The Great Horned Serpent <a name="ret1"><a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a>

	The Great Horned Serpent ¹
	Cahto Language
	from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)

Cahto ²		English Translation ³

---- Tl'ohdaichii' nooninyiing yaa'nii.		---- They lived at Tl'ohdaichii', they say.
	-------;o#^c.dai.k"Ü^E---no#.nu^n.yin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- Lodaiki / they lived / they say.
Naahneesh kw'ittghalh yaa'nii.		People kept dying, they say.
	na.nec---k'wu^t.t.ga7;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Persons / kept dying / they say.
T'eekii bii'noo'ch'teelheek yaa'nii.		Girls were making mush, they say.
	t'e.k"Ü---b"Ü^E.no#.tc'.te.;ek---ya^E.n"Ü
	Girls / were making mush / they say.
Laashee' bii'nooghitlheek yaa'nii.		They were soaking buckeyes, they say.
	la.ce^E---b"Ü^E.no#.gu^t.;ek---ya^E.n"Ü
	Buckeyes / they were soaking / they say.
Lhooyaashgai nakaa' lhooyaashgai beeding-kwan yaa'nii.		Two trout were dead, they say.
	;o#.yac.gai---na7k.ka^E---;o.yac.gai---be.du^n).kwa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trout / two / trout / were dead / they say.
Nakaa' dee'tghiltiin yaa'nii.		They put the two on the fire (to roast), they say.
	na7k.ka^E---de.t.gu^l.t"Ün---ya^E.n"Ü
	Two / they put in fire / they say.
Hiineelhyan yaa'nii.		She (one of them) ate them, they say.
	h"Ü.ne;.ya7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	She ate them / they say.
Beedin yaa'nii.		She died, they say.
	be.du^n---ya^E.n"Ü
	She died / they say.
Chooyii-haa' hiineelhyan yaa'nii.		Again she (the other) ate them, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---h"Ü.ne;.ya7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / she ate / they say.
Beedin yaa'nii, hai lhaa'.		The other one died, too, they say.
	be.du^n---ya^E.n"Ü---hai---;a^E
	She died, / they say, / the / other.
"Tishaa' diidak'.		"I am going east.
	---------------tu^c.ca^E---d"Ü.du^k'
	"I am going / here east.
Shaahnaa' diishan' stiing diidak'."		Something lies in the creek to the east."
	ca^c.na^E---d"Ü.ca7n^E---st"Ün)---d"Ü.du^k'
	Creek / something / lies / east."
Lhooyaashgai nakaa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found two trout, they say.
	;o#.yac.gai---na7k.ka^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trout / two / he found / they say.
Lhaa'haa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found one, they say.
	;a^E.ha^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	One / he found / they say.
Chooyii-haa' lhaa'haa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		Again, he found one, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---;a^E.ha^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / one / he found / they say.
Chooyii-haa' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on again, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / he went / they say.
Toonai taak' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found three fish, they say.
	to#.nai---tak'---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Fish / three / he found / they say.
Naagheesyiitc' yaa'nii.		He rested, they say.
	na.ges.y"Ütc---ya^E.n"Ü
	He rested / they say.
Sit' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went a little ways, they say.
	su^t'---tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	Little way / he went / they say.
Lhooyaashgai ts'ilhsan yaa'nii, lhaa'haa'.		He found one trout, they say.
	;o#.yac.gai---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü---;a^E.ha^E
	Trout / he found, / they say, / one only.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Lhooyaashgai nakaa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found two trout, they say.
	;o#.yac.gai---na7k.ka^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trout / two / he found / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Lhooyaashgai k'eetc'inyan-kwan ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found a trout bitten in two, they say.
	;o#.yac.gai---k'e.tc'u^n.ya7n.kwa7n---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Trout / bitten off / he found / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Lhaa'haa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii, lhooyaashgai.		He found one, they say, a trout.
	;a^E.ha^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü---;o#.yac.gai
	One only / he found, / they say, / trout.
Chooyii-haa' tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on again, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / he went / they say.
Lhaa'haa' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii, lhooyaashgai.		He found one, they say, a trout.
	;a^E.ha^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü---;o#.yac.gai
	One only / he found, / they say, / trout.
Tc'neesdai yaa'nii.		He sat down, they say.
	tc'n.nes.dai---ya^E.n"Ü
	He sat down / they say.
Ghint'ee shaahnaa' uuyaashtc sliing' yaa'nii.		Now the creek became small, they say.
	gu^n.t'e#---ca^c.na^E---o#.yacts---sl"Ün)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Now / creek / small / became / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes---ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Ghint'ee ts'ilhsan yaa'nii, tciileek'ee.		Now he found, they say, slime.
	gu^n.t'e#---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü---tc"Ül.le#.k'e
	Now / he found, / they say, / slime.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went along, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Toonai, lhooyaashgai nghindoo' yaa'nii.		There were no fish or trout, they say.
	to#.nai---;o#.yac.gai---n.gu^n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Fish, / trout / were not / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Tc'teesyaa yaa'nii.		He went on, they say.
	tc't.tes.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went / they say.
Kaasyaa yaa'nii.		He came up, they say.
	kas.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He came up / they say.
Nee'-lai' noo'tghintaal-it tc'tees'iing' yaa'nii.		When he stood on the summit he looked around, they say.
	ne^E.lai^E---no#.t.gu^n.ta.lu^t---ts't.tes."Ün)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Earth top / he stood when / he looked / they say.
Too tc'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found a lake, they say.
	to#---tc'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Lake / he found / they say.
Uudee' ts'ilhsan yaa'nii.		He found its horn, they say.
	o#.de^E---ts'u^;.sa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its horn / he found / they say.
Tc'neelh'iing' yaa'nii.		He looked at it, they say.
	tc'n.ne;."Ün)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	He looked at it / they say.
Yiinak' tees'iing' yaa'nii.		It was looking south, they say.
	y"Ü.nu^k'---tes."Ün)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / it was looking / they say.
Uudee' nees, uudee' lhgai yaa'nii.		Its horn was long; its horn was white, they say.
	u#.de^E---nes---o#.de^E---;.gai---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its horn / long, / its horn / white / they say.
Naaheestyaa-hit tc'tceeh yaa'nii.		He cried when he went back home, they say.
	---------------na.hes.t.ya.hu^t---tc'.tce^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	He started back when / he cried / they say.
Naan'tyaa yaa'nii.		He came back, they say.
	nan.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He came back / they say.
Wantc'kwolik yaa'nii.		He told about it, they say.
	wa7n.tc'.kwo#l.lu^k---ya^E.n"Ü
	He told about it / they say.
---- "Kwaatohyaash naahneesh!		---- "Go get the people!
	-------kwa.to#^c.yac---na.nec
	---- "Go after them / people!
Lhtciish-ch'tinding kwaatohyaash!		Go get the Sherwood Valley Pomo people!
	;.tcic.tc'.tu^n.du^n)---kwa.to#^c.yac
	Sherwood valley / go after them!
Naahneesh Toodjilhbii' kwaatohyaash!		Go get the Cahto Valley people!
	na.nec---to#.tcu^;.b"Ü^E---kwa.to#^c.yac
	People / Cahto / go after!
Tc'intc kwaatohyaash!		Go get the Yuki!
	tc'intc---kwa.to#^c.yac
	Yuki / go after!
Koolkooschowbii' kwaatohyaash!"		Go get the Little Lake people!
	ko#l.ko#tc.tco#.b"Ü^E---kwa.to#^c.yac
	Little Lake / go after!"
Chin ghilhtciing yaa'nii.		Spears were made, they say.
	---------------tcu^n---gu^;.tcin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Poles / were made / they say.
Laa'lhbaa'ang, chooyii-haa' laa'lhbaa'ang, chooyii-haa' laa'lhbaa'ang chin, chooyii-haa' laa'lhbaa'ang chin.		Ten, ten more, ten more spears, ten more spears.
	la^E;.ba^E.u^n)---tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---la^E;.ba^E.u^n)---tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---la^E;.ba^E.u^n)---tcu^n---tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---la^E;.ba^E.u^n)---tcu^n
	Ten, / again / ten, / again / ten / poles, / again / ten / poles
Tc'teelhkat yaa'nii.		They set out, they say.
	tc't.te;.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	They went / they say.
Chin tc'teebiil' yaa'nii.		They carried spears, they say.
	tcu^n---tc't.te.b"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	Poles / they carried / they say.
K'aa' tc'teebiil' yaa'nii.		They carried arrows, they say.
	k'a^E---tc'.te.b"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	Arrows / they took / they say.
Kaashtc tc'teebiil' yaa'nii.		They carried knives, they say.
	kactc---tc'.te.b"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	Knives / they took / they say.
Tc'nilkat yaa'nii.		They arrived, they say.
	tc'.nu^l.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	They came there / they say.
Lheenee'haa' chin daateeghaabiil' yaa'nii.		They all took up spears, they say.
	;e.ne^E.ha^E---tcu^n---da.te.ga.b"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	All / poles / took up / they say.
Ghigooh yaa'nii.		They speared it, they say.
	ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	They speared / they say.
Chooyii-haa' ghegooh yaa'nii.		They speared it again, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / they speared / they say.
Ghitc'ang yaa'nii.		They shot it, they say.
	ge7.tc'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	They shot / they say.
Ghigooh yaa'nii.		They speared it, they say.
	ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	They speared / they say.
Ghigooh yaa'nii.		They speared it, they say.
	ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	They speared / they say.
Ghitc'ang yaa'nii.		They shot it, they say.
	ge7.tc'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	They shot / they say.
Ghigooh yaa'nii.		They speared it, they say.
	ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	They speared / they say.
Kaashkiits yiist'aats' yaa'nii.		The old man cut it, they say.
	kac.k"Üts---y"Üs.t'aats---ya^E.n"Ü
	Old man / cut it / they say.
Ghegooh yaa'nii.		They speared it, they say.
	ge7.qo#---ya^E.n"Ü
	They speared / they say.
Kaashkiits yiist'ats' yaa'nii.		The old man cut it, they say.
	kac.k"Üts---y"Üs.t'a7ts---ya^E.n"Ü
	Old man / cut it / they say.
Tcaaheelhsheegh yaa'nii.		It squealed, they say.
	tca.he;.ceG---ya^E.n"Ü
	It squealed / they say.
Uudee' bilh too naaneelhsiil' yaa'nii.		It hit the water with its horn, they say.
	o#.de^E---bu^;---to#---na.ne;.s"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its horn / with / water / it struck / they say.
Beeding yaa'nii.		It died, they say.
	be.du^n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	It died / they say.
Ts'ii' tc'eenyiish yaa'nii, uudee' bilh.		It broke the brush with its horn, they say.
	ts'"Ü^E---tc'en.y"Üc---ya^E.n"Ü---o#.de^E---bu^;
	Brush / it broke, / they say, / its horn / with.
---- Kwong' ghilk'ang yaa'nii.		---- There was a fire burning there, they say.
	-------kwo#n)^E---gu^l.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	---- Fire / was burning / they say.
Uunaaghilhit yaa'nii.		They burned around it, they say.
	o#.na.ge7.;u^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	Around it was burned / they say.
Uusii' kw'it uuniitcit [??] ghilk'an yaa'nii.		There was a fire on the middle of its head, they say.
	o#.s"Ü^E---k'wu^t---o#.n"Ü.tcu^t---gu^l.k'a7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its head / on / its middle / was fire / they say.
Uuchii'-kw'it ghilk'ang yaa'nii.		There was a fire on its tail, they say.
	o#.tc"Ü.k'wu^t---gu^l.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its tail on / was fire / they say.
Naaheestyaa yaa'nii.		They started back home, they say.
	---------------na.hes.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He started back / they say.
Naa'antyaa yaa'nii.		They came back, they say.
	na.u^n.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He came back / they say.
Yeeh-bii' tceeh yaa'nii, lheenee'haa'.		They all whined ("cried") in the house, they say.
	ye.b"Ü^E---tce^c---ya^E.n"Ü---;e.ne^E.ha^E
	House in / he cried, / they say, / all.
"Doohaa' djang noonaatneesh-bang.		"We will not live here.
	---------------do#.ha^E---dja7n)---no#.na.t.nec.bu^n)
	"Not / here / we will live.
Too ntc'ee'-ee.		The water is bad.
	to#---n.tce^E.e
	Water / is bad.
Kweetning too ntc'ee'-ee.		After this the water is bad."
	kwe.t.nu^n)---to#---n.tce^E.e
	After this / water / is bad."
Laa'lhbaa'ang naaheestyai yaa'nii.		Ten of them went back, they say.
	---------------la^E;.ba^E.u^n)---na.hes.t.yai---ya^E.n"Ü
	Ten / went back / they say.
Kw'itnaalk'ang.		There was a fire on it again, they say.
	k'wu^n.nal.k'a7n)
	On it was fire again / they say.
Chooyii-haa' uusii' kw'itnaalk'ang yaa'nii.		Again there was a fire on its head again, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---o#.s"Ü^E---k'wu^n.nal.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / its head / on it was fire again / they say.
Uuchii' kw'itnaalk'ang yaa'nii.		There was a fire on its tail again, they say.
	o#.tc"Ü---k'wu^n.nal.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its tail / on was fire again / they say.
Naaheestyaa yaa'nii, yeeh-bii'ang'.		They went back to the house, they say.
	na.hes.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü---ye.b"Ü^E.u^n)^E
	He went home, / they say, / house in.
"Naasdilk'aan," yaa'n yaa'nii.		"We built a fire again," they said, they say.
	---------------nas.du^l.k'an---ya^En---ya^E.n"Ü
	"We will build fire again," they said, / they say.
Naasang yaa'nii.		They moved, they say.
	na.sa7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	They moved / they say.
Waakw naasang yaa'nii.		They moved away, they say.
	wakw---na.sa7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Away / they moved / they say.
Naaheestyaa yaa'nii.		They went back, they say.
	na.hes.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went back / they say.
Kw'itnaalk'ang yaa'nii.		There was a fire on it again, they say.
	k'wu^n.nal.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	On it was fire again / they say.
Uusii' kw'it' naalk'ang yaa'nii.		There was a fire on its head again, they say.
	o.s"Ü^E---k'wu^t'---nal.k'a7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Its head on / was fire again / they say.
Ts'isnoo' oolit yaa'nii.		The burned over the mountain, they say.
	ts'u^s.no#^E---o#.lu^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	Mountain / they burned / they say.
Naaheestyaa yaa'nii.		They went back, they say.
	na.hes.t.ya---ya^E.n"Ü
	He went back / they say.
Shoong oolit-kwan yaa'nii.		It was burned over well, they say.
	co#n)---o#.lu^t.kwa7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Well / it was burned / they say.
Teelee-bii' yeetc'ooghibiil' yaa'nii.		They put it (the horn) in a sack, they say.
	---------------te.le^E.b"Ü^E---ye.tco#.ge7.b"Ül'---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sack in / he put it in / they say.
Naaheelhtkat yaa'nii.		They went back, they say.
	na.he;.t.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	They went back / they say.
Ghisit yaa'nii.		They pounded it, they say.
	ge7.su^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	He pounded it / they say.
Baaghan'ang teeghiing yaa'nii.		They carried it to the coast, they say.
	ba.gu^n.u^n)---te.gin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Coast to / he carried it / they say.
Choobagh, Naahneesh choobagh ghiltc'iin yaa'nii.		Poison, Indian poison, was made, they say.
	tco#.ba7G---na.nec---tco#.ba7G---gu^l.tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	Poison / Indian / poison / was made / they say.
Beeding yaa'nii, lheenee'haa'.		They all died, they say.
	be.du^n)---ya^E.n"Ü---;e.ne^E.ha^E
	Died, / they say, / all.
Biiyee' sliing' yaa'nii.		It became theirs (the coast people's), they say.
	b"Ü.ye^E---sl"Ün)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Theirs / it became / they say.
---- Kwanlhang.		---- That is all
	-------kwu^n.;a7n)
	---- All.

₁. Goddard footnote 237: "The former Yuki village of Loodaikii (its Kato name) was on main Eel river near or at the mouth of Dutch Henry creek. Such serpents are believed in far north of the Kato."
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).

Goddard's Translation

They were living at Loodaikii. The people kept dying. The girls were soaking buckeye flour. Two dead trout were lying there. The girls put them in the fire to roast. When they were cooked they ate them up. First one and then the other died.
"I am going up the creek, east," said the chief. He found two dead trout, and then one by itself, and still farther on, another. After that he found three. He sat down to rest. After a short time he went on. He found a single dead trout again. Going on again he found two more. Having gone forward again he found two trout that had been bitten in two. Twice, farther on, he found one by itself. He sat down. The creek was now small. He went on. He found slime. There were no trout. He went on climbing up until he stood on the summit. He looked around. He found a pond there. He found its horn. He looked at it. It was looking toward the south. The horn was long and white.
He went home crying. He came home and told his experiences.
"Go to Sherwood valley and get the people. Go to Cahto valley. Go and get the Yuki. Go to Little Lake valley for help, " he commanded.
Poles were made. Four times they made ten poles. They started carrying poles, arrows, and knives. When they came to the place they all took up the poles and speared it. They speared and shot, speared and shot, speared and shot. The old man cut it. They speared it. The old man cut. It squealed. It thrashed the water with its horn. It died. It had broken the brush with its horn.
A fire was burning there. They burned a clear space around the body. On the middle of its head and on its tail they built a fire.
They started back. They came back and all sat in the house crying.
"We will not live here. The water is bad. After this the water will be bad," the old man said.
Ten of them went back and built a fire on its head and tail. They went back to the house.
"We have built a fire on it again," they said. They moved away and lived in another place. They went there again and built a fire on its head. The mountain was burned over. They came home. The mountain was well burned over, they found.
He put it (the horn) in a sack. When they came back he pounded it up and carried it to the coast. They made "Indian poison" of it. Those people all died. It became the property of the coast people.
That is all.

8/30/99 Sally Anderson using perl version 5.034000