Hocąk Text — The Lame Friend

narrated by John Hazen Hill (Xetenišaraga)

Despite the fact that the Hocąk text is typewritten, owing to the heavy ink on the ribbon and the state of the type, it is often hard to distinguish the letter /o/ from the letter /e/, and sometimes the letter /a/ is difficult to identify. The English translation, while technically interlinear, is not aligned word-for-word, and tends to be a bit loose. The English is written with a sharp pencil and has the virtue, at least, of being easy to read.

English Translation

Worak de e
Worák tée
Story this

Xedenisharaga e Horakshana.
Xetenišaraga e horákšaną
Wren (John Hazen Hill) he told it

 

p. 1 —
She e eja Nikushe, hijejeja minag
Žee éja Nįkúše, nįcejéja* mįnąk
[These] there the Wisconsin River, on the shore [sitting (situated)]
*in the typewritten text this word begins with an /h/, which was almost certainly a mistaken reading for an original handwritten /n/.

 

 

hireregi Hojakgra, eja wangra nubpiwi
hireregi, Hocągra, éja wąkra nųpiwi
when [they were,] the Hocągara, there men two

 

 

hijakerekihiregishi hisha wang hudeg hisha
hijakeregihiregiži, hižą wąk hutek hižą
were friends, and one of them [man] lame [one]

 

 

hereshe hijanejegashi unkeshesga nishe shgu
hereže, hijanejegaži hąkežesga. Niže ž[e]gų́
he was, but the other one he was not so. They remained thus

 

 

unagsrshe hakikishuxede hireshe esge hoishipji
'unąks'áže. Hakikižuxete hireže. Ésge hoišípjį
[they were always.] Raised together they were. Therefore always

 

 

sge handaginaj hirega hakikishu u
sge hątáginac hiregá. Hakikižú ų
[also] they fasted they did. Together [to do]

 

 

hiresrshe wang jekxede waunagshe keni
hires'áže. Wąk jekxete wa'ųnąkše. K'enį
[they would be]. Men just grown up they were. Not yet

 

 

hinuk hiki oni hireshe shegu
hinųk hiki-ónį hireže. Žegų́
women [not touched] they did. Thus

 

 

unagsrgi she e hagore[s]ha hisha†
'ųnąks'ági že'e. Hagoréžą hižą
[they used to be]* these. One day one
*translated as "they remained."
†before this word is a solitary /h/ the presence of which we can assume to be a typographical error.

 

 

hijanera wageshe hijakoro eshi nihijejeja
hijanéra wagéže, "Hicakóro eši nįhicejéja
to the other said, "My friend, [but] to the river bank

 

 

howahinagi eja ruxhishujkera hisge himakijgis
howahinagi. Éja rúxišúckera hisgé hįmąk'icgis*
let us go. [There] red willows some [you and I] cut
*it seems more likely that this word should terminate in "-gas", which means "to cut".

 

 

hijena hisgenig hanira sheginana hijakorora
hijena hisgenįk haníra žeginaną hicakorora,"
[as] [what little] I have it is gone my friend,"

 

 

hikarageshe esgerawihanaga hahi eja ruxhishujke
hikarageže. Ésgerawihánąga hahí éja rúxišúcke
he said to him. So they [did it], and* they went there red willows
*the translation has "so they went, and".

 

 

majgisnagu de e waxhehiranaga waduhireshe nukirawinunige
mąckísnąk'ų. Tée waxehiránąga wat'ųhireže. Nųkirawinunige
cutting. They were shouted at, and rushed upon. They were only two, but

 

 

wakisha wishe hijakerekira unagu hisha
wąkižą wiže. Hijakerekira. 'Ųnąk'ų. hižą
one man was killed. They fought back.* [Finally,] one
*"hija-kere-kira" would mean "there force was applied to the enemy".

 

 

dehirawishe hijanejega eshana hijakorora hakarias
t'ehirawiže. Hijanejega éšaną hicakorora hakarias
he was killed. The other one [alone] the friend straddle

 

 

nashi hanaga eja masja wakishashe
nažį́ hanąga éja mąšją wąkižąže.
he stood and there very hard [there was] one man.

 

 

hisge shi dehishe ujau wangra
Hisgé ži t'ehiže. 'ų'ja'ų, wąkra
Some [he shot] he killed. Finally, the man

 

 

dehireshe shesganunige dehirega unke hiperes nishe
t'ehireže, žesganunige t'ehirega hañké hipéresnįže.
was killed, but that he was killed not he did not know.

 

 

higuniub waujeguni hirajeshe hijakorora
Higųnį'ąp wa'ųjegúni hiraježe. Hicakorora
Still alive he was he thought. To his friend

 

 

hoiship hokarakidejeshe wonaxhireja dewahirege esge
hoišíp hok'arakit'eježe. Wonąǧireja t'ewahírege, ésge
all the while he talked to him. In war as they were killed, therefore

 

 

rohambji waunagshe naxhirakrashana waunag kejeni
rohąmbji wa'ųnąkše, nąǧirakrašaną wa'ųnąk k'ejenį.
[killed outright] they were, only in the spirit they were [they did not stand].

 

 

shegu hekikide nagu wawishe
Žegų́ hekikit'e nąk'ų. Wawíže,
Therefore they could talk they were. They two said,

 

 

jasgedehihijenaga ja hiwauhajeguni jasge jhinag
"Jasgedehihijenąga ja hiwa'ųhąjeguni? Jasge cinąg
"What are we to do, and to try to go back? [How] village

 

 

howajija howahikere jeneshe nigesge shegu wanaxhi
howajija howahikere jeneže? Nįgesge žegų́ wanąǧi
whence they had come go back to [the ones who are thus?]? [Someplace also] [therefore] spirit

 

 

hojhiraja howahinejeneshe arwishe egi washa
hocirája howahinejeneže awíže. "Égi wážą
to the home shall we go to?" they two said. "And [something]

 

 

wangaphi hirejeshe hinkeregisge shegu hijahi
wągapį hireježe, hįkeregisge žegų́ hijąhį́
you and I to like to go by, not if we went home also therefore somewhere else

 

 

howoihinejera hisha eshe esge shegu
howoihinejera," hižą éže. Ésge žegų́
let us go," [one of them] [said]. So thus

 

 

eja hijahi howarawishe shegu unagu
éja hijąhį́ howarawiže. Žegų́ 'ųnąk'ų.
[there] somewhere else they went. [So] [they did it].

 

 

hogoresha hoxjanagi de e eja jhiporoke
Hogoréžą hoxjánągi tée éja cipóroke
[Finally] evening that there oval lodge

 

 

hisha nagki eja jawewishe hijahahiregaja
hižą nąkí. Éja jawewiže. Hijahahiregają.
one it sat. There they saw it. So they went towards it.

 

 

de e wangnunig hisha ejanagki wawageshe
Tée wąknunįk hižą ejanąki wawagéže,
[This] old man one he was there he said to them,

 

 

p. 2 —
hijhusgewira e phinarajiwira eshe daninig
"Hicųsgewira, e pįnarajiwira," éže. Taninįk
"My grandsons, it it is good that you have come," he said. Some tobacco

 

 

hakaraninagki danihura hisha hokarashu hiranaga
hakaraninąki tanihúra hižą hokaražu hiránąga
they had so [the] pipe one they filled [they did] and

 

 

wangnunagka hanigigiregaja unke wagirusnishe
wąknųnąka hanįgigiregają hañké wagirusniže.
the old man [they] handed it to him, but not he would not take it.

 

 

"Hisha hinihara jer wereginagra eshi
"Hižą hiníhára jer[a] wereginągra eši
"One of my older brothers [the one who is this] on the way [but]

 

 

nigijirerushurug wina wawigeshe hijashi nawagiginunige
nigijiterušurugwiną," wawigéže. Hijaži nąwagiginunige
he is more able to help you than I," he said to them. There [at least] he let them sleep overnight, but

 

 

hinnigi shige jikarawishe. Hambserej unihawishe.
[haninigi] žigé jikarawiže. Hąbsérec ųnihawiže.
the next morning [again] they started out. All day long they traveled.

 

 

Hahihoxjanagi shige eja jhiporoke hisha
Hahíhoxjąnagi žigé éja cipóroke hižą
[Then] in the evening again there oval lodge one

 

 

eja nagkishi shige eja hahihikawawishe
Éja nañkíži. Žigé éja hahíhikawawiže.
there [it sat]. Again there they entered it.

 

 

de e shige wangnunig hisha waunagshe
Teé žigé wañgnųnįg hižą wa'ųnągše.
[This one] again old man one it was.

 

 

wawageshe hijhusgewira rajiwira ephinashige danihura
Wawagéže, "Hicųsgewira, rajiwira epinažige. Tanihúra
He said to them, "My grandsons, that you have come it is good. The pipe

 

 

hisha kurushiranaga heshuhiranaga hijagiwaha hiregaja
hižą kuruširanąga hežuhiránąga hijagiwaha hiregają,
one he held it towards him, and [? and] [placed before him] [when he did,]

 

 

shige unke wagirusnishe egi wawageshe
žigé hañké wagirusniže. Égi wawagéže,
again not he would not take it. And he said to them,

 

 

hinihara jorwereginagra eshi washara hisha
"Hinįhára jorwereginañgra eši wažąra hižą
"My older brother ahead of me however to anything one

 

 

nigiuruxhuruk winana jaguwaragi shusharawigaja
nįgiuruxuruk winąną jaguwaragi š'ųšarawigają
he can help you to it he would make you what [you came for] [?]

 

 

wasu hashawang wigishi wigeshe esge shige
wasuhašawañgwigiži," wigéže. Ésge žigé
you may be going for,"* he said to them. And so again
*"jaguwaragi š'ųšarawigają wasuhašawangwigiži," is translated as "to anything you may be going for."

 

 

hija nawagigihanaga hin nigishi shigehajiha karireshe
hija nąwagigihanąga [hanigíži] žigé hajihakarireže.
there sleep overnight, and in the morning again they started.

 

 

hidanihara hambserej shige uhanihahireshe
Hitaníhąra hąbsérec žigé ųhanihahireže.
For the third time all day again they traveled.

 

 

hoxjanaxjigaja shige eja jhi hisha
Hoxjanaxjįgają žigé éja ci hižą
Late in the evening again there lodge one

 

 

hirahiregi ejashige jawareshe hahiregi hijahekawawishe
hirahiregi éjažigé jawareže. Hahíregi hijahekawawiže.
[when] they came there again they entered. They went and entered it.

 

 

shige jorni wawirahirega jagu wawigahiregi
Žigé [jáhį] wawirahirega jagu wawigahiregi
Again the others they said what they [having] said

 

 

shesgehigariwishe shige unke danira wagihin ranishe
žesgehigáriwiže. Žigé hañké taníra wagihinraniže.
same he said to them. Again not the tobacco he did not smoke it.

 

 

esge hinnigi hijobahana jikarawishe
ésge [haninigi] hijobáhąna jikarawiže.
So the next morning for the fourth time they started.

 

 

shejaga hinjexjiwishe unkaga washana hisha
Žejąga hinjexjįwiže. Hañkaga wažąna hižą
This time they would arrive it seemed. Never thing one

 

 

rujwinishe esge shejaga hekikurusag wishe
rucwiniže. Ésge žejąga hekikurusagwiže.
they had not eaten. Therefore now they were very weak.

 

 

hajhagere dirahahang wishe shejaga wirahirehikerehegaja
Hacągére tirahahañgwiže. Žejąga wirahirehikerehegają,
With difficulty they went. Then just about sun down,

 

 

egixji shige jhi hisha hirahiwishe
Égixjį žigé ci hižą hirahiwiže.
[just then] [again] lodge one they reached.

 

 

wangnuxji hisha hija nag gishi
Wañgnuxjį hižą hija nągiži
Very old man one there [sitting]

 

 

weshe hahao hijhusgewira shejaga rajiwishejera
weže, "Hąhao! hicųsgewira žejąga rajiwižejera
said, "Ah, my grandsons! finally, you have arrived.

 

 

Si i raja nikaragub (?) hajena rajiwi?jenera
S'i raja ni karak'ų (?) hajéną. Rajiwijenera,
Long ago I expected you to do I have. As you would come here,

 

 

esge egi naguregi hajhinagshana wawigeshe
ésge égi nąguregi hajinągšaną," wawigéže.
therefore here along the road there it lies," he said to them.

 

 

egi danihura hekarashuhiranaga wangnunagka hirawaha
égi tanihúra hekaražuhiránąga wañgnųnąka hirawaha
Then the pipe they filled, and the old man to extend it

 

 

hiregaja wagirus hanaga wagihinahe shejaga
hiregają. Wagirus hanąga wagihinąhe. Žejąga
they did. He took it and smoked it. Then

 

 

wangnagka wanaingiphi hireshe jekjinra de e
wañgnąka wanaiñgipį hireže. Cek'jínra tee
the men felt happier* they did. The first time this
*literally, "made their hearts feel good".

 

 

p. 3 —
danihura wagihinreshe shegu hikuhe raporpornagu
tanihúra wagihinreže. Žegų́ hikųhé rap'op'onąk'ų
the pipe it was smoked. [Now] he hurriedly he took a few puffs

 

 

wawokarikashe egihisge kasahinhireshe egi rusjahiregishi
wawokarikaže. Égihisgé kasahinhireže. Égi rusjahiregiži
and returned it to them. And also they smoked it. And when they were through

 

 

egi shejaga jek wawakijashe warusgu
égi žejąga cek wawakijaže. Warusgu
then [now] [first] [he helped them ?]. Dried corn

 

 

hiranaga egi honjruhi hirakiu wagiunagshe
hiránąga égi hųcruhi hirakių wagi'ųnąkše.
there was and and bear ribs boiled [he made].

 

 

wanghanagka warujra uxji hireshe, si i
Wañkanañka warujra ų'xjį hireže, s'i
The men the food much they did they did, long

 

 

reja unke washara hisha rujwinige
reja hañké wažąra hižą rujwinige.
they had gone not thing one as they had not eaten.

 

 

dokewehixji waunagshe esge shegu ijahipa
Tokéwehixjį wa'ųnąkše. Ésge žegų́ ijahip'a
Very hungry they were. Therefore [then] up to their mouths

 

 

hoshuhireshe egi shejaga wawageshe egi
hožuhireže. Égi žejąga wawagéže, "Égi
they filled themselves. Then [now then] he said to them, "Well

 

 

hijhusgexjiwira unkaga jajaxji Maura egihikanagwira
hišųsgexjįwira, hañkaga jajaxjį Mą'ųra egihikanągwira
my grandsons, never as long as Earthmaker put us here

 

 

unkaga wangshig hunubhimanira hisha egi
hañkaga wañgšig hunųpimąnįra hižą égi
never human the two-legged walkers one here

 

 

jinina jekde e wasurajiwina egi
jininą. Cekte e wasurajiwiną. Égi
not come. The first ones here you have come. And

 

 

Maura exji wanainrashesge honigikanag wige
Mą'ųra éxjį waną'į́ražesge honígikánąk," wigé.
Earthmaker himself in his thoughts also he put it in for you," he said to them.

 

 

esge rajiwina wawigeshe egi Maura
"Ésge rajiwiną," wawigéže. "égi Mą'ųra
"Therefore you have come," he said to them. "Here Earthmaker

 

 

eginagshana hinnigi hijahowashere janawina egi
eginąkšaną haínigi hijahowašerekjanewiną. Égi
he sits and tomorrow you shall go there. And

 

 

nigiphiwigishi danira nigihinwijenena egi henikide jenawina
nįgipįwigiži, taníra nįgihinwikjaneną. Égi hinikit'ekjanewiną.
if he approves of you, tobacco he will smoke with you. And he will talk to you.

 

 

eja jaguhinigirewigi henigirak wijenena
éja jaguhinigirewigi hinigirakwikjaneną
[There] what he thinks of you he will tell you

 

 

de eshi hisge jaguhinigirawira hinigawina
te, eši hisgé jaguhinigirawira hinigawiną,"
this one, but also what I think of you I have told you,"

 

 

wawigeshe egi hinnigishi jikarawishe uha (?)
wawigéže. Égi hainigíži jikarawiže. Ųhá,
he said to them. Then the next morning they started out. Well,

 

 

hiregaja de e eja jhiporoporo hisha
hiregają, tee éja ciporoporo hižą
as they went along, [these] there round lodge one

 

 

nagshe jhikarahesgexji hisha hereshe ereguniarwigi
nąkše. Cikarahesgexjį hižą hereže. Ereguniarwigi
it was. Likely looking lodge one it was. It must be it they said

 

 

shegu ejawewishe de e hijahahiregaja jhirob
žegų́ ejawewiže. Teé hižąhahiregają cirób
and they went towards it. [These] when they arrived there the door

 

 

hirakarara hija nagkishi wawagawishe de e
hirakarara hija nañkiži. Wawagawiže, "Teé
keeper there he was. They said to him, "This

 

 

Maura, e hojhiguni hihawige esge
Mą'ųra e hocigųnį hihawige, ésge
Earthmaker [his] lodge [maybe] we thought, so

 

 

egi hajiwina wawigawishe e herena
égi hajiwiną," wawigawiže. "E hereną,
here we have come," they said to him. "It it is,

 

 

egi hokawawire washara hishashu rajiwigishi
égi hokawawire wažąra hižažu rajiwigiži,"
[and] you may go in for anything [?] if you have come,"

 

 

higariwishe esge hokawawigaja de e eja
higariwiže. Ésge hokawawigają, tee éja
he said to them. So they (two) entered, and [this] there

 

 

wang hishanagki washasgaxji hikikaxhanaga egi
wañg hižąnañki wažąsgaxjį hikikaxanąga égi
man one sitting in very white material he dressed, and and

 

 

arhusgajhushe egi hisjasura shegu washa
ahusgacųže, égi hisjasura žegų wažą
he had [white] wings, and his eyes [now] [something]

 

 

masniubnisgeshe wangshige hunubhi manira rajiwigaja
mąsnį'ąbnisgeže. "Wañgšige hunųpi manįra rajiwigają?"
like live iron. "You humans two-legged [walkers] you have come, have you?"

 

 

wawigeshe egidanihura hiruwaha hiregi wagirus
wawigéže. Égi tanihúra hiruwaha hiregi, wagirus
he said to them. Then the pipe they extended towards when they did. he took it

 

 

hanaga wagihinshe egi rusjagishe danihura
hanąga wagihinše. Égi rusjagiže tanihúra
and he smoked it. And when he was through the pipe

 

 

wawekarikanaga egi wawageshe egi wajexhi
wawekarikanąga égi wawageže, "Égi, wajexi
he handed back, and and said to them, "[Well,] with difficulty

 

 

hirirajiwigaja higu jasgerakjawigishe egi shujanawina
hirirajiwigają, higų́ jasgerakjawigiže. Égi šujanawiną,"
you have reached me, so you can do as you like. [And] [?]",*
*this is not translated.

 

 

wawigeshe esge jorbahagishi wangshigeja howagu
wawigéže. Ésge jobahągiži wañgšigežą howágu
he said to them. Therefore in four days the people to return

 

 

hirekje arieashe esge jorbaha hijana hiranaga
hirekje, arieaže. Ésge jobáhą hijana hiránąga
they would, they both said. So four days to stay they did, and

 

 

p. 4 —
egi shejaga maregi howaguwishe jorbaha
égi žejąga mąrégi howaguwiže. Jobáhą
then [finally] to the earth they started back. For four days

 

 

uhiranunige unke jhiwajahiranihega hisha kixji
uhiranunige hañké ciwažąhiranihega hižą kixjį
they traveled but not the lodges that had been one [to reach there emphatically again]

 

 

hijanagnishe deshegu hiregi egi hajinja
hijanągniže. Težegų hiregi. Égi hajinja
there were not. Thus they did. Then where

 

 

dewahirega eja hakiriregaja de e rora
t'ewahírega éja hakiríregáją tee róra
they were killed there they went back, and [these] the bodies

 

 

ejawakjahireshe shejaga eja hipereswishe naxhirak
ejawakjahireže. Žejąga éja hipereswiže. Nąǧirak
they saw. [Finally] [there] they knew. In the spirit

 

 

shana howewau nagkishi shejaga eja
šana howewa'ų Nañkíži žejąga éja
only they were going about. [Having sat] [finally] [there]

 

 

xagwishe egi rohambjisge Wanaxhi, hojhieja
xagwiže. Égi rohąbjisge. Wanąǧi hoci-éja
they wept. [And] [their bodies were not whole.] Spirit at the home

 

 

hahiranaga naxhirakra wawikurukana esge wawishe
hahįánąga nąǧirakra wawikurukoną. Ésge wawiže,
they had gone back, and the souls they had control over. Therefore they said,

 

 

wangshig geja shige wangshiginjawi arwishe
wañgšig geja žigé wañgšigįnjawi awíže.
the people there again they would live [they two said.]

 

 

esge shige hinugeja waujkanag hiranaga
ésge žigé hinųgeja wa'ųjkanąg hiránąga
Therefore again in women's wombs they were and

 

 

eja shige ϕ hishige wajhu
éja žigé pįhižige wacų
there again over again to be born

 

 

hireshe de shegu waganag shana
hireže. Težegų́ waganą́gšaną,
they were. Thus [this] it is meant,

 

 

wangshig hakiha wangshigin arnagra Wangshigra
"Wañgšig hakihą wañgšigį" anąga. wañgšigra
"Persons [over again] lived"* they said, and the people
*translated as "a second lived person".

 

 

de e wangra nubpiwi shesge waworak
tee wañgra nųpiwi žesge waworak
these men two thus to tell of

 

 

hireshu nuna gaguhowajihirare Hojakgra. wanghijakereki
hirešųnųną, gagųhowajihirare Hocągra. Wañg hijakereki
they used to, in their past accounts of themselves the Winnebago. Friends

 

 

de e nubpiwi waxhopini warajhire waunagnagune
tee nųpiwi waxopíni warácire wa'ųnągnagųne,
these two spirits various they were,

 

 

wangshig hunubhimani eja wangshiginra gipihirege
wañgšig hunųpimąnį éja wañgšigįra gipįhirege.
humans two-legged walkers there their lives as they liked them.

 

 

esge nubaha hakiha wangshigregi wangshigregi*
ésge nųbáhą hakihą wañgšigregi -
Therefore two times in succession as human beings -
*this expression is repeated twice, I believe unintentionally.

 

 

wangshiginhireshe ariea shununa wangnunigra worak
wañgšiginhireže. Aireašųnųną, wañknúnigra worák
they lived. Thus they say, the old men stories

 

 

hirega si i rejaxji heregi esge
hirega. S'irejąxjį heregi, ésge
[they did]. Long ago as it happened, therefore

 

 

unke rasra wi i peresnina
hañké rasra* wipéresníną.
not the names they don't remember.
*usually it is "rašra" or "ražra".

 

Source:

John Hazen Hill (Xetenišaraga), "The Lame Friend," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Notebook 66, Story 7: 1-4. [Typed Winnebago, handwritten interlinear translation.]