Hočąk Text — The Old Man and the Giants

Hočąk Text — The Old Man and the Giants

Interlinear Translation by Oliver LaMère

p. 163 —

Éja	čináñgižą-nañkšgúniže.	Húñgera	hijanáñkšguni,	égi
[There]	was a town.	[The] chief	was there,	and

jánañga	uañgera	heregí	haną́čį	hątáginanč	wašíres'àže,
all	men	there were	all	fast	they used to,

égi	hątagenánjera	'úñxjines'àže.	Hagaréžą	Uañgerúčgera	wirajíreže
[and]	fast they did	very much.	[Once]	the Giants	came after them

égi	hajíregi	waki'unaį́neže	wokìnoñk.	Nąį́negi	uañkšígeniñgra.
and	when they came	to gamble with them	they wanted to wrestle with.	They wanted to try	the people (the smaller ones).

p. 164 —

Háwasunč	híreže	hohírawigi	mąhujáxjį	hirawíže.	Hinųbóhǫna
They downed	they did	when beaten they were	a great slaughter	they did to them.	The second time

žigé	kiwánu	nąį́nawigi,	žigé	'u-inégi.	Žigigų́
[again]	to race	they wanted to,	so	they did.	Then again

nąjízrawìži	hinųbóhǫna,	žigé	uañkšígeniñgra	exéte	'ú-ineže
they beat them	second time,	[so]	the people	big killing	they did

aíreną.	Žéjuñga	'uñxjínegi	uañkšígeniñgra	žéją	hirawíže.
[they said].	[And then]	when at the worst	the people	end	they did to them.

Égi	žeé	uañgenú-ižą	híniñgwahìra	nųpíwi	nañxíra.
And	there	an old man	his sons	two	the youngest.

p. 165 —

Hinų́wiñke	wawagéže,	"Niñgiágwira,	huñké	wañgažéjaniñkjawìną,"
Both of them	he said to them,	"My sons,	not	end we must not,"

éže,	aíreną.	Égi,	"Hoji-á,"	aíreže,	ásge	xatáp hopaséžą
he said,	[they said].	[And],	"All right,"	[the two said],	and so	a thicket corner

éja	mąniñgénañki,	éja	nuñxáwą	wagigíže,	aireną.
[there]	piece of land there was,	[there]	hide	he made them,	[they said].

Čahahí	homį́žwagìgiže,	aíreną.	Égi	warújeniñk	hijá
Deer-hide	he spread for them,	[they said].	[And]	some food	there

wogížuže,	aíreną.	"Žégų,	égi	'unikáwi-àje,"	uañgenúnǫñka
he put for them,	[they said].	["So],	[here]	you must stay,"	the old man

p. 166 —

éže.	"Hagaréžą	wanąnáxguñxgųwi-ànañga	huñke	wažąnižą
he said.	["At times]	you will listen	not	anything

xginiháni	hiraną́š'įwìgi	égi,	harágiǧepjawìną,"	wigéže,	aíreną.
is not moving	when you imagine	this,	you will come out,"	he told them,	[they said].

"Égi	číra	woš'ųwígi	éja	wirokúkunuk	hišekjenáwiną,"
"[And]	the house	you go about	[there]	useful articles	you will find,"

éže,	aíreną.	Ásge	žesgé	hirežé,	aíreną.
[he said],	[they said].	And so	that kind	they did,	[they said].

Hagaréžą	žéjuñga	hočinčíniñgra	hagiǧébireže.	Wanañxgúñxgųnegàją
[In time]	[and now]	the boys	they came out.	They listened around but

p. 167 —

woxgíniñkjiñgiži	žéjuñga	agiǧébireže.	Číra	haną́čį	wo-'ú-inegàją.
listless it was	and now	they came out.	The house	all	they went about then.

Wërakírakuni!	čížą	wažonaną́čį	hožunáñkše,	warújerašge
Wërakírakuni!	a house	everything all	was in it,	food also

higų́	wanínašge;	wažónanàñčį	ejanáñkše,	aíreną.	Rašgúni
even	meat;	everything, all	was there,	[they said].	Peacefully

žégų	uą́ji-araìreže,	aíreną,	égi	waxiñxį́žą	kik'u-inánañga
now	they started,	[they said],	and	a ball	made they for themselves

p. 168 —

žée	hišgáč	haji-araíreže,	aíreną.	Hą́pga	žeéšaną
that	to play with	they began,	[they said].	Day after day	that only

hišgájires'àže.	Hagaréžą	hari-ókiwàhasge	'únañk'ų.	Xeteníñkjega
play with they would.	[At times]	drive-one-another-pass, shinr?o?y	they were doing.	The oldest one

wánąnisgaìregi,	žégų	hawáją	haraíreže.	Xe	niñgenísge
they were kind of beating him,	now	shoving, moving	him on.	Hill	a little one

miñkíži.	Waǧiñǧina	saniñgéja	howaíreže	ásge	xeteníñkjega
there was.	The ball	over there other side	it went over	and so	the older one

nųwúñkjį	hotínañkają	te	xe	kuhą́negi	nį́žanañka
running very hard	up the hill	there, these	hill	below	there came water

p. 169 —

waǧiñǧina	ni-éja	howaíreže.	Égi	uañgenú-ižą	wajówe
the ball	in the water	it went in.	[And]	an old man	in boat

égixjį	ha'-unigàją.	Heregí	hočinčíniñkjega	wéže,	"Čoká
just then	landed there.	Just then (?)	the boy	said,	"Grandfather,

waǧiñǧina	huñkáraik'úne,"	éže.	Hišgé	uañgenújega	wéže,
ball	give it back to me,"	he said.	Also	the old man	said,

"Haji-ákaragùre,"	éže.	Žéjuñga	hočinčíniñkjega	harukónoñgànañga	wajéja
"Come after it yourself,"	he said.	And now	[the boy]	went down and	in boat

hot'ǫpgíži.	égi,	wërakirakúni,	uañgenújega	wéže,	"Wájaniñxji
jumped.	Then,	wërakirakúni,	the old man	said,	"Boat mine

p. 170 —

ságere	karanáne,"	egáją.	Žégų	wajóñgere	sageréxjį
very fast	go home now,"	he said then.	[So]	this boat	very fast

kerežé,	žégų	nína	xinažį́že*	wate pa-aki'wake,
went home,	[so]	water	flew	in front of boat at each end,

*xinažį́ seems to mean something like, "to rush by in a billowing fashion" and may apply only to water. Cf. "The Lost Blanket".

nína	xinažį́že	žégų	hočinčíniñgra	haninañgíreže.	Xonújegaži
water	flew	[so]	the boy	they took him home.	The young one

éja	t'unanáñgireže,	aíreną,	aíreže,	aíreną.	Žéjuñga
[there]	left they him,	[they said],	they had said,	[they said].	And now

p. 171 —

hagaréžą	hak'ų́kinigàją,	te	hočinčíniñgižą	ninčejéja	jéže.
[at a time]	when it landed,	there	a boy	near the waters, along the shore [nį-hičeč = near the rim]	he was.

Te-óži	uañgenúnoñka.	Žégų	hagi-oikéwegi	žegų́že	nųbóhą.
But this	that old man.	[And]	he went in	was the last of him	two times.

Gają,	wërakirakúni,	hinuñgížą	jíže	wéže,	"Hočinčíniñgra
And then,	wërakirakúni,	a woman	came	said,	"Boy

hiñkéšge	tónikewehìniže?"	éže.	"Hoji-á,	tokéwehi	hajegáją.
not [also]	are you not hungry?"	said.	"Yes,	hungry	I am.

Hajirá	hojonųbóhǫna	hiñkagá	wahájeni	ąjíną,"	éže.
Since I came	it has been two days	never	not to eat	have,"	he said.

p. 172 —

"Ásge	toikéwehiną,	éže,	aíreną.	"Égi	guré,
"And also	I am hungary,	[he said],	[they said].	["And]	come on,

warajíkjeną,"	éže,	aíreną.	Číserejìžą	éja	hokéwegiži
you shall eat,"	[she said],	[they said].	A long house	[there]	went in

hinuñgra	nųpíwiže,	aíreną.	Xétenuñka	wok'ų́že,	aíreną,
women	there were two,	[they said].	The older one	gave to him,	[they said],

ásge	warújanañga.	Žigé	jajonégi	nįčejéja	hočinčíniñkjega
[and so]	he ate.	[And again]	right away	near the waters	that boy

kišgáčjireže	aíreną.	Žigé	hagaréžą	nųbóhą	gają
began to play with	[they said].	[Again]	[at a time]	two times	[when]

p. 173 —

hinúñk	xonújega	jižé,	"Hočinčíniñgra	hiñgéšge	tonikéwe
woman	the younger one	came,	"Boy you	not	hungry

hínįže?"	éže,	aíreną.	Égi	hočinčíniñkjega	wéže,
are you not?"	[she said],	[they said].	[And]	that boy	he said,

"Toikéwehi,	ajegáją,	hoją́	hajiréją	hagakírahą	wahačgáją
"I am hungry,	of course,	since	I came	once only	I ate

ásge	toikéwehi	ajéną,"	éže,	aíreną.	Égi,
and so	hungry	I am,"	[he said],	[they said].	[And],

"Guré,	warajíkjeną,"	éže,	aíreną.	Ásge	hijáhigiži,
"Come,	you shall eat,"	[she said],	[they said].	And so	when he got there,

p. 174 —

žigé	waručé,	aíreną.	"Égi	hočinčíniñgra	haniñkížuru-àgų
[so]	he ate,	[they said].	["And]	[the little boy]	I would like to marry you

núnige	jajíga	waxopíni	šišigížą	wa'unáñkšaną,"	éže,
but	my father	spirit	a bad one	he is,"	[she said],

aíreną.	Hinúñk	xeténoñka	wéže,	aíreną,	"Horakéwe
[they said].	The woman	the older one	[said],	[they said],	"Come in

šuruxúruki	hakikížunana,"	éže,	aíreną.	"Jájiga	hañkéšge
if you can	we will come together,"	[she said],	[they said].	"My father	Not

naįporezeníną.	Wažą	šišigížą	wa'unáñkšaną,"	eže,	aíreną.	Égi
sleep he knows not (he does not sleep).	Thing	a bad one	he is,"	[she said],	[they said].	[And]

p. 175 —

hočinčíniñkjega	wéže,	"Žesgéšge	žégų	ya'ų́čakjanèną,"	éže,
that boy	said,	"Even so	any how	to try I will,"	[he said],

aíreną.	Žéjuñga	hąhégiži	hijá	howéreže.	Hanųsára
[they said].	Now then	when it became light	there	he went.	Lightly walked he

čįnéže	gáją,	wërakirakúni,	uáñgenoñka	hikįže.	"Hohó!
towards started	[and then]	wërakirakúni,	the old man	he awoke.	"Ho ho!

žigížą	naį́seračjèga,"	éže,	žegų́	gisgáp	hįpše.
some one	sneeking [up] on me,"	[he said],	[so]	he lay down and hid himself	he lay.

Hiraréxjiñgi	uañgenóñka	žigé	nañgíži.	Žigé	režé,
After awhile	that old man	[again]	slept.	[Again]	he (boy) went,

p. 176 —

gáją	žigígų	éže,	"Hahó,	žigížą	naįsaráčjega,"
but	again	[he said],	"Well,	someone	is sneaking up on me,"

éže.	Hitaxíhǫna	žigé	regíži,	žigígų	uáñgenoñka
[he said].	Third time	[again]	he went,	[again]	that old man

žigé	hikį́že.	Wéže,	"Žigížą	naįsaráčjega,"	éže.
[again]	woke up.	[He said],	["Someone]	[is sneaking up on me],"	[he said].

Hijobóhǫna	žéjuñga	hañké	hikiníže,	ásge	hočinčíniñkjega
Fourth time	and now	not	he woke up,	[and so]	the young man

žéjuñga	hahi-ókewegi.	Hinúñk	xetéjega	hahí	akižúmiñkše.
now then	he went in.	Woman	the older one	went	and lay with him.

p. 177 —

Kanañgáją.	Wërakirakúni,	hainigáją	uañgenúnoñka	wéže,	"Wakúmimiñgànañga
She married him.	Wërakirakúni,	in the morning	the old man	[said],	"Sitting, bowing down

ǧagenáñkše."	Hinúñgenuñka	wéže	žigé,	"Jagú'ų	wašašónoñkše?"
he was crying."	The girl	said	again,	"Why	are you saying, crying, that?"

higégi.	Uañgenúnoñka	wéže,	"Watohóčira	te žejáną	pajopaséja
she said to him.	The old man	said,	"The son-in-law	at this time	at the corner of the timber

kšé	hiñgáguhi-ànañga.	Kšé	hájenañkšanùną."	"'Yaréra
apples	go after for me.	Apples	I used to be eating."	"I thought

p. 178 —

huñkagá	hišjanína	hiwúzeninàñkšaną,"	ežé.	"Hoją́tekjèną,"	éže.
not	tears	I am to dry,"	he said.	"Well I will go,"	[he said].

Hočinčíniñkjega	hainigíži	hakižúreže	šehúra	žégų	maínja
The boy	in the morning	(the old man) went with him	apple trees	[and]	on the ground

haruréčježe	hočinčíniñkjega	hisgé	gihíjiregi.	Uañgenúnoñka	wéže,
bent to it was	the boy	some	began to pick.	The old man	[he said],

"Watohóčira,	hañkší	hisgerúzre,"	egíži.	"Hañkší	hisgerúzenąiñgàją
"Son-in-law,	up higher	get some,"	he said.	"Up high	some he tried to get but

p. 179 —

šehú	haniñxjį	serečįjijére,"	éže	uañgenúnoñka.	Šehújane
apple tree	mine	real tall became,"	he said	the old man.	This apple tree

mañǧira	hikušé	jijéže.	Hočinčíniñka	ą́bera	rušakí.
the sky	up to	it became.	The boy	get down	could not.

Éja	ǧagenáñkše.	Wërakirakúni,	Kaǧiwawáñkega	jižé	égi
[There]	[he was crying].	Wërakirakúni,	[Raven] (shouting-crow)	came	[and]

Hočinčíniñkajega	wéže,	"Čoká,	t'égi	égi	hinajikjéną;	žegų́negi
the boy	said,	"Grandfather,	when I die	then	you can eat me;	at this time

p. 180 —

hañké	hinujeníną,"	higegáją.	Kaǧiwawàñkega	wéže,	"Hičųšgé
not	eat me,"	he said to him.	The shouting-crow [Raven]	said,	"Grandson

niñgijitékjege	wa'uąjíną,"	éže.	"Hohó,	čoka,	wat'éhagi
to help you out	is why I came."	[he said].	"Ho ho,	grandfather,	when I kill

warájikjèną,"	éže,	"Wažą́nižą	kisák	ha-ógi,	rajíkjéną,"
you can eat,"	[he said],	"Something	in the middle	I hit,	you can eat,"

higegí.	"Ho,"	éže.	Maínja	keréjiže.	Hoxjána
he said to him.	"Ho,"	[he said].	Down to the ground	he brought him.	At evening

gają	gižé	hąhakí'regi	waniñgíčge	haguréšigi,	žigé
[when]	home he got	when day came	fowl eggs	he told him to go after,	[so]

rawíže.	Égi	inįpáras	nuñxújeja	wirarusgíčanañga	wa'uñgíži
they went.	[And]	flat stones	on the side of his face	he tied on and	he did this

p. 181 —

waniñk čoxétera	jopíwiwigi	hat'ǫpširánañga	ahu-įbótairegìži.	Ahúra
big bluebirds	four of them	jumped for him	with wings they struck him.	Their wings

bokíšiš híreže	hijóbike.	T'éwahiže	hijóbike.	Waniñgíčgera	jopíwi
they broke for themselves	four of them.	He killed them	all four of them.	The eggs	four of them

waníñgiže.	Hitaníhaną	nañkíkera	regikárahegi.	Hakížuregìži.
he took home.	The third ? time	hunting	go he asked him to.	He went with him.

p. 182 —

Wërakirakúni,	wahúhira	rokónoxji-ànañga	sinihírašge	rokonoxjį́že.	Uañgenú-oñka
Wërakirakúni,	snow	very much of it was	cold also	very much it was.	The old man

wa'ųžé	hąhéregi	hočinčíniñkjega	wa-ína	taxuwágigiže.
did	at night	the young man	blanket	burnt he them up for him.

Ną́hįpgi	wagi'ų́že.	Hainigáją	te	uañgeną́jega	éčų
When he slept	he did this.	In the morning	there	the old man	instead

wa-iná	taxuwakárage	wá'ųže.	Žéjuñga	hakeraíregiži	uañgenu-óñka
the blanket	had burnt up	for himself (?).	Now then	when they went home	the old man

hañké	wažą́	žesgániñgi.	Wa'ųžé
not	thing	amounted to anything (not anything was he like).	So he did

xáwį	wagujé	kik'ų́,	nunige*
some grass	shoe	he made for himself,	but

*this is where the text in Notebook Winnebago III, #9, ends. The rest is picked up in the full copy in Winnebago III, #18.

p. 673 (2d MS pagination) —

hañké	piñxjínigí.	éja	hočinčínikjegá	wat'unánąkšé.
not	not very good.	There	the young man	left he him.

Wáñgenų́jegá	tasákt'éže.*	Égi	hinúñgera	nųpíwi
The old man	cold he died of.	And	the women	two of them

*before this word is written "dasak" which was later crossed out.

nóñka	égi	hočinčínigížą	žénu[ñ]ga	wéže.
that were	and	a boy	that many	there were.

Hočinčínik	hinúkonúkjané	wežé,	"Žejaíñxjin	hiñkárawígi
The boy*	that was married	said,	"About now†	for us to go home

*"the" has been circled.
†"about now" has been circled and above it has been written the more literal "this far now".

pinána.	His'ųkára*	hakúnunína,"	éže.	Ásge
it would be good.	My brother (younger)†	I am lonesome for,"	he said.	And so

*just before this word "eže" has been crossed out.
†the parenthetical matter is in the text.

wajówe	hakaraírežé.	Hagíregáją	hís'ų́gerá	hañkáwažénižé.
in boat	they started home.*	When they arrived home	his younger brother	was not there.

*"started" is circled and above it is written "went".

p. 674 —

Hokaránijíregają.	Hañké	nįgé	yak'éniže.*	Wérakírakúni,
Hunting he started about.	Not	anywhere	found he him not.	Wérakírakúni!

*"yak'é" is written above an original "hík'eníže".

hagoréžą	tée	šuñkjáñgeja	horók'ųjaų.*	Hákjažé.
once on a time	there	with wolves	he was among them.†	He saw him.

*above the line in extremely small print is written "(ha ų'ráų)".
†"with" is crossed out and "among them" written above it.

Hoixéwe	karagínąį́giži,	šuñkjáñkjera	jopíwi	kijírešíže.*
Get him	he tried to,	the wolves	four of them	for help he asked of them.

*just before this word, "gijiraírežé" has been crossed out.

"Hojiá,"	higaírežé.	Ásge	čaížą	kisákoižé.
"All right,"	they said to him.	And so	a deer	in the middle he shot.

Žeé	rujerégi	éja	hagirúkosíregí.
That	they eat and	there	caught him they for him.*

*on this translation, see the Commentary.

Hakáranį́gigíži,	íniokéwe	giųžé.	Wóžuxúra	jopíwi
When home he got him,	go in stone (steambath)*	he did to him.	Bladders†	four of them

*the parenthetical matter is in the text.
†before this word something has been crossed out.

žénahiže.	Hų́jikiní*	wagių́že.	Nią́pkaragígi,	hinúk
he used up.	Bear oil	he used.	When he brought him to life,	[woman]

*just before this word, "honžik" has been crossed out.

xonúnąká	ékonógigíže,	égi	hinúgenąká	waíreže,
the younger one	he let him marry	and	these women	they said,

"Čínogra	Wągerúčge	čebírera	nią́pkaragípinraníwigáją,"
"The town	(that the) Giants	they ate up	alive you ought to make them,"

aíreže.	"Hisgé	wašáwi	núnigé	jáskehawiánąga
they said.	"Truth*	you say	but	how can we

*"some" has been crossed out and below it has been written the word "truth".

žeéské	tuxúrugíkjawižé?"	aíreže,	hočinčíną́ka.*	Waíreže,
that kind	could we do?"	they said,	these young men.	They said,

*between "hočinčín" and "ną́ka" several letters have been heavily crossed out.

"Égi,	hičą́rawigá	nią́pwahinána,"	aíreže,	hinúgeną́ka.
"Well,	your brother-in-law	can make them live,"	they said,	these women.

Ásge	hičánhírera	éja	hahíregí.	Ežéé
And so	their brother-in-law	there	went they to.	He it was

nią́pwagigíže,	aíres'áže.	Žejáną.
alive he made for him,	they used to say.	That's all.

English Translation

Source:

[1] Charlie Houghton, A Story about an Old Man and the Giants, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #9, Freeman #3894 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1909?) Story XXXI: 163-182. Charlie Houghton, A Story about an Old Man and the Giants, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #18, Freeman #3900 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1909?) Story XXXI: 661+-675.