TEXTS⁠[128] (continued 5)

Under-the-fire-place spirit.

(9) Composed by one of the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān named Kāsǃenduᴀˊxtc. These spirit songs were also used in dancing.

Hīˊnde Into river naixēˊtc you throw him dê, (imp.) îˊx̣denᴀx down to the mouth łax̣āˊcî. let him float. Watsǃᴀˊs Let iyēˊłî you raven îxînāˊnᴀx at the mouth of the river x̣ᴀˊkut to dry ground g̣a dusx̣āˊtǃ. drag him up.

Throw him into the river that he may float down. Let the Raven people at the mouth of the river drag him up.

(10) A song with Athapascan words which came to a shaman named Cūwusēˊn from an Athapascan spirit—words unintelligible to my informants.

(11) This is a ground-hog song sung while the singer holds up its skin in front with both hands. Its cry when jumping into its hole is also imitated.

Cᴀnaˊ isᴀnuˊ dix̣âˊ Wake up that young man g̣ēʟǃ [and] cliff ỵît up kᴀ on tūˊāt. let us go. Īdjîg̣ēˊt You get cukᴀˊt anything yên before cīstāˊitc. you always sleep. Īdjîg̣ēˊt You get cukᴀˊt anything ᴀtcaweˊ [before] therefore ʟēł not ᴀt thing idjᴀˊqx. you ever kill.

Wake up that young man and let us go up on the cliff. You always sleep before you hunt. That is why you never kill anything.

(12) After a bear had been killed its head was set up by the fire and people dropped grease into the fire in front of it, at the same time saying “You have come out of the body among us, so you are we.”

Yāx In front of him ag̣āˊn is burning the fire dix̣âˊ this young man yux̣ūˊtsǃ the grizzly bear adeˊ thus duᴀxdjînuˊtcỵa, is always heard to say, “Whu, whu, whu,” “Whu, whu, whu,” ayuˊ that ayᴀˊx like daỵadoqāˊnutc. they always talk to it.

The fire is burning in front of this young man. This is what the grizzly bear is always heard to say: “Whu, whu, whu,” so they always talk to it.

(13) A Kāˊgwᴀntān cradle song, sung over the child and used also at feasts. The child itself is supposed to be speaking.

Kǃīỵīˊt Around the house łuxwacāˊdīn I always like to creep ᴀxhoˊnxo my brother’s cᴀt wife kᴀx. for. Kᴀˊcde gux deguˊt I thought he would jump up hēˊdudîkaxēc. and I should be very much ashamed. Ān Town dāt around nᴀxᴀsg̣êˊttc. I always tramp.

I like to creep around the house all the time after my brother’s wife.⁠[180] I thought that he would jump up and I should be very much ashamed. I always tramp about the town [after my brother’s wife].

(14) Cradle song for a girl.

Łaˊoxᴀckōxoˊ If I do not take anything xᴀt I kᴀdēˊxnutc, shall always be ashamed, xᴀt I kᴀdēˊxnutc. shall always be ashamed. Cākǃu Girls sāˊnî little, he. listen. Cākǃu Girls sāˊnî little, he. listen.

If I do not take anything [to the party], I shall be ashamed, I shall be ashamed. Little girls, listen. Little girls, listen.

(15) Cradle song for a boy.

Hag̣uˊ Now qᴀdîcāˊcgî I am certain to marry ᴀxhuˊnx my brother ducᴀˊt his wife nᴀq after nᴀnāˊnî. he dies.

I am certain to marry my brother’s wife after he dies.⁠[180]

(16) A cradle song of unknown authorship. It might be used by anyone.

Tsǃîtskǃ Small bird ag̣atǃūˊku let me shoot kaiti-ỵᴀˊdî my younger brother qǃēs. for. Qǃât A small trout ᴀg̣ᴀtag̣eˊ let me spear ᴀxʟ̣āˊkǃ my sister qǃēs. for.

Let me shoot a small bird for my younger brother. Let me spear a small trout for my sister.

(17) The song with which Raven was nursed. Both phratries use it.

ᴀhāˊ ᴀhā Aha aha(i. e., here it is) qǃātǃî-dayēˊdjîỵî. island snipes. Yēł Raven qǃositeˊ tracks ᴀxōˊx among yaołîcuˊ. [I] see. Yēł Raven’s qēˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs. nephews. Dzᴀnᴀˊ, Bad smelling fish, dzᴀnᴀˊ, bad smelling fish, dzᴀnᴀˊ. bad smelling fish.

Aha, aha, island snipes. Among them I see lots of raven tracks, the nephews of ravens. Bad-smelling fish, bad-smelling fish, bad-smelling fish.⁠[181]

(18) Composed by one of the ʟǃenēˊdî named Cukǃusāˊỵî (Little-lake-up-above), when his people expected others to come with food to give them a feast. His name was probably derived from Auk lake.

Tcǃa ỵigiỵîˊ tūqǃ Every day in front of qāyᴀˊt my face kᴀnahāˊntc. it always is. Tsu Also naqᴀtēˊn I sleep ug̣aˊ when ᴀn of them xałqêˊntc. I always think. De Indeed iīˊtde for you sᴀxᵘʟ̣îtǃᴀˊn. I long much. Ctᴀnūˊkᵘ Having a sudden sickness yᴀx like xāt I uwatīˊ am îdaˊyu about you tutᴀˊnk thinking diyēˊł. you Ravens.

It is before my face every day. And when I sleep I always think of you. I long much for you.

Thinking about you Ravens comes to me like a sudden sickness.

(19) Also composed by Cukǃusāˊỵî on the same occasion as the preceding.

Tukaisînᴀˊt You make me feel yēˊłî Raven ctᴀnūˊgỵa as if shaking qōt uwatīˊ I were completely îdaˊyu about you tutᴀˊnk thinking ʟǃenēˊdî ʟǃenēˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

You make me feel as if I were shaking, thinking about you, ʟǃenēˊdî’s children.

(20) Composed by Cukǃusāˊỵî after they had vainly expected a feast for some time.

Tcǃᴀs Only xᴀt I cēˊgî it is ᴀnᴀˊq from it xᴀt I qog̣ᴀnāˊ am going to die yākᵘdunîˊk without seeing [that are talked about] Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān Tᴀˊqǃdentān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tsǃu Again ᴀkᴀˊx g̣ᴀnēˊxt xânuˊkᵘ îsagūwuˊ I try to make myself well thinking about you G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tsǃu Also îdadêˊ about you g̣āx crying ctutx into myself xᴀdatēˊx. I alway try to stop.

I alone am going to die without having seen Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s children.

I try to make myself well again thinking about G̣ānᴀxᴀˊdî’s children. I keep trying to stop crying about you.

(21) Composed by Kux̣ēˊʟǃ of the ʟǃenēˊdî when they expected people to give them a feast. There is a little bird called people’s-thoughts (qātuwuˊ), and a person knows when he sees it that a feast is coming.

Sug̣aᴀˊsgî tug̣asᴀg̣wēˊtc Always feels happy about iyēˊłî you Raven dîg̣ōˊtc this Wolf [phratry] qātuwuˊ people’s-thoughts hāt toward him g̣ᴀdaqêˊnîn. when his thoughts fly. Adūˊsgî I wonder yēł Ravens g̣ux sᴀnēˊx will save dekīˊyaqǃāqǃ way out there hīˊnî water wūtc together wuʟ̣îāˊt. are upset on. Deᴀˊqǃ On it hᴀs they wułîx̣āˊc float yuyēˊł. the Ravens.

You Raven always feel happy about this Wolf phratry when your thoughts fly toward him like the bird named people’s-thoughts.

I wonder who can get out and save the Ravens that are upset together way out there in the seas.

(22) This is called Big-song (Cî-ʟēn) and was used by all the Kāˊgwᴀntān at feasts after a rich man had died. As they sang all turned around in the direction of the sun. It was also sung for the Deer in making peace, when it was ended differently. Originally it is said to have come from ʟucāˊcakǃî-ān, where it was composed by Dātxaguˊttc (named from the action of a man carving a wolf post when he steps some distance away to take a good look at it).

[Introductory words] Ītēˊ After qoxdzitīˊỵî I am living qāqǃ man ayᴀˊqǃᴀ I am saying like, Dātxaguˊttc Dātxaguˊttc qǃa mouth (he used to say) ỵᴀˊxᴀ like it ʟucāˊcakǃî-ān Sand-hill town dᴀx from cī song ᴀ. is.

Uhāˊn We łīngîˊt-āˊnî world tūqǃ inside of hāqłîg̣eˊ. we feel higher than all.

I am now saying just as the man I live after, Dātxaguˊttc, used to say. This song is from Sand-hill town.

We are the people who feel higher than all others in the world.

(23) A song used at feasts when two of the host’s people dance and one of each of the two parties invited sings for them.

Kīt-gūˊci-hīnᴀx In Killer-whale’s-dorsal-fin river tcǃa right xāt I qᴀłix̣āˊc. am floating down. Da Now ỵīāˊnî your town kᴀnᴀˊx in front of yên there xᴀt I kaiˊłahît wish you would help me, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵêˊtqǃî. children. Kut Away xᴀt I gox łix̣āˊc. might drift.

I am floating right down in Killer-whale’s-dorsal-fin river. I wish you would help me ashore in front of your town, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. I might drift away.

(24) Composed by a man called Small-lake-underneath (Haỵi-āˊkǃᵘ) about a drifting log found full of nails, out of which a house was built. It is used when a feast is about to be given for a dead man, and they have their blankets tied up to their waists and carry canes.

Wuckēˊt wuʟ̣îx̣āˊcî Drifting g̣āỵēˊsǃ [with] iron nails xāˊwu log yᴀx like îdaˊ with you ᴀxtunatīˊtc. I always compare. ᴀxhuˊnx My brother tcǃaˊya just so gᴀx łax̣āˊc. let him float. Tcǃᴀnīˊdjt On a good sandy beach gu łax̣āˊc. let him float ashore. Gutsǃ Clouds tūˊdî into wux̣īˊx̣î goes g̣ᴀgāˊn sun yᴀx like idaˊ around you ᴀxtunatīˊtc I compare ᴀxʟaˊ. my mother. ᴀcgaˊ That is what Łīngît-āˊnî world kᴀnᴀcgêˊttc. makes always dark.

I always compare you to a drifting log with iron nails in it. Let my brother float in, in that way. Let him float ashore on a good sandy beach.

I always compare you, my mother, to the sun passing behind the clouds. That is what makes the world dark.

(25) A Kāˊgwᴀntān song used at a feast when a slave is to be killed.

Ỵekǃuˊł qodzîtiˊ Are now backing down on me dîˊnaỵāqāỵîˊ, the people’s words, łkǃᴀx worthless (people) ucîtīˊỵî are naỵaqāỵîˊ. people’s words.

The words of people are now backing down on me, the words of worthless people.

(26) A potlatch song composed by Man-that-obeys (Qǃayᴀˊx-qōˊste) of the Box-house people.

Qāˊkdê Out îtūwatiˊ you want to come tca indeed kīt whale killer katīˊỵî? are? Yaỵîˊkde Inside wudaqēˊnî went Yēł Raven ʟēł not ᴀcqǃēˊ wukǃâˊs? [you know what] he consumed? Tcᴀˊtcǃawa And indeed ᴀgwᴀtsāˊs you think Yēł Raven qǃeˊîqgwakǃâs you will satisfy tcᴀ now dikīˊt? you killer whale? Tcǃᴀ Just hūtc he ciyᴀˊx with himself aodîtᴀˊn turned over doāˊnî. his town (the world). Tcᴀ And ʟēˊnᴀx alone ł âg̣ᴀnēˊx? how can he save himself?

Why do you want to come out, killer whale? Don’t you know what Raven did when he went inside of a whale? And do you think you will satisfy Raven, you killer whale?

He turned this world over with himself. And how can he alone save himself?

(27) Composed by Nawēˊya, a very old man of the Box-house people, just before he died, so that it could be used at feasts.

ᴀkᵘceˊ īwakǃeˊgî You must be very good, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Îỵᴀˊtqǃî Your children (i. e., opposites) kᴀt for idjîkǃᴀˊn. you have jumped to save. Qēˊg̣a Truly xᴀt she yaˊỵag̣āxe you have pitied Wuckitāˊn Wuckitāˊn ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. De Now dāq up nᴀxaguˊt I am going sǃᴀgî-qāˊwu ghost anîˊ world dê. to.

You must be very good, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. Your children have jumped to save you.

I am very glad that you took pity on me, Wuckitā’n’s children. Now I am going up to the ghost world.

(28) Song about the eagle hat, sung at a feast when one is not satisfied with the property he has obtained. The word given below, which is the only one, is said to be Tsimshian.

Xēdzicxāgaˊ, Here is the eagle hat.

(29) A similar song about the g̣onaqᴀdēˊt hat. Informant did not know what the words mean, they being in Tsimshian.

Nᴀg̣ᴀnᴀwâˊ łuqᴀnaˊ hao hao. Łuqᴀnaˊ, however, is evidently ʟōˊkoala, Kwakiutl name for the winter ceremonial.

(30) This song is used by all the Wolf families, who sing it all together just as they are coming in to a feast.

Anqāˊwo A rich man ỵanaguˊt. is coming. Ỵītuwuˊ Your feelings ỵīcᴀtǃîˊqǃ. you keep silent.

[Words repeated at the end] Cîsatêˊ When it is ended ye ỵanaqeˊtc thus they always say “Gānhaˊo hūtcǃ.” “It is all gone.”

There is a rich man coming. Keep silent.

When it is ended, they always say, “It is all gone.”

(31) Composed in the Tsimshian language and used by the Kāˊgwᴀntān at a great feast.

Gudᴀˊx ganāˊkcia łᴀngīˊkcia agīˊkcia. The last word is said to mean “stern of canoe.”

(32) Song used like the above.

X̣utsǃnuwūˊ Hutsnuwu dê to tsǃu also ye thus nagᴀˊxduīqǃ. we are going to to be invited. Tca Very anỵᴀˊtqǃî high-caste people nᴀxāˊ. are going to eat.

We are also going to be invited to Killisnoo. High-caste people are going to eat.

(33) Composed by a Haida living in Sitka, called Naqāˊłi, or popularly “Haida Charley,” and used when four dance together at a feast.

Wāsāˊkᵘ I wonder what dêndzîgīˊt will do to me ᴀxcᴀgîˊnîỵa. my future life. Yēł Raven’s hīˊnî river kîˊna at head of qohâˊn people, qoˊa however, g̣ōtc Wolf ānîˊ town kādêˊ to tcǃayuˊ right to łuwaguˊq. have started to go. Uqaˊtułîtsīˊn I have no hard feelings against cêqayēˊłî this Raven tribe, qoˊa however, ʟēkǃ not yên there dudzîqāˊ I said anything cîG̣ānᴀxteˊdî these G̣ānᴀxteˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Hāndeˊ Come here idjîˊn your hands tcǃînakᴀłaʟ̣ēˊgu. I will shake.

I wonder what will happen to me in the future. The people at the head of the Raven’s river have started for the Wolf phratry’s town.

I have no hard feelings against the Raven phratry and I said nothing to G̣ānᴀxteˊdî’s children. Come here and I will shake your hands.

(34) Song composed by Naqāˊłi (Haida Charley) for four when they are dancing at a feast.

Dēxtutseˊ If two-minded Kîksᴀˊdî Kîksᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children tcǃa just so akayēˊx like it tcuc might gîʟ̣îyēˊx, something happen, da on îcandêˊ pity îyēˊłî your Raven phratry qoˊa. however. Nao Whisky yᴀx like yā like this xᴀt I kanᴀłcēˊn were getting drunk on [thinking of] ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs my grandfathers’ ānîˊ. town. Dag̣a g̣ōtˊc What Wolf [phratry] sᴀ ? ᴀxdaunᴀˊx sîdāˊq. can bring my mind into the right place.

Don’t be double-minded, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children, or something might happen to you, but have pity on your Raven phratry.

Thinking about my grandfathers’ town is just as if I were getting drunk with whisky. There is no Wolf phratry (person) that can set my mind aright.

(35) Composed by Going-across-the-road (Deg̣ᴀhēˊtǃ) who belonged to the Tǃîˊkᴀna tribe of the X̣ᴀkᴀnūˊkedî.⁠[182]

De sēqǃ Now on neck qokᴀstūˊqǃᵘ I am going to tie it, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Ag̣aˊ So that nᴀxatēˊnî when I am asleep yêˊndî there xᴀt tu gux ładjāˊq. I shall know that it is with me. Yᴀxcîˊ I wonder if tūwuˊ ỵaqᵘgwatīˊ will ever forgive me, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tcᴀʟᴀˊkᵘ Always ᴀxtuwuˊk my feelings danᴀˊttc. are troubled.

I am going to tie it around my neck, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, so that when I am asleep I shall know that it is with me.

I wonder if Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children will ever forgive me. My feelings are always troubled.

(36) Composed by Little-lake-up-above (Cukǃusāˊ-yî) of the ʟǃenēˊdî. See songs 18–20, above.

Deˊdjî yᴀnūˊgu kātuwuˊ cēyuˊgî îtnᴀˊx kᴀ dunēˊk Must have been very great that they were telling to me after it is past ka g̣odjîˊ Wolf phratry’s ỵaqaỵîˊ. words. Duhūˊtcǃ īn The last time ỵîs for wutc yên with each other ᴀxdog̣āˊx let us be very friendly, Kîksᴀˊdî Kîksᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

The Wolf phratry’s words that they are telling me about must have been very great.

Let us be friendly with each other for the last time, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children.

(37) Composed by one of the Kîksᴀˊdî named Dead Raven (Nāwiyēˊł). There was a second part to this which the writer’s informant had forgotten.

Tcusuˊg̣a Very attentively iyuqǃâtᴀˊngî what you have said tūˊde to qoxdzîāˊx I listened Qǃᴀtkaāˊỵî Island-people’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

I have listened very attentively to your words, Island-people’s children.

(38) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān named Be-careful-of-it (Kāłg̣āˊs).

Āg̣āˊxa No more yūt away iyᴀˊkǃᵘ your face xog̣ēˊqtc I will throw Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children g̣ōtc Wolf qǃᴀˊłᴀtsīnî. because you make valuable. Daqâˊt What kᴀx sa ? ᴀxtuwᴀˊsîgu do I care about yēˊłỵi Raven’s anîˊ? town? Guł Only when kawusūˊnkᴀx there is just a little in me ᴀxtuwâˊsigu I like yēˊłỵi Raven’s āˊnî. town.

I will no more throw your faces away, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, because you are the ones that make the Wolf phratry valuable.

What do I care about the Raven’s town? I like it only when there is a very little [whisky] in me.

(39) Composed by one of the ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀdî named Nawutsīˊn, probably from the jerking of cohoes when dying.

Hīn Water tūˊnᴀx from in tcǃᴀ just as if ke up aỵaxēˊtc he were taking [me] g̣ōˊtcỵî Wolf anîˊ town caheˊ did to yadiyēˊł. this Raven. ᴀdaˊ Now ᴀxāˊ paddle ỵêx like ckug̣wᴀłyēˊx he is going to use himself dog̣ōˊtcỵi his Wolf phratry’s yāˊgu canoe ᴀdāˊde around it gᴀx dutīˊn. so that he will be seen.

This Raven did to the Wolf’s town just as if he were taking me out of the water.⁠[183]

Now he is going to use himself as a paddle so that he will be seen around his Wolf phratry’s canoe.

(40) Composed by Kākayēˊk of the Kāˊgwᴀntān.

Inuwuˊ Your fort g̣edîˊ inside of wuctukaˊodjîtān wants to put itself yᴀg̣odjîˊ, this Wolf phratry Wuckitāˊn Wuckitāˊn’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children ag̣ēˊqǃ inside of it tsa so gᴀx tuxēˊqǃᵘ. we shall sleep. Yēł Raven yᴀx like kogwatīˊ are going to be Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Dog̣ōˊdjî His Wolf phratry tūx among yēkgwaguˊttc. he is going.

This Wolf phratry wants to put itself inside of your fort, Wuckitāˊn’s children, so that we can sleep.⁠[183]

The Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children are going to be like Raven. He is going among the people of his Wolf phratry.

(41) Composed by Sāxaˊ of the Kāˊgwᴀntān.

Xātc It is xatīˊn I see yēk nīỵaˊ. spirits that will come to me. Gūˊsǃî Cloud haỵinᴀˊx from down under tcǃa right wug̣aāˊt. they get. ᴀxsatîˊ My masters sᴀkᵘ for yēł Raven ānîˊ town kᴀt on nᴀg̣aāˊt. they will walk.

I can see the spirits that are going to come to me. They will go under a cloud. They will be my masters who will walk in the Raven town.

(42) Composed by Crying-[wolf] (G̣āˊxe) of the Chilkat Kāˊgwᴀntān.

Wâˊsᴀ I wonder what ᴀc nᴀsinîˊ has done to him ditcāˊkǃ. the eagle. Duyēˊłî His Raven [phratry] ᴀcdāˊt around him kᴀnᴀłỵîˊtctc. always flies. Dekīˊqǃ In the air ᴀcdāˊt around him kᴀnᴀłduˊʟǃtc they would fly very quickly łīngîˊt-āˊnî world ᴀł not yᴀx like yēqǃ utcǃᴀˊs he made dutuwuˊ his mind diyēˊł. this Raven. Hūtcǃ Finally hᴀsdutuwuˊ their minds diyēˊł this Raven hᴀsdukīˊdî their killer whale hᴀsdunᴀˊq from them yên there naguˊ. went.

I wonder what the Eagle has done to him. His Raven phratry always flies around him. They fly around thickly unlike Raven when he made the world.

[The translation of the last paragraph is uncertain.]

(43) This was sung by New-rich (Yisg̣ānāˊłx), chief of the Auk people, when he defeated a Yakutat chief in a property contest, as related in story 26.

Xᴀt I kᴀnłîdiˊxasî am very much ashamed of yūānqāˊwo. the chief. Tsǃᴀs Only tī-sēˊʟǃî cedar bark aqǃēˊx with it aosîᴀˊx. he made a pretense. Tînnāˊx Copper aołîyᴀˊx. he made it into(i. e., pretended it was). Hāt Here qox back tcǃu then ʟadudᴀˊx will you come agîˊ? ? Łā Never qǃeducîˊ feast qāˊsǃiỵaỵîk do you think we have in this part of our ān? town?

I am very much ashamed of the chief. He only made a pretense with cedar bark. He made it into copper plates. Will you come back here? Do you think we never have feasts in this town?

(44) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān called Yuwâˊkǃᵘ.

Yēˊgî Spirits yêx like ᴀckādêˊ on him ỵanaᴀˊt coming down Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children dātuwuˊ. thinking of. Hātsatîyaˊ Alasǃ (a Haidaword, hadjadiˊa) Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî daughters gūsuˊ where [is it] xān with me îkgwᴀnāˊwu you were going to die kaỵaqaỵîˊ your words xadēˊs ādushāˊîtc? you ought to fulfill?

Thinking of you, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, is just like having spirits come down upon me.

Alasǃ Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, why don’t you fulfill your promise that you were going to die with me?

(45) Composed by For-a-town spirit (Ān-de-yēk) of the ʟǃenēˊdî about the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān, because when the latter came to Juneau to drink they did not pay any attention to the Auk people.

Îłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs Your grandfather’s ānîˊ town ᴀkya this ᴀqǃ ỵîqǃ is ᴀkłîgeˊ. not. ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs My grandfather’s ānīˊtc town yᴀx like [rich] ye thus ỵaˊosite has made you tcᴀ now qā [you] gux slaves kǃucāˊnî. poor. Ye So sukᴀˊtỵa people are treated tcuckᴀˊx how xᴀłtīˊn I see adeˊ when natīˊtcỵa are wunāˊwu dead qā. men. Ayaỵideˊ Before it xᴀt I kᴀcēˊx. am drinking. De Now tułᴀtsīˊn you are very selfish for ayêˊx like it ỵīdzîgīˊt you did Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tcǃᴀ But ʟēł not iỵᴀˊkuqwaqǃēˊ I will blame you tcǃā for waa will iỵᴀqaỵîˊ. blame your words. ᴀtc That ye cỵīdzînîˊ is his own fault yāˊdîyēł. this Raven’s.

This is not your grandfather’s town. It is my grandfather’s place that has made you rich, you poor slaves.

I observe how people are treated after they are dead, and therefore I drink before I die (i. e., enjoy myself).

What you did was very selfish, Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān’s children. But I will not blame you for your words. It is this Raven’s fault.

(46) Composed by Nîg̣ōˊt, one of the Taku Yênỵēˊdî. His name is used also by the Kāˊgwᴀntān.

Yēsuˊ xᴀt ỵa-iłidjēˊtc You now surprise me, ceyēˊł. you Raven. Tcǃᴀ g̣oˊnaa Another g̣ōtc Wolf ỵîsatīˊnî tcusūˊg̣a when you see kīnāˊqǃ way up cîˊỵîka on branch ke up idjaqᴀˊk. you want to get. Dāqâˊtkᴀx For what sa ? cxᴀˊdzîxᴀn? do you think I live? Naˊodᴀnᴀ kᴀx To drink whisky cxᴀdzîxᴀˊn. I live. Īcāˊn Pity xᴀt me Xēł Foam (a town) Teˊqoedî Teˊqoedî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children xᴀt me yenaig̣āˊx. have on.

You surprise me, you Raven. When you see a person of the Wolf phratry, you want to get way up on a branch.

What do you think I live for? I live to drink whisky. Have pity on me, Foam Teˊqoedî’s children.⁠[184]

(47) Composed for and given to Other-water (G̣onahīˊn) of the Kāˊgwᴀntān, who lived very long ago. He went to Prince of Wales island to marry a woman named Sǃēłtîˊn. When he was ready to start back, his father-in-law laid down a row of copper plates for his daughter to walk down on, and, as she went down, they sang this song and gave it to the Kāˊgwᴀntān. It is therefore called Sǃēłtîˊn qǃosîyeˊdî, “Sǃēłtîˊn’s-return-song.”

The words are in Tsimshian and are the following:

Xēłgayuwa hēyuwâˊ hayᴀˊcgīłnaxa, hayuˊwacgīłnᴀxa.

(48) Composed by Tsǃakāˊkǃ, a Dᴀˊqʟǃao-ca, about Kūłtsǃᴀˊxk of the Koskǃēˊdî.

Qᴀtīˊỵî I am (not having seen) Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children nᴀq for xᴀt I g̣og̣ᴀnaˊ. am going to die. Ayᴀˊx Like it ᴀˊkwe îkdᴀˊs is nothing if ᴀg̣ōˊtx I lose g̣oxłayēˊxtc. lots of property. Deˊtcǃᴀ It is only ciyaˊidê about myself dᴀg̣āˊx crying aweˊ it is ᴀt cīx [in] song ᴀxqǃēˊnᴀstītc. that comes to me.

I am going to die without seeing Dᴀqʟǃaweˊdî’s children any more. That is nothing if I lose lots of property.

It is only crying about myself that comes to me in song.

(49) Composed by one of the ʟǃenēˊdî about Juneau when gold was first found there.

Łîdāˊł Do not any more ỵe so qǃaỵaikāˊq talk ʟǃenēˊdî ʟǃenēˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Łīngît-āˊnî World tu in qoaˊnî people ỵaỵīʟ̣āˊk. you are ahead of.

Do not talk any more, ʟǃenēˊdˊî’s children. You are ahead of all the people in the world.

(50) An “Angry song” composed by Sēxdagwēˊtǃ of the ʟǃenēˊdî against Little Raven (Yēłkǃ), a blind man of Tongass (Tāˊntaqoan), with whom he was angry.

Dekīˊ Far out tācukādêˊ on the beach dāk out ᴀciaˊwaᴀdî chased doˊxonî his friends’ qāˊỵaqaỵî words qǃayeˊnᴀx because of ye so cdî-x̣ēˊtc threw himself [before my words] Yēłkǃ. Little Raven. Tcǃuqǃwᴀˊsîg̣a A little numb yêˊx like ł not ctūx into myself danūˊqnutc. I ever feel. Łckᴀx Not for himself kodjîtīˊnî can see Yēłkǃ Little Raven xān to me qǃᴀk gᴀx duqēˊn. whose words are always reported.

Just as if a man chased him out on the beach because of some one’s talking, Little Raven threw himself before my words. I do not feel even a little numb. That fellow, Little Raven, whose words they are always reporting to me, can not see anything.

(51) On the same subject as the above and by the same composer.

Yēłkǃ Little Raven łckᴀˊx not for yourself ke out djîtīˊnî can see ỵêx like g̣uxỵîkỵᴀˊtîx slave’s son îsatīỵīˊtc because you are xā îqǃāˊỵanūk. I hate what you always say. Yēn Sea cucumber(?) qohâˊni big yᴀx like iyᴀdātˊtsǃîkǃāˊnqǃ you have spots all over your face qā and gux slave ucỵaˊ look just like ᴀtc for that xā iqǃaỵanūˊk. I hate to have you talk to me. Wâseˊʟ Why ł not ke citīˊni seeing anything at all yeqǃ into sǃîˊqǃe dish yᴀx like ʟǃēˊwu sand gîłax̣ᴀˊntc you always pick up Ckᴀx for yourself ke djîtīˊnî not seeing ỵeqǃ into tcᴀ gux ỵîk ỵᴀˊdî? you big slave’s son?

Little Raven, I hate what you keep saying, because you are a slave’s son and can see nothing. I hate to have you talk to me because you have spots all over your face like a big sea cucumber (?) and look like a slave. Don’t you know that, because you can not see anything, you big slave’s son, you keep picking up sand instead of dipping into the dish?

(52) Composed about a certain man by Āndeyēˊk, one of the ʟǃenēˊdî.

Tsǃu Also Jamestowntc the Jamestown iyāˊwadji had punished you ʟǃenēˊdî ʟǃenēˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tsǃu Also naˊiłaʟǃīt you put away dê (imp.) ỵīqǃᴀłaiyēˊłî. your lying. ᴀtc That is how ke ỵaiˊłaʟ̣ᴀkqǃu. you get the best of people. ᴀxtuwâˊsîgu I always like yāGold creek this Gold creek xᴀt me yaˊỵag̣axeˊ. to have you pity in. Tsǃu Also ᴀt cnᴀx̣ᴀłtīˊtc I always feel very happy when yāGold creek this Gold creek xᴀt me yaỵag̣āˊxe you pity in Kîksᴀˊdî Kîksᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

The Jamestown⁠[185], has punished you already, ʟenēˊdî’s children. Put away all of your lying. That is how you get the best of people.

I always like to have you pity me in this Gold creek. I always feel very happy when you pity me in this Gold creek, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children.

(53) Composed by one of the Box-house people called Sāxaˊ, about another man, Among-the-brant (Qênxoˊ), one of the Kîksᴀˊdî. It was sung at feasts and in making peace.

Ye So wusgīˊt always does yadîyēˊł this Raven tcǃa this very g̣ōtc Wolf phratry qǃasēˊgu the lives of this āwacāˊt. takes away. Yādiyēˊł This Raven de now ān with it cỵīkᴀˊt upon the branch wudîqêˊn. has flown. ᴀcīˊx From him g̣axōˊx is asking g̣ōtc Wolf phratry ỵᴀqaỵîˊ. words. Tsǃu Also duỵaqaˊ he was saying yēx like ᴀsîˊ it was ᴀnadjiˊ he thought it was doxōnîˊ his friend’s ỵᴀqaỵîˊ. words. Tsǃu Also ᴀdjiyeˊt to him kᴀndᴀnᴀˊttc. it always shakes.

This is the way this Raven always takes the lives of the Wolf phratry. This Raven has already flown up on the branch with the words of the Wolf phratry for which the Wolf phratry is asking him.

He thought that it was his friend’s words that the Raven was doing this with. That always shakes him (i. e., it was really the words of the Wolf phratry).

(54) Reply of Among-the-brant (Qênxoˊ) to Sāxaˊ.

Qoˊxde On the way back gāˊwu drum tîn with wucuxdiỵaˊ I compare myself to make peace îtūwuˊ. your mind. Deqǃēˊt Now cwudîtᴀˊn they are beating it yēł Raven’s āˊnî town kᴀqǃ. in.

I compare myself to a drum beaten to make peace on the way back. They are beating it already in the Raven’s town.

(55) Composed by Dead-slave (Gux-nawuˊ) about a woman named Poor-orphan (Kâhântîˊkǃî), who was a very poor girl, but who, when she grew up, became the richest woman in Wrangell.

Qāˊtcxᴀn-ākǃᵘ Human-hip (Wrangell) lake ux in axłacūˊg̣o when I used to make fun of cātkǃ girl yᴀˊtskǃox little ỵîsatīˊqǃ. you were very small. Gutx Where nao whisky sa ? îkaˊołîcu. did you get. ʟeł Never îkudēˊqǃ. you get ashamed.

I used to make fun of this poor little girl at Wrangell when she was very small.

Where did you get the whisky [that makes you feel so high]? You are never ashamed.

(56) Composed by Kāłgīˊs, a man of the Sitka Kāˊgwᴀntān, about one of the Nanỵaāˊỵî named Cugâˊn, before the victory of the Sitka people over those of Wrangell.

Tcuc May be ỵaˊodawūʟ too fast ᴀsîˊ it is niỵᴀtiˊ you are tcǃᴀ right along ᴀtsūˊx hurrying îˊwana, you die, Nanỵaāˊỵî Nanỵaāˊỵî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tcǃa Still qā g̣ōdjîˊ Wolf phratry gâˊsǃᴀs g̣adustīˊntc. you ought to have seen first.

You are hurrying to death too fast, Nanỵaāˊỵî’s children. You ought to have seen your Wolf phratry first.

(57) Composed by Kakayēˊk, a Kāˊgwᴀntān, about his brother’s wife. His name probably refers to the wolf making a noise that can be heard a long distance off. The woman is represented as if speaking, and anticipating being sent away by the whites for drunkenness.

De ᴀgwâytāˊge As if he were beginning îg̣odjîˊ your Wolf phratry ỵᴀstīˊỵî is naotc whisky kaˊowułcu. were drunk on. Āyaˊ This is what îsitîˊ you are like Tcūkᴀneˊdî Grass-people’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Yādjînahēˊn I am sent away aỵaỵīdêˊ just before it xᴀt me yênaig̣āˊx have pity on, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

It is just as if I were beginning to get drunk. This is what you are like, Grass-people’s children.

Have pity on me before I am sent away from here, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.

(58) Composed by the woman referred to above, in reply. Her name was Toxaocîˊ, and she belonged to the Tǃᴀˊqǃdentān.

De tułᴀtsīˊn kᴀtỵaˊ It is a very hard thing ayᴀˊx like it qǃaỵīqaˊ you are saying Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. ᴀxtuwuˊ My mind ʟᴀx very ỵᴀnīˊkᵘ. is sick. Wuctūˊx One after another nao whisky ye thus xᴀt me wusîˊnî. has been given to. ᴀtc This is why xᴀt me yêˊnayîg̣āx you should pity (mourn for) Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

What you are saying about me is very hard, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. I am very sad.

You (i. e., the man accusing her) have given me one drink of whisky after another. So you ought to have pity on me, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.

(59) Composed by a shaman of the Kāˊgwᴀntān named Kǃᴀgᴀˊnkǃ.

Tcǃᴀ Just nao whisky kᴀx for ᴀsiyāˊgê it is [that] xᴀt me ỵaˊỵīg̣āxēn. you pity. Daˊỵidᴀt Why not now tsǃu also xᴀt me yêˊnaỵîg̣āx you pity (or love) Dēˊcitān Dēˊcitān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî? children?

It is only on account of whisky that you pity me. Why don’t you also love me, Dēˊcitān’s children?

(60) Composed by Little Raven (Yēłkǃ), one of the Prince of Wales Island people (Tāˊnta qoan) about Sēxdagwēˊtǃ of the ʟǃenēˊdî, who had previously gotten the best of him (see song 50). He speaks sarcastically.

Yên There duwaxēˊtc they have already knocked him down ceyādiYēłkǃ. this Little Raven. Tcuc Already kᴀnʟ̣îdēˊqǃ he is ashamed ceyādiYēˊłkǃ. this Little Raven.

They have already knocked down this Little Raven. This Little Raven is already ashamed.

(61) Composed by Under-a-blanket (Kāguntūˊkǃ) of the Wᴀtāneˊdî, part of the Kîksᴀˊdî, about the son of a ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî named Yēsguˊqtc, whose brother had been killed in compensation for the killing of her brother.

ᴀxtuwūˊ My mind tîn with wūtc udiỵaˊ his is just the same ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. ᴀtc So ᴀxtuwūˊtc ke I am beginning nᴀsxᴀˊn. to love him. Dāsᴀˊkᵘcî I wonder what āg̣aˊ for it ᴀnxᴀłg̣êˊntc qē I always look xᴀt I g̣ᴀˊsgîdîn. wake up in the morning. Ỵāˊqǃgwa There might be a time ᴀxhuˊnxo-hᴀs my brothers qâkxᴀsîtīˊn. I might see.

His mind is just like mine, ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî’s children. So that I am beginning to love him.

I wonder what I always look for when I wake up in the morning. Sometime I might see my brothers.

(62) Composed by Man-that-is-not-all-right (Qa-uctêˊ) about Princess Thom (Gadjîˊnt), because when she was very young all sorts of young men went to her house, filling it as if it were a saloon. Princess Thom was the own sister of Qǃāˊdustin. (See p. 347.)

Kᴀt-hīˊỵî Even from nao-dakᴀ-hîˊtîỵî whisky house (saloon) ᴀt qa people cux̣īˊx̣tc get away îłîkūˊdzî but not from you ᴀˊsî it is yᴀdîyēˊł. this Raven.

Even from a saloon people get away, but not from you, Raven woman.

(63) Composed by a man named Kātdᴀˊ (Around-a-flat-basket, or Around-a-woven-oil-presser), whose wife was taken away from him by her people, who would not let her return.

Tcǃᴀ Just nūo whisky datūwuˊ desire for yᴀx like ł never xā I ustēˊx, sleep, Toqỵeˊdî Toqỵeˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

Like one who desires whisky, I never sleep, Toqỵeˊdî’s children.

(64) Composed by Among-the-brant (Qênxoˊ)⁠[186] of the Kîksᴀˊdî, about Sāxaˊ, when his wife had been taken from him, and he felt very sad. The last words are said to be in Tsimshian.

Xāqǃ To me łidzīˊ is very hard ỵaᴀxtuwuˊ. this my mind. Wudjkēˊt Around xoyāˊîtc I were carrying yāt to this ᴀxtuwuˊ. my mind. Hayuˊ What is wᴀłg̣āˊk the matter cîndaˊ? with you? [Tsimshian words].

My own mind is very hard to me. It is just as if I were carrying my mind around.

What is the matter with you?

(65) Composed by Sāxaˊ on the same subject as the song next preceding. A man named Kǃułtǃeˊ-īc, belonging to the Chilkat Kāˊgwᴀntān, ran away with Sāxaˊ’s wife, but the latter was afterward killed by Kǃułtǃeˊ-īc’s first wife whom he had abandoned.

Dēsgwᴀˊtc gî Already g̣êsîtīˊn you have seen ke up ỵᴀgᴀdîdaˊ going to the spirit world yᴀˊdiyēł. this Raven. ᴀcdayīˊn To see her āyᴀˊx out to her uwaguˊt has come doqōdjîˊ. her Wolf [phratry]. Nᴀˊna Death ỵîs for aositīˊn she has seen dog̣odjîˊ. her Wolf [phratry].

You have already seen this Raven going up to the ghost country.

Her Wolf phratry has come out to see her. She has seen her Wolf phratry for death.

(66) A man named Nūˊsǃnî composed this song and immediately afterward stabbed several of his friends.

Yēˊkîtckᴀcax̣wēˊqǃ-yēˊgîtc Yēˊkîtckᴀcax̣wēˊqǃ spirit nᴀdatcūˊn he was dreaming of yūˊỵa-kuʟ̣înuˊtsk. always smiling around.

He was dreaming of Yēˊkîtckᴀcax̣wēˊqǃ spirit always smiling around.

(67) Song said to have been sung by Wrangell Indians on the way to Sitka when they felt sure that they were going to be killed.

Ctᴀqǃhīˊn Stikine ỵîx down from yēˊnᴀłx̣āc floating dutūˊwu his feelings yaˊdîyēł this Raven Tī-hît-tāˊnî Bark-house people’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children dutuwuˊdî. his feelings [are toward]. Qāqǃᴀsēˊgu About their lives dākᴀcuˊ ᴀt they do that uwayaˊ it is like da about yututᴀˊnk, thinking, Tī hît tān Bark-house people’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children.

Floating down from the Stikine, the feelings of this Raven are toward the Bark-house people’s children (i. e., he worries about his family).

He thinks about the lives of the Bark-house people’s children.

(68) Dorsal-fin-of-killer-whale-seen (Guc-dutīˊn), one of the Nanỵaāˊỵî, almost died when on the way to Victoria, and composed this song about his old friends.

Yēł Raven’s ānîˊ town ᴀˊkya that [not] ᴀdadêˊ about xag̣āˊx. I am crying. ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs My grandfather’s ānîˊ town ayaˊ that ᴀdadêˊ about it xᴀg̣āˊx. I am crying. Icāˊn Poor Gucdutīˊn Dorsal-fin-of-killer-whale-seen Wᴀktâˊnî Victoria qînqǃ before he gets to gog̣anaˊ. he will die.

It is not Raven’s town I am crying about. It is my own grandfather’s town I am crying about.

Poor Dorsal-fin-of-killer-whale-seen will die before he reaches Victoria.

(69) Although this song is very much older, the words were put in at the time the people of Sitka killed those of Wrangell. Just before they started singing, everyone had to raise his paddle and cheer on account of the scalps. A Nanỵaāˊỵî killed at that time was named Łtcǃūqǃ.

Tsǃu Again qǃwᴀn (imp.) na-uˊ you live wet at it Ctᴀqǃhīˊn. the Stikine.

Will you live at the Stikine any more?

(70) This is sung by all the Kāˊgwᴀntān when a person’s body is being burned, the first part during the burning itself and the second part while the women are dancing around the fire, wearing ear pendants. The first part is called Nodding-of-heads-to-and-fro (Kītcdacīỵîˊ), and the only words used are Tînnaˊ sūwuˊ, “There are lots of coppers,” repeated again and again.

[Second part] ᴀt To it ācuwaguˊt he has been led kiwâˊʟēn yᴀˊdᴀ up to a place where people are killed ᴀxqēˊłkǃ. my nephew. [Third part] De Already ᴀcyaỵīˊqǃ for him hît house yên there aołiyᴀˊx have made dukāˊk-hᴀs. his uncles.

My nephew has been led up to a place where people [go who have been] killed.⁠[187]

His uncles have already made a house for him there.

(71) A man had all of his friends destroyed by a bear, and was the only one left in the fort they were then occupying. There he composed this song. The last words are used because he was going to succeed his uncle.

Iwuxłîdjāˊq I compare you, ᴀxkāˊk my uncle, ixōˊnî your friends anỵêˊtīt to high caste ixłîdjᴀˊqᵘ. I compare you. ᴀxyᴀˊx Like me wuniˊỵî is like qa a man cîˊłīngît-āˊnî this world tūt in wusg̣axēˊn. is crying about. Ag̣agucîˊ At that time duāˊn his town itīˊdî sǃīt to have taken out from wudułwuˊsǃīn. asked to have.

I compare you, my uncle, to your high-caste friends. A man in the same state as myself is now wandering about this world, crying. At that time a man such as that asked to have the things taken out from his place.

(72) Composed by a Chilkat man named Kaoguˊ on the instant when he was asked to compose a song about a certain man’s mother who had just died.

ʟǃēˊwu Sandy beach kǃēˊnᴀx over on yên there aỵacāˊt has taken over duyēˊłi his Raven weditcāˊkǃ. the Eagle. G̣āx ᴀˊsgîde To make anyone cry qōt enough ᴀsihaˊ, It is, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Yēłtc Raven, qoˊa however, dutūˊtx to her qonᴀshēˊtc. always comes to amuse.

This Eagle has taken his Raven over to a good sandy beach. It is enough to make one cry, Kîksᴀˊdî’s children. A Raven, however, always comes to amuse her.

(73) Composed by Other-water (G̣onahīˊn) over a dead man.

Haˊde Here ᴀt cug̣ᴀˊsî a great joy of laughing ᴀxtūˊt to me ᴀsixaˊ has brought ᴀxkīˊkǃ. my younger brother. Udēˊ Thither yu-ᴀguˊtqǃūc if I had known the way they go g̣onayaˊ starting adeˊ thither ᴀn to him g̣agūˊt I would go duyᴀˊx. as he [went].

My younger brother has brought me a great joy of laughter.

If I knew the way they go, I would go right to him.

(74) Composed by Joined-together (Wūct-wudūtsuˊ) when all of his friends went down the rapids at G̣onaxōˊ and were drowned.

Āntǃîkānᴀˊx In front of the qogoˊxdîhān will stand up tsǃu again yāˊtg̣ānỵkîkᴀỵīˊqǃ in the bay ᴀt there qoxatîˊsǃnutc I always look yūˊantǃekᴀ. expecting to see them. Gāxᵘ koxâˊnîx qǃᴀˊna kowułg̣adīˊn To the people the Duck tribe saved ayᴀˊx like it xᴀt I tunᴀstīˊtc always compare ᴀxkīˊkǃ-hᴀs. my brothers. Haỵīˊqǃ cēˊgîs Down under the earth. tcǃaˊya right wucxēnīn they went anỵᴀˊtqǃî the high-caste people yᴀx. like.

I always look expectantly to see some one stand up in front of the town and in the bay.

I always compare my brothers to the people the Duck tribe saved. They went right down under the earth like those high-caste people.

(75) Composed by Here-is-a-feather (Tǃaoyāˊtǃ), one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān, when his brother died. It is used as a mourning and dancing song.

Î-ᴀt-kǃahīˊnî Your believing things tîn with xāt me ỵidacîˊ your help. Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Deyîˊn dᴀtāˊn It is as if xān with me wudjîxēˊn were turning over ᴀxłīˊłkǃᵘ-hᴀs my grandfathers’ hîˊtî. house. Dāˊg̣o Where qātc person [is] sᴀ ? xᴀt me gᴀx sînēˊx? will save?

Help me with your believing, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.

It is as if my grandfathers’ house were turning over with me. Where is the person that will save me?

(76) Composed by Man-for-himself (Stuwᴀ-qaˊ), one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān, about his wife, who was from Kake. It was originally composed in Haida, and the Haida words are said to be the following:

Łᴀqīwêˊ gīcîndêˊ hêˊłgugê.

The Tlingit equivalent is given at greater length, as follows:

ʟᴀx Very ᴀxtēˊqǃtc my heart îsêxᴀˊn I love you from Tsagueˊdî Tsagueˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tcāˊtcǃᴀ Only iīˊn with you tsa indeed xᴀt I goqwᴀnaˊ. will die.

I love you from my heart, Tsagueˊdî’s children. You are the only one I will die with.

(77) Composed by Pressing-down (Kᴀstǃāˊk), one of the Tcūˊkᴀn-ca (Tcūkᴀneˊdî women). Her brothers were drowned and their bodies were not recovered.

Iqǃaỵîˊ Your point xᴀt me ỵawaʟ̣āˊk has beaten, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Da But icāˊn pity xᴀt me ye this nāˊỵîg̣āx. you have on. Dasᴀˊkᵘcî I wonder what āg̣aˊ for it ᴀnxᴀłg̣êˊntc I always look after qē xᴀt ᴀsgīˊt. when I wake up in the morning. Yāqǃ gâ There might be a time when ᴀxīˊkǃ-hᴀs my brothers qâkᴀsîtīˊn. I would see.

Your point⁠[188] has beaten me, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children. But take pity on me.

I wonder what I always look after when I wake up in the morning. Sometime I might see my brothers.

(78) Composed by Kāqātucūˊtc of the Kāˊgwᴀntān when his father and his uncle died.

Djîłqāˊt Chilkat hīn river ỵîx down through ỵᴀkᵘgwasāˊx will come down îkᴀnēˊk your sickness (sound of your death) ᴀxkāˊk. my uncle. Nādadᴀˊx From the nations g̣ᴀdjîxāˊn has fallen down nādāgawuˊ the nation’s drum, ᴀxʟāˊ. my mother. Nātūˊtx From among the nations ke up ỵitāˊn you take ᴀtūˊdenᴀx from among duᴀˊxtc them can be heard ᴀxʟāˊ. my mother.

The noise of your death, my uncle, will come down through Chilkat river.

The nation’s drum has fallen down, my mother. Take the drum out from among the nations so that they can hear my mother.

(79) Composed by a Nanỵaāˊỵî named Kakᴀsguxoˊ, about Kᴀckǃᴀˊʟkǃ and Łqǃayāˊkǃ, referring to the time when they strove to cross the Stikine and were turned to stone. This is a mourning song, therefore a long cane is used when it is sung.

ᴀcīˊn With him gua goes yên there (ashore) yułītîˊtk drifting dînaỵîˊ the nation’s ỵaguˊ. canoe. ᴀxkāˊk My uncle deỵe already kᴀndawᴀˊʟǃ. is breaking up (= is dead). Uqǃ Him here ᴀnᴀˊxłix̣ātc. I do not expect any more. Ctᴀqǃhīˊn Stikine kānᴀˊx across dageˊ out wukânîˊn waded Kᴀckǃᴀˊʟkǃ-hᴀs. Kᴀckǃᴀˊʟkǃ and his brothers. Duʟ̣āˊkǃtc His sister ut at him (or them) aoʟ̣îg̣êˊn. looked. Tcǃuʟeˊ Then ᴀqǃ at it tēx become stone wusiteˊ. they were.

The nation’s canoe is drifting ashore with him. My uncle is already dead. I do not expect him any more.

Kᴀckǃᴀˊʟkǃ and his brothers waded out across the Stikine. Their sister looked at them. Then they turned into stone.⁠[189]

(80) Composed by Man-who-obeys (Qǃayᴀˊx qosteˊ) of the Kāˊgwᴀntān about his son who was drowned coming down Chilkat river.

Tca tcūc Already kogᴀsgāˊx will go away crying diyēł-ānîˊ this Raven town kadᴀˊx from on dig̣ōˊtc. this Wolf (phratry). Waeˊtc You ᴀgî ? ᴀcukᴀˊ the future ỵiłiyᴀˊx you made yᴀg̣odjîˊ this Wolf phratry diyēˊł? this Raven (or you)?

This Wolf phratry will go away crying from the Raven town.

Do you think you made the future for this Wolf phratry, you Raven?

(81) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān named Cgwᴀtc, about an uncle who had died.

ᴀt ᴀˊsîs tuˊnᴀxdataˊntc I always think about myself yałīˊngît-ānîˊ, this world, gūsuˊ gucêˊ łᴀqǃ but when not ye thus ᴀt things qōnukᵘỵaˊ. they do (= die). Gudēˊsa Where is uˊnxadjītc I do not know ᴀxkāˊk. my uncle. Hāˊdᴀ Around this world yēk spirits tatūˊgu cave ỵītgâˊ down into yēktc spirits ỵaxēˊtc threw ᴀxkāˊk. my uncle.

I always think within myself that there is no place where people do not die.

I do not know where my uncle is. Probably the spirits threw down my uncle into the spirits’ cave around this world.

(82) Mourning song composed by Sᴀkwēˊtǃ, a woman of the ʟǃenēˊdî (ʟǃenēˊdî-ca), about her brother who was drowned.

Sānaxēˊttc gu South wind ᴀdāˊx from it (through it) qoyaˊołîdjᴀg̣ê were killed qā people yᴀx like xᴀt I gugwatiˊ. am.

I am like the people who were killed by the south wind.

(83) Mourning song composed by Sᴀkwēˊtǃ about her drowned brother.

Yisʟᴀˊgucê I wish I were ug̣āˊ for her ᴀt [with things] wusuwuˊ helped cāwᴀˊt woman yᴀx like uc I wish xᴀt I īˊwatî were Tᴀxgwᴀˊstc. Tᴀxgwᴀˊs Ug̣āˊ For her wusūˊwu helped cāˊwᴀt woman yᴀx like xᴀt I nᴀg̣ateˊ were ᴀxkāˊk my uncle’s duhîˊtî house āˊg̣axsᴀx̣īˊx̣. I might rebuild. Aỵīˊqǃgua Perhaps into it ỵāwaguˊt he went g̣ᴀgāˊn sun’s deỵīˊ. trail. ᴀtcgâˊ So that ł not yᴀx like wūˊnxᴀda I can ever see ᴀxīˊkǃ. my brother.

I wish I were like that woman who was helped by Tᴀxgwᴀˊs. If I were like the woman that he helped, I should rebuild my uncle’s house.

Perhaps my brother went into the sun’s trail so that I can never see him again.

(84) Tǃaoyāˊdînīk, chief of the Kāˊgwᴀntān, dreamed this song about the wolf post:

Îtdeˊ tcuc saqᴀˊdîha I will put back ᴀxkāˊk-hᴀs. my uncles. Kīāˊg̣ᴀgāˊn The sun-world’s hîˊtiqǃ houses nēł into ūqâgūˊt. I will go.

I will put back my uncles. I will go into the sun-world’s houses.

(85) A song without words, sung by spirits when food is sent to them through the fire.

(86) Composed since the missionaries came, by a man named Deer-woman (Cawᴀˊt-qōwakāˊn), at a time when the people were hunting sea otter.

Kī Thou anqāˊwo Almighty God dā qǃᴀnᴀˊckîde pity yu-xᴀt-yênᴀskaˊ wilt thou have on me ᴀxāˊnî my town qākᴀˊsatīn. so I can see.

Almighty God, have pity on me so that I can reach my town.

(87) A peace song composed by a Chilkat man named Kîˊngu (perhaps Qêˊnxo) after there had been war between his people and the Wuckitāˊn, and the latter were coming up there to a peace feast.

Uxkēˊ Why ỵᴀnaqēˊncî do you talk so ye thus ỵᴀtîˊ it is Wuckitāˊn Wuckitāˊn’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî? children? Djîłqāˊt Chilkat ỵek to g̣êsatīˊn. you are going to see. Łīngîˊtc Indians agîˊ ? ye thus usîˊni can make Wuckitāˊn Wuckitāˊn’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Tcǃᴀ ʟᴀkᵘx From far back aqǃᴀłîtsīˊn. they are valued.

Why do you talk so, Wuckitāˊn’s children? You are going to see Chilkat. A person can not make anyone like Wuckitāˊn’s children. They have been valued from long ago.

(88) This is sung when peace is being made after a great war. With a change in the name of the clan mentioned it could be used by anyone.

Iwunaˊ qǃuc If you had died Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children ikādēˊ for you cᴀˊnkᴀłx̣ᴀc. I would have cut my hair. Waîˊx sa xᴀˊnisᴀ So much I love you ikadêˊ for you ỵᴀnkᴀdatǃūˊtcǃt, I would have blackened my face, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵêˊtqǃî. children.

If you had died, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children, I would have cut off my hair for you. I love you so much that I would have blackened my face for you, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.

(89) The singer of this is a Hummingbird Deer (Dᴀwᴀˊtgîya qōˊwakān), so called because he performs like a hummingbird. Just before he started this song, the persons who had charge of him turned around four times with him in the direction the sun takes.

[Words recited] ᴀxsǃāˊtqǃeỵên, My masters, ᴀxdakēˊtqǃî. my outside box. Qǃaỵᴀˊxa. I am going to speak like. Danaeteˊ Started (or joined in with me) ᴀxsǃāˊtqǃiỵên. my masters.

[Words sung] Tsǃa Very kᴀx̣wâˊᴀsgᴀ I am feeling lonely anᴀˊq away from akᵘxᴀgūˊt I am going ᴀxkāˊk-hᴀs my uncles’ ānîˊ. town. ᴀtcīˊ Singing ᴀg̣êˊ inside xatīˊ I am, ᴀxsǃāˊtqǃîỵên. my masters. Tcuc ctāˊdî dᴀg̣āˊxaỵa Crying about myself xātîˊ. I am.

My masters, my opposite phratry, I am going to speak thus. My masters joined in with me.

I am feeling very lonely away. I am going to my uncles’ town. I am singing inside, my masters. I am crying about myself.

(90) A deer song supposed to have been used by the land otters when they were making peace and afterward by men also.

[Words spoken] Kūˊcta Land otter qoan people cāˊwu woman of ayuˊ it was awacāˊ married Yēł. Raven. Ag̣aˊayu At that time nākāˊnīx a messenger (when wife’s people feasted) wusiteˊ became Yēł. Raven. Qōˊwakāˊnt As deer wuc kaˊodîdjêł started to take each other up kucta land otter qoaˊnî. people.

[Words sung] Gāˊwa A drum yāˊtǃᴀ. here is. Qǃexetᴀnūˊqǃu. Lobster (?) this is. Gāˊwaỵa This drum kut wułîgaˊwu is very noisy gāˊwa the drum yātǃ. that is here. Tcǃuʟeˊ Then awułîtsīˊn beat it very hard Yēłtc. Raven. “De “Now cîłîgāˊwu very noisy gawayāˊg̣ê.” is this drum.” ʟe Then ᴀnᴀˊx through it qōcāˊwatǃēx. he knocked a hole. Xᴀtc It was akᴀˊxayu. for this ᴀttc there djiuʟ̣îhaˊ he got yūˊgao. the drum.

Raven married a woman of the land-otter people. At that time Raven became a messenger. The land-otter people began to take one another up as deer.

Here is a drum. This (i. e., the drum) is a big lobster. This drum is very noisy. Then Raven beat it very hard. “This drum is very noisy.” Then he knocked a hole through it. It was to do this to the drum that he came among those people.

(91) This is called a “half song,” and was composed by a man named Sāxaˊ, about a deer.

De Now ᴀxōˊqǃᵘ among them nēł into the house ỵagūˊt. he has gone. Ye Thus ᴀc him gux will sanēˊx save duyēˊłî. his Raven.

He has now gone in among them. His Raven phratry will save him.

(92) Composed by Naotsīˊn when peace was made between the ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî and the Kāˊgwᴀntān.

ʟāk ỵîˊxa Fast pull ahead yēˊłỵī Raven’s yaguˊ. canoe. Dewēˊdu Not very far from here ỵᴀkǃēˊỵia good place (shelter) Yēł yᴀkᵘdēˊỵî. for Raven’s canoe. Ayaỵidêˊ For himself tūkaˊodînᴀt he was very much afraid g̣ōtcỵi Wolf’s anîˊ home wustīˊn. to see.

Paddle ahead that Raven’s canoe very fast. A sheltered place for the Raven’s canoe is not very far from here.

He is very much afraid of seeing the Wolf’s home.

(93) Composed by Going-across-the-road (Deg̣āhēˊtǃ), a rich man who was paid to compose it, one time when the Kaˊgwᴀntān and the Wuckitāˊn made peace.

Yēł Raven ỵānᴀqoˊx is coming [by canoe] g̣ōtc Wolf’s ānîˊ town kādêˊ. going to. Hāˊdᴀ Hurrahǃ ckedjᴀnaihuˊktc. all shout. Wuckitāˊnî Wuckitāˊn’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children yāguˊ canoe kǃehuˊk. shout well for.

Raven is coming by canoe to the Wolf’s town.

All shout “Hurrahǃ” Wuckitāˊn’s children. Shout well for the canoe.

(94) This was composed by a ʟǃūkǃnᴀxᴀˊdî man named Łqenaˊ when he was the only one of his people saved and his enemies wanted to make peace with him. He danced as a deer, singing this song, and at the end of it cut in two the man standing next to him. When used as a deer song in later times, the last words were of course different.

Detcūˊcta kᴀcuˊ About myself tcǃayēˊ like this nᴀxdzîgīˊt. I did. Tcᴀ Indeed xᴀt me guceˊ dē said to ł not tcūctūˊt to myself ᴀnᴀˊx by datīˊ I would let pass ᴀxtuwūˊ. my conscience.

Nānaỵîˊsgucî Already before his death ᴀxsîtīˊn I saw ducᴀgīˊnîỵa. his ghost.

[Spoken] ᴀtūˊx Into him gwᴀł as soon as aosîguˊ he stabbed Cādᴀsîˊktc Cādᴀsîˊktc āwadjᴀˊq. he killed.

I did this way regarding myself. I would not let what my conscience said to me, pass.

Before his death I saw his ghost.

At once he stabbed and killed Cādᴀsîˊktc.

(95) A peace song composed by a Kāˊgwᴀntān man of Chilkat named Nāʟǃīˊc.

Îkayadeˊ Toward you yūˊcᴀ qkwag̣ēˊqǃ the head I am going to nod, Kāˊgwᴀntān Kāˊgwᴀntān’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Îłīˊ Not so iỵᴀqāỵîˊ. your words. ʟâˊxayî⁠[190] Good-by iỵaqaỵîˊ yādiyēˊł. with your words you Raven.

I am going to nod my head toward you, Kāˊgwᴀntān’s children.

Don’t talk like that. Good-by with your words, you Raven.

(96) Composed by one of the Kāˊgwᴀntān named Kêtłcīˊkǃê, and used in making peace and at feasts. When the dancers have reached the door, some one says, “Where is the man?” and they reply, “Up in the woods,” because the man who is to start the song hides himself just before it begins.

Łîł ug̣aˊ Never after it qetīˊsǃîk you look, iyēˊłî you Raven dig̣ōˊtc. your Wolf [phratry]. Tcǃa ʟēx Already yêˊnᴀx from there dāq up uwaguˊt it has gone, yᴀdiyēˊł. you Raven.

Do not look after your Wolf phratry any more, you Raven. It has already gone into the woods, you Raven.

(97)⁠[191] Composed by Qāˊuctê, a Kāˊgwᴀntān man, about men who never keep their word—those who talk much after they have been drinking and later do not remember what they have said. The Teˊqoedî are referred to because he married a woman of that family, and they always came to him when they got drunk.

Ag̣ōˊtdê naˊokᴀt tcuc dadêˊ ctuwūˊk danīˊk, After you have been drinking whisky you better put away talking of how well you were brought up, Teˊqoedî Teˊqoedî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî. children. Ādutūˊqǃsᴀs In whose mind yē thus nᴀtīˊtc is it qāˊdᴀ ᴀn g̣adᴀˊqên? when you are sober?

After you have been drinking you better stop talking about how well you were brought up, Teˊqoedî’s children. What one of you thinks about it when he is sober?

(98) Song composed by a man who had been brought up in court before Judge Tuttle.

Heˊdaho About this, djᴀtc Judge, dā about îłīˊ never îtuwuˊ your mind waᴀˊqwe. disturb. Kîksᴀˊdî Kîksᴀˊdî’s ỵᴀˊtqǃî children îˊsîte you are îdjiỵīˊt of you qǃᴀx one dugāˊqǃ. should be afraid.

Never mind about this, Judge. You are not a child of the Kîksᴀˊdî that people should be afraid of you.

(99) A love song originally obtained from a Tāgish woman.

Dāt What sᴀkᵘ for sayuˊ was it Dayeˊ Dyea cāk far up dᴀx from îxᴀˊndî to you xâgudiỵeˊqǃ. I have gone to. Tsǃᴀs Only ᴀxnᴀˊq from me yāx on something. igūˊt you went g̣ōtʟǃᴀˊtkî some other [town] qādêˊ. to. Īitīˊt For you xodzîg̣āˊx. I am crying.

Why have I come to you to Dyea from far inland only to find that you have gone away to another town [on a steamer]? Here I am, crying for you.

(100) A very modern love song.

Djîłdakᴀˊt-ᴀt Everything ʟēxkoˊctu indifferent to me yêx as if kātīˊỵî is my dear boy xᴀt me djiwᴀnᴀˊq, has gone from, my dear Tommy.

I don’t care about anything since even my dear boy, my dear Tommy, has gone from me.

(101) A love song composed by a dancer named Sīqǃoēˊt, who belonged to the Raven phratry. His sweetheart was away when the 4th of July came.

Wâˊsᴀ How kᵘcîs I wonder xᴀt I qogwatiˊ will be yadjulaiˊa this July ỵaqēˊg̣a-ēˊnî. morning is coming. ᴀxāˊt-hᴀs My aunts ʟēł not qoqâtiˊn I can see ʟᴀx very yēˊxa a weak gugēˊkǃ about it ᴀxtūwuˊ. my thoughts.

I wonder what this coming July morning will be like. My mind is very weak thinking that I shall be unable to see my aunts (i. e., my sweetheart).⁠[192]

(102) Composed by a man named Raven-skin (Yēł-dūguˊ) when his sweetheart abandoned him.

Yūk doqēˊqǃūc g̣og̣ᴀnaˊ If one had charge of death qā person (woman) g̣odjîˊ a Wolf tîn qongᴀnᴀˊ. with it would be easy to die. ʟēx cēł gux It would be sagūˊgîs. very pleasant.

If one had control of death, it would be very easy to die with a Wolf woman. It would be very pleasant.

(103) A mourning song belonging to the Kāˊgwᴀntān.

Tcǃa Right hu dūtuwuˊ his mind ᴀcīˊt to him ūsîteˊ was yadeg̣oˊtc. this man of Wolf [people]. Łîł Never qǃwᴀn (imp.) ctu yeˊdaqǃēq. blame others.

It is his own fault that this Wolf man got into that condition (i. e., died). Do not lay the blame on anybody else.