Old Apache Customs, Chiricahua Apache Text :: :: University of Virginia Library

Old Apache Customs, Chiricahua Apache Text

excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes

39. Old Apache Customs as told by Lawrence Mithlo

39.1.

Long ago, at a time long before there were many white men,

39.2.

Our grandfathers lived in the dirt, they say.

39.3.

At that time, there were only arrows.

39.4.

The slingshot was also a help, they say

39.5.

Now these were the only weapons of the Indians, they say.

39.6.

The Indians lived a hard life, they say.

39.7.

These were the only knives the Indians had, they say.

39.8.

Long ago, even fire was lacking, they say.

39.9.

Coffee was lacking, they say.

39.10.

At that time long ago, they lived poorly.

39.11.

"My child, one does not curse.

39.12.

Even when the boys [and] girls were twenty five and over,

Linguistic Notes by Harry Hoijer

Ethnological Notes Morris Opler

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

At that time long ago, they lived poorly.

(39.10)[10]
'Ádáͅ 'iłk'idáͅ, joogobago daajindáná'a.
Ndah nDéí 'isdzáͅáͅyóí biche'shkéne gózhóͅgo yaahihndíná'a.

Biche'shkéneí ndédaahaleeł ndah, keekéͅyóí 'isdzáńdaahaleeł ndah, díík'eh bik'ehnaakaná'a.

At that time long ago, they lived poorly.
But Apache women taught their children well, they say.
Even when their children became men, even when the young girls became women, all of them were obedient, they say.

[_]

(39.10) Linguistic Notes

bik'ehnaakaná'a 'they were obedient'. bik'eh 'in accordance with it, by reason of it' plus naaka 'several move about, live' [3rd person cont. imp. of -ká 'several move' with prefix naa-| 'about'].