Florence Shaughnessy

"The First Salmon Rite at Wehlkwew" (1951)

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Text identifier: LA16-8
Speaker: Florence Shaughnessy
Primary documentation: R. H. Robins
Edition: R. H. Robins, The Yurok Language (1958), pp. 171-183
Note: This is Mrs. Shaughnessy's Yurok-language rendering of an English-language narrative by Robert Spott published in Robert Spott and A. L. Kroeber, Yurok Narratives (1942), pp. 171-178. "I", "mine", etc. therefore refer to Robert Spott.

Wek kwelekw chpeyue'r wee' mehl so'n kee hehlkue 'we-neeekue' nepuy.
This is the story of the taking of salmon ashore.
Wee'eeet hewonee sonkee' 'esee nepue' k'ee nepuy.
This was done before any salmon is eaten.
Nek 'ne-psech wo'oot nuemee 'we-heenoy ko nergery kue wee'eeet 'we-sook.
My father was the last person to assist at this kind of rite.
Wo'oot weesh nep' kue nepuy.
He ate the salmon.
Kue wee' hegohkuemeen kwelekw Charlie Williams 'we-chekoh weesh 'ue-peechowos Pewolew 'o meweemor weet soo neke'y.
The man who performed the ceremony was the grandfather of Charlie Williams' mother, and was called the Old Man of Pewolew.
Na'a'lee' 'o'lehl 'o Wehlkwew tue' weet 'o megetohl kue roowo's.
There were two houses at Wehlkwew and the pipes were kept in them.
Kue 'we-nahkseyhl kue ko 'w-ohkue' kue hehlkue 'we-neeekue' wo'oot.
The third person present when the salmon taking ceremony was performed was the girl.
Tue' wee' kue meweemor 'we-romech, wo'oot nonee pe'l 'o kue 'ne-psech.
She was the old man's niece, and was older than my father.
Tue' neemok'ws 'we-nos Pewolew 'ue-Me'y soo wegenee'.
She was unmarried and was called the Daughter of Pewolew.
Kue roowo's weet soo wegenoyhl Pewolew 'o Roowo's.
The pipes were called the Pipes of Pewolew.
Nek soosek' 'n-esek' kwelekw weet mehl hee' Pewolew 'ohlkuemee kue roowo's pe'wol mehl hohkue'.
I think it was called Pewolew because each pipe was made of soapstone (pe'wol).
Negee'eeyehl tue' wee'eeet mehl hee' 'wahpemew.
There were two of them, and so each was called the mate of the other.
'O'lehl 'o lehlkelee' tue' kert'erkseenonee ha'aag weektue' 'oo'.
Each was buried in one of the houses; there was a stone (box) with a lid inside.
Neemee komchuemek' 'n-esek' kwelekw muehlcho' kue 'ue-wen muehlcho' kue pegerk k'ee roowo's mehl ho gohkue' k'ee meskwoh.
I do not know whether it was with the female or the male pipe that the medicine was made.
Kwelekw kue weesh megetohl nuemee poyweson 'o kue 'o'lehl.
The man who kept the pipes was the head of the house.
Kolchee kyah 'o guenkekso' wo'eeks 'o lehlke'n 'wo'hlp'e'y.
Every month he opened the box and scattered angelica root inside.
Hewon 'we-newoyhl 'woogey negee'eehl chaahl 'we-laaye'mek' 'o ko tye'wolee' koleen kue 'o'lehl kue 'o megetohlkwonee kue roowo's, na'amee tmohkelee' k'ee roowo's.
When white men were first seen there were two of them walking along the sands, and at that time one of the houses was burnt down where the pipes were kept, and one pipe was broken in two places.
Kue meweemor kue wee' megetohlkwomeen kwelekw nek soo 'we-too'mar muehlcho' 'ue-peechowos wee' kue meskwoh hegoh kue nek 'ne-psech ho nergerykermeen.
The old man who looked after the pipes was a connection or perhaps the grandfather of the man who made the medicine and whom my father helped.
Hlmeyorkwo'm 'w-esek' kwelekw muehlcho' now sootok'w kue roowo's 'ohlkuemee keech teekwo'n kue 'ue-'wahpemew.
He was afraid that the other pipe might go away because its mate had been broken.
Weeshtue' mehl hohkue'm woogeen roowo's nuemee 'we-son kue teekwonee, 'oteesh no'ome'l.
So he made another pipe just like the one that was broken; it was a foot long.
'Enuemee wee' 'we-son tue' na'amee terrlue'l 'o 'we-luehl mee' kee soo komchue'm 'w-esek' wee'eeet kue ho goh.
It was just like the other, but he made two ridges round its mouth so that he should know that this was the one that he had made.
Heekon kwelekw neemee wee' mehl ho regoowo's 'oohl.
In former times no one used pipes like this for smoking.
Kue keech 'o nuue'monee 'woogey keet 'emehl meguehlkochehl tue' neemee weesh wo skewok wee' 'we-sook kue nek 'ne-psech.
But after the arrival of white men the Indians began to sell them, though my father never liked that sort of thing.
K'ee cherwerseek' hegor wee'eeet wee' 'o we' hewon 'o rohsee' k'ee nepe'woo.
It was in the seventh month that the salmon was first speared there.
Neemee ho negepue' nepuy 'o puelekw weet 'ue-weno'omehl kohchewech noohl ho k'ee cherwerseek' 'w-e'gor, kwelekw hegee' mocho 'oohl weesh kee nep' k'ee nepuy kwelekw kue 'ue-meworoyek' kue 'ue-pekoyek.
During the season from the first to the seventh month salmon was not eaten at the mouth of the river, and it was said that if anyone did eat it his blood would flow away.
K'ee nuemee muueweemor 'emsee pegerey wo'hl tue' chpee weesh kee nepee'mehl, kwelekw nepuy wee chpee mehl so'n kahkah ke'ween keges 'emsee kwo'ro'r kwelekw k'ee kwen kee nepue'.
Only very old men and very old women could eat salmon then; but this only concerned salmon; and sturgeon, eels, surf fish, and candlefish could be eaten all the time.
Noohl Tmery 'We-Roy ho reeegor tue' wee'eeet noohl 'o gee' Pewolew.
Waves came up as far as Cannery Creek, and this was then called Pewolew.
Tmery 'We-Roy kwelekw kue 'woogey soo hegonee Requea 'emsee kue 'oohl soo neke'y Rek'woy 'enuemee wogee 'we-raayoy.
Cannery Creek is the creek between the place white men call Requa and the place the Indians call Rek'woy.
Mocho Tmery 'We-Roy hehlkue 'o sootok'w nepuy kwelekw ko' nepue' k'ee kwen cho hehlkue no'moye'we'y tue' wee'eeet chpee nepue', kue pa'aahl 'we-tmenomen kwelekw neemee nepue'.
If a salmon came ashore at Cannery Creek people could eat whichever part faced away from the water, and this alone was eaten, the half that was toward the water was not eaten.
Mosee 'w-egoyhl k'ee Rek'woy 'emsee Wehlkwew nee 'oole'monee keemee nepee'mehl nepuy; kwelekw kue puelekw wee' chpee 'o kwahhley.
It was not meant that the inhabitants of Requa and Wehlkwew should not eat salmon; it was only forbidden at the mouth of the river.
Kue Tmery 'We-Roy 'we-heepech kwelekw nee kohchewee' noohl keekee chue wee 'o nepee'm.
What was caught upstream from Cannery Creek everyone could eat.
Kohtoh hegor neema tmoh noohl poy ma hee' kue 'ne-psech, Kwelekw skewokseye'm kee k'er-nergery kee hehlkue 'we-nekue' k'ee nepe'woo.
A month and a half in advance my father was told, You are wanted to help in the taking ashore of the first salmon to run.
Hewonee 'o ge's, paas wo hegok'w, kwelekw 'eekee chue hehl, Cho' nue megee'repe'm.
At first he thought, No, he was not going, but everyone said, Go and perform it there.
Neekee kue weet 'o no'ohl 'emkee 'w-ohkepek', mos weeshtue' noo nep' kue maageen nepee'monee.
So from then on at that time he went into training, and did not eat what other people ate.
Neemuech 'ok'ws 'w-erkwterks 'eeko'l 'ue-wesepek' keneemee chee rekwoh pa'ah 'ohlkuemee kue 'ue-kegoh chpee rekwoh.
He had his own drinking basket, and was constantly cleansing himself, and did not even drink water, as he drank only his own soup.
Nepuy, kem hee', Kowecho' nepe'm.
He was also told, Do not eat salmon.
Koypoh 'emsee kee 'o chme'y 'o nerrger's.
In the morning and evening he gathered sweathouse wood.
Hewon ko chpega'ro'y kue meweemor ho kue 'we-romech 'w-egolek', To's nee mok'w sonolewkwe'm?
First the old man questioned his niece and said, Is there anything in which you are sexually unclean?
'O ga'm Paa', noohl 'o gee', Ke'l kee nergerykerr'm; ke'l kee peme'm k'ee hewon koh k'ee nepuy.
She said No, and then he said, You will help; you will cook the first salmon that we catch.
Kue roowo's megetohl wo'oot kochpok's 'w-esek' wek kee cho rohsee' kue nepuy.
The keeper of the pipes thought it over and decided that the salmon should be speared like this.
Noohl weeshtue' 'o sergerrhl hohkuem weektue' 'we-legehl noohl 'o tegerue'm kue roowo's.
And then he regularly made tobacco, and scattered it inside the box, and spoke to the pipes.
'O gegoyhl kue roowo's, Neemee chpaa ko' nepee'mo'w nepuy, meweeshtue' 'wo-'ohpelehl kue nergery 'ue-knerperyerk.
They were told, Soon you will eat salmon, because they were given what was left over by the assistant.
Cherwerseek' koma choomoyhl noohl 'o gee', Cho wohpeye'm, kue nek 'ne-psech, so Wehlkwew.
Seven days before my father was told, Cross over to Wehlkwew.
Merueh chego'onep puuek 'ue-'wers weeshtue' 'ue-ka'.
The hide of a five-point deer was his blanket.
'O gee', Wee' kee chpee negeme'm 'emsee k'e-roowo's 'emsee k'-ohkuem.
He was told, You will carry only this, and your pipe and your tobacco.
'O gee' cho', Knokseeme'm kue 'woogey son k'e-slekw; kolchee wohlkechee' tue' ko' 'o nerrgerse'm, weet kee chpee 'o nepe'm kue meweemor 'we-romech 'ue-pewomek', 'ohlkuemee wok kem neeko'l 'w-ohkepek' tue' wok kee chpee pew mehl kue nee'eeyen pegerk.
He was told, Leave behind your white man's type of clothes; every morning you will gather sweathouse wood, and you will only eat the old man's niece's cooking, because she too was always in training and she alone cooked for the two men.
Chmeyonen 'o gego'l so heekoh kue 'ne-psech.
In the evening my father went across.
'O ga'm kue meweemor, Cho' nuemee chpe'royo'm cho 'enuemee wee' sonowo'm k'ee nek kee shoo hekchoh.
The old man said, Listen carefully, and do just as I am going to tell you.
Noohl 'o gee', Kerrcherh 'O Legok'w cho 'o nerrgerse'm, mee' weet 'o guene'm stowstek', maageen k'ee 'oohl kwelekw weesh neemee hegohkuemehl stowstek' 'ue-'weskwen neemee mehl hego'omah 'o 'er'gerrch.
Then he was told, Go and gather sweathouse wood at Krrchrh 'O Legok'w, because small fir trees grew there, but other people did not pick their branches and did not use them for making fire in the sweathouse.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Wee'eeet 'ee 'ne-mehl megelok', mee' ke'l kee mehl komchueme'm kee nuemee chue k'e-sku'y soo hoh.
Then the old man said, This is why I am coming with you, so that you will know how to do everything properly.
Kohchew koma choomoyhl kue kee 'we-rohseyek' kue nepuy 'o ga'm kue meweemor, 'O we'yk'oh cho ko tenpeyo'm 'ohlkuemee 'owook kwelekw kee chpee kohchee ko nepe'm, keekee chmeyonen kesee ko'l 'o nepe'm.
It was six days before the spearing of the salmon when the old man said, Eat plenty today, because tomorrow you will only eat once; it will be evening before you have anything to eat.
Tue' kue 'ne-psech 'eemee nuemee wo tenpe'y kue wee'eeet 'we-chmeyonen.
But my father did not eat much that evening.
Kue keech 'o go'ohkohleen noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Cho now le'mo'w 'o kue 'er'gerrk; nekah kee chpee 'o ko nee'ee'yoh.
And when it became dark the old man said, Leave the sweathouse all of you; we two will be here alone.
Kue wee 'o negookchenohl 'emkee weeshtue' le'mehl kue Shchekwehl 'O Chaahl 'o tek 'er'gerrk 'o Wehlkwew.
Those who usually sweated there then went to the sweathouse at Schekwehl 'O Chaahl in Wehlkwew.
Kue 'we-nahksemoyhl kue meweemor 'emsee 'ne-psech noohl 'o gohkuemehl 'we-laayekw so kue nuemee 'ue-pa'aahl 'we-rek'woy.
On the third day the old man and my father built a path down to the water's edge at the river mouth.
Neekee chue now lehlkenee', mos taa ko'l kem ko 'oyhl pecheykwsehl kue nuemee 'we-chey kem now lehlkenee'.
Everything was cleared away, and nothing lay on the path; even the smallest bit of gravel was cleared away.
Na'mee mechkah toomok's kue laayekw tue' mos cheetaa ko'l sook kee nee 'oyhl.
The path was two feet wide and nothing at all lay on it.
'Enuemee wo'n ho kue kohchew 'we-choomoyhl 'o weykohl; noohl kue meweemor 'o 'ekso' kue keech laayekw.
They were finishing the path right up to the sixth day, and then the old man closed the path.
Kwelekw 'o tene'm 'oohl 'o Wehlwkew heekoch so Rek'woy so wohpeye'm, 'ohlkuemee weet 'eenee meroge'y kee 'we-hloohl 'we-'yoh 'emsee 'ue-pa'ah 'ohlkuemee keech wee' laayekw keech 'o chahchew kee 'we-hloyek' 'yohhlkoych' 'o puelekw.
And then there were a lot of people who crossed over from Wehlkwew to Requa, as it was easier there for them to get their wood and their water now that the path was finished and it was difficult for wood to be fetched at the river mouth.
Kue ho myerwernernee wee'eeet noohl lekwseg.
The path ran down to the high water line there.
Kue pegerk mehl Wehlkwew kue skewoksemeen kue 'we-na'awok' hasee heenoyks laa'y 'emsee pa'aahleeks neekee ma laa'y 'o kue myerwernernee; soo hasee' paas wonue laa'y kue keech ho laahohkue' kue laayekw, mee' kwahhley 'oohl wonues kee 'we-laayek' 'o kue laayekw.
A man from Wehlkwew who wanted to catch surf fish went inside of the path and then into the water at the high water line; so strictly was it intended that one should not pass over where the path had been made, because it was forbidden for anyone to walk on the path.
Wenchokws kwelekw neemee nahchelehl puelekw ko 'o 'w-oole'mek'.
Women were not allowed to go down to the river mouth.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor ho kue 'ne-psech, Nek kee muech rohseemek' kue nepuy, kem kee ke'l wee 'o negeme'm so 'o'lep.
Then the old man said to my father, I shall spear the salmon myself, but you will carry it to the house.
Wee'eeet 'ee now mehl ho lehlkenee' cheeeko'l sook, mee' kwahhley wonue k'e-naametek' ko'l sook.
This is why everything was cleared away, because you are not allowed to tread on anything.
Cho 'enuemee neee'nowo'm kue teekwohl; wee'eeet kee no'ohl noohl negeme'm kue nepuy 'o k'e-nekomewet.
Look carefully for where there is a low gap; that far you will carry the salmon on your right shoulder.
Mocho keech 'o newoo'm kue teekwohl, noohl 'emkee k'e-kesomewet neke'm kue nepuy, kem kee neekee k'e-soo negemek' neemoksue kem won 'o ko nekue'.
When you see the low gap, then you put it on your left shoulder, and from then on you carry it like that and it must not be put in any other position.
Kue kohchew 'we-choomoyhl, 'o 'owook kee ko rohsee' kue nepuy 'eme ga'm kue meweemor, Cho now le'mo'w 'o kue nuemee 'o'lehl; kwelekw nekah keech chpee ko nahkseyoh.
On the sixth day and the next day the salmon would be speared, the old man said, Go away all of you from the main house; we three shall be here alone.
Kue weet 'o 'w-o'oh 'eemee 'uema chkee'm kue 'ne-psech 'emsee kue meweemor, neekee wook noohl tegerue'm kue 'we-roowo's kue meweemor.
That night the old man and my father did not sleep, and the old man spoke to his pipe until morning.
Wooyhl noohl ho'op' mehl 'wo'hlp'e'y tue' weeshtue' keech nee soo swoo'melehl kue 'er'gerrch kem neekee so'n.
All night he made a fire with angelica root and so they both smelt of it and the sweathouse did as well.
Noohl weeshtue' 'o ga'm, Kos'ela tenowonee cheeek, keekee sku'y soo hoole'm 'oohl, nerhpery tue' kee tege'n ko teno' k'ee kwen cho kee nepue', 'emsee paas teloge'mo'w.
Then he said, May there be lots of money, and the people will fare well, and may there be lots of berries and lots of all that can be eaten, and may there be no sickness among the people!
Kue woneek 'we-rohpek' kue 'wo'hlp'e'y 'ue-meraa 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Kwelekw kue roowo's weesh 'we-sewepek'; kwelekw wee'eeet keekee koosee ro'm tue' 'eemoksue ko teloge'mo'w mehl heeko'ch'uek ho 'wes'onah.
As the smoke from the angelica root drifted upward the old man said, This is the breath of the pipe; it will spread everywhere and there will be no sickness from here to the heavens.
Kue weet 'ue-koypoh wonews 'o sootok'w nue 'we-nerrgersek', noohl 'ap ho'omah.
In the morning he went up to gather sweathouse wood, and then they made a fire.
Kue keech 'ue-mechewolo' noohl lekwseesh 'o le'mehl 'emkee weeshtue' 'ee kmoyhl, keet 'o ko saawelehl, noohl 'esee ma wegesah.
When it had burned down they went outside and lay down, and began to cool off, and then they went to bathe.
Ku'y 'we-no'ohl Rek'woy wonew 'ela neee'n 'o newee' kwelekw keech ta'anoy'hl.
Later they looked over to Requa and saw that the sun was shining.
Che'mekw keech 'o huemonepehl, noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Nek kue hlook' kue ma'ahskehl; keech 'ee 'we-son kee 'n-egoo'loh; nek kue hlook' kue k'e-ka'.
They warmed themselves a little, and then the old man said, I will fetch the spear; now we are ready to go; I will bring your blanket.
'O na'a'n hlo'm, tue' smechoy weesh 'ue-mehl hlook'.
Then he brought two, and deerskins were what he brought.
Noohl 'er'gerrch 'o le'mehl.
And then they went into the sweathouse.
Noohl 'o ga'm, To's keech 'ee 'we-son kee 'n-egoo'loh?
Then he said, Is all ready for us to go?
Hela' we'y k'e-smechoy; k'e-to' kee laa'y.
Here is your deerskin; it must pass around your hips.
Wee' kee 'oyhl kue k'e-srahkwoh; k'e-roowo's cho chpee negeme'm.
Your loincloth will stay here; just carry your pipe.
Kue meweemor nege'm wohlee weyew keyom; tue' weektue' 'ok'w kue 'we-roowo's 'emsee 'w-ohkuem.
The old man took a newly made dipper basket; in it were his pipe and tobacco.
Noohl 'o ko chuerp'ery, noohl nepe'weeshneg 'ue-'wers 'emehl ma'epoyew kue 'we-'lep.
Then he combed his hair, and then his hair was tied up with an otterskin.
Nek kee negemek' kue 'ne-keyom noohl ko myootek' 'ne-ka'.
He said, I will take my basket and put on my blanket.
Ke'l cho kenuemee sonowo'm, 'emkee kwelekw ku'y 'ue-pahtuen kue k'e-smechoy kue k'e-nekomewet kee so 'ok'w, kue 'ue-werhl k'e-kesomewet kee so 'ok'w, 'emsee k'e-roowo's kwelekw nuemee k'e-yaahl kee 'ok'w.
You do just as I do, and then the neck of your deerskin will be on your right, and its tail will be on your left, and your pipe will be right over your belly.
K'ee nuemee 'o'lehl kue we'yon kem 'ee nuemee sho'n; nows nek' 'wer-skery woogeen wohlee weykonee skery 'o myoot'.
In the main house the girl was doing the same; she took off her dress and put on another newly finished dress.
Perey wee 'ok'w tue wo'oot nuemee ha'm, Wek kee shonowo'm.
There was an old woman there and she said, This is what you will do.
Noohl weeshtue' 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Cho nuemee chpe'royo'm k'ee nekee' soch.
Then the old man said, Listen carefully to what I say.
Heenoy cho' 'orogoo'm.
Follow behind me.
Kwelekw wee' keech 'oyhl k'ee ma'ahskehl.
The spear is lying here.
Kue k'e-nekomewet cho 'oloneme'm, cho sku'y soo 'ekoneme'm 'ohlkuemee neemoksue won kem ko soo 'ekoneme'm.
Carry it in your right hand, and get a good hold on it because you will not carry it in any other position.
Keekee nuue'moh wee' kee soo 'ekoneme'm.
You will carry it like this until we arrive.
Noohl 'o ko hlo'm kue 'ue-keyom 'enuemee poy wenok'w.
Then he took his basket and went ahead.
Noohl kue 'ne-psech woneeks 'o so'n ma'ahskehl, noohl puelekws 'o newo'm kyue' nee 'ue-ko'oh ko'l 'we-so'nk'enuue'm.
Then my father picked up the spear, and he saw people standing at the mouth of the river fishing.
To' neemee heeme'mehl, mos cheetaa koleen chweenkep'.
They did not hurry, and neither spoke a word.
Kue keech 'o nuue'mehl ho puelekw, noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor ho kue 'ne-psech, Cho nuemee sku'y soo skelee neke'm; k'ee ma'ah pechue kee no'moye'we'y.
When they arrived at the river mouth, the old man said to my father, Put the spear down carefully; it must point upstream.
Noohl kue laayekw 'we-rewon 'o chyuuek'we'n kue meweemor, noohl 'o ga'm, 'Ne-kesomewet cho 'o chekcheye'm.
Then the old man sat down at the end of the path, and said, Sit down on my left.
Noohl wee 'o wenok'w pegerk kue meweemor 'we-heenoy 'ema 'oolo' noohl 'o ga'm, Nekah kwelekw kahkah 'emsee ke'ween kegoh.
Then a man came and stood behind the old man and said, We are catching sturgeon and eels.
Noohl weet 'o soo chween meweemor 'w-egolek', Koweecho noo kegohchewo'w kahkah; ke'ween cho' chpee kegoh, cho' neee'nowo'w mehl nepuy.
Then the old man said, Stop catching sturgeon; catch eels only, and watch for salmon.
Hewon 'we-newoyk' nepuy cho 'o hegoose'm, noohl nek kue 'o ma'ahskuemek'.
When a salmon is first seen shout, and I will come and spear it.
Cho 'eekee chue weyko'w ko'l k'e-so'nk'enuue'mo'w noohl cho 'eekee chue kemeye'mo'w.
Then you must all finish fishing and all go home.
Cho puelekw neekee chue ho 'er'gerp k'-egolek' wek keech so'n.
Go and tell them all at the river mouth that this is happening.
Noohl 'o kwomhlecho'l kue pegerk weesh 'ee nuemee so'n.
Then the man went back and did as he was bidden.
Maageen 'eekee 'ue-wey, maageen kyue' 'ee 'o goole'm.
Some of them stopped fishing at once, and others stayed around there.
Mos chpegaak no'ohl kem 'o chweenkep' kue meweemor.
Soon afterward the old man spoke again.
Noohl 'o ko ska'ehlke'n hohkuem so pueleek 'emsee so hehlkew 'emsee so wohpewk 'emsee so perwerh.
Then he scattered tobacco to the north, to the east, to the west, and to the south.
Nuemee kue 'we-rek'woy so neee'nowohl kue weesh 'o 'we-rek'eeen.
They were looking right at the river mouth where they sat.
Keech maa'y chomee'sh 'we-roo, 'o newee' keech sega'awo'r 'o kue 'o rek'eeen; kwesee weet keet 'o weno'ee'mehl kue lemoluue'monee.
Midday passed, and shadows were seen moving where they sat; it was the eel fishers coming.
Noohl 'o ko'm keech 'w-egoo, Nepe'woo!
Then they heard people shouting, First salmon!
Noohl 'o mene'mehl so heer, noohl 'o ko hlo'm kue 'ue-ma'ahskehl kue meweemor reeek'ew 'eekee laa'y so puelekw.
Then the men went away from the water, and the old man took his spear and went down to the river mouth along the shore.
Tmenomee newee' wee weno'omo'r 'enuemee; sku'y soo neee'no'w kue 'ne-psech.
It was half visible and was coming in; my father watched it intently.
'Enuemee poy weno'omo'r kue nepuy.
The salmon came on forward.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Hl'o'ronep'es! noohl kolo 'eekee mee' wo ko pahchew.
Then the old man said, Stop! and it seemed that it did not move.
Noohl heenoy 'o so na'mee naamet' ho kue 'we-nekomewet noohl 'o ga'm, Sela ro'onep'es! kem 'o pahchew kue nepuy.
Then he took two steps to his right and said, Run on! and again it moved.
Kem 'o ga'm, Hl'o'ronep'es!
Again he said, Stop!
Merueh chee weesh serrhlerp', tue' kue kem 'w-egolek', Hl'o'ronep'es! noohl 'o ko hlo'm kue ma'ah 'eekee ner'erserne'm.
He did this five times, and when he said, Stop! he took his spear and grasped it in both hands.
'O na'mee woneek so'n noohl 'o ga'm, Cho hl'o'ronepe'm k'ee kwen cho ko regaayo'repe'm, k'ee kwen cho 'ohkween m-ekwol cho 'emehl knokseeme'm k'e-peesh'on.
He lifted it twice and then said, Stop at each place you pass, and wherever there is a fishing rock leave some of your scales there.
K'ee wek 'we-raayoy 'ue-mer'wermery cho noohl ho noowo'repe'm; cho 'ela ro'onepe'm.
Go right to the head of this river; run on there.
Kue 'ue-wey 'we-chween weet 'o soo newee' kue nepuy kolo neekee ko'see ko'mo'y.
When he finished speaking the salmon seemed to have heard it all.
Noohl 'o menechok'w noohl weeshtue' 'enuemee sho'n kue hegonee Kee sonowo'm.
Then it vanished and did just as it had been told You shall do it.
K'ee kwen cho 'o tektonee m-ekwol kem 'emehl knoksee'm 'ue-peesh'on, 'enuemee wo'n ho mo'ok'w 'ue-peesh'on; 'esee noowo'r ho k'ee we'y 'ue-mer'wermery.
Wherever there was a fishing rock built it left some of its scales, right on until it had no scales left; and then it went on to the head of the river.
Keech k'ee kwen 'o ro'op' kue nepuy.
The salmon went right ahead.
Noohl 'o kwomhlecho'l kue meweemor, skelee 'ap nek' kue 'ue-ma'ahskehl, weeshtue' 'ap 'o key kue 'ne-psech 'o key.
Then the old man went back and put down his spear, and sat down where my father was sitting.
'O ga'm, Cho' yokmokee negeee'nowo'm mocho kee hese'm.
He said, Look round about if you feel like it.
Kue so newonee keech chyuuek'we'n kue meweemor neekee 'ue-kwomhle'mek' kue pegerk ko'l 'we-so'nk'enuue'm.
When the old man was seen to be sitting down the men came back to their fishing.
Keech 'o chpaaneek' noohl; weesh 'o rek'eeen, 'o ko'mo'y keech hegoo, Nepe'woo! mehl pueleek.
It grew late; they were sitting there, and he heard them shouting, First salmon! from the river mouth.
'Ikee chue weesh soo hegoosehl, noohl 'o ko hloohl kue 'ue-ke'ween noohl heenoy 'o le'mehl.
All of them were shouting like this, and then they took their eels and went back.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor ho kue 'ne-psech, Cho kem noohl puelekuek ho neee'nowo'm.
Then the old man said to my father, Look down the river.
Kenuemee wee 'o so'n kue meweemor 'o kue hewonee newonee nepuy kue 'we-newoyk'.
The old man did just as he did with the first salmon to appear when this one appeared.
Merueh chee tergue'm 'o ga'm, Heenoy lenewk'wes! Sela ro'onep'es! Hl'o'ronep'es!
Five times he spoke to it, and said, Drift back! Run on! Stop!
'O ko hlo'm kue 'ue-ma'ahskehl yue's 'o sooto'l kue weno'omo'r kue nepuy.
He took his spear and went over to where the salmon was coming in.
Weesh 'enuemee so'n kue nepuy kue sonoyew.
The salmon did just as it was told.
'O choona'mee kolo 'we-rohseemek', kue merueh 'we-chee woneek soo'n kue 'ue-ma'ahskehl 'eekee 'ue-ma'ahskek'.
After making as if to spear it four times, the fifth time he lifted up his spear and then speared it.
Mos cheetaa wo pahchew, kolo heer nee lenekw.
It made no movement, but seemed to drift to the shore.
Kue so heer sootoh kue meweemor kolo 'eme lekwo'hl 'ue-meykweluue'm 'o Rek'woy, kue keech 'o kohchewonee kue nepuy.
When the old man went away from the water the air seemed full of wailing over at Requa, now that the salmon was caught.
Kue hehlkue keech 'o soononee, noohl nows 'o nek' kue 'ue-ma'ahskehl.
When the salmon had been lifted out of the water, he put down his spear.
Pechue no'moye'we'y kue nepuy.
The salmon lay with its head pointing up the river.
Noohl kue 'ne-psech 'o key 'ap nek' kue 'ue-ma'ah, 'o 'lepoyewt' kue 'we-'lep.
He put down the spear where my father was sitting, and unbraided his hair.
Kue nepuyohl wonue 'o nekue' kue nepe'weeshneg 'ue-'wers.
The otterskin was put on top of the salmon.
Noohl 'o pegah 'we-tuuek kue nepuy, noohl 'o hlo'm ha'aag 'ue-mohl 'ela kohtoo.
The salmon moved its tail, and he took a stone and hit its head with it.
Kue pa'aahl 'we-lootek' kue ha'aag, wonue 'o legaayo', noohl pechkue 'o so kelomoh, noohl 'o menekw.
When he threw the stone into the water, it ricocheted up, turned upstream, and then disappeared.
Hasee perwerw 'o so koo'op' 'o kue nepuy noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Ch'ueme'y 'ne-tewomehl keech 'ne-kohchewochek'.
The old man stood to the south of the salmon and said, I am so glad that I have caught you.
Ke'l kwelekw kee tene'm k'e-nowonemek' nepuy 'o k'ee wek 'we-raayoy.
Many are the salmon you will bring to this river.
K'ee sega'ageyowonee 'emsee k'ee wa'soy keekee chue weesh mehl tewomehl.
Rich and poor will all rejoice at it.
Ke'l kwelekw kee shoose'm k'ee kwen cho kee yuenowonee kee skuene'm; ke'l kwelekw wee' kee shoose'm kee nuemee chue sku'y soo 'oo' kee toomenee 'we-nepue'.
You will see to it that all that grows will grow well; you will see to it that it will all grow well to be eaten by every sort of person.
Kolchee tergerw kem tue' 'o goyhlkep' 'we-tuuek kolo 'we-nooloochek' kue nepuy.
Every time he spoke its tail wagged as if the salmon were answering.
Noohl now 'o nek' kue nepe'weeshneg 'ue-'wers kue 'ue-keyom weektue' 'o nek'.
Then he put the otterskin away in the basket.
Noohl ska'ehlke'n hohkuem ho puelekuek ho pecheek ho perwer'k'uek 'emsee ho wohpewk.
Then he scattered tobacco to the north, to the east, to the south, and to the west.
Noohl 'o ga'm ho kue 'ne-psech, Cho koo'ope'm neka'ahl soot'os.
Then he said to my father, Stand up and come to me.
Cho 'rlermerkerhl kue k'e-ka' skelee lekomeyt'es k'e-chewes.
Untie your blanket and lower your hands.
Noohl now 'o nek' kue 'ue-ka' noohl 'o ga'm, Hl'os kue nepuy 'o kue werhlery.
Then he took his blanket away and said, Pick up the salmon by its tail.
To's keech sku'y soo 'ekoneme'm?
Have you got a good hold of it?
Cho' nuemee chpuerkoo'm woneek k'e-soonek' weet nuemee 'o kwoyteme'l cho 'oloneme'm.
Lift it up very carefully, and carry it like this right on your shoulder.
Hl'os k'e-kergerwers mehl kue koleen k'e-chewes mee' kee shemee keychek.
Hold your wrist with your other hand so that you do not get tired.
Cho k'e-nekomewet so kelomo'ope'm koweecho heenoy so ko neee'nowo'm; koweecho nek ho neee'nowopa', koweecho ho ko'l hee neee'nowo'm.
Turn to your right and do not look back; do not look at me, and do not look at things round about.
Mocho weet keech ho neskwechoo'm kue k'e-kesomewet 'o nekom kue k'e-ma'ah kue puelekw 'ne-le'moh, cho noohl kue k'e-kesomewet 'o loote'm kue nepuy.
When you come to where you put your spear on your left shoulder when we came down to the river mouth, then throw the fish on to your left shoulder.
Koweecho kwehl ke'yoneme'm!
Do not drop it!
Cho wee'eeet 'emkee neekee mehl chechomeyo'r.
Now run straight on from here at a trot.
Kue raayo'r so Pewolew k'ee 'oohl 'eekee too'm 'w-egolehl, Kos cho 'ela tene'mehl k'ee nepuy 'ne-peeshkaahl, hehlkue tue' kee nee tene'm hoore'mos, kee tenoo cheee'sh!
When he made his way to Pewolew the people all shouted May there be many salmon in our sea, and many animals on land, and many woodpecker scalps!
K'ee kwen cho skewokseemehl, Kos'ela tenoo kolo 'o luuekwo'hl kue 'w-egoose'm.
The air seemed full of their shouting, May there be much of whatever they all wanted.
Kue keech 'o noowo'r ho Pewolew noohl weeshtue' 'o so'n kue keech ho 'we-laayolew.
When he reached Pewolew, he carried out his instructions.
Noohl kue 'ue-kesomewet 'emehl hlohlpep' kue 'o'lepeek 'we-sootok'.
With his left hand he lowered himself into the house.
Keetkwo mee 'ue nohpe'w ho kue nuemee 'oole'mo'w.
He did not yet enter the main part of the house.
Noohl nows 'o loot' kue nepuy.
Then he threw down the salmon.
Wee' no'ok's 'yohhlkoych'enee 'lahpsew nahpchueh 'o ro'oh tue' wogee 'enuemee ho'omah 'o kue 'o'lehl.
Two wooden plates stood there, on the far side, and they had made a fire right in the middle.
Tue' kue 'we-rohsek' mehl kue nepuy skelee 'o lehlkoo' kue nahko' 'enuemee wonue leko'n kue nepuy.
When he threw it at them, the wooden plates fell down and it fell right on them.
Tue' wee 'o rek'eeen wenchokws, koleen kue we'yon kue ho nergerykermeen tue' wo'oot neekee 'ue-myah 'o 'rlermerkerhl kue 'ue-kery nows 'o nek' kue nepe'weeshneg 'ue-'wers wonues 'ap nek' kue nepuy 'oyhl.
Two women were sitting there, and one was the girl who was helping, and she jumped up and untied her hair tie, and took off the otterskin and put it on the salmon where it lay.
Weesh 'ee 'oolo' kue 'ne-psech 'we-chpeenah kue meweemor.
My father stood there waiting for the old man.
Noohl 'o newo'm 'w-esek' kue 'o'lehl kwelekw kem wee' 'enuemee ho soo sloyhlketee' kue kwelaakws ho sonkohl kue laayekw.
And then he saw that the house too had been swept as they had done the path.
Kue pontet kem wee 'o lehlkenee'; mos cheetaa ko'l sook ko 'oyhl chpee chkeno' soo ho'omah.
The ashes had been cleared away; nothing lay there, and there was only a small fire.
Kue 'we-neskwechook' kue meweemor 'o ga'm, Chue so 'o'lepeek.
When the old man came he said, Let us go into the house.
'O no'oh hlo'm cheek'war weeshtue' 'o rek'eeen 'o myootehl kue 'ue-ka'.
He took two chairs, and they sat down and put on their blankets.
Noohl 'o gee' kue we'yon, Cho k'ookwsoo'm kue nepuy.
Then the girl was told, Split the salmon.
'O kue 'we-nekomewet laayekeen weet laatekwso'm mehl kue 'ue-mer'erx so kue 'we-tuuek; noohl 'o tekwsee' kue 'we-terr, noohl kue 'we-tuuek.
She cut it along the line on its right from its gills to its tail; then its head was cut off, then its tail.
Noohl 'errwerh mehl muehlso'm 'emsee 'we-chewes now mehl lohpee'n pekoyek.
Then she wiped it with grass, and scraped out the blood with her hand.
Noohl 'w-aawechohl wogee 'o tekwsee' noohl kue 'we-yaahl 'o tmenomen tekwso'm, weeshtue' k'ookwsee' 'o kue nahko' kue nepuy lekonee.
Then the salmon was cut across the middle of its back, and finally she cut it in half at its belly, and so it was cut up on the platters where it lay.
Noohl 'o koo'op' kue meweemor 'emehl hlo'm kue 'wo'hlp'e'y mecheeks 'o nek'.
Then the old man stood up and took angelica root, and put it on the fire.
Noohl 'o tegerue'm kue roowo's 'o ga'm, K'ee meraa kwelekw kelew wee k'e-sewepek'; keekee chue ro'm.
Then he spoke to the pipes, and said, This smoke is your breath; it will spread everywhere.
K'ee 'oohl wee 'o key kwelekw kelew kee naahl nepue' k'ee nepuy.
The person sitting here and you will share in eating the salmon.
Kue keech 'ue-wey 'w-oktketoy kue we'yon kue 'errwerh 'emehl mewolete'w.
When the girl had finished cutting up the fish, she wiped her hands with the grass.
Kue keech 'o 'oo' 'we-lo'og kue 'wo'hlp'e'y noohl 'o hlo'm skuyenee koweesh 'o goolehlke'n mee' kee shoo mechewolo'.
When the embers of the angelica root were left, she took out a stout stick and heaped them up so that they would glow.
Noohl 'emehl hlo'm kue nepuy 'we-yah mecheeks 'o nek'.
Then she took the salmon's belly and put it on the fire.
Noohl se'rechonee koweesh 'emehl choone'n 'o tekwso'm noohl kue 'ne-psech 'o key poy 'ema nek' kue 'lahpsew.
Then with a sharpened stick she cut four pieces and put the plate in front of where my father was sitting.
Noohl 'enuemee chpuerko'm soo chyuuek'we'n 'o mechee.
Then she sat down carefully by the fire.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, K'ee keech no'omue'n k'ee 'wes'onah tue' nekah keech noohl wee' segonkee'.
The old man said, As long as the heavens have endured this ceremony has been performed by us.
Cho' neee'nowo'm k'ee kwen cho hese'm, Kee nepek'.
Look for whatever you think you would like to eat.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue 'ne-psech, Kue 'ue-'weryken kee nepek'.
My father said, I will eat the part between the fins and the gills.
Kwelekw mep kego'm 'w-egoyek' mocho kee nahksemee cheykue'm keekee 'o markue'm kwelekw wee'eeet kee nuemee sega'age'y.
He had often heard tell that if a man could take three bites and swallow it all he would be very rich.
'O ga'm kue meweemor, K'ee kwen cho' keech noohl reeegohsonee nepuy tue' chpee ko'r 'oohl neekee markue'm kue nahche'leesh kee 'we-nepek' k'ee nepuy.
The old man said, All the time that salmon have been speared, only one man has eaten all the salmon he was given to eat.
Noohl 'o ge's kue 'ne-psech, Kwelekw kee heemenomee meek'oluemek'.
Then my father thought, I will gulp it down quickly.
Kwesee 'eemee wo gohkue'm kee 'we-na'mee meek'oluemek' mee' nuemee skena' 'ohlkuemee 'wo'hlp'e'y chpee mehl pemue'.
But he could not manage to take two bites because it was very bitter as it had been cooked with angelica root.
To' 'elekw weet 'ee nuemee 'we-chahchew kee 'ue-meek'olew mee' kwelekw neekee mehl sega'age'y 'oohl.
Well, it was difficult for anyone to swallow just because a man got rich by doing it.
Keech chme'y lekwseesh 'o sooto'l kue meweemor, heenoy 'o 'orogo' kue 'ne-psech.
In the evening the old man went out, and my father followed him.
Noohl 'o gee', Cho' kem nue nerrgerse'm.
He was told, Go and gather sweathouse wood again.
Kue wonekws 'we-sootok' noohl wek 'ee lehlkoo' 'ue-mey; soo ha's, 'Aawokw keech 'ne-muech newook'.
As he went up his weeping could be heard; he thought, Ah, now I have seen for myself.
Soo ha's, Keech newook' muech kue segonkonee kue hehlkue 'we-neeekue' kue nepuy.
He thought, Now I have seen for myself what is done when the salmon is taken ashore.
Hewonee kwelekw nee mok'ws weesh nuemee mehl ho soo's.
Formerly there was nothing about it that he had thought of much.
Weeshtue' weesh soo wa'sok 'w-esek' kwesee weet ho soo hoole'm 'oohl tue' kweles keech ho noo weeshtue' ko hohkue'm.
And so he was full of pity that this was how they the people had lived and now he himself had taken part.
Kue 'we-neskwechook' 'ap ho'op' 'o 'er'gerrk kwesee ye'm kue meweemor, Kues cho soneenepe'm?
When he returned he made a fire in the sweathouse, and the old man said, How do you feel?
'O ga'm kue 'ne-psech, Kue keech no'ohl ho nepoh kue nepuy tue' 'o cherperhl soneenepek'; keneemee cheeweyek' 'eemee che'looksek'.
My father said, Since I ate the salmon I feel strong from it; I am not hungry and I am not thirsty.
'O wooyhl noohl he'woneehlehl tue' 'o tegerue'm 'ue-mes kue meweemor; noohl 'o huemerhl.
They were awake all night, and the old man made his medicine; then they sweated.
Wo'n keech so'n keet 'ue wook kem 'o gegok'w kue 'ne-psech kue 'we-nerrgersek'.
Before daybreak even it happened that my father went out to gather sweathouse wood.
Noohl koypoh 'o'lep 'o le'mehl kegoh 'emsee che'lonee nepuy chpee nepee'mehl.
Then in the morning they went to the house, and ate only soup and dried salmon.
'Imee cheewe'y kue 'ne-psech 'ohlkuemee keetkwo 'o kaamewet' nee 'we-luehleek mehl kue ho nepeen nepuy.
My father was not hungry because he still had a bitter taste in his mouth from the salmon he had eaten.
Keech wey ko'l ho 'we-nepee'mehl 'emkee 'er'gerrch 'we-lekw 'ee rek'eeen.
They finished eating and sat outside the sweathouse.
'O ga'm kue meweemor, Mocho keeto chkeye'm we'yk'oh kechoyn cho' ko 'o chkeye'm.
The old man said, If you feel sleepy, sleep now in the day.
'O ga'm kue 'ne-psech, Paa, mos keeto chkeyek'.
My father said, No, I am not sleepy.
'O ga'm kue meweemor, Nek soo kwelekw ke'l kee chkeye'm.
The old man said, Well, I think you will sleep.
Noohl 'O Chaahl 'We-Repokw me'womechok'w 'oohl 'eme ga'm, Pekwsue hes keech kee wohpeye'moh 'o kue laayekw?
Then a man came from 'O Chaahl 'We-Repokw and said, May we not now cross over the path?
'O ga'm, 'Ey, kue meweemor, Kem kee hesue', Kee ko'l so'nk'enuue'moh 'o puelekw.
The old main said, Yes, and you may decide to fish at the river mouth.
Kem kwelekw merueh kee choomoyhl kee noohl mechee chpee 'o pemue' kahkah 'emsee nepuy 'emsee ke'ween.
For five more days sturgeon, salmon, and eels must only be cooked on a fire.
Mocho keech 'ela k'ookwsee' kesee 'o kohchemee tekwsee' laawogee.
When the fish has been split then it is to be cut once down the middle.
Koweecho kwehl che'lohtemew.
It is not to be dried.
Pee'eeh kem kee nuemee shonkee' keekee wee 'ue-pemue' koweecho kwehl che'lohtemew.
Mussles are to be treated in the same way; they are to be cooked at once and not dried.
Noohl 'o'lehl cho chpee ko'l nee nepue' 'emsee kue raayoy kee chpee 'o 'ahspue'.
During this time you are to eat at home only, and to drink from the river only.
Cho neekee chue so hechah.
Go and send word to everyone.
Nekah kwelekw komchuemoh k'ee segonkonee 'o yoh, kwelekw pechue muehlcho' neemee soo komchuemehl.
We know what has been done here, but up the river perhaps they do not know.
Noohl 'o ga'm kue meweemor, Kee na'mee wehlowaa choomoyhl kee noohl nerrgerse'm kem kee 'eekee k'e-wey.
Then the old man said, For twenty days more you will gather sweathouse wood, and then you will have finished.
'O ga'm kue 'ne-psech, Mos kwelekw wee'eeet ko'l mehl so'n mee' kue 'ne-too'mar komchuemehl kue sootol.
My father said, This does not matter to me, as my friends know where I have gone.
Kohchew keech 'o choomoyhl 'o neskwechok'w 'ue-me'loh mehl kue Heewow 'o tek 'o'lehl 'o Rek'woy nue 'we-chpega'r, To's wee 'no-'o'hl keech kee 'na-'ahspee'moh 'emkee weet kee 'ne-soo 'e'gah?
Six days passed and a relative of his came from the house at Hiwow in Requa, and asked, May we now drink at home, and eat as we usually do?
Noohl 'o ga'm, 'Ey kwelekw cho weet soo k'ookwso'w kue nuenepuy noohl ko 'o che'lohtemew.
He said, Yes, cut up fish in the usual way, and you may dry it.
Cho' 'wo-'o'lomah 'ap 'emehl 'er'gerp, cho noohl 'o 'er'gerp 'o kue 'wo-'o'hl kue me'womecho'leesh k'-egolek', To' sku'y soneenep'.
Go and tell them this at all their houses, and then go to the house of the one who left, and say, 'He is doing well.'
Kolo mos cheetaa kues no'ohl keech kee no'ohl 'ue-kemeyek' kue 'ne-psech kwesee soo neemee wo chpaaneenep'.
It seemed no time at all before my father could go home, so little had the time dragged.
Tue' kneweteek' kem 'o ko choomo'o'l noohl 'esee keme'y so Rek'woy.
He stayed nine days before going home to Requa.
Noohl weeshtue' kem 'ap 'o nerrger's tue' 'o kohtoh hegor noohl weeshtue' so'n 'w-ohkepek'.
Then he gathered sweathouse wood and kept himself in training for one month more.
Noohl 'o chpega'ro'y kue 'ne-psech ho kue meweemor 'o ga'm, Kues sonkee' kue maageen kue nepuy?
Then my father questioned the old man, and said, What was done with the rest of the salmon?
Nekah kwelekw wonue lekome'y 'o 'o'lep kue ho pemue' mehl 'wo'hlp'e'y.
(He was told) It was put away by us in the house up in the roof, cooked with angelica root.
Mocho keet mo'ok'w 'n-ohkuem 'emsee 'ne-'wo'hlp'e'y chegeychekw kue nepuy kue che'lonee 'o 'o's'o' kue roowo's.
When I have no tobacco and no angelica root, I give the dried salmon to the pipes in little pieces.
Kue 'ue-mer'erx 'emsee 'ue-'wa'alox 'emsee kue 'w-aawech 'we-terr 'we-tuuek neekee koosee neemee wo pemue'.
The gills and the guts, the back, the head, and the tail of the salmon was none of it cooked.
Tue' we'yon weesh ho tekwtekwso'm, noohl puelekws kue laaregor 'ema ho swoyhlkweyet'.
The girl cut this up and scattered it at the mouth of the river where the waves break along the shore.
Mocho kue kego'sneg 'emsee k'err' weesh mehl pelomeyehl kwelekw 'eemoksue tene'm kue nepuy kue weet 'we-loksee'hl.
If the seagulls and crows fight over it there will not be much salmon that year.
Kwelekw mocho weesh neenee rek'eeen 'eemee nepehl kwelekw weet kee 'we-tene'mek' nepuy kue weet 'we-loksee'hl.
But if they sit around and do not eat, it means that salmon will be plentiful that year.
'Imee wo pelep' mehl wee' tue' 'enuemee ho tene'm nepuy 'o weet 'o no'ohl.
There was no fighting over it, and salmon was very plentiful that season.