A5 Women Do Things Best

Yulia Davudi of ⁺Hassar ⁺Baba-čanga in Sydney, Australia

xá-yuma xá-dana ⁺malla, xa-⁺malla ʾətva. gu-mata tívəva našə ⁺raba hamzúməva m-⁺uydalə. xa mən-do xina hamzúməva ʾurzə. ʾannə məššəlmanə ʾurzə c-avi b-nošé, nək̭və c-avi b-nošé. ʾannə ʾurzə vilun mara ʾó-məndit baxta nək̭va ʾodalə həč-naša callə cutanə le-ʾodilə. callə ʾannə xá-ʾaxča xelanə. cutanə ʾan꞊ət ⁺ʾarra ci-parmila cutan. ⁺bəddayot? hi le ʾodilə. nək̭va buš-xelántəla m-cúl-məndi ⁺ʾe-dān ⁺bayya-ʾoda xá-məndi. ʾa-⁺malla gu-beta ⁺xila, šətya, ⁺hammam vida, ⁺xasu prixa, ⁺raba ⁺bíyyuna, ⁺bíyyuna, mara ʾa mut-⁺xábrələ? baxta ʾila zayifé. zayifé ci-⁺k̭ari k̭a-baxta ⁺yanə ⁺basúrtəla. baxta múdila k̭at xá-məndi ʾoda k̭a-naša? mara la ʾó-məndit baxta ʾodalə naša lé-ʾavədlə. ʾa ⁺malla honu yávulə b-dan-⁺mallə xinə, našə xinə. bitáyələ beta. bək̭yatəl b-baxtu. mara ʾatən xa-baxta mú-⁺ʾamsat k̭ati ʾodat? mara hə́č-məndi mu p̂ṱ-odannux? mara k̭at-márəna ʾá-məndit baxta ʾodalə hə́č-naša lé-ʾavədlə, callə cutanə lé-ʾodilə. ʾita ʾat múdivat? ganax múdivat? k̭ay mú-p̂ṱ-odat? mắsălan ʾən-⁺bayyat ʾodat mu-p̂ṱ-odat? mara naša, ʾoyan ⁺xlapux, honux lá-hallə b-hōn-našə. ʾaxnan ʾətlan xayuyta šap̂ərta. ⁺byáyəna xayuytan parpəssila. ʾat k̭am honux yuvvut b-hōn-našə? la k̭u-vúd xazzən mu-⁺bayyat ʾodat. k̭u! vud mú-⁺bayyat ʾodat? ⁺šarúyələ mxayo ⁺bambučo. k̭u vud xazzən mu-p̂ṱ-odat! mara ʾálaha ⁺malla honu yúvvulə m-ida. mara cma꞊t ʾətlax lətlax honé yavvilə m-ida! ʾana k̭am yavvənnə honi m-ida? k̭u! ⁺bayyən xazzən mú-p̂ṱ-odat. mara ⁺bayyət? har-ʾatxa ⁺bayyət? mara hi ⁺bayyən xazzən mú-⁺bayyat ʾodat. ⁺malla c-azəlva ptana ʾavədva, ptana, gu-dəšta gu-xak̭la ptana ʾavədva bi … tré-danə torə. ʾayya baxta xəšla mən-⁺bazār zvənna tré-danə nuynə ⁺raba ⁺gurə ⁺xvarə. lublela, muttela gu-ʾupra ⁺tama ʾé-duca k̭at-⁺malla ptana ṱ-avədva. ⁺malla móriša bərrə́xšələ xa-xá-jarga bərrə́xšələ jargət d-tre, jargət ⁺ṱla jargət ⁺ʾarp̂a, xa-b-xá bəxzáyələ ʾoy nuynə duna ⁺pləṱlun! ⁺raba bəxdáyələ biyyé. bəšk̭alelə ʾupré tammuzelə mattuyəl ⁺ʾal-marza. baxta labúləla ⁺cavətra k̭atu ⁺ʾal-xak̭la. săbab baxtáy ci-bašliva laxma ⁺cavətra ci-labliva k̭a-ʾurzā́n ṱ-ina pəlxana ⁺ʾal-vaddar. ʾə́tvala yala-sura yala-súra-da ⁺ṱenávalə ⁺ʾal-⁺xaso lablávalə. gari šak̭lava b-dá-ʾido b-dé-ʾido ʾu-yala sura ⁺ʾal-⁺xaso lablava laxma k̭a-⁺goro, k̭a-našə. lúbəlla laxma ⁺tama. ⁺malla mərrə ⁺bəddayət mu꞊ila? mərra la. mərrə tré-danə nuynə, ptana vadənva tre-nuynə ⁺pləṱlun gu-ʾupra. ʾánnəna ʾan-nuynə. b-lablatlun, b-⁺xallatlun tamməzatlun ʾu bašlatlun k̭alyattun. ʾana ⁺bérašə ṱ-atən ṱ-⁺axlənnun.

bəšk̭alela nuynə, gə́xcəla. bitáyələ ⁺bérašə ⁺malla šuršiyya, jiyya. cúllə-yuma šima viyyəl ⁺bəṱraya ptana ⁺bar k̭ənyanə. ⁺hammam vádələ bitáyələ k̭at-yatəv laxma ⁺ʾaxəl. bəxzáyələ ʾina xa ⁺tasa, ⁺tasa gurta ⁺davvə, ⁺davvə masta ci-⁺ṱarpila c-odila ⁺xalva, ⁺k̭arila ⁺davvə, məlxa gavo miyya. ⁺dávvəna-ʾannə. muttila xa ⁺tasa ⁺gurta ⁺davvə k̭atu ʾu-laxma. xač̭č̭a mən-⁺davvə štilə mərrə bas ʾan-nuynə dax vədtḗt? mərra mut nuynə? mərrə nuynə nuynə. mərra mút-nuynə? ʾat xú-lētva xiša nuynə dok̭ətva? xíšətva ptana vada gu xak̭la. nuynə gu-nárəna. mərrə baxta ʾavən ⁺xlapax, ʾana ʾudyu k̭édamta ptana vádənva tre nuynə ⁺gurə dvik̭evən yuvvḗn k̭atax k̭at-ʾát bašlatlə k̭alyatlə ʾana ʾatən ⁺ʾaxlənnun. mərra b-alaha ʾa ⁺malla honu yúvvulə m-ida. k̭əmlə k̭a-da-baxta k̭at-maxə. ʾa-baxta k̭əmla bərrak̭a gu-našə gu mata ʾay havā́r č̭arč̭urə. cullə ʾurzə baxtáy ⁺pləṱlun cullə ⁺yaṱṱiva k̭a-⁺ʾuydálə-xina. mu꞊ilə? mu꞊ilə? mərra ⁺malla šuddə́nnələ. šuddə́nnələ. ʾay ⁺malla ʾavən ⁺xlapux, mu꞊ilə viyya? k̭am k̭a-da-baxtux mxayət? ʾayya ⁺bər-calba! ⁺bər-calba! ʾayya ⁺bər-calba! ʾana muyyən k̭ato nuynə. mara nuynə m-ica? mara mut nuynə ⁺malla? baxta márəla ⁺ʾavva k̭ati marəl ʾana nuynə muyyən mən-xak̭la, k̭álilun k̭at k̭alyannun k̭atu ⁺ʾaxəllun. ʾana꞊da lətli nuynə ʾavva꞊da k̭iməl k̭a-diyyi-mxaya. cullə ʾan-⁺xuyravatu márəna ya ʾalaha! ʾalaha raxəm ⁺ʾal-malla ʾa dulə šuddənna. ʾo-⁺malla ʾat šuddənnux honux yuvvut m-ida. gu-xak̭la, gu-ʾupra nuyna ci-lé-ʾoya! ʾay havā́r mxáyələ gu-rišu mara ʾay havā́r m-idət baxta duz marétunva. ⁺plaṱa bərrák̭ələ bərrə́xšələ. bərrə́xšələ xa taxana, taxana, ⁺xəṱṱə k̭amxa c-avədlun ʾərxə ʾətlə, ⁺ʾərxə. bərrə́xšələ mxayəl ⁺tarra. baxtu ⁺tarra ptáxula. baxtu꞊da ⁺bəddáyəla. ʾo mara ʾana lé-⁺ʾorən b-é-ducta ṱ-ila baxta ʾana lé-⁺ʾorən. mara k̭u-ta-⁺vúr. ⁺vərrux ⁺vərrux, la ⁺vərrux, har-ʾadi ⁺havar daryan k̭at-ʾat tíyyətva ⁺ʾal-gani. ⁺bəddáyət-xina? xela ʾavəd ⁺ʾalli. ⁺ʾavva majbur pyášələ. ⁺varəl gaváy beta. ʾilə ⁺xorət ⁺goro. taxana mən-ʾərxə bitáyələ. bəxpák̭əna ⁺ʾúydalə. ʾay b-šena! b-šena! ʾa dax-mənnux! tuy! ⁺raba xdili k̭am-xazzənnux ʾu-⁺bixala, bəštáyəna. ʾu taxana xəšlə ʾidu ⁺šulə ⁺xalləl. ʾe-baxtət taxana mərra k̭a ⁺malla ⁺bérašə ʾana ducti daryanna laxxa ductət ⁺gori daryanna ⁺tamma. ductət diyyux꞊da daryanna ⁺tamma. b-ʾak̭li k̭at-vədli, k̭emət ʾatət cəsli ʾən-lá, č̭ar č̭ərran taxana b-k̭ām bət-⁺k̭aṱəllux. tanyan k̭at-k̭ímətva ʾal-gani. ⁺malla ʾuxča ⁺narahát꞊ilə mara mən-gú ⁺č̭ala pəlli gu-k̭unya pəlli gu-xa-nuyra xina, ʾa mút-⁺k̭əṱma tilə b-riši? k̭am xayuyti purpəssali? xəšca váyələ bədmáxəna baxta nixa ʾak̭lo ⁺pašúṱula k̭at-⁺malla k̭ām. ⁺malla gu-k̭yamtu ducto šaxlúpola. ducto šaxlúpola ⁺goro pyášələ ⁺ʾal-gú-ʾidət ⁺malla. taxana bəxzáyələ k̭at-ʾaha k̭ímələ ⁺ʾal-ganu. ⁺maxleta, ⁺raba ⁺maxleta, bədvák̭ulə. č̭urč̭ərrə mara tapi ⁺šra tapi ⁺šra xəšcəl tapi ⁺šra xazzən ʾa-⁺bər-calba k̭am k̭ímələ ⁺ʾal-gān-diyyi. baxta márəla ʾana munšili tanyánvalux ⁺šra lətlan. ⁺nuyṱa lətlan. hallə p̂-idət diyyi ʾat xuš mən-cəs-švavə me-⁺šrá. taxana bərrə́xšələ m-cəs-švavə mayyə ⁺šra. baxta k̭atu mara xuš-dmúx. bərrə́xšəla mən-ʾəltəx mən-gu-paga máyəla xa-šarxa. máyula ⁺ʾullul bədvák̭ula. ⁺šra gu-tapetu bəxzáyələ ʾina ʾarxa dmíxələ ⁺malla. taxana ləbbu p̂k̭áyələ. mara ʾay ⁺havā́r lá-ʾavə ⁺šəmya ʾaha. mərra ʾa šarxa ⁺ʾuxča ṱ-ilə ⁺byayux lipəl ⁺ʾallux. tiyyəl bəlcaxux꞊ilə bəlcaxux꞊lə ʾat xšivət ⁺ʾavva k̭iməl ⁺ʾal-ganux. mara xuš-mattil šopu ʾana bərrəxšən har-ʾadiyya lé-⁺bayyena, bənxapən k̭at-ʾa-ʾarxət diyyi k̭ām ʾana ʾatxa ʾavən xšiva bazu, balcət ʾavə ⁺šəmya. ʾana bərrəxšən ʾat ci-⁺yaṱṱat mujjur daryatlə ʾal-ʾurxa. taxana bərrə́xšələ. ʾaha mak̭k̭úmula mara k̭u xuš tani k̭a-baxtux k̭at-k̭alat vədli. ⁺máxlili. ⁺páxəlli. la ⁺dili. la ⁺p̂urmili, ʾadi mayyalun nuynə mattalun k̭amaytux. bərrə́xšələ. k̭a-baxta mara ⁺maxleta! la ⁺dili, ʾana xšəvli, k̭at baxta múdila. mərra hi ʾaxtun bəxšávətun baxta hə́č-məndila. ʾina baxta k̭a-gano nášəla, hona ʾətla, ⁺p̂armeta ʾətla. mara ⁺maxleta bəṱlabən. mara ʾadi tuy ductux ʾana nuynux mayyannə. nuynə k̭ulita, muyyita muttita k̭amaytu, ⁺bixala.

One day, there was a mullah, a mullah. In the village people were sitting talking a lot together. One was talking with the other, men. Those Muslims—the men are by themselves and the women are by themselves. The men were saying ‘What a woman—a female—can do, no man, buffaloes or ploughs can do.’ Buffaloes are so strong. Ploughs—those things that cleave the ground, plough. Do you understand? Yes, they cannot do it. ‘A female is stronger than anything, when she wants to do something.’ The mullah having eaten in (his) house, having had a drink, having had a shower, having scrubbed his back—they loved him very much—says ‘What is this talk? A woman is weak. They call women weak, that is she is inferior. What is a woman that she can do something for a man?’ They say ‘No, what a woman can do a man cannot do.’ The mullah takes notice of the other mullahs, the other people. He comes home and confronts his wife, saying ‘You, a woman, what could you do for me?’ She says ‘Nothing, what shall I do for you?’ He says ‘They say that what a woman can do no man can do, nor can buffaloes or ploughs do it. So, what are you? What are you? What will you do for me? For example, if you want to do it, what would you do?’ She says ‘Man, with respect, do not take any notice the opinion of people. We have a beautiful life. They want to destroy our life. Why have you taken notice of the opinion of people?’ ‘No, come on, let me see what you want to do. Come on, what do you want to do?’ He starts to beat her and shake her. ‘Come on, let me see what you will do.’ She says ‘God, the mullah has lost his mind.’ He says ‘Let all your family lose their mind! Why should I lose my mind? Come on, I want to see what you will do.’ She says ‘Do you want this? Do you really want this?’ He says ‘Yes, I want to see what you want to do.’ The mullah used to go and plough, plough, in the countryside, in the field, he would plough, with two oxen. The woman went and bought from the market two very large, white fish. She took them and put them in the ground, there, in the place where the mullah would plough. The mullah goes in the morning, he (ploughs and) goes one furrow, the second furrow, the third furrow, the fourth furrow, suddenly he sees—oh!—fish have come out! He is very happy with them. He takes them, cleans the soil off them and puts them aside. The wife brings him lunch, to him, to the field. (This is) because women would cook food and take lunch to the men who were working outside. (If) she had a child, she would also carry the child on her back and take him (with her). She had to take (things) with this hand and that hand, and with the child on her back she would take food to her husband, to the people. She brought bread there. The mullah said ‘Do you know what?’ She said ‘No.’ He said ‘Two fish—I was ploughing and two fish came out of the soil. These are the fish. You should take them, wash them, clean them, and cook and fry them. I shall come in the evening to eat them.’

She takes the fish and laughs. The mullah comes back in the evening, exhausted and tired. The entire day he has been driving the plough behind animals. He has a shower and come to sit to eat (his) food. He sees that there is a bowl, a big bowl of yoghurt water—yoghurt water, they would beat yoghurt, they make it into milk, they call it yoghurt water, (they put) salt in it and water. This is yoghurt milk. She put out for him a large bowl of yoghurt together with bread. He drank a little of the yoghurt water and said ‘But how have you done the fish?’ She said ‘What fish?’ He said ‘The fish, the fish.’ She said ‘What fish? Surely you had not gone to catch fish, you had gone to plough in the field. Fish are in the river.’ He said ‘Wife, please, this morning (when) I was ploughing, I caught two fish and gave them so that you would cook and fry them and I would come to eat them.’ ‘By God, this mullah has lost his mind.’ He got up to beat the woman. The woman got up and ran to the people in the village. ‘Oh help’ she shouts. All the men and women came out. They all knew one another, you see. ‘What is it? What is it?’ She said ‘The mullah has gone mad. He has gone mad. ‘Hey, mullah, excuse me, what has happened? Why are you beating this wife of yours?’ That son of a dog! That son of a dog! That son of a dog! ‘I brought fish to her and she says “Fish from where?”’ They say ‘What fish mullah?’ The woman says ‘He says to me “I brought fish from the field, fry them!” so that I fry them for him to eat. But I do not have fish. He then set about beating me.’ All those friends of his say ‘Oh God! God have mercy on the mullah, he has gone mad.’ ‘Oh mullah, you have gone mad. You have lost your mind. It is not possible at all for a fish to be in the field, in the soil!’ ‘Oh woe!’ He hits his head. He says ‘Oh woe (for what I have suffered) from the hand of a woman. You were speaking the truth.’ He goes out running and going (on his way). He goes to a miller—a miller, he makes wheat and flour, he has a water-mill, a water-mill. He goes and knocks on the door. His wife opens the door. His wife knows (the situation). He says ‘I shall not enter. I shall not enter a place in which there is a woman.’ She says ‘Come in. (If) you enter, you enter. (If) you do not enter, I shall right now cry for help (saying) that you came upon me—you know, (she means) in order to rape me.’ He is obliged (to do so) and enters the house. He is the friend of her husband. The miller comes back from the water-mill. They embrace one another ‘Oh hello, hello, what a surprise to see you! Sit down. I am very happy to see you.’ They eat and drink. The miller went to wash his hands and so forth. The wife of the miller said to the mullah ‘In the evening I shall lay my (sleeping) place here and the place of my husband over there. I shall lay also your place over there. When I kick (you), get up and come to me. If not, I shall scream and the miller will get up and kill you. I shall say that you mounted me’. The mullah was very distressed and says ‘I have fallen from a pit into a well, I have fallen into another fire. What has come upon me? Why have I ruined my life?’ It becomes dark and they go to sleep. The woman slowly stretches out her leg (indicating) that the mullah should get up. When the mullah gets up, she changes her place. She changes her place and her husband ends up in the hands of the mullah. The miller sees that he has mounted him—excuse me, excuse me—and seizes him. He screams and says ‘Light a lamp! Light a lamp! It is dark. Light a lamp so that I can see why this son of a dog has mounted me.’ The woman says ‘I forgot to tell you, we do not have a lamp. We do not have oil. Give him into my hands and you go and bring a lamp from the neighbours.’ The miller goes and brings a lamp from the neighbours. The woman says to him ‘Go and sleep.’ She goes and brings a calf from below, from the stable. She brings it upstairs and grips it. When he lights the lamp, he sees that the guest is asleep, the mullah. The heart of the miller bursts (with fear). He says ‘Oh woe, I hope he has not heard.’ She said ‘This calf desires you so much that he is used to you and it came to lick you, to lick you, but you thought that he mounted you.’ He says ‘Go and put it back in its place. I am going now, I do not want (anything). I am ashamed that this guest of mine will get up when I have thought such a thing about him, perhaps he has heard. I am going, you know how to put him on the road. The miller goes off. She gets him up saying ‘Get up, go and tell your wife “I made a mistake. Forgive me, pardon me. I did not know. I did not understand,” then she will bring the fish and place them in front of you.’ He goes and say to the wife ‘Forgive me. I don’t think I knew what a woman is.’ She said ‘Yes, you think that a woman is nothing. But a woman is a human being in her own right, she has a mind and she has understanding.’ He says ‘I beg forgiveness.’ She says ‘Now sit in your place.’ Afterwards she fries the fish and brings them and puts them before him, he eats (them).