Domingo of Weitchpec
"Wohpekumew's Flute Song" (1906)
Writing system: default | hyphens | linguistic
Display style: paragraph | sentence | look-up
Text identifier: I3
Speaker: Domingo of Weitchpec
Primary documentation: A. L. Kroeber
Edition: A. L. Kroeber, "The Languages of California North of San Francisco", University of
California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, volume 9
(1911), p. 424
Translation: A. L. Kroeber, Yurok Myths (1976), p. 312 (myth I3)
Manuscript source: A. L. Kroeber, Yurok field notebook 74, pp. 64-65; click here to view PDF
Audio source: Keeling catalog #24-0834 and #24-1917, Hearst Museum of Anthropology, UC
Yurok audio (original recording):
| Download: 24-0834.mp3 | Password required
Yurok audio (two re-recordings by Weitchpec Frank):
| Download: 24-1917.mp3 | Password required
Kenekeesh ho 'o'l.
He was at Kenek.
Kwenometeesh 'o chyeguuek'w. Kwenometeesh 'o chyeguuek'w.
He always sat in front of the sweathouse exit. He always sat in front of the
Noohl puelekeesh rootep'.
The sun was far downriver.
Keech ho wey 'w-o'omepek'.
He had finished making his fire.
Weeshtue 'o 'we-chyuuekw' kwenomet.
He sat before the exit.
Tue weeshtue noohl 'o chyeguuek'w.
That is where he always sat.
Weet 'ee nee 'okw' k'ee 'we-chye'wol leponohl.
He had a flute under the ridge cover.
- Mo noohl puelekeesh roo, 'ee yeger'erhserper'.
When the sun was far downriver, he always beat his hair dry.
Mo weet keech weno'omoksee'hl nuemee wogeek 'ue-keeshen, nuemee meeek (?) soo to'm
'ue-keeshen, keech weesh 'o lo so'n.
When it was right in the middle of summer, it was at the height of summer,
he did so.
'O nuemee weeshtue so'n: 'ue-kegesomewehlek' k'ee soneen hoolem' k'ee 'oohl.
This is what he did: he was always sorry for the people who would live like
Tue weeshtue 'emehl kegesomewe'hl neekee mehl chmeyoksee'hl.
That is why he was constantly sorry as it began to be evening.
Tue noohl weeshtue 'emehl ruero'w. Weeshtue 'emehl chyego'wo'l.
So he sang on account of that. He always played the flute on account of
'O hlom' 'we-chye'wol weeshtue 'emehl ruero'w.
He took out his flute and sang on account of that.