Lower Umpqua texts ; and, Notes on the Kusan dialects / by Leo J. Frachtenberg.

  • Leo J. Frachtenberg
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Lower Umpqua texts ; and, Notes on the Kusan dialects / by Leo J. Frachtenberg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/172 (page 37)
    YOU SO. Me can always tell you whether you want to o'o anywhere. He alwa)'s talks a g-reat deal. (One clay) a man came to Crow, and spoke to him thus: “You always speak loud. How would it be if we two should trade languages? I will give you (that with) which I speak.” And (still) there was no low tide in the river. The water was always hiOi. dlien Crow answered ✓ o him, “It would be very good if we two traded.” Then they two traded •, and unto Crow came Thunder’s language, while unto Thunder came Crow’s lanofua^e. Thus said ddiunder (to Crow): “ Friend, speak to me this my lan- guage !” So he spoke it to him, and the earth shook as that man spoke. Thus said (Thunder) to him: “If you get mad at anything, you shall always talk loud.” Thus he told him. “You will always speak my language.” And his language was very good as he spoke it. And as he twinkled his eyes, it began to lighten. “Very good, my friend! We two will trade.” (Then Thunder) said to him, “Whenever you shut your eyes, the water will get low. One-half of the ocean will become low, and all kinds of food will (be left) dry, (as they) will (be overcome by the) dry condition (of the water). Whatever (food) you can pick out, you may eat it. When I tell you so, then you may look.” .So he kept his eyes tightly shut, and the water began to get dry. (But soon) he got tired waiting, and he opened his eyes. He looked at the river, and (saw that it was) dry. Small fish [food] were just Hopping, (as the river) kept on (getting) dry. He heard some one make a noise, and was thinking (about it) for a little while. (It was Thunder who told him,) “You looked too soon. I haven’t told you (yet) to look. You looked too soon.” Thus (Thunder) told him. He saw great quantities of food lying (about). He saw it (lying) near the water. That is his usual custom.