old indian days(古印第时期)-第25章
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peoples to tell the news； and that all who believe must be marked with
holy water and accept the totem。
He asked by signs if She…who…has…a…Soul be… lieved the story。 To this
she replied：
〃It is a sweet storya likely legend！ I do believe！〃
Then the good father took out a small cross； and having pressed it to
his heart and crossed his forehead and breast； he gave it to her。 Finally
he dipped his finger in water and touched the forehead of the maiden；
repeating mean… while some words in an unknown tongue。
The mother was troubled； for she feared that the stranger was trying to
bewitch her daugh… ter； but the chief decided thus：
〃This is a praying…man； and he is not of our people； his customs are
different； but they are not evil。 Warriors； take him back to the spot where
you saw him first！ It is my desire； and the good custom of our tribe
requires that you free him without injury！〃
Accordingly they formed a large party； and carried the Black Robe in
his canoe back to the shore of the Great Lake； to the place where they had
met him； and he was allowed to depart thence whithersoever he would。
He took his leave with signs of gratitude for their hospi… tality； and
especially for the kindness of the beautiful Sioux maiden。 She seemed to
have understood his mission better than any one else； and as long as she
lived she kept his queer trinketas it seemed to the othersand per…
formed the strange acts that he had taught her。
Furthermore； it was through the pleadings of She…who…has…a…Soul that
the chief Tatankaota advised his people in after days to befriend the white
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strangers； and though many of the other chiefs opposed him in this； his
counsels pre… vailed。 Hence it was that both the French and English
received much kindness from our peo… ple； mainly through the influence
of this one woman！
Such was the first coming of the white man among us； as it is told in
our traditions。 Other praying…men came later； and many of the Sioux
allowed themselves to be baptized。 True； there have been Indian wars；
but not without reason； and it is pleasant to remember that the Sioux were
hospitable to the first white 〃praying… man；〃 and that it was a tender…
hearted maiden of my people who first took in her hands the cross of the
new religion。
V THE PEACE…MAKER
One of the most remarkable women of her day and nation was
Eyatonkawee； She…whose…Voice…is…heard…afar。 It is matter of history
among the Wakpaykootay band of Sioux； the Dwellers among the Leaves；
that when Eyatonkawee was a very young woman she was once victorious
in a hand…to… hand combat with the enemy in the woods of Minnesota；
where her people were hunting the deer。 At such times they often met
with stray parties of Sacs and Foxes from the prairies of Iowa and Illinois。
Now； the custom was among our people that the doer of a notable
warlike deed was held in highest honor； and these deeds were kept con…
stantly in memory by being recited in public； before many witnesses。
The greatest exploit was that one involving most personal courage and
physical address； and he whose record was adjudged best might claim
certain privileges； not the least of which was the right to interfere in any
quarrel and separate the combatants。 The peace…maker might resort to
force； if need be； and no one dared to utter a protest who could not say that
he had himself achieved an equal fame。
There was a man called Tamahay； known to Minnesota history as the
〃One…eyed Sioux；〃 who was a notable character on the frontier in the early
part of the nineteenth century。 He was very reckless； and could boast of
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many a perilous adventure。 He was the only Sioux who； in the War of
1812； fought for the Americans； while all the rest of his people sided with
the British； mainly through the influence of the Eng… lish traders among
them at that time。 This same 〃One…eyed Sioux〃 became a warm friend of
Lieutenant Pike； who discovered the sources of the Mississippi； and for
whom Pike's Peak is named。 Some say that the Indian took his friend's
name； for Tamahay in English means Pike or Pickerel。
Unfortunately； in later life this brave man became a drunkard； and after
the Americans took possession of his country almost any one of them
would supply him with liquor in recog… nition of his notable services as a
scout and soldier。 Thus he was at times no less dangerous in camp than
in battle。
Now； Eyatonkawee； being a young widow； had married the son of a
lesser chief in Tama… hay's band； and was living among strangers。
Moreover； she was yet young and modest。
One day this bashful matron heard loud war… whoops and the screams
of women。 Looking forth； she saw the people fleeing hither and thither；
while Tamahay； half intoxicated； rushed from his teepee painted for war；
armed with tomahawk and scalping…knife； and approached another warrior
as if to slay him。 At this sight her heart became strong； and she quickly
sprang between them with her woman's knife in her hand。
〃It was a Sac warrior of like proportions and bravery with your own；
who； having slain several of the Sioux； thus approached me with uplifted
tomahawk！〃 she exclaimed in a clear voice； and went on to recite her
victory on that famous day so that the terrified people paused to hear。
Tamahay was greatly astonished； but he was not too drunk to realize
that he must give way at once； or be subject to the humiliation of a blow
from the woman…warrior who challenged him thus。 The whole camp was
listening； and being unable； in spite of his giant frame and well…known
record； to cite a greater deed than hers； he retreated with as good a grace
as pos… sible。 Thus Eyatonkawee recounted her brave deed for the first
time； in order to save a man's life。 From that day her name was great as a
peace…makergreater even than when she had first defended so gallantly
her babe and home！
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Many years afterward； when she had at… tained middle age； this
woman averted a serious danger from her people。
Chief Little Crow the elder was dead； and as he had two wives of two
different bands； the succession was disputed among the half…brothers and
their adherents。 Finally the two sons of the wife belonging to the
Wabashaw band plotted against the son of the woman of the Kaposia band；
His…Red…Nation by name； after… ward called Little Crowthe man who led
the Minnesota massacre。
They obtained a quantity of whisky and made a great feast to which
many were invited； in… tending when all were more or less intoxicated to
precipitate a fight in which he should be killed。 It would be easy
afterward to excuse themselves by saying that it was an accident。
Mendota； near what is now the thriving city of Saint Paul； then a queen
of trading…posts in the Northwest； was the rendezvous of the Sioux。 The
event brought many together； for all warriors of note were bidden from far
and near； and even the great traders of the day were present； for the
succession to the chieftain… ship was one which vitally affected their inter…
ests。 During the early part of the day all went well； with speeches and
eulogies of the dead chief； flowing and eloquent； such as only a native
orator can utter。 Presently two goodly kegs of whisky were rolled into
the council teepee。
Eyatonkawee was among the women； and heard their expressions of
anxiety as the voices of the men rose louder and more threatening。 Some
carried their children away into the woods for safety； while others sought
speech with their husbands outside the council lodge and besought them to
come away in time。 But more than this was needed to cope with the
emergency。 Suddenly a familiar form appeared in the door of the council
lodge。
〃Is it becoming in a warrior to spill the blood of his tribesmen？ Are
there no longer any Ojibways？〃
It was the voice of Eyatonkawee； that strong… hearted woman！
Advancing at the critical mo… ment to the middle of the ring of warriors；
she once more recited her 〃brave deed〃 with all the accompaniment of
action and gesture； and to such effect that the disorderly feast broke up in
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confusion； and there was peace between the rival bands of Sioux。
There was seldom a dangerous quarrel among the Indians in those
days that was not precipi… tated by the use of strong liquor； and this sim…
ple Indian woman； whose good judgment was equal to her courage； fully
recognized this fact。 All her life； and especially after her favorite brother
had been killed in a drunken brawl in the early days of the American Fur
Company； she was a determined enemy to strong drink； and it is said did
more to prevent its use among her immediate band than any other person。
Be… ing a woman； her sole means of recognition was the 〃brave deed〃
which she so wonderfully described and enacted before the people。
During the lifetime of She…whose…Voice…is… heard…afarand she died only
a few years ago it behooved the Sioux men； if they drank at all； to drink
secretly and in moderation。 There are many who remember her brave
entrance upon the scene of carousal； and her dramatic recital of the
immortal deed of her youth。
