Hotcâk Text -- Earthmaker Blesses Wecgícega, v. 2

narrated by Sam Blowsnake

The English interlinear text is based on the translation in Paul Radin, Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian, Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 294-298.

Brackets '[ ]' indicate uncertain readings.

English Translation

p. 294 --

"Wecgíciga" higaíregi. Hotcáñgijâ herejé. Tcekxedéhugi
"Wecgíciga" they called him. A Hotcâk he was. As he was approaching adulthood

hi-ántc-higi hâdáginantc hak'arajíje; Mâ'´una waxop'ini
father - to do to fast he coaxed; Earthmaker spirits

warátcire wá'uñgi, djánañga waxopini p'îna
various when he made, as many spirits good

'uñgíji, hanâ´tciñxdjî wájînuk'òno wagigíje. Uañkcígo-'î,
as he made, all of them in charge of something he made them. Life

wonághire,* hiruk'óno** wagigíje. Hodá wat'éhik'e
war, in control of he made them. Others hunters

*Radin has wonájire, a misreading of his own handwritting. See Paul Radin, The Story of Wecgiciga, Winnebago & English, in Notebooks, Winnebago II, 2 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) p. 1.
**Radin has 'kiruk'óno' in the printed version. See ibid., p. 1.

p. 295 --

hirekdje, jéske nántcwirodjâ haniwagigíje. Jigé,
they were to be, this kind he blessed them with he made them to have. Again,

hodá waxopíni worátcirera hidadjérekdje. Jeske
other spirits the various ones they were to become very powerful. This kind

hiruk'óno wagigígi, jeske haginâ´tccijè. Uáñkcigenàñgere
in control of they were made, this kind he would fast. These people

hoixkô´na djagúcanâ 'únañk'i waxopíni warátcirera
practices whatever [they needed to live] spirits the various ones

hok'irátcera hanâ´tcî nâtcwiródjâ. Hok'irátc haniwagígije.
the different ones all he blessed them with. Different things he gave them.

Jee jéjeske hip'érezenâîcije. Gíji 'ûjé.
This these kinds he should try to find out something. Thus he did.

Hâdáginantcgi waxopíni hip'érezenâ`î wa'ûjé. Gíji
When he was fasting spirits to find out something he did. So

hâdáginantcgi wawewî´wî'añks'àje, "Giji hagaréjâ waxopíni
as he was fasting he kept thinking, "When at some time past spirits

warátcirera Mâ'´una e wa'ûjé hanâ´tciñxdjî
the various ones Earthmaker he he made every one of them

wajanijâ´canâ hiruk'óno wagigíje, ánañk'-a. Mâ'únañk'a
one-thing-only in control of he put, it is said. Earthmaker

exdjî wajônanáñtciñxdjî hiruk'ónonañk'ìcni. Hiraitceráxdjînañk'ùni. Waxopíni
truly absolutely everything he must be in control of. He must be much more powerful. Spirits

warátcirenañgererècke* Mâ'´una éwawa'ùñgi. Jeske hiruk'onaînekdje
[the various ones] Earthmaker [he created.] Thus they will have control

*Radin's text has a period here.

wogára. Deréckera wákâtcañkdjinañk'àdjâ, Mâ'´una wájâ
he gave them. [Even] as holy as they are, Earthmaker something

hekdjinàñk'î, wak'âtcáñgera," hiregíji. Hihâde nâ´iñgi,
[mightier], holy thing," he thought. To dream as he tried,

"Djaskéxdjînañgi?" hirejé. 'Uáñk'û` k'iwewíwîñgàdjâ, "Hañk'é
"What can this one be?" he thought. He was doing it after he thought to himself, "Not

wàxopíni warátcirera hijaîperézeni, wa'únañk'î; waxopíni
spirits the various ones one has not known him, as he was; spirits

waratcirerarécke hañk'íjâ nâ´djûdjanigàdjâ. Djaguána Mâ'únañk'a
of the various ones not one he has not blessed. I wonder Earthmaker

nâdjûdjána, méjeske p'ewímoñk'." Hiregíji, nâ´djok'idjâ`je,
he would bless me, thus I am thinking." Thus he thought, he put himself in a pitiable condition,

ghakgíji. Hañk'é nâcdjâ nuxúrukenìje. "Mâ'´una,
thus he cried. Not to stop he was not able. "Earthmaker,

tcak'ó, yap'érezenâìñkdje," hirejé; "giji hañk'é
therefore, I wish to obtain knowledge," he thought, "so that not

nâdjûdjâ´nicke jegû hâdáginantcirègi tcekdje," hirejé.
if he does not bless me then during the fasting I shall die," he thought.

p. 296 --

Giji ep'á hâdaginántcera mâcdjâ 'ûjé.
So from that point on the fasting mightily he did.

Mâ'unácanâ haginántcce. Tcegédja djobóhâ, nâs'áje;
Earthmaker only he fasted for. At first four times he used to sleep;

hahí hak'éwehâ nâs'áje; jigiahí
in time six times he used to sleep; then

haruwóñgohâ nâs'áje; hahí k'ereponohaíjâ
eight times he used to sleep; in time ten times

nâs'áje; hahí nûbacanáhâ nañgíji. Ep'a
he used to sleep; in time twelve times he slept. From that point on

jedjaíñxdjî p'a hîpga égi waruts'áje.
that far [it has been] [after he had gotten] and he would eat.

Hiskéxdjî jeguañk'e wajîp'érezenìje hañk'agá wajâ´nijâ
In truth and not not knowledge of something not a thing

nâdjodjâníje. Hahík'iñgìje. Jédjuñga xede wogizókdjañgi,
he had not been blessed. Then he gave up. Now big when he became of age,

rucdjánañga, hinuñk kanáñkce. Égi hitcáwina
he gave it up, woman he took. And his wife

hak'arak'íju gixonaî´neje mâwotcaî´nañxdjî. Hahí tcireje
she was with him they moved out of the way place. In time they lived

hitcáwinacanâ hak'arak'íju. Egi jigé hâdáginantcìreje
his wife alone she with him. And again they began to fast

hok'ik'íju. Mâ'´una hihâdé rogû´nihera jédjuñga
he with her. Earthmaker to dream of he wished and now

édja hisgéxdjî t'ékdjireje hâdáginandjedja. "Hañk'agá
there in truth he would die in the fasting. "Never

hijâ jéske horágirani. Hâdáginandjeregì, tcekdje,"
one that kind it had not been told. During the fasting, I shall die,"

hirejé. Hagaréjâ hahí niñkdjóñgeniñgijâ* haníneje.
he thought. Once in time a child they had.

*Radin has niñkdjóñgeniñgi-â, which should probably be niñkdjóñgeniñgijâ.

Uañgeníñgijâ* herejé. Hitcáwina wagejé hihók'aragìje,
A male child it was. His wife he spoke to her asking her advice,

*Radin has Uañgeníñgi-â, which should probably be Uañgeníñgijâ.

niñkdjóñkeniñgra Mâ'´una nâpigiruxátc hirekdje, eje.
their child Earthmaker to do sacrifice they should he said.

Giji hitcáwina k'araxúruk'i. Mâ'´una nâbigiruxádjireje.
And so his wife she consented. Earthmaker they will sacrifice him.

Hazadjíjâ 'úinanañga hihagédja hat'û´pireje. Egi
A platform they constructed on top they placed him upon it. And

jédjuñga hinû´wiñk'e mâcdjâ ghágireje. Hâhegádjâ
now both of them mightily they two cried. During the night

naî´neje Mâ'´una nandjwodjâ´je, éje. Wiradji-ánañga
when they slept Earthmaker he took pity on them, he said. He came to them and

p. 297 --

horuxúdjiregàdjâ. Hiskenâdjéxdjîje. Manâp'e waíni 'uánañga; wok'ónoñk'
they looked at him. He certainly had reason. Soldier clothing he makes, and hat

sták' hañkcíjâ hok'onoñgánañga. Hádjara k'arap'iésk'exdjîjè.
[narrow] high (cocked) he carries on his head. To the sight he was very pleasing.

Horuxútcce. "Djaguánacke Mâ'´una herénâ," hireje
He looked at him. "I also wonder Earthmaker it is," he thought

gadjâ. Nûhaídjeje.* "Jeskegúni yaréjare," hiregádjâ.
[sentence terminator]. He took a step. "I think it so I am thinking," he thought.

*The phonetic rendering 'nûhaídjeje' may result from the nasal ending to the previous 'gadjâ'. 'Ruhaídje' is more usual.

Jige ruhai-djeje. ép'a dédjañk'i* ruhaidje
Again he took a step. From that place [every now and then] he took a step

*Radin treats this as a verb meaning 'he moved,' but 'dedjañk'ixdjî' (with an emphatic suffix, '-xdjî') means, 'once in awhile.' He also has a period here.

dowe áreje gadjâ. De hank'é
to go in a certain direction [he uttered a cry] [sentence terminator]. This one not

Mâ'una wa'unidjéje.* Djedjédjijâ wa'ûdjéje. Gicdjoñk'éregi.
Earthmaker it was he. A bluejay** it was. They had fooled him.

*This is probably wa'ûdjeje, as below. Blowsnake's syllabary represents an 'i' with a mere dot, so that stray marks are sometimes mistaken for the letter 'i'.
**Radin has 'pigeon', but 'bluejay' is well attested elsewhere as the translation of this name.

Jige idjaíra* nantcgera dékce. Jigidjaíra
And so more he heart it ached. Even more

*More usually, 'hidjaíra'.

hogirúdjase. Egi jigé nañgádjâ jédjuñga
he was wound up. And again he slept and indeed

Mâ'´una hidjádjije, "Uañkcik'é, nâdjonidjána. S'i
Earthmaker came to him, "Human, I bless you. Long

ragákcanâ.* Mâ'´una newinénâ," eje. Horuxitcgádjâ,
you have cried. Earthmaker I am he," he said. When he looked at him,

*This should probably be 'raghákcanâ' given that the stem is 'ghak'.

k'arap'iéskeje. Horuxúdjera p'îjé, waínina k'arap'iéske
he was pleasing. the look fine, clothing it was pleasing

'û´je. "Djaguánacke deé Mâ'´una wa'û´djanâ,"
it was. "I also wonder this Earthmaker [it was],"

hirejé-gadjâ. Horuxúdjera hok'ugági, hiranâ´îje. Hidjobóhôna
he thought. The look as if he grew smaller, he thought. The fourth time

horuxutcgádjiâ stastak'éjâ wa'ûdjeje. Nantcgéra hidjaiíra
when he looked [unknown species of bird] it was. The heart even more

*this species of bird is also mentioned in the story Mâzanî'âbara.

dekce. Mâcdjâ´ ghakce. Hidaníhôna jigé
it ached. Mightily he cried. The third time again

Mâ'´una jédjuñga nâdjodjâ´je, "Mâ'´una hirahâ´de
Earthmaker now he blessed him, "Earthmaker to dream

nânac'iánañga hawerak'icáwañgra. Mâ'´una newinénâ, nâdjonidjánâ.
you have tried and you caused yourself great suffering. Earthmaker I am he, I bless you.

Hañk'é wajâ´nijâ roragúnikdjonènâ; tcinóñgijâ` hit'e
Not a thing you will be in want of; a village language

djagúracke hanántc wananáñxguñkdjonènâ; uañkcigo'î´na hank'é
whatever all you will listen to; life not

rorágunikdjonènâ; djaguranâtcíñxdjî nâdjironidjánâ." Ege*
you will want; everything I bless you." Now,
*for 'égi.'

tcegédja, djaski-ádjera hañk'é horuxúdjera, jeske
from the very first, [however] not the appearance, so

hanîdjéje. Edjáxdjî jigé deé, "Wajîdjahî´je
to inspire confidence. About that time again this one, "Somebody

p. 298 --

hingicdjóñk'edjegùni," hirejé gadjâ. Ciñk'ok'ogíjâ wa'ûdjéje.
must be fooling me." he thought [sentence terminator]. A robin it was.

"Jédjuñga jedja, tcak'ó hañk'e wahádjeni,
"Now, to end (die), indeed not not to eat,

jegû tcekdje,"* hireje. "Djánañga waniñk'
and so I will die," he thought. "As many as there are birds

cicigerági hiñkcakcaíre." Hireje -gadjâ.* Mâ'una
bad they have made sport of me." It is isn't it? Earthmaker

*Treating this as a suffix, it can be used, according to Lipkind, to indicate rhetorical questions and truisms, and can be translated as "isn't it?" Radin translates this sentence as, "They were indeed doing it."

'uañgeregináñk'i hip'éresse gadjâ. Hit'éra nañxgû´je.
on high where he sat he knew of it [sentence terminator]. The words he heard.

"Wecgícera, rajagerádjege mânégi adjínâ," higéje.
"Wecgícega you are crying to the earth I am coming," he said to him.

"Higû´ hi-ándjina, Wecgícera," hiñgéje.* Horuxitcgádjâ`
"Even the father, Wecgícega," he said to him. When he looked

*Normally, 'higéje'.

'uáñgeregi hadak'átc p'iñxdjîjâ mânégi hirak'eredjeje.
up above ray of light very clearly to the earth extending.

Yotcíra édjaxdjî hirak'ére wa'ûdjéje. "Wecgícera
The camp all the way it extended it did. "Wecgícega

hîcdjákdje, hicéra. Hañk'e jeske haduxúrugeninâ.
you will see me, you said. Not that kind I cannot do.

Meé newinénâ. Hîcdjánâ," higéje. Hañk'é wonághire
This I am he. You have seen me," he said to him. Not war

nâdjirodjâ´nije; uañkcigo'înácanaxdjî nâdjirodjâ´je Wecgicega. Hâbera
he was not blessed; life only he was blessed Wecgícega. The light

Mâ'´una edjowádji. Mânégi hirak'eredjèga. Hirok'í'û
Earthmaker it came from. To the earth it reached. He made a copy

hisagúîjâ 'ûje. Jeé dani-ogíju hahúiregi uañkcigo'î
a cane he made. This tobacco-offering when it came life

gidanáñkcanâ. Higû´ mejegunegícke, higû wa'unáñkcanâ.
they would ask for. Even at the present time, still they are doing it.

English Translation

Source:

Paul Radin, Personal Reminiscences of a Winnebago Indian, Journal of American Folk-Lore, 26, #102 (1913): 293-318 (Sam Blowsnake, "How One of My Ancestors was Blessed by Earthmaker," pp. 294-298). From Paul Radin, The Story of Wecgiciga, Winnebago & English, in Notebooks, Winnebago II, 2 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) last item (incomplete).