Song sung by murderer to enable him to escape when pursued by relatives of the dead
Collection place:
Weitchpec, Humboldt County, California
Verbatim coll. place:
vicinity of Weitchpec
Culture or time period:
Yurok
Maker or artist:
Johnny Cooper
Collection date:
Spring 1907
Culture depicted:
Hupa and Whilkut
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Audio reel tapes
Function:
7.2 Sound Communication
Keeling series number:
11
Department:
Audio recordings
Dimensions:
duration 123 seconds and recording speed 150 recording speed
Title:
Yurok, Hupa, Whilkut (Culture Groups on Tape)
Comment:
This song is from Bluff Creek Jim" (note in 14-Catalogue). A similar formula of the neighboring Karoks, spoken to protect one after he had committed some grave wrongdoing, is translated in Gifford (n.d.#3). "This song (24-1141) is also sung to ward off sickness from the house" (note in 14-catalogue).