Hočąk Text — The Birth of the Twins, Version 3

Hočąk Text — The Birth of the Twins, Version 3

narrated (or collected) by Sam Blowsnake

This text was contained in a notebook labled "Texts by Sam Blowsnake". However, this version is very different from Sam Blowsnake's (here given as Version 1), which Radin published in connection with the Twins Cycle. It may be that the text is "by" Sam Blowsnake only in the sense that he collected it from one of the elders some time ago, a practice he pursued frequently for Paul Radin ca. 1912.

Susman's interlinear is often inconsistent with her free translation, so I have selected the translation that is the more standard of the two. I have also dropped her format of analysing every affix used in an expression.

The pagination is irregular because of intervening pages of lexical notes which are here omitted.

English Translation

p. 7 —

Č'iną́kižą	'éčanąkše.	Hųkará	hičánakšana,	č'inąk´
A village	there it sat.	The chief	he sat in there,	village

hok'isákeča	nįkšą́kara	k'erep'ą́nąijawįžé.	Hižąk'íra	hinųkará
in the center	the children	there were ten.	One	the female

herežé.	Žekų́kiži*	hinų́kanįkšéka	'e†	hių́kįwįną́
she was.	That's so	that small woman	she	the queen‡

*the text has žekųkiži.
†after this word, /hiu/ is crossed out.
‡a yųgįwį is almost always a princess and certainly is in this case.

hèreže,	hų́kará	hinúkara.	Hakoréžą	hinúkanį́k
she was,	the chief	the woman.	Some time	small woman

čąné	wąkížą	hok'icką́ne.	Hi`ąčará	hąk'é
this	a man	who went with her.	Her father	not

p. 9 —

kikíp'įnįže,	žiké	hi'ųnį́nackè	hak'é	kip'į́nįže.
he did not like him,	and	her mother also	not	she did not like him.

Wąk´	hok'icką́ne*	žeská	nųnįke	hak'é	wažįkairanįžè.
Man	who went with her	so	but	not	they did not say anything.

*after this word, hak'é is crossed out.

Hoské	wa'ųčékúnį,	hiraíreke.	Hąk'é	horók?onįkšąnéguni,
[For nothing]	[perhaps he did it,]	they thought.	Not	she will not marry (a man) perhaps,

hiraíreke.	'Ų́čehírekàčą.	'Ųčą'ų	horokšé.	Žekųki
they thought.	They kept doing it.	[Finally,]	they were married.	Then

p. 11 —

hinúkanį́kšane	š'ágwahirá	hąk'é	kip'į́nan`įže.	Hi'ą́čará
this girl	her parents	not	they did not like it.	Her father

wakéžé,	"Hinųk´	haxčí,	hírak'ą́ną	č'ąną.
he told her,	"Girl	my own,	husband	you have.

Hak'é	č'iréki	š'ų́račekše,*	žeskánį́ną.	Nikéra
Not	at home	you should be,	so it must not be.	Somewhere

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

č'ikše.	Žeskeną."	Žekúkiži	hinų́kanį́kšane	wéžé,
you have to live.	It must be so."	Then	this girl	she said,

"Žeské	hakšąnéną.	Niké	hač'íkšanéną.	Harí
"Thus	I will do.	Somewhere	I will live.	Way out

niké	wawatánąka	'éča	te'éži	hak'é
somewhere	I am going and	there	because	not

p. 13 —

hinaíp'įwiníną.	'Éske	hąk'é	č'inaki
you do not like us.	So	not	around the village

hač'inikšąnéną.	'E	hak'é	hįščánįkšąwíną.	Éki
I will not live.	So	not	[not to be seen anymore.]	And

p. 15 —

hik'ąnąná	hak'ižúk	niké	hìrohári	howaraíreže.
her husband	with her	someplace	way off	they went.

Hònąnóhąxčį	éki	éča	hič'ik'ik'ukreže.	Éča
Lots of places to sleep	and	there	they made their home.	There

č'íreže.	Éki	hinų́kšàne	mą́woča	hik'išérianaka
they lived.	And	this woman	fruits in the ground	she handled and

rohą́hiki	warúčkúzanąka	mąnį́ki	wi'ų́įrekšeže*	Ské
when they made lots of them	to save them and	next winter	they would use them.	So

*Susman indicates below the line that wi'ų- is short for wahi'ų-.

waki'ų́že.	Éki	wą́kšąne	wanǫíčke	honįánaka
they did them for.	And	this man	wild animals	he hunted and

p. 17 —

wanǫíčke	t'ehíka	waoįnį́kirika.	Éki	hinų́kan`ąkare
wild animals	he killed and	he brought them back.	And	this woman

wanįná	tawús	wahíanaka	hará	warušą́wąnąka
the meat	dry	she made them and	the hides	she tanned and

č'a-hára	wakučé	wa'ųwánaka	éki	wanǫíčke
deer hide	moccasins	she did them and	and	animals

hičąnéra*	womíž	wa'ų́wanąka	w[ai]ną́†	wà'ųs'áže.
the different ones	she spread them	she made them and	cover	she would make them.

*hįna is crossed out and néra written above it.
†an ink run and smudge has obscured a number of letters in this word.

Žéžek`ų	hínaks'aže.	Éki	hakoréžą	hinų́kan`ąkare
That way	she used to do all the time.	And	after awhile	this woman

p. 19 —

nįkšą́kanįkšą́ne.	Žeskéže.	Hakoréžą	herekí	'įnék'ixčįže.
she was going to have a child.	So it was.	Time	when it was	she was by herself.

Hąk'é	wakičíreč'ųníže.	Hik'ąnąná	c`ąną	herežé.
Not	she had no one to help her.	Her husband	only	he was.

'Éki	nįkšąk	hanįki	nųp'íwiže.	Éki
And	child	when she had	there were two.	And

hinųkanąkare	hik'íšąnąkí	t'ežé.	Éki	wą́kšane
this woman	when she hurt herself,	she died.	And	this man

p. 21 —

žeskíreže,	"Hič'ą́wįhararéške	t'ékąčą,	nįkšą̀kanįkanákare	hak'é
thus he thought,	"My wife	even if she died,	these little children	not

hinųpík'e	wani'ų́tuxurúkanikšąnékača,"	híreže.	'Éske	wa'ųže.
both of them	I cannot bring them up,"	he thought.	Then	he did it.

Nįkšą́kanikanákare	hižą́	rúzanaka	č'áha	nįke
These little children	one	he took and	deerskin	piece

p. 22 —

hirowéčą́naka	nąxák'ųhą́įča	t'ų́pce.	'Éki	hičąnéra
he wrapped and	under a fallen tree	he put it.	And	the other

níp'ą́ną	hok'ųs'aže.	'Ų́nąk'ų́	xetenį́k'iže.	'Éki
soup	he usually gave him.	[Finally,]	he kept getting bigger.	And

p. 23 —

wa'ų́žé,	wa'į́ną́č'įhiąnaka	wažoníreže.	Xap'ék'iriže.
he did this,	they had more than enough to eat and	he went to hunt something.	He soon came back.

Nįkšakará	p'į'ųną́k'ų	kírize.	Žekų́ki	wąkšąné
The child	when he was doing well	he came back.	Then	this man

p'į́že.	'Éki	žežek`ųhíčes'áže.	Hakoréža	hit'éwarap'įanaka
it pleased him.	And	they kept doing that.	After awhile	he learned to talk and

šgač	k'ip'į́že.	'Éki	wa'ų́žé.	Č'asį́čará
to play	he was able.	And	he did this.	The deer tails

p. 24 —

rohą́	tuč[...]o?ną.	Hické	wikickánaka	hikicík
lots	cooked well done.	Basswood bark	he tied it and	he hung them up

hinąnąk´	wahiže,	č'išúečą.	'Eki	wakéže,
here and there	he did them,	to the lodge poles.	And	he told him,

"Hinikáxčį	t'eé	waračšų́nųkšąneną,	tonį́k'ewehikí."	'Éki
"My son,	this	you are going to eat,	when you get hungry."	And

p. 26 —

žeské	hičes'áže.	Hi'ąčara	wažoní	reka,
thus	he used to do.	His father	hunting	while he was out,

čačąhireka	waruččes'aže.	'Eki	hakoréžą	žiké
anytime he wanted	he could eat.	Then	sometime	again

mąčkú	ki'ųže.	'Éki	kikųsšé.	Mą́wikúčora
bow	he made for him.	And	he taught him.	The shooting of arrows

p. 27 —

warup'į́že.	'Éki	žeské	his'áže.	Č'irókeča
he did well with them by hand.	And	thus	he always did.	Inside the lodge

mąwikučés'aže.	'Éki	žiké	wakéžé,	"Hinį́khaxč`į,
he were always shooting his bow.	And	again	he said,	"My own son,

čirókareki	caną	'ųąče,	hak'é	hihiną́pnią́že."
inside the lodge	only	stay,	not	do not go out."

'Éki	žeské	his'aže.	Hakoréžą,	'ų́čą'ų́,
And	so	he always did.	[In time,]	[finally,]

mąná	hižą	čąkéča	howaírehíže.	'Éki
the arrow	one	outside	he made it go in a certain path.	And

p. 28 —

hinápanaka	hač'į́čaxčį	howaíreki	'éča	honįžé.
he went out and	exactly where	where he made it go in a certain path	there	he looked for it.

Hak'í'eniže.*	'Éske	č'irokįkį́xrekačą.†	'Éča	hoč'į́č'į́nįkižą
He did not find it.	So	he went around the lodge.	There	a boy

*< hąké-hi'eniže.
†< čira-hokįkįxregają.

p. 29 —

čéžé.	'Éki	mąrá	hákanį́'ų́čežé.	"Mąrá
he stood.	And	the arrow	he took.	"The arrow

huk'áraík'ure,	niánįną."	'Eki	hoč'įč'įnįkjąne	wéžé,
give me my own,	it's mine."	And	this little boy	he said,

"Ya'éną,	mą́te'é.	'Eske	nįánį."	'Éki
"I found it,	this arrow.	So	it's mine."	And

wakéžé,	"K'oté	hóik'ewekšéną.	Č'irókareki	hįškačíkšéną.
he said,	"Say!	let's go inside.	Inside the lodge	we will play.

p. 30 —

Hįwarúčikšánąške."	'Eki	hak'ížú	hok'ewéže,	č'irókežè.
We will eat too."	And	with him	he went in,	inside the lodge.

'Éki	wakéžé,	"K'oté	warúčaré.	Te'é
And	he said,	"Say!	eat.	This

p. 31 —

waháčačeną,"	hikéžé.	'Éki	č'įč'įkšą́né	warúčkí,
I eat,"	he says.	And	this boy	when he ate,

rohą	ručce.	'Éki	ckačará	'ų́xčíreže.
lots	he eats.	And	play	they did a lot.

Č'irá	womį́žara	wanąžéžerežè.	'Éki	'ųnąk'ų
The lodge	the rug	they disturbed with their feet.	And	while doing it

č'įč'į́kšąné	wežé,	"K'oté	hi'áčaraka	ruhóną."
this boy	he said,	"Say!	your father	[he is starting back."]

p. 32 —

'Ánaka	hihinaponąkšé.	Kačą́	hakša	hois'įčíčiánaka	wéžé,
He says and	he ran out.	Then	back	he came looking and	he said,

"Wak'ík'ununį,"	'ánaka	niké	kokįnąkše.	'Éki	hi'ąčará
"Forget it,"	he said and	somewhere	he ran away.	And	his father

p. 33 —

k'irižé.	Wéžé,	"Hinį́káxčį,	hak'é	žeské*
he came back.	He said,	"My son,	not	thus

*before this word, /ra/ is crossed out.

ranišų́nųną,	hiaréra.	Womížara*	nąnáže,	žexčį́,"
you would not do,	I thought.	The rugs	you did by foot	spoil very much,"

*just before this word, č'įna nara has been crossed out.

hikéžé.	'Éki	hoč'į́č'įnikšąne	wéžé,	"'Ekí
he said to him.	And	this little boy	he said,	"And

ckačará	ha'ųxčį́,"	'éžé.	'Éki	haíniki
play	I really did,"	he said.	And	next morning

p. 34 —

wąkšą́ne	wažóniraréki.	'Éki	čačį́nečą,	žiké
this man	he went out to hunt something.	And	he came there,	again

hoč'į́čį́nįkara	čižé.	'Éki	žiké	hąpséreč
the small boy	he came.	And	again	all day long

ckačará	'ų́xčį́neže.	Hįkų́	waručanąžį	wa'ų́ną́kšana.
play	they really did it.	Then	eating (at least)	they kept doing.

p. 35 —

Žiké	hakoréžą	č'į́č'į́nikara	wéžé,	"Hi'ą́čaraka
Again	once	the boy	he said,	"Your father

kuhéną,"	'ánaka	nųwąk´	hihiną́panaka	wéžé,
he is coming,"	he said and	he ran	he ran out and	he said,

"Wak'ík'ununì,"	'ánaka	nike	hokíną́kše.	'Éki
"Forget,"	he said, and	somewhere	he ran.	And

p. 36 —

hi'ą́čana	k'irižé.	Žiké	wéžé,	"Hinį́k'áxčį,
the father	he came back.	Also	he said,	"My son,

časkékačą	womížara	nąráže,	žéxčį́?	Hąk'é
why	the rugs	by your foot,	to disturb very much?	Not

'įnék'i	waš'ųni	račékúni."	'Éki	wéžé,
alone	you did not do this	you probably stood."	And	he said,

p. 37 —

"Hįnék'í	wa'ųąčéną."	Wažóni	žikeréki,	hoč'į́č'į́nikará
"I alone	I did it."	To hunt something	when he went again,	the small boy

žike	číkenižé.	'Éki	žiké	hąpséreč
again	he came right away.	And	again	all day long

ckáčirežé.	'Éki	wežé,	"Hi'ąčaraka	kuhéną,"
they played.	And	he said,	"Your father	he comes home,"

'ánaka	nųwak´	hihiną́pce.	'Éki	wą́kšeka
he said and	he ran	he went out.	And	that man

k'iriže.	'Éki	wežé,	"Hinįkaxčį,	horuǧúčre,"
he came back.	And	he said,	"My own son,	look!"

p. 38 —

hikéžé.	"'Éki	č'a-šį́čra	warúčirèki	hirá
he said to him.	"And	the deer tail	when he eats them,	the tooth

hižą́	žažánaka	hižą	ksuksékįkše.	Horuǧúčare
one	coarse and	one	fine and small.	Look

p. 39 —

te'é —	ne	waš'ų́ną,	hirá	nįksúksekįkšana.
this —	you	you did these,	the teeth	small, fine.

Te'é	žažáną.	Te'ižą	hįžą*	wa'ų́ną."
These	they are coarse.	These other	one	he does these."

*in the original hįžeréną, /eréną/ has been crossed out and /ą/ written above it.

'Éki	hoč'į́č'į́nįkšąné	wežé,	"Čačí,	hiskèwašéną,"
And	that small boy	he said,	"Father,	you are right,"

'éžé.	'Éki	s'íreča	hįkų́	wažoni
he said.	And	long ago	as soon as	to hunt something

p. 40 —

rašéreká,	hoč'įč'įnįkižą́	čišúnu.	'Éki	hihiną́pka,
when you went,	a small boy	he usually comes.	And	whenever he goes out,

wešúnu,	'Wak'ík'ununįk,'	'ecunu.	Žekų́ka	rak'iriká,
he usually says,	'Forget it,'	he usually says.	Then	when you come home,

haną́č	wák'ik'ùnunįkšununą."	'Éki	časké	híčeki
all	I forget it."	And	what	he did

p. 41 —

haną́č	hokirákše.	'Éki	wą́kjane	wežé,
all	he tells him.	And	this man	he said,

"Hąhą́'ą,	yap'eréžsana.	Nerak'inų́pcana,"	hikežé.	"'Éki
"Yes,	I already know.	That was your brother,"	he told him.	"And

haínįkitéki,	nųąxąwąkšanéną,*	'ackénįk.	Haruk'ózače,"	'éžé.
in the morning when I go,	I will hide	a little way off.	Hold him,"	he said.

*between /nųą-/ and /-xąwą-/, "(č) han" has been crossed out.

'Éki	haíniki	režé.	Hįkų	'éča
And	in the morning	he went.	Right exactly	there

p. 42 —

'Ackénįke	nųxą́wąže.	Hoč'į́č'į́nįkra	hačí	wéžé,
A little way off	he hid.	The little boy	he came	he said,

"K'oté,	hią́čraka	'éča	nųxą́wąnakšana,"	'ežé.
"Say!	your father	there	he hides,"	he said.

'Éki	wą́kšeka	žéžeske	hikáške	hačas'áže.
And	that man	that	[as he did it also]	he always saw him.

p. 43 —

'Éki	wa'ų́žé.	Hinįkrá	wak'eréki	'ųžé.
And	he did it.	His son	[above]	he made.

Wateǧižą	p'įųánaka†	wakakáǧanaka	waxčáxčį́híže.	Nųp'íwi
A bladder*	he made well and	he painted them and	they were funny.	Two

*Susman has "bladder / something".
†the /ų/ is written above an original /w/.

'ų́žé.	'Éki	rék'arahòki,	hak'erékikižè.	Kirųskíčce.
he made.	And	before he got ready to go,	he put them on.	He tied it on.

p. 44 —

'Éki	wakežé,	"Hiníkará	wak'érera	nįkip'įkšanéną,
And	he said to him,	"Son,	the headdress	he will like yours,

warakexčéną.	Nųp´	haníną,	hižą́	hiš'ųną́ną,	hirákéxče.
tell it to him.	two of them,	I have	one	you can use it,	you will say to him.

'Éki	hak'ére	rakìkiki,	cčąxčį́	raki
And	to put it on him	when you do,	very strongly	you do

p. 45 —

curúskičikšéną,"	hikéžé.	'Éki	wažónį	naréžé.*
you can tie it,"	he said to him.	And	to hunt something	he went.

*below the syllable /na/ is written, "re?".

Čačį́neč`ą	hoč'į́č'į́nįkrá	číkinže.	'Éki	wak'eréra
Right away	the small boy	he already came.	And	the headdress

hákičáki	kikíp'įže.	"Wažąp'į́žą	hàrak'érekačą,"	'éžé.
when he saw it	it seemed pretty to him.	"A pretty one	you have on,"	he said.

"Hižą	harak'érexčèki,	nųp	haníną,"	hikéžé.
"One	if you want to have one,	two	I have,"	he said to him.

p. 46 —

"Žeské	haną́ną.	Nįkip'į́ną,	'e	hižąšą́ną
"That	I can do.	I like it,	so	one each

hak'erénąną,"	'ežé.	'Éki	hičąnéra	rúš'anaka
we can wear,"	he said.	And	the other	he took it and

hak'eré	kikiže.	Ščąxčį́	kiruskìčce.	Žekų́ki
he put	he did.	Very strongly	he tied it to him.	Then

p. 47 —

'ųną́k'ų	č'į́č'į́nįkra	wežé,	"Hi'ą́čraka	kuhéną,"
after awhile	the boy	he says,	"Your father	he is coming back,"

'ánaka	hihinąp*	nàkše.	Ną́kakiánaka	níeča
he said and	he goes out	he runs.	He arrives running and	at the water

*just before this word, nųwąk´ has been crossed out.

k'ųwųk´	kik'erekšéke.	Wa'ųkáčą	ruš'ákšé.	Wak'erénak'á
he dove	to try to go back.	After he did it	he couldn't do it.	That headdress

p. 48 —

watéx	waki'ų́čéki,	k'ųkara	ruš'ákšé.	K'ųwųk´
balloon	because he used it,	the diving	he could not do it.	To dive

ną'įkaske	hirakíhas'aže.	'Ųča'ų́,	hi'ąčará	k'irižé.
he tried again	he kept floating up.	[Finally,]	his father	he came.

Nąk´	hak'irią́naka	hoč'į́č'į́nįkara	haruk'óz	č'iéča
He ran	he came back and	the small boy	he caught,	in the house

p. 49 —

hanioik'éwe.	'Éki	wakéžé,	"Hinį́khaxč`į,	ne
he took inside.	Then	he said to him,	"My own son,	you

hinį́kaníną	hi'ą́č	hįráną,"	hikežé.	'Éki
my son	father	it is I,"	he said to him.	And

hoč'į́č'į́nįkara	wawakéžé,	"Ne	rak'ik'enųpiwíną,"	wawikéže.
the boys	he said to the two of them,	"You	you two are brothers,"	he said to the two of them.

p. 50 —

"Hižą	hi'ų́nįrawira	t'éną,	nįč'ų́wįkačà,"	wikéžé.
"One	your mother	she died	when you were born,"	he said to them.

"'Éki	hįč'íwíną.	'Éki	š'uwąnačèkšanéną,	hak'ik'ížu
"And	we live.	Then	you will be here,	together with

hoicíp	'ép'a,"	wikéžé.	'Éki	žéžek`ųkiži,
always	from this time on,"	he said to him.	And	after they got that way,

p. 52 —

'ép'a	čį́čį́nįkra	hinupík'e	'éki	haną́č
[from that time on]	the boys	both	[here]	all

staíreki	č'įéča	kip'į́reže.
when they were together	in their house	they liked it.

Source:

Amelia Susman, Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, May 29 - Aug. 2, 1938) Book 2.7-52.