[bintcbil uut'aa' = Red-shafted Flicker's feather] The Stealing of Fire
Cahto Language

from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)

California Athabaskan Languages & Cultures homepage Index of Stories Goddard's translation
Cahto 1English Translation 2

---- Kwong' ndoo' yaa'nii. ---- There was no fire, they say.
-------kwo#n)E---n.do#E---yaE.n"Ü
---- Fire / was not / they say.
Kwong' ndoo'-hit, skii naatcil 3 ghilghee' yaa'nii. An orphan boy was whipped, they say.
kwo#n)E---n.do#E.hu^t---sk"Ü---na.tcu^l---gu^l.geE---yaE.n"Ü
Fire / was not when / boy / orphan / was whipped / they say.
Tc'eelghaal' yaa'nii. He was thrown out (of the house), they say.
tc'el.gal---yaE.n"Ü
He was thrown out / they say.
Tceeh yaa'nii. He cried, they say.
tcec---yaE.n"Ü
He cried / they say.
Tees'iing' yaa'nii. He looked, they say.
tes."Ün)E---yaE.n"Ü
He looked / they say.
"Kwong' s'aanii," tc'in yaa'nii. "Fire is lying there," he said, they say.
kwo#n)E---s'a.n"Ü---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Fire lies," / he said / they say.
" ishsaan,> tc'in-ii skii daanjii oolhghee'? "Who whipped the boy who is saying, 'I found fire'?"
---------------kwo#n)E---u^s.san---tc'u^n.n"Ü---sk"Ü---dan.tc"Ü---o#;.geE
"'Fire / I find,' / he says. / Boy / who / whipped?
Tc'eenohyaash oohtgish!" Go out and look!" 4
tc'e.no#c.yas---o#c.t.gu^c
Go out. / Look."
Tc'eenyai. He went out.
---------------tc'en.yai
He went out.
"Taahjii kwong' ilsaan?" "Where did you see fire?"
ta.tc"Ü---kwo#n)E---u^l.san
"Where / fire / did you see?"
"Diidee' kwong' ishsaang, oontgish!" "I saw fire in the north. Look!"
---------------d"Ü.deE---kwo#n)E---u^s.san)---o#n.t.gu^c
"North / fire / I saw. / Look."
"Oohtgish lheenee'haa', skii kwong' yiilhsang-kwang." "Look, everybody! The boy has found fire."
---------------o#c.t.gu^c---;e.neE.haE---sk"Ü---kwo#n)E---yi;.sa7n).kwa7n)
"Look, / all. / Boy / fire / has found."
"Lh'ang-haa', oonohlang kwong'. "So it is. Go after the fire!
---------------;Eu^n).haE---o#.no#c.la7n)---kwo#n)E
"So it is. / Go after / fire.
Taahjii Ch'siitcing? Where is Coyote?
ta.tc"Ü---tc's"Ü.tcu^n)
Where / Coyote?
Kwaatohyaash. Go after him.
kwa.to#c.yac
Go for him.
Tcleeliintc taahjii? Where is Hummingbird?
tc'.le#.lintc---ta.tc"Ü
Humming-bird / where?
Kwoonohlan." Get him."
kwo#.no#c.la7n
Get him."
"Kaa' tcleeliintc tc'ninyai. "OK, Hummingbird arrived.
---------------kaE---tc.le#.lintc---tc'.nu^n.yai
`"Well, / Humming-bird / came.
Ch'siitcin tc'gaal." Coyote is walking."
tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n---tc'.qal
Coyote / walks."
"Laa'lhbaa'an tohyaash, kwong' oonohlang." "Ten 5 of you go and get fire."
---------------laE;.baE.u^n---to#c.yas---kwo#n)E---o#.no#c.la7n)
"Ten / go. / Fire / get."
---- Tc'teesyai yaa'nii. ---- They set out, they say.
-------tc't.tes.yai---yaE.n"Ü
---- They went / they say.
Tc'ninyaa yaa'nii, Shiishbii'. They arrived at Red Mountain, they say.
tc'.nu^n.ya---yaE.n"Ü---c"Üc.b"ÜE
They arrived / they say / Red mountain.
Kwaanee' ts'islaa yaa'nii. His arms were held around it, they say.
kwa.neE---ts'u^s.la---yaE.n"Ü
His arms / be held around it / they say.
Kwong' kw'it', Djiikwong'chow kwong' kw'it' s'istiing yaa'nii. On the fire, the Spider lay on the fire, they say.
kwo#n)E---k'wu^t'---dj"Ü.kwo#n).tco#---kwo#n)E---k'wu^t'---s'u^s.t"Ün)---yaE.n"Ü
Fire / on / Spider / fire / on / lay / they say.
Tc'nilkat yaa'nii. They arrived, they say.
---------------tc'.nu^l.ku^t---yaE.n"Ü
They arrived / they say.
"Ch'siitcing aashoo'ileeh." "Coyote, get dressed up!"
tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)---a.co#E.u^l.lec
"Coyote / dress yourself."
"Aatshoo'ishleeh chin uunoo'," tc'in yaa'nii. "I will get dressed behind a tree," he said, they say.
---------------a.tco#.u^c.lec---tcu^n---u#.no#E---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"I will dress myself / tree / behind," / he said / they say.
"Heeuu'," tc'in yaa'nii. "Yes," he said, they say.
---------------he.u#E---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Yes," / he said / they say.
Kwsii' nees sliin-kwan yaa'nii. His head (hair) had become long, they say.
---------------kw.s"ÜE---nes---slin.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
His head / long / had become / they say.
Aadee'ch'istl'oo-kwan yaa'nii. He had put on a belt, they say.
a.deE.tc'u^s.;o#.kwa7n---yaE.n"Ü
He had girded himself / they say.
"Oohtgish shghaa' shiiyee', shinditc," tc'in yaa'nii. "Look at my hair, cousin," he said, they say.
---------------o#c.t.gu^c---s.gaE---c"Ü.yeE---cu^n.du^tc---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Look at / my hair / mine, / cousin," / he said / they say.
"Tcleeliintc, kaa', niing aashoo'ileeh." "Well, Hummingbird, you get dressed."
---------------tc.le#.lintc---kaE---n"Üng---a.co#E.u^l.lec
"Humming-bird, / come, / you / dress yourself."
"Heeuu' chuunoo'." "Yes, behind a tree."
---------------he.u#E---tcu#.no#E
"Yes, / tree behind."
Lhtsow s'isliin-kwaan yaa'nii. He had become blue, they say.
---------------;.tso#---s'u^s.lin.kwan---yaE.n"Ü
Blue / he had become / they say.
"Lhtciik isleeh," tc'in yaa'nii, Tcleeliintc, "Shoohtigish!" "I am red," Hummingbird said, they say, "Look at me!"
---------------;.tc"Ük---u^s.lec---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü---tc.le#.lintc---co#c.tu^g.gu^c
"Red / I am," / he said / they say, / Humming-bird. / "Look at me."
"Kaa', noodoo', olhk'aan; nishdaash." "OK, go on and build a fire; I will dance."
---------------kaE---no#.do#E---o#;.k'an---nu^c.dac
"Well, / go ahead, / build a fire, / I will dance."
"Kwong' ndoo-ii'angii." "There is no fire."
---------------kwo#n)E---n.do#i.u^n.g"Ü
"Fire / is not. [surprise]"
"Taahjiikaa? K'ang kwong' ndil'iing'," tc'in yaa'nii. "Where is the fire we just saw?" he asked, they say.
---------------ta.tc"Ü.ka---k'u^n)---kwo#n)E---n.du^l."Ün)E---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Where? / Just now / fire / we saw," / he said / they say.
"Nishdaash; lheenee'haa' shnoolh'iing'. "I will dance; Everybody look at me!
---------------nu^c.dac---;e.neE.haE---c.no#;."Ün)E
"I will dance / all / look at me.
Ch'dohlee yiibaantaak', ch'dohlee shaa nishdaash," kaashghantghinii 6. Eight of you sing, sing for me as I dance," he exhorted them.
tc'.do#c.le---y"Ü.ban.tak'---tc'.do#c.le---ca---nu^c.dac---kac.gu^n.t.gu^n.n"Ü
Sing / eight / sing / for me. / I will dance," / he exhorted them.
"Heeuu'," yaa'n yaa'nii. "Yes," they said, they say.
---------------he.u#E---yaEn---yaE.n"Ü
"Yes," / they said / they say.
Lheenee'haa' ninyai. All of them came.
---------------;e.neE.haE---nu^n.yai
All / came.
Tc'ghindaash yaa'nii. He danced, they say.
tc'.gu^n.dac---yaE.n"Ü
He danced / they say.
Ghint'ee Kwong' gaal. Now Fire 7 walked.
gu^n.t'e#---kwo#n)E---qal
Now / fire / walked.
"Chin naadolh'aa'." "Pile up some wood!"
---------------tcu^n---na.do#;.EaE
"Wood / pile up."
"Heeuu'." "Yes!"
---------------he.u#E
"Yes."
Chin naa'tghilh'ai'. The wood was piled up.
---------------tcu^n---na.t.gu^;.EaiE
Wood / was piled up.
Tc'ghindaash yaa'nii, Ch'siitcing. Coyote danced, they say.
tc'.gu^n.dac---yaE.n"Ü---tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)
He danced / they say, / Coyote.
Tcleeliintc chin naa'tghilh'ai' uulai' tc'neesdaa yaa'nii. Hummingbird sat down on top of the wood that was piled up, they say.
tc.le#.lintc---tcu^n---na.t.gu^;.EaiE---u#.laiE---tc'.nes.da---yaE.n"Ü
Humming-bird / wood / piled up / its top / he sat / they say.
Ch'siitcing kwdiishee' tc'ilhnaat' naakaa'-haa' yaa'nii. Coyote licked both of his shoulders, they say.
tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)---kw.d"Ü.ceE---tcu^;.nat'---na.kaE.haE---yaE.n"Ü
Coyote / his shoulders / licked / both / they say.
Kwong' doo-slaang diikwaang yaa'nii. Fire did not laugh at what he did, they say.
kwo#n)E---do#.slan)---d"Ü.kwan)---yaE.n"Ü
Fire / did not laugh / what he did / they say.
Tcleeliintc, Ch'siitcing lhtc'ing' keeneesh, "Niidaash-dee', kwong' tc'eelhtash-bang." Hummingbird and Coyote talked together: "When I dance, you must carry the fire outside."
tc.le#.lintc---tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)---;.tc'u^n)E---ke.nec---n"Ü.dac.deE---kwo#n)---tc'e;.ta7c.bu^n)
Humming-bird / Coyote / together talked / "I dance when / fire / you must carry out."
Ch'siitcing tc'nindaash. Coyote danced.
---------------tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)---tc'.nu^n.dac
Coyote / danced.
Kwtcook' s'isnaat' yaa'nii. He licked his testicles, they say.
kw.tco#k---s'u^s.nat'---yaE.n"Ü
His testicles / he licked / they say.
Kwong' tc'ghilaang yaa'nii. Fire laughed, they say.
kwo#n)E---tc'.gu^l.lan)---yaE.n"Ü
Fire laughed / they say.
Tcleeliintc kwong' tc'ee'iilhtan yaa'nii. Hummingbird took the fire outside, they say.
tc.le#.lintc---kwo#n)E---tc'e.i;.ta7n---yaE.n"Ü
Humming-bird / fire / he took out / they say.
S'isk'aan yaa'nii. He built a fire, they say.
s'u^s.k'an---yaE.n"Ü
He built a fire / they say.
Naaghilkaal haidaa'ang yaa'nii. He walked back from the north, they say.
na.gu^l.kal---hai.daE.u^n)---yaE.n"Ü
He walked back / from the north / they say.
Ts'isnoo' stighinlhil naaghilhilh yaa'nii. He set the mountains on fire and burned over them, they say.
ts'u^s.no#E---s.tu^g.gu^n.;u^l---na.gu^;.;u^;---yaE.n"Ü
Mountains / he set on fire. / He burned over / they say.
Haidaa'ang lheenee'haa' naahneesh kwong' yeeteelhtaan yaa'nii. All the people took fire from the north, they say.
hai.daE.u^n)---;e.neE.haE---na.nec---kwo#n)E---ye.te;.tan---yaE.n"Ü
From the north / all / people / fire / took / they say.
"Nshoong kwaa'laagh-ee, Ch'siitcing, kwong'. "Coyote did well regarding fire.
---------------n.co#n)---kwaE.la.Ge---tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)---kwo#n)E
"Well / he did / Coyote / fire.
Tcleeliintc nshoong kwaa'laagh-ee, kwong' ch'teelhchoot-ee." Hummingbird did well, he stole fire."
tc.le#.lintc---n.co#n)---kwaE.la.Ge---kwo#n)E---k't.te;.tco#.de
Humming-bird / well / he did / fire / he stole."
"Diinak' tinlhit, Ch'siitcing. "You burn in the south, Coyote!
d"Ü.nu^k'---tu^n.;u^t---tc'.s"Ü.tcu^n)
"South / you burn, / Coyote.
Naahneesh lheenee'haa' kwong' biiyee'-bang." Fire will belong to all people."
na.nec---;e.neE.haE---kwo#n)E---b"Ü.yeE.bu^n)
People / all / fire / theirs / will be."
"Heeuu' kaashbii' tishlhilh-jaa'." "Yes, I will burn tomorrow."
---------------he.u#E---kac.b"ÜE---tu^c.;u^;.djaE
"Yes, / tomorrow / I will burn."
"Yook' nee' uunaananlhit-bang," yaa'kwolhtc'in yaa'nii. "You must burn all around the earth," they told him, they say.
---------------yo#k'---neE---u#.na.nu^n.;u^b.bu^n)---yaE.kwo#;.tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
"Way / earth / around you must burn," / they told him / they say.
Tc'teelhit yaa'nii. He burned along, they say.
---------------tc't.te.;u^t---yaE.n"Ü
He burned along / they say.
"Uut'akw ghint'ee nee'-lh'at naaniilhit-ee. "Now we have burned all the way back to the middle of the earth.
---------------o#.t'u^kw---gu^n.t'e#---neE.;Eu^t---na.n"Ü.;u^t.de
"Way back / now / earth middle / we have burned.
Lheenee'haa' kwong' yeeteelhtaan-ee," tc'in yaa'nii. Everyone has taken some fire," he said, they say.
;e.neE.haE---kwo#n)E---ye.te;.ta.ne---tc'in---yaE.n"Ü
All / fire / have taken," / he said / they say.
"Ghint'ee naaniidil-ee. "Now we are getting back.
---------------gu^n.t'e#---na.n"Ü.du^l.le
"Now / we are getting back.
Kaakw ghinyaalh. Walk quickly.
kakw---gu^n.ya;
Quickly / walk.
Kandin-ee iighiilit-'angii." We are burning close by."
ku^n.du^n.ne---"Ü.g"Ü.lu^t.u^n).g"Ü
Close / we are burning."
"Heeuu' naaniideel-eekwaanang." "Yes, we have gotten back.
---------------he.u#E---na.n"Ü.de.le#.kwa7n.na7n)
"Yes, / we are getting back.
"Naaniideel-ee." "We have gotten back."
---------------na.n"Ü.de.le
We are back."
---- Kwanlhang. ---- That is all.
-------kwu^n.;a7n)
---- All.

1. 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].
2. 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).
3. gfn 131: "The word seems to be used of one entirely without relatives."
4. gfn 222: "In many cases the speaker is not indicated. Unless there are reasons to believe otherwise in a particular case, the chief is to be understood, especially where orders are given."
5. In the flowing translation from Goddard this is given as "eleven." The Cahto word is definitely "ten."
6. gfn 133: "kac [kaash], plural third person of the pronoun; gun [ghan], postposition; t.gun.nii [tghinii] = Hupa duu.wen.ne. The word is said to be usually employed of public speaking.
7. gfn 134: "In the use of 'fire' for djii.kwoon.tcoo [Djiikwong'chow], its possessor, we may see a figure of speech or an actual identification of the two."

Goddard's Translation

There was no fire. An orphan boy was whipped and put outside of the house. He cried there where he was thrown out. He looked and began saying, "Fire lies over there. I see fire."
"Who whipped that boy? Go and find out what he is saying."^222
One went out and asked, "Where did you see fire?"
"I saw fire toward the north. Look."
"Everybody look. The boy has found fire."
"So it is," said the chief. "Go after fire. Where is Coyote? Go after him. Where is Humming-bird? Get him."
"Humming-bird has come. Coyote is coming."
"Eleven of you go and get fire," commanded the chief.
They set out. They arrived at Red Mountain. Big spider was lying on the fire with his arms clasped around it.
When they had come there they said to Coyote, "Coyote, dress yourself."
"I will dress myself behind a tree," he said.
"Yes," they said.
His head( hair) became long and he put on a belt.
"Cousin, look at my hair," he said when he came out.
"Humming-bird, come, you dress."
"Yes, behind the tree."
He became blue.
"I have become red. Look at me," Humming-bird said.
"Go on, build a fire, I am going to dance," one of them told Spider.
"There is no fire," Spider said.
"Where is the fire we saw just now?" they replied.
"Everybody watch me. I will dance. Eight of you sing for me," he told them.
"Yes," they replied.
They all came to the dancing place. He danced. Then Spiders came with the fire.
"Pile up some wood," the leader said.
"Yes," they replied.
The wood was piled up. Humming-bird sat on top of it while Coyote danced. Coyote began licking his shoulders to make them laugh. Spider held to the fire and did not laugh. Coyote and Humming-bird had talked together. "When I dance, you must carry the fire outside," Coyote said.
Coyote danced. He kept licking himself. When he reached his privates and licked them, Spider laughed. Humming-bird seized the fire and went out with it. He built a fire. As they came back from the north they burned the mountains over. Everybody along the way got some of the fire.
"Coyote and Humming-bird did well to steal the fire," the chief commented. "You must set fires toward the south. Fire will belong to all the people."
"Yes, tomorrow I will set tires."
"You must burn entirely around the world," the chief told them.
They set fires along.
"We have burned around to the middle of the world. Everybody has fire."
"Now we are getting nearly back. Walk fast. We are burning close by now."
"Yes, we are arriving."
"We have arrived."
8/30/99 Sally Anderson using perl version 5.034000