Kuénto Leso

Tu̱'un na̱ ñuu Nu̠ú Tiaxín xí'in

na̱ iinka ñuu xiyo oeste Skuíya
 Original stories by:
Native speakers from
El Jicaral
and
Coicoyán de las Flores

Editing by:
Demetrio Zurita Quiroz

© 2020 by JN Martin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
License

Images based on "Arte para la Alfabetización en México", ©

2012 by Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., used under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license: http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.es
 Tutu yó'o íyo kuénto ntuvi ní xa̠'á leso xí'in
iinka kití. Íyo kuénto siki xí’in kuénto kuta̠ti ini.
Ná kusi ̠í ini-ntó ka'vi-ntó-ña̠.

This is a collection of short stories reflecting the

rich oral traditions and culture of the Mixtec
people.

A review of how to read Mixtec can be found at

the beginning of this book.
 A review of reading Mixtec
In Mixtec every vowel has one or two tones.
Tones are “the melody” that we use to say words.
Tones are very important in Mixtec. In fact, some
words can only be told apart by their tone. For
example:

yu̱ku̱ ‘plant’ yukú ‘mountain’ yúku ‘yoke’

These three words in Mixtec are written

using the same three letters: y-u-k-u. However,
since they are pronounced with different tones, we
write them with special symbols to tell them apart.

Now let’s look at how we use these symbols.

1. When a vowel in a syllable has a low tone, we
underline it like this: a̱, e̱, i ̱, o̱, u̱.

2
uvi yo̱ko̱ sutu

2. When a vowel in a syllable has a mid tone, we

leave it with no mark: a, e, i, o, u.

ita kolo isu

3. When a vowel in a syllable has a high tone, we

put an accent mark over the vowel: á, é, í, ó, ú.

lírú lá'ví kóntó

 Usually in Mixtec each vowel has only one
tone, but sometimes there are vowels that have two
tones. The circumflex (˄) is used when the tone
falls, like in the words tâxín ‘calm’ or kâní ‘long’.
The wedge (˅) is used when the tone rises, like in the
word lěe ‘baby’. Look at these examples:

tǐchi xǔ'un yâá

chǐki ti ̠ntôó luvî

 Ni ̱ka̱yu̱ yâá ra̱ lěe, chi i'ní
tiutia xi ̠'i-ra̠.
The baby burned his tongue
because the porridge he
drank was hot.

The apostrophe ( ' ) is the character that

represents a brief pause in in the pronunciation of
words. Read the following words with this pause,
also called a glottal stop.

ve'e ko̱'ó sa'má

You might notice that this sounds a lot like

the pause in the English word, “uh-oh.” In Mixtec
we always write this with an apostrophe ( ' ) , not
with a hyphen (-) like we do in English.
 In Mixtec, the letter x is pronounced like the
sh in English. Read the following words:

xi ̱tá xiyo xa̱'á

In Mixtec the letters ku is pronounced like

the qu in the English word “queen.” The letters ti
and nti are sounds we don’t have in English. Read
the words below to hear how we pronounce these
letters.

i ̱tia tia̱yu̱ ntiuxí

kuáyu̱ ti ̱kuíti ntia̱'yu̱

 We have one last thing to review. We will
look at how we write the tones that indicate the
negative form. When we write the negative form,
we use the umlaut ( ¨ ) over the first vowel in the
word.

When we want to say in Mixtec that

something is good or that something is not good, we
just change the tones of the word:

va̱'a ‘good’ and vä'a ‘not good’. Look at

these other examples:
xa̱tu̱ spicy xíni knows

xätu̱ not spicy xïni doesn’t know

u̱'vi ̱ difficult kûni ̱ wants
ü'vi ̱ not difficult kökûni ̱ doesn’t want
ve̱e heavy kûxi rusting
vëe not heavy kökûxi not rusting
kue̱'e̱ fierce/strict kútóo likes

kuë'e̱ not fierce/ kökútóo doesn’t like

strict
 Leso xí'in Túñu̠ú

Iin ki̠í́ xí́ka nuu-rí́ leso iin yosó ká 'nu. Iká n
xá xí́-rí́ tio̠ 'o itia.

One day Rabbit was out exploring on a big

plain. He was eating grass roots.
 Iká n nta̠ ni̠'í́-rí́ iin xu'un ka̠ a̠ . Ta nta̠ ki'in-rí́-
na̠ , kua̠ 'a̠ n-na̠ xí́'in-rí́. Ká 'á n-rí́, "Ntá a kú ú -na̠ ki'in-
yó xí́'in xu'un yó 'o?"

That's when he found a coin. He picked up

that coin and took it with him. He thought to
himself, "What should I buy with this coin?"
 “Á ki'in-yó galleta kaxí́-yó xí́'in-na̠ , nti'i
xa̠ 'á -na̠ ."

"If I use it to buy a cookie to eat, it will

be all gone."
 “Á ki'in-yó pâ n kuxi-yó xí́'in-na̠ . Á ki'in-
yó pâ n, nti'i xa̠ 'á tu pâ n va kuxi-yó -na̠ . Nti'i xa̠ 'á
-na̠ ," ká chi-rí́.

"If I use it to buy bread, well, if one gets

bread that bread will be all gone as soon as it is
eaten. It will be all gone," he thought.
 "Á va̠ 'a ka tú nu̠ ú ná ki'in-yó . Chi tú nu̠ ú iká n ntí̈'i xa̠ 'á
tú n iká n. Na'á koo-na̠ xí́'in-yó !" ká 'á n-rí́ leso. Ni̠xi̠in-rí́ iin
tú nu̠ ú xí́'in xu'un ka̠ a̠ iká n.

"Perhaps it would be better to get a guitar, because

a guitar is something that doesn't get used up. It will last
forever!" thought Rabbit. He bought a guitar with that coin
of his.
 Ki̠xá á -rí́ sá ka'a-rí́. Sa̠ ma tá 'á n-rí́ xa̠ 'á -rí́, í́ntú ’ú
koo̠ -rí́ sá ka'a-rí́ tú nᶙ̠ ú . Saá iká n ki̠xá á tâ ni̠-rí́ kití́.

He started to play. He sat cross-legged and

played his guitar. And then animals began to arrive.
 Tá kú ú nti'i-rí́ lí́rú chin isu chin ntikuá nu chin má 'a̠
chin saa chin tá kú ú nti'i nta̠ a̠ nu̠ ú kití́. Tâ ni̠-rí́ tiá a so̠ 'o-rí́
yaa̠ . Ku̠ si̠i kué nta ini-rí́. Ntuvi nta̠ a̠ sá ka'a-rí́ leso iká n.

Among them were every kind of animal, skunks and

deer and squirrels and raccoons and birds and every kind
of animal there is. They came to hear the music. They were
delighted to hear Rabbit play so beautifully.
 Iká n ki̠xá á -rí́ lí́rú ntú kú tó o-rí́ tú nu̠ ú
nu̠ ú leso. "Taxi tó o lo'o-ú n tú nu̠ ú -ú n ná sá ka'a
-i̠. Ntuvi nti̠va̠ 'a sá ka'a-ú n," ká chi-rí́ lí́rú xí́'in
leso.

That's when Skunk started looking to

borrow the guitar from Rabbit. "Let me have
your guitar for just a minute so I can play. You
play it so beautifully," said Skunk to Rabbit.
 Ká chi leso saá xí́'in-rí́, "U̠ 'un. Kü vi taxi tó o-i̠
tú nu̠ ú nta'á -ú n. Ná ka'á n-ú n kunu-ú n ku̠ 'u̠ n-ú n,
ntä kua̠ 'a̠ ka-ú n tú nu̠ ú -i̠," ká chi leso xí́'in lí́rú .

He said to her, "No. I can't loan you my guitar.

You might think to run off and not give it back to me."

"U̠ 'un! Ïyu'u-ú n chi ntü kui'na-i̠. Iin tó o lo'o va

sá ka'a-i̠, ra saá ntakua̠ 'a̠ tuku-i̠ tú nu̠ ú -ú n," ká chi-rí́ lí́rú
xí́'in leso.

"No! Don't be scared because I won't steal it, I

just want to play it for a bit, then I will give it right back
to you," said Skunk to Rabbit.
 "Saá va̠ 'a," ká chi leso, ni̠xi̠nu ini-rí́. Ta̠ xi-rí́ tú nu̠ ú
nta'á lí́rú . Ki̠xá á -rí́ sá ka'a-rí́. Saá iká n ká 'a̠ n tuku leso xa̠ 'á
tú nu̠ ú xí́'in-rí́.

"Okay," he said, finally convinced. He gave the

guitar to Skunk. Skunk started to play. Then Rabbit asked
for his guitar back.

"Á kö ntaká 'á n-ú n tú sa̠ ni̠'í́ va-ú n yu̠ 'u̠ kú ú tú nu̠ ú
yó 'o? Na̠ chun ká 'a̠ n tuku-ú n xa̠ 'á -tú xí́'in-i̠?" ká chi lí́rú xí́'in
leso.

"Don't you remember that you gave me this guitar?

Why are you asking me for it?" said Skunk to Rabbit.
 "U̠ 'un! Ta̠ xi tó o-yu̠ tú nu̠ ú nta'á -un. Ntakua̠ 'a̠ -ú n-tú !"
ká chi leso xí́'in lí́rú . Kö kû ni̠-rí́ ntakua̠ 'a̠ -rí́ tú nu̠ ú nta'á leso.

"No! I loaned it to you. You give it back!" said Rabbit

to Skunk. But she didn't want to return that guitar.

"Tú sa̠ ni̠'í́ va-ú n yu̠ 'u̠ kú ú tú nu̠ ú yó 'o ku̠ 'u̠ n-tú xí́'in-i̠,"
ká chi lí́rú xí́'in-rí́. Xi̠nu-rí́ kua̠ 'a̠ n-rí́ xí́'in tú nu̠ ú leso.

"You gave me this guitar fair and square and now I'm
taking it with me," Skunk said to Rabbit. She took off
running with Rabbit's guitar.
 Iká n ki̠xá á leso xá ku-rí́. Ni̠xa̠ a̠ -rí́ í́yo-rí́ xa̠ 'á itú n
ká 'nu. Xá ku-rí́ í́yo-rí́. Iká n ni̠ko̠ yo-rí́ tio̠ kó kuá 'a, ká 'a̠ n-rí́
xí́'in leso, "Ntá a ke ntó 'o-ú n xá ku-ú n, nani?" ká chi-rí́ xí́'in
leso.
And that's when Rabbit began to cry. He went to
the foot of a big tree and there he cried and cried. Then
some red ants came by, saying, "What terrible thing have
you suffered that has you crying like this, brother?"

Ká chi leso saá , "U̠ 'un. Tú nu̠ ú ni̠xi̠in-yu̠ , ntu̠ kuí́'ná -rí́
lí́rú tú nu̠ ú -yu̠ . Kua̠ 'a̠ n-tú xí́'in-rí́. Ñ a̠ ká n, xá ku-yu̠ ," ká chi
leso xí́'in tio̠ kó kuá 'a.
"It's just I bought a guitar and then Skunk came and
stole it from me. Then she ran off with it. That's why I'm
crying," said Rabbit to the red ants.
 "Á n saá va, nani? Va̠ 'a chi ku̠ 'u̠ n-yó . Ntakintiaa-yó
tú nu̠ ú -ú n," ká chi-rí́ tio̠ kó kuá 'a xí́'in leso.

"Is that so, brother? Perhaps we should all go. We'll

get you back your guitar," said the red ants to Rabbit.

"Va̠ 'a," ká chi leso. Nta̠ ki'in-rí́ kua̠ 'a̠ n-rí́ xí́'in tio̠ kó
kuá 'a.

"Alright," he said. He got up and went with them.

 Ni̠xa̠ a̠ -rí́ nu̠ ú í́ntú 'ú -a̠ lí́rú iká n, ni̠xa̠ xí́-rí́ tio̠ kó
kuá 'a xa̠ 'á lí́rú . Nta̠ koo-rí́ tú nu̠ ú , xi̠nu-rí́ kua̠ 'a̠ n-rí́.
Iká n ni̠nto̠ o tú nu̠ ú -rí́ leso, nta̠ ki'in-rí́-tú .

They arrived where Skunk was and the red

ants bit her feet. With that she dropped the guitar
and took off running. Rabbit's guitar was left there,
and Rabbit picked it up.
 Ki̠xá á -rí́ ká ni tuku-rí́ yaa̠ , kú si̠i va ini-rí́
nta̠ ki'in-rí́ tú nu̠ ú -rí́.

Rabbit began to play his songs, and he

was overwhelmed with joy to have his guitar
once again.
 Yuva Chǐchi

Saá nto̠ 'o iin tia̠ a xina'á . Chi̠'i-ra̠ yuva chǐchi-ra̠ . Ta

ki̠xá á ni̠ntu̠ tia̠ -ñ a̠ , ta xa̠ ná 'nu lo'o-ñ a̠ . Iká n, ni̠xa̠ 'a̠ n-ra̠
xi̠to'ni-ra̠ yuva chǐchi-ra̠ . Ná 'a ya̠ xǐ́ leso ñ a̠ .

This is the story of what happened to a man a long

time ago. He had planted a green bean patch. The plants
started to sprout, and they were getting big. The owner
arrived to look at his bean plants. They had been eaten by
a rabbit.

17
 Ki̠xa̠ a̠ -ra̠ , ká 'a̠ n-ra̠ xǐ́'in ñ á sǐ́'i-ra̠ , “Vichin ntá a ke
koo? Leso xa̠ xǐ́ kué nta-rǐ́ yuva chǐchi!” ká chi-ra̠ xǐ́'in ñ á
sǐ́'i-ra̠ .

“Oo. Ku̠ 'u̠ n-ú n ki'in-ú n ñ u̠ má tu̠ ú n kantichi-ú n nu̠ ú

yuva chǐchi. Ná yu'u-rǐ́. Kü 'u̠ n ka-rǐ́ kaxǐ́-rǐ́ yuva chǐchi,”
ká chi ñ á sǐ́'i-ra̠ xǐ́'in-ra̠ .

“Va̠ 'a va,” ká chi-ra̠ .

18
 He arrived home and spoke with his wife, saying,
“What do we do now? That rabbit is eating up our bean
plants!”

“Oh. Go and get a doll made of black wax and stand it

up in front of the rabbit. That will scare him. He won’t go
and eat the bean plants again,” said his wife.

“Okay then,” he said.

19
 Tá nti̠'i, ni̠xa̠ 'a̠ n miǐ́-ra̠ tia̠ a iká n ni̠xi̠in-ra̠ ñ u̠ má nu̠ ú
ya̠ 'vi. Tá nti̠'i ni̠xi̠in-ra̠ ñ u̠ má tu̠ ú n, ta míǐ́ xi̠kua̠ á kua̠ nu'ú -
ra̠ ve'e-ra̠ ta ki̠xá á -ra̠ sá va̠ 'a-ra̠ ñ a̠ yuvǐ́ ñ u̠ má tu̠ ú n.

20
 After that he went to buy some black wax at the
market. That afternoon he went back home and began
making a doll out of that black wax.

21
 Ta ka̠ na-ra̠ , ni̠xa̠ 'a̠ n-ra̠ . Ka̠ ntichi-ra̠ -ñ a̠ nu̠ ú yuva
chǐchi-ra̠ , ichǐ́ nu̠ ú kǐ́xi-rǐ́ leso iká n ka̠ ntichi-ra̠ -ñ a̠ . Saá
nta̠ ntikó -ra̠ , kua̠ nu'ú -ra̠ nta̠ xaa-ra̠ ve'e-ra̠ .

Tá ni̠tu̠ vi iinka ki̠ǐ́, ki̠xi-ra̠ , xi̠to'ni-ra̠ yuva chǐchi-ra̠ .

Xa̠ iká n, ǐ́ntichi-rǐ́ leso, ká 'a̠ n-rǐ́ xǐ́'in ñ a̠ yuvǐ́ ñ u̠ má tu̠ ú n!

The man left his house and went out. He stood the
wax doll in front of the bean plants, right on the rabbit’s
path. Then he went back home.

The next day he came back, sneaking up to the bean

patch, hoping to see the rabbit. Then he saw the rabbit,
talking with the wax doll!

22
 “Na̠ yoo kú ú yó 'o̠ ? Kuá tia̠ 'a-ú n! Ná ya̠ 'a-i̠, ku̠ 'u̠ n-i̠
kaxǐ́-i̠ yuva chǐchi,” ká chi-rǐ́.

Kö ntá kuiin-ñ a̠ yu'ú -rǐ́.

Saá iká n, “Na̠ chun kö ntá kuiin-ú n yu'ú -i̠? Vichin ra
kani-i̠ yó 'o̠ !” ká chi-rǐ́ xǐ́'in ñ a̠ yuvǐ́ ñ u̠ má tu̠ ú n iká n.

“What are you doing here? Get out of the way! Let
me by, I’m going to eat bean plants,” the rabbit said.

The wax doll didn’t respond.

“Why aren’t you answering me? I’m going to hit

you!” said the rabbit to the wax doll.
23
 Ta saá ra, ka̠ ni-rǐ́ nta'á -rǐ́ sa̠ tá ñ a̠ yuvǐ́ ñ u̠ má , ta ni̠ti̠in
nta'á -rǐ́.

“Va̠ 'a, chi ǐ́yo iinka tuku nta'á -i̠, ǐ́yo xa̠ 'á -i̠. Tu ntixa
va-ú n, tu miǐ́ tia̠ a va̠ 'a kú ú -ú n,” ká chi-rǐ́.

Tuku nta'á -rǐ́ ka̠ ni-rǐ́, ni̠ti̠in-ñ a̠ . Tuku xa̠ 'á -rǐ́ ka̠ ni-rǐ́,
ni̠ti̠in tuku-ñ a̠ . “Á an, ntixa va-ú n, á mǐ́ǐ́ tia̠ a va̠ 'a kú ú -ú n,
tiá yú va-ú n,” ká chi-rǐ́.

“Va̠ 'a, chi ǐ́yo yu'ú -i̠,” ká chi-rǐ́. Ta xa̠ xǐ́-rǐ́. Ni̠ti̠in tuku
yu'ú -rǐ́. Iká n kö nǐ́kuvi sa̠ ñ á -rǐ́. Ni̠ti̠in leso.

Ni̠tu̠ vi. Ki̠xi ñ á sǐ́'i-ra̠ , nta̠ ki'in-ñ á leso. Ni̠'ǐ́-ñ á -rǐ́,

kua̠ nu'ú -rǐ́ ve'e xǐ́'in-ñ á .
24
 With that, he smacked the wax doll, but his hand
got stuck.

“Alright, I’ve still got my other hand and I’ve still

got my feet. Do you think you’re tough? I’ll show you!”
said the rabbit.

He hit the doll again, and he kicked the doll, and

each time he became more stuck. “I see. You really do
think you’re a tough guy,” said the rabbit. “Well, I’ve still
got my mouth,” and he bit the wax doll. Now he was truly
stuck. He couldn’t get out of that wax doll’s grasp.

The sun came up and the man’s wife arrived. She

grabbed that rabbit and headed home.
25
 Nta̠ xa̠ a̠ -ñ á ve'e-ñ á , ra chi̠nuu-ñ á ti̠kuǐi sâ á sá chi̠'yó -
ñ á leso. Nta̠ ki'in-ñ á kua̠ 'a̠ n tuku-ñ á xa̠ 'á ti̠kuǐǐ́. Iká n ki̠xa̠ a̠
nti̠vá 'yu. Ká 'a̠ n-rǐ́ xǐ́'in leso, “Na̠ chiñ u ǐ́yo-ú n yó 'o?” ká chi-
rǐ́ xǐ́'in leso.

“Ve'e na̠ yó 'o ǐ́yo-yu̠ , ntiá a-yu̠ , koto ke̠ e na̠ kuǐ́'na
ve'e-na̠ . Ni̠ka̠ 'a̠ n-na̠ xǐ́'in-i̠ ntiá a-yu̠ ve'e-na̠ ,” ká chi-rǐ́. “Ta
saá taxi-na̠ ñ a̠ kuxi-i̠,” ká chi-rǐ́ xǐ́'in nti̠vá 'yu.

Arriving home, she put on some water to boil. She

would make rabbit soup. Then she left to get more water.
That’s when the coyote arrived. He asked the rabbit,
“What are you doing here?”

“I’m house-sitting for these people here. You know,

making sure that no one breaks into their house while
they’re away,” the rabbit said. “They’re going to give me
food to eat,” he said.
26
 “Na'a yó 'o koo-ú n. Kuntiaa-ú n ve'e-na̠ , ná ku̠ 'u̠ n-i̠
iin tó o lo'o, saá ntikó -i̠. Va̠ 'a kuntikaa̠ -ú n ini leka yó 'o, ná
kuntiaa-ú n iin tó o lo'o ve'e-na̠ . Ta saá taxi-na̠ ñ a̠ kuxi-ú n,”
ká chi-rǐ́ leso xǐ́'in nti̠vá 'yu.

“Va̠ 'a va,” ká chi nti̠vá 'yu. Sa̠ ntá 'vi-rǐ́ nti̠vá 'yu. Ka̠ na
leso xi̠nu-rǐ́ ni̠nto̠ o nti̠vá 'yu.

“Come here. Take care of their house, I need to go

run an errand and I’ll be right back. You just climb in this
bag and watch the house for a minute. The people will
give you some food,” the rabbit said to the coyote.

“Okay,” said the coyote. He had been tricked. The

rabbit took off running and the coyote stayed behind.

27
 Ta saá ki̠xa̠ a̠ ñ á xǐ́'in ve'e iká n, kö o ñ a̠ 'a ka leso.
Ntá a nti̠vá 'yu va ǐ́yo, ntǐ́ká a̠ ini leka iká n!

Iká n nta̠ va-ñ á ki̠'in-ñ á itú n, kú ni̠-ñ á kani-ñ á

nti̠vá 'yu. Ka̠ na-rǐ́ xi̠nu-rǐ́ kua̠ 'a̠ n-rǐ́ nti̠vá 'yu.

That's when the owner arrived back home, and the

rabbit wasn’t there. Instead there was a coyote in that
bag!

She grabbed a stick and tried to hit that coyote but

he ran away.
28
 Tíyo̠ko̠

Ni̠tu̠ vi iinka ki̠í ra ntá va-rí leso kú si̠í ini-rí nu̠ ú
yosó . Ta ni̠xa̠ a̠ -rí íyo-rí xa̠ 'á itú n ra nta̠ ni'i-rí iin nu̠ ú
nta̠ koto-rí iin yo̠ ko̠ ra ki̠nto̠ o-rí xíto'ni-rí-ñ a̠ .

Another day Rabbit was hopping through a

meadow, happy as can be. He saw a tree and looked
up and saw it had a wasp nest and he stayed there
looking at it.

29
 Saá ni̠xa̠ a̠ rí nti̠vá 'yu nu̠ ú xíka nuu-rí leso. Saá ki̠xá á
-rí ká chi-rí saá , “Na̠ chun sa̠ ntá 'vi-ú n yu̠ 'u̠ , ñ ani! Vichin
nta̠ a̠ kaxí-i̠ yó 'o̠ , ñ ani!”

Along came Coyote. Approaching Rabbit he said,

“Why did you trick me, brother?! Now I’m going to eat
you!”

“Kaxí-ú n yu̠ 'u̠ . Atu kú ni̠-ú n chintieé tá 'á n-ú n xí'in-i̠
ka̠ a̠ u̠ xi̠ iin sava sá ka'a-ú n ka̠ a̠ ná ta̠ ni̠ na̠ vá lí sá kua'a-
ú n.”
“Va̠ 'a,” ká chi nti̠vá 'yu.

“Don’t eat me. Maybe you could help me at 11:30

by ringing the bell so all the children will come out
and then you can teach them.”
“Okay,” said Coyote.
 Ni̠xa̠ a̠ -rí ka̠ a̠ u̠ xi̠ iin sava ká ni-rí itú n sa̠ tá yo̠ ko̠
ni̠ta̠ ni̠ tíyo̠ ko̠ tu̠ vi-rí ntikuii ti̠xin-rí xí'in nu̠ ú -rí.
Xi̠ntú 'ú -rí sava ó ra saá nta̠ kuntichi-rí ra nta̠ ki'in-rí
kua̠ 'a̠ n-rí.

11:30 came and he began hitting the wasp nest

with a stick. The wasps came flying out, stinging him
all over. He lay helpless for a half hour before he could
get up and limp home.
 Iinka ichí nta̠ ni̠'í-rí leso ta ni̠ka̠ 'a̠ n-rí xí'in-rí, “Kaxí-i̠
yó 'o̠ chi sa̠ ntá 'vi-ú n yu̠ 'u̠ !”
“Atu íyo tu̠ xii-ú n sá ka̠ 'a̠ -nti̠. Atu koo ñ a̠ 'a kuá 'a̠ n chi
ka'ní-i̠ yó 'o̠ .”

Coyote found Rabbit again and said to him, “I’m go-

ing to eat you because you tricked me!”
“Maybe you’ve got a rifle for us to play with. Then
again, maybe you don’t. Maybe you’d rather run away
before I kill you.”
 Nti̠vá 'yu nti̠kó -rí kua̠ 'a̠ n-rí kú suchí ini-rí
koníxa'ní-rí leso.

Coyote went away sadly. Would he ever kill that

rascally Rabbit?
 Chǐki

Saa ni ̠xa̠a-̠ ri ntiva’yu nu̠ u xika nuu leso. Saa kixaa-

ri kachi-ri saa, “Vichin sa̠ nta'vi-un yu̠ 'u̠ , ñ ani, kaxi-i̠ yo’o̠ !"
kachi nti ̠va’yu xi’in leso.

“Ñani kaxi-un yu̠ ’u̠ !,” kachi-ri. “Ña̠ yo’o va xaxi-i̠

xika nuu-i̠,” kachi-ri leso.

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 Coyote arrived where Rabbit was wandering
about. Coyote said to him, “You tricked me, brother, so
now I’m going to eat you!”

“Brother, don’t eat me!” he said. “I’m just hanging

out here, eating,” said Rabbit.

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 Ñta̠ ni̠'i-ri nu̠ u iyo iin vi̠'ntia. Ikan iyo chiki. Chiki
kua’a. Ta ti kaa nta̠ sa vii-ri, ya̠ xi-ri. Iinka chiki nta̠ ki̠'in-ri,
nta̠ sa vii-ri ni̠xa̠ ’a̠ -ri nu̠ u nti̠va’yu, ka'a̠ n-ri xi'in nti̠va'yu
ikan, “Á va̠ 'a xaxi ri yo'o,” kachi-ri xi'in-a̠ .

“Ájan ñ ani. Va̠ 'a xaxi-ri,” kachi-ri nti̠va'yu.

“Va̠ 'a ra saa. Ñtakasi tuun nu̠ u-un. Ña taan-i̠-ri yu'u-

un,” kachi-ri leso xi'in nti̠va'yu.

“Va̠ 'a,” kachi ntiva'yu. Ikan nta̠ si-ri nu̠ u-ri.

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 Then they arrived where there was a prickly pear
cactus. It had a lot of tuna fruits; red tuna fruits. He
grabbed one of those and peeled it and ate it. He grabbed
another tuna fruit, peeled it, and gave it to the coyote,
saying, "Is that tasty?"

"It sure is, brother. It is very tasty," said the coyote.

"Álright then. Close your eyes real tight. I'm going to

put some more right into your mouth," said the rabbit to
the coyote.

"Okay," said the coyote. Ánd he closed his eyes.

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 Ñti̠ka̠ a̠ -ri yu'u-ri

ta̠ an-ri chiki

ni̠ta̠ an-ri chiki

yu'u ntiva’yu.

"Ñi̠si̠so nti'i iñ u yu'u-i̠! U̠ 'vi̠ nti̠va̠ 'a

su̠ kun-yu̠ . U̠ 'vi̠ nti̠va̠ 'a ti̠xin-yu̠ . U̠ 'vi̠
nti̠va̠ 'a," kachi nti̠va'yu xi'in leso. Ikan
xi̠nu-ri kua̠ 'a̠ n-ri. Ikan xi̠nu leso
kua̠ 'a̠ n tuku-ri.

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 Rabbit threw

tuna fruit

after tuna fruit

after tuna fruit

and they went

right in

Coyote's mouth.

“These tuna fruits have thorns! How they poked

my mouth! Oh, my throat hurts. Oh, my belly hurts.
Oh, it hurts so bad,” said Coyote to Rabbit. Coyote
went away, and Rabbit left as well.

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 Kavá

Iinka tuku nu̠ u nta̠ ni̠'i ka-ri.

"Ña̠ chiñ u sa̠ nta'vi-un yu̠ 'u̠ ! Mañ a ntixa-un! Sa̠ nta'vi-
un yu̠ 'u̠ . U̠ 'vi̠ kuenta ni̠si̠so iñ u chiki yâ a-i̠!" kachi nti̠va'yu
xi'in leso. "Vichin kaxi-i̠ yo'o̠ , kuni̠ kaxi-i̠ yo'o̠ ," kachi
nti̠va'yu xi'in leso.

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 Coyote found Rabbit again.

“Why did you trick me, you conniving rascal?! You

should be ashamed! Those tuna fruits pricked my tongue
and poked my mouth!” said Coyote to Rabbit. “Ñow I’m
going to bite you, I’m going to bite you right now,” said
Coyote to Rabbit.

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“Kaxi-un yu̠ 'u̠ ! Ña'a yo'o tiin-un! Chi yo'o tiin ntiaa-i̠ kava
yo'o chi ntuva-ñ a̠ nti'i xa̠ 'a ñ a̠ yuvi, kachi-ñ a̠ .

“Don’t eat me! Come here and push! I’m here

pushing on this cliff because it is going to fall down and the
world will end, that’s what they told me.

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 Ña'a tiin-un yo'o chi iyo iin ra̠ tia̠ a kuni̠ kua̠ 'a̠ ñ a̠ 'a
kuxi-yo. Ña ku̠ 'u̠ n-i̠ ntaki'in-i̠-ñ a̠ , saa kixa̠ a̠ -i̠ iin too lo'o.
Ña'a chintiee-un yu̠ 'u̠ !” kachi leso xi'in nti̠va'yu.

Come here and hold it up because there is a guy who

is going to give us some food to eat. I’ll go and get it and be
right back. Come here and help me!” Rabbit said to Coyote.

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 Sa̠ nta'vi tuku leso nti̠va'yu. Ñtakuntichi ntiaa-ri tiin
ntiaa-ri kava, kua̠ 'a̠ n tuku leso.

Rabbit had tricked Coyote again. He stood there,

holding up that cliff, as Rabbit ran away.

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