The Yukaghir hunter

.
(21-1)   
ta:-t     odu-n     qaNis'E     l'e:-l'El     l'EgE     terikE-n'E-j,    
there-ADV.ABL   Yukaghir-GEN   hunter   be-EV   DP   old.woman-PROPR-3SG  
O:-n'E-j,     irk-i-n     marqi-n'a:-l'El,     modo-l'El.    
child-PROPR-3SG   one-0-ATTR   girl-PROPR-EV   sit-EV  

There was a Yukaghir hunter who live with his wife and his daughter.

Comment:
The word qaNis'E derived from the verb qaNi:- 'to chase' denotes the best hunter and the main beater at the hunting, usually a strong man with much authority in the clan.


.
(21-2)   
modo-dE-gE     aZu:-lEk     kel-l'El-u-l,     mend'E-lEk     mOd-i:-l'El-u-l,     kerekE    
sit-3-DS   word-PRED   come-EV-0-SF   news-PRED   hear-TR-EV-0-OF.1PL   Koriak  
qaNis'E-k     kel-tE-j     mon-u-t     ...    
hunter-PRED   come-FUT-3SG   say-0-SS.IMPF   ...  

When they lived, news came. They heard the news that a Koriak hunter would come.

Comment:
The word monut here functions as a complementizer.


.
(21-3)   
tabun     mOd-i:-dE-gE     ta-N     kel-o:-dE     moZu:-dE-gE     numO-n'E-j,    
that   hear-TR-3-DS   that-ATTR   come-RES-3   PROSP-3-DS   house-PROPR-3SG  
numO-n'E-t     l'E-l.    
house-PROPR-SS.IMPF   be-AN  

When they heard that they made him a yurt before his arrival.


.
(21-4)   
kerekE     qaNis'E-gi     ke:-s',     kel-dEllE     joul-u-s'-u-m,     ti:    
Koriak   hunter-3   come-3SG   come-SS.PERF   ask-0-ITER-0-TR.3SG   here  
odu-n     qaNis'E     qol-l'E?    
Yukaghir-GEN   hunter   where-be  

A Koriak hunter came and asked: "Where is the Yukaghir hunter?"


.
(21-5)   
mon-dE-gE     mon-i,     l'E-k     ti:     numO-d'E-k     met    
say-3-DS   say-3SG   be-IMP   here   house-INTR-IMP   I  
al'-a:,     ugujE     met     tet-u-l     qon-tE-t,     mon-i    
at-ADV.LAT   morning   I   you-0-ACC   go-TR-FUT.TR.1SG   say-3SG  
tamuN-Nin.    
that-DAT  

When he said that the former answered him: "Stay in a yurt next to me. I will take you to him tomorrow."


.
(21-6)   
ta:-t     mon-dE-gE     odu-n     qaNis'E     joulE-mE     tude    
there-ADV.ABL   say-3-DS   Yukaghir-GEN   hunter   evening-TEMP   he.GEN  
qaNsa:-gElE     min-dE-gE     jurgu:-dE-jlE     toG-u-m,     tamun-dE-gE     l'E-llE    
pipe-ACC   take-3-DS   hole-3-ACC   close-0-TR.3SG   that-3-LOC   be-SS.PERF  
kude-dEllE     ugujE-l-mE     ta-N     kerekE     qaNis'E-n'E     d'E    
become-SS.PERF   morning-AN-TEMP   that-ATTR   Koriak   hunter-COM   DP  
keb-ej-Ni.    
leave-PERF-3PL  

Having said that, in the evening the Yukaghir hunter took his pipe and blocked the hole in it. Next day he left together with the Koriak hunter.

Comment:
Yukaghir wooden pipes were of Russian or Chinese origin. The latter were imported by wandering Tungus. The word for pipe qaNsa: is a Tungus or Yakut borrowing.


.
(21-7)   
keb-ej-dEllE     tude     l'E-gElE     tude     c'oGojE-gElE     joNZE-m,    
leave-PERF-SS.PERF   he.GEN   be-ACC   he.GEN   knife-ACC   sleep-TR.3SG  
pOn'-a:-S-u-m.    
put-INCH-CAUS-0-TR.3SG  

When they left he forgot his knife. He left it behind.


.
(21-8)   
ta:-t     qon-u-t     qon-dE-gE     e-di-N     odu-n     qaNis'E    
there-ADV.ABL   go-0-SS.IMPF   go-3-DS   PRON-this-ATTR   Yukaghir-GEN   hunter  
mon-i,     c'a:c'a:     ju:l     peSSEj-gE,     mon-i.    
say-3SG   elder.brother   smoke   throw-HORT.1PL   say-3SG  

On the way the Yukaghir hunter said: "Brother, let's have a rest."

Comment:
The usual meaning of the word ju:l is 'smoke', but it can sometimes mean 'breathing'. The idiomatic expression ju:l peSSeEj- 'to have a rest' literally means 'to throw one's breathing'.


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(21-9)   
ta:-t-me:-j     me:stE-k     num-mElE,     kerekE-n     qaNis'E-gElE     l'E-gE    
there-ADV.ABL-QUAL-IMPF.PART   place-PRED   find-OF.3SG   Koriak-GEN   hunter-ACC   be-LOC  
mot-tE-m,     [n'anmE]     n'anmE-n-d'E     me:stE-gE     mot-tE-m,     tude    
sit-TR-TR.3SG   willow   willow-PROPR-IMPF.PART   place-LOC   sit-TR-TR.3SG   he.GEN  
sa:m     [El]     El=Sa:-n     me:stE-gE     mad-a:-j     al'-dE-gE.    
self   NEG   NEG-tree-GEN   place-LOC   sit-INCH-3SG   at-3-LOC  

He found a place. He seated the Koriak hunter in a place with willow bushes and he himself sat next to him in a place where there were no trees.


.
(21-10)   
mad-a:-dEllE     tude     qaNsa:     a-s'i:-dEllE     tude     qaNsa:-gElE    
sit-INCH-SS.PERF   he.GEN   pipe   make-ITER-SS.PERF   he.GEN   pipe-ACC  
ta:-t     ib-i-SE-m.    
there-ADV.ABL   suck-0-CAUS-TR.3SG  

He sat down, took out his pipe, and drew on it.


.
(21-11)   
qaNsa:-gi     tOb-o:-j     el'e.    
pipe-3   close-RES-3SG   DP  

But it was blocked.


.
(21-12)   
ta:s'ilE     mon-i,     o:.    
then   say-3SG   INTJ  

Then he said: "Oh."


.
(21-13)   
ta:-t     tude     c'oGojE-d-abut-kElE     mid'-u-m,     c'oGojE     joNZa:-l'El-d'E,    
there-ADV.ABL   he.GEN   knife-GEN-container-ACC   take-0-TR.3SG   knife   sleep-EV-1SG  
mon-i.    
say-3SG  

He took his sheath and said: "I seem to have forgotten my knife.


.
(21-14)   
o:     c'a:c'a:,     mon-i,     met     c'oGojE     joNZa:-l'El-d'E,    
INTJ   elder.brother   say-3SG   I   knife   sleep-EV-1SG  
tet-kE     l'E-j,     tamun-gE     tude     c'oGojE-gElE     a-s'i:-dEllE    
you-LOC   be-3SG   that-LOC   he.GEN   knife-ACC   make-ITER-SS.PERF  
kerekE     ...     qaNis'E     mon-i     tadi:-gE-k.    
Koriak   ...   hunter   say-3SG   give-HORT-2SG  

He said: "Oh, brother, I seem to have forgotten my knife, do you have one?" The Koriak hunter took out his knife and said: "When we reach our destination, give it back to me."


.
(21-15)   
tad-dE-gE     ta:-t     {kurgom}     jO:-dEllE     bejd'e:     ti:    
give-3-DS   there-ADV.ABL   around   see-SS.PERF   everywhere   here  
ta:     jO:-dEllE     mon-i,     c'a:c'a:,     tet     jekl'e:-n    
there   see-SS.PERF   say-3SG   elder.brother   you   behind-ADV.LOC  
n'anmE     Sel'gE-dej-dEllE     kej-k.    
willow   break-PERF-SS.PERF   give-IMP  

When he gave the knife to him, that one looked around and said: "Brother, break the willow behind you and give it to me."


.
(21-16)   
[kerekE]     kerekE     qaNis'E     jod-aj-dEllE     tude     nugen-gElE    
Koriak   Koriak   hunter   turn-PERF-SS.PERF   he.GEN   arm-ACC  
n'anmE     Sel'gE-SE-dE-gE     c'oGojE-gElE     kigi:-m,     kerekE-n     qaNis'E-gElE    
willow   break-CAUS-3-DS   knife-ACC   prick-TR.3SG   Koriak-GEN   hunter-ACC  
[c'oGojE-dE-jlE]     c'oGojE-dE-jlE     ju:kE     peSSEj-m.    
knife-3-ACC   knife-3-ACC   far   throw-TR.3SG  

When the Koriak hunter turned and broke the willow with his hands, the Yukaghir pricked him with the knife and threw the knife far away.

Comment:
The narrator did not mention that the knife was too wide and did not fit into the pipe, so Xalantin asked the Koriak for a wooden stick to clean the pipe, see Text 32. The Accusative on nugengElE and c'oGojEgElE seems to be used instead of the expected Instrumental.


.
(21-17)   
tamun-gE     kerekE-n     qaNis'E     c'irc'E-g-ej-dE-gE     odu-n     qaNis'E-gElE    
that-LOC   Koriak-GEN   hunter   jump-ITER-PERF-3-DS   Yukaghir-GEN   hunter-ACC  
qaZidElbE-gEn     min-dE-gE     SubeZE-llE     tude     c'oGojE-gE     jaqa-dEllE    
armpit-PROL   take-3-DS   run-SS.PERF   he.GEN   knife-LOC   reach-SS.PERF  
ta:-t     m=am-dE-j.    
there-ADV.ABL   AFF-die-INTR-3SG  

Then the Koriak hunter jumped up, took the Yukaghir hunter under his arm, and ran. He died when he reached his knife.


.
(21-18)   
ta:-t     odu-n     l'E     qaNis'E     numO-Nin     ke:-s',    
there-ADV.ABL   Yukaghir-GEN   DP   hunter   house-DAT   come-3SG  
kel-dE-gE     tude     maSl'-O:-Nin     mon-i,     qon-dE-gE     mon,    
come-3-DS   he.GEN   girl-child-DAT   say-3SG   go-3-DS   say  
mon-i,     tit     es'e:     El=n'e:-Ni-lE-k,     tit     es'e:    
say-3SG   you.PL   father   NEG-call-PL-PROH-IMP   you.PL   father  
El=kel-u-t.    
NEG-come-0-FUT  

The Yukaghir hunter came home and said to his daughter: "Go and say to them: don't call your father, your father won't come."


.
(21-19)   
ta:-t     ugujE-dE-gE     eg-e:-dEllE     odu-n     qaNis'E     [a:s'E-p-tE-jlE]    
there-ADV.ABL   morning-3-DS   stand-INCH-SS.PERF   Yukaghir-GEN   hunter   reindeer-PL-3-ACC  
a:s'E-p-tE-jlE     {pr'agaj}-dEllE     legul-pE-dE-jlE     im-dE-dEllE     d'E     c'uge:    
reindeer-PL-3-ACC   harness-SS.PERF   food-PL-3-ACC   load-TR-SS.PERF   DP   on.the.way  
l'E-Ni-k     qon-tE-llE     tittE     laNi     keb-ej-Ni-k,     mon-i.    
be-PL-IMP   go-TR-SS.PERF   they.GEN   to   leave-PERF-PL-IMP   say-3SG  

The next day the Yukaghir hunter got up, harnessed his reindeer, loaded the food, and said to them: "Go on the road, go to your people.


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(21-20)   
id'i:     tit     es'e:     am-dE-j,     alb-o:-j,     mon-i,    
now   you.PL   father   die-INTR-3SG   pour-RES-3SG   say-3SG  
id'i:     ta:     SoromE-Nin     kerekE-pul-Nin     pundu-Ni-k     jaq,    
now   there   man-DAT   Koriak-PL-DAT   tell-PL-IMP   DP  
{Stob}     El=kel-Ni-gE-n     ti-NidE.    
so.that   NEG-come-PL-HORT-3   this-ADV.DIR  

Now your father has died, he has gone to pieces. Now tell those people, the Koriaks, that they shouldn't come here any more."

Comment:
The word albE- 'to pour' is here used in the meaning 'to die'. This may reflect the idea that the world of the dead was considered to be downstream along the river.


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(21-21)   
d'E     tamun     jola:-t     El=kel-u-nu-Ni     ta-N     kerekE-pul    
DP   that   after-ADV.ABL   NEG-come-0-IMPF-3PL   that-ATTR   Koriak-PL  
...    
...  

After that the Koriaks didn't come here any more.