Hōcąk Text — Little Red Bird's Story
by John Baptiste
Original Texts: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
hapaxlegomena: cawā́rĕjana, "the old ways"; éxjĭ́nĭk, "himself"; hakuruc, "to come across" (cf. hakaruce, "to cross"); hohokik’ū, "preaching"; hokā́ragižŭ, "to offer to";
honiké, "band (of Indians)";
horoažā, "sickness"; hōų̄́, "to make"; jąjų̆́p, "lightning"; ́jąjų̄́pšgi, "to lightning"; kērānī́, "it did not"; kirā́kjį, "in the middle"; maintōjahi, "wind"; tīrehīgī́, "movement"; wākū́rūxū́rūki, "to be able";
wī́šgacų̆́, "circus, wild west show"; wṓnąǧirḗske, "frightful" (< wonąǧire, "war"); žeáwaų,
"for that reason".
|
|
rare words: kirušja, "to cure".
|
Nota Bene: where diacritical marks were unclear or ambiguous, they have been omitted.
NB 71.2: 1* | |||
hotcŭ́ⁿgijaⁿ† | hū́ndjigikā́radjijaⁿ‡ | wā́niⁿkcū́tcxūnū́niⁿka | higairegiji# |
Hocų́gižą | Hų́jigikā́rajižą, | "Wā́nįkšūcxūnū́nįka" | higairegiži, |
A Winnebago | of the Bear Clan, | "Little Red Bird" | as they called him, |
* written in the upper left corner is "①"; to its right is "JBa." followed by "Miscellaneous I". Below this entry is written "1" and to the right of both in large letters is written "John Baptiste".
† written opposite the first line in the left margin is "(40)".
‡ just before this word hū́ntc is written.
# ho is lined out just after this word.
waⁿkcigoíⁿra | kirā́kdjiⁿ | hirahígádjaⁿ | ḗgi | maⁿnaⁿgere | hōŭ́ⁿdjirējĕ́ |
wąkšigoį́ra | kirā́kjį | hirahígáją, | ḗgi | mąnągere | hōų̆́jirēžĕ́. |
his life | in the middle | when he reached, | and | the world | he traveled around. |
waⁿkcik | hit!ĕ́ | hokirā́djera | wo’ŭ́ⁿdjireje | dĕ́jeske | hī́djas’ā́je* |
wąkšik | hit’ĕ́ | hokirā́jera | wo’ų̆́jireže, | tĕ́žeske | hī́jas’ā́že. |
Indian | language | different | inland he traveled, | that way | he was doing. |
* written in the margin is:
hadje | } | |
ráradje | being | |
hidje |
s’aje = accustomed
wī́cgatc’ŭ́ⁿ | hŏrốk† | ’uwánuga‡ | hagorejaⁿ | dēdjấnā | hārūtcéje |
Wī́šgacų̆́ | hŏrṓk | ’uánąga | hagorežą | tēją́nā | hārūcéže. |
Circus* | he joined | [he did,] and | [in the course of time] | the ocean | he crossed. |
* above "circus" is written "play he did". The "circus" in question is the Wild West Show.
† in the margin of the next line is written: horok´ hîuⁿ, -íuⁿ, followed by some illegible letters.
‡ followed by "=(uⁿánūⁿgā ".
t!enâⁿiⁿ | waŭ́ⁿdjeje | wajaⁿwakigi | git!aíregi | jeáwauⁿ† | dedjâna |
T’eną̄į | waŭ́ježe. | Wažąwakigi | git’aíregi | žeáwaų | tejāna |
To try to die | he did. | His relatives* | they died | for that reason | the ocean |
* written above this is, "(something his own)".
† the text has, je(e h)áwauⁿ.
harutcanaⁿk’uⁿ | maindôdjahi | hamanínegi | wṓnaⁿq’irḗskeje |
harucanąk’ų | maintōjahi | hamanínegi | wṓnąǧirḗskeže. |
while he was crossing | wind | [as] it came over | it was frightful. |
waniⁿk cū́tc xonúniⁿk djânĕ́ | naⁿq‘íregi | wawewī́wiⁿgijī́* |
Wanįkšū́cxonúnįkjānĕ́ | nąǧíregi | wawewī́wįgižī́ |
Little Red Bird | he was frightened | when he commenced to think |
* wawewíwi occurs just before this word.
ū́ⁿdja’ū́ⁿ | maⁿū́na | hiperezcĕ́ | ḗdjā | maⁿū́na |
ų̄́ja’ų̄́, | Mąū́na | hiperezšĕ́. | Ḗjā | Mąū́na |
doing, | Mąū́na | he knew. | There | Mąū́na |
gikaratcce. | dedjaⁿ | āgĕ́dja | kigī́ji | widjī́jaⁿ |
gikaracše. | Teją̄ | āgĕ́ja | kigī́ži, | wijī́žą |
he prayed to him. | The ocean | on the other side of | when he went,* | an island |
* this is written above "he did".
ḗdjanokiji | tcinaⁿk gijaⁿ* | manáⁿgere | ēgi | écana | hoxedĕ́ra |
ḗjanokiži, | cinąkižą, | maną́gere | ēgi | éšana | hoxetĕ́ra |
there it was, | a city, | the world | there | the only one | the big one |
* tcinok is written just before this word.
herḗjĕ́. | edja | wicgā́tc | úⁿiⁿnĕs’ájĕ* | hagorḗjaⁿ | hŭⁿgerācge |
herḗžĕ́. | Eja | wišgác | ų́įnĕs’ážĕ. | Hagorḗžą, | hų̆gerāšge |
it was. | There | circus | they were doing. | [Eventually,] | the chief [also] |
* an original uwī is lined out, and úⁿiⁿ written above it.
wadjā́ | djijĕ́ | waⁿkcĭ́k | huⁿgíjaⁿ | waŭ́ⁿdjege |
wajā́ | jižĕ́. | Wąkšĭ́k | hųgížą | waų́jege, |
he saw him | he came. | [Indian] | [a chief] | he is, |
NB 71.2: 2* | ||||
waniⁿk cutc xonuniⁿk djênắ | kirigī́ji | motcabĕ́dja | worā́ka | wēs’ā́je |
Wanįkšucxonunįkjēnắ | kirigī́ži | mocabĕ́ja | worā́ka | wēs’áže. |
[Little Red Bird] | when he got back | his own land | when he told | he used to say. |
* at the top of the page is written, ② ã = a going to o ẽ: e going to i ȧ going to aᵋ 2
dedjaⁿ | agĕ́dja | wakuⁿdjā́ra | tcuⁿcgunī́na | niⁿjū́ga |
Teją | agĕ́ja | Wakųjára | cųšgunī́ną. | Nįžū́ga, |
The ocean | the other side | Thunderbirds | not any. | When it rained, |
niⁿjū́xãtcgerácanaⁿ | hērḗcunū́na | haⁿkāⁿgā́ | djaⁿdjŭ́ᵐp | hiraniā́naga |
nįžū́xocgerášaną | hērḗšųnū́ną | hąką̄gā́ | jąjų̆́p | hiraniā́nąga |
drizzling rain | it was always | never | lightning | he made, and |
haⁿhĕ́cge kagā́ | rudjā́x | kērānī́s’ājĕ. | dedjâna | hakurutc |
hąhĕ́šge kagā́ | rujā́x | kērānī́s’āžĕ. | Teją̄na | hakuruc |
it did not indeed | crack (thunder) | it did not. | The ocean | he came across |
hā́nuga | hakirī́ | ūnī́ⁿnegā́djaⁿ | nijū́djegi | dĕĕ́ | k!oiránuga |
hā́nųga | hakirī́ | ūnį̄́gā́ją, | nižū́jegi | tĕĕ́ | k’oiránuga |
[and] | he came back | when they did, | it was raining | this | it thundered, and |
djaⁿdjū́ᵐpcgirā́nuga | rudjāxcgĕ́hires’ā́je | giji | wogijawaje | higŭ́ⁿ |
jąjų̄́pšgiránuga | rujāxšgĕ́ hires’ā́že. | Giži | wogižawaže. | Higų̆́ |
it lightninged, and | [it would always thunder]. | [So] | he was glad. | Then |
wajaⁿwākī́ | hāk’djārā́ | ĕ́rējĕ | ä́sgĕ | dānī́ | wōgī́jūjĕ |
wažąwākī́ | hākjārā́ | ĕ́rēžĕ,* | ásgĕ | tānī́ | wōgī́žūžĕ. |
his relative | just like seeing his own | it was, | and so | tobacco | he offered up. |
* an initial /h/ has been dropped due to external sandhi.
hīgúⁿ | hik‘iwā́rera | uⁿdjēs’ā́gī | hagorḗjaⁿ | honikéjaⁿ |
Hīgų́ | hikiā́rera | ųjēs’ā́gī, | hagorḗžą | honikéžą |
Then | traveling | as he did (off and on), | [eventually] | a band* |
* the translation adds, "(of Indians)".
ḗdjā | maⁿkā́ⁿ | rūdjiwā́ⁿkce | hatcĭ́ⁿdja | hiā́nuga | djāgū́ |
ḗjā | mąką̄́ | rūjiwą̄́kše. | Hacį̆́ja | hiā́nuga | jāgū́ |
[there] | medicine | they were eating. | Where | he did, and | whatever |
ū́naⁿkā | horṓk | uⁿs’ā́jĕ | ä́sgĕ | hicgĕ́ |
ū́nąkā | horṓk | ųs’ā́žĕ. | Ä́sgĕ | hišgĕ́, |
they do | he joined | he always did. | And so | he did, |
hŏrṓk | maⁿkā́ⁿ | rudjắ | djagwáwauⁿ |
hŏrṓk | mąką́ | rujắ | jagwáwaų |
[he joined] | [medicine] | [he ate] | [whatever was done] |
waū́nāⁿki | hĭⁿkĕ́ | hipĕ́rĕzninū́nige | waū́naⁿkce | unaⁿk’uⁿ |
waū́ną̄ki | hį̆kĕ́ | hipĕ́rĕzninū́nige | waū́nąkše. | Unąk’ų, |
[he did it] | not | he did not know, but | he did it. | While he was doing, |
wā́wēwiⁿ | djiregi | djagū́ | woícana | ū́nihera* |
wā́wēwį | jiregi | jagū́ | woíšąną | ū́nihera, |
to think | he commenced | [what] | wrong | he had done, |
* followed by "[ū́iⁿnihera]".
hanaⁿtc | hikaraperezcĕ́ | jige | hahī́-uⁿnáⁿk’uⁿ | máⁿuⁿ | djikáratccĕ́ |
hanąc | hikaraperezšĕ́. | žige | hahī́-ųną́k’ų, | Mą́ų | jikáracšé. |
all | he remembered. | Again | finally he did, | God | he prayed to. |
NB 71.2: 3 | ||||
nīⁿgē | dĕĕ́ | nḗcānaⁿcge | wáunaⁿks’ā́re | hirēgĕ́ |
"Nį̄gē | tĕĕ́ | nḗšą̄nąšge | wáunąks’ā́re," | hirēgĕ́. |
"Maybe | that one | I am the only one | doing it," | he thought. |
hīdjáⁿ hinā́ⁿgere | wawes’ĭ́wiⁿgā́djaⁿ | dĕĕ́ | hicgĕ́ | maⁿŭ́ⁿ |
Hiją́ hiną̄́gere | wawes’ĭ́wįgā́ją, | tĕĕ́ | hišgĕ́ | Mąų̆́ |
The others | he watched them, | [these] | also | [God] |
gikaradjīnā́ⁿkce | ḗgi | hagorḗjaⁿ | djikeregī́ji | maⁿkáⁿ |
gikarajīną̄́kše. | Égi | hagorḗžą | jikeregī́ži | mąką́ |
[they made prayers]. | There | [eventually] | he came home, and | [medicine] |
wārū́djĭnáⁿka | jéesge | hani | djikḗreje | gigī́jī | waruqā́bedja |
wārū́jĭną́ka | žéesge | hani | jikḗreže, | gigī́žī | waruǧā́beja |
[the eating of it] | [this way] | he took up | he got home, | when he did, | in a bundle |
hisgĕ́ | hōjūjĕ́ | wajáⁿ | wákaⁿtcaⁿgī́jaⁿ | hiperĕz | kirigĕ́ |
hisgĕ́ | hōžūžĕ́. | Wažą́ | wákącągížą | hiperĕz | kirigĕ́ |
some | he put into. | Some | holy | he knew | at home |
ḗgi | hagaī́ra | maⁿkaⁿ* | rutcs’ā́je | maⁿkaⁿra | dā́ni |
ḗgi | hagaī́ra | mąką | rucs’ā́že. | Mąkąra | tā́ni |
and | sometimes | [medicine] | [he would usually eat]. | [The medicine] | tobacco |
* rū́dj occurs at the end of the line.
hokā́ragijŭánuga | dṓwĕ | uⁿnêgā́djaⁿ | hakī́ | horoajā́ra |
hokā́ragižŭánuga | tṓwĕ | ųnēgā́ją | hakī́ | horoažā́ra |
he offered to, and | he kept on | doing it | there at | the sickness |
kirucdjaī́negiji | hipĕ́rezce | ä́sgĕ | éxdjĭ́nĭk | wajaⁿ wakigī́ |
kirušjaī́negiži | hipĕ́rezše. | Ä́sgĕ | éxjĭ́nĭk | wažą wakigī́ |
it cured him | he knew. | [And so] | himself | [his relatives] |
uⁿwanaⁿkaragŭⁿdjireje | ŭ́ⁿdjāŭⁿ | wākū́rūxū́rūki | maⁿkaⁿ |
ųwanąkaragų̆jireže. | ų̆́jāų̆ | wākū́rūxū́rūki | mąką |
he tried to make them do it. | Finally* | he was able | [medicine] |
* "finally" is written above "while doing".
rū́djirĕ́s’aje | haruxā́ | hiraitcĕ́rā | naⁿxgŭ́ⁿ | haraī́regi |
rū́jirĕ́s’aže. | Haruxā́ | hiraicĕ́rā, | nąxgų̆́ | haraī́regi |
[they would eat]. | More | they began to know about it, | to learn,* | they commenced† |
* the word "hear" is written above "learn".
† "commenced" is written above an illegible word.
wajaⁿ | gī́p‘iĕsdjḗgaⁿ | herējĕ́ | ŭ́ⁿdjauⁿ | maⁿkắⁿ |
wažą | gī́p’iĕsjḗgą | herēžĕ́. | Ų̆́jaų, | mąką̆́ |
something | very good | it is. | Finally, | [medicine] |
horudjắⁿkā | dīrehîgī́ | haruxā́ | hiraitcĕ́rą | naⁿxgŭ́ⁿ |
horują̆́kā | tīrehīgī́ | haruxā́ | hiraicĕ́rą, | nąxgų̆́ |
they eating* | movement | [more] | [they began to know about it,] | [to learn,] |
* this is followed by "(kind)".
haraī́reje | hakiū́naⁿk’uⁿ* | wocgáⁿ | jĕĕ́ | hohokik‘ū́iⁿjaⁿ |
haraī́reže. | hakiū́nąk’ų | wošgą́ | žĕĕ́ | hohokik’ū́įžą |
they commenced. | While they were doing it, | manner, way, thing | that | the preaching |
* before this word is written, hahiŭ́ⁿdjāuⁿ.
hérēgī | hīpĕrĕ́zirḗjĕ | jēgŭⁿgī́ji | hōkīk’ū́iⁿnḗje | máⁿuna* | jigḗ |
hérēgī | hīpĕrĕ́zirḗžĕ. | žēgų̆gī́ži | hōkīk’ū́įnḗže. | Mą́una | žigḗ |
it was | they knew. | And so | they preached. | [God] | [again] |
* the superscript letter /ⁿ/ following the letter /u/, appears to have been struck out with two lines.
NB 71.2: 4 | |||||
haki | hiperĕ́zirḗjĕ | ū́naⁿk’uⁿ | jige | wajaⁿnā́ | hijăⁿ |
haki | hiperĕ́zirḗžĕ. | Ū́nąk’ų | žige | wažąnā́ | hižą |
[they] | [they knew]. | [Finally], | [again] | something | that one |
hīpĕrĕ́zires’ā́je | hāgōrḗjaⁿ | wōcgã̆ⁿ´ | tcṓni | wa‘uáⁿdjī́rĕgī́ |
hīpĕrĕ́zires’ā́že | Hāgōrḗžaⁿ | wōšgą̆́ | cṓni | wa’uą́jī́rĕgī́, |
[he usually knew]. | [Eventually], | manner | before | while they have been doing, |
haⁿkĕ́ | jĕsgā́nina | wipĕ́rĕzirējĕ | ä́sgĕ | wocgắⁿ* |
hąkĕ́ | žĕsgā́nina | wipĕ́rĕzirēžĕ. | Ä́sgĕ | wošgą̆́ |
not | not that kind | [they knew it]. | [And so] | [rite] |
* ắⁿ is written above uana.
tcãwā́rĕdjãn,,a | wakarat!unaíreje | wāgīgãrā | maⁿk‘áⁿ* | hōū́ⁿna |
cawā́rĕjana | wakarat’unaíreže. | Wāgīgarā | Mąką́ | hōų̄́na |
the old ways | they threw them away. | The feasts | (Medicine dance) | making |
* before this word, a less legible maⁿk‘áⁿ has been lined out.
wajaⁿ* | hikiharā́djera | dejesgā́wauⁿ | djā́núga | haⁿkĕ́ | maⁿkaⁿ |
wažą | hikiharā́jera | težesgā́waų | jā́núga | hąkĕ́ | mąką |
something | clans | for this reason | as much as | [not] | [medicine] |
* just before this word is written, wajaⁿhik.
rudjinĭ́giji | hisgĕdjā́xdjĭⁿ | waūnā́ⁿgere | wawocĭ́k | hīrējĕ́ |
rujinĭ́giži | hisgĕjā́xjį̆ | waūną̄́gere | wawošĭ́k | hīrēžĕ́. |
[they did not eat, and] | really | [they were doing that] | to hate them | [they did]. |
wakīnŭ́bīrērā́cgĕ* | niⁿkdjȧ́̆ⁿk | wā́nirērā́cgĕ | wawokā́rācik |
Wakīnŭ́bīrērā́šgĕ | nįkją̆́k | wā́nirērā́šgĕ | wawokā́rāšik |
Their brothers | sons & daughters† | their own | they hated them |
* before this word is written and crossed out with light diagonal lines, "[kikunubrā́cge]".
† followed by "(children)".
hīrējĕ́ | wājáⁿ | wakaⁿtcȧ́ⁿgᴇra | hanā́ⁿtc | rucdjaī́nege. |
hīrēžĕ́. | Wāžą́ | wakącȧ̹́gᵋra | haną̄́c | rušjaī́nege. |
[they did]. | Some | those things that are holy | all | because they quit. |
Source:
Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebook (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Notebook 71, part 2: 1-4.