Hočąk Text — Descent of the Drum, Version 1

English Translation

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

α	β	ε	η	ρ	τ
égi	éja	gáją	žesge	ánąga	gíži

ϕ	ω	M	T
hąké	žegų	Mąúna	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, [ ].

p. 190 —

Hitcųcgé	gikarádjiréra*	wągadjiruxúrugwirá†	[T]	herejé‡
"Hičųšgé"	gikarájiréra	wągajiruxúrugwirá	wąkšigoį	herežé.
"Nephew"	the one that they call	he accomplished for us	life	[he did.]

*the initial /gi/ of this word has been detached and placed at the end of the previous word.
†this word is preceeded by "([T]íją)". After the first /g/ in this word, /o/ has been crossed out and /a/ written above it. After the syllable /ji/, /rugu/ has been crossed out.
‡before this word the text has "([β]cana)".

[η]	hinaxgų́wina*	wogų́zotciágere	hitcųcgé‡	gikarádjiréra‡‡
Žesge	hinaxgų́wina	Wogų́zočiágere	"Hičųšgé"	gikarájiréra
[In this way]	we understand	the Creation Lodge†	"Nephew"	the one whom they call

*/x/ is inserted in place above the line with a caret.
†the interlinear text has "the tent". The translation of The Road of Life and Death is followed here.
‡/gi/ is suffixed to this word when it is really the initial syllable of the next word.
‡‡/kadji/ has been crossed out as the first syllable of this word.

ruxúrukí	tcíra	hoixdjį́	djį́pgíji	djagúra hanątc´
ruxúrukí	číra	hoixjį́	jį́pgíži,	jagúra haną́č
when he accomplished,	the lodge	completely full*	it was,	all of everything

*the interlinear text has "became full". The translation of The Road of Life and Death has been followed in this instance.

jegų	[τ]	[α]	wogų́zohúra	hatcį́dja
žegų	giži.	Égi	wogų́zohúra	hačį́ja
that's all	[.]	[And]	creation starts*	wherever

*this is written above, "religion came from" which has been crossed out.

heregí	[β]	wajǫgų́zera	wokúruxútcce	[ε´]
heregí,	éja	Wažǫgų́zera	wokúruxúčše	gáją.
[when he did],	there	the Creator*	he looked about it	[.]

*this is written above, "he made" which has been crossed out.

wogų́zera	xgícguniąkce	tciókiságera	wanąią́kereregi	hąbera
Wogų́zera	xgíšguniąkše.	Čiókiságera	wanąią́kereregi,	hąbera
[The creation]*	it lay calm and quiet.†	The center of the lodge	when they centered their thoughts,‡	the light‡‡

*the interlinear text has, "Medicine Dance Lodge", which is written above "[religion]".
†in the interlinear translation, "it remained quiet" has been crossed out as well as some illegible material above it.
‡all the interlinear has is, "when they brought them back", but this is crossed out.
‡‡the interlinear has, "the day".

rukírikírinakce	[α]	wagiwéwijé†	[η]	wajǫ́niją́	hokicgaínegi
rukírikírinakše.	Égi	wagiwéwižé,	"Žesge,	wažǫ́nižą́	hokišgaínegi,
it was shimmering and sparkling.*	[And]	he pondered and thought,‡	"In this way,	something	they would associate with‡‡

*the interlinear translation has, "was shining".
†after this word, djagúriją́ has been crossed out.
‡the interlinear translation has, "he considered for them". After this, "he thought" is crossed out.
‡‡this is written below a crossed out, "they would follow".

p. 191 —

p'į́na	hiregí	rosánįk	hoicóroiédja†	rúz[ρ]
p'į́na,"	hiregí.	Rosánįk	hoišóroiéja	rúzanąga
good,"	he thought.*	One side of his body	from the right side	he took and

*this is written above the Hočąk line. Below this translation, "it would be" has been crossed out. In the English line, "if they did" has also been crossed out.
†the first /i/ has been inserted above the line with a caret. An acute accent over it has been crossed out. The /e/ in /é/ has been circled.

nąboréhi	ų́je	wągíją	ųgíji	p'įhíje
nąboréhi	ų́že.	Wągížą	ųgíži	p'įhíže.
with his hands	he made.	A man	he made and	[he made him well.]

horacge	p'įgígije	róra	rokéweje	rorá
Horašge	p'įgígiže.	Róra	rokéweže.	Rorá
The voice	he made it nice.	The body	he painted.	His body

xígigi[ρ´]	tcabónihara	hą́bera	higių́je	jegų
xígigiánąga	čabónihara	hą́bera	higių́že.	Žegų
he made it yellow [and]	the top of his head	Light and Life	he put in for him.	Thus

hi[ρ´]	girucdjǫ́ hǫhíje	wą́gerégi	hąbera	djąnáhi
hiánąga	girušjǫ́ hǫhíže.	Wą́gerégi	hąbera	jąnáhi
he did and	he turned him loose.	From above	the days	how many

hok'ikónok	konokíji	jeną́hi-hiją́	hirádjiga	hą́berá
hok'ikónok	konokíži	ženą́hi-hižą́	hirájiga,	hą́berá
the center*	he placed	[?]†	when he reached,	[the day]‡

*this is written above, "he placed himself in", which was crossed out.
†"then he reached out" has been crossed out, and "that amount ——" written above it, with "amount" crossed out.
‡The Road of Life and Death has "the whole atmosphere".

ksúntc	djikére†	hujé	hą́bera	djobíhi
ksúnč	jikére	hužé.	Hą́bera	jobíhi
it was shaking*	as he came down‡	[he came.]	Days	four

*this is written aboe "move" which has been crossed out.
†originally, djikáramaníje, but each of the first two instances of /a/ have been replaced with /e/, and maníje has been crossed out.
‡this is followed by "(suddenly)".

hokikónok*	kónokí	iją	irádjigá‡	hą́bera
hokikónok	konokí	ižą	irájigá	hą́bera
center†	[he placed]	[one]	[when he reached]	[the day]

*a letter is scribbled out at the end of this word.
†the interlinear has, "within the limit".
‡the initial /i/ is placed in parentheses. This expression normally begins with an /h/.

ksúntc	djikéres'áje	hikorokihíwira	[ϕ]	[α]
ksúnč	jikéres'áže.	Hikorokihíwira	hąké	égi
it was shaking	[he would come down].*	[Our Grandmother]†	not	[here]

*the translation had, "it happened now & then", but "now and then" was crossed out and "it would" written above it.
†the translation has, "at the earth".

ewucánijé*	gisgą́djiréje	hatcį́dja	[M]	hųgé
ewušánižé.	Gisgą́jiréže,	hačį́ja	Mąúna	hųgé
he didn't stop.	He went through (with force),	where	Earthmaker	chief

*originally, hawucáne?jé, but the initial /ha/ was crossed out and an /e/ written above it and circled.

hiją́	[ϕ]	xgini jesgáokíji	[β]	kiridjé gigijé‡
hižą́.	Hąké	xgini žesgáokíži.	Éja	kirijé gigižé
a.	Not	it was very quiet.†	There	he landed him on (that one)

†xgini means, "it did not move," a translation crossed out in favor of translating the two words together. This translation, however, does not expressed the negative particle -ni-.
‡/ga/ was written above the /k/ of kiridjé, but was later crossed out.

[τ´]	wakcexínǫka	hipérezse	[M]	wowéwįkadjidjéhigi
gíži.	Wakšexínǫka	hipérezse.	Mąúna	wowéwįkajijéhigi.
[.]	The Waterspirit*	[he knew of it.]	Earthmaker	he had placed him there by the power of his thoughts.†

*the interlinear translation has, "the dragon".
†initially the interlinear translation had, "placed a thought in his mind", but that was crossed out, and above it was written, "thought about this", but this too was crossed out.

wainąp´	kįjerécgera†	wąkcígoįdjedjéra	hikire‡‡	djinókce
Wainąp´	kįžeréšgera	wąkšígoįjejéra	hikire	jinókše.
He was thankful*	[even that himself]‡	life bestowing	he thought	he was.

*the interlinear has, "blessing he made himself", but above this is written, "very proud even he".
†what appears to have been /kiki/ has been crossed out at the beginning of this word.
‡the interlinear has, "one of these he thought he was", but this seems to be a translation of the whole end of the sentence.
‡‡the /e/ was written in reduced size over an original terminal /a/.

ną́boréhi	djíreje	[M]*	p'į	úna	p'įxdjį
Ną́boréhi	jíreže.	Mąúna	p'į	úna	p'įxjį
With his own hands	he commenced.	Earthmaker	good	he did,	better yet

*before this word hicdjará has been crossed out.

kíra	jesgajanúnige	jigé	hirajaíra	exjį́
kíra.	Žesgadjanúnige	žigé	hiradjaíra.	Exdjį́
he did.	[Thus he did, but ?]	again	still better.	[He himself]

p. 192 —

jagurukóno	[M]	gigigi	[η]	[α]*
djagurukóno	Mąúna	gigigi.	Žesge	égi
whatever he put in charge	Earthmaker	he made him.	[Thus]	here

*just before this symbol, hiranídjiną́kce has been crossed out. The translation given for this word is, "he has responsible place —led him with". But above the line it is written, "that's what he took ahold of him with".

wogų́zotciédja	[M]	hosgé	[η]	hijé
Wogų́zočiéja	Mąúna	hosgé	žesge	hižé,
at the Creation Lodge*	Earthmaker	just†	[that way]	[he did],

*the interlinear translates this as, "in his tent".
† this is written above a word that has been thoroughly scribbled out.

hųgé	[ϕ]	[β]	hinįkdjanégi	wogų́zotciáka
hųgé	hąké	éja	hinįkjanégi	wogų́zočiáka
chief*	not	there	he wasn't going†	the Creation Lodge‡

*"chief" has been crossed out in favor of the more interpretive and contextual "spirit".
†after this word further words have been thoroughly scribbled out.
‡the interlinear has, once again, "the tent".

[β]	wowéwina	hokárakére	gigijé	wagių́je
éja	wowéwina	hokárakére	gigižé.	Wagių́že
[there]	he had his mind on	he placed it for himself	he made.	He made him for that.

wogų́zotciédja	djaguirokónoną́ki*	hicge	[η]	[β]
Wogų́zočiéja	jaguirokónoną́ki	hišge	žesge	éja
At the Creation Lodge	what he had in charge of†	he also	that	there

*before this word is written, "([T]-na)".
†"he" is written above a crossed out "they".

hiúinekdje	wagíųjé	p'įų́giji	hicdjará	tcógigíje
hiúinekje	wagíųžé.	P'įų́giži	hišjará	čógigíže.
they use it*	[it was made for that.]	He made him good,†	face	blue he made it.‡

*"him" is crossed out, and "it" written above it.
†above this is written, "fixed".
‡"him" is crossed out, and "it" written above it. Above "blue" is written "painted" in very small letters.

[ω]	hi[ρ´]	wogų́zotcíra	tcáwa	hóukdjané[τ´]
Žegų	hiánąga	Wogų́zočíra	čáwa	hóukjanégíži,
[Thus]	[he did and]	Creation Lodge	towards	he's starting for and

hoidje	djobóhą	ruhá	djídje[ε´]	[β]
hoije	jobóhą	ruhá	jíjegáją.	Éja
to step in	four	steps	he did it.	There

wanahéje	[τ]	hóra	tcąt'įdjikéreje†	[ε]
wanahéže	giži.	Hóra	čąt'įjikéreže.	Gają
he gave a whoop.*	[.]	Voice	it became audible.	There

*the interlinear translation has, "he breathed" above which is written, "holler".
†after this word, Radin inserts, "[drum is struck once]".

hikorokehiwira	djasgeganúgere*	haną́tcį	sisį́tcį	djínąkce
Hikorokehiwira	jasgeganúgere,	haną́čį	sisį́čį	jínąkše.
Our Grandmother	as he went along,	all	he swept away†	[he did].‡

*after this word, Radin inserts, "([η]xdjį)".
†the interlinear has, "he was clean".
‡below this word is written, "(nothing clinging to ...)", the diaeresis indicating illegible words.

wągéxdjįnįgrá*	korókehiwíra	djánuga	hajuákijí	jenuga
Wągéxjįnįgrá	Korókehiwíra	jánąga	hažuákiží	ženuga
[Trees ?]†	Our Grandmother	everything	on top of	all of them

*an initial /y/ is crossed out and above it what appears to be a /w/ is written, although it is not certain.
†the translation has what appears to be, "I then? told him often very", which is crossed out. Between "him" and "often", above the line, is written what appears to be "trees". It appears to mean, "the little ones high above".

hócecínina*	hanątcįxdjį	hocicigera	djasgánųkíji	sukdjį́‡
hóšešínina	hanąčįxjį	hošišigera	jasgánųkíži	sukjį́
bad stuff that collects in the head and skin†	[absolutely all]	the bad	so he was	clean

*just before this word, /ho/ is crossed out. An initial /ha/ has been crossed out by a series of vertical lines.
†Miner gives the meaning of this word as "flakes". The English line gives the meaning as, "the renewal of leafage in spring", but on the interstitial page 192/193, Radin says, "hocecinina = bad stuff that collects in head, skin etc. He swept away from all over the trees, old leaves and old things of all kinds."
‡just before this word an initial /sų́/ has been crossed out.

djidjérejé	[τ´]	hą́bera	hidjaíra	djidjejé
jijérežé	gíži.	Hą́bera	hijaíra	jiježé.
they were	[.]	Light	an increase	[it became.]*

*the interlinear has, "he was".

[α]	mánihúgi	hoidje	djobóhą	ruhá	djídje[ε´]	[β]
Égi	mánihúgi,	hoije	jobóhą	ruhá	jíjegáją.	Éja
[Then]	when he came walking,	to step in	four	steps	he did it.	There

p. 193 —

wanahégi*	jigé	hinųbóhǫna	hóra	tcąt'įdjikérejé
wanahégi,	žigé	hinųbóhǫna	hóra	čąt'įjikérežé
as he gave a whoop,	again	the second time	his voice	it became audible

*a terminal /je/ has been crossed out and /gi/ written above it.

[τ´]*	hikorókehiwira	djasgegánųgré	hanątcįxdjį	howaxíninísge
gíži.	Hikorókehiwira	jasgegánųgré,	hanąčįxjį	howaxíninísge
[.]	Our Grandmother	as he walked along,	everything	[like condensed vapor]†

*before this symbol, Radin has inserted above the line with a caret the following, "[drum is played]".
†the interlinear had originally, "he was steaming like", but he was crossed out and "it" inserted above the line by a caret; "steaming" was crossed out and "condensed" was written above it. Miner gives the meaning of this word as, "tingling sensation; hot, steady, annoying pain".

djį́pce	yągéxdjinigrá	djanugakijí	jenúga	hanątc
jį́pše.	Yągéxjinigrá	janągakiží,	ženúga	hanąč
it seemed.	[Trees ?]	all of them,	all of them	all

sgóc'ec'e*	djidjéreje	[τ´]	jegų	hi[ρ´]
sgóš'eš'e	jijéreže	gíži.	Žegų	hiánąga
white spots on	they were	[.]	[Thus]	[he did and]

*just before this word, sgon e'ce has been crossed out.

hidanihǫna	máni	hugíji	hoidje	djobóhą
hitanihǫna	máni	hugíži,	hoije	jobóhą
for a third time	walking	when he came,	to step in	four

ruhádjídje[ε´]	[β]	wanahéje	hóra	tcąt'įdjikéreje*
ruhájíjegáją,	éja	wanahéže.	Hóra	čąt'įjikéreže.
after he took steps,	there	he gave a whoop.	His voice	it became audible.

*after this Radin writes "[drum]", indicating that the drum was struck at this point in the narrative.

hikorokehíwirá	djasgeganúgere	haną́tcįxdjį	tcóra	djínąkce
Hikorokehíwirá	jasgeganúgere,	haną́čįxjį	čóra	jínąkše.
Our Grandmother	as he walked along,	everything	green	it was.

[α]	yągéxdjinįgra	djanugáki	jenúga	hanątcįxdjį́
Égi	yągéxjinįgra	janągáki,	ženúga,	hanąčįxjį́
[Then]	the trees	as many as there were,	all of them,	[absolutely all]

ábera	tcóra	djiną́girejé	kárapiésge	[α]
ábera	čóra	jiną́girežé.	Kárapiésge	égi
leaves	green	they were.	They were nice	and

mánidjikéreje	gíji	hoidje	djobóhą	ruhaídje[ε´]
mánijikéreže	gíži.	Hoije	jobóhą	ruhaíjegáją,
[he walked on]	[.]	To step in	four	after he stepped,

[β]	wanahéje.	Wanahégiji	hidjobóhǫna*	wogų́zotcíra
éja	wanahéže.	wanahégiži,	hijobóhǫna	Wogų́zočíra
there	he gave a whoop.	As he gave a whoop,	the fourth time	the Creation Lodge

*before this word, hóra tcąt'įdj has been crossed out.

p. 194 —

tciókiságedja	hą́berá	hiwaxórok	hax'épdjįpcé	[β]
čiókiságeja	hą́berá	hiwaxórok	hax'épjįpšé.	Éja
in the center of the lodge	light	it burst through	[it suddenly emerged.]	There

hóra	tcąt'į*	djikeregíji†	hikorokehíwira	djasgeganúgere	haną́tcįxdjį
hóra	čąt'į	jikeregíži.	Hikorokehíwira	jasgeganúgere,	haną́čįxjį
his voice	audible	it became.	Our Grandmother	as he walked along,	everything

*after this word, djikéreje has been crossed out.
†after this word Radin writes, "(drum)".

tcóra*	djínokce	hikorokehiwíra	hį́tcaberá	djásgairekdjéra
čóra	jínokše.	Hikorokehiwíra	hį́čaberá	jásgairekjéra
green	it became.	Our Grandmother	her hair†	as they should be‡

*just before this word, hįtcábera has been crossed out.
†"our relation" has been crossed out.
‡this is written above "they'll be" which has been crossed out.

jesgadjįpce	yągéxdjinįgra	djanųgáki	haną́tcį	ábera
žesgajįpše.	Yągéxjinįgra	janągáki	haną́čį	ábera
[that way she became].	Poles	all of them,	all	leaves

djasgaírekdjégi	jesgaíreje	tciókisak*	honąjį́na
jasgaírekjégi	žesgaíreže.	Čiókisak	honąžį́na
[as they should be,]	[thus they were.]	The center of the lodge	standing place

*at the end of the word, /gino/ has been crossed out and /k/ written above it.

hodápínina	[ϕ]	habozóp'iní†	jesgá	djidjehíje
hotápínina	hąké	habozóp'iní.	Žesgá	jijehíže.
[twisting blaze]*	not	it couldn't be bent.	[That way]	he made it.

*"spun around" has been crossed out, and "blaze" written above it. However, pini/pinį means "to twist".
†originally, this was habozópp'iní, but such a form violates the principle annunciated by Radin that there are no double letters in Hočąk. The word "mistake" is written in small letters under p'iní.

wogų́zotcíra	hąberá	hidjaíra	rukírikíri	djįbíje
Wogų́zočíra	hąberá	hijaíra	rukírikíri	jįbíže.
The Creation Lodge	light	increasing	sparkling	it began.

[α]	hą́berá	djasgádjegí	hidjaíra	djidjehíje
Égi	hą́berá	jasgájegí	hijaíra	jijehíže.
Then	light*	[as it was]	more	it was made to become.

*translated in The Road of Life and Death as "the day".

[ϕ]	nigé	huhíni	jesgádjidjehíje	wakírihokere
Hąké	nigé	huhíni.	Žesgájijehíže.	Wakírihokere
[Not]	[anywhere]	[it did not blow.]	[That's the way he made it.]	Big spider

ųnácana	djagu*	iroíkárairesgé†	djidjehíje	[α]
ųnášana	jagu	iroíkárairesgé	jijehíže.	Égi
[he is doing alone]	[what]	[how it was tended was uncertain]	[he made it be.]	[Then]

*two or three letters at the end were stricken from this word.
†what appears to be an initial /h/ has been crossed out.

widjádjera	hisgexdjį	tcąt'į́djiregí	wogų́zera	djasgéxdjinóki
Wijájera	hisgexjį	čąt'į́jiregí.	Wogų́zera	jasgéxjinóki
the Announcer*	truly	it became audible.	The creation	throughout the whole

*the interlinear translation has only "drum".

hanątcįxdjį	nąxgų́djinógirejé	wągíją	hit'et'é	nąxgų
hanąčįxjį	nąxgų́jinógirežé.	Wągížą	hit'et'é	nąxgų
[all of it]	they could hear it.	A man	the utterance	to hear

p. 195 —

minogirejé	wągirégi	wogų́zohúra	hatcį́djeregí	jerécgera
minogirežé.	Wągirégi	wogų́zohúra	hačį́jeregí,	žeréšgera
as they sat.	Up above	where the creator is*	where he is,	even that

*the interlinear has, "where religion comes from", but this appears to have been crossed out with one horizontal line.

jedjaį́xdjį	p'á	[β]	hipá	nąkáraxgų
žejaį́xjį	p'á	éja	hipá	nąkáraxgų.
that far	it has been	there	that far	he could be heard.

minókije,	gípįjé
Minókiže,	gípįžé.
He sat,	he was happy.

Source:

Jasper Blowsnake, Untitled, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3885 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Library, n.d.) Winnebago II, #6: 190-193 and Winnebago II, #7: 194-195. An English translation 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]) 275-277.