Hotcâk Syllabic Text -- Mâznî'âpra (The Live Iron)

pp. 45-89


Pages 1-44

Pages 90-134


The Hotcâk Syllabic Script

The Hotcâk syllabic script is essentially an adaptation of modern Latin cursive script as exemplified in ordinary handwriting. However, several of the letters have been switched and further complications introduced. The following table shows what this script looks like in an idealized font --

 Hotcâk
letter
Non-script
version
Trans-
literation
 
 Hotcâk
letter
 Non-script
version
Trans-
literation
 
 Hotcâk
letter
 Non-script
version
Trans-
literation
 
 a
 a
i
 i
tA
 t
 
 l
 b, p
d
 j
 ttA
 tc
 
 dA
 c
 
 KA
 k
 oo
 u
 
t
 d, t
 m
 m
 w
 w
 
tt
 dj, tc
 n
 n
 xA
 x
 
e
 e
 o
 o, u
 y
 y
 
 K
 g, k
 lA
 p
 r
 z
 
 x
 gh, x
 s
 r
.
 .
 . ,
 
 A
 h
 rA
 s

As can be seen, a non-script (non-cursive) font can give a fair approximation to the Hotcâk syllabary.


English Translation


p. 45 --

di n K.
Ko sy se de.
de de rKe Ai s.
Jinâ´ka
koraireje.
Jejesgehira
The others
they marveled at him.
That way


so daK n Koo
w o Ki di.
e Ki
e tt
ny s n Ki di
ruc'aknâk'û
wa'ûgiji.
Égi
édja
nairanagiji.
not being able to do
when he did it.
Then
there
they stayed all night.


Ke
Ay ni Ki di.
A ttiy K sy se de.
di Ki ttA Ko so s.
Ge
hainigíji
hadjiakaraireje.
Jigitcakorora
And
the next morning
they went on again.
Again with his friend


A K s Ki do.
A Ke tt
o wi de.
e Ki
di Ke
e tt.
hakarakíju
hagédja
'ûwije.
Égi
jigé
 édja
with him
behind
they walked.
Then
again
there


p. 46 --

wi s so ttA tte Ki di.
e tt
di Ke
t ni Ao s
wo Kodo wi de.
wirarotcâdjegiji,
édja
jigé
daníhura
wokcuwije.
when it was noon,
there
again
their pipes
they filled.


t ni Ao s.
de Ko
A Ke
wi Koo Ai s ni de.
Ai ttA Ko so s.
Daníhura
jegû
hâké
wik'ûhiranîje.
Hitcakórora
Their pipes
this time
not
 they did not use.
His friend


p. 47 --

Ao Koo Ke
dA n.
Ai s Ki w se Ai oyi se ra de.
e Ki
hok'ûge
cana
hiragiwarehi'ûires'aje.
Égi
the one he handed him
that only
they passed around.
Then


di Ke
so dtt Ai se Ki di.
A ttiy K sy s Ki ni de.
di Ke
jigé
rucdjahiregiji
hadjiakarairagînîje.
Jigé
again
when they got through
they went again.
Again


Ao xtt n Ki di
e tt.
A Ai.
di Ke
Ao t.
hoxdjanâgiji
édja
hahí
jigé
hodá
in the evening
there
on at
again
some of them


p. 48 --

Ai soyo too s.
Ao ni
w diAi deAe.*
tto liAi wi.
di Ke.
hiróit'ûra
honî´
wacije.
Djopíwi
jigé
food
to hunt
he told them.
Four of them
again

*this should be spelled, w diAi de.


A Ai se de.
di Ki Ko
w K ri s.
Ai d
dA n
hahíreje.
Jigígû
wakâzíra
hijâ
cana
they got them.
Again
yellow snakes [rattlesnakes]
one
apiece


A niy Ai se de.
di Ke
tt Ko
Ai tt
Ai si d stt ra de
haniahireje.
Jigé
"Djagú
hidjâ
hiricaradjas'aje?"
they had with them.
Again,
"What
else
do you eat?"


p. 49 --

Ai Ky se de.
Aotto
e de.
wi ttA tii w wo Ki sK deAe.
higaíreje.
"Hûdj,"
éje.
Witcât'îwawogírakce.
they asked him.
"Bear,"
he said.
He described it to them.


Ko te
wo s ri ritti Ke
w K tte n.
e tt
Ai rKe
"Kodé!
worazizitcke
wakdjenâ.
Édja
hisgé
"Kodé!
a cricket*
he means.
There
some

*the translator adds in parentheses, "or smeller."


x xK
nK dA ny n.
A Ai
Ai d
A K Ko wi se
xaxak
naktcanainâ.
Hahí
hijâ
hagaguwire,"
were crying
awhile ago.
Go
one
get it for him,"


ay se de.
Ai d
A K ni A Ki si se de.
tee K s Ki se.
aíreje.
Hijâ
hagáni hakirireje.
"T'ekáragíre,"
they said.
One
they brought for him.
"Kill him for yourself,"


p. 50 --

Ai Ky se de.
di Ke.
Ki rA Ke tt.
higaíreje.
Jigé
kiságedja
they said to him.
Again
in the middle


m s
xA w ni se Ai de.
m s.
rA ni Ke tt
mâra
xawanirehije.
Mâra
sanîgédja
his arrow
he made disappear.
His arrow
on the other side


rA Ay se Ai de.
Ko s.
A K w d w Kotto liAi d
sahairehije.
"Korá!
hagawajâwagutcpîjâ,"
it flew on.
"Well!
what a good shot he is,"


p. 51 --

ay se de.
e Ki.
di Ke.
K w roAo no de.
so Ai s.
aíreje.
Égi
jigé
kawasunûje,
ruhíra.
they said.
Then
again
he broiled [his own],
the ribs.


A ni Ki di
di Ke.
A ttiy K sy se Ki di.
Hanigiji
jigé
hadjiakarairegiji.
In the morning
again
they started on.


Ao xtt n Ki di.
di Ke.
so tti se Kette s.
Hoxdjanâ´giji
jigé
rudjirekdjera
In the evening
again
their place to camp [eat]


p. 52 --

Ao ni
w diAi se Ki di.
Ai ttA Ko so s.
A s tti se Ki di
honî´
waciregiji.
Hitcakórora
harádjiregiji.
to look for
they were told.
His friend
was one of the appointed.


A K s Ki do se de.
e tt.
too se A Ay sy se Ki di.
e tt
Hakarakijureje.
Édja
t'ûrehahairairegiji.
Édja
He went with him.
There
they left him at a place.
And then


m i d
A tt Ki di.
m di s.
Ki x x de.
Ai rKe
mâíjâ
hadjâ´giji.
Mâjira
k'ixaxaje,
hisgé
a spring of water
he saw.
The algae*
he brushed aside,
some

*the translator has "fungi."


p. 53 --

s ttK Kette Ke.
e Ki.
e tt.
A Ai.
Ai ttA Ko so s.
radjgakdjege.
Égi
édja
hahí
hitcakórora
he might drink.
Then
there
at
his friend


A Ki tt d.
K tt
w i nl deAe
Ao Ao
Ai ttA Ko so
hakidjaje.
Gadjâ´
wa'înâpce,
"Hoho
hitcakóro,
he saw.
[And then]
he began to thank him,
"Hoho
my friend,


e liAi n.
A ttAi tt
Ae se de.
e de.
tt Koy d
epínâ.
Hatcî´dja
hereje,"
éje.
Djagûijâ
it is good.
Where
is it?"
he said.
What


w Ke Ki di
A Ke
Ai leAe se rini de.
tt Koy d.
e de.
wagégiji
hâké
hipereznîje.
"Djaguijâ?"
éje.
he meant
not
he did not know.
"What?"
he said.


Ai ttA Ko so.
s li d
tee s n
e de.
"Hitcakórora,
rabijâ
t'eránâ,"
éje.
"My friend,
a beaver
you have killed,"
he said.


A Ke
Ai ttA Ko so.
w d
o ni n
e de.
"Hâké,
hitcakóro,
wajâ
'ûnínâ,"
éje.
"Not,
my friend,
anything
I did not do,"
he said.


A ttA Ko so.
m K.
sl
w Ke se.
Ai Ki o s n.
s li d
Hatcakóro
mâga
rab
wakere
higi'ûranâ.
Rabijâ
"My friend,
the arrow
beaver
dung
it has on it.
A beaver


p. 55 --

Ai dee n.
A ttiAi tte se de.
e Ki di.
Ai m K sK deAe.
hic'énâ."
"Hatcîdjereje?"
egíji.
Himâgirakce.
you have found."
"Where is it?"
[he said.]*
He pointed it out to him.

*the translator has "then," which he takes as starting a new sentence. However, it is egixdjî that means "(just) then," not egíji.


Ai ttA Ko so.
ttAi Ae s.
K tt n Ke se n.
e Ki
"Hitcakóro,
tcihera
gadjânâkerenâ.
Égi
"My friend,
the top of the house
there is.
Here


Ai s leAe se.
lA di Ao A Kette n
e de.
e tt.
hirapere,
pajihohakdjenâ,"
éje.
Édja
wait for it,
I will scare it out,"
he said.
There


p. 56 --

Ai s leAe de
m i tte K e tt.
Ao doAo KiniKi
mi n Ki di.
hirapeje
mâ'îdjegedja
hoc'oknîk
minâkíji.
he waited for it
at the spring
a little mound
there was.


e tt.
A Ai.
n xiKi xiKi K tt.
Ko de.
e Ki
Édja
hahí
nâxkixkigadjâ,*
guje.
Égi
There
he went
he kicked on it,
it came.
Then
*Lipkind gives the menaing of nâxkixki as, "to brush lightly against with the foot again and again."


A Ki si A Ki xele deAe.
n tteKe
Ao mi nK
hagirihagighépce.
Nâtcgé
homînâk´.
it came on out.
To the heart
[it sat in].


p. 57 --

Ke tt o Ke se de.
e tt
tee Ai de.
e tt
Kii s n K.
Ketcûgereje.
Édja
t'ehije.
Édja
k'îranâga
[A turtle it was].*
There
he killed him.
There
they packed and

*this was translated as "he shot it." However, the spelling is consistent with ketcûge-hereje.


A Ki se de.
Ao Ao
e liAi n.
A K w d w d liAi
hagíreje.
"Hoho,
epínâ.
hagawajâwajâpî
they came back.*
"Hoho,
it is good.
What a good thing

*the translation adds " to camp."


Ai o wi n.
Ai ttA Ko so Ai Ai wi s.
liAi
Ai K tt.
hi'ûwinâ.
Hitcakórohîhiwíra
higádjâ.
we are doing.
Our friend
good
has done.


te de rKe
A K
Ai w tteAette wi de
ay se de.
Dejesge
hâka
hiwadjedjewije,"
aíreje.
such things
never
do we come to,"
they said.


p. 58 --

e tt.
Ao soKo.
w sotto deAe.
w Kette xiAi
sotto deAe.
Édja
horók
warutcce.
Wakdjexi
rutcce.
There
with them
he ate.
Waterspirit
he ate.


wo Ki roKo
ar
Ai s n i de.
e Ki
di Ke
Wogizok
'âs
hiranâ'îje.
Égi
jigé
Very
delicious
he thought it.
Then
again


Ay ni Ki* di.
A sy se Ki di.
A Ai di Ke
e tt
ny se Ki di.
hainigíji
haraíregíji.
Hahijige
édja
nâiregiji.
in the morning
they went.
Again
there
they camped.

*in the MS, the letter i looks like an e.


p. 59 --

K tt K
di Ke
e tt.
w K
so tts
Gadjâga
jigé
édja
wakâ´
rúdjra
[Finally]
again
there
snakes
he ate


Ao soKo
o de.
w Ki roKo
Ki liAi de.
e Ki
Ay ni Ki di.
horók
'ûjé.
Wagizok
gipîje.
Égi
hainigíji
with them
[he did].
Very much
he liked it.
Then
in the morning


A Ay se Ki di.
Ao xtt n K tt
A Ai se de.
e tt
hahairegiji.
Hoxdjanâgadjâ
hahíreje.
Édja
they went.
In the evening
they got there.
Then


p. 60 --

A Ai Aele li
wo dAy se de.
e tt
leAe tto too Ai se de.
hahihepi
wucaireje.
Édja
pedjot'ûhireje.
before they got there
they stopped.
There
they built a fire.


ttAi reAe se tti dK deAe.
e tt.
Ai noKo s.
Tciseretcijâkce.
Édja
hinûgrá
A long tent it was.
There
women


Ke se lA ny d n K Ai d Ki s A dA n
w owK dAe.
kereponaíjânâgahijâkirahacana
wa'ûwâkce.
ten plus one
[they made up].


Ai noKo Ki Ki nol s.
A Ae Ki di.
Ai noKo
Ai Ki deAe se s
Hinûgîkinûpara.
Hâhégiji
hinûk´
hikicerera
Sisters they were.*
In the night
women
to court

*if this is, as it seems, Hinûgîk-hinûpara, it would mean literally, "the second girls."


A sy se de.
Ai ttA Ko so s
A K sy Ki do.
haraíreje.
Hitcakórora
hakaraikiju
they went.
His friend
[with him]*
*the translation has, "later on".


A Kini Ki di A sy s de.
we de.
wK dAiKi tte K.
hagígijiharairaje.
Wéje
wâktcíkdjega,
they two went.
Said
the human,


Ai ttA Ko so
A Ae Ki di.
y Ai n liKi di
"Hitcakóro,
hâhégiji
yahínâpgiji
"My friend,
tonight
when I come out,


p. 62 --

Ai deKe
Ai Ai nl l tte
e de.
A Ai se Ki di.
hijege
hihinâbadje,"
éje.
Hahiregiji
also
you must come out,"
he said.
When they got there


w KdiKi tt ne.
Ai d
xoAo no xitti Ki di.
e
wâkcíkdjâne
hijâ
xunuxdjîgiji
e
the human
one
the youngest
[he]


A Ki do miK dAe.
e Ki.
e tt
Ai so nK s.
 hakijumîkce.
Égi
édja
híronâ´kra
[lay together with her].*
And
there
the next youngest**

*this sentence is translated as, "When they got there, the human courted the youngest one of them."
**híronâk´ literally means "to follow," hence, "the one following her in age."


p. 63 --

Ai ttA Ko so s.
A Ki do miKi dAe.
e Ki.
A Ko sey d.
hitcakórora
 hakijumîkce.
Égi
hagoréijâ
his friend
she laid with.
Then
finally


A Ae Ki di.
Ai Ai n li se de.
e ni
niKi
Ki s ni Ae K.
hâhégiji
hihinâpireje.
Eni
nîk
kiranihega
in the night
they came out.
The stones
[little]
he had (?)


lAe tte tt.
wo K nK K n K
Ai Ai nl wi de.
e Ki.
pedjédja
woganakanâga
hihinâpwije.
Égi
in the fire
he put and then
they came out.
Then


p. 64 --

Ai ttA Ko so s.
A K s di de.
Ai t tte
w ow tte.
so A Ai
hitcakórora
hakarajije,
"Hidadjé
wa'ûwadje
rohâhi
his friend
he encouraged,
"Mightily
do you
many


tee Ktt ni A wi n
e de.
e Ki.
Aoy K w wi Ki di.
t'ekdjanihawinâ,"
éje.
Égi
hoikawawigiji
we will die,"
he said.
Then
when they came in


i ni n K.
t doAo ttiAi se K tt.
Ki wi de.
Ai d
ininâka
dacutciregadjâ.
Kîwije.
Hijâ
the stones
were red hot.
 [They did it to themselves. ?]
One


p. 65 --

dA n..
n Ai wi de.
e Ki.
di Ke
A Ki
cana
nâhiwije.
Égi
jigé
hagi
apiece
they swallowed.
Then
again
they went


Ai noKo
A Ki do
mi Kiwi de.
Ai Ko
hinûk´
hakiju
mîkwije.
Higû
women
with them
they laid.
After awhile


A Ae Ai s se xitti K tt.
riAi ni Ai Ki di
so K n xitti de.
hâhehirarexdjîgadjâ,
sinihigiji,
rokanaxdjîje.
in the night,
it began to get cold,
very, very.


p. 66 --

de Ko
Ao ttAi ttAi s.
Ai so xiAi ni s.
xe de.
Jegû´
hotcîtcîra
hiroxinira
gheje,
[So]
the (other) young men's
teeth just chattered
out loud,


no ni Ke.
Ai ttA Ko so Ki n K se.
Ay rAe sette.
nunige
hitcakóroginakare
haîséretc
but
the two friends
all night


Ao t loAo so loAo so Ai K de.
Ay ni K tt.
te we s Ki.
hodapurupuruhigaje.
Hainigádjâ,
dewéraki,
they were very warm.
In the morning,
there unexpectedly,


ttiAi
Ao n Ai s ni Ae s.
te we s Ki.
noxo Ai ttiAi d
tci
honahiranihera
dewéraki
nuxhitcijâ
the tent
they were sleeping in
unexpectedly
an ice tent


p. 67 --

Ae se de.
Ay ni se Ki.
Ao t
tay se de.
hereje.
hainiregi
hodá
t'aíreje.
it was.
In the morning
some of them
they died.


Ai ttA Ko so s.
A K s Ki do.
w wi wo roAo tti se Ki di
Hitcakórora
hakarakíju
wawiwosudjiregiji,
The friend
[with him]
those that slept,


p. 68 --

de e.
Ai Ke
tay s ni de.
Ay ni Ki di.
Ai noKo n K.
jeé
hîké
t'aíranije.
Hainigiji
hinûknâka
they
not
they did not die.
In the morning
the women


ni Ko Ao w K sy se de.
rA niKi
Al lo Ko s.
nîgohowakaraireje.
Sanîk
hâbogúra
they went away from there.
Towards
the coming day


Ao w K sy se de.
to we.
dK tt K s Ay se de.
howakaraireje.
Dowe
cgádjakárahaíreje.
they went to.
On[ward]
they played as they went.


p. 69 --

Ai deKe
Ao tti tti s.
Ai noKo
so xA wi de.
ta n K.
Hicgé
hotcîtcîra
hinûk´
ruxawije.
T'anâka
Also
the young men
women
they chased.
The dead ones


liAi Ai w Kdo wiy n K.
to we
w so xA s wi de.
pîhiwakcuwianâga
dowe
waruxarawije.
they laid away, and
on[wards]
they chased them.


A Ko sey d.
ow Ai se K tt.
te tt s.
Ao ta li se de.
Hagoréijâ
'úwahiregadjâ,
dedjâra
hot'â´bireje.
Finally,
on the way,
the ocean
they came to.


p. 70 --

Ai noKo n Kese.
de Ko
to we
ni s.
Hinûknakere
jegû´
dowe
nira
The women
[thus]
right on
the water


A m ni
A K sy se de.
e tt
Ao ttAi ttAi s.
hamani
hakaraíreje.
Édja
hotcîtcîra
walking
they went.
There
the young men


wo o A sette wi de.
e Ki.
we de.
w KidiKi niKi tte K.
wo'ûháretcwije.
Égi
wéje
wâkciknîkdjega,
stood puzzled [as to] what to do.
Then
he said
the human being,


p. 71 --

Ai ttA Ko so wi s.
A so ttA wi n n.
no ni Ke.
"Hitcakórowira,
harotcâwinanâ,
nunigé
"My friends,
we can cross,
but


w di d
A Ke
to xoAo so Kini n.
de e
wajî´jâ
hâké
duxúruknînâ.
Jeé
one thing
not
I am not able to do.
That


doAo xoAo soKo wi Ki di.
A so ttA wi n n.
e de.
cuxuruk'wigiji
harotcâwinanâ,"
éje.
if you can do
we can cross,"
he said.


my t tte Ai s.
a Ke tt se Ai Ki di.
A so ttA wi n n.
"Maîtadjéhira
agédjarehigiji
harotcâwinanâ,"
"The wind
if it would blow towards the other side
we can cross,"


p. 72 --

e de.
A Ao.
e liAi n.
de e di
éje.
"Hâho,
epínâ.
Jeeji
he said.
"Hâho,
it is good.
That


wo w teeKe niKi dA n
e de.
e Ki.
wowat'eknîkcanâ,"
éje.
Égi
is very easy,"
he said.
Then


a Ke tt se Ai.
A Ki si de.
e Ki
w o de.
agédjarehi
hakiríje.
Égi
wa'ûje.
on the other side to blow
it began.
Then
he did [it].


Aotto A ni Ks.
tto liAi wi
A ni Ki si de.
e Ki
Hûdjhanîkra
djopíwi
hanikirije.
Égi
Little bear skins
four
he got.
Then


p. 73 --

soKo ni Ks.
m s.
w Ai de.
e Ki.
so Ke tt.
Roknikra
mârá
wahije.
Égi
rogedja
the insides
hollow
he made them.
Then
inside


Ai d dA n
Ao mi nK w Ki Ki de.
e Ki.
hijâcana
homînâkwagigije.
Égi
one apiece
he put them in.
Then


deKe
Ai d
Ao mi n K n K.