Hočąk Text — Traveler and the Thunderbird War

Hočąk Text — Traveler and the Thunderbird War (Version 1)

translation by George Ricehill (?)

This appears to be among the earlier MSS in the Radin collection — almost every word is translated and there are no lexical abbreviations used. The narrator is unfamiliar. The narration uses the only examples of giži and gają as sentence terminators thus far encountered.

Anything in brackets "[ ]" is material supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle).

English Translation

p. 126 —

Žée	hagaréžą	uañgerégi	wagų́zirešgùni	gíži.
There	upon a time	up there	they held a council	.

Wakjexíra	žejáñkje,	airešgúni	gíži.	Hañké
[The] Waterspirits	should be ended,	they said	.	Not

péže	rúxurugenàñgi	hipéreziranìną.*	Ásge	Wakanjá
who	could do it	they did not know.	So	Thunderbird

*Just before this word, the expression hipéreziranañga is crossed out.

huñgra	híniñgra	uañgerégi	hątáginąčšaną́.	Žésge
the chief	his son	up there	he fasted.	And so

hi-ágera.	Mąnégi	Wakjexíra	hipérezirèną.	Ásge
he did.	Down on earth	[the] Waterspirits	knew of it.	[So]

p. 127 —

wa-éhinàñkšaną.	Wakjexí	huñgra	hižą́	hiniñk
they counciled.	Waterspirit	chief	one	son, boy

hišgúni	gíži.	"Hikiwárekèga,"	higaírešgùni	rážera.
he had	.	"Traveler,"	they called him	his name.

Žée	hagaréžą	hi-ą́jera	é	hoči-éja
That	upon a time	his father	at	his house

kirišgúni	gáją.	Hią́jera	hoišíp	niñgé
he came	.	His father	always	somewhere

higešgúni.	Ásge	hígiwañxšgùniže,	wéną,	"Jáji,
he had been going.	[So]	he asked,	he said,	"Father,

jagú	’uñgáją	hoišíp	niñgerahíraježe?"	"Hoskéwa
what	reason	always	somewhere you are going?"	"Nothing

’ųhajíną,"	higéną.	Nañgá	égi	hoišíp
no reason have I,"	he said to him.	And	there	always

p. 128 —

woxábenigišgùniže.	Žigé,	"Winígipàñǧera	hañké	wažínišàni."
he was very quiet.	Again,	"My question	not	you do not say anything."

"Jagóšañkje	wašéže.	Uañgerégi	Wakanjá	huñgra
"What you would	you ask.	Up there	Thunderbird	chief

hiniñgrá	hątáginąčànkšaną.*	Wakjexíra	žéją	híkje,
his son	is fasting.	The Waterspirits	to end	they will,

*This word is followed by "r-" under which the translator (or Radin?) writes a question mark ("?").

žésge	háginąjàñkšaną.	Ásge	náñǧiranàñkšaną.	Žésge
so	that is his purpose.	So	they are scared.	Thus

ha-éhi	nañke	wa’ų́	hahí-ajèną.	Jagu
council	there	the reason	I go there.	What

p. 129 —

š’úñkje?"	"Hišáwañkšànañk?	Niñgéšge,	žé	wažą
will you do about it?"	"You[']r[e] asking about it?	O well,	that	something

wočé-xiže,	nunige	wánañk	tuxúrugenàna.	Wogirágaje.
is not hard,	but	you say	I can do it.	Tell them about it.

Jaguána	žesgáną	wažanókana?	Wažįšéną,	' ’uñkáwaža.'
I wonder	could it be	such a great thing?	You said,	'No.'

Žésge	haráną.	Ásge	wahéną	žigé,
Thus	I can do [it].	So	I say it	again,

rahigíži	wogíragajè	égi	žigé	stóregi
when you go	tell them	and	again	when they gather

hakíkjanèną."	"Hąhą́."	Žigé	stóreną.	Gájuñga
I'll be there."	"All right."	Again	they gathered.	[Then]

Hikiwárekega	hišgé	hiną	ä́gi	hiánjera
the Traveler	also	he went	[and]	his father

p. 130 —

horákšaną	Hikiwárekega	jago-éra.	Ásge	Wakjexí
he told them	the Traveler	what he said.	Thus,	Waterspirit

huñgra	tanihúžą	hožúną	hánañga	égi
the chief	a pipe	he filled	and then	[here]

Hikiwárekega	tanihúra	hirawahairéną.	Wéną,	"Ho!,"
the Traveler	the pipe	they pointed at him.	He said,	"Ho!,"

ánañga,	"tanihúra	wagihíną."	Égi	wawagéną,
said he,	"the pipe	I smoke."	[And]	he said to them,

"Hačínja	mána	rokšínañki,	éja	číšjañxjìna
"Where	the earth	is deepest,	there	strong house

hižą́	’ųwiáje."	"Tuxúrugikjanèną,"	ánañga.	Nikúse
one	make you."	"I will do it,"	he said.	Of Mississippi

p. 131 —

hoxúnuna*	hamą́hą	wanąga†	égi	hisawaíja‡	éja
small part	up stream	he went	[and]	at the end	there

*After this expression Radin crosses out the word ë́ja ("there").
†This word is written above ánañga in the same hand as the translation using /ą/ instead of the /a/ + superscript /n/ used elswhere for /ą/. I take it to be a correction.
‡The first syllable of this word (which is unreadable) is crossed out and "hi" written over it.

maįhagéja	čikik’uánañga.	Éja	miñkšáną.	Žégų
on land	a house he made.	[There]	he laid.	[Thus]

hi-ánañga	égi	uañkšígižą	hątáginąjèną*	hokit’éną.
he did and	then	a man	fasting	he talked to him.

*This word is followed by "ra" written above the line in a box with a line connecting the word with a question mark ("?"). It appears to be in the same handwriting as the translation.

Wagéną,	"Ną́jonijàną,"	higéną.	Égi	uañgerégi
He told him,	"I bless you,"	he said to him.	And	up here [or, above]

Wakanjá	huñgra	hiniñgrá	manégi	horugúčgają*
Thunderbird	chief	his son	in earth	[when] he looked

*This word is preceded by the letters "hou" which are crossed out.

hajáną.	Maįhagéja	migáñk’ų	hajáną	égi
saw him.	On earth	lying down	saw him	and

p. 132 —

hišgé	hipérezenàñkšaną,	aíreną.	Égi	uañkšík
too	he knew,	they said.	And	Indian

nąjojánihera,	žigé	hokit’éže,	égi,	"Hąp
when he blessed	[again]	he talked to him,	and,	"Day

hąbokisáki	égi	hišjákjanèną.	Žigé	hišjákjegi
in the middle of	[then]	you will see him.	[Again]	when you're ready to see him

honiñgitaíkjanèną.*	Égi	hičųšgé,	higuáñga	wažínihiniñgègi,
I will tell you.	And	my grandson,	sometimes	[when] I will ask you something,

*After this word "žigé" is crossed out.

hinágišuñkjanèną.	Égi	hičųšgé,	téži	nąjonijána.
you will do it.	And	my grandson,	but me	I bless you.

Égi	jagúra	hañké	hižą	rorágųniñkjanèną,
[And]	whatever	not	one	you will want,

p. 133 —

higų́	wani-oíčge	jagúra	hižą́	t’erákjegìži,
and whenever	animal	any kind	one	you wish to kill,

š’uñkjanéną.	Kéni	hišjáni	wagéną.	Égi
you will do it.	Before	you saw me	I mean.	[And]

že-éži	jagú	ragųzíkjegi	š’uñkjanéną.	Ro-áninegi
then	what	you wish to make	you can do it.	In my body

jagú	ragų́sgiži	žesgékjanèną.	Hąhą́,	čowéregi
whatever	you make	it will be so.	Yes,	hereafter

hą́beniñk	hašínina.	Hąb ijóbahaįja	wiraročą́jègi	égi
day is [or, little day/light]	your kind [or, you have].	Day fourth	at noon	[then]

'Te	Wákąčañk'	hišáwišonùna,	éja	hįšjákjaneną."
'Lake	Holy'	what you used to call,	there	you will see me."

p. 134 —

Uañgenáñgere	hąp´	že	wagegá	éja
These men	day	that	which he meant	there

hijowaréną.	Égi	ašgéniñk	higáją.	Hąp
went he there.	And	close to	he came.	Day

tée	wiraročą́jegi	hajákjanèną.	Ašgéniñk	híną
this	at noon	he was to see him.	Near	as he approached

hoisáwaižą	howákšaną.	Égi	mañxíwi	nižuxóčge
a ravine	he was going down.	And	clouds	drizzly rain

hoxeréną.	Wagaíreną,	"Horais’íñkjegi,	nuñxáwą	hois’ią́je,
caught him.	He was told,	"If you are going to peep,	secret	peep you at him,

žeguñgí	égi	hagúčanèną."	Uañgáñgere	nižéja
that way	[and]	I will shoot him."	This man	on the bank

p. 135 —

hahí	hois’iñgáją.	Égixjį	gujiréną.*	Wipámañkere
there	looked he over.	Just then	they shot him.	A rainbow

*Above this word the translator has written "(not the man)", by which is meant that only the Waterspirit engaged in the hostile action.

hirakérejijehireną.	Égi	ruą́	haguregášge.	Tenáñgre
they shot forth at him.	[And]	[to] lift	they came.	Thus ?there [or, the standing lake]

nina	haną́č	hirawáje	hiruzíga.	Sgiñgerégi
water	all	with him (he went?)*	he brought him.	Heavy he got

*Parenthetical matter added by the translator.

ásge	hañké	ruą́	karaíranìną.	Hakjá
so	not	lift	him [to return] home.	Back

nina	hówe	Wakanjájane.	Čówe	k’uhą́na
water	went	this Thunderbird.	That way	below

haniáñk	karainañgášge	žigé	hišgé	haga
they took	him, but	again	he	in time

ruą́jeną.	Hagakíč[e]šaną	hakíni	karająwíną.	Hikísge
lift.	One at a time [alternating]	they took	back towards their place.	The same

p. 136 —

hináñkšaną.	Égi	uañkšíkjane*	hijowarèną.	Mąhakárani-anañga.
they did.	There	this Indian	went towards them.	His arrows he had with him.

*Just before this word, "w" is crossed out.

Hijahíną.	Horuǧújiregàją	égi	nąžijéną.	Égi
He arrived.	[When] they looked at him	[there]	he stood.	[And]

Wakánjajèga	wéną,	"Hikinų́bera,	uáñgera	hįčgewíną,
the Thunderbird	he said,	"My brother,	the man	has tired me,

hiñgigújera.	Hínagigučge	čëkjína	uangerížą	hakikuégiregi
shoot him for me.	If you shoot him	the 1st time	a man	fight they one

wanąnášekjèną.	Égi	Wakjexi-áka	hišgé	weną,
you will get him.	And	the Waterspirit	also	he said,

p. 137 —

"Hičųšgé	nąjoniją́nihèra.	Néwa’ųmàñkšaną.	Uañgera	hį́čgewiną,
"My grandson,	I have blessed you at one time.	I am he.	The man	tired me,

hiñgigújere."	Égi,	"Hañké	éšaną	žesgé
shoot him for me."	And,	"Not	only	that kind

hirukánanìną,	nišgé	žesgé	e	tuxúrukšaną.	Hikínųbra,
he does not have charge of,	I also	that kind	[it]	can do.	My brother,

hoské wakšaną,	gujináne.	Wonáñǧire	’úną
he is not telling the truth,	shoot him.	At war	when [or, to do]

jágu	gipį́,	š’uñkjéną.	Néži	žesgé
whatever	you like,	[you can do it].	I	that kind

hítukonàną."	"Hičųšgé,	hoské wakšaną.	Nąjonijáną.	Néwahamàñkšaną.*
am in charge of."	"My grandson,	he's not telling the truth.	I bless you.	He is I (?!).*

*The parenthetical punctuation in the English section is in the manuscript. The Hočąk does not seem to be correct. The word no doubt should have been, néwa-’ųmañkšaną, "I am he." See above, where there is a parallel construction.

p. 138 —

Wanigéžare	hagaréžą	wažinigégi	hinagéš’uñkje,	hiniñgera.
I told you	sometime	I would ask you	you would do,	I told you.

Te-éreną.	Wágere	uáñgera	hįčgewíną,	hiñgigújere.
This is it.	This one	the man	tired has made me,	shoot him for me.

*This word is introduced above the line in brackets.

Jagu	áka	nišgé	žesgé	tuxúrukšaną.
What	anytime	you	that kind	I can also do.

Gujináne."	"Hikínųbra,	hoské wakšaną.	Hinagučgíži,	ásge
Shoot him."	"My brother,	he did not tell the truth.	If you shoot me,	so

nišgé	hañké	s’i	horawášaraniñkjanèną."
you/I also*	not	long	you will not last."

*The expression "you/" is inserted just above the words "I also." The latter expression makes no sense in this context.

"Hičųšgé,	hoské wakšaną.	Gujináne	nąjónijañgenìną.
"My grandson,	he is not telling you the truth.	Shoot him now.	He has blessed you already.

p. 139 —

Jágu	hinigéga	žésgekjanèną.	Hičųšgé,	žigų
What	he has said	will be true.	My grandson,	just

gujináne.	T’ehági	hohíkjanèną."	Ásge	uañkšíkjane
shoot him.	If I kill him	we will win."	So	this Indian

mána	kuruzánañga.	Wakánjajàne	maiñgučšáną	ásge
arrow	he took.	The Thunderbird	shoot him	and then

k’uhánegi	howé	haniáñkaraìreną.	Égi	hagí
below	went	they [took back] with him.	And	there

čiwį́na	rokáneže,	aíreną.	Harúkozirèną	Wakanjájega.
noise	on the way they made lots,	they say.	Caught they him	the Thunderbird.

Hikéwarekèga	ewa’úną.	Téženagáną.	Wórak	tee	wágeną.
The Traveler	he did it.	This is all.	[Story]	[this]	[I mean].

Source:

[1] "The Struggle between the Son of the Thunderbird and the Son of the Waterspirit," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Winnebago III, #11a, Freeman #3892 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1909?) Story 10: 126-139 [= 45-59 = 1-27 (odd number pagination only)].