Daisy Jones: "The Perils of Weasel" (1957)

Primary participants: Daisy Jones (speaker), William Bright (researcher)
Date: 1957
Project identifier: WB_KL-20
Publication details: William Bright, The Karok Language (1957), pp. 210-213, Text 20
Additional contributor: Erik Maier (annotator)

Note: Bright: "This version of the Weasel story could not be obtained entirely in Karok, since the informant kept switching into English in spite of herself. The lacunae in the Karok text are indicated by dots (. . .); a condensation of the English material which the informant supplied at these points is given, set off by parentheses, in the translation."

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Text display mode: paragraph | sentence | word | word components

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[1]	âanaxus	u-thítiim-ti	táay	tá	kin-íykar	áraar-as
	weasel	3s(>3)-hear-DUR	much	PERF	3pl>3pl-beat	human-PL

Weasel heard that they were killing a lot of people.

[2]	xás	u-piip	kîit	chími	naa	tá	ni-vâaram
	then	3s(>3)-say	maternal.grand-relative.through.woman	soon	1sg.	PERF	1s(>3)-go

And he said, "Grandmother, I'm going.

[3]	xâatik	naa	káruk	ni-vâaram
	it's.better	1sg.	upriver	1s(>3)-go

Let me go upriver!"

---

[4]	xás	kîit	u-piip	xáyfaat
	then	maternal.grand-relative.through.woman	3s(>3)-say	don't!

And (his) grandmother said, "Don't.

[5]	xáy	iykár-ap
	let.not	beat-INV

Don't let them kill you."

---

[6]	xás	u-piip	xâatik	vúra	ni-vâaram
	then	3s(>3)-say	it's.better	Intensive	1s(>3)-go

And he said, "Let me go!"

[7]	xás	ú-kyav	pá-yuux	ú-kyav	ú-kyav
	then	3s(>3)-make	the-dirt	3s(>3)-make	3s(>3)-make

And he fixed sand, he fixed it and fixed it.

[8]	xás	vaa	káan	pa-mu-píkvas	u-hyákurih
	then	so	there	the-3sPOSS-plume	3s(>3)-stick.in

And he stuck his headdress-feather in there.

[9]	xás	u-pêer	pa-mu-kîit	p-ee-máh-aak	nani-píkvas	t-óo	kyívunih	tá	ni-'iv
	then	3s(>3)-say.to	the-3sPOSS-maternal.grand-relative.through.woman	the-2s(>3)-see-when	1sPOSS-plume	PERF-3s(>3)	fall.downward	PERF	1s(>3)-die

And he told his grandmother, "When you see my headdress-feather fall down, I'm dead."

---

[10]	vúra	uum	hitíhaan	kuma-súpaa	p-óo-muus-ti	pá-pikvas
	Intensive	3.SG	always	3sPOSS-day	NOMZ-3s(>3)-see-DUR	the-plume

She looked at the headdress-feather every day (while he was gone).

[11]	axmáy	ík	vúra	yav
	suddenly	must	Intensive	good

At one moment it would be good.

[12]	xás	vúra	ii	xáas	vúra	u-kyívuni	pa-mu-píkvas	t-óo	xus	ii	t-u-'iv
	then	Intensive	oh!	almost	Intensive	3s(>3)-fall.downward	the-3sPOSS-plume	PERF-3s(>3)	think	oh!	PERF-3s(>3)-die

Then alas! his headdress-feather would almost fall, she would think, "Alas, he's dead!"

---

[13]	pa-pihnîich	u-piip	yôotva	nini-'íkam
	the-old.man	3s(>3)-say	hurray!	1sPOSS-son-in-law

(He went upriver and met an old man living with his family.) The old man said, "Hurray, my son-in-law.

[14]	táay	pa-'áama
	much	the-salmon

There are lots of salmon.

[15]	vúra	yítha	kéech
	Intensive	one	big

There's one real big one.

[16]	vaa	kíri	ni-'av	pa-kéech
	that	I.wish	1s(>3)-eat	the-big

Let me eat that one, the big one!"

---

[17]	xás	u-piip	chémi	imáan	ník	ni-ykár-eesh
	then	3s(>3)-say	all.right	tomorrow	a.little	1s(>3)-beat-FUT

And (Weasel) said, "All right, I'll kill it tomorrow."

---

[18]	pa-'asiktavan-'îin	kun-ipêer	xáyfaat	xáyfaat	i-vâaram
	the-woman-TOPIC	3pl(>3s)-say.to	don't!	don't!	2s(>3)-go

The women told him, "Don't, don't go."

[19]	uumkun	kun-'áapunmu-ti	púxay	áama-hara
	they	3pl(>3s)-know-DUR	not.yet	salmon-NEG

They knew it was not a salmon.

(Bright: "The 'salmon' was really a long-snake, as in" WB_KL-18.)

---

[20]	xás	vúra	u-vâaram
	then	Intensive	3s(>3)-go

Then he went.

[21]	xás	ú-ykar	pa-'áama
	then	3s(>3)-beat	the-salmon

And he killed the salmon.

[22]	xás	u-piip	chémi	tá	ní-ykar	pa-'áama
	then	3s(>3)-say	all.right	PERF	1s(>3)-beat	the-salmon

And he said, "All right, I've killed the salmon."

[23]	xás	ú-xrar	pa-pihnîich	hínupa	mú-'aramah
	then	3s(>3)-weep	the-old.man	surprise	3sPOSS-child

And the old man cried, it was his child.

---

[24]	xás	u-'árihroov
	then	3s(>3)-go.upriver

Then (Weasel) went upriver.

[25]	xás	kúkuum	káan	uum	kun-'áraarahi-ti	áraar
	then	again	there	3.SG	3pl(>3s)-live.(pl.)-DUR	human

And again people were living there.

[26]	oo	yôotva	nini-'íkam	yôotva
	oh!	hurray!	1sPOSS-son-in-law	hurray!

(The old man said), "Oh, hurray, my son-in-law, hurray!

[27]	vaa	máruk	páykuuk	kinínaasich	ú-krii
	so	uphill	over.there	pet	3s(>3)-live

(My) pet is uphill there.

[28]	víri	vaa	ni-xú-tih	kíri	ni-'axaychákish
	so	so	1s(>3)-think-DUR	I.wish	1s(>3)-grab

I am thinking, 'Let me catch him!'"

---

[29]	xás	u-piip	chôora
	then	3s(>3)-say	let's.go

And (Weasel) said, "Let's go."

[30]	xás	mâa	páykuuk	pa-kinínaasich	iinâak	u-tnúpuk-va
	then	look!	over.there	the-pet	indoors	3s(>3)-look.outdoors-PL.ACT

And behold, there the pet peeked out from inside (a nest).

[31]	xás	axmáy	u-kréemyah	u-kréemyah
	then	suddenly	3s(>3)-blow	3s(>3)-blow

And suddenly the wind blew and blew.

[32]	xás	p-oo-kréemya	pa-'áptiik	koovúra	u-vrárasur
	then	NOMZ-3s(>3)-blow	the-branch	all	3s(>3)-fall.off.(pl.)

And when it blew, the branches all fell off.

[33]	uum	vúra	vaa	âanaxus	ú-kriivku-ti	pa-'ípaha
	3.SG	Intensive	so	weasel	3s(>3)-hold.on.to-DUR	the-tree

Weasel held on to the tree.

(Weasel was climbing a tree to get the old man's pet bird, as he did to get the wind-eggs in" WB_KL-18 "and the long-snakes in" WB_KL-19.)

[34]	t-óo	ykar	p-áachviiv
	PERF-3s(>3)	beat	the-bird

He killed the bird.

[35]	pa-pihnîich	mú-'arama	tá	kun-íykar
	the-old.man	3sPOSS-child	PERF	3pl(>3s)-beat

He killed the old man's child.

---

[36]	sáruk	u-'íipma
	downhill	3s(>3)-return

He arrived back downhill.

[37]	xás	u-piip	chémi	tá	ni-vâaram
	then	3s(>3)-say	all.right	PERF	1s(>3)-go

And he said, "All right, I'm going."

[38]	káruk	u-'árihroov
	upriver	3s(>3)-go.upriver

He went upriver.

---

[39]	xás	vaa	káan	pihnîich	ú-krii	áxak	pa-'avansáxiitich-as	kun-kunaaskúnas-hi-tih
	then	so	there	old.man	3s(>3)-live	two	the-boy-PL	3pl(>3s)-play.on.teeter-totter-DUR

And an old man was there, (and) two little boys were playing on a teeter-totter.

[40]	ú-pêer	pa-pihníich	chími	nu-kunaaskúnas-hi-tih
	3s(>3)-say.to	the-old.man	soon	1pl(>3)-play.on.teeter-totter-DUR

The old man said to them, "Let's (you and I) play on the teeter-totter."

---

[41]	xás	âanaxus	u-piip	pûuhara
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-say	no

And Weasel said, "No."

---

[42]	xás	pihnîich	kun-ipêer	ôok	naa
	then	old.man	3pl(>3s)-say.to	here	come

And the old man said, "Come here!"

---

[43]	xás	âanaxus	u-piip	chími	nuu	ka'íru
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-say	soon	we	also

And Weasel said, "Let me and you (do it) too."

---

[44]	chémi
	all.right

"All right."

---

[45]	xás	pa-pihnîich	ú-skaaksur
	then	the-old.man	3s(>3)-jump.off

Then the old man jumped off (the teeter-totter).

[46]	xás	u-piip	yôotva	u-'iv	yôotva	u-'iv	yôotva	u-'iv
	then	3s(>3)-say	hurray!	3s(>3)-die	hurray!	3s(>3)-die	hurray!	3s(>3)-die

And he said, "Hurray, he's dead, hurray, he's dead, hurray, he's dead!"

(Bright: "The Indian teeter-totter seems to have been a flexible board, anchored at one end. One person would bounce up and down on the free end, while another would sit in front of him and ride. If the former person jumped off the board at the end of its downward motion, the rider would be propelled upward with some force.")

---

[47]	xás	âanaxus	u-piip	hûut	i-pí-tih
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-say	how	2s(>3)-say-DUR

And Weasel said, "What are you saying?"

---

[48]	ni-pí-ti	kêemachkoo	nini-'íkam
	1s(>3)-say-DUR	poor.(pitiable)	1sPOSS-son-in-law

"I'm saying, 'My poor son-in-law!'"

---

[49]	xás	âanaxus	u-piip	chími	ôok	naa	chími	nu-kunaaskúnas-hi-tih
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-say	soon	here	come	soon	1pl(>3)-play.on.teeter-totter-DUR

Then Weasel said, "Come here, let's play on the teeter-totter."

---

[50]	pihnîich	u-piip	pûuhara
	old.man	3s(>3)-say	no

The old man said, "No."

---

[51]	xás	âanaxus	ú-skaaksur	pihnîich	á'	u-kyívuraa
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-jump.off	old.man	above	3s(>3)-be.propelled.up

(But Weasel forced the old man to get on.) Then Weasel jumped off, (and) the old man flew up into the air.

[52]	xás	pihnîich	u-piip	yôotva	íf	yáv	tá	née-kyav
	then	old.man	3s(>3)-say	hurray!	truly	good	PERF	2s/3s>1s-make

And the old man said, "Hurray, I'm really doing well.

[53]	naa	vúra	ôok	ni-krêe-vish
	1sg.	Intensive	here	1s(>3)-live-FUT

I'm going to stay here."

(Bright: "The old man became the sun.")

---

[54]	xás	âanaxus	t-óo	naa	pa-'áraar	kun-iykára-naa-ti	âanaxus
	then	weasel	PERF-3s(>3)	go.uphill	the-human	3pl(>3s)-beat-PL-DUR	weasel

Then Weasel went upriver, the people were killing (i.e., trying to kill) Weasel.

---

[55]	áxruu	áhup	mûuk	kun-íktiin-vu-ti
	gray.squirrel	wood	with.(by.means.of)	3pl(>3s)-hit.by.throwing-PL.ACT-DUR

(Weasel met two boys who were trying to hunt gray squirrels, but had no bows.) They were throwing sticks at the gray squirrels.

[56]	xás	âanaxus	u-xus	kêemachkoo-s
	then	weasel	3s(>3)-think	poor.(pitiable)-PL

And Weasel thought, "Poor fellows!"

[57]	xás	u-xus	chími	kan-ikyav	xuskáamhar
	then	3s(>3)-think	soon	1s(>3)-make	bow

And he thought, "Let me make a bow."

[58]	xás	ú-kyav
	then	3s(>3)-make

So he made it.

[59]	xás	u-piip	chími	kúniihk-i	pa-'áxruuh
	then	3s(>3)-say	soon	shoot.at-IMPER	the-gray.squirrel

And he said, "Shoot the gray squirrels."

---

[60]	xás	u-kúniihka	u-kyívunih
	then	3s(>3)-shoot.at	3s(>3)-fall.downward

Then they shot (a squirrel), (and) it fell down.

[61]	oo	xás	yôotva	yôotva
	oh!	then	hurray!	hurray!

Oh, then (they said), "Hurray, hurray!

[62]	pa-vúra	i-xus-áhaak	kúnish	chí	kanee-ykár-eesh	vúra	i-kpêehv-eesh	ík
	NOMZ-Intensive	2s(>3)-think-when	sort.of	soon	3pl>1s-beat-FUT	Intensive	2s(>3)-shout-FUT	must

Whenever you think they are sort of about to kill you, you must shout.

[63]	ník	vaa	káan	nu-'úum-eesh
	a.little	so	there	1pl(>3)-arrive-FUT

We will go there (to help you)."

---

[64]	xás	u-xus	chími	ni-'ív-eesh
	then	3s(>3)-think	soon	1s(>3)-die-FUT

(Weasel was again sent by an old man to fight a monster. The monster was getting the better of Weasel.) And he thought, "I'm going to die."

[65]	víri	pa-kéevniikich	ú-muus-ti	pa-mu-píkvas
	so	the-old.woman.(dimin.)	3s(>3)-look.at-DUR	the-3sPOSS-plume

The old woman (his grandmother) was looking at his headdress-feather.

[66]	kári	xás	u-kpêehva
	then	then	3s(>3)-shout

Then he shouted.

[67]	axmáy	kun-'áhoo	pa-'avansáxiich
	suddenly	3pl(>3s)-go	the-boy

Suddenly the boys came.

---

[68]	xás	kun-ipêer	vaa	káan	kúniihk-i	mu-fithíhkaam	mu-pîimich	vaa	káan	pa-mú-thvaay	u-tháaniv
	then	3pl(>3s)-say.to	so	there	shoot.at-IMPER	3sPOSS-big.toe	3sPOSS-next.to	so	there	the-3sPOSS-chest	3s(>3)-sit

And they told him, "Shoot him there by his big toe, his heart lies there."

[69]	xás	vaa	káan	u-kúniihka	xás	u-kyívishrih-een
	then	so	there	3s(>3)-shoot.at	then	3s(>3)-fall.down-ANT

So he shot him there, and (the monster) fall down.

[70]	xás	pa-pihnîich	ú-xrar	mú-'arama	tá	kun-íykar
	then	the-old.man	3s(>3)-weep	3sPOSS-child	PERF	3pl(>3s)-beat

And the old man cried, his child had been killed.