Hočąk Text — Bladder and His Brothers, v. 5

English Translation

p. 1 —

Žegí	či	séreč	(?)*	škúni.
There (in the distance)	lodge	long	one	perhaps.

*the word is so heavily overwritten in ink that it cannot be made out, except that the last typed letter is /k/ followed by an accent. Beneath the /k/ is written "(subject?)", although this too is uncertain.

Hąp´-ka	nañkikára	škúni.	Naxí xunúnįgrá	hiñkága
Every day	hunting	perhaps.	The youngest brother	never

raní	škúni	náñkika	hisúñkwahirá	wawagé
went not	perhaps	hunting he sent them	for the younger brother	he aid to them

škúni:	"Nañkikárara	nisúgijíwina	čágu*	ųwíre."
perhaps:	"The hunting	you are my younger brothers	what†	do ye it."

*more usually jagú.
†or, how.

Haíni négi	haną́č	náñkikáraraíre	škúni.	Naxí xunúnigra
In the morning	all	they went hunting	perhaps.	the younger brother

hiñké	rani	škuni.	Čiápe	škuni.
not	went not	perhaps.	Stayed to take care of the house	perhaps.

Égi	wáñgižą	hokáwa	čirópeja	jijé
Then	man one	entered in the ——	at the entrance	he stood suddenly

škuni.	"Hočįčį́nigrá	hiníwaragá	hačį́je	howaráwi
perhaps.	"The young men	your elder brothers	where	thither they have gone

[že."]*	Naxíga	wé	škúni:	"Hiníwahára
.	Youngest brother	said	perhaps.	"My elder brothers

*this is completely unreadable in the MS.

haną́č	nañkíkararaíre."	"Hiníwaraga	kių́ wakikárahe	hájige
all	they have gone hunting."	"Your elder brothers	to ask them to play a game	I —— come

wáų	hajína.	Haíni	tée,	éske
[to do]	I have come.	Morning	this,	so

p. 2 —

worákišáraki.	Hoxčą́nągi	hákiríregi."	Naxí xunúnigrá	wé
you tell them.	In the evening, before ———-, when	when they have come home."	The youngest brother	said

škúni:	"Hojá."	Hoxčą́nągi	hágiríre	gáją
perhaps:	"Yes."	When in the evening	they had come home	just then

Naxí xunúnigrá	wákikų́ni	škúni	wañk	haíni négi
The youngest brother	he forgot it	perhaps	man	in the morning

čí	nihéra.	Haíni négi	haną́č	náñkikáraraíre
came	the one who.	In the morning	all	they went hunting

škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	hiñké	rani	škúni.
perhaps.	The youngest brother	not	went not	perhaps.

čiápe	škúni.	Égi	wáñgižą	hokáwa
stayed to take care of the lodge	perhaps.	Then (?)*	man one	entered, in the past

*the parenthetical question mark is in the text.

čirópeja	jijé	škúni.	"Hočįčį́nigrá	haną́č
at the entrance	he stood suddenly	perhaps.	The young man	all

nañkíkararaíre."	"Hiníwaragá	kių́ wakikárahe	hajíge	wáų
they have gone hunting."	Your elder brothers	[to ask them to play a game]*	I have come	[to do]†

*the brackets are Dorsey's.
†this is not translated in the MS.

hajína.	Haíni	tée,	éske	worákišáraki
I have come.	Morning	this,	so	you tell them

hoxčą́nągi	hákiríregi.	Naxí xunúnigrá	wé	škúni:
when in the evening before sundown	when they have come to you.	the youngest brother	said	perhaps:

p. 3 —

"Hojá."	Hoxčą́nągi	hákiríre	gáją	Naxí xunúnigrá
"Yes."	When in the evening	they had come home	just then	the youngest brother

wákikųnų́ni	škúni	wáñk	haíni négi	jí
he forgot it	perhaps	man	in the morning	came

nihéra.	Haíni négi	haną́č	náñkikáraraíre	škúni.
the one who.	In the morning	all	they went hunting	perhaps.

Naxí xunúnigrá	hiñké	rani	škuni,	čiápe
The youngest brother	not	went not	perhaps,	he stayed to take care of the lodge

škúni.	Égi	wáñgižą	hokáwa	čirópeja
perhaps.	Then (?)*	man one	entered in the past	at the entrance

jijé	škúni.	"Hočįčį́nigrá	hiníwaragá	hačį́je
he stood suddenly	perhaps.	"The young men	your elder brothers	where

howaráwiže?"	Naxíga	wé	škúni:	"Hiníwahára
thither they have gone?"	The youngest brother	said	perhaps:	"My dear brothers,

haną́č	nañkíkararaíre."	"Hiníwaragá	kių́ wakikárahe	hajíge
all	they took you hunting."	"Your elder brothers	[to ask them to play a game]	I have come

wáų	hajína.	Haíni	tee,	éske
[to do]	I have come.	Morning	this,	so

worákišálaki	hoxčą́nągi	hákiríregi."	Naxí xunúnigrá	wé
you tell them	when in the morning	when they have come ;home."	The youngest brother	said

p. 4 —

škúni:	"Hojá."	Hoxčą́nągi	hákiríre	gáją
perhaps.	"Yes."	When in the evening	they had come home	just then

Naxí xunúnigrá	wákikųnų́ni	škúni	wáñk	haíni négi
The youngest brother	he forgot it	perhaps	man	in the morning

čí	nihéra.	Haíni négi	haną́č	náñkikáraraíre
came	the one who.	In the morning	all	they went hunting

škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	hiñké	raní	škúni,
perhaps.	The youngest brother	not	went not	perhaps,

čiápe	škúni.	Hičobą́hąna	či	škúni
he stayed to take care of the lodge	perhaps.	The fourth time	came	perhaps

wáñkjéka.	Naxí xunúnigrá	wagaíre	škúni:	"Čakų́
man this std.	The youngest brother	they said to him	perhaps:	"Why

gáją	hiñkága	worákišárakiní.	Hiníwaragá	kių́
then (?)	never	you did not tell them.	Your elder brothers	to play

wakikárahe	hají	ájąné."	Čowéžegų́ni sáka	t'ų́pną́ni.
ask them	I came	every time."	[So he almost killed him]*	[?]†

*the brackets are Dorsey's.
†the English is unreadable.

"Hoxčą́nągi	wokírakája	hákiríregi."	"Hoją́,"	é
"When in the evening	tell them (imperative)	when they have come home."	"Yes,"	said

škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	nañksígią	rús	škúni.
perhaps.	The youngest brother	[a] stick	took it up	perhaps.

Égi	wé	škúni:	"Hiníwahára	hákiríregi
Then	said	perhaps:	"My older brothers,	when they have come home

p. 5 —

wágitaíkše."	Žegų́	ánañgá.	Hąp´	séreč
I will tell them."	So	he was saying.	Day	long

ną́įja	gičáš	mináñk	perhaps.	"Hiníwahára,
on the stick	making a noise by hitting	he sat	perhaps.	"My elder brothers,

hákiríregi	wágitaíkše."	Hoxčąną́ni	gáją	Kųnųgá
when they have come home	I will tell them."	In the evening	just then	First son

kirí	škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	kága ske	ną́įja
had come home	perhaps.	The youngest (——-) brother	——-ly	on the stick

žégų	gičáš	mináñk	škúni.	Kunugá
so	making a noise by hitting	he sat	perhaps.	First son

žegų	naxíre	škúni.	Čáku	ų́kši
so	he found	perhaps.	What	will do

iréske	škúni.	Égi	Kunugá	wé
he was —— — he did not ——-	perhaps.	Then	first son	said

škúni:	"Čáku	ų́	gáją	wacašánañkšé,*
perhaps:	"What	to do	just then	you spoke of,

*Dorsey has waca šánañk žé, with waca untranslated. Other sources have wacašąnąk meaning "you spoke of". Dorsey translates, Čáku ų́ gáją wáša šánañk žé, as an idiom meaning, "What is the matter with you?".

hisúñk-haxčį́?"	Hiñké	Naxí xunúnigrá	xápini	škúni.
O younger brothers?"	Not	the youngest (son or) brother	he spoke not	perhaps.

Žegų́	ų́	inañkí	žegų́*	škúni.
So	doing	he —-	so he did	perhaps.

*Dorsey translates the whole sentence as, "He continued what he had been doing".

Éganąjí	hiníwahirá	hákiríre	škúni.	Naxíga
Then all	his eldest brothers	they had come home	perhaps.	Youngest son

wogíraki	škúni,	hiníwahirá	wañk	kių́
he told it to them	perhaps,	hi elder brothers	man	to play

wagíkarahé	čí	nihéra.	Kunugá	wé
to invite them	come	the one who.	First son	said

škúni:	"Haínigi	hinékšawína."	Haíni négi	Kunugá
perhaps:	"Tomorrow	we will go."	In the morning	First son

p. 6 —

hisúñkwahirá	wáčokárakére	ré	škúni.	Xéžą
his younger brothers	he went in front of them, his own	he went	perhaps.	Mountain one

áhiaxepíré	gáją	tée	čížą	ája
they went up to the top	just then	this	lodge one	(—- —— ?)*

*the English consists of a parenthetical expression containing two illegible words followed by a question mark.

nañk	škúni.	Tée	wapéxči	náñk
it sat	perhaps.	This	waiting for them to come	they sat

škúni.	Kunugá	wokít'e	škúni	wáñkšik
perhaps.	First son	he talked to them	perhaps	people

ánañká:	Čáske	hokíųna	hirékšanégi.	Égi
the ones —-ing:	Whatever ?	game	they will —— (——) of.	Then

wañkšík	iją́hi	náñk	we	škúni:
man	on the other ——	the st. one	he said	perhaps:

kiwánų	hirékšané	aíre	škúni.	Kunugá,
running	they will play	they said	perhaps.	First son

"Hojá,"	é	škúni.	"Hįwákirákšané,"	é
"Yes,"	he said	perhaps.	"We will run a race with them,"	he said

škúni.	Égi	Kunugá	wé	škúni:
perhaps.	Then	First son	said	perhaps:

wokárak	wáši	škúni	hisúñkwahirá.	Haną́č
to tell? about his own	he requested them	perhaps	his younger brother.	All

wokárak-hiré	škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	wé	škúni:
they told about their own (———)*	perhaps.	The youngest of the brothers	he said	perhaps:

*the parenthetical matter is illegible.

"Wíra	ną́jojáže,"	é	škúni.	Kunugá
"The sun	aided him mysteriously always,"	he said	perhaps.	First son

wé	škúni:	Naxíga	wagírakšąné,"	é
said	perhaps:	Youngest son	he will insult them,"	he said

škúni.	Žejáñga	kigúč-hire	škúni.	Égi
perhaps.	At length	they bet against one another	perhaps.	Then

p. 7 —

kiwánų	haraíre	škúni.	Hóska	xete
to run he was	they went	perhaps.	Prairie	large

mináñki	ája	hagú-hirékšąné	aíre	škúni.
sitting	right there	they will be coming back hither	they said	perhaps.

Žejáñga	hagú-hiré	škúni.	Naxí xunúnigrá	hirúšaráč
At length	they were coming back hither	perhaps.	The youngest son (or, brother)	he dropped a little behind

nažį́	hiré	škúni.	Žejáñga	áška
he stood	they did or made (sic)	perhaps.	At length	near

hagú-hiré	škúni.	Égi	Kunugá	wé
they were returning to the starting point	perhaps.	Then	First son	said

škúni:	"Jáguté	Naxí xunúnigrá	hagéja	š'ų́
perhaps.	"Why	the youngest son (or, brother)	behind	you do

šą́wañkšé?"	Naxí xunúnigrá	hógirújas	škúni.
you —- —— one?"	The youngest son (or, brother)	started to run a little faster	perhaps.

Hókirix-jéja	hákiríre	gáją	Naxí xunúnigrá	wiwášigrá
Near the goal	they had come back	just then	then youngest son (or, brother)	the flag, or banner

é	čónixči	žegų́	háni	kírikére
he	very first	doing that (?)*	having it	he passed along

*the parenthetical question mark is in the text.

škúni.	Žegų́	hóčįčį́na	hakáraxére	škúni.
perhaps.	So	young men	they all cried out, each for himself	perhaps.

Wikígujrá	wákurúsirá	nañgá	žegų́	haguhire
The stakes	they took their own	after they had (done it)	so	they were returning to their own home

p. 8 —

škúni.	Haíni négi	žigé	náñkikárara	žigé
perhaps.	In the morning	again	the hunting	again

araíre	škúni.	Wáñk	kių́	wákikárahe
they went	perhaps.	Man	to play	to invite them

jínihéra	žigé	hokáwa	jináñk	škúni.
the one who came	again	enterred	he did it suddenly	perhaps.

Naxíga	wagaíre	škúni:	žigé	kių́hirékšané,
Youngest son	they (he) said it to him	perhaps:	again	they will have a game together,

aíre	škúni.	Naxíga	wé	škúni:
they said	perhaps.	Youngest son	said	perhaps:

"Haraírekšąné,"	é	škúni.	Hóxčąnąní	régi
"They will go,"	he said	perhaps.	Evening	when (?)*

*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

hiníwahirá	škúni.	Égi	wogírak	škúni
they had come home	perhaps.	Then	he told it to them	perhaps

žigé.	Kunųgá	wé	škúni,	haraírekšąné,
again.	First son	said	perhaps,	they will,

é	škúni.	Haíninégi	wakíųrá	jikárawi
he said	perhaps.	In the morning	the game*	they started

*Dorsey has below the line, "[to play together]".

škúni.	Égi	jáhire	gáją	wapéxči
perhaps.	Then	they got there	just then	they waited for them to come

náñk	škúni.	Jają́negí	wíkigujíré	škúni:
they sat	perhaps.	Now	they bet (together ?)*	perhaps:

*the parenthetical matter is in the MS.

hókikiną́hirékšąné	aíre	škúni.	Kunųgá	e
they will wrestle (together)	they said	perhaps.	First son	he

wakirákšąné	é	škúni.	Égi	žéjañga
he will contend with them	he said	perhaps.	Then	at length

p. 9 —

hokikínañkiré	škúni.	Hąp	séreč	hokikínañkiré
they (began to) wrestle	perhaps.	Day	long	they wrestled

škúni.	Égi	gajañgá	hóxčąną́ni	gáją
perhaps.	Then	at length (?)*	in the evening	just then

*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

Kunuñgá	máwo	t'ųré	škúni.	Wikígujrá
first son	on the ground	threw him away	perhaps.	Stakes

wákurúsranañgá	žegų́	hagúhire	škúni.	Haíni négi
after they had (?) taken —- their own*	so	they were coming home	perhaps.	In the morning

*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

hiñké	hižą́	wažóni	haraírani	škúni.
not	one	to hunt something	they went —— not	perhaps.

Égi	waíre	škúni:	haraírekšąné	aíre
Then	they said	perhaps:	they will go	they said.

škúni.	Žeské	hąp´	nųpą́hą	hahíres'á	škúni.*
perhaps.	In this manner	day	twice	they went there repeatedly	perhaps.

*"The rest of this myth was forgotten by the narrator" — Dorsey (notes, p. 13).

English Translation

Source:

Philip Longtail (Sįčserečka), Buffalo Clan, "Watexúga and His Brothers," translated by J. O. Dorsey (National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution, 1893) 4800 Dorsey Papers: Winnebago 3.3.2, Story I: 1-9.