The Coming of the Earth <a name="ret1"><a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a>

	The Coming of the Earth ¹
	Cahto Language
	from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)

Cahto ²		English Translation ³

---- Too teesyai yaa'nii.		---- The water went along, they say.
	-------to#---tes.yai---ya^En"Ü
	---- Water / went/ they say.
Too shoonk' lheeng'ai' yaa'nii.		The waters merged completely, they say.
	to#---co#n)k'---;en).^Eai^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Waters / well / met, / they say.
Nee' ndoo' yaa'nii		There was no land, they say.
	ne^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Land / was not / they say.
Too shaanii haakwdang', ts'isnoo' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There was only water then, there were no mountains, they say.
	to#---ca.n"Ü---hakw.du^n)^E---ts'u^s.no#^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Water / only / then, / mountains / were not, / they say
See ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no stones, they say.
	se---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Stones / were not, / they say
Chin ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no trees, they say.
	tcu^n---n.do#---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trees / were not, / they say.
Tl'oh ndoo' yaa'nii.		There was no grass, they say.
	;o^c---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Grass / was not, / they say
Toonai ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no fish, they say.
	to#.nai---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Fish / were not, / they say.
Intc'ee' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no deer, they say.
	in.tce^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Deer / were not, / they say.
Jeeschow ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no elk, they say.
	ges.tco#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Elk / were not, / they say.
Noonii ⁴ ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no grizzlies, they say.
	no#.n"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Grizzlies / were not, / they say.
Bitchow ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no mountain lions, they say.
	bu^t.tco#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Panthers / were not, / they say.
Yiishtc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no wolves, they say
	y"Ücts---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Wolves / were not, / they say.
Doolii ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no black bears, they say
	do#.l"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Bears / were not, / they say.
Naahneesh ⁵ teelhkit' yaa'nii.		Human beings had been washed away, they say.
	na.nec---te;.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	People / were washed away, / they say.
Noonii teelhkit' yaa'nii.		Grizzlies had been washed away, they say.
	no#.n"Ü---te;.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	Grizzlies / were washed away, / they say.
Bitchow teelhkit' yaa'nii.		Panthers had been washed away, they say.
	bu^t.tco#---te;.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	Panthers / were washed away, / they say.
Intc'ee' teelhkit' yaa'nii.		Deer had been washed away, they say.
	in.tce^E---te;.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	Deer / were washed away, / they say.
Ch'siitcin ndoo' yaa'nii, haakwdang'.		There were no coyotes then, they say
	tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü---hakw.du^n)^E
	Coyotes / were not, / they say, then
Daatcaang' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no ravens, they say
	da.tcan)^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Ravens / were not, / they say.
Bischloo ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no great horned owls, they say
	bu^s.tc.lo#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Owls / were not, / they say.
Tc'intch'itseetcing ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no buzzards, they say
	tc'u^n.t.ku^ts.tse#.tcin)---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Buzzards / were not, / they say.
Ch'isai' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no red-tailed hawks, they say
	tc'u^s.sai^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Chicken-hawks / were not, / they say.
Seelhch'woi ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no great blue herons, they say
	se;.tc'o#"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Herons / were not, / they say.
Chaalhnii ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no varied thrushes, they say
	tca;.n"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Varied robins (?) / were not, / they say.
Dishchow ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no grouse, they say
	du^c.tco#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Grouse / were not, / they say.
Dishtc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no California quail, they say
	du^ctc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Quails / were not, / they say.
Ch'isai'tcing ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no scrub jays, they say
	tc'u^s.sai^E.tcin)---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Bluejays / were not, / they say.
Naakee'itc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no ducks, they say
	na.ke#.its---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Ducks / were not, / they say.
Bintcbil ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no flickers, they say
	bu^ntc.bu^l---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Yellow-hammers / were not, / they say.
Tc'intyaash ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no condors, they say
	tc'u^n.t.yac---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Condors / were not, / they say.
Chiiboowitc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no pygmy owls, they say
	tcib.bo#.witc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Screech owls / were not, / they say.
Chinch'ghiichow ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no pileated woodpeckers, they say
	tcu^n.tc'.g"Ü.tco#^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Woodcocks / were not, / they say.
Chinnilhtcintc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no Lewis' woodpeckers, they say
	tcu^n.nu^;.tcu^nts---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Woodpeckers / were not, / they say.
Naa'shook'aa ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no robins, they say
	na.co#^E.k'a---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Robins / were not, / they say.
Djiitcwotc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no grosbeaks, they say
	tcitc.watc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	(A bird) / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' tc'oolaakii ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no meadowlarks, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---tc'o#.la.k"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / meadow-larks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' see'eedintc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no sparrow-hawks, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---se.e#.du^ntc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / sparrow-hawks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' chinch'baagh ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no chinch'baagh-woodpeckers, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---tcu^n.tc.baG---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / woodpeckers / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' bitck'ai' ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no sea gulls, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---bu^tc.k'ai^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / seagulls / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' tkaashchow ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no pelicans, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---t.kac.tco#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / pelicans / were not, / they say.
Shlee' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no orioles, they say
	cle^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Orioles / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' seelhtc'indinii ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no yellow-breasted chats ("mockingbirds"), they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---se;.tcu^n.du^n.n"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / mocking-birds / were not, / they say.
K'ai'ts'eehtc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no wrentits, they say.
	k'ai^E.ts'etc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Wrens / were not, / they say.
Djiidingooyaantc, tc'oh ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no Swainson's thrushes or blackbirds, they say.
	dj"Ü.du^n).go#.yantc---tc'o#^c---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Russet-back thrushes, / black-birds / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' daatcan'tc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no crows, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---da.tca7n^Etc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / crows / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' tcleelintc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no hummingbirds, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---tc.le#.lintc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / humming-birds / were not, / they say.
Bisbintc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no spotted owls, they say.
	bu^s.bu^ntc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	(A small owl) / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' t'eebil ndoo' yaa'nii.		Then there were no curlews, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---t'e.bu^l---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / curlews / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' seelhtc'indinii ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no yellow-breasted chats ("mockingbirds"), they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---se;.tcu^n.du^n.n"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / mocking-birds / were not, / they say.
Naatc'aitc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no swallows, they say.
	na.tc'aitc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Swallows / were not, / they say.
Baansiitc ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no shorebirds (sandpipers & killdeer),they say.
	ban.s"Üts---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sandpipers / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' tc'oolaakii ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no meadowlarks, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---tc'o#.la.k"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / meadow-larks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' lhtsoghing ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no foxes, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---;.tso#.gu^n)---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / foxes / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' bittc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no bobcats, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---bu^tc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / wild-cats / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' siis ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no river otters, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---s"Üs---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / otters / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' saahtc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no minks, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---sa^ctc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / minks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' jeeschow ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no elk, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---ges.tco#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / elks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' k'antaaghitc, daahtaa'itc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no jackrabbits or grey squirrels,they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---k'u^n.ta.gits---da.taits---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / jack-rabbits / grey squirrels / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' slis ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no ground-squirrels, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---slu^s---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / ground-squirrels / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' gaashchowkw'it-kwiiyaagiitc' ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no red squirrels, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---gac.tco#.k'wu^t.kw"Ü.ya.gits---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / red squirrels / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' silsintc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no chipmunks, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---su^l.su^ntc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / chipmunks / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' lhoon'lhgai ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no woodrats, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---;o#n.;gai---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / woodrats / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' naalhtoon'tc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no kangaroo-rats, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---na;.to#n^Ets---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / kangaroo-rats / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' lhoon'tc'ghee'neeshtc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no deer mice, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---;o#n.tc.ge^E.nectc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / "long-eared mice" / were not, / theysay.
Haakwdang' ch'laakii ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no acorn woodpeckers, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---tc'.la.k"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / sapsuckers / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' kwiiyiint ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no band-tailed pigeons, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---kw"Ü.y"Ünt---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / pigeons / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' k'ai'kooslitc ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no k'ai'kooslitc-birds, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---kai.ko#s.lu^tc---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / (a bird) / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' isch'ighiiyiits ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no warblers, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---s.tc'u^g.g"Ü.y"Üts---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / warblers / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' kaah ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no geese, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---ka^c---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / geese / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' deelh ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no cranes, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---de;---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / cranes / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' naa'gooltciik ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no spotted towhees, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---na.go#l.tc"Ük---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / (a bird) / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' main ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no weasels, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---main---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / weasels / were not, / they say.
Haakwdang' waanintcii' ⁶ ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there was no wind, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---wa.nu^n.tc"Ü^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / wind / was not, / they say.
Haakwdang' yaahs ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there was no snow, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---yas---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / snow / was not, / they say.
Haakwdang' loo ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there was no frost, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---lo#o#---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / frost / was not, / they say.
Haakwdang' titbil ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there was no rain, they say
	hakw.du^n)^E---tu^t.bu^l---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / rain / was not, / they say.
Haakwdang' doo-naitgeet yaa'nii.		At that time it didn't thunder, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---do#.nai.t.get---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / it didn't thunder, / they say.
Haakwdang' chin-ndoo-hit, doo-ch'dinii yaa'nii.		Since there were no trees to be struck, it did not thunder, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---tcu^n.do#.hu^t---do#.tc'.du^n.n"Ü---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / trees were not when / it didn't thunder, / they say.
Doo-ch'tilk'ish yaa'nii.		There was no lightning, they say.
	do#.tc't.tu^l.k'u^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	It didn't lighten, / they say.
Haakwdang' aah ndoo' yaa'nii.		At that time there were no clouds, they say.
	hakw.du^n)^E---a^c---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Then / clouds / were not, / they say.
Yiist'oot' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There was no fog, they say.
	y"Üs.to#t---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Fog / was not, / they say.
Doo-noochook-ee yaa'nii.		It did not get light out, they say.
	do#.no#.tco#.ke---ya^E.n"Ü
	It didn't appear, / they say.
Gooyaanii' ndoo' yaa'nii.		There were no stars, they say.
	go#.ya.n"Ü^E---n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Stars / were not, / they say.
Tcaakwolhgheel' yaa'nii.		It was very dark, they say.
	tca.kwo#;.gel'---ya^E.n"Ü
	It was very dark, / they say.
---- Shaa ndoo-hit, dii nee' ninisdik'ee' yaa'nii, uudee' nchaagh nees.		---- Then, while the sun did not exist yet, this earth ⁷ got up, they say, with its large horns.
	-------ca---n.do#.hu^t---d"Ü---ne^E---nu^n.u^s.du^k.k'e^E---ya^E.n"Ü---u#.de^E---n.tcaG---nes
	---- Sun / was not when / this / earth / got up, / they say,/ its horn / large / long.
Diidaa'ang ⁸ gaalh yaa'nii.		It walked from the north, they say.
	d"Ü.da^E.u^n)---qa;---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the north / it walked / they say.
Kwonsaat hiiheenash-taah uudiishee' hai nooch'too' yaa'nii.		Going into the deep places the water reached its shoulder, they say.
	kwu^n.sat---h"Ü.hen.na7c.ta---u#.d"Ü.ce^E---hai---no#.tc't.to#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Deep / it went places / its shoulder / there / water reached / they say.
Kwontishkaa-taah kaaghinash yaa'nii.		It came out into the shallows, they say.
	kwu^n.tu^c.ka.ta---ka.gu^n.na7c---ya^E.n"Ü
	Shallow places / it came out, / they say.
Yaa'ghitgish yaa'nii.		It looked up, they say.
	ya^E.gu^t.t.gu^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	It looked up / they say.
Yiidaa'ang too yoo'oong-haa' yiilhsit yaa'nii.		Off in the north waves were breaking, they say.
	y"Ü.da^E.u^n)---to#---yo#.o#n).ha^E---y"Ü;.su^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the north / water / yonder / broke / they say.
Nee'-tl'at ninyaa-hit diidak' shaa-uuyeehing yaa'ghitgish yaa'nii.		When it came to the middle of the world, in the east under the rising of the sun it looked up again, they say.
	ne^E.;^Eu^t---nu^n.ya.hu^t---d"Ü.du^k'---ca.u#.ye.hu^n)---ya^E.gu^t.t.gu^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	Earth middle / it came when / east / sun under / it looked up / they say.
Nee' nchaagh-teelit baaghang'ang kandintc yaa'ghitgish yaa'nii.		There where it looked up will be a large land near to the coast, they say.
	ne^E---n.tcaG.te#.lit---ba.gu^n).u^n)---ku^n.du^nts---ya^E.gu^t.t.gu^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	Earth / getting large when / coast / near / it looked up / they say.
Diinak' neesding yaa'ghitgish yaa'nii.		It looked far off to the south, they say.
	d"Ü.nu^k'---nes.du^n)---ya^E.gu^t.t.gu^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / far / it looked up / they say.
Uudee' kw'it' tooghaa s'an yaa'nii.		There was moss on its horns, they say.
	u#.de^E---k'wu^t'---to#.Ga---s'a7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its horn / on / moss / was / they say.
Lhbaa'ang-haa' uudee' lhbaa'ang-haa' tooghaa yaa'nii, nchaagh.		Moss was on both sides of its horn, they say, a lot of it.
	;.ba^E.u^n).ha^E---u#.de^E---;.ba^E.u^n).ha^E---to#.Ga---ya^E.n"Ü---n.tcaG
	Both sides / its horn, / both sides / moss / they say,/ large.
Ninkwiiyeeh dii galh yaa'nii, yiidaa'ang.		This one walked under the ground, they say, from the north.
	nu^n.kw"Ü.ye---d"Ü---qa7;---ya^E.n"Ü---y"Ü.da^E.u^n)
	Underground / this / walked / they say, / from the north.
---- Yooyiinak' neestiing yaa'nii.		---- It lay down far in the south, they say.
	-------yo#.y"Ü.nu^k'---nes.tin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- Far south / it lay down / they say.
Naaghaichow kw'it' ts'siing yaa'nii.		Naaghaichow stood on it, they say.
	na.gai.tco#---k'wu^t'---ts'.sin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Nagaitco / on it / stood / they say.
Kwolhghilh yaa'nii.		It carried him, they say.
	kwu^;.gu^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	It carried him / they say.
Yiinak' ninyaa-ding, uusii' shoo'tc'leeh-teelit shoonk' uusii' noo'aash yaa'nii.		Where earth lay down in the south, he [Naaghaichow] was going to place its head as it should be, they say.
	y"Ü.nu^k'---nu^n.ya.du^n)---o#.s"Ü^E---co#^E.tc'.le.te#.lit---co#n)k'---u#.s"Ü^E---no#.^Eac---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / it came where / its head / he was going to fix when / well / its head / he placed, / they say.
Lheetcbaa uunaa'-tagit noo'ng'an yaa'nii.		He placed grey clay between its eyes, they say.
	;etc.ba---o#.na^E.tu^k.ku^t---no#^En).^Ea7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Grey clay / its eyes between / he placed / they say.
Uudee'-kw'it' noo'ng'aan yaa'nii, lheetcbaa.		He placed on its horn, they say, grey clay.
	u#.de^E.k'wu^t'---no#^En).^Ean---ya^E.n"Ü---;etc.ba
	Its horn on / he placed / they say / grey clay.
Lhaa' uudee'-kw'it' lheetcbaa noo'ng'an yaa'nii.		He put grey clay on its other horn, they say.
	;a^E---u#.de^E.k'wu^t'---;etc.ba---no#^En).^Ea7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Other / its horn on / grey clay / he put / they say.
Tl'ohkaalhgai kaa'ghimee yaa'nii.		He gathered white reeds, they say.
	;o#^c.ka;.gai---ka.gu^m.me---ya^E.n"Ü
	White reeds / he gathered / they say.
Uusii'daa-kw'it' noo'ng'an yaa'nii.		He put it on the crown of its head, they say.
	u#.s"Ü^E.da.k'wu^t'---no#^En).^Ea7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Crown of its head on / he put / they say.
Kw'it' lheetc noolai yaa'nii.		He put soil on it, they say.
	k'wu^t'---;etc---no#.lai---ya^E.n"Ü
	On it / earth / he put / they say.
Tl'ohlhtsow uusii'daa-kw'it' naa'tghilh'aa' yaa'nii.		He stood green grass on the crown of its head, they say.
	;o#^c.;tso#---o#.s"Ü^E.da.k'wu^t'---na.t.gu^;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Blue grass / crown of its head on / he stood up / they say.
Chin naa'tghilh'aa' yaa'nii.		He stood trees, they say.
	tcu^n---na.t.gu^;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trees / he stood up / they say.
Ts'ii' naa'tghilh'aa' yaa'nii, uusii'-kw'it'.		He stood brush, they say, on its head.
	ts'"Ü^E---na.t.gu^;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü---u#.s"Ü^E.k'wu^t'
	Brush / he stood up / they say, / its head on.
---- "Beegheeshkeegh-ee," tc'in yaa'nii.		---- "I am finishing," he said, they say.
	-------be.gec.ke.Ge---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- "I am finishing," / he said / they say.
"Diikw'it', uusii'-kw'it' ts'isnoo' oleeh.		"Let there be mountains on this, its head.
	d"Ü.k'wu^t'---u#.s"Ü^E.k'wu^t'---ts'u^s.no#^E---o#.le
	"This on, / its head on / mountain / let be.
Yoo'oong-haa' too ninyilhtsilh-bang," tc'in yaa'nii.		Waves should break against it over there," he said,they say.
	yo#.o#n).ha^E---to#---nu^n.yi;.tsu^;.bu^n)---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	Yonder / water / shall break against it," / he said/ they say.
Ts'isnoo' sliing' yaa'nii.		Mountains came into being, they say.
	ts'u^s.no#^E---slin)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Mountain / became / they say.
Ts'ii' kaal'aa' yaa'nii.		Brush grew up, they say.
	ts'"Ü^E---ka.l'a^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Brush / came up / they say.
Uusii'-kw'it' see-uuyaashtc noo'ng'an-kwan yaa'nii.		He had put small stones on its head, they say.
	o#.s"Ü^E.k'wu^t'---se.u#.yacts---no#^En).^Ea7n.kwa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its head on / stone small / he had put / they say.
See ileeh-teelit nchaagh, uusii', jeeschow yaa'nii, nghindoo' yaa'nii.		As the stones were becoming large its head, they say, disappeared, they say.
	se---u^l.le.te#.lit---n.tcaG---u#.s"Ü^E---ges.tco#---ya^E.n"Ü---n.gu^n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Stones / were becoming when / large, / its head / elk/ they say, / was not, / they say.
---- "Shoo'ghiilaagh-ee," tc'in yaa'nii.		---- "I am fixing it," he said, they say.
	-------co#^E.g"Ü.la.Ge---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- "I am fixing it," / he said, / they say.
"Kaa', diidee' naaheeshdaa shoo'ooshleeh tghaamaa hiidee'," tc'in yaa'nii.		"Well, I will go north and fix it along the northern shore," he said, they say.
	ka^E---d"Ü.de^E---na.hec.da---co#^E.o#c.le^c---t.ga.ma---h"Ü.de^E---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	Well, / north / I will go / I will fix it / along shore/ north," / he said / they say.
Yooyiidee' naaheestyaa yaa'nii.		He started back to the far north, they say.
	yo#.y"Ü.de^E---na.hes.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	Far north / he started back / they say.
"Uunaa naashdaa," tc'in yaa'nii.		"I will go around it," he said, they say.
	o#.na---nac.da---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Around it / I will go," / he said / they say.
"Yookwiit'akw shoo'ooshleeh," tc'in yaa'nii.		"Far above I will fix it," he said, they say.
	yo#k.w"Ü.t'u^kw---co#^E.o#c.le---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Far above / I will fix it," / he said / they say.
Uut'akw shoo'tc'laah yaa'nii.		He fixed above it, they say.
	o#.t'u^kw---co#^E.tc'l.la---ya^E.n"Ü
	Above / he fixed it, / they say.
"Nshoon-ee shoo'ghiilaagh-eet," tc'in yaa'nii.		"I have made it good," he said, they say.
	n.co#.ne---co#^E.g"Ü.la.get---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Good / I made it," / he said / they say.
---- Uut'akw yooyiinak' naaheestyaa-hit see naa'tghilh'aa' yaa'nii.		---- When he went back far to the south he erected stones,they say.
	-------o#.t'u^kw---yo#.y"Ü.nu^k'---na.hes.t.ya.hu^t---se---na.t.gu^;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- Above / far south / he went back when / stones / he stood up / they say.
Chin kaal'aa' tc'istciin yaa'nii.		He made trees grow up, they say.
	tcu^n---ka.l'a^E---tc'is.tcin---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trees / grow up / he made / they say.
Ts'ii' kaal'aa' tc'istciin yaa'nii.		He made brush grow up, they say.
	ts'"Ü^E---ka.l'a^E---tc'is.tcin---ya^E.n"Ü
	Brush / grow up / he made / they say.
Ts'isnoo' naa'teelh'aa' yaa'nii.		He erected mountains, they say.
	ts'u^s.no#^E---na.te;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Mountains / he stood up / they say.
Too uutc'ing'aa nee' naa'tghilh'aa' yaa'nii.		He erected the ground in front of the ocean, they say.
	to#---o#.tcin).a---ne^E---na.t.gu^;.^Ea^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Water / in front of / ground / he stood up / they say.
Kwanlhang.		That is all.
	kwu^n.;a7n)
	All.

₁. Goddard footnote 213: "A fragment of a text obtained from an aged Kato in 1902, who has since died, relates the coming of the earth animal after the falling of the sky and the destruction of the first world and its inhabitants by a flood. This myth belongs then near the middle of the next with the latter portion of which it rather closely agrees.
₂. Click on highlighted words to search for them in the Dictionary/Lexical database. The top line is in the practical orthography. The middle line is in Goddard's transcription except that "underhook"/"Polish hook" is represented by "subscript left half-ring" ("underhook" is not present in the SIL IPA fonts). The bottom line is Goddard's word-by-word translation, with [occasional additions or emendations by me in square brackets].
₃. Line-by-line translation by me, largely informed by Goddard's translation, but attempting to translate every sentence, and to do so more literally (within the limits of English readability).
₄. gfn 18: "In most dialects it means black bear, not grizzly."
₅. gfn 21: "This noun evidently originally meant 'human, not animal.' It now is used to mean 'Indian, not European.'"
₆. gfn 34: "Contains the prefix wa- 'through' (III, 44) and the root -tcii 'to blow' (III, 274). The wind blows only when one of the four doors of the great world house is left open."
₇. This refers to to Iintc'ee' Taaloon', Soft Deer, who basically forms the substrate of the earth.
₈. gfn 44: "Cf. Hupa yii.da.tcin (I, 103, 6). The Kato use different demonstrative prefixes. Directions are always given with regard to whether movement is toward or from the speaker. Toward the north is dii.de'."

Goddard's Translation

Water came they say. The waters completely joined everywhere. There was no land or mountains or rocks, but only water. Trees and grass were not. There were no fish, or land animals, or birds. Human beings and animals^214 alike had been washed away. The wind did not then blow through the portals of the world, nor was there snow, nor frost, nor rain. It did not thunder nor did it lighten. Since there were no trees to be struck, it did not thunder. There were neither clouds nor fog, nor was there a sun. It was very dark.

Then it was that this earth with its great, long horns got up and walked down this way from the north. As it walked along through the deep places the water rose to its shoulders. When it came np into shallower places, it looked up. There is a ridge in the north upon which the waves break. When it came to the middle of the world, in the east under the rising of the sun it looked up again. There where it looked up will be a large land near to the coast. Far away to the south it continued looking up. It walked under the ground.

Having come from the north it traveled far south and lay down. Nagaitcho, standing on earth's head, had been carried to the south. Where earth lay down Nagaitcho placed its head as it should be and spread gray clay between its eyes and on each horn. Upon the clay he placed a layer of reeds and then another layer of clay. In this he placed upright blue grass, brush, and trees.

"I have finished," he said. "Let there be mountain peaks here on its head. Let the waves of the sea break against them." The mountains became and brush sprang up on them. The small stones he had placed on its head became large. Its head was buried from sight.

"I am fixing it," he said. "I will go north. I will fix things along the shore." He started back to the far north. "I will go around it, "he said. "Far above I will fix it." He fixed the world above. "I have made it good," he said.

When he went back far south he stood stones on end. He made trees and brush spring up. He placed the mountains and caused the ground to stand in front of the ocean.

8/30/99 Sally Anderson using perl version 5.034000