Turtle and the Giant

narrated by Charlie Houghton

interlinear translation by Oliver LaMère

English Translation

p. 160 --

"Hâhâ´ hitcakáro, hâp dée wawagáx níñgi-'uñkdjanènâ uáñgerutcgè
["Yes] [my friend,] today writing I will make for you Giant

pî´na," e wairénâ. Hâhé wigaíregi é weje, aírenâ.
a good one," they said it. Moon they called him he said it, [they said.]

É dée wanáñkitciñxdjînèje aírenâ. Uañgerútcgenòñka wéje,
Him this lived very close with them they did [they said]. The Giant said,

"Hitcakáro, uáñkcik rúdjere ro-águnâ." "Hitcakáro, jésge
"My friend, people go eat I wish." ["Friend], that kind

ragí Mâ'úna hiñké wañgaípinikdjanènâ." éje, higuâ´sgaxiri
if you do Earthmaker [not] will not like it." he said, but anyhow

p. 161 --

húje. Jédjuñga djigíji uáñkcik hokinínâìñgadjâ Ketcúñgega
he came. Now when arrived people he was trying to look for but [Turtle]

hakiránañga, mâhí akíp'ahira hik'uánañga, kisákdjî rukonokhìreje,
fought with him, with knife two edged used it and, in two they cut him,

aírenâ. Uañgerútcgedjega nâsúra gixuxgádjâ. Worúcigra hokíratcî
[they said.] That Giant his head they broke open. Wampum all kinds

nâsúrogra hoixdjî´dje, aírenâ. Ketcúñgega hanâ´tcî ruzánañga
inside his head it was full, [they said]. [Turtle] all took it and

p. 162 --

dódjera hoíxdjî, nâpíñgije, aírenâ. Ketcúñgegàcanâ uañgerútcgera
his throat, neck full, wore it home, [they said]. Turtle only the Giant

wikcakcás'aje, aírenâ. Mâ'úna e 'uñgigíje aírenâ.
he used them anyway, [they said]. Earthmaker gave him that power, [they said].

English Translation

Source:

[1] Charlie N. Houghton, "A Story about Turtle and a Giant," in Paul Radin, Notebooks, Winnebago III, #9, Freeman #3894. (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) 160-162.