Notes regarding a marriage proposal by the Tsishaath at Ucluelet to pay for Edward Bill's wife, Feb. 3 , 1914.
53.1
a
.
On arriving at Ucluelet, Capt. Bill bought one box of apples, payed two and a half (dollars) and passed it all around to each of his crew on the wharf. After we had eaten the apples, we went onto the beach right close to the wharf and started practising the following songs, led by ɬuutasiʔi.
pg. 55 begins here
53.2
a
.
The following songs were practised:
53.3
č̉ič̉iħinkỷak
č̉ič̉iħinkỷakʷ
spirit song
spirit song
.
53. A spirit song with the following words:
53.4
ħayuqumɬačištuksiiš
ħayu
ten
-qimɬ
... unit
-ačišt
on the sea
-uk
POSS
-siˑš
1s.INF
mine are ten on the sea
susmaɬn̉i
susmaɬn̉i
swim about on water
they were swimming about on the water
ʔaniƛiis
ʔaniƛ
so that
-(y)iis
1s.INDF.REL
so that I might
sasimɬn̉aks
DUP-
SUF
sa
crawl on all fours
-maɬn̉i
out on water
-ˀak
POSS
-sasa
only [L]
crawl on all fours
.
"I have ten round things swimming about on the sea, I have them crawling about."
53.5
a
.
is sung and while practising a hiitaquuʔaỷak song specially for Thunder ... dancing.
53.6
hiitaquuʔaỷak
hiitaquuʔaỷakʷ
song for rounding the point
song for rounding the point
.
2. Song for rounding the point.
53.7
tutuutš
tutuutš
Thundering-now-and-then
Thundering-now-and-then
yaaha
tutuutš
tutuutš
Thundering-now-and-then
Thundering-now-and-then
ya
yaa1
that
that
hiiyaa
hiiyee
.
"Thunder, thunder."
53.8
a
.
sung third while practising yatỷakː
53.9
yatỷak
yatỷakʷ
jolt dance song
jolt dance song
.
3. A jolt-dance song:
53.10
ʕiɬčisamaʔeeʔe
ʕiɬčisim
Beach-dog
-ˀaˑʔa
in hearth
Beach-Dog
m̉eeʔiʔaƛ̉i
m̉eeʔiƛ
bite away
-ˀaƛ
NOW
-ˀiˑ2
2s>3.IMPER
seize them
qʷiimaqisuusi
qʷi(q)
REL
-m̉aˑ
as far as
-‘is
on the beach
-(w)uusi
3.Rel.Dub
the ones who are far of on the beach
hiɬsuuʔisʔi
hiɬsuuʔis
out to sea
=ʔiˑ
=DEF
out to sea
.
"Beach-dog, seize those on the beach far off."
53.11
yatỷak
yatỷakʷ
jolt dance song
jolt dance song
.
4. A jolt-dance song:
53.12
nuumisaʔetχ
n̉ačiɬaƛ̉is
hiitaq̉aaɬuks
-uk
POSS
-sasa
only [L]
suwaayuk
suwaayuk
thunder
thunder
.
"People of different tribes watch me, my thunderbird comes down."
53.13
yatỷak
yatỷakʷ
jolt dance song
jolt dance song
ʕimtʕimta
ʕimtʕimta
singing words
singing the words
.
single beating sung fifth yatỷak song ʕimtʕimta being: 5. A jolt-dance song; singing the words:
53.14
wiikqaawaaƛs
wik
not
-ˀaƛ
NOW
-sasa
only [L]
yaaɬqawaaƛs
nuumisaatχ
.
"I have none coming round the point there of all the tribes."
53.15
č̉ič̉iħink
č̉ič̉iħinkʷ
pray
pray
ʕimtʕimta
ʕimtʕimta
singing words
singing the words
.
sung sixth č̉ičiħinkʷ song ʕimtʕimta being 6. A spirit song; the words:
53.16
hayiiwiiƛ̉iƛeeksƛaʔuu
t̉aškʷaaɬšiƛ̉iƛeeksƛaʔuu
naʕuupčnupčeeks
t̉ašii
t̉ašii
door
door
.
"I do not know again and have lost the road, my road is lightning."
53.17
yatỷak
yatỷakʷ
jolt dance song
jolt dance song
ʕimtʕimta
ʕimtʕimta
singing words
singing the words
.
beating sung seventh a yatỷak song single beats 7. A jolt-dance song; the words:
53.18
nuupčaχuuwistatuuks
nuumisaatχ
.
"I sound before all the different tribes."
53.19
a
.
After going over the preceding we boarded three canoes. One canoe in the middle, one at each side. Then all got aboard and we set off for the Indian village. Then Tolmish Maatkʷa and Jacob Shewish put on their thunderbird regalia which consisted of two thunderbird hinkiicim and two black blankets.
pg. 56 begins above
53.20
ɬuutasiʔii
ɬuutasiʔii
Klutasee
Klutasee
c̉iiqaa
c̉iiqaa
sing secret chant
sing secret chant
ʕimtʕimta
ʕimtʕimta
singing words
singing the words
.
Just as we got close to the village, ɬuutasiʔi sang the following c̉iiqaa song. Its ʕimtʕimta being thusː
53.21
ƛuukʷaanaʔaaqƛweʔisi
ƛuukʷaana
Wolf Ritual
-ʔaaqƛ
INTENT
-waˑʔisi
1s.QT
I will be Wolf Ritual
ʔanis
ʔanis
1s.SUB
that I
ƛuukʷaanap̉at
ƛuukʷaana
Wolf Ritual
-ˀap2
CAUS
-ˀat
PASS
the Wolf Ritual
ʔuun̉akʔaaqƛweʔisi
ʔuun̉akʷ
dance
-ʔaaqƛ
INTENT
-waˑʔisi
1s.QT
I would be imitating
ʔanis
ʔanis
1s.SUB
that I
ƛuukʷaanap̉at
ƛuukʷaana
Wolf Ritual
-ˀap2
CAUS
-ˀat
PASS
the Wolf Ritual
ʔuħʔat
ʔuħʔat
by
by
wiiħiʔuɬʔi
wiħii
on dry land
-ʔuɬʷ
... place
=ʔiˑ
DEF
a place on dry land
maat̉uɬ
mat
fly
-ʔuɬʷ
... place
fly
tutuutš
tutuutš
Thundering-now-and-then
Thundering-now-and-then
ʔanis
ʔanis
1s.SUB
that I
ʔuħʔat
ʔuħʔat
by
by
ƛuukʷaanap̉at
ƛuukʷaana
Wolf Ritual
-ˀap2
CAUS
-ˀat
PASS
the Wolf Ritual
nuuččinɬʔi
nučiˑ
mountain
-činawiƛ
put into container
=ʔiˑ
DEF
mountain
maat̉uuɬ
mat
fly
-iiɬ2
ITER
fly
tutuutš
tutuutš
Thundering-now-and-then
Thundering-now-and-then
.
"They say I shall be tlokwala, for I am caused to do an imitative dance by the Thunder that flies to the rocky shore from time to time, I am caused to be tlokwala by the Thunder that lights on the rocky shore from time to time".
53.22
c̉iiqaa
c̉iiqaa
sing secret chant
sing secret chant
ʕimtʕimta
ʕimtʕimta
singing words
singing the words
.
Sang same song twice then Mr. Bill sang the following c̉iiqa song its ʕimtʕimts being thusː
53.23
t̉ickaaʔaksiš
t̉ickaa
drum
-ˀak
POSS
-siˑš
1s.INF
drum
n̉aas
n̉aas
day
day
naʔaataħʔis
naʔaataħ
listen
-ˀiˑs2
2s>1.IMP
listen to me!
.
"My Day is thundering, listen to me".
53.24
a
.
Sang same song twice by this time secure then close to the beach about one hundred feet away. Again ɬuutasiʔii sang the same c̉iiqaa song. As soon as he got through the ʕimtʕimta, the two dressed up like thunderbird who all this time had been squatting arose to standing position and started imitating Thunderbird. [57] The two were in motion for about two or three minutes then went back to their old position squatting on the boarded three canoes. Then we sang the č̉ič̉iħinkỷak song number one (see page one) in accompaniment with drumming and nasqnasqa with sticks. Sang same song twice then sang song number two (see page one). Sang same song twice then again the two dressed up Thunderbirds got in motion posturing imitating Thunderbird in accompaniment with rapid beating with sticks and drums.
pg. 57 begins above
53.25
č̉ič̉iħinkỷak
č̉ič̉iħinkỷakʷ
spirit song
spirit song
naasqnaasqa
naasqnaasqa
be beating time
beating time
.
beating time to a spirit song.
53.26
qiiwaaš
qiiwaaš
Kiiwaash
Kiiwaash
k̉ʷaayimt̉a
k̉ʷaayimt̉a
Kwayimta
Kwayimta
.
Then we arrived at the beach right opposite to house belonging to qiiwaaš, which is at the place called k̉ʷaayimt̉a at the eastern side of Ucluelet Arm. Then we sang all the songs given at page one, one after another in which order they are given. The two dressed up imitating Thunderbirds got into motion four times then took off their hinkiicim and blankets. After we had sung the last song given at page one we landed and got on to the beach. (We landed opposite the house of) Kiiwaash at Kwayimta.
53.27
ɬučħaa
ɬučħaa
pay bride price
pay brideprice
ʔuušaħuʔiɬ
ʔuušaħuʔiɬ
marriage gift recipient
marriage gift recipient
.
Then, Mrs. Capt. Bill handed over ɬučħaa money to William to call out the names who were to be ʔuušaħuʔiɬ. The first to be called out was the brother of Mrs. Edward Bill. (We were) to present (money) for marriage.
53.28
ɬučħimʔakqacsa
ɬučħim
marriage exchange
-ˀak
POSS
-qaˑcsa
1s.DUB
I think this brideprice
ʔaħʔaa
ʔaħʔaa
that
that
saaʔaaħičiiɬ
saaʔaħi
Saa'ahi
-ičiiɬ
INC.IT [L]
Saa'ahi
ħayuqʷimɬ
ħayu
ten
-qimɬ
... unit
there are ten things
ƛ̉aħiqs
ƛ̉aħiqs
box
boxes
χaχašk̉uk
χaχašk̉uk
crackers
crackers
ʔiš
ʔiš
and
and
suč̉aqimɬ
suč̉a
five
-qimɬ
... unit
five
taanaa
taanaa
dollar
dollars
.
"I think this brideprice for Albert Jackson consists of ten boxes of biscuits and five dollars."
53.29
ʔuuħuuʔiɬqačka
ʔuuħawiɬ
be in front
-‘iɬ3
in the house
-qaˑčka
2s.DUB
be in front
ʔaħʔaa
ʔaħʔaa
that
that
qiiwaaš
qiiwaaš
Kiiwaash
Kiiwaash
suč̉aqimɬ
suč̉a
five
-qimɬ
... unit
five
.
Then we brought the boxes up into qiiwaaš's house and also the $5 handed it over to saaʔaaħičiiɬ [58] Then qiiwaaš was being called out.(Then) "I think you, Kiiwaash, have five dollars presented to you."
pg. 58 begins above
53.30
a
.
Then next Mrs qiiwaaš was also called out and she also was being given $5. Then paɬuus, an uncle of qiiwaaš, was also being called out and he too was being given $5 and also other names were being called out, all being relatives of qiiwaaš and Mrs. qiiwaaš and the order in which they were called out and the names. I have lost the notes of them therefore I am unable to put them down and also the sum of money that was being given away. We then got through calling out names on the beach. We were then being taken up to Albert Jackson's house and food given to us to eat for we were then pretty well starved by that time. We got through eating. In the meantime the Ucluelet Indians had assembled in their potlatch hall and got their tupaati games ready for us. Then about 1 (4?) o'clock p.m. ƛ̉anaʔa and with two others came into the house where we were singing c̉iiqaa song. Then took us along to the big house wherein the Ucluelets were then assembled. We went into the big house singing song number one on page one and we finished singing. Then the spokesman of the Ucluelet spoke 'now then you Tsishaath get ready. You are now to buy a woman.” First to appear was a heavy weight tupaati was a big sack full of wet sand [representing a bucket full of dried whale fat] a string tied around it. We were to use one's little finger and carry it. Tolmish got up, picked it up and carried it with ease. We then all got up and yelled to show we were there with the goods. Then next a rope was brought out tied onto a big box full of rocks also representing whale meat or fat. We all had a try at it but failed to budge it. We learned afterwards it was being nailed to the floor, the box, but they gave the prize to Tommy Bill $9. Tolmish Maatkwa was also being given $2. Then the Ucluelet sang two songs for Albert Jackson ħaacħuuɬa songs then passed each one of us $1. Several others sang ħaacħuuɬa songs and passed to each one of 50 cents each. Then ended our pay for woman ??. We stayed in Ucluelet several days waiting for return of S.S. Tees and nothing of importance occurred during that time, only several Indians invited us to their houses to eat at times.
53.31
paɬuus
paɬuus
Pathluus
Pathluus
.
(Then to Mrs Kiiwaash and to) Pathluus.
53.32
ƛ̉anaʔa
ƛ̉anaʔa
Tlana'a
Tlana'a
.
Tlana'a (later brought the visitors to the potlatch house).