XML version dated March 02, 2004. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

9

The Young Woman Who

Married the Moon

Alfred Morsette

nuu naapakúhtuʾ– wehnaaRAhwaʾá – wehnaahtakuwaʾá
Long , long ago– when they came – as they migrated this way
niikohniíhiʾ – na niiwekohnipsiwá – Axtóh
wherever it was – and however many winters it was – certainly
kanatuhneesiíšuʾ tsu neetuhnaaʾiitUxsiíšuʾ.
I don't know, but I do know the story.

suúnaaxuʾ – noowiteeríhIt na – Ahnaraná čiitíʾIš
A young woman – she was an only (girl), and – she had them four
inástiʾ na hiʾáxtiʾ na šáxtiʾ iwaaníRIš
her brothers, and her father, and her mother, her mother's brothers,
sšúxuʾ niiʾAhnaanunuunaanawáNU.
relatives the ones whom she had.

anináʾU suúnaaxuʾ nooWIšitehwaakáxaʾ takú
That young woman then they came to ask for her someone
nehkuusuuxátA wiítA aasihtíRA.
to go to her a man 'that we be paired.'
kanawituhnaaʾiiwóʾ.
She did not consent.
kanawitiwískaʾ šiʾaxkoohtakúʾU.
She did not want it 'that we be married.'
wewitiraaNIhuúʾU nikukohnutaNAhuunuúku kanaNAhkuuwakUhtaraʾó.
There were many her treating them thus her not favoring what they asked of her.

nooWIšiteenunúhtoʾ inástiʾ.
Then they resented her her brothers.
na Axtóh kaaku- naahé niiNAxkuutaánu nuu weNAxkuutaakIseenaʾeerikú.
"And surely it is not good what are you doing, there your rejecting them.
tičé NAxWIskáʾ aaxuutuúʾA axkoohtakúʾU.
What do you want that he look like that you have as a husband?
ka NAxWIskáʾ axkoohtakúʾU páh.
Do you want to marry him the moon?
tinaáhu páh ka NAxWIskáʾ – nikuʾaaxuutuúʾA – axkoohtakúʾU.
This one (coming) moon do you want – that he look like that on – for you to marry him?
weNAxkuutaakIseenaʾeerikú – wiiteešútš – tiNAhunuuwaáWI
since you are rejecting them – the young men – these going around
tákuʾ šinakuutíRA NIhkuhnaaNAxweekoóčI.
someone with whom to be together for him to provide things."
nikuwewitihwaawačiʾaáhuʾ wešinehkuRAhwanú inástiʾ
That is what they were saying repeatedly as they reproached her her brothers
na iwaaníRIš.
and her uncles.

na – tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ – noowitirá xáwos niikohnuútuʾ.
And – this young woman – then she had it a ball, whatever kind it was.
a či nikiišeenuusuxkaapaačíštI tinaákUx xáwos.
And here this is what had blessed her this ball.

tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ noowitiwaákoʾ nawáh.
This young woman then she said: "Alright.
wah číkuʾ koxtíʾAt.
Now I'll go somewhere.
kaakunaahé tišiNAxkuRAhwanú.
It is not good your reproaching me.
kanee- neetiWIskáʾ tákuʾ axkoohtakúʾU.
I do not want that anyone marry me.
wah číkuʾ koxtíʾAt.
Now I will go somewhere."

weWIšitiinaanipákuʾ haáwaʾ kanaʾaaxuutaáNA číkuʾ kanaʾaaxeétA.
Now they disapproved also one not wanting her to do it, one not wanting that she go somewhere.

wah – tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ – noowitohneewireéhAs.
Now – this young woman – then she prepared herself.
noowititahpá xáwos.
Then she carried it on her back a ball.
wewiwituutAxunána niikohnuhnaánuʾ xúhtš wehnaranaáhNA.
She had moccasins for herself however many there were moccasins ones she had.
nootíʾAt – anuú – NAhuukaawiraátA.
Then she went – there – the east.

nuu wenaátA nuu tiwenaátA witiihaahtawiítIt.
There after she was going, there after she was going, it became daylight.
wah štoh witikatiisiʾá.
Now again it became dark.
hawá witAheé- šaʾ híNAx.
Also morning came (then) night.

nooWIšitiinaʾiwaahakUxítIt niinooNAhkuúʾU waaRUxtiíʾuʾ.
Then they began to block her path different ones holy beings.
tsu tinaákUx xáwos nootihnaaʾiitawíhuʾ.
But this ball then he was telling her.
witiwaakaáhuʾ číkuʾ axuúta.
He was saying: "Don't do anything!
šooxeečiwiNIščéʾ.
They'll deceive you.
– tsu – wetsíhWA niiwenaákUx páh.
– But – we are going where he is Moon.
nikuwetsíhWA.
That is where we are going."

tinaákUx – suúnaaxuʾ – wehnaátA noowitiinawíhAt Itkxaánuʾ.
This – young woman – when she went then he overtook her Night.
witiinawíhAt.
He overtook her.
nooWIšitiwiiruútIt wehnaWIskáʾA aatetkAhníkA
Then they (du) sat down, his wanting it 'that I put you to sleep
aataahtakuuxaáNA ItkAxíniʾ.
that I might marry you in (your) sleep.'

noowitiwaákoʾ – tinaákUx – Itkxaánuʾ čiitíʾIš kooxuuNIt- khaanaánuʾ NAsihčirikáʾU.
Then he said – this – Night: "Four the nights will number our being awake.
tinetkhaánu čiitíʾIš inoó xuúhuniʾ netkAxítIt wetataawíRAt.
This night four there before if you go to sleep I'll beat you.
wetataahtakúxtA.
I will marry you.
wetsakučituuʾaaníštA.
We will get married.
tsu inooškoowirátA kananetkAxítIt čiitíʾIš tiwenaRItkhaanoósI wah wetAxiičíšAt.
But if you beat me if you do not sleep four these nights, now you'll be saved.
wetaáxAt niiNAxWIskáʾA aataátA niikooNAxwóʾ.
You'll go where you want 'that I go' wherever you are going."

tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ nooWIšitikhíNIt.
This young woman then they (du) made a fire.
uuwe- kuwitiíkUx Itkxaánuʾ.
He sat on one side Night.
uukuwitUtwíʾuʾ skaweéraaʾuʾ.
He faced the other way west.
natsú tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ – kuwitUtwiʾúʾ – NAhuukaawiraátA
And this young woman – she faced thus – east
wešinunaaʾiiwaawaátI wešinačirikáʾU.
as they (du) told stories while they (du) were awake.

wah wewituuNItkhaanaánuʾ táWIt.
Now the nights now numbered three.
táWIt wewituteš- taánuʾ.
Three the days numbered.
táWIt wehnuuNItkhaanaánuʾ.
Three it was now nights.
wetiNAsakúhkUx čiitíʾIš čiitíʾIš wenuuNItkhaanaanuuxítIt tinaákUx
This day fourth four when the nights began to be, this
suúnaaxuʾ nooteewíʾAt.
young woman then she was tired.
– nootitkAxitikUxítIt.
– Then she began to go to sleep.
– nootees- šItkAxitikUxítIt.
– Then she began to feel sleepy.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx šinaatíRA xáwos wah šuuxItká.
Then he said this one the one she was with ball: "Now sleep!
koxtičiríkoʾ.
I will stay awake.
nikUšikoxtuúta.
He and I will be the ones to do it (ie compete)."

wah – tinaákUx – xáwos – nikunoowititeewíroʾ – tinaákUx
Now – this – ball – then he replaced that one – this
suúnaaxuʾ wešinačirikáʾU wešohnunaaʾiiwaawaátI.
young woman when they (du) stayed awake as they told stories.
noo – hiiš – witiihiʾá.
There – evening – it became.
ItkhaanuukaríkAt – Itkxaánuʾ – noo- teehuunawiiʾaaníšaʾ.
At midnight – Night – then he began to slacken his pace.
nootitkAxitikUxítIt čeésuʾ.
Then he began to sleep too.
nooteewíʾAt.
Then he tired.
– taRAhtšíniʾ wewitiwaaWIhtiíkuʾ.– tsu tinaákUx xáwos wekuwituúʾUt.
– Barely he was talking now.– But this ball he was thus (ie awake).
wititaRAhčíš.
He was strong.

wewitAheešAhíštA noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx Itkxaánuʾ nawáh wetAxkoowíRAt.
Now when it was nearly morning then he said this Night: "Now you have beat me.
wetAxúhtA niiNAxWIskáʾA aataátA.
Now you are going to go where you want to go.
či NAxtaRAhčíš.
Here you are strong.
či NAxi- wáhNIš niiNAxWIskáʾA aataátA.
Here you are certain where you want 'that I go.'"

wah witiiNUhuuníʾit.
Now he left her.

nootiihaahtawiítIt.
Then it became dawn.
atsú xáwos noowitihčirikaʾaanít.
And ball then he woke her.
nawáh wetsiinawíRAt.
"Now we have beat him.
wah parúNIt.
Now hurry!
parúNIt síšWA.
Quickly let's go!

áxkUx tuuniíWIs.
"One there remains.
nikunoowetIhatúhkA Itkxaánuʾ.
That one is the last Night.
wah šeeniíʾU – wetsiiteeríštA – niiNAxWIskáʾA.
Now the main one – we are going to see him – the one you want."

na nikunooWIšituúta wešinawáNA nuu niikohniíhiʾ.
And then that is what they (du) did when they (du) went there wherever it was.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx xáwos nawáh wetAxuuteé- rištA wiiteešútš.
Then he said this ball: "Now you are going to see him a young man.
nikuwetíʾ wešiNAxtiRAxtáNIt.
He is the one the one who is going to be your companion.
wetohnuníkUx.
He is waiting for you now.
číkuʾ kaakiraákUx.
There is no way (ie no obstacle).
– Axunaaninóʾ.
– Don't be afraid!
– nikutíʾ niiweNAxUtwiʾuúʾA niiNAxWIskáʾA nikuʾaaxuútA.
– He is the one where you are headed what you want 'that you be the one.'

natsú tatuhnaasíštA tiweeNAsehwaʾá.
"But I am watching for the time when we come.
nootikatiisiʾá.
Then it'll be dark.
wetataahíštA páh.
He's going to come up Moon.
wenataʾá nooteewísaʾ wiiteešútš.
When he comes up then he'll come a young man.
nikuwitíʾ.
He is the one."

na nikunoowituutAxítIt.
And then that is what happened.

wah wetAxihwísaʾ niiNAxWIskáʾA.
"Now I have arrived as you wanted.
na nikuneetuúʾUt.
And I am the one.
tatohnuníkUx.
I'm waiting for you.
nikutatuhnáʾA tiweNA- xiína.
I'm the one who is the cause your coming here.
na weneeškoosšteéRAt číkuʾ wekananaaxuutaáNA aniweNAxiína –
And I am thankful for it that you did not do anything as you came her –
číkuʾ wekananaaxiraatakúxkA -- – uunariišíNIt weNAxiína
that you did not do any- thing -- – the right way (lit straight) your coming
niinatskáʾA aaxuútA.
my wanting that that it be.

nawáh– tatuuNUxaʾiwaahaákuʾ – tinaákUx šakuúnuʾ.
"Now– I was blocking his way – this Sun.
šakuúnuʾ tatuuNUxaʾiwaahaákuʾ – wenakoowiRIstakaaráhAt –
Sun I was blocking his way – when he throws heat down –
wenaWIskáʾA aaxaweétA aaxIstaáhIš – tstoóxuʾ– wenatsunuuwaahátkA.
when he wants to tire you, to make you thirsty – water– when he has dried it up everywhere.
tsu nikuneetuhnáʾA šinatoosiRAxá šiNAxihwaʾá.
But I am the one who is the cause my bringing you (du) here you (du) who came."

nawáh tsu nootuhteeriíʾa.
Now but then he was spying on her.

wah wetsihWAhúhtA niinátkUx.
"Now we are going to go where I live.
atíkaʾ atípaʾ šitohnuníkUx.
My grandmother, my grandfather they (du) are waiting for you."

noowitiisiráxAt.
Then he led her.
nooWIšitíWA tuuneskoóhAt skaRAhkatAhaáhniniʾ.
Then they (du) went the sky up there in the clouds.
noowiteenoohuuwaátaʾ.
Then he lifted her up quickly.

noowitIhunaanawaáhAt.
Then there was an expanse of land.
noowitIhunaaničíWI.
It was a different land.
noowiteéka akAhpaátuh.
There was a lodge a tipi.

wah taanikutiíhiʾ.
"Now this is the place."

wah – tinaákUx – suúnaaxuʾ wešinaatíRA tinaákUx
Now – this – young woman while they (du) were together this
wiiteešútš wehneenuhnanuuwaáhu tsástš wehnihwaawáʾA wah
young man while he was bringing them for her meat for them to eat now
witíʾIt sákaaʾA šohneenuhnanuu- waáhu tsástš.
they were stars they who were bringing it for her meat.

wah witiwaákoʾ tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ wah wetikoosša- wíʾAt.
Now she said this young woman: "Now my mind is tired now.
nootatiWIskaaxiíkuʾ aatakaaʾiišátA tsu niinatiniinítAt.
I am just feeling like that I should go home but where my village is."

wah – wewitirá – piiráʾuʾ.– wewitirá – piiráʾuʾ wiinásts.
Now – she now had it – a baby.– She now had it – a baby, a little boy.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah šikoxteéRAt.
Then he said: "Now I will take you (du).
– číkuʾ kaakiraákUx.– tsu wetatiikúxtA.
– There is not any–obstacle.– But I am going to stay.
niikooNUtkhaanaánuʾ niikooNUsakunaánuʾ wetatiiNAhúxtA.
However many nights, however many days I am going to be coming.
wetatiinaáhuʾ.
I'll be coming.
tsu wešineetootA- síštA.
And I'll watch over you (du).
na tatihwísaʾ niišiNAxkuúkUx.
And I'll arrive where you (du) live.

tsu kaakikUhunahAsíštA.
"But I am not going to die.
niikohniiraáʾAt na inooneehunáhAs wetAxiNAhíštA
However long the time is and if you die you are going to come
niitinátkUx niitiNAt- wanú.
where I live, where I go around.
na tinaákUx wiinásts tsu wešineeštaanuhkoočíštA.
And this little boy but you (du) are going to have everything.

wešikoxteéRAt.
"Now I will take you (du).
wah tsu wešitatohteeriíʾa sinoó šakuúnuʾ.
Now but I'll spy on you (du) yet Sun.
wah wetataraahNAhnúhtA.
Now we are going to go.
wetaasoohíštA.
It is going to rain.
tsu wenaaRAxwéstA.
But he is going to look for you.
neskakatákUx nikuwešitAxukawiiruutíštA.
That cloud you (du) are going to ride on it.
wah – taanikuwetAxúhtA.
Now – this is where you are going to go.
skaRAhkatAhaánuʾ – kooxiitIsaRAhát.
The cloud – it will make him forget."

nooWIšiteewáʾ.
Then they (du) came.
tsu tinaákUx šakuúnuʾ wewitih- teeriíʾa aatAhuNAhátkA.
But this Sun now he spied on her 'that I get rid of you.'
nikuwewitiWIskáʾ aaxunáhAs tinaákUx suúnaaxuʾ.
That is what he wanted 'that you die' this young woman.
tsu tinaákUx páh wewitipaanaánuʾ.
But this Moon he was hiding her.
noowiteeniwísaʾ niikohniíhiʾ niikohnuuxitUhwaáhAt.
Then he brought her to it wherever it was wherever the village was.

nooWIšitaaWIswáʾ.
Then they (du) came back.
wewituxtaasšúnahAs.
Now they had for- gotten her.
AhnoowituhníWIs anináʾU suúnaaxuʾ štoh wehnaaWIsá.
Then she just appeared that young woman back when she came.
noowitiiNAsšteehuúʾU wešiniiteéRIt.
Then they were happy when they saw her.
na inoowituusiRAxá wiinásts.
And there she led him a little boy.

noowitiwaákoʾ wah šitAxkuuNUxtaanóxwoʾ NAxuxtaa- pačeéhu
Then she said: "Now you were exaggerating mine when you were saying
tinaahú páh nikuʾaxkoohtakúʾU.
this coming Moon that I wanted it to marry me.
taanikuwetuúʾUt.
This is what happened.
wah nikuwetatuxwísAt.
Now that is where I went.
tatuúxAt niinaákUx páh.
I went where he lives Moon.
wah tinaaríčI wiináxtš nikuthaáʾ.
Now this boy he is his son.

wah niikohniiraačíštA šitiitíRA tinaaríčI wiináxtš.
"Now however long it is going to be we will be together this boy.
wekaakiraačitéštA nakuraa- hunuuwaaNAxú.
It is not going to be difficult for him to find things.
– kaakunaačiteewaahnúxtA.
– Ways are not to be difficult for him
– nawáh kaakíʾ číkuʾ šiNAxkukuunaaʾiitUxtoóku štoh.
– Now you (pl) can't make any story about me again.
noowetuhnaánuʾ.
That is all."

wah taanikunoowitiiraaʾiitúxAt.
Now so this is the end of the story.
niikohnuxtaáʾAt suúnaaxuʾ Ahnúxwanu nootIhunáhAs.
However long it was the young woman her living then she died.
hawá tinaákUx wiináxtš nikuwetuúʾUt aanuuxaananiwiítIt kaakatuuxátkoʾ.
Also this boy it was now thus: whether he married I did not hear.
niikohniiraáʾAt Ahnuxwanú tinaákUx wiináxtš čeésuʾ witIhunáhAs.
However long it was his living this boy too he died.

wah taanikutuhnaaʾiitUxúʾ niinatuuNUxAtkookUxúku.
Now this is the story the one I used to hear.