Hocąk Text — Turtle and the Merchant

narrated by Charlie Houghton

interlinear translation by Oliver LaMère


Words in brackets, [...,] were missing in the MS are were therefore supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle).


English Translation


 

p. 132 —
Kecúñgega manégi jíną. Cinógeniñgìžą éja
[Turtle] to earth came. A little village there

 


 

cíže. Hicáwina hakižú jiną. Égi
he lived. His wife with him [she came.] [And]

 


 

caninégi haną́c éja ciréže. Ni xétežą
in the fall all [there] they lived. [A] large water*
*Radin has written above the English line, "Missouri?".

 


 

éja círe wáha honíne égi Waxopínina
[there] [they] lived looking for furs [and] Frenchman

 


 

waruwína éja ciréže, wáha ruwíne.
store-keeper* [there] they lived, furs buying.
*the word "buyer" is written above the English line, reflecting the literal meaning of the term.

 


 

Égi uáñgera wawagáxhire warúc waníšge
[And] the men got credit for food meat also

 


 

giwagáxire, égi Kecúñgega hinké wawagáx
they got from him on credit [and] [Turtle] not credit

 


 

p. 133 —
gigiwínine wawagáx rušagíkjanihèną. Hiñké wawagáx
he was unable credit he will be unable to get. [Not] credit

 


 

nįže, aíreną. Égi hąpížą hicáwina
get, they said. [And] one day* his wife
*'one day' is actually written above the line to replace 'no one (?!)', the punctuation apparently having been written in later.

 


 

hakaraikížu wawagáx égi, "Hicakáro nąbrónąñk.
with him [to get] credit [and] "My friend shook hands.

 


 

Wapagáx hajíną. Warúc haku-ájiną." Égi
to get credit I came. For food I came after." [And]

 


 

waruwína roǧi égi, "Kécuñge hañké
[the] trader objected [and,] ["Turtle] not

 


 

wažą́ horáni šuruxúrugeni, aíreną. Wawagáx
something you hunt you can, [they said.] Credit

 


 

p. 134 —
šuruš’aíkjanèną." Žigé, "Ho cakaró, wapagáx
unable for you to get." [Again,] ["Ho] [friend,] [to get myself] credit

 


 

hajíną. Warújera hisgé pagaíxje. Niñkcóñgeniñgra
I came for. Food also I wish to get credit for. [The] children

 


 

tokéwehire." "Hañkeréšge," uáñgera roǧiną, "ásge
are hungry "Impossible," the man objected, "and so

 


 

hañka’úni." Hožejaį́ja, "Ho hicakaro! wapagáx
not I will do." In the end, "Ho [friend!] [to get myself] credit

 


 

hájiną. Warúc pagaíxjeną." "Hojiá, niñgi’úñkjanèną.
I came for. Food I want on credit." "All right, I will do it.

 


 

Hicakáro, uañgenáñgere roǧiréną hañké wažonína
[Friend,] these men objected not to hunt

 


 

p. 135 —
wašúrupìniže, aíreną, nunigé žégų nigiáñkjanèną.
do they not know, [they said,] [but] [anyhow] I will do it.*
*After this word begins a sentence inserted from the top of the page. This sentence has no accents indicated, and unlike the rest of the text, nasalized vowels are indicted by a subscripted hook rather than a superscripted small 'n' following the letter.

 


 

Égi wawagáx šuruš’akgekjaneną, aíreną, nunigé
[And] credit cannot (will not) you pay,* [they said,] but then
*the parentheses appear in the MS.

 


 

žégų nįgiąkjaneną.* ’Yapérezšàną. Niñkjóñgeniñk nišgé
anyhow I'm going to. I knew it. Children I also
*This word ends the passage written in at the top of the page and connected by a line and caret to the place of insertion.

 


 

haníną. Niñkjóñgwanina tokéwe hiregá hinké
I have. My children hungry when they get [not]

 


 

nącgé rahiñgípinišonùną, ásge nigi’úną." Égi
heart feel good it does not, and so I do it for you." [And]

 


 

hąbížą uañgenúniñka jíže Kecuñgéga hoci-éja,
one day the old man came, [Turtle] to his house,

 


 

"Hicakáro, waha roágų," ánañga. Égi,
["Friend,] furs I want," he said. [And,]

 


 

p. 136 —
"Hó hicakáro, tekjéną. Haínigi rajikjéną."
"Ho my friend, to go I will. Tomorrow [you will] come over."

 


 

Égi hąhéregi haininégi waruwína jíže,
[And] at night in morning the buyer came,

 


 

aíreną. Kecuñgéga hicáwiwahìra wakarakížu wažónihiže.
[they said.] [Turtle] his wives with him hunt he went.

 


 

Hinúñgenoñka e rábera waísak
The women they the beaver kill

 


 

wagigíži. Wajéroka nąži wagíži, égi
he let them. Naked he stood them, [and]

 


 

waísak wagigíži hinų́bike hicáwįwahìra wa’u-inéže.
kill he made them both of them wives his they did.

 


 

Égi haną́ciñxjį ąjéja wakųtákireže. Égi
[And] [absolutely] all on shore carried they them. [And]

 


 

p. 137 —
waruwína jíže. Waruwína harukózire
the trader came. The trader he him arrested

 


 

hižúk-mowéja. Éja hainižą́ kiríre. Égi
at bullet-moulding-place. [There] one morning they came. [And]

 


 

Kecuñgéga hijahišgúni. Hicakáro hanañgá háni-añkaraìreną.
[Turtle] went there. [The friend] him too they took along back.

 


 

Harukózirèną. Wawagáx rušákšaną. Hani-añkaraíreną. ásge
They arrested him. Credit he could not pay. They took him back. and so

 


 

Kecuñgéga wahára wokik’šúže wajéja. Wájera
[Turtle] the furs loaded them in a boat. The boat

 


 

hoixjį́ hosá hicawína gináñgigi-ànañga rusgísgic.
full [a certain material]* his wife twist rope fibers he made her tied it.
*the bracketed material is in the MS.

 


 

p. 138 —
Hąhą́ égi Kecuñgéga hijomináñkšaną. Réže,
[Yes] [and] [Turtle] got in. Went,

 


 

aíreną. Niñkúse Xonúniñgra harek’úže, aíreną. ’Uąhigáją
they said. The Wisconsin River* he went down, [they said.] As he went along
*the translation has 'the Mississippi' under nikúse and 'the small part' under xonúniñgra. See the Commentary.

 


 

niná harucéxjį wak’aį́žą, wak’ą́ co-ižą́
the waters real across* a snake, snake a blue [one]
*"completely across" would be more appropriate.

 


 

wa’uáñkše, aíreną. Éže, aíreną, "Hijahį́
it was, [they said.] He said, [they said,] "Another place

 


 

hinúñgre."* Éže, aíreną, "Hiñké ’ųnįže,"
you set." (!)† [He said,] [they said,] "Not do it not,"
*a terminal 'a' was crossed out and an 'e' was placed above it.
†the exclamation point occurs in the MS. This entry replaces an original question mark.

 


 

aíreną. Jobóhą higéže, aíreną. "Hehó,
[they said.] Four times he asked it, [they said.] "Heho,

 


 

ne warákik’uñkjonèną," éže Kecuñgéga. ásge
you will bring this upon yourselves," [he said] [Turtle.] [And so]

 


 

p. 139 —
žéjuñga mąšją́ niwáną. ’Uñgíži, kisák
[now] mighty hard he rowed. [When] he did it, half

 


 

wak’áñka bokónok hiréže, aíreną. Égi
the snake broke* they did, [they said.] [And]
*'[by natural force]' is written at the top of the page and connected to 'broke' by a line.

 


 

Niñkúse Hoxetéra* hot’ą́pše huže, aíreną.
Miss[issippi] the large part he came into this way, [they said.]
*This is the name used to distinguish the Mississippi proper from the "Little Mississippi" (the Wisconsin River). See the Commentary.

 


 

Égi Kecuñgéga hižúk mowéja éja jíže,
[And] [Turtle] bullet moulding place [there] he came,

 


 

aíreną. Howaréra Waxopínina hijajíre, égi
[they said.] Sure enough the Frenchmen they came, [and]

 


 

Kecúñgega, "Ho, nąbra wonóñka, hicakárohara. Jasgéže
[Turtle,] "Ho, he shook hands, my friend. How is it

 


 

p. 140 —
ci uañgéja?" "Honąsánañkšaną." "Ho, hacakjége wahájeną."
upstairs?" "He is locked up." ["Ho,] I will see him [that] is why I ask."

 


 

Wájera éja rusgíc karat’ų́pše, aíreną.
The boat [there] tied he left it, [they said.]

 


 

Égi hijowáreže ci uáñgera howáreže, aíreną.
[And] he went there upstairs he went, [they said.]

 


 

Éja waruwína. "Ho hicakáro, hajíną."
[There] the trader. ["Ho] [friend,] I have come."

 


 

"Hą́," eže waruwína. "Hicakáro, jánuñga
["Yes,"] he said the trader. ["Friend,] how much

 


 

šurušákają haninañkózireže? Hicakáro, wahá hani-ąjíną.
did you owe that they arrested you? [Friend,] furs I brought with me.

 


 

p. 141—
Wawagáx kawažáre." ásge t’ąpiréže, wajéja
Credit pay off." And so they came down, to the boat

 


 

hahíreže. Mąhį́ xeterá rokáną. Žégų wajáñgere
they went. White people plenty there were. [Now] this boat

 


 

žégų hixgáñxgą míñkše. Rábera wa’uinéže.
indeed tremble would it lay. Beaver did it.

 


 

ásge Kecuñgéga wéže, "Hocincíniñgwira, hañkší
And so [Turtle] said he, "Boys, up high

 


 

nąžíwine." Égi žéjuñga rabera warusiréže,
stand you." [And] [then] beaver furs they took them,

 


 

égi gikárap’irèže égi waruwína jánañga
[and] counted them [and] trader how much

 


 

waruwį́jega ruš’áki haną́c hirowehíže.* Égi
the trader he owed [all] paid. [And]
*at the bottom of the page is written "hirowe hi, hirowe ra, hirowe na."

 


 

p. 142 —
hagikíniže. "Hicakáro, žégų rúzere. Woruwócira
some left over. ["Friend,] [now then] take it. A store

 


 

pik’úne." "Hojá," waruwína eže, aíreną.
fix you up." "All right," the trader he said, [they said.]

 


 

"Hąhą́, žejúñga Kecuñgéga kerekjáneže?" aireną.
["Yes,] [well then] [Turtle] is it to go home?" [they said.]

 


 

Égi, "Hicakáro, warújere," eže, aíreną.
[And,] ["Friend,] eat," he said, [they said.]

 


 

Waruwína wéže, aíreną. Kecuñgéga wéže,
The trader said, [they said.] [Turtle] [said,]

 


 

"Hicakáro, hañké tokéwehenìną," éže, aireną.
[Friend,] [not] hungry I am not," [he said,] [they said.]

 


 

p. 143 —
"Hicakáro, pejenína hisgé tacgą́ gipįnána,"
"My friend, whiskey some I drink would be good,"

 


 

éže, aíreną. "Hojá." Kokížą Kecuñgéga
[he said,] [they said.] "All right." A barrel [Turtle]

 


 

gixúxše, aíreną. Égi haníjinañgànañga racgą́že
broke open, [they said.] [And] he got hold of it [and] drank it up

 


 

rasgépše, aíreną. Égi Kecuñgéga kerekarohógi
entirely, [they said.] [And] [Turtle] when ready to go home

 


 

wéže, "Hicakáro, pejenína hisgé hani-áñkerekjèną,"*
[he said] ["Friend,] whiskey some I'll take home with me,"
*the ending -aneną is crossed out and èną written in above it.

 


 

éže, aíreną. Hąhą́, hąbížą wa-ehíreže,
[he said,] [they said.] [Well,] a day* they had a council,
*"one day" would be better.

 


 

égi Mą’úna jagú egíži Kecuñgéga
[and] Earthmaker what he said [Turtle]

 


 

p. 144 —
haną́cį horákše, aíreną. ásge Waxopinináñka
[all of it] he told, [they said.] And so [to] the Frenchman

 


 

wéže, "Hąhą́, hisgé wahéną. Žesgekjéną.
[he] said ["Yes,] truth I said. Be it so.

 


 

Jajaíñxjį manáñgere uañkšíg’a-iñgìži hoišípjį žésgekjanèną,"
As long [as] this earth as human I live always it will be thus,"

 



éže, aíreną. ásge épa wahára
[he said,] [they said.] [And so] since then the furs

 


 

piñkísge wahiąhú-ireže, aíreną. Hąhą́, Kecuñgéga
good piece they gave for them, [they said.] [Yes,] [Turtle]

 


 

haną́c piníže, aíreną uañkšígera Waxopínina.
[all] they fixed, [they said] the people the Frenchman.

 


 

p. 145 —
Hąhą́, Kecuñgéga žéjuñga keréže, aíreną.
[Yes,] [Turtle] [then] went home, [they said.]

 


 

Niñkúsera hamą́hą keréže, aíreną. Pejeníkogra
The Mississippi went up [he went] home, [they said.] Whiskey barrels

 


 

jopíwi wajéja hokéreže, aíreną. Hagaréžą
four in the boat put he in, [they said.] At a time

 


 

gíže, aíreną. Égi uañkšígera wawogírakše,
got home, [they said.] [And] the people he told them,

 


 

aíreną. "Gájuñga uañkšíkš’iñkjanàwiną.* Hąhą́,
[they said.] ["And now] good you [will] live. [Yes,]
*the ending -èną is crossed out and àwiną written above it.

 


 

žegúną. Hi-ą́chihiwira tée pi’ųhíšige wa’ųhajíną.
that's all. Father ours this fix he told me is why I came here.

 


 

p. 146 —
Jobóhañgi hakérekjanèną. Hąhą́ hąp tée
Four days from now I will go home. [Yes,] day this

 


 

hakérekjanèną. Hagaréžą manáñgere wažanaížą hiñké
I am going home. [At one time] this earth something not

 


 

piniñgí žigé hájikjanèną," éže, aíreną.
good [again] I will come," [he said,] [they said.]

 


 

Hąhą́, keréže, aíreną. Uañgerégi howá
[Yes,] he went home, [they said.] Up above went

 


 

keréže, aíreną. Žégų.
he did, [they said.] [That's all.]

 


Source:

Charlie Houghton, Turtle and the Merchant, translation by Oliver LaMere, in Paul Radin, Winnebago Notebooks, Freeman #3894 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago III, #9: 2-29 = 132-146.