Nuwu tani
The story of Nuwu
Do bede Nuwu kuda ŋe cumu ele do aŋi sada tani. Basa samakeda kadu sayunda sakutedaŋe. Lugona ennaza sadamedape geda came sanotateda. Sasetodaŋe, "Di ennaza dames leseje usu, ja ŋon noyewadu luguñewape yanna lekuñeyesdu diŋena madomeda, naje dame leje je leluguñeyeŋe nadanada." Sadateda ya, nasta sadametoda. Talu ŋon pede ŋon cidi ŋon mudu ŋon sakuteda idus.
Do zalis kini tadudu lunna nasta yadatateda. Calawa gogo sunu kujeda ŋe lodan ŋe sadadateda goli. Pespesis Nuwu cese nalu luŋidu dunu yacameteda, ekedu sadateda ñagiñagi. Nuwun sasetedas, "Gogope keye kuñe didañe?" Nuwu sasetedas, "Be! Leyedu ŋidi gogo lekuye nadanada." Nuwun sasetedas, "Nalu calawape keye kuñe didañe?" Nuwu sasetedas, "Leyedu ŋidi lekuye nadanada." Nuwun sasetedas, "Di kele mudu ja dikuni. Nalu calawape keye kuñe dinoweñe, mudu nada ja kume leje ya." Nuwu se sakutatedas, "Dikepe da! Leyedu dike lenoyeñe, kaweda ŋena kebeñeweda ŋena ennadu dike lenoyeweñe."
Zo supe siŋi yaga mededu lodan ŋe sadateda. Yaga mede cemes sadaloteda. Nuwu yada sadunutedas, yaziniñejeteda. Pede kuda ŋe mede kibi daba ono sakumeteda, saŋedas eke sateneteda. Kedekele zimiñe sabañeteda.
Udu enolose, zo sudu ze kedu ekutase, na laka tadu elamañemese suyes. Tadatada data ebañese, sunu cagidu Nuwu sadateda ya. Deŋi gada tanada ebañese, ceseke lamañe enolose. Ceseza gada tanada enolose. Gada talu ŋonke pede ŋonke cidi ŋonke mudu ŋonke ekumese. Gada tanada enolose, ceseke ekumese. Medepe mededu Nuwu sadateda ñagiñagi. Gada tanada enolose, Nuwun ekumeseda. Lodan ŋe Nuwu sasaduda sasadunuteda, pespesis enotase suyes. Seda nuwunuwu tuwu nuwu tuwudu Nuwu sanoyemeteda eseme.
Translation
This is the story of a man who had the name Nuwu. He had a bad liver and a rough tongue. He felt less and less happy dwelling with neighbors. He said to himself, "While I am dwelling with these people, they know that I will give them help making many things, or I can go dwell alone and help only myself." And so he went away and dwelt alone. Afterwards, he had many spears, many knives, many baskets, and many mats.
This night one of the stars fell to earth. The star who lacked warmth, food, and shelter, wandered for a long time. He saw in the distance the light of Nuwu’s campfire, and quickly he went to it. He said to Nuwu, "Will you give me food." Nuwu said, "I have only enough food for myself." He said to Nuwu, "Will you give me warmth of the fire?" Nuwu said, "I have only enough for myself." He said to Nuwu, “You have these fine rugs. You did not give me warmth at your campfire, (so) I will take one.” Nuwu shouted, “Stay away from those! I made those for myself and not for lazy people who do nothing.”
The star went from there to a tall smooth tree. He climbed the smooth trunk of the tree. Nuwu watched him and wondered. He who has a knife took a large piece of bark from the tree, and put it around himself. Then he started to sing magic.
The wind increased, and pushed there many storm clouds there, and the whole sky was covered. Rain began to fall, and Nuwu went into the shelter. The river began to flow and covered more and more of the camp. It overflowed around the shelter. It took the many spears, the many knives, the many baskets, and the many fine rugs. The water overflowed and took the shelter. Nuwu went quickly from tree to tree, and failed to climb the smooth trunks. The water overflowed and took Nuwu. The star listened to Nuwu’s voice fading into the distance. Nuwu was changed into an owl, speaking mournfully even now, so they say.