024. A Secret Ritual for Trolling

Dictated by Frank Williams, October 2, 1913. VI: 43-45.

A description of a secret ritual for trolling.

24.1
ʔuyi 
ʔuyi 
when 
when 
ʕaỷiičħ 
ʕaỷiičħ 
autumn 
autumn 
č̉iyaaqimɬ 
č̉iyaaqimɬ 
September 
September 
hitinqsaʔaƛsi 
hitinqsaƛ 
go down to beach 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-siˑ2 
1s ABS 
I go down to the beach 
ʔatħii 
ʔatħii 
night 
night 
ħačatak̉aƛquu 
ħačatakʷ 
all 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-quu1 
3.CND 
when everyone is doing 
weʔičuƛ 
waʔičuƛ 
sleep 
sleeping 
. 

In the fall, in the salmon-cutting month (September-October), I go down to the beach at night when everyone has gone to sleep.

24.2
wik 
wik 
not 
not 
sayeeʔi 
sayaˑ 
far off 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
far off 
t̉aqn̉iiqsaƛ 
t̉aqn̉iiqsaƛ 
go straight down to beach 
going straight down to beach 
. 

(I) go straight down to the beach not far (from my house).

24.3
sukʷiʔaƛ 
sukʷiƛ 
grab 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
take 
k̉ʷaaɬukukqas 
k̉ʷaaɬuk 
branches 
-uk 
POSS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my branches 
. 

(I) take my branches (for rubbing).

The rubbing medicines consist of four bundles, each containing four kinds of 'branches.' These may be actual branches, about three inches long, or other things, such as certain kinds of small fish, salmon heads, seaweed. The nature of the 'branches' differs according to the family and the thing being prayed for.

24.4
ʔuwiiʔap̉aƛ 
ʔuwii 
be first 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
at first 
kʷiɬšiƛ 
kʷiɬšiƛ 
spray water from the mouth 
I spray water from the mouth 
, 
kɸɸ 
kff 
hɔ 
hɔ 
ho! 
ho! 
kɸɸ 
kff 
hɔ 
hɔ 
ho! 
ho! 
. 

First (I) spray water out of my mouth, (saying) 'kff ho! kff ho!

Kɸɸ+ is here used to represent the sound of water sprayed out between the closed lips.

24.5
n̉aačiiɬeeʔisim 
n̉aačiiɬa 
watch over s.o. 
-ˀiˑsim 
2s>1s.FUT.IMPER 
watch over me 
ħaw̉eeɬ 
ħaw̉iɬ 
chief 
Oh, chief 
wikšaħap̉isim 
wikšaħap 
keep safe 
-ˀiˑsim 
2s>1s.FUT.IMPER 
protect me! 
ʔuʔaaɬuk 
ʔuuʔaaɬuk 
take care of 
take care of 
ʔaamaan̉uɬʔap 
ʔaamaan̉uɬʔap 
keep on track 
keep on track 
tiičsỷaapakqas 
tiičsỷaapi 
life principle 
-ˀak 
POSS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my life principle 
. 

Watch over me, O Chief, keep sickness away from me, take care of me and keep my life principle unswervingly in its path.'

The Nootka say that a man walks ahead as though on a straight line as slender as a hair. If he misses a step, he drops down and dies.

24.6
muup̉itšiƛ 
muup̉it 
four times 
-šiƛ 
PRF 
I do four times 
waa 
waa 
say 
say 
. 

Four times (I) say it.

24.7
ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ 
ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ 
and then 
and then 
sukʷiʔaƛ 
sukʷiƛ 
grab 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he took 
k̉ʷaaɬukukqas 
k̉ʷaaɬ 
rubbing medicine 
-uk 
POSS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my rubbing medicine 
ʔucaʔap̉aƛ 
ʔucaʔap 
put s.t. in 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
put it in 
hiɬspuɬʔatqas 
hiɬspuɬ 
groin 
-ˀat 
INAL 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my groin 
. 

Then (I) take my rubbing medicine and put them in my groin.

24.8
hay 
hay2 
shout 
shout 
waaʔaƛ 
waa 
say 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
I say 
kʷiiqšiƛħʔaƛ 
kʷiiqšiƛ 
rub 
-(q)ħ3 
BEING 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
rubbing 
kʷikʷinksatqas 
kʷikʷinksu 
hand 
-ˀat 
INAL 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my hands 
. 

'Hay,' (I) say, as I rub my hands.

24.9
hinaačiʔiikquus 
hinaačiƛ 
set off on the water 
-ˀiikʷ1 
HYP.FUT 
-quus 
1 CND 
when I go out to sea 
haw̉iiqstupikqas 
haw̉iiqstup 
cause to be hungry 
-ikqas 
1s.OPT 
may I cause them to be hungry 
haʔumštup 
haʔumštup 
fish 
fish 
ʔuħsiičiʔatuk 
ʔuħsiičiƛ 
want to eat 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
wanting to eat mine 
tiiɬaaʔakqas 
tiiɬaa 
bait 
-ˀak 
POSS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
my bait 
. 

'When I go out to sea, may I cause the fish to be hungry and long for my bait.'

24.10
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiʔatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiƛ 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they desire me 
ɬuucsaamiiħʔisuk 
ɬuucsma 
woman.pl 
-ʔis 
DIM 
-uk 
POSS 
my little female 
haʔum 
haʔum 
fish 
fish 
. 

'May the dear little female fish desire me.'

24.11
nanuuħatššiʔatikqas 
nanuuħatššiƛ 
accompany 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they want to be taken along 
wik̉ap̉atqas 
wik 
not 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not have to 
ƛiiħšiƛ 
ƛiħšiƛ 
set off 
set off 
haw̉iiqƛ̉atukikqas 
haw̉iiqƛ 
hungry 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
-ikqas 
1s.OPT 
may they be hungry for my 
tiiɬaa 
tiiɬaa 
bait 
bait 
. 

'May they want to be taken along in my canoe, may I not have to paddle off (empty-handed), may they be hungry for my bait.'

24.12
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiʔatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiƛ 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they desire me 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiʔatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiƛ 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they desire me 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiʔatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiƛ 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they desire me 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiʔatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħičiƛ 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may they desire me 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ɬuucsaamiiħʔisuk 
ɬuucsma 
woman.pl 
-ʔis 
DIM 
-uk 
POSS 
my little female 
kɸɸ 
kff 
ɬuucsaamiiħʔisuk 
ɬuucsma 
woman.pl 
-ʔis 
DIM 
-uk 
POSS 
my little female 
kɸɸ 
kff 
hišsaacuqħʔatikqas 
hišsaacu 
everywhere 
-ħ2 
CONTEMP 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-ikqas 
1s.OPT 
may I everywhere be 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħat 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħi 
lust after 
-ˀat 
PASS 
lusted after 
ɬuucsaamiiħʔisuk 
ɬuucsma 
woman.pl 
-ʔis 
DIM 
-uk 
POSS 
my little female 
haʔum 
haʔum 
fish 
fish 
susinkuƛmiħsat 
susinkawiƛ 
take by the hand 
-miħsa 
want 
-ˀat 
PASS 
want to take me by the hand 
. 

May I be bitten, kff! may I be bitten, kff! may I be bitten, kff! may I be bitten, kff! may I be bitten, kff! may I be bitten, kff! May I be desired, kff! may I be desired, kff! may I be desired, kff! may I be desired, kff! their little females, kff! their little females, kff! may I everywhere be desired by the little females of the fish! may they desire to take (me) by the hand!'

pg. 44 begins above

Pronounced more slowly and more fervently each time.

24.13
sukʷiƛƛaa 
sukʷiƛ 
take 
=ƛaa 
=again 
I took it again 
ƛaʔuu 
ƛaʔuˑ 
other 
other 
k̉ʷaaɬuk 
k̉ʷaaɬ 
rubbing medicine 
rubbing medicine 
kʷiiqšiƛƛaa 
kʷiiqšiƛ 
rub 
=ƛaa 
again 
again rubbing 
. 

Again (I) take rubbing medicine and rub.

24.14
hay 
hay2 
shout 
shout 
kɸɸ 
kff 
wik̉ap̉atqas 
wik 
not 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not have to 
ƛiiħšiƛ 
ƛiħšiƛ 
set off 
setting off 
wik̉ap̉atqas 
wik 
not 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not have to 
ƛiiħšiƛ 
ƛiħšiƛ 
set off 
they set off 
wik̉ap̉atqas 
wik 
not 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not have to 
ƛiiħšiƛ 
ƛiħšiƛ 
set off 
they set off 
wik̉ap̉atqas 
wik 
not 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not have to 
ƛiiħšiƛ 
ƛiħšiƛ 
set off 
they set off 
kɸɸ 
kff 
hay 
hay2 
shout 
shout 
c̉awiiyuqatikqas 
c̉awaˑ 
one 
-iˑyuqʷa 
do to 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-ikqas 
1s.OPT 
may they pay attention to me only 
čiiƛčiiyatuk 
čiiƛčiiya 
pulling 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
that mine be pulled at 
čiicsħtaa 
čiicsħtaa 
fishing line 
fishing line 
wikikqas 
wik 
not 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I not be 
qiikʷaaɬ 
qiikʷaaɬ 
be absent a long time 
stay away long 
ʔaacšiƛ 
ʔacšiƛ 
hunt on the water 
-[L] 
GRAD 
hunting on the water 
cuminƛ 
cumaanawiƛ 
fill up 
filled up 
č̉apac 
č̉apac 
canoe 
canoe 
wasqʷii 
wasqʷiˑ 
do quickly 
do quickly 
ʔinštis 
ʔinštis 
no matter 
no matter 
qʷiqʷiʔiiħqas 
DUP- 
SUF 
qʷi(q) 
REL 
-ˀiiħ2 
try to get [R+L] 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
whatever I am trying to get 
haʔumštup 
haʔumštup 
fish 
fish 
. 

'Hay kff! may I not be caused to paddle away! may I not be caused to paddle away! kff hay! may it happen to me alone that my trolling line be constantly pulled at! may I not be out long (before) the canoe fills up, quickly, no matter what fish I am fishing for.

24.15
yaaʔaɬʔapikqas 
yaaʔaɬʔap 
make s.o. look upon 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may I cause them to look on 
ʔaanaħi 
ʔaanaħi 
just 
they were just 
yaqc̉iqqas 
yaqʷ 
REL 
-c̉iq1 
... long objects 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
the canoes that have with me 
ʔaacšiƛ 
ʔacšiƛ 
hunt on the water 
-[L] 
GRAD 
hunting on the water 
ƛ̉ušaksuɬʔap 
ƛ̉ušaksuɬ 
have a dry mouth 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
having a dry mouth 
. 

May I cause the canoes that have gone out fishing with me just to look on! (may I) make them dry in the mouth!"

From envious watching.

24.16
sukʷiƛƛaa 
sukʷiƛ 
take 
=ƛaa 
=again 
he took it again 
ƛaʔuu 
ƛaʔuˑ 
other 
other 
k̉ʷaaɬuk 
k̉ʷaaɬuk 
rubbing branches 
rubbing branches 
kʷiiqỷak 
kʷiiqỷakʷ 
rubbing medicine 
rubbing medicine 
kʷiiqšiƛƛaa 
kʷiiqšiƛ 
rub 
=ƛaa 
again 
again rubbing 
kʷiɬšiƛƛaa 
kʷiɬšiƛ 
spray water from the mouth 
=ƛaa 
=again 
spraying water from the mouth again 
. 

Again (I) take a rubbing branch and rub and spray water again.

24.17
hay 
hay2 
shout 
shout 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
k̉imsšiʔatikqas 
k̉imsšiƛ 
bite on bait 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine be bitten 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħatikqas 
ʔuuʔaɬsimħi 
desire 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑs 
1s.SUB 
may mine desire 
ʔeʔiič̉imʔisuk 
DUP- 
SUF 
ʔiič̉im 
elder 
-ʔis 
DIM 
-uk 
POSS 
the dear little old ones 
haʔumštup 
haʔumštup 
fish 
fish 
haw̉iiqƛ̉atuk 
haw̉iiqƛ 
hungry 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
being hungry for my 
tiiɬaa 
tiiɬaa 
bait 
bait 
. 

'Hay! may I be bitten! may I be bitten! may I be bitten! may I be bitten! may I be desired by the dear little old fish! may they hunger for my bait!'

pg. 45 begins here

The omission of kff this time is no mere inadvertence. The precise details of wording are important in these spells.

24.18
n̉upqimɬiya 
n̉upqimɬiya 
for one month 
for one month 
qʷaaʔap 
qʷaaʔap 
do thus 
do 
qʷam̉aa 
qʷam̉aˑ 
every 
every 
ʔatħii 
ʔatħii 
night 
night 
tatakčiʔaɬ 
DUP- 
SUF 
takʷ2 
each 
-či2 
at 
=ʔaɬ 
PL 
doing each 
muup̉itwiiʔas 
muup̉it 
four times 
-wiiʔas 
go outside 
going outside four times 
. 

For a month (I) do that every night, going out of the house four times each (night).

24.19
wik 
wik 
not 
not 
haʔuk 
haʔuk 
eat 
eat 
qʷam̉aa 
qʷam̉aˑ 
thus many 
thus many 
muučiiɬ 
muu 
four 
-čiˑɬ 
... days 
for four days 
haw̉iiqƛmaqšiƛ 
haw̉iiqƛmaqšiƛ 
be constantly hungry 
being constantly hungry 
haw̉iiqƛ̉eeʔit 
haw̉iiqƛ 
hungry 
-ˀeˑʔit(a) 
3.PRP 
may be hungry 
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
haʔumštup 
haʔumštup 
fish 
fish 
ʔuusaaħaƛ 
ʔuusaaħi 
for this reason 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
be for this reason 
ʔanis 
ʔanis 
1s.SUB 
1s.SUB 
qiqii 
long time 
long time 
wik 
wik 
not 
not 
haʔuk 
haʔuk 
eat 
eat 
. 

(I) do not eat for all of four days, remaining always hungry, so that the fish may likewise be hungry because (I) do not eat for long periods.
One eats a little after four days, then fasts again, and so on for a month. They used to have medicines to make one feel full, so as not to feel like eating.

24.20
tatakčiʔaɬ 
tatakčiʔaɬ 
every time 
every time 
qʷam̉aap̉itwiiʔasʔitqak 
qʷam̉aˑ 
thus many 
-p̉it3 
... times 
-wiiʔas 
go outside 
-ʔiˑtqak 
2s.REL 
you go outside  
muup̉inqsak 
muu 
four 
-p̉inq 
... times around 
-sasa 
just [L] 
-ˀak 
POSS 
four times 
ʔukʷiʔaɬ 
ʔukʷiʔaɬ1 
each 
each 
n̉uptaqimɬ 
n̉up 
one 
-taqimɬ 
bundle 
one bundle of 
kʷiiqỷak 
kʷiiqỷakʷ 
rubbing medicine 
rubbing medicine 
muuštaqimɬʔi 
muu 
four 
-taqimɬ 
bundle 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
the four bundles 
. 

Each time you go out of the house you repeat four times with one of the four sets of rubbing (branches).

24.21
wiisik̉ʷaaɬʔaƛ̉atquu 
wiisik̉ʷaaɬ 
not carry to completion 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
not carry to completion 
qʷam̉aa 
qʷam̉aˑ 
thus many 
thus many 
ʔatħii 
ʔatħii 
night 
night 
ʔuušsiɬaƛ̉at 
ʔuušsiɬa 
do something 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
something happens 
wiksỷiičiƛƛaa 
wiksỷiičiƛ 
be in vain 
=ƛaa 
=again 
again be in vain 
ʔuħʔiš 
ʔuħʔiš 
and 
and 
wiʔiiʔap̉at 
wi 
poor 
-ʔii 
go to 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
-ˀat 
PASS 
it goes poorly 
muučiiɬ 
muu 
four 
-čiˑɬ 
... days 
for four days 
wikstupšiʔaƛ 
wikstupšiƛ 
become nothing 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
it becomes nothing 
. 

If one does not carry things out to completion every night, something bad happens to one and the (medicine) is in vain; and if one does not go out four days it all comes to nothing.