Hotcâk Syllabic Text -- Trickster Gets Pregnant


The syllabic text appears to have been written in pencil in large and, for the most part, clear letters. It was transcribed in syllabic script by Sam Blowsnake from oral presentations made by an old member of the tribe living in Nebraska in 1912. The interlinear translation for the Trickster Cycle was done initially by John Baptiste, who was later replaced by Oliver LaMère. Inasmuch as certian words have a different translation here than is found later in this MS as well as later in the Radin corpus, we may infer that this portion of the cycle was probably translated by John Baptiste.


English Translation


p. 186 --

e tt.
se Kidi.
te we s Ki.
e tt
w deAe se Ke niK
Édja
regiji
dewéraki
édja
Wacerekéniga
From there
when he went away
to his surprise
there
Little Fox*
*the translation has "the little fox". Names ending in -ka/-ga are personal names as a rule; nevertheless, this suffix is fundamentally a definite article. Also, "Wacerekéniga" is the name given by some translations to Coyote, not only later on in the Trickster Cycle, but in at least one other story. See the commentary in the translation.


Ai Ki lA
tti nK deAe.
Ao Ao.
Ai roAo Ki tti.
hikipa
djinâkce.
"Hohó!
hisûgidjî,
suddenly
he met.
"Hohó!
my younger brother,


e Ki
niKi
Ao we doo dA wK deAe
tte s.
A A a.
égi
nîgi
howecucawâkce
djerá."
"Hâhâ'â!
here you are
here
you are traveling
[the one who is]."
"Yes, yes --


p. 187 --

e Ki
A o mK dA n.
e de
w deAe se Ke ni K.
m s.
égi
ha'ûmakcanâ,"
éje
Wacerekéniga.
"Mâra
here
I am,"*
answered
Little Fox.
["The ground]**
*ha'ûmañkcunu, "I am accustomed to doing it," (J. O. Dorsey, informant probably David StCyr).
**the translation has "the world".


Ao reAe
Ai Ko so Ao Ke.
Ao m ttiAi
niKi
w Ki
hose
hikorohóge
homâtci
nîgi
wagi
hard*
is going to be
someplace to live
someplace
[to find]
*the translation adds, "and clean".


to xotto
w o mK dA n.
e de.
w deAe se Ke ni K.
Ao Ao.
duxôtc
wa'ûmâkcanâ,"
éje,
Wacerekéniga.
"Hohó!
[uncover ?]
[I am going around],"*
he said,
Little Fox.
"Oh Oh
*wagi duxôtc wa'ûmâkcanâ, is translated as "I am looking for".


p. 188 --

Ai roAo Ki tti
liAi
w s Ke.
Ai deKe
de rKe
hisûgidjî
warage
hicgé
jesge
my younger brother
good
you have said
also
such as that


y s nK dA n.
e de.
Ki Ki
nolo
e tt
A m Ki ttiAi se n.
yaranâkcanâ,"
éje.
K'îki*
 nûp
édja
hamâkitcihirenâ,
I am thinking of,"
he said.
[If to decide]
 two
there
[they] lived together,
*this seems to be k'îk + -gi, the latter being a suffix meaning "when" and the former, according to Marino, "to give up, decide, determine".


ay se Ki.
w Ki liAi doAo no n.
e A m K s Ki ttiAi Kette n.
e de.
airegi
wakipîcononâ.
Ehamâkaragitcîkdjenâ,"
éje.
when they would say
I always like to be one.
So let us live [there] together,"
he said.


p. 189 --

e tt
to we s wi de.
Ao m ttiAi
Ao so xotto tts.
e tt
Édja
dowerawije.
Homâtcí
horuxútcra.
Édja
[There]*
they went on together.
A place to live in
looking for.
There
*the translation has "then".


ow Ai wi K tt.
e tt.
tte tte ttini K
A tty se de.
Ao Ao
úwahiwigadjâ
édja
Djedjedjiniga
hatcaireje.
"Hohó,
as they were going along
there
Blue Jay*
[they saw].**
"Well, Well,
*translated throughout as "the jay bird".
**the translation has "they had been".


Ai roAo Ki tti.
tt Ko
Ao we doo dA wk
Ai Ke de.
w Ktt K K.
hisûgidjî,
djagú
howecucawâk?"
higeje,
Wakdjâkaga.
my younger brother,
what
are you doing along?"
he asked him,
the Trickster.


p. 190 --

Ai ni xitti.
Ao we
Ao m ttAi niKi
w Ki
to xotto
"Hiníxdjî
howe
homâtcinîk
wagi
duxôtc
"Older brother,
I am looking for
a little place
[to find]
[uncover ?]


w o mK dA n.
m s
Ao rAe
Ai Ko so Ao Ke tti ni.
wa'ûmâkcanâ.
Mâra
hose
hikorohógedjinî,
[I am going around].
[The ground]*
hard**
because it is going to be,
*the translation has "the world".
**the translation adds "and clean".


Ai deKe
de rKe
w o A AK wi n.
K a.
Ai roAo Ko w Ai s.
hicgé
jesge
wa'ûhahâgwínâ.
'Ga'á
hisûgowahira
also
the same thing
we are doing [we are taking care of].
'That one
with his younger brother


p. 191 --

e tt
w m K s Ki ttiAi n
ay se
K w Ki liAi doAo no n.
édja
wamâkaragitcînâ,'
aire.
Kawagipîcononâ.
there
he is living with them,'
they would say.
I would envy them.


A m K s Ki ttAi Ktt wi n.
Ai deKe
de rKe
w o A AK wi n.
Hamâkaragitcîkdjawinâ.
Hicgé
jesge
wa'ûhahâgwínâ,"
Let us live together.
Also
the same thing
we are doing [we are taking care of],"


p. 192 --

Ai Ke de.
di Ke
e tt.
tto we
A Ki Ki do
higeje.
Jigé
édja
tcowe
hagigicu
he said to him.
Again
there
together
they went along


A sy se de.
K tt.
di Ke
e tt.
Ae tteKe ni K.
haraíreje
gadjâ
jigé
édja
Hetcgenîka
they went
when
again
there
[Nit (louse egg) or Chipmunk]*
*the word "Hetcgenîka" is a homonym which denotes both nits (lice eggs) and chipmunks. At this, its initial occurance, it is untranslated.


A tty se de.
Ao Ao
Ai roAo Ki tti.
di Ke
tt Ko
hadjaíreje.
"Hohó
hisûgidjî,
jigé
djagú
they saw it.
"Hohó
my younger brother,
again
what


Ao we doo dA wK deAe.
Ai Ky se de.
Ai ni xitti wi s.
Ao we
Ao m ttiAi
howecucawâkce
higaireje.
"Hiníxdjîwira,
howe
homâtcíra
are you going about?"
they said to him.
"Older brother,
I am looking for
a place to live


p. 193 --

w Ki
to xotto mK dA n.
e de.
Ai roAo Ki tti.
wagi
duxôtcmâkcanâ,"
éje.
"Hisûgidjî,
[to find]
[uncover," ?]
he said.
"My younger brother,


Ai deKe
de rKe.
w o A AK wi n.
Ai ow ni Ae Ktt wi n.
hicgé
jesge
wa'ûhahâgwínâ.
Hi'uwanihekdjawinâ.
also
that sort of thing
we are doing [we are taking care of].
Let us be together.


Ki Ki
nolo
e tt
m ttiAi se n
ay se Ki
'K'îki*
 nûp
édja
mâtcirenâ,'
airegi,
'[If to decide]
 two
there
live together,'
when they say,


p. 194 --

w Ki liAi doAo no n.
A m K s Ki ttiAi Ktt wi n.
e de.
w Ktt K K.
wakipîcononâ.
Hamâkaragitcîkdjawinâ,"
éje,
Wakdjâkaga.
I always like to be one.
Let us live together,"
he said,
the Trickster.


e Ki.
e tt.
niyo ttA Ki d Keyi d.
n di Ki di.
Ao ttA Key n s.
Égi
édja
niyotcâkijakeyijâ
nâjîgiji
hotcageinara
And
there
a fork of rivers
there it stands
between them


p. 195 --

liAi Kiri Ko tt de.
Ao liAi xitti de.
e tt.
Ao m ttiAi liAi de
ay se Ki di.
piksigutcâje.
Hopîxdjîje.
Édja
homatcipîje,
aíregiji.
was here and there red oaks.
It was such a fine place.
There
a nice place to live in,
they said.


e tt
ttiAi Ki Koo Ai se de.
e Ki.
m ni
Édja
tcikik'ûhireje.
Égi
máni
There
they made themselves a lodge.
And
winter


Ai Ko so Ao se Ki
w o nK deAe.
ttA ni se Ki.
w d s.
hikorohóregi
wa'ûnâkce.
Tcaniregi
wajâra
they began making preparations for
they did.*
In the fall
things
*this sentence is translated as, "And this was about near the winter."


p. 196 --

A xi Ai s se Ki di.*
s doKo ni w so tti se de.
A Ko sey d.
haxihiraregiji
racguniwarudjireje.
Hagoreijâ
when they were [about] ripe then
they had all they wanted to eat.
In the course of time
*a period (.) has been mistakenly inserted after "Ki".


w deAe we de.
A Ke
w d
de rK ni de.
A s Kese ri se de.
e tt
w Ks.
waceweje.
Hâké
wajâ
jésgenije.
Harageresireje.
Édja
wâkra
there was a deep snow.
Not
 thing
 not this kind.*
They had nothing to eat.
There
the men
*translated as "It was very hard."


p. 197 --

to Ke we
Ai se de.
A Ko se d.
w Ktt K K.
we de.
dokéwe
hireje.
Hagoréjâ
Wakdjâkaga
wéje,
to be hungry
they were.
In the course of time
Trickster
he said,


Ai rAo Ki tti wi s.
Ai Ke
w d
de rK ni Ktt n Ae n.
w di
"Hisûgidjiwira,
hîké
wajâ
jésgenikdjanahenâ.
Waji[jâ]
"My younger brothers,
not
thing
this sort will not be.*
One thing
*translated as "it is going to be very difficult."


o wi Ki di.
liAi n.
y s nK dA n.
e de.
A Ao.
ûwigiji
pîhínâ,
yaranâkcanâ,"
éje.
"Hâho,
if we will do
it will be good,
I am thinking"
he said.
"All right,


p. 198 --

tt rKe
liAi n tte
Ai ni Ai Ai wi s
w Ke Ki di
de rKe
djasgé
pîhinadje,
hinihihiwira
wagegiji,
jesgé
whatever
may be good,
that our older brother
means,
that [sort of thing]


Ai Ai Ktt n A wi K tt.
tt Ko.
Ai d.
to Ke we
Ai w K
hîhikdjanahawigadjâ
djagú
hijâ
dokéwe
hiwaka
we shall do
[how]
someone
starve
[?]


p. 199 --

tee Ktt ni A wi K tt.
tt rKe Ki di.
Ai w so tt nK wi n Ki di.
t'ekdjanîhawigadjâ.
Djasgegiji
hiwarutcnâkwinagiji.
after which we will be caused to die.
What should be done
so that we should eat?


de rKe
w Ke Ki di.
liAi K tt.
ay se de.
e Ki.
jesge
wagegiji
pîhigadjâ,"
aíreje.
Égi
[The sort of thing]
[he means]
it is good,"
they said.
And


we de.
ttiAi n Ki d.
e Ki
n K dA n.
w d
wéje,
"Tcinâkijâ
égi
nâkcanâ.
Wajâ
he said,
"A village
here
it is [it sits].
[Thing]


liAi
o nK dA n.
Ao Ks.
Ai d
Ai niKi Ai s.
pîhi
û'nâkcanâ.
Hûkra
hijâ
hinîkhira
[good]
[they are at that place].*
The chief
[one]
[his] son
*translated as, "They are enjoying great blessings."


p. 200 --

w niyo tteKe s.
Ao lo wotto tte n.
A Ke
Ai noKo K nK ni d
w o tte n.
waniyótcgera
hobowotcodjenâ.
Hâké
hinûknâkanijâ
wa'ûdjenâ.
the animals
he is shooting a great many.*
Not
not a woman
[he did].**
*this is translated as, "The chief he has a son. The animals he is killing a great many."
**translated as, "He is not married to a woman yet."


Ai noKo K n Ki Kette
Ai s tte n.
e rKe
de e.
e tt
Hinûk-kanâkíkdje
hiradjenâ.
Ésge
jee
édja
Getting married
he is thinking about.
Therefore
him
there


p. 201 --

Ao wy s wi n n.
Ai noKo A Kiy n K.
w so Kn n.
e tt
s doKo ni.
howairawinanâ.
hinûk-hagiyanâga
warukanânâ.
Édja
racgúni
we can go.
I will make myself a woman and
marry him.
There
in peace


w K we n wi n n.
A Ao.
ay se de.
A ntt
Ki liAi se de.
Ki.
wâgawenawinanâ."
"Hâho!"
aíreje.
Hanâtc´
gipîhireje,
gi
we will be until spring."
"Yes!"
they said.
All
they were willing,
so


wy se n.
Ao w.
ay se n.
Ao w.
ttA ttoAo Ki d.
wairenâ.
"Hûwa,"
aírenâ.
Hûwa
tcatcugijâ
they said.
"An Elk,"
they said.
An elk's
[liver ?]*
*two question marks are placed before this word, and well above the line is written "sort of liver". It may literally mean "deer spoon" (< tca-tcugi-ijâ), perhaps in reference to its shape.


p. 202 --

de e.
dA o de.
e Ki.
Ai Ko
di Ke.
Ao w.
jee
ca'ûce.
Égi
higû´
jigé
hûwa
that
for his vulva he used.
And
[yet]
again
elk


ttA Kodoyi d.
wiri o de.
e Ki.
de Ko
Aiy n K.
tcakcóyijâ
wis'ûje.
Égi
jegû´
hianâga
a kidney
for breast.
Then
thus
he did and


w tte
Ao w xoKo deAe.
A Ko se d.
w tte.
Ai so w riKi Ki s ni Ae s.
wadje
howaxúkce.
Hagoréjâ
wadje
hirowasgîgiranihera.
a dress
he put on.
Once upon a time
dress
they closed him in with.


p. 203 --

Ai Ko
de e
w ni n Ki di.
de e
e
Higû´
jee
waninagiji
jee
e
Still
those
they had and
that
he


wi Ki Kx deAe.
te nK deAe.
Ai rKe tt
Ai noKo
liAi de se de.
wikikaghce.
Denâkce.
Hisgédja
hinûk
pîjereje.
what he wore.
There he was.
Very
woman
pretty he was.


e Ki
de Ko
Aiy n K.
w deAe se Ke ni K.
o ttK nK deAe.
Égi
jegû
hianâga
Wacerekéniga
utcaknâkce.
Then
thus
he did and
Little Fox
he made himself pregnant with.


p. 204 --

e Ki
di Ke.
tte tte ttini K
o ttK nK deAe.
di Ke.
Égi
jigé
Djedjedjiniga
utcaknâkce.
Jigé
And
also
Bluejay
he was pregnant with.
Also


Ae tteKe niK.
Ai t ni Ke
w o ttK nK deAe.
e Ki.
de Ko
Hetcgenîka,
hidánike
wa'utcaknâkce.
Égi
jegû
Nit,
all three of them
he was pregnant with.
Then
thus


Aiy n K.
ttiAi nK
w K ni Ae K.
eyo w se de.
ttiAi n Ko de tty tt.
hianâga
tcinâk
wakanihega.
Eyowáreje.
Tcinâkojedjaidja**
he did and
to the town
he went.*
There he went.
At the end of the village
*the translation has "he meant".
** < tcinâk-hojedjâ-edja.


p. 205 --

Ai to Ke ni Ki d.
ttiAi n Ki di
e tt
Ai de.
Ai to Ke niKi n K.
hitókenîkijâ
tcinagiji
édja
hije.
Hitókenîknâk
an old woman
that lived
there
he went.
The old woman


we de.
Ai ttAo dK A xitti.
di Ke
tt Koyi.
s doo K tt
wéje,
"Hitcûjâkhaxdjî,
jigé
djaguyi
rac'ûgadjâ?
said,
"My granddaughter,
again
what
you mean to do?


p. 206 --

Ao we
Ai s Ki dAi w se*
dA w Ki di.
w d Aoyi ni Ke xitti.
Howe
hiragic'îware
cawâkiji
wajâ hoinîgexdjî
Traveling about
[to show consideration]
[when you go]
not for nothing
*it is unclear whether the fourth syllable is dAi or dA.


Ai Ki w se s
dA n xitti
w doo dA w Ki Kette de.
Ai Ke de.
hik'iwárera
canaxdjî
wac'ûcawâkikdjeje,"
higeje.
for traveling
only
are you about for,"
she said to her.


e Ki
we de.
Ko ni K.
Ao Ks
Ai ni Ks.
Égi
wéje,
"Kunika,
hûkra
hinîkra
Then
she said,
"Grandmother,
the chief's
son


p. 207 --

Ai to xA tti Ke
w o n.
e de.
A.
Ai ttAo dK A xitti
hiduxadjige
wa'ûnâ,"
éje.
"Hâ
hitcûjâkhaxdjî, 
I come to court
[I do],"
she said.
"All right
my granddaughter,


Ao tK se A Kette n.
e de.
e Ki.
Ai Ai nl deAe.
we de.
hodagarehakdjenâ,"
éje.
Égi
hihínâpce.
Wéje
I will tell it,"
she said.
Then
outside she went.
She said


w n diy n K.
we de.
Ao. Ao.
Ao Ks
Ai ni Ks.
wânâcianâga
wéje,
"Hoho!
hûkra
hinîkra
shouting
she said,
"Hoho!
the chief's
son


p. 208 --

Ai so xA A tti s tti Ko.
e ra de.
A Ao.
Ai to Ke ni K.
hiruxahadjiradjigu,"
es'aje.
"Hâho!
hitókenîka
one has come to court,"
she would say.
"Hark!
the old woman


w d
a tte n.
ay re Ki di.
A n xKo Ai se K tt.
te we s Ki.
wajâ
adjenâ,"
airegiji.
Hanâxguhiregadjâ
dewéraki
something
she is saying,"
they said.
So they listened to her and
unexpectedly


p. 209 --

Ao Ks
Aini Ks.
Ai so xA tti se de
a tte de.
Ao Ks.
hûkra
hinîkra
hiruxadjireje,
adjeje.
Hûkra
the chief's
son
they have come to court,
she was saying.
The chief


we de.
Ai noKo w Ai s
w w Ke de.
A Ao.
de rKe se Ke
wéje
hinûkwahira
wawagéje,
"Hâho,
jésgerege
said
to his daughters,
[he said to them],
"Hâho,
that is what


w o tti Ki di
Ai noKo A xitti wi s.
Ai diAi K s wi K.
A Ai
wa'ûdjigiji.
"Hinûkhaxdjîwira,
hicigârawîga
hahí
she wants is why she came.
"My daughters,
your sister-in-law
go


p. 210 --

A Ko wi se.
e Ki di.
A Ko A Ai se de.
wo Ki roKo
Ai noKo
hagúwire,"
egíji.
Haguhahireje.
Wogizok
hinûk´
get her,"
he said.
So they went after her.
[Of age ?]
woman


liAi de se de.
Ao Ks.
Ai ni Ks.
m dtt Ki liAi de.
Ao w se s.
pîjereje.
Hûkra
hinîkra
macdjagipîje.
howarera,
handsome she was.
The chief's
son
liked her very much.
Sure enough,


p 211 --

tt tti ne tt.
w so roKo
Aotto
so Ai
m r rK
djadjinedjâ
warusgú
hûdj
ruhí
mâzazak
right away
dried corn
with bear
ribs
slit together


Ai s Ki o Ao Ki Ay se de.
tt tti ne tt.
de rKe
w Ki o Ke.
Ai K n ttAo n Ks.
hirakiûhogihaireje.
Djadjinedjâ
jesge
waki'ûge
higanatcûnâkra.
they boiled for her.
Right away
that
is for what*
she was getting married.
*"waki'û-ge" can also mean, "caused to gamble for".


tt tti ne tt.
w Ki se
Ai se de.
rAi ni Ki Ki s n K.
Djadjinedjâ
wagire
hireje.
Sinigigiranâga
Right away
they put some (in a dish)
[they did].
[They] cooled it off for her and


p. 212 --

Ai tt Ki Ke se
Ai se de.
ttAe li de.
e Ki.
e tt.
hidjagikere
hireje.
Tcepije.
Égi
édja
placed it before her
[they did].
She ate [finished] it up.
Then
there


o ni Ae de.
A Ko reyi d.
tt tti ne tt.
w o ttK nK doKo ni de.
'uniheje.
Hagoréija
djadjinedjâ
wa'utcaknâkcgunije.
she remained.
In the course of time
already
she was pregnant.


Ao Ks.
Ai ni Ks.
A Ke
w di so K n Ai ni de.
ni K K ni se Ktt n Ae Ki di.
Hûgra
hinîkra
hâké
wajirokanahinîje.*
Nîkaganirekdjanahegiji.
The chief's
son
was very happy over it.**
He was to become a father.
* < waji hirukana hini. See the next note.
**Marino's dictionary has the following entry: hâke waji hirukono hirinâ, "so anxious he cannot control himself".


p. 213 --

Ai tt w d rii Kette de.
tt tti ne tt.
Ai d
ttAo de.
w Kini Ki d
Ae se de.
Hidjawajâs'ikdjeje,
djadjinedjâ
hijâ
tcûje.
Wâknîkijâ
hereje.
It was not very long,
right away
to one
she gave birth.
A boy
it was.


Ai Ko
di Ke.
tt tti ne tt.
Ai d
o ttK nK Ki ni de.
Higû´
jigé
djadjinedjâ
hijâ
utcaknâkinîje.
[Yet]
again
right away
[with one]
she became pregnant.


p. 214 --

Ai rKe tt ni Ktt K ni rAK deAe.
Ai Ko
di Ke
w Ki d ttAo de.
Hisgedjanîkdjâganiskce.
Higû´
jigé
wâkijâtcûje.
Very quick she had her children.
[Yet]
again
she gave birth to a boy.


e Ki.
Ai t ni s.
di Ke.
A Ko se d.
ttAo de.
Égi
hidanira
jigé
hagoréjâ
tcûje.
Then
the third one
again
finally
she gave birth to.


w Ki d
Ae se de
di Ke.
Ai sow Kini n K.
xK deAe.
Wâkijâ
hereje
jigé.
Hirowagininâka
ghakce.
A boy
it was
again.
The last born
cried.


p. 215 --

A Ko se d.
de Ko
Ai Ke
s dtt ni de.
K tt K.
Hagoréjâ
jegû´
hîké
racdjânije.
Gadjâga
In the course of time
[now]
not
it would stop.
Now


de e
e tt.
Ai to Ke ni Ki d.
A Kow Ai se de.
de e
jee
édja
hidokenîkíjâ
haguwahireje.
Jee
there
at
an old woman
they went after.
[This one]


s dtt w Ai ra Ki de.
Ai Ke
se deKe s dtt ni de.
A Ko se d.
racdjâwahis'agije.
Hîké
recgeracdjânije.
Hagoréjâ
she used to quiet them.
Not
she could not stop him.
Finally,


p. 216 --

K tt K
we de.
n w n K.
te
ni Ktt Kini K Kese
gadjâgá
wéje,
nâwânâka
de
nîkdjâknîkere,
now
he said,
in song
this
little child,


we de.
t Ao we.
t Ao we.
ny xitti
m xiAi
wéje,
"Dahuwe,
dahuwe!
naixdjî
mâxí
it said,
"Dahuwe,*
dahuwe!
If only I could
cloud
*I cannot find a meaning for this, no doubt because it is intended to imitate the sound of a baby crying.


rK
niKi Ks.
ni Ke
y dKtt deAe di.
e de.
e Ki.
sga
nîkra
nîge
yacgatcceji,"
éje.
Égi
white
little
piece
I could play with,"
he said.
Then


w K ttK
Ao w se de.