The Markings on the Moon (Version 2)
narrated by Reuben David St. Cyr


Interlinear Hotcâk-English Text
by Albert Samuel Gatschet

Reproduced with the kind permission of the
National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution


English Translation


Note: Gatschet's [l] has been changed to the standard [r], the superscript [n] has been indicated by a circumflex over the vowel. The transliteration follows the system used by Paul Radin. Question marks in parentheses, sic (?), are those of Gatschet, all others mark uncertain readings.


p. 16 --

Jégi tciporukéja nâ´kckone égi wâ´kya (-ya a) hitcáwina hakaraíkitci nákckuni.
Once upon a time round tent, lodge grass tent there (it) was and a man (and) his wife living with there they were.


Nû´piwi hínuk hírickuni, égi hâ´pka wâ´k tcéga wajónina û´dje sájkuni.
Two (were) daughters theirs and daily man that hunted he did all the time, then.


Hagóreja hínuknik nâ´ka xetérickuni, éki hâ´pka hâtáginatc nâ´kthackúnije.
After this, hereupon girls these became older then daily they fasting they were in the habit of.




Hakóreca xúnuna weckúnije Wáxoxge -Hicóga hihántace éckuni. Xetéra hícke
At once younger (smaller) said so: "Shell Spit(ter) I dreamt of him," she said. The other one she too


p. 17 --

hihántace éckuni; égi hakô´reca wakúdje ûéckune kíkû hihánegha níke
dreamt of him she said, and at once moccasins to be supplied (?) they made for themselves; after this somewhere


hówa harahidéckune or: haraíreckune. Égi akóreja wâ´hirégadjâ nixétedja
they travelled, I have and/or they are gone (they might have gone) and hereupon while they went there a big body of water


há-udji tcinak, hidéckuni; égi minak hidánagha wóru -xuts nánk ckúni;
they came on to the village, he (male) said and they sat down after that, looked around and sitting there (watching)


dé-e dé nâdjedja hijâ´ hówe wádjowe ûdjeckúni. Égi Ciâ´gega wa-ûdjeckuni.
this in midst of lake some-
body
going around in a boat (dugout) there he was (Ciâg.) And Ciâ´gega it was him!


"Hîgiwankdjéda," áwicguni, égi giwaínicguni gíwa hidánûge hínke wánaxkû
"Let us halloo at him," they said, and they hallooed at him they hallooed [untrs.] not he did hear them,


kíkûni ckuni -je. Hagóreja hiskéxtci hinke wanaxkû´nigi waíreckúni;
he made out, simulated he did not hear this. Hereupon surely not he did not hear them they said;


p. 18 --

Waxóxkehícoga tcâ´ hingektcéna. Jíge gíwa hidéckuni: "Waxóxke hícora, hîkanek
Spit-Shell instead (of C.) let us call by names Again call him they did Spit -Shell, to cross us


wákuruwáwax háregha wá-ijuckuni. Égi tcíckun hidjómínank hidéckuni, hungú
broken from his ear after he had took them in his mouth. And he came they got into (the dugout) [they did], pretty soon


hidárextcí kádjâ´ cóckû´ni, cógadjâ waxóxke híco ckúni, hinúknanka
afterwards he spit, when he spit shells he spit with, the girls


wákiko-ik hidéckuni. Égi uníneki híkoro-ke-nik-ra hotcédja watcókeregíckuni.
tried to seize them away from (the other girl). And they landed his grandmother her house to take them there.


Mínank nánkckúni hoxtcanâgadjâ´. hijá nâ´nk-hadjíckune ho-ithiánaga
They sat down (girls, subj.) in the evening somebody running-came he looked, peeped into


p. 19 --

wéckûnijé Ciâgénigra Waxóxgecoga co-iko: ikorohóge warawéktce ánankcána.
he came and said Ciâgénigra Spit-Shell spit going to, gets ready to you come to pound in a mortar they are saying


Hinke wágixap-níckuni hungû´ jike djihánegha jíge eckúni; hinké hínigi
[not] answer, respond (not) somebody, a messenger from the chief's tent again (he) came again and said: when he did not come


wá-i-reckúni; Waxóxkecora racóktce ánankcana tcâ´ hikáwide; égi jigé djíckúni
they said; Spit-Shell you to spit they want they say instead (of pounding) they are saying; and again he (messenger) came


djiánegha Waxóxkecora racóktce ánankcana éckuni ho! eckuni, réckuni;
he came Spit-Shell they want you to spit they are saying all right, he says, he went, made a move to go


hígadsâ tcíra hó-ixtciankckúnije. Égi hirégiji hínunknankre nûxana hídjowaréckuni.
when he went to the lodge (it was) full (of people) there, they say. And when he went the girls snuck and went there.


Nâ´xawa háhi hó-ithî hidéckuni, dé-e hikána hírera wawéra û´xtcî nâ´kskune.
They peeped in go and peeping surrepti-
tiously
(did so) [this] their husbands (of the girls) pounding away sitting.


p. 20 --

Tcí hokiságitca wánk skaxtcínja minâknakckúne, Wexoxkécuga wá-û nákûne
Of the lodge in the center man white altogether (awful) sitting down, seated Spit-Shell "it must be he," (Shell-Spitter) sitting


aireckúne; hirarextcîkadjâ´ cockúne, jékû waxóxkada rókana hícockúne, waxóxke
they said pretty soon after (they saw him) he spit, and shells many, lots of he spit with, for the shells


háki -kó-ikra û´xtsîhidéckune híkana hírera û´xtsî núnige híja -kídanik hó-eckúni.
they (everybody in the tent) grabbed all were in a hurry their husband (one for both) he was in a hurry one (shell) only (from the whole lot) he obtained.


Égi hinû´-knâka hákarareckúni. Nâ´ rírikra nûpíwi hániâ kihidâ´ga
Then (both) girls returned to (the tent) whence they came from (Pieces of) wood decomposed, rotten two there were they took back with them (to the tent)


hómikaki áke wátump hídeckuni; jékû hiránegha háktca hákarairéckuni.
of the bed on both sides they put them; when, after (?) they did so back, returning they went (dual).


p. 21 --

Hakóreja Waxoxkécoga córa, rújtâgi wâ´kcigeda hakararéckuni. Égi
Sometimes Spit-Shell spit, after finishing the people went home (pl.), back. And


hinûknánka hókawa-hidánegha, Waxóxkéjuga nîgé míganke-édja hahí
the girls (dual) entered (the tent, lodge) Spit-Shell where he was lying they went


mík'hidéckuni. Ciâ´gega gigíji hókisakgeja mínk-ckúni, rírik nâ´ka
and lay down. Ciâ´gega when got back (to the tent) in the middle lay down the logs rotten these (two)


rakákanacke hótci-wáki--û-hidégi nágakanacke haráxtcak-hidégi wókitekckúni
ants was full of ants bit him he became infuriated


rúwicnâkje ánega híjâ aícawak hipotáckúni. Hungújike
pinching him, he said one (of the logs) (one) elbow pushed. Again


haráxtcak-hidéckuni, kátcanga wa-ína nike hót'ûránega hatájâ híckune
they bit him, now then the blanket somewhere he threw away light, fire he made


t'é-e nâ´xa t'ek wá-û nâ´kckuni wókitekckuni kíkawa-wânega
[these] two rotten logs they were lying he became furious he arose, got up


p. 22 --

jétcanga ráganâ´ga máhi pákû´ djireckúni. Jétcâga hâ´pgugi máhina
at the time he cried, wept knife to sharpen ( = his) he commenced, made a start. at that time (when he had sharpened), At dawn his knife


=
níkaratckereanega hû´k'hotcira hówa wátcawa reckúni. Háhi hókewekádja t'é-e
he carried it in his belt ("belt" not expressed) to chief's lodge he went for revenging himself. When he went into (the chief's lodge) there were


hitcáwiwa-hira Waxoxkecóga hókisak hótump-nâ´kckune. Hitánîke tcácera
his two wives (of C.) (who had) Spit-Shell in the middle they had between. And all three of them necks


wámâcic ckúni, wánitckának nâga nû´xâwackúni hâ´ptcingi húngra wéckuni
he cut open, forced, put them, took in his belt and he hid himself at daylight the chief said (long ago)


"Híki nâ´iwináne," hínke híxka hiraníckune, wáruxinkíktcege
"Try to wake yourself up (all three of them) not move they did for waking them up (all three)


p. 23 --

hitcégadjâ dé-e wa-íra hónîdjâ´-nâkckune. Hórak gíregi wónina
when he went, stood there (they were in a pool of) blood they lay in it (sp. his two wives) When it was told hunted they (I not included)


hanâ´tc hîbireckúni hakoréjan û´nakû hi-ereckuni, jégû
all (the people and the chief) everyone went, took a hand in, the hunting sometimes when hunting in this effort they found him (the murderer), and


rúkâkâc híranû negé wánk rá hówakeréckuni, égi waíréckuni.
grabs without effect while they skyward, above he ascended, went, and they said (all),


Kétcangéka "Hágiuguwíre." Djigiji nâ´wâ´ dohireckúni hóke xárare-éckuni,
Mr. Turtle "Go fetch him." When he came to sing he began (archaic)


Ciâ´gega wâgédja, hági zázek nihéra háruxa tcâ´tê háreckuni, "Rácipbi
Ciâ´gega up above, after (this flight?) (on account of distance) very small once (then) he began to appear more "Get him down (miraculously)


ktcinéna," ánankckúni. Harúxa ácke kirickuni, gádjanga tcírahe xtciédja
he will," so they said He began nearer to come, when passed above the lodge ---- there


p. 24 --

p. 24 --
kírigi gútc ná-i hiranû´nige, Kétcangega roxickuni; jétcanga aíkidjâ dji djeá
he came, arrived shoot all tried (to shoot) him Mr. Turtle he forbid them pretty soon within arm-reach he came


nâgá Kétcangega sí kâdja há rukas híkcege rúkâgâckádjâ híctcara hóresíri
arrows and K. by the ankle (from the ankle up to calf) tried to get hold he tried to seize in vain in his face defecated


jékû hiánegha wángra howakereckúni. Égi hikórokenigra wákece aírena,
after (doing it) doing it above, skyward he returned (in moon afterwards). And to his grandmother he said, they say,


hâ´hewi-nâ´kre édja, "Hówakere ktcîneje," eckúni, éki jékû kútc
moon (wingre, "this" of sun and moon) at (where the moon is) -- "He was giving back," he said, and after shoot


hiránunge, iîxtcî´ hiranûnige, jékû wâgétca hágixawaníckuni. Éske
they did it in vain they tried to hit him in vain then above he disappeared. That is


hâhewédja wánkcik hádjadjáne Ciâ´ngega wá-ûdjeje aírena. Jédjana.
why in the moon person we are seeing now Ciâ´ngega it is he they say. The end of it.


English Translation


Gatschet's Notes:

p. 16 --

hitcáwina --

hitcáwi, wife
hínuk, woman
hínukra rókana, many women
hínuk watcik, young woman not married, and spinsters

hakaraíkitci -- hijâ´hakítci hadjéna, I live with somebody

hâ´pka --

hámbukai (ókahi), every day
hámbije, day
hâ´p, háp, day
hám té-e, today
hâ´he, night
hâ´he ókahi, every night

wajónina --

wajâ wániâdséna, I am hunting
wajóni, hunter
wajóni xéte ha-û´wina, we had a big hunt

hínuknik --

hínuk niki, one girl,
niki, pl. nigra, young
hinuknikida róha, many girls

weckúnije --

jéske hihéna, I say so
hihéna, I said

Waxóxge, shell

Hicóga -- hacónakcena, I am spitting

hihántace --

hâ´te mákcana, I am dreaming
hâ´te, dream
hâtéga, dreamer (not used)

p. 17 --

ûéckune, they made

kíkû -- kik (?), for oneself

nixétedja --

xéte, big, is better than
xáte, xáde, as in cúnk xate, horse

há-udji -- háwudji, to run onto quick without knowing.

dahá-û, I travel that way.
há-un hahígadjâ´, while I traveled thus.

wóru-xuts nánk -- wótuxuxuts nánkcena, I am looking around sitting.

dé nâdjedja -- dé, lake; nâ´djedja, in middle of.

hijâ´ -- hijâ´náxkûna, I hear somebody.

hî´ke (not) náxkûne (hear) hakikóne, I simulate --- not hear him.

Hîgiwankdjéda -- wâ´, to haloo, hawâ´djéna, I halloo.

tcinak -- village; city. of tci, house,
tcinak xatéja, large city.

p. 18 --

hingektcéna -- Johnga hinigéna; my name is John, I call you John.

wákuruwáwax --

wajánizá nâ´tca warégi túwax, I break from my ear;
túwax, I break a string.
wakúru, oneself?

wá-ijuckuni -- wayáju, I take into my mouth.

híco ckúni, -- hacó, I spit, I spit on, yáco, I spit with something.

wákiko-ik -- I try to take, hi-ûdjá, I try.

uníneki -- uane nakcana, I am landing.

híkoro -- tcoká, grandfather; hitcúcke, grandson, nephew.

hotcédja --

wá tciédja, my house, where I live!
hóra tciédja, your house, tcí, tcíra, house.
néxtci watciédja, my own home, whether I live there or not.
hotciédja, his, her house.
watciwédja, our house.
horatciwédja, your house.
hotcirédja, their house.
tcwánina, my houses.
tciwacínina, your houses.
tciwánina, his houses.
tcihiwaníwina, our houses.
tciwcíniwina, your houses.
tciwanínera, their houses.
nâ´ wánina, my tree.
nâ hacínina, your tree.
nâ hánina, his, her tree.

watcókelegíckuni -- watcwákere, "I go first and others follow."

hoxtcanâgadjâ -- hoxtcána, evening.

hoxtánanig widíde (< wira wiríre), sunset.
widáxep (< wira háxep), sunrise.
wí, wída, wíra, sun.
hâ´he wída (wira), moon (hánhe, night).

nâ´nk-hadjíckune -- hának'hadji, I come running.

hának háhank wína, we are running (dual & plural).

ho-ithiánaga -- waíthi hadjéna, I am peeping.

p. 19 --

wéckûnijé -- hadjiánegha hadjéna, I came and said.

-je, they said, ferunt.

Ciâgénigra Waxóxgecoga co-iko: ikorohóge warawéktce -- "C. come over and pound the mortar, because Spits Shells is going to spit."

Ciâ´genigra -- -nigra, is young, baby, said of baby birds. of -niki, -nik, young, plural. (36) Now called the "Son of God." After going away he promised the people to return and be henceforth man in the moon. (73)

wáwe nakcána, I pound a mortar sitting.
warawéktche, you come to grind with that thing (mortar) only

ánankcána. -- hihanákcana, I am saying.

hungû´ --

húnk, chief.
húnkra róra, chiefs-many.
húnk tcóne, head chief.
wánkcik húnk, Indian chief.

racóktce -- nacóktce ke wáhadjéra, I want you to spit, in a standing position.

hatex hadjéna, I piss standing.
co-ikoróhoge, going to spit (getting ready to spit)

hó-ixtciankckúnije -- nápana hoíxtcina, the basket is full.

nûxana -- núxâ, I am sneaking.

hánuxâ, to keep secret.

háhi -- hahí, I go (there).

ráre, you go.
réra, he goes.
tektcináwina, we go.
cerektcinéna, ye go.
haraíriktcinéna, they are going.

hó-ithî -- wá-ithî hadjéna, I peep in standing.

hikána hírera -- hikána, her husband; hírera, of two wives.

hídjowaréckuni -- hidjáwatena, I go there.

p. 20 --

hokiságitca -- in the middle, center of

cunk-xátotci hokísagitca, in the center of the barn ("horse ouse")

skaxtcínja --

ská, white
cútcínja, redder than others compared
póro poro xtcin(ja), rounder than other balls

wá-û -- (the person talked about)

aireckúne -- they said

éckune, one girl said

hirarextcîkadjâ´ -- hirare, is part of, pretty soon; not used by itself .

rókana -- has to be there to make wax. -- plural!

hícockúne -- hi-, instrumental prefix

kó-ikra -- hakiko-ik, to grab (used in plural of subj. only)

--wina, I am grabbing

û´xtsîhidéckune -- yakûe, I am in a hurry

hikúhe wá wâdjína, I am in a hurry
-xtsî- is a particle not used by itself
hidéckune. he ran hard, but was beaten; unavailingly (?)

híkana -- husband

núnige -- nunige or nû´nge!

-kídanik -

 widjúk yâ´cána hadjána
 cat only I saw
(there was no cat visible)

hó-eckúni -- wa-éna, I obtain; hijâ, one; hijâ kída, only one. (cf. jekírê)

hákarareckúni -- hakarahéna, I return where I came from

decomposed, rotten -- the wood is rotting; they cannot say that

nûpíwi --

hinúmike, both
nûpiwi, two were
nûp, two

hániâ kihidâ´ga -- haniâ´kere, I take back with me

hómikaki -- couch, place of bed for lying down

wátump -- hátump, I put to a place

háktca --

hákere, I go back
ductcâ, I finish, come to an end

p. 21 --

gigíji --

hagígiji, when I get back
hagígi, I get back

haráxtcak -- hijâ hatáxtcak, I bite somebody

hidégi -- or hirégi.

wókitekckúni -- wóyitek, I get mad

rúwicnâkje -- C. when feeling the ants he thought the two girls were pinching him.

túwicana, I pinch him

aícawak hipotáckúni -- aícawak hipuáta nâ´, I pushed him with the elbow

nâ´ (past) is also striking

kátcanga -- now, this time

hót'ûránega --

wastunt'e, I am throwing (blanket, not string)
ínije ha-unehádjena, I throw a stone standing
hátaja hadjéna, I make a light

nâ´xa t'ek --

nánxa, log
t'ék, rotten
t'é, dead; níup, alive

wakâ´ t'eja, a dead snake
wakâ´ t'era róha, many dead snakes

(t'era cannot stand alone)
róha, many

wa t'éhi korohóge, he gets ready to kill
wa t'ehi ga korohóge, I get ready to kill
wai psintc ya korohóge, I get ready to thrash
yakoróge, I get ready

p. 22 --

kíkawa-wânega -- hakíkawa-û, I rise, get up

pákû´ -- pá-û nákcena, I sharpen (a knife, máhi)

djireckúni --

hawâ´djide, I commence
túctcanâ, I finish
hûgô´ hawâ´djena, I continue doing (being around, -dj-)

hâ´pgugi --

haíne, morning
hoxtcána, evening
wída háxep nâ´kcana, the sun is rising (sitting)
wída hira nâ´kcana, the sun is setting
hámbra huhéna, daylight is breaking (huhéna, coming)

níkaratckereanega -- niántckere, I carry in my belt

hókewekádja --

wákewe, to get in
ho-, where the chief (hunk) lives

wátcawa --

watcáwe, I go for revenge
wirokó-iskina, thanks I give you

hówa --

wáwa, I go
hówa, he went
tcíja wakéwina, I went into the lodge

hókisak -- hokísagedja haminkcána, they lie between two (objects)

Hitánîke --

táni, three
hitánike, all three
pónank, whole

tcácera -- tcáce, neck

wámâcic ckúni -- wámance, I cut off

wánitckának -- niâ´tckanak, I put in my belt

prefix wa-: many things

nû´xâwackúni -- nuâ´xawa, I hide myself

nâ´iwináne --

yákî mákcena, I get awake
yaxkâxkâ nákcana, I move about
túxink, I wake (one) up
wáruxink, I wake (more than one) up

wáruxinkíktcege -- he was going to, but did not do it, because they were dead

hitcégadjâ -- gadjâ, then when

 

p. 23 --

wa-íra honidjâ = mákcanâ, I lay; the in blood (one), nâ´kck- refers to 2, 3, or many

wónina --

hijê´ wániâ icéna, I hunt somebody, pl. obj.
híjke wániâ icéna, pl subj & obj
híjke wániâ djówina, we hunt them

hîbireckúni -- hórok himpan, I help, take a hand in

û´nakû -- in their effort

hi-ereckuni --

yá-ena, I found it
yá-a, I find
(some archaic words in it)

rúkâkâc híranû -- for all their grabbing

hówakeréckuni -- wawákere, I ascend, go up

Kétcangéka --

kétcank, turtle
-ga, -ka appended to proper names: Dorseyga

Hágiuguwíre -- hakuténa, I go and fetch

nâ´wâ´ -- nâ´wâ nákcera, 1 sing. / pl. -nâ´k-

zázek -- zázek nik tcait'ína, I appear very small

háruxa -- when not an act, but an appearance is concerned: to begin

háreckuni --

hári, far
huskádja hári, far out in the prairie

rácipbi -- hakitácip, I get myself down

ácke -- ácke hadjína, I come nearer

kírigi -- kígi, when he went home, to his place

gútc -- hagútc, I shoot; pl obj wágutc

 

p. 24 --

roxickuni -- róaxi, I forbid

aíkidjâ dji djeá --

a-, arm
a-ikidjâ, arm-reach

sí kâdja -- sí kocógera, ankle

hóresíri -- reásiri, I shit [sic], ho-, into his face

wákece aírena --

yáke, I said
híhe, I say

(where the moon is) -- because the sun and moon stand still

hágixawaníckuni -- híxawane, I disappear

hádjadjáne -- hadjánegre, I see now

jédjana -- waíkâ, fable


English Translation




Source:

Albert Samuel Gatschet, Linguistic and Ethnological Material on the Winnebago, Manuscript 1989-a (Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution National Anthropological Archives, 1889, 1890-1891) 16-24. Informant: Reuben David St. Cyr.