feeling as if I had gotten home.
(6) Composed about the G̣ānᴀxteˊdî woman (G̣ānᴀˊxta-ca) who reared the
woodworm. (See pp. 151–152.)
Desgwᴀˊtc gî nᴀxāgūˊt, nᴀnaˊ ỵîs nᴀxāˊgut. Desgwᴀˊtc
Already I am going, die to I am going. Already
gî nᴀxāˊdjūn ᴀxỵīˊt.
I have dreamed of my son.
Already I am going, I am going to die. I have dreamed of my son.
(7) A spirit song composed by a shaman called ʟūswᴀˊt belonging to the
Kāˊgwᴀntān.
Ł ᴀnᴀˊx ke qâgudîỵᴀˊ Djîłqāˊt kînāˊnᴀx qoˊa ke
Not through it up I come Chilkat through, however, up
qâgudîˊ. Łxodēˊt kînaˊnᴀx ke g̣aguˊt duỵahāˊỵî āg̣āˊx.
I come. Łxodēˊt through up I will come and cry.
Not having any place to come up through (i. e., shaman to speak
through), I think I will go to Chilkat and come up there.
I will come up through Łxodēˊt and cry.
(8) Composed by a man of the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān named
One-whose-quill-is-disliked (Tǃāwuˊkdūłnuk).
Nᴀxāˊdjūn ceîˊxtǃᴀgî-yēˊgî.
I was dreaming of my spirit under the fireplace.
Îxtǃāˊgî-yeˊgî.
Under-the-fireplace spirit.
I was dreaming of my spirit under the fireplace.
Under-the-fire-place spirit.
(9) Composed by one of the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān named Kāsǃenduᴀˊxtc. These
spirit songs were also used in dancing.
Hīˊnde naixēˊtc dê, îˊx̣denᴀx
Into river you throw him (imp.) down to the mouth
łax̣āˊcî. Watsǃᴀˊs iyēˊłî îxînāˊnᴀx
let him float. Let you raven at the mouth of the river
x̣ᴀˊkut g̣a dusx̣āˊtǃ.
to dry ground drag him up.
Throw him into the river that he may float down. Let the Raven people
at the mouth of the river drag him up.
(10) A song with Athapascan words which came to a shaman named Cūwusēˊn
from an Athapascan spirit—words unintelligible to my informants.
(11) This is a ground-hog song sung while the singer holds up its skin
in front with both hands. Its cry when jumping into its hole is also
imitated.
Cᴀnaˊ isᴀnuˊ dix̣âˊ g̣ēʟǃ ỵît kᴀ tūˊāt.
Wake up that young man [and] cliff up on let us go.
Īdjîg̣ēˊt cukᴀˊt yên cīstāˊitc. Īdjîg̣ēˊt cukᴀˊt
You get anything before you always sleep. You get anything
ᴀtcaweˊ ʟēł ᴀt idjᴀˊqx.
[before] therefore not thing you ever kill.
Wake up that young man and let us go up on the cliff. You always sleep
before you hunt. That is why you never kill anything.
(12) After a bear had been killed its head was set up by the fire and
people dropped grease into the fire in front of it, at the same time
saying “You have come out of the body among us, so you are we.”
Yāx ag̣āˊn dix̣âˊ
In front of him is burning the fire this young man
yux̣ūˊtsǃ adeˊ duᴀxdjînuˊtcỵa, “Whu, whu, whu,”
the grizzly bear thus is always heard to say, “Whu, whu, whu,”
ayuˊ ayᴀˊx daỵadoqāˊnutc.
that like they always talk to it.
The fire is burning in front of this young man. This is what the
grizzly bear is always heard to say: “Whu, whu, whu,” so they always
talk to it.
(13) A Kāˊgwᴀntān cradle song, sung over the child and used also at
feasts. The child itself is supposed to be speaking.
Kǃīỵīˊt łuxwacāˊdīn ᴀxhoˊnxo cᴀt kᴀx.
Around the house I always like to creep my brother’s wife for.
Kᴀˊcde gux deguˊt hēˊdudîkaxēc. Ān
I thought he would jump up and I should be very much ashamed. Town
dāt nᴀxᴀsg̣êˊttc.
around I always tramp.
I like to creep around the house all the time after my brotherˊs
wife.[180] I thought that he would jump up and I should be very much
ashamed. I always tramp about the town [after my brotherˊs wife].
(14) Cradle song for a girl.
Łaˊoxᴀckōxoˊ xᴀt kᴀdēˊxnutc, xᴀt
If I do not take anything I shall always be ashamed, I
kᴀdēˊxnutc. Cākǃu sāˊnî he. Cākǃu sāˊnî
shall always be ashamed. Girls little, listen. Girls little,
he.
listen.
If I do not take anything [to the party], I shall be ashamed, I shall
be ashamed. Little girls, listen. Little girls, listen.
(15) Cradle song for a boy.
Hag̣uˊ qᴀdîcāˊcgî ᴀxhuˊnx ducᴀˊt nᴀq
Now I am certain to marry my brother his wife after
nᴀnāˊnî.
he dies.
I am certain to marry my brotherˊs wife after he dies.[180]
FOOTNOTES:
[180] When a man died and was succeeded by his brother, the latter
married the widow.
(16) A cradle song of unknown authorship. It might be used by anyone.
Tsǃîtskǃ ag̣atǃūˊku kaiti-ỵᴀˊdî qǃēs. Qǃât
Small bird let me shoot my younger brother for. A small trout
ᴀg̣ᴀtag̣eˊ ᴀxʟ̣āˊkǃ qǃēs.
let me spear my sister for.
Let me shoot a small bird for my younger brother. Let me spear a small
trout for my sister.
(17) The song with which Raven was nursed. Both phratries use it.
ᴀhāˊ ᴀhā qǃātǃî-dayēˊdjîỵî. Yēł qǃositeˊ
Aha aha (i. e., here it is) island snipes. Raven tracks
ᴀxōˊx yaołîcuˊ. Yēł qēˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs. Dzᴀnᴀˊ,
among [I] see. Raven’s nephews. Bad smelling fish,
dzᴀnᴀˊ, dzᴀnᴀˊ.
bad smelling fish, bad smelling fish.
Aha, aha, island snipes. Among them I see lots of raven tracks, the
nephews of ravens. Bad-smelling fish, bad-smelling fish, bad-smelling
fish.[181]
FOOTNOTES:
[181] Because ravens lived on them.
(18) Composed by one of the ʟǃenēˊdî named Cukǃusāˊỵî
(Little-lake-up-above), when his people expected others to come with
food to give them a feast. His name was probably derived from Auk lake.
Tcǃa ỵigiỵîˊ tūqǃ qāyᴀˊt kᴀnahāˊntc. Tsu naqᴀtēˊn
Every day in front of my face it always is. Also I sleep
ug̣aˊ ᴀn xałqêˊntc. De iīˊtde sᴀxᵘʟ̣îtǃᴀˊn.
when of them I always think. Indeed for you I long much.
Ctᴀnūˊkᵘ yᴀx xāt uwatīˊ îdaˊyu tutᴀˊnk
Having a sudden sickness like I am about you thinking
diyēˊł.
you Ravens.
It is before my face every day. And when I sleep I always think of you.
I long much for you.
Thinking about you Ravens comes to me like a sudden sickness.
(19) Also composed by Cukǃusāˊỵî on the same occasion as the preceding.
Tukaisînᴀˊt yēˊłî ctᴀnūˊgỵa qōt uwatīˊ
You make me feel Raven as if shaking I were completely
îdaˊyu tutᴀˊnk ʟǃenēˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
about you thinking ʟǃenēˊdî’s children.
You make me feel as if I were shaking, thinking about you, ʟǃenēˊdî’s
children.
(20) Composed by Cukǃusāˊỵî after they had vainly expected a feast for
some time.
Tcǃᴀs xᴀt cēˊgî ᴀnᴀˊq xᴀt qog̣ᴀnāˊ
Only I it is from it I am going to die
yākᵘdunîˊk Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
without seeing [that are talked about] Tᴀˊqǃdentān’s children.
Tsǃu ᴀkᴀˊx g̣ᴀnēˊxt xânuˊkᵘ îsagūwuˊ G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî
Again I try to make myself well thinking about you G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî’s
ỵᴀˊtqǃî. Tsǃu îdadêˊ g̣āx ctutx
children. Also about you crying into myself
xᴀdatēˊx.
I alway try to stop.
I alone am going to die without having seen Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s children.
I try to make myself well again thinking about G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî’s children. I
keep trying to stop crying about you.
(21) Composed by Kux̣ēˊʟǃ of the ʟǃenēˊdî when they expected people
to give them a feast. There is a little bird called people’s-thoughts
(qātuwuˊ), and a person knows when he sees it that a feast is coming.
Sug̣aᴀˊsgî tug̣asᴀg̣wēˊtc iyēˊłî dîg̣ōˊtc
Always feels happy about you Raven this Wolf [phratry]
qātuwuˊ hāt g̣ᴀdaqêˊnîn. Adūˊsgî
people’s-thoughts toward him when his thoughts fly. I wonder
yēł g̣ux sᴀnēˊx dekīˊyaqǃāqǃ hīˊnî wūtc wuʟ̣îāˊt.
Ravens will save way out there water together are upset on.
Deᴀˊqǃ hᴀs wułîx̣āˊc yuyēˊł.
On it they float the Ravens.
You Raven always feel happy about this Wolf phratry when your thoughts
fly toward him like the bird named people’s-thoughts.
I wonder who can get out and save the Ravens that are upset together
way out there in the seas.
(22) This is called Big-song (Cî-ʟēn) and was used by all the
Kāˊgwᴀntān at feasts after a rich man had died. As they sang all turned
around in the direction of the sun. It was also sung for the Deer in
making peace, when it was ended differently. Originally it is said to
have come from ʟucāˊcakǃî-ān, where it was composed by Dātxaguˊttc
(named from the action of a man carving a wolf post when he steps some
distance away to take a good look at it).
[Introductory words] Ītēˊ qoxdzitīˊỵî qāqǃ ayᴀˊqǃᴀ
After I am living man I am saying like,
Dātxaguˊttc qǃa ỵᴀˊxᴀ ʟucāˊcakǃî-ān dᴀx
Dātxaguˊttc mouth (he used to say) like it Sand-hill town from
cī ᴀ.
song is.
Uhāˊn łīngîˊt-āˊnî tūqǃ hāqłîg̣eˊ.
We world inside of we feel higher than all.
I am now saying just as the man I live after, Dātxaguˊttc, used to say.
This song is from Sand-hill town.
We are the people who feel higher than all others in the world.
(23) A song used at feasts when two of the host’s people dance and one
of each of the two parties invited sings for them.
Kīt-gūˊci-hīnᴀx tcǃa xāt qᴀłix̣āˊc.
In Killer-whale’s-dorsal-fin river right I am floating down.
Da ỵīāˊnî kᴀnᴀˊx yên xᴀt kaiˊłahît
Now your town in front of there I wish you would help me,
Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵêˊtqǃî. Kut xᴀt gox łix̣āˊc.
Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. Away I might drift.
I am floating right down in Killer-whale’s-dorsal-fin river. I wish you
would help me ashore in front of your town, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. I
might drift away.
(24) Composed by a man called Small-lake-underneath (Haỵi-āˊkǃᵘ) about
a drifting log found full of nails, out of which a house was built. It
is used when a feast is about to be given for a dead man, and they have
their blankets tied up to their waists and carry canes.
Wuckēˊt wuʟ̣îx̣āˊcî g̣āỵēˊsǃ xāˊwu yᴀx îdaˊ
Drifting [with] iron nails log like with you
ᴀxtunatīˊtc. ᴀxhuˊnx tcǃaˊya gᴀx łax̣āˊc.
I always compare. My brother just so let him float.
Tcǃᴀnīˊdjt gu łax̣āˊc. Gutsǃ tūˊdî
On a good sandy beach let him float ashore. Clouds into
wux̣īˊx̣î g̣ᴀgāˊn yᴀx idaˊ ᴀxtunatīˊtc ᴀxʟaˊ.
goes sun like around you I compare my mother.
ᴀcgaˊ Łīngît-āˊnî kᴀnᴀcgêˊttc.
That is what world makes always dark.
I always compare you to a drifting log with iron nails in it. Let my
brother float in, in that way. Let him float ashore on a good sandy
beach.
I always compare you, my mother, to the sun passing behind the clouds.
That is what makes the world dark.
(25) A Kāˊgwᴀntān song used at a feast when a slave is to be killed.
Ỵekǃuˊł qodzîtiˊ dîˊnaỵāqāỵîˊ,
Are now backing down on me the people’s words,
łkǃᴀx ucîtīˊỵî naỵaqāỵîˊ.
worthless (people) are people’s words.
The words of people are now backing down on me, the words of worthless
people.
(26) A potlatch song composed by Man-that-obeys (Qǃayᴀˊx-qōˊste) of the
Box-house people.
Qāˊkdê îtūwatiˊ tca kīt katīˊỵî? Yaỵîˊkde
Out you want to come indeed whale killer are? Inside
wudaqēˊnî Yēł ʟēł ᴀcqǃēˊ wukǃâˊs? Tcᴀˊtcǃawa
went Raven not [you know what] he consumed? And indeed
ᴀgwᴀtsāˊs Yēł qǃeˊîqgwakǃâs tcᴀ dikīˊt? Tcǃᴀ
you think Raven you will satisfy now you killer whale? Just
hūtc ciyᴀˊx aodîtᴀˊn doāˊnî. Tcᴀ ʟēˊnᴀx
he with himself turned over his town (the world). And alone
ł âg̣ᴀnēˊx?
how can he save himself?
Why do you want to come out, killer whale? Don’t you know what Raven
did when he went inside of a whale? And do you think you will satisfy
Raven, you killer whale?
He turned this world over with himself. And how can he alone save
himself?
(27) Composed by Nawēˊya, a very old man of the Box-house people, just
before he died, so that it could be used at feasts.
ᴀkᵘceˊ īwakǃeˊgî Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
You must be very good, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.
Îỵᴀˊtqǃî kᴀt idjîkǃᴀˊn.
Your children (i. e., opposites) for you have jumped to save.
Qēˊg̣a xᴀt yaˊỵag̣āxe Wuckitāˊn ỵᴀˊtqǃî. De dāq
Truly she you have pitied Wuckitāˊn children. Now up
nᴀxaguˊt sǃᴀgî-qāˊwu anîˊ dê.
I am going ghost world to.
You must be very good, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. Your children have jumped
to save you.
I am very glad that you took pity on me, Wuckitā’n’s children. Now I am
going up to the ghost world.
(28) Song about the eagle hat, sung at a feast when one is not
satisfied with the property he has obtained. The word given below,
which is the only one, is said to be Tsimshian.
Xēdzicxāgaˊ, Here is the eagle hat.
(29) A similar song about the g̣onaqᴀdēˊt hat. Informant did not know
what the words mean, they being in Tsimshian.
Nᴀg̣ᴀnᴀwâˊ łuqᴀnaˊ hao hao. Łuqᴀnaˊ, however, is evidently ʟōˊkoala,
Kwakiutl name for the winter ceremonial.
(30) This song is used by all the Wolf families, who sing it all
together just as they are coming in to a feast.
Anqāˊwo ỵanaguˊt. Ỵītuwuˊ ỵīcᴀtǃîˊqǃ.
A rich man is coming. Your feelings you keep silent.
[Words repeated at the end] Cîsatêˊ
When it is ended
ye ỵanaqeˊtc “Gānhaˊo hūtcǃ.”
thus they always say “It is all gone.”
There is a rich man coming. Keep silent.
When it is ended, they always say, “It is all gone.”
(31) Composed in the Tsimshian language and used by the Kāˊgwᴀntān at a
great feast.
Gudᴀˊx ganāˊkcia łᴀngīˊkcia agīˊkcia. The last word is said to mean
“stern of canoe.”
(32) Song used like the above.
X̣utsǃnuwūˊ dê tsǃu ye nagᴀˊxduīqǃ. Tca
Hutsnuwu to also thus we are going to to be invited. Very
anỵᴀˊtqǃî nᴀxāˊ.
high-caste people are going to eat.
We are also going to be invited to Killisnoo. High-caste people are
going to eat.
(33) Composed by a Haida living in Sitka, called Naqāˊłi, or popularly
“Haida Charley,” and used when four dance together at a feast.
Wāsāˊkᵘ dêndzîgīˊt ᴀxcᴀgîˊnîỵa. Yēł hīˊnî
I wonder what will do to me my future life. Raven’s river
kîˊna qohâˊn qoˊa g̣ōtc ānîˊ kādêˊ tcǃayuˊ
at head of people, however, Wolf town to right to
łuwaguˊq. Uqaˊtułîtsīˊn
have started to go. I have no hard feelings against
cêqayēˊłî qoˊa ʟēkǃ yên dudzîqāˊ
this Raven tribe, however, not there I said anything
cîG̣ānᴀxteˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî. Hāndeˊ idjîˊn
these G̣ānᴀxteˊdî’s children. Come here your hands
tcǃînakᴀłaʟ̣ēˊgu.
I will shake.
I wonder what will happen to me in the future. The people at the head
of the Raven’s river have started for the Wolf phratry’s town.
I have no hard feelings against the Raven phratry and I said nothing to
G̣ānᴀxteˊdî’s children. Come here and I will shake your hands.
(34) Song composed by Naqāˊłi (Haida Charley) for four when they are
dancing at a feast.
Dēxtutseˊ Kîksᴀˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî tcǃa akayēˊx tcuc
If two-minded Kîksᴀˊdî’s children just so like it might
gîʟ̣îyēˊx, da îcandêˊ îyēˊłî qoˊa. Nao
something happen, on pity your Raven phratry however. Whisky
yᴀx yā xᴀt kanᴀłcēˊn
like like this I were getting drunk on [thinking of]
ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs ānîˊ. Dag̣a g̣ōtˊc sᴀ
my grandfathers’ town. What Wolf [phratry] ?
ᴀxdaunᴀˊx sîdāˊq.
can bring my mind into the right place.
Don’t be double-minded, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children, or something might happen
to you, but have pity on your Raven phratry.
Thinking about my grandfathers’ town is just as if I were getting drunk
with whisky. There is no Wolf phratry (person) that can set my mind
aright.
(35) Composed by Going-across-the-road (Deg̣ᴀhēˊtǃ) who belonged to the
Tǃîˊkᴀna tribe of the X̣ᴀkᴀnūˊkedî.[182]
De sēqǃ qokᴀstūˊqǃᵘ Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
Now on neck I am going to tie it, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.
Ag̣aˊ nᴀxatēˊnî yêˊndî xᴀt tu gux ładjāˊq.
So that when I am asleep there I shall know that it is with me.
Yᴀxcîˊ tūwuˊ ỵaqᵘgwatīˊ Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
I wonder if will ever forgive me, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.
Tcᴀʟᴀˊkᵘ ᴀxtuwuˊk danᴀˊttc.
Always my feelings are troubled.
I am going to tie it around my neck, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, so that
when I am asleep I shall know that it is with me.
I wonder if Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children will ever forgive me. My feelings are
always troubled.
FOOTNOTES:
[182] See story 101. Otherwise neither of these is mentioned elsewhere.
(36) Composed by Little-lake-up-above (Cukǃusāˊ-yî) of the ʟǃenēˊdî.
See songs 18–20, above.
Deˊdjî yᴀnūˊgu kātuwuˊ cēyuˊgî îtnᴀˊx kᴀ dunēˊk
Must have been very great that they were telling to me after it is past
ka g̣odjîˊ ỵaqaỵîˊ. Duhūˊtcǃ īn ỵîs wutc yên
Wolf phratry’s words. The last time for with each other
ᴀxdog̣āˊx Kîksᴀˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
let us be very friendly, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children.
The Wolf phratry’s words that they are telling me about must have been
very great.
Let us be friendly with each other for the last time, Kîksᴀˊdî’s
children.
(37) Composed by one of the Kîksᴀˊdî named Dead Raven (Nāwiyēˊł). There
was a second part to this which the writer’s informant had forgotten.
Tcusuˊg̣a iyuqǃâtᴀˊngî tūˊde qoxdzîāˊx
Very attentively what you have said to I listened
Qǃᴀtkaāˊỵî ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
Island-people’s children.
I have listened very attentively to your words, Island-people’s
children.
(38) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān named Be-careful-of-it
(Kāłg̣āˊs).
Āg̣āˊxa yūt iyᴀˊkǃᵘ xog̣ēˊqtc Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî
No more away your face I will throw Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children
g̣ōtc qǃᴀˊłᴀtsīnî. Daqâˊt kᴀx sa ᴀxtuwᴀˊsîgu
Wolf because you make valuable. What ? do I care about
yēˊłỵi anîˊ? Guł kawusūˊnkᴀx ᴀxtuwâˊsigu
Raven’s town? Only when there is just a little in me I like
yēˊłỵi āˊnî.
Raven’s town.
I will no more throw your faces away, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, because
you are the ones that make the Wolf phratry valuable.
What do I care about the Raven’s town? I like it only when there is a
very little [whisky] in me.
(39) Composed by one of the ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀdî named Nawutsīˊn, probably from
the jerking of cohoes when dying.
Hīn tūˊnᴀx tcǃᴀ ke aỵaxēˊtc g̣ōˊtcỵî
Water from in just as if up he were taking [me] Wolf
anîˊ caheˊ yadiyēˊł. ᴀdaˊ ᴀxāˊ ỵêx
town did to this Raven. Now paddle like
ckug̣wᴀłyēˊx dog̣ōˊtcỵi yāˊgu ᴀdāˊde
he is going to use himself his Wolf phratry’s canoe around it
gᴀx dutīˊn.
so that he will be seen.
This Raven did to the Wolf’s town just as if he were taking me out of
the water.[a]
Now he is going to use himself as a paddle so that he will be seen
around his Wolf phratry’s canoe.
(40) Composed by Kākayēˊk of the Kāˊgwᴀntān.
Inuwuˊ g̣edîˊ wuctukaˊodjîtān yᴀg̣odjîˊ,
Your fort inside of wants to put itself this Wolf phratry
Wuckitāˊn ỵᴀˊtqǃî ag̣ēˊqǃ tsa gᴀx tuxēˊqǃᵘ. Yēł
Wuckitāˊn’s children inside of it so we shall sleep. Raven
yᴀx kogwatīˊ Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî. Dog̣ōˊdjî
like are going to be Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. His Wolf phratry
tūx yēkgwaguˊttc.
among he is going.
This Wolf phratry wants to put itself inside of your fort, Wuckitāˊn’s
children, so that we can sleep.[183]
The Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children are going to be like Raven. He is going among
the people of his Wolf phratry.
FOOTNOTES:
[183] Complimentary metaphorical terms used toward the opposite phratry.
(41) Composed by Sāxaˊ of the Kāˊgwᴀntān.
Xātc xatīˊn yēk nīỵaˊ. Gūˊsǃî
It is I see spirits that will come to me. Cloud
haỵinᴀˊx tcǃa wug̣aāˊt. ᴀxsatîˊ sᴀkᵘ yēł ānîˊ
from down under right they get. My masters for Raven town
kᴀt nᴀg̣aāˊt.
on they will walk.
I can see the spirits that are going to come to me. They will go under
a cloud. They will be my masters who will walk in the Raven town.
(42) Composed by Crying-[wolf] (G̣āˊxe) of the Chilkat Kāˊgwᴀntān.
Wâˊsᴀ ᴀc nᴀsinîˊ ditcāˊkǃ. Duyēˊłî
I wonder what has done to him the eagle. His Raven [phratry]
ᴀcdāˊt kᴀnᴀłỵîˊtctc. Dekīˊqǃ ᴀcdāˊt
around him always flies. In the air around him
kᴀnᴀłduˊʟǃtc łīngîˊt-āˊnî ᴀł yᴀx yēqǃ utcǃᴀˊs
they would fly very quickly world not like he made
dutuwuˊ diyēˊł. Hūtcǃ hᴀsdutuwuˊ diyēˊł
his mind this Raven. Finally their minds this Raven
hᴀsdukīˊdî hᴀsdunᴀˊq yên naguˊ.
their killer whale from them there went.
I wonder what the Eagle has done to him. His Raven phratry always flies
around him. They fly around thickly unlike Raven when he made the world.
[The translation of the last paragraph is uncertain.]
(43) This was sung by New-rich (Yisg̣ānāˊłx), chief of the Auk people,
when he defeated a Yakutat chief in a property contest, as related in
story 26.
Xᴀt kᴀnłîdiˊxasî yūānqāˊwo. Tsǃᴀs tī-sēˊʟǃî
I am very much ashamed of the chief. Only cedar bark
aqǃēˊx aosîᴀˊx. Tînnāˊx
with it he made a pretense. Copper
aołîyᴀˊx. Hāt qox tcǃu
he made it into (i. e., pretended it was). Here back then
ʟadudᴀˊx agîˊ? Łā qǃeducîˊ
will you come ? Never feast
qāˊsǃiỵaỵîk ān?
do you think we have in this part of our town?
I am very much ashamed of the chief. He only made a pretense with cedar
bark. He made it into copper plates. Will you come back here? Do you
think we never have feasts in this town?
(44) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān called Yuwâˊkǃᵘ.
Yēˊgî yêx ᴀckādêˊ ỵanaᴀˊt Kāˊgwᴀntān ỵᴀˊtqǃî
Spirits like on him coming down Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children
dātuwuˊ. Hātsatîyaˊ Kāˊgwᴀntān
thinking of. Alasǃ (a Haidaword, hadjadiˊa) Kāˊgwᴀntān’s
ỵᴀˊtqǃî gūsuˊ xān îkgwᴀnāˊwu kaỵaqaỵîˊ
daughters where [is it] with me you were going to die your words
xadēˊs ādushāˊîtc?
you ought to fulfill?
Thinking of you, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, is just like having spirits
come down upon me.
Alasǃ Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, why don’t you fulfill your promise that
you were going to die with me?
(45) Composed by For-a-town spirit (Ān-de-yēk) of the ʟǃenēˊdî about
the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān, because when the latter came to Juneau to drink they
did not pay any attention to the Auk people.
Îłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs ānîˊ ᴀkya ᴀqǃ ỵîqǃ ᴀkłîgeˊ.
Your grandfather’s town this is not.
ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs ānīˊtc yᴀx ye ỵaˊosite tcᴀ
My grandfather’s town like [rich] thus has made you now
qā gux kǃucāˊnî.
[you] slaves poor.
Ye sukᴀˊtỵa tcuckᴀˊx xᴀłtīˊn adeˊ natīˊtcỵa
So people are treated how I see when are
wunāˊwu qā. Ayaỵideˊ xᴀt kᴀcēˊx. De
dead men. Before it I am drinking. Now
tułᴀtsīˊn ayêˊx ỵīdzîgīˊt Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān
you are very selfish for like it you did Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s
ỵᴀˊtqǃî. Tcǃᴀ ʟēł iỵᴀˊkuqwaqǃēˊ tcǃā waa
children. But not I will blame you for will
iỵᴀqaỵîˊ. ᴀtc ye cỵīdzînîˊ yāˊdîyēł.
blame your words. That is his own fault this Raven’s.
This is not your grandfather’s town. It is my grandfather’s place that
has made you rich, you poor slaves.
I observe how people are treated after they are dead, and therefore I
drink before I die (i. e., enjoy myself).
What you did was very selfish, Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s children. But I will not
blame you for your words. It is this Raven’s fault.
(46) Composed by Nîg̣ōˊt, one of the Taku Yênỵēˊdî. His name is used
also by the Kāˊgwᴀntān.
Yēsuˊ xᴀt ỵa-iłidjēˊtc ceyēˊł. Tcǃᴀ g̣oˊnaa g̣ōtc
You now surprise me, you Raven. Another Wolf
ỵîsatīˊnî tcusūˊg̣a kīnāˊqǃ cîˊỵîka ke idjaqᴀˊk.
when you see way up on branch up you want to get.
Dāqâˊtkᴀx sa cxᴀˊdzîxᴀn? Naˊodᴀnᴀ kᴀx cxᴀdzîxᴀˊn.
For what ? do you think I live? To drink whisky I live.
Īcāˊn xᴀt Xēł Teˊqoedî ỵᴀˊtqǃî xᴀt yenaig̣āˊx.
Pity me Foam (a town) Teˊqoedî’s children me have on.
You surprise me, you Raven. When you see a person of the Wolf phratry,
you want to get way up on a branch.
What do you think I live for? I live to drink whisky. Have pity on me,
Foam Teˊqoedî’s children.[184]
FOOTNOTES:
[184] Evidently the Teˊqoedî living at Foam from which the Xēł qoan, or
Foam people, also came.
(47) Composed for and given to Other-water (G̣onahīˊn) of the
Kāˊgwᴀntān, who lived very long ago. He went to Prince of Wales island
to marry a woman named Sǃēłtîˊn. When he was ready to start back,
his father-in-law laid down a row of copper plates for his daughter
to walk down on, and, as she went down, they sang this song and gave
it to the Kāˊgwᴀntān. It is therefore called Sǃēłtîˊn qǃosîyeˊdî,
“Sǃēłtîˊn’s-return-song.”
The words are in Tsimshian and are the following:
Xēłgayuwa hēyuwâˊ hayᴀˊcgīłnaxa, hayuˊwacgīłnᴀxa.
(48) Composed by Tsǃakāˊkǃ, a Dᴀ’qʟǃao-ca, about Kūłtsǃᴀ’xk of the
Koskǃēˊdî.
Qᴀtīˊỵî Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî nᴀq
I am (not having seen) Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî’s children for
xᴀt g̣og̣ᴀnaˊ. Ayᴀˊx ᴀˊkwe îkdᴀˊs ᴀg̣ōˊtx
I am going to die. Like it is nothing if I lose
g̣oxłayēˊxtc. Deˊtcǃᴀ ciyaˊidê dᴀg̣āˊx aweˊ
lots of property. It is only about myself crying it is
ᴀt cīx ᴀxqǃēˊnᴀstītc.
[in] song that comes to me.
I am going to die without seeing Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî’s children any more. That
is nothing if I lose lots of property.
It is only crying about myself that comes to me in song.
(49) Composed by one of the ʟǃenēˊdî about Juneau when gold was first
found there.
Łîdāˊł ỵe qǃaỵaikāˊq ʟǃenēˊdî ỵᴀˊtqǃî.
Do not any more so talk ʟǃenēˊdî’s children.
Łīngît-āˊnî tu qoaˊnî ỵaỵīʟ̣āˊk.
World in people you are ahead of.
Do not talk any more, ʟǃenēˊdˊî’s children. You are ahead of all the
people in the world.
(50) An “Angry song” composed by Sēxdagwēˊtǃ of the ʟǃenēˊdî against
Little Raven (Yēłkǃ), a blind man of Tongass (Tāˊntaqoan), with whom he
was angry.
Dekīˊ tācukādêˊ dāk ᴀciaˊwaᴀdî doˊxonî qāˊỵaqaỵî
Far out on the beach out chased his friends’ words
qǃayeˊnᴀx ye cdî-x̣ēˊtc Yēłkǃ.
because of so threw himself [before my words] Little Raven.
Tcǃuqǃwᴀˊsîg̣a yêˊx ł ctūx danūˊqnutc.
A little numb like not into myself I ever feel.
Łckᴀx kodjîtīˊnî Yēłkǃ xān
Not for himself can see Little Raven to me