Hočąk Text — Earthmaker Blesses Wešgíšega, v. 2

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

The English interlinear text is based on the translation in Paul Radin, Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian, Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 294-298.

Brackets '[ ]' indicate uncertain readings.

English Translation

p. 294 —
"Wešgíšiga" higaíregi. Hočáñgižą herežé. Čekxetéhugi
"Wešgíšiga" they called him. A Hočąk he was. As he was approaching adulthood

hi-ánč-higi hątáginanč hak'aražíže; Mą'´una waxop'ini
father - to do to fast he coaxed; Earthmaker spirits

waráčire wá'uñgi, jánañga waxopini p'įna
various when he made, as many spirits good

'uñgíži, haną́čiñxjį wážįnuk'òno wagigíže. Uañkšígo-'į,
as he made, all of them in charge of something he made them. Life

wonáǧire,* hiruk'óno† wagigíže. Hotá wat'éhik'e
war, in control of he made them. Others hunters

*Radin has wonážire, a misreading of his own handwritting. See Paul Radin, The Story of Wešgišiga, Winnebago & English, in Notebooks, Winnebago II, 2 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) p. 1.
†Radin has 'kiruk'óno' in the printed version. See ibid., p. 1.

p. 295 —
hirekje, žéske nánčwiroją haniwagigíže. Žigé,
they were to be, this kind he blessed them with he made them to have. Again,

hotá waxopíni woráčirera hitajérekje. Žeske
other spirits the various ones they were to become very powerful. This kind

hiruk'óno wagigígi, žeske haginą́čšižè. Uáñkšigenàñgere
in control of they were made, this kind he would fast. These people

hoixkǫ́na jagúšaną 'únañk'i waxopíni waráčirera
practices whatever [they needed to live] spirits the various ones

hok'iráčera haną́čį nąčwiróją. Hok'iráč haniwagígiže.
the different ones all he blessed them with. Different things he gave them.

Žee žéžeske hip'érezenąįšiže. Gíži 'ųžé.
This these kinds he should try to find out something. Thus he did.

Hątáginančgi waxopíni hip'érezeną̀į wa'ųžé. Gíži
When he was fasting spirits to find out something he did. So

hątáginančgi wawewį́wį'añks'àže, "Giži hagaréžą waxopíni
as he was fasting he kept thinking, "When at some time past spirits

waráčirera Mą'´una e wa'ųžé haną́čiñxjį
the various ones Earthmaker he he made every one of them

wažanižą́šaną hiruk'óno wagigíže, ánañk'-a. Mą'únañk'a
one-thing-only in control of he put, it is said. Earthmaker

exjį wažǫnanáñčiñxjį hiruk'ónonañk'ìšni. Hiraičeráxjįnañk'ùni. Waxopíni
truly absolutely everything he must be in control of. He must be much more powerful. Spirits

waráčirenañgererèške* Mą'´una éwawa'ùñgi. Žeske hiruk'onaįnekje
[the various ones] Earthmaker [he created.] Thus they will have control

*Radin's text has a period here.

wogára. Teréškera wákąčañkjinañk'àją, Mą'´una wážą
he gave them. [Even] as holy as they are, Earthmaker something

hekjinàñk'į, wak'ąčáñgera," hiregíži. Hihąte ną́iñgi,
[mightier], holy thing," he thought. To dream as he tried,

"Jaskéxjįnañgi?" hirežé. 'Uáñk'ų̀ k'iwewíwįñgàją, "Hañk'é
"What can this one be?" he thought. He was doing it after he thought to himself, "Not

wàxopíni waráčirera hižaįperézeni, wa'únañk'į; waxopíni
spirits the various ones one has not known him, as he was; spirits

waračireraréške hañk'ížą ną́jųjanigàją. Jaguána Mą'únañk'a
of the various ones not one he has not blessed. I wonder Earthmaker

nąjųjána, méžeske p'ewímoñk'." Hiregíži, ną́jok'iją̀že,
he would bless me, thus I am thinking." Thus he thought, he put himself in a pitiable condition,

ǧakgíži. Hañk'é nąšją nuxúrukenìže. "Mą'´una,
thus he cried. Not to stop he was not able. "Earthmaker,

čak'ó, yap'érezenąìñkje," hirežé; "giži hañk'é
therefore, I wish to obtain knowledge," he thought, "so that not

nąjųją́niške žegų hątáginančirègi čekje," hirežé.
if he does not bless me then during the fasting I shall die," he thought.

p. 296 —
Giži ep'á hątaginánčera mąšją 'ųžé.
So from that point on the fasting mightily he did.

Mą'unášaną haginánčše. Čegéja jobóhą, nąs'áže;
Earthmaker only he fasted for. At first four times he used to sleep;

hahí hak'éwehą nąs'áže; žigiahí
in time six times he used to sleep; then

haruwóñgohą nąs'áže; hahí k'ereponohaížą
eight times he used to sleep; in time ten times

nąs'áže; hahí nųbašanáhą nañgíži. Ep'a
he used to sleep; in time twelve times he slept. From that point on

žejaíñxjį p'a hįpga égi waruts'áže.
that far [it has been] [after he had gotten] and he would eat.

Hiskéxjį žeguañk'e wažįp'érezenìže hañk'agá wažą́nižą
In truth and not not knowledge of something not a thing

nąjojąníže. Hahík'iñgìže. Žéjuñga xete wogizókjañgi,
he had not been blessed. Then he gave up. Now big when he became of age,

rušjánañga, hinuñk kanáñkše. Égi hičáwina
he gave it up, woman he took. And his wife

hak'arak'ížu gixonaį́neže mąwočaį́nañxjį. Hahí čireže
she was with him they moved out of the way place. In time they lived

hičáwinašaną hak'arak'ížu. Egi žigé hątáginančìreže
his wife alone she with him. And again they began to fast

hok'ik'ížu. Mą'´una hihąté rogų́nihera žéjuñga
he with her. Earthmaker to dream of he wished and now

éja hisgéxjį t'ékjireže hątáginanjeja. "Hañk'agá
there in truth he would die in the fasting. "Never

hižą žéske horágirani. Hątáginanjeregì, čekje,"
one that kind it had not been told. During the fasting, I shall die,"

hirežé. Hagaréžą hahí niñkjóñgeniñgižą* haníneže.
he thought. Once in time a child they had.

*Radin has niñkjóñgeniñgi-ą, which should probably be niñkjóñgeniñgižą.

Uañgeníñgižą* herežé. Hičáwina wagežé hihók'aragìže,
A male child it was. His wife he spoke to her asking her advice,

*Radin has Uañgeníñgi-ą, which should probably be Uañgeníñgižą.

niñkjóñkeniñgra Mą'´una nąpigiruxáč hirekje, eže.
their child Earthmaker to do sacrifice they should he said.

Giži hičáwina k'araxúruk'i. Mą'´una nąbigiruxájireže.
And so his wife she consented. Earthmaker they will sacrifice him.

Hazajížą 'úinanañga hihagéja hat'ų́pireže. Egi
A platform they constructed on top they placed him upon it. And

žéjuñga hinų́wiñk'e mąšją ǧágireže. Hąhegáją
now both of them mightily they two cried. During the night

naį́neže Mą'´una nanjwoją́že, éže. Wiraji-ánañga
when they slept Earthmaker he took pity on them, he said. He came to them and

p. 297 —
horuxújiregàją. Hiskenąjéxjįže. Manąp'e waíni 'uánañga; wok'ónoñk'
they looked at him. He certainly had reason. Soldier clothing he makes, and hat

sták' hañkšížą hok'onoñgánañga. Hájara k'arap'iésk'exjįžè.
[narrow] high (cocked) he carries on his head. To the sight he was very pleasing.

Horuxúčše. "Jaguánaške Mą'´una heréną," hireže
He looked at him. "I also wonder Earthmaker it is," he thought

gają. Nųhaíježe.* "Žeskegúni yaréžare," hiregáją.
[sentence terminator]. He took a step. "I think it so I am thinking," he thought.

*The phonetic rendering 'nųhaíježe' may result from the nasal ending to the previous 'gają'. 'Ruhaíje' is more usual.

Žige ruhai-ježe. ép'a téjañk'i* ruhaije
Again he took a step. From that place [every now and then] he took a step

*Radin treats this as a verb meaning 'he moved,' but 'tejañk'ixjį' (with an emphatic suffix, '-xjį') means, 'once in awhile.' He also has a period here.

towe áreže gają. Te hank'é
to go in a certain direction [he uttered a cry] [sentence terminator]. This one not

Mą'una wa'unijéže.* Jejéjižą wa'ųjéže. Gišjoñk'éregi.
Earthmaker it was he. A bluejay† it was. They had fooled him.

*This is probably wa'ųježe, as below. Blowsnake's syllabary represents an 'i' with a mere dot, so that stray marks are sometimes mistaken for the letter 'i'.
†Radin has 'pigeon', but 'bluejay' is well attested elsewhere as the translation of this name.

Žige ijaíra* nančgera tékše. Žigijaíra
And so more he heart it ached. Even more

*More usually, 'hijaíra'.

hogirújase. Egi žigé nañgáją žéjuñga
he was wound up. And again he slept and indeed

Mą'´una hijájiže, "Uañkšik'é, nąjonijána. S'i
Earthmaker came to him, "Human, I bless you. Long

ragákšaną.* Mą'´una newinéną," eže. Horuxičgáją,
you have cried. Earthmaker I am he," he said. When he looked at him,

*This should probably be 'raǧákšaną' given that the stem is 'ǧak'.

k'arap'iéskeže. Horuxújera p'įžé, waínina k'arap'iéske
he was pleasing. the look fine, clothing it was pleasing

'ų́že. "Jaguánaške teé Mą'´una wa'ų́janą,"
it was. "I also wonder this Earthmaker [it was],"

hirežé-gają. Horuxújera hok'ugági, hiraną́įže. Hijobóhǫna
he thought. The look as if he grew smaller, he thought. The fourth time

horuxučgájią stastak'éžą wa'ųježe. Nančgéra hijaiíra
when he looked [unknown species of bird] it was. The heart even more

*this species of bird is also mentioned in the story Mązanį'ąbara.

tekše. Mąšją́ ǧakše. Hitaníhǫna žigé
it ached. Mightily he cried. The third time again

Mą'´una žéjuñga nąjoją́že, "Mą'´una hirahą́te
Earthmaker now he blessed him, "Earthmaker to dream

nąnaš'iánañga hawerak'išáwañgra. Mą'´una newinéną, nąjonijáną.
you have tried and you caused yourself great suffering. Earthmaker I am he, I bless you.

Hañk'é wažą́nižą roragúnikjonèną; činóñgižą̀ hit'e
Not a thing you will be in want of; a village language

jagúraške hanánč wananáñxguñkjonèną; uañkšigo'į́na hank'é
whatever all you will listen to; life not

rorágunikjonèną; jaguranąčíñxjį nąjironijáną." Ege*
you will want; everything I bless you." Now,
*for 'égi.'

čegéja, jaski-ájera hañk'é horuxújera, žeske
from the very first, [however] not the appearance, so

hanįjéže. Ejáxjį žigé teé, "Wažįjahį́že
to inspire confidence. About that time again this one, "Somebody

p. 298 —
hingišjóñk'ejegùni," hirežé gają. Šiñk'ok'ogížą wa'ųjéže.
must be fooling me." he thought [sentence terminator]. A robin it was.

"Žéjuñga žeja, čak'ó hañk'e wahájeni,
"Now, to end (die), indeed not not to eat,

žegų čekje,"* hireže. "Jánañga waniñk'
and so I will die," he thought. "As many as there are birds

šišigerági hiñkšakšaíre." Hireže -gają.* Mą'una
bad they have made sport of me." It is isn't it? Earthmaker

*Treating this as a suffix, it can be used, according to Lipkind, to indicate rhetorical questions and truisms, and can be translated as "isn't it?" Radin translates this sentence as, "They were indeed doing it."

'uañgeregináñk'i hip'éresse gają. Hit'éra nañxgų́že.
on high where he sat he knew of it [sentence terminator]. The words he heard.

"Wešgíšera, ražagerájege mąnégi ajíną," higéže.
"Wešgíšega you are crying to the earth I am coming," he said to him.

"Higų́ hi-ánjina, Wešgíšera," hiñgéže.* Horuxičgáją̀
"Even the father, Wešgíšega," he said to him. When he looked

*Normally, 'higéže'.

'uáñgeregi hatak'áč p'iñxjįžą mąnégi hirak'ereježe.
up above ray of light very clearly to the earth extending.

Yočíra éjaxjį hirak'ére wa'ųjéže. "Wešgíšera
The camp all the way it extended it did. "Wešgíšega

hįšjákje, hišéra. Hañk'e žeske hatuxúrugeniną.
you will see me, you said. Not that kind I cannot do.

Meé newinéną. Hįšjáną," higéže. Hañk'é wonáǧire
This I am he. You have seen me," he said to him. Not war

nąjiroją́niže; uañkšigo'įnášanaxjį nąjiroją́že Wešgišega. Hąbera
he was not blessed; life only he was blessed Wešgíšega. The light

Mą'´una ejowáji. Mąnégi hirak'erejèga. Hirok'í'ų
Earthmaker it came from. To the earth it reached. He made a copy

hisagúįžą 'ųže. Žeé tani-ogížu hahúiregi uañkšigo'į
a cane he made. This tobacco-offering when it came life

gitanáñkšaną. Higų́ mežegunegíške, higų wa'unáñkšaną.
they would ask for. Even at the present time, still they are doing it.

English Translation

Source:

Paul Radin, Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian, Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 293-318 (Sam Blowsnake, "How One of My Ancestors was Blessed by Earthmaker," pp. 294-298). From Paul Radin, The Story of Wešgišiga, Winnebago & English, in Notebooks, Winnebago II, 2 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) last item (incomplete).