Hočąk Text — Shakes the Earth

narrated by James StCyr

from a story related to him by a Frenchman

English Translation

The manuscript, which is in the hand of Paul Radin, is not too difficult to read. About 40% of the hand written interlinear text has no English translation, but almost all of the untranslated words could be found elsewhere, usually within this manuscript. The orthography is of Radin's later syle: vowel-n-tilde is replaced by vowel-superscript-n; and certain examples of initial "u" ("uañk") are now replaced by a "w" ("wąk"). In this manuscript, Radin still uses Greek letter abbreviations for common whole words or syllables, but fewer than in other texts (cf. Worúxega). These abbreviations are interpreted in other manuscripts. The values of the Greek symbols used in the text appear on the table below:

α β ε ρ τ ω
égi éja gają ánąga giži žégų

Words supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle) are found in brackets '[ ]'. It was also necessary for the editor to supply all punctuation and to determine the beginning and ending of sentences.

p. 1 —
Žegi činógiąnąkšgúni. Hųgra nųbaníniže. Hųgenąkížą
[Again] there was a village. [The chiefs] two they had.* One of their chiefs
*"were" is crossed out and "had" written above it.

hižą́ hinį́k híže, [α] hųk hijąnénąka
one son he had, [and] chief the other one

hižą́ hinį́k [híže.]* Hųjenįkjǫ́kną́gere kikónokiréže
[one] [son] [he had.] The chief's children they married
*The word hížą is crossed out without emendation, but the correct word should be híže.

hių́giwinąka. Hią́jera čąni hokáhi wágigos'áže.
[princesses.] [The father] fall every he used to give a feast.

Činógenǫka téžą hamínokše, [α] sanįgéja
The village on the [or: a] lake it lay, [and] on the other side

nįxetéžą mįkše. Teé nį́tee wajówe
[a big] river it lay. [This one] [river-this] boating

woúínes'áže. Kikónukčekeną́ka wažónįharaireže. Wajerahomikónoga
they used to do. The new married couple they went hunting. They rode in a boat

p. 2 —
hirána jobohą́hóną nąjéxjį howaraíreže. [β]
they did four days journey about they went. [There]

hiąjínogiréže, [α] čikik'uíneže. Wą́kjega hąhéregi
they landed, [and] they made a camp. [That man] (husband)* [during the night]
*Parenthetical material added by Radin.

nįčejéja mįg[ρ´]. Čára wirap'ékjonéže.* Težejánąnegí
[near the waters] [he lay.] [The] deer he's going to watch. About this time
*After this word the expression teže hąhé is crossed out.

čára nį́načgą́ hačíres'áže. Ésge [β]
[the deer] they came and drank water. [Thus] [there]

mig[ρ´]. Nįnačgą hajíregi kirap'é. Waguíčanèže.
[he lay]. They came and [when they came] he [watched]. He'll shoot them.

Teé [β] nįčejéja mįgąk'ų. Hąhé
[This one] [there] [near the water] [he was lying.] [Night]

p. 3 —
kiságeregi Wągeručgéžą minógenąk'ų. Hajáže. Čirogiráxučną́kše.
[about the middle ?] a Giant [he was sitting]. He saw him. He was looking at the camp.

E'sge kikúrutikéreže. Wąkšígenąka hičáwina [β]
[Therefore] he crawled back. The man [the wife] [there]

howakéreže. Hijágiži hičawina hogirakše. E'sge
he went back to. [When he got there] [his wife] he told her. [Therefore]

kikúruti wájera čagíwaíreže. Hijá hagíregi p'įhį́xjinįk
they crawled their canoe towards they crawled. When they got there very quietly

wajeromikonog hir[ρ´]. Kawatírehíreže. Tée nįnájeja
they got in their boat [they did]. They pushed it out. [This one] in the middle of the stream

hagire[épsilon] Wągerúčgeną́gere čínįk hanínera hawasų́č hį́pše. Tée
[when they got there] the Giant their little camp he fell over (he leaped over).* [This one]
*The parenthetical expression is Radin's.

p. 4 —
hąkáwažįníneže. E'sge xáwį horupínipíni[ρ´]. Nįna
they weren't there. [Then] dry hay he twisted up. [the water ?]

haną́č hatáža híže. Tée nįnájeja
[all] he lit (he made a torch)* [he had]. [This one] [at the edge of the water]
*Parenthetical material is by Radin.

wąkšíginįkną́ka hakárahaíreže. Wájagíži ninót'ųpše. Nina howè waruxeže.
[the little people] they're going. When he saw them he started in the water. He walked out in the river after them.

P'įkaínja hipá ninówe waruxégi. Wóxere x'jį́[ε]
Up to the waist* that far [out into the river] [when he walked after them]. When he was very near
*Radin notes below the line: (p'įką́ = waist).

wągenąka haųšgúni. Hižúgera hijá jirehi[ρ´]
[the man] he did it. His gun [when] he pointed

Wągerúčgejegá hik'šá. Hu[épsilon] tejaį́xjį. Ji[épsilon]
[the Giant] he laughed. He came just a little ways. [When he got there]

axúkoéja hižúk higúčše. Git'éhíže. Žegų
under the arm [gun] [he shot him ?]. [He killed him with the impact]. [And so]

p. 5 —
t'ehígi hičáwina hakaraíkižú xap'e wòrak
[having killed him] [wife] with her right away told

hakarawíže. Hágíregíži horágiréže. Wą́gerúčgéžą t'ehígi,
they went back and. When they reached home they told the story. A Giant [having killed],

é'sge wągwakizára kéreponajopjį* čožu[ρ´] žigé
[therefore,] men able to fight about 40 he went with [and] again
*This word originally occurs before wągwakizára, but is circled and placed after it by an arrow.

hakjaraíreže. Hijá hire[épsilon] tée. [β]
they went back. [Then] they got [this one]. [There]

t'ákše Wą́gerúčgega. É'sge nąnúsair[ρ´] hąpséreč.
he lay dead Man Eater [or, Giant]. [Therefore] they gathered wood [all day long].

Wą́gerúčgega taxú-híreže. Tee taxú[ε] hušéregra
Man Eater [or, Giant] [he got burned up]. [This one] [after they burned him] the bones

skaxjį́-hirežé. É'sge wą́gwat'ehíjega Wągerúčgeaka hupóru
very white they were. So the men who killed him the Giant knee

p. 6 —
hušéregera wasgé kirusé. [α] nąmąčéžą
cap dish he took it for. [And] a warclub

[α] tánihúižą wągwat'éhijega hią́jera
[and] a pipe [the one who killed him]* [the father]
*Radin has "the giant killer."

tánihuáka [α] nąmąčeáka wakirúse, [α]
the pipe [and] [the warclub] he took for, [and]

wągwat'éhijegá [α] ráš kik'ų́že: "Wągeručgé-hupóru
[the one who killed him] [also] a name he made himself: "Giant-knee

Wásge-hánįga," higaíreže. Žigé čáni nųbóhągi
[Dish]-possessor," [they called him]. [Again] fall [when two]

yųgíwini hiąjera žige wagígokjé éže.
[princesses] [father] [again] he wanted to give a feast [he said].

E'sge žigé wažóni nį́na harek'á
[And so] [again] hunting [the water] down the stream

p. 7 —
hàre- kórohoíreže. Yųgíwini* hią́jera horógirekórohóže.
going they're getting ready. [Princesses] [the father] there? he's going along.
*Radin has a superscript "y" inserted between hi and ųgíwini. However, "y" and "hi" are usually alternants, so the intention may have been to substitute "y" for "hi" in hiųgíwini.

Haraírešgúni. Wahúhihiže. Hąhíregi honą́jobóhą hokip'į́
They went. It snowed a little. [When they arrived] [sleep-four] that far

hahíreže. Wągerúčge-hup'óru-wasge-hániga haíninégi wažóninéže.
they came. [He who has a Giant's Knee Cap for a Dish] in morning hunting.

Čáižą gúčé. Arabošíšgi ruxárežé. Uniháų,
[A deer] he shot. He crippled he went after. As he was doing it

tée žigé síra hokaraíje[épsilon]. Tée
[this one] [again] [his track he came into his own. [This one]

Wągerúčgéžą hirowákše. É'sge wáwewiwi-[épsilon] tée
[a Giant] was in his track. [And so] [after the two of them thought about it] [this one]

p. 8 —
nižéja hopóxi[ž]ą hagájagíži. E honųgíwąkše.
near the bluff a hole he once saw. [It] he ran for.

Tée hagerégi Wągerúčgeáka titi hahuhéže.
[This one] behind [the Giant] with stamping he was coming.

[α] hopóxjega [β] gi[taú] híjokiweže.
[And] [that hole] [there] he got [to] he went in.

Tee Wągerúčgejegá hijájiž[ρ] wéže, ""Kora!
[This one] [that Giant] [he came and] said, "Kora!

Wągerúčge Hupórawásgeanįga čip'į́xjį ų́ježejéra [ρ].
He who has a Giant's Knee Cap for a Dish a nice tent he's got a nice place, hasn't he?" he said.

Hijoís'įže [α] naį́žą rušíž[ρ´], howakárak nąį́že
He looked in [and] a tree he broke down, he tried to poke it in

nunige wąkšíkjéga nįšhošgobéja gijéže. E'sge
[but] [that man] in between the rocks he stepped. [And so]

p. 9 —
hąkíkióniže. Gų žigé hopóxeja hois'įs'aže.
he didn't touch him. [He sought ?] [again] [at the hole] [he peeped in.]

Higižigé hijoís'į́[ε]. Hirap'k'ųhaįja hižugigúčše. Gixék'ųhaį́ja
Then he did it again [after he looked in]. Under the jaw [he shot him with the gun]. Down towards the foot of the bluff

tówe "Čį́wį," rahéže. Wą́gerúčge Hupóruwasge[ρ´]† hihínobg[ρ´].
[he went in that direction]* [roaring]* as he went. He who has a Giant's Knee Cap for a Dish he came out.
*Radin has "(he made noise)" under tówe čįwį.
†Normally the Greek letter ρ stands for anąga, but here it is being used in assonance for ánįga.

Homąčíra honųgíwąkše. Hijágiží žigé wórak.
His camp he started to run for. When he got there [again] to tell story.

Hakaraíreže. Hagíregi. Žigé hisgečóžu hajír[ρ´]
They went back. They reached. [Again] he went with some [they came and]

žigé Wągerúčgeáka nąhaikąwą hir[ρ´]. [α]
again the Giant they piled wood on top of him [they did]. [And]

p. 10 —
žigé tačép híreže. Wągerúčge tée tánihuížą
[again] they burned up. Giant [this] a pipe

haniąki [α] nąmąčéžą hanią́ki. Hinų́kjega
he had [and] war-club [he had]. [Daughter]

hią́jera éhišgága wanį́kjanéže. Žigáhahíčanį́gi wogígora hįgírena
[the father] this time he's going to have them. When fall came again the time for feast (it's time for)*
*The parenthetical material was added by Radin.

éže, wą́genúnigenǫka. E'sge žigé hínųk-čókere
he said, the old man. [And so] [again] he went with his wife

watóhočíra nináharekùže. Žigé jobóhą hokíp'į
[son-in-law] he went down the stream. [Again] [for the fourth time] [that far]

hahí číreže. Hoxjánánįgi gųxap'énįk hinų́kjega
[he arrived there] [they lived]. In evening not so very late [the wife]

p. 11 —
čiu[ρ´] wą́kjega wažónináginíže. Čaížą t'ehígi,
she put camp up [the man] he went hunting already. [A deer] [having killed],

k'į́-guhá'ų. Tee Wągerúčge hitanína nanažínegi
he packed coming [= he came carrying it on his back].* [This] [Giant] [he thought of] there were trees
*The bracketed phrase is my own gloss.

nąxetéžeregí sanįgéja nąži[ρ´] číra hogíroxúčrehíježe.
there's a certain tree behind [he stood and] [the lodge] looking towards (every once in awhile).*
*Parenthetical material added by Radin.

Wągerúčgejega wąkšígenįkjéga hajákonǫkáją mįk kįpše. (< kínipše ?)
The Giant [the small person] when he saw him* [he laid] [he laid].
*Radin's adds "(suddenly placed his eyes)", a phrase that expresses the literal meaning.

Wažónina gi[táu]. Nąxétežą giwą́kše [α]
The hunter he came back. [A big tree] he chopped down [and]

jobíhi waičgíre. Huíjera pejéja hot'ų́pše.
in four parts he cut them. The stump (next to the root)* the fire he put it.
*Radin has written "stump" above an original "but" (for "butt"), having crossed out "(trunk)" two lines below.

extention of page 11 on a separate sheet —

[Omega]hi[ρ´]* [α] hijanénąka naįkikárazi wawaúįže.
[Then he went] [and] the other three he put them † he made them.
*Before this expression, Radin has crossed out an initial "ž".
†Radin adds, "(near the fire (fire guards))".

p. 12 —
Mįgiréže. Tée hąhékiságeregi Wągerúčgejéga ji[ρ´].
[They retired]. [This one] [in the middle of the night] [the Giant] he came.

Čírahe hajiois'į́že.* Wągą́ka† hìkiǫki wagéže,
Top of tent [he came and peeped in]. The man he was awake he said to him,
*Probably from haji, "he came," and hois'į́, "he peeped in."
†It appears that an initial hi was crossed out.

"Jagú ų hąhé težejąnąnégi hówe nųxáwą hųšúruxuč
["Why] [night] this time of are you sneaking around and looking at me

rajéže? Gušígi hahí nįgé péjokit'ų́ge.
you do? Over there there [someplace] make a fire for yourself.

Haį́negi hošgáč jagúra hižą́ huį́k'je
Tomorrow a game what kind of [one] we're going to do

hišégi hiųkjéna. Hanánąį́na hoišǫ́ hinérajéna," higégi.
you say we'll do. I've been trying to sleep you're bothering me," he said to him.

Wągerúčgejéga hiraručéja hówar[ρ´]. Hahi péjokit'ų[ρ´]
[The Giant] some ways off he went. [In time, over there] [he made a fire for himself and]

p. 13 —
[β] hotáhǫpranų́kše. Hą́bera kínipgíži. Wąkšígenǫka
[there] he made (a big fire) so they could see his figure. [The light] [he laid down]. [The man]

hičawína hihínąp šíže. Hikúruhók'jenegíjeni. [α]
[his wife] to go out he asked her to. He'll get ready (now). [And]

hihinópše hinúkjegá. Hagoréžą tée wešgúni,
she went out [the wife]. In awhile [this one] he [said],

"Číra hinagíšuruxǫ́nagíšana herekjonéna," eže. Hinúkjegá
"[The tent] you have to pull down [it will be]," he said. [The wife]

čišúra warušórokče?[épsilon]. Tée hikánana tewąkše.
tent poles she pulled them out. [This one] her husband there he was.

Wągerúčgenąka hikisgéxjį waúnąkše. Tée Wągerúčgexjįnǫka
[The Giant] as big as he was. [This one] the real Giant

p. 14 —
hakjǫp'[ε]. Koréže. Tewągik'isgexjįžą.* [β] minógenokše.
he looked back. He was surprised. [There he was really the same one ?]. [There] [he sat down].
*I analyse this as, tewąk, "there he was"; hikisge, "the same"; -xjį, the emphatic suffix; -ižą, "one."

"Hąho," éže Wągerúčge huporowásgehanína. [α], "Hųkínagenįkhíkjanéna.
"[Hello]," [he said] the one who has a Giant's kneecap for a dish. [And], "We're going to wrestle a little.

[α] nąmáčera tánihúra* [α] wážugú.
[Both] [the warclub] [the pipe] [here] I'll place them.
*"tanuh" is crossed out before this word.

Hížą mǫkit'unegi mąwot'ų́najéga waųk'janéna. Tanihúra
One who will get them the one who throws him [he will do]. [The pipe]

hožu[ρ´]. Tanihi[ρ´]. [α] rušjǫ́gi nąmačéra
he fills it. He'll smoke it. [And] [when he gets done] [the warclub]

rúz[ρ] hįkik'ųkjonéna. Težegúna wą́jošgájera. [α]
[he took] we're going to use it on each other. This is the way to play man's game." [And]

p. 15 —
hókikínógere uíneže. Winígira nąsawaíja jinǫkáją*
they commenced to wrestle [they did]. The sun over, at top of the trees [after it had come]
*Above the Hočąk text it says, "(east side)."

[α] mąna žégų číwį[ρ´] žégų
[and] the [earth] [then] it roared* [then]
*"they shook" is crossed out and "it roared" is written below it.

k'sųč jikerekére híreže. Tée wíra
and shook [quickly ?] [it did]. [This one] [the sun]

naįsawaíja hinąkáją Wągeúčgexjįjegá kísak haišgíč
[over the tops of the trees] when it reached (west side)* [the Giant] about half over
*Parenthetical material added below the line by Radin.

kiníkiregí.* Mąna giksų́č jikéreže. [α]
they fell. [The earth] [it shook] [quickly]. [And]
*Radin adds above the line: "(i.e., he fell on top of real giant)." In the English line, between the words "they" and "fell," the word "he" is crossed out.

wešgúni Wągerúčge hipóruwásgeanína, "Neéže Wągerúčgep'įga higé
[he said to him] [the one who has a Giant's kneecap for a dish], "You yourself 'Good Giant' to call you

pįneráni[épsilon]. [α] hirágnįgera tanihunįgra hųgį́žugé.
they might. [And] the last time the little pipe fill it up for me please.

p. 16 —
Rap'ónįk hį́gigira," anúnige Wągerúčge Hupóruwasgehánįga. Nąmą́čera
Puff let me,"* [he said] [He who has a Giant's Knee Cap for a Dish]. [The warclub]
*Radin adds the parenthetical remark, "(make me)", to indicate the more literal translation.

wazájegi hanį́gu[ρ´] nąsúra gíkšap rehíže.
as it's sticking up in the ground he took it [and] his head he split [he sent it off].

Tée Wągerúčge hitanína wagių́že. "Wągerúčgep'įga,"
[This one] [Giant] the third he did it. "Good Giant,"

higaíregi. Wąkšíganigeną́gere nąjogíjąge. E'sge waų́že.
they would call him. The [little] people he pitied them. [And so] [he did it].

Wągerúčge kį́ne. Teéžegų hígi égi
[Giant] [he made himself]. [This one then] [to us ?] [here]

hagíminog[ρ´] haruxé. Waką́čąk k'įže. Xonúnįk
he went back and sat down his back towards. Holy he made himself. Small

p. 17 —
kįnahíže. Žesgánunige,† čówe rúš'agenąže. Hičawína waųgéjene
he tried to make himself.* [Nevetheless], he came near not doing it for his wife had it not been.
*For xonúnįk kįnahí, Radin has, "he tried to reduce himself."
†Between žesgá- and nunige Radin has a page with the following on it: "Frenchman, Blowsnake, Smith, Ewing, Harrison, Twin, Lamère, Houghton, O. Lamère, Baptiste." [These are various informants.] A line below this he has the following text: 'ya q!agwide k!ésis meslaxla nawalakwéx ts'ékwa yuxs k!élpálaéx. [This, obviously, is not Hočąk.]

Wąkšígera wikisgéxjį k'į́že. [α] žigé
[A human] he made himself like. [And] [again]

worágagíregi, žegesgečóžų hahį[ρ´] Wągeručgéra žigé
[after telling them of it], with some again he went back [and] [the Giant] [again]

naįkáwą́ hir[ρ´] [α] tačép híreže.
[they piled wood on top of him] [and] [burned up] [they did].

Tée Wągerúčge možuną́ki Wągerúčge Šišígera
[This] [Giant] all in the land [Giant] [the Bad]

hiréregi. E'sge Wągerúčge wirukónona, e'sge*
[when they got]. That is why the Giant who was in charge (chief) [thus]
*Inserted here above the line with a caret.

wąkšíginį́geną́gere nąjoją́že. Teé hirágera Wągerúčge
[the little people] [he blessed them]. [This one] the last [Giant]

p. 18 —
t'éhi, aíres'ági. Žésge híreže [illegible].
[they killed], [they used to say]. [Thus] [they did] [?].

Tée worakhísgèxjį́žą* híreže, aírege. Hoją́
[This one] [a true story] it is, [they say]. When
*Before this word Radin wrote worag, which he crossed out, and above it he wrote hi, which he also crossed out.

wauínegi mąkerepana šagówįgoní, aírena.
they did this it must have been about 70 years, [they said].

English Translation

Source:

[1] James StCyr, "Shakes the Earth," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) #19, Story 1: 1-18.