Hočąk Text — The Animal Spirit Aids of the Medicine Rite

Hočąk Text — The Animal Spirit Aids of the Medicine Rite

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake

The following are Greek letters used as morpheme abbreviations in Radin's text. Their values correspond, with the exception of γ, to those given in Radin's notebook Winnebago II, #6, on the interstitial page between 107/108:

α	β	γ	ε	η	θ	ρ	τ
égi	éja	hą́bera	gáją	žesge	janąga	ánąga	gíži

psi	ω	T
hąké	žegų	wąkšigo'ina

In the interlinear text where the translation is missing, it has been supplied whenever possible from the English text of The Road of Life and Death (see Source below). Where a missing translation has been supplied from other sources, it is enclosed in brackets, [ ].

English Translation

p. 207 —

wogų́zotcíra*	djasgágere	jesgámįkíji	tcokiságera	wanoią́keréregí
Wogų́zočíra	jasgágere	žesgámįkíži	čokiságera	wanoią́keréregí,
The Creation Lodge	[how ...]	[that] laid	middle of tent	[when] they put their minds to it,

*just before this word is a double vertical line and a lattice work mark that indicates the beginning of the story.

hą́bera	rukírikíri	mįkce	aírena	[τ]
hą́bera	rukírikíri	mįkše,	aíreną,	giži.
the light	shimmering	it lay,	it is said	[.]

wągerégi	wajągų́zera	wokúruxítc	huhíje	[ε´]
Wągerégi	Wažągų́zera	wokúruxíč	huhíže	gáją.
From above	the Creator	he looked down	[towards it]	[.]

wogų́zera	xgicgúni	jesgákiji	wogųzera	karaíp'įje
Wogų́zera	xgišgúni	žesgákiži,	wogųzera	karaíp'įže.
His creation	it moved about	[when that way,]	his creation	he was pleased with it.

[α]	wágiwéwįje	wajǫ́niją́	kókicgaínegi	p'į́na
Égi	wágiwéwįže.	Wažǫ́nižą́	kókišgaínegi	p'į́ną,
[And]	he thought for them.	A thing	if they associate with*	it would be good.

*first "they follow after" is crossed out and below it, "they do after him" is also crossed out. The standing translation is written in small letters above what has been crossed out.

p. 208 —

híre[τ]´	waųjé	wánįgíją	ų́je	nąboréhi	ų́je
híregíži.	Waųžé.	Wánįgížą	ų́že.	Nąboréhi	ų́že,
he thought.	[He did it.]	A bird	[he made.]	With his own hands	he made,

roídja	kúruz[ρ´]	tcaxcébera	sądjąxdjį́ją	hinų́girakírus
roíja	kúruzánąga	čaxšébera	sąjąxjį́žą	hinų́girakírus
from his body	he took from his own and	eagle	an awe inspiring one*	with females

*the interlinear translation read, "big bold (white)", with "bold" crossed out.

ų́je	[τ´]	maį́djidjehíje	[ε´]	hą́bera
ų́že	gíži.	Maį́jijehíže	gáją.	Hą́bera
[he made]	[.]	He placed it on earth	[.]	The light

rukírikíri	jesgaidjehíje	[α]	hinųberá	ų́je
rukírikíri	žesgaijehíže.	égi	hinųberá	ų́že.
shimmering	he made it that way.	And	the females	[he made.]

roídja	kúruz[ρ´]	wanįgíją	ų́je	keredjǫ́seberá
Roíja	kúruzánąga	wanįgížą	ų́že.	Kerejǫ́seberá
From his body	he took from his own and	a bird	[he made.]	[Black hawk]*

*the interlineary translation has "sparrow black", and the Road of Life and Death has "sparrow hawk".

hinų́girakírus	ų́je	sądjąxdjį́ją	wagių́je	hatcį́dja
hinų́girakírus	ų́že.	Sąjąxjį́žą	wagių́že.	Hačį́ja
females [he got for him]	[he made.]	An awe inspiring one	[he made it.]	In front

tcóni	hidjehí[τ]	[β]	hidjehíje	[ε´]
čóni	hijehígiži	eja	hijehíže	gáją.
the first	he placed down [so that]	[there]	[he was made to stand]	[.]

Hą́berá	djasgé[τ]	hidjaíra	hidjehíje.	Nąkéra
Hą́berá	jasgégiži	hijaíra	hijehíže.	Nąkéra
Light	[how]	further	it extended.	back*

*originally, "in back of him", but everything except "back" was crossed out.

hą́berá*	rugigís	jesgádjeje	[τ´]	karaíp'įje	[α]
hą́berá	rugigís	žesgáježe	gíži.	Karaíp'įže.	Égi
light	round	[it was thus]	[.]	He was pleased with it.	And

*the text has, "(hą́bera = γ)".

hidanína	ų́je	rohísanįgoícoroídja	kuruz[ρ´]
hitanína	ų́že.	Rohísanįgoíšoroíja	kuruzánąga
a third time	[he created.]	From the right side of his body	he took from his own and

ną́borehi	ų́je	zígera	sądjąxdjį́ją	hinų́girakírus
ną́borehi	ų́že.	Zígera	sąjąxjį́žą	hinų́girakírus
with his own hands	[he made.]	Squirrel	awe inspiring	females [he got for him]

ų́je	[α]	hódjewahínąka	[β]	hidjéhi[ε´]
ų́že.	égi	hójewahínąka	eja	hijéhigáją,
[he made.]	And	the spot they're placing them	[at]	[when he was caused to stand,]

rugísdjinókce	zigenǫ́ka	ųxíninisgéją	hįná	juránisge
rugísjinókše,	zigenǫ́ka.	ųxíninisgéžą	hįná	žuránisge
he curled up,	[this squirrel.]	He looked like a red hot coal,	his hair	like a dollar*

*"money" is written above the English line in small letters. What is meant is a silver dollar. See Radin's note below.

rugísdjinǫkce	[τ´]	[γ]	hiraídjaíra	djínǫkce
rugísjinǫkše,	gíži.	Hą́berá	hiraíjaíra	jínǫkše.
he curled up	[.]	[Light]	bigger	[he made].

[γ]	rukírikíri	kirinǫ́kce	[α]	hidjóberá
Hą́berá	rukírikíri	kirinǫ́kše.	Égi	hijóberá
[Light]	shimmering	it became.*	And	the fourth time

*this is written over "when he sat up", which has been crossed out.

ų́je	rosánįk	hoícoroídja	róra	nįge
ų́že.	Rosánįk	hoíšoroíja	róra	nįge
[he made.]	Side of his body	from the right	the flesh	a piece

p. 209 —

kúruz[ρ´]	nąboréhi	djíre[ε´]	widjúksígera	sądjąxdjį́ją
kúruzánąga	nąboréhi	jíregáją,	wijúksígera	sąjąxjį́žą
he took from his own and	with his own hands	[having made,]	the weasel	awe inspiring

hinų́girakírus	ų́je	hatcį́dja	wá'uną́kijí	[β]
hinų́girakírus	ų́že.	Hačį́ja	wá'uną́kiží	eja
females [he got for him]	[he made.]	[Where]	he they are	[there]

hidjehí[ε]	[psi]	wikéreknijé	hixgǫ́na	wápakónok
hijehígają	hąké	wikéreknižé.	Hixgǫ́na	wápakónok
he placed them, but	not	he wasn't still.	His movement	clever*

*what appear to read, "be too smart" is crossed out and "clever" written above it.

jesgánąjį́je	djasgéxdjį	hoixgǫxgǫ	djire[τ´]	djasgéxdjį
žesgánąžį́že	jasgéxjį	hoixgǫxgǫ	jiregíži	jasgéxjį
as he stood	the amount of space	he moved in	that he began	that much as

hąp	djinǫgíje	[α]	hisatcǫ́na	nąboréhi
hąp	jinǫgíže.	égi	hisačǫ́na	nąboréhi
light	he made it.	[And]	the fifth	with his own hands

ų́je	roídja	kúruz[ρ´]	[τ´]	[γ]
ų́že.	Roíja	kúruzánąga	gíži	hąp
he made.	From his body	he took and	then	light

hirukonagigijé	rábera*	sądjąxdjįją	ųjé	hinų́girakírus
hirukonagigižé.	Rábera	sąjąxjįžą	ųžé.	Hinų́girakírus
he put in charge of.	The beaver	an awe inspiring one	he made.	mates [he got for him]

*just before this word, ducónoger has been crossed out.

ų[τ´]	hoidjé	wahínǫka	[β]	hidjehí[ε´]
ųgíži	hoijé,	wahínǫka	eja	hijehígáją
[having made,]	where he placed him,	the spot he placed them,	there	he placed them.

[γ]	hiraitcéra.	[γ]	rukírikíri*	kiridjé.
hą́berá	hiraičéra.	Hą́berá	rukírikíri	kirijé
Light	bigger.	Light	shimmering,	it sparkled.

*an initial /h/ has crossed out and /r/ written above it.

hijé	nįgé	wawojúnǫkíji	haruxa	[γ]
hižé.	Nįgé	wawožúnǫkíži,	haruxa	hą́berá
[it caused.]	The place	the place that he's keeping him,	continuously	light

hiraitcéra	háreje	[α]	waųjé	rohísanįk
hiraičéra	háreže.	égi	waųžé.	Rohísanįk
[bigger]	it continued.	[And]	[he did it.]	[Side of his body]

hoicoroidja	róra	nįgé	kúruz[ρ´]	ną́borehídjire[ε´]
hoišoroija	róra	nįgé	kúruzánąga	ną́borehíjiregáją
[from the right]	the flesh	piece	he took and	with his own hands,

docónogra	sądjąxdjį́ją	hinų́girakírus	ųjé	[τ´]
tošónogra	sąjąxjį́žą	hinų́girakírus	ųžé	gíži.
the otter	awe inspiring	mates [he got]	he made	[.]

hatcį́dja	hidjewahinókiji	[β]	hidjejí[ε]	[γ]
hačį́ja	hijewahinókiži	eja	hiježígáją	hą́berá
Where	he's placing him	there	as he stood him,	light

kárapiésge	jesgádjinǫkce	nįgé	wawojúnąki	[β]
kárapiésge	žesgájinǫkše	nįgé	wawožúnąki	eja
it was nice.	[He came forth in this way.]	[Place]	[the place he's keeping him]	[there]

[τ]	jejénuga	nąborehí	u[ρ´]	[γ]
giži.	Žežénuga	nąborehí	uánąga	hą́berá
[.]	[That many]	with his own hands	he made and	light*

*the interlinear translation has "day".

p. 210* —

xedéhí	hirukóna	wágigíje	[ω]	hi[ρ´]
xetéhí	hirukóna	wágigíže.	Žegų	hiánąga
great amount†	in charge	he put them.	[Now]	[he did it and]

*on an interstitial page between 209/210, the following is written: "juránisge — like money, shining". This pertains to the entry above.
†the interlinear translation has, "the large part".

[α]	wogúzera	tcáwa	húwagigigíje	wą́gerégi
égi	Wogúzera	čáwa	húwagigigíže.	Wą́gerégi
[then]	the Creator*	come towards	he made them come.	From above

*the Road of Life and Death has "Creation Lodge".

wanįgrá	hop'įxdjíją	hadjí	tcąt'į́je	[τ´]
wanįgrá	hop'įxjížą	hají	čąt'į́že,	gíži.
a bird	with a very nice voice	there*	it appeared	[.]

*just before this word, "the" has been crossed out.

wą́gerégi	mąxí	hadjanógwiré	tcodégi	hatcį́dja
Wą́gerégi	mąxí	hajanógwiré	čotégi	hačį́ja
[Up above]	the clouds	we see	below	[where]

hokiságera	here[τ´]	[β´]	wánąhéreje	wanahére[τ´]
hokiságera	heregíži.	éja	wánąhéreže.	Wanahéregíži
the middle	it was.	[There]	they stopped.*	[When] they stopped†

*the word "shout" is written above a crossed out, "the place to ——". The word "shout" was not crossed out, however the appropriate translation is seen in the succeeding word. This is confirmed by a note on an interstitial page — see below.
†just before these words, "time to holler" has been crossed out.

woxdjį́na	ewasgerérekáragíreje	[τ´]	waniótcge	hį́sgara
woxjį́na	ewasgerérekáragíreže	gíži.	Wanióčge	hį́sgara
[bear's lair]*	they made plates out of them†	[.]	Animal‡	white hair

*not translated in the interlinear text and translated as "bear seats" in the Road of Life and Death.
†this translation is from Road of Life and Death. The interlinear has only "it there" before which "their dish they made" has been crossed out, and above this is also crossed out, the plates they eat".
‡this is written above some crossed out letters.

herasaíją	heradajájapdjį	tcąt'įhuje	tcáka	kiságedja
herasaížą	heratažážapjį	čąt'įhuže.	Čiáka	kiságeja
with horns	horns pealing off (shedding)*	it appeared.†	The lodge	in the middle

*this is written above "horn striped" which is crossed out. "Shedding" is the translation given in Road of Life and Death.
†this is written above "came out distinctly", which has been crossed out.

hą́biyagax*	tcąt'į́hujé	[α]	([θ]ka)‡	hanątcįxdjį
hą́biyagax	čąt'į́hužé.	égi	(janąka)	hanąčįxjį
the mark of light†	it appeared.	[And]	[as many as]	[all of them]

*the /y/ is inserted above the line with a caret.
†a word is scribbled out after these words.
‡the parentheses are in the text.

hanídjinógiréje	hucéregrá	sgáxdjį	hojúdjejé	wasgéra
haníjinógiréže,	hušéregrá	sgáxjį	hožúježé,	wasgéra.
they grabbed him,	the bones	[very white]	it was filled	the dish.

hąbirut'ét'ekdjį	jesgádjeje	hinųbóhǫna	naį́sawą́gerégi
Hąbirut'ét'ekjį	žesgáježe.	Hinųbóhǫna	naį́sawą́gerégi
Light shrunk very (passed quickly)*	he made it.	The second time	just above the tree tops

*before these words, /sh/ has been crossed out. The interlinear text has "day" for "light". The words "passed quickly" were written over "shrunk very" as a gloss; however, the reference is to the Light and Life which this animal brought with him.

([β]dji)*	wanahéreje	[τ´]	wanoítcge	hį́sgará
(ejaji)	wanahéreže	gíži.	Wanoíčge	hį́sgará
[there]	[he stopped]	[.]	Animal	white hair

*the parentheses are in the text.

herasaíją	wasgédja	tcąt'įhúje	rokísagédja	hąbiwagáx
herasaížą	wasgéja	čąt'įhúže.	Rokísagéja	hąbiwagáx
a horned one	in the dish	it appeared.	In middle of body	[mark of light]

tcąt'įhúje	[τ´]	([θ]ka)*	hanątcįxdjį	hanídjinógire[τ´]
čąt'įhúže	gíži.	(Janąka)	hanąčįxjį	haníjinógiregíži,
it appeared.	[As many as]	[all of them]	who grabbed him,	they left a little piece of him†

*the parentheses are in the text.
†this is written over the following, which has been crossed out: "they took (?) out (?)" and after this, "take his elemental spontaneity out".

warácewek	hįbíreje	jeé	nįk
warášewek	hįbíreže,	žeé	nįk
[everyone took a hand in,]	[they permited,]	[that one]	young ones

hixédehi*	hiuínekdjéra	erejé‡	hodahíregá
hixétehi	hiuínekjéra	erežé,	hotahíregá.
to raise up†	they might use	it was it,	they left there.

*/hi/ is written over characters that have been completely blacked out.
†this is written below, "they make large" which has been crossed out.
‡< herežé.

p. 211* —

[α]	wogų́zotcíra	hadjíre[τ´]	hokawádjinágiregí
égi	Wogų́zočíra	hajíregíži,	hokawájinágiregí,
[And]	[the Creation Lodge]	when they came to,	when they were about to enter,

*the interstial page between 210/211 has, "warahéreje — they stopped". This applies to the entry above. On the same page it also says, "ornaments in nose of medicine bag" and applies to the entry below.

tcíra	djasgedjáka	haną́tcįxdjį	pedjerá	hoxíninadjikéreje
číra	jasgejáka	haną́čįxjį	pejerá	hoxíninajikéreže
the lodge	all within*	all of it	the fire	sparks flew in every direction†

*this is written below, "however it was" which has been crossed out.
†before these words, "spread all over" has been crossed out as well as something else written above it.

[τ´]	waxopini*	hokirádjera	wogųzotciroixdjiǫ́ka	haną́tcįxdjį
gíži.	Waxopini	hokirájera	Wogųzočiroixjiǫ́ka,	haną́čįxjį
[.]	Spirits	all kinds	the Creation Lodge was full,	all of them

*this appears to have been written with a double /n/.

nųwąk´	wahíreje	pų́xaworázera	jée	pédjera
nųwąk´	wahíreže.	Pų́xaworázera	žée	péjera
they scared them	[they caused them to be.]*	What he had in nose†	[that]	fire

*the word "them" is all that is written here, and just before that word, "very" has been crossed out.
†this is written above the following, which is crossed out: "a dragon with big nose".

rawé	wadjaíreje	[α]	djasgeowaną́gere
rawé	wajaíreže.	égi	jasgeowaną́gere
to carry in mouth	they saw them with it.	[And]	as they were going*

*this is written above "the path they were going by" which was not crossed out.

jégowakírir[ρ´]	hitcųcge	gikarádjirera	hominógenǫka
žégowakíriránąga	hičųšge	gikarájirera	hominógenǫka
that way they went and back around and	"nephew"	the one whom we call	he is getting

nąke-hiédja	hakirí	higihís	minǫ́girejé	pų́xaworázera
nąke-hiéja	hakirí	higihís	minǫ́girežé.	Pų́xaworázera
in back of him	back there	[in a row ?]*	they sat.	What he had in nose†

*the word "around" has been crossed out and something unreadable written above it.
†this refers to the animal skin medicine bags. See the entry above.

p'įhínįk	hobodúdus	minǫ́giréje	hąhą	wacdjįge
p'įhínįk	hobotútus	minǫ́giréže.	"Hąhą	Wašjįge,
lightly	swaying to and fro*	they sat.	"[Well]	Hare,

*this is the translation of the Road of Life and Death. The interlinear translation has "were fanned", before which "they blow breeze" has been crossed out as well as what was written above it.

niegé	mejegų	hinádjirékdjenáwina	hiją́	hokiúna
niegé	mežegų	hinájirékjenáwiną.	Hižą́	hokiúna
us also	thus	they will call on us for.	[One]	he imitates

p'įwiwį́[τ´]	hiją́	wiwiná	p'įwiwí[τ´]	[T]
p'įwiwį́gíži,	hižą́	wiwiná	p'įwiwígíži,	wąkšigo'ina
if he does it well,	one	[doing it]	if he does it well,	life

de[η]	hinádjiránihékdjanáwina
težesge	hinájiránihékjanáwiną."
as	in the past they would call them."

English Translation

Source:

Jasper Blowsnake, Untitled, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3887 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Library, n.d.) Winnebago II, #7: 207-211. An English version is found in Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 287-289.