[bintcbil uut'aa' = Red-shafted Flicker's feather] Polecat Robs her Grandmother 1
Cahto Language

from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)


California Athabaskan Languages & Cultures homepage Index of Stories Goddard's translation

Cahto 2English Translation 3

Tciitcgaitc t'eekii, lhaang ninyeehtaagh, t'eekii kaa'ch'ghinshii'yaa'nii. Many spotted skunk girls were digging bulbs, they say.
tc"Ütc.gaitc---t'e.k"Ü---;an)---nu^n.ye.taG---t'e.k"Ü---ka.tc'.gu^n.c"ÜEyaE.n"Ü
Polecat / girls / many / bulbs / girls / dug / they say.
Diinak' hainaa'ing lhinteesyaa-hit, diidaa'ing, t'eekiilhaang ninyeehtaagh kaa'ch'ghinshii' yaa'nii. When they had come together from the south and from the north they dug many bulbs, they say.
d"Ü.nu^k'---hai.na.u^n)---;u^n.tes.ya.hu^t---d"Ü.daE.u^n)---t'e.k"Ü;an)---nu^n.ye.taG---ka.tc'.gu^n.c"ÜE---yaE.n"Ü
South / from south / came together when / from north/ girls / many / bulbs / dug / they say.
Lhaang ninyeehtaagh kaa'ch'ghinshii' yaa'nii. They dug lots of bulbs, they say.
;an)---nu^n.ye.taG---ka.tc'.gu^c.c"ÜE---yaE.n"Ü
Many / bulbs / they dug / they say.
Tciitcgaitc kwchai lhaang kaayaa'shii' yaa'nii. Spotted Skunk's many grandchildren were digging, they say.
tc"Ütc.gaitc---kw.tcai---;an)---ka.yaE.c"ÜE---yaE.n"Ü
Polecat / her grandchild / many / dug / they say.
Ghilk'aan yaa'nii. There was a fire there, they say.
gu^l.k'an---yaE.n"Ü
There was fire / they say.
Nchaagh al kw'itnoo'ghilaa-hit, nchaagh kaayaa'shii' yaa'nii. Because they put a large amount of wood on it they dug a large amount of bulbs, they say.
n.tcaG---a7l---k'wu^n.no#.gu^l.la.hu^t---n.tcaG---ka.yaE.c"ÜE---yaE.n"Ü
Large / wood / they put on when / large / they dug /they say.
Lhaan lhtaahkii tbilh-bii', wang k'ai'tbilh-bii', wang k'ai'teel-bii': lhtceekeetcing 4, goontc, chinsii'tcing, ninyeehtaaghchow, wo'lhaang, tciighiltcaantc, naa'aalee', tsoo'kwiit'iing, kwitchaang, bit'tlai'tc, goolbistcing, kaschiing', tciighiltcaang, tciidiknee', naasnaaldaaltc, tciiyooyiikostgaitc ,lheetcyeehdeeleehchow, sii'tbing. There were many kinds, some in seed-baskets, some in acorn-baskets, and in basket-pans: lhtceekeetcing bulbs, goontc bulbs (Brodiaea/Tritelleia?), chinsii'tcing bulbs ("pine-cone sort of thing"), "big bulbs" (Brodiaea?), "many teeth" bulbs, tciighiltcaantc bulbs, naa'aalee' bulbs,, they say.oo'kwiit'iing bulbs, kwitchaang bulbs, wild onions, goolbistcing bulbs, kaschiing'-lily bulbs, tciighiltcaang bulbs (Brodiaea?), tciidiknee' bulbs, naasnaaldaaltc bulbs, tciiyooyiikostgaitc bulbs, lheetcyeehdeeleehchow bulbs, and "sharp heads" bulbs.
;an---;.tac.k"Ü---t.bu^;.b"ÜE---wu^n)---k'ai.t.bu^;.b"ÜE---wu^n)---k'ai.tel.b"ÜE---;.tcek.ke.tcin)---go#ntc---tcu^n.s"Ü.tcin)---nu^n.ye.taG.tco#---wo#E.;an)---tc"Ü.gu^l.tcantc---na.al.leE---tso#E.kw"Ü.t'"Ün)---kwu^t.kyan)---bu^t.t.laiEtc---go#l.bu^s.tcin)---ka7s.kin)---tc"Ü.gu^l.tcan)---tc"Ü.du^k.neE---nas.nal.daltc---tc"Ü.yo#.y"Ü.ko#s.t.gaitc---;etc.ye.de.le.tco#---s"ÜEt.bin).
Many / kinds / seed-basket in / some, / burden-basket in / some, / basket-pan in / (list of root crops names)
Lheenee'haa' lhtaahkii kaa'ch'ghinshii' yaa'nii. They dug up all different kinds (of bulbs), they say.
;e.neE.haE---;.tac.k"Ü---ka.tc'.gu^n.c"ÜE---yaE.n"Ü
All / different kinds / they dug / they say.
Tbilh deemin' yaa'nii The seed-baskets were full, they say.
t.bu^;---de#.mu^nE---yaE.n"Ü
Seed-basket / was full / they say.
"Shiiyee' doo-teebin-ee," yaa'ch'in yaa'nii. "Mine isn't full," they said, they say.
c"Ü.yeE---do#.te.bu^n.ne---yaE.tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Mine / is not full," / they said / they say.
"Shiiyee' deemin' k'ai'teel- bii'." "My basket-pan is full."
c"Ü.yeE---de#.mu^nE---k'ai.tel.b"ÜE
"Mine / is full / basket-pan in."
"Kaaditcaa'. "Let's bury them (in the earth oven).
---------------ka.du^t.tcaE
"We will bury.
Nee' ghinsil-ee," tc'in yaa'nii. The ground is hot," she said, they say.
neE---gu^n.su^l.le---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
Ground / is hot," / she said / they say.
"Hee'uu'," tc'in yaa'nii, tc'yaantc. "Yes," the old woman said, they say.
---------------he.u#E---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü---ts'.yantc
"Yes," / she said / they say, / old woman.
Kwong' yaa'ghibiil' yaa'nii. They threw the fire over, they say.
---------------kwo#n)E---yaE.ga.b"Ül'---yaE.n"Ü
Fire / they threw over / they say.
Nee' lhtc'aalkaats. They scooped out the ground (to level it).
neE---;.tc'al.kats
Ground / they scooped out.
Naa'tghilghaal'-ee kwong'ding. They poured them down on the fireplace.
na.t.gu^l.gal.le---kwo#n)E.du^n)
They poured them down / fire place.
Chooyii-taah naa'tghilhghalh yaa'nii. They poured them down in other places, they say.
tco#.y"Ü.tac---na.t.gu^;.ga7;---yaE.n"Ü
Other places / they poured down / they say.
Nees-ding sliin' yaa'nii. It became high, they say.
nes.du^n)---sl"ÜnE---yaE.n"Ü
High / it became / they say.
Lhaan-it t'eekii, lhaan-it nees-ding keentang yaa'nii. Because there were many girls, because there were many (bulbs) it piled up high, they say.
;a.nit---t'e.k"Ü---;a.nit---nes.du^n)---ken.ta7n)---yaE.n"Ü
Many because / girls / many because / high / it piled up / they say.
Ghitcaa' yaa'nii. They covered them (buried the bulbs in firepit), they say.
gu^t.tcaE---yaE.n"Ü
They covered / they say.
Ch'eelee' yaa'nii, kwtcoo baa yaa'nii. She sang, they say, for her grandmother, they say
---------------tc'e.le#E---yaE.n"Ü---kw.tco#---ba---yaE.n"Ü
He 5 sang / they say. / His grandmother / for / they say.
Uudai' nindaash yaa'nii. She (grandmother) danced outside, they say.
o#.daiE---nu^n.dac---yaE.n"Ü
Outside / she danced / they say.
Yeehnaaghindash yaa'nii, kinyii. She, herself, went inside (the area where they were cooking), they say.
ye.na.gu^n.da7c---yaE.n"Ü---kin.y"Ü
He went in / they say, / himself.
"Ninyeehtaagh ooshtgee'-jaa'," tc'in yaa'nii. "I will look at the bulbs," he said, they say.
nu^n.ye.taG---o#c.t.geE.djaE---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Bulbs / I will look at," / he said / they say.
Tc'eenaaghidaash yaa'nii. She came out, they say.
tc'e.na.gu^t.dac---yaE.n"Ü
He came out / they say.
Ch'ee'iilee' yaa'nii. She kept singing, they say.
tc'e."Ül.le#E---yaE.n"Ü
He kept singing / they say.
Kwtcoo nindash yaa'nii. Her grandmother danced, they say.
kw.tco#---nu^n.da7c---yaE.n"Ü
His grandmother / danced / they say.
Bee'ilhkeegh-eet, "Ninyeehtaagh ooshtgee', "ch'in yaa'nii. When she finished she said, "I'm going to look at the bulbs," they say.
be.i;.ke.get---nu^n.ye.taG---o#c.t.geE---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
He finished when / "Bulbs / I look at" / hesaid / they say.
K'ai'teel naanaa'ilhdilh yaa'nii. She shook the basket pan up and down, they say.
k'ai.tel---na.na.i;.du^;---yaE.n"Ü
Basket-pan / he moved up and down / they say.
K'ai'teel-bii' ch'ee'iilee' yaa'nii. She kept singing in the basket pan, they say.
k'ai.tel.b"ÜE---tc'e.il.le#E---yaE.n"Ü
Basket-pan in / he kept singing / they say.
Kwtcoo nindash yaa'nii. Her grandmother danced, they say.
kw.tco#---nu^n.da7c---yaE.n"Ü
His grandmother / danced / they say.
K'ai'teel naanaa'ilhdilh yaa'nii. She shook the basket pan up and down, they say.
k'ai.tel---na.nai;.du^;---yaE.n"Ü
Basket-pan / he moved up and down / they say.
Kwdaa'-bii' naa'dilhghalh yaa'nii. She poured them into her mouth, they say.
kw.daE.b"ÜE---na.du^;.ga7;---yaE.n"Ü
His mouth in / he poured / they say.
"Doo-'it'ee-yee, shtcoo," tc'in yaa'nii. "They aren't done, my grandmother," she said, they say.
---------------do#.u^t.t'e#.ye---s.tco#---tc'in---ya.n"Ü
"They are not cooked, / my grandmother," /he said / they say.
Kwdaa'-bii' naa'dilhghalh yaa'nii. She poured them into here mouth, they say.
kw.daE.b"ÜE---na.du^;.ga7;---yaE.n"Ü
His mouth in / he poured / they say.
Tc'eenaandaash yaa'nii. She came out, they say.
tc'e.nan.dac---yaE.n"Ü
He came out / they say.
"Doo-'it'ee-yee, shtcoo," ch'ilee' yaa'nii. They aren't done, my grandmother," she sang, they say.
do#.u^t.t'e#.ye---s.tco#---tc'il.le#E---yaE.n"Ü
"They are not cooked, / my grandmother," /he sang / they say.
"Doo-'it'ee-yee, dooyeehee'- angii." "I'm tired of 'they're not cooked.'
do#.u^t.t'e#.ye---do#.ye.heE.u^n.g"Ü
"Not cooked, / I am tired."
Kwong'ding nee' naanaa'tghilh'aal yaa'nii. She piled the earth up again in the fireplace, they say.
kwo#n)E.du^n)---neE---na.na.t.gu^;.Eal---yaE.n"Ü
Fire-place / earth / he piled up again / they say.
"Nindaash-ee? "Why are you dancing?
---------------nu^n.dac.ce
"Why are you dancing?
Doo-niineelyaan-in." They are (already) eaten up."
do#.n"Ü.nel.ya.nu^n
They are eaten up."
Kwtcoo, "Kaa' ooshtgee' ninyeehtaagh." "Her grandmother (said), "Well, I will look at the bulbs."
---------------kw.tco#---kaE---o#c.t.geE---nu^n.ye.taG
His grandmother, / "Well, / I will look / bulbs."
Kin tc'eenyaa yaa'nii, uudai'. She went outside, they say.
kin---tc'e.n.ya---yaE.n"Ü---o#.daiE
He / went out / they say / outside.
Kwtcoo nee' yoontgiitc yaa'nii, kwong'ding. Her grandmother looked at the dirt on the fireplace, they say.
kw.tco#---neE---yo#n.t.g"Üts---yaE.n"Ü---kwo#n)E.du^n)
His grandmother / earth / looked at / they say, / fireplace.
Ninyeehtaagh ndoo' yaa'nii. There were no bulbs, they say.
nu^n.ye.taG---n.do#E---yaE.n"Ü
Bulbs / were not / they say.
Tc'eenaantyaa-hit tc'ghintceeh yaa'nii, uudai'-haa'. When she went back outside she was crying, they say.
tc'e.nan.t.ya.hu^t---tc'.gu^n.tcec---yaE.n"Ü---o#.daiE.haE
She went out when / she cried / they say, / outside.
Diinak' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left going south, they say.
---------------d"Ü.nu^k'---tc't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
South / she went / they say.
Bantc wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the houseflies, they say.
bu^ntc---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Flies / live place / she came / they say.
"Shdjii'olhtik, shchaayii doobing-kwaas'is'iin-ee." "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me."
s.tc"Ü.o#;.tu^k---s.tca.y"Ü---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne
"Kill me, / my grandchild / mistreated me."
"Doo-yee, doo-ndjii'diltik- teelee." "No, we are not going to kill you."
---------------do#.ye---do#.n.tc"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le
"No, / we will not kill you."
Banlhtcinchow wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the "big black flies", they say.
---------------bu^n.;.tcin.tco#---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
"Fly-black-large" / live place / she came /they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left, they say.
tc't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
She went on / they say.
Hainak' chaan-nees wan-ding tc'ninyai. She came to the home of the wasps here in the south.
---------------hai.nu^k'---tca.nes---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.yai
Here south / wasp / live place / she came.
"Shdjii'olhtik, shchaayii doobing-kwaas'is'iin-ee,"ch'in yaa'nii. "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me," she said, they say.
s.tc"Ü.o#;.tu^k---c.tca.y"Ü---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne---tc'inyaE.n"Ü
"Kill me, / my grandchild / mistreated me,"/ she said / they say.
Bandiltcaantc wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the "little buried flies", they say.
---------------bu^n.du^l.tcantc---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
(Live in the ground) / live place / she came / they say.
"Shdjii'olhtik, shchai-yee doobing-kwaas'is'iin-ee,"ch'in yaa'nii. "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me," she said, they say.
s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k---s.tcai.ye---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne---tc'inyaE.n"Ü
"Kill me, / my grandchild / mistreated me,"/ she said / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left, they say.
---------------ts't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
She went on / they say.
Hainak' t'aa'dilgaichow wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the hornets here in the south, they say.
hai.nu^k'---ta.du^l.gai.tco#---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Here south / hornet / live place / she came / they say.
"Shchai-yee doobing- kwaas'is'iin-ee, shdjii'olhtik." "My grandchild has mistreated me, kill me!"
s.tcai.ye---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne---s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k
"My grandchild / mistreated me, / kill me."
"Doo-yee, doo-ndjii'diltik- teelee." "No, we are not going to kill you."
---------------do#.ye---do#.n.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le
"No, / we will not kill you."
Yiinak' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left going south, they say.
---------------y"Ü.nu^k'---tc't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
South / she went / they say.
Tsisnaa-lhits'-ee wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the yellowjackets, they say.
tcis.na.;u^ts.e---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Yellowjacket / live place / she came / they say.
"Shdjii'olhtik, shchai doobing-kwaas'is'iin-ee,"ch'in yaa'nii. "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me," she said, they say.
s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k---s.tcai---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Kill me, / my grandchild / mistreated me,"/ she said / they say.
"Doo-yee, doo-ndjii'diltik- teelee." "No, we are not going to kill you."
---------------do#.ye---do#.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le
"No, / we will not kill you."
Yiinak' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left going south, they say.
---------------y"Ü.nu^k'---tc't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
South / she went / they say.
Nee'yoosoostc wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the nee'yoo'soostc bugs, they say.
neE.yo#.so#stc---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
(An insect) / live place / she came / they say.
"Shchai doobing- kwaas'is'iin-ee, shdjii'olhtik." "My grandchild has mistreated me, kill me."
s.tcai---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne---s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k
"My grandchild / mistreated me, / kill me."
"Doo-yee, doo- ndjii'diltik-teelee," kwilh'ing yaa'nii. "No, we are not going to kill you," they told her, they say.
---------------do#.ye---do#.n.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le---kwu^;.in)---yaE.n"Ü
"No, / we will not kill you," / they told her/ they say.
Banchow wan-ding tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the "big flies", they say.
---------------bu^n.tco#---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Fly large / live place / she came / they say.
"Shdjii'olhtik, shchai doobing-kwaas'is'iin-ee." "Kill me, my granchild has mistreated me."
s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k---s.tca.ye---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..ne
"Kill me, / my grandchild / mistreated me."
"Doo-yee, doo-ndjii'diltik- teelee." "No, we are not going to kill you."
---------------do#.ye---do#.n.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le
"No, / we will not kill you."
Doolhtc wan-din tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. She came to the home of the gnats, they say.
---------------do#;tc---wu^n.du^n)---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Gnats / live place / she came / they say.
"Shdjii'olhtik." "Kill me!"
s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k
"Kill me."
"Doo-yee, doo- ndjii'diltik-teelee," kwilh'inyaa'nii. "No, we are not going to kill you," they told her, they say.
---------------do#.ye---do#.n.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le---kwu^;.in)---yaE.n"Ü
"No, / we will not kill you," / they told her/ they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii. She left, they say.
---------------tc't.tes.ya---yaE.n"Ü
She went / they say.
Hainak' chinsisnaatc kwontaah-din yaa'nii, tc'ninyaa yaa'nii. They say she came to the homes of the "little wood bees" here in the south, they say.
hai.nu^k'---tcu^n.su^s.natc---kwu^n.tac.du^n)---yaE.n"Ü---tc'n.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü
Here south / (insect) / live places / they say. / She came / they say.
Kowaa'ghichit yaa'nii, ninyaa- din. They fed her when she had arrived, they say.
ku#.wa.gu^t.tcu^t---yaE.n"Ü---nu^n.ya.du^n)
They fed her / they say / she came place.
"Doo-yee, shchai-yee doobing-kwaas'is'iin-it niiyaa-yee. "No, I came because my grandchild mistreated me.
do#.ye---s.tca.ye---do#.bu^n).kwa.su^s..nit---n"Ü.ya.ye
"No, / my grandchild / mistreated me because / I came.
Shdjii'olhtik," tc'in yaa'nii. "Kill me!" she said, they say.
s.dj"Ü.o#;.tu^k---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
Kill me," / she said / they say.
"Hee'uu', ndjii'diltik-teelee," kwilh'ing yaa'nii. "Yes, we are going to kill you," they told her, they say.
---------------he.u#E---n.dj"Ü.du^l.tu^k.te#.le---kwu^;.in)---yaE.n"Ü
"Yes, / we will kill you," / they told her/ they say.
Ghilhgheel'-it kwdjii'ghiltik. They killed her when it was evening.
gu^;.gel.lit---kw.dj"Ü.gu^l.tu^k
It was evening when / they killed her.
Taakowit'aas-it kwwos kwanlhan nee'-kw'itaah noowilk'aasyaa'nii. When they cut her up (pieces of) her legs fell down all over everywhere, they say.
ta.ku#.wu^t.t'a.su^t---kw.wo#s---kwu^n.;a7n---neE.k'wu^t.tac---no#.wil.k'asyaaE.n"Ü
They cut her up when / her leg / everywhere / on places/ fell / they say.
Kwwos, kwaanii' nakaa'-haa', kwbit', kwsii', kwanlhan nee'-kw'itaah noolk'as yaa'nii. Her legs, both arms, belly, and head fell down all over everywhere, they say.
kw.wo#s---kwa.n"ÜE---na7k.kaE.haE---kw.bu^t'---kw.s"ÜE---kwu^n.;a7n---neE.k'wu^t.tac---no#l.k'a7s---yaE.n"Ü
Her legs, / arms / both, / her belly, / her head, / everywhere / on places / fell / they say.
---- Kwanlhang. ---- That is all.
-------kwu^n.;a7n)
---- All.


1. Goddard footnote 233: "A similar story is recorded among the Nongatl of Mad river tells how the bad grandchild, in this case a grandson, relented, tracked his grandmother, took revenge upon those who had killed her, gathered up her bones and brought them back to a certain valley where they became scattered and sprang up as bulbs. This result probably is expected from the throwing about of the pieces of her body in this case."
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 194: "The bulbs used for food by the Kato, listed here, have not been identified.
5. gfn *: "When this text was being revised with the original relator it was declared that the deceitful grandchild was a girl, not a boy. The Nongatl, farther north, tell of a boy who afterward repented and avenged his grandmother's death."

Goddard's Translation

Many polecat girls were digging bulbs. They came together from north and south to dig them. Polecat old woman had many granddaughters who were digging. There was a fire there. They
put on much wood because so many bulbs were being dug. They had many kinds of bulbs in seed-baskets, burden-baskets, and basket-pans. (Nineteen varieties are named.) They dug all the different kinds of bulbs. The seed-baskets were full. "My basket is not full," some of the girls said. "My basket-pan is full," said others of them.
"Let us bury them to cook. The ground is hot," said one of them.
" Very well, " replied the old woman.
They took up the fire. They leveled the ground. They poured the bulbs down in the fireplace. They poured bulbs down in other places. The pile was high because so many girls had been digging. They covered them up.
She sang for her grandmother who danced at one side. She said, "I will look at the bulbs," and went into the open place where they were cooking. She came back and continued her singing and her grandmother the dancing. When she finished the song she said, "I will look at the bulbs." She took a basketpan, filled it with bulbs and ashes and shook it up and down as she continued the song. The grandmother was dancing. When the ashes were sifted out she poured the bulbs into her mouth.
"They are not cooked, my grandmother," she said. She went out to her grandmother. "They are not yet cooked, my grandmother," she told her. She sang. "They are not cooked," she reported again. She piled the dirt up again in the fireplace.
" Why do you dance? They were all eaten up long ago, " said the girl.
"I will look at the bulbs." She went to the cooking place. She looked at the pile of earth. The bulbs were gone. When she went back she was crying.
She started away toward the south. She came where flies live. "Kill me," she told them, "my grandchild has mistreated me."
"No, we will not kill you," they said.
She came where a large kind of flies lived and received the same reply.
She went on toward the south until she came where wasp lived. "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me," she said to them.
She came where insects who live in the ground were living. "Kill me," she said, "my grandchild has mistreated me."
She went on toward the south until she came where hornets lived. "Kill me," she said, "my grandchild has mistreated me."
"No," they told her.
She went on to the south until she came where jellowjackets lived. "Kill me," she entreated them, "my grandchild has mistreated me."
"No, we will not kill you," they said.
She went on south to the home of another insect. "My grandchild has mistreated me, kill me," she said.
"No, we will not kill you," they said.
She came where large flies lived. "Kill me, my grandchild has mistreated me," she told them.
"No, we will not kill you," they replied.
She came where gnats lived. "Kill me," she requested, "my grandchild has mistreated me."
"No, we will not kill you," they told her.
She went on toward the south. She came where other insects lived. They offered her food. "No, "she said. "I came because my grandchild has mistreated me. Kill me."
"Yes, we will kill you," they said. When it was evening they killed her. They cut her into small pieces which they threw about. The pieces of both her legs, of her belly, and of her head fell everywhere.
That is all.


8/30/99
Sally Anderson using perl version 5.034000