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

26

The Young Woman

Who Married a Horse

Alfred Morsette

wetatunaaʾiitíštA atíkaʾ nuuNUxtaaʾiitawihU- xukú.
Now I am going to tell my grandmother what she used to tell.
wekohnatkoókuʾ atíkaʾ wačéh nikunuu-
Maybe she hears my grandmother, poor thing, the story
NUxtaaʾiiwaatihUxukú – wešiNItkuúkUx skána – wenakunaa-
that she used to tell – when she and I lived alone, – when she
ʾiiwaawaátI niikooNUsuxteésiš.
told stories ones she had learned.
tuxtaanuhkáʾIt kunaáʾuʾ atíkaʾ.
She had them medicines my grandmother.
atípaʾ – tuxtaaná – xaakunaáʾuʾ.
My grandfather – he had it – horse medicine.
tinaraaʾiitúxkUx wenatunaaʾiitštáNI nikutikunuuNUxtaa- ʾiitihUxuúkuʾ.
This story the one I am going to tell that is what she used to tell me.

nuu – AhnuuxIhtakUhunuuwaaWIhú – naapakúhtuʾ
There – when they used to go around as a group – long ago
niikohnaačitaáʾA aaníčI šaahéʾ aaníčI sáhniš
whatever tribe it was, whether it was Cheyenne, whether it be Arikara,
sáhniš AhnootiraaʾiítUx tiwenatunaaʾiitštáNI.
Arikara it is a story this one I'm going to tell.
wehnaahtakoótA anuú witiraanuukaaʾiíšAt.
When they were migrating there they went toward the river.
witinaaNAxweekáʾIt číkuʾ niiNAhkuraaNIhuuníčI nátš na
They were looking for things wherever it was plentiful wood and
niiNAhkučísA tstoóxuʾ.
where water was water.
nikutiraapiRIhuúʾU tstoóxuʾ na nátš.
That is what was valuable water, and wood.
nikutiraačitáwiʾ nátš – naatakaraáhNIš wiiteešútš
That is what was most important: wood – the way of the hunt young men
– nehkuraaWIhkAhunuuwaáWI.
– when they went around hunting.

na suunaxčipiríhtš suúnaaxuʾ nakuhneéRA
And a very young woman, a young woman a nice looking one
noonitooxuúNU weWIšitinaápI.
one who was loveable she was purchased for him.
weWIšiteeNAh- tákuʾ.
Now she was married.

wenawiitikú wehneetUhwiítIt wehnačiranuuwaáhu
When they were camping after they had made camp when she was bringing it
tstoóxuʾ – číkuʾ niiNAhkuutaánu – weNAhkučiraahanoóku tinaákUx
water, – whatever she was doing, – when she was boiling meat, this
suúnaaxuʾ noowitiihUhtawiraáʾAt tinahUshaanúhAt.
young woman then she ran down this creek valley.

witiraačitéʾ číkuʾ niiNAhkučiraawiíkA.
It was difficult wherever she dipped water.
noowitii- čiišawataáhkUx.
There there was a white object.
– noowitiwískaʾ – teeNAxíʾ kanítš.
– Then she thought – "You must be a stone."
noowitunaahé.
It was nice.
noowiteešuučitawiítIt.
Then she put her foot on it.
tičiraawít.
She dipped water.
teéʾaʾ.
She came.
tiraakaanunookUxítIt.
She began to cook a meal.

wah – niikohniiraawiiʾót – noowitiRAsawiraáʾAt suúnaaxuʾ
Now – sometime later – then they went down young women
wenehkupinaáhNA nátš.
for them to pick it up wood.
tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ nooti- tawiraáʾAt.
This young woman then she went down.
noowitiraawitáriiʾIs AhnuuxunuuwaáWI.
Then they were moving rapidly (ie hurrying) as they went all around.

wehnaRAhkatawáNA na tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ noowituuNU- huuniíWIs.
When they went up, and this young woman then she remained there.
wewitiwískaʾ nakukateeriítIt nakuroo- siíkA nátš.
Now she wanted to lay back over it to pick it up the wood.

wiiteešútš noowitehtatataʾiíšaʾ.
A young man then he came up beside her.
noowituuNIsah- NIšé.
He was a nice looking person.

noowitiwaákoʾ nikutatootuníʾaʾ tiwenatií- na.
Then he said: "I am the one who came after you my coming here.
nikutatootAsíštA.
I am the one watching over you.
tatskáʾ aasíh- tiRA tiwenatiína.
I want that we be together, my coming here."

noowitiwaákoʾ suúnaaxuʾ Axtóh kaakatootIsiíšuʾ tákuʾ niikooNAxíʾ
Then she said the young woman: "Surely I don't know you, whoever you are."

noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh tAxkuutIsiíšuʾ.
Then he said: "Surely you know me.
tAxuuxIskáʾ aata- čiraawiíkA.
You wanted 'that I dip water.'
neenoonaačiteeʾá na neewitiineetikúx na neeneešičiraawít.
It was difficult for you and I put myself there and you dipped water.
nikutátiʾ.
I am the one."

wah tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ wetuutAxáRIt.
Now this young woman now she stood thinking.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah hánuʾ.
Then he said: "Now, go on!"

noošitíWA xaawaarúxtiʾ niiʾAhnaRAseewaáhAt.
Then they (du) went the horses where their range was.
a čiišaáʾA xaawaarúxtiʾ tiweniisiRAxátA.
And here he was a horse this one that took her!

wah tineetuunoótA tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ neeNAhtakúʾU wetawísaʾ.
Now this village this young woman her husband now he arrived.
čuwekunáʾAt.
"Where is she?"

tiisuxtáʾAt nátš – na – nikunuxtawíʾAt.
"They went after it wood, – and – she went with that group.
kaakaWIsaáhuʾ siíno.
She has not come back yet."

nooWIšitiitAhnáʾIt AhníštiRA.
Then they asked them her companions.
noowitihwáčiʾ wetatinaaNAhkatawáʾ.
Then they said: "We came up (the bank).
naaniwiísuʾ wetuxtoosít nátš.
At that moment she was picking it up wood.
wenehnapískaʾ wekooNAxihwísaʾ.
We thought: 'You must have returned.'"

noowitikUxuhtawiraáʾAt na – inoowitiirós – nátš wehnuxtoosiikIštáNI.
Then they ran down and – there there lay – the wood what she was going to pick up.

aa – paatúh wešitehnínoʾ – waakáʾuʾ.
"Ah, – the enemy they must have made of her – a captive.
nuhneéRA suúnaaxuʾ tooxuúnuʾ tíʾ.
Her being nice looking a young woman beautiful she is."

tiwešiniNAxwé noowitiraasšunáhAs.
After they looked for her then they forgot about it.
noo- wituutAsšteéʾa wiiteešútš.
Then he became accustomed to it the young man.

tiwehnuútA – wah – AhnuuxunuuwaaWIhú
After a- while – now – while they were roaming around
wenaawiRIstaʾaanuu- xukú štoh – čiitíʾIš
when it usually be- comes warm weather (spring) again, – four
weʾaahpsiwaáhNA – noowiti- wáčiʾ wiiteešútš aa
maybe its being winters – then they said the young men: "Ah,
tineehunuuwá xoosánax xaahúNA.
they are roaming here wild horses, ponies.
uu tiraaNIhuúʾU.
Oh, there are many!
nootiroočíWI niinuútA.
It is different as it is.
weNIhkuunáxI tIhiRAxá.
When they run it leads.
a NAhiRAxaáhNA tíʾ sáhniš.
And the one leading it is a human.
nootiihuuničíWI uu nakukatariíNU.
It's different in form, oh, its being fast.
wah číkuʾ naahkuúʾUt.
Now it's something (different)."

noowiwitiinawíreehAs.
Then they got themselves ready.
na witiraaničitawiítIt xaawaarúxtiʾ niiNIhkukatariíNU.
And they mounted horses ones that were fast.
– noowitiraáNAt.
– Then they went
– čeesiitaá- keeRIt
– "Let's see them."

noowitaahnunuuwá.
There they roamed in the distance.
uu witikaništaanuú- hAt.
Oh, the herd was spread out.

wah tuukiišuxtaapóʾ na šuxtaačeehaáNAt uunakatAh- káʾU.
"Now go over that way, and you go in a group that other side!
štaNAhWIsátA hawá tuuwekuniraáNAt.
When you arrive, also these (others) will be there.
neetohnaaNAsaakáwiitIt.
Then we'll encircle them.
neetoohnaaNAhkatawáʾ.
Then we'll come up the hill.
awít šiisiisuuxuuníkUt če tačé noʾ.
First let's catch her to see who it is!
čiraátoʾ noʾ paatúh neetUhwaáhAt.
To see if it is enemy the villages.
neešiisinaaNAhunáreetIt tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ.
We will corner her this young woman."

áxkUx noowitipAxkoohaásAt.
One then he roped her over the head.
WIšitiinukúNIt.
They downed her.
nooWIšitistareewaápI.
Then they tied her all up
– uu witiisánax.
– Oh, she was wild
– titaRAhčíš.
– She was strong.

noowitiinuuwáʾAx xoosánax na tinaaríčI xaa- kaatít
Then they ran away the wild horses, and this black horse
noowituutapitaawaahaákuʾ AhnačiškataWAhnaáhu.
then it repeatedly turned back while it was whinnying.
xeehaníhtš– čiitíʾIš – wituhnaánuʾ – na pítkUx– WIšitiRIhuú- ʾU
Colts– four – there were; – and two– they (du) were big
na pítkUx šikanaahniRIhuúʾU.
and two they (du) were small.
xaaNAhkatá noowitíʾIt.
Palominos they were.
uu wituhniwá.
Oh, they were beautiful!

tineehUhkataáhu AhnačiškataWAhnaáhu tinaaríčI piikaawá
This one running up it when it was whinnying t his stallion,
noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ nawáh číkuʾ kaakatuutaáNIštat.
then she said this young woman: "Now, there is nothing I can do.
neetuhneesiíšuʾ niinaraačitáWI tiwešiNAxkuutuuníkUt.
I do know what the reason is your catching me.
wah NAxkohtakúʾU šíšaʾ.
Now, my husband, come!"
noowitUt- káxaʾ.
Then she she called him.

noowiteéʾaʾ neeNAhtakúʾU.
Then he came her husband.
wah nikuwetiwaákoʾ šinatiitíRA.
"Now this is what he has said my companion.
wah kaakoonaačiteewaahnúxtA tiweNAx- waawanúxtA.
Now things won't be difficult for you as you're going to go all around.
xaawaarúxtiʾ kooxinihniwá.
Horses you will have nice ones.

wah – tinaraanoswaáWI kunaáʾuʾ – NAxkiisawaaWIhú
"Now – these ways medicines – for you to be doctoring
xaawaarúxtiʾ číkuʾ NIhkuraʾaáNA tineéros kunaáʾuʾ a
a horse if it gets hurt here they are medicines; and
tiweneéros niiNAxkuhnanaáNU xaawaarúxtiʾ naakuunaweétA na –
here they are what you'll use a horse when yours tires; and –
tiweneéros – xaawaarúxtiʾ – NIhkuwihkataríkUt – na číkuʾ NIhkuwiinapítkA.
here they are – horses – when they are swinney – and when they break a leg.
wah tinaraaʾiitUxtoósI wetaraaʾii- tUxtaánu naaʾiitúxuʾ xaakunaáʾuʾ.
Now these songs he has given you the songs songs horse medicine.

wah číkuʾ kaakíʾ niiNItkuutaáNA.
"Now I cannot do anything.
wah nikuwetaraanaawa- ʾú.
Now these are the ways he has given to you.
aninawaaríčI niiwešiNAxuutaakeéRIt kutatihnaanáʾ.
Those standing the ones you see they are my children.
– aNIšinikutkAxaáhuʾ – suxtaaʾiitáWI.
– Those are calling to me – 'Tell him!
suxtaaʾiitáWI.
Tell him!'
nikutiwaakaáhuʾ.
That is what each is saying.

nawáh wetatoonaaniwóʾ.
"Now, I am beseeching you.
wekaakatúhne.
I am not good.
číkuʾ nuhnaawi- ʾúxtA aatuxtaʾiwanú taanikuʾaatuútA
It will not be good if I mingled among them if I am this way
niitiwenatuútA noowenatiraanuúxU.
as I am my just being hairy.
wah nikiisuxtaáka šiškuuxiʾít čeésuʾ.
Now, do that: release me myself!

wah – niikooNAxtapískaʾ aniNAhunuuwaáWI – xaawaarúxtiʾ
"Now – whatever you think (of) those roaming – horses
wenakuraaʾiiʾaáNA tanáhaʾ – xaawaarúxtiʾ číkuʾ noo-
when there is a scarcity (of) buffalo – horses you can
tihkawooruútIt xoosánax.
kill some wild horses."
tehnuxtaaNIhuúʾU xoo- sánax nuuxunuuwaáWI
There must have been many wild horses ones that used to roam
aniNAhunaanúhAt skaweéraaʾuʾ.
where the land is west.

wetičíkAt – hiʾáxtiʾ – tinaákUx – suúnaaxuʾ – hiʾáxtiʾ
He cried – her father – this – young woman; – her father
wetičíkAt šáxtiʾ wehnaRAhčíkAt inástiʾ.
he cried, her mother their crying her brothers.

wah číkuʾ kaakíʾ niiNItkuutaáNA.
"Now there is nothing I can do.
atsú koxtohnaakeérikuʾ.
But I'll see you (pl).
nikuneeniiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI šinatiitíRA.
That is what he said (to tell you) this my mate."

wah WIšitiiníʾit.
Now they turned her loose.
anuú witaahkUxUhuunií- šAt na nooteeRAhkaaʾišwáʾ.
Over there they ran over the hill in the distance, and then they (the men) came home.

a tinaákUx– wiiteešútš – noowitIhaananiwiítIt oopiínuʾ suúnaaxuʾ.
And this– young man – then he married her different young woman.
nikunoowituútuʾ suúnaaxuʾ wešohniiNA- hunáhAs.
This one resembled her young woman the one who eloped with him.
a noowiwituhnanaaNIšítIt piirátš čeésuʾ.
And then he began to have his own offspring children himself.
wekaakikaapaátš.
He was no longer poor.
wetiraanuh- káʾIt.
He now had various things.
wewitohnuhnaaNAxweekoóčI wekaakiraákUx
The things he sought for himself it was not the way;
číkuʾ niikohnuuNUxtaačiteewaawaahnúʾ wekaakuúʾUt.
whatever used to be difficult it now was not that way.

wah taanikutatuuNUxAtkookUxuúkuʾ atíkaʾ wenakunaaʾiítI.
Now this is what I used to hear from her my grandmother what she told.