XML version dated February 14, 2024. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

3

The Race Between the

Horse and the Buffalo

Alfred Morsette

niiʾaNAsuxtaaʾuúʾA - AhnuxunuuwaáWI -
How it used to be - when they traveled around -
wehnaahtakuwaʾá nuu naapakúhtuʾ ništaaʾiitawaaWIhú kanawituuNUxtaahé.
when they came as a group long , long ago what they used to tell it was not good.
na niiNAhkiitúhkUx na tanáhaʾ noowiteeRAhwísaʾ
And where a village was, and the buffalos then they came to it
weNAhkukhaanawiítIt sáhniš niiʾAhnihwačeehUxukú.
when they smelled him a human, what they used to say.
noo- wituNAsaʾuúkUt tanáhaʾ.
Then they attacked them buffalos.
wewitatakuraakuNAhát wenehkoo- kawooruutíkA -
Now they killed us when they killed various ones -
wenehkuNAhunuúWI - wenehkiitUhwirítkA NAhkuuxitúhkUx.
when they attacked it - when they knocked down the village where the village was.
na witiinakawooruútIt na tanáhaʾ witiinapaʾá sáhniš
And they killed many and buffalos they ate them, a human
weNAhkuʾiiníkUx weNAhkuʾá saNIškoótuʾ.
when it had a dead body when it ate it a dead human.
tanáhaʾ nikuwitsúx.
Buffalo that is how it was.
witsuuxaanuuxuúkuʾ.
They used to do it.

na witiRAsaawátAt.
And they moved away.
weNAhkuRAsaawátAt noowiteeRAhwáʾ na niiNAhkuRAhčiiweešíkA
After they had departed then they came and the ones (people) who survived
nooWIšitinaaNIsáʾus weNAhkukoótU wačéh - tanáhaʾ
then they put him on (a scaffold) after he was dead, poor thing, - the buffalos
- wešinehkuxkakátkA tanáhaʾ wešinehkuúxA.
- after they cut him up, the buffalos after they ate him.

natsú wiináxtš wewitUtpsiwá nooxíniʾ na tšaápis weNAhkuwanú.
And a boy he now had winters sixteen when he would go around.
witikaapaátš hiʾáxtiʾ šáxtiʾ wešohnihkootíkA.
He was poor his father, his mother their (du) having been killed.
na wiináxtš weNAhkučíkAt weNAhkihtatataʾaáhNA
And the boy when he cried when he went beside it
niiNAhkuraaNIsáxA wewitiNAhkiísA weNAhkooweétA -
where one lay on the scaffold, when he lay down when he was tired -
weNAhkučíkAt - nooWIšituútIt pítkUx wiítA.
after he cried, - then he dreamed of them (du) two men.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah tAxtaRAhčíš weNAxkučikAxwanú tiweNAxkučíkAt.
Then he said: "Now you're strong as you go around crying as you've cried.
wah nikuwešitatihwáʾ číkuʾ sinataakunuutaáNA
Now we've come here to do something for you
niitinoonahNAhuunuúku tanáhaʾ tinaraapáʾA.
after what they have been doing to you (pl) the buffalos their eating you (pl).
nawáh wetAxiraaNAhtšíštA štoh.
Now now you are going to be saved again.
wah štoh kooxiRAhtšičiíta niišakawooruutíkA.
Now again they will become alive the ones who were killed.
haáʾAx štoh kooxuuteéRIt na xáx štoh kooxuuteéRIt.
Your father again you will see him and your mother again you will see her.

nawáh wetAxúhtA hináxtIt niiNAxtaakitUhkákUx
"Now you are going to go in the morning where your village is in the woods
na neešuutAhnaaʾiitawaáWI wiiteešútš wiítA.
and you will tell them young men, men."
nooWIšitihnaa- ʾiitáWI taanikutuutuúʾIt tinátš.
Then they told him: "This is what they are like bows.
taanikuneešuúta štáʾU tinátš.
This is how you will do it when you make it a bow.
na kawíʾuʾ niíšuʾ neešikároʾ.
And arrowheads arrows you will make them.
šuutAh- naaʾiitáWI taanikukooxuútuʾ.
You'll tell them: 'This is the kind.'

nawáh neešiiwísWA niinakuraaNIsáxA niiháʾ.
"Now you'll go to various ones where he lies on a scaffold there.
nootAxitawíʾIš na neešiwaákoʾ šuxčirikaʾá parúNIt.
Then you touch him and you'll say: 'Wake up quickly!
witinakuunawireeríkA.
Fix yourself up!'
kooxeeRAhWIswáʾ.
They will all come.
a noowitii- širaakawireéhAs
'And then you all get ready!'"

šuhnaakaaNIštaátA - AxtAhniškaroóku - na
"After you (pl) finish doing it - your (pl) making (bows and arrows, - and
šuhnaakaaNIštaáta wetiraahUhtačipiiruutíštA
after you (pl) finish doing it, they are all going to come together
niinoonakuúʾU niinoonakuuraáʾU nataraakunuuwaáWI.
the different ones, the different kinds we who go around (ie are alive).
wetinaataruuwaʾóstA.
They are going to talk about it.
wah - taanikuwetiraahiRAxá - niikohnuutAxitíštA
Now - this is what will be the first topic: - whatever is going to happen,
niinakuútA tanáhaʾ tinaraapáʾA na kananakuútA.
whether it will be buffalo their eating you or (whether) it will not be.
nawáh nikuwetinaataruuwaʾóstA.
Now that is what they are going to talk about.
na neešiitohnaa- ʾiitáWI - niiwekohnuutáxtA - niiwenuutAxitštáNIt.
And we will tell you - that is what is going to be - what is going to happen."

tinaákUx wiiteešútš nootíʾAt.
This boy then he went.

nawáh - tsu - niiwenaraateehuúNU wehninaateewaníkA
Now - but - what was planned when they planned it
niinooNAhkuúʾU -- tanáhaʾ wáh sčiríhtš kuúNUx niinooNAhkuúʾU
the different ones -- buffalos, elks, coyotes, bears, the different ones
-- wehnaraahUhtačipiiruútIt - xaawaarúxtiʾ - noowi- tiwaákoʾ wah
-- when they gathered together, - the horse - then he said: "Now
nikukoxtIhiRAxá číkuʾ nakuraaʾiitawíhA.
I will be the first one to say something."

tinaaríčI xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiwaákoʾ kaakatinihnaatéʾ tinaaríčI niitinuutaánu.
This horse then he said: "I do not like it this one what he is doing.
wah čeésuʾ saNIškaapaačíšuʾ saNIščiraanarúhtuʾ
Now himself the pitiful human, the weak human being,
weNAxkuNAhuninoosiwaáhNA nootAxikoó- tIt.
when you abuse him, then you kill him.
nootAxeeNAšítIt.
Then you eat him.
tsu tineekataahwá niinaraateehuúNU NAxkUhuhwaawáʾA NAxkuwaawanú.
But here is grass which is the plant that you should eat grass that you should roam around.
tikaapaátš sáhniš tiNAxihkUhuunawiruuwaáhu.
He is pitiful the human being now that you have cut his life short."

noowitiwaákoʾ tanáhaʾ kaakíʾ tákuʾ nakukunuhčitaátA NItwaawanú.
Then he said buffalo: "No one is getting ahead of me my roaming around.
nawáh - koosíhWA.
Now - we will go.
wah - inooškuutUhtaátA na IškoowíRAt.
Now - if you beat me, and you'll win.
atsú inooʾitootUhtaátA wekukooxuúʾUt.
But if I beat you, it will be as it is.
wekukooxuhnaáʾuʾ.
It'll be that way.
- koxtiwaʾá sáhniš.
- I'll eat them human beings.
- tatinihnaatéʾ sáhniš NAtkutsaswaawáʾA.
- I like it human my eating flesh."
nikuwitiwaákoʾ.
That is what he said.
kaneeneetii- huunarúhtIt niiNItkuWIskáʾA.
"I'll have my way as I think."

noowitiwaákoʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ- wah nikuneetuúʾUt.
Then he said the horse: - "Now I am that way.
- koosih- wáʾAx
- We will race."

nuu wenaaríčI tanáhaʾ áxkUx noowitíʾ.
There when he stood buffalo one there he was.
wah tačé nikunóxtA nuunáxI.
"Now who is going to be the one his running?"

noowitaaxwaátaʾ áxkUx.
Then he put his foot out one.
čiitíʾIš wehnitapsiwaáhNA nikuwitíʾ hukós nakucipiriíNU.
Four one that had winters he was the one a bull a young one.
wah nikukoxtíʾ.
"Now I will be the one.
nuukutAtkatariíʾI.
I am fastest.
kaakíʾ tákuʾ nakukusthunaáhWI.
No one can equal me (lit be close to me)."

noowitiraaninuʾá.
Then they became afraid.

wah - xaawaarúxtiʾ - xaaNAhkatá - čiitíʾIš - wehnitapsi-
Now - a horse - a palomino, - four - his winters
waahnuuxukú wah nikuneetuúʾUt.
were numbering: "Now I'll be the one.
tAtkatariíʾI.
I am fast.
niku- tatiikUxihnuúNAt čiitíʾIš nakuuhaweéNA.
I can run that long four its being days.
nikutatUsta- RAhtšúʾ nakuunáxI.
That is the strength I have to run.
- nawáh nikukoxtíʾ.
- Now I will be the one.
- koosih- wáʾAx.
- We will run.
tiNAhunaanúhAt hunaahčeeríškAt nikuwetsehwaahíštA.
This land that extends on bare land that is where we are going to come.
uu kutiraáNIš - sihWIswáNA niinatsteéhAt.
Oh, it is true - when we get there where the edge of the water is
-- niinatsteéhAt.
-- where the edge of the water is.
wah - škuutUhtaátA wetAxkoowíRAt.
Now - if you beat me, you will beat me.
tsu - inookiitiWIsátA iinatsteewaáhAt wetataawíRAt.
But - if I reach there where the edge of the water is, I'll beat you."

nawáh weWIšitiraateewáNIt.
Now they (du) planned it.
wačéh xaawaarúxtiʾ tinawaaríčI noowitiraaninuʾá.
Poor things, horses these then they became fearful.
tanáhaʾ kanawitiiwirooxuúʾU.
The buffalo he was so strong.

nooWIšituhwáʾAx.
Then they (du) ran.
nuuwešinawáNA tinaaríčI xaawaarúxtiʾ wenuunáxI
Then when they (du) went this horse when he ran
kanawituhnaataRAhtščiraʾá wešinawáNA.
he was exceedingly fast as they (du) went.
na tinaaríčI - xaawaarúxtiʾ - nootIhiRAxUhunítIt.
And this - horse - then he got in the lead.
nootIhiRAxUhunítIt.
Then he got in the lead.
tanáhaʾ nooteehUhtačeewiíʾaʾ.
The buffalo then he fell behind.
nootiihUhtaawátAt.
Then he swerved to one side.

wah - nikunoowehnuutaáNA noowiteewakaáhtaʾ - sáhniš čeésuʾ.
Now - when he did that then they yelled out - the humans themselves.
wehninaaničitawiítIt nooWIšitiiNAhnuuwaawáʾAx tanáhaʾ
After they mounted, then they chased them the buffalos
wešiniinapaníku čeésuʾ.
as they were shooting them too.

wetsú tinaátA xaawaarúxtiʾ nuu nootíʾAt.
But now this one going horse there then he went.
nootiwísAt niiʾAhnaraateehuúNU.
Then he arrived there where it was planned.
tsu tinaaríčI tanáhaʾ noowituhkúxAx - wehnuhkUxáxI -
But this buffalo then he ran away - his running off -
wešiniinawirátA AhnuxwaákAhu tákuʾ kaakíʾ nakukuutUhtaátA.
after they beat him after he had been saying: "No one can outdo me."

nawáh nikuwitiraačítA nataraahnaaničitáWI xaawaarúxtiʾ
Now that's the reason our riding horses,
šiNAskuNAhnaáxI nuuxunuuwaáWI tanáhaʾ.
for us to chase them when they roamed buffalos.
xaawaarúxtiʾ nikuwitanuunaateehuúʾU.
The horse that is what his plan was.
nikuwiwituhnaateewáNIt.
That is what he planned for himself.

nawáh noowitiwaákoʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ wetateeričíšAt.
Now then he said the horse: "I have now saved you.
wetsú tatskáʾ wačéh NAxkukuraáhNA tsu wenee-
But now I want it, poor thing, that you keep me, but I am
taraahníštA nataakuhnaaNAxweekoóčI.
going to keep you for me to look for things for you.
niiNAx- kuWIskáʾA aataátA na tatariwísAt.
Wherever you want 'that I go' and I'll take you there.
wah tsu tiiháʾ kunaáʾuʾ wetAxkuhnanaahníštA čeésuʾ.
Now but here medicine you are going to keep for me too."

nikuwitanuhnaateehuúʾU xaawaarúxtiʾ.
That was the plan for him the horse.
nikukohniraačitáWI xaawaarúxtiʾ - šiNAsiiničitáWI
That must be the reason a horse - that we rode it
natoxtaakunuuwaáWI - naapakúhtuʾ.
when we lived - long ago.
siíno tineetohnaáʾAt nataraahnaaničitawaáWI xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Yet we are that way our riding them horses.

witiwaákoʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ wah - tsu - wetinaatáRIt.
He said the horse: "Now - but - here I am standing.
nikutatíʾ xaakaatít.
I am the one the black horse."
tiNAhunásA huukaawiraátA nikuteéRIt xaaNAhkatá tuuháʾ
This earth (in) the east that is where he stands; the palomino there
hunaanapsíniʾ xaačiRAhpáhAt skaweéraaʾuʾ xaačiišawatá hunaahčeeríškAt hunaahkoohaáhkAt.
(in) the south; a sorrel horse (in) the west; a white horse on the bare land (in) the north.
wah tiiháʾ nikuwetanuhwaa- waáRIt awaaháxuʾ neskoóhAt
Now here that is where they have their stations the Powers in the sky
šiNAsiinaanuuwaawanú neešaánuʾ tinačitákUx na tiNAhunásA
our asking for things (of him) the Chief Above and (on) this earth
niitinataraakunuúWI natakuraahnanaáhNA.
here where we live the one who keeps us.

wah tanikuwituhnaaʾiitUxúʾ.
Now this is how the story goes.
nikutatuuNUxaakAtkookUxuúkuʾ atíkaʾ wenakunaaʾiítI.
This is what I used to hear from her my grandmother when she told it.
na atíʾAx nuuNUxtaaʾii- tUxuúkuʾ haáwaʾ.
And my father he used to tell it also.