Hocąk Text — Peace of Mind Regained

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake


English Translation


Original Text (Winnebago III, #1): | 155 | 156 | 157 | 158 |


Stylistic Features

  hapaxlegomena: higihíhi, "stirred, trembling"; hikirúwēk, "to crumble with"; hoxáraxára, "loose"; naǧoc (< naǧocgáją), "to draw something"; wiruagic (< wiruagijᵉra), "sinews that bind together poles".
  rare words: ągḗ, "to mean, signify" (found in Marino); hico-ákižu, "together" (found only once and by Jasper Blowsnake); hikuruzízīk, "to stretch itself" (found only in Marino); gírajas (< hiwogírajas), "to tighten" (found only in Marino); raǧójigu (< raǧójigugi), "to take a puff" (found only in Marino as raǧoc-higu); sanįk (< wasanįkiži), "beloved" (both sanįk and wasanįk are marked as questionable with this meaning by Marino, but sániñk, "beloved," is found in "The Nightspirits Bless Ciwoit’éhiga").

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

α β γ ε ɜ ζ ϑ λ ρ
égi éja -giži ésge -šaną -xjį -ižą žesge anąga hąké

ω ·נ K X -
žigé nųnįge Wažągų́zᵉra Waxopī́ni wąkšig -že, -še -ra

/ ᴗ̇ ·/ ⨪̊ ⨪ᵁ >
-ną -regi -nįk ire -kjé -nąk -nǫk (?) -nųk (?) -gają


Nota bene: the first line is the text of Winnebago III, #1: 155-157, which is the original interlinear text. The second line is the revised text employing the standard orthography of the Encyclopedia. It is guided significantly by Winnebago II, #5: 192-193, which is a revised typescript of the interlinear text. Where the interlinear text indicated vowel length, these values were restored to the revised text. The interlinear text has very little English translation, so guidance was sought in The Road of Life and Death, 165-166, although it is largely a paraphrase.


Winn. III.1.155* = Winn. II.5.192 = RL&D 165            
mañkā´ni[ϑ] wagixáwani[γ] djasgê´ hagi p‘iⁿṇáguni hire[γ´] [α] wiwéwîⁿ eā´nina djagú
Mąkā́nižą wagixáwanigiži, "Jasgḗ hagi pįnáguni?" hirēgíži. Égi wiwéwį̄ eā́nina jagú
A Medicine Rite man having sustained a great loss, "How I could do it to be good?"† he thought. And [mind] his what

* the top of the page has "1" written in the upper left, "151" in the center, and "155" in the upper right. The second and third lines read:

Iṣṭ Night

haⁿhe djobô´hôⁿ           Band E

† Winn. III.1.155 has as its original translation of djasgê´ hagi p‘iⁿṇáguni, "what's the best way to do it"; but above the line gives the more literal, "how could I do it to be good".


 

wewi´[⨪]ⁿk[γ] rokcî´[ζ] hogiwê´ hí[⨪]k[γ] wiwéwina djagu hiraníhera jédjûñga ruxúrukê´
wewinąkiži, rokšī́xjį̄ hogíwē hinąkíži wiwéwįna jagú hiranihéra. Žéjų̄ga ruxúrukē:
he thought, very deep [to go someplace] he was carrying [his mind] what he had. [Now] [he accomplished]

 


 

maiⁿ´hagᴇ[ᴗ´] tcaⁿt’iⁿ djîⁿbí[/]* [α] wiwéwiṇa ‘ŭañgᴇ[ᴗ´] [K] wiwéwina eówaréhi[γ]
maįhagᵉrēgi cąt’į̄ jį̄bíną. Égi wiwéwįna wągᵉrégi Wažągų̄́zᵉra wiwéwįna eowarēhígiži.†
on earth [to appear] [he placed.] And his thought above the Creator [his mind] he sent them.

* just before this word, djî is partly scribbled out.
† < e-howarē-hi-giži, the /h/ being lost in internal sandhi.


 

          RL&D 166        
wiwéwiṇa* ’ŭañgᴇ[ᴗ] [⪽] xêdê[-] hirakíwarê wowéwîⁿ hogiwê wahi[ρ´] [α] wowéwiṇa
Wiwéwį̄na wągᵉrēgi Waxopī́ni Xētēra hirakíwarē wowéwį̄ hogiwē wahiánąga égi wowéwįṇa
[Their minds] [up above] [Spirits] [the Great] each in turn his thoughts to go towards he made them, and then his thoughts

* the /ṇ/ has a vertical line through it.


 

maⁿk‘úhaⁿṇegi gisgaⁿ´ kirike´rê hi[γ´] hatcî´ndja hûñgê´ hi[ϑ´] xêdêáki wowéwiṇa [β´]
mąkuhą́regi gisgą́ kirikérē higiži, hacį̄ja hų̄gḗ hižą́, xētēáki, wowéwį̄ṇa éja
under the earth to penetrate he sent it by [he did, and] where [chief] a, the great one, his thoughts [there]

 


 

gidjêhí[2] [α] wogûⁿ´zotcí[-] tci[-] kísag[β´] haⁿbᴇra haγê´p hi[γ´]
gijēhížē. Égi Wogų̄́zocíra, cira kiságēja, Hąbᵉra hiraǧḗp* higíži
[they began to go someplace.] [Then] the Creation Lodge, [the lodge] [at the center,] Light and Life [to appear] it was caused, and

* the original haγê´p is revised in Winn. II.5.192 to read hiraγê´p‘.


 

[α] [X][ᴗ´] wowéwîⁿ howare´hi[γ]* wawéwîñgi mañka´ni genaí[ζ]
égi wąkšī́gᵉrēgi wowéwį̄ howarḗhigiži. Wawéwį̄gi Mąkáni ganaį̄xjį̄
[then] [among humans] his thoughts and desires he dispatched. [Having thought] Medicine Rite [very much]

* just before this word, horawe occurs.


 

  Winn. II.5.193            
añga [ ·נ] horâ´k hiwe´wina ep‘îñ[>´] haⁿb[-´] watcogí[ϑ] hiradjíwina [ⳡ]
ągḗ, nunīgē horā́k hiwéwiną. Epį̄gáją. Hąbᵉra wacogižą hirajíwiną. Hąkḗ
[it meant,] but it can be said he thought of me. It is good. Light and Life [a great one] [it came amongst us.] [Not]

 


                Winn. 3.1.156      
ṇé[ɜ] waigi’úni[>´] dj[ρ] waki´karadj[-] dj[ρ] hitcoákiju´môñg[-] [<] [X]ho-îṇa
néšąną waigi’únigają janąga wakíkárajᵉra janąga hico-ákižumągᵉra gają.* Wąkšīgo’į́na
we only did he do to, but [all] [our relatives] [as many as there are] [I am together with] [.] Life

* Winn. II.5.193 has djanαⁿga.


hiranañ´kik’îⁿ´kdjawi[-] howaré[-] [X] haîⁿje´dje[-] hanaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] hináwi[>´]* tcinaⁿīⁿ´ nisgê
hiraną́kik’į̄́kjawira. Howaréra, wąkšīk ha’į̄žejéra, hanącį̄́xjį̄́ hinawigáją. Cinąį̄́ nisgē
we thought ourselves in connection. [Sure enough,] [life ?] I am enveloped in (?) [all] we think.† Try to live [it seems]

* after this word, a word is scribbled out.
† Radins translates (or paraphrases) this as, "We are all enveloped in life as a consequence." (RL&D 166)


 

[⨪ᵁ][-´] haⁿb[-´] hokê´wê iñgi´gire[-] ep‘iⁿ[/] haⁿb[-´] hakikárap’ókdjawi[-] kiniñké[-]
ną́gᵉra. Hąbᵉra hok’ḗwē įgígirera.* Epįną.† Hąbᵉra hakikárapokjawira. Kinįkéra#
that they are. Light and Life to enter into they made me. It is good. Light and Life [we will accept (?) our own.]‡ Wolf

* < hįgígirera, the /h/ being lost to external sandhi.
† Winn. 2.5,193 has ep‘îñgádja. However gádja is [>], whereas [/] is -ną.
‡ the stem of this expression is kipo or kipok, where ha- is the first person, -wi-, plural; -kara- is "one's own"; -kja, the future tense. Cf. kiponisge, "agreeable." Nisge means, "like, kind of, nearly," making kipo-nisge mean "kind of agreeable." Therefore, kipo might mean something like "to accept." So the sentence might mean, "We will accept our own Light and Life."
# rendered as k‘inîñk‘eî´ra in Winn. 2.5.193, with the translations in Winn. 3.1.156 having "[wolf ?)] and RL&D 166 having "wolf (?)". That this does in fact mean "wolf" can be seen elsewhere in Jasper Blowsnake's Medicine Rite: 1, 2, and 3 ("a very white faced kinikéra"). Ki may mean "enemy"; -nįk means, "little, small"; -ge means, "kind, species"; and -ra is the definite article. So kinįkera may have meant, "the little enemy," inasmuch as wolves would hang around kills hoping to grab a morsel.


 

sga[ζ´][ϑ]* hikúruzizî´k djire[२]† djagu´-i[ϑ] wihiñ´[·/´]gi‡ hakara´ni wa’ŭ´añk[२]
sgaxjį̄́žą hikuruzízīk jirežē. Jagúižą wihįkjanegi hakaráni wa’ŭą́kšē.
an exceedingly white one stretching itself it started by. [What(ever) one] he's going to smoke with he had with him he was.#

* Winn. 2.5.193 has only sgaxdjį̄́ⁿ. Three or four words following this in Winn. 3.1.156 are lined out with a wavy line.
† inserted here with a caret above the line.
‡ above the ·/ is written "dje or djane".
# "he did it" seems more appropriate within the range of meaning that this expression has.


 

hitcûⁿcge gekaraj[꜏]a haⁿbidaíuṇa tcikiraj[β´] hiru-ê´ dji[⨪̊]gi´gi hadji´
Hicų̄šgē gikarajirera Hąbitaí’ųra ci kiságēja hiru-é jinągígi, hají
Nephew he whom they call the means of asking for Life lodge at the center of he opened up after he placed it, he went

 


 

tawe´[२] haⁿb[-´] hanîndji[⨪][२] [α] naⁿ´borêhi djire´[२] naⁿ´hûñgra hā[-´] hikirúwê´k hi[२]
cawéžē. Hąbᵉra hanįjínąkšē. Égi nąbórēhi jirežḗ. Nąhų̄gᵉra* hārá hikirúwēk hizḗ.
towards it. [Light and Life] he secured. [Then] to handle it [he began.] The Chief of Trees bark to crumble with [he did.]

* below this word is "oak" with a circle around it.


 

[α] danihu[-] hoju[ρ´] da-e´ hi[२]* [α] dani´hu[-] da-e´ hi[२] djobô´haⁿ raγo´djigugí‡ haⁿ´b[-]
Égi tanihúra hožuánąga ta-é hižē. Égi tanihúra† ta-é hižē. Jobṓhą raǧójigugi, Hąbᵉra
Then the pipe he filled to light [he did.] [Then] the pipe to light [he did.] Four times when he drew, Light and Life

* after this word a phrase of four words has been lined out with a wavy line.
† Winn. 2.5.193 has only danihú.
‡ ᴗ is lined out and gí. is written above it. Followig this, several words are lined out with a wavy line.


        Winn. 3.1.157*      
      Winn. 2.5.194      
sga[ζ´] hiwapúru djirehis’á[२] [α] hidjobíhôⁿna ṇaγotc[>´] c’akdjîⁿ hoṇañkícigᴇnísgê
sgaxjį̄ hiwapúru jirēhis’ážē. Égi hijobōhąra naǧocgáją, š’ákdjį̄ honąkíšīgᵉnisgē
the whitest [steam clouds] [it would repeatedly start.] Then the fourth time he drew it, very old like leggings†

* at the very top left corner is the numeral 3, and at the upper right is the numeral 157. Between the numerals at the top of the page is,

hoxáraraírâgi ≈ hoxáraxára is old form for hokárakára
      loose                                                           loose

below this, centered, is "183".
† RL&D 166 has "moccasins"; Winn. 3.1.157 has, "wearing mocassins, like" but written above "macassins" is "leggings". Elsewhere in Jasper Blowsnake's Medicine Rite, honąkíšigenísge is translated as, "stockings".


 

nañkê´ra[ɜ´] hi’yaⁿ´wazázadje[२´] [α] dj[ρ´] tciōj́ua´ki hanaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] hīⁿ´ṇe[२]
nąkérašąną, hiyawazázaježé. Égi jánąga ciōžuáki hanącį̄́xjį̄ hį́režē.
the back only hair sticking here and there. Then all the inside of the lodge entirely [it passed through.]*

* the sense used here seems to be that recorded by Susman: "to pass by (over there), to pass through a small space"; cf. "to go through, to go to" (Miner, Helbrecht-Lehmann).


 

kâro´tihi´wi[-] djasgêga[⨪´]re [λ´][ζ]ⁿ hanaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] códjoju dji[⨪][२´]
Kārokēhíwira* jasgēgánągᵉrē žesgḗxjį̄, hanącį̄́xjį̄ šojožu jínąkšē.†
[Our grandmother] [as he walked along] its length and breadth, the whole haze of this smoke [it had come in possession of.]‡

* just before this word, a circled word (Ma’uⁿa ?) has been lined out.
† Winn. 2.5.194 has codjodjudjínañkcê.
‡ Winn. 2.1.157 has, "it became filled with." The translation that fits best (the one given here) is found at Sam Blowsnake's "The Twins Visit Their Father, v. 1."


 

[α] [⪽]ṇa dj[ρ´]ki hanaⁿ´tcîⁿ[ζ] pōnana´ horupônai´ṇegi rogûⁿ´ djinôgire[२]
Égi Waxopínina, janągáki, hanącį̄́xjį̄ pōnā́na horupōnaíregi, rogų̄́ jinągirežē.
And the Spirits, everyone, [all] the smell when they smelled, to be filled with longing they became.

 


 

[X][-] ea´ni [X] īṇekdjône´[२]‡ hitcûⁿ´cge gikara e[२´]
Wąkšī́gᵉra* e-áni, wąkšī́k hirekjanežē, Hicų̄šgē gikarájirera, éžē.
[The men] having it,† [human] [they will be,]# Nephew he whom they call, he said.

* Winn. 2.5.194 has wañxcî´gera.
† "having it" is written above "with it".
‡ the initial /h/ was lost to external sandhi.
# the transation of Winn. 3.1.157 has, "they'll live with theirs." RL&D 166 has, "Life they had, but they desired more."


A smoking ritual takes place at this point in the accout, and not being part of the story, is omitted here as well as in the original texts.


 

RL&D 167        
c’agiahi´wi[-] tci[-] [X]io´gimîñgir[ρ´] tcio´kisa´genaⁿjîⁿṇa hodazób[-]
Š’agiahíwira círa wąkšīgíómį̄giranąga Ciokisagᵉnąžį́na, hotazóbᵉra.*
Our distant grandfathers the lodge laid there with [Life], and He Who Stands in the Middle of the Lodge, [the blaze.]

* Winn. 2.5.194 has hodazo´p‘.


 

[ⳡ] rotcaⁿ´ naⁿjiⁿ´ṇégi higihi´hi naⁿzîñ´[γ] [α] maⁿni´na hawedjiⁿ´[⨪´]k[γ] [α] [ω]
Hąkḗ rocą́ nąžį́regi higihíhi nąžį̄gíži égi mąnína hawejį̄́nąkiži. Égi žigḗ
Not steady he stood, but stirred, trembling* he stood, and [then] walking† as one who was dreading. And [again]

* Winn. 3.1.157 has "stirred," RL&D has "trembling".
† Winn. 3.1.157 has "one (?) walking" with "winter" written above it. RL&D reverses this translation.


 

tcaroxi´wi[-] [ⳡ]aga´ wapîñk’uinani woru´djirega tcaroxíwi hirasa´ rudji[⨪̊´]ki rucdjaiⁿ´ṇekdjé[-]* [α]
caroxíwira hąkagá wapįk’uinani warújirega, caroxíwi hirasá rujīnąki rušjaįṇekjēra. Égi
drandruff not fixing theirs when they eat, dandruff [also] that they were eating that they may quit. [And]

* a line connects this line of text to this comment: "They never combed enough if they ate anything, some of this would drop in the plate."


 

                 Winn. 2.5.195
[⪽] tcitca´bire[-] wiruagídj[-] hóxararai´[ᴗ]* hiwogi´radjas
Waxopī́ni cicábirera wiruagijᵉra hosararaírēgi, hiwogírajas†
Spirits their lodge the sinews that bind together the poles when they worked themselves loose, we will tighten them

* see the comment at the top of the page.
† < hi-wa-ho-gírajas.


                   Winn. 3.1.158*        
hînt’e´kdjawira jêdjaiñ´[ζ] p‘îñkik’úîṇekdje´[-] [α] [ω] c’agiwahíwiri[ϑ] wasge´[ϑ]
hį̄t’ékjawira. Žējaį́xjį̄ pį̄kik’úirekjera. Égi žigé š’ágiwahiwirižą wasgéžą
we will do it by speaking. [From then on] they will make themselves whole. [And] [again] [an ancestor of ours] a plate

* at the very top left corner is the numeral 4, at the upper center is 184, and at the upper right is the numeral 158. Below the center number is written:

*    referring to mourning i.e. he had had trouble
i.e. one who was a member is dead (his plate is turned
upside down) now is loved and is going to eat out of it

This note applies to the line directly below.


 

woru´djôñki hakárac’ûⁿ´ kiridje´[γ] nîñkdjâñ´k wesa´niki´[ϑ] woku´rudji´kdje[-] [α] [ω] wanîñk
worújąki hakáraš’ų̄́ kirijēgiži nį̄kją̄́k wasánikížą wokúrujikjéra. Égi žigḗ wánį̄k
that he's eating in upside down that it fell, child a beloved one that he might eat out of it. [Then] [again] bird

 


 

x‘u´ra pamôñ´ku kiri[⨪̊´]k[γ] jêdjônai´[ζ] haⁿ´bᴇ[ᴗ̇] wañga´gi’u´na guci´cdjônôngi† wanîñk
xúra pamą́kukirinąkiži, žējanaíxjį̄ Hąbᵉnį̄k wągági’una, gušíšjaną́gi, wanį̄k
the skin bowed and lowered is the head, but very soon Light and Life he made us,* in three days from now,‡ bird

* RL&D: "[it] will be brought to us".
† the text has ñgi with nôngi written above it.
‡ Winn. 3.1.158 and Marino have this word translated as "the day after tomorrow"; RL&D 167 has the translation given here.


 

x‘u´[-] haⁿbiro´djôⁿp kirin[aⁿ´]djikdjé[-]† [α] mañka´ni wošgâⁿ´ p‘îⁿhi´[ϑ] niñkdjôñ´k wasániki´[ϑ]
xúra hąbᵉroją́p kiriną́gikjēra. Égi Mąkáni Wošgą́ pį̄hížą, nį̄kjąk wasánį̄kížą
the skin as he views the day* it will become. [And] Medicine Rite member a good one, child a beloved one

* Winn. 3.1.158 adds, "(it'll sit up)". RL&D 167 has, "upright, erect, it will become again".
aⁿ´ is omitted.


 

wocgôⁿ´na hanio´kika´wa’ûⁿkdjôna´rê [X]o’îⁿ hagixíri wai´re[·/´][-] hicgê´ [λ] hiⁿwë´[·/]a´wi[>´]
wošgą́na haniókikawa’ų̄kjanárē, wąkšīgo’į̄ hagixíri wairekjanéra. Hišgḗ žḗsgē hį̄wekjanawigają,
the rite who is going to arrive, Life to cry for him they will say. [Also] [again] [when we will say,]

 


 

c’agihiwi´[-] wocgâⁿ´ p‘îⁿhi´[ϑ] xawáni[γ´] [X]o’iⁿ oicdjô´ne[-]* haxíri hire[·/´][-] hicgê´
š’agihiwíra wošgą́ pį̄hížą xawánigiži, Wąkšīgo’į̄ hoišjanéra haxíri hirekjanéra. Hišgḗ
[our elder] rite member [a good one] if he has departed, Life he leaves behind to cry for they will do. So

* an initial /h/ has been lost to external sandhi.


 

[X]o-îⁿ haxíri wë[·/]a´wi[>´]
Wąkšīgo’į̄ haxíri wēkjanawigają.
[Life] to cry for [they will utter it.]

 


Source:

Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 165-166. Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago II, #1: 175-177 (handwritten phonetic text); Winnebago III, #1: 155-157 (the original handwritten interlinear text); Winnebago II, #5: 192-195 (typed phonetic text).