26. Secret Ritual for Sea Lion Hunting

26.1

ʔuyi

when

ʔuusimčn̉aħaƛ̉atquu

ʔuusimč

do ritual training

-n̉aħi

intend to [L]

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

-quu₁

3.CND

he is about to do ritual training

tukuuk

sea lion

saač̉ink̉at

saač̉inkʷ

continuously

-ˀat

PASS

he does continuously

hat̉iis

bathe

bathing

When one is about to train for sea lions, he bathes constantly.

26.2

ƛawaaʔaƛquu

ƛawaˑ

near

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-quu₁

3.CND

it gets near when

hinin

come

they come

tukuuk

sea lion

sea lions

ʔuyaaƛ̉at

ʔuyi

when

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

when it is

hiniiʔasʔat

hiniiʔas

go out

-ˀat

PASS

he goes out

ħačatak̉aƛquu

ħačatakʷ

all

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-quu₁

3.CND

when everyone is doing

huuʔičuƛ

huuʔičawiƛ

go to sleep (pl)

going to sleep

As it approaches the time when the sea lions come, he goes out when all (the others) have gone to sleep.

26.3

hiniiʔasʔaƛ̉at

hiniiʔas

go out

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he goes outside

hitinqsaʔat

hitinqsaƛ

go down to beach

-ˀat

PASS

going down to the beach

kʷiɬšiʔaƛ̉at

kʷiɬšiƛ

spray water from the mouth

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

spraying water from his mouth

ciciqinkšiʔaƛ̉at

ciciqinkšiƛ

start to pray

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

starting to pray

He goes outside, goes down to the beach, sprays water from his mouth and starts praying.

26.4

huu

sound of...

ħaw̉eeɬ

ħaw̉iɬ

chief

Oh, chief

n̉aačiiɬeeʔisim

n̉aačiiɬa

watch over s.o.

-ˀiˑsim

2s>1s.FUT.IMPER

watch over me!

wikšaħap̉isim

wikšaħap

prevent

-ˀiˑsim

2s>1s.FUT.IMPER

protect me!

wikšaħak̉ap̉isim

wik

not

-šaħi

have ... wrong with one [ L]

-ˀak

POSS

-ˀap

CAUS

-ˀiˑsim

2s>1s.FUT.IMPER

do not let anything wrong happen to mine!

maħt̉ii

house

ʔaamaan̉uɬʔap̉isim

ʔaamaan̉uɬʔap

keep on track

-ˀiˑsim

2s>1s.FUT.IMPER

keep mine on its path!

tiičsỷaapakqas

tiičsỷaapi

life principle

-ˀak

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

my life principle

'Ho, O Chief, watch over me! look out for me! do not let anything happen to my house! keep my life principle on its path!'

26.5

haat̉inqšiʔat

haat̉inqšiƛ

bathe

-ˀat

PASS

he starts to bathe

tuuksimčšiʔat

tuuksimčšiƛ

train for sea lion hunting

-ˀat

PASS

training for sea lion hunting

hisimɬn̉at

hisimɬn̉i

move around in water

-ˀat

PASS

going about on the water

č̉aʔakʔi

č̉aʔakʷ

water

=ʔiˑ

DEF

water

He starts bathing and training for sea lions and goes out in the water there.

26.6

qʷaaʔaƛ̉at

qʷaa

thus

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he does as

qʷeeʔiitqʔaaɬa

qʷaa

thus

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

=ʔaaɬa

=always

that which it is like

tukuuk

sea lion

He acts like a sea lion.

26.7

hinusčisʔat

hinusčis

up the beach

-ˀat

PASS

he goes up the beach

He goes up the beach.

26.8

hay

hay₂

shout

waaʔaƛ̉at

waa

say

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he said now

hinaačiʔiikquus

hinaačiƛ

set off on the water

-ˀiikʷ₁

HYP.FUT

-quus

1 CND

when I go out to sea

ƛaawičiiɬʔatikqas

ƛawaˑ

near

-ičiiɬ

INC.IT [L]

-ˀat

PASS

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may they approach me

tukuukm̉inħʔisʔi

tukuuk

sea lion

-m̉inħ

-ʔis

DIM

=ʔiˑ

=DEF

the little sea lions

'Hay!' he says, 'when I go out to sea, may the little sea lions approach me!

26.9

naʔuuqsmiħsatikqas

naʔuuqs

accompany in a canoe

-miħsa

want

-ˀat

PASS

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may they want to come along in my canoe

weʔičupikqas

weʔičup

put to sleep

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may I put them to sleep

weʔičupikqas

weʔičup

put to sleep

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may I put them to sleep

ʔuħʔiš

and

č̉ač̉am̉iiħʔisuk

č̉ač̉am̉iiħ

canoe-watcher

-ʔis

DIM

-uk

POSS

little canoe-watcher of

tukuuk

sea lion

sea lions

č̉ač̉am̉iiħʔisuk

č̉ač̉am̉iiħ

canoe-watcher

-ʔis

DIM

-uk

POSS

little canoe-watcher of

tukuuk

sea lion

May they wish to come along in my canoe! may I cause them to sleep! may I cause them to sleep, and also the dear little canoe-watchers of the sea lions, the dear little canoe-watchers of the sea-lions.

The Indians believe that sea lions have one of their number who looks out for canoes. He has a long neck which he sticks out when they all bask on the rocks. Hunters always look out to see if this one is asleep.

26.10

ʔuyi

when

ƛiħatasʔiiʔiikquus

ƛiħ

move pointwise

-as₁

reach

=ʔiˑ

DEF

-ˀiikʷ₁

HYP.FUT

-quus

1 CND

when I paddle up to them

wik̉atukqas

wik

not

-ˀat

PASS

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not be

naʔaa

naʔaˑ

hear

heard

ƛiħswiiʔakqas

ƛiħswii

wake (of boat)

-ˀak

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may my wake (of boat)

wik̉atukqas

wik

not

-ˀat

PASS

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not be

naʔaa

naʔaˑ

perceive

perceived

When I paddle hard to get close, may my wake not be heard! may mine not be felt!

26.11

ƛ̉imqʕaƛ̉aħsukquus

ƛ̉imqʕaƛ

make a noise

-ˀaħs

in vessel

-uk

POSS

-quus

1 CND

if I make a sound in mine

wikaatukukqas

wik

not

-aˑtuk

make ... sound

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not make a sound

č̉apac

canoe

If I make a noise in the canoe, may my canoe not resound!

26.12

suupatukʷikqas

suupi

catch in mid-air

-ˀat

PASS

-uk

POSS

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may mine be caught in mid-air

c̉axšiʔiikquus

c̉axšiƛ

spear

-ˀiikʷ₁

HYP.FUT

-quus

1 CND

when I spear

wikukqas

wik

not

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not do

ɬiʔaa

miss the mark

n̉apxtaaʔakikqas

n̉apxtaˑ

die instantly

-ˀak

POSS

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may mine die instantly

wikukqas

wik

not

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not do

sayeeʔi

sayaˑ

far off

=ʔiˑ

DEF

far off

kamitquk

be running

run

May mine (spear) be caught in mid-air when I spear! may mine not miss the mark! may my (prey) die instantly! may mine (prey) not run far off!

If one goes too far away from house, then sealion will run far out to sea. Therefore rather stay near house. Some families, says Frank (Williams), do not know this and train far away in the woods, so as to prevent anybody from seeing them.

26.13

ʔucačiƛukqas

ʔucačiƛ

go to

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine go to

hitinqisukqas

hitinqis

beach

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.REL

where is my beach

hiỷatħqas

hiỷatħ

live at

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

where I am living

May mine go to where is my beach, to where I live.

26.14

hay

hay₁

excl

hay!

waaʔaƛ̉at

waa

say

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he said now

hay

hay₂

shout

hay!

n̉up̉itħikqas

n̉up̉it

once

-(q)ħ₃

BEING

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may mine be doing once

hiitaɬukšiʔiikquus

hiitaɬukšiƛ

cast a spell

-ˀiikʷ₁

HYP.FUT

-quus

1 CND

by me saying a spell

qaħsaap

kill

causing it to die

Hay!' he says, 'hay! may I cause it to die by saying a spell once!

To exercise some "spell" on whale, sea lion, seal or other animal by pronouncing formula. Such spells were also used to capture enemy whom it was hard to get. These spells are strictly secret in different families. There are also doctoring spells; also for bewitching. All begin: hiiy+ (y is lower than ii). Words are never said clearly, because they don't want steersman to hear actual words. First for sea lion is used when he goes far out to sea and you make him turn back to shore; second is used when he will not come up much to breathe but only sticks out his nose (this makes him come out); third is to shorten his wind; fourth is to kill him quick. These spells used only if lion gets wild and is hard to kill.

26.15

wik̉atukqas

wik

not

-ˀat

PASS

-uk

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

may mine not be

m̉ačiƛ

bite

be bitten

tukʷaqimɬ

float

ʔuħʔiš

and

maʕakƛimʔakqas

maʕakƛim

end line

-ˀak

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

my line

miɬsỷaakqas

miɬsỷi

spear

-ˀak

POSS

-qaˑs

1s.SUB

my spear

'May my float not be bitten nor my line nor my spear!'

26.16

muup̉inqsak̉at

muu

four

-p̉inq

... times around

-sasa

precisely [L]

-ˀak

POSS

-ˀat

PASS

he does his four times exactly

ʔiiqsčiik̉ʷaaɬʔat

ʔiqħ

same

-sčiikʷ

going along

-ˀaaɬ

at intervals

-ˀat

PASS

doing the same way at intervals

He goes through his four times, doing the same way each time.

26.17

ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ̉at

ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ

and then

-ˀat

PASS

and then he does

mačinuʔaƛ̉at

mačinawiƛ

enter house

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

enters the house

Then he enters the house.

26.18

wik̉aƛ̉at

wik

not

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he is not

qiiʔiɬ

qii

long time

-‘iɬ

in the house

long in the house

hiniiʔasʔaƛƛaa

hiniiʔas

go out

-ˀaƛ

NOW

=ƛaa

=again

he goes out again

ʔuusimčšiʔat

ʔuusimčšiƛ

train for power

-ˀat

PASS

training for ritual power

He is not long in the house before he goes out again and starts to train for ritual power.

26.19

muup̉itwiiʔasʔat

muup̉it

four times

-wiiʔas

go outside

-ˀat

PASS

he goes out four times

c̉awaayiyat

c̉awaayiya

at one time

-ˀat

PASS

at one time

ʔatħii

night

He goes out four times during one night.

26.20

ʔuyiyat

ʔuyiya

at the time

-ˀat

PASS

he does at the time

hiniiʔasʔat

hiniiʔas

go out

-ˀat

PASS

he goes out

ħačatak̉aƛquu

ħačatakʷ

all

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-quu₁

3.CND

everyone is doing

huuʔičuƛ

huuʔičawiƛ

go to sleep (pl)

going to sleep

maatmaas

maʔas

tribe.pl

the tribe

He goes out when all the people have gone to sleep.

26.21

wawaaʔaƛ̉at

wawaa

say

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he says

ʔani

that

weʔičup̉atikqa

weʔičup

put to sleep

-ˀat

PASS

-(y)ik

IRR.FUT

-qaˑ

3.SUB

he will make them go to sleep

tukuuk

sea lion

sea lions

ʔani

that

ʔuunuuʔat

ʔunw̉iiƛ

because

-ˀat

PASS

because

ʔuyiyat

ʔuyiya

at the time

-ˀat

PASS

at the time

ʔuusimč̉at

ʔuusimč

do ritual training

-ˀat

PASS

doing ritual training

huʔuuč̉aƛquu

huuʔič

several sleeping

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-quu₁

3.CND

while they are sleeping

ʔani

that

weʔičupʔaaqƛ̉at

weʔičup

put to sleep

-ʔaaqƛ

INTENT

-ˀat

PASS

he will put them to sleep

qʷisʔap̉at

qʷis

do thus

-ˀap

CAUS

-ˀat

PASS

he will do thus

qʷeeʔiitq

qʷaa

thus

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

that is a

ħačatak

ħačat

all

weʔič

sleep

He says that he will cause the sea lions to sleep because he trains while (all) are asleep, that he will put them to sleep, cause them to be asleep like everybody.

26.22

hiɬaačišt̉aƛ̉at

hiɬaačišt

on the sea

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

while he was on the sea

č̉aʔakʔi

č̉aʔakʷ

water

=ʔiˑ

DEF

water

weeʔičt̉iiʔiɬat

weeʔičt̉iʔiɬa

pretend to sleep

-ˀat

PASS

he pretends to sleep

kʷikʷinqw̉isaksuɬačišt̉at

kʷikʷinqw̉isaksuɬ

blow bubbles from the mouth

-ačišt

on the sea

-ˀat

PASS

blow bubbles from the mouth while on the sea

puχʷačišt̉at

puχʷačišt

float on the sea

-ˀat

PASS

floating on the sea

He pretends to sleep there on the water and blows bubbles from his mouth (while) floating on the water.

26.23

päää

peee

päää

peee

päää

peee

päää

peee

qʷaaʔapikqas

qʷaaʔap

do thus

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may I do thus!

ʔaħ

this

weʔičupikqas

weʔičup

put to sleep

-ikqas

1s.OPT

may I put them to sleep

'pæ pæ pæ pæ, may I do thus and put them to sleep!'

26.24

wik̉iit

non-existent

there was no

tič̉im

rubbing medicine

ʔaanasa

ʔana

only

-sasa

only [L]

only doing

ʔiiħk̉umc

thumb

thumbs

yaaqħw̉ink̉atʔitq

yaqʷ

REL

-ħw̉inkʷ

use [L]

-ˀat

PASS

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

which is used for

kʷiiqkʷiiqat

kʷiiqkʷiiqa

rubbing

-ˀat

PASS

rubbing

hiistaataʔaaɬʔat

hiistaataʔaaɬ

doing to

-ˀat

PASS

just doing to

ʔaʔapkuuʔas

side of head

ʔuukst̉iiħʔat

ʔuukst̉iiħ

aim to do

-ˀat

PASS

aiming to do

ỷiỷimħičiʔat̉iikquu

ỷiỷimħičiƛ

be unable to

-ˀat

PASS

-ˀiikʷ₁

HYP.FUT

-quu₁

3.CND

until one can barely do

n̉ašiʔat

n̉ašiƛ

go to see

-ˀat

PASS

look at

There is no rubbing medicine (used) except the thumb, which is used (for) rubbing the back of the ear until one can hardly (turn the head to) look (at anything).

So that the sea-lion likewise may not be able to turn and see the hunter approaching.

26.25

mačinuʔaƛ̉atquu

mačinawiƛ

enter house

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

-quu₁

3.CND

when one enters a house

wik̉aƛ̉at

wik

not

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he shouldn't do

t̉awiɬ

have sex

yaqcħaatʔitq

yaqcħi

spouse

-ˀat

PASS

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

with the one who is his spouse

When one enters the house, he does not sleep with his wife.

26.26

hiɬinkʷiɬʔaƛ̉at

hiɬinkʷiɬ

in the house

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he does in the house

ʔaminkʷiɬʔi

ʔaminkʷiɬ

corner

=ʔiˑ

DEF

in the corner

ʔanač̉ičiɬʔaƛ̉at

ʔanač

only that much

-ičiiɬ

INC.IT [L]

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

only with

mucmuħaq

bearskin

He lies in the corner, with only a bearskin.

26.27

wik̉at

wik

not

-ˀat

PASS

he does not

weʔič

sleep

ʔanicšiʔatʔitq

ʔanicšiƛ

do thus

-ˀat

PASS

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

when doing thus

ʔuusimč̉at

ʔuusimč

do ritual training

-ˀat

PASS

doing ritual training

He does not sleep during the period of ritual training.

26.28

hiniiʔasʔaƛ̉atquu

hiniiʔas

go out

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

-quu₁

3.CND

when he goes out

ʔatħiiʔaƛquu

ʔatħii

night

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-quu₁

3.CND

at night

ʔuusimčw̉it̉asʔat

ʔuusimčw̉it̉as

go to ritually train for

-ˀat

PASS

going to ritually train

tukuuk̉ʷaƛ̉at

tukuuk

sea lion

-ˀaƛ

NOW

-ˀat

PASS

he does like a sea lion

hinʔas

hina

LOC

-ˀas₃

go to

going to

ħeʔiiʔat

ħeʔii₁

reach

-ˀat

PASS

going all the way to

hitinqis

beach

hiɬħʔatʔitq

hiɬ

LOC

-(q)ħ₃

BEING

-ˀat

PASS

-ʔiˑtq

3s.REL

where he is doing

hat̉iis

bathe

bathing

When he goes outside at night to train, he (moves like) a sea lion as far as the beach, where he bathes.

026. A Secret Ritual for Sea Lion Hunting

Dictated by Frank Williams, October 4, 1913. VII: 3-5.