The Pima Indians/Linguistics/Songs/Festal songs

by Frank Russell

LINGUISTICS

Songs

FESTAL SONGS

Ո-ՈꞱa Vâpâĭ NyՈĭ, Middle Run Song

[By Ki-iwa, Bitten]

I

Makai
Magician kik(i)
houses nyuitcota.
singing to *
Makai
Magician kik(i)
house nyuitcota
singing to itany
this tânulikany
my shining rsursuȷ
my straight tcotcoa
stand kony
I am
there nyui
singing tco.
to. (Repeat.
Then
repeat
twice
from *)

II

Tcutcupavfi
Prostitute yohovfi
women wupuñgu
first vâĭtimna;
came running; *
tcutcupavfi
prostitute yohovfi
women wupuñgu
first vâĭfimûna,
came running, tcutcutâñgĭ
blue yiâsiñga
flowers yokatc.
holding. Vâĭfimûna
Came running, siyaliñgu
east tatañgĭo
direction vavanyiñañgi
filing tconyopitci
slow nyunyâkimu.
talking. (Repeat
stanza;
then
repeat
twice
from *)

(At the beginning of this stanza the appointed singers appear in two files, men and women apart)

III

Vanyĭñgi
I am nyonyuȷa
crooked himuhuna;
going; *
vanyĭñgi
I am nyonyuȷa
crooked himuhuna
going honunyñgu.
west. Ʌuhuʌuiva
Toward himukaĭ
going to kikiyânû
rainbows kahatc
with swing mañguvak
the arms gamonya
there I himuhuna.
going. (Repeat
same
as
above)

Translation

Singing to the gods in supplication;
 Singing to the gods in supplication,
Thus my magic power is uplifted.
 My power is uplifted as I sing.

Prostitutes hither running come;
 Prostitutes hither running come,
Holding blue flowers as they run.
 Talking in whispers as they file along.

Along the crooked trail I'm going,
 Along the crooked trail going west.
To the land of rainbows I'm going,
 Swinging my arms as I journey on.

IV

Tânânâma
Shining sialĭk
morning varsatca
up there imuna;
come; *
tânânâma
shining sialĭk
morning varsatca
up there imukuk
come nyaihimuna
me reaching yoipikot.
pleiades. Aimuna
Come marsata
moon imuna
come tarsaiʌa
sun tcursatcimu
appear sisiʌaʇ
rises yovaya
high puihimuna.
lifting. (Repeat
stanza;
then
repeat
twice
from *)

V

Huvatcondu
Bluebird vâĭtimuna
came running *
momoi
many yohofi;
women; vâĭfimuna
came running tcuvañgi
clouds mâmâtâk;
heads carrying; vâĭfimuna
came running wusat
all mâmunama
there top of tcuʌahañgi
heads clouds yongunyi
shaking nak
it vat
that vâñgu
shaking nyihina-a.
us. (Repeat
as
above)

VI

Aȷiwus
Kind of kâmañgi
gray tâkunad
spider makai
magician *
tarsai;
sun wopondak
tie marsat
moon yalihimuna
roll hamukai
there kukiwoak
stand yopam
turn hyaimûkam.
go. Ոnyuina
See tcunâñgi
green tciâĭkond
cane katc
with yovaya
raising puihimuna-a.
higher (Repeat
as
above)

Translation

The bright dawn appears in the heavens;
 The bright dawn appears in the heavens,
And the paling pleiades grow dim.
 The moon is lost in the rising sun.

With the women Bluebird came running;
 With the women Bluebird came running;
All came carrying clouds on their heads,
 And these were seen shaking as they danced.

See there the Gray Spider magician;
 See there the Gray Spider magician
Who ties the Sun while the Moon rolls on.
 Turn back, the green staff raising higher.

TcՈtcՈka NyՈĭ, Name Song

[By Virsak Vaĭ-ĭ, Hawk Flying]

There are seventy stanzas in this song. Two names are called in each, a name being inserted in place of the words here in brackets. The song may begin with any stanza, but the name of the place where the dance is held must be inserted as the first name: thus, in the stanza below, the name of the village would be substituted for "Ma-akahi."

I

Halakoit
(?) namanu
top vapaka
reeds worsanyuk
arose mâhâĭnama
placing tcuʌuli.
increase in
height (Repeat)

Hitaʌu
This (Ma-akahi)
[] moa-akatc
kills with yâhakaha
painted hukatcâĭ
with it pawusika
all over kopatc
hair maitcu-u.
knock down.

Hitavu
This Hivayomi
[] pukatc
kills with yâhakaha
painted hukatcâĭ
with it pawusika
all over katâtc
bow maitcu-u.
knock down. (Repeat)

II

Halakoĭt,
(?) ma-akahi
magician wuma
with worsahi;
came up; halakoit
(?) (ma-akahi)
magician wuma
with worsamu.
came up.

Hukaitcuʌu
That long Ma-akahi
[] kopatc
hair maitcu-u;
knock down; hukaitcuʌu
that long Hivayomi
[] katâtc
bow maitcu-u.
knock down.

Translation

The ceremonial reeds are lifted;
 The ceremonial reeds are lifted.
Ma-akahi has killed an Apache,
 And we meet together here in war paint
To collect hair trophies with their power.
 Hivayomi has taken a captive,
And the magic of his bow dies with him.

Ma-akahi has come to our festa;
 Ma-akahi has come to our festa.
Ma-akahi ties the enemy's hair;
 Hivayomi kills the enemy's bow.

III

Siyal
East wutcâka
under huma-akahi
magician yâhandak
colored maitcu-u.
knock down.

Honony
West wutcâka
under humaakahi
magician va-apaku
reed yâhandak
colored maitcu-u.
knock down.

Ma-akahi
[] sapâʌuhu
correct nyâ-âku
talk ko-opatc
hair maitcu-u;
knock down; Hivayomi
[] sapâʌuhu
correct tcohi
do ka-atâtc
bow maitcu-u.
knock down.

IV

Imovali
Near to kâvâhaikĭ,
rumbling, kâvâhaikĭ,
rumbling, kaivaya,
passing, mokovaya
waving tamâhi,
top go, (Repeat)
tamâmhu.
top go.

Hitavu
This Ma-akahi
[] pahañgu
eagle ʌupuhâva
like kavandaimu
shield na-aka
grasp worsahi;
arose; hitava
this Hivayomi
[] virsañga
hawk vupuhava
like rsâvitcuki
club muka
grasping worsamu.
arose.

V

Kamonya
There imuka
going nyuwunda
land nyutahi
looking sikuñga
good kop
hair maitcu-u.
knock down.

Komonyi
There munduku
run navañga
mountain nyuitamhu
seeing run sikuñgu,
good, katâ
bow maitcu-u.
knock down.

Ma-akahi
[] wumatc
with nyuitahi
looking sikuñga
good kop
hair maitcu-u;
knock down; Hivayomi
[] wumatc
with nyuitahi
seeing sikuñgu
good katâ
bow maitcu-u.
knock down.

Translation

On this side the East Land the magician
 The sacred colored object has knocked down.
On this side the West Land the magician
 The sacred colored reed has overthrown.
Ma-akahi wisely talks, tying hair;
 Hivayomi wisely acts, killing bow.

The scout hears with trembling the sounds of night;
 The scout hears with trembling the sounds of night.
Ma-akahi eagle-like grasps his shield;
 Hivayomi hawk-like comes with his club.

Well-seeming is the land to the warrior
 As he goes to collect an enemy's hair;
And its mountains, as he kills the bow.
 Ma-akahi sees clearly as he ties the hair;
Hivayomi sees clearly as he kills the bow.

VI

Kakâtak
Crooked tamai
top pahañgu
eagle naiwo-orsa.
arose. Yakimuli
river tamai
top virsangû
hawk naiwo-orsa.
arose.

Hitavu
This Ma-akahi
[] pahañgu
eagle wumu
with nyâhâkukaʌu
talk handa
shield tañgu
grasp kaworsahi.
arise and go.

Hitavu
This Hivayomi
[] virsañga
hawk wumu
with nyâhâka
talk rsânyi-ikcuki
club puhuka
grasp arise worsamu.
and run.

VII

Tcunâkima
Blue kopanya
hair ikitcu
cut iya
here vawoʌapa.
brought.

Sivakimu
Full-leaved katânyi
bow muhuka
catch iya
here vawovapa.
brought.

Ma-akahi
[] moaka
kill hi-iya
here vu-unâñgiñga
dizzy vovapa;
brought; Hivayomi
[] mipuhi
catch hi-iya
here vunavamoñgi
drunk vovapa.
brought.

VIII

Gamonya
There I imuna;
going; gamonya
there I imuna;
going; gamonya
there I imuhuna.
go.

Gamonyi
There I mununa;
run; gamonyi
there I mununa;
run; gamonyi
there I munuhuna.
run.

Itavu
This Ma-akahi
[] paha
eagle yonanda
arrow feathers hak
that tânlimuna;
shining; hitava
this Hivayoma
[] virsaka
hawk yomanda
arrow feathers hak
that nyunyuvâĭku.
air waves.

Translation

From the Superstition mountain rose the Eagle;
 From the sluggish-moving Gila rose the Hawk.
Ma-akahi talked with the Eagle, then
 Arose, grasped his shield, and went his way.
Hivayomi talked with the Hawk and then
 Arose, grasped his club, and journeyed forth.

With hair trophies our courage is renewed.
 Many of the enemy's bows we've captured.
Ma-akahi bravely endures fasting;
 Hivayomi bravely endures all thirst.

There I am going; there I am going.
 There I am running; there I am running.
Ma-akahi's eagle-feathered arrows!
 Hivayomi's strong hawk-feathered arrows!

IX

Haliʌuta
Brother sihuñi
older na-anakâ
incoherent kainamu
sounds nyâkna
talk yoviva
woman sipuhimo
take kaiyavu
here nyâkna
talk hatcyahami.
accomplish.

Haliʌuta
Brother sihuñi
older na-anakâ
incoherent kainama
sounds nyuhuna
sing yaliva
child sipuhimo
take kaiyava
here nyuhuna
sing hatcyahami.
accomplish.

Itavu
This Ma-akahi
[] na-anakâ
incoherent kainamu
sounds nyâkna
talk yoviva
woman sipuhimo
take kaiyavu
here nyâkna
talk hatcyahami.
accomplish.

Itavu
This Hivayomi
[] na-anakâ
incoherent kainama
sounds nyuhuna
sing yaliva
child sipuhimo
take kaiyava
here nyuhuna
sing hatcyahami.
accomplish.

X

Hi-i-i
(?) yoliva
(?) hi-iyoliva
(?) ya
(?) viyoli-iva
(?) hi;
go; (Repeat)
mhu.
run.

Hihitaʌu
This Ma-akahi
[] ipoitatc
hard tcutânyu
beating hi-i-iyoliva
(?) yaviyoli-ivahi.
(?)

Hihitava
This Hivayomi
[] huʇa
mind tatc
(?) kâvânyu
rattling hi-i-iyoliva
(?) yaviyoli-ivamhu.
(?)

XI

Panumand
Coyote cub katcokatc
there it is vihili
(?) hana
on vili
(?) vawu-upâ
like vatcohiña.
appearance. (Repeat)

Hukaitcufu
That long Ma-akahi
[] pahaka
eagle wu-upâ
like vatcohiña;
appearance; hukai
that tcufu
long Hivayomi
[] virsaka
hawk wu-upâ
like vatcohiña.
appearance.

Translation

Elder Brother mumbling caught the woman;
 Elder Brother crooning caught the child.
Ma-ahaki mumbling takes the woman;
 Hivayomi crooning takes the child.

Hi-i-i yoliva! Hi yoliva!
 Hi-i-i ya viyoli-iva mhu!
Ma-ahaki's heart trembles on the war path;
 Hivayomi's soul shivers with its fear.

There's the Coyote cub, Coyote cub!
 There's the Coyote cub, Coyote cub!
Ma-ahaki resembles the Eagle;
Hivayomi resembles the Hawk.

XII

Yavahimu yavahimu yavahi. (Repeat)
Yavahimu yavahi.
Yavahimu yavahimu yavamhu. (Repeat)
Yavahimu yavamhu.

Nañu
I guess suku
that Ma-akai
[] taiwonyuk
arose kavandai
running paimitco
shielf yavahimu
(?) yavahimu
(?) yavahimu
(?) yavahi,
(?) nañu
I guess suka
that Hivayomi
[] taiwonyuk
arose rsânyitcuki
club mulitco,
make run, yavahimu
(?) yavamhu.
(?)

Translation

Yavahimu yavahimu yavahi!
 Yavahimu yavahimu yavahi!
Ma-akahi rose and ran with his shield;
 Hivayomi rose and ran with his club.