University of Virginia Library

35. The Woman Who Had Horse Power as told by Duncan Belacho

A woman had power by means of horse

(35.1)[1]
Łíͅ yeegondii 'isdzáń.
A woman had power by means of horse[1]
 
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(35.1) Linguistic Notes

yeegondii 'she had power by means of it'. yee- 'by means of it' plus the 3rd person imp. of go-...[hi- perf.]- ndii 'to hear of, to know, to have power' [act.intr.; go- ?].

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Ethnological Note 1
The Chiricahua believe that an accident which takes place while riding horseback, or some grave misfortune in connection with horses may occur at the will of the horse involved as revenge for some neglect or ill-treatment suffered. In the ceremony to cure the injured, the co-operation of the horse is required. It is usually staked near the place where the ceremony is held and appeals are addressed to it, in song and prayer, to undo the damage that it has caused. The horse is usually led to the patient during the latter part of the rite and if it neighs or demonstrates any interest in the patient at this time, it is considered a fortunate sign and an indication that the animal is relenting and will permit the cure to take place.

A young man was breaking horses.

(35.2)[2]
Nndé 'ándeenaaghá łíͅ yishoͅoͅ.
Tł'óół biisloh.
Łíͅ biłnádiiłgho.
Chííno bikooghaͅí 'ágoko biłnłgho.
Doo'ikóńziͅdago 'ábílaa.
'idiͅiͅgo deesndih.
A young man was breaking horses.
He was caught by a loop of rope.
A horse ran off with him.
He ran with him about as far as to Chino's house.[2]
He was made unconscious.
He was badly hurt.
 
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(35.2) Linguistic Notes

1. yishoͅoͅ 'he was breaking them'. 3rd person imp. with 3rd person obj. of ...[hi- perf.]-ł- zhoͅoͅ 'to cause to be good' [act. tr.].

2. biisloh 'a coil of rope caught him'. perf. pass. of hi-|...[si- perf.]-loh 'to rope, lasso' [act. tr.]. Note the text form has not the -d- classifier.

3. 'ágoko 'as far as' [no analysis].

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Ethnological Note 2
Chino is one of the informant's neighbors. The distance is about one hundred feet.

Then his father asked this woman who was holy by means of horse for help.

(35.3)[3]
'Ákoo bitaań díń 'isdzáń łíͅyeedighiͅń chidoos'iͅiͅ.
'Ákoo díń 'isdzáńń gok'egotaał díͅíͅ' yiiskáͅ.
Then his father asked this woman who was holy by means of horse for help.
Then this woman sang for him for four days.
 
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(35.3) Linguistic Notes

gok'egotaał 'she sang for him'. gok'e- 'for him' [?] plus the 3rd person imp. of go-...[hi- perf.]-taał 'to sing a ceremony' [act. intr.].

Then this woman:

(35.4)
'Ákoo 'ádíń 'isdzáńń:
"Kooghaní naadaa'diyahndił. 'Ákoo daagashó."

Then this woman:
"Start taking down the wickiup[3]. And sweep it."

 
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Ethnological Note 3
That is, they removed the outer covering, leaving the bare poles.

Then this one who was sick lay there all alone.

(35.5)
'Ákoo 'ádíń kaasitíͅń dá'áná 'ákaa sitíͅ.
'Ákoo 'áń 'isdzáń dighiͅń 'ágoołndí:
"Łíní k'e'ah'aa."

Then this one who was sick lay there all alone.
Then this woman who was holy spoke thus:
"Turn the horse loose."

Then they turned the horse loose.

(35.6)[6]
'Ákoo łíní k'e'jóó'a.
'Ákoo łíní goch'iͅiͅhiiłtee.
'Ákoo gołndaa.
Gokáshíͅ yiłndaa.
Bíchíͅí yeenágoyałtééł.
Gołndaa.
Then they turned the horse loose.
Then the horse went toward [the sick man].
And he licked him.
He licked him on top.
He turned him over with his nose.
He licked him [on the other side].
 
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(35.6) Linguistic Notes

yeenágoyałtééł 'he turned him over with it'. yee- 'by means of it' plus the 3rd person prog. with 3a object of -hi- ...[si- perf.]-ł-tee 'to turn an animate being over' [act. tr.].

Then the horse who was holy walked around him.

(35.7)[7]
'Ákoo Łíní dighiͅń gonáya.
'Ákoo ha'ii'áhé 'áshíͅ goch'iͅiͅnńyá.
'Áshíͅ nandi'áshíͅ, 'áshíͅ shá'ii'aashíͅ, goch'iͅiͅnńyá.
'Áshíͅ, náhakosí biyaashíͅ goch'iͅiͅnńyá.
'Ákoo 'ándee goch'áͅ'oołgho.
Then the horse who was holy walked around him.
Then he faced him from the east.
And then from the south, and then from the west, he faced him.
And then he faced him from the north.
Then, now he went away from him.
 
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(35.7) Linguistic Notes

goch'iͅiͅnńyá 'he faced him'. Literally; 'he stopped moving before [or toward] him'.

Then [the man] arose, having been cured by this woman.

(35.8)[8]
'Ákoo náshdiidzá, díń 'isdzáńń bik'ehgo.
Then [the man] arose, having been cured by this woman.
 
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(35.8) Linguistic Notes

díń 'isdzáńń bik'ehgo 'having been cured by this woman'. Literally: 'this woman, being by reason of her'.

Linguistic Notes by Harry Hoijer

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(35.1) Linguistic Notes

yeegondii 'she had power by means of it'. yee- 'by means of it' plus the 3rd person imp. of go-...[hi- perf.]- ndii 'to hear of, to know, to have power' [act.intr.; go- ?].

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(35.2) Linguistic Notes

1. yishoͅoͅ 'he was breaking them'. 3rd person imp. with 3rd person obj. of ...[hi- perf.]-ł- zhoͅoͅ 'to cause to be good' [act. tr.].

2. biisloh 'a coil of rope caught him'. perf. pass. of hi-|...[si- perf.]-loh 'to rope, lasso' [act. tr.]. Note the text form has not the -d- classifier.

3. 'ágoko 'as far as' [no analysis].

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(35.3) Linguistic Notes

gok'egotaał 'she sang for him'. gok'e- 'for him' [?] plus the 3rd person imp. of go-...[hi- perf.]-taał 'to sing a ceremony' [act. intr.].

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(35.6) Linguistic Notes

yeenágoyałtééł 'he turned him over with it'. yee- 'by means of it' plus the 3rd person prog. with 3a object of -hi- ...[si- perf.]-ł-tee 'to turn an animate being over' [act. tr.].

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(35.7) Linguistic Notes

goch'iͅiͅnńyá 'he faced him'. Literally; 'he stopped moving before [or toward] him'.

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(35.8) Linguistic Notes

díń 'isdzáńń bik'ehgo 'having been cured by this woman'. Literally: 'this woman, being by reason of her'.