Hocąk Syllabic Text — Trickster and the Mothers

Told by an elder of the tribe in 1912

Transcribed by Sam Blowsnake

Translation based on the interlinear of Oliver LaMère


   
Oliver LaMère, Translator   Winnebago V, #7: 274

For a description of this manuscript, its source, style, transcription, and interlinear translation, see the syllabic text to Trickster's Warpath.


English Translation


p. 274 —

e tt ow Ai K tt te we L Ki. e tt. ttAi loAo Lo Keyi d nK deAe.
Éja ’ųahigają, tewéraki éja ciporokeižą nąkše.
There as he went, unexpectedly, there an oval tent there was.

 


 

p. 275 —
A Ai. Aoyi rii K tt te we L Ki Ai noKo no liAi wi wi de.
Hahi hois’įgają, tewéraki hinų́k nųpiwiwiže,
He went on he peeped in, and unexpectedly, women there were two,

 


 

e Ki ni Ktt Kini KL Lo K n de. e Ki w o de.
égi nįkjąknįgera rokanaže. Égi wa’ųže,
and children there were very many. And he did thus,

 


 

Ktt n K. Ai d ttAi L Ai tt Ao too Le de.
kącnąka hižą cira hija hot’ųreže.
the plums one of them the tent there he threw.

 


 

p. 276 —
de Ko xe tte Ke Le de.* A Ki Kewe Ki Le de. Ai Ko di Ki d.
Žegų ǧe [jikereže.] Hagikewekireže. Higų žigížą
[Indeed] great noise it made. They made a grab for it. [Yet] again one
*this should be for tti Ke Le de.

 


 

w Ki o ra de. Ai noKo n K Ai d. Aoyi rii tti n K tt
waki’ųs’aže. Hinųknąka hižą hois’įjiną gają,
he would throw it. The women one of them she came out and there,

 


 

te we L Ki. w Ki d w o tte de. w n. ttiAi to K
tewéraki, wągížą wa’ųježe. "Waną́, citoga
unexpectedly, a man it was that did it. "Ah! my older brother

 


 

p. 277 —
w o tte n e de. Ao Ke we diAi Le de. Ao Ke we de.
wa’ųjeną," éže. Hokewe šireže. Hokeweže.
he does it," she said. To come in they asked him. He went in.

 


 

Ai d dA n wo K de. A ttAi tt te e
Hižą šana wogáže. "Hacį́ja tee
One apiece he gave them. "Where at these

 


 

ttiAi to w L Ki Ai de. Ai Ky Le de. te wy tteKe xitti wi L.
citó waragihiže?" higaíreže. "Te waicgexjįwira
brother you picked them?" they asked him. "These my sisters

 


 

p. 278 —
Lo K n xitti n. Ai rKe L Ki Ki Ai dAe Le Ktt wi Ki di.
rokanaxjįną Hisge ragígi, hišerekjawigiži,
there are very many. [Really] if you want to go, if you would pick some for yourselves,

 


 

Ao ni Ki t Ki Ktt wi n. ttiAi to Low Ko xitti wi no ni Ke. Ai Ke
honįgitagíkjawiną" "Cito, rowaguxjįwi, nųnįgé hįké
I will tell you of it." "Brother, we long to very much, but not

 


 

p. 279 —
ni KttK n KeLe i ne Ki too ne liAi L ni n. wo wK
nįkjąknągere inéki t’ųné pįraniną. Wową́k
our babies alone to leave [it would not be good.] Wayward

 


 

Ai Le n e de. wy tteKe A xitti wi L. dAe Le Ktt wi Ki di. ni Ktt KL.
hiréną," éže. "Waicgehaxjįwira, šerekjawigiži, nįkjągera
they are," she said. "My sisters, if you wish to go, the children

 


 

p. 280 —
wi L ni Ki K L Ktt wi n. e de ttiAi to liAi xitti w L Ke n.
wiranikikarakjawiną," éže. "Cito, pįxjį warageną,"
I will take care of them for you," he said. "Brother, very good you have said,"

 


 

ay Le de. Ai Ke. Ki Kd liAi ni n. Lo K n xitti n.
aíreže. "Hįké gigą́š pįniną. Rokanaxjįną
they said. "Not to miss it is not possible. There is very much.

 


 

A Ke Lo de n liAi ni w owK dA n. wiyo Le Le Ki
Hąké ružéna pįni wa’ųwąkšaną. Wioréregi,
Not to pick them all not possible it is. In the setting of the sun,

 


 

p. 281 —
Ao xtt n K. m xiAi L. doAotto A dtt wi ra Ki di de e
hoxjanąka, mąxira šuc hašjawis’agiži, žee
in the evening, the sky red if you used to see, that

 


 

de rKe w owK dA n. A Ke w Kd wi niy tte Ai dee Ktt ni A wi n.
žesge wa’ųwąkšaną. Hąké wakšąwiniaje, hiš’ekjanihawiną,"
what it caused it. Not do not turn back, you will find them,"

 


 

w wi Ke de. de tt K A Ly Le de. Ai Ko Ai Ai Ai Lo Ki no
wawigéže. Žejąga haraíreže. Higųhi hihirokinu
he told them. Now they went. As soon as out of sight

 


 

p. 282 —
Ai Le Ki di. ni Ktt Kn KeLe wy rAK deAe. de Ko Aiy n K.
hiregiži, nįkjąknągere waisakše. Žegų hianąga
as they did, the children he killed them. Thus he did, and

 


 

A t dA L w Ai de. wo A de. w Ke w o nK deAe.
hatašara wahiže. Wohąže. Waké wa’ųnąkše.
to singe he did it. He boiled them. Raccoons they were them.

 


 

A A. A K m ni Ae L. A Ky xitti w Lotto liAi
"Hąhą́, hakamanihera hagaixjį warúc
"Now then, [after all this time] for once meal good

 


 

p. 283 —
A o Ktte e de. e tt w Lo ttL o xitti de.
ha’ųkje," éže. Éja warújera ’ųxjįže.
I will have," he said. There [the food] [he did much.]

 


 

w Ke niKi Ai L t dA L. Ltto dAe. de Ko
Waké nįk hįratašara rucše. Žegų
Raccoons [little] singed he ate. Thus

 


 

Aiy n K. w o de. Ai d. ttA dAe tt n KonoKo deAe.
hianąga wa’ųže. Hižą cašeją nąkų́nųkše.
he did, and [he did it.] One of them [his neck] he cut off .

 


 

de e w Ki o de. ttA K L dolo lKe L. ny d Ao w rA K n K.
Žee waki’ųže. Cakaražopgera naįžą howasakanąga
This [he did to him.] In his neck a stick he stuck in, and

 


 

p. 284a* —
ttiAi Lo le tt. Aoyi rii Ke Le de. Ai Kd Ke Le de.
ciropeja hois’į kereže. Hikšá kereže,
at the door peeping out he placed it. Laughing he placed it,

*there are two pages numbered "284."

 


 

w Ke lA niKi tte K. e Ki. de Ko Aiy n K.
wake panįkjega. Égi žegų hianąga
coon the little head. Then thus he did, and

 


 

e Ki. xeAeyi d. mi Ki di eyo w Le de. e tt
égi xeižą mįgiži eowareže. Éja
then a hill that was there he went. There

 


 

p. 284b* —
te we L Ki. xo Ke wi K.† A tt de. Ko ni K. w Le
tewéraki xogewįga hajaže. "Kunį́ka, waré
unexpectedly, skunk he saw. "Grandmother, to work

*this is the second consecutive page designated "284."
†the standard word for female skunk is Ko dKe wi (gųšgewį); x[oA]o Ke wi (xogewį) would mean "female badger."

 


 

ni diAi Ktte n Ai Ko Ae xitti. e de. tt Ko ayi L diAi Ktt n Ae de.
nįšikjeną, higųhexjį," éže. "Jagú airašikjanaheže?"
I wish to ask you, right away," he said. "What you ask me to do?"

 


 

e de. Ko ni K. xeAey KeLe. Ai Ko Ki tt Ke Ai L Ki doAo Lo Al liKi de.
éže. "Kunį́ka, xeakere hikokijąge hiragi-šuruhąpgiže.
she asked. "Grandmother, this hill I want you to dig a hole through for me.

 


 

p. 285 —
xA lee xitti Ly Ki Ki di e de. Ao ttiy tt.
Xąp’exjį raigi giži," éže. "Hojiaja,"
Right away do it [."] he said. "All right,"

 


 

e de. e Ki. tt tti ne tt o tti Le de. wo Ki roKo
éže. Égi jajineją ’ųjireže. Wogizok
she said. Then right away [it was done.] Very

 


 

p. 286 —
m Kee rAK dAe. Ai tt Ao Lo xotto n Kede. rA KLe de.
mąk’e sakše. Hija horuxucnąkše. Sagereže.
digger she was fast. There he sat and looked on. She was very fast.

 


 

tt tti ne tt Lo Kidi xitti Ai nK deAe. Ai Lo nK o de.
jajineją, rukšixjį hinąkše Hironą́k ’ųže.
Already, she dug in very deep she did. He followed [he did.]

 


 

A KLe Ki mi nK K n K Ao Lo xotto nK deAe. Ai L w ditti dAe. tt Ki tti.
Hagerégi mįnąkanąga horoxucnąkše. Hirawážicše. "Cakiji,*
Behind he sat, and he looked at her. He told her to hurry. "Sister,

*this is a hapaxlegomenon.

 


 

p. 287 —
rA Ki Ki. tt Ki tti. rA Ki Ki. ttA Ki tti rA Ki Ki.
sakigi! Cakiji, sakigi! Cakiji, sakigi!"
hurry up! Sister, hurry up! Sister, hurry up!"

 


 

a nK dAe. K tt K. Lo Kidi xitti Ai de. di Ke e de.
anąkše. Gająga, rukšixjį hiže. Žigé éže,
he was saying. Now, to dig in very deep [she did.] Again he said,

 


 

ttA Ki tti rA Ki Ki. ttA Ki tti rA Ki Ki. dA loAo Lo loAo L.
"Cakiji, sakigi! Cakiji, sakigi! Šą́ poropora,"
"Sister, hurry up! Sister, hurry up! Vulva round one,"

 


 

p. 288 —
e de. K tt. xo Ke wi K Ai wo dA d[e]. tt
éže. Gają, Xogewįga hiwušaž[e]. "Ja
he said. There [Miss Badger]* she stopped. "What

*translated as "the female skunk."

 


 

Ai ttAo dKe tt Ko Ai de. dA loAo Lo loAo L.
hicųšgé, jagú hiže? 'Šą́ poropora,'
grandson, what [he did?] 'Vulva round one,'

 


 

Ai dAe de. e de. Ai Ke a do. Ko ni K. rA Ki Ki L.
hišeže?" éže. "Hįke-ažu,* kunį́ka, 'Sakigira,
you said?" [she said.] "No, grandmother, 'Hurry up,

*cf. hąka-ažu, "no."

 


 

p. 289 —
rii mi Lo lA L* lA Ld Ai A nK dA n. x lii
s’í mirupara paraš,' hihaną́kšana. Xap’i
long tear up the earth, tear up,' I am saying. Hurry

*a hapaxlegomenon: cf. mirupurupuru, "to plow".

 


 

Ki n L e de. di Ke Aoyi nK Ai de.
ginara," éže. Žigé hoinąk hiže.
[getting to it,"] he said. Again she started in [she did.]

 


 

di Ke a n Ki ni de. Ao Lo xitti mi nK K n K w nK deAe.
Žigé anągįnįže. Horuxjį mįnąkanąga wanąkše.
Again he was [already] saying it. Looking he sat, and he said it.

 


 

p. 290 —
A Lo xeAe w rii rii m Kee Ki di. wi riAi wi mi n K n K
Haruxé was’įs’į mąk’egiži, wisįwį mįnąkanąga
[Facing backwards] hind end as she was digging, watching he sat, and

 


 

w nK deAe. di Ke. e de. ttA Ki tti. rA Ki Ki
wanąkše. Žigé éže, "Cakiji, sakigi!
he said it. Again he said, "Sister, hurry up!

 


 

ttA Ki tti rA Ki Ki. dA loAo Lo lAo a A.
Cakiji, sakigi! Šą́ poropo." "Ąhą
Sister, hurry up! Vulva round one." "Well

 


 

p. 291 —
ttAo dK no tt Ko Ai dAe de. e de. te
cųšgánu, jagú hišeže?" éže. "Te,
grandson, what you say?" she said. "Ah,

 


 

Ko ni K xA lee Ai Ki n Le. Ko ni K* rA Ki Ki L.
'Kunį́ka, xap’é higinąre! Kunį́ka, sakigira!
'Grandmother, hurry do it! Grandmother, hurry up!

*this is actually spelled, Ko no K, Kunuga, which means "First Born Male," and properly refers to Trickster, which in this context is clearly not what is intended.

 


 

Ao ty loAo Lo loAo Lo n Ai A nK dA n. ty K ttL Loyi K n Ke
Hotaipurupuruną,' hihanákšaną. Taikajera roikanage,
I am getting warm,' I was saying. I am very warm as I am very much,

 


 

p. 292 —
w A nK dA n. e Ki di. di Ke tti Ke Le de. di Ki Ko
wahanąkšaną," egíži, žigé jikereže. Žigígų
I said it," he said, so again she started. Again

 


 

Ai Ke de. di Ki wo dA n K. A Ki wx no ni Ke. di Ki Ko
hikeže. Žigiwušanąga hagiwąx, nųnįgé žigígų
he said it. Again she stopped, and she asked, but [again]

 


 

Ao e liAi Ai L L dtt de. tto l A Ai Ke de.
ho’é pįhira rašją́že. Jobą́hą higeže.
he told her [politely] [to say no more.]* Four times he said to her.

*ho’é pįhira rašją́že, is translated as, "he told her something else like it."

 


 

p. 293 —
e Ki xeAe L. Lo Al deAe. xA lee niKi Ai Ki de.
Égi xera ruhapše. Xap’enįk hikiže.
Then the hill she burrowed through. Very quickly she did it.

 


 

e Ki de Ko Aiy n K. e Ki. xA wi.
Égi žegų hianąga égi xąwį́
[And] thus [she did, and] then grass

 


 

deAeKe roto Ai de. Ao loxo Ao d tt
šék sto hiže. Hopóx hožają
dry to gather [he did.] Hole the end

 


 

a Ki dA n w do de. e Ki. Ao w Ki Li Le Ktte tt. A Ai
akišaną wažuže. Égi howakírirekjeją hahi
on each side he placed it. Then [they went and stood around] there

 


 

p. 294 —
o tte de. e Ki e tt A Ko Ay Le Ki di.
’ųjéže. Égi éja hagų hairegiži,
he waited. Then there [still] they were coming, and

 


 

A tty Le Ki. e Ki. xAe tt Aoy Ke we de. e Ki.
hajairegi, égi xéja hoikeweže. Égi
when they saw him, [then] into the hill he went. Then

 


 

ttAi L a dKe A Ki Le Ki. riKi riKi xitti Ai Le de.
cira ašge hagíregi, sgisgixjį* hireže,
home near [when they returned,] more and more angry they became,

*a hapaxlegomenon. Cf. naski, "to be angry; anger"; and hįsgi, "I am smarting".

 


 

p. 295 —
w Ki Ai L Lo da Ki Le Ke. A Ki Le K tt. te we L Ki. ni KttK w ni Le L.
wagihira ruš’ákirege. Hagíregáją, tewéraki, nįkjąkwanirera
find them as they could not. When they got home, unexpectedly, their children

 


 

Ai d Ai Kd Aoyi rii tte de. tt Ko w xtt
hižą hikšá hois’įježe. "Jagú waxjá
one of them smiling peeping out. "What fun

 


 

A o A AK wi de. w Ki Ai L to daK wi Ke. Ai rKi rKi mK LA n
ha’ų́ hahąkwiže, wagihira tuš’ákwige, hįsgisgimąkšaną,"
we were doing as we went, find them we could not, so I am angry,"

 


 

p. 296 —
a n K. no xoAoyi ttL A too li Kiy n K Ki xA w Le Ai de.
anąga nųxuijera hat’ų́pigianąga gixawá rehíže.
she said, and his cheek she slapped it, and she knocked it over.

 


 

te we L Ki. lA L dA n w o tte de. i tt niKi Ai Le de.
Tewéraki, pára šana wa’ųježe. Ijanįk hireže,
Unexpectedly, the head only it was. To cry out they did,

 


 

p. 297 —
ni Ktt Kini KL woyi niKi Kitti wy Ki Ki. w Ktt K K w o Ko ni.
"Nįkjąknįgera, woinįkjįwaigigi. Wakjąkaga wa’ųgųnį.
"Our children, he has destroyed them for us. Trickster he must have done it.

 


 

e w o Ko ni. xAe tt Ai d Aoy Ke we L.
E wa’ųgųnį. Xéja hižą hoikewera,"
He he must have done it. Into the hill the one he went,"

 


 

ay Le de. xK nK deAe. e Ki. di Ke w Ktt K K.
aíreže. Ğaknąkše. Égi žigé Wakjąkaga
they said. They wept. Then again Trickster

 


 

p. 298 —
Ai tto w Ao de. wK Ai tt Ai Kiy an K. Ki K L reAe reAe l n K.
hijowahože. Wąk hijąhį kiánąga kikarasesebanąga
he came over to them. Man other he made himself, and he blackened his face, and

 


 

Ai tt tti Ki di we de. Ai noKo ni ttAl wi L. tt Ko o w dA dA nK wi de.
hijajigiži, weže, "Hinųknicabwira jagú’ų wašašanągwiže?"
when he got to them, he said, "My sisters, why you are thus saying?"

 


 

w wi Ke de. w Ktt K K. ni Ktt Kini KL. m Ao tt Ai Ki Ki wi n.
wawigéže. "Wakjąkaga nįkjąknįgera mahujá higigiwiną.
he asked them. "Trickster our children to destroy he has done for us.

 


 

p. 299 —
A ntt. w Lotto dA n. ay Le de. A K K rKe d. e ny xitti
Haną́c warucšaną," aíreže. "Hagagasgéžą, enaįxjį
All of them he has eaten them," they said. "Oh my, I could

 


 

A to ttAl dAey di. de de rke. Ao L Ki Le K. Low Ko xitti doAo no L.
hatocąpašeaži.* Žežesge horágirega, rowaguxjįšųnųra.
I wish to get a hold of him. Thus when they tell of him, I always long for him.

*hatocą means "to go on the warpath."

 


 

p. 300 —
A ttA tt A lA Ki Ai Ki di Ai Ke Ai L pAe Le riwi ni de
Hacąja hapakihigiži, hįké hiraperezwiniže?"
In what the direction in which he went, not you do not know?"

 


 

wi Ke de. e Ki. Ai d xeAe tt Aoyi Ke we L.
wigeže. "Égi hižą Xeja hoikewera.
he asked them. "There the one into the hill he went.

 


 

e w o Ko ni y Le n. Ai d e de.
E wa’ųgųnį, yaréną," hižą éže.
He it must have been him, I think," one of them she said.

 


 

Ai lAe Le ri Kette n. A ttAi tt w L K wi Ki di Ai my Ki LK wi Le. A Ly Le de.
"Hiperesikjeną. Hacija waragawigiži, himąįgirakwiže." Haraíreže.
"He will know.* Where you mean, show it to me." So they went.

*the translation has, "he will know catch it."

 


 

te we L Ki. Ao loxo xAe te xitti d e tt tte Ki di.
Tewéraki, hopóx xetexjįžą éja jegiži,
Unexpectedly, hole a large one there it was, and

 


 

m le L deKe tteAe Kitti de. Ai lAe Le ri Kette n. e w o n
mąperašge cekjįže. "Hiperezikjeną. E wa’úną,"
[the cut in the earth]* it was fresh. "He will catch it. He it is he who did it,"

*translated as, "the dirt."

 


 

p. 302 —
e de. Ai tto Ke we de. Ai Ko A Ai Ai L Le xitti.
eže. Hijokeweže. Higų hahi hirarexjį
he said. He went in. After he went after awhile

 


 

Ai Kitti Ai de. [t]tili.* a tti K L K L de. Ai tt
hikjį hiže. Cip [h]ajikarakáraže.† Hija
quite a commotion he made. A noise like striking he made a noise. [There]

*that this is the correct form is seen from Marino's definition of cip as "to make a thudding or stamping noise." The alternative word, tip, is unattested.
†Miner has karakáraš, "to be rattley (noisy)." An /šž/ is sometimes reduced to /ž/ alone.

 


 

dKe. Ai d A LK ni rKe de. Ai L Le xitti K tt
ške hižą hąrą́k nisgeže. Hiraréxjįgają,
[also] one to groan he seemed. After awhile,

 


 

Ki Li de. w i L Le Ki Ki Li de lAo dtte. Aoyi lA L lA Ld
kiriže. Wairareki kiriže. Pųšce hoiparaparaš†
he came out. Bloody* he came out. His nose [it was cut open]

*wairareki < wai, "blood"; and rareki, "all, entirely, completely" —
in other words, "covered in blood."
paraš means, "to break open."

 


 

p. 303 —
Ki Li de. e xitti loAo dtte. Ao Ki lA L d n K w o tte de.
kiriže. Exjį pųšce hokiparašanąga wa’ųježe.
he came out. His own his nose he had himself bruised, and he did it.

 


 

Lo K n n. te de rKe Ke Ao LK Kitti Ai Le doAo no L.
"Rokananą te. Žesgege horakjį hirešųnųra.
"Very great he was, [this one.] That is why to tell of him much [they always do.]

 


 

Ai KiL xitti n. e de. tee A n. e Ki A Ai.
Hįkiraxjįną," éže. T’ehaną égi hahi
He fought me very much," he said. I killed him, and [there]

 


 

p. 304 —
w ow tt wi L. n L xoKo wi doKo ni de. e ttK dA n. A Ai A Ko wi Le.
wa’ųwajawira. Nąraxgųwišgųnįže. Ejakšaną. Hahi hagúwire.
[we two did it.] You must have heard us. He is there. Go get him.

 


 

tee n Ai Ke n K w wi ni Le. w wi Ke de. de tt K
T’éną, hįké nąkawawinire," wawigéže. Žejąga
He is dead, not do not be afraid," he told them. Now

 


 

Ai tt Ao K wy Le de. w Kd Ai Le ra de Ko diAi Ki L
hija hokawaíreže. Wakšą́ hires’aže. "Gušigira
[there] they went in. To turn back they would do. "A little farther

 


 

p. 305 —
Ae Le n A Ke n K w wi ni Le. w wi Ke de. o n Koo.
hereną. Hąké nąkawawinire," wawigéže. ’Ųnąk’ų,
he is. Not do not be afraid," he told them. Finally,

 


 

Ai Lo A Li Ao w Aiy Ly Le Ki di. xA wi n K Ai tt Ao dow n K.
hirohári howahiarairegiži, xąwįnąka hija hošuanąga
in deeper they went in, then the hay [there] he put in, and

 


 

Ao w xitti Le Ai de. di Ke rA ni KL Ao no wK deAe
howaxį́cire hiže. Žigé sanį́k honųąkše.
they burned [he made.] Again on the other side he ran.

 


 

p. 306 —
di Ke e tt. xA wi L. Ai tto dow n K. t e
Žigé éja xąwį́ra hijošuanąga* ta’é
Again there the hay he put there, and to burn

*< hija-hošu-anąga.

 


 

Ai de. e Ki. xA wi n K. t ttele li Le Ki di. w a K L toolo deAe.
hiže. Égi xąwįnąka tacépíregiži, wa’akarat’ųpše,
he did. Then the hay it was burned up, and he went in and brought them out,

 


 

A t dA L liAi xitti. Ao Ao. A K m ni Ae L. e Ki.
hatašara pįxjį. "Hohó, hakamanihera égi
singed very good. ["Ho ho,] [it’s been so long] here

 


 

p. 307 —
w diAi A tti Ktt n Ae. e tt ni L A ni w ttA we de.
wašįhajikjanahe." Éja nįra hanį wacaweže.
I will eat fat." There the water [to have] he started for.

 


 

e Ki ni wi Ko Lo d Ki di. Ai Ko e tt.
Égi wikúružagiži, higų éja
And water when he had washed them, right there

 


 

leAe tto toow n K. wo K L A de.
pejot’ųanąga wokarahąže.
he built a fire, and he boiled them.

 


Source:

The original text is "Wakdjukaga," in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3897 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, ca. 1912) Winnebago V, #7: 274-307. English translation found in Paul Radin, The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology (New York: Schocken Books, 1956) 29-31.