Hotc‰k Text -- Descent of the Drum, Version 1

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake

English Translation

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

alpha
beta
epsilon
eta
rho
tau
Žgi
Ždja
g‡dj‰
jesge
‡n‰ga
g’ji

psi
omega
M
T
h‰kŽ
jegž
M‰œna
w‰kcigo'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, [ ].

p. 190 --
HitcžcgŽ
gikar‡djirŽra*
w‰gadjiruxœrugwir‡**
[T]
herejŽ***
"HitcžcgŽ"
gikar‡djirŽra
w‰gadjiruxœrugwir‡
w‰kcigo”
herejŽ.
"Nephew"
the one that they call
he accomplished for us
life
[he did.]
*the initial /gi/ of this word has been detached and placed at the end of the previous word.
**this word is preceeded by "([T]’j‰)". After the first /g/ in this word, /o/ has been crossed out and /a/ written above it. After the syllable /dji/, /rugu/ has been crossed out.
***before this word the text has "([beta]cana)".

[eta]
hinaxgž«wina*
wogž«zotci‡gere
hitcžcgŽ***
gikar‡djirŽra****
Jesge
hinaxgž«wina
Wogž«zotci‡gere
"HitcžcgŽ"
gikar‡djirŽra
[In this way]
we understand
the Creation Lodge**
"Nephew"
the one whom they call
*/x/ is inserted in place above the line with a caret.
**the interlinear text has "the tent". The translation of The Road of Life and Death is followed here.
***/gi/ is suffixed to this word when it is really the initial syllable of the next word.
****/kadji/ has been crossed out as the first syllable of this word.

ruxœruk’
tc’ra
hoixdj”«
dj”«pg’ji
djagœra han‰tc«
ruxœruk’
tc’ra
hoixdj”«
dj”«pg’ji,
djagœra han‰tc«
when he accomplished,
the lodge
completely full*
it was,
all of everything
*the interlinear text has "became full". The translation of The Road of Life and Death has been followed in this instance.

jegž
[tau]
[alpha]
wogž«zohœra
hatc”«dja
jegž
giji.
ƒgi
wogž«zohœra
hatc”«dja
that's all
[.]
[And]
creation starts*
wherever
*this is written above, "religion came from" which has been crossed out.

hereg’
[beta]
waj™gž«zera
wokœruxœtcce
[epsilon«]
hereg’,
Ždja
Waj™gž«zera
wokœruxœtcce
g‡dj‰.
[when he did],
there
the Creator*
he looked about it
[.]
*this is written above, "he made" which has been crossed out.

wogž«zera
xg’cguni‰kce
tci—kis‡gera
wan‰i‰«kereregi
h‰bera
Wogž«zera
xg’cguni‰kce.
Tci—kis‡gera
wan‰i‰«kereregi,
h‰bera
[The creation]*
it lay calm and quiet.**
The center of the lodge
when they centered their thoughts,***
the light****
*the interlinear text has, "Medicine Dance Lodge", which is written above "[religion]".
**in the interlinear translation, "it remained quiet" has been crossed out as well as some illegible material above it.
***all the interlinear has is, "when they brought them back", but this is crossed out.
****the interlinear has, "the day".

ruk’rik’rinakce
[alpha]
wagiwŽwijŽ**
[eta]
waj™«nij‰«
hokicga’negi
ruk’rik’rinakce.
ƒgi
wagiwŽwijŽ,
"Jesge,
waj™«nij‰«
hokicga’negi,
it was shimmering and sparkling.*
[And]
he pondered and thought,***
"In this way,
something
they would associate with****
*the interlinear translation has, "was shining".
**after this word, djagœrij‰« has been crossed out.
***the interlinear translation has, "he considered for them". After this, "he thought" is crossed out.
****this is written below a crossed out, "they would follow".

p. 191 --
p'”«na
hireg’
ros‡n”k
hoic—roiŽdja**
rœz[rho]
p'”«na,"
hireg’.
Ros‡n”k
hoic—roiŽdja
rœzan‰ga
good,"
he thought.*
One side of his body
from the right side
he took and
*this is written above the Hotc‰k line. Below this translation, "it would be" has been crossed out. In the English line, "if they did" has also been crossed out.
**the first /i/ has been inserted above the line with a caret. An acute accent over it has been crossed out. The /e/ in /Ž/ has been circled.

n‰borŽhi
ž«je
w‰g’j‰
žg’ji
p'”h’je
n‰borŽhi
ž«je.
W‰g’j‰
žg’ji
p'”h’je.
with his hands
he made.
A man
he made and
[he made him well.]

horacge
p'”g’gije
r—ra
rokŽweje
ror‡
Horacge
p'”g’gije.
R—ra
rokŽweje.
Ror‡
The voice
he made it nice.
The body
he painted.
His body

x’gigi[rho«]
tcab—nihara
h‰«bera
higiž«je
jegž
x’gigi‡n‰ga
tcab—nihara
h‰«bera
higiž«je.
Jegž
he made it yellow [and]
the top of his head
Light and Life
he put in for him.
Thus

hi[rho«]
girucdj™« h™h’je
w‰«gerŽgi
h‰bera
dj‰n‡hi
hi‡n‰ga
girucdj™« h™h’je.
W‰«gerŽgi
h‰bera
dj‰n‡hi
he did and
he turned him loose.
From above
the days
how many

hok'ik—nok
konok’ji
jen‰«hi-hij‰«
hir‡djiga
h‰«ber‡
hok'ik—nok
konok’ji
jen‰«hi-hij‰«
hir‡djiga,
h‰«ber‡
the center*
he placed
[?]**
when he reached,
[the day]***
*this is written above, "he placed himself in", which was crossed out.
**"then he reached out" has been crossed out, and "that amount ----" written above it, with "amount" crossed out.
***The Road of Life and Death has "the whole atmosphere".

ksœntc
djikŽre**
hujŽ
h‰«bera
djob’hi
ksœntc
djikŽre
hujŽ.
H‰«bera
djob’hi
it was shaking*
as he came down***
[he came.]
Days
four
*this is written aboe "move" which has been crossed out.
**originally, djik‡raman’je, but each of the first two instances of /a/ have been replaced with /e/, and man’je has been crossed out.
***this is followed by "(suddenly)".

hokik—nok*
k—nok’
ij‰
ir‡djig‡***
h‰«bera
hokik—nok
konok’
ij‰
ir‡djig‡
h‰«bera
center**
[he placed]
[one]
[when he reached]
[the day]
*a letter is scribbled out at the end of this word.
**the interlinear has, "within the limit".
***the initial /i/ is placed in parentheses. This expression normally begins with an /h/.

ksœntc
djikŽres'‡je
hikorokih’wira
[psi]
[alpha]
ksœntc
djikŽres'‡je.
Hikorokih’wira
h‰kŽ
Žgi
it was shaking
[he would come down].*
[Our Grandmother]**
not
[here]
*the translation had, "it happened now & then", but "now and then" was crossed out and "it would" written above it.
**the translation has, "at the earth".

ewuc‡nijŽ*
gisg‰«djirŽje
hatc”«dja
[M]
hžgŽ
ewuc‡nijŽ.
Gisg‰«djirŽje,
hatc”«dja
M‰œna
hžgŽ
he didn't stop.
He went through (with force),
where
Earthmaker
chief
*originally, hawuc‡ne?jŽ, but the initial /ha/ was crossed out and an /e/ written above it and circled.

hij‰«
[psi]
xgini jesg‡ok’ji
[beta]
kiridjŽ gigijŽ***
hij‰«.
H‰kŽ
xgini jesg‡ok’ji.
ƒdja
kiridjŽ gigijŽ
a.
Not
it was very quiet.**
There
he landed him on (that one)
**xgini means, "it did not move," a translation crossed out in favor of translating the two words together. This translation, however, does not expressed the negative particle -ni-.
***/ga/ was written above the /k/ of kiridjŽ, but was later crossed out.

[tau«]
waktcex’n™ka
hipŽrezse
[M]
wowŽw”kadjidjŽhigi
g’ji.
Waktcex’n™ka
hipŽrezse.
M‰œna
wowŽw”kadjidjŽhigi.
[.]
The Waterspirit*
[he knew of it.]
Earthmaker
he had placed him there by the power of his thoughts.**
*the interlinear translation has, "the dragon".
**initially the interlinear translation had, "placed a thought in his mind", but that was crossed out, and above it was written, "thought about this", but this too was crossed out.

wain‰p«
k”jerŽcgera**
w‰kc’go”djedjŽra
hikire****
djin—kce
Wain‰p«
k”jerŽcgera
w‰kc’go”djedjŽra
hikire
djin—kce.
He was thankful*
[even that himself]***
life bestowing
he thought
he was.
*the interlinear has, "blessing he made himself", but above this is written, "very proud even he".
**what appears to have been /kiki/ has been crossed out at the beginning of this word.
***the interlinear has, "one of these he thought he was", but this seems to be a translation of the whole end of the sentence.
****the /e/ was written in reduced size over an original terminal /a/.

n‰«borŽhi
dj’reje
[M]*
p'”
œna
p'”xdj”
N‰«borŽhi
dj’reje.
M‰œna
p'”
œna
p'”xdj”
With his own hands
he commenced.
Earthmaker
good
he did,
better yet
*before this word hicdjar‡ has been crossed out.

k’ra
jesgadjanœnige
jigŽ
hiradja’ra
exdj”«
k’ra.
Jesgadjanœnige
jigŽ
hiradja’ra.
Exdj”«
he did.
[Thus he did, but ?]
again
still better.
[He himself]

p. 192 --
djaguruk—no
[M]
gigigi
[eta]
[alpha]*
djaguruk—no
M‰œna
gigigi.
Jesge
Žgi
whatever he put in charge
Earthmaker
he made him.
[Thus]
here
*just before this symbol, hiran’djin‰«kce has been crossed out. The translation given for this word is, "he has responsible place --led him with". But above the line it is written, "that's what he took ahold of him with".

wogž«zotciŽdja
[M]
hosgŽ
[eta]
hijŽ
Wogž«zotciŽdja
M‰œna
hosgŽ
jesge
hijŽ,
at the Creation Lodge*
Earthmaker
just**
[that way]
[he did],
*the interlinear translates this as, "in his tent".
**this is written above a word that has been thoroughly scribbled out.

hžgŽ
[psi]
[beta]
hin”kdjanŽgi
wogž«zotci‡ka
hžgŽ
h‰kŽ
Ždja
hin”kdjanŽgi
wogž«zotci‡ka
chief*
not
there
he wasn't going**
the Creation Lodge***
*"chief" has been crossed out in favor of the more interpretive and contextual "spirit".
**after this word further words have been thoroughly scribbled out.
***the interlinear has, once again, "the tent".

[beta]
wowŽwina
hok‡rakŽre
gigijŽ
wagiž«je
Ždja
wowŽwina
hok‡rakŽre
gigijŽ.
Wagiž«je
[there]
he had his mind on
he placed it for himself
he made.
He made him for that.

wogž«zotciŽdja
djaguirok—non‰«ki*
hicge
[eta]
[beta]
Wogž«zotciŽdja
djaguirok—non‰«ki
hicge
jesge
Ždja
At the Creation Lodge
what he had in charge of**
he also
that
there
*before this word is written, "([T]-na)".
**"he" is written above a crossed out "they".

hiœinekdje
wag’žjŽ
p'”ž«giji
hicdjar‡
tc—gig’je
hiœinekdje
wag’žjŽ.
P'”ž«giji
hicdjar‡
tc—gig’je.
they use it*
[it was made for that.]
He made him good,**
face
blue he made it.***
*"him" is crossed out, and "it" written above it.
**above this is written, "fixed".
***"him" is crossed out, and "it" written above it. Above "blue" is written "painted" in very small letters.

[omega]
hi[rho«]
wogž«zotc’ra
tc‡wa
h—ukdjanŽ[tau«]
Jegž
hi‡n‰ga
Wogž«zotc’ra
tc‡wa
h—ukdjanŽg’ji,
[Thus]
[he did and]
Creation Lodge
towards
he's starting for and

hoidje
djob—h‰
ruh‡
dj’dje[epsilon«]
[beta]
hoidje
djob—h‰
ruh‡
dj’djeg‡dj‰.
ƒdja
to step in
four
steps
he did it.
There

wanahéje
[tau]
h—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽreje**
[epsilon]
wanahéje
giji.
H—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽreje.
Gadj‰
he gave a whoop.*
[.]
Voice
it became audible.
There
*the interlinear translation has, "he breathed" above which is written, "holler".
**after this word, Radin inserts, "[drum is struck once]".

hikorokehiwira
djasgeganœgere*
han‰«tc”
sis”«tc”
dj’n‰kce
Hikorokehiwira
djasgeganœgere,
han‰«tc”
sis”«tc”
dj’n‰kce.
Our Grandmother
as he went along,
all
he swept away**
[he did].***
*after this word, Radin inserts, "([eta]xdj”)".
**the interlinear has, "he was clean".
***below this word is written, "(nothing clinging to ...)", the diaeresis indicating illegible words.

w‰gŽxdj”n”gr‡*
kor—kehiw’ra
dj‡nuga
haju‡kij’
jenuga
W‰gŽxdj”n”gr‡
Kor—kehiw’ra
dj‡n‰ga
haju‡kij’
jenuga
[Trees ?]**
Our Grandmother
everything
on top of
all of them
*an initial /y/ is crossed out and above it what appears to be a /w/ is written, although it is not certain.
**the translation has what appears to be, "I then? told him often very", which is crossed out. Between "him" and "often", above the line, is written what appears to be "trees". It appears to mean, "the little ones high above".

h—cec’nina*
han‰tc”xdj”
hocicigera
djasg‡nžk’ji
sukdj”«**
h—cec’nina
han‰tc”xdj”
hocicigera
djasg‡nžk’ji
sukdj”«
bad stuff that collects in the head and skin**
[absolutely all]
the bad
so he was
clean
*just before this word, /ho/ is crossed out. An initial /ha/ has been crossed out by a series of vertical lines.
**Miner gives the meaning of this word as "flakes". The English line gives the meaning as, "the renewal of leafage in spring", but on the interstitial page 192/193, Radin says, "hocecinina = bad stuff that collects in head, skin etc. He swept away from all over the trees, old leaves and old things of all kinds."
***just before this word an initial /sž«/ has been crossed out.

djidjŽrejŽ
[tau«]
h‰«bera
hidja’ra
djidjejŽ
djidjŽrejŽ
g’ji.
H‰«bera
hidja’ra
djidjejŽ.
they were
[.]
Light
an increase
[it became.]*
*the interlinear has, "he was".

[alpha]
m‡nihœgi
hoidje
djob—h‰
ruh‡
dj’dje[epsilon«]
[beta]
ƒgi
m‡nihœgi,
hoidje
djob—h‰
ruh‡
dj’djeg‡dj‰.
ƒdja
[Then]
when he came walking,
to step in
four
steps
he did it.
There

p. 193 --
wanahŽgi*
jigŽ
hinžb—h™na
h—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽrejŽ
wanahŽgi,
jigŽ
hinžb—h™na
h—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽrejŽ
as he gave a whoop,
again
the second time
his voice
it became audible
*a terminal /je/ has been crossed out and /gi/ written above it.

[tau«]*
hikor—kehiwira
djasgeg‡nžgrŽ
han‰tc”xdj”
howax’nin’sge
g’ji.
Hikor—kehiwira
djasgeg‡nžgrŽ,
han‰tc”xdj”
howax’nin’sge
[.]
Our Grandmother
as he walked along,
everything
[like condensed vapor]**
*before this symbol, Radin has inserted above the line with a caret the following, "[drum is played]".
**the interlinear had originally, "he was steaming like", but he was crossed out and "it" inserted above the line by a caret; "steaming" was crossed out and "condensed" was written above it. Miner gives the meaning of this word as, "tingling sensation; hot, steady, annoying pain".

dj”«pce
y‰gŽxdjinigr‡
djanugakij’
jenœga
han‰tc
dj”«pce.
Y‰gŽxdjinigr‡
djan‰gakij’,
jenœga
han‰tc
it seemed.
[Trees ?]
all of them,
all of them
all

sg—c'ec'e*
djidjŽreje
[tau«]
jegž
hi[rho«]
sg—c'ec'e
djidjŽreje
g’ji.
Jegž
hi‡n‰ga
white spots on
they were
[.]
[Thus]
[he did and]
*just before this word, sgon e'ce has been crossed out.

hidanih™na
m‡ni
hug’ji
hoidje
djob—h‰
hidanih™na
m‡ni
hug’ji,
hoidje
djob—h‰
for a third time
walking
when he came,
to step in
four

ruh‡dj’dje[epsilon«]
[beta]
wanahŽje
h—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽreje*
ruh‡dj’djeg‡dj‰,
Ždja
wanahŽje.
H—ra
tc‰t'”djikŽreje.
after he took steps,
there
he gave a whoop.
His voice
it became audible.
*after this Radin writes "[drum]", indicating that the drum was struck at this point in the narrative.

hikorokeh’wir‡
djasgeganœgere
han‰«tc”xdj”
tc—ra
dj’n‰kce
Hikorokeh’wir‡
djasgeganœgere,
han‰«tc”xdj”
tc—ra
dj’n‰kce.
Our Grandmother
as he walked along,
everything
green
it was.

[alpha]
y‰gŽxdjin”gra
djanug‡ki
jenœga
han‰tc”xdj”«
ƒgi
y‰gŽxdjin”gra
djan‰g‡ki,
jenœga,
han‰tc”xdj”«
[Then]
the trees
as many as there were,
all of them,
[absolutely all]

‡bera
tc—ra
djin‰«girejŽ
k‡rapiŽsge
[alpha]
‡bera
tc—ra
djin‰«girejŽ.
K‡rapiŽsge
Žgi
leaves
green
they were.
They were nice
and

m‡nidjikŽreje
g’ji
hoidje
djob—h‰
ruha’dje[epsilon«]
m‡nidjikŽreje
g’ji.
Hoidje
djob—h‰
ruha’djeg‡dj‰,
[he walked on]
[.]
To step in
four
after he stepped,

[beta]
wanahŽje.
WanahŽgiji
hidjob—h™na*
wogž«zotc’ra
Ždja
wanahŽje.
wanahŽgiji,
hidjob—h™na
Wogž«zotc’ra
there
he gave a whoop.
As he gave a whoop,
the fourth time
the Creation Lodge
*before this word, h—ra tc‰t'”dj has been crossed out.

p. 194 --
tci—kis‡gedja
h‰«ber‡
hiwax—rok
hax'Žpdj”pcŽ
[beta]
tci—kis‡gedja
h‰«ber‡
hiwax—rok
hax'Žpdj”pcŽ.
ƒdja
in the center of the lodge
light
it burst through
[it suddenly emerged.]
There

h—ra
tc‰t'”*
djikereg’ji**
hikorokeh’wira
djasgeganœgere
han‰«tc”xdj”
h—ra
tc‰t'”
djikereg’ji.
Hikorokeh’wira
djasgeganœgere,
han‰«tc”xdj”
his voice
audible
it became.
Our Grandmother
as he walked along,
everything
*after this word, djikŽreje has been crossed out.
**after this word Radin writes, "(drum)".

tc—ra*
dj’nokce
hikorokehiw’ra
h”«tcaber‡
dj‡sgairekdjŽra
tc—ra
dj’nokce.
Hikorokehiw’ra
h”«tcaber‡
dj‡sgairekdjŽra
green
it became.
Our Grandmother
her hair**
as they should be***
*just before this word, h”tc‡bera has been crossed out.
**"our relation" has been crossed out.
***this is written above "they'll be" which has been crossed out.

jesgadj”pce
y‰gŽxdjin”gra
djanžg‡ki
han‰«tc”
‡bera
jesgadj”pce.
Y‰gŽxdjin”gra
djan‰g‡ki
han‰«tc”
‡bera
[that way she became].
Poles
all of them,
all
leaves

djasga’rekdjŽgi
jesga’reje
tci—kisak*
hon‰j”«na
djasga’rekdjŽgi
jesga’reje.
Tci—kisak
hon‰j”«na
[as they should be,]
[thus they were.]
The center of the lodge
standing place
*at the end of the word, /gino/ has been crossed out and /k/ written above it.

hod‡p’nina
[psi]
haboz—p'in’**
jesg‡
djidjeh’je
hod‡p’nina
h‰kŽ
haboz—p'in’.
Jesg‡
djidjeh’je.
[twisting blaze]*
not
it couldn't be bent.
[That way]
he made it.
*"spun around" has been crossed out, and "blaze" written above it. However, pini/pin” means "to twist".
**originally, this was haboz—pp'in’, but such a form violates the principle annunciated by Radin that there are no double letters in Hotc‰k. The word "mistake" is written in small letters under p'in’.

wogž«zotc’ra
h‰ber‡
hidja’ra
ruk’rik’ri
dj”b’je
Wogž«zotc’ra
h‰ber‡
hidja’ra
ruk’rik’ri
dj”b’je.
The Creation Lodge
light
increasing
sparkling
it began.

[alpha]
h‰«ber‡
djasg‡djeg’
hidja’ra
djidjeh’je
ƒgi
h‰«ber‡
djasg‡djeg’
hidja’ra
djidjeh’je.
Then
light*
[as it was]
more
it was made to become.
*translated in The Road of Life and Death as "the day".

[psi]
nigŽ
huh’ni
jesg‡djidjeh’je
wak’rihokere
H‰kŽ
nigŽ
huh’ni.
Jesg‡djidjeh’je.
Wak’rihokere
[Not]
[anywhere]
[it did not blow.]
[That's the way he made it.]
Big spider

žn‡cana
djagu*
iro’k‡rairesgŽ**
djidjeh’je
[alpha]
žn‡cana
djagu
iro’k‡rairesgŽ
djidjeh’je.
ƒgi
[he is doing alone]
[what]
[how it was tended was uncertain]
[he made it be.]
[Then]
*two or three letters at the end were stricken from this word.
**what appears to be an initial /h/ has been crossed out.

widj‡djera
hisgexdj”
tc‰t'”«djireg’
wogž«zera
djasgŽxdjin—ki
Widj‡djera
hisgexdj”
tc‰t'”«djireg’.
Wogž«zera
djasgŽxdjin—ki
the Announcer*
truly
it became audible.
The creation
throughout the whole
*the interlinear translation has only "drum".

han‰tc”xdj”
n‰xgž«djin—girejŽ
w‰g’j‰
hit'et'Ž
n‰xgž
han‰tc”xdj”
n‰xgž«djin—girejŽ.
W‰g’j‰
hit'et'Ž
n‰xgž
[all of it]
they could hear it.
A man
the utterance
to hear

p. 195 --
minogirejŽ
w‰girŽgi
wogž«zohœra
hatc”«djereg’
jerŽcgera
minogirejŽ.
W‰girŽgi
wogž«zohœra
hatc”«djereg’,
jerŽcgera
as they sat.
Up above
where the creator is*
where he is,
even that
*the interlinear has, "where religion comes from", but this appears to have been crossed out with one horizontal line.

jedja”«xdj”
p'‡
[beta]
hip‡
n‰k‡raxgž
jedja”«xdj”
p'‡
Ždja
hip‡
n‰k‡raxgž.
that far
it has been
there
that far
he could be heard.

min—kije,
g’p”jŽ
Min—kije,
g’p”jŽ.
He sat,
he was happy.

Source:

Jasper Blowsnake, Untitled, in Paul Radin, Notebooks, Freeman #3885 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Library, n.d.) Winnebago II, #6: 190-193 and Winnebago II, #7: 194-195. An English translation 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]) 275-277.