Hocąk Text — The Animal Spirit Aids of the Medicine Rite

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake


Winnebago II, #7: 207

The following are Greek letters used as morpheme abbreviations in Radin's text. Their values correspond, with the exception of γ, to those given in Radin's notebook Winnebago II, #6, on the interstitial page between 107/108:

α β γ ε η θ ρ τ
égi éja hą́bera gáją žesge janąga ánąga gíži

ϕ ω T
hąké žegų wąkšigo'ina

In the interlinear text where the translation is missing, it has been supplied whenever possible from the English text of The Road of Life and Death (see Source below). Where a missing translation has been supplied from other sources, it is enclosed in brackets, [ ].


English Translation


 

p. 207 —
wogų́zotcíra* djasgágere jesgámįkíji tcokiságera wanoią́keréregí
Wogų́zocíra jasgágere žesgámįkíži cokiságera wanoią́keréregí,
The Creation Lodge [how ...] [that] laid middle of tent [when] they put their minds to it,

*just before this word is a double vertical line and a lattice work mark that indicates the beginning of the story.

 


 

hą́bera rukírikíri mįkce aírena [τ]
hą́bera rukírikíri mįkše, aíreną, giži.
the light shimmering it lay, it is said [.]

 


 

wągerégi wajągų́zera wokúruxítc huhíje [ε´]
Wągerégi Wažągų́zera wokúruxíc huhíže gáją.
From above the Creator he looked down [towards it] [.]

 


 

wogų́zera xgicgúni jesgákiji wogųzera karaíp'įje
Wogų́zera xgišgúni žesgákiži, wogųzera karaíp'įže.
His creation it moved about [when that way,] his creation he was pleased with it.

 


 

[α] wágiwéwįje wajǫ́niją́ kókicgaínegi p'į́na
Égi wágiwéwįže. Wažǫ́nižą́ kókišgaínegi p'į́ną,
[And] he thought for them. A thing if they associate with* it would be good.

*first "they follow after" is crossed out and below it, "they do after him" is also crossed out. The standing translation is written in small letters above what has been crossed out.

 


 

p. 208 —
híre[τ]´ waųjé wánįgíją ų́je nąboréhi ų́je
híregíži. Waųžé. Wánįgížą ų́že. Nąboréhi ų́že,
he thought. [He did it.] A bird [he made.] With his own hands he made,

 


 

roídja kúruz[ρ´] tcaxcébera sądjąxdjį́ją hinų́girakírus
roíja kúruzánąga caxšébera sąjąxjį́žą hinų́girakírus
from his body he took from his own and eagle an awe inspiring one* with females

*the interlinear translation read, "big bold (white)", with "bold" crossed out.

 


 

ų́je [τ´] maį́djidjehíje [ε´] hą́bera
ų́že gíži. Maį́jijehíže gáją. Hą́bera
[he made] [.] He placed it on earth [.] The light

 


 

rukírikíri jesgaidjehíje [α] hinųberá ų́je
rukírikíri žesgaijehíže. égi hinųberá ų́že.
shimmering he made it that way. And the females [he made.]

 


 

roídja kúruz[ρ´] wanįgíją ų́je keredjǫ́seberá
Roíja kúruzánąga wanįgížą ų́že. Kerejǫ́seberá
From his body he took from his own and a bird [he made.] [Black hawk]*

*the interlineary translation has "sparrow black", and the Road of Life and Death has "sparrow hawk."

 


 

hinų́girakírus ų́je sądjąxdjį́ją wagių́je hatcį́dja
hinų́girakírus ų́že. Sąjąxjį́žą wagių́že. Hacį́ja
females [he got for him] [he made.] An awe inspiring one [he made it.] In front

 


 

tcóni hidjehí[τ] [β] hidjehíje [ε´]
cóni hijehígiži eja hijehíže gáją.
the first he placed down [so that] [there] [he was made to stand] [.]

 


 

Hą́berá djasgé[τ] hidjaíra hidjehíje. Nąkéra
Hą́berá jasgégiži hijaíra hijehíže. Nąkéra
Light [how] further it extended. back*

*originally, "in back of him", but everything except "back" was crossed out.

 


 

hą́berá* rugigís jesgádjeje [τ´] karaíp'įje [α]
hą́berá rugigís žesgáježe gíži. Karaíp'įže. Égi
light round [it was thus] [.] He was pleased with it. And

*the text has, "(hą́bera = γ)."

 


 

hidanína ų́je rohísanįgoícoroídja kuruz[ρ´]
hitanína ų́že. Rohísanįgoíšoroíja kuruzánąga
a third time [he created.] From the right side of his body he took from his own and

 


 

ną́borehi ų́je zígera sądjąxdjį́ją hinų́girakírus
ną́borehi ų́že. Zígera sąjąxjį́žą hinų́girakírus
with his own hands [he made.] Squirrel awe inspiring females [he got for him]

 


 

ų́je [α] hódjewahínąka [β] hidjéhi[ε´]
ų́že. égi hójewahínąka eja hijéhigáją,
[he made.] And the spot they're placing them [at] [when he was caused to stand,]

 


 

rugísdjinókce zigenǫ́ka ųxíninisgéją hįná juránisge
rugísjinókše, zigenǫ́ka. ųxíninisgéžą hįná žuránisge
he curled up, [this squirrel.] He looked like a red hot coal, his hair like a dollar*

*"money" is written above the English line in small letters. What is meant is a silver dollar. See Radin's note below.

 


 

rugísdjinǫkce [τ´] [γ] hiraídjaíra djínǫkce
rugísjinǫkše, gíži. Hą́berá hiraíjaíra jínǫkše.
he curled up [.] [Light] bigger [he made].

 


 

[γ] rukírikíri kirinǫ́kce [α] hidjóberá
Hą́berá rukírikíri kirinǫ́kše. Égi hijóberá
[Light] shimmering it became.* And the fourth time

*this is written over "when he sat up", which has been crossed out.

 


 

ų́je rosánįk hoícoroídja róra nįge
ų́že. Rosánįk hoíšoroíja róra nįge
[he made.] Side of his body from the right the flesh a piece

 


 

p. 209 —
kúruz[ρ´] nąboréhi djíre[ε´] widjúksígera sądjąxdjį́ją
kúruzánąga nąboréhi jíregáją, wijúksígera sąjąxjį́žą
he took from his own and with his own hands [having made,] the weasel awe inspiring

 


 

hinų́girakírus ų́je hatcį́dja wá'uną́kijí [β]
hinų́girakírus ų́že. Hacį́ja wá'uną́kiží eja
females [he got for him] [he made.] [Where] he they are [there]

 


 

hidjehí[ε] [ϕ] wikéreknijé hixgǫ́na wápakónok
hijehígają hąké wikéreknižé. Hixgǫ́na wápakónok
he placed them, but not he wasn't still. His movement clever*

*what appear to read, "be too smart" is crossed out and "clever" written above it.

 


 

jesgánąjį́je djasgéxdjį hoixgǫxgǫ djire[τ´] djasgéxdjį
žesgánąžį́že jasgéxjį hoixgǫxgǫ jiregíži jasgéxjį
as he stood the amount of space he moved in that he began that much as

 


 

hąp djinǫgíje [α] hisatcǫ́na nąboréhi
hąp jinǫgíže. égi hisacǫ́na nąboréhi
light he made it. [And] the fifth with his own hands

 


 

ų́je roídja kúruz[ρ´] [τ´] [γ]
ų́že. Roíja kúruzánąga gíži hąp
he made. From his body he took and then light

 


 

hirukonagigijé rábera* sądjąxdjįją ųjé hinų́girakírus
hirukonagigižé. Rábera sąjąxjįžą ųžé. Hinų́girakírus
he put in charge of. The beaver an awe inspiring one he made. mates [he got for him]

*just before this word, ducónoger has been crossed out.

 


 

ų[τ´] hoidjé wahínǫka [β] hidjehí[ε´]
ųgíži hoijé, wahínǫka eja hijehígáją
[having made,] where he placed him, the spot he placed them, there he placed them.

 


 

[γ] hiraitcéra. [γ] rukírikíri* kiridjé.
hą́berá hiraicéra. Hą́berá rukírikíri kirijé
Light bigger. Light shimmering, it sparkled.

*an initial /h/ has crossed out and /r/ written above it.

 


 

hijé nįgé wawojúnǫkíji haruxa [γ]
hižé. Nįgé wawožúnǫkíži, haruxa hą́berá
[it caused.] The place the place that he's keeping him, continuously light

 


 

hiraitcéra háreje [α] waųjé rohísanįk
hiraicéra háreže. égi waųžé. Rohísanįk
[bigger] it continued. [And] [he did it.] [Side of his body]

 


 

hoicoroidja róra nįgé kúruz[ρ´] ną́borehídjire[ε´]
hoišoroija róra nįgé kúruzánąga ną́borehíjiregáją
[from the right] the flesh piece he took and with his own hands,

 


 

docónogra sądjąxdjį́ją hinų́girakírus ųjé [τ´]
tošónogra sąjąxjį́žą hinų́girakírus ųžé gíži.
the otter awe inspiring mates [he got] he made [.]

 


 

hatcį́dja hidjewahinókiji [β] hidjejí[ε] [γ]
hacį́ja hijewahinókiži eja hiježígáją hą́berá
Where he's placing him there as he stood him, light

 


 

kárapiésge jesgádjinǫkce nįgé wawojúnąki [β]
kárapiésge žesgájinǫkše nįgé wawožúnąki eja
it was nice. [He came forth in this way.] [Place] [the place he's keeping him] [there]

 


 

[τ] jejénuga nąborehí u[ρ´] [γ]
giži. Žežénuga nąborehí uánąga hą́berá
[.] [That many] with his own hands he made and light*

*the interlinear translation has "day."

 


 

p. 210* —
xedéhí hirukóna wágigíje [ω] hi[ρ´]
xetéhí hirukóna wágigíže. Žegų hiánąga
great amount† in charge he put them. [Now] [he did it and]
*on an interstitial page between 209/210, the following is written: "juránisge — like money, shining." This pertains to the entry above.
†the interlinear translation has, "the large part."

 


 

[α] wogúzera tcáwa húwagigigíje wą́gerégi
égi Wogúzera cáwa húwagigigíže. Wą́gerégi
[then] the Creator* come towards he made them come. From above

*the Road of Life and Death has "Creation Lodge."

 


 

wanįgrá hop'įxdjíją hadjí tcąt'į́je [τ´]
wanįgrá hop'įxjížą hají cąt'į́že, gíži.
a bird with a very nice voice there* it appeared [.]

*just before this word, "the" has been crossed out.

 


 

wą́gerégi mąxí hadjanógwiré tcodégi hatcį́dja
Wą́gerégi mąxí hajanógwiré cotégi hacį́ja
[Up above] the clouds we see below [where]

 


 

hokiságera here[τ´] [β´] wánąhéreje wanahére[τ´]
hokiságera heregíži. éja wánąhéreže. Wanahéregíži
the middle it was. [There] they stopped.* [When] they stopped†

*the word "shout" is written above a crossed out, "the place to ——." The word "shout" was not crossed out, however the appropriate translation is seen in the succeeding word. This is confirmed by a note on an interstitial page — see below.
†just before these words, "time to holler" has been crossed out.

 


 

woxdjį́na ewasgerérekáragíreje [τ´] waniótcge hį́sgara
woxjį́na ewasgerérekáragíreže gíži. Waniócge hį́sgara
[bear's lair]* they made plates out of them† [.] Animal‡ white hair

*not translated in the interlinear text and translated as "bear seats" in the Road of Life and Death.
†this translation is from Road of Life and Death. The interlinear has only "it there" before which "their dish they made" has been crossed out, and above this is also crossed out, the plates they eat."
‡this is written above some crossed out letters.

 


 

herasaíją heradajájapdjį tcąt'įhuje tcáka kiságedja
herasaížą heratažážapjį cąt'įhuže. Ciáka kiságeja
with horns horns pealing off (shedding)* it appeared.† The lodge in the middle

*this is written above "horn striped" which is crossed out. "Shedding" is the translation given in Road of Life and Death.
†this is written above "came out distinctly", which has been crossed out.

 


 

hą́biyagax* tcąt'į́hujé [α] ([θ]ka)‡ hanątcįxdjį
hą́biyagax cąt'į́hužé. égi (janąka) hanącįxjį
the mark of light† it appeared. [And] [as many as] [all of them]

*the /y/ is inserted above the line with a caret.
†a word is scribbled out after these words.
‡the parentheses are in the text.

 


 

hanídjinógiréje hucéregrá sgáxdjį hojúdjejé wasgéra
haníjinógiréže, hušéregrá sgáxjį hožúježé, wasgéra.
they grabbed him, the bones [very white] it was filled the dish.

 


 

hąbirut'ét'ekdjį jesgádjeje hinųbóhǫna naį́sawą́gerégi
Hąbirut'ét'ekjį žesgáježe. Hinųbóhǫna naį́sawą́gerégi
Light shrunk very (passed quickly)* he made it. The second time just above the tree tops

*before these words, /sh/ has been crossed out. The interlinear text has "day" for "light." The words "passed quickly" were written over "shrunk very" as a gloss; however, the reference is to the Light and Life which this animal brought with him.

 


 

([β]dji)* wanahéreje [τ´] wanoítcge hį́sgará
(ejaji) wanahéreže gíži. Wanoícge hį́sgará
[there] [he stopped] [.] Animal white hair

*the parentheses are in the text.

 


 

herasaíją wasgédja tcąt'įhúje rokísagédja hąbiwagáx
herasaížą wasgéja cąt'įhúže. Rokísagéja hąbiwagáx
a horned one in the dish it appeared. In middle of body [mark of light]

 


 

tcąt'įhúje [τ´] ([θ]ka)* hanątcįxdjį hanídjinógire[τ´]
cąt'įhúže gíži. (Janąka) hanącįxjį haníjinógiregíži,
it appeared. [As many as] [all of them] who grabbed him, they left a little piece of him†

*the parentheses are in the text.
†this is written over the following, which has been crossed out: "they took (?) out (?)" and after this, "take his elemental spontaneity out."

 


 

warácewek hįbíreje jeé nįk
warášewek hįbíreže, žeé nįk
[everyone took a hand in,] [they permited,] [that one] young ones

 


 

hixédehi* hiuínekdjéra erejé‡ hodahíregá
hixétehi hiuínekjéra erežé, hotahíregá.
to raise up† they might use it was it, they left there.

*/hi/ is written over characters that have been completely blacked out.
†this is written below, "they make large" which has been crossed out.
‡< herežé.

 


 

p. 211* —
[α] wogų́zotcíra hadjíre[τ´] hokawádjinágiregí
égi Wogų́zocíra hajíregíži, hokawájinágiregí,
[And] [the Creation Lodge] when they came to, when they were about to enter,
*the interstial page between 210/211 has, "warahéreje — they stopped." This applies to the entry above. On the same page it also says, "ornaments in nose of medicine bag" and applies to the entry below.

 


 

tcíra djasgedjáka haną́tcįxdjį pedjerá hoxíninadjikéreje
círa jasgejáka haną́cįxjį pejerá hoxíninajikéreže
the lodge all within* all of it the fire sparks flew in every direction†

*this is written below, "however it was" which has been crossed out.
†before these words, "spread all over" has been crossed out as well as something else written above it.

 


 

[τ´] waxopini* hokirádjera wogųzotciroixdjiǫ́ka haną́tcįxdjį
gíži. Waxopini hokirájera Wogųzociroixjiǫ́ka, haną́cįxjį
[.] Spirits all kinds the Creation Lodge was full, all of them

*this appears to have been written with a double /n/.

 


 

nųwąk´ wahíreje pų́xaworázera jée pédjera
nųwąk´ wahíreže. Pų́xaworázera žée péjera
they scared them [they caused them to be.]* What he had in nose† [that] fire

*the word "them" is all that is written here, and just before that word, "very" has been crossed out.
†this is written above the following, which is crossed out: "a dragon with big nose."

 


 

rawé wadjaíreje [α] djasgeowaną́gere
rawé wajaíreže. égi jasgeowaną́gere
to carry in mouth they saw them with it. [And] as they were going*

*this is written above "the path they were going by" which was not crossed out.

 


 

jégowakírir[ρ´] hitcųcge gikarádjirera hominógenǫka
žégowakíriránąga hicųšge gikarájirera hominógenǫka
that way they went and back around and "nephew" the one whom we call he is getting

 


 

nąke-hiédja hakirí higihís minǫ́girejé pų́xaworázera
nąke-hiéja hakirí higihís minǫ́girežé. Pų́xaworázera
in back of him back there [in a row ?]* they sat. What he had in nose†

*the word "around" has been crossed out and something unreadable written above it.
†this refers to the animal skin medicine bags. See the entry above.

 


 

p'įhínįk hobodúdus minǫ́giréje hąhą wacdjįge
p'įhínįk hobotútus minǫ́giréže. "Hąhą Wašjįge,
lightly swaying to and fro* they sat. "[Well] Hare,

*this is the translation of the Road of Life and Death. The interlinear translation has "were fanned", before which "they blow breeze" has been crossed out as well as what was written above it.

 


 

nicgé mejegų hinádjirékdjenáwina hiją́ hokiúna
nišgé mežegų hinájirékjenáwiną. Hižą́ hokiúna
us also thus they will call on us for. [One] he imitates

 


 

p'įwiwį́[τ´] hiją́ wiwiná p'įwiwí[τ´] [T]
p'įwiwį́gíži, hižą́ wiwiná p'įwiwígíži, wąkšigo'ina
if he does it well, one [doing it] if he does it well, life

 


 

de[η] hinádjiránihékdjanáwina
težesge hinájiránihékjanáwiną."
as in the past they would call them."

 


English Translation


Source:

Jasper Blowsnake, Untitled, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3887 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Library, n.d.) Winnebago II, #7: 207-211. An English version is found in Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 287-289.