Hōcąk Text — Little Red Bird's Story

by John Baptiste

English Translation

Original Texts: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Stylistic Features

  hapaxlegomena: cawā́rĕjana, "the old ways"; éxjĭ́nĭk, "himself"; hakuruc, "to come across" (cf. hakaruce, "to cross"); hohokik’ū, "preaching"; hokā́ragižŭ, "to offer to";  honiké, "band (of Indians)"; horoažā, "sickness"; hōų̄́, "to make"; jąjų̆́p, "lightning"; ́jąjų̄́pšgi, "to lightning"; kērānī́, "it did not"; kirā́kjį, "in the middle"; maintōjahi, "wind"; tīrehīgī́, "movement"; wākū́rūxū́rūki, "to be able"; wī́šgacų̆́, "circus, wild west show"; wṓnąǧirḗske, "frightful" (< wonąǧire, "war"); žeáwaų, "for that reason".
  rare words: kirušja, "to cure".

Nota Bene: where diacritical marks were unclear or ambiguous, they have been omitted.

NB 71.2: 1*      
hotcŭ́ⁿgijaⁿ† hū́ndjigikā́radjijaⁿ‡ wā́niⁿkcū́tcxūnū́niⁿka higairegiji#
Hocų́gižą Hų́jigikā́rajižą, "Wā́nįkšūcxūnū́nįka" higairegiži,
A Winnebago of the Bear Clan, "Little Red Bird" as they called him,

* written in the upper left corner is "①"; to its right is "JBa." followed by "Miscellaneous I". Below this entry is written "1" and to the right of both in large letters is written "John Baptiste".
† written opposite the first line in the left margin is "(40)".
‡ just before this word hū́ntc is written.
# ho is lined out just after this word.

 

waⁿkcigoíⁿra kirā́kdjiⁿ hirahígádjaⁿ ḗgi maⁿnaⁿgere hōŭ́ⁿdjirējĕ́
wąkšigoį́ra kirā́kjį hirahígáją, ḗgi mąnągere hōų̆́jirēžĕ́.
his life in the middle when he reached, and the world he traveled around.

 

 

waⁿkcik hit!ĕ́ hokirā́djera wo’ŭ́ⁿdjireje dĕ́jeske hī́djas’ā́je*
wąkšik hit’ĕ́ hokirā́jera wo’ų̆́jireže, tĕ́žeske hī́jas’ā́že.
Indian language different inland he traveled, that way he was doing.

* written in the margin is:

hadje }  
ráradje being
hidje  

s’aje = accustomed

 

wī́cgatc’ŭ́ⁿ hŏrốk† ’uwánuga‡ hagorejaⁿ dēdjấnā hārūtcéje
Wī́šgacų̆́ hŏrṓk ’uánąga hagorežą tēją́nā hārūcéže.
Circus* he joined [he did,] and [in the course of time] the ocean he crossed.

* above "circus" is written "play he did". The "circus" in question is the Wild West Show.
† in the margin of the next line is written: horok´ hîuⁿ, -íuⁿ, followed by some illegible letters.
‡ followed by "=(uⁿánūⁿgā ".

 

t!enâⁿiⁿ waŭ́ⁿdjeje wajaⁿwakigi git!aíregi jeáwauⁿ† dedjâna
T’eną̄į waŭ́ježe. Wažąwakigi git’aíregi žeáwaų tejāna
To try to die he did. His relatives* they  died for that reason the ocean

* written above this is, "(something his own)".
† the text has, je(e h)áwauⁿ.

 

harutcanaⁿk’uⁿ maindôdjahi hamanínegi wṓnaⁿq’irḗskeje
harucanąk’ų maintōjahi hamanínegi wṓnąǧirḗskeže.
while he was crossing wind [as] it came over it was frightful.

 

 

waniⁿk cū́tc xonúniⁿk djânĕ́ naⁿq‘íregi wawewī́wiⁿgijī́*
Wanįkšū́cxonúnįkjānĕ́ nąǧíregi wawewī́wįgižī́
Little Red Bird he was frightened when he commenced to think

* wawewíwi occurs just before this word.

 

ū́ⁿdja’ū́ⁿ maⁿū́na hiperezcĕ́ ḗdjā maⁿū́na
ų̄́ja’ų̄́, Mąū́na hiperezšĕ́. Ḗjā Mąū́na
doing, Mąū́na he knew. There Mąū́na

 

 

gikaratcce. dedjaⁿ āgĕ́dja kigī́ji widjī́jaⁿ
gikaracše. Teją̄ āgĕ́ja kigī́ži, wijī́žą
he prayed to him. The ocean on the other side of when he went,* an island

* this is written above "he did".

 

ḗdjanokiji tcinaⁿk gijaⁿ* manáⁿgere ēgi écana hoxedĕ́ra
ḗjanokiži, cinąkižą, maną́gere ēgi éšana hoxetĕ́ra
there it was, a city, the world there the only one the big one

* tcinok is written just before this word.

 

herḗjĕ́. edja wicgā́tc úⁿiⁿnĕs’ájĕ* hagorḗjaⁿ hŭⁿgerācge
herḗžĕ́. Eja wišgác ų́įnĕs’ážĕ. Hagorḗžą, hų̆gerāšge
it was. There circus they were doing. [Eventually,] the chief [also]

* an original uwī is lined out, and úⁿiⁿ written above it.

 

wadjā́ djijĕ́ waⁿkcĭ́k huⁿgíjaⁿ waŭ́ⁿdjege
wajā́ jižĕ́. Wąkšĭ́k hųgížą waų́jege,
he saw him he came. [Indian] [a chief] he is,

 

  NB 71.2: 2*      
waniⁿk cutc xonuniⁿk djênắ kirigī́ji motcabĕ́dja worā́ka wēs’ā́je
Wanįkšucxonunįkjēnắ kirigī́ži mocabĕ́ja worā́ka wēs’áže.
[Little Red Bird] when he got back his own land when he told he used to say.

* at the top of the page is written, ②   ã = a going to o        ẽ: e going to i          ȧ going to aᵉ        2

 

dedjaⁿ agĕ́dja wakuⁿdjā́ra tcuⁿcgunī́na niⁿjū́ga
Teją agĕ́ja Wakųjára cųšgunī́ną. Nįžū́ga,
The ocean the other side Thunderbirds not any. When it rained,

 

 

niⁿjū́xãtcgerácanaⁿ hērḗcunū́na haⁿkāⁿgā́ djaⁿdjŭ́ᵐp hiraniā́naga
nįžū́xocgerášaną hērḗšųnū́ną hąką̄gā́ jąjų̆́p hiraniā́nąga
drizzling rain it was always never lightning he made, and

 

 

haⁿhĕ́cge kagā́ rudjā́x kērānī́s’ājĕ. dedjâna hakurutc
hąhĕ́šge kagā́ rujā́x kērānī́s’āžĕ. Teją̄na hakuruc
it did not indeed crack (thunder) it did not. The ocean he came across

 

 

hā́nuga hakirī́ ūnī́ⁿnegā́djaⁿ nijū́djegi dĕĕ́ k!oiránuga
hā́nųga hakirī́ ūnį̄́gā́ją, nižū́jegi tĕĕ́ k’oiránuga
[and] he came back when they did, it was raining this it thundered, and

 

 

djaⁿdjū́ᵐpcgirā́nuga rudjāxcgĕ́hires’ā́je giji wogijawaje higŭ́ⁿ
jąjų̄́pšgiránuga rujāxšgĕ́ hires’ā́že. Giži wogižawaže. Higų̆́
it lightninged, and [it would always thunder]. [So] he was glad. Then

 

 

wajaⁿwākī́ hāk’djārā́ ĕ́rējĕ ä́sgĕ dānī́ wōgī́jūjĕ
wažąwākī́ hākjārā́ ĕ́rēžĕ,* ásgĕ tānī́ wōgī́žūžĕ.
his relative just like seeing his own it was, and so tobacco he offered up.

* an initial /h/ has been dropped due to external sandhi.

 

hīgúⁿ hik‘iwā́rera uⁿdjēs’ā́gī hagorḗjaⁿ honikéjaⁿ
Hīgų́ hikiā́rera ųjēs’ā́gī, hagorḗžą honikéžą
Then traveling as he did (off and on), [eventually] a band*

* the translation adds, "(of Indians)".

 

ḗdjā maⁿkā́ⁿ rūdjiwā́ⁿkce hatcĭ́ⁿdja hiā́nuga djāgū́
ḗjā mąką̄́ rūjiwą̄́kše. Hacį̆́ja hiā́nuga jāgū́
[there] medicine they were eating. Where he did, and whatever

 

 

ū́naⁿkā horṓk uⁿs’ā́jĕ ä́sgĕ hicgĕ́
ū́nąkā horṓk ųs’ā́žĕ. Ä́sgĕ hišgĕ́,
they do he joined he always did. And so he did,

 

 

hŏrṓk maⁿkā́ⁿ rudjắ djagwáwauⁿ
hŏrṓk mąką́ rujắ jagwáwaų
[he joined] [medicine] [he ate] [whatever was done]

 

 

waū́nāⁿki hĭⁿkĕ́ hipĕ́rĕzninū́nige waū́naⁿkce unaⁿk’uⁿ
waū́ną̄ki hį̆kĕ́ hipĕ́rĕzninū́nige waū́nąkše. Unąk’ų,
[he did it] not he did not know, but he did it. While he was doing,

 

 

wā́wēwiⁿ djiregi djagū́ woícana ū́nihera*
wā́wēwį jiregi jagū́ woíšąną ū́nihera,
to think he commenced [what] wrong he had done,

* followed by "[ū́iⁿnihera]".

 

hanaⁿtc hikaraperezcĕ́ jige hahī́-uⁿnáⁿk’uⁿ máⁿuⁿ djikáratccĕ́
hanąc hikaraperezšĕ́. žige hahī́-ųną́k’ų, Mą́ų jikáracšé.
all he remembered. Again finally he did, God he prayed to.

 

      NB 71.2: 3  
nīⁿgē dĕĕ́ nḗcānaⁿcge wáunaⁿks’ā́re hirēgĕ́
"Nį̄gē tĕĕ́ nḗšą̄nąšge wáunąks’ā́re," hirēgĕ́.
"Maybe that one I am the only one doing it," he thought.

 

 

hīdjáⁿ hinā́ⁿgere wawes’ĭ́wiⁿgā́djaⁿ dĕĕ́ hicgĕ́ maⁿŭ́ⁿ
Hiją́ hiną̄́gere wawes’ĭ́wįgā́ją, tĕĕ́ hišgĕ́ Mąų̆́
The others he watched them, [these] also [God]

 

 

gikaradjīnā́ⁿkce ḗgi hagorḗjaⁿ djikeregī́ji maⁿkáⁿ
gikarajīną̄́kše. Égi hagorḗžą jikeregī́ži mąką́
[they made prayers]. There [eventually] he came home, and [medicine]

 

 

wārū́djĭnáⁿka jéesge hani djikḗreje gigī́jī waruqā́bedja
wārū́jĭną́ka žéesge hani jikḗreže, gigī́žī waruǧā́beja
[the eating of it] [this way] he took up he got home, when he did, in a bundle

 

 

hisgĕ́ hōjūjĕ́ wajáⁿ wákaⁿtcaⁿgī́jaⁿ hiperĕz kirigĕ́
hisgĕ́ hōžūžĕ́. Wažą́ wákącągížą hiperĕz kirigĕ́
some he put into. Some holy he knew at home

 

 

ḗgi hagaī́ra maⁿkaⁿ* rutcs’ā́je maⁿkaⁿra dā́ni
ḗgi hagaī́ra mąką rucs’ā́že. Mąkąra tā́ni
and sometimes [medicine] [he would usually eat]. [The medicine] tobacco

* rū́dj occurs at the end of the line.

 

hokā́ragijŭánuga dṓwĕ uⁿnêgā́djaⁿ hakī́ horoajā́ra
hokā́ragižŭánuga tṓwĕ ųnēgā́ją hakī́ horoažā́ra
he offered to, and he kept on doing it there at the sickness

 

 

kirucdjaī́negiji hipĕ́rezce ä́sgĕ éxdjĭ́nĭk wajaⁿ wakigī́
kirušjaī́negiži hipĕ́rezše. Ä́sgĕ éxjĭ́nĭk wažą wakigī́
it cured him he knew. [And so] himself [his relatives]

 

 

uⁿwanaⁿkaragŭⁿdjireje ŭ́ⁿdjāŭⁿ wākū́rūxū́rūki maⁿkaⁿ
ųwanąkaragų̆jireže. ų̆́jāų̆ wākū́rūxū́rūki mąką
he tried to make them do it. Finally* he was able [medicine]

* "finally" is written above "while doing".

 

rū́djirĕ́s’aje haruxā́ hiraitcĕ́rā naⁿxgŭ́ⁿ haraī́regi
rū́jirĕ́s’aže. Haruxā́ hiraicĕ́rā, nąxgų̆́ haraī́regi
[they would eat]. More they began to know about it, to learn,* they commenced†

* the word "hear" is written above "learn".
† "commenced" is written above an illegible word.

 

wajaⁿ gī́p‘iĕsdjḗgaⁿ herējĕ́ ŭ́ⁿdjauⁿ maⁿkắⁿ
wažą gī́p’iĕsjḗgą herēžĕ́. Ų̆́jaų, mąką̆́
something very good it is. Finally, [medicine]

 

 

horudjắⁿkā dīrehîgī́ haruxā́ hiraitcĕ́rą naⁿxgŭ́ⁿ
horują̆́kā tīrehīgī́ haruxā́ hiraicĕ́rą, nąxgų̆́
they eating* movement [more] [they began to know about it,] [to learn,]

* this is followed by "(kind)".

 

haraī́reje hakiū́naⁿk’uⁿ* wocgáⁿ jĕĕ́ hohokik‘ū́iⁿjaⁿ
haraī́reže. hakiū́nąk’ų wošgą́ žĕĕ́ hohokik’ū́įžą
they commenced. While they were doing it, manner, way, thing that the preaching

* before this word is written, hahiŭ́ⁿdjāuⁿ.

 

hérēgī hīpĕrĕ́zirḗjĕ jēgŭⁿgī́ji hōkīk’ū́iⁿnḗje máⁿuna* jigḗ
hérēgī hīpĕrĕ́zirḗžĕ. žēgų̆gī́ži hōkīk’ū́įnḗže. Mą́una žigḗ
it was they knew. And so they preached. [God] [again]

* the superscript letter /ⁿ/ following the letter /u/, appears to have been struck out with two lines.

      NB 71.2: 4    
haki hiperĕ́zirḗjĕ ū́naⁿk’uⁿ jige wajaⁿnā́ hijăⁿ
haki hiperĕ́zirḗžĕ. Ū́nąk’ų žige wažąnā́ hižą
[they] [they knew]. [Finally], [again] something that one

 

 

 

hīpĕrĕ́zires’ā́je hāgōrḗjaⁿ wōcgã̆ⁿ´ tcṓni wa‘uáⁿdjī́rĕgī́
hīpĕrĕ́zires’ā́že Hāgōrḗžaⁿ wōšgą̆́ cṓni wa’uą́jī́rĕgī́,
[he usually knew]. [Eventually], manner before while they have been doing,

 

 

haⁿkĕ́ jĕsgā́nina wipĕ́rĕzirējĕ ä́sgĕ wocgắⁿ*
hąkĕ́ žĕsgā́nina wipĕ́rĕzirēžĕ. Ä́sgĕ wošgą̆́
not not that kind [they knew it]. [And so] [rite]

* ắⁿ is written above uana.

 

tcãwā́rĕdjãn,,a wakarat!unaíreje wāgīgãrā maⁿk‘áⁿ* hōū́ⁿna
cawā́rĕjana wakarat’unaíreže. Wāgīgarā Mąką́ hōų̄́na
the old ways they threw them away. The feasts (Medicine dance) making

* before this word, a less legible maⁿk‘áⁿ has been lined out.

 

wajaⁿ* hikiharā́djera dejesgā́wauⁿ djā́núga haⁿkĕ́ maⁿkaⁿ
wažą hikiharā́jera težesgā́waų jā́núga hąkĕ́ mąką
something clans for this reason as much as [not] [medicine]

* just before this word is written, wajaⁿhik.

 

rudjinĭ́giji hisgĕdjā́xdjĭⁿ waūnā́ⁿgere wawocĭ́k hīrējĕ́
rujinĭ́giži hisgĕjā́xjį̆ waūną̄́gere wawošĭ́k hīrēžĕ́.
[they did not eat, and] really [they were doing that] to hate them [they did].

 

 

wakīnŭ́bīrērā́cgĕ* niⁿkdjȧ́̆ⁿk wā́nirērā́cgĕ wawokā́rācik
Wakīnŭ́bīrērā́šgĕ nįkją̆́k wā́nirērā́šgĕ wawokā́rāšik
Their brothers sons & daughters† their own they hated them

* before this word is written and crossed out with light diagonal lines, "[kikunubrā́cge]".
† followed by "(children)".

 

hīrējĕ́ wājáⁿ wakaⁿtcȧ́ⁿgᴇra hanā́ⁿtc rucdjaī́nege.
hīrēžĕ́. Wāžą́ wakącȧ̹́gᵉra haną̄́c rušjaī́nege.
[they did]. Some those things that are holy all because they quit.

 

Source:

Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebook (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Notebook 71, part 2: 1-4.