Directions and Formula for the Brush Dance
told by Wife of McCann
December, 1901
Hoopa Valley, California
Transcribed by Pliny Earle Goddard
Source: Hupa Texts (UCPAAE vol. 1, no. 2), p. 241
- xołiqay
- Dawn
- tehsya:-te:
- is about to come
- mił
- then
- 'ina:'iwhdiqe'
- I always get up.
I always get up at dawn.
- yinuq
- southern
- yo'n
- corner
- xołit
- a noise,
- 'e'iwhchwe'*
- I make
- yide'
- northern
- yo'n
- corner
- q'ina'
- too,
- yitsin'
- western
- yo'n
- corner
- q'ina'
- too.
I go to the south corner of the house and rap and call, then I do the same at the north corner, and last at the west corner.
*The noise made consists of one or several knocks on the wall with the hand and the call "ha ha ha." This is to notify the people of Tcindintax, the world below, that they must give back the spirit of the sick. To make sure the omission was not accidental, the attention of the narrator was called to the fact that she had mentioned only three of the world-quarters. She volunteered no information as to why the fourth had been omitted. The world of the dead is underground toward the west. It is likely the east is not associated with the dead. The Hupa are never slavish adherers to the world-quarters.
- hay-'ung'
- Then
- k'iniwh xo'iwhchwe:
- I notify him,
- hay
- the
- k'iwinya'n-ya:n
- persons
- k'iwa:na:'iłtiwh
- he who gives back.
I do this to notify the people of the under-world that they must give back the soul of the sick person who is to be treated.
- mine:jixomił
- after a time
- k'iwinya'n-ya:n
- child
- xonist'e'
- her body
- me'
- in
- tehłchwe:n
- grew.
After a time the granddaughter became pregnant.
- he:
- "Xei!
- k'iwinya'n-ya:n
- Indians
- na:na:nde'tł'-te:
- are going to become
- sile'n
- it seems.
"Hei," exclaimed the grandmother, "it looks as if the Indians were about to appear," she said.
- xowung
- from her
- diwinch'a:t
- it got sick
- hay
- that
- mije'e:din
- baby.
The baby contracted some sort of sickness from its mother before its birth.
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- she thought,
- daydi-q' 'unt'e:
- "What kind
- k'iya:wh 'ung
- is it
- mił
- with
- me:widilna'-te:
- we shall steam it
- hay-yo:w
- that
- mije'e:din
- baby?"
"What shall we steam the baby with," thought the grandmother.
- 'a:xołch'ide:ne'
- she told her,
- ch'e:ningya:-ne'
- "You must go out."
"You must go out and try to find the medicine," she told the granddaughter.
- ch'e'ningyay
- she went out.
- ch'ite:ng'e'n
- She looked
- ninis'a:n
- the world
- me:q'
- over.
She went out and looked over the world.
- sa:k'iding 'ungya'
- she was surprised to see
- diywho'owh
- something
- dahk'iwingxa'-e:y
- stood
- digyung
- here
- nohoł
- from us
- yinuqi-yiduq
- southeast.
She was surprised to see something standing toward the southeast.
- hijit
- Then
- ch'iltsa:n-e:
- she saw
- hay
- that
- tł'oh
- plant.
- hay
- that
- mich'ing'
- toward
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
- hayah-mił
- And
- xa'wilay
- she dug it out
- hay-yo:w
- that
- xołchwił-tah-t'un'nahsma:ts'
- wild ginger.
Then she saw it was the herb, and going to it she dug it out. It was wild ginger.
- hayahujit-'ung'
- And then
- xayts'a'
- a xaitsa
- me'
- in
- no'nilay
- she put it.
- hijit
- Then
- me:w
- under
- no'ningxa:n
- she put it
- hay-yo:w
- that
- mije'e:din
- baby.
Placing it in a basket she put it under the baby and steamed it with it.
- wilwe:tł'-ding
- It was evening.
It was then evening.
- xołiqay
- dawn
- tehsyay
- came
- mił
- then
- 'ungya'
- she perceived
- xoq'ehjiwa'
- her armpit
- me:q'
- in
- na:k'isle'-ts'eh
- was feeling,
- hay
- that
- mije'e:din
- baby.
At dawn she noticed the baby was feeling around in her armpit.
- xołiqay
- Dawn
- tehsyay
- it came
- mił
- then
- sa:k'iding 'ungya'
- she saw with surprise
- jeh-k'iya:ts'e'
- pitch sticks.
When it was light she was surprised to see pitch sticks lying there.
- haya:ł
- And
- me'diwił'a'
- she put the the ends in the fire.
- hayahujit-'ung'
- And then
- miq'it-xw
- over it
- xong'
- fire
- ch'ite:te:we:n
- she waved.
Having lighted them in the fire she waved them over the baby.
- hayahujit-'ung'
- And when
- xo'ch
- well
- dahxodiwehs'e'n
- one could see
- mił
- then
- do: ch'o:wila'n
- she quit.
When it was broad daylight she stopped.
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- she thought
- he:
- "Xei!
- k'iwinya'n-ya:n
- Indians
- na:nde:tł'
- are going to become.
"Hei," she thought, "Indians are soon to come.
- kya'ay
- It may be
- mije'e:din
- babies
- xowung
- from them
- diwinch'ah-te:
- will get sick.
It may be their babies will take sick from them.
- daydi-gya'awh
- What is it
- mił
- with
- nohnist'e'
- our body
- xokyung me:'o:ya'
- we can make them think about?"
With what shall we make them think about us?"
- he:yung
- "Yes,"
- ch'ondehsne'
- she thought,
- mich'ing'ah
- "before (the dance)
- ła'
- one
- na:ywiłxahł-te:
- night will pass.
"Oh, yes," she thought, "one night will intervene between the dances.
- k'iye:
- again
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- she thought,
- do:-xoling
- "Not
- ła'ay
- only one
- mitł'owe'
- medicine
- na:diliw
- will be."
There will not be one medicine only," she thought.
- k'iye:
- again
- ch'e'ningyay
- she went out.
- xa:ynite:
- She looked for it.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- hay
- she
- ch'e'ningyay
- went out.
She went out again to look for it.
- łah
- Once
- nay'wid'ing'il
- she looked
- digyung
- here
- yiduq
- eastern
- to:-no:ng'a:-ding
- water's edge.
- ch'ite:ng'ing'-hit
- When she looked
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- ninis'a:n
- mountain
- łiqay*
- white
- na:diwing'a'-e:
- standing up.
As she looked toward the east she saw Mount Shasta standing there.
*Mount Shasta.
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
- hayah
- There
- ch'iningya:-hit
- when she came
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- mikin'-ding
- at its base
- na:lah
- floating
- xunis-ch'il'e:n
- a cup.
She started toward it and when she came near she saw a basket-cup floating at its base.
- -me'-ch'ing'
- in it
- ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked.
- hayah-mił
- And
- sa:k'iding
- she saw
- diywhe'eh
- nothing
- do: me'-sa'ung
- was in it.
She looked into the cup but saw nothing in it.
- tł'oh
- A plant
- -heh
- not even
- me' situng
- was in it
- hay
- that
- mije'e:din
- the baby
- misa'wingxun-te:
- in his mouth she will put.
There was not even a leaf which she could put into the baby's mouth.
- de:-xw
- this way
- na'te:ng'ing'-hit
- when she looked
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- do:-xole:n-e:
- it was gone
- hay
- that
- na:lah-ne'en
- floating used to be.
She turned her eyes away and when she looked again the cup was gone.
- de:-xw
- this way
- yitsin'
- west
- na'te:ng'ing'-hit
- when she looked
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- k'it'o:q'it*
- Kittookut
- ye:
- instead
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- dahna:dla:l-e:
- it floating.
She saw it floating by Kitōkut.
*"Paddle mountain," opposite Orleans.
- k'iye:
- again
- hay
- it
- -me'-ch'ing'
- into
- ch'ite:ng'ing'-hit
- when she looked
- k'iye:
- again
- diywhe'eh
- nothing
- do: me'-sa'ung
- was in it.
She looked into it but there was nothing there.
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- she thought,
- duxwe:t-hit-gya'awh 'ung'
- "I wonder why
- do:-'iwhtsa:n
- I didn't find it,
- hay
- that
- misa:yxun-te:
- I will put in its mouth."
"I wonder why I can't find the medicine which I am to put into the baby's mouth?" she thought.
- 'ungya'
- She saw
- k'ila:gyah-ding
- Kiilaigyading
- yiduq
- above
- ye:
- instead
- na:la:t-e:
- was floating.
She saw it floating by Kilaigyading.
- de:di-de:
- The explanation was
- xowina:
- past her
- ch'e'ixis
- it flew,
- hay
- that
- xunis-ch'il'e:n
- cup.
It had floated by her.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- k'iye:
- again
- hayah
- there
- ch'iningya:-hit
- when she arrived
- me'-ch'ite:ng'e'n
- into it she looked.
When she came where it was, she looked into it again.
- de:-xw
- this way
- na'te:ng'ing'-hit
- when she looked
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- xodnun-ding
- Bluff creek
- yiduq
- above
- ye:
- instead
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- na:la:t-e:
- it was floating.
She looked away again and it was gone. She found it floating by Bluff creek.
- mich'ing'
- to it
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
- -me'-ch'ing'
- In it
- ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked.
She went to it and looked into it.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- de:-xw
- this way
- na'te:ng'e'n
- she looked.
- sa:k'iding
- She saw
- do:-xole:n-e:
- it was gone
- k'iye:
- again.
- ye:w
- Way
- łe:na:lding
- Weitchpec
- yiduq
- above
- ye:
- instead
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- dahwila:l-e:
- it was floating.
- na:la:t-e:
- It was floating
- misjeh
- fog
- mitah-ding
- in.
Again it disappeared and reappeared in a fog above Weitchpec.
- da:ydi-ding-a:ng'
- "Where
- 'iwhtsun-te:
- am I going to find
- hay
- that
- tł'oh
- medicine?"
- ch'ondehsne'
- she thought.
"Where am I to find that medicine?" she thought.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- de:-xw
- this way
- na'te:ng'ing'-hit
- when she looked
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- łe:na:lding
- Weitchpec
- miyeh
- under
- ye:
- instead
- na:na:la:t-e:
- it was floating.
- łe:na:lding
- Weitchpec
- miyeh
- under
- na:mis-xw
- in a circle
- na:na:la:t-e:
- it was floating.
When she looked away again it was floating around below Weitchpec.
- xoh
- in vain
- me'-ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked in.
- k'iye:
- Again
- diywhe'eh
- nothing
- do: me'-sa'a:n
- was in it.
- do:-xoling
- There was not
- tł'oh
- medicine.
She looked into it but there was no medicine in it.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- ła'
- once again
- 'a:na:diyaw
- it did that.
- ła'ay-xw
- Really
- ta:ne:jit
- in the middle of the river
- yide'
- down
- tehsla:t-e:
- it floated.
Again she looked away and the cup floated down the middle of the river.
- ch'ixolchwe:-ding
- Tcexooltcweding
- yiduq-e:n'-ch'ing'
- above,
- hay
- where
- tse:
- rock
- na:da'ay
- stands in the river
- yide'-ch'in'-ch'ing'
- lower side
- ye:
- instead
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- na:la:t-e:
- it floated.
She saw it a little above Tcexooltcweding below the rock that stands in the water.
- k'iye:
- again
- xoh
- in vain
- -me'-ch'ing'
- into it
- ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked.
Again she looked into it in vain.
- k'iye:
- Again
- ta:ne:jit
- in the middle of the water
- yide'
- down
- tehsla:t-e:
- it floated.
- miq'eh
- after it
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
It went down the middle of the river and she followed it.
- sa:k'iding 'ungya'
- She saw with surprise
- chwich na:ning'a:-ding
- wood across place*
- yide'-ch'in'-ch'ing'
- on the lower side
- ye:
- instead
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- na:lah
- it was floating.
- mich'ing'
- to it
- ch'e'ningyay
- she came
- mił
- then
- dahwehsla:l
- it stayed still.
Below Cappel it stopped until she came up and looked into it.
*Cappel, the place of the fish-dam.
- xo'ch
- Right
- ta:ne:jit
- in the middle
- yide'
- down
- tehsla:t-e:
- it floated.
It floated right down the middle of the river.
- k'iye:
- Again
- sa:k'iding
- with surprise
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- xohxo-ji-ding
- Pecwan creek
- miyeh
- under
- ye:
- instead
- na:la:t-e:
- it floated.
She was surprised to find it at Pecwan creek.
- hayah
- there
- k'iye:
- again
- mich'ing'
- to it
- ch'e'ningyay
- she came.
- -me'-ch'ing'
- Into it
- ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked.
She came up and looked into it.
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- she thought,
- da:ydi-ding-a:ng'
- "Where
- 'iwhtsun-te:
- am I going to find
- hay
- that
- tł'oh
- medicine."
"Where am I going to find that medicine?" she thought.
- ła'ay-xw
- Really
- ta:ne:jit
- in the middle
- yide'
- down
- tehsla:t-e:
- it floated.
It floated right down the middle of the river.
- miq'eh-na:diwul-ding
- The mouth of the Klamath
- ch'e'ningya:-hit
- when she came out
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- yima:ni-yide'
- across to the north
- na:la:t-e:
- it was floating.
When she came to the mouth of the Klamath river she saw it floating across to the north.
- de:-xw
- This way
- xoning'
- her face
- no:na:di'ung-hit
- when she turned
- xona:'
- her eyes
- q'ito'
- their water
- na:dite:me:tł'
- fell.
When she turned her head slowly about, the tears fell.
- 'a:ch'ondehsne'
- She thought,
- xwe:di-q' kya'awh
- "How I wonder
- 'iwhtsun-te:
- can I find
- hay
- that
- tł'oh
- medicine!"
"How can I find that medicine?" she thought.
- hay-'ung'
- Then
- xa'nite:
- she looked for it.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- xowung
- to her
- no:nundila:t
- it floated back.
When she looked for it again it floated back.
- hayahujit
- And then
- to:-no:k'itiwh-ding
- along the shore
- yinuq
- south
- na'tehsdiyay
- she went.
Then she went along the shore toward the south.
- hay
- That
- na:tehsdila:t
- floated back.
- na'ne:'ił'e'n
- She looked at
- hay
- that
- miduq
- beside
- na[']te'ida:wh
- she kept walking.
The cup came back and floated along beside her.
- yinuq no:ta:tł'a:
- South - Redwood Creek
- ch'e'ningyay
- she came down to the beach.
South of Redwood Creek she came down to the beach.
- hayahujit-'ung'
- And then
- k'iye:
- again
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
- hay
- That
- na:te:dila:t
- floated up
- miq'eh
- after her.
She went along again and the cup floated after her.
- to:-niwho:n-ding
- At fresh water lagoon
- ch'e'ningya:-hit
- when she came out
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- yima:n-yitsin'
- across to the west
- ye:
- instead
- na:la:t-e:
- it floated.
At Fresh-water Lagoon she again came down to the beach.
- ła'ay-xw
- really
- xoch'ing'
- to her
- na:diwinchwit
- it was shot
- sile'n
- it seemed.
- xowung
- To her
- no:nundila:t
- it got back.
She saw the cup was floating across the ocean toward the west, but it came back to her as if it had been shot from a bow.
- haya:ł
- And
- xoh
- in vain
- me'-ch'ite:ng'e'n
- she looked in.
- hayah-mił
- And
- de:-xw
- this way
- na'te:ng'e'n
- she looked.
She looked into it. There was nothing in it.
- sa:k'iding 'ungya'
- She was surprised to see
- ye:w
- way
- yiduq
- east
- xontah
- a house
- sa'ung
- was standing.
She was surprised to see a house standing in the distance toward the east.
- ch'itehsyay
- she went.
- yehch'iwingya:-hit
- When she went in
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- do:k'iwile:
- an old woman
- ya:ng'a:
- sitting.
She went to the house and went in. She saw an old woman sitting there.
- 'a:xoł-ch'ide:ne'
- she told her,
- do: 'iłtsun-te: xolung
- "You can't find it anywhere
- hay
- that
- tł'oh
- medicine.
"You can't find that medicine anywhere," the old woman told her.
- wiłdun'-ding
- Day before yesterday
- whe:da'ay
- into my head
- yehwingyay
- it came.
"Day before yesterday it came into my head.
- hay-'ung'
- And
- nił-chide:ne'
- they said of you,
- xo
- "Her
- k'iwinya'n-ya:n
- child
- hayi-q'
- this way
- 'ahdiyaw
- it did.
This is what they said of you, 'This way her child does.
- yo:w
- There
- yo'n-yiduq
- in the corner
- dahsitung
- sits
- nixunis-ch'ile:n
- your cup."
There in the corner stands your cup."
- hayah-mił-'ung'
- And then
- wun-no:k'inilay
- she put her hand on
- hay-yo:w
- that
- dahsita:n
- sitting there.
- hijit
- Then
- de:-nohq'it-ch'ing'
- up to the sky
- ya'wintung-hit
- when she held it
- 'ungya'
- she saw
- me'
- in
- no:ningxits'
- something fell.*
Then the old woman took the cup and held it up to the sky. Something fell into it.
*Dil-tcwag mis-sits "pine bark," Pinus Ponderosa, is the medicine used which in this first case fell from above.
**It was the bark of the yellow pine, Pinus ponderosa, which fell into cup.
- hay-yo:w
- That
- dahch'iwitil
- she was holding up
- na:niłdiłwa:
- crosswise
- ditse'
- pointing.
She was holding it up pointing crosswise.
- xowa:ch'ingxa:n
- to her she gave
- hay-yo:w
- that.
- 'a:xołch'ide:ne'
- She told her,
- tingxahwh-ne'
- "You take it along.
- hayah-mił
- And
- nimije'e:din'
- your baby
- misungxahwh-ne'
- its mouth put it in."
She gave it to her saying, "Take it along and put it into your baby's mouth."
- ch'e:'iwhwa:wh
- I get through speaking
- mił
- then
- hay
- that
- mił
- with
- na:na:'iwhme'
- I bathe it
- hay-yo:w
- that
- k'ima:w
- medicine.
DIRECTIONS: When I get through speaking I bathe the child with the medicine.
*The formula is repeated while the priest pounds the medicine at the beginning of the ceremony, which is held at night. Then as she herself explains she bathes the patient. For further information concerning this ceremony see Life and Culture of the Hupa, p. 67.
- xutł'e'-dung'-ding
- In the morning
- 'aht'ing
- all over
- na:na:'iwhme'
- I bathe it
- mił
- then
- łah-xw wint'e:
- always
- no:na:'iwhxa:wh
- I leave it.
In the morning I bathe it all over.
- tintah-din-ding
- In the woods
- king
- sticks
- łiqiwh
- forked
- niłma'n
- each side
- no:k'e'iwhqot
- I always set up.
I always leave the medicine there. In the woods I always set up two forked sticks on each side.
- hayah
- Them
- miq'it
- on
- da'e'iwhliwh
- I lay
- hay
- the
- jeh-k'iya:ts'e'
- pitch sticks.
- dahna:k'ine'iwh'e:tł'
- Crosswise I lay them.
Then I placed the pitch sticks crosswise on them.
- hayahujit
- And when
- hay-yo:w king
- those sticks
- no:k'e'iwhqot
- I stand up,
- tse:
- stones
- mixehsta:n'-ding
- along side
- no:'iwh'awh
- I put.
I put four stones along side.
- hay
- The
- tse:
- stones
- jeh-k'iya:ts'e'
- pitch sticks
- miq'it
- on them
- da'e'iwhtiwh
- I put,
- mixa:ch'e'-xole:n
- incense root
- q'ina'
- too.
I put pitch sticks and incense root on these stones.
- q'a:de'
- a while
- 'e'ida'
- it lies there
- mił
- then
- hay-yo:w
- that
- mixa:ch'e'-xole:n-ne'in
- incense used to be
- xong'-ch'ing'
- fire in
- de:na:de'whmil
- I put.
When there are good coals I put the incense roots into the fire.
- haya:ł-'ung'
- And
- hay-yo:w
- the
- tse:
- stones
- nuq'it-ch'ing'
- back from the fire
- no:na:'iwhliwh
- I always put.
I always put the stones back from the fire.
- hay
- Those
- king
- sticks
- łiqiwh
- forked
- q'ing'
- too
- no:na:'iwhmil
- I do not drop anyway.
- niwho:ng-xw
- Properly
- no:na:'iwhliwh
- I always put them down.
I do not drop the forked sticks just any way, I always lay them down carefully.
- na:'iwhloy'-hit
- When I tie them up,
- whining'
- my face
- do:
- never
- łiqay
- is white.
I tie up the pitch sticks. I do not have my face white (unpainted).
- łiwhin
- Black
- whining'
- my face
- na:'iwhłiw
- I paint,
- whila'-king'
- my wrists
- q'ina'
- too.
- na:'iwhłiw
- I make
- łiwhin
- black
- whiqunkin'-ding
- on my shoulders
- q'ina'
- too,
- whiqe:-kine'
- my ankles
- q'ina'
- too,
- whiq'aye'
- my thighs
- q'ina'
- too,
- whit'ahdiy'-me'
- my chest
- q'ina'
- too.
I have my face painted black. I paint my wrists, my shoulders, my ankles, my thighs, and my breast.
- tsiq'
- Tseuk
- mił
- with
- na:na:'iwhloy'
- I tie my hair.
I tie up my hair with tseuk.
*Tseuk are the ribbons of mink fur with which the clubs of hair are wound. These tseuk are sometimes covered with woodpecker scalps. See Life and Culture of the Hupa, p. 20 and Pl. 5.
- nichwin'
- Dirty things
- do:-na:whay
- I do not wear,
- niwho:ng
- good
- wha:ne:
- only.
I do not wear dirty things. I wear only good things.
- diywhe'eh
- Nothing
- do: xoch'ing'
- for her
- no:na:wh'awh
- I never leave
- hay-yo:w
- that one
- xoq'it
- over
- xong'
- fire
- na:whwe:
- I wave.
I do not leave any of them for the one over whom I wave the fire.