The Mescaleros' Prophecy, Mescalero Apache Text excerpted from Chiricahua Apache Texts, with Ethnological Notes |
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| 9.1. |
| 9.2. |
Then there were only Indians scattered over the country.
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| 9.3. |
| 9.4. |
| 9.5. |
| 9.6. |
| 9.7. |
 | The Mescaleros' Prophecy, Mescalero Apache Text |  |
Then there were only Indians scattered over the country.
'Áshíͅ dándéná ndiibeedahgoos'áͅná'a.
'Iͅiͅshíͅ hanyaago sháhanát'áyádó shá'ii'áyádó soͅoͅsbinibitł'áhádó 'áíí ndé bindiidení.
'Áíí ha'yáhee 'idaaskagó?
K'adi Mashgaléneí góͅlaaí dábéghahégo Mashgaléne ná'idzii.
'Ákoo 'indááńne ndé bindiidení dábeehadeesbiͅ.
From here down to the east an south and north was then Indian country.
Where have they gone?
Now there remains only a handful of Mescalero.
And the white men have filled up that which was the land of the Indians.
1. ndiibeedahgoos'áͅná'a 'they were scattered over the country'. ndii 'land country'; bee- 'with it'; dah- 'on, upon'; goos'áͅ 'a place lies'. Literally 'the country lay with them upon it'.
2. soͅoͅsbinibitł'áhádó 'the north also'. soͅoͅsbini or soͅoͅsbiͅ 'Big Dipper'; bitł'áhá, bitł'áh 'under it' plus -yá pp.; -dó 'also'.
3. bindiidení 'that which was then their country'. -ndiide, poss. form of ndii 'country'; -n past tense enclitic.
4. The fourth line is literally as follows: "Now / Mescalero people / that which is their land / being just to its measure / Mescalero people / there remains."
5. dábeehadeesbiͅ 'they have filled it up'. dá- emphatic; bee- 'with it'; plus the 3rd person perf. of ha-di-...[si- perf.]-biͅ 'to become full' [act. intr.]. Literally 'it has become absolutely full with [or, of] them.'
| The Mescaleros' Prophecy, Mescalero Apache Text | |