Stories of the Cahto Tribe
The Man Eater
(This is a line-by-line translation (within the limits of English readability)
They were setting snares, they say.
All the people went after deer, they say.
She walked along, they say.
She was carrying a seed-basket, they say.
She was walking with a cane, they say.
She carried a soft seed-basket, they say.
"My deer," she said, they say.
She caught him, they say.
She picked him up, put him in the seed-basket, and carried him off, they say.
Carrying it under where there were bent-over trees she whipped (her cane) over the mouth of the basket, they say.
She carried him east/uphill, they say.
She carried him under a tree and he grabbed the tree.
She carried him under a tree and he grabbed the tree.
He hung on to the tree (by hugging).
She went on uphill anyhow.
She whipped with her cane.
She found out, they say.
She ran back from the east.
"Where is my deer?" she said, they say.
"This man climbed up on the tree.
She kicked a rotten log, they say.
The sun came up, they say.
She put her blanket over her her eyes, they say.
She was ashamed.
She ran back, they say, east, they say.
That is all.
Professor Goddard's Translation
They were setting snares for deer. All the people had gone after deer. He was walking alone. Some one was carrying a burden-basket. She was walking along with a cane. She was carrying a soft burden-basket.
"My deer," she said. She caught him and put him in the basket. She carried him off. When she had to carry the basket under the branches of trees she whipped over her shoulder with her cane. She went east up the hill. When she went under a tree, he caught it and climbed up on it. She went on just the same, whipping with her cane. She found out what had happened. She ran back down the hill.
"Where is my deer?" she said.
The man climbed the tree. She kicked against a rotten log thinking he might be under it. The sun came up, She covered her face with her blanket because she was ashamed and ran up here east.
That is all.
(Based on Cahto oral traditions and beliefs)
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