Hōcąk Text — Chief's Feast

by a member of the Thunderbird Clan
translated by Jasper Blowsnake

Jasper Blowsnake

English Translation

Original Texts: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Linguistic Features

hapaxlegomena: hazokirác, "berry" (< hazokirájᵉra); roǧí in the sense of "to ward off"; šīnina, "your"; wacábirera, "their";  wihą̄k’ų̄́, "to preach"; wošī́nina, "your" (see niná directly below).
rare words: niná, "you own, possess," here used to mean, "you are"; wanínera, "your" ("being in the possesion of").

As is the case with a number of other Radin interlinear MSS, this text is full of abbreviations for common words and affixes.

α β γ Ɣ ε ɜ ζ θ λ
égi éja -giži -že ésge šąną -xjį jánąga žesge


ρ ⳡ ω X ‧| / - ⨪
ánąga hąké žegų wąk -kjaneną -ną -ra -nąk


I

Notebook 76:1*          
huñge[-] djanûñgákiji ’uañ´goni[γ] [X]cî´gᴇ[-] ’uañ´gonina djanûñgágᴇra hanaⁿ´tcî[ζ]ⁿ
Hųgᵉra janągákiži wą́gonigiži, wąkšī́gᵉra wą́gonina janų̄gágᵉra haną́cīxjį,
The chief all the different bands, and people groups all the different ones [every one of them,]

* there is a great deal of material written in the heading of this page, much of which is difficult to make out.

1) ℓ = jeguⁿ
  θ = gadjûⁿga
  λ = jêsge
  ? = here
  ‧| = kdjane
  / = naⁿ
- = ra -rêgi = ᴗ  
    Chief's Feast
Informant Hûñk wô´haⁿ.
Jasper Blowsnake                    niñk = ᴗ̇
                        ᴖ̣    ᴖ̣
                      Chief’s Dance
  
 
gi = ᴖ̣
   
⨪ = nañk  
   
γ = giji R. C.
꜏ = nihe
 
-k’dje = ◠  

A large overwriting "4" is at the top center of the page.


ē hûñgeréregaⁿ [α] mānāⁿ´pê wagaírêgi jêê´ hûñ´kdjega erukôna[ζ]ṇe[Ɣ] manaⁿpê´djega
ē hų̄geréregą égi māną̄́pē wagaírēgi žēḗ hų̄́kjega erukōnaxjįneže. Manąpḗjega
[he] that was chief [here] [soldiers]* [if he told them,] these the chief they had full charge of them. The soldiers

* the translation here is illegible.


hûñgᴇ[⨪´]a tciox̣uhucara hiredjá* [X]cîk´‘îñgê ēwaréaníne[/] djadjôna pēdjok‘ê´re[-]
hų̄gᵉną́ka cioǧu hušara hirejᆠwąkšī́k’īgē‡‡ ēwaréanineną.# Jajōna pējokḗrera
the chief in their yard‡ there he was carried he was a servant.## [Always] his fire place§

* before this word, djobo is written. Before hucara, x̣u is inserted above the line with a caret. A letter is crossed out just before djá, and hire written above it. Just below this word is written, "(that community)".
† cf. cioxušara, "at the end of the lodge".
‡ just below this translation is written, "(around the tent)".
‡‡ < wąkšīk-k’ī-gē.
# < ē-waré-hanine-ną.
## above the translation is written, "(they were his servants)".
§ below the translation is written, "With impact of fire, life sustainer)".


hirok‘arapônuiⁿṇe‧´k‘djanégi* [X]cîg[-] djānûñgáka hanaⁿ´tciⁿ[ζ] ē niñkdjôñk
hirokarapunuįnḗkjanégi, wąkšīgᵉra jānų̄gáka haną́cįxjį ē nįkjǭk
when they are going to ask blessings for, [the people]† [as many as there are] [everyone] they child

* /ô/ is written above an original /u/. The /‧/ has in the past been used to indicate vowel length.
† the translation has, "human".


waníṇegê wawirókarapû´nûkdjê´gê* wocgaⁿ´ [λ] haníṇegê hûñg´ wodaⁿ
wanínegē wawirókarapū́nūkjḗgē wošgą́ žesge hanį́negē Hų̄́g Wotą
they have for the purpose with a blessing for them [rite] [this kind] they have Chief Feast

* the two instances of /u/ originally in the infix -kuru, have been lined out and replaced by two instances of /a/ written above them. The suffix kdjê´gê was originally freestanding, but was indicated as being attached to the previous word by a preceeding long hyphen.


ma’uⁿ´ṇa wogihaíṇenaⁿ [X]cî´g[-] wajaⁿ´ wak‘aⁿtcañgiaⁿ´ ’úiⁿredjô´negê
Ma’ų́na wogihaíneną. Wąkšī́gᵉra wažą́ wakącągią́ ’úįrejṓnegē,
Earthmaker they are boiling. The people thing some holy doing that they are going to do,

 


hanaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] nîñge nîñkcanaⁿ gik‘êrérek‘djonegi nîñk‘djôñ´ganîñgra hinûñg[-]
haną́cīxjį nīgenīkšaną. gikērérekjonegi, nīkjǭ́ganīgᵉra hinų̄gᵉra
[everyone] a little piece* they'll place them farther children women

* below nîñkcanaⁿ is written, "(thanks?)" and below that is written "(piece)", the last being hard to decipher.


          Notebook 76:2*
[X][-´] [X]cî´kc’agᴇ[-] higûⁿ pejê´ga hêregî´ hanaⁿ´tc nîñgeca´naⁿ rutc
wągᵉrá wąkšī́kš’agᵉra higų̄ pežḗga hēregī́, hanā́c nīgešą́ną ruc
men old people whoever [if they did,] [everything] [here and there] to eat

* at the top center of the page is written, canaⁿɜ, and to the right is written, hûñk-nañk‘a.


na-îⁿṇekdjonénaⁿ. hûñk watcábirera wajaⁿ xê´dê[ζ] ’ûⁿk‘arohoíregê [X]cî´go-îⁿ´jaⁿ
naīnekjonéną. Hų̄k wacábirera wažą xḗtēxjį ’ų̄karohoíregē, wąkšī́goį̄́žą
he'll try. Chief their thing very great because it is given, a life

 


wagi’u-iṇekdjánegê hûñk[⨪]á ’uañ´goniná djanûñgáki hanaⁿtcî[ζ] wa’uiṇé[/] hûñk‘
wagi’u-inekjánegē, hų̄knąká wą́goniná janų̄gáki hanącīxjį wa’uįnéną. Hų̄k
because it is made for you, the chief band, clans as many as all of them they did it. Chief

 


wohaínega warutc xê´dê[ζ] ho’uⁿṇá ê´canaⁿ hiraitcéra hires’a[Ɣ]
wohaínega waruc xḗtēxjį ho’ųná ḗšąną hiraicéra hires’aže.
when they give the feast food very great doing only very much more they would do.

 


waniókirádjᴇ[-´] máwodjokiradj[-´] hazokirádj[-] warutc djagára hanaⁿtcî[ζ] hi’ûⁿ wa’u[⨪]canaⁿ
Waniókirájᵉra máwojokirajᵉrá hazokirájᵉra waruc jagára hanącīxjį hi’ų̄ wa’unąkšąną.
All kinds of meat all the vegetables* berries food [the ?] all of them to use they did with them.

* above this is written, "(corn & Indian maize)".


[X]cî´go-îⁿ p‘iñjaⁿ hêregê´ [X]cî´k wanínera howájajaírega
Wąkšī́goī pįžą hēregḗ, wąkšī́k wanínera howážažaírega,
Life a good because it was, man their when they're your kind of victuals in hand (distributive),

 


jê´[λ] hí[⨪][ɜ] hûñg wohaⁿ[⨪][ɜ] hañké wajajairanî´kdjegê [ε]
žḗžesge hínąkšąną, Hų̄g Wohąnąkšąną, hąké wažažairanī́kjegē Ésge
that way they did, when they gave the Chief Feast, not so that there won't be any sickness. So

 


[X]cî´go-îⁿ´ṇa p‘îⁿ ’ûⁿ[-] warogígûñ[ζ] wa’(ų)[⨪][ɜ]* wagigó[⨪]á[-] [X]cî´g[-]
Wąkšī́goįna pī ’ų̄ra warogígų̄xjį wa’ųnąkšąną. Wagigónąkára wąkšī́gᵉra
Life to repair that they wished it for them, they were saying. The feast the people

* the /ų/ was omitted and the backward epsilon (ɜ) is blotched, having apparently been overwritten on a forward epsilon (ε).


niaⁿ´p warugígûⁿ wa’únąñkê´ djanûñgáka hanáⁿtcî[ζ] hijaⁿkí[ɜ] daniwogiju
nią́p warugígų̄ wa’únąkḗ,* janų̄gáka haną́cīxjį hižąkišąną taniwogižu
to live they wished them as they did, as many as all of them one by one to pour out tobacco

* < wa’únąk-gḗ.


Notebook 76:3            
wagigi[⨪][ɜ] maⁿ’úṇa ê daniógiju wa’u[⨪][ɜ] maⁿ’úṇa daní[⨪]a
wagiginąkšąną. Mą’úna ē taniógižu wa’unąkšąną. Mą’úna tanínąka
they make them do. Earthmaker he himself he poured tobacco he did it. Earthmaker the tobacco

 


wawigiperê´zgî wagirús[γ] [X]cigô’iⁿrekdjô´negi [ε]* daníṇa maⁿúṇa† wagihîn´[γ]‡
wawigiperḗzgī, wagirúsgi, wąkšigō’įrekjṓnegi, ésge tanį́na Mą’úna wagihį̄́gi,
if he knew of them, if he accepts it, [if] by that they'll live, [so] the tobacco Earthmaker if he smokes them,

* a word is lined out after this symbol.
† the apostrophe (’) has been omitted before the /ú/.
‡ the /n/ should be /ñ/.


[X]cî´go-îⁿ wogákdjanége, [λ] karakjaⁿ´p daniwogiju[⨪]á wa’u[⨪´][ɜ].
wąkšī́go-ī wogákjanége, žesge karakją́p taniwogižunąká wa’uną́kšąną.
life because of that he will give to them, this way to look for the pouring out of tobacco they did it.

 

II (Hûñk)

hûñk wigá[⨪]á [X]cî´gonihé jêê hûñk[⨪]á wakaⁿdja íkikáratc wigaí[ᴗ]†
Hų̄k wigánąká wąkšī́gonihé žēē hų̄gᵉnąká Wakąja íkikárac* wigaírēgi
Chief [placed ?] band that the chief Thunderbird Clan those who are called

* the initial /h/ has been lost due to external sandhi.
† the symbol ᴗ has a vertical line through it and above it is written rêgi.


ere[⨪´][ɜ]* hûñgᴇ[⨪]á [γ] hûñgᴇ[-´] êré[⨪]ê´* wajó cicîk roγí
ereną́kšąną. Hų̄gᵉnąká giži hų̄gᵉrá ērénąkḗ, wažó šišīk roǧí
that he is one of them. That chief - the chief that he is, anything bad he wards off

* the initial /h/ is lost due to external sandhi.


[X]cik’iⁿ´ṇe[Ɣ] wajó p‘îⁿ wihâⁿk‘ûⁿ´ waires’á[Ɣ] hûñgᴇ[⨪]á wakigaíres’a[Ɣ]
wąkšik’į́neže. Wažó p’ī wihą̄k’ų̄́ waires’áže. "Hų̄gᵉnąká," wakigaíres’aže.
that way they live. Something good to preach they used to say. "The chief," they used to say to one another.

 


[X]cî´g wacî´nina wajaⁿ wotcê´xi[-] hijaⁿ´* hagiruxurûgᴇna-iⁿ´ṇê tcinûñ´gᴇrakônôgᴇrá†
Wąkšī́g wašī́nina wažą wocḗxira hižą́ hagiruxurūgᵉna-į́nē; cinų̄gᵉrakōnōgᵉrá
People your thing difficult a try to accomplish for them; your village

* after this word the next word is scribbled out.
† this word is connected by a line to the word [X]cik’iⁿ´ṇe[Ɣ] in the line above.


wajaⁿ wotcêxí[-] hijaⁿ´ worágocuruxurukíji [X]cîg wocî´nina hinánijiṇekdjónaⁿ.
wažą wocēxíra hižą́ worágošuruxurukíži, wąkšīg wošī́nina hinánižinekdjóną.
thing hard a if you accomplish for them, people your they'll depend upon you.*

* above this is written, "look up to you".


Notebook 76:4          
[X]cîg wacî´nina naⁿ´djonawogídjaⁿṇê noñga hanaⁿdj woxê´dêwahirê hijaⁿ´*
Wąkšīg wašī́nina ną́jonawogíjąnē nǫga hanąj woxḗtēwahirē. Hižą́
People your have pity on them and all love them. Someone

* waγa follows this word.


wanaⁿdjodjaiⁿ´sgadjegí gidjirárê* [X]cî´g wacî´nina hocî´p warúdj warokárak’uⁿṇê
wanąjojaį́sgajegí, gijirárē. Wąkšī́g wašī́nina hošī́p warúj warokárak’ųnē,
if he is very poor, help him. People your all the time food give them,

* cf. kijira, "to help someone."


higûⁿ pejê´rêgi hanaⁿ´tc warúdj wawogárê djagura ánañki* [λ]  wawogárê
higų̄ pežḗrēgi haną́c warúj wawogárē. Jagura ánąki,† žesge wawogárē.
yet whoever they may be all food give them. Whatever if they ask for, that give them.

* an initial /e/ has been lined out.
† < ánąk-gi.


’uañkcî´g wacî´nina hisgê nîñgêkicî´cîgᴇregi dani wacînina tcow[β´]
Wąkšī́g wašī́nina hisgē nīgēkišī́šīgᵉregi, tani wašīnina cowéja
People your some if they get into trouble with one another, tobacco your* in front†

* in the interlinear, this is translated as "pouch". A "(?)" is written above "tobacco pouch". Above wacînina inserted by a caret between wa and cînina is "(ru)", yielding warucînina, which does mean "pouch". Inserted by a line leading to a comment made at the top of the page is: "in this can he mean (gifts)? A tobacco pouch is always taken along when you are visiting another tribe."
† the interlinear translation adds what appears to be the word "rows".


hakaranit’agadjê hûñgᴇrá nina [β] hanidjaírekdjanênaⁿ hûñgiaⁿ† wac’uⁿcawañg[-´]
hakaranit’ągajē, hų̄gᵉrá nina eja hanijaírekjanēną. Hų̄gią waš’ųšawągᵉrá
it lies,* the chief [you own] from that they will know. A chief you are

* the interlinear translation here has only "lie".
† a hyphen follows this word indicating that it was spoken in a way that ran it together with the succeeding word.


hiperê´zerekdjanénaⁿ. danihará[ɜ] hadakáracîni [β] hîcdja cawañki [X]cî´ge wacinina*
hiperḗzerekjanéną. Taniharášąną hatakárašīni eja hišja šawąki. Wąkšī́ge wašinina
they will know. Your pipe only you have there you'll be lying dead.† People your

* following this word, another partial word has been lined out.
† inserted by a line leading to a comment made at the top of the page is: "i.e. if they found you with weapons at your side then they would say that you were trying to live for yourself, but if they found you only with your pipe (?) in an attitude of [un]selfish (?) self defense then they would say he died trying to save us.


cûñgᴇrijaⁿ´ t’ehirekdjané rugaⁿ´jᴇre hire[ρ´] tcióratci[β´] hokê´wegi* wajiⁿ´djaⁿhinijaⁿ†
šų̄gᵉrižą́ t’ehirekjané rugą́žᵉre hireánąga cióraciéja hokḗwegi, wažį́jąhinižą
one of the dogs when they are going to kill it he gets loose he does, and into your tent when he runs, some other thing

* wge is written before this word.
† a small /n/ is written above the /n/.


      Notebook 76:5*    
wigígo wagigírê tcióratcíra [ⳡ] wot’ê´hi wagigî´ninê wak‘añtcañ´k[ɜ] cûñkdjegá
wagígo wagigírē. Cióracíra hąké wot’ḗhi wagigī́ninē, wak’ącą́kšąną. Šų̄kjegá
feast you must let them have. Your tent not to kill it do not let them, it is holy. The dog

* at the top of the page is written (underlines indicate uncertain readings): "The murderer is then taken to the place where the crime had been committed & if the goods are accepted then the murderer is turned loose. If there is some delay about accepting the goods, the people who brought them torture the whoever in what is known as the sun (or run?) dance." Connected by a line to "whoever" is a further comment: "If the goods were not taken at all and the murderer killed[,] the band with whom he had taken refuge would feel insulted and would take the first occasion to attack them." 


niaⁿ´p gigírê [X]cîgᴇrijaⁿ [X]cig t’êhi[ρ´] tcióratci[β´] hokê´wêgi niaⁿ´p
nią́p gigírē. Wąkšīgᵉrižą wąkšig t’ēhiánąga cióraciéja hokḗwēgi, nią́p
life let him have.* Any human being† person he murdered, and† in your tent if he went in, life

* "let" is written above "make".
† the interlinear text precedes both these translations with the word "if", and omits "and" in the second translation.


gigírê´ wajaⁿ cînená hanāⁿ´tcî[ζ] hi’ûⁿgê´* hikikúrusgitc† gigírê´ honihë´ra
gigírḗ. Wažą šīnená haną̄́cīxjį hi’ų̄gḗ hikikúrusgic gigirḗ. Honihḗra
let him have. Anything you've got absolutely all use it you bail him with it let him have. Family

* following this word, a word is lined out.
† the text has hi kikúrusgitc.


djanûñgaraniná hanaⁿ´tcî[ζ] ’ûⁿwi[ρ´] [ⳡ] wajaⁿná hikaracícigᴇniṇê jenaíⁿcgê
janų̄garaniná haną́cīxjį ’ų̄wiánąga hąké wažąná hikarašíšigᵉninē. Ženaį́šgē
as many as you are absolutely all help, and not anything do not think of your goods. If it's gone

 


jigisgiacinîkdjanénaⁿ wocgôⁿ´ cînina kara’ûⁿṇê [X]cîg wácînina [θ´]ka kagijaⁿ´*
žigisgiašinīkjanéną. Wošgǭ́ šīnina kara’ų̄nē. Wąkšīg wášīnina janagáka kagižą́
you'll have some more again. Way your do it. Person your all never one

* the text hypercorrects this, having, hañ ka|gijaⁿ´.


wa[ⁿk]cigᴇniaⁿ´dje. nîñkdjôñgᴇnirarê´cgê hanaⁿtci[ζ] pejê wajínegegi [ⳡ]ga
wąkšgᵉnią́je, nīkjǭgᵉnirarḗšgē. Hanącixjį pežē wažínegegi hąkaga
person [to be] unnoticed,* even the children. Absolutely all of them whoever say anything to you never

* the translation has, "don't shove one aside (persons unnoticed)".


niṇuc’agiranîñkdjénaⁿ hûñgᴇranína* uankcîg† wacî´nina wajaⁿ p‘iⁿnacanaⁿ
nįnuš’agiranīkjéną. Hų̄gᵉraníną. Wąkšīg wašī́nina wažą pįnašąną
do not let them go away without getting it. You are the chief. People your something good

* this should have been hûñgᴇranínaⁿ.
† this should have been uañkcîg.


                          Notebook 76:6
wawagíûⁿṇê je[ω][γ] hûñgiaⁿ wac’ûⁿradjerá hûñgiaⁿ tcabwíra hanaⁿ´tciⁿ[ζ] hinigi-rekdjôné[/]
wawagių̄nē. Žežegųgiži, hų̄gią waš’ų̄rajᵉrá. Hų̄gią cabwíra haną́cįxjį hinigirekjōnéną.
do it for them. If that is the way, a chief you are it. A chief our absolutely all they will recognize you.

 


hûñgᴇ[-´] niná nîñkdjôñ´gᴇnirarë´cgê* hinipérezᴇrek‘djanénaⁿ p‘ejánidjági hûñgitcabwíra
Hų̄gᵉrá niná, nīkjǭ́gᵉnirarḗšgē hinipérezᵉrekjanéną. Pežánijági, hų̄hicabwíra
The chief you are, even the children they will know. Whoever sees you our chief

* hipe is written just after this word.


hinigaírekdjanénaⁿ hijónêkít’egê hûñgᴇnitcabᴇ[-´] hiniginâgí[-]† [X]cî´g wacî´nina
hinigaírekjanéną. Hižónēkit’egē, "Hų̄gᵉnicabᵉrá," hinigināgira. Wąkšī́g wašī́nina
they will say of you. Whoever talks to you, "My chief,"* they will say to you. People your

* the translation has, "you my chief".
† just before [-], a /k/ has been deleted by a heavy vertical line.


p‘iⁿ waragígigi hanaⁿ´tc nigic’ágire[‧|][-] [X]cîgᴇnûñ´gᴇrê [ⳡ] hijaⁿ´ p‘iⁿṇagigi
pį waragígigi, haną́c nigiš’ágirekjanera Wąkšīgᵉnų̄́gᵉrē hąké hižą́ pįnagigi
good if you will cause them, all of them they'll be bashful.* Your people not one to do good

* the translation adds, "(in your presence)".


curuxúrugᴇnîgi hûñgᴇnitcabiránihara [ⳡ]‡ hûñk ranijê hiraíranî[‧|][-] [ⳡ]
šuruxúrugᵉnīgi, hų̄gᵉnicabiránihara* ke hų̄k ranižē,‡‡ hiraíranīkjanera. Hąké
if you are not able, our very own chief† not chief you are not, they'll think. Not

* < hų̄k-na-nicabira nihara. Hų́gᵉnicaberá is widely attested as meaning, "my chief." Nihára is attested in Foster with the meaning, "it (animate) belongs to me."
† the translation has, oddly enough, "you were once for them."
‡ before this symbol, ke is written.
‡‡ elsewhere given as ranįže.


nîgic’agirani[‧|][-] hûñg[-] k‘eraizŭ[ρ´] [X]cîgᴇnûñ´gᴇre hanaⁿ´tciⁿ[ζ]
nīgis’agiranikjanera. Hų̄gᵉra k’eraizŭánąga wąkšīgᵉną̄́gᵉre haną́cįxjį
they won't be deferential to you.* The chief to be as he ought to be, and the people absolutely all

* the translation has, "you won't be bashful (anymore)".


[X]cî´k p‘îⁿ wagikî´nê [γ]* hûñg[-´] nîná hanaⁿdjiperesnága[‧|][-] tcinâⁿgidjaⁿṇa
wąkšī́k pī wagikī́nē giži. Hų̄gᵉrá nīná hanąjiperesnágakjanera. Ciną̄gijąna
person to be of good nature to them [.] The chief you are all will know. The other tribes

* γ is written over an original /g/.


rarë´cgê ranaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] hûñk p‘iⁿjaⁿ[⨪´][-] hinagaíre[‧|][-] hûñg[-´] hikigaires’á[Ɣ] aire[/].
rarḗšgē raną́cīxjį,* hų̄k pįžąnágᵉra, hinagaírekjanera, hų̄gᵉrá hikigaíres’áže, aireną.
even all of them, chief that's a good one, they will say to you, the chiefs they used to say to one another, it is said.

* the initial /h/ of this word has been transmuted to an /r/ by being nearly run together with the previous word.

Source:

Jasper Blowsnake in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Library, n.d.) Notebook 76: 1-6, interlinear text with partial English translation.