Hocąk Text — The Boy who would be Immortal

Hocąk Text — The Boy who would be Immortal - 1

Revised Hocąk-English Interlinear Text

The manuscript, which is in the hand of Paul Radin, is sometimes difficult to read. It has the Roman numeral XIII near the top of the page. About 40% of the hand written interlinear text, which is largely written in pencil, has no English translation, but almost all of the untranslated words can be found elsewhere. Radin also used Greek letter abbreviations for common whole words or syllables some of which he interpreted in other manuscripts, although there are some whose values had been unknown. However, this text proves to be the original of a revised version in which all the missing syllables and words corresponding to the Greek abbreviations in this text are to be found in full. Thus it is a kind of Rosetta Stone for discovering the values of Radin's abbreviations. The Greek symbols used in the text appear on the table below:

α	β	γ	δ	ε	ɜ	λ	ρ	υ	ϕ
égi	éja	giži	žénųga	ésge	šaną	žésge	anąga	regi	hąké

ω	·נ	X	ʆ	ɕ	ƪ	\|	·\|	⨪	>	-
žigé	núnige	uañg(šig)	že/še	xjį	žą	ną	kje	nąk	gáją	-ra

Words supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle) are found in brackets '[ ]'.

p. 210 —

Wañk	niñkdjoñk	inek’í[ƪ].	Hi-antci[γ]	wé[ʆ],	"Hądaginandjere
Wañk	niñkjoñk	inek’ížą.	Hi-ancigiži	wéže,	"Hątaginanjere
[Man]	child	a lone.	His father [once]	said,	"Fast

inek’i	[X]c’į́[-]	winą́jįnįtcųcguni[-];	xopini	warádjire
inek’i	uañgšikš’į́ra	winą́žįnįcųšgunira;	xopini	warájire
alone	you are living	you have none to hope from	[the spirits]	[the various]

hi[ƪ]	nądjonidjóñ[γ]	é[ɜ]	woínaji nįtcų[·\|]."	[λ]
hižą	nąjonijóñgiži	éšaną	woínaži nįcųną."	Žesge
[they are]	[they will bless you]	only	will you have hopes."	[Thus]

higé[ʆ].	Hige[γ]	[λ]	hi[ʆ].	Hądáginątce.
higéže.	Higegiži	žesge	hiže.	Hątáginące.
[he said].	[After] he said to him	so	he did.	[He fasted.]

"Niñgiák,	s’ic’uñ[>]	hądaginándj[-]	naį́ji	wają́na
"Niñgiák,	s’iš’uñgáją	hątaginánjra	naį́ži	wažą́na
"Son,	a long time you've done it	[the fasting]	by this time	[something]

hi[ƪ]	hiraperesk’uni,	jedjąnaíñ[ɕ]	curucdjoñ[γ]	p’įną́[\|]."
hižą	hiraperesk’uni,	žejąnaíñxjį	šurušjoñgiži	p’įną́ną."
[it is]	you must have known,	about now	you should stop	it would be best."

"Djadji,	hisge	waca[·נ]	higų	haipíwañk[ɜ]."
"Jaji,	hisge	wašanúnige	higų	haipíwañkšaną."
"Father,	all	you speak right	but still	I like it."

"[α]	djagu	hirahą́de[ʆ]?"	"Djagu	hagínantc
"Égi	jagu	hirahą́teže?"	"Jagu	hagínanc
"[And]	[what]	have you dreamt of?"	["What]	you told me

p. 211 —

hinaci[-]´	[λ]	yahądé[\|]:	wani-oítcgera	hoit’ehira djasge
hinaširá	žesge	yahąténą:	wani-oícgera	hoit’ehira jasge
to fast for	[and so]	I have dreamt of:	[animals]	to kill as I like

ha[·\|]	[λ]	hiñgigų́zire[\|].	[α]	[ω]	[X]o-į́na
hakje	žesge	hiñgigų́zireną.	Égi	žige	uañkšigo-į́na
&	[thus]	I am taught.	[And]	[again]	[with life]

djadjaíñ[ɕ]	higédjaiñ[ɕ]	hira-úni	nądjiródjaįne[ʆ],
jajaíñxjį	hižéjaiñxjį	hira-úni	nąjirójaįneže,
as long as it is	that long	[to make from one end to the other]	they bless me with,

hiñgaíre.	[α]	[ω]	wagaíre[\|]	hiñguadjíre[\|].
hiñgaíre.	Égi	žigé	wagaíreną	hiñguajíreną.
I am told.	[And]	[again]	[to tell something]	they came after me.

Mañxí	wage[υ]´	wañkdócewe	hotcí[ƪ]	[α] age[-]*
Mañxí	wageregi	wañktóšewe	hocížą	égi ageregi (?)*
To the clouds	above	doctor	in his lodge	that is

*In the later MS this has been corrected to "égi akregi," "and above."

[β]	hini-añgíre[\|].	[X][-]	hiją	d’e[·\|]necge
éja	hini-añgíreną.	uañgšikra	hižą	t’ekjanešge
[there]	they took me to.	Person	a	is near death

ni-ąpha[·\|]´,	[λ]	nądjiroidjaį́ne[\|].	Jénuñga
ni-ąphakjé,	žesge	nąjiroijaį́neną.	Žénuñga
I could make him alive,	[thus]	they blessed me with.	To end

hądáginandjere	hiñgaíre[\|],	[λ]a[·נ]	higų
hątáginanjere	hiñgaíreną,	žesgeanúnige	higų
to fast anymore	I was told,	[but]	still

wa-uwáñk[ɜ].	[Omega]	k’uhą́[υ]	hiñguadjíre[\|].	K’uhǫ́[υ]
wa-uwáñkšaną.	Žigé	k’uhą́regi	hiñguajíreną.	K’uhǫ́regi
I kept on.	[Again]	from below	they came after me.	[From below]

p. 212 —

Wogųzotcí[ƪ]	[β]	hiñguadjíre[\|].	[λ]	hiñgaíre[\|].
Wogųzocížą	éja	hiñguajíreną.	Žésge	hiñgaíreną.
[a Creation Lodge]	[there]	[they came after me].	[Thus]	[I am told].

Djaguranantc	nądjironidjaį́ne[\|]:	wonañghire[-],	wañkdócewe[-],	wot’éhira,
Jagurananc	nąjironijaį́neną:	wonañǧirera,	wañktóšewera,	wot’éhira,
all things	they blessed me with:	wars,	doctoring,	hunting,

[X]o-į[-]	hanántc	nądjironidjaį́ne[\|].	Dj[ρ]´	wa[ƪ]gųz[-]
uañgšigo-įra	hanánc	nąjironijaį́neną.	Jánąga	wažągųzra
with life	all of	[they blessed me].	[As many as there are]	of life (created things)

hąbirak’ara	Wagųz[-],	haną́tcį	nądjonidjaį́ne[\|].	'[ε]
hąbirak’ara	Wagųzra,	haną́cį	nąjonijaį́neną.	'Esge
that he put in charge	the Creator,	all of them	blessed me.	'[And so]

jénuñga	hądaginandjere	c’uñ[·\|],'	hiniñgaíre[\|].	[λ]a[·נ]
žénuñga	hątaginanjere	š’uñkje,'	hiniñgaíreną.	Žesganúnige
[the end]	[fasting]	you should do,'	they told me.	[But]

[ϕ]	tcaníñ[·\|]	[λ]	ro-ága[\|],	[ε]
hañké	caníñkje	žésge	ro-águną,	ésge
not	I would not die	[that kind of thing]	I longed for,	[and so]

wa-uwóñk[ɜ],	djadjí	[δ]	niráñgwine.	Deé
wa-uwóñkšaną,	jají	žénuñga	’uwáñgwine.	Teé
I am doing this,	father	so	let me continue on.	With this

p. 213 —

nądjironidjaįnegí[ɜ],	ducdjoñ[·\|]ne[\|]."	[ϕ]	rucdją́ni[ʆ]
nąjirojaįnegíšaną,	tušjoñkjeneną."*	Hañké	rušją́niže
if I am blessed,	then will I stop."	[Not]	he did not stop

*This should be for a more standard rušjoñkjeneną.

hądagínandj[-].	"[X]é	jenuñga	uné	hądagínandjera.
hątagínanjra.	"Uañgšigé	ženuñga	uné	hątagínanjera.
[the fasting].	"Human	[to end]	that much	[the fasting].

Wa[ƪ]gųz[-]	djadjaíñ[ɕ]	[X]c’iñ[·\|]	honiñk’ųna.	hira-úni
Wažągųzra	jajaíñxji	uañgšikš’iñkje	honiñk’ųna.	hira-úni
[Life]	[as long as]	anyone should live	that he gave you.	To the extent of it

[X]o-į[-]	djagu	gip’į	[X]c’įñ[·\|],	[λ]
uañgšigo-įra	jagu	gip’į	uañgšikš’įñkje,	žésge
[life]	how	you please	you can live,	[this kind]

honiñk’ú-ine[\|]	p’į."	"[·נ]	[ϕ]	tcanijéji,
honiñk’ú-ineną	p’į."	"Núnige	hañké	canižéži,
is given to you	of good."	"But	not	not to kill [or die],

[λ]	ruágu[\|],"	é[\|].	[ϕ]	raxurugirani[ʆ].	[ϕ]aga
žésge	ruáguną,"	éną.	Hañké	raxurugiraniže.	Hañkaga
[this sort of thing]	I desire,"	he said.	[Not]	they could not persuade him.	Never

tcaniñgí	[ɜ]	haip’įną́[\|].	Raxúrugera	ruc’ágire[ʆ].
caniñgí	šaną	haip’įną́ną.	Raxúrugera	ruš’ágireže.
if I would not die	only	I would be satisfied.	[To persuade him]	to be unable.

D’ekdjé[-]	hisgédja	gitcexi[ʆ].	[ε]	waíre[ʆ],
T’ekjéra	hisgéja	gicexiže.	Ésge	waíreže,
To die	very much	he dreaded it.	[So]	they talked,

gųzire[ʆ].	[δ]	t’ekdjé[\|],"	aíre[ʆ].	[ε]
gųzireže.	"Žénuñga	t’ekjéną,"	aíreže.	Ésge
they counseled over.	["That's all]	he must die,"	they said.	[And so]

p. 214 —

hądaginą́djoñk’a.	[β]	horughúdjire[>]	t’a[⨪][ʆ].	Hi-andj[-]
hątaginą́joñk’a.	Éja	horuǧújiregają	t’anąkže.	Hi-anjra
he was fasting.	[There]	[when] they looked	he was dead.	To his father

wagaíre[ʆ],	"Djagú-iyagáwira	jenísge[·\|]ne[\|];	[ϕ]	wajįhiraníne
wagaíreže,	"Jagú-iyagáwira	ženísgekjeneną;	hañké	wažįhiraníne
they said,	"What we said to him	that will be for you;	[not]	you think nothing of it

p’įhiñk’arat’ųbere,"	higaíre[ʆ].	[ε]	woxéjañk’e[ʆ].	[β]
p’įhiñk’arat’ųbere,"	higaíreže.	Ésge	woxéžañk’eže.	Éja
and place him away,"	[they said.]	And so	he dug a grave.	[There]

k’araxé[ʆ].	"Híniñg[-]	djasgé[ɕ][>]	hiníñk’ara	wa-uñgúni,"
k’araxéže.	"Híniñgra	jasgéxjįgają*	hiníñk’ara	wa-uñgúni,"
he buried him.	"My son	[how he is]	[my son]	that he is [doing] there,"

*The revised text has djasgégadją.

hiré[ʆ].	[α]	hogíragire[ʆ]	raxurug[-]	ruc’agire[ʆ].
hiréže.	Égi	hogíragireže	raxurugra	ruš’agireže.
he thought.	[And]	they told him that	the persuading	they were unable.

Waxopini	warádjire	esge	méjesge	gigíreną.
Waxopini	warájire	esge	méžesge	gigíreną.
[The spirits]	[the various]	[therefore]	[for this reason]	they did to him.

["ϕ]	wa[ƪ]	hiraníne	hirapérezi[·\|]ne[\|],"	higaíre[ʆ].
"Hañké	wažą	hiraníne	hirapérezikjeneną,"	higaíreže.
"Not	anything	you think much about	you will know,"	they told him.

Xánihe[-]	hoip’é-i	hi-[β]´,	[β]	hoip’éhi
Xánihera	hoip’é-i	hi-éja,	éja	hoip’éhi
Where he buried him	at the head	[thereat],	[there]	[at the head]

p. 215 —

hi[β],	naį[ƪ]	[β]	haghép[ʆ].	Jee
hiéja,	naįžą	éja	haǧépše.	Žee
[thereat],	a tree	[there]	came up.	[This one]

ére[ʆ].	Ną́djega	e[ɜ]	s’i	hokip’íñkdjeneje.
éreže.	Ną́jega	ešaną	s’i	hokip’íñkjeneže.
he was it.	This tree	only	[that] long	it would last.

[ε]	[λ]	gigíre[ʆ].	Hiperezre	hi-antcirá.
Ésge	žesge	gigíreže.	Hiperezre	hi-ancirá.
[And so]	[thus]	they did to him.	He knew it	his father.

[λ]iperezre.	Wanąį	gip’į[ʆ].	Hi-ądj[-]	racgúni[ɕ]
Žesgeiperezre.	Wanąį	gip’įže.	Hi-ąjra	rašgúnixjį
[Thus he knew].	[Peacefully]	[he liked it].*	[The father]	very well

*Radin translates "wanąį gip’įže" together as "he was happy."

X’į[ʆ].	Dé[λ]	horak[ʆ]	hi-ątc	hiradją́re.
X’įže.	Téžesge	horakže	hi-ąc	hirają́re.
he lived.	[This way]	reported	the father	[that they had taken him away never to return him].

Dé[λ]	horak[ʆ].	[ε]	hądaginandj[-]	xap’e
Téžesge	horakže.	Ésge	hątaginanjra	xap’é
[In this way]	[they informed him].	[This is why]	[the fasting]	soon*

*the English text has "(?)" after "soon". However, this meaning is attested elsewhere.

rucdjaį́nes’a[ʆ].	Dé[λ]	aíre[\|].	Jenuñgá[\|].
rušjaį́nes’aže.	Téžesge	aíreną.	Ženuñgáną.
they usually stop.	[In this way]	they said.	That is all.

Source:

"The Boy who Wished to Become Immortal," in Paul Radin, Notebook 38 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) 210-215. On page 211 is inscribed, "March 11, 1951," but this is certainly a later addition.