Hocąk Text — Shell Anklets Origin Myth

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake

The MS is written in ink. Both the English and Hocąk are written in the same hand, likely that of Paul Radin, which is reasonably clear and of good definition, although some of the smaller handwriting can be difficult to read. Near the top and centered, is "7. hinacax ruwiná" ("the acquisition of the jinglers"), which serves as a title. Above this title, written at a 30 degree angle in smaller handwriting, is "noise of jingling of [shells ?] tied around ankles" (the brackets representing a word that is off the paper in my copy). Immediately below the title and in line with it, is written "asá wajígere hi[ρ]´", which is crossed out by two horizontal lines.

As is the case with a number of other Radin interlinear MSS, this text is full of abbreviations for common word terminations. This is a list of them and their values:

α β γ ε ɜ ρ λ 2
égi éja ésge gają šaną ánąga žesge -že/-še

ɕ 9 - > ⨪ ὐ |
xjį -žą -ra -gi -nąk nįk, niñk -ną

English Translation

 

p. XV —
Mañkáni tcegí[9], mañkáni xedé-, hinacox
Mañkáni cegíže, mañkáni xetéra, hinašox
[Members of the Medicine Rite] [young], [Members of the Medicine Rite] [the older ones], to jingle

 

 

sikaį́dja hirusgídjir[ρ] wanáxdjagiréga dówe
sikaį́ja hirusgíjiranañga wanáxjagiréga tówe
[anklets] they tie on and when they tramp hard on

 

 

nącácax, heraírega wagíp’įs’àje, [ε]
nąšášax, heraírega wagíp’įs’àže, gają
they jingled, when they go he used to like it, [when]

 

 

hi[9´] [λ] giruwį́[2]. We[2´], "C’agwaháwigi
hižą žesge giruwį́že. Wežé, "Š’agwaháwigi
[one] [that kind] [they shook?]. [He said,] "My [ancestors]

 

 

etconí[ɕ] Wakdjéxi adjaíre[2]. [γ´] hinącáxdjane
econíxjį Wakjéxi ajaíreže. Ésge hinąšáxjane
they first [Waterspirit] they saw. [And so] [The jinglers]

 

 

[β] horúzire[2]. Wakdjéxiáka haghébi[|´][|].*
éja horúzireže. Wakjéxiáka haǧébikjeną.*
[there] they got it from. The Waterspirit he will appear.
*haǧébináną.

 

De[⨪´]re tcįwįdjire[2]. Waíxgira haghépdjįdjįbire[2].
Tenañkre cįwįjireže. Waíxgira haǧépjįjįbireže.
This lake began to roar. The wind now began to appear.

 

 

Wainioítcge xede[-] wak’ą́ xederácge ną’ų́sderácge
Wainioícge xetera wak’ą́ xeterášge ną’ų́sterášge
[Animal] [the great one] snake [the great one, also] embers [also]

 

 

hix’íxi haghép djįdjį́bire[2]. Ni[⨪]´re
hix’íxi haǧép jįjį́bireže. Nináñkre
smoking [to appear] [they began]. The water

 

 

mącdjáñ[ɕ] horupíni[2]. Rucdjadjikere[>´] niná
mąšjáñxjį horupíniže. Rušjajikeregí, niná
[with great power] [it was in turmoil.] When it stopped, [the waters]

 

 

hadakdjį́ kiridjé[2]. Wasge xónu[ὐ] hogú
hatakjį́ kirijéže. Wasge xónuniñk hogú
calm, quieted it became. A plate small it grew

 

 

kerérenísge dé[⨪]a mí[⨪][2]. [α]
kerérenísge ténañka mínañkše. Égi
it filled within like [this lake] it was. And

 

 

gádjuñga hadjaíre[2]. ’Uañgenóñka wa[9] djá[⨪]a
gájuñga hajaíreže. ’Uañgenóñka wažą jánañga
and then they saw it. Man something that he saw

 

 

dérogigíñx ną́genáñki waghį́nacácaghináñke.
térogigíñx ną́genáñki waǧį́našášaǧináñke.
lake around they're running they were running with jinglers.

 

 

Horuxúdjire[>´] waxoxgéra sigóc’og[β´] hip’á
Horuxújiregí waxoxgéra sigóš’ogéja hip’á
[When] they looked at him [the shells] on the ankle up to

 

 

hinącáraghe[⨪][2]. Jeé éwagi’ų́
hinąšáraǧenañkše. Žeé éwagi’ų́
they were jingling. [This] for that reason

 

 

wa’u[⨪][ɜ]. [α] horúzire
wa’unañkšaną. Égi horúzire
they do it. [Here] they take it from

 

 

p. XVI —
wa’ú[⨪][ɜ]. Dj[ρ´] c’agwahíwi[-]
wa’únañkšaną. Janañga š’agwahíwira
they do it. [All] their parents

 

 

mąscócox sįk’aį́dja hinacughe[⨪´]i. Hagoré[9] hi[9´]
mąsšóšox sįk’aį́ja hinašuǧenáñki. Hagoréžą hižą́
small bells at ankle that they rattle. [In time] [one]

 

 

hinacą́x niñgirùwiñgi de[λ] hiragekdjé[bar].
hinašą́x niñgirùwiñgi težesge hiragekjéną.
rattle he buys of you [this way] you may say to him.

 

Source:

Jasper Blowsnake, "Hinacax Ruwiná," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #2, Section 7: XV-XVI.