Hōcąk Text — The Plant Blessing of Earth

narrated by Jasper Blowsnake

Original Texts

Winnebago II, #1: 145-147 — | 145 | 146 | 147 |
Winnebago II, #5: 156-158 — | 156 | 157 | 158 |
Winnebago III, #1: 122-124 — | 122 | 123 | 124 |

English Translation


Line 1 Winnebago III, #1: 122-124
Line 2 Winnebago II, #1: 145-147
Line 3 Winnebago II, #5: 156-158
Line 4 Text in the Current Orthography
Line 5 English Translation

Stylistic Features

  hapaxlegomena: gahigų́, "thus"; giaxu, "to pour for someone"; hąkĕ́ hagá (> hąkaga), "never".
  rare words: -
  use of aírera in preference to aíreną.



As is the case with a number of other Radin interlinear MSS, this text is full of abbreviations for common words and affixes.

α γ ε ɜ ζ ϑ λ ρ 𝜑 ω
égi -giži waxopĭ́ni -šaną -xjį -ižą žesge ánąga hąke žigé


G K S X ·נ २ = < ᴗ - ‧| | ⨪
tanína Wažągų́zᵉra honihá(ra) wąkšige nųnįge -že cokagá ženųga -regi -ra -kje -ną -nąk



Winnebago III, #1: 122 Winnebago III, #1: 123          
Winnebago II, #5: 156 = Winnebago II, #1: 145        
[S] hi’ûñ´kdjâna´wirê x‘aⁿ´wihu naⁿwaiⁿ´[ϑ] here[२´] ai´re[-] [α] wi´ruhîndjiaⁿ´
32 honiha´ra hi’uŋkdjăna´wirë xą´wihu nąwaį´ją herejĕ´ airera. 33 ä´gi wiruhĭndj hiją´
honiha´ra hi’υñk‘djana´wirε xaⁿ´wihu naⁿwaiⁿ´jaⁿ herejε´ ai´rera ä´gi wiruhιndj hijaⁿ´
Honihára hi’ų̆kjanáwirĕ xą́wihu nąwaį́žą herežĕ́ aírera, ä́gi wíruhįjią́
The song* we will use* plants† [a song] [there is] [they are saying,] [and] a greeting*

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.
† The Road of Life and Death, 147, has "medicinal herbs".

 

[ω] here[२] ai´re[-] ewiru´hîntca´wi[-] [K] [ε] wagûñz[γ´] dj[ρ´]
jigĕ´ herejĕ ai´rera e wi´ruhĭntca`wira wajągų´zĕra waxop‘i´ni wagųzgi´ji dja´nąga
jigε´ herejε´ ai´rera e wiruhιntca´wira wajaⁿgυⁿ´zεra waxop‘ι´ni wagυⁿzgiji dja´nαⁿga
žigĕ́ herežĕ́ aírera. E wiruhįcáwira Wažągų́zᵉra, waxopĭ́ni wagųzgíži jánąga
[again] [there is,] [they say.] [He] [we are greeting] Earthmaker* Spirits* that he created [all]

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.

 

hadjanô´gwirê [<] wajîⁿ´rukô´no wagigi´gi [α] haⁿbidai´’una
hadjaną´gwirĕ jënųga wają´ hiruk‘ą´ną wagigi´gi. 34 ä´gi hąbidai´’uṇa
hadjanαⁿgwirε jë´nυⁿga wajaⁿ´ hiruk‘a´naⁿ wagigigi ä´gi haⁿbidai´’uṇa
hajaną́gwirĕ, žénųga wažį́ruką́ną wagigígi, ä́gi hąbitaí’una
[that we see,] each one* in charge* he put them* [and] the means for obtaining Life*

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.

 

                  Winnebago II, #5: 157 Winnebago II, #1: 146
hakara´ni hîñγakíji dja´gu rogu´îⁿwadjê´gi [K] [λ] wahigê´djîni  
hak‘ara´ni hiŋγak‘i´ji djagu´ rogų´ hįwadje´gi wajągų´zĕra jë´sgĕ wahigĕ´djêni  
hak‘ara´ni hιñγak‘i´ji djagu´ rogυⁿ´ hιⁿwadje´gi wajαⁿgυⁿ´sεra jësgε wahigε´djεni  
hakaráni hįǧakíži, jagú rogų́ hįwajégi, Wažągų́zᵉra žésgĕ wahigĕ́jĕni  
[he had] if we cry, [what] one desires in saying it, the Creator* [thus] he made them  

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.

 

      RL&D 147    
naⁿ´djwañgiro´djaⁿ hiranaⁿ´[२] ai´re[-] hitca´kê waha´wi[γ] [X][-]
ną´waŋgiro`dją hiranąj́ĕ ai´rera. 35 hitcokĕ´ waha´wigiji waŋkcĭ´gĕra
naⁿwañgire´djaⁿ hiranaⁿ´jε ai´rera hitcok‘ε´ waha´wigiji wañkcι´gεra
nąjwągiróją* hiraną́že, aírera. Hicokĕ́ waháwigiži, wąkšĭ́gᵉra,
they would bless us with them, [they are saying.] Grandfather† he made his plea,† [for the people,]

* other sources show that the first /dj/ (= /j/) was hypercorrected in subsequent copies.
† from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.

 

hitco´kisa´gonaⁿjiⁿ´na hiki´k’uîṇa´nihe´gi [α] [=] hicgê´
hitcokĕ´ k‘isak honąjį´ṇa hik‘ik‘u´iṇanihe`gi. 36 ä´gi tcok‘aga´ hicgĕ´
hitcok‘ε k‘isa´k‘ honaⁿjiⁿ´ṇa hik‘ik‘u´-iṇanihe´gi ä´gi tcok‘aga´ hicgε´
Hicókiságonąžį́na hikik’úinanihégi, ä́gi Cokagá hišgĕ́
the Grandfather Who Stands in the Middle* that [which] they used on themselves, [and] [Grandfather]† [also]

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147. The translation has "five pieces" with a line connecting this entry to the following at the top of the page: "i.e. the ashes that they used on their faces in fasting". This really applies to the next word (hikik’úinanihégi). The grandfather mentioned here is the Fire which is located in the center of the lodge.
† this is translated "Grandmother."

 

γak[२´] [G] hakara´ni [γ] hikârô´kihiⁿ´wira naⁿ´waⁿ nañxgûⁿ´[२] [α] wagê[२´] hitcûcgê´
γakcĕ dani´ṇa hak‘ara´ni giji hik‘aⁿ´rokĕhihi`wira ną´wą nągų´jĕ.† 37 ä´gi wagĕjĕ´ hitcųcgĕ´
γakcε daniṇa hak‘ara´ni giji hik‘âro´k‘εhihi´wira naⁿwaⁿ nañgυⁿ´jε ä´gi wagεjε´ hitcυⁿcgε
ǧakšĕ. Tanína hakaráni giži. Hikărókĕhihìwira ną́wą nąxgų́žĕ, ä́gi wagĕžĕ́, "Hicųšgĕ́,
he cried.* Tobacco* [he had] [.] Our Grandmother* [his song] she heard it,* and* she spoke to him,* "Grandson,*

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.
† this drops the /x/ of the original transcription. Nąxgų́ means, "to hear, listen," whereas nągų́ is unattested.

 

naⁿ´djonidja´ṇa [K] ’ŭañgê[ᴗ´][⨪]rê´ x‘aⁿ´wîⁿ hu´pina dj[ρ´] haⁿ´binaⁿjîⁿ´ṇaⁿ´kigi†
nądjonidja´ną wajągų´zĕra wa´ŋgĕrĕginą`gĕrĕ xą´wį hu´p‘iṇa dja´nąga hąb hinąjį´nąk‘i`gi
naⁿdjonidja´naⁿ wajañgυⁿsεra wañgεrεginαⁿ´gεrε xaⁿ´wιⁿ hu´p‘iṇa dja´nαⁿga haⁿb hinaⁿjiⁿ´ṇαⁿk‘igi
nąjonijáną. Wažągų́zᵉra, wą́gĕrĕginą̀gĕrĕ, xą́wįhúpina jánąga hą́binąžį́ną́kigi,
I bless you. The Creator,* living up above,* good plants* [as many as there are] [that stand up with Life,]

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 147.
† before kigi a superscript /ⁿ/ is omitted, and the accent over the first /i/ in kigi is lined out.

 

RL&D 148            
[<]* na´djirodjaⁿ´[२] e[२´] howare´[-] x‘aⁿ´wîⁿhu wajâⁿ´ṇûkoñ´ga higisgê´s’a[२´]
jë´nųga ną´djirodją`jĕ ëj́ĕ. 38 howare´ra xąwį´hu wają´ hiṇukŏ ́ŋga hi´gisgĕs’a`jĕ
jë´nυⁿga naⁿdjirodjaⁿ´jε ëj́ε howarera xaⁿwiⁿhu wajaⁿ´ hiṇuk‘ɔ´ñga higisgεs’a´j́ε´
žénųga ną́jiroją̀žĕ," ežĕ. Howaréra, xąwį́hu wažą́nukǫ̆́ga higisgĕs’ažĕ́.
with these† I bless you," [she said]. [Sure enough,] plants† when she uses for anything it would be so.

* before this symbol, haⁿbi is lined out.
† from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.

 

djágu rogûⁿ wa’ûñga´ [λ] howes’a´[२] [α] we[२´] hitcûⁿcgê´ gagwo´ra
djagu´ rogų´ wa’uŋga´ jësgĕ howes’a´jĕ. 39 ä´gi wej́ĕ hitcųcgĕ´ ga higų´
djagu´ rogυⁿ´ wa’υñga´ jë´sgε howes’a´j́ε ä´gi wejε hitcυⁿcgε ga higυⁿ´
Jagú rogų́ wa’ųgá, žésgĕ howes’ážĕ. Ä́gi wežĕ, "Hicųšgĕ́, gahigų́
Whatever* [to long for] she is doing it, [that] she would get.* And* she said,* "Grandson,* thus

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.
† "get" is written above an original "go".

 

             Winnebago III, #1: 124*    
wácêrëkdjôna´rê redju´ṇa djadjaiñ´[ζ] p‘aniṇê´gi‡ maiñ´kidjaⁿ dêê´ hinîñgi´sgê
kerawace´rekdjă`rĕ redju´ṇa djadjai´ŋxdjį† p‘aniṇe´gi maiŋk‘i´dją dĕĕ hiniŋgi´sgĕ
korawacerek‘djana´rε redju´ṇa djadjai´ñdjιⁿ p‘aniṇe´gi maiñk‘i´djaⁿ dεε´   hinιñgi´sgε
korawašerekjanárĕ, rejúna jajaį́xjį paninégi maįkíją, tĕĕ́ hinįgísgĕ
as you go, roots (descendants) as long as [if] you are as long as the earth lasts, [this] it will be so

* a great deal is written at the top of the page. At the far left is the numeral "7", and at the far right corner is "124". At the center near the top of the page is written "150". At the top of the left side of the page is written,

ma (?)
arrow
      rucâ´rotc } to pull out

To the right of the numeral "150" is written:

hak’a´ }  
rak’a´ to dig
k’a  

Just above the first line and near the right edge of the page is written,

rus‘aⁿ´ha´hiⁿ = anything
    by itself
without    

† the word following this is heavily scribbled out.
‡ a line connects this line to a comment above the line: "if you make sacrifices to these plants, you will always obtain what you wish."

 

ranicë´[‧|´][|] x‘awiⁿ´hu[-] ninda´katc wagigi´[-] p‘iⁿṇa[γ´] x‘awiⁿ´hura -
ranice´kdjăne`ną. 40 xąwįhu´ra nįnda´katc wagigi´ra p‘iṇagi´ji wąwįhu´ra* nįnda´k‘atc
ranicek‘djane´naⁿ xaⁿwiⁿhu´ra ninda´k‘atc wagigi´ra p‘iṇagi´ji waⁿwiⁿhu´ra* -†
ranišekjanéną. Xąwįhúra, nįtákac wagigíra pinagíži, xąwįhúra nįtákac
for you always. The plants,‡ boiling doing for them if you do it well, the plants‡ boiling

* both the manuscript and the typescript have an initial /w/ in place of the original initial /x/.
† omitted in the typescript.
‡ from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.

 

- - - [𝜑]aga´ hi[ϑ´] wajîⁿ´curuc’a´gênîñ[‧|´][|]
wagigi´ra p‘iṇagij́i wąwįhu´ra† haŋk‘aga´ hiją´ wają´ hicuruc’a´gĕnĭŋkdjăne`ną.
- - - hañk‘aga´ hijaⁿ´ wajaⁿ´ hicuruc’a´gεnιⁿkdjanenaⁿ
wagigíra pinagiži, xąwįhúra hąkagá hižą́ waį́šuruš’ágĕnįkjănèną.
for them if you do things well, the plants* never* something* you will not fail to get something with it.

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.
† again there is an initial /w/ where an /x/ is expected.

 

    Winnebago II, #5: 158  
x‘aⁿ´wîⁿhu´[-] hi[ϑ´] curucâ´roikdjone´gi* [𝜑] haga´ naⁿbᴇra´[ɜ] rusaⁿ´kinîⁿ
41 xąwįhu´ra hiją´ curucâ´roikdjăne`gi haŋkĕ´ haga´ nąbĕra´căną rusaŋk‘i´ni
xaⁿwiⁿhu´ra hijaⁿ´ curucâroik‘djanegi hañk‘ε´ haga´ naⁿbεra´canaⁿ rusañk‘ι´ni
Xąwįhúra hižą́ šurušároikdjanègi, hąkĕ́ hagá nąbĕrášaną rusąkĭ́ni
Plants‡ one of these‡ if you're going to pull out, never hand only† [always choking]

* the /k/ is inserted above the line by a caret.
† above "hand" is written, "(with bare hand)".
‡ from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.

 

rucâroidjinia´ndjê tco´ni haⁿ´binaⁿjîⁿ´ṇa [G] hoju´i[ϑ] gíaxŭ[ρ´]
rucâroi´djĭnią`djĕŋtco´ni hąb hinąjį´ṇa dani´ṇa hoju´iją giwaxu-a‧´nąga.
rucâroidjιniaⁿ´djε tco´ni haⁿb hinaⁿjiⁿ´ṇa dani´ṇa hoju´ijaⁿ gi-axu-a´nαⁿga
rušaroijĭnią̀jĕ, cóni hąbinąjį́na tanína hožúižą giaxuā́nąga
do not pull out,* first* life abounding† tobacco* [a full amount] pour for them, and

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.
† below the line is written, "(med. plants)".

 

Winnebago II, #1: 147        
[α] k‘a´djê maiñ´kidjaⁿ [λ]a´nihe´[‧|´][|] [S]nina hina´gic’uⁿ´wigi
43* ä´gi k‘a´djĕ maiŋk‘i´dją jë´sgĕ ha´nihekdjăne`ną honiha´nina hiṇa´gi c’ų´wigi
ä´gi k‘a´djε maiñk‘i´djaⁿ jë´sgε hanihek‘djane´naⁿ honiha´nina hiṇa´gi c’υⁿwigi
ä́gi kájĕ, maįkíją žĕ́sgánihékjanèną Honihánina hinágišų́wigi,
[then] dig it, [the length of the earth] it will remain thus. [My song] if you use it for me,

* this should have been labeled "42".

 

djagu´ri[ϑ] rora´gûⁿ waca´wî[γ´] [λ] nîñgipê´wiñ[‧|´]awi[|] hikâro´kihiwi[-]
djagu´iją rora´gų waca´wigiji jë´sgĕ niŋgip‘o´wiŋkdjana´winą hik‘â´rokĕhi`wira
djagu´ijaⁿ rora´gυⁿ waca´wigiji je´sgε nιñgip‘e´wιñkdjana´winaⁿ hik‘âro´k‘ehi´wira
jagúižą rorágų wašáwigiži, žésgĕ nį̆gipéwį̆kjanáwiną," Hikărókehíwira
[whatever one] you want to whom you sing them,* [thus] I will think for you," Our Grandmother†

* "who" is written above the line.
† from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.

 

e[२´] aire[-] [S] e’ûñ´[‧|]a´wi[>´] x‘aⁿwihu´ naⁿwaiⁿ´[ϑ] here[·נ]
ĕje ai´rera. 44† honiha´ra e ’uŋkdjăna´wigadją xąwi´hu nąwaįj́ą herĕ nu´nigĕ
ej́ε ai´rera honiha´ra e ’uñk‘djane´wigadjaⁿ xaⁿwi´hu naⁿwaiⁿj́aⁿ here nunιgε´
ĕžĕ́, aírera. "Honihára e ’ųkjănéwigają, xąwíhu nąwaį́žą herenunĭgĕ́
[she said,] [they are saying.] "The song* [to sing] we will now do, plant a song [it is, but]

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.
† this is actually sentence 43.

 

wi´ruhiñtc hic’ûñkdjawi´[|] e[२] ai´rera
wi´ruhĭntc hic’ăŋkdja´winą e´je ai´rera
wi´ruhιntc hic’uñk‘dja´winaⁿ ej́ε ai´rera
wíruhį̆c hiš’ųkjáwiną," éžĕ, aírera.
greeting* you'll use it for," [he said,] [they are saying.]

* from the translation in The Road of Life and Death, 148.

Source:

For the original handwritten interlinear text, see Winnebago III, #1: 122-124; a handwritten phonetic text is found at Winnebago II, #1: 147-148; and its typed version at Winnebago II, #5: 156-158. The published translation is found in Paul Radin, The Road of Life and Death: A Ritual Drama of the American Indians. Bollingen Series V (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1973 [1945]) 147-148.