Hotcâk Text -- The Seer


Two pagination systems are represented in the MS by the numeral "131" in the upper left hand corner within a box, and the numeral "1" in the upper right corner. Centered at the top of the first page is,

6.

The Seer

wajâ´dja wórak

This is its title ("Story of the Seer"). Two lines below this the text begins with each sentence numbered and each paragraph indented about 40% of a line. The text is in single spaced Hotcâk only. It is written in pen, probably in the hand of Paul Radin. The handwriting is clear and with very good definition.

The translation is very loose, so there are a great many words whose meanings had to be supplied form other sources. These are indicated by being placed inside brackets, "[ ]".


English Translation


p. 1 = 131 --

Wâk-híjâ
edja
dé-híjâ-nâkgi
hadjági,
hogizókdjî
A man
there
[a lake having sat]
[when he saw it,]
very holy one


dénâka
karahiésgexdjî`je.
Xe
nic
hitcgís
this lake
[it appeared very much to be.]
[Hills]
shores
[perpendicular]


jesgédja
mínâkce,*
nícnâka
hihákra
wazi
[in that way]
[they lay,]
[those shores]
[the surface]
pine trees
*the text has mínâkje. Generally, where -je follows a consonant, the text has been corrected to read -ce.


hajúirera.
Wâ´kdjega
dénâka
horuxútc
nâji-ánâga,
they abounded.
The man
this lake
watching
he stood and


wéje,
"Dénâke
wogízokdjî
de
wákâtcâkiàre;*
he said,
["This (?) lake]
must indeed
lake
[it is a sacred one;]
*Radin adds the following after this word, "[wakâtcâk-hijâ-here ?]".


waxopíni
warátcire
djaxdjî´jâ
de
e
spirits
various
who
lake
it


hirukonâkgi
hiréje.
Nîgíji*
preside over
they did.
Over this place
*Radin adds after this word, "-[nîge-ji ?]". I take it to be for nîge-giji.


hirukonâk-gìji,
waxopíni
warátcire
xedéxdjî
being in control,
spirits
various
extremely powerful


wajâ
wa-âkgúni.
E
náîxdjîra
waitcekgéje;
thing
[they must be].
I
[wish that]
I were young again;


dégi*
hâdáginâtc-ànâga**
yapéresnâ'î`nâ."
Egi
wéje,
right here
I would fast and
[I know I would try."]
Then
he said,
*Radin adds after this word, "[de-égi]".
**Radin inserts with an arrow after this word, "[hâde-haginâtc-]".


"Djagú
hihádji?
Hinîk-hára
egi
hâdáginâtc
"What
am I saying?
My son
here
fast


hagigíkdje,"
hiregíji.
Jegû
kerejé.
Gi-giji
I shall make him,"
[he thought.]
Then
he went home.
As soon as he arrived


wa'ûjé.
Hijâ´-hinîk-hìgi
hâdáginâtc
hotcí-hijâ
gi'û´je,
[he did it.]
One for his son to stay
to fast
[a lodge]
he constructed,


dénâka-èdja.
Égi
hakarajíxdjîje,
anâga
egi
[at this lake.]
And
[he strongly encouraged him,]
and
then


gúji.
Mâni
séretcî
edja
hâdáginâtc´.
[he, at least, went back home.]
Winter
long
there
he fasted.


p. 2 = 132 --

Hokaráicdjahigàcge
higû
hâké
wejâ-hijâ*
hipéresnis'àje.
He would come to see him, but
as yet
not
a single thing
would he not know.
*Radin inserts after this word, "[hâké-wajâ-]".


daníhâ
edja
hâdaginâtcgi
hotcîtcinîkdjega
Year
three
there
having fasted,
the boy


núnige
hâkagá
wajâníji
hâdeníji.
Mâ-hidjopóhôra
but
[never]
not anything
he did not dream.
During the fourth year


jédjûga
jigé
hidjá
hâdaginâtcgi,
hagoréjâ,
[then]
again
there
when he fasted,
[finally,]


karáicdja
higi,
dja
nîgák
naranicéje.
to see him
he came,
father
the son
[he remained with?].


Higéje,
wéje,
"Djádji,
gádjûga
wajâ´
He addressed him,
he said,
"Father,
at last
[something]


yahâdénâ.
Waxopíni
éji*
nâpiruxátc
djop-hîgidánâ,
I have received.
Spirit
however
offerings
four he asked for,
*presumed to be for eci.


daníra,
mâcû´ra,
cû´kre,
tcahásgere,
de,
tobacco,
feathers,
a dog,
white buckskin,
these,


jénûga
hîgidánâ
egi
néwini
satcû´kdjanénâ,
and then
he asked for
and
[it is I]
the fifth will be,


nâpiruxatc
giji."
Wâknúnîknâka
wa'inâ´pnîkra
rókonaxdjî`je.
[offerings]
(.)"
That old man
expressed his gratitude
[profusely.]


Wenâkdjanáre
edja
hâ´pra
mâgirátcce.
"Jédja
[When spring comes]
then
the day
he named (when) it was to take place.
"There


de
wakâtcâ´kregi
híjâ-hirukònâkgi
hátcakdjanèje,
higénâ.
lake
this sacred one
the one who is in control
I shall behold,
I was told.


Édja
nâpiruxátc
wacini
radjikdjénâ,"
higegi.
There
offerings
yours
you are to bring,"
[he said to him.]


Gipî´ra
rokonaxdjî´je,
egi
kerejé.
Homanátcga
Happy
very much,
and
he went home.
The appointed day ("a marked day")


here-gíji.
Nâpiruxátc
hidjá
wanidjíje.
Égi
it was.
Offerings
[there]
they were taken.
[Then]


here-gíji,
dénâka
horapíni-djirèje.
Égi
tciwî´ra
[having done it,]
[this lake]
began to be in a turmoil.
And
the noise


rokonoxdjî´je.
Égi
wajâ´-hijâ
hiwahádjîpga.
"Nâkiréji
it was tremendous.
[Then]
[a thing]
it would emerge.
["There it is,]


heregúni,"
hiregácge,
"de
hâké
jesge-hánis'àje."
[it is, perhaps,"]
he thought,
["this]
[not]
[that way it would not be."]


p. 3 = 133 --

Hahí
rokonoxdjî´je.
Waixgíra
djanâgáki
hanâ´tcîxdjî
[They reached there]
very many things.
[The attendant beings]
[as many as there were]
every one of them ("everything imaginable")


tcâ´t'îkirèje.
Hahícge
nâ'û´sdera
hixíxi
haghép
they appeared.
Finally,
burning log
smoking
there rose


djîdjîpiréje.
Egi
harucdjâ´
djikéregadjâ
egi
they suddenly appeared.
And
it had subsided
when it completely
and


jedjû´ga
hadjáireje.
Hûgé
sgaxdjî´-hijâ
herejé.
and then
they two saw it.
[Chief]
a very white one
it was.


Égi
Wakdjexínâka
hâké
mâhí
himâjéje
And
this Waterspirit
not
knife
ordinary


pîranis'áje.
Esge
wakcútc
mâhí-hijâ
kiku-ánâga
it cannot be butchered.
So
red cedar
a knife
he made himself and


jée
Wakdjexíhike
kik'û´gi
hikara'û-ánâga
Wakdjexi-áka
this
[Waterspirit - difficult (?)]
[he caused it to be done]
[by means of it he did his own, and]
the Waterspirit


mâjéjeje.
Egi
wirok'û
kik'û
djireje.
he cut up.
And
weapons
[he made himself]
he began.


Ró-edja
nîgé
mâtci-ánâga,
"Dée
From its body
piece
[he cut off (?) - saying,]
"This


wartcgâ´
ha'û´nâ."
Egi
jigé
drink
I am going to make."
And
again


nîgé
mâtci-ánâga,
"Dée
wónâghire-èdja
piece
he cut off (?) - saying,
"This
in war


hi'û
mâkâ´
duscánâ."
Égi
jigé
to use
medicine
[I am taking."]
And
again


wa'íra
hisgé
rus-ánâga
wasé
ha'únâ.
the blood
[some]
[he took and]
paint
he made.


Wâ´kcik
tcí-horokgèdja
wajâ´-hironâ`'î.
Égi
wâkcíkra
[Man]
in the midst of his lodge
[anything he wants (he may do ?).]
And
[the people]


woxéde
hírekdje
egi
hâké
wajâ´-hijâ
love
they would
and
not
a thing


hiruc'áknikdje
jésge
hik'û´je.
Égi
jigé
they would not fail to accomplish
this
[to use.]
Then
again,


wikâ´wâxra
hâké
wâkcikédja
he made bad medicine (poison)
not
person


nâtcgé-dek
hîpîníkdje.
Wâkciknâ´kre
je'e
heart-ache
they will not make fun of him.
[The man]
[that]


higic'ák-hirekdje.
Wâkcíkra-hijâ
t'ékdjegirèga
[he could abuse.]
One of the people
he could cause him to die


hâp
hatcíndja
mâkirátcga
édja
t'ékdje;
day
when
[drinking the medicine]
there
he would die;


jigé-hijâ
hawexdjî´kdje
higirécge
s'íxdjî
howajâ´-anâga
indeed
he would suffer
[to think of him also]
[very long (time)]
[he is sick, and]


p. 4 = 134 --

hawexdjînónâ;
hijâ
wowáîkdje
higirécge
wowâknónâ,
to suffer very much;
one
he could
[to think of him also]
make him crazy,


jéjesge
mâkâ´
kirusé.
Égi
hijâ´
this kind
medicine
[he takes away.]
Then
one


jige
wánâxi-howâgìkdje,
higirécge
jesge
hánonâ.
again
soul he would deprive,
[to think of him also]
[that kind]
[he could do.]


Egi-híjâ
jigé
mâharíxdjî
'únâk-hìcge
racra
Then one
again
very far away
[he did also]
the name


rátc-anâga
"T'ekdjéra,"*
écge
t'anónâ.
Jéjesge
to utter
"Let him die,"
[then]
he would die.
These
*after this word, two words are completely crossed out by a series of mainly verticle lines.


mâkâ´
edja
gûscánâ.
Wâknúnîkdjega
hâké
medicines
there
he made.
[The old man]
not


wajâ
pî´ra
rusníje,
wikâ´wâxràcanaxdjî
ruscé.
[anything]
good ones
he did not take,
just bad medicines (poisons) alone
[he took.]


Égi
jegû
híregi
nâpiruxátcra
Wakdjexi-áka
And
then
after he made
the offerings
the Waterspirit


nâ´piruxàtcirà-anâga
jégû
hiréje
gíji.
Wâknúnîkdjega
the offerings and
[then]
[he did it]
(.)
The old man


wéje,
"Hinîkáxdjî,
nâpiruxátcra
néhijâ
winékdjane."
said,
"My dear son,
the offerings
I one
let me be."


"Hicéra,*
'Djadjónagi
herekdjéje'."
"Djádji,
higû´-hagoréjâ**
["You said,]
['Whenever]
[it will be'."]
"Father
now in time ("when")
*Radin has this word conclude the previous sentence, where it seems not to make sense.
**immediately after this expression, Radin inserts the word as it was actually spoken: "[higuâ´gorejâ]".


nic'akdji-ánâga
hot'éra
hinîgíregi,*
egi
Wakdjexi-ákre
you grow old and
[the time is near for death,]
[it has come for you,]
then
the Waterspirit
*after this word Radin inserts the following: "[hinîgiregi?]".


[egi]
hanîkítcikdje,"
énâ.
''Horakíxapìkdje,"
wagéje
[here]
you and he shall be companions,"
he said.
"[I shall comply],"
[speaking to him]


énâ.
Wâknúnîkwaka
wénâ,
"Hinîkáxdjî,
higû´-higuóna
[he said.]
The old man
said,
"My dear son,
[still now]


waragécge
haipî´xdjî,
gadjerénâ."*
"Djádji,
hagoréjâ
[as you said, also]
indeed I should be satisfied,
[and so I am.]
"Father,
[in time]
*Radin inserts after this word, "[gadjâ-herenâ]".


cdjégi
de*
wakâtcâ´kregi
ratcíranicèkdjanènâ;
maîkídjâ
when you die
lake
this sacred one
you shall live;
the whole earth
*the original order, cdjégi de hagoréjâ, was altered by the appropriate proof reading marks.


mânâ´kre
djadjáîxdjî
pa
minâk-gíji
jedjáîxdjî
pa
it lasts
as long as
[that far]
[as you lay]
[thus far]
[that far]


edja
ranicekdjanènâ."
Égi
jéjegû
híreje
giji.
there
you shall remain.
[And]
[that way]
[it was]
(.)


p. 5 = 135 --

Wâkcik-édja
édja
hagíregi
wâknúnîkdjega
wákâwâxkèra
To the people
there
[when they went back to,]
the old man
[the witch]


rókonoxdjî`je.
Djánâga
nîkdjôk´
hikaracìcik
[he was very much.]
Wherever
children
especially beloved


hirèra,
mâhudjá
hije;
djánâga
they were,
he destroyed
he had;
wherever


wâkcikra
jáiragi,
mâhúdja
hije,
the people
if they were popular,
he destroyed them
[he had,]


wâknúnîkdjega.
Égi
hagoréjâ
hotcî´tcî
wajâdjádjega
the old man.
And
soon
young boy
[the seer]


Wakdjexi-ák
edja
gigú-hadjireje,
"Hi-â´tcráwiga
dejesge
the Waterspirit
there
[he beckoned him to come,]
"Your father
[thus]


hidjénâ?"
a-ánâga,
"hagidjâ´mîki
rughâ´djinehìje.
Wâkcíkra
is he doing?"
he said,
["curtain]
[they pulled.]
The men


nîkdjô´kra,
djánâga
káwâxga
hanâ´tcîxdjî
edjanâ´kce."
the children,
[all]
[the poisoning]
[everyone of them]
[there they were."]


Wakdjexi-áka
wéje,
"Dée
hâké
pinínâ.
The Waterspirit
said,
"This
not
it is not good.


Hi-âtcraga
rokáragighire.
Hâké
rucdjâ´iregi,
ini
[Father]
tell him to stop.
Not
if he refuses,
stone


'îkdjanénâ,"
higejé.
"Wajâgû´sra
jesge
hîgusnínâ,
he will be,"
he told him.
"The Creator
[in this way]
he did not create me,


Wajâgû´sra
huc'î´kdjane-gàdjâ,"
éje.
Ésge
the Creator
if this continues, he would be displeased,"
he said.
So


hinîk-híradjega
gi-gíji,
hi-â´tcra
rogíghije.
Nunige
[the one he had for a son]
[when he got back,]
the father
he begged him to stop.
But


wéje,
"Nîgák,
higû´
hakini-â´ipira
ke
he said,
"Son,
now
[they took - the wrist]
not


rucdjâ´
duxuruknínâ,"
éje
giji.
Haini-gádjâ
to stop
I cannot do it,"
he said
(.)
The next morning


wâknúwâkga
hâké
xgî´-nîge,
the old man
not
to move about - anywhere,


horuxútcire-gàdjâ
ínixdjî-â`kce.
when they looked at him
[he was solid rock.]


English Translation


Source:

"The Seer," in Paul Radin, Notebooks, Freeman #3899 [1254] (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago III, #19e: 1-5. An English translation is found in, Paul Radin, Primitive Man as Philosopher (New York: D. Appleton Co., 1927) 196-199.