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The Killing of the Giant, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

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2. The Killing of the Giant as told by Lawrence Mithlo

2.1.

When Child of the Water was still growing up, Killer of Enemies was already a man.

2.2.

And now Child of the Water had become stronger.

2.3.

Then White Painted Woman spoke thus to her son:

2.4.

In spite of this, Child of the Water spoke thus to his mother:

2.5.

Then, because he spoke in this way, his mother, because of that, wept.

2.6.

Then, [though] his mother did not want him [to go] and was very much afraid on his account, he started off to hunt with Killer of Enemies.

2.7.

The two went out yonder.

2.8.

Just as they had started to eat it, the Giant came up to them.

2.9.

Then Child of the Water spoke thus to Killer of Enemies:

2.10.

Then Killer of Enemies spoke thus to Child of the Water:

2.11.

Then, as the two who had sat down to it began to eat the meat, he took it away from them.

2.12.

Then Child of the Water spoke thus to the Giant:

2.13.

Then the Giant took the meat away from him.

2.14.

Then the Giant spoke thus to Child of the Water:

2.15.

Then Child of the Water picked up his arrows.

2.16.

Then the Giant spoke thus to Child of the Water:

2.17.

Then he gave them to him.

2.18.

Then Child of the Water spoke similarly to the Giant:

2.19.

The Giant pointed out some big pine logs which were lying at his side.

2.20.

Then Child of the Water arose.

2.21.

Then Child of the Water and the Giant quarrelled with each other.

2.22.

Then, finally, the Giant spoke thus to Child of the Water:

2.23.

2.24.

Then the Giant spoke thus to Child of the Water:

2.25.

Then Child of the Water:

2.26.

And then he stood up for him.

2.27.

Then Child of the Water spoke thus to the Giant:

2.28.

The Giant stood up for him.

2.29.

Child of the Water shot at him.

2.30.

Then the Giant spoke thus:

2.31.

Then Child of the Water spoke thus to Killer of Enemies:

2.32.

Then Killer of Enemies was happy.

2.33.

The deer which they had killed they carried back to White Painted Woman.

Linguistic Notes by Harry Hoijer

Ethnological Notes Morris Opler

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Ethnological Notes Morris Opler

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Ethnological Note 1
The arrows of Child of the Water are often described as made of grama-grass.

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Ethnological Note 2
One version has it that Child of the Water swallows a bead of turquoise each time Giant shoots, and the arrows of the Giant are splintered in mid-air. Others say that Child of the Water recited certain prayers which caused the arrows to miss their mark. Still others say that Child of the Water, aided by lightning, blew outward each time and shattered the arrows. [See Mescalero text 8].

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Ethnological Note 3
Very often informants name some locality where the bones of the Giant, now turned to rock can be seen to this day. Lava beds and masses of dark or reddish rock are pointed out as the coagulated blood of the Giant. The Giant is said to have been so tall that his outstretched body covered four mountain ridges.