Mamie Offield: "A Trip to the Land of the Dead" (1957)

Primary participants: Mamie Offield (speaker), William Bright (researcher)
Date: 1957
Project identifier: WB_KL-58
Publication details: William Bright, The Karok Language (1957), pp. 266-269, Text 58
Additional contributor: Erik Maier (annotator)

---

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

---

[1]	asiktávaan	mu-keechíkyav	xákaan	vúra	puxích	puráan	tá	kun-tápkuupu-tih
	woman	3sPOSS-sweetheart	both	Intensive	very.much	each.other	PERF	3pl(>3s)-like-DUR

A woman and her sweetheart loved each other very much.

[2]	kári	xás	pa-'asiktávaan	pa-mu-tipáh-iivshas	kun-vîihirimku-tih
	then	then	the-woman	the-3sPOSS-brother-PLUR	3pl(>3s)-hate-DUR

But the woman's brothers disliked (the man).

[3]	chavúra	kun-íykar	pa-'ávansa
	finally	3pl(>3s)-beat	the-man

Finally they killed the man.

---

[4]	yukún	vúra	uum	xára	tá	kun-'íchunva	áasiv
	you.see	Intensive	3.SG	long.time	PERF	3pl(>3s)-hide.oneself	cave

You see, (the couple) had hid for a long time in a cave.

[5]	púyava	xás	pa-tá	kun-'íshunva	kári	xás	pa-'asiktávaan	kúuk	u-'uum
	you.see	then	NOMZ-PERF	3pl(>3s)-hide	then	then	the-woman	to.there	3s(>3)-arrive

So when they buried him (there), then the woman went there.

[6]	kári	xás	ávahkam	ú-thxuuptakiish	pa-puyâahara
	then	then	over	3s(>3)-lie.down.on.top.of	the-dead.person

And she lay on top of the corpse.

[7]	chavúra	t-óo	kúha	t-óo	mpux	pa-puyâahara
	finally	PERF-3s(>3)	be.sick	PERF-3s(>3)	swell	the-dead.person

Finally she got sick, the corpse was swelling.

[8]	kári	xás	u-xus	tá	na-kúha	xâatik	vúra	ni-p-váruprav
	then	then	3s(>3)-think	PERF	1s-be.sick	it's.better	Intensive	1s(>3)-ITER-come.out

And she said, "I'm sick, let me go out!"

---

[9]	kári	xás	vaa	p-óo-kviit-ha	xás	u-kvit-hûunish
	then	then	so	NOMZ-3s(>3)-sleep	then	3s(>3)-dream.about

Then when she slept, she dreamed about him.

[10]	kári	xás	u-piip	ifuyâach	húm	pa-ta-na-koohímachva
	then	then	3s(>3)-say	that's.right	or	NOMZ-PERF-2s/3s>1s-pity

And he said, "Is it true that you grieve for me?"

[11]	kári	xás	u-piip	pa-'íf-haak	víri	chími	nu-pêen	p-ée-kuph-eesh
	then	then	3s(>3)-say	NOMZ-true-when	so	soon	1pl(>3)-say.to	NOMZ-2s(>3)-do-FUT

And he said, "If it is true, let me tell you what to do.

[12]	vaa	ík	káan	i-'uum-êesh	pá-mita	nu-'ínoohvoo-tih-irak	pa-'aasív-ak
	so	must	there	2s(>3)-arrive-FUT	NOMZ-near.past	1pl(>3)-stay.all.the.time.(pl.)-DUR-where	the-cave-Locative

You must go there where we used to stay, in the cave.

[13]	víri	vaa	i-máh-eesh	axvithínih
	so	so	2s(>3)-see-FUT	grave

You will see a grave there.

[14]	káru	i-máh-eesh	áxak	yuup	ú-thyiimvarayv-eesh
	also	2s(>3)-see-FUT	two	eye	3s(>3)-float.around.(two)-FUT

And you will see two eyes float around.

[15]	xáyfaat	ík	ná-'ay
	don't!	must	2s/3s>1s-fear

You mustn't be afraid of me.

[16]	xáyfaat	ík	í-kvip
	don't!	must	2s(>3)-run

You mustn't run.

---

[17]	ta'ítam	vaa	kúuk	u-'uum-áheen
	so	that	to	3s(>3)-arrive-ANT

So she went there.

[18]	kári	xás	vaa	vúra	u-mah
	then	then	that	Intensive	3s(>3)-see

And she saw that.

[19]	kári	xás	axmáy	u-chúupha
	then	then	suddenly	3s(>3)-speak

And suddenly (a voice) spoke.

[20]	kári	xás	u-piip	i-vík-eesh	ík	átimnam
	then	then	3s(>3)-say	2s(>3)-weave-FUT	must	pack-basket

And it said, "You must weave a burden basket.

[21]	káru	taay	ík	vúra	yáfus	i-kyâa-vish
	also	much	must	Intensive	dress	2s(>3)-make-FUT

And you must make many dresses.

[22]	víri	vaa	p-ee-píkyaar-ahaak	víri	vaa	i-máh-eesh	vaa	káan	asa-'ípan	ú-krii	atipimáamvaan
	so	so	NOMZ-2s(>3)-finish-when	so	so	2s(>3)-see-FUT	so	there	rock-end	3s(>3)-live	buzzard

When you finish, you will see a buzzard sit there on top of a rock.

[23]	víri	vaa	ík	i-'áharam-eesh
	so	so	must	2s(>3)-follow-FUT

You must follow it.

[24]	yakún	vaa	yumaar-áachviiv
	you.see	that	dead.person-bird

You see, that is the bird of the dead."

---

[25]	púyava	kári	xás	ta'ítam	u-vík-aheen
	you.see	then	I.wish	so	3s(>3)-weave-ANT

And so then she wove.

[26]	kári	xás	asiktâan	u-péer	nu-xákaanh-i
	then	then	woman	3s(>3)-say.to	1pl(>3)-go.with-IMPER

And she said to a woman, "Let's go together!"

[27]	vúra	uum	mú-fyiiv
	Intensive	3.SG	3sPOSS-friend

She was her friend.

[28]	ta'ítam	uum	káru	u-vík-aheen	káru	ú-kyav	pa-yáfus
	so	3.SG	also	3s(>3)-weave-ANT	also	3s(>3)-make	the-dress

So she too wove and made the dresses.

---

[29]	púyava	tá	kun-píkyaar
	you.see	PERF	3pl(>3s)-finish

Then they finished.

[30]	kári	xás	kun-iyâaram
	then	then	3pl(>3s)-(two.people).go

So they left.

[31]	kári	xás	kun-mah	pa-'atipimáamvaan
	then	then	3pl(>3s)-see	the-buzzard

And they saw the buzzard.

[32]	ta'ítam	kun-'áharam-aheen
	so	3pl(>3s)-follow-ANT

So they followed it.

[33]	kári	xás	kun-'áhoo	vúra	uum	taay	súpaa	pa-kun-'áhoo
	then	then	3pl(>3s)-go	Intensive	3.SG	much	day	NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-go

And they traveled, it was many days that they traveled.

[34]	vúra	vaa	kun-'áharamu-ti	pa-'atipimáamvaan
	Intensive	so	3pl(>3s)-follow-DUR	the-buzzard

They were following the buzzard that way.

[35]	kári	xás	hâari	vúra	pirísh-riik	pa-tá	kun-'áhoo	pa-mukun-yáfus	t-u-tatitítit
	then	then	sometime	Intensive	plant-place	NOMZ-PERF	3pl(>3s)-go	the-3plPOSS-dress	PERF-3s(>3)-be.tattered

And sometimes it was a brushy place where they traveled, their dresses got torn.

---

[36]	chavúra	kun-'uum	vúra	uum	yâamach	p-eethívthaaneen	kípa	thúkin
	finally	3pl(>3s)-arrive	Intensive	3.SG	pretty	the-land	like	bile

Finally they arrived, the country was beautiful and green.

[37]	kári	xás	ta'ítam	kin-vítivrik-aheen	ithyárukirum	kin-vítish
	then	then	so	3pl>3pl-paddle.to.meet-ANT	opposite.shore	3pl>3pl-beach.(a.boat)

And someone rowed to meet them and landed them on the other shore.

[38]	kári	xás	yánava	áxak	kaan	kéevniikich-as
	then	then	visible	two	there	old.woman.(dimin.)-PL

And they saw two old women there.

[39]	kári	xás	kun-ipéer	mâa	kâam	vuhvúha	u-kyáa-ti	pa-kúth	i-vúrayvu-tih
	then	then	3pl(>3s)-say.to	look!	little.upriver	deerskin.dance	3s(>3)-make-DUR	NOMZ-because.of	2s(>3)-go.around-DUR

And (the old woman) said, "Look, the one you are wandering around for is making a deerskin dance uphill.

[40]	fâat	kumá'ii	pa-'ôok	t-i-'áhoo
	what	because.of	NOMZ-here	PERF-2s(>3)-go

Why is it that you have come here?

[41]	ôok	uum	pu-'áhoo-tih-ara	pa-'ípi-hi-tih-an
	here	3.SG	NEG-go-DUR-NEG	the-bone-DENOM-DUR-Participial

People with bones (i.e., live people) don't come here.

[42]	víri	chôora	chími	nu-'íshunv-i
	so	let's.go	soon	1pl(>3)-hide-IMPER

Come on, let's hide you!

[43]	xáy	kíik-mah-ap
	let.not	1/3>2pl-see-INV

Let them not see you!

---

[44]	ta'ítam	kin-'íshunv-aheen
	so	3pl>3pl-hide-ANT

So they hid them.

[45]	púyava	vúra	xánahishich	káan	tá	kun-'iin
	you.see	Intensive	little.while	there	PERF	3pl(>3s)-(two).be

So they stayed there for a little while.

[46]	kári	xás	kin-ipéer	chími	kiik-piyâaram-i
	then	then	3pl>3pl-say.to	soon	2pl(>3)-go.back.(two.people)-IMPER

Then they were told, "Go back home!"

[47]	kári	xás	kin-'ákih	amveeváxrah
	then	then	3pl>3pl-give.(things).to	dried.salmon

And they were given dried salmon.

[48]	hínupa	achvuun
	surprise	hookbill.salmon

There it was dog salmon.

[49]	yukún	vaa	kun-ípeen-ti	yumaará'aama	achvuun
	you.see	so	3pl(>3s)-say.to-DUR	hookbill.salmon	hookbill.salmon

You see, they call dog salmon "dead-man's salmon."

[50]	kári	xás	kin-ipéer	pa-'áraar	t-u-'ív-ahaak	vaa	ík	apmántiim	ku-yvúruk-tih-eesh
	then	then	3pl>3pl-say.to	NOMZ-human	PERF-3s(>3)-die-when	that	must	lip	2pl(>3)-rub-DUR-FUT

And they were told, "When a person dies, you must rub this on his lips.

[51]	yakún	u-pimtáv-eesh
	you.see	3s(>3)-revive-FUT

You see, he will come back to life."

---

[52]	ta'ítam	kun-piyâaram-aheen
	so	3pl(>3s)-go.back.(two.people)-ANT

So (the girls) went back home.

[53]	kúkuum	vúra	vaa	kun-'ípahoo
	again	Intensive	so	3pl(>3s)-go.back

They traveled back again that way.

[54]	vaa	vúra	pa-'atipimaamvan-'îin	kin-p-ôonvuuk
	so	Intensive	the-buzzard-TOPIC	3pl>3pl-ITER-bring.(people)

The buzzard brought them back.

[55]	púyava	pa-kun-'ípak	ôok	kumee-thívthaaneen	vaa	uum	pa-kúph-aan-hanik	p-óo-kupi-ti	áraar	u-tâanaxihi-tih-irak
	you.see	NOMZ-3pl(>3s)-come.back	here	3sPOSS-land	that	3.SG	the-do-Agentive-ANC	NOMZ-3s(>3)-do-DUR	human	3s(>3)-be.dead-DUR-where

So when they returned to this world, they are the ones who did as it is done in the land of the dead.

---

[56]	víri	chavúra	pu-'áraar	iim-tih-ara	chavúra	p-eethívthaaneen	u-p-áxyar	pa-'áraar
	so	finally	NEG-human	die-DUR-NEG	finally	the-land	3s(>3)-ITER-fill	the-human

Finally no person died, finally the people filled up the earth.

[57]	vaa	kári	xás	vúra	kun-'íim-ti	p-oo-fíipha	pa-'áama
	so	then	then	Intensive	3pl(>3s)-die-DUR	NOMZ-3s(>3)-be.all.gone	the-salmon

Then when the salmon was all gone, they died.