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

56

The Young Man Who Did

Not Believe in Ghosts

Alfred Morsette

wiináxtš – wiiteešUtčipiríhtš NAhkuwaawanú – číkuʾ  kanawitiiraahuuniiweeNIšiíkuʾ.
A boy – a very young man when he went around – he did not believe in anything.
číkuʾ niinooNAhkuuxaWIstaáʾU číkuʾ kanawitiiraahuuniiweeNIšiíkuʾ neksaánuʾ.
No matter what it might even be he did not believe in any ghosts.
aa tAxinaa- čeéšIt.
"Ah, you tell lies.
číkuʾ NAhunuuwá neksaánuʾ.
There are not any going around ghosts.
wešiNIh- kukootíkA wešitihkoótIt.
When they kill him, they kill him.
tičé nuutaaníštA neksaánuʾ niʾaáNA.
What is he going to do a ghost if he becomes?"
kanawitiiraawiteériwoʾ tinaákUx wiiteešútš.
He did not believe in it this young man.
skaná noowitiíkUx.
Alone then he was.

noowitiwaákoʾ koxtiraawiíNAt.
Then he said: "I will go hunting.
číkuʾ naahtAhkukoótIt NAhnunáhtš na AxkaáʾA tiiháʾ
I might kill one a deer or an antelope," here
nuxtaaNIhuuníčI aninuutunaanoóčI.
their being plentiful in those times.
tsu tinaákUx wiiteešútš nootíʾAt.
And this young man then he went.
witiičítA xaawaarúxtiʾ.
He rode a horse.
pítkUx WIšitUsiRAxá xaawaarúxtiʾ wešohniitIhtakUhunanuhkoóčI.
Two he led them (du) horses their (du) carrying his gear.

nuu niikohniíhiʾ skaweéraaʾuʾ aniiNAhunaanoótA noowitiraahunáx.
There wherever it was west that land (extending) then he found a place.
nuuwituhnunané.
It was a nice place there.
taanikiitúxkUx.
"This is where I will stay!"
wititsá AhnawaraawaáWI haáwaʾ.
There was water, there being woods also.
uu noowituhkaatAhaáne.
Oh, it was a nice level spot at the base of a hill.

noowiteekánoʾ akAhčiríʾIš.
Then he put up a lodge a pointed tent.
šitiitakanehkU- xuúkuʾ akAhpaátuh.
They usually call the lodge a tipi.
noowiteekánoʾ.
Then he made the lodge.
xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiraanaaxtaweéRIt.
(His) horses then he tied them up.
noowiwitikaanunookUxítIt wehnakahIhníkA wehneesátkA taakáxtš.
Then he began to fix a meal for himself after he made a fire, his roasting it dried meat.

wewitikatistatateétIt.
Now it became dark.
tsu – wehnaákUx – AhnawaawáʾA takohnáʾU noowiteehuúkaʾ.
But – while he sat – his eating, someone then he came inside.
nooWIšitikaxčištaahíš.
His shins were skinny.
noo- wituutuuNAsáwa.
There were joints all over.
čiíšuʾ – Ahnoowitíʾ.
Bone – he just was.
na – AhnawítAt.
And – he wore it.
číkuʾ niikohnóʾ witiwítAt.
Whatever it was he wore it.

noowitiniitIškUxuunaawaanuuxítIt.
Then he began to make signs.
noowitiwaákoʾ aniiNAx- waawáʾA tatskáʾ číkuʾ axkiíhA
Then he said: "What you are eating I want that you give me some
číkuʾ aatAhaakawáʾAs IšUhuúniniʾ tinaákUx neeksaánuʾ wehnihnaaʾiitawíhA.
that I might eat," by motions this ghost when he was telling him.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx wiiteešútš kanaahniraawitee-
Then he said this young man one who did
ruuwanú na nooNAxkuuwanú.
not believe in anything: "Why are you going around?
a číkuʾ witikaakAxaahkaanuNAxweekáʾIt áriišIt niitinatuútA.
And why don't you look all around for some of your own food yourself as I am!
nooʾaatiiWIskáʾA tákuʾ axkuraakaanu- naawoóhu.
You should not just think that anyone is going to be giving you food!
aniišuuxaWIsítIt.
Go on out!"

tinaákUx neeksaánuʾ kunoowiteewiísaʾ niiʾAh- naákUx AhniinaNAxtíwo.
This ghost then he moved closer to him where he sat when he was begging for food.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx wiiteešútš kanaahniraawiteeriwó kaakatinihnaatéʾ.
Then he said this young man who was a disbeliever: "I don't like it.
šuxwaákoʾ škuuxUhuunaWIsitíNIt.
Say it: 'Throw me out!'"
nootiraa- wiiNUhuuniriwátAt – weWIšitohnuutuuníkUt – neeksaánuʾ.
Then he jumped up angrily – as they (du) grabbed each other – the ghost.

uu neksaánuʾ wititaRAhčíš weWIšitohnaruuwanú.
Oh, the ghost he was strong as they (du) were wrestling.
weNAhkiihaahtawiítIt – tinaákUx wiiteešútš – noowituutuučita-
When it became daylight – this young man – then he got on
wiiruútIt neksaánuʾ.
top of him the ghost.
na saxtš weNAhkukatistatatoorúhkUt tinaákUx – wiiteešútš – kunooWIšitiituučitawiiruútIt.
And as soo n as it got dark all over, this – young man – then he was gotten on top of by that one.
neksaánuʾ noowititaRAhtšá.
The ghost then he became strong.

tiwešitohnaruuwanú taRAhtšíniʾ witeewíRAt.
After they (du) had been struggling, with difficulty he overcame him.
noowi- tUtkaaxuuníkUt.
Then he grabbed his leg
– noowititaarúxtAt.
– Then he dragged him
– wititaaruxtaaWIsítIt.
– He dragged him outside.
iwehnataaruxtátA – iiháʾ– noowiteehunaahnátA.
As he dragged him – there– there was a hole.
noowitiihunaah- koohaásAt.
Then he threw him into the hole.
nooNAxkukuutaWAhníkUx wačéh uuNAsáʾUx.
"You who are just bothering me, poor thing, I who am hungry!"

wehnakaaʾiišá tiwaawaaNIšítIt.
After he returned to camp he began to eat.
witAheésaʾ noowitIhaakawáʾAs.
Morning came then he ate a meal.
xaawaarúxtiʾ tuuxUhuunačiikaahíNIt.
"The horses let me water them first!
neeteeraawiíNAt.
Then I will go hunting."
nikunoowituúta.
Then that is what he did.

xaawaarúxtiʾ wehnuutaaksiRAxátA iiʾAhnačísA
The horses when he was leading them where the water was
wehnaačiikaahiNIšátA inoowiteewiisákUx
when he went to water them, there he sat on the edge of the bank
WIšitooNAsuuxuuníkUt neksaánuʾ.
the one with whom he had wrestled ghost.
noowitiraawiíNAt.
Then he charged.
noowitiRIšaNAhkUxíhAt.
Then he kicked his ribs.
wah wetAxuúta niiNAxuutaánu.
"Now now you are doing it what you always do.
kanaaNAxiWIskáʾ šiʾaxkooNAxtaawoóhu.
I suppose you think that you should be given food!"

wačéh neksaánuʾ anuukuwitanuutUhuNAsaapiraáʾAt.
Poor thing, the ghost way over there he was rolling down.
tIhunaahkaʾuúkUt.
He went over the bank.

noowitíʾAt.
Then he went.
noowiteečiikaahíNIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Then he watered them the horses.
noo- witíʾAt niiʾAhnaanunuunakaáWI.
Then he went where his lodge was.
witIhaxtáWI xaawaarúxtiʾ AhnaanunuhneéRA.
He roped it a horse the one that was his best.
noowitiičitawiítIt xaawaarúxtiʾ AhnaanunuhneéRA.
Then he mounted it the horse the one that was his best.
witiraawiíNAt.
He went hunting.

wehnaapaawanikú AxkaáʾA číkuʾ kanawitíʾ nakukootíkA.
When he was shooting at them antelopes, he could not kill any.
uu noowiteekaaʾiíšaʾ.
Oh, then he came home.
číkuʾ kanawitiikoótIt.
He had not killed any.

hawá – witAheéšaʾ – štoh.
Also – morning came – again.
tiwehnaraaʾIhwó číkuʾ  kanawitíʾ nakukootíkA.
When he went hunting, he could not kill any.
NAhkuuxaWIswaníkA nuu kanawi- tiikoótIt.
Even when he shot it, there he did not kill it.
NAhnunáhtš nuu wekuwituutUhuúnuʾ.
The deer there it continued going on its way.

noowiteesščikAxaánuʾ tinaákUx wiiteešútš.
Then he felt like crying this young man.
wewitikaákUx.
Now he was in (his lodge).
hee tičé tAxuúʾUt.
"Hey, what is it?
noo číkuʾ kaneeneškuunaačiteewaahnuuxuúkuʾ nataakukawooruutikú
Nothing is usually ever difficult for me, for me to be killing various ones
NAhnunáhtš AxkaáʾA tanáhaʾ.
deer, antelope, buffalos.
tičé  tAxuúʾUt číkuʾ wekananiiraáʾU číkuʾ NItkukootíkA.
Why is it its not being the way that I kill anything?"

AhnoowitiRAhwísAt wiiteešútš.
Then they just arrived there young men.
wituhnaánuʾ taWIšaapiswaáNA.
They numbered seven.
noowitiitawéʾ wiítA AhweWIšitiraaníhtš.
There there were among them men they (du) were a little older.

wah čiíRA.
"Now, hello!
tičé weNAxuutaáwa.
What are you doing?"

witiwaákoʾ – aráh wetikuunaačiteeʾá.
He said: – "Why, it is difficult for me.
– uu kaaku- neešawíhAx AxkaáʾA natsú číkuʾ kaneeníʾ
– Oh, there are indeed many antelopes, but I cannot kill a
NAtkukootíkA hawá NAhnunáhtš – na tanáhaʾ.
ny, also deer – or buffalo.
uu – tiraaNIhuúNIt.
Oh – there are many (of each kind).
číkuʾ kaakíʾ NItkukootíkA niinooNAtkUsuuxaWIsaáNA.
I cannot kill any no matter how I try.

natsú niinoonatihWIsá taanikutuutAxítIt neksaánuʾ
"But when I came here this is what happened: a ghost
tikukUxkaawiraaníkUx wenikuunaNAxtíwo natuxwaawáʾA na neešiineeteépAt.
he attacked me after he begged for food while I ate, and he and I did fight.
neetUhuunaahkoohaásAt.
I threw him down the bank.
niiháʾ tIhunaahnátA.
There there is a hole.
nikutIhaahkAxá.
That is where he lies in it."

noowitiraáNAt.
Then they went.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI wiítA šohnaraaNIhtíšU aráh či weNAxiiraaniwáNIt.
Then he said this man the old ones (du): "Why, here you have erred!
aniNAhaahkáxA wiítA taa- nikutatuxtaakitúhUx.
The one lying at the base man this is where we were camped.
wetiraačeéʾA.
It was long ago.
tiiNIštaaxíhuʾ na neeniíkot.
This one was sick, and he died.
taaneešiineetikaáWI.
We buried him here.
a – či – taaniku- niíhiʾ niitináxkUx
And – here – this is where it was here where you are
wenoonaNAxtiwó číkuʾ aatAhaakawáʾAs.
when he was begging for food 'something that I might eat!'
wačéh tiiNIštaaxíhuʾ na – neeniihunáhAs.
Poor thing, he was sick, and – then he died.
nikukohnaraačítA – aNAsuxtAsáʾUx.
That must be the reason – his being hungry.
nikutuhnaanáʾA číkuʾ noowekananaaxikootíkA.
That is the reason that you did not kill anything.

wah parúNIt nuxtoočinaanuúna.
"Now quickly, hurry!"
noowitinaaNAhuuwísAt.
Then they got ready.
nooWIšitihkaanúnoʾ tinaákUx neksaánuʾ.
Then they prepared food for it this ghost.
WIšitii- taNAxkúx wešinihnanáʾU wešiniisaakatawíhA.
They put food down for him, now their filling (the pipe), now their offering the pipe to him.

nawáh witAheésaʾ.
Now morning came.
wah čiíRA.
"Now, hello!
tiče wenuu- táxtA.
What is going to happen?
wah toxtaapóʾ niiʾaNAxtaaʾIhwó NAxwaákA tiraaNIhuúʾU AxkaáʾA.
Now let's go where you go hunting, your saying, 'There are many antelopes.'"

noowitiraáNAt.
Then they went.
cikú kanawituhnaaninoosičiraʾá AxkaáʾA.
There was a multitude of them antelopes.
kanawitiiraačeéʾA wešohniinapaníku.
It was not a long time their shooting them.
noowitihkawoó- tIt.
Then they killed them.
uu wehneenanaáhu wewitikaá- niškUx AhnihtaakAxkaroóku.
Oh, after they were bringing them (to camp) there was a large quantity as they made dried meat.

tinaákUx wiiteešútš AhnuuNUxtaačiteeʾaanú číkuʾ nakukootíkA
This young man its having been difficult for him to kill any,
noowitiwaákoʾ wah wetAxtaahuuniiníšIt.
then he said: "Now you will now believe it.
neksaánuʾ kaakAxuxtaakawiteeriwóʾ.
Ghosts you did not believe in them.
wah wetAxuhneésiš niinuhnaaʾuúʾA.
Now you now know how it is.
tinaákUx neksaánuʾ nawaaRUxtiíʾU wetox- tiWAhteekootíštA
This ghost the holy one he was going to starve to death
niinuhnaaʾuúʾA weNAhunáhAs.
the way it was when he died."

nikukohnaraačítA wetatiraahuuniiníšIt.
That must have been the reason: "Now I believe in things.
či nikunuúʾUt.
Here that is how it is!
– či niraawáhNIš.
– Here it is true!
– neksaánuʾ či naratkawoókuʾ.
– Ghosts here they hear!
nawáh wetAhnaahuuniiníšIt.
Now I believe in things.
wah tiíNI tiweNAtwaawaNUxtáNIt koxtiraawiteeruuwaawanúʾ.
Now from here on while I am going to be going around I will believe everything.
koxtiraawakaraanawaawanúʾ awaaháxuʾ číkuʾ NIhkutkaapaatštíRA.
I will be praying to them the Powers that they bless me."

wah nikunoowituúta tinaákUx wiiteešútš.
Now then that is what he did this young man.
weši- NItkaapaatštíRA – awikaruúxuʾ wehnuutapakaraanawaawanú –
When they blessed him – the spirits when he prayed to them, –
na niiNAhkuWIskáʾA nikunoowituúʾUt.
and what he wanted, then that was how it was.

nawáh taanikunootiraaʾiitúxAt.
Now so this is how the story went.