Hočąk Text — Turtle and the Merchant

Hočąk Text — Turtle and the Merchant

interlinear translation by Oliver LaMère

Words in brackets, [...,] were missing in the MS are were therefore supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle).

p. 132 —

Kečúñgega	manégi	jíną.	Činógeniñgìžą	éja
[Turtle]	to earth	came.	A little village	there

číže.	Hičáwina	hakižú	jiną.	Égi
he lived.	His wife	with him	[she came.]	[And]

čaninégi	hanąč´	éja	čiréže.	Ni xétežą
in the fall	all	[there]	they lived.	[A] large water*

*Radin has written above the English line, "Missouri?".

éja	číre	wáha honíne	égi	Waxopínina
[there]	[they] lived	looking for furs	[and]	Frenchman

waruwína	éja	čiréže,	wáha	ruwíne.
store-keeper*	[there]	they lived,	furs	buying.

*the word "buyer" is written above the English line, reflecting the literal meaning of the term.

Égi	uáñgera	wawagáxhire	warúč	waníšge
[And]	the men	got credit	for food	meat also

giwagáxire,	égi	Kečúñgega	hinké	wawagáx
they got from him on credit	[and]	[Turtle]	not	credit

p. 133 —

gigiwínine	wawagáx	rušagíkjanihèną.	Hiñké	wawagáx
he was unable	credit	he will be unable to get.	[Not]	credit

nįže,	aíreną.	Égi	hąpížą	hičáwina
get,	they said.	[And]	one day*	his wife

*'one day' is actually written above the line to replace 'no one (?!)', the punctuation apparently having been written in later.

hakaraikížu	wawagáx	égi,	"Hičakáro	nąbrónąñk.
with him	[to get] credit	[and]	"My friend	shook hands.

Wapagáx	hajíną.	Warúč	haku-ájiną."	Égi
to get credit	I came.	For food	I came after."	[And]

waruwína	roǧi	égi,	"Kéčuñge	hañké
[the] trader	objected	[and,]	["Turtle]	not

wažą´	horáni	šuruxúrugeni,	aíreną.	Wawagáx
something	you hunt	you can,	[they said.]	Credit

p. 134 —

šuruš'aíkjanèną."	Žigé,	"Ho	čakaró,	wapagáx
unable for you to get."	[Again,]	["Ho]	[friend,]	[to get myself] credit

hajíną.	Warújera	hisgé	pagaíxje.	Niñkčóñgeniñgra
I came for.	Food	also	I wish to get credit for.	[The] children

tokéwehire."	"Hañkeréšge,"	uáñgera	roǧiną,	"ásge
are hungry	"Impossible,"	the man	objected,	"and so

hañka'úni."	Hožejaį´ja,	"Ho	hičakaro!	wapagáx
not I will do."	In the end,	"Ho	[friend!]	[to get myself] credit

hájiną.	Warúč	pagaíxjeną."	"Hojiá,	niñgi'úñkjanèną.
I came for.	Food	I want on credit."	"All right,	I will do it.

Hičakáro,	uañgenáñgere	roǧiréną	hañké	wažonína
[Friend,]	these men	objected	not	to hunt

p. 135 —

wašúrupìniže,	aíreną,	nunigé	žégų	nigiáñkjanèną.
do they not know,	[they said,]	[but]	[anyhow]	I will do it.*

*After this word begins a sentence inserted from the top of the page. This sentence has no accents indicated, and unlike the rest of the text, nasalized vowels are indicted by a subscripted hook rather than a superscripted small 'n' following the letter.

Égi	wawagáx	šuruš'akgekjaneną,	aíreną,	nunigé
[And]	credit	cannot (will not) you pay,*	[they said,]	but then

*the parentheses appear in the MS.

žégų	nįgiąkjaneną.*	'Yapérezšàną.	Niñkjóñgeniñk	nišgé
anyhow	I'm going to.	I knew it.	Children	I also

*This word ends the passage written in at the top of the page and connected by a line and caret to the place of insertion.

haníną.	Niñkjóñgwanina	tokéwe	hiregá	hinké
I have.	My children	hungry	when they get	[not]

nąčgé	rahiñgípinišonùną,	ásge	nigi'úną."	Égi
heart	feel good it does not,	and so	I do it for you."	[And]

hąbížą	uañgenúniñka	jíže	Kečuñgéga	hoči-éja,
one day	the old man	came,	[Turtle]	to his house,

"Hičakáro,	waha	roágų,"	ánañga.	Égi,
["Friend,]	furs	I want,"	he said.	[And,]

p. 136 —

"Hó	hičakáro,	tekjéną.	Haínigi	rajikjéną."
"Ho	my friend,	to go I will.	Tomorrow	[you will] come over."

Égi	hąhéregi	haininégi	waruwína	jíže,
[And]	at night	in morning	the buyer	came,

aíreną.	Kečuñgéga	hičáwiwahìra	wakarakížu	wažónihiže.
[they said.]	[Turtle]	his wives	with him	hunt he went.

Hinúñgenoñka	e	rábera	waísak
The women	they	the beaver	kill

wagigíži.	Wajéroka	nąži	wagíži,	égi
he let them.	Naked	he stood	them,	[and]

waísak	wagigíži	hinų´bike	hičáwįwahìra	wa'u-inéže.
kill	he made them	both of them	wives his	they did.

Égi	haną´čiñxjį	ąjéja	wakųtákireže.	Égi
[And]	[absolutely] all	on shore	carried they them.	[And]

p. 137 —

waruwína	jíže.	Waruwína	harukózire
the trader	came.	The trader	he him arrested

hižúk-mowéja.	Éja	hainižą´	kiríre.	Égi
at bullet-moulding-place.	[There]	one morning	they came.	[And]

Kečuñgéga	hijahišgúni.	Hičakáro	hanañgá	háni-añkaraìreną.
[Turtle]	went there.	[The friend]	him too	they took along back.

Harukózirèną.	Wawagáx	rušákšaną.	Hani-añkaraíreną.	ásge
They arrested him.	Credit	he could not pay.	They took him back.	and so

Kečuñgéga	wahára	wokik'šúže	wajéja.	Wájera
[Turtle]	the furs	loaded them	in a boat.	The boat

hoixjį´	hosá	hičawína	gináñgigi-ànañga	rusgísgič.
full	[a certain material]*	his wife	twist rope fibers he made her	tied it.

*the bracketed material is in the MS.

p. 138 —

Hąhą´	égi	Kečuñgéga	hijomináñkšaną.	Réže,
[Yes]	[and]	[Turtle]	got in.	Went,

aíreną.	Niñkúse Xonúniñgra	harek'úže,	aíreną.	'Uąhigáją
they said.	The Wisconsin River*	he went down,	[they said.]	As he went along

*the translation has 'the Mississippi' under nikúse and 'the small part' under xonúniñgra. See the Commentary.

niná	haručéxjį	wak'aį´žą,	wak'ą´	čo-ižą´
the waters	real across*	a snake,	snake	a blue [one]

*"completely across" would be more appropriate.

wa'uáñkše,	aíreną.	Éže,	aíreną,	"Hijahį´
it was,	[they said.]	He said,	[they said,]	"Another place

hinúñgre."*	Éže,	aíreną,	"Hiñké	'ųnįže,"
you set." (!)**	[He said,]	[they said,]	"Not	do it not,"

*a terminal 'a' was crossed out and an 'e' was placed above it.
**the exclamation point occurs in the MS. This entry replaces an original question mark.

aíreną.	Jobóhą	higéže,	aíreną.	"Hehó,
[they said.]	Four times	he asked it,	[they said.]	"Heho,

ne	warákik'uñkjonèną,"	éže	Kečuñgéga.	ásge
you	will bring this upon yourselves,"	[he said]	[Turtle.]	[And so]

p. 139 —

žéjuñga	mąšją´	niwáną.	'Uñgíži,	kisák
[now]	mighty hard	he rowed.	[When] he did it,	half

wak'áñka	bokónok	hiréže,	aíreną.	Égi
the snake	broke*	they did,	[they said.]	[And]

*'[by natural force]' is written at the top of the page and connected to 'broke' by a line.

Niñkúse	Hoxetéra*	hot'ą´pše	huže,	aíreną.
Miss[issippi]	the large part	he came into	this way,	[they said.]

*This is the name used to distinguish the Mississippi proper from the "Little Mississippi" (the Wisconsin River). See the Commentary.

Égi	Kečuñgéga	hižúk mowéja	éja	jíže,
[And]	[Turtle]	bullet moulding place	[there]	he came,

aíreną.	Howaréta	Waxopínina	hijajíre,	égi
[they said.]	Sure enough	the Frenchmen	they came,	[and]

Kečúñgega,	"Ho,	nąbra wonóñka,	hičakárohara.	Jasgéže
[Turtle,]	"Ho,	he shook hands,	my friend.	How is it

p. 140 —

či uañgéja?"	"Honąsánañkšaną."	"Ho,	hačakjége	wahájeną."
upstairs?"	"He is locked up."	["Ho,]	I will see him	[that] is why I ask."

Wájera	éja	rusgíč	karat'ų´pše,	aíreną.
The boat	[there]	tied	he left it,	[they said.]

Égi	hijowáreže	či uáñgera	howáreže,	aíreną.
[And]	he went there	upstairs	he went,	[they said.]

Éja	waruwína.	"Ho	hičakáro,	hajíną."
[There]	the trader.	["Ho]	[friend,]	I have come."

"Hą´,"	eže	waruwína.	"Hičakáro,	jánuñga
["Yes,"]	he said	the trader.	["Friend,]	how much

šurušákają	haninañkózireže?	Hičakáro,	wahá	hani-ąjíną.
did you owe	that they arrested you?	[Friend,]	furs	I brought with me.

p. 141—

Wawagáx	kawažáre."	ásge	t'ąpiréže,	wajéja
Credit	pay off."	And so	they came down,	to the boat

hahíreže.	Mąhį´ xeterá	rokáną.	Žégų	wajáñgere
they went.	White people	plenty there were.	[Now]	this boat

žégų	hixgáñxgą	míñkše.	Rábera	wa'uinéže.
indeed	tremble would	it lay.	Beaver	did it.

ásge	Kečuñgéga	wéže,	"Hočinčíniñgwira,	hañkší
And so	[Turtle]	said he,	"Boys,	up high

nąžíwine."	Égi	žéjuñga	rabera	warusiréže,
stand you."	[And]	[then]	beaver furs	they took them,

égi	gikárap'irèže	égi	waruwína	jánañga
[and]	counted them	[and]	trader	how much

waruwį´jega	ruš'áki	hanąč´	hirowehíže.*	Égi
the trader	he owed	[all]	paid.	[And]

*at the bottom of the page is written "hirowe hi, hirowe ra, hirowe na."

p. 142 —

hagikíniže.	"Hičakáro,	žégų	rúzere.	Woruwóčira
some left over.	["Friend,]	[now then]	take it.	A store

pik'úne."	"Hojá,"	waruwína	eže,	aíreną.
fix you up."	"All right,"	the trader	he said,	[they said.]

"Hąhą´,	žejúñga	Kečuñgéga	kerekjáneže?"	aireną.
["Yes,]	[well then]	[Turtle]	is it to go home?"	[they said.]

Égi,	"Hičakáro,	warújere,"	eže,	aíreną.
[And,]	["Friend,]	eat,"	he said,	[they said.]

Waruwína	wéže,	aíreną.	Kečuñgéga	wéže,
The trader	said,	[they said.]	[Turtle]	[said,]

"Hičakáro,	hañké	tokéwehenìną,"	éže,	aireną.
[Friend,]	[not]	hungry I am not,"	[he said,]	[they said.]

p. 143 —

"Hičakáro,	pejenína	hisgé	tačgą´	gipįnána,"
"My friend,	whiskey	some	I drink	would be good,"

éže,	aíreną.	"Hojá."	Kokížą	Kečuñgéga
[he said,]	[they said.]	"All right."	A barrel	[Turtle]

gixúxše,	aíreną.	Égi	haníjinañgànañga	račgą´že
broke open,	[they said.]	[And]	he got hold of it [and]	drank it up

rasgépše,	aíreną.	Égi	Kečuñgéga	kerekarohógi
entirely,	[they said.]	[And]	[Turtle]	when ready to go home

wéže,	"Hičakáro,	pejenína	hisgé	hani-áñkerekjèną,"*
[he said]	["Friend,]	whiskey	some	I'll take home with me,"

*the ending -aneną is crossed out and èną written in above it.

éže,	aíreną.	Hąhą´,	hąbížą	wa-ehíreže,
[he said,]	[they said.]	[Well,]	a day*	they had a council,

*"one day" would be better.

égi	Mą'úna	jagú	egíži	Kečuñgéga
[and]	Earthmaker	what	he said	[Turtle]

p. 144 —

haną´čį	horákše,	aíreną.	ásge	Waxopinináñka
[all of it]	he told,	[they said.]	And so	[to] the Frenchman

wéže,	"Hąhą´,	hisgé	wahéną.	Žesgekjéną.
[he] said	["Yes,]	truth	I said.	Be it so.

Jajaíñxjį	manáñgere	uañkšíg'a-iñgìži	hoišípjį	žésgekjanèną,"
As long [as]	this earth	as human I live	always	it will be thus,"

éže,	aíreną.	ásge	épa	wahára
[he said,]	[they said.]	[And so]	since then	the furs

piñkísge	wahiąhú-ireže,	aíreną.	Hąhą´,	Kečuñgéga
good piece	they gave for them,	[they said.]	[Yes,]	[Turtle]

hanąč´	piníže,	aíreną	uañkšígera	Waxopínina.
[all]	they fixed,	[they said]	the people	the Frenchman.

p. 145 —

Hąhą´,	Kečuñgéga	žéjuñga	keréže,	aíreną.
[Yes,]	[Turtle]	[then]	went home,	[they said.]

Niñkúsera	hamą´hą	keréže,	aíreną.	Pejeníkogra
The Mississippi	went up	[he went] home,	[they said.]	Whiskey barrels

jopíwi	wajéja	hokéreže,	aíreną.	Hagaréžą
four	in the boat	put he in,	[they said.]	At a time

gíže,	aíreną.	Égi	uañkšígera	wawogírakše,
got home,	[they said.]	[And]	the people	he told them,

aíreną.	"Gájuñga	pį	uañkšíkš'iñkjanàwiną.*	Hąhą´,
[they said.]	["And now]	good	you [will] live.	[Yes,]

*the ending -èną is crossed out and àwiną written above it.

žegúną.	Hi-ą´čhihiwira	tée	pi'ųhíšige	wa'ųhajíną.
that's all.	Father ours	this	fix he told me	is why I came here.

p. 146 —

Jobóhañgi	hakérekjanèną.	Hąhą´	hąp	tée
Four days from now	I will go home.	[Yes,]	day	this

hakérekjanèną.	Hagaréžą	manáñgere	wažanaížą	hiñké
I am going home.	[At one time]	this earth	something	not

piniñgí	žigé	hájikjanèną,"	éže,	aíreną.
good	[again]	I will come,"	[he said,]	[they said.]

Hąhą´,	keréže,	aíreną.	Uañgerégi	howá
[Yes,]	he went home,	[they said.]	Up above	went

keréže,	aíreną.	Žégų.
he did,	[they said.]	[That's all.]

English Translation

Source:

Charlie Houghton, Turtle and the Merchant, translation by Oliver LaMere, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3894 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago III, #9: 2-29 = 132-146.