Hotcâk Text -- Waterspirit Bluehorn (Brave Man)

The MS has a very large "11." written just to the left of the title. Written vertically, just a little lower in the left margin, is "Story no 2.". The MS is written throughout in a very clear hand.

This MS is one of Radin's oldest. Its orthography is unlike anything that he used thereafter. I have converted the orthography of the MS into that used by Radin in his published works. The original MS is not a true interlinear, but a sentence by sentence running translation. It seems to have been based upon an earlier text, apparently written in a very sloppy fashion. In many cases /i/ and /e/ are switched (jige > jege, giji > gije), indicating substantial confusion between these letters, a phenomenon more likely in print than in speech. This conclusion can be reinforced from the occasional confusion of /g/ and /j/ which is common in handwriting from this time and place. However, the sounds represented by these letters are respectively the hard /g/ and /dj/, which have little in common and are almost never confused in speech; yet we find a number of instances in which /g/ and /dj/ have been switched. Therefore, the confusion must have arisen in a written source. This source is also characterized by the frequent use of the letter /r/ after /a/ to express /â/. Sometimes an /r/ is placed before an /n/ to better represent the true sound of the /n/. Both of these orthographies are commonly found in the work of the German missionary Jacob Stuki (see source [b-G] in the bibliography of the Hotcâk Lexicon). There is some good probability, therefore, that the original transcriber (who may have been the raconteur) was educated in that missionary school or its tradition. Another oddity is that /r/ is used as if it were a vowel, and is used to stand for /'a/, e.g., /srje/ for /s'aje/.

Stylistically, the raconteur has a uniquely eccentric use of double conjunction made by suffixing the last word of the first clause with -(h)anâga, followed by égi, both meaning "and." He also uses de-e to mean, "and," an unheard of use of that word, which normally means, "this; this one." The rare word uñke is used more than once to mean "not" (for hañké ?).

In the following text, brackets, [...], indicate an insertion made by the editor (Richard L. Dieterle).

English Translation

Header --

Worag de-e Waktcexi Hetcoga e Horagc[a]na
Story this Waterspirit Greenhorn* he told this

*the word tco denotes that part of the spectrum embracing both blue and green ("bleen," "grue"). The deity to which the translator here refers to as "Greenhorn" is ever after called "Bluehorn" by Radin.

p. 1 --

Edja tcinâg hijâ nâgce, airena.*
There village a was [= lay], it is said.

*written as ariena.

Egi Hotcâk tcinâg hijâ hereje,
And Winnebago village a it was,

airena.* Egi Dexede anâga hiroroku edja
it was said. And "Large Lake" called [some distance from it]

*written as ariena.

hañke harixdjîni edja hereje. Jig[e?]
not far the place it was. [Again?]

wañgcik hoinagi* edja hañke hiroharexdjînije
people they originated where not [very] far

*spelled as hoinnagi.

wa'ûnâgahe tcinâg kanâgnañka. Egi higû
it was village [it was erected]. And [yet]

mani hokahi mani seretcî wagigora
winter every winter all through feasts

unâgce. Edja hot'ûnûb hicak gije
they made. There two fireplaces [?] [?]

edja wañgcigra hakewe tciwije. Wañgnunîkra
where people six lived. An old man

hitcarwina hakarikecunâga egi hinûkhirera hikunara
his wife [lived together] and and their daughter her husband

harenâga egi hijâ hinîknîk higec?
[?] and and one little son [?]

egi hinûknañka hijâ kinubgice djedjenaga
and the daughter's one brother this many (?)

tciwije. Egi jegû ûnâgce egi
lived. [And] thus they remained and

hotcîtcînîk djega tcowe wañgra wikisk[e]xdjî
boy the nearly man [just like]*

*the translation has "as big as."

nûnîge hoicip hotcîtcînîk xununîkra cgatc* hirega
but whenever the boys [small] would play

*written as shgah.

p. 2 --

hijâ wakiju* ûdjes'aje.** Hanatcixdjî
one with them [they were doing it]. [All] the rest

*written as "wakisu."
**written unjesrshe.

wewitcce nûnîge wa'ûjeje jegû. Wocgara waxdjaniskce,
he was taller than but he did thus. His actions were rather funny,

jegû hañke wañgcig wa'ûnâgre. Jesk[a]nije.
[so] not humans he was like. [He was done.]

Hahi, wañgra harnadj wewitccenûnîge wa'ûdjeje:
Finally, the men [all] he was taller than, but he did thus:

mâhipekunûg hijâ hanegi je-e hakarenenaga
broken pointed knife a he always carried (?) [that one] he would use (?)

wakicga djega mâ wagiûdjes'aje. Egi
[to be with] [the standing one] arrows he would make. And

hagorejâ wañgnunîknañka wecguni, "Egi hinikhaxdjî,
one day the old man said, "Now my son,

egi hiwagigocuna* haregedjni. Eske, nicna
[now] we always give a feast it is time. Therefore, [?]

*written as hiwagigoshunna.

hotcîntcîntci hitcakoro* waraga kereponadanixdjî**
boy friends relatives thirty

*written hicharcoro.
**written a kerepnna danixji.

ragikarâhenaga egi honanûbhaxdjî hahiratciwigi. E
you can invite and and two days travel you can go out. They

hotcîntcîna nakekaranâga e wanihijâ pinikrahisga
the boys can hunt [and] they an animal of good flesh

t'ehirenanaguni, hirewahanagcuna," eje.* Wañgnunîknañka jeske
they might kill, I think is why I say this," [he said]. the old man thus

*spelled eje.

p. 3 --

egiji hinikhiranâga, "Howe!" Hitcakoro* nahira
when he said the son said, "Ho!" Friends his

*written as hicharcora.

wagikarahanâga egi hitcorohorenâga hanexdjî hajikarareje.
he invited and and they got ready and early in the morning they started out.

Wañgnunîka hinikra e watcocuje. Namâtce
The old man's son he led them out. Warclub

raharanenâga egi hidjnara* higuraxnighiranâga
he carried and and the others kettles and

*spelled hijnnara.

wajâjejeskehareregi wakarakhinreje. Hagoraje, hahixawanenaje.
things of that kind carried. Finally, they disappeared in the distance.

Egi wañgwacocuga* hinûg tcarapra hinig higije
Then the leader's sister [?] boy [she had ?]

*written as wangwajoshuga.

wakarageje. "Hinighaxdjî, hidekragacge wanakesera hijâ
[she carried ?].* "My son, with your uncle** the hunt one

*hinig higije wakarageje, is translated as, "said to her boy ..."
**mother's brother.

nânikce hijâ girukawa nihe peranigagu,"
[little] wood a gather [to continue] [you should go along ?],"

higeje hiunina. Hotcîntcîn waxdjanañga wagareje.
she said to him the mother. Boy funny she said to him.

"Egi waguni." "Egi hiunga, dedjeguni,"
["Well,] go on." "Well mother, I will go,"

anâga. Mâhipekunukra cana* hakaninâga jegû
he said. His broken pointed knife only he took and [so]

*written defectively as shna.

waruxaje de-e. Hagoraja, wañgnañka hijâ
he chased after them [this one]. Finally, of the men one

hadj[a]nogadjâ* de-e wañg hijâ hijanakhuheje.
looked back [this one] man a coming on the run.

*written in the MS as hajnogaju.

p. 4 --

De-e ask[e]djigagu wagorcuka hicûskera wa'ûgce.
[This one] when he got near the leader's nephew it was.

Egi wiradjagi hidekra wecguni, "Egi
[And] when he reached them his uncle he said, "[Well]

epina radjira." Jegû egruhanehara'û. Hagoreje,
it is good you came." [So] they went on. Finally,

edja hahinâje hionige patcot'û hiranâga
there they used wood dry to build a fire [they did] and

hotcîntcîn djega jegû nâraroh[a]n[a]xdjî ku-dakhanâga*
boy the [thus] much wood he gathered and

*spelled ko-drkhanaga.

egi haîseradj* padjra woikawa'ûje. Eske,
and all night the fire he replenished.** Therefore,

*written as huseraj.
**the translation adds, "with wood."

hañke dasakheranije.* Egi hanihenûbhagije
not they did not get cold. Then the second morning

*written as drsakheranishe.

jege hagirkarareje egi hambsaradj
again they started on and all day

jege ûhanihara'û. Hoxdjanagije jegû edja
[again] they traveled. It was evening [and so] there

jegûedja jedjuñga* hiwuc[a]reje. Egi jegû
[at the end] [finished] they stopped. And [so]

*written as shejnga.

hitcûskehiredjega xawipatcanâga tcihijâ* ûje. Egi
the nephew cut some grass and a lodge built. Then

*written as jhihishe.

nârarohâna* kudakhanâga** jegû wajâna*** harnadj
a lot of wood he gathered and [so] things all

*written as nararohn.
**written as kudrkhanaga.
***written as washena.

hirucdjânahinâga* egi jegû wapanagu
ready and and [so] [he] waited

*written as hirujn hinaga.

dee. Hagoreje higu hokawas hirucdjânaxdjîgadjan*
[this one]. Finally [still] darkness [when they were ready]

*written as hirujnxjigajn.

hakariruhe. Tcarxadexdjî hijâ hanihakeriregi hikecreranâga
they returned. Big deer a they brought back [...] and

egi wohunaje udj[a]un haga hohûna
and they dressed it finally in time they boiled it

dutciregije warutcireje. Egi rudjuregije, mîgh[i]reje
they got it cooked and ate it. And after they had eaten they lay down

egi hotcîñgtcîndjega hidekra e hakarikisu* mîgca.
and the boy uncle his [he was with him] he slept.

*for hakarakiju.

Hanadj nahiranûnîge hotcîntciñga hañke
All to sleep but the boy not

naniñgce. Jegû hikimîg hanâga tcirop
he was not asleep. [So] he lay awake and the door

wesiwiñgu de-e. Hagoraje, wañgcig hijâ
he watched [this one]. Finally, man a

tciropra hadjiruxunâga waworuxce. Egi hotcîntcînañgre*
the door raised and peeped in at them. Then the boy

*written as hojinjinngre.

wanakawagce eske hidekra ruxîkhanâga wañghijâ
was frightened so his uncle he woke up but [a man]

hadjaga hogiraknûnîge jegû wogidekhanâga jege
[he saw] [he told him] but [so] he got angry and again

jegû nadjireje. Higûjege hinûbhana hadji
[therefore] went to sleep. Again the second time [he came]

wañgcig djega jege woruxce. Higû
person the again looked in at them. Immediately

jege hidekra ruxîk hanâga hogirakce.
again his uncle he woke up and told him.

p. 6 --

Jeskûnîge jege wogidekce. "Guwa, kora!
But even then [again] he got angry. "Ah!

hananaina de-e djaguhic wa'ûgce?," e-je. Jegû
I try to sleep [this one] why does he do thus to me?," he said. [So]

jege nagireje. Jege hidanihare wañgcig
again he went off to sleep. Again the third time person

djaga djigije jege hotcîntciñga hidekra
the [when] he came again [the boy] his uncle

kuruxîk hanâga wageje, "Hidekhaxdjî, dejesgûnegi
he woke up and he said to him, "Uncle, this time

hiñgisgicna heredjenena," higeje. Jeskanûnîge jege
nothing will do [to do it]," he said to him. [Thus he did] but again

nagireje* hidekhiraka. Jegû jege tciropra
started to sleep his uncle. So again the door

*this is written as najireshe.

wesiwiñgu jege de-e. Wañgcigra nûbpiwi
he watched again [this one]. Persons two

hadji hois'înwije.* Jegû higû hamb
came peeked in. [So] just before daylight

*written as hoisnwishe.

hikohoniskce. Eske jegû hotcîntcîna ineki
[?]. [Therefore] so the boy alone

gijikorohoje. Mâhi pekunukra e-canâ hakarenihanâga
was going to flee. Knife blunt nothing but he took and

egi wiskanikce iñgije. Jejegû hira
and a white blanket that he wore. [Again] these only

hakanihanâga jegû gisce ukirigadjan de-e
he took and as he went along [he came back] [this one]

*written as ukirigadjn.

nâxa pox hijâ edjag gije
log hollow a there was [so]

edja jegû hokixadjañke* hokeweje. Jegû
there [thus] feet first he went in. [So]

*written as hokixajnke.

p. 7 --

edja uñg'û. De-e hirarexdjîgag'û hambhakirigag'û.
there he lay. And after a short time it became light.

De-e hohobrire wañxguje. De-e hambra
And whoops he heard. And the day

horoxgag'û de-e wanwuhidjeje egi wanakewegi
he looked out at and it was snowing and he was afraid

jege jegû horudjipce. Hagoraje de-e
again so he got within. Finally here

jegû nûbpiwi kiruxa hahureje. Homîghañka
[thus] two of them chasing one another they came. He lay

edjaxdjî hadji hijâ gisakhiraje. Jesknûnîge
where [he came] one was killed. But

jegû gisawexdjî mîgha'ûje. Jegû xenag'û.
[thus] very still he lay. [So] they made much noise.

Hagoreje, xapgunirece. Jesknûnîge jegû edja
Finally, they quieted down. But [thus] there

uñgce. Jedjâga hakarareguni hiregi kika
he remained. Finally, they came away he thought [so ?]

wa'ûnâga hijâ t'ehirega edja higadjâ
[he did it ?] the one was killed where he went

de-e nasura tcucgunigce de-e waira
and head he was without and blood

honîdjâghi hahihoroxdjî. Jege jegû hog-hirenihega.
[he lay in it] much flowed from him. Again [thus] he looked at it.

Edja higadjâ jegû wañgcig wakisu
There he went back to [so] the people he had been with

djinihera hanadj hoera nâgce. Nasura
the camp all scattered about they were. Heads

tcucguni wa'ûnâgce. Howe hanadj woruxgadjâ.
they were without [they were]. He went [all] he looked them over.

p. 8 --

Hidekra uñke nigehakdjanije. Jegû edja
His uncle [not] [he could not] find where. [So] there

najihanâga wawewidja'û weje, "Kora! egi
he stood and [while] he was thinking he said, "Well! well

hidekhara xawânigadjâ hanihakarecguni, jegû
my uncle since he is not here they must have taken him along, so

waduxedje," eje. Hotcirega edja hagiwadjegije,
I will chase after them," he said. The camp at [after traveling there],

wokihanâga warugce* egi rusdjagije jegû
he boiled for himself food and when he was through eating, [so]

*this should be warudjce.

naguxede himb hiregije edja hiodjeje
big trail [it lay] they had made there [he did]

waruxera. Jegû hamb sarag* uniheje. Hagoreje,
he followed. [So] all day he chased them.** Finally,

*this should be saradj (for seretc).
**this probably means "he continued."

de-e wadjare hijâ de-e hodutcuxedexdjî
[this one] he saw one* and [very] big warparty

*wadjare hijâ is translated as "he saw them in the distance."

hijâ wa'uñgce. Jegû wironag uniheje.
a it was. [So] he followed them he continued.

Hagahoxdjanâgi edja pedjhot'ûhanâga* edja nahikuhoreje.
When it was evening there they built a fire and there went to sleep.

*written as pejhotuhranaga.

De-e hotcîntciñga hidekra hedja rusgitci
And the boy's uncle there bound

hanî unâgce. Askenîk hahiwo'ûixnâgce. Dasaknagnanunige,
they had [they did]. Near he sat watching them. Although he was cold,

uñki pedjwaje hot'ûninâgce. Egi hiperashiredjinegedji
he did a fire he did not build. And as they would discover his presence

p. 9 --

gedjine eske rokani'ûnâgce. De-e hirarexdjegadjâ
[that is why] therefore he was without it. Then after awhile

ara wagiruska hiranâga egi pexesoxsox
his hands the bindings they loosed and and gourd

hijâ hanigigira nâga. Egi wa'ûghini
a they gave him [they]. And [I was acting]

kicireje egi wacinâga nawanra hiwa
they made him [then] Prisoner's Dance and* the song he started

*this is the Prisoner's Dance, but wacinâga means only "the dance."

añgadjâ hitcuxge hirenâñka hikcra rokarnaweje
he arose nephew [he did] laugh very much

djekgedjâ jeskenûnîge hahi hidekra natcokaragidjage
on the start but finally the uncle he pitied him very much

hahi xikgije. Djexgedjâ hitcûxgehiranâñka dekgaga
after awhile he wept very much. On the start the nephew thought the uncle

wagigowadjeske, wagigohaehinâgra hiregadjâ. Hahi wacihiguhi
he was giving a feast, they talked about a feast as they did. Finally, as he danced

wagdjege hipereje. Eske nadjhogidjaje. "Hidjawawadedje,"
[?] he knew. So he pitied him. "I will go over there,"

hiregaskejege uñke unis'aje.* Hahi, wawageje,
he would think [not] [he did do it].** Finally, he said to them,

*written as unisrje.
**uñke unis'aje has been translated as "but he would change his mind again."

"Nawinane." Wawigegadjâ hiske nahireje. Jege
"Go to sleep." [After he said this to them] [some] they did go to sleep. [Again]

wigegadjâ, jege hiske nahireje. Jege hidanihana
[having] said it to them, again some went to sleep. Again the third time

wigegadjâ, jege tcowe* hanadj** nahiranaje.
[having] said it to them, again nearly all of them went to sleep.

*written as jorwe.
**written as harnj.

p. 10 --

Jege hidjobarhana wawigegadjâ jedjaga harnatcixdjî*
[Again] the fourth time [after] he said it to them this time all of them

*written as harnjjhixji.

nahireje. Egi jege higije hidja
went to sleep. Then [again] [when] he went over [there]

howareje hidja higije hidekra wageje,
he went there when he got there his uncle he said to him,

"Hadjinâ dekga," higije. "Djagu egi
"I have come uncle," he said to him. "What [then]

curadjeje? Hodjicna waragigo waju radjes'are,"*
were you doing? [Hardly] feast [to put, place] [to eat],"**

*written as rajesrre.
**this last sentence was translated as, "were you giving a feast?".

higeje hidekra. "Uñkarja* wa'ûghini wa'ûhidjenâ.
he said to him his uncle. "No! I was acting [the role ?].

*written as unkarsha, and standing for hañkaga, here exhibiting what appears to have been a confusiion between a /j/ and a /g/ in an earlier version of the MS. See above.

Wonâghiredja warukoshirega jegû hiwagigiracununâ,"
In war when one is taken prisoner [thus] they always make them do,"

higeje hitcuskra. "Egi hitcuxge higirusk[dj]anane."
he said to him his nephew. "Now then nephew untie my bonds."

"Anûnîge kene* wajâ wagurnâga, egi
"But wait until something I do to them, then

*probably for k'enî, "not yet."

nigeduskdjena," higije. Egi wañgnañka wapahi
I will untie you," he said. Then men's weapons

waniregije harnatcixdjî* howewagiruje. "Higirusk[dj]anane," hidekra.
he took all he went around. "Untie me," uncle.

*written as harnjjhixji.

Anagnûnîge jegû jege waînasge wagudjerasge
But instead [thus] [again] blankets, also moccasins, also

harnadj* sto wahihanâga hanadj* hirarudjedja
all placed them together [he caused them to be] and all [to one side]

*written as harnj.

p. 11 --

wâsuje.* Egi jegûga, hidekra giruskeje.
[he piled them up]. And when he had done thus, his uncle he untied.

*hirarudjedja wâsuje is translated as "carried them away."

Egi wagigoje wañgnañka hiske hakiriregi
Then [the host] the man also [when] they went about

hisdjasura wamâdjodjoxce. Jege hiske hakiriregi
their eyes he burst. [Again] also when they got back

<
jege jeke wagigije. Egi dasakhiregijegû
[again] [?] he did it to them. And as they were cold [so]

hakirigi najenâgi jegû harnadj* jege
[when they got back] as they stood around [so] all [again]

*written as harnj.

wagigije. Egi nûbkira hodahije. Nûbhadjega
he did it to them. And two of them he spared. These two

nâtcawara* ixhura wamâgidjaje. Jegû wagigihanâga
their ears lips he cut off. Thus he did and

*written as najjawara.

egi kerewagigije. "Ragiwigi wajâ djawinâ,
and sent them home. "When you get home [something] you must do,*

*wajâ djawinâ is translated as "you must say".

'Wañgwacocega e hijâ djawinâ'," wigeje.
'Brave Man he the one he did it to us'," he said to them.

"Jegû hihanâga." Wagudjera egi wapahira
"Thus you must say." Moccasins and weapons

wawokarakaje. Egi jedjiga* kerewagigije. Uñke
he gave them back to them. And [then] he let them go home. [Not ?]*

*apparently for jedjuñga.
**interpreting this as "not" (for hañké) makes the sentence self-contradictory. It is not translated at all in the text.

nasura wamaxga hiranâga egi nâxununikra
heads they cut off [they did] and and small sticks

nûbpiwi edja wawirosgha hiranâga egi
two there they tied them [they did] and and

p. 12 --

jedjiga hadjâha karareje. Egi ûhanihara'û
then they went home away. And they traveled on

hagoreje tcinâg hokanaghirega. Edja hagireje.
until finally village they reached. There they got back home.

Egi Wañgwacociga djagungije tcinâgnañka harnadj*
And Brave Man what he had done the villagers all

*written as harnj.

nuxguhireje. Egi jeskanûnîge jegû ûhanihareje.
they heard of it. And but [so] they remained there.

Jegû hâmbhokahi mâ ûnâgs'aje.* Hagoreje,
[So] every day arrows he would be making. Finally,

*written as unagsrshe.

egi, worakra djije, "Hodutcihije tcinâg
[then,] the report came, "A warparty village

hasenina wiradjirena," aireje.* Jeskanûnîge de-e
[?] has come," they said. But [this one]

*written as arieashe.

tcimâ'ûna uxnâgce. Jegû djadjinadja rohaxdjî
to make arrows [he did].* [So] even now many

*this is probably for ûnâkce. The translation has "he continued."

t'ehiragi nije, jeskanûnîge, higû mâ'ûnagce.
were killed he continued, [however], still making arrows.

Wañgnâñka jege djadjinadja worakra jegeje
A man again [now] a messenger [again]

jegûga hihinabhanâga hahi nâtcikereheregi* edja
[when he had done this] he went out and [he went] against a lodge pole there

*written as nashikereheregi.

hakikawarsk najihanâga kisara woruxdjeske. Ûdja'û,*
he leaned [he stood] and the battle he looked on at. Finally,

*while it is hard to read, it is apparently written as ujiu.

p. 13 --

de-e wañg hijâ naghunaga Wañgwacocega
[this one] man a came running up Brave Man

hikcgunu.* Hikixwadjkra** hirodjîje. Nânajikeredjaga
he stood smiling. Metal pointed warclub he struck him [with an object]. Against the lodge pole

*hikca, to laugh, smile. This is written hikshgu u.
**This seems to be defective, as /xw/ and /djk/ almost never occur together.

edja hapagi hikixwadjkra gekunik*
there he hit the club broke

*apparently for gikûnûk´, "to break something having length in two by striking, leaving a clean break."

rahije.* Djobaha jege gigihireje. Egi jedjiga**
[as it went by]. Four times thus they did it to him. [And] then

*apparently for rahéje, "as it went (by)."
**apparently for jédjuñga .

wogidekgi. Hohob hanâga wat'ûpce. Hijâ rokanaga
he got angry. He gave a whoop and rushed for them. One the great

ruxanâga hahihoxeregi, hicdjara wamâdjodjoxs'aje. Jegû
he would chase and when he caught them their eyes he would burst. Thus

wagi'ûdjiregi. Wañgcig e waninigra t'ewahinâgce
he began to do to them. People him [belonging to] they were being killed

ûdja'û. Hahi, harnadj* t'ewahireje. De-e
they were. Finally, all were killed. Thus

*written as harnj.

keratcohijâ* wañgcig[e]dja wañgcig uñgije. Dedjege**
a blue sky to live among the humans he did. [In this way]

*written as keradjorhisha.
**this is written as dejege, and doubtless stands for déjesge, "in this way."

hidje,* airenâ.** Wañgcigsaknigra airacununâ worak
[he did], they say. The old people say stories

*written as hije, and likely stands for hijé, "he did."
**written as ariena.

de-e horakhirega.
[this] when they tell.

English Translation

Source:

Paul Radin, "Wak'tcexi Hetcoga (Waterspirit Bluehorn)," Winnebago Notebooks (American Philosophical Society Library) #66, Story 2, pp. 1-13.