How the Rabbit caught the Sun in a trap: a ¢egiha myth

Told in Kwapa by Alphonsus Valliere.

1)

Once upon a time, both Rabbit and his grandmother were living together, it is said (they say).

haⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi ma-shtiⁿ-ke e-kaⁿ naⁿ-pa

hą́tʰąhí maštį́ke eką́ ną́pa

then, at length; it happened that; once upon a time/rabbit/someone’s grandmother, his or her grandmother/two, both

ti-kde ni-kʰa naⁿ i-a.

ttíkde nikʰá ną iá.

to live together in same tent, set up housekeeping, dwell together, keep house/they, 3^rd person plural continuative sitting/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

2)

Rabbit would go hunting very early in the morning, it is said (they say).

ka-sa-ni-aⁿ-te-naⁿ hi ma-shtiⁿ-ke ta-bde de naⁿ i-a.

kasánią́tte-ną hí maštį́ke tábde dé ną iá.

* early in the morning/rabbit/to hunt/to go/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

* kasáni, kasą́nį, ‘tomorrow’

* kásaniáti, ‘morning’

* éną, enąhí, ‘only that, him, her, it’

* ną, ‘only, just, soley, nothing else, nothing but, alone; habitual, regularly, usually, often; past sign, when; the singular sitting’

* hi, ‘very, intensifier; to arrive, reach there, have been; to come, be coming here, not own’

3)

And when Rabbit arrived early in the morning, a person with a very long foot had already been there and gone, leaving those tracks, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ ka-sa-ni-aⁿ-te e-naⁿ hi

ešǫ́ kasánią́tte éną hí

then, at length; and when, so/morning/only that, him, her, it, just that, nothing but that, that alone/to arrive, reach there, have been

wa-si-kde si ste-te hi

wasíkde si stétte hí

them, they; things, stuff+footprint, trail, track = footprints, trails, tracks/foot+tall, long+very, intensifier = very long foot

i-de naⁿ i-a.

idé ną iá.

*/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

* hidé, idé, ‘to have gone, departed’

4)

And so, he wanted to know him, Rabbit wanted to know who was leaving those tracks, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ i-ba-hoⁿ koⁿ-da naⁿ i-a.

ešǫ́ íbahǫ kǫ́da ną iá.

then, at length; and when, so/to know, know how, to recognize/to want, desire, wish/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

5)

Rabbit said, “Now, I think I will go before the person, I will arrive there first,” it is said (they say).

“ni-ka-shi-ka niⁿ iⁿ-chʰoⁿ wi-taⁿ-niⁿ

“níkkašíka nį́ įčʰǫ́ wíttąnį

person, people, a man, human being/3^rd person singular moving; the singular moving/now, at this moment, at present/I first, I ahead

* ettą́ni, ‘first ahead; to be the first to reach a place; to anticipate another in doing anything’

bde ta miⁿ-kʰe,

bdé ttá mįkʰé,

I go+future, will, shall+1^st person singular sitting = I will be going

i-bniⁿ-aⁿ,” i-e naⁿ i-a.

íbnįą́,” ié ną iá.

I think that/to say/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

6)

Rabbit got up very early in the morning to go hunting, just as he usually did, and departed, it is said (they say).

kasaniaⁿte hi ki-ta naⁿ a-naⁿ de i-a.

kasánią́tte hí kitá ną áną dé iá.

morning/very, intensifier/to arise, to get up/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/*/to go/it is said (they say)

* JOD notes …. áną, ‘as same as’

7)

And then again, just as before, the person had been along leaving a trail, it is said (they say).

shi-naⁿ haⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi ni-ka-shi-ka niⁿ

šiną́ hą́tʰąhí níkkašíka nį

again, and, also/then, at length; it happened that/person, people, a man, human being/3^rd person singular moving; the singular moving

si-kde tʰe i-a.

sikdé tʰe iá.

footprint, trail, track/the past act, completed action; the singular, standing or collection/it is said (they say)

8)

And then, Rabbit arrived back home, it is said (they say).

haⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi kʰi naⁿ i-a.

hą́tʰąhí kʰi ną iá.

then, at length; it happened that/to arrive back at one’s own/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

9)

It is said, Rabbit said: “My grandmother! Even though I have planned on being the first one there, when I go, a person has already been there ahead of me,” it is said (they say).

i-e-kdi i-a:

iékdi iá:

to say as follows/it is said (they say)

* JOD notes …. iékdi = ke, ‘to say as follows’

“iⁿ-kaⁿ e! wi-taⁿ-niⁿ-xti bde a-niⁿ i-he a-ki-zhaⁿ-miⁿ taⁿ,

“įkką́ e! wíttąnį́xti bde ánį ihé ákkížąmį́-tą́,

my grandmother!/I first, I ahead/very, real, fully/I go/*/I think of myself, I think about myself, I regard myself/and, when, since, as; because; if

* anihé, anįhé, ánį ihé, ‘1^st person singular moving’

ni-ka-shi-ka miⁿ aⁿ-ka-xa de tʰe naⁿ,” i-a.

níkkašíka mį́ ąkáxa de tʰé ną,” iá.

person, people, a man, human being/a, an, one/it gets ahead of me/to go/the past act, completed action; the singular, standing or collection/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

* kaxá, ‘to excel, surpass, superior, go ahead or beyond a person or place, to get ahead of, out run, out distance; to disobey’

10)

Rabbit said, “My grandmother! I will make a snare for him and then I will catch him,” it is said (they say).

“iⁿ-kaⁿ e! o-kʰi-oⁿ-de a-pa-xe tta miⁿ-kʰe,

“įkką́ e! okʰíǫde áppaγé tta mįkʰe,

my grandmother!/a snare, trap; to get oneself into difficulty, throw oneself into, tangled in, be in trouble/I make something for someone/future, will, shall/1^st person singular sitting

11)

e-shoⁿ bdi-ze ta miⁿ-kʰe,”

ešǫ́ bdizé tta mįkʰé,”

then, at length; and when, so/I get, take, seize, receive/future, will, shall/1^st person singular sitting

i-yi i-a.

iyí iá.

to have said/it is said (they say) = he said, it is said (they say)

12)

The old woman said, “Why would you do that?” it is said (they say).

“e ha-zhoⁿ te

“éhažǫ́ tte

aforementioned, that, he, she, it/you act or do a certain way; what, how, why you do/future, shall, will be

ko-i-she zhoⁿ taⁿ,”

kóišežǫ́-tą,”

so, that, that part, that sort; aforementioned words or manner/you do or be/and, when, since, as; because; if

* JOD notes …. éhaǫ́ tte kóiše ǫtą, ‘why does he wish to do that’; ehaǫ́ tte kóiše ǫ́witą, ‘why do they wish to do that’; ehažǫ́ tte kóiše žǫ́witą, ‘why do ye wish to do that’

i-yi i-a wa-x’o zhi-ka niⁿ-kʰe.

iyí iá waxʔo žiká nįkʰé.

woman+small, little+3^rd person singular continuative sitting; the singular, sitting = the old woman said, it is said (they say)

* waxʔo žiká, ‘old woman, little old lady, elderly woman’

13)

Rabbit said, “I really hate the person,” it is said (they say).

“ni-ka-shi-ka niⁿ o-a-kaⁿ-shi-ka hi,”

“níkkašíka nį́ oákkąšiká hí,”

person, people, a man, human being/3^rd person singular moving, the singular moving/I hate/very, intensifier

i-yi i-a ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

iyí iá maštį́ke.

to have said+it is said (they say)+rabbit = rabbit said, it is said (they say)

14)

And so, the Rabbit departed, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ ma-shtiⁿ-ke niⁿ de i-a.

ešǫ́ maštį́ke nį de ia.

then, at length; and when, so/rabbit/3^rd person singular moving, the singular moving/to go/it is said (they say)

15)

After Rabbit traveled awhile, again the tracks were already there, the person had already left the tracks” it is said (they say).

de shoⁿ-niⁿ,

dé šǫnį́,

to go/still, yet; at any rate; and, so; thus+3^rd person singular moving; the singular moving = after he had moved awhile, for sometime

shi-naⁿ si-kde de tʰe naⁿ i-a.

šíną sikdé de tʰé ną iá.

again, and, also/footprint, trail, track/to go/the past act, completed action; the singular, standing or collection/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

16)

And so, the Rabbit laid there, waiting for night to come, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ e-ti hoⁿ tʰe

ešǫ́ ettí hǫ́ tʰe

then, at length; and when, so/there, then, said of time as well as place/night/the singular, standing or collection; the past act, completed action

i-da-pe zhoⁿ kʰe naⁿ i-a ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

idáppe žǫ kʰé ną ia maštį́ke.

to wait for someone not yet in sight/to sleep, lie, recline/the singular lying object/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)/rabbit

17)

Rabbit made a noose of a bowstring and putt it in the place where the footprints usually were, it is said (they say).

maⁿ-te-kaⁿ niⁿ-kʰe o-naⁿ-shke taⁿ

mą́ttekką́ nįkʰé oną́ške tą

bow+sinew, string, line; root of a plant = bowstring/the singular, sitting; 3^rd person singular continuative sitting/a noose/and, when, since, as; because; if

ki-ka-xe naⁿ

kikáγe ną

to make something for someone/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often

si-kde de naⁿ tʰe

sikdé dé ną tʰe

footprint, trail, track/to go/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/the past act, completed action; the singular, standing or collection

e-ti i-naⁿ-de naⁿ i-a.

ettí iną́de ną iá.

there, then, said of time as well as place/to put a singular, sitting object/the past act, completed action; the singular, standing or collection/it is said (they say)

18)

And then, very early in the morning, Rabbit arrived there, to the place where the footprints usually were, to look at his trap, it is said (they say).

haⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi ka-sa-ni-aⁿ-te hi taⁿ,

hą́tʰąhi kasánią́tte hí-tą,

then, at length; it happened that/morning/very, intensifier/and, when, since, as; because; if

o-kʰi-oⁿ-de niⁿ-kʰe

okʰíǫde nįkʰé

a snare, trap; to get oneself into difficulty, throw oneself into, tangled in, be in trouble/the singular, sitting; 3^rd person singular continuative sitting

ki-toⁿ-we hi naⁿ i-a.

kíttǫ́we hí ną iá.

to look at one’s own/to arrive, reach there, have been/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

19)

And then, he caught the Sun, it is said (they say).

haⁿ-tʰaⁿ-hi mi niⁿ-kʰe e-naⁿ

hą́tʰąhi mí nįkʰe éną

then, at length; it happened that/sun/the singular, sitting; 3^rd person singular continuative sitting/only that, him, her, it, just that, nothing but that, that alone

di-ze niⁿ-kʰe naⁿ i-a.

dizé nįkʰé ną iá.

to get, take, seize, receive/3^rd person singular continuative sitting; the singular, sitting/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

20)

Running very fast, he went homeward to tell what happened, it is said (they say).

taⁿ-niⁿ hi naⁿ-xti

ttą́nį hi ną́xti

run, as a person not an animal/very, intensifier/*

* ną́xti, ‘past sign, when; regularly, usually, often+very, real, fully’ …. or …. nąxtí, ‘only, just, soley, nothing else, nothing but, alone+very, real, fully’

o-da kde naⁿ i-a.

odá kdé ną iá.

to tell something, to tell about; report, inform/to go home, to start homeward/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

21)

Rabbit said, “My grandmother! I have caught something or other, but it really scares me,” it is said (they say).

“iⁿ-kaⁿ e! ta-taⁿ e-tʰaⁿ

“įkką́ e! táttą etʰą́

my grandmother!/what, something+aforementioned, that, he, she, it+3^rd person singular standing; the standing = something or other, whatever it is

bdi-ze miⁿ-kʰe niⁿ-tʰe,

bdizé mįkʰé nįtʰé,

I get, take, seize, receive/1^st person singular sitting/although, though, but

aⁿ-di-na-xi-da hi naⁿ,”

ądínaxidá hí ną,”

to scare, frighten me/very, intensifier/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often

i-yi i-a ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

iyí iá maštį́ke.

to have said+it is said (they say)+rabbit = rabbit said, it is said (they say)

22)

Rabbit said, “My grandmother! I want to get my bowstring, but it really scares me,” it is said (they say).

“iⁿ-kaⁿ e! maⁿ-te-kaⁿ a-kdi-ze koⁿ-bda niⁿ-tʰe,

“įkką́ e! mą́ttekką́ akdíze kkǫbdá nįtʰé,

my grandmother!/bowstring/I get, take, seize, receive my own/I want/although, though, but

aⁿ-di-na-xi-da hi naⁿ,”

ądínaxidá hi ną,”

to scare, frighten me/very, intensifier/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often

i-yi i-a ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

iyí iá maštį́ke.

to have said+it is said (they say)+rabbit = rabbit said, it is said (they say)

23)

Rabbit took his knife, and he went there, to the place where he had trapped the Sun, it is said (they say).

ma-hiⁿ kdi-ze naⁿ

máhį kdizé ną

knife/to get, take, seize, receive one’s own/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often

e-ti de naⁿ i-a.

étti de ną iá.

there, then, said of time as well as place/to go/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

24)

And so, Rabbit arrived there, very close to where he had trapped the Sun, to retrieve his bowstring, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ koⁿ-ha hi ki-hi i-a.

ešǫ́ kkǫ́ha hi kihí iá.

then, at length; and when, so/near, by+very, intensifier = very near/to have reached there having gone there for it/it is said (they say)

25)

The Sun said, “You have done bad!  Why did you do that?  Come here and untie me!” it is said (they say).

“shi-ke shka-xe!

“šiké škáγe!

bad/you make, do, cause

hoⁿ-tʰe ko-i-she zhoⁿ e?

hǫ́tʰe kóiše žǫ́ e?

why/so, that, that part, that sort; aforementioned words or manner/you do, you be/question sign

26)

de-do hi a-tʰaⁿ aⁿ-di-shka!”

dédo hí átʰą ą́dišká!”

here, this place, right here/to come, to be coming here, not own/when, and/to untie, loosen, open for me+imperative command = untie me!

i-yi i-a mi niⁿ-kʰe.

iyí iá mi nįkʰé.

to have said+it is said (they say)+sun+3^rd person singular continuative sitting; the singular, sitting = the sun said, it is said

27)

Rabbit tried to do as the Sun had asked, but each time he attempted to go and cut the Sun loose, he was so afraid, he would pass by a little to one side, he couldn’t go directly to the Sun, it is said (they say).

ma-shtiⁿ-ke e-ti de niⁿ naⁿ niⁿ-tʰe

maštį́ke ettí de nį́ ną nįtʰé

rabbit/there, then, said of time as well as place/to go/3^rd person singular moving; the singular moving/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/although, though, but

naⁿ-pe hi naⁿ

ną́ppe hi ną́

to fear the sight of something/very, intensifier/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often

e-ki-zhi i-aⁿ-he naⁿ i-a.

ekíži ią́he ną iá.

somewhere else, elsewhere; different+to go or pass by that particular way, rather than by another = to (walk) go partly aside from, not straight to the place/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

28)

As Rabbit was doing that, passing by a little to one side, he quickly passed the Sun, bent over with his head bowed and cut the bowstring.  Sun’s departure was so abrupt, it had already gone high above, it is said (they say).

e niⁿ-tʰe ma-shtiⁿ-ke a-ki-a-naⁿ tʰi-d[e] a-taⁿ

é nįtʰé maštį́ke ákkianą́ tʰid[é] áttą

aforementioned, that, he, she, it/continuative perfective; heretofore/rabbit/to run a race, to race/to pass by/and, when

be-x’iⁿ hi maⁿ-niⁿ taⁿ,

bexʔį́ hi mąnį́ tą,

to bend down, to stoop+very, intensifier+to walk = to walk with bowed head low, to walk very bent over/and, when, since, as; because; if

pa-se de-de i-a, maⁿ-te-kaⁿ kʰe.

páse dedé iá, mą́ttekką́ kʰé.

to cut off with a knife/suddenly, expresses sudden action/it is said (they say)/bowstring/the singular lying object

29)

ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ mi maⁿ-shi hi-de i-a.

kóišǫ́ttą mi mąší hidé iá.

then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/sun/high, upper, upward, above/to have gone/it is said (they say)

30)

And when Rabbit passed the Sun bent over to cut the snare, the fur between his shoulders was scorched yellow by the Sun’s intense heat, it is said (they say).

e-shoⁿ ma-shtiⁿ-ke ba-ko hiⁿ ke

ešǫ́ maštį́ke bakkó hį ke

then, at length; and when, so/rabbit/the lower part of the neck of animals, the hump between the shoulders of animals/fur, hair of the body, down of bird/the plural standing

a-ta-zi hi naⁿ i-a,

átazi hí ną iá,

on, upon+by extreme temperature+yellow = turn yellow by extreme heat upon, scorched yellow, burned yellow/very, intensifier/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

a-ta-zaⁿ a-ta-ha taⁿ-ha i-a.

átazą áttahá tąhá iá.

on, upon+by extreme temperature+? = shone hot on/too, exceedingly, much/because/it is said (they say)

31)

The Rabbit arrived back home, it is said (they say).

ma-shtiⁿ-ke niⁿ kʰi naⁿ i-a.

maštį́ke nį kʰí ną iá.

rabbit/3^rd person singular moving; the singular moving/to arrive back at one’s own/past sign, when; regularly, usually, often/it is said (they say)

32)

Rabbit said, “My grandmother! Ouch! I am burnt, the heat has left absolutely nothing at all of me!” it is said.

“i-kaⁿ e! a-tshi-tshi!

“įkką́ é! átšitši!

my grandmother!/an interjection, showing that the speaker was in pain, caused from the heat of the sun

aⁿ-ta-ni-ke naⁿ-e-xti!”

ątánike-ną éxti!”

for me, to me, at me+by extreme temperature+to have none, be lacking+past sign, when; regularly, usually, often+very, real, fully = I am fully burned to nothing

i-yi i-a ma-shtiⁿ-ke.

iyí ia maštį́ke.

to have said+it is said (they say)+rabbit = rabbit said, it is said (they say)

33)

The old lady said, “I think the heat has left absolutely nothing at all of my grandchild for me,” it is said.  From that time on, the Rabbit has had a singed spot on its back, between the shoulders.

“wi-to-shpa, aⁿ-ta-ni-ke-xti a-zha-miⁿ,”

“wittóšpa, ą́tánikéxti ážąmį́,”

my grandchild/for me, to me, at me+by extreme temperature+to have none, be lacking+very, real, fully = fully burn to nothing for me/I think

i-e niⁿ i-a

ié nį iá

to say/3^rd person singular moving, the singular moving/it is said (they say)

wa-x’o zhi-ka niⁿ-kʰe.

waxʔo žiká nįkʰe.

woman+small, little+3^rd person singular continuative sitting; the singular, sitting = the old woman, the little old lady, the elderly woman

34)

The end.

shoⁿ

šǫ

the end, enough, that will do

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