'ghish aasht'ee-yee. "I am Rattlesnake.
---------------;E.gu^c---ac.t'e.ye
"Rattlesnake / I am.
Naahneesh kinishyiish-yee. I speak human.
na.nec---ku^n.nu^c.y"Üc.ye
People / I talk.
Shiiyee' tc'eek aanint'ee-yee. You are my wife.
c"Ü.yeE---tc'ek---a.nu^n.t'e.ye
My / woman / you are.
Doohaa'-shdjiighiltik-banjaa'. Do not let me be killed!
do#.haE.s.tc"Ü.gu^l.tu^k.bu^n.djaE
Do not let me be killed.
Nee'odin-nang shdjiighiltik-dee'." If they kill me you will die."
ne.o#.du^n.nu^n)---s.dj"Ü.gu^l.tu^k.deE
You will die / if they kill me."
---- Yoo' teelhsing yaa'nii. ---- There were beads hanging, they say.
-------yo#E---te;.su^n)---yaE.n"Ü
---- Beads / were hanging / they say.
Lhaang yoo' yoo'-ghitl'oong, seelhkat, yoo'-lhtciik, yoo'-dai'iitc. There were many beads: 'woven beads', magnesite beads, 'red beads', and 'little flower beads'.
;an)---yo#E---yo#E.gu^t.;o#n)---se;.ku^t---yo#E.;.tc"Ük---yo#E.daiE.yitc
Many / beads, / beads woven, / (gold-beads) / beads red, / beads-flowers-small.
Naangghityai yaa'nii. One came home, they say.
nan).gu^t.yai---yaE.n"Ü
One came home / they say.
Yoo' tc'neelh'iing' yaa'nii. He saw the beads, they say.
yo#E---tc'.ne;.in)E---yaE.n"Ü
Beads / he saw / they say.
"Dantshan yoo' yiiteelhbilh-kwang?" "Who hung up the beads?"
---------------da7n.t.ca7n---yo#E---y"Ü.te;.bu^;.kwa7n)
"Who / beads / hung up?"
Lhaa'haa' sii'bii's'aang kaah [ ?kaa'?] teelhbilh yaa'nii. A hair-net and hawk-feather headdress were hanging there, they say.
---------------;aE.haE---s"ÜE.b"ÜE.s.Ean)---kac---te;.bu^;---yaE.n"Ü
One / hair-net / feathers / was hanging / they say.
"Shnee'-bilhghilii', k'aa' naalhsis naaghii-bilh yaa'nii. Garters and arrows were hanging with a quiver, they say.
sneE.bu^;.gu^l.l"ÜE---k'aE---na;.su^s---na.g"Ü.bu^;---yaE.n"Ü
"My leg with is tied," / arrows / hanging / quiver with / they say.
Tl'ohteelh sii'bii's'aang, seegoot teelhbilh yaa'nii. A basket hat and a seegoot-headdress were hanging there, they say.
;o#c.te;---s"ÜE.b"ÜE.s'an)---se.qo#t---te;.bu^;---yaE.n"Ü
Bear grass / hat, / headdress / was hanging / they say.
Kaashtc lhtsow teelee'-bii' s'an yaa'nii. A blue stone knife lay there in a sack, they say.
kactc---;.tso#---te.leE.b"ÜE---s'a7n---yaE.n"Ü
Knife / blue / sack in / lay / they say.
Bilhghilghis stan yaa'nii. Fire-sticks lay there, they say.
bu^;.gu^l.gu^s---s.ta7n---yaE.n"Ü
Fire-sticks lay / they say.
Ghilhgheel' tc'eek bilh s'istiin yaa'nii. In the evening he lay with the woman, they say.
---------------gu^;.gel'---tc'ek---bu^;---s'u^s.tin---yaE.n"Ü
Evening / woman / with / he lay / they say.
"Doohaa'-shdjiighilhtik-banjaa'," tc'in yaa'nii. "Don't let me be killed!" he said, they say.
---------------do#.haE.stc"Ü.gu^;.tu^k.bu^n.djaE---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Do not let me be killed," / he said / they say.
---- "Shiiyaatc'eetc, lh'ghish. ---- "My daughter, a rattlesnake!
-------c"Ü.ya.tcetc---;E.gu^c
---- "My daughter, / rattlesnake.
Doohaa'-nan'andik'ee'. Don't ge up!
do#.haE.nu^n.u^n.du^k.k'eE
Do not get up.
Nilh neestiin-eekwanang." He has been lying with you."
nu^;---nes.t"Ü.ne.kwa7n.na7n)
With you / he has been lying."
"Doo-lh'ghish-yee. "It isn't a rattlesnake.
---------------do#.;E.gu^c.ye
"It is not rattlesnake.
Naahneesh-yee. It's a person.
na.nec.ye
Person it is.
Doohaa'-uudjii'olhtik. Do not kill it!
do#.haE.o#.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k
Do not kill it.
'Nee'ooding,' tc'in-yee lh'ghish uudjiisolhtik-dee'. 'You will die,' he said, if you kill the rattlesnake.
ne.o#.du^n)---tc'in.ye---;E.gu^c---o#.dj"Ü.so#;.tu^k.deE
'You will die,' / he said / rattlesnake / you kill if.
Shee'eedin-teelee uudjii'olhtik-dee'. I shall die if you kill it.
ce.e.du^n.te#.le---o#.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k.deE
I shall die / you kill it if.
Shee'odin-nang," tc'in yaa'nii. I am dying," she said, they say.
ce.o#.du^n.nu^n)---tc'in.yaE.n"Ü
I am dying," / she said / they say.
Naanghulghaal'. He beat it.
---------------nan).gu^l.gal'
He beat it.
Lh'ghish uudjiighiltik yaa'nii. He killed the rattlesnake, they say.
;E.gu^c---o#.dj"Ü.gu^l.tu^k---yaE.n"Ü
Rattlesnake / he killed / they say.
Tc'teelghaal' chin-milh yaa'nii. He threw it away with a stick, they say.
tc'.tel.gal'---tcu^m.mu^;---yaE.n"Ü
He threw it away / stick with / they say.
"Naalhghalh naach'k'ing 4," yaa'nii. "Hit it again, it's writhing!", they say.
---------------na;.ga7;---na.tc'.k'u^n)---yaE.n"Ü
"Hit again, / it is writhing," / they say
Tc'eek beedin yaa'nii. The woman died, they say.
tc'ek---be.du^n---yaE.n"Ü
Woman / died / they say.
"'Doohaa'-uudjii'olhtik' dishnii-'angii," tc'in yaa'nii. "'Don't kill it,' I said," she said, they say.
---------------do#.haE.o#.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k---du^c.n"Ü.u^n).g"Ü---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"'Do not kill it' / I said," / she said / they say.
---- Kwanlhang. ---- That is all.
-------kwu^n.;a7n)
---- All.


1. Goddard footnote 242: "Animals and monsters are thought likely to form attachments for adolescent girls. Marriages between human beings and rattlesnakes are not unusual incidents. The snakes of course are usually in their human form."
2. Click on highlighted words to search for them in the Dictionary/Lexical database. The top line is in the practical orthography. The middle line is in Goddard's transcription except that "underhook"/"Polish hook" is represented by "subscript left half-ring" ("underhook" is not present in the SIL IPA fonts). The bottom line is Goddard's word-by-word translation, with [occasional additions or emendations by me in square brackets].
3. Line-by-line translation by me, largely informed by Goddard's translation, but attempting to translate every sentence, and to do so more literally (within the limits of English readability).
4. gfn 210: "This root is used of fastening by means of a hazel withe, the name of which is also k'uN'."

Goddard's Translation

An adolescent girl was lying alone. A rattlesnake came and lay with her.
' "Who lay down I "she thought.
He tickled her. The rattlesnake got up and took a drink of water.
"I will bring some water," he said.
"Who are you?" asked the girl.
"I am rattlesnake," he said. "I lie with you at night. Did you not know it? You are my wife. No one must see me. You must not tell about me. If you do, you will die."
Some one had hung up beads woven together they saw. When it was night some one had lain with the girl. In the night she had talked. In the morning he had gone away again. He came back The water basket was there. He had brought water for his wife He went away and came again in the evening.
When all the people were asleep, he lay down with the woman. '"Why were you talking, my girl?" "I am rattlesnake. I talk human language. You are my wife. Do not let me be killed. You will die if you tell about me."
Beads were hanging there. Beads woven together were hanging there. There were "gold beads," red beads, and small ones. One of the family came home and saw the beads.
"Who hung up the beads?" he asked.
A hair-net and garters were hanging there besides arrows and a quiver, a basket-hat, and a headdress. A blue knife was in a sack. Fire sticks were lying there.
When it was night he lay down with the woman.
"Do not let me be killed," he said.
"My daughter, do not get up. A rattlesnake has lain down with you."
" It is not a rattlesnake. It is a person. Do not kill it. 'You will die,' he told me. If you kill the rattlesnake, I shall die. I am dying now," she said.
He beat the rattlesnake and killed it. He took it up with a stick and threw it away. The woman died.
"It is writhing, hit it again."
" 'Do not kill it,' I told you," she said.
That is all.


8/30/99
Sally Anderson using perl version 5.030000