Hocąk Text — Trickster's Warpath
Hocąk Text — Trickster's Warpath
Told by an elder of the tribe in 1912
Transcribed by Sam Blowsnake
Translation based on the interlinear of John Baptiste
The syllabic text appears to have been written in pencil in large and, for the most part, clear letters. It was transcribed in syllabic script by Sam Blowsnake from oral presentations made by an old member of the tribe living in Nebraska in 1912. The interlinear translation for the Trickster Cycle was done initially by John Baptiste, who was later replaced by Oliver LaMère.
Some features of this raconteur's syle:
hapaxlegomena: cakiji, for hicakiji, "my dear sister"; hacąja, "in what"; hagiwąx, "to ask"; higųhexjį, "right away"; hihirokinu, "out of sight"; hijošu, "to put somewhere"; hikjį , "quite a commotion"; mirupara, "to tear up the earth"; ruhap, "to burrow through"; sgisgixjį, "more and more angry".
wąkšike, "the people," although rare elsewhere, is very common in this work.
the very rare exclamation, howá, is commonly used.
the use of égi as the initial word of a sentence is less common than usual.
žigé, gająga, hija ("there"), ánąga (in the sense of "he said") are used more frequently than usual.
the diminutive - nįk is used in the names of some animal characters: Wašerekenįka, "Little Fox," Jająksigenįka, "Little Mink."
he makes extensive use of the concept Already (-ginį, jajineją), sometimes in ways that appear eccentric to English speakers.
The interlinear translation for the Trickster Cycle was done initially by John Baptiste, who was later replaced by Oliver LaMère. This portion of the cycle was translated by John Baptiste. Observed differences in the translations of John Baptiste and Oliver LaMère are set out on this table:
Hocąk Word
John
Baptiste
Oliver
LaMère
Wašerenįka
Little Fox
Coyote
hagoréžą
in the course of time
finally, etc.
hųgra
the king
the chief
gająga
this time
(so) now
tewéraki
to his astonishment, to his surprise, unexpectedly (rare)
unexpectedly (exclusively)
hohó!
well, well; oh, oh
oh my!
John Baptiste
Oliver LaMère
jajineją
occasionally translated as "quickly"
never translated as "quickly"
almost every word is translated
some words are not translated, and paraphrase is often used
Material in brackets '[ ]' is inserted by the editor (Richard L. Dieterle), usually for words that have not been translated in the MS.
English Translation
p. 1 —
ttiAi n Ki d
e tt
nK deAe.
Ai d
Ao KL
Cinąkižą
éja
nąkše.
Hižą
hųgra
A town
there
it was.
One
the King
Ai tt
nK deAe
de e
A Ko Le d.
Ao KL.
hija
nąkše.
Žee
hagoréžą
hųgra
there
it was.
Once
in the course of time,
the king
to ttA Le Ktt
n Ae Ke.
Ai Aoyi too.
A K Ko
tocąrekjanahege.
Hihóit'ų*
hagagú
he was to go on the warpath.
Build-with-to-fire
to fetch
*more usually
hiróit'ų.
A Ly Le Ktt
n Ae de.
ay Le de.
e Ki.
AoKo n K.
we de
harairekjanaheže,
aíreže.
Égi
hųknąka
wéže,
they were going to,
they had said.
And
the king
said he,
Ai Aoyi too
L.
ttA xeAe te
L.
tto liAi wi
A Ko Le
"Hihóit'ųra
caxetéra
jopíwi
hagúre
"The build-with-to-fire*
big deer†
four of them
to fetch
*in this context,
hiróit'ųra means "food".
†by which is meant bucks.
p. 2 —
w diAi de.
e Ki.
A Ly Le Ki di.
Ke ni wi riini.
wašíže.
Égi
haraíregiži
kénįwis'inį
commanded he them.
And
when they had gone
before very long
ttA xeAe teL.
tto liAi wi
A K ni
A Ki Li Le de.
caxetéra
jopíwi
haganį́
hakiríreže.
bucks
four
to fetch
they had come back.*
*the translation has "to him they fetched for him."
e Ki.
w Lo ttA L.
Ai Kow n
Ai tt
w re Le Le de.
Égi
warucra
higųwąną
hija
waserereže.
And
[the food]*
immediately
there
they put them on.†
*the translation actually has "the nephews" apparently
attempting to clarify the agents.
†
sere actually means "to slit". To prepare the meat
for roasting it was slit and put on spits.
p. 3 —
e Ki.
Ki Ko L.
w Ko A Ai Le
Ki di.
A tti Le de.
e Ki.
Égi
gigóra
wagohahiregiži.
Hajireže.
Égi
And
he invited
those who were invited.
They came.
And
to ttA Le Ktt
n Ae de.
e de.
e rKe
Ao KL
w o Le Ktt n
Ae Ke
tocąrekjanaheže,
éže.
Ésge
hųgra
wa'ųrekjanahege
war-path going he was,
he said.
Therefore,
the king
he was going because
tt n K.
m ni
Lo xoAo Lo KL.
A ntt
Le Ktt n Ae
de.
jánąga
mani
ruxúrukra
haną́c
rekjanahéže.
as many
[to] walk
that were able
all
were to go.
p. 4 —
tt n
wo n xi Le
Ki diAi Ki
e Ki.
Ki Ko
Janą
woną́ǧire
gišígi
égi
gigo
As many as
to fight
[over there].
And
feasting
Lo dtt Ai Le
Ki.
Ao KL.
ttAi L.
Ao w Ke Li de.
rušjahiregi,
hųgra
cira
howakeriže.
when they got through,
the king
the house
toward it he went home.
A leAe Le K
tt.
de Ko
xA w ni de.
e rKe
K tt K.
haperegają
žegų́ ́
xawaniže.
Ésge
gająga
They had waited for him
but
he was gone.
Therefore,
then
Ki dtt A Ai
Le K tt.
te we L Ki.
A Ki.
Ai noKo
gišjahahiregają,
tewéraki
hagí
hinųk ́
[when] they went to see him,
to his astonishment
there
a woman
p. 5 —
A Ki do
mi K n K.
Ai noKo
Ki dKtt tt Kede.
e rKe.
hakižu
mįgánąga
hinųk ́
kišgácjakše.
Ésge
with
lying he was [and]
a woman
playing with he was.
So
A Ki Li.
Ao LK deAe.
de Ko
wK diAi KL
e Le de.
hakirí
horákše.
žegų́
wąkšíkra
ereže.
come back
he told it.
So
the people
dispersed they.
di Ke
A Ko Le d
wy Le de.
Ao KL.
to ttA Ktt n
Ke.
Žigé
hagoréžą
waíreže
hųgra
tocąkjanage.
Again
in the course of time
said they
the king
he is to go on the warpath.
p. 6 —
Ai Loyi too.
A K Ko
A Lyi Le Ktt
ne n.
ay Le de.
Hiróit'ų
hagagú
harairekjaneną,
aíreže.
Build-with-to-fire
to fetch
they will be going,
they said.
e tt
di Ke.
Ai Loyi too.
K L t de.
ttA xeAe te
L.
Éja
žigé
hiróit'ų
karatáže.
Caxetéra
There
then
build-with-to-fire
he asked for.
Big deer (bucks)
no liAi wiy
n K.
e Ki.
Aotto ttL.
no liAi wi.
A Ko Le w diAi
de.
nųpiwianąga
égi
hųjra
nųpiwi
haguréwašiže
two of them [and]
and
bears
two of them
to bring he commanded them.
w Ki xA n L.
A Ly Le Ki
Ke n wi ri ni.
tt n K.
w Ke K.
wagixanara
haraíregi
kénįwis'inį
jánąga
wagegá
Warbundle Bearers*
when they went
before very long
as many [as]
he meant
*Baptiste has "the nephews", the translation that he
uses throughout. It happens that the nephews are typically the
War Bundle Bearers, but the word translated does not literally
mean "nephews".
de n K
A K ni
A Ki Li Le de.
e Ki.
tt tti ne tt.
ženąga
haganį́
hakiríže.
Égi
jajineją
so many
to fetch
[they had come back.]*
And
immediately
*the translation has simply, "they fetched for him."
Ai tt w Ke Le
Le de.
Ki Ko
Ai Lo we L.
L Ki ni de.
e Ki.
hijáwakerereže.
Gigo
hirowera
raginįže.
Égi
they put them on.
[He called]
he invited
he has gone already.
And
*
Gigo hirowera is translated obscurely in English
as: "feast to invite the one".
p. 8 —
Ki Ko
A tti Le de.
di Ke.
tt tti ne tt.
Ao KL.
gigó
hajíreže.
Žigé
jajineją
hųgra
to feast
they came.
Again
already
the king
to ttA L.
n di Ktt ne
w o nK deAe.
e Ki.
Ki Ko L.
tocąra
nažįkjane
wa'ųnąkše.
Égi
gigora
to [go to] war
he would stand
he was.
And
the invited [ones]
wo Ki doyi Le
Ki.
w Lotto.
nK Koo
Ke ni deKe.
w Lotto
wokižuyiregi
waruj
nąk'ų
kenįške
waruj
when they had been given,
they were eating
while
before
eating
p. 9 —
Lo dtt A L n.
Ai Ai nl deAe.
A leAe Ai Le
K tt.
de Ko
xA w ni de.
rušjaharana
hihiną́pše.
Hapehiregają,
žegų́ ́
xawaniže.
they got through
he went out.
They had waited for him,
but
he did not appear.
Ai Ke.
Ao e Le L.
Ai Ki ta ta
ni w o de.
e rKe.
Ai d
Hįké
ho'eréra
hikit'at'anįwa'ųže.
Ésge
hižą
Not
to disperse
he had not talked for.
So
one of them
Ki dtt Ai de.
di Ke
A Ki
Ai noKo
A Ki do
gišjáhiže.
Žigé
hagí
hinųk ́
hakižu
he went to see him.
Again
at home
a woman
was with
p. 10 —
miKi K Kede.
A ni leAe nK
dA n
Ai Ky Le de.
K tt.
we de.
mígąkeže.
"Hanipenąkšaną,"
higaíreže.
Gają
wéže,
he was lying.
"They are waiting for you,"
they said to him.
When
replied,
tt Ko.
di Ke
Ai tt
A o Kette de.
tt Ko.
"Jagú
žigé
hija
ha'ųkježe?
Jagú
"What
else more
there
will I do?
What
w Lotto
doAo Lo dtt
wi Ki di.
de Ko
L w K tt.
waruj
šurušjawigiži,
žegų́ ́
rawagają,"
eating
when you are through,
then
you are done,"
e de.
e rKe
A Ki
Ao LK deAe.
tt Ko
e K.
éže.
Ésge
hagi
horákše,
jagú
eka
he said.
So
he came
he told it,
what
he had said
wo Ki L Ki di.
de Ko.
e Le de.
di Ke.
de Ko
wogiragiži.
žegų́ ́
ereže.
Žigé
žegų́ ́
when he had told them.
Then
they scattered.
Again
there was
Ai Ke
w d L
Ai d
Ae Le ni de.
di Ke.
hįké
wažąra
hižą
herenįže.
Žigé
not
thing
one
not to be done.
Again
de e
A Ko Le d.
wy Le de.
AoKL.
to ttA Ktt ne
Ke.
žee
hagoréžą
waíreže,
"Hųgra
tocąkjanege
once
in due time
said they,
"The king
because he is going to war
p. 12 —
Ai Loyi too
A K Ko A A Ly
Le Ktt ne n.
ay Le de.
e Ki
hiroit'ų
hagagu haharairekjaneną,
aíreže.
Égi
to feast with
they are going to get for him,
they had said.
And
Ai Loyi too
L.
K L t Ki.
we de.
Ao ttL.
w rAK KL.
hiroit'ųra
karatági
wéže
hųjra
wasakara
the sacrifices
when he asked for
he said
bears
male - largest
tto liAi wi
A Ko w diAi
de.
e Ki.
w Ki xA n L.
di Ke
jopíwi
haguwašiže.
Égi
wagixanara
žigé
four of them
he commanded to be fetched.
And
the Warbundle Bearers*
again
*again Baptiste translates this as "nephews".
p. 13 —
Ao Ki ni
A Ly Le de.
Ke ni wi rii
ni.
tt Ko A K.
hokinį́
haraíreže.
kénįwis'inį
jagúhagá
to hunt for him
they went.
Before very long
what
de rKe
A K ni A Ki
Li Le de
e Ki
w Lo ttA L.
žesge
haganį́ hakirireže.
Égi
warucąra
[that kind]
they brought it home for him.
Then
the aides*
*this too was translated as "the nephews".
Ai tt w Ke Le
Ai L n K.
e Ki.
w Lo ttA L.
Ki Ko
hijáwakere
hiránąga
égi
warucąra
gigó
they put them on
[he did and]
then
the aides*
[he called]
*again translated as "the nephews".
Ai Lo we L
L Ki ni de.
tt tti ne tt.
Ki Ko L.
hirowera
raginįže.
jajineją
gigóra
he invited
he went already.
immediately
those invited
p. 14 —
A tti Le de.
e Ki.
tt tti ne tt
w leA w Ltt.
hajíreže.
Égi
jajineją
wapewaraj
they came.
And
immediately
those who eat the heads
L dtt Ki di.
A Ki
Ai Ai nl deAe.
di Ke
de Ko
rašjągiži,
hagí
hihiną́pše.
Žigé
žegų́ ́
after naming,
[there]
he went out.
Again
[now]
xA w ni de.
di Ke
Ki dtt A Ai
Le K tt.
di Ke
xawaniže.
Žigé
gišjahahiregają,
žigé
he was gone for good.
Again
when they had gone to look for him,
again
p. 15 —
tt tti ne tt
Ai noKo
Ki nolo mi K
Ki ni de.
di Ke
jajineją
hinųk ́
kinupmįgąkiniže.
Žigé
he was already
a woman
abed he was lying.
Again
Ki Ko L.
de Ko
e Le de.
to ttA
gigóra
žegų́ ́
ereže.
Tocą
those who came to the feast
[now]
they separated.
War[path]
K L Ktt li Le
no ni Ke.
di Ke
A Ke
w d ni de.
karakjąpire
nųnįgé
žigé
hąké
wažąnįže.
they expected to go on
but
again
not
nothing to do.
di Ke
A Ko Le d.
Ai tto l A L.
di Ke
e de.
Žigé
hagoréžą
hijobą́hąrá
žigé
éže,
Again
in the course of time
being the fourth
again
he said,
K tt K.
Ao rKe
w n KL
Ai leAe Le ri
Le de.
"Gająga
hosgé."
Wánąkra
hiperesireže.
"This time
not so."
[The one who said it]*
they knew it.
*translated as "he was saying".
p. 16 —
Ki Ko di
Ai Le Ktt ne
Ai L
Ai L
no ni Ke.
Gigóži
hirekjanehira
híra
nųnįgé
Feast [at least]
they were going to have
they were going
but
to ttA n K di.
Ao rKe
w n KL
Ai leAe Le ri
Le de.
tocąnąkži
hosgé
wánąkra
hiperesireže.
the going to war [at any rate]
it was not so
[the one who said it]
they knew it.
e Ki.
Ai Loyi too.
A Ko Le
w di Ki
w toKo
Égi
hiróit'ų
hagúre
wašigi
watok
Then
offerings*
to fetch
[when] he commanded
female-bear
*translated as "some offering[s]", but elsewhere translated
as "build-with-to-fire". It may refer to wood, but here
it does seem to refer to food. Thus it may mean, "materials
for the fire".
p. 17 —
ay Le n.
Aotto
xeAe te xitti
w Kyi Le n.
w toKo
aíreną,
hųj
xétexjį
wagaireną.
Watok
they are called,
bear
very large
they mean.
Female-bear
a n K.
de rKe L.
t[t]o liAi wi
A Ko Le
w diAi de
ánąga
žesgéra
jopíwi
hagúre
wašíže.
as they were saying
that kind
four of them
to be brought
he commanded.
w Ki xA n L.
di Ke
Ke ni wi rii
ni.
tt Ko
wagixanara
žigé
kénįwis'inį
jagú
The Warbundle Bearers
again
before very long
what
w Ke K.
de rKe
A K ni
A Ki Li Le de.
di Ke
wagegá
žesge
haganį́
hakiríreže.
Žigé
he meant
that
[to fetch]
[they had come back.]*
Again
*
haganį́ hakiríreže is translated together as "they brought it for him".
p. 18 —
tt tti ne tt.
wo A L.
Ai tt w Ke Le
Ai L Ki ni de.
jajineją
wohą́ra
hijáwakere
híraginíže.
immediately
the kettles
they put them on
[they did it already.]
Ki Ko L.
tti li Ki ni
de.
w Koyi Le Ki
K tt K.
Ai tt
Gigóra
jįpiginiže
wagoiregi.
Gająga
hija
To the feast
they assembled
those invited.
This time
there
nK Koo
Ki Ko L.
Lo dtt Ai Le
de.
w Lo x lL.
e Ki
nąk'ų
gigóra
rušjahireže.
waruǧápara
égi
he was sitting
the feast
they got through.
The warbundle
and
p. 19 —
m wo do L.
w Ko Lo r n
K.
tal tti Le de.
A Ao.
to ttA L.
mąwožúra
wagorusanąga
t'ąpjiréže.
"Hąho!
tocąra
the arrow bundle
he took and
quickly he arose.
"Now!
to the war
A Ki ni n
a n K
w o de.
Ko A L.
ttA we de.
hagininą,"
ánąga.
Wa'ųže.
Kohara
caweže.
I am going now,"
he said.
He did thus.
Below
toward he went.
w ttL
e tt
Ki Kiy Ki.
e ttA we de.
w tte tt
Wájra
éja
kigiyagi
ecawéže.
Wajéja
The boat
there
his it was.
Toward it he went.
To the boat
Ai Ki di.
w tt
Ao mi K nK de.
Ai deKe
Aitt ne L.
higiži
waja
homįgnąkše.
Hišgé
hijanera
when he got there
boat
he got in.
Also
the others
A ntt
tti li de.
tt n K.
wo n xi Le
Ki liAi L.
haną́c
jįpiže.
Jánąga
woną́ǧire
gipįra
all
they assembled.
All those
[war]
[the ones who liked it]*
*
wonaǧire gipįra is translated as "who could fight".
A ntt
w ttL
wo mi K nK Ai
Le de.
e Ki
Ao KL.
haną́c
wájra
womįgnąkhireže.
Égi
hųgra
all of them
into their boats
they got in they did.
Then
the king
w o Ke.
tt n K.
w rA KeAe L.
A ntt.
Aoyi wo ttiKi
deAe.
wa'ųge
jánąga
waskerera
haną́c
hoiwojikše.
because it was
all
the able-bodied
everyone of them
followed.
p. 21 —
tt tti ne tt.
w ti Le
Ai Ki ni de.
ni xeAe teyi
d.
A Le Ko
Jajineją
watíre
hikiniže.
Nįxeteyižą
harekú
Already
they pushed out
[-].
A large water
downstream
w o Ai Le de.
w Ai Le K tt.
to ttAo woKo
KL
w o de.
wa'ųhireže.
Wą́hirégają
tocǫwokra
wa'ųže,
[they did].
As they were going along,
the leader of the warpath
he did,
a tti nK deAe.
we de.
tow ttA A A
w Ki L Kette.
w o mK dA n.
ajinąkše.
Wéže,
"Towacąhahare.
wakisakje
wa'ųmą́kšaną.
he came out to land.
Said he,
"This warpath I am going on.
To fight
I am going to.
p. 22 —
A Ke
w Ki r
doAo Lo xoAo
Lo Kini n.
tt Ko
doo deAe Le Kette de.
Hąké
wakisa
šuruxurukinįną.
Jagú
š'ušerekježe?"
Not
fight.
you cannot
Why
should you go?"
w ttL
Ai K L Ke de.
e Ki.
a toolo deAe.
e Ki.
wájra
higarageže.*
Égi
ąt'ųpše,
égi
his boat
he said to it.
Then
he pulled it up
and
*
higerageže would be more standard.
Ki xoAo xoAoxo deAe.
e tt
Ao t.
wo wK
Ai Le n.
gixuxuxše.
Éja
hotá
wową́k
hireną
he smashed it to pieces.
There
those
bad
they thought him [to be],
i ne Ki.
w Kd Ai Le de.
di Ke
mo we
A Ly Le de.
inéki
wakšąhíreže.
Žigé
mowe
haraíreže.
[alone]
went back.
Again
on foot
they started.
di Ke
de e
e tt.
tteAe xi d.
A Lo ttAyi Le
de.
Žigé
žee
éja
cexižą
harucaíreže.
Again
there at
there
a swamp
they had crossed.*
*the word "had" is inserted by a caret.
m
ni lA
doAo Lo tteKe
tt de.
e tt
Mą
nįpa
šorojge
jaže.
Éja
On the ground
elevated above
bunched-grass*
[standing].
There
*the translation has "a lot of bunched-grass".
di Ke
we de.
tow ttA m KeLe.
w Ki r
to xoAo Lo Ke
Žigé
wéže,
"Towacąmąkere
wakisa
tuxuruge
Again
he said,
"My going on the warpath
to fight
I am able,
p. 24 —
w o mK dA n.
Ai xK xK
to xoAo Lo Ke.
A Ke
wa'ųmą́kšaną.
Hixgąxgą́
tuxuruge.
Hąké
therefore I am going.
To move about easily
I can.
Not
w d L.
Ai d
L Ki liAi ni
n.
ni Kii Ki
wažąra
hižą
ragipinįną.
Nik'įgi
anything.
one
you could do good not.
When I pack
dA n.
ni ti Le n.
tt Ko.
Ai xK
šana
nitireną.
Jagú
hixgąx?
only
you can move.
What [how]
can you move?
doAo Lo xoAo
LoKo L tte de.
to L ttA Ktt
ne.
w woyi dA Ai
Šuruxurukraježe.
Toracąkjane
wawoišąhi
You cannot.
To go on a warpath
you are simply a bother
p. 25 —
L dA n ni ne
n.
a n K.
w Lo x lL.
e tt
m Ay tt
rašananineną,"
ánąga.
Waruǧápara
éja
mahaija
that's all,"
he said.
The warbundle
there
into the ground
Ao n ttiAili
deAe.
de Ko
Aiy tte Ke Le
de.
e tt.
di Ke
honącípše.
žegų́ ́
hiyajekereže.
Éja
žigé
he kicked it.
Thus he had done
then he started.
There
again
Ao t
w Kd Ai Le de.
K tt K.
w tK niKi deAe.
di Ke
hotá
wakšąhíreže.
Gająga
watáganįkše.
Žigé
some
turned back.
This time
they were few.
Again
p. 26 —
e tt
ow Ai K tt.
di Ke
m wo do L.
ni Ke
éja
'úwahigają
žigé
mąwožúra
nįgé
there
as he was going along
again
the arrow bundle
away
Ao too ne de.
A Ke
to ttA
doAo Lo xoAo
Lo Kini n.
hot'úneže.
"Hąké
tocą
šuruxurukrukinįną.
he threw it.
"Not
to go on warpath
to do unable you are.
te e di.
w Ki r n Ke.
w o mK dA n.
e de.
teeži
wakisanąke
wa'ųmą́kšaną,"
éže.
This myself
I could fight
is why I am going,"
he said.
e tt.
K tt K.
A ntt
w Kd Ai Le de.
Éja
gająga
haną́c
wakšąhíreže,
There
this time
all of them
they returned,
p. 27 —
wo w Ki de Le Ke.
wowąkišerege.
because he was a bad one.
Source:
"Wakjukaga," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3897 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, ca. 1912) Winnebago V, #7: 1-27.