David Tuggy
Mösiehuali texts

Yehkamalakōƛ

(The Whirlwind)

Yehkamalakōƛ
The whirlwind

by
Martín N. Méndez Huaxcuatitla

This story, in the Mösiehuali language (ISO code nhg), was written about 1945. It recounts a traditional legend, in the words of Martín Méndez, and was recorded by Richard Pittman. It, along with four other texts, was published as part of Pittman’s doctoral thesis (1954:44-51)*.

1.	Sē One tōnali day neli they.say omočī it.happened ihkiyi. like.this Once upon a time, they say,

Sente

one

ƛākaƛ

man

očāntiya

he.was.living

kaltēnƛi,

field

and

kāni

where

yaha

čāntiya

he.was.living

seme

always

panōya

it.was.passing

yehkamalakōƛ,

spindlewind

īpampa

because

with

ompa

there

mohw͎itiāya.

it.was.directing.itself

a man lived out in the fields, and by where he lived a whirlwind would always pass, because that was where its road lay.

and

seme

always

and

seme

always

ƛākaƛ

man

kikʷālāntiāya,

it.was.angering.him

īpampa

because

kʷāk

when

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

panōya

it.was.passing

yaha

ƛakʷahtika,

he.is.eating

and

īnī

this

nānka

here

kiƛāltēmiliāya

it.filled.it.with.dirt.for.him

ikasw͎ēla

his.bowl

and

ƛākaƛ

man

kači

kikʷālāntiāya.

it.was.angering.him

And over and over again the whirlwind would get the man angry, because as it passed by he would be eating, and it would fill his bowl with dirt, and so the man got angrier and angrier.

8.	Sē one tōnali day kilw͎ia he.tells.her īsowa, his.wife “Laliw͎is very tēčpasoloa it.molests.us īnī this nānka here yehkamalakōƛ. spindlewind One day he said to his wife, “This whirlwind is a real bother to us.

Naha

already

onēčƛaw͎ēlmikti.

it.enraged.me

I am very angry at it.

Seme

always

niƛakʷa

I.eat

with

ƛāli,

dirt

and

āšā

now

para

for

kimatis,

it.will.know.it

nikčiatī

I.will.go.await.it

kāni

where

with

pano

it.passes

and

nikmačētihw͎īs.”

I.will.machete.it

I’m constantly eating food with dirt in it, and now, to teach it a lesson, I’m going to the place where it passes by and I’ll hit it with my machete.

11.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

ƛākaƛ

man

okīstē,

he.went.out

kiw͎īkak

he.carried.it

imačēte,

his.machete

and

okičiato

he.went.to.await.it

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

with

kiyāwak.

outside

So the man went out of the house, carrying his machete, to go lie in wait out there for the spindlewind to come by.

Tepic̸ī

little

w͎ehkāhpa

on.far

kihtak

he.saw.it

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

already

ompawīc̸.

there.it.comes

A bit later he saw the whirlwind coming along.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

yaha

moyehyekƛāli

he.arranged.himself

īmāƛa

in.his.hand

mačēte

machete

okičīš.

he.awaited.it

So he got ready, with his machete in his hand, and waited for it.

Kʷāk

when

already

asiko,

it.arrived.here

kiw͎īkili

it.carries.from.him

išompilēlo,

his.hat

and

yaha

okipēwalti

he.provoked.it

with

mačēte

machete

ƛatēteki

he.slashes

with

nāw͎iyā,

everywhere

kitēteki

he.slashes.it

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

When it got there, it carried off his hat, and he attacked it with his machete, slashing all around, slashing at the whirlwind.

Yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

ōya.

it.went

The whirlwind left.

Yekʷākino

when.that

ƛākaƛ

man

nōyihki

also

ōya

he.went

with

ičā,

his.home

and

kilw͎ia

he.tells.her

isowa,

his.wife

“Āšā

now

already

nokimačētihwi.

I.macheted.it

Then the man also went to his house, and told his wife, “OK, I’ve cut it up with my machete.”

Welis

maybe

mōsƛa

tomorrow

ayekmo

no.longer

panōs.”

it.will.pass

Maybe it won't come by again tomorrow.

18.	Pa on mōsƛatika tomorrow.dur okihtak he.saw.it oksahpa again ye already ompaw͎īc̸. there.it.comes The next day he saw it coming again.

ƛākaƛ

man

okʷīƛakīstikīs

he.suddenly.spurted.out

with

mačēte

machete

imāƛa,

in.his.hand

oksahpa

again

okičīato

he.went.to.await

yehkamalakōƛ.

spindlewind

The man rushed out, machete in hand, to againg lie in wait for the whirlwind.

Oksahpa

again

kʷāk

when

panōtī

it.goes.to.pass

ompa,

there

okasik

he.caught.it

with

mačēte,

machete

okitētek

he.slashed.it

with

nāwiyā,

everywhere

and

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

opanōk

it.passed

īpa.

on.him

Again when it came by that place, he lit into it with his machete, slashing in every direction, and the whirlwind passed over him.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

ƛākaƛ

man

ōya

he.went

with

īčā.

his.home

So the man went home.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

kinōnōc̸ato

he.went.to.chat.with.her

isowa,

his.wife

kilw͎ia,

he.tells.her

“Āšān

now

kēma.

yes

He went to tell his wife about it: he said, “Now, for sure,

Mōsƛa

tomorrow

ayekmo

no.longer

panōs,

it.will.pass

īpampa

because

already

ōhpa

twice

nikmačētehw͎ia.”

I.machete.it

It won’t come by again tomorrow, because I have now cut it up with my machete twice.”

24.	Pa on mōsƛatika, tomorrow.dur ka with pan on ƛahka, noon oksahpa again okihtak he.saw.it ye already ompaw͎īc̸. there.it.comes The next day, about noon, he again saw it coming.

Nokʷēl

another.time

okʷīƛakīstikīs,

he.suddenly.spurted.out

oksahpa

again

kimačētihw͎īko.

he.came.to.machete.it

Yet again he rushed out and once more cut it up with his machete.

Yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

opanōk

it.passed

and

yaha

ōya

he.went

with

īčā.

his.home

The whirlwind went on, and he went home.

Kilw͎ia

he.tells.her

isowa,

his.wife

“Īnī

this

nānka

here

w͎elis

maybe

amo

not

kikokoa.

it.hurts.it

He said to his wife, “Maybe it just doesn’t hurt this guy.”

Mōsƛa

tomorrow

oksahpa

again

nikčiatī.”

I.go.to.await.him

Tomorrow I'll go lie in wait for it again.

mōsƛatika

tomorrow.dur

okičiato,

he.went.to.await.it

oksahpa

again

okitētek.

he.slashed.it

The next day he went and lay in wait for it, and again he slashed at it.

Yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

opanōk

it.passed

and

kači

with

nēpa

there

opohpoliw͎īto.

it.went.to.disappear

The whirlwind went on, and a bit further on it suddenly disappeared.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

ƛākaƛ

man

okihto

he.said.it

iyōlo,

his.heart

“Āšān

kēma,

yes

already

onikpohpolo.”

I.destroyed.it

Then the man thought, “Now for sure I have destroyed it.”

31.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

tepic̸ī

a.bit

w͎ehkāhpa,

on.far

okihtak

he.saw.him

sente

one

ƛākaƛ

man

walkīs

suddenly.emerged

kāni

where

with

opohpoliw͎īto

it.went.to.disappear

yehkamalakōƛ.

spindlewind

Then, a bit further along, he saw a man suddenly come into view where the whirlwind had gone when it disappeared

Okihtak

he.saw.him

iwīc̸

he.comes

mačkohkotō,

all.broken

mačyesneli,

all.bloodied

noči

all

ƛatemomoc̸ōli

scratched.up

išoyak,

his.face

īc̸onteko,

his.head,

mačmokʷaƛahƛapā.

all.head.split.open

He saw him coming towards him, all broken and bloodied, all scratched up on his face and head, and with open wounds on his head.

Yekʷākino

when.that

asito

he.went.to.arrive

īƛak,

by.him

and

okihto

he.said.it

inō

that

nēka

there

ƛākaƛ

man

aki

who

ƛakʷaƛahƛapānƛi,

head.split.open

kilw͎ia

he.says.to.him

āki

who

ompa

there

kičištaya,

he.was.awaiting.him

“Â¿ƛī

what

tayi

you.do

kʷali

good

ƛākaƛ?”

man

Then the man with the split-open head arrived, and said to the man who was there awaiting him, “What are you doing, my good man?” [normal greeting]

Onāwat

he.replied

yaha,

“Amiƛa,

nothing

here

nihkatika.”

I.am.standing

He answered, “Nothing, just standing here.” [normal response]

35.	Onāwat he.replied oksente, another kilw͎ia, he.tells.him “Naha I seme always nipano I.pass ka with imanē, morning seme always timic̸ƛahpalotikīsa. I.go.off.to.greet.you The other man replied to him, “I pass here every morning, and I always make a point of greeting you.

and

taha

you

already

kipia

it.has

yeyi

three

tōnali

day

tinēčnāmiki

you.meet.me

with

mačēte

machete

and

tinēčmačētihw͎ia.

you.machete.me

And you have now three days running met me with your machete and cut me up.

already

yešpa

thrice

otikčī.

you.did.it

You’ve done it three times now.

Āšā

now

otikčī

you.did.it

with

nāhpa.

four.times

Now you’ve done it a fourth time.

39.	Šikmahta. be.knowing.it. Naha I seme always ka with nikā here nohw͎itia. I.direct.myself Look here. I always come this way.

Onkā

here

nikpia

I.have.it

nohw͎i,

my.road

and

asta

until

inō

that

amo

not

niw͎īc̸

I.come

īpampa

because

naha

nikneki,

I.want.it

ƛākamo

but.rather

naha

just

niwalƛatīƛanƛi.

I.hither.sent

This is where my road lies, and what’s more, I don’t come of my own accord; on the contrary I’m sent here.

and

āšā

now

šikihta,

see.it

may

tikčīwakā

we.should.do.it

oksente.

other

So now, look here, let’s try something else.

Taha

you

tiyās

you.will.go

notekipa,

in.my.work

and

naha

nokāwas

I.will.remain

motekipa.

in.your.work

You will go in my place, and I will stay here in your place.

San

just

kēni

how

with

tiyāya

you.were.going

taha

you

močā,

your.home

ihkiō

like.that

niyes

I.will.be

naha

nōyihki

also

para

for

tikmatīs

you.will.know.it

ƛī

what

tēkoko.”

pain

Just like you always would go home, just so I also will now be there, so that you will know what pain is.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

ƛākaƛ

man

onāwat,

he.replied,

okihto,

he.said.it

“Kʷali.”

good

So the man replied, “All right.”

and

īnō

that

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

onāwat,

replied

“Kʷali,

good

šiw͎iya,

šikmatitī.”

go.know.it

And the whirlwind answered, “All right, then, go, and feel what it’s like.”

46.	Yekʷākinō when.that ƛākaƛ man omēhtē, he.arising.left, ōya he.went kāni where ka with walkīs he.hither.emerged oksente other Then the man got up and went to where the other had come from.

Kʷāk

when

asito

he.arrived.there

kāni

where

onkīs,

he.emerged,

already

ompa

there

omokʷik

he.changed

yehkamalakōƛ

spindlewind

and

already

ōya.

he.went

When he arrived where the other man had come from, immediately he changed into a whirlwind and went away.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

īnō

that

ƛākaƛ

man

ƛī

that

omokā

he.remained

ītekipa

in.his.place

oksente

other

ōya

he.went

with

pan

čānƛi,

home

asito

he.arrived.there

kalihtik.

inside.the.house

So the man who had remained in the other’s place went to the house, and arrived inside it.

just

nima

immediately

sowaƛ

woman

okilw͎i,

she.told.him

“Šomoƛakʷaltīki.”

eat[hon]

The woman immediately said to him, “Eat some food! [honorific]”

Yaha

she

kihtoāya

she.was.saying.it

w͎elis

maybe

yaha

īnāmik.

her.husband

She thought he was her husband.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

okihto

he.said.it

ƛākaƛ,

man

“Amo

not

nikneki

I.want.it

niƛakʷas.”

I.will.eat

Then the man said, “I don’t want to eat.”

and

ihkiō

like.that

okičī

he.did.it

por

for

miak

much

tōnali.

day

And he did that for a good many days.

52.	Kači more kʷāk when ye already walās he.will.come īnō what oksente other ƛī that ōya he.went ītekipa, in.his.place kilw͎ia he.tells.her sowaƛ, woman “Šikihta. see.it But when the other man, who had gone in his stead, was about to come back, he told the woman, “Look.

Naha

amo

not

niƛakʷa

I.eat

īpampa

because

noƛakʷal

my.food

amo

not

yaha

īnī,

this

ƛākamo

rather

nikčīwa

I.do.it

ƛī

what

īpampa

because

nēčwaltīƛanki.

they.sent.me.here

I am not eating because this isn’t my food, but I have to do what those who sent me here sent me for.

and

asta

until

īnō

that

may

timic̸ilw͎i

I.tell.you

amo

not

naha

nimonāmik

I.your.husband

nikaka,

I.am

īpampa

because

monāmik

your.husband

notekipa

in.my.place

ōya.

he.went

What’s more, I have to tell you that I am not your husband, because your husband went in my place.

57.	Yekʷākinō when.that kēmi like ka with pan on ƛahka noon okihtaki they.saw.him yehkamalakōƛ spindlewind ompaw͎īc̸. there.he.comes Then, about noon, they saw the whirlwind coming.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

īnī

this

nānka

here

ƛākaƛ

man

okilw͎i

he.told.her

sowaƛ,

woman

“Ye

already

ompaw͎īc̸

there.he.comes

monāmik.

your.husband

So the man said to the woman, “There comes your husband.”

and

āšā

now

naha

niyās.”

I.will.go

And now I will go.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

asiko

he.arrived.here

yehkamalakōƛ,

spindlewind

and

just

opanōk.

he.passed

Then the whirlwind came, and passed on by.

Mokec̸ato

he.went.to.stop

asta

until

kāni

where

opohpoli

he.disappeared

oksente.

other

It went on and stopped where the other whirlwind had disappeared.

Yekʷākinō

when.that

walkīs

he.emerged.hither

owala

he.came

with

īčā

his.house

and

okihtaki

they.saw.him

mač

all

yehkohkotō,

good.and.broken

mač

all

moyektec̸āc̸ayo,

good.and.scratched

mač

all

mokʷaƛahƛapā,

head.broken.open

mač

all

moyec̸ohc̸opīni

good.and.pierced

īšāyak,

his.face

noči

all

īkʷērpo.

his.body.

Then he came out and came home, and they saw him all beat up, all scratched up, with his head laid open, and piercings on his face and all over his body.

63.	Yekʷākinō when.that okilw͎i he.told.him oksente, other “¿Kēni how ka with otikmat? you.knew.it Then the other man said to him, “How did it feel?

¿Kʷali

good

īnō

that

tekiƛ?”

work

Is that a good job?”

Okihto

he.said.it

yaha,

“Amo.

not

He said, “No,

Īpampa

because

mās

although

īhtik

inside.it

āƛakƛi

ravine

notew͎ehw͎itektiw͎īc̸,

I.came.striking.myself

mās

although

with

w͎ic̸ƛi,

thorn

with

kʷahme,

trees

with

teme,

stones

with

tepēƛ,

mountain

with

sahkanopaliƛ,

prickly.pear

with

noči

all

ƛī

what

onka

there.is

noƛālmohmōƛatiw͎īc̸.

I.came.throwing.myself.on.ground

Because, be it in the ravines I came along beating myself against stuff, be it where there were thorns, with trees, with rocks, with mountains, with prickly pear cacti, with everything that there is I came along hurling myself at it all.

Īpampahō

because.that

āšā

now

laliw͎is

very

nēčkohkōkoa

it.hurts.me

nokʷērpo.”

my.body

Because of that my body hurts me very badly now.”

Yekʷākinō

when.that

okihto

he.said.it

oksente,

other

“Kʷali.

good

Then the other man said, “Good!

Āšā

now

already

otikmatito

you.went.to.know.it

ƛīn

what

tēkoko.

pain

Now you’ve gone and discovered what pain is.

Āšān

now

kēma

yes

ayekmo

no.longer

kēma

when

tikīsas

you.will.emerge

with

mačēte

machete

and

tikmačētihw͎īs

you.will.machete

yehyekaƛ.”

wind

Now for sure you will never again go out with you machete and slash at the wind.”

Yehkamalakōƛ The whirlwind

by Martín N. Méndez Huaxcuatitla

Yehkamalakōƛ
The whirlwind

by
Martín N. Méndez Huaxcuatitla