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

7

The Young Woman Who

Swallowed a Stone

Alfred Morsette

wah – koxtunaáʾit – anuú naapakúhtuʾ AhnuuxunuuwaáWI wehnaaraána.
Now – I'll tell about it – long, long ago when they lived when they came.
Axtóh kanatuhneesiíšuʾ tsu atíkaʾ
Surely I do not know, but my grandmother
tikunuuNUxtaaʾiiwaawaatihUxuúkuʾ tiwenikuRAxáhAhnikA atí- kaʾ
she used to tell me stories when she reared me my grand- mother
– nikunuunaaʾiiwaawaátI – wačéh nakunaaʾiikawaáWI.
– when she told me stories, – poor thing, her telling me folktales.
tiwenatunaaʾiitštáNIt anuú naapakúhtuʾ AhnuuxunuuwaáWI
This that I am going to relate long, long ago when they used to go around
Axtóh kanatuhneesiíšuʾ tsu niiNIštaaʾiitihUxukú.
surely I don't know, but what they used to tell.

wiiteešútš čiitíʾIš witiraanúʾAt.
Young men four they were living.
itáhniʾ WIšitiná áxkUx nehkookaaNUhkaroóku
Sister they had one, her cooking for them
nehkuraaʾIhwaawanú nehkuranuuwaáhu NAhnunáhtš
when they went around hunting when they were bringing them deer
tsástš NAhkutaakAxka- waakaroóku xúhtš NAhkutakawaakaroóku inástiʾ.
meat, her making dried meat, moccasins her making them for them her brothers.

hiíš wewitiihíʾ.
In the evening it now was.
noowititakásAt suúnaaxuʾ – tinaákUx– niiwekohnaawítat.
Then she went after water young woman – this– however old she was.
noowiteesšuhkaapaatšá wehnačíkAt wačéh wehnaátA AhnačíkAt.
She felt down-hearted her crying, the poor thing, when she went, when she cried.
wetiraaničíkAt – tiweNAhkoosšawaataáNA hiʾáxtiʾ – šáx-
She mourned for them – since she felt lonely her father – her
tiʾ wešikanaahniíʾU.
mother their (du) not being (alive).
inástiʾ noowenee- raníhIt.
Her brothers they were the only ones.
tačé wenaákUx AhnuuxunuuwaáWI.
Who was there their living?
tehnií- hiʾ čéstIt.
It must have been far.
witikaneetehniisuxweeriikUxuúkuʾ.
They did not see each other habitually.

wah tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ wenaátA wenatawiraátA a
Now this young woman as she went, as she went down, and
noowitiíkUx kanítš.
there there was a stone.
witiičiraanawátaaʾA.
It was transparent.
noowiti- kúxIt.
Then she picked it up.
noowitUtčiriikáwa a noowitI- hoóhtIt.
Then she looked it all over and then she put it in her mouth.
tooxookurá.
"Let me keep you in my mouth!"

niikohnaraačítA weNAhoohtíkA noowituutAhuuwíʾAt.
Whatever the reason was when she put it in her mouth then it slid down her throat.
witikanéʾIs.
She consumed it.
wewituutAxáRIt.
She just stood there.
tikanéʾIs ka- nítš.
She consumed it the stone.
nootíʾAt.
Then she went.
nootičiraawít.
Then she dipped water.
nooteečira- náʾ tstoóxuʾ.
Then she brought it back water.
noowitičiraahanookUxítIt.
Then she began to boil meat.
inástiʾ taRAhwísaʾ.
Her brothers they returned.

wah – wehnuútA weniikohniiraawiiʾót – tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ noowitesčirikúʾa.
Now – later however long a time it was – this young woman then she became pregnant.
inástiʾ noowitih- wáčiʾ aa tičé wenuúʾUt.
Her brothers then they said: "Ah, what happened?
atítat wetesčiríkuʾ.
Our sister she is now pregnant."
wewitinaaNAxwéʾ.
They were looking for the reason.

weniikohniiraawiiʾót wehnaraaWIsátA tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ
However long a time it was when the time arrived this young woman
noowitíroʾ piiráʾuʾ.
she bore it a child.
wiináxtš inoowitíʾ.
A boy there he was.
noowitičiraanawátaaʾA tinaákUx wiináxtš piiráʾuʾ.
He was light-complected this boy the child.
iwaaníRIš weWIšitinitaʾiíʾIt.
His uncles they were happy to see him.
weWIšitinikawaačíš.
They were cuddling him.
a WIšitiiNAsíštA – iwáhniʾ – wešinehkunanuuwaáhu
Oh, they loved him – their nephew – their bringing him things
pAxčiraánuʾ NAhnunáhtš eetciísuʾ.
brains deer, milk.

noowitiRAxáhAt tinaákUx wiináxtš.
Then he grew up this boy.
uu kanawitiiwi- roohuúʾU tinaákUx wiináxtš NAhkuwaawanú wehnaRAxáhAt.
Oh, he was stout this boy as he went around as he grew up.

noowitiraanunahAsUxítIt inástiʾ.
Then they began disappearing her brothers.
– a – či šwaahiíʾIt Ahniinakaroóku niikarúxtš
– And – here Shwahit her making them bag
niikohnaraačítA wenehkUhaakawaanúNA noowitiiNIsakáWAt
whatever the reason was when the air strikes his mouth then it peels it
tsástš a – nuukuwitaanúʾAt tsasčeewariínuʾ.
the flesh and – there it fell off naked.
atsú – noowitiʾá niikarúxtš.
And – then he became a bag.

nikuwituutaawaanúʾ anináʾU šwaahiíʾIt Ahnawaa- wanú wenaakuNAhátkA.
That's what she was doing that Shwahit as she went all around as she did away with him.
AhnuuxunuuwaáWI NAhkuh- neesšú NAhkuraanoótA noowitaáNAt.
As they went when she finds out that they are living there then she would go there.
nikunoowitanuúta witaahkawoótIt naakawooruutikú.
Then that is what she would do: she would kill them, her killing various ones.

noowitiwaákoʾ – tinaákUx – wiináxtš atináʾ tičé nuúʾUt skaná tiNAsíhkUx.
Then he said – this – boy: "Mother, why is it alone our living here?
číkuʾ niinooNItkuuxaWIsátA tákuʾ kaaka- tuuteérikuʾ
Wherever I go here I don't see anybody."

noowitiwaákoʾ suúnaaxuʾ wah na nikunuúʾUt.
Then she said the young woman: "Now and it is thus.
tAxiwáhNIš.
You are right.
– tuxtaanúʾAt aWIsíRIš.
– They lived here your uncles
– wenaRAxáhAt wenaʾaáNA piiráʾuʾ šitooxAsíštA.
– When you grew up while you became a child they loved you.
neeniiraanunáhAs.
They disappeared.
niikohnuutAxítIt.
I don't know what happened.
tíʾAt – na – nookaakeewísaʾ.
He went – and – then he didn't return.
uunaákUx– tíʾAt – na – nookaakeewísaʾ.
Another– he went – and – then he did not return.
čituúʾuʾ– neenii- raanunáhAs niikohnuúʾUt niikohnuutAxítIt.
All– they disappeared, whyever it was, whatever happened."

tinaákUx wiináxtš nookananiiwaaRUxtíʾ– AhnáʾU – kanítš.
This boy he was indeed holy– his being – a stone.
weNAhkuwaawanú NAhkureewaawatíRA NAhkuhnaasšta- waáWI
When he went all around when he looked around as he looked out for things
– niišohnaákUx – šáxtiʾ noowituuteéRIt anináʾU sápat šwaahiíʾIt.
– where they (du) live – his mother, then he saw her that one woman Shwahit.
uu witikatariíʾI NAhkuunáxI.
Oh, she was fast when she ran.
noowituhteeriiʾaaNIšítIt.
Then he began to spy on her.
nooWIšititIhunuuwaanáx tinaákUx wiináxtš.
Then they (du) found each other this boy.

noowitiwaákoʾ aa atinátš naahuunéʾ kananiiwanú wah šíšaʾ.
Then she said: "Ah, grandson, you who wa nder from afar, now come!"

tinaákUx wiináxtš wehnutčiríkUx noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh číkuʾ kukaakátaʾ.
This boy when he looked then he said: "Surely I am nothing (ie not related) to you.

wah šíšaʾ.
"Now come!"

tinaákUx – wiináxtš noowitiWIskaaxítIt – tinaákUx sápat
(Of) this – boy then she began to think – this woman
šwaahiíʾIt wah toxwaanú.
Shwahit: "Now let me blow on you!"
niiʾAhnuutaa- waanú weNAhkUhaakawaanúNA wačéh tikootAxtAh-
How she does things when she blew into his mouth, poor thing, he fell over
weeraʾuúkUt – weNAhkuʾaáNA niikarúxtš – weNAhkuNAsaka- wátAt.
dead, – his turning into it a sack – when it (the flesh) peels off.
nikuwitsuuxaanúʾ.
That is what she was doing.

atsú tinaákUx wiináxtš kanítš iitíʾ.
But this boy a stone he was that.
wiináxtš kanawitiiwiroohuúʾU.
The boy he was very stout.

nooNAhuukátA – niiʾAhnaákUx – inoowitiiʾookátA wiísuʾ paátuʾ Ahnatstakaawaahakú.
When he entered – where she live – there it hung a heart, blood its dripping down.

noowitikAhíNIt.
Then he made a fire.
tikAhíNIt.
He made a fire.

noowitiwaákoʾ – tičé nuúʾUt tiNAxuutaawaanú.
Then he said: – "Why is it these things you do?
– tátskaʾ tiWIsíRIš čukú naraáNAt.
– I wonder my uncles where did they go?
čukú NAxtáNAt.
Where did you take them?
teeNAxkawoótIt.
You must have killed them."

noowiteeraawiínaʾ anináʾU sápat wehnaWIskáʾA
Then she came charging that one woman her wanting
aatAhaakawaanúNA tsu wewitiWIstá.
'that I blow in your mouth,' but he had the heart.
wititáʾIt.
He hit it.
číkuʾ noowekanawitaanunuhniihíʾ atíštIt tinaákUx šwaahiíʾIt.
Then she was disconcerted well his Shwahit.

noowitiwaákoʾ škuhnaaʾiitawíhA tiWIsíRIš niikooNAx- táNAt
Then he said: "If you tell me my uncles wherever you took them
niikohnáros neekaneeteskukákux.
where they lie, I won't put you in the fire."

na – noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh – anineéros.
And – so she said: "Truly – they are there!
anineéros.
They are there!
nikutíʾIt aWIsíRIš.
They are the ones your uncles."

noowitiikaataroós.
There they lay in the back:
niikarúxtš witíʾIt.
bags they were.
noo- witiRAhkaraʾiíʾIs AhnaraačeéNU AhnaroósI.
They were wrinkled up, its being a long time their lying there.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah weneetuhneesiš.
Then he said: "Now I know.
wah kooxeehunáhAs čeésuʾ.
Now you will die, too.
a či tiWIsíRIš nikuweNAxtaanu- NAhát.
And here my uncles you are the one who did away with them."

witiihuuNIskukoohaásAt wiísuʾ.
He threw it into the fire the heart.
tinaákUx šwaahiíʾIt wituutUhuuNAsaapiraáʾAt.
This Shwahit she rolled over quickly.
– wititaraniíta.
– She got burned
– tinaákUx wiiteešútš nootíʾAt.
– This young man then he went.
nootiroosít iwaaníRIš niikarúxtš wehnuutapaaWIhtikú.
Then he picked them up his uncles the bags as he talked to them.

noowitawísaʾ.
Then he arrived (back home).

noowitiwaákoʾ atináʾ šuuxakánoʾ čiNIsísuʾ.
Then he said: "Mother, make a lodge a sweat lodge!
koxteeraaNAhkaáʾAt.
We will go into it."

nikunoowituúta wehnaRAhkaáWI čiNIsísuʾ.
Then that is what she did: their being in it sweat lodge.

witiwaaWIhtít.
He spoke.
noowitiwaákoʾ atináʾ na atiWIsíRIš wetaRAhWIsAhíštA štoh.
Then he said: "Mother and my uncles they are going to arrive back.
wetAhnaanunáx.
I have found them.
tiNAsiš- kaapaačíškUx wenehnaanunáx.
Our (du) living here pitifully now I have found them.
wah štoh wetaRAhWIsAhíštA.
Now back they are going to arrive."

witiwaákoʾ wah atináʾ šuxteekáWI.
He said: "Now, mother, shut the door!"

nuu witiraNAhuúkAt aninoóčI iwaaníRIš skarustaa- hiíšuʾ.
There he brought them in those his uncles the dried hides.
tiroswaáWI.
He put them down.
tiwakaraanawooxítIt čeésuʾ niináʾU kanítš.
He began to pray himself what he was a stone.
tuNAhčiRAsawihUxítIt.
He began to splash water on them (the stones).

noowitihwaaWIhtiiruukUxítIt tuhnaroósI hee atíštIt wetikuwá.
Then they each began to talk those lying over there: "Eh, good I now feel."
nikuwitiwaawačiʾaáhuʾ.
That is what they were each saying.

wekuwituúʾUt AhnuNAhčiRAsaWIhú.
He continued his splashing water on them.
noowitUtčiraá- nuʾ AhnihwaaWIhtiiruukú.
Then the water was gone as they were each talking.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah atináʾ šuuxaakeeríWAt.
Then he said: "Now, mother, open the door!"

wehnareewaataáNA na inoowitiiraanúʾAt inástiʾ.
When she looked, and there they sat her brothers.

wah tiWIsíRIš wetaRAhwísaʾ štoh.
"Now my uncles they have arrived back.
wetatiitaakIsi- ráxaʾ.
I brought them back.
wah – taanikuwitiitaakAxítIt sápat – Ahniina- kawootíkA.
Now – this is what happened to them a woman – when she killed them.
na – weneetuNAhát sápat hawá – štoh číkú kananakuuraawiítIt.
And – I did away with her the woman also – again that nothing (bad) will occur.

nawáh na wiiteešútš witiraaniriwátAt – tsu – tinaákUx
Now, and the young men they arose, – but – this
suúnaaxuʾ wewiteekaanúnoʾ.
young woman she now cooked a meal for them.
tinaákUx itáhniʾ witičiraahánoʾ weNAhunuuwaáWI.
This sister she boiled meat when they went around.
wah niikohnuutA- xítIt tiihéʾ.
Now it is not known what happened here.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah atináʾ wetataraaNAhkaahúxtA čiNIsísuʾ.
Then he said: "Now, mother, we are going to go inside the sweat lodge.
wetaRAxAhaatawísAt.
You have reached a mature age.
wah tsu nikukooxuúʾUt koxtUtwiʾuuxítIt tsu niinatiišá tsu
Now but it will be thus: I will turn to face it but whence I came, but
niinatiišá – koxtíʾAt – tiwenatoxtaakunuuwaáWI.
whence I came – I will go – now that we have been together.
wah tsu– wetAxtapóxtA niinaraačeéNU – skaná
Now but– you (pl) shall now go where the long time is, – alone
niinaraačeéNU nikuwetAxuhnaahnaaNAhwiʾúʾ.
where the long time is you (pl) will be headed that way.
tsu niinatiišá štoh wetatúhtA.
But whence I came again I will go."

a nikunoowituutAxítIt.
And then that is what happened:
weneehaahtawiítIt tsu nootiraanúʾAt.
when it dawned but they sat there.
noowitiraáNAt anuuneskoóhAt.
Then they went up in the sky.
tsu tinaákUx wiináxtš nikunoowitíʾAt niináʾU kanítš.
But this boy that is where he went where he was a stone.
štoh nootíʾAt.
Again then he went.