Hotcâk Text -- The Lame Friend

narrated by John Hazen Hill (Xedenicaraga)

Despite the fact that the Hotcâk text is typewritten, owing to the heavy ink on the ribbon and the state of the type, it is often hard to distinguish the letter /o/ from the letter /e/, and sometimes the letter /a/ is difficult to identify. The English translation, while technically interlinear, is not aligned word-for-word, and tends to be a bit loose. The English is written with a sharp pencil and has the virtue, at least, of being easy to read.

English Translation

Worak de e
Worák dée
Story this
Xedenisharaga e Horakshana.
Xedenicaraga e horákcanâ
Wren (John Hazen Hill) he told it

p. 1 --

She e eja Nikushe, hijejeja minag
Jee édja Nîkúce, nîtcedjédja* mînâk
[These] there the Wisconsin River, on the shore [sitting (situated)]

*in the typewritten text this word begins with an /h/, which was almost certainly a mistaken reading for an original handwritten /n/.

hireregi Hojakgra, eja wangra nubpiwi
hireregi Hotcâgra, édja wâkra nûpiwi
when [they were] the Hotcâgara, there men two

hijakerekihiregishi hisha wang hudeg hisha
hidjakeregihiregiji hijâ wâk hudek hijâ
were friends and one of them [man] lame [one]

hereshe hijanejegashi unkeshesga nishe shgu
hereje, hidjanedjegaji hâkejesga. Nije j[e]gû´
he was, but the other one he was not so. They remained thus

unagsrshe hakikishuxede hireshe esge hoishipji
'unâks'áje. Hakikijuxede hireje. Ésge hoicípdjî
[they were always.] Raised together they were. Therefore always

sge handaginaj hirega hakikishu u
sge hâdáginatc hiregá. Hakikijú û
[assuredly] they fasted they did. Together [doing]

hiresrshe wang jekxede waunagshe keni
hires'áje. Wâk djekxede wa'ûnâkce. K'enî
[they would]. Men just grown up they were. Not yet

hinuk hiki oni hireshe shegu
hinûk hiki-ónî hireje. Jegû´
women [not touched] they did. Thus

unagsrgi she e hagore[s]ha hisha**
'ûnâks'ági je'e. Hagoréjâ hijâ
[they used to be]* these. One day one

*translated as "they remained."
**before this word is a solitary /h/ the presence of which we can assume to be a typographical error.

hijanera wageshe hijakoro eshi nihijejeja
hidjanéra wagéje, "Hitcakóro eci nîhitcedjédja
to the other said, "My friend, [but] to the river bank

howahinagi eja ruxhishujkera hisge himakijgis
howahinagi. Édja rúxicútckera hisgé hîmâk'itcgis*
let us go. [There] red willows some [you and I] cut

*it seems more likely that this word should terminate in "-gas", which means "to cut".

hijena hisgenig hanira sheginana hijakorora
hidjena hisgenîk haníra jeginanâ hitcakorora,"
[as] [what little] I have it is gone my friend,"

hikarageshe esgerawihanaga hahi eja ruxhishujke
hikarageje. Ésgerawihánâga hahí édja rúxicútcke
he said to him. So they [did it], and* they went there red willows

*the translation has "so they went, and".

majgisnagu de e waxhehiranaga watuhireshe nukirawinunige
mâtckísnâk'û. Dée waxehiránâga wat'ûhireje. Nûkirawinunige
cutting. They were shouted at and rushed upon. They were only two, but

wakisha wishe hijakerekira unagu hisha
wâkijâ wije, hidjakerekira 'ûnâk'û. Hijâ
one man was killed, they fought back* [they did]. One

*"hidja-kere-kira" would mean "there force was applied to the enemy".

tehirawishe hijanejega eshana hijakorora hakarias
t'ehirawije. Hidjanedjega écanâ hitcakorora hakarias
he was killed. The other one [alone] the friend a straddle

nashi hanaga eja masja wakishashe
najî´ hanâga édja mâcdjâ wâkijâje.
he stood and there very hard one man.

hisge shi tehishe ujau wangra
Hisgé ji t'ehije. 'û'dja'û, wâkra
Some [he shot] he killed. Finally, the man

tehireshe shesganunige tehirega unke hiperes nishe
t'ehireje, jesganunige t'ehirega hañké hipéresnîje.
was killed, but that he was killed not he did not know.

higuniub waujeguni hirajeshe hijakorora
Higûnî'âp wa'ûdjegúni hiradjeje. Hitcakorora
Still alive he was he thought. To his friend

hoiship hokarakitejeshe wonaxhireja tewahirege esge
hoicíp hok'arakit'edjeje. Wonâghiredja t'ewahírege, ésge
all the while he talked to him. In war as they were killed, therefore

rohambji waunagshe naxhirakrashana waunag kejeni
rohâmbdji wa'ûnâkce, nâghirakracanâ wa'ûnâk k'edjenî.
[killed outright] they were, only in the spirit they were [they did not stand].

shegu hekikite nagu wawishe
Jegû´ hekikit'e nâk'û. Wawíje,
Therefore [for this reason] they could talk they were. They two said,

jasgedehihijenaga ja hiwauhajeguni jasge jhinag
"Djasgedehihidjenâga dja hiwa'ûhâdjeguni? Djasge tcinâg
"What are we to do, and to try to go back? [How] village

howajija howahikere jeneshe nigesge shegu wanaxhi
howadjidja howahikere djeneje? Nîgesge jegû´ wanâghi
whence they had come go back to [the ones who are thus?]? [Someplace also] [therefore] spirit

hojhiraja howahinejeneshe arwishe egi washa
hotcirádja howahinedjeneje awíje. "Égi wájâ
to the home shall we go to?" they two said. "And [something]

wangaphi hirejeshe hinkeregisge shegu hijahi
wâgapî hiredjeje, hîkeregisge jegû´ hidjâhî´
you and I to like to go by, not if we went home also therefore somewhere else

howoihinejera hisha eshe esge shegu
howoihinedjera," hijâ éje. Ésge jegû´
let us go," [one of them] [said]. So thus

eja hijahi howarawishe shegu unagu
édja hidjâhî´ howarawije. Jegû´ 'ûnâk'û.
[there] somewhere else they went. [So] [they did it].

hogoresha hoxjanagi de e eja jhiporoke
Hogoréjâ hoxdjánâgi dée édja tcipóroke
[Finally] evening that there oval lodge

hisha nagki eja jawewishe hijahahiregaja
hijâ nâkí. Édja djawewije. Hidjahahiregadjâ.
one it sat. There they saw it. So they went towards it.

de e wangnunig hisha ejanagki wawageshe
Dée wâknunîk hijâ edjanâki wawagéje,
[This] old man one he was there he said to them,

p. 2 --

hijhusgewira e phinarajiwira eshe daninig
"Hitcûsgewira, e pînaradjiwira," éje. Daninîk
"My grandsons, it it is good that you have come," he said. Some tobacco

hakaraninagki danihura hisha hokarashu hiranaga
hakaraninâki danihúra hijâ hokaraju hiránâga
they had so [the] pipe one they filled [they did] and

wangnunagka hanigigiregaja unke wagirusnishe
wâknûnâka hanîgigiregadjâ hañké wagirusnije.
the old man [they] handed it to him, but not he would not take it.

"Hisha hinihara jer wereginagra eshi
"Hijâ hiníhára djer[a] wereginâgra eci
"One of my older brothers [the one who is this] on the way [but]

nigijirerushurug wina wawigeshe hijashi nawagiginunige
nigidjiderucurugwinâ," wawigéje. Hidjaji nâwagiginunige
he is more able to help you than I," he said to them. There [at least] he let them sleep overnight, but

hinnigi shige jikarawishe. Hambserej unihawishe.
[haninigi] jigé djikarawije. Hâbséretc ûnihawije.
the next morning [again] they started out. All day long they traveled.

Hahihoxjanagi shige eja jhiporoke hisha
Hahíhoxdjânagi jigé édja tcipóroke hijâ
[Then] in the evening again there oval lodge one

eja nagkishi shige eja hahihikawawishe
Édja nañkíji. Jigé édja hahíhikawawije.
there [it sat]. Again there they entered it.

de e shige wangnunig hisha waunagshe
Deé jigé wañgnûnîg hijâ wa'ûnâgce.
[This one] again old man one it was.

wawageshe hijhusgewira rajiwira ephinashige danihura
Wawagéje, "Hitcûsgewira, radjiwira epinajige. Danihúra
He said to them, "My grandsons, that you have come it is good. The pipe

hisha kurushiranaga heshuhiranaga hijagiwaha hiregaja
hijâ kuruciranâga hejuhiránâga hidjagiwaha hiregadjâ
one he held it towards him, and [? and] [placed before him] [he did]

shige unke wagirusnishe egi wawageshe
jigé hañké wagirusnije. Égi wawagéje,
again not he would not take it. And he said to them,

hinihara jorwereginagra eshi washara hisha
"Hinîhára djorwereginañgra eci wajâra hijâ
"My older brother ahead of me however to anything one

nigiuruxhuruk winana jaguwaragi shusharawigaja wasu
nîgiuruxuruk winânâ djaguwaragi c'ûcarawigadjâ wasu
he can help you to it he would make you what [?] [?] [?]

hashawang wigishi wigeshe esge shige
hacawañg wigiji," wigéje. Ésge jigé
[?] [?],"* he said to them. And so again

*"djaguwaragi c'ûcarawigadjâ wasu hashawang wigishi," is translated as "to anything you may be going for."

hija nawagigihanaga hin nigishi shigehajiha karireshe
hidja nâwagigihanâga [hanigíji] jigé hadjihakarireje.
there sleep overnight and in the morning again they started.

hidanihara hambserej shige uhanihahireshe
Hidaníhâra hâbséretc jigé ûhanihahireje.
For the third time all day again they traveled.

hoxjanaxjigaja shige eja jhi hisha
Hoxdjanaxdjîgadjâ jigé édja tci hijâ
Late in the evening again there lodge one

hirahiregi ejashige jawareshe hahiregi hijahekawawishe
hirahiregi édjajigé djawareje. Hahíregi hidjahekawawije.
[when] they came there again they entered. They went and entered it.

shige jorni wawirahirega jagu wawigahiregi
Jigé [djáhî] wawirahirega djagu wawigahiregi
Again the others they said what they [having] said

shesgehigariwishe shige unke danira wagihin ranishe
jesgehigáriwije. Jigé hañké daníra wagihinranije.
same he said to them. Again not the tobacco he did not smoke it.

esge hinnigi hijobahana jikarawishe
ésge [haninigi] hidjobáhâna djikarawije.
So the next morning for the fourth time they started.

shejaga hinjexjiwishe unkaga washana hisha
Jedjâga hindjexdjîwije. Hañkaga wajâna hijâ
This time they would arrive it seemed. Never thing one

rujwinishe esge shejaga hekikurusag wishe
rutcwinije. Ésge jedjâga hekikurusagwije.
they had not eaten. Therefore now they were very weak.

hajhagere dirahahang wishe shejaga wirahirehikerehegaja
Hatcâgére dirahahañgwije. Jedjâga wirahirehikerehegadjâ,
With difficulty they went. Then just about sun down,

egixji shige jhi hisha hirahiwishe
Égixdjî jigé tci hijâ hirahiwije.
[just then] [again] lodge one they reached.

wangnuxdji hisha hija nag gishi
Wañgnuxdjî hijâ hidja nâgiji
Very old man one there [sitting]

weshe hahao hijhusgewira shejaga rajiwishejera
weje, "Hâhao! hitcûsgewira jedjâga radjiwijedjera
said, "Ah, my grandsons! finally, you have arrived.

Si i raja nikaragub (?) hajena rajiwi?jenera
S'i radja ni karak'û (?) hadjénâ. Radjiwidjenera,
Long ago I expected you to do I have. As you would come here,

esge egi naguregi hajhinagshana wawigeshe
ésge égi nâguregi hadjinâgcanâ," wawigéje.
therefore here along the road there it lies," he said to them.

egi danihura hekarashuhiranaga wangnunagka hirawaha
égi danihúra hekarajuhiránâga wañgnûnâka hirawaha
Then the pipe they filled and the old man they extended it

hiregaja wagirus hanaga wagihinahe shejaga
hiregadjâ. Wagirus hanâga wagihinâhe. Jedjâga
they did. He took it and smoked it. Then

wangnagka wanaingiphi hireshe jekjinra de e
wañgnâka wanaiñgipî hireje. Tcek'djínra dee
the men felt happier* they did. The first time this

*literally, "made their hearts feel good".

p. 3 --

danihura wagihinreshe shegu hikuhe raporpornagu
danihúra wagihinreje. Jegû´ hikûhé rap'op'onâk'û
the pipe it was smoked. [Now] he hurriedly he took a few puffs

wawokarikashe egihisge kasahinhireshe egi rusjahiregishi
wawokarikaje. Égihisgé kasahinhireje. Égi rusdjahiregiji
and returned it to them. And also they smoked it. And when they were through

egi shejaga jek wawakijashe warusgu
égi jedjâga tcek wawakidjaje. Warusgu
then [now] [first] [he helped them ?]. Dried corn

hiranaga egi honjruhi hirakiu wagiunagshe
hiránâga égi hûtcruhi hirakiû wagi'ûnâkce.
there was and and bear ribs boiled [he made].

wanghanagka warujra uxji hireshe, si i
Wañkanañka warudjra û'xdjî hireje, s'i
The men the food much they did they did, long

reja unke washara hisha rujwinige
redja hañké wajâra hijâ rudjwinige.
they had gone not thing one as they had not eaten.

dokewehixji waunagshe esge shegu ijahipa
Dokéwehixdjî wa'ûnâkce. Ésge jegû´ idjahip'a
Very hungry they were. Therefore [then] up to their mouths

hoshuhireshe egi shejaga wawageshe egi
hojuhireje. Égi jedjâga wawagéje, "égi
they filled themselves. Then [now then] he said to them, "Well

hijhusgexjiwira unkaga jajaxji Maura egihikanagwira
hicûsgexdjîwira, hañkaga djadjaxdjî Mâ'ûra egihikanâgwira
my grandsons, never as long as Earthmaker put us here

unkaga wangshig hunubhimanira hisha egi
hañkaga wañgcig hunûpimânîra hijâ égi
never human the two-legged walkers one here

jinina jekde e wasurajiwina egi
djininâ. Tcekde e wasuradjiwinâ. Égi
not come. The first ones here you have come. And

Maura exji wanainrashesge honigikanag wige
Mâ'ûra éxdjî wanâ'î´rajesge honígikánâk," wigé.
Earthmaker himself in his thoughts also he put it in for you," he said to them.

esge rajiwina wawigeshe egi Maura
ésge radjiwinâ," wawigéje. "égi Mâ'ûra
Therefore you have come," he said to them. "Here Earthmaker

eginagshana hinnigi hijahowashere janawina egi
eginâkcanâ haínigi hidjahowacerekdjanewinâ. Égi
he sits and tomorrow you shall go there. And

nigiphiwigishi danira nigihinwijenena egi henikite jenawina
nîgipîwigiji, daníra nîgihinwikdjanenâ. Égi hinikit'ekdjanewinâ.
if he approves of you, tobacco he will smoke with you. And he will talk to you.

eja jaguhinigirewigi henigirak wijenena
édja djaguhinigirewigi hinigirakwikdjanenâ
[There] what he thinks of you he will tell you

de eshi hisge jaguhinigirawira hinigawina
de, eci hisgé djaguhinigirawira hinigawinâ,"
this one, but also what I think of you I have told you,"

wawigeshe egi hinnigishi jikarawishe uha (?)
wawigéje. Égi hainigíji djikarawije. Ûhá
he said to them. Then the next morning started out. Well

hiregaja de e eja jhiporoporo hisha
hiregadjâ dee édja tciporoporo hijâ
as they went along [these] there round lodge one

nagshe jhikarahesgexji hisha hereshe ereguniarwigi
nâkce. Tcikarahesgexdjî hijâ hereje. Ereguniarwigi
it was. Likely looking lodge one it was. It must be it they said

shegu ejawewishe de e hijahahiregaja jhirob
jegû´ edjawewije. Deé hijâhahiregadjâ tcirób
and they went towards it. [These] when they arrived there the door

hirakarara hija nagkishi wawagawishe de e
hirakarara hidja nañkiji. Wawagawije, "Deé
keeper there he was. They said to him, "This

Maura, e hojhiguni hihawige esge
Mâ'ûra e hotcigûnî hihawige, ésge
Earthmaker [his] lodge [maybe] we thought, so

egi hajiwina wawigawishe e herena
égi hadjiwinâ," wawigawije. "E herenâ,
here we have come," they said to him. "It it is,

egi hokawawire washara hishashu rajiwigishi
égi hokawawire wajâra hijaju radjiwigiji,"
[and] you may go in for anything [?] if you have come,"

higariwishe esge hokawawigaja de e eja
higariwije. Ésge hokawawigadjâ dee édja
he said to them. So they (two) entered and [this] there

wang hishanagki washasgaxji hikikaxhanaga egi
wañg hijânañki wajâsgaxdjî hikikaxanâga égi
man one sitting in very white material dressed and and

arhusgajhushe egi hisjasura shegu washa
ahusgatcûje, égi hisdjasura jegû wajâ
he had [white] wings, and his eyes [now] [something]

masniubnisgeshe wangshige hunubhi manira rajiwigaja
mâsnî'âbnisgeje. "Wañgcige hunûpi manîra radjiwigadjâ?"
like live iron. "You humans two-legged [walkers] you have come, have you?"

wawigeshe egidanihura hiruwaha hiregi wagirus
wawigéje. Égi danihúra hiruwaha hiregi Wagirus
he said to them. Then the pipe they extended towards they did. He took it

hanaga wagihinshe egi rusjagishe danihura
hanâga wagihince. Égi rusdjagije danihúra
and he smoked it. And when he was through the pipe

wawekarikanaga egi wawageshe egi wajexhi
wawekarikanâga égi wawageje, "égi wadjexi
he handed back and and said to them, "[Well] with difficulty

hirirajiwigaja higu jasgerajawigishe egi shujanawina
hiriradjiwigadjâ, higû´ djasgeradjawigije." Égi cudjanawinâ.
you have reached me, so you can do as you like." [And] [?].*

*this is not translated.

wawigeshe esge jorbahagishi wangshigeja howagu
Wawigéje ésge djobahâgiji wañgcigejâ howágu
He said to them that therefore in four days the people to return.

hirekje arieashe esge jorbaha hijana hiranaga
Hirekdje, arieaje. Ésge djobáhâ hidjana hiránâga
They would, they both said. So four days to stay they did and

p. 4 --

egi shejaga maregi howaguwishe jorbaha
égi jedjâga mâregi howaguwije. Djobáhâ
then [finally] to the earth they started back. For four days

uhiranunige unke jhiwajahiranihega hisha kixji
uhiranunige hañké tciwajâhiranihega hijâ kixdjî
they traveled but not the lodges that had been one [to reach there emphatically again]

hijanagnishe deshegu hiregi egi hajinja
hidjanâgnije. Dejegû hiregi. Égi hadjindja
there were not. Thus they did. Then where

tewahirega eja hakiriregaja de e rora
t'ewahírega édja hakiríregádjâ dee róra
they were killed there they went back and [these] the bodies

ejawakjahireshe shejaga eja hipereswishe naxhirak
edjawakdjahireje. Jedjâga édja hipereswije. Nâghirak
they saw. [Finally] [there] they knew. In the spirit

shana howewau nagkishi shejaga eja
cana howewa'û Nañkíji jedjâga édja
only they were going about. [Having sat] [finally] [there]

xagwishe egi rohambjisge Wanaxhi, hojhieja
xagwije. Égi rohâbdjisge. Wanâghi hotci-édja
they wept. [And] [their bodies were not whole.] Spirit at the home

hahiranaga naxhirakra wawikurukana esge wawishe
hahîánâga nâghirakra wawikurukonâ. Ésge wawije,
they had gone back and the souls they had control over. Therefore they said,

wangshig geja shige wangshiginjawi arwishe
wañgcig gedja jigé wañgcigîndjawi awíje.
the people there again they would live [they two said.]

esge shige hinugeja waujkanag hiranaga
ésge jigé hinûgedja wa'ûdjkanâg hiránâga
Therefore again in women's wombs they were and

eja shige phi hishige wajhu
édja jigé pîhijige watcû
there again over again to be born

hireshe de shegu waganag shana
hireje. Dejegû´ waganâ´gcanâ,
they were. Thus [this] it is meant,

wangshig hakiha wangshigin arnagra Wangshigra
"Wañgcig hakihâ wañgcigin" anâga. Wañgcigra
"Persons [over again] lived"* they said. The people

*translated as "a second lived person".

de e wangra nubpiwi shesge waworak
dee wañgra nûpiwi jesge waworak
these men two thus to tell of

hireshu nuna gaguhowajihirare Hojakgra. wanghijakereki
hirecûnûnâ gagûhowadjihirare Hotcâgra. Wañg hidjakereki
they used to in their past accounts of themselves the Winnebago. Friends

de e nubpiwi waxhopini warajhire waunagnagune
dee nûpiwi waxopíni warátcire wa'ûnâgnagûne,
these two spirits various they were,

wangshig hunubhimani eja wangshiginra gipihirege
wañgcig hunûpimânî édja wañgciginra gipîhirege.
humans two-legged walkers there their lives as they liked them.

esge nubaha hakiha wangshigregi wangshigregi*
ésge nûbáhâ hakihâ wañgcigregi -
Therefore two times in succession as human beings -

*this expression is repeated twice, I believe unintentionally.

wangshiginhireshe ariea shununa wangnunigra worak
wañgciginhireje. Aireacûnûnâ wañknúnigra worák
they lived. Thus they say the old men stories

hirega si i rejaxji heregi esge
hirega. S'iredjâxdjî heregi, ésge
[they did]. Long ago as it happened, therefore

unke rasra wi i peresnina
hañké rasra* wipéresnínâ.
not the names they don't remember.

*usually it is "racra" or "rajra".

English Translation

Source:

John Hazen Hill (Xedenicaraga), "The Lame Friend," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Notebook 66, Story 7: 1-4. [Typed Winnebago, handwritten interlinear translation.]