Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 3, 2007 20:53:56 GMT -5
Cuisi'nyinawa[1] - Cochiti
She was in a town. Then Yellow Woman went for water. With her jar Yellow
Woman went for water. She reached the river. The girl was standing there.
She saw a kicking stick. Below there was the kicking stick. Then Yellow
Woman picked it up. She put it into (her dress). The Cuisi'nyinawa arrived.
He told Yellow Woman, "Did you not pick up a kicking stick?" "No," said the
girl. "Yes," said Cuisi'nyinawa to her, "yes," said he. "You have it
somewhere," said he to the Yellow Woman. "It is so," said Cuisi'nyinawa. "I
have not got it," said Yellow Woman. Then, "Yes," said Cuisi'nyinawa.
"Somewhere," said he to her. "Give me the blue one (?)" said Cuisi'nyinawa.
"Give me the kicking stick." "No," said Yellow Woman; "I shall keep it as my
own," said she. (?) "I just might give you the kicking stick." Then
Cuisi'nyinawa took away Yellow Woman. Cuisi'nyinawa took her to a place
where he dwelt. Cuisi'nyinawa was bad. Cuisi'nyinawa arrived with her at his
house. Cuisi'nyinawa carried her on his back to where he dwelt above, where
a rainbow stands on Cuisi'nyinawa's house. Then he made Yellow Woman arrive.
Early he went hunting deer. Then Cuisi'nyinawa ordered the girl to grind
corn. When she was ready to grind corn, Yellow Woman ground it. Then she put
the flour of the corn into a basket. Then Yellow Woman was to make wafer
bread. Then she gave Cuisi'nyinawa wafer bread to eat. He arrived in the
evening. Then Cuisi'nyinawa told her that he had killed a deer which he had
brought to his house. Then Yellow Woman went out and took the deer. He gave
it to Yellow Woman to eat. Then she put it down in front of the fireplace
and Yellow Woman took sacred corn meal. Then Yellow Woman gave sacred meal
to the deer to eat. Yellow Woman inhaled. "Thank you," said she, "you killed
a deer, thank you," said she to Cuisi'nyinawa. He was eating wafer bread.
"Eat wafer bread!" said she to Cuisi'nyinawa. He was eating. Then
Cuisi'nyinawa finished eating. "Thank you," said he. "I have eaten wafer
bread," said Cuisi'nyinaw. "Put the deer down here." Then Yellow Woman put
down the deer.
Right here in the town was Yellow Woman's house. Then her husband came home.
Then Yellow Woman was not in her house. He had lost his wife. She was not
there. Then he searched for his wife. He searched at the river; he was
searching for her where his wife Yellow Woman had drawn water. The jar was
at the river. Then her husband found the jar. Then (he said), "Where did my
wife go? Where did she go to?" Then he was searching for his wife. Then Old
Spider Woman told him. "Where are you going, grandson?" said Old Spider
Woman to him. Then he spoke thus, "I am searching for my wife," said he.
Then Old Spider Woman spoke thus to him, "Poor grandson," said she to him.
"Cuisi'nyinawa has taken her away," said Old Spider Woman to him. She told
him that Cuisi'nyinawa had taken away his wife. "He took her eastward," said
she. "Poor grandson," said Old Spider Woman to him. "Come in, grandson,"
said she to him. "How can I go in?" said the husband of Yellow Woman. Then
[2] he entered Old Spider Woman's house. "Sit down!" said Old Spider Woman,
"my grandson." Then he sat down. Then, "Eat, grandson!" Old Spider Woman
cooked a snowbird head. Just one was there. Then she served it to him. He
was eating. He ate the head of the snowbird. He broke it to pieces. Then Old
Spider Woman spoke thus, "Oh my," said she, "grandson! you have broken the
snowbird head," said Old Spider Woman. "We had only one to serve, grandson.
The poor one! My poor grandson[3] killed one. He always goes hunting
snowbirds. My poor grandson never kills any more (?)" said Old Spider Woman.
Then her grandson[4] spoke thus, "Do not say so. I shall go hunting,
grandmother, I shall hunt snowbirds for you." Then he killed snowbirds. He
arrived below at the river. Then he went hunting snowbirds for her to serve.
Then he made traps for the snowbirds. He made snares. Then he hunted the
snowbirds with snares, and he killed many. Then Old Spider Woman took them
to her house. Then he arrived at Old Spider Woman's house. Then,
"Grandmother," said he to her, "there below!" said he. "That is good!" said
Old Spider Woman. Then her grandson entered downward. He was in search of
his wife. He had been hunting snowbirds for Old Spider-Woman. "Thank you,"
said Old Spider Woman. "Grandson, I want to take you to where your wife is.
Cuisi'nyinawa took her away. Will you go after your wife?" said she to him.
"Yes; I will go after my wife," said he. "Let me take you there, grandson!"
Then Old Spider Woman made medicine for him. Then they went. Old Spider
Woman took him to Cuisi'nyinawa's house. He arrived there. Then he arrived
at the town. Then, "Woe!" said the people of the town. "Woe! He is mean. He
has taken your wife. Woe! Cuisi'nyinawa is mean. He will kill you. Nobody
stays there. Cuisi'nyinawa has gone hunting," they said. "Right there in the
town, there is your wife," they said. "Cuisi'nyinawa has stolen her. He is
very mean. Did he take your wife?" they said to him. "Yes," said he. "I came
to get her, because Cuisi'nyinawa stole her from me. I came after her. I
must get my wife back." Then he entered Cuisi'nyinawa's house. He went in.
Then his wife was there. Then he found his wife. Then his wife jumped toward
her husband. She hugged him. "My poor husband," said she to him. "How did
you come here?" said she to him. "I have been searching for you," said he to
his wife. "Poor one," said he to her. "Old Spider Woman brought me here,"
said he. "Cuisi'nyinawa stole you from me," said he. "I came to get you,"
said he to his wife. "Now let us go, I'll take you to our home," said he to
her. Then he took her back. Old Spider Woman was waiting for them. Then he
took her there. Old Spider Woman said thus to him, "Are you coming,
grandson?" said she to him. "Yes," said he. "Now I brought my wife here,"
said he. "Poor one," said Old Spider Woman, "grandson. Let us go!" said she.
Then Old Spider Woman and his wife (and he) went together. He took his wife
back. They went back from the east. They had been in the east. There in the
east dwells Cuisi'nyinawa. Far away he had taken Yellow Woman. Here from the
east he took her. Together from the east came they, the three together. Way
over there in the east dwells Cuisi'nyinawa. Then he arrived at his house.
Yellow Woman was no longer there. Now her husband had already taken back
Yellow Woman. Then Cuisi'nyinawa arrived. No more did he find Yellow Woman.
Already her husband had taken her back. Then Cuisi'nyinawa became angry.
Then Cuisi'nyinawa pursued Yellow Woman. Cuisi'nyinawa came from the east.
Already Yellow Woman had arrived at her house here, She had arrived at her
husband's house. Cuisi'nyinawa was pursuing them. Then Cuisi'nyinawa came
out from the east thundering. He was about to shoot them, both her and her
husband, (but) Cuisi'nyinawa shot beside (the mark). Cuisi'nyinawa is mean.
Then Cuisi'nyinawa arrived at Yellow Woman's house. Then he said to him
thus, "Why did you take her back?" said Cuisi'nyinawa to him. Thus he said
to the two, "If Yellow Woman were not pregnant, I should kill you." Thus he
said to both Yellow Woman and her husband. Then Cuisi'nyinawa said to him,
when the pregnant Yellow Woman would give birth to a child that would be
Cuisi'nyinawa's child. Then she gave birth. Cuisi'nyinawa came after his
child. Yellow Woman being pregnant, therefore Cuisi'nyinawa did not kill the
two. Then Cuisi'nyinawa said it was his child. Then Yellow Woman gave birth
to a child. Then Cuisi'nyinawa went to where he dwelt. There somewhere on
the northeast side far away he came out. Cuisi'nyinawa had taken away too
many Yellow Women. He had already taken many. Those who did not make wafer
bread quickly enough Cuisi'nyinawa threw down from the north side. He is
mean. The poor girls, he threw them down upon the ice. Many he had taken. He
is too mean. They all died below on the north side on the ice, the poor
ones. Nobody went after the Yellow Women, the poor ones, and they froze to
death there below. He is too mean. He never forgave them. Cuisi'nyinawa had
no consideration. Whoever did not grind flour quickly enough and had not
made wafer bread when he came home from hunting, and they had not made the
wafer bread, then he threw them down, the Yellow Women, on the north side.
Then there below they died. They froze to death on the ice, the poor Yellow
Women. Down below there they died. No one went after the Yellow Women. Then
Cuisi'nyinawa threw them down. Cuisi'nyinawa did not forgive any one of
them. Therefore they abused Cuisi'nyinawa below in this town. He would take
any Yellow Woman. Therefore they abused Cuisi'nyinawa. "Oh, poor ones," they
said. "Now he has again taken from somewhere a poor Yellow Woman." Oh, dear,
Cuisi'nyinawa is mean, the poor Yellow Women. He fooled the poor Yellow
Women. The poor ones! Cuisi'nyinawa took them along. "Oh my! He is mean,"
they said, "Oh my! The poor ones, he fools the poor ones with the kicking
stick. Therefore he always takes away the Yellow Women. He has fooled many
poor Yellow Women. They all died there below on the ice. He threw down the
poor Yellow Women and their sisters Merinako. Cuisi'nyinawa is mean. Oh my!
Cuisi'nyinawa comes after them this way, with the kicking stick. Then he
takes the Yellow Woman away. The poor ones! He kills them. Cuisi'nyinawa
asks them too urgently to work for him. A Yellow Woman that does not agree
to do so when he has taken the Yellow Woman, then that one he throws them
down on the north side. Cuisi'nyinawa is too mean. When he has taken a
Yellow Woman and anyone goes after the Yellow Woman then, when he arrives in
the evening and does not find the Yellow Woman, then Cuisi'nyinawa knows
about it. At once he pursues the Yellow Woman (and the one who took her
back). Now Cuisi'nyinawa kills them. He always kills them. He walks with
much noise. Nobody lives there, but Cuisi'nyinawa lives by himself. He is
all alone. He is very bad.--That long is the bald tail. That is all.
Footnotes:
[1] Recorded in text by Franz Boas. Informant 7. Recorded also by Benedict,
informant 1 (omitted), in a version in which the hero was named Arrow Boy.
[2] As usual in Southwest tales, the opening enlarges as he puts down his
foot.
[3] This is another boy.
[4] This is Yellow Woman's husband.
Tales of the Cochiti Indians, by Ruth Benedict; U.S. Bureau of American
Ethnology, Bulletin no. 98; US Government Printing Office; [1931]
She was in a town. Then Yellow Woman went for water. With her jar Yellow
Woman went for water. She reached the river. The girl was standing there.
She saw a kicking stick. Below there was the kicking stick. Then Yellow
Woman picked it up. She put it into (her dress). The Cuisi'nyinawa arrived.
He told Yellow Woman, "Did you not pick up a kicking stick?" "No," said the
girl. "Yes," said Cuisi'nyinawa to her, "yes," said he. "You have it
somewhere," said he to the Yellow Woman. "It is so," said Cuisi'nyinawa. "I
have not got it," said Yellow Woman. Then, "Yes," said Cuisi'nyinawa.
"Somewhere," said he to her. "Give me the blue one (?)" said Cuisi'nyinawa.
"Give me the kicking stick." "No," said Yellow Woman; "I shall keep it as my
own," said she. (?) "I just might give you the kicking stick." Then
Cuisi'nyinawa took away Yellow Woman. Cuisi'nyinawa took her to a place
where he dwelt. Cuisi'nyinawa was bad. Cuisi'nyinawa arrived with her at his
house. Cuisi'nyinawa carried her on his back to where he dwelt above, where
a rainbow stands on Cuisi'nyinawa's house. Then he made Yellow Woman arrive.
Early he went hunting deer. Then Cuisi'nyinawa ordered the girl to grind
corn. When she was ready to grind corn, Yellow Woman ground it. Then she put
the flour of the corn into a basket. Then Yellow Woman was to make wafer
bread. Then she gave Cuisi'nyinawa wafer bread to eat. He arrived in the
evening. Then Cuisi'nyinawa told her that he had killed a deer which he had
brought to his house. Then Yellow Woman went out and took the deer. He gave
it to Yellow Woman to eat. Then she put it down in front of the fireplace
and Yellow Woman took sacred corn meal. Then Yellow Woman gave sacred meal
to the deer to eat. Yellow Woman inhaled. "Thank you," said she, "you killed
a deer, thank you," said she to Cuisi'nyinawa. He was eating wafer bread.
"Eat wafer bread!" said she to Cuisi'nyinawa. He was eating. Then
Cuisi'nyinawa finished eating. "Thank you," said he. "I have eaten wafer
bread," said Cuisi'nyinaw. "Put the deer down here." Then Yellow Woman put
down the deer.
Right here in the town was Yellow Woman's house. Then her husband came home.
Then Yellow Woman was not in her house. He had lost his wife. She was not
there. Then he searched for his wife. He searched at the river; he was
searching for her where his wife Yellow Woman had drawn water. The jar was
at the river. Then her husband found the jar. Then (he said), "Where did my
wife go? Where did she go to?" Then he was searching for his wife. Then Old
Spider Woman told him. "Where are you going, grandson?" said Old Spider
Woman to him. Then he spoke thus, "I am searching for my wife," said he.
Then Old Spider Woman spoke thus to him, "Poor grandson," said she to him.
"Cuisi'nyinawa has taken her away," said Old Spider Woman to him. She told
him that Cuisi'nyinawa had taken away his wife. "He took her eastward," said
she. "Poor grandson," said Old Spider Woman to him. "Come in, grandson,"
said she to him. "How can I go in?" said the husband of Yellow Woman. Then
[2] he entered Old Spider Woman's house. "Sit down!" said Old Spider Woman,
"my grandson." Then he sat down. Then, "Eat, grandson!" Old Spider Woman
cooked a snowbird head. Just one was there. Then she served it to him. He
was eating. He ate the head of the snowbird. He broke it to pieces. Then Old
Spider Woman spoke thus, "Oh my," said she, "grandson! you have broken the
snowbird head," said Old Spider Woman. "We had only one to serve, grandson.
The poor one! My poor grandson[3] killed one. He always goes hunting
snowbirds. My poor grandson never kills any more (?)" said Old Spider Woman.
Then her grandson[4] spoke thus, "Do not say so. I shall go hunting,
grandmother, I shall hunt snowbirds for you." Then he killed snowbirds. He
arrived below at the river. Then he went hunting snowbirds for her to serve.
Then he made traps for the snowbirds. He made snares. Then he hunted the
snowbirds with snares, and he killed many. Then Old Spider Woman took them
to her house. Then he arrived at Old Spider Woman's house. Then,
"Grandmother," said he to her, "there below!" said he. "That is good!" said
Old Spider Woman. Then her grandson entered downward. He was in search of
his wife. He had been hunting snowbirds for Old Spider-Woman. "Thank you,"
said Old Spider Woman. "Grandson, I want to take you to where your wife is.
Cuisi'nyinawa took her away. Will you go after your wife?" said she to him.
"Yes; I will go after my wife," said he. "Let me take you there, grandson!"
Then Old Spider Woman made medicine for him. Then they went. Old Spider
Woman took him to Cuisi'nyinawa's house. He arrived there. Then he arrived
at the town. Then, "Woe!" said the people of the town. "Woe! He is mean. He
has taken your wife. Woe! Cuisi'nyinawa is mean. He will kill you. Nobody
stays there. Cuisi'nyinawa has gone hunting," they said. "Right there in the
town, there is your wife," they said. "Cuisi'nyinawa has stolen her. He is
very mean. Did he take your wife?" they said to him. "Yes," said he. "I came
to get her, because Cuisi'nyinawa stole her from me. I came after her. I
must get my wife back." Then he entered Cuisi'nyinawa's house. He went in.
Then his wife was there. Then he found his wife. Then his wife jumped toward
her husband. She hugged him. "My poor husband," said she to him. "How did
you come here?" said she to him. "I have been searching for you," said he to
his wife. "Poor one," said he to her. "Old Spider Woman brought me here,"
said he. "Cuisi'nyinawa stole you from me," said he. "I came to get you,"
said he to his wife. "Now let us go, I'll take you to our home," said he to
her. Then he took her back. Old Spider Woman was waiting for them. Then he
took her there. Old Spider Woman said thus to him, "Are you coming,
grandson?" said she to him. "Yes," said he. "Now I brought my wife here,"
said he. "Poor one," said Old Spider Woman, "grandson. Let us go!" said she.
Then Old Spider Woman and his wife (and he) went together. He took his wife
back. They went back from the east. They had been in the east. There in the
east dwells Cuisi'nyinawa. Far away he had taken Yellow Woman. Here from the
east he took her. Together from the east came they, the three together. Way
over there in the east dwells Cuisi'nyinawa. Then he arrived at his house.
Yellow Woman was no longer there. Now her husband had already taken back
Yellow Woman. Then Cuisi'nyinawa arrived. No more did he find Yellow Woman.
Already her husband had taken her back. Then Cuisi'nyinawa became angry.
Then Cuisi'nyinawa pursued Yellow Woman. Cuisi'nyinawa came from the east.
Already Yellow Woman had arrived at her house here, She had arrived at her
husband's house. Cuisi'nyinawa was pursuing them. Then Cuisi'nyinawa came
out from the east thundering. He was about to shoot them, both her and her
husband, (but) Cuisi'nyinawa shot beside (the mark). Cuisi'nyinawa is mean.
Then Cuisi'nyinawa arrived at Yellow Woman's house. Then he said to him
thus, "Why did you take her back?" said Cuisi'nyinawa to him. Thus he said
to the two, "If Yellow Woman were not pregnant, I should kill you." Thus he
said to both Yellow Woman and her husband. Then Cuisi'nyinawa said to him,
when the pregnant Yellow Woman would give birth to a child that would be
Cuisi'nyinawa's child. Then she gave birth. Cuisi'nyinawa came after his
child. Yellow Woman being pregnant, therefore Cuisi'nyinawa did not kill the
two. Then Cuisi'nyinawa said it was his child. Then Yellow Woman gave birth
to a child. Then Cuisi'nyinawa went to where he dwelt. There somewhere on
the northeast side far away he came out. Cuisi'nyinawa had taken away too
many Yellow Women. He had already taken many. Those who did not make wafer
bread quickly enough Cuisi'nyinawa threw down from the north side. He is
mean. The poor girls, he threw them down upon the ice. Many he had taken. He
is too mean. They all died below on the north side on the ice, the poor
ones. Nobody went after the Yellow Women, the poor ones, and they froze to
death there below. He is too mean. He never forgave them. Cuisi'nyinawa had
no consideration. Whoever did not grind flour quickly enough and had not
made wafer bread when he came home from hunting, and they had not made the
wafer bread, then he threw them down, the Yellow Women, on the north side.
Then there below they died. They froze to death on the ice, the poor Yellow
Women. Down below there they died. No one went after the Yellow Women. Then
Cuisi'nyinawa threw them down. Cuisi'nyinawa did not forgive any one of
them. Therefore they abused Cuisi'nyinawa below in this town. He would take
any Yellow Woman. Therefore they abused Cuisi'nyinawa. "Oh, poor ones," they
said. "Now he has again taken from somewhere a poor Yellow Woman." Oh, dear,
Cuisi'nyinawa is mean, the poor Yellow Women. He fooled the poor Yellow
Women. The poor ones! Cuisi'nyinawa took them along. "Oh my! He is mean,"
they said, "Oh my! The poor ones, he fools the poor ones with the kicking
stick. Therefore he always takes away the Yellow Women. He has fooled many
poor Yellow Women. They all died there below on the ice. He threw down the
poor Yellow Women and their sisters Merinako. Cuisi'nyinawa is mean. Oh my!
Cuisi'nyinawa comes after them this way, with the kicking stick. Then he
takes the Yellow Woman away. The poor ones! He kills them. Cuisi'nyinawa
asks them too urgently to work for him. A Yellow Woman that does not agree
to do so when he has taken the Yellow Woman, then that one he throws them
down on the north side. Cuisi'nyinawa is too mean. When he has taken a
Yellow Woman and anyone goes after the Yellow Woman then, when he arrives in
the evening and does not find the Yellow Woman, then Cuisi'nyinawa knows
about it. At once he pursues the Yellow Woman (and the one who took her
back). Now Cuisi'nyinawa kills them. He always kills them. He walks with
much noise. Nobody lives there, but Cuisi'nyinawa lives by himself. He is
all alone. He is very bad.--That long is the bald tail. That is all.
Footnotes:
[1] Recorded in text by Franz Boas. Informant 7. Recorded also by Benedict,
informant 1 (omitted), in a version in which the hero was named Arrow Boy.
[2] As usual in Southwest tales, the opening enlarges as he puts down his
foot.
[3] This is another boy.
[4] This is Yellow Woman's husband.
Tales of the Cochiti Indians, by Ruth Benedict; U.S. Bureau of American
Ethnology, Bulletin no. 98; US Government Printing Office; [1931]