Hočąk Text — The Story of How Little Priest went out as a Soldier
narrated by John HarrisonStyle
| A highly unusual tendancy to put positional words postpositionally after the end of the sentence. Haikšḯ-inéną, hosgsíja. ("They surrounded him, on the open prairie.") ... t'e hereną, éja. ("... they killed him, there.") |
| This has a temporal analogue, with a dependent temporal clause placed postpositionally after the end of the sentence: mąna haǧákšaną, wat'ǫ́pga. ("the arrows were thick, when he rushed them.") |
| Generally, postpositional material is the rule despite the fact that the opposite is normal. |
| Frequent use of the epistemological sentence terminator, -ną, indicating first-hand knowledge, with very little use of the complementary -že, indicating lack of first-hand knowledge. The suffix -ną is also used at places in sentences where other narrators would not employ it. |
| Extensive external sandhi resulting in the frequent dropping of the initial /h/ of the second word. |
| An unusually high frequency in the use of the word aírégi, "as they say". |
| Use of the rare word gini, "to get back". |
| The word sik'ų́ for "ankle" is unattested elsewhere. |
| Occasional English words embedded in Hočąk: sitiéja = city-éja; many names are given in English, others in Hočąk; and whites are quoted in English. |
Title
|
Hųk
|
Xúnuga
|
manąpe
|
|
Priest
|
Little
|
Soldier
|
|
kįhigi
|
teéreną.
|
|
|
He Went Out as
|
the story
|
this is it.
|
|
Čekjína
|
1865-regi
|
ua'uąnáireną,
|
|
First
|
in 1865
|
they started and they went,
|
|
Omaha Sitiéja
|
hahí
|
wainína
|
wakúrus
|
|
in Omaha City
|
where
|
clothes
|
they got them
|
|
eréną,
|
šųk-xeterášge
|
égi
|
éja
|
sánįk
|
|
they did,
|
and horses,
|
and
|
there
|
side
|
|
wi-oiréra
|
hapá
|
hiréną.
|
Čekjína
|
nąwačížą
|
|
the west
|
there
|
they were.
|
First
|
a fort
|
|
hirahíregi,
|
"Fort Carnie"
|
higáiregi,
|
aíreną.
|
Eja
|
|
they came to,
|
"Fort Kearny"
|
which they called,
|
it is said.
|
There
|
|
ček
|
nįxetéžą
|
haručáiregi,
|
Nįpárazera
|
heréną.
|
|
first
|
a large river
|
they crossed,
|
the Platte River
|
it is.
|
|
Nį
|
tee
|
haručera
|
nų́wáwǫkisgèną,
|
pązákera
|
|
[Water]
|
this
|
to cross
|
it is dangerous,
|
the sand
|
|
horusu'us'aže,
|
airéną.
|
Wi-oiréra
|
hoíšip
|
hapahírežę,
|
|
as it draws one in,
|
it is said.
|
The west
|
straight
|
towards,
|
|
aíreną.
|
Éja
|
žigé
|
nąwáčagížą
|
čawaíregi,
|
|
it is said.
|
There
|
again
|
a fort
|
they went towards,
|
|
hoišíp
|
waišjára
|
'ųhirániheže,
|
aíreną.
|
Fort Larmie*
|
|
all the time
|
scouts
|
they traveled,
|
it is said.
|
Fort Laramie
|
|
aíregi,
|
hinąbáhiną,
|
nąwáčak
|
žée
|
hirahíreną.
|
|
they said,
|
the second time,
|
fort
|
that
|
they came to.
|
|
Hitaníhǫna
|
čanišánañk,
|
aíregi
|
éja
|
hiréną.
|
|
The third
|
deer-river,
|
they say
|
there
|
[they were.]
|
|
Hijobóhǫna
|
Xéxete Xe
|
aíregi,
|
eja
|
|
The fourth time
|
Big Hill
|
they say,
|
where
|
|
waíreže,
|
aíreną
|
hisgéja.
|
Éja
|
žige
|
|
[it is said of it,]
|
they say
|
a mighty one.
|
There
|
again
|
|
hirahíreną
|
Fort Reno
|
aíregi,
|
éreną,
|
Ųxíni Nišónañk
|
|
they came to
|
Fort Reno
|
which it is said,
|
it is,
|
Powder Creek
|
|
aíregi,
|
éja
|
éreną.
|
Éja
|
žigé
|
|
[as they say],
|
there
|
it is.
|
There
|
again
|
|
haraíregi,
|
wanioíčgera
|
čék
|
éja
|
róhą
|
|
[as] they went forth,
|
animals
|
first
|
there
|
many
|
|
hajaíreną
|
— mąčóra,
|
šuñkčúñgere,
|
huwą́na —
|
hisgéja
|
|
they saw
|
— grizzly bears,
|
wolves,
|
elk —
|
truly
|
|
čúįžé,
|
aíreną.
|
Rézinišònañk
|
aírégi,
|
éja
|
|
many,
|
it is said.
|
Tongue River
|
[as they say,]
|
there
|
|
žige
|
hahiréną.
|
Éja
|
Pájoke
|
kizairéną.
|
|
again
|
they went forth
|
There
|
Arapahos
|
they fought.
|
|
Hųñk Xúnuga
|
huwéja
|
oiréną,*
|
hañké
|
hobóhabirenìną
|
|
Little Priest
|
in the leg
|
they shot,
|
not
|
it did not pierce through
|
|
waxu
|
rogáje
|
'ų́na,
|
ásgi
|
nąt'ísše,*
|
|
leather
|
breeches
|
[he had made,]
|
so that
|
it was merely swollen,
|
|
nunigé
|
ép'a
|
hirarúti honihéžą*
|
hirakára
|
|
but
|
from there
|
a wagon train
|
scouting
|
|
haraíreną,
|
Xé Xete Nióñka.
|
ép'a
|
wakížu
|
hohiréną,
|
|
they went,
|
Big Hill Creek.
|
From there
|
with
|
they went,
|
|
Yellowstone Park,
|
ánoñka.
|
Éja
|
éreną,
|
éja
|
|
"Yellowstone Park,"
|
it is called.
|
There
|
it was,
|
there
|
|
Fort Rainer,
|
aíregi,
|
é-owagirèną,
|
Hotáži
|
éja
|
|
Fort Rainer,
|
it is said,
|
they went by.
|
Some
|
there
|
|
homanínekjé,
|
wigaíreną.
|
"Bright Feather"
|
higaíregi
|
Hočañgížą
|
|
they will winter over,
|
they told them.
|
"Bright Feather"
|
as they call him,
|
a Hočąk
|
|
wéną,
|
"K'éni
|
jobóhoni*
|
hížą
|
t'e
|
|
he said,
|
"Before
|
four [o'clock]
|
one
|
to kill
|
|
wañgírekjonàwiną."
|
Hisgé
|
wéną,
|
k'éni
|
jobóhani
|
|
they are going to do to us."
|
Truly
|
he spoke,
|
before
|
four [o'clock],
|
|
Hočáñgižą
|
higaíregi,
|
t'e
|
hiréną,
|
|
|
a Hočąk
|
"White Snake"
|
named,
|
to kill
|
[they did,]
|
|
éja.
|
Žégų
|
haną́č
|
hawénainèną.
|
Wënánegi
|
|
there.
|
Thus
|
throughout
|
they pursued them.
|
In spring
|
|
hąbížą
|
hagá
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
Hočáñgera
|
wawagéną,
|
|
a day
|
once
|
Little Priest
|
Hočągara
|
he told them,
|
|
"Hąp tée
|
hąp séreč
|
wakízakjanèną,"
|
ánoñga.
|
|
"This day
|
the entire day
|
I will fight,"
|
he said.
|
|
Hočáñgera
|
táni
|
hokížuánañga
|
e
|
hijóp
|
|
The Hočągara
|
three
|
with them
|
he
|
fourth
|
|
jikeréną.
|
Wakížurèga
|
Henry Decora,
|
John Bonaparte,
|
Benjamin Chambers
|
|
he went.
|
There he went with
|
Henry Decora,
|
John Bonaparte,
|
Benjamin Chambers
|
|
heréreną.
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
hižuksárahi
|
xónuniñgìžą
|
hani-ánañga
|
|
they were.
|
Little Priest
|
rifle
|
a small one
|
he took, and
|
|
inéki
|
hahí
|
hišgé
|
niñge
|
čawéną,
|
|
alone
|
there
|
also
|
someplace*
|
he went towards,
|
|
mąwigųs´
|
kereponaížaxjį
|
hohíregàją
|
wa'úną.
|
Šuñkxéte
|
|
miles
|
[about ten]*
|
when they got
|
he did it.
|
Horse
|
|
sageréžą
|
háminañk
|
wa'úną.
|
Éja
|
hahí
|
|
a swift one
|
to ride
|
he did it.
|
There
|
on the way
|
|
Uañkšígera
|
kerepónenųp
|
wa'úną,
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
ruxaíreną.
|
|
Indians
|
twenty
|
[they did it],
|
Little Priest
|
they chased after.
|
|
Hočúñk
|
táni
|
wakížurega
|
xe
|
huñkšížą
|
|
Hočąks
|
three
|
he went with
|
hill
|
a high one
|
|
éja
|
horužújenàñkšaną.
|
Gijiréra
|
rušákirèną,
|
hagéšge,
|
|
there
|
they were looking at him.
|
To help him,
|
they could not,
|
besides,
|
|
"Rohañgáją
|
t'e
|
'úinékjonawigàją,"
|
hiraíregi,
|
ásge
|
|
"There are too many,
|
to kill
|
they will do it to us,"
|
they thought,
|
so
|
|
hakjá
|
nąwáčagèja
|
wórak
|
hakaraíreną.
|
Hagírera
|
|
back
|
to the fort
|
to tell
|
they went back.
|
When they got there
|
|
waíreną,
|
"Huñk Xúnuga
|
t'e
|
híreną,
|
hagí,"
|
|
they said,
|
"Little Priest
|
to kill
|
they did,
|
there,"
|
|
aíreną.
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
hišgé
|
gają
|
wa'ųjéną.
|
|
[they said].
|
Little Priest
|
still
|
out there
|
he was it.
|
|
Hoxarahu'ìrege,
|
ásge
|
hiwušánañga
|
t'ą́pšaną,
|
mówe
|
|
Whenever they came close,
|
so
|
he stopped, and
|
he dismounted,
|
on foot
|
|
wakizáną.
|
Ho-'ų́jega*
|
hogígiñx
|
maínja
|
mą́na
|
|
he fought them.
|
Where he was
|
around
|
on the ground
|
the arrows
|
|
haǧákšaną,
|
wat'ǫ́pga.
|
Éja
|
žigé
|
s'iníñk
|
|
they were thick,
|
when he rushed them.
|
There
|
again
|
long time
|
|
howáres'àži,
|
'ų́ja'ų
|
šuñkxétera
|
t'egigiránañga,
|
haikšé-inèną,
|
|
he would go,
|
finally
|
his horse
|
they killed, and
|
they surrounded him
|
|
hosgaíja.
|
Žesgánunigi,
|
íni
|
xetéžą
|
éja
|
|
on the open prairie.
|
But even then,
|
stone
|
a large one
|
there
|
|
nañkíži,
|
éja
|
ginberą́i-àñkšaną,
|
nunigé
|
k'éni
|
|
it was,
|
there
|
he tried to get it,
|
but
|
before
|
|
éja
|
gíni,
|
jobóhą
|
oíreną,
|
máñgoišarèja
|
|
there
|
he got,
|
four times
|
they shot him,
|
in the right breast
|
|
hižériną.
|
Žigégų
|
máñgera
|
haručé
|
bopáraš
|
|
it went.
|
Again then
|
the breast
|
crosswise,
|
a flesh wound
|
|
hiréną,
|
híneč
|
oišáro
|
nañkéja.
|
Žigížą
|
|
it made,
|
shoulder
|
right
|
behind.
|
Again one
|
|
oiréną,
|
égi
|
rečáwašų
|
kųhaį́ja
|
žigižéreną,
|
|
they shot,
|
and
|
navel
|
below
|
again it was one,
|
|
k'éni
|
íni
|
žíja*
|
gíni.
|
Hišgé
|
|
before
|
stone
|
at
|
he got.
|
Also
|
|
hížą
|
t'ehiánañga
|
p'ára
|
mąšižánañga
|
égi
|
|
one
|
he killed, and
|
his head
|
he cut off, and
|
and
|
|
šuñkxetéžą
|
hamináñgenañk'uéregi,
|
p'a
|
mąšížiràgera
|
žégų
|
|
a horse
|
now he was riding,
|
head
|
it was cut off
|
so
|
|
sik'ų́*
|
e
|
ianiéja
|
hirogišgéže.
|
E
|
|
ankle
|
he
|
his
|
he tied it.
|
He
|
|
añke
|
giázenikjegèjeni
|
žeguánañga
|
hišgé
|
hat'ǫ́berašge.
|
|
not
|
he did not run away
|
and then
|
also
|
he came forward.
|
|
Nañkáwairèną,
|
hišgížą
|
t'ehíkjane,
|
hiraírege,
|
ásgé
|
hinejéja
|
|
They were afraid
|
also one of them
|
to be killed,
|
they thought,
|
so
|
in the shoulder
|
|
oírega
|
égi
|
maínja
|
kinebšáną.
|
Ásge
|
|
they shot him
|
and
|
to the ground
|
he fell.
|
So
|
|
t'ǫbiránañga
|
mówe
|
hat'ǫ́birèną,
|
p'ára
|
mąšížirèkjege.
|
|
they rushed towards him
|
on foot,
|
they jumped for it,
|
his head
|
to cut it off.
|
|
Ásge
|
hijaxją́
|
hiregáją,
|
kikáwa
|
ánañge
|
|
So
|
to get to him
|
when they did,
|
he rose up
|
and
|
|
hižúgera
|
kurusáną.
|
Šuñkxetéja
|
'únañk'ų
|
žigé
|
|
his gun
|
he took.
|
To the horse,
|
finally
|
again
|
|
hagíreną,
|
ásge
|
iniéja
|
gíną,
|
égišge,
|
|
they got to,
|
so
|
to the rock
|
he got to,
|
besides,
|
|
hijowáred[ž]a
|
nañkáwairèną.
|
Éja
|
minogánañga
|
hagaíra
|
|
to go there
|
they were afraid
|
There
|
he sat and
|
sometimes
|
|
wagučs'áže,
|
aíreną.
|
Gájuñga,
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
uañkšík
|
|
he would take a shot at them,
|
it is said.
|
And then
|
Little Priest's
|
people
|
|
wakížura
|
maną́pera
|
táni
|
hakížu
|
hajíreną,
|
|
with them
|
soldiers
|
three
|
with
|
they came,
|
|
núnige
|
hají
|
aǧébirerèja
|
Pajók
|
anañgere
|
|
but
|
he came
|
within sight,
|
Arapahos
|
there
|
|
wajairéną,
|
ásge
|
giázireną.
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
t'ák'ų
|
|
they saw them,
|
so
|
they ran away.
|
Little Priest
|
he was dead
|
|
hahírekjone,
|
hiránañk'ų
|
tée.
|
Niąbóñkšaną
|
nunigé
|
|
they would come,
|
they were thinking
|
this.
|
He was alive,
|
but
|
|
t'erušjáñxjį
|
wawáñkšaną.
|
Ásge
|
t'ekjonéže,
|
hiraíneną,
|
|
about dead
|
he was it.
|
So
|
he was about to die,
|
they thought,
|
|
ásge
|
Hočúñgera.
|
Wa-i-ót'ǫbirànañga
|
nąwačágera
|
haníčawaìreną.
|
|
so
|
Hočągara
|
they put him in a blanket, and
|
the fort
|
they took him towards.
|
|
Wa-i-ópasèra
|
waruháp'irànañgá
|
hižúgera
|
éja
|
howažą́
|
|
The corners of the blanket
|
they punched holes, and
|
their guns
|
there
|
they ran through
|
|
wirókikinañgirèną,
|
mąwigós
|
nų́pji.
|
Hágiregàją
|
éja
|
|
they carried him,
|
miles
|
about two.
|
[When they returned,]
|
there
|
|
hokáwazirèną,
|
čékjį.
|
Hahírega.
|
Éja
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
|
it was dark,
|
the first time.
|
They got there.
|
There
|
Little Priest
|
|
šuñgáminañk
|
húkarohòną,
|
heréną.
|
Uañkšígera
|
hahírera.
|
|
on a horse
|
ready to come,
|
he was.
|
The people
|
they got there.
|
|
Žégų
|
wanąį́na
|
xawaníną
|
égi
|
xúra
|
|
So
|
his consciousness
|
it left him
|
and
|
his skin
|
|
sgaxjíną
|
žesga
|
núnige
|
hoišíp
|
hit'et'éną,
|
|
turned white
|
even
|
but
|
always
|
he spoke,
|
|
"Hó!
|
Huwínani,
|
huwínani,"
|
amiñkšáną.
|
Haįséreč
|
|
"Hó!
|
Come on,
|
come on,"
|
he said.
|
All night
|
|
hañké
|
wanąį
|
ču-iníną,
|
hąpjįgają,
|
gájuñga,
|
|
not
|
consciousness
|
he did not have,
|
then about daylight,
|
then,
|
|
hipérezšàną,
|
égi
|
gájuñga
|
wanáñǧi hirarút'ira
|
|
he came to,
|
and
|
then
|
the ghost wagon (hearse)
|
|
hániąjìreną,
|
éja
|
hot'ǫ́birànañga,
|
nąwačágera
|
howániañkaraìreną.
|
|
they brought,
|
there
|
they put him, and
|
the fort
|
they took him.
|
|
Jobóhąnegi
|
Mąčó
|
nañgiwaínekjanèną,
|
Uañkšík.
|
Manąpéžą
|
|
For four days
|
Grizzly Bear [Songs]
|
they sang for him,
|
Indians.
|
A soldier
|
|
hočisági
|
Huñk Píñga
|
higaíregi
|
éja
|
haniąhíreną,
|
|
he used to live
|
"Good Chief,"
|
whom they called
|
there
|
they took him,
|
|
wa-í-ot'ǫp
|
ru-aínanañga
|
mąčó
|
xop
|
kiñkjége,
|
|
in a blanket
|
they carried him, and
|
grizzly bear
|
power
|
he could make it for himself,
|
|
ásge
|
nañgíwairèną.
|
Čegéja
|
hixgą́na
|
rušokšáną.
|
|
so
|
they sang for him.
|
At first
|
to move
|
he could not.
|
|
Kunu
|
xétega
|
Southwind
|
e
|
nañgiwáną,
|
Hočáñgera
|
|
First-born
|
the large one
|
Southwind
|
him
|
they sang for him,
|
Hočąks
|
|
kéreponaižañxjį
|
waši-ákižùną,
|
nąnóka
|
wa-u-inéną,
|
taniwóruhinjràšaną
|
|
about ten
|
they danced with him,
|
naked
|
they did it,
|
save for their breechcloths
|
|
'u-inéną.
|
Huñk Xónuga
|
čoníneją
|
mąčóžą
|
heréže,
|
|
[they did.]
|
Little Priest
|
before this
|
a grizzly bear
|
he was,
|
|
wigéną,
|
ásge
|
rúšjankiñkjège
|
wa-ú-įñkarohoìreną.
|
Nąwą́na
|
|
he told him,
|
so
|
so that he could cure himself
|
they were doing this.
|
The song
|
|
jirehíregi,
|
Huñk Xónuga
|
ną́bisawanìñgera
|
hixgáñxgą
|
wohíjirèną.
|
|
when they started,
|
Little Priest
|
his finger tips
|
to move
|
he started to do it.
|
|
'Úwañk'ų,
|
ára
|
haną́č
|
hixgáñxgą
|
híną.
|
|
Finally,
|
his arm
|
whole
|
he moved
|
he did.
|
|
'Únañk'ų
|
mináñkšaną.
|
Ronóñgere
|
wašígigìjirèną.*
|
'Únañk'ų,
|
|
At last
|
he sat up.
|
His body
|
they made it dance.
|
Finally,
|
|
nąžíną,
|
nunige
|
hačuñgére
|
ročą́
|
kikéreną.
|
|
he stood up,
|
but
|
with great effort
|
straight
|
he could stand himself up.
|
|
Čegéja
|
p'įhíniñk
|
maníjikerèną,
|
číra
|
hogígiñx
|
|
At first
|
easy
|
he started to walk,
|
the house
|
around
|
|
hijanénañka
|
ho'únañka
|
é-ogiweną.
|
Čiokiságeja
|
mąwárupuru
|
|
the others
|
going
|
he went that way.
|
In the middle of the room
|
mound
|
|
niñgenàñkšaną.
|
Hinųbóhąna
|
hogigíñxšaną.
|
|
|
there was.
|
The second time
|
he walked faster
|
he went around it.
|
|
Hitaníhǫna
|
čówexjį
|
waší
|
hogigíñxšaną.
|
Hijobóhǫna,
|
|
The third time
|
a little
|
he danced
|
as he went around.
|
The fourth time,
|
|
gájuñga,
|
mąšją́
|
waší
|
hogigíñxšaną.
|
Čiókisàgeja
|
|
now then,
|
hard
|
he danced
|
as he went around.
|
To the middle of the room,
|
|
kirináñkšaną
|
mąwárupùrurèja
|
ną́bera
|
wakére-anañga
|
égi
|
|
he came back
|
on the mound
|
his hand
|
he put, and
|
[then]
|
|
ho-orá
|
wikáwažàną,
|
haną́č.
|
Éja
|
rušją́
|
|
wound
|
he rubbed it,
|
all of them.
|
There
|
to be healed
|
|
wahí,
|
nunigé
|
nañkéjajegàšaną
|
hañké
|
rušjáñxjį
|
|
he did it,
|
but
|
it was only on the back
|
not
|
quite well
|
|
harágenìną,
|
hačuñgére
|
hikijúñge.
|
Ásge
|
haíninegi
|
|
[to make it well,]
|
with great effort
|
so he reached it
|
So
|
in the morning
|
|
Uañkšígera
|
Wakjé
|
waširéną.
|
Huñk Xúnuga
|
híną,
|
ásge
|
|
The Indians
|
Victory Dance
|
they danced.
|
Little Priest
|
he went,
|
so
|
|
Mąnhí Xetéra
|
waíreną,
|
"Little Priest,
|
you must be a devil,"
|
higairéną.
|
|
the white people
|
they said,
|
"Little Priest,
|
you must be a devil,"
|
they said.
|
John Harrison, "The Story of Little Priest," Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #11a, Freeman #3892 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) 224-241 (= 269-286). Told in June, 1908. The end of this was translated and published in Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 300-301.