Making the Valleys <a name="ret1"><a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a>

	Making the Valleys ¹
	Cahto Language
	from Bill Ray (via Goddard 1909)

Cahto ²		English Translation ³

---- Kwiiyaang, tc'yank'ashtc, lheenee'haa' diibaang iintc'ee' uutc'ing' naasang' yaa'nii, lhaang.		---- The grown men and grown women all moved to the other side (of the stream) to the deer, they say, many of them.
	-------kw"Ü.yan)---tc'.ya7n.k'u^cts---;e.ne^E.ha^E---d"Ü.ban)---in.tce^E---o#.tc'u^n)^E---na.sa7n)^E---ya^E.n"Ü---;an)
	---- Old men, / old women, / all / to other side / deer / to them / moved / they say / many.
"Shkiik nooh'iil-bang.		"My children, you must stay.
	c.k"Ük---no#^c."Ül.bu^n)
	"My children, / you must stay.
Lhaa'haa' nhee'olhkaa-kwiish."		We will only spend one night."
	;a^E.ha^E---n.he.o#;.ka.kwic
	One only / we will pass the night."
Yiiskaan-iit' taakwiilhtan yaa'nii.		When it was daylight they weren't home, they say.
	---------------y"Üs.ka.nit'---ta.kwi;.ta7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Daylight when / they were not home / they say.
Ghilhgheel' yaa'nii.		It was evening, they say.
	gu^;.gel'---ya^E.n"Ü
	It was evening / they say.
Tcaakwghilhgheel' yaa'nii.		It was very dark, they say.
	tca.kw.gu^;.gel'---ya^E.n"Ü
	It was very dark / they say.
Yiiskan yaa'nii.		It was morning, they say.
	yis.ka7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	It was day / they say.
Tcooyii-haa' yiighilhkalh yaa'nii.		It was daylight again, they say.
	tco#.y"Ü.ha^E---y"Ü.gu^;.ka7;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Again / it was daylight / they say.
"Shdjii'doonsit-ii," yaa'tceeh yaa'nii.		"I am lonesome," they cried, they say.
	s.dj"Ü.do#n.su^t.d"Ü---ya^E.tce^c---ya^E.n"Ü
	"I am lonesome," / they cried / they say.
Shoot naayailhk'an yaa'nii, kwong'.		They built a fire in vain, they say, a fire.
	co#t---na.yai;.k'a7n---ya^E.n"Ü---kwo#n)^E
	In vain / they built a fire, / they say, / a fire.
Ilhghil-it yaa'hees'iing' yaa'nii, djiing-hit, uunan kwaa', uutaa' kwa'.		When it was evening they looked, they say, and in the daytime, for their mothers and for their fathers.
	u^;.gu^l.lu^t---ya^E.hes.in)^E---ya^E.n"Ü---djin).hu^t---o#.na7n---kwa^E---o#.ta^E---kwa^E
	It was evening when / they looked, / they say; / day time, / mother / for / father / for.
Doo-naaneesh yaa'nii.		They did not come back, they say.
	do#.na.nec---ya^E.n"Ü.
	Did not come back / they say.
---- "Nditdaash," tc'in yaa'nii, "k'iileeks, kwiiyaantc, t'eektc."		---- "Let's dance," he said, they say, "boys, older boys, and girls."
	-------n.du^t.dac---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü---k'"Ü.leaks---kw"Ü.yants---t'ekts
	---- "Let us dance," / he said / they say, / "boys, / older boys, / girls."
"Heeuu'," tc'in yaa'nii.		"Yes," they said, they say.
	---------------he.u#^E---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Yes," / he said / they say.
"Lhaan tohyaash, nditdaash," tc'in yaa'nii.		"Many of you come, we will dance," he said, they say.
	---------------;an---to#^c.yas---n.du^t.dac---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Many / come, / we will dance," / / he said / they say.
See'eedintc ch'eeghilee' yaa'nii.		Sparrow-hawk sang, they say.
	---------------se.e#.du^ntc---tc'e.gu^l.le^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sparrow-hawk / sang / they say.
"Dee nohyaash, shkiik, t'eektc, dee nolhkat," tc'in yaa'nii.		"Come here my boys and girls, come here!" he said, they say.
	de---no#^c.yas---c.k"Ük---t'ekts---de---no#;.ku^t---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Here / come / my boys / girls / here / come," / he said / they say.
Nghindaash yaa'nii, lhaang.		They danced, they say, many of them.
	n.gu^n.dac---ya^E.n"Ü---;an)
	They danced / they say, / many.
"Shnang doohaa'-naa'intyaa-yee.		"My mother, you haven't come home.
	---------------c.na7n)---do#.ha^E.na.u^n.t.ya.ye
	"My mother / you haven't come home.
Shtaa' doohaa'-naa'intyaa-yee.		My father, you haven't come home.
	c.ta^E---do#.ha^E.na.u^n.t.ya.ye
	My father, / you haven't come home.
Nditdaash lhaan yiilhkai."		We will dance for many days."
	n.du^t.dac---;an---yi;.kai
	We will dance / many / days."
See'eedintc kwsii'daa' t'aa' walhk'its yaa'nii.		Sparrow-hawk put feathers in his hair, they say.
	---------------se.e#.du^ntc---kw.s"Ü^E.da^E---t'a^E---wa7;.k'u^ts---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sparrow-hawk / his head / feather / put in / they say.
Nindaash-kwantin tl'ee' djiing-hit yaa'nii.		They danced in the night and in the day-time, they say.
	nu^n.dac.kwa7n.tu^n---;e^E---djin).hu^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	They danced / night, / day-time / they say.
"Tidaa'aa' diisee'."		"We will take it (the dance) west."
	tu^t.da.^Ea^E---d"Ü.se^E
	"We will take it / west
Kwonteelhbii'-'ing' nindaash.		They danced at Long Valley.
	kwu^n.te;.b"Ü^E.u^n)^E---nu^n.dac
	valley in." / They danced.
Tghinais'an yaa'nii, Nee'nshee'chowbii' ⁴.		The turned around, they say, in Mud Springs.
	t.gu^n.nais.^Ea7n---ya^E.n"Ü---ne^E.n.ce^E.tco#.b"Ü^E
	They turned around / they say, / Mud springs in.
Too nootc'ilhtaal' yaa'nii.		They kicked out the water, they say.
	to#---no#.tc'u^;.tal---ya^E.n"Ü
	Water / they kicked out / they say.
Haisee' yiitees'aang yaa'nii.		They took it (the dance) downhill, they say.
	hai.se^E---y"Ü.tes.^Ean)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Down hill / they took it / they say.
Sais'aanbii' nghindaash yaa'nii.		They danced at "Sand-Lies-Valley", they say.
	sais.^Ean.b"Ü^E---n.gu^n.dac---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sand in / they danced / they say.
Tghinais'an yaa'nii.		They turned around, they say.
	t.gu^n.nais.^Ea7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	They turned around / they say.
Haidee' yiitees'ang yaa'nii.		They took it north, they say.
	hai.de^E---y"Ü.tes.^Ea7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	North / they took it / they say.
Kwonteelhtcbii' haibaan-haa' nainan'ang yaa'nii.		They took it across to Little Valley and the other side of the creek, they say
	kwu^n.te;ts.b"Ü^E---hai.ban.ha^E---nai.nu^n.^Ea7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	"Valley small" / the other side / the took it across / they say.
Haidaa'ang, yiidaa'ang yiitees'ang yaa'nii.		From the north, they took it from the north, they say.
	hai.da^E.u^n)---y"Ü.da^E.u^n)---y"Ü.tes.^Ea7n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the north, / from the north / they took it / they say.
Kowinteelh kwee' bilh nais'aan yaa'nii.		They took it around a level place with their feet, they say.
	ko#.wu^n.te;---kwe^E---bu^;---nais.^Ean---ya^E.n"Ü
	Level / feet / with / they took it around / they say.
Kwonteelhbii'k' diinak' yiitees'aang yaa'nii.		The took it south in Long Valley, they say.
	kwu^n.te;.b"Ü^Ek'---d"Ü.nu^k'---y"Ü.tes.^Ean)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Valley in / south / they took it / they say.
Yiinak' yiighaa'alh yaa'nii.		They were carrying it south, they say.
	y"Ü.nu^k'---y"Ü.ga.^Ea7;---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / they were carrying it / they say.
Ch'ing deeghitts'an yaa'nii.		They heard a sound, they say.
	---------------tc'u^n)---de.gu^t.ts'a7n---ya^E.n"Ü
	Sound / they heard / they say.
"Shkiik nghindaash-kwaang.		"My children have been dancing.
	---------------s.k"Ük---n.gu^n.dac.kwan)
	"My children / have been dancing.
Doohaa' uuts'in' naaheesintyai," tc'in yaa'nii.		You did not go home to them," he said, they say.
	do#.ha^E---o#.ts'u^n^E---na.hes.su^nt.yai---tc'in---ya^E.n"Ü
	Not / to them / you went home," / he said / they say.
Naaltkat yaa'nii.		They came back, they say.
	nal.t.ku^t---ya^E.n"Ü
	They came back / they say.
Nee' ghinteelh yaa'nii.		The ground was flat, they say.
	ne^E---gu^n.te;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Ground / was flat / they say.
Kwonteelh sliing yaa'nii.		Valleys had come to be, they say.
	kwu^n.te;---slin)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Valley / became / they say.
Diinak' kineesh-ghilsilh yaa'nii, diinak'.		In the south talking was heard in the south, they say.
	d"Ü.nu^k'---kin.nec.gu^l.su^;---ya^E.n"Ü---d"Ü.nu^k'
	South / talking was heard / they say, / south.
Diidak' kineesh-ghilsilh yaa'nii		Talking was heard in the east, they say.
	d"Ü.du^k'---kin.nec.gu^l.su^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	East / talking was heard / they say.
Uuyaashtc yaa'ch'oosilhsaan yaa'nii.		They heard it a little, they say.
	o#.yacts---ya^E.tc'o#.su^;.san---ya^E.n"Ü
	Little / they heard / they say.
Nidoo'.		It was gone.
	nu^t.do#^E
	It was gone.
Uudaa' kaanalhts'ii' yaa'nii.		They heard voices again, they say.
	o#.da^E---ka.na7;.ts'"Ü^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Voices / they heard again / they say.
Diidee' uudaa' tilsilh yaa'nii.		Voices came in the north, they say.
	d"Ü.de^E---u#.da^E---tu^l.su^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	North / voices / came / they say.
Uut'aakw yiidee' uudaa' ghilsilh yaa'nii.		The voices came from further north, they say.
	o#.t'akw---y"Ü.de^E---o#.da^E---gu^l.su^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Beyond / north / voices / came / they say.
Neesding uut'aakw yiidee' uuyaashtc naayaa'diits'eegh yaa'nii.		They heard it again a little bit far off in the north, they say.
	nes.du^n)---o#.t'akw---y"Ü.de^E---o#.yacts---na.ya^E.d"Ü.ts'eG---ya^E.n"Ü
	Far / beyond / north / little / they heard again / they say.
Haaghee'dang' uudaa' yeenaaltsilh yaa'nii.		The voices came for a long time, they say.
	ha.Ge^E.du^n)^E---o#.da^E---ye.nal.tsu^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Long time / voices / come again / they say.
Nidoo' yaa'ch'oosilhsaang yaa'nii.		They heard that it was gone, they say.
	nu^t.do#^E---ya^E.tc'o#.su^;.san)---ya^E.n"Ü
	It was gone / they heard / they say.
Diinak' neesding uudaa' ghilsilh yaa'nii.		Far in the south the voices came, they say.
	d"Ü.nu^k'---nes.du^n)---o#.daa^E---gu^l.su^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / far / voices / came / they say.
Haaghee'dang' uudaa' yeenaalhtsilh yaa'nii.		The voices came again for a long time, they say.
	ha.Ge^E.du^n)^E---o#.da^E---ye.na;.tsu^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Long time / voices / came again / they say.
Kwonteelhchowbii' hiinak' uudaa' yiinaalhtsilh yaa'nii.		In the south in Round Valley the voices came, they say.
	kwu^n.te;.tco#.b"Ü^E---h"Ü.nu^k'---o#.da^E---y"Ü.na;.tsu^;---ya^E.n"Ü
	Round valley in / south / voices / came / they say.
Kolk'oschowbii' kwonteel-teelit kwonteelh nchaagh-teelit, haaghee'dang' nindaash yaa'nii.		When Little Lake Valley was becoming flat and was becoming a large valley, they danced a long time, they say.
	ko#l.go#tc.tco#.b"Ü^E---kwu^n.tel.te#.lit---kwu^nte;---n.tcaG.te#.lit---ha.Ge^E.du^n)^E---nu^n.dac---ya^E.n"Ü
	Little Lake / valley becoming when / valley / to be large when / long time / they danced / they say.
Yooyiinak' neesding nghindoo' yaa'nii, yook'ang yooyiinak'.		Far away to the south it vanished, they say, way off in the far south.
	---------------yo#.y"Ü.nu^k'---nes.du^n)---n.gu^n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü---yo#.k'u^n)---yo#.y"Ü.nu^k'
	Far south / far away / it vanished / they say, / way off / far south.
Yiinaa'ang uuyaashtc naadeeghitsaan yaa'nii.		They heard it a little again from the south, they say.
	y"Ü.na.u^n)---o#.yacts---na.de.gu^t.tsan---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the south / little / they heard again / they say.
Nee'-kw'it' naasliing'-itkwanhit naaghitchaah yaa'nii, ch'ing.		Because it was on land again the noise increased again, they say.
	ne^E.k'wu^t'---nas.lin)^E.u^t.kwa7n.hu^t---na.gu^t.tca^c---ya^E.n"Ü---tc'u^n)
	Land on / it was again because / it was big again / they say, / noise.
Nee'-lh'at naasliing'-kwaanhit ch'ing ghinchaah.		When it had come to be in the middle of the earth the noise increased.
	ne^E.;^Eu^t---nas.lin)^E.kwan.hu^t---tc'u^n)---gu^n.tca^c
	World middle / it had become when / noise / increased.
Ghint'ee kanding naasliing' yaa'nii.		Now it came to be close, they say.
	gu^n.t'e#---ku^n.du^n)---nas.lin)^E.ya^E.n"Ü
	Now / close / it became / they say.
Naighaa'alh yaa'nii.		They were bringing it (the dance) back, they say.
	nai.ga.^Ea7;---ya^E.n"Ü
	They were bringing it back / they say.
Yiinaa'ang uut'akw yiidee naighaa'alh yaa'nii.		They were bringing it back way around to the north from the south, they say.
	y"Ü.na.u^n)---o#.t'a7kw---y"Ü.de^E---nai.ga.^Ea7;---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the south / beyond / north / they were bringing it back / they say.
Nee'uuchii'ding haidaa'ang naihees'ang yaa'nii, haidaa'ang.		From the north, they took it back to "World-its-Tail-Place" from the north, they say.
	ne^E.u#.tc"Ü.du^n)---hai.da^E.u^n)---nai.hes.^Ea7n)---ya^E.n"Ü---hai.da^E.u^n)
	"World-its-tail-place" / from the north / they took it back / they say, / from the north.
Wang ghitiiyaash yaa'nii.		Some grew up, they say.
	---------------wu^n---gu^t.t"Ü.yac---ya^E.n"Ü
	Some / became old / they say.
Wang iintc'ee' ghileeh yaa'nii.		Some became deer, they say.
	wu^n)---in.tce^E---gu^l.le---ya^E.n"Ü
	Some / deer / became / they say.
Uuts'iinee yaa'dooming yaa'nii.		Their legs became small, they say.
	o#.ts'in.ne---ya^E.do#.mu^n)---ya^E.n"Ü
	Their legs / became small / they say.
Tc'ninash yaa'nii.		They ran off, they say.
	tc'.nu^n.na7s---ya^E.n"Ü
	They ran off / they say.
Ts'ii'-bii' noonii ghileeh yaa'nii.		In the brush they became grizzlies, they say.
	ts'"Ü^E.b"Ü^E---no#.n"Ü---gu^l.le---ya^E.n"Ü
	Brush in / grizzlies / they became / they say.
Kandin naasliing' yaa'nii.		It came to be near, they say.
	ku^n.du^n---nas.lin)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	Near / it became / they say.
Ts'isnoo' biitaah yeeghinash yaa'nii.		They went in among the mountains, they say.
	ts'u^s.no#^E---b"Ü.ta^c---ye.gu^n.na7c---ya^E.n"Ü
	Mountains / among / they went in / they say.
Diidaa'ang kandintc naasliing' yaa'nii.		It came to be very close from the north, they say.
	d"Ü.da^E.u^n)---ku^n.du^ntc---nas.lin)^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	From the north / very close / it became / they say.
Ch'ing kiinooldeel'.		The noise went.
	tc'u^n)---k"Ü.no#l.del
	Noise / went.
Haidak' yeeghiinai' yaa'nii.		They went in to the east, they say.
	hai.du^k'---ye.g"Ü.nai^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	East / they went in / they say.
Yiinak' yiighinash yaa'nii.		They went in to the south, they say.
	y"Ü.nu^k'---y"Ü.gu^n.na7c---ya^E.n"Ü
	South / they went in / they say.
Hainak'aa' Seetaahding yeeghiinai' yaa'nii.		They went in south along Rock Creek, they say.
	hai.nu^k.k'a^E---se.ta^c.du^n)---ye.g"Ü.nai^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	South along / Rock creek / they went in / they say.
Nghindoo' yaa'nii.		It (the noise) vanished, they say.
	n.gu^n.do#^E---ya^E.n"Ü
	It vanished / they say.
---- Kwanlhang.		---- That is all.
	-------kwu^n.;a7n)
	---- All.

₁. Goddard footnote 223: "This myth was obtained a short time after the earthquake of 1906, and was suggested by the disappearance as a result of it of a large mud-spring in Redemeyer's pasture, northwest of Laytonville. Each movement and incident explains some topographical feature."
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 139: "ne' [nee'] 'land,' n.ce' [nshee'] 'bad,' tcoo [chow] 'big,' bii' [bii'] 'in'; a large mud spring surrounded by mire. This spring disappeared after the earthquake of 1906."

Goddard's Translation

The grown men and women all moved to the other side of the stream to hunt deer. "You must stay here," the chief told the children. "We will only be gone one night."
When it was day they did not come back. It was evening; it was very dark; it was morning. Again it was day. " I am lonesome, "each was saying. In vain they built a fire. When it was evening they looked. During the day they watched for their fathers and mothers.
"Come, let us dance," said one of them. "Yes," said the boys and girls. "Many of you come and we will dance," he said. Sparrow-hawk sang. "Come here, my boys and girls," he said. A large number danced. "My mother, you haven't come. My father, you haven't come home. We will dance many days."
Sparrow-hawk put feathers in his hair. They danced day and night. "We will take the dance west," said the leader. They danced at Rancheria flat. They circled in the water at Mud Springs. They stamped the water out. They took the dance down the hill. They danced on the drifting sand. They circled around. They took the dance north to the mouth of Ten mile creek and then to the other side of the river. They brought the dance back from the north. They made a level place with their feet. They went south through Long valley with the dance.
The old people heard the sound of the dance. "My children have been dancing," the chief said. "You did not go home to them." They came home and found the ground was now flat and that valleys had become. They heard the noise of talking to the south. They afterwards heard it to the east. It grew faint and ceased. They heard the voices again as the children went way around to the north. The sounds they heard were faint. They heard them for some time and then they ceased again. Far north the voices came again. A long time they heard the noise coming from Round Valley. When Little Lake Valley was becoming flat and large, they danced a long time.
Far south the sound vanished. They went way to the south. They heard it faintly again coming back from the south. As they came back into the world the sound grew. When they were in the middle of the world the noise became greater. They were bringing back the dance. From the south they were taking it way around to the north. They brought it back from NeuutciiduN.
Some were becoming grown. Some became deer. Their legs became small. Others ran away into the brush and became grizzlies. They were coming near. They went in among the mountains. They were very close as they came from the north. They went into the mountains to the east. They went into the mountains to the south. South along Rock creek they went in. The noise was gone.
That is all.

8/30/99 Sally Anderson using perl version 5.034000