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).
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* |
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. |
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 |
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.* |
Égi | wawagáx | šuruš’akgekjaneną, | aíreną, | nunigé |
[And] | credit | cannot (will not) you pay,* | [they said,] | but then |
žégų | nįgiąkjaneną.* | ’Yapérezšàną. | Niñkjóñgeniñk | nišgé |
anyhow | I'm going to. | I knew it. | Children | I also |
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. |
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 |
niná | harucéxjį | wak’aį́žą, | wak’ą́ | co-ižą́ |
the waters | real across* | a snake, | snake | a blue [one] |
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," |
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] |
Niñkúse | Hoxetéra* | hot’ą́pše | huže, | aíreną. |
Miss[issippi] | the large part | he came into | this way, | [they said.] |
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] |
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," |
éže, | aíreną. | Hąhą́, | hąbížą | wa-ehíreže, |
[he said,] | [they said.] | [Well,] | a day* | they had a council, |
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 | pį | uañkšíkš’iñkjanàwiną.* | Hąhą́, |
[they said.] | ["And now] | good | you [will] live. | [Yes,] |
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.] |
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.