Page:IJAL vol 1.djvu/133

 NO. 2

��TEPECANO PRAYERS

��125

��the form of a mortal woman and bids her begone and not molest them more.

The information volunteered to the effect that each person has a lighted candle in heaven, representing his spirit, and that the Death Goddess goes about snuffing them out, is probably of Christian origin.

TRANSLATION

Hail, O God, thou that art my Father and Mother, my Guide, and Morning Star! I beseech thee, stretch forth thy hand that it lay hold upon us. Then will the Goddess Death herself appear before us that we may seize her as she walketh about on her ac- customed paths. She belongeth beneath the east whence our Father has sent her to carry us hence, so that we may give report to Him, our God and Father, of how we have acted in this world.

Likewise do we beseech of our Father that he give us leave to seize the Death Goddess, she who cometh whispering, stalking about and carrying off his children. We ask that she shall not harm us as already she has harmed so many.

Likewise do we beg of our Lord and Lady that he stretch forth his hand and his foot so that we may be upheld and not be sick- ened. He will give us his word that she shall not carry us away. We will send her where she belongeth where she guardeth the torches of our spirits who watch us through all hours. Then will we be well here where we wander on the green carpet. Then will we never be decreased.

Also do we beg forgiveness of our Lord and Lady seated in the seven beautiful heavens. We will let the Death Goddess know that nothing shall harm us who are the children of the Father.

May God bless you.

23. TO PLACATE THE CHANES

��adiu's.um To God,

��su - 'di.6 - r water within

��o^'oik^am 1

chanes 1

��na'pimpumtotok- anih& napimpuda'dar that ye are named hereabouts that ye are*

seated

na'pimputunu-nkat hoga navarahi'- that ye guard that which is their*

komac ganamaritgo"koraG b6puhi'mdam cloud they who are our manes before go on.

aniho nampuda'daR ci'korxfivan

Hereabouts that they are seated vicinity*

there

ha'cnaci'diidu kuticbo'hrmot amtanim as that hoards. Then we hither were coming you* begging

hagicdara konkiha'pi mitok-

pardon. With which thus is. Know!

pimiam.pixo.in'&id'uk'a niganfamr'lia

Ye not anywhere me will ignore nor that my family

anih6 namoipu r'ntam

hereabouts that they walk here

pusoi"mama - c hoga navaricma'nr-

sad appear that that is trans*

dormao anvai'nikwo't'a na'pimpudadaR parent your petale beneath that ye are*

seated.

kuni'cpuanratuD porki anta's6na - t

Then I you cause to know because I did al*

ready begin

��i'ntaM here meddle

��nano'imo'R that I walk

��na'npuamha'nciD that I for you*

��ganaVaricmanrdormaG amainik konkiha'p.i that which is transparent your petate. With*

which thus is.

anti'cpubi'amnamQk'dam hi'di so-'sobo'kot I did hither you come paying this bead with

para napimia'mpiho'tunko'kdatuD'a

in order that ye not anywhere me will sicken

��wiganma.ma'R i-'ntam

nor that my children here

amicmamdormaG

your transparent

��na'mpuo'ipu that they walk

amva'pamor.&r your lakes in.

��1 Said to be derived from tenchaniados, etymology unknown.

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