027. Taboos for Sea Mammal Hunting

Dictated by Frank Williams, October 4, 1913. VII: 5-9;

A description of ritual restrictions for preparing to hunt sea mammals.

numaakcamis

27.1
ʔuyi 
ʔuyi 
when 
when 
hinaačiʔaƛ̉atquu 
hinaačiƛ 
set off on the water 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
one sets off to sea 
wik̉iitħʔaƛ 
wik̉iit 
non-existent 
-(q)ħ3 
BEING 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
no one remains 
mačiiɬ 
mačiiɬ 
be in house 
being in the house 
maħt̉iiʔi 
maħt̉ii 
house 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the house 
. 

When (a hunter) goes out to sea, no one remains in the house.

27.2
wik̉iit 
wik̉iit 
non-existent 
no one is 
pisatukʷiɬħ 
pisatuk 
move about 
-‘iɬ 
in the house 
-(q)ħ3 
BEING 
moving about in the house 
. 

No one is active in the house.

27.3
ʔaaniɬsaƛ 
ʔana 
only 
-‘iɬ 
in the house 
-sasa 
only [L] 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
only she stays in the house 
yaqcħaatʔitq 
yaqcħi 
spouse 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
the one who was his spouse 
weʔič 
weʔič 
sleep 
sleeping 
. 

Only (the hunter's) wife remains in the house sleeping.

pg. 6 begins here

27.4
hitaasqħ 
hitaas1 
outside 
-ħ2 
CONTEMP 
they do outside 
haaw̉aacaqšiiɬ 
haaw̉aacaqšiiɬ 
prepare food 
preparing food 
yaqčiqƛ̉asʔatʔitq 
yaqčiqƛ̉as 
household members 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
the ones who were household members 
. 

His household prepares food outside.

27.5
ʔuuyisaƛ 
ʔuyi 
when 
-sasa 
only [L] 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
they ony do when 
mačinƛ 
mačinawiƛ 
enter house 
they enter the house 
hitasaʔaƛquu 
hitasaʔaƛ 
come to shore 
-quu1 
3.CND 
when he lands 
kʷiisaħiʔi 
kʷiisaħi 
sea-mammal hunter 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the hunter 
. 

Only when the hunter lands do they enter the house.

27.6
wik 
wik 
not 
not 
m̉ušʔas 
m̉ušʔas 
close the door 
they close the door 
maħt̉iiʔi 
maħt̉ii 
house 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the house 
ʔuunuuƛ 
ʔunw̉iiƛ 
because 
because 
tuuħukweʔinʔaaɬa 
tuuħuk 
afraid 
-weˑʔin 
3.QT 
=ʔaaɬa 
=always 
they are always afraid 
ʕaħmis 
ʕaħmis 
sea mammal 
sea mammal 
m̉ušʔasʔaƛquu 
m̉ušʔas 
close the door 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-quu1 
3.CND 
if the door is closed 
, 
wikc̉aqsimʔatsaʕaš 
wikc̉aqsim 
not want 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-saˑʕaš 
1s.INF 
apparently I am not wanted 
, 
waaʔaƛ 
waa 
say 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he may say 
. 

The door of the house is not closed because, as they say, they are afraid the sea-mammal may say, 'apparently I am not wanted.'

i.e., door is open as though to invite them into the house.

27.7
wik̉iit 
wik 
not 
-ˀat 
PASS 
there was no 
ƛaasaʔak 
stranger 
stranger 
mačinƛ 
mačinawiƛ 
enter house 
they entered the house 
maħt̉ii 
maħt̉ii 
house 
house 
kʷiisaħaƛ̉atquu 
kʷiisaħi 
hunt sea mammals 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
when hunting sea-mammals 
. 

No stranger enters the house when one is hunting.

If people come and make a noise, they wake up the sleeping wife and thus also wake up the sea lions. If the wife does not sleep, the sea lions show it by sticking their heads up out of the water instead of 'sleeping' on the surface. If there are strangers in the house, lions show it by acting wild and not allowing the hunter to come close.

27.8
wik 
wik 
not 
she does not 
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
yaqcħaatʔitq 
yaqcħi 
spouse 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
the one who is spouse 
ʔuʔuuštaq 
ʔuʔuuštaq 
work 
working 
. 

Also one's wife does not do any work.

27.9
wik 
wik 
not 
she does not 
hiniiʔas 
hiniiʔas 
go out 
go out 
maħt̉iiʔi 
maħt̉ii 
house 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the house 
ʔuyiya 
ʔuyiya 
at the time 
at the time 
kʷiisaħinak̉aƛquu 
kʷiisaħi 
hunt sea mammals 
-naˑkʷ 
COMPL 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-quu1 
3.CND 
while he is hunting 
. 

She does not go out of the house while her (husband) is hunting.

27.10
wik 
wik 
not 
she does not 
ʔiišʔiiša 
ʔiišʔiiša 
be chewing 
chew gum 
ʔuʔumiʔak 
ʔuuʔumiiʔak 
for fear that 
for fear that 
m̉ačiʔatukquu 
m̉ačiƛ 
bite 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
his might be bitten 
č̉apac 
č̉apac 
canoe 
canoe 
ʔiš 
ʔiš 
and 
and 
qʷiiqʷiiħw̉inkʔitq 
DUP- 
SUF 
qʷi(q) 
REL 
-ħw̉inkʷ 
use [L] 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
whatever he is using 
. 

She does not chew gum lest his canoe or equipment might be bitten.

27.11
ʔaanaħi 
ʔaanaħi 
just 
she just does 
c̉itkʷiɬ 
c̉itkʷ 
lay on side 
-‘iɬ 
on the floor 
lying on her side 
weʔič 
weʔič 
sleep 
sleeping 
ʔanickʷaɬnakʔitq 
ʔanic 
thus 
-kʷaˑɬ 
absent 
-naˑkʷ 
COMPL 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
as long as hers is away 
. 

She only lies on her side sleeping as long as hers (husband) is absent.

27.12
ʔuyi 
ʔuyi 
if 
if 
pipiisatħiquu 
pipiisatħi 
be active 
-quu1 
3.CND 
she were active 
hiyiiqħap 
hihiq 
varia 
-(q)ħ3 
BEING 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
doing various things 
wikquu 
wik 
not 
-quu1 
3.CND 
she does not 
t̉aħak 
t̉aħak 
lie still 
sleep on back 
n̉aacsaaƛ̉at 
n̉aacsa 
see 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
she would be seen by 
qʷaaqʷaaʔapʔitq 
DUP- 
SUF 
qʷaaʔap 
do thus 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
everything she does 
ʔuħʔat 
ʔuħʔat 
by 
by 
ʕaħmisʔi 
ʕaħmis 
sea mammal 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
the sea mammals 
. 

If she were to be active, doing various things, instead of lying still, everything she does would be observed by the sea mammals.

27.13
qʷaaqʷaaʔap̉aƛ 
DUP- 
PL 
qʷaaʔap 
do thus 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
they would do various things 
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
wik̉aƛ 
wik 
not 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
they did not 
weʔič 
weʔič 
sleep 
sleep 
pipiisatħaƛ 
pipiisatħi 
be active 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
being active 
. 

They would also do various things, not sleeping but being active.

27.14
wikɬm̉aaʔaƛ 
wikɬm̉aa 
unable to 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he would be unable 
hiniip 
hiniip 
get 
getting any 
kʷiisaħi 
kʷiisaħi 
hunt sea mammals 
hunting sea mammals 
. 

He would be unable to get any when hunting.

pg. 7 begins below

27.15
ħamat̉ap̉aƛ 
ħamat̉ap 
be aware 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he is aware 
ʔani 
ʔani 
that 
that 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉ak 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉a 
be at fault 
-ˀak 
POSS 
his is to blame 
yaqcħiʔitq 
yaqcħi 
spouse 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
his wife 
ħamat̉apƛaa 
ħamat̉ap 
be aware 
=ƛaa 
=also 
he is also aware 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉aƛukquu 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉a 
be at fault 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-uk 
POSS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
his is to blame 
maħt̉ii 
maħt̉ii 
house 
household 
. 

(A hunter) knows if his wife is to blame and he also knows if his household is to blame.

27.16
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
ƛičeeʔi 
ƛičaˑ 
steersman 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the steersman 
ʔiš 
ʔiš 
and 
and 
ʔapw̉inqsʔi 
ʔapw̉inqs 
centre man (in boat) 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
the centre man 
wik 
wik 
not 
they do not 
ʔuuʔuuɬ 
ʔuʔuuɬ 
sleep with s.o. 
-[L] 
PL 
sleeping with  
ɬuucsaamiiħukʔi 
ɬuucsma 
wife.pl 
-uk 
POSS 
=ʔiˑ 
DEF 
their wives 
. 

The steersman and the centre man likewise do not sleep with their wives.

27.17
muučiiɬ 
muu 
four 
-čiˑɬ 
... days 
for four days 
ʔaanaħap 
ʔaanaħi 
just 
-ˀap 
CAUS 
they just do 
hat̉iis 
hat̉iis 
bathe 
bathing 
qʷam̉aa 
qʷam̉aˑ 
thus many 
thus many 
ʔatħii 
ʔatħii 
night 
night 
ʔuusimč 
ʔuusimč 
do ritual training 
doing ritual training 
ʔani 
ʔani 
that 
that 
k̉ʷiqaɬikqa 
k̉ʷiqaɬ 
lucky 
-(y)ik 
IRR.FUT 
-qaˑ 
3.SUB 
they may be lucky 
hinaačiʔiikquu 
hinaačiƛ 
set off on the water 
-ˀiikʷ1 
HYP.FUT 
-quu1 
3.CND 
when they go out to sea 
. 

They just bathe every night for four days and train that they may be lucky when they go out to sea.

27.18
ʔuyi 
ʔuyi 
if 
if 
haahaayuxʷackʷiquu 
DUP- 
PL 
haayuxʷa 
commit adultery 
-ckʷiˑ 
having ...-ed 
-quu1 
3.CND 
they have committed adultery 
ħamatsap̉aƛ 
ħamatsap 
find out 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he will find out 
ʔeeʔeeʔiša 
DUP- 
REP 
ʔaʔiˑš 
do quickly 
doing quickly 
yaqʷatiiʔitq 
yaqʷ 
REL 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-(y)ii 
3.INDF-REL 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
by how it might 
ʔuuktis 
ʔuuktis 
be guided by 
be guided by 
yayaʕiiħʔitq 
DUP- 
SUF 
yaqʷ 
REL 
-ˀiiħ2 
hunt [R] 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
that which they were hunting 
ʔani 
ʔani 
that 
that 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉ak 
ʔuʔuuɬc̉a 
be at fault 
-ˀak 
POSS 
his was to blame 
ƛičaam̉inħʔi 
ƛičaˑ 
steersman 
-m̉inħ 
PL 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
the crew 
. 

If they were to commit adultery, the hunter would soon find out, by the (actions of) the game, that the crew were to blame.

Steersman and middle man are not supposed to go out if their wives are pregnant. Hunter should not go out unless he has medicine for it (ʔuʔuušcỷaksỷi "pregnancy medicine"; ɬiicit "pregnant" is tabooed when women are around).

27.19
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
numanak 
numanakʷ 
have taboo restrictions 
he has taboo restrictions 
kʷiisaħi 
kʷiisaħi 
sea-mammal hunter 
hunter 
ƛawaaʔaƛquu 
ƛawaˑ 
near 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-quu1 
3.CND 
it is near 
ʔaʔaacataħ 
ʔaʔaacataħ 
go out hunting sea mammals 
go out hunting sea mammals 
. 

The hunter likewise has taboos when the time approaches, when he is about to go out sea mammal hunting.

27.20
hawiiʔaƛ 
hawiiƛ 
finish 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
he stops 
ʔuʔuuɬ 
ʔuʔuuɬ 
sleep with s.o. 
sleeping with 
ɬuucsmaak 
ɬuucsma 
woman 
-ˀak 
POSS 
his wife 
hiineʔiɬʔatħšiʔaƛ 
hiineʔiɬʔatħšiƛ 
sleep on the floor beside bed 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
sleeping on the floor 
n̉upqimɬiya 
n̉upqimɬiya 
for one month 
for one month 
hupaɬ 
hupaɬ 
month 
month 
. 

He ceases to sleep with his wife and lives on the floor (next to the bed platform) for one month.

27.21
ʔuyi 
ʔuyi 
if 
if 
wiʔiiʔapquu 
wiʔiiʔap 
not keep on doing 
-quu1 
3.CND 
he does not keep on doing 
qʷiiyicst̉iiħʔitq 
qʷi(q) 
REL 
-(y)iˑ 
... time 
-st̉iiħ2 
aim to do 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
until it is the required time 
ƛawiičiƛ 
ƛawiičiƛ 
approach 
approaching 
yaqcħiʔitq 
yaqcħi 
spouse 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
his wife 
ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ 
ʔaħʔaaʔaƛ 
and then 
then 
wikstupšiʔaƛuk 
wikstupšiƛ 
become nothing 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-uk 
POSS 
his comes to nothing 
ʔuusimčmis 
ʔuusimčmis 
ritual 
ritual training 
. 

If he does not keep doing until the required time is up, approaching his wife before the time is up, his ritual training is in vain.

pg. 8 begins below

27.22
ʔeeʔeeʔišatƛaa 
DUP- 
SUF 
ʔaʔiˑš 
do quickly 
-ˀat 
PASS 
=ƛaa 
=again 
it is also soon 
ʔiiqħuk̉ʷat 
ʔiiqħuk 
tell 
-ˀat 
PASS 
told 
ʔuħʔat 
ʔuħʔat 
by 
by 
yayaʕiiħʔitq 
DUP- 
SUF 
yaqʷ 
REL 
-ˀiiħ2 
hunt [R] 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
that which they were hunting 
qʷisckʷiiʔitq 
qʷis 
do thus 
-ckʷiˑ 
having ...-ed 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
that which he has done 
. 

It is also soon betrayed by what he has done in (the actions of) that which he is hunting.

27.23
ʔuħʔiš 
ʔuħʔiš 
and 
and 
ʔuušsiɬackʷiquu 
ʔuušsiɬa 
do something 
-ckʷiˑ 
having ...-ed 
-quu1 
3.CND 
if he has done something 
ʔuukʷiɬ 
ʔuukʷiɬ2 
refer to 
refer to 
ƛaʔuu 
ƛaʔuˑ 
other 
other 
ɬuucsma 
ɬuucsma 
woman 
woman 
ʔuħʔaƛ̉at 
ʔuħ 
is 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
-ˀat 
PASS 
it is by 
ʔiiqħuk 
ʔiiqħuk 
tell 
tell 
čapxtuupukʔi 
čapxtuup 
spearhead 
-uk 
DUR 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
his harpoon head 
c̉awaak̉aƛ 
c̉awaakʷ 
one 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
one 
kiƛšiƛ 
kiƛšiƛ1 
splinter 
it splinters 
saač̉uw̉at 
saač̉uw̉at 
one side 
on one side 
ʔuħʔaƛ 
ʔuħ 
is 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
it was 
qʷiicuw̉atʔitq 
qʷi(q) 
REL 
-cuw̉at 
on...side 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
on which side 
. 

And if he has done something with another woman, it is made known by the fact that one side of his harpoon splinters, on the side which (has broken the taboo).

The harpoon has two prongs, a longer one called the male and a shorter one called the female. If the male barb breaks, it shows that the hunter has committed adultery; if the female barb breaks, his wife has. If he, or even someone in his house, has slept with another woman, say within a month of his hunting, one can tell it by the actions of the sea lions when one gets close. Sea lions, and fur seals even more so, engage in sex play, lying on their backs with feet apart and biting.

27.24
ỷuuqʷaa 
ỷuuqʷaa 
also 
also 
numanak 
numanakʷ 
have taboo restrictions 
it has taboo restrictions 
č̉apac 
č̉apac 
canoe 
canoe 
. 

The canoe likewise has taboos.

27.25
wiiksinħat 
wiiksinħi 
be forbidden 
-ˀat 
PASS 
it is forbidden to 
sup̉iʕat 
sup̉iq 
touch 
-ˀat 
PASS 
touch in passing 
ʔuħʔat 
ʔuħʔat 
by 
by 
ɬuucsaamiiħ 
ɬuucsma 
woman.pl 
women 
ʔuħʔiš 
ʔuħʔiš 
and 
and 
ħaatyak̉aqƛʔi 
ħaatyak̉aqƛ 
philandering 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
philandering  
ħaaw̉iiħaƛ 
ħaaw̉iɬaƛ 
young man.pl 
young men 
ʔuuʔumiiʔak 
ʔuuʔumiiʔak 
for fear that 
for fear that 
wiqayaỷapquu 
wiqayaỷap 
make unlucky 
-quu1 
3.CND 
they might make it unlucky 
. 

It should not be touched in passing by women, nor by philandering young men, for fear that they might make it unlucky.

27.26
ʔuħʔiš 
ʔuħʔiš 
and 
and 
saač̉ink 
saač̉inkʷ 
always 
always 
c̉iipis 
c̉iipis 
lay vessel on side on beach 
they lay it on its side 
c̉iisaqsis 
c̉iisaqsis 
stretch line over canoe 
a rope stretched over it 
ʔuustukħ 
ʔustukħ 
for that reason 
for that reason 
ƛawiičiƛquu 
ƛawiičiƛ 
approach 
-quu1 
3.CND 
it might approach 
č̉iħaa 
č̉iħaa 
ghost 
ghost 
ʔun̉aaħ 
ʔun̉aaħ 
look for 
looking for 
t̉uxyuu 
t̉uxyuu 
shredded cedar bark 
shredded cedar bark 
. 

They lay it on its side on the beach with a rope stretched over it, because a ghost might approach it looking for shredded cedar bark.

A line is stretched from the bow around a stick placed in the middle of the gunwale, to the stem. The line rests tight on the canoe turned half over. It keeps spirits away, for, if they come to the canoe, they might be caught on the line and killed.

27.27
numaakuk 
numaakʷ 
tabooed 
-uk 
POSS 
it has its taboo 
qʷiiqʷiiħw̉inkʔitq 
DUP- 
SUF 
qʷi(q) 
REL 
-ħw̉inkʷ 
use [L] 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
whatever one uses 
. 

Whatever one uses (in hunting) has its taboo.

27.28
miɬsỷi 
miɬsỷi 
spear 
spear 
wik 
wik 
not 
it is not 
hitaqs 
hitaqs 
be in vessel 
keeping in vessel 
č̉apac 
č̉apac 
canoe 
canoe 
wik 
wik 
not 
it is not 
ʔustʔis 
ʔustʔis 
sandy place 
on the beach 
wik 
wik 
not 
it is not 
mačiiɬ 
mačiiɬ 
be in house 
being in the house 
hiɬst̉uʕasuk 
hiɬst̉uʕas 
back of the house 
-uk 
POSS 
theirs is at the back of the house 
maħt̉ii 
maħt̉ii 
house 
house 
. 

The spear is not (kept) in the canoe, nor on the beach, nor in the house.

27.29
sayaač̉a 
sayaač̉a 
high up 
it is kept high up 
kicaas 
kic2 
beam 
-aˑs1 
on a surface 
on a beam 
ʔuʔumħi 
ʔuʔumħi 
appropriate 
so that 
wikiip 
wikiip 
fail to obtain 
fail to obtain it 
č̉iħaa 
č̉iħaa 
ghost 
ghosts 
. 

It is kept in the back of the house on a high surface, so that ghosts fail to get it.

27.30
ʔuʔaɬ 
ʔuʔaɬ1 
attach 
it is attached to it 
č̉isaap 
č̉isaap1 
shark's fin 
shark's fin 
. 

A shark's fin is attached to it.

pg. 9 begins below

27.31
ʔanaaƛ 
ʔana 
only 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
it is only 
mačiiɬ 
mačiiɬ 
be in house 
being in the house 
tukʷaqimɬ 
tukʷaqimɬ 
float 
floats 
ʔiš 
ʔiš 
and 
and 
ʔuxʷaap 
ʔuxʷaap(i) 
paddle 
paddles 
ƛaask 
ƛaask 
cedar branch rope 
cedar branch rope 
hiiɬcʕiɬʔaƛ 
hiiɬcʕiɬ 
hang overhead in house 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
hanging overhead 
hiiɬʔiitq 
hiɬ 
LOC 
-ʔiˑtq 
3s.REL 
the place where 
weʔič 
weʔič 
sleep 
sleep 
ʔupaaɬʔaƛ 
ʔuupaaɬ2 
along with 
-ˀaƛ 
NOW 
along with 
č̉iɬiitukʔi 
č̉iɬiit 
outfit bag 
-uk 
POSS 
=ʔiˑ 
=DEF 
his outfit bag 
ʔuuʔumiiʔak 
ʔuuʔumiiʔak 
for fear that 
for fear that 
wisšiʔatukquu 
wisšiƛ 
apply s.t. to 
-ˀat 
PASS 
-uk 
POSS 
-quu1 
3.CND 
theirs might be rubbed with medicine 
ʔuħʔat 
ʔuħʔat 
by 
by 
ƛaʔuu 
ƛaʔuˑ 
other 
other 
kʷiisaħi 
kʷiisaħi 
sea-mammal hunter 
hunters 
. 

Only the bladder floats and the paddles and the cedar bark rope are (kept), are hung overhead (on the wall) where one sleeps in the house, along with the outfit bag, lest theirs might be rubbed with medicine by other hunters.