Hocąk Text — Bladder and His Brothers, v. 5

narrated by Philip Longtail (Sįcserecka), Buffalo Clan
interlinear translation by James Owen Dorsey


English Translation


 

p. 1 —
Žegí ci sérec (?)* škúni.
There (in the distance) lodge long one perhaps.
*the word is so heavily overwritten in ink that it cannot be made out, except that the last typed letter is /k/ followed by an accent. Beneath the /k/ is written "(subject?)", although this too is uncertain.

 


 

Hąp´-ka nañkikára škúni. Naxí xunúnįgrá hiñkága
Every day hunting perhaps. The youngest brother never

 


 

raní škúni náñkika hisúñkwahirá wawagé
went not perhaps hunting he sent them for the younger brother he aid to them

 


 

škúni: "Nañkikárara nisúgijíwina cágu* ųwíre."
perhaps: "The hunting you are my younger brothers what† do ye it."
*more usually jagú.
†or, how.

 


 

Haíni négi haną́c náñkikáraraíre škúni. Naxí xunúnigra
In the morning all they went hunting perhaps. the younger brother

 


 

hiñké rani škuni. Ciápe škuni.
not went not perhaps. Stayed to take care of the house perhaps.

 


 

Égi wáñgižą hokáwa cirópeja jijé
Then man one entered in the —— at the entrance he stood suddenly

 


 

škuni. "Hocįcį́nigrá hiníwaragá hacį́je howaráwi
perhaps. "The young men your elder brothers where thither they have gone

 


 

[že."]* Naxíga škúni: "Hiníwahára
. Youngest brother said perhaps. "My elder brothers
*this is completely unreadable in the MS.

 


 

haną́c nañkíkararaíre." "Hiníwaraga kių́ wakikárahe hájige
all they have gone hunting." "Your elder brothers to ask them to play a game I —— come

 


 

wáų hajína. Haíni tée, éske
[to do] I have come. Morning this, so

 


 

p. 2 —
worákišáraki. Hoxcą́nągi hákiríregi." Naxí xunúnigrá
you tell them. In the evening, before ———-, when when they have come home." The youngest brother said

 


 

škúni: "Hojá." Hoxcą́nągi hágiríre gáją
perhaps: "Yes." When in the evening they had come home just then

 


 

Naxí xunúnigrá wákikų́ni škúni wañk haíni négi
The youngest brother he forgot it perhaps man in the morning

 


 

nihéra. Haíni négi haną́c náñkikáraraíre
came the one who. In the morning all they went hunting

 


 

škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá hiñké rani škúni.
perhaps. The youngest brother not went not perhaps.

 


 

ciápe škúni. Égi wáñgižą hokáwa
stayed to take care of the lodge perhaps. Then (?)* man one entered, in the past
*the parenthetical question mark is in the text.

 


 

cirópeja jijé škúni. "Hocįcį́nigrá haną́c
at the entrance he stood suddenly perhaps. The young man all

 


 

nañkíkararaíre." "Hiníwaragá kių́ wakikárahe hajíge wáų
they have gone hunting." Your elder brothers [to ask them to play a game]* I have come [to do]†
*the brackets are Dorsey's.
†this is not translated in the MS.

 


 

hajína. Haíni tée, éske worákišáraki
I have come. Morning this, so you tell them

 


 

hoxcą́nągi hákiríregi. Naxí xunúnigrá škúni:
when in the evening before sundown when they have come to you. the youngest brother said perhaps:

 


 

p. 3 —
"Hojá." Hoxcą́nągi hákiríre gáją Naxí xunúnigrá
"Yes." When in the evening they had come home just then the youngest brother

 


 

wákikųnų́ni škúni wáñk haíni négi
he forgot it perhaps man in the morning came

 


 

nihéra. Haíni négi haną́c náñkikáraraíre škúni.
the one who. In the morning all they went hunting perhaps.

 


 

Naxí xunúnigrá hiñké rani škuni, ciápe
The youngest brother not went not perhaps, he stayed to take care of the lodge

 


 

škúni. Égi wáñgižą hokáwa cirópeja
perhaps. Then (?)* man one entered in the past at the entrance

 


 

jijé škúni. "Hocįcį́nigrá hiníwaragá hacį́je
he stood suddenly perhaps. "The young men your elder brothers where

 


 

howaráwiže?" Naxíga škúni: "Hiníwahára
thither they have gone?" The youngest brother said perhaps: "My dear brothers,

 


 

haną́c nañkíkararaíre." "Hiníwaragá kių́ wakikárahe hajíge
all they took you hunting." "Your elder brothers [to ask them to play a game] I have come

 


 

wáų hajína. Haíni tee, éske
[to do] I have come. Morning this, so

 


 

worákišálaki hoxcą́nągi hákiríregi." Naxí xunúnigrá
you tell them when in the morning when they have come ;home." The youngest brother said

 


 

p. 4 —
škúni: "Hojá." Hoxcą́nągi hákiríre gáją
perhaps. "Yes." When in the evening they had come home just then

 


 

Naxí xunúnigrá wákikųnų́ni škúni wáñk haíni négi
The youngest brother he forgot it perhaps man in the morning

 


 

nihéra. Haíni négi haną́c náñkikáraraíre
came the one who. In the morning all they went hunting

 


 

škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá hiñké raní škúni,
perhaps. The youngest brother not went not perhaps,

 


 

ciápe škúni. Hicobą́hąna ci škúni
he stayed to take care of the lodge perhaps. The fourth time came perhaps

 


 

wáñkjéka. Naxí xunúnigrá wagaíre škúni: "Cakų́
man this std. The youngest brother they said to him perhaps: "Why

 


 

gáją hiñkága worákišárakiní. Hiníwaragá kių́
then (?) never you did not tell them. Your elder brothers to play

 


 

wakikárahe hají ájąné." Cowéžegų́ni sáka t'ų́pną́ni.
ask them I came every time." [So he almost killed him]* [?]†
*the brackets are Dorsey's.
†the English is unreadable.

 


 

"Hoxcą́nągi wokírakája hákiríregi." "Hoją́," é
"When in the evening tell them (imperative) when they have come home." "Yes," said

 


 

škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá nañksígią rús škúni.
perhaps. The youngest brother [a] stick took it up perhaps.

 


 

Égi škúni: "Hiníwahára hákiríregi
Then said perhaps: "My older brothers, when they have come home

 


 

p. 5 —
wágitaíkše." Žegų́ ánañgá. Hąp´ sérec
I will tell them." So he was saying. Day long

 


 

ną́įja gicáš mináñk perhaps. "Hiníwahára,
on the stick making a noise by hitting he sat perhaps. "My elder brothers,

 


 

hákiríregi wágitaíkše." Hoxcąną́ni gáją Kųnųgá
when they have come home I will tell them." In the evening just then First son

 


 

kirí škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá kága ske ną́įja
had come home perhaps. The youngest (——-) brother ——-ly on the stick

 


 

žégų gicáš mináñk škúni. Kunugá
so making a noise by hitting he sat perhaps. First son

 


 

žegų naxíre škúni. Cáku ų́kši
so he found perhaps. What will do

 


 

iréske škúni. Égi Kunugá
he was —— — he did not ——- perhaps. Then first son said

 


 

škúni: "Cáku ų́ gáją wacašánañkšé,*
perhaps: "What to do just then you spoke of,
*Dorsey has waca šánañk žé, with waca untranslated. Other sources have wacašąnąk meaning "you spoke of". Dorsey translates, Cáku ų́ gáją wáša šánañk žé, as an idiom meaning, "What is the matter with you?".

 


 

hisúñk-haxcį́?" Hiñké Naxí xunúnigrá xápini škúni.
O younger brothers?" Not the youngest (son or) brother he spoke not perhaps.

 


 

Žegų́ ų́ inañkí žegų́* škúni.
So doing he —- so he did perhaps.
*Dorsey translates the whole sentence as, "He continued what he had been doing".

 


 

Éganąjí hiníwahirá hákiríre škúni. Naxíga
Then all his eldest brothers they had come home perhaps. Youngest son

 


 

wogíraki škúni, hiníwahirá wañk kių́
he told it to them perhaps, hi elder brothers man to play

 


 

wagíkarahé nihéra. Kunugá
to invite them come the one who. First son said

 


 

škúni: "Haínigi hinékšawína." Haíni négi Kunugá
perhaps: "Tomorrow we will go." In the morning First son

 


 

p. 6 —
hisúñkwahirá wácokárakére škúni. Xéžą
his younger brothers he went in front of them, his own he went perhaps. Mountain one

 


 

áhiaxepíré gáją tée cížą ája
they went up to the top just then this lodge one (—- —— ?)*
*the English consists of a parenthetical expression containing two illegible words followed by a question mark.

 


 

nañk škúni. Tée wapéxci náñk
it sat perhaps. This waiting for them to come they sat

 


 

škúni. Kunugá wokít'e škúni wáñkšik
perhaps. First son he talked to them perhaps people

 


 

ánañká: Cáske hokíųna hirékšanégi. Égi
the ones —-ing: Whatever ? game they will —— (——) of. Then

 


 

wañkšík iją́hi náñk we škúni:
man on the other —— the st. one he said perhaps:

 


 

kiwánų hirékšané aíre škúni. Kunugá,
running they will play they said perhaps. First son

 


 

"Hojá," é škúni. "Hįwákirákšané," é
"Yes," he said perhaps. "We will run a race with them," he said

 


 

škúni. Égi Kunugá škúni:
perhaps. Then First son said perhaps:

 


 

wokárak wáši škúni hisúñkwahirá. Haną́c
to tell? about his own he requested them perhaps his younger brother. All

 


 

wokárak-hiré škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá škúni:
they told about their own (———)* perhaps. The youngest of the brothers he said perhaps:
*the parenthetical matter is illegible.

 


 

"Wíra ną́jojáže," é škúni. Kunugá
"The sun aided him mysteriously always," he said perhaps. First son

 


 

škúni: Naxíga wagírakšąné," é
said perhaps: Youngest son he will insult them," he said

 


 

škúni. Žejáñga kigúc-hire škúni. Égi
perhaps. At length they bet against one another perhaps. Then

 


 

p. 7 —
kiwánų haraíre škúni. Hóska xete
to run he was they went perhaps. Prairie large

 


 

mináñki ája hagú-hirékšąné aíre škúni.
sitting right there they will be coming back hither they said perhaps.

 


 

Žejáñga hagú-hiré škúni. Naxí xunúnigrá hirúšarác
At length they were coming back hither perhaps. The youngest son (or, brother) he dropped a little behind

 


 

nažį́ hiré škúni. Žejáñga áška
he stood they did or made (sic) perhaps. At length near

 


 

hagú-hiré škúni. Égi Kunugá
they were returning to the starting point perhaps. Then First son said

 


 

škúni: "Jáguté Naxí xunúnigrá hagéja š'ų́
perhaps. "Why the youngest son (or, brother) behind you do

 


 

šą́wañkšé?" Naxí xunúnigrá hógirújas škúni.
you —- —— one?" The youngest son (or, brother) started to run a little faster perhaps.

 


 

Hókirix-jéja hákiríre gáją Naxí xunúnigrá wiwášigrá
Near the goal they had come back just then then youngest son (or, brother) the flag, or banner

 


 

é cónixci žegų́ háni kírikére
he very first doing that (?)* having it he passed along
*the parenthetical question mark is in the text.

 


 

škúni. Žegų́ hócįcį́na hakáraxére škúni.
perhaps. So young men they all cried out, each for himself perhaps.

 


 

Wikígujrá wákurúsirá nañgá žegų́ haguhire
The stakes they took their own after they had (done it) so they were returning to their own home

 


 

p. 8 —
škúni. Haíni négi žigé náñkikárara žigé
perhaps. In the morning again the hunting again

 


 

araíre škúni. Wáñk kių́ wákikárahe
they went perhaps. Man to play to invite them

 


 

jínihéra žigé hokáwa jináñk škúni.
the one who came again enterred he did it suddenly perhaps.

 


 

Naxíga wagaíre škúni: žigé kių́hirékšané,
Youngest son they (he) said it to him perhaps: again they will have a game together,

 


 

aíre škúni. Naxíga škúni:
they said perhaps. Youngest son said perhaps:

 


 

"Haraírekšąné," é škúni. Hóxcąnąní régi
"They will go," he said perhaps. Evening when (?)*
*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

 


 

hiníwahirá škúni. Égi wogírak škúni
they had come home perhaps. Then he told it to them perhaps

 


 

žigé. Kunųgá škúni, haraírekšąné,
again. First son said perhaps, they will,

 


 

é škúni. Haíninégi wakíųrá jikárawi
he said perhaps. In the morning the game* they started
*Dorsey has below the line, "[to play together]".

 


 

škúni. Égi jáhire gáją wapéxci
perhaps. Then they got there just then they waited for them to come

 


 

náñk škúni. Jają́negí wíkigujíré škúni:
they sat perhaps. Now they bet (together ?)* perhaps:
*the parenthetical matter is in the MS.

 


 

hókikiną́hirékšąné aíre škúni. Kunųgá e
they will wrestle (together) they said perhaps. First son he

 


 

wakirákšąné é škúni. Égi žéjañga
he will contend with them he said perhaps. Then at length

 


 

p. 9 —
hokikínañkiré škúni. Hąp sérec hokikínañkiré
they (began to) wrestle perhaps. Day long they wrestled

 


 

škúni. Égi gajañgá hóxcąną́ni gáją
perhaps. Then at length (?)* in the evening just then
*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

 


 

Kunuñgá máwo t'ųré škúni. Wikígujrá
first son on the ground threw him away perhaps. Stakes

 


 

wákurúsranañgá žegų́ hagúhire škúni. Haíni négi
after they had (?) taken —- their own* so they were coming home perhaps. In the morning
*the parenthetical question mark is Dorsey's.

 


 

hiñké hižą́ wažóni haraírani škúni.
not one to hunt something they went —— not perhaps.

 


 

Égi waíre škúni: haraírekšąné aíre
Then they said perhaps: they will go they said.

 


 

škúni. Žeské hąp´ nųpą́hą hahíres'á škúni.*
perhaps. In this manner day twice they went there repeatedly perhaps.
*"The rest of this myth was forgotten by the narrator" — Dorsey (notes, p. 13).

 


English Translation


Source:

Philip Longtail (Sįcserecka), Buffalo Clan, "Watexúga and His Brothers," translated by J. O. Dorsey (National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution, 1893) 4800 Dorsey Papers: Winnebago 3.3.2, Story I: 1-9.