Hočąk Text — The Elk's Skull

translated by Oliver LaMère

Version 1

English Translation

A Ai.
e tt.
Ao rKy d.
A xele deAe.
Ao rK
Hahi
éja
hosgaižą
haxebše.
Hosga
On the way
[there]
a valley*
he came.
Valley
*the translation originally had "in the valley", but crossed out "the" and wrote "a" above it.

p. 318 —
a K Ki nK se Ki.
se x so loAo so Ki d.
Ki ttK
Ai se K tt.
akakinąkregi,
rexruporokižą
gijak
hiregają
across,
a (round) drum
to beat
they did and

A K s xe Ai se Ki di.
wo Ki roKo.
w xe de.
hakaraxehiregiži,
wogizok
waxeže.
they were whooping [and]
very much
they made noise.

de Ko w K tt
A Ai xoKo deAe.
Ko s
tt xitti
Žegųwagają
hahixukše.
"korá,
jaxjį
So much so
it reached up to the sky.
"Well,*
what
*the translation inserts after this word, "I wonder".

p. 319 —
o
Ai Ko so Ao w n
Ki di.
Ai tt
w w te Kette.
'ų
hikorohowaną,
giži.
Hija
wawatekje.
to do
they are about to
[.]
There
I will go over.

rii xitti
Ai K K.
w d.
wo d w
A ttA ni.
S'ixjį
hįkaga
wažą
wožáwa
hačanį.
For a long while
not
any
fun
I have not seen.

Ai Ko tt Ko*
o Ai se Ktt n Ae
w o n Ki di
Higųjagu
'ųhirekjanahe,
wa'ųnąkiži
Whatever
they are about to do,
[doing it]
*the last /K/ is written over an /o/.

Ai tto so K o Kette
e de
w diAi
Ko so Ao Ai se deKe.
hijoroga'ųkje,"
éže.
"Waši
korohohireške,
I will join them,"
he said.
"To dance
they are going (about to), also*
*the translation has, "if they are going to". Just before the word "going" the word "about" has been crossed out with a single horizontal line.

p. 320 —
Ai deKe
leAe diAi doAo no K tt*
aK deAe.
Ao rK s.
hišgé
pešišųnųgają,"
akše.
Hosgara
also
I used to dance,"
he was saying.
The valley
*there is a period after /leAe/. Normally the word for "I dance" would be paši or p'aši.

A so ttA se K tt
di Ke
oy se de.
di Ke.
haručaregają,
žigé
'ųįreže.
Žigé
when he was going across,
again
they did it.
Again

ttiAi wi tti Ke se de.
A K s Ke se Ki di.
so K n xitti de.
čiwįjikereže.
Hakarakeregiži,
rokanaxjįže.
there was a noise.
They all shouted, and
it was great.

p. 321 —
w d.
w KidiKi
Ae Kitti Kette Ki di.
A sK dAe.
Wažą
wąkšik
hekjįkjegiži,
harakše.
[Something]
people
a very great many will be there,
he was thinking.

Ai Ko
di Ke.
oyi se de.
ttiAi w tti Ke se Ki di.
Higų
žigé
'ųįreže.
Čiwajigeregiži,
[Yet]
again
they did it.
When the drum was hit,

de Ko.
m xiAi s.
Ao lA s ds tti Ke se de.
A K s xe Ai se Ki di.
žegų
mąxira
hoparašrajikereže.
Hakaraxehiregiži,
[then]
the heavens
they seemed to burst.
[When] they shouted at it

p. 322 —
K tt K.
de Ko
A Ao Ao s
so K n Ki di.
Gająga
žegų
hahuhura*
rokanagiži,
Now
[then]
anxious
so [much] that
*Marino gives the form of this word as, hohuhura.

n Ki nK deAe.
a deKe niKi
w nK
no ni Ke
nąginąkše.
Aškenįk
wanąk,
nunige
he began to run.
Very close
they were saying it,*
but
*after the word "it" there are two vertical lines separating it from the succeeding word "but".

Ai Ke
w KidiKi
ni Ke
w d
A tt ni de.
hįké
wąkšik
nįge
wažą
hajanįže.
not
people
anywhere
any
he could not see.

p. 323 —
di Ke
oy se de.
so K n de.
A K w d.
de Ko
Žigé
'ųįreže.
Rokanaže.
Hagáwažą
žegų
Again
they did it.
It was very great.
Ah, such a [thing]!
[then]

m xiAi s
Ao lA s ds tti Ke se Ai se de.
K tt.
mąxira
hoparašrajikerehireže,
gają.
the sky
it seemed to burst*
[.]
*the translation adds, "with joy".

Ai Ko
K tt K.
Ao so Kse Ki
deKe
owK
Higų
gająga
horokregi
ške
'uwąk
Even
now
in their midst
[also]
he was walking*
*after "he", the following is crossed out: "seemed to be".

w ow Ko ni
Ai se w Ai
no ni Ke
Ai Ke
wa'ųwąkųnį
hiréwahi,
nunige
hįké
[he was maybe]
it seemed,
but
not

p. 324 —
w d tt ni de.
e Ki.
w d
Ao deAe se Ki d
wažąjanįže.*
Égi
wažą
hušerekižą
he did not see anything.
Here
some
a bone†
*< wažą-haja-nį-že.
†the translation adds, "of some animal".

nK deAe.
e Ki
w d
Ai s n i ni rKe de.
Ao w.
nąkše.
Égi
wažą
hiranąįnįskeže.
Hųwa
it was lying.
Here
something
he seemed to notice.
Elk

lAyi d.
w o nK deAe.
Ae s.
so K n xitti de.
paižą
wa'ųnąkše.
héra
rokanaxjįže.
a head
it was.
Horns
it had many.

p. 325 —
Ae s.
x x ttiAi de
de tt K.
liAi Ai*
we riAi wi de.
héra
xaxačiže.
Žejąga
pįhí
wesįwįže.
The horns
they branched in every direction.
Now again
carefully
he watched it.
*the second /Ai/ is written over an erased /w/.

di Ke
oy se de.
wo Ki roKo
wo d w de.
Žigé
'ųįreže.
wogizok
wožáwaže.
Again
they did it.
Very much
it was fun.

tt
Ao w
lA n Kese
e Ki
w oyi se de.†
Ja*
hųwa
panąkere
égi
wa'ųįreže.
And
elk
the head
[here]
it happened.‡
*this word and its translation are highly suspect. It is probably the word éja (e tt) whose /e/ has been assimilated through external sandhi by the last syllable of the last word of the prior sentence. If this is correct, the word should be translated as "there".
†the /o/ is written over a highly smudged erasure, but is clearly visible nonetheless.
‡after the word "it", the word "was" has been crossed out and the /ed/ of "happened" has been written over two other letters (/in/?).

p. 326 —
w Ki si diAili ttAo s.
so K n xitti de.
so Ks.
wakirišipčora
rokanaxjįže,
rogra
flies
there were very many,
inside

p. 326 —
Aoyi xitti xitti
w o nK deAe.
so Ke tt
Ao K wy s n K.
hoixjįxjį
wa'ųnąkše.
Rogeja
hokawairanąga
(completely) filled
it was.
Inside
they would go and

Ai Ai nl n Ki se K
w o nK deAe.
w xe
n xoKo tte K.
hihinąpnąkirega,
wa'ųnąkše,
waxe
nąxgųjega.
when they would rush out,
[they did]
shouting
he heard.

wo so xotto deAe.
wo Ki roKo
wo d w Ai
w o n Kede.
Woruxúčše.
wogizok
wožawahi
wa'ųnągeže.
He looked at them.
Very much
fun
they were having.

p. 327 —
w Ki liAi tte de.
tt Ko
Ai Ko tt Ko
o w o n Ki di.
Wagipiježe.
"Jagu
higųjagu
uwa'ųnąkiži,
He coveted (envied) them.
"Well,
whatever
they were doing,

Ao so K o Ktt ne de
Ai A o Ae d s.
tt rKe
horok'ųkjaneže.
Hiha'ųhežara,
'Jasge
I would join them.
I was saying as I came,
'What

A Ki di
Ao so K o n Ko ni
Ai Ai s tte de.
hagiži
horok'ųnąkųnį'?"
hihiraježe.
I could do
to join them'?"
he was thinking.

p. 328 —
K tt K
we de.
Ko te
Ai roAo Ki tti wi s.
A K w d
Gająga
wéže,
"Koté
hisųkijiwira,
hagáwažą
Then
he said,
"Say
my younger brothers,
what (a) great

wo d w
s wi d.
A K w d.
w d
liAi
doo wi d.
wožáwa
rawiša,
hagáwažą
wažą
pį
š'uwiša.
fun
you are making,
what a great
thing
good
you are doing.

Ao so K o
deyi di y se n.
tt rKe
s wiy n K
w doo
Horok'ų
žeižiyareną.
Jasge
rawiyanąga
waš'ų
to be one of you
I wish very much.
How
[you do and]
to do this

p. 328 —
A s tte Ki di.
Ai s Ki Koro wi Ki di.*
Ai deKe
harajegiži,
hiragigųswigiži,
hišgé
if you are able,
if you show me how,
also
*/Ai/ is written over an erasure (/Ae/?).

Ao so K o n n.
w wi Ke de.
Ko te
Ao soKo o
horok'ųnaną,"
wawigéže.
"Koté,
horok'ų
I would join you,"
he said to them.
"Say,
[to join together]*
*the translation has, "to do it".

wo tteAe xiAi de.
ttA K s.
dolo leKe tt
w K w wiy n K
wočexiže.
Čakara
žopekeja
wągawawianąga
trouble it is.
The neck
[at the hollow]
we enter it and

p. 330 —
w o A tt wi n
tt Ko
Ai dtt s tt wi K tt
wa'ųhajawiną,
jagu
hišjarajawigają,"
it is how we do it,
as
you have already seen,"

Ai Ky se de.
ay se Ki di.
Ai tto Ke we
n i K deKe.
higaireže.
Airegiži,
hijokewe
naįgašge
they said to him.
Thus they said
to enter
so he would try, but

so dak ra de.
w so Ko xitti
no ni Ke.
ruš'aks'aže.
Warokoxjį,
nunige
he would fail.
He liked very much to do it,*
but
*after the word "liked", the word "it" has been crossed out.

p. 331 —
Ai Ke
w d
de rK ni de.
tt rKe
hįké
wažą
žesganįže.
"Jasge
not
[anything]
he was not able.
"How

s wiy n K
Ai tt
Ao s K w s tt wi de.
rawiyanąga
hija
horakawarajwiže,
you do [and]
[there]
you manage to enter,

Ai rAo Ki tti wi s.
e de.
w Ks.
A so Kere deAe.
hisųkijiwira?"
éže.
Wąkra
harugesše.
my younger brothers?"
he asked.
The man
he lacked,*
*"lacked" is written over an erasure. In the translation, the sentence reads, "Thus, man as he was, he lacked."

w so Ko no ni Ke.
e Ki
w Ky se de.
Ko te
warokonunige.
égi
wagaíreže.
"Koté,
although he longed to.
Then
they said to him,
"Say,

p. 332 —
Ai Ki Ao s Ke we Kette Ki di.
w deAe Kette n.
higihoragewekjegiži
wašekjeną,
if you wish to come in
just say,

ttA K s
dolo leKe s
xeAe te se.
Ai deAe Ki di.
'Čakara
žopekra
xetere.'
hišegíži,
'Neck
[the hollow of]
become big.'
If you say it,

ttA K s
dolo leKe s.*
xeAe te tti tte Ktt ne n.
de Ko Ki di
čakara
žopekra
xetejijekjaneną.
Žegųgiži
the neck
[the hollow]
it will become big.
This way
*/lo leK/ is written over an erasure (KiK ?).

p. 333 —
Ai Ki Ao s K w n n.
de rKe
Ai A wiy n K
w o A tt wi n
higihoragawananą.
Žesge
hihawiyanąga
wa'ųhajawiną,"
you can come in.
That way
[we say and]
the way we do it,"

Ai Ky se de.*
de tt K.
Ai tt tti n K n K.
tt K s
higaireže.
Žejąga
hijajinąkanąga,
"Čakara
they said to him.
So now
he sat down to it and,
"Neck
*the letter /A/ is partially written over an /a/ which has not been erased.

dolo leKe s.
xeAe te se.
e K tt
ttA K s.
[the hollow]
xetere,"
egają
čakara
the hole (for the neck)
become big,"
he said, and
the neck

p. 334 —
dolo leKe
Ao loAo xs
xeAe te tti tte de.
n roAo s.
žopek
hopoxra
xetejiježe.
Nąsúra
[hollow]
the hole
it became big.
His head

Ao Ki liAi Ki di
Ai tto K w.
Aili deAe.
n roAo s.
hokipįgiži
hijokawa
hįpše,
nąsúra
it fit in so
he entered
[he reached and remained,]
his head

ttA deAe tt
Ai liA.
K tt
A ntt
Ai Ai nl n Ki se de.
čašeją
hipi.
Gają
haną́č
hihinąpnąkireže,
his neck
up to.
Just then
all
they ran out,

p. 335 —
w Ki si n Kse.
e Ki
Ao w tti Ao s.
xoAo no niKi Ki si tte de.
wakirinąkre.
Égi
howajihura
xununįkiriježe.
[the insects.]*
Then
where he entered
it became small again.
*translated as "flies"; but this term is really more general, in fact, more general than "insects".

e tt
Ao Ki s ttAK Ki de.
o xitti
no ni Ke
éja
hogiračagiže.
'ųxjį
nunige
There
he was held fast.
Very much he [did]*
but
*rather than "did", the translation has "tried".

tt Ko Kette.
de Ko
so daK deAe.
n roAo s
jagukje.
Žegų
ruš'akše.
nąsúra
it was of no avail.
[Thus]
he failed.*
His head
*the translation has, "he absolutely failed".

p. 336 —
Ko so rs.
so daK Ki di.
de Ko
Ao K nK K n K.
kurusra
ruš'akiži,
žegų
hokąnakanąga
to free
when he failed,
thus
he wore it and*
*the translation has, "he continued to wear it and".

ni ttAe tts
ttA we de.
Ae s
A x sK deAe.
nįčejara
čaweže.
héra
haxarakše.
the river [edge]
he went towards.
Horns
he had long, branchy ones.

Ao w
lAy d
Ao K n K n K.
ni s
Ao ta liKi di.
Hųwa
paižą
hokąnakanąga
nįra
hot'ąpgiži,
Elk
a head
he wore and
the river
when he came to it,

p. 337 —
ni tteAe tts
Ao w se de.
A Ko se d s.
o ni A o.
nįčejara
howareže.
Hagorežąra,
'ųniha'ų,
along the [river's] edge
he went.
Finally,
as thus he went on,

te we s Ki.
w KidiKi
e tt
Ao m ttiAi d
Ai s Ai de.
tewéraki
wąkšik
éja
homąčižą
hirahiže.
unexpectedly
people
there
habitations*
he came.
*the translation has "inhabitations". Just before this word, "there" has been crossed out, since it occurs in the translation just before the word "unexpectedly".

de Ko
e tt.
A A Ae Ke de.
e Ki
Ay ni Ki di.
Žegų
éja
hahąhegeže.
égi
hainigiži,
[Then]
there
he waited for night.
Then
in the morning,

p. 338 —
w o de.
ni w Ko ni Ke
Ao o n Ki di.
e tt
miKi deAe.
wa'ųže.
Niwagunige
ho'ųnąkiži,
éja
mįkše.
he did thus.
To dip water
where they came,
there
he lay.

w Ke A
w i s
K s iy n K.
A tt s.
n Ke we rKe de.
Wakeha
wa'įra
kara'iyanąga
hajara
nąkewesgeže.
Coon skin
the blanket
wearing [and]
to look at him
he was frightening.*
*the translation has, "he was fearful".

so s.
A ntt.
w Ke A
w i
A ni Ki di
Rora
haną́č
wakeha
wa'į
hanigiži,
The body
whole
coon skin
blanket
[that he had],

Ai s so K n K
e Ki.
Ae s
x x ttiAi Ki di.
e Ki.
hirarúkąnąga
égi
héra
xaxačigiži,
égi
it was covered, and
then
horns
having long, branching ones,
and

p. 339 —
Ay ni xitti
Ai no Ki d.
niy Ko tti K tt
A tt de.
hainixjį
hinųkižą
niyagujigają
hajaže.
early in the morning
a woman
she came after water, and
she saw him.

A Ktt
Ao Ki n K tt
w Ke de.
w Kd ne.
Hakjá
hokinąkają,
wageže,
"Wakšąne.
Back
she started to run, but
he said to her,
"Turn back.

n tto ni tt n.
Ai Ke de.
w Kd di.
Ai tt
tti Ki di.
nąjonijáną,"
higeže.
Wakšąši,
hija
jigiži,
I bless you,"
he said to her.
She turned back,
there
when she came,

p. 340 —
w Ke de.
K s n K.
m rs.
Ai d
A diAi ni s tti Kette n.
wagéną,
"Karanąga
mąsra
hižą
hašinirajikjeną.
he said to her,
"Go home and
ax
an
bring with you.

e Ki.
n li so xtt tts.
tt n K
Ai doo Kette Ki di.
égi
nąpiruxáčra
jánąga
hiš'ųkjegiži,
Then
the offerings
as many as
you should use,

w KidiKi
w s Ki do s.
e
ayi se Ktt ne n.
e de.
wąkšik
warakižura
e
airekjaneną,"
éže.
people
your [companion]
they
they will tell you,"
he said.

e Ki.
n roAo.
A ni s.
ttA lo ni A se Ki.
"Égi
nąsu
hanira
čaboniharegi
"Then
head
my
on top of it

p. 341 —
Ao s tti Ktt wi n.
e Ki.
n roAo Ao deAe se K ni s.
tt Ko
horajįkjawiną.
Égi
nąsuhušerekanira
jagu
you will strike.
Then
my skull
whatever

Ai so s Ko wi Ki d[i]
Ai rKe Ktt ne n.
Ao w.
hirorakųwigiž[i],
hisgekjaneną.
Hųwa
you use it for,
it will become true.
Elk

w Kette xiAi
A ni n.
ttAi n Kn Kese
A te n.
Wakjexi
haniną.
činąknąkre
hateną,"
[Water] Spirit
I am.
This village
it is blessed,"*
*literally, "it has dreamt".

p. 342 —
Ai Ke de.
ni se
xAe te s
Ai d
wi ne n
higeže.
"Nire
xetera
hižą
wineną,"
he said to her.
"In the waters
the great ones
one of
I am,"

Ai Ke de.
e Ki.
Ai noKo tte K
Ke se de.
Ki Ki di.
higeže.
Égi
hinųkjega
kereže.
Gigiži,
he said to her.
Then
the woman
went home.
When she got home,

Ao sK deAe.
ni w Ko se Ki.
w Ktte xiAi
dK dA n.
horákše.
"Niwaguregi
Wakjexi
šakšaną.
she told it.
"At the water dipping place,
Waterspirit
[an ancient one] there is.

n tto tt de
e n.
m Ko do s.
Ko Ki d.
deKe
Nąjoją́že,
éną.
mąkošura
kokižą
ške
He blessed me,
he said.
Medicine*
a box
[also]
*the translation adds, "chest".

p. 343 —
A ni w owK dA n
e de.
e Ki.
m rs.
e Ki.
haniwa'ųwąkšaną,"
éže.
"Égi
mąsra
égi
he has with him,"
she said.
"Then
an ax
and

tt n K.
n li so xtt tts.
Ai tti do wi Ki di
e Ki.
jánąga
nąpiruxáčra
hijižuwigiži,
égi
all
the offerings
when we place there,
then

ttA lo ni Ay tt.
Ao tti Ktt wi
e n.
n roAo s.
čabonihaija
hojikjawi,
éną.
nąsúra
on top of his head
we would hit,
he said.
His skull*
*this is actually "his head".

p. 344 —
Ai Ki xoAoxo wi Ki di.
de e
e
w d
so Ko Ktt wi
higixoxwigiži
žee
e
wažą
rokųkjawi,
we would crack and
that
[it]
for things*
we could use it,
*the translation has "for different things".

e n.
e de.
w Kidi Ks.
n li so xtt
A K s ni s n K.
éną,"
éže.
wąkšíkra
nąpiruxaj
hakaraniranąga
he said,"
she said.
The people
offerings
they took with them and

Ko A s.
ttA wy se de.
Ao w se s.
teyK dAe.
kohara
čawaireže.
howarera,
teikše.
[below]*
they went.
Sure enough,
there he was.
*the translation has "to the water".

n Ke we rKe de.
n li so xtt s.
t ni s.
m dAo
Nąkewesgeže.
Nąpiruxajara,
tanira,
mąšu
Very fearful [frightening] he was.
The offerings,
tobacco,
feathers

p. 345 —
doAo tts.
ttA A rK s.
tteAe Ai
doAo tts.
so K n.
šujra,
čahaskra,
čehį
šujra,
rokana
red,
white deerskin,
yarn belts
red,
very much

w Ki oyi se de.
de Ko
Ai se Ki di
e Ki.
Ai d
wagi'ųįreže.
Žegų
hiregiži,
égi
hižą
they brought.
Thus
when they did,
then
one

A s tti se Ki di.
m r K.
Ai ow n K.
ttA lo ni Ay tt
Ao tti de.
harajiregiži,
mąska
hi'ųwanąga
čabonihaija
hojiže.
they appointed,
the ax
he used and
the top of his head
he struck him.

n roAo s.
Ki so ttAe
tti Ke se de.
K tt
nąsúra
kiruče
jikereže.
Gają
His head
it split in two
[it did suddenly.]
And there

p. 346 —
te we s Ki.
w Ktt K K
Ai Kd n K
e tt
Ki K w a de.
tewéraki
Wakjąkaga
hikšanąga
éja
gigawa'aže.
unexpectedly
Trickster
laughing
there
he arose.

wo x nK
liAi ni Ki d.
w x n Ks.
woyi niKi Ai s Ki Ki wi n
"Woxanąk
pinigižą
woxanąkra.
Woinįkhiragigiwiną,"
"Headdress
a nice one
I was wearing*
you spoiled it for me,"†
*before the word "was", the word "has" was crossed out.
†the translation precedes this phrase with the word "but".

a n K.
e tt
Ai Kd s
so K n w n K
Ki K w a de.
ánąga.
Éja
hikšara
rokanawanąga
gigawa'aže.
he said.
There
he laughed
very much and then*
he got up.
*before "and then", the translation has "he said"; however, in this context it would seem that -ánąga is more likely just a conjunction.

p. 347 —
w Ktt K K.
w owK dA n*
ay se de.
e Ki.
w w Ke de.
"Wakjąkaga
wa'ųwąkšaną,"
aíreže.
Égi
wawageže,
"Trickster
it is,"
they said.
Then
he said to them,
*what appears to be /onK/ has been erased and /owK/ written over it.

w d s.
so A.
n li so xtt tts.
doo wi n.
"Wažąra
roha
nąpiruxáčra
š'ųwiną.
"Things
many
offering
you let go.

Ai Ke
Aoyi ni Ke xitti ni Ki
xA w ni wi ni n.
Hįké
hoinįgexjįnigi
xawaniwinįną.
Not
for naught
it will not go for (amount to)

p. 348 —
lA n Kse.
w di
so s Ko wi Ki di
Ai rKe Ktt ne n.
panąkre
wažį́
roragúwigiži,
hisgekjaneną,"
This head
whatever
you use it for,
it will be so,"

wi Ke de.
e rKe
e tt.
wi so Ko
Ki Koo Ai se de.
wigeže.
Ésge
éja
wirokú
kik'ųhireže.
he said to them.
So
there
instruments*
they made themselves.
*in the translation, this word is preceded by "many".

Ao w se s.
Ai rKe
Ai se de.
e Ki.
de Ko
howarera,
hisge
hireže.
Égi
žegų
Sure enough,
good*
they were.
[And]
then
*the word hisge means "true".

e tt
ni Ke
Ao w Ke se de.
éja
nįge
howagereže.
there
[someplace]
he went away.

Source:

Oliver LaMère (trs.), "Wakjąkaga," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1912) Winnebago V, # 7: 317-349.