The Fatal House

narrated by Philip Longtail (Sįcserecka), Buffalo Clan
interlinear translation by James Owen Dorsey

Reproduced with the kind permission of the
National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution

English Translation

Dorsey's orthography has been changed to the contemporary IPA standard. Notes by the editor (Richard Dieterle) are indicated by "—RD." Question marks in parentheses, sic (?), are those of Dorsey, all others mark uncertain readings.

IV.1 —
Éja ną kíkųnúñk -i cí -žą nañk s'á škúni. Wañk-núniñg -ižáñgi
There wood to cut into large poles with an ax by means of house one sat always perhaps. Old man one

 

 

-ra éja ci-náñk s'á škúni. Hąp-gá waré ra ų́ je s'á škúni
the there he dwelt always perhaps. Every day work the he did standing always perhaps

 

 

Wañk-núniñg jegá jé -warúti -ra nųpiwí nihí škúni. Egí hagoréžą
Old Man the std. ox, cow there who pull the two he owned perhaps. And at one (past) time

 

 

Wañk-núniñg -rá we škúni: ną -kíkųnuñk -i cí -žą kikų́ kcąné e
Old man -the he said perhaps: wood to cut into large poles with an ax out of it house one he made it for himself will he said

 

 

škúni. Egí wañk-núniñg -rá waré jiré škúni. Hąp-gá ų jé s'á
perhaps. And old man the to work he began perhaps. Every day he did standing always

 

 

škúni. Egí hágoréžą ną -rá hirúšcą -wáhi škúni. Égi hágoréžą
perhaps. And at one (past) time wood the ready -he caused them to be perhaps. And at one (past) time

 

 

cé -ra waí-ške škúni. Žegų́ -he ánañgá ną́ harúti ré škúni. Hąp-
oxen -the he put a yoke on them perhaps. So -he did after wood to pull along he went perhaps. Day-

 

 

gá žegų́gų težeské-hi jé s'á škúni. Égi hagoréžą ną -rá hiną́
every so (in that manner) he did just this way standing always perhaps. And at one (past) time wood the he made so

 

IV.2 —
hi škúni. Egí gajáñga ci kikų́ ciré škúni. Gajáñga wañk-nų́-
r?ough perhaps. And at length house he made it for himself he began perhaps. By that time a man very

 

 

xcį-níñk škúni. Hiñké hicáwį cų ní škúni. E warúc kik'ų́
old man perhaps. Not his wife he had one not perhaps. He food he made for himself

 

 

s'á škúni. Égi hágoréžą cí -ra k'ų cebí škúni. Egí hagá hąp´
always perhaps. And at one (past) time house the made he finished it perhaps. And one time day

 

 

régi ci-éja hakirí miñg -anañgá wawéwi wañk škúni, cowéja wawewí
time at the house he had come home he was lying down -when he was thinking he lay perhaps, in front (= of the ?future) he was thinking

 

 

wañk škúni. Égi hiraréxcįníñk-gają́ ną -kikų́nuñk —hicí -ra
he lay perhaps. And in a very little while wood -out of large poles house made of the

 

 

cucuá škúni. Égi wañk-núniñg -rá nawą́ ciré škúni. Égi rašcą́
made ?weak and ?ready to ?break and fall perhaps. And old man the to sing he began perhaps. And he stopped singing

 

 

gają́ Mą-ų́ -ra kikarác škúni. Égi hiraréxcįníñgają́ ną -kikų́núñk
when Earthmaker -the he prayed to him perhaps. And in a very little while wood out of large poles

 

IV.3 —
-hici -rá xanąrá ciré škúni. Égi wañk-núniñg -rá hai-séwe
house made of the to fall ——, with all the logs together it began perhaps. And old man the he was covered up

 

 

škúni. Tée hoš'éją heré na.
perhaps. This end it is (identical with) .

 

English Translation

Source:

Phillip Longtail , "The Fatal House," text with interlinear translation by James Owen Dorsey, 4800 Dorsey Papers: Winnebago 3.3.2 (Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution, National Anthropological Archives, October and November, 1893) IV.1-3.