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The Rabbit and the Opossum
By Buffalo Calf
January, 1894
recorded by James Owen Dorsey
1)
Rabbit
and Opossum were living together, they say.
ma-shtiⁿ-ke siⁿ-te shta xo-te e-naⁿ-pa
maštį́ke
sįtté šta xótte enąpá
rabbit/tail+smooth+gray = opossum/aforementioned,
that, he, she, it+two = both, also, too, that one too
ti-kde naⁿ i-ya-we
ttíkde ną iyáwe
to
live together in same tent, set up housekeeping, dwell together,
keep house/habitual, regularly; past sign, when/to say+pluralizer =
they say
2)
Then,
after they had been living together for a while, Opossum went
hunting, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ ti-kde
kóišǫ́ttą ttíkde
that, there+and, still, yet+and, when, since, as = then, thus,
accordingly, in that way, therefore/to
live together in same tent, set up housekeeping, dwell together,
keep house
koⁿ
ni-kʰa naⁿ
kǫ́-nikʰá ną
as,
since, so, like+they, 3rd person plural continuative
sitting+regularly, usually, often; past sign, when = after
they had been so awhile
siⁿ-te
shta xo-te ta-bde de i-ya-we.
sįtté
šta xótte tábde dé iyáwe.
opossum/to hunt/to go/to say+pluralizer =
they say
3)
Opossum
returned, having killed turkeys, they say.
si-ka
taⁿ-ka t’e-wa-de kdi naⁿ i-ya-we.
síkka
ttą́ka tʔéwadé kdí ną iyáwe.
chicken+big, large = turkey/to kill them/to have come back here/regularly,
usually, often;
past sign, when/they
say
4)
Well,
then, when Opossum returned, Rabbit
cooked the turkeys for him, they sat and ate the food, they
say.
ha-o
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ kdi naⁿ
hao
kóišǫ́ttą kdí ną
*/then,
thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/to have come back
here/regularly, usually, often;
past sign, when
*
hao …. yes, well, ho,
thank
you, how are you,
agreed, sign of approval as the
English “Hear! Hear!”, interjection of approval, marks a change of
idea as the beginning of a new paragraph in writing,
used in calling to a distant person,
oral period, masculine imperative
ma-shtiⁿ-ke o-ki-hoⁿ naⁿ
maštį́ke ókihǫ́ ną
rabbit/to cook or boil food for oneself or someone/regularly,
usually, often;
past sign, when
wa-naⁿ-bde koⁿ ni-kʰa naⁿ i-ya-we.
waną́bde
kǫ́-nikʰá ną iyáwe.
eat, eat a meal, dine; food/as,
since, so, like+they, 3rd person plural continuative
sitting+regularly, usually, often;
past sign, when
= after
they had been so awhile/they say
5)
Well,
Opossum went hunting again, they say.
ha-o
shi-naⁿ de niⁿ i-ya-we ta-bde.
hao
šiną́ dé nį iyáwe tábde.
well/again/to go/3rd person
singular moving; the singular moving/they say/to hunt
6)
Then,
Opossum returned having killed more turkeys, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ si-ka taⁿ-ka t’e-wa-de
kóišǫ́ttą sikká ttą́ka tʔéwade
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/turkey/to
kill them
kdi naⁿ
i-ya-we siⁿ-te shta xo-te
kdí ną
iyáwe sįtté šta xótte
to have
come back here/regularly, usually, often;
past sign, when/they say/opossum
7)
Opossum said, “That’s enough for now, I could hardly kill any,
they’re very wild,” they say.
“iⁿ-chʰoⁿ zhaⁿ aⁿ-ni-hi t’e-a-de
“įčʰǫ́ žą ą́nihí tʔeáde
now, right now, at this moment+*+almost,
barely, hardly, nearly+I kill = I could hardly kill any
*
žą was not translated by JOD, it could possibly be šǫ
…. fit proper; as it should be; enough; that will do; still, yet; at
any rate; and, so, thus
ma-xi-ka-zhi a-ta-pa-we,”
máɣikáži attáppawe,”
modest, shy, diffident, bashful+not, negation = wild/too, great,
exceeding, often, always+pluralizer = they are very
i-yi i-ya-we.
iyí
iyáwe.
to
have said+they say = they say that he said
8)
Rabbit said to Opossum, “I will cook this turkey,” they say.
“de
si-ka taⁿ-ka o-ki-hoⁿ,” i-ke i-ya-we ma-shtiⁿ-ke.
“dé
síkka ttą́ka óakihǫ́ tte,” iké iyáwe maštį́ke.
this/turkey/*1/*2/to say to someone/they
say/rabbit
*1
óakihǫ́ …. I cook or boil food for oneself or someone
*2
tte
…. future, will, shall
*
óakihǫ́ tte
substituted for okihǫ́ …. JOD writes ‘(?) see note’ for
okihǫ́, his notes indicate óakihǫ́ or oákikihǫ́
should be used.
9)
Then, again, the next morning, Opossum went hunting, they say.
e-ti-tʰaⁿ shi-naⁿ a-ka-sa-ni ta-bde de i-ya-we.
ettítʰą šiną́ ákasáni tábde dé iyáwe.
from that time, at that time, from then on/again/the next morning/to
hunt/to go/they say
10)
Well,
then, there at the hunting place, Opossum sang to the wild turkeys,
they say.
ha-o
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ e-ti si-ka taⁿ-ka ma-xi-ka-zhi
hao
kóišǫ́ttą étti síkka ttą́ka máɣikáži
well/then,
thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/there,
then/turkey/wild
wa-xo-ka
niⁿ-kʰe i-ya-we siⁿ-te shta xo-te,
waxókka
nįkʰe iyáwe sįtté šta xótte,
to sing
to them/3rd person singular
continuative sitting; the singular, sitting/they say/opossum
11)
🎶
red eyed turkey taⁿ taⁿ
🎶
🎶
si-ka taⁿ-ka i-shta zhi-te taⁿ taⁿ
🎶
🎶
síkka ttą́ka ištá žitté ttą ttą
🎶
turkey/eye/red/vocable/vocable
12)
🎶
gray headed turkey taⁿ taⁿ
🎶
🎶
si-ka taⁿ-ka pa-hi xo-te taⁿ taⁿ
🎶
🎶
síkka ttą́ka ppáhi xotté ttą ttą
🎶
turkey/head/gray/vocable/vocable
13)
The
turkeys came when Opossum sang to them, they say.
wa-xo-ka naⁿ tʰi-we i-ya-we
waxokká ną tʰíwe iyáwe
to
sing to them/regularly, usually, often; past sign, when/to arrive,
to have come here+pluralizer = they came/they say
14)
When it came, when the turkey arrived, it would circle around
Opossum, it would go all around, circling Opossum at a distance,
then it would come and pass right by Opossum, they say.
tʰi
naⁿ
tʰí
ną
to
arrive, to have come here/regularly, usually, often; past sign, when
xo-ka-ki-xe hi
xokkákkixe hí
*/very, intensifier
*
xokkákkixe
…. to go around something at a distance, going all around in a
circular or pear-shaped manner. Similar cognate words in Osage and
Kaw reference islands or lakes formed by a creek or river forming an
ox bow. Kaw references a sketch, ‘JOD’s notes include a sketch of
the formation of such an island; it resembles a cutaway of a toy
balloon, where the interior of the balloon may be imagined to be the
island when the neck of the balloon is pinched’.
tʰi-[i]-he de i-ya-we
tʰí[i]he dé iyáwe
to
arrive, to have come here+to pass by a certain way or place, to go
or pass by that particular way, rather than another+to go = to pass
by close to him/they say
15)
Then, in that way, Opossum would catch one, when he would catch a
turkey, he took hold of it by the neck and broke it in two, then he
would put the turkey into his bag, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ miⁿ di-ze naⁿ
kóišǫ́ttą mį́ dizé ną
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/one, a, an/get,
take, seize/regularly, usually, often; past sign, when
ta-i-ta o-naⁿ a-taⁿ di-ba-xe naⁿ
ttáittá oną attą dibáγe
ną
neck/take
hold of, seize, grasp/when, and/to break
in two by pulling/regularly, usually, often;
past sign, when
o-zhi-ha o-knaⁿ koⁿ niⁿ-kʰe i-ya-we
óžiha okną́ kǫ́-nįkʰé iyáwe
sack, bag, pocket, pouch/to put or place into/as, since, so, like/3rd
person singular continuative sitting; the singular, sitting/they say
16)
After some time, Opossum had filled his bag with turkeys, they say.
e-shaⁿ hi o-zhi-ha ki-pi ka-xe i-ya-we
éšą
hí óžiha kíppi káγe iyáwe
at
length, after some time/sack, bag, pocket, pouch/full, filled/to
make/they say
17)
Then, Opossum placed his bag on his back and headed home, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ ki-k’iⁿ
kóišǫ́ttą kikʔį́
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/to
carry on one’s back, pack one’s own property on the back
naⁿ
kde i-ya-we
ną
kdé iyáwe
regularly, usually, often; past sign, when/to
go home, to start homeward/they say
18)
When Opossum arrived back home, he said, “When I sang to them and
one would come, I killed them,” they say.
“a-wa-xo-ka taⁿ tʰi taⁿ
“awáxokká tą tʰí tą
I
sing to them/and, when, since, as/to
arrive, to have come here/and, when,
since, as
t’e-a-wa-de miⁿ-kʰe,” i-ye kʰi i-ya-we
tʔéawadé mįkʰé,” iyé kʰi iyáwe
I
kill them/1st person singular sitting/to say/to
arrive
back at one’s own/they say
19)
The
Rabbit was thankful, they say.
ma-shtiⁿ-ke we-shnaⁿ niⁿ i-ya-we
maštį́ke wéšną nį iyáwe
rabbit/to be thankful,
grateful, appreciative/3rd
person singular moving; the singular moving/they say
20)
Rabbit
said, “Thanks!” and then he took them, the bag of turkeys, they say.
“ka-ni-ke,” i-y[e] a-taⁿ wa-di-ze niⁿ i-ya-we
“kaniké,” iy[e] áttą wadíze nį iyáwe
thanks!/to say/when, and/to
get, take, seize them/3rd
person singular moving; the singular moving/they say
21)
Then,
the Rabbit cooked the turkeys, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ o-ki-hoⁿ
kóišǫ́ttą okíhǫ
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/to
cook or boil food for oneself or someone
tʰaⁿ naⁿ i-ya-we ma-shtiⁿ-ke
tʰą
ną iyáwe maštį́ke
3rd
person singular standing; the standing/regularly, usually, often;
past sign, when/they say/rabbit
22)
The
Rabbit cooked all that day, because there were so many turkeys, they
say.
haⁿ-pa naⁿ o-ki-hoⁿ tʰaⁿ naⁿ i-ya-we,
hą́pa ną́ okíhǫ tʰą ną iyáwe,
day/*/to cook or boil food for oneself or someone/3rd
person singular standing; the standing/*/they say
*
ną, nǫ …. habitual, regularly, usually, often; past sign,
when; the singular sitting; only, just, alone
zho-hi hi e taⁿ-ha
žóhi hi e tą́ha
much, many/very, intensifier/aforementioned, that, he, she,
it/because
23)
Well, after some time, Rabbit had devoured his share of the food.
ha-o kda-sniⁿ i-ya-we ti-aⁿ taⁿ
hao
kdasnį́ iyáwe ttią́ tą
well/to swallow or devour one’s portion or share/they say/long
time/and, when, since, as
24)
Well, then, the Rabbit had enough, they say.
ha-o ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ ma-shtiⁿ-ke
hao
kóišǫ́ttą maštį́ke
well/then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/rabbit
i-bnaⁿ niⁿ-kʰe i-ya-we
íbną nįkʰé iyáwe
to
have enough of, to have sufficient of, to be satisfied, to have
one’s fill, to be tired of/3rd person singular
continuative sitting; the singular, sitting/they say
25)
Then,
Rabbit said, “Today, I have truly had enough!” they say.
kóišǫ́ttą, “haⁿ-pa de
kóišǫ́ttą, “hą́pa dé
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/day+this
= today
aⁿ-naⁿ-bnaⁿ miⁿ-kʰe e-de,”
ąną́bną
mįkʰé edé,”
I’ve had enough, I’m satisfied, I’ve had my fill, I’m tired of/1st
person singular sitting/indeed, declarative, oral period
i-yi
i-ya-we
iyí
iyáwe
to
have said+they say
= they say that he said
26)
Then,
Rabbit said, “Rabbit is what they will call me,
that is how I will be known there among the humans,” and then he
hopped off, his whitish tail disappearing into the thicket, they
say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ, “ni-ka-shi-ka o-taⁿ-ti
kóišǫ́ttą, “níkkašika ottą́tti
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/person,
people, a man+exist, abound+at,
by, in = at the place where humans live,
among them, among people
ma-shtiⁿ-ke i-ke-a-we
maštį́ke ikeáwe
rabbit/to say+pluralizer = they say, they call
e
a-ni-he te e-ta,”
e
aníhe tté ettá,”
aforementioned, that, he, she, it/1st person singular
moving/future, shall, will be/aforementioned, that, he, she, it+to,
at, toward, in that direction = there
i-y[e] a-taⁿ
iy[e] áttą
to
say/when, and
o-xda-ti siⁿ-te saⁿ-haⁿ i-naⁿ-naⁿ de i-ya-we
oxdátti sį́tte są́hą iną́ną dé iyáwe
thicket, bushes, brush+at, by, in = into the thicket or
brush/tail/whitish, grayish/suddenly and often, unsteady,
ungainly/to go/they say
27)
Then, Opossum said,
“Opossum
is what they will call me, that is how I
will be known there among the humans,” and then he went into a
hollow log, they say.
ko-i-shoⁿ-taⁿ, “siⁿ-te shta xo-te i-ke-a-we
kóišǫ́ttą, “sįtté šta xótte íkeáwe
then, thus, accordingly, in that way, therefore/opossum/they say
e
a-ni-he te e-ta,” i-y[e] a-taⁿ
é
aníhe tté ettá,” iy[e]áttą
aforementioned, that, he, she, it/1st person singular
moving/future, shall, will be/there/to say/when, and
zhaⁿ
xdo-x’a o-pʰe i-ya-we
žą
xdóxʔa opʰé iyáwe
wood, tree+hollow, empty = hollow tree or log/enter, to go in/they
say
28)
The
end.
ka
e-she-tʰaⁿ-ki
ká-ešétʰąkí
about that length would be long enough, no longer, the end, that is
the end
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