This is to Frighten a Storm

HIA' UNÁLE (ATEST'YÏ).

Yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi',
Yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi'--Yû!

Sgë! Ha-nâ'gwa hïnahûⁿ'ski tayï'. Ha-tâ'sti-gwû gûⁿska'ihû. Tsûtali'i-gwati'na halu'`nï. Kû'nigwati'na dula'ska galû'ⁿlati-gwû witu'ktï. Wigûⁿyasë'hïsï. Â'talï tsugû'ⁿyï wite'tsatanû'ⁿûⁿsï' nûⁿnâhï tsane'lagï de'gatsana'wadise'stï. Kûnstû' dutsasû'ⁿï atû'ⁿwasûtë'hahï' tsûtûneli'sestï. Sgë!

Translation.

THIS IS TO FRIGHTEN A STORM.

Yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi',
Yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi', yuhahi'--Yû!

Listen! O now you are coming in rut. Ha! I am exceedingly afraid of you. But yet you are only tracking your wife. Her footprints can be seen there directed upward toward the heavens. I have pointed them out for you. Let your paths stretch out along the tree tops (?) on the lofty mountains (and) you shall have them (the paths) lying down without being disturbed, Let (your path) as you go along be where the waving branches meet. Listen!

Explanation.

This formula, from A`yû'ⁿinï's book, is for driving away, or "frightening" a storm, which threatens to injure the growing corn. The first part is a meaningless song, which is sting in a low tone in the peculiar style of most of the sacred songs. The storm, which is not directly named, is then addressed and declared to be coming on in a fearful manner on the track of his wife, like an animal in the rutting season. The shaman points out her tracks directed toward

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the upper regions and begs the storm spirit to follow her along the waving tree tops of the lofty mountains, where he shall be undisturbed.

The shaman stands facing the approaching storm with one hand stretched out toward it. After repeating the song and prayer he gently blows in the direction toward which he wishes it to go, waving his hand in the same direction as though pushing away the storm. A part of the storm is usually sent into the upper regions of the atmosphere. If standing at the edge of the field, he holds a blade of corn in one hand while repeating the ceremony.