Hocąk Text — The Precepts of Charles Blowsnake, Part II

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake

Winnebago V, #6: 131

English Translation

As is the case with a number of other Radin interlinear MSS, this text is full of abbreviations for common word terminations.

α β γ ε ɜ λ ρ
égi éja -giži ésge šaną žesge -ánąga

τ ϕ ω R X 2 ɕ
-giži hąké žégų hokizura? wąk(šik) -že -xjį

9 ᴗ ᴗ̇ - ⨪ / ·|
-(i)žą -regi -nįk(a), -nįg(a) -(ᵉ)ra -nąk -ną, -na -kjane

Where a missing translation has been supplied from other sources, it is enclosed in brackets, [ ].



Winnebago V, #6: 130      
sákerêγáñgrê [λ´]dja warogí warup’î́[⨪]rê [λ][β´]
Sákereǧą́gᵉre, žesgéja warogí warupį́nągᵉre, žesgéja
The one in charge of warfare, that kind who are good cautioners, this

 

 

warúdjiṇánihékdje wokếp’îⁿ rúdjiránihekdjê jigiañkế [λ]áninicgê tciók‘ság[β]
warújinánihékje. Woképį rújiránihekje. Žigiąké žesgáninišge, ciókságeja
they will eat. A good dish they will eat. [Again not] if that is not it, in the middle of that

 

 

          page 131*
warúdjiránihék’djê [λ] wírokarapúnuṇê [α] djagú-iniñgánañgᴇrê [λ]
warújinánihékje. Žesge wírokarapų́nųne, égi jagú-inįgánągᵉre žesge
they will eat. [That kind] they speak of,† [and] what they are telling you [that kind]

* at the top of this page it reads, "(ask Oliver)", a reference to Radin's translator, Oliver LaMère.
† wírokarapų́nųne actually means, "they have trophies (of battle)."

 

hironígûñgê [ε] [λ] hihóniñk’únañgrê wahanáñk[ɜ] [α]
hironígųge, ésge žesge hihónįkúnągᵉre, wahaną́kšaną. Égi
I would like to have you do, [therefore,] [that kind] I am giving you, I am saying. [And]

 

 

[ω] wejáⁿ djaguágᴇrê hanấⁿtciⁿ witcáⁿt’iokerágire[2´] dê waha[⨪´]rê
žegų wežą́ jaguágᵉre haną́cį wicąt’įokerágirežé. Te wahaną́gᵉre
[then] [a talk] whatever there is all they tell it to each other plainly. [This] I myself am saying

 

 

[ϕ] wipáⁿγᴇnína djádjiga wiwaⁿγadjê hîñgé[-] [α] hitcókêráwiga
hąké wipą́ǧᵉníną. Jájiga wiwąǧaje, higérą, égi hicókeráwiga
[not] I never asked of them things. My father he asked for them, he said to me, [and] your grandfather

 

 

[β] wiwáñxwirê [X] dj[ρ´]ñgᴇrê hanáⁿtcîⁿ[ɕ] djasgé [X]’î́ⁿṇega
éja wiwą́xwire. Wą́gᵉra janągą́gᵉre haną́cįxjį jasgé wąkšik’į́nega
[there] you ask further things. Men [as many as there are] [all of them] how they live

 

 

wikáwañxir[ρ´] êáñkaga haicíri ninanî[·|´][/] wiwáñxwirê
wikáwąxiránąga eą́kaga haišíri ninanikjanéną. Wiwą́xwire
they should ask for that, and they never to get stuck they will not get you. You ask further things

 

 

nîñkdjốñgᴇniⁿgaⁿxdjíⁿwinaⁿ [ϕ] wejáⁿ hoinîñgê hirokíragí[9] herení[/]
nįkjįǫ́gᵉnįgąxjį́winą. Hąké wežą́ hoinį́ge hirokígižą hereniną.
my children. Not [a talk] ordinary a preaching thing* [it is not.]

* the translation adds, "[i.e you must learn it.]".

 

nîñkdjốñg[-] hi[9´] wogíxederë́cgê [ϕ] hoinîñgê hokirágirani[2] waíre[/]
nįkjǫ́gᵉra hižą́ wogíxeteréšge, hąké hoinį́ge hokirágiraniže, waíreną.
Child a if they love, not for nothing they won't tell him,* they said.

* a line runs from "they" to a note at the bottom of the page which reads, "[ie you have to fast all night day & then they'll tell you]".

 

hagâré[9] hijáⁿ wang-î́ⁿtcûñkiridjégi wiwáñγiré[·|][/] wiwáñγi[ᴗ]
Hagaréižą hižą́ wągį́cųkirijégi, wiwą́ǧirékjeną. Wiwą́ǧiregi,
Sometime one when he came to his senses, they are going to ask you. When they ask,

 

 

wogízokdjîⁿ wawogíragiádjê dégi* wahokú[/] racdjé [α]
wogízokjį wawogíragiáje. Tégi wahokúna rašjé, égi
very holy you must tell them. [Over there] he who is preaching he quit, [and]

* ’wañk is written just before this word.

 

                             page 132
’ŭañk hokú[⨪]a* ’ŭañgí[9] wagá[⨪]ra ŭañgᴇnu[⨪]a [β]
wąk hokúnąka wągižą wagánągᵉra. Wągᵉnunąka éja
men they are preaching to a man they are speaking to. The old men [there]

* hôkecge is written before this word.

 

wiwáñx hí[/] wé[/] tcoká djádjiga [α´] wip‘áñγikdjê
wiwą́x hiną. Wena, "Coká, jájiga egí, wipą́ǧikje,
he went and asked [he did.] [He said,] "Grandfather,* my father [when he spoke,]† I should ask,

* above the line it says, "vocative gr-father".
† the translation appears to have the word "told," but it is difficult to make out. This is from e, "he says," and -gi, "when."

 

êrá ’ŭañkcî́go-î́ⁿwîgi djasgê [X]î́ⁿwîgi yapérêz roágu[/] náⁿdjorágidj[ρ´]
erá. Wąkšígo-į́wigi, jasge wąkšígo-į́wigi, yapérez roáguną. Ną́jorágijánąga
he said. The life we have, how we live, I know I would desire. Bless me, &

 

 

woíṇagicaragíkdjêgi c’unañgi* c’ûⁿnáⁿ[2] é[/] higéna wa-ináp[ɜ]
woínagišaragíkjegi, š’ųnągi, š’ųną́že," éną. Higéną, wa-inápšaną,†
if you will tell me, if you do it, you will do it," [he said.] He said to him, he was thankful,

* the text has, woíṇagicaragíkdjêgi|c[’uṇánañgi], with c’unañgi written above the brackets.
† wow is written before this word.

 

’ŭañgᴇnú[⨪]a hisgế wacé[/] é[/] wáx[·|] wiwáñγᴇ[⨪]a
wągᵉnúnąka. "Hisgé wašéná," éną, "Wáxjeną." Wiwą́ǧᵉnąka
the old man. "Right you said," [he said,] ["It will be told."] He who is asking

 

 

’ŭañgᴇnu[⨪´]a re[-´] p‘îⁿ’ú[/] rohí’u[/] rorá
wągᵉnuną́ka rená, pį’úną. Rohí’uną. Rorá
the old man [he is going,] he took care of himself. That he did. [His body]

 

 

hanáⁿtcîⁿ[ɕ] horuk‘ísonaⁿ aígi djagú[ɜ] ru-itcaⁿṇégi hanáⁿtcîⁿ[ɕ]
haną́cįxjį horukísoną. Aígi jagúšaną ru-icanégi, haną́cįxjį
[all of it] [he had wrapped up.]* [Then,] [whatever] he is going to eat [all of it]

* for horukisąną. The translation is rather odd here: "he led a good life & had no scar of any kind".

 

tciógijú[/] [ω] cûñgámi[⨪] gigí[/] [α] dé[τ] hiránihé[/]
ciógižúną. Žégų šųgámįnąk giginą. Égi tégiži hiránihéną.
he placed in the tent. [Then] to ride horseback* he gave him. [And] [this] they had been doing.

* the translation has, "horse on back". The word with the meaning given here is found in Miner (cf. šųk hamįną́k, "to ride horseback" in Helmbrecht-Lehmann; and šųkhamįnąkra, "to ride on a horse" in Jipson).

 

wiwáñγ[-] [X]o-îⁿ djagúi[9] hererá hikaráwañxgi [α] hagâré[9]
Wiwą́ǧᵉra wąkšígo-į́ jagúiža hererá, hikaráwąxgi. "Égi hagaréžą
He asked about life what kind it was, when he asked them. "Then [in time]

 

 

nîñkdjôñgrac’úiṇegi [β] dếê hinêñgárê jegu-îⁿcé[·|][/] djagú
nįkjǫgras’úįnegi, éja tée hinegáre žegu-įšékjaneną, jagú
when they raise a child, [then] [this] what I've told you that way you're going to say it, what

 

 

onîñgídagᴇre hagâré[9] hinîñpérêziregi[2]† niñkdjôñgrac’úîṇegi [β´] hârók
onįgítagᵉre.* Hagaréžą, [hinįpéreziregi,] nįkjǫgraš’úįnegi, ejá harók‡‡
I've told you. [In time] when they know you,‡ when they name a child, [there] you together

* an initial /h/ has been dropped due to external sandhi.
† the [2] (= že) does not make sense here, as the translation begins the clause with "when ...", and clearly the sentence does not end at this point. Also odd is the occurrence of /ñ/ where /ⁿ/ should be.
‡ the translation adds, "i.e. the information".
‡‡ page 132 verso, near the top, has:

hârok = to marry (used by woman)
konok = "     "     (   "     "        man)

 

                  page 133*          
nikanáñginekdjôné[/] howaré[-] [ϕ] wo-eániṇédjîníñgi wiwáñγi[9] wac’áṇadjéra
nikaną́ginekjonéną. Howaréra, hąké wo-eáninéjinįgi, wiwąǧižą waš’ánajéra.
they'll set you down with them.† [As a result,] not you'll have thus to say, and‡ one who asks you are.

* at the top of the page is written, "[Be careful not to confuse naⁿ meaning doubt with nąñk]".
† at the top of the page, connected to this phrase with a line, is, "i.e. with the big men".
‡ at the top of the page, a line connects to this: "i.e. you won't be like a dummy".

 

[β] djagú icánañgíji p‘îñ[ɕ´] kera’ádjê [α] nîñkdjôñgenîñgᴇnôñk‘í ’ŭañgᴇniñgrá
Éja jagú išánągíži, pįxjį́ kera’áje. Égi nįjǫgᵉnįgᵉnǫk’i wągᵉnįgᵉrá
[There] [what] you may say, [very well] you must say. [And] a little child male

 

 

hijé[ᴗ] [R]* ṇatcapgí† [α] dā́niragihî́ñgi [α] wohôⁿṇa‡
hižéregi, [hokizura?] [ragicapgí,] égi tánįragihį́gi, égi wohǫna
if he be, offering [if] you possess, [and] if you smoke his tobacco, [then] [kettles]

* this has -ra written above it.
† the text has nagitcáp‘í, but there is a line connecting it to the top of the page where it says, "[(illegible) - ṇatcapgí]". However, ragicápgi is found in Marino with this meaning.
‡ wiruh is written just before this word.

 

rak‘arac’û́ñgi* [α] nîñkdjôñk tcêγᴇnína hijế[ᴗ] cûñgrájra
rakaraš’ų́gi égi nįkjǫk ceǧᵉnína hižéregi, šųgᵉrážᵉra
you will make, and [and] child a young one, new born [if he is,] [dog name]

* the text appears to have, rakoni ’ûñgi, but there is a line connecting it to the top of the page where it says, "[(illegible) - rak‘arac’û́ñgi]".

 

wírak‘aracícîgra hijógiragádjê cûñgerac horagícaraíkdjinéga cûñgᴇrájᴇ[⨪]a
wírakarašišigᵉra hižógiragáje. Šųgᵉraš horagíšaraíkjinéga, šųgᵉrážᵉnąka
there you think much of one of them you give him. [Dog name] you're going to tell it, dog names

 

 

djagŭa’ûⁿwaí[ᴗ] hanáⁿtc wogízokdjîⁿ hogirákdjîandjê [ϕ]iárajóp’*
jagua’ųwaíregi, haną́c wogízokjį hogirájiąje. Hąkiáražóp
what they mean by them, [all of them] very carefully tell them fully. To open your mouth too wide

* a line connects this word to a note at the bottom of the page: "| i. e You are not speaking things you don't know anything about." Below this it says, "(ijáp (StCyr)".

 

wajáⁿ aniandjê [γ] cûñgᴇrác hogirai[·|]ga cûñg ’ŭañg[-] hijé[ᴗ]
wažą́ aniąje, giži. Šųgᵉraš hogiraikjanega, šųg wągᵉra hižéregi,
something don't say [.] Dog name he who will name him, [dog] male if it is,

 

 

waragế[·|][/] naⁿgídjega hígedjéna wakandjánañgᴇrê nani[9´] hodjáⁿp‘iréga
waragékjaneną, "Nągíjega," hígejéną. Wakąjánągᵉre nanižą́ hoją́piréga,
you will call him, "Yellow Tree," he must call him. [The Thunderbirds] a tree when they strike,

 

 

náⁿdjega zirá djecônú[·|] ā́b[-] cëká nánañgrê wakandjá
ną́jega zirá ješonúkje, abᵉra šeká. Nąnągᵉre Wakąjá
that tree yellow it looked, the leaves they get withered. These trees Thunders

 

 

  page 134        
wodjû́ⁿbirega higŭấna[ɕ] cếgir[ρ] zídjidjénañk[ɜ]* e cûñgráj[-]
wojų́birega, higuánaxjį šégiranąga zijijénąkšaną. E šųgᵉrážᵉra
when they strike them, very soon they'll rot, and they become discolored. It dog name

* just before this word, the text has, zízi.

 

je[λ] wagế waíre[/] naⁿzídjega ewairé[/] naⁿzídjega
žežesge wagé waíreną. "Nązíjega," ewaíreną. "Nązíjega,"
[that kind] that they mean they say. ["The Yellow Tree"] they say. ["The Yellow Tree"]

 

 

cûñgráj[-] ewairé[/] [α] nîñkdjốñgᴇ[ᴗ̇] rac’ụ́ⁿîṇega hinuñgᴇ[ᴗ̇][-]
šųgᵉrážᵉra ewaíreną. Égi nįkdjǫ́gᵉnįk raš’ų́inega, hinųgᵉnįgᵉra
dog name they say. [And] [children] when they name, [the young female]

 

 

hijé[ᴗ] rac’u-iⁿnegí [α] ’ŭáñgoni sdohir[ρ´] hidjórok
hižéregi raš’ų-įnegí, égi wą́goni stohiránąga hijórok
[if she is,] when they name her, [and] band* they gathered, and amongst them

* written above this word is, "[brave men]".

 

nîkanáñgᴇ[ᴗ] hoit’êt’éra nak‘ara’ế curucdjô´ñgi [α] cûñk raj[-´]
nikaną́gᵉregi, hoit’ét’éra nakara’é šurušjǫ́gi, égi šųk ražᵉrá
if they place you there, speeches saying them when you finish, [then] [dog] [the name]

 

 

higᴇ́k’ŭándjê cûnginâñk raj[-´] waragékdjenaⁿ hogínû́k‘a higekdjé[/]†
higék’uą́je. Šųginųk ražᵉrá waragékjeną. Hogínąka, higekdjéną.
you give her.* Female dog [names] you will name. "Stays-in-her-place," she must be called.

* "you give" is written above, "dog name".
† this word is preceded by hisagếkdjê.

 

cû́ñgᴇ[ᴗ̇]ra hi[9] nihí[γ] [α] wonáγire kikáradjra [α] hû́ⁿdjikikáradj[-]
Šų́gᵉnįgᵉra hižą nihígiži. Égi Wonáǧire Kikárajᵉra égi Hų́j Kikárajᵉra
Little dog one if she possessed. [And] [War] [Clan] [and] [the Bear Clan]

 

 

regónina* [α] hicgế ’ŭáñgoni hidjané[⨪]a hanáⁿtcîⁿ[ɕ] hoit’ết’era djagú
Regónina égi hišgé wą́goni hijanénąka haną́cįxjį hoit’ét’era jagú
the Wolf Clan [and] [also] clans other [all of them] speeches what

* written in smaller letters above the line is, | wonáγire kikáradra [α] hû́ⁿdjikikáradj[-] regónina.

 

airanáñgi kinîñk‘ếhi kara aíranánaⁿ [α] hanáⁿtcîⁿ cûñgráj[-]
airaną́gi kinįk’éhi kara aíranáną. Égi haną́cį šųgᵉrážᵉra
they would say, each [listen] they would say to them. [And] [all] [dog names]

 

 

            page 135
hi[9][ɜ´] hagirágiranấnaⁿ nîñkdjôñk ’ŭáñgᴇ[ᴗ̇][-] hijḗ[ᴗ] cûñg’ŭáñk raj[-´]
hižąšáną hagirágiraną́ną. Nįkjǫk wą́gᵉnįgᵉra hižéregi šųgᵉwą́k ražᵉrá
[only one] they would tell him. [Child] [little] male [if he is,] male dog [the name]

 

 

hijók’ūciⁿnanána [α] nîñkdjôñk rac’ú[⨪]a hinugᴇniñgra
hižók’ušįnanáną. Égi nįkjǫk raš’únąka hinųgᵉnįgᵉra
they'd ask him to pick him one. [And] [child] they give a name to* [the girls]

* this is written above the Hocąk line. The English line reads, "name they give".

 

hijë́[ᴗ] [ω] cû́ñginûñk rac’ú[⨪]a* hi[9][ɜ´] girucdjaⁿ ṇehiranấna
hižéregi žégų šų́ginųk raš’únąka hižąšáną girušją rehiranáną.
[if he is,] [then] [dog] [the name] [only one] they'd ask him to pick him one.

* before this word is written, radj-´, with ra written above it.

 

[α] dêéji jegûñkíra hodák[ɜ]
Égi teéži žegųkirá hotákšaną.
[And] [this] [that's all] [I tell.]

 

Source:

The original text is in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago V, #6: 130-135. An English translation was published in Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: Bison Books, 1990 [1923]) 128-129.