A RAIN SONG OF THE HĬSTIÄN CHAI´ÄN (KNIFE SOCIETY).
Ho´......hai......hai......ho´
1.
Yu´-wa......ti´tä-mi
There north
ka´-wish-ti-ma
spring
sha´......ka-ka
spruce of the north
ka´-shi......wan......na
all cloud people
ha´-ti
where
2.
Yu´-wa-po-na-mi
There in the west
shwi´-ti-ra-wa-na
pine of the west
ka´-shi......wan......na
all people
ha´-ti
where
3.
Yu´-wa......ko´-wa-mi
There south
ᵗ´se-ya
great
mai´-chi-na
oak of the south
ka´-shi......wan......na
all people
ha´-ti
where
4.
Yu´-wa......ha´......na-mi
There east
shwi´si-ni-ha-na-we
aspen of the east
ka´shi......wan......na
all people
ha-´ti
where
5.
Yu´-wa......ti´-na-mi
There the zenith
marsh´-ti-tä-mo
cedar of the zenith
ka´-shi......wan......na
all people
ha´-ti
where
6.
Yu´-wa......nûr´-ka-mi
There earth
mor´-ri-tä-mo
oak of the earth
ka´-shi......wan......na
all people
ha´-ti
where
7.
Ho´......hai......hai......ho´
The Quer´ränna has the same song.
Free Translation:—
1. Where are all the cloud people of the spring or heart of the spruce of the north? There in the north [the singers pointing to the north].
2. Where are all the cloud people of the pine of the west? There in the west [the singers pointing to the west].
3. Where are all the cloud people of the great oak of the south? There in the south [the singers pointing to the south].
4. Where are all the cloud people of the aspen of the east? There in the east [the singers pointing to the east].
5. Where are all the cloud people of the cedar of the zenith? There in the zenith [the singers pointing upward].
6. Where are all the cloud people of the nadir? There [the singers pointing to the earth].
PORTION OF A RAIN SONG OF THE HĬSTIÄN CHAI´ÄN (KNIFE SOCIETY).
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är[25]
1.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´-ma
ascended
mo´-kaite
cougar
ha´-ro-ᵗse
man
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är
2.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´ma
ascended
ko´-hai-ra
bear
ha´ro-ᵗse
man
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är
3.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´ma
ascended
tu’-pi-na
badger
ha´-ro-ᵗse
man
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är
4.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´ma
ascended
ka´-kan-na
wolf
ha´-ro-ᵗse
man
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är
5.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´ma
ascended
ti-ä´mi
eagle
ha´-ro-ᵗse
man
Ha´ ah oh hai e är ha´ ah oh hai e är
6.
Yu-wa......ti´-i-ta
There north
shi´-pa-po
entrance to lower world
ni´ma
ascended
mai-tu-bo
shrew
ha´-ro-ᵗse
man
An appeal to the animals of the cardinal points to intercede with the cloud people to water the earth. This song is long and elaborate. It begins by stating that their people, the cougar people and the others mentioned, ascended to ha´arts, the earth, through the opening, shi´papo, in the north. It then recounts various incidents in the lives of these beings, with appeals at intervals for their intercession with the cloud people.