indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第2章
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been dreadful massacres immediately following this call。 Therefore it
was deemed wise to impress the sound early upon the mind of the child。
Indian children were trained so that they hardly ever cried much in the
night。 This was very ex… pedient and necessary in their exposed life。 In
my infancy it was my grandmother's custom to put me to sleep； as she said；
with the birds； and to waken me with them； until it became a habit。 She
did this with an object in view。 An Indian must al… ways rise early。 In
the first place； as a hunter； he finds his game best at daybreak。 Secondly；
other tribes； when on the war…path； usually make their attack very early in
the morning。 Even when our people are moving about leisurely； we like
to rise before daybreak； in order to travel when the air is cool； and
unobserved； perchance； by our enemies。
As a little child； it was instilled into me to be silent and reticent。 This
was one of the most im… portant traits to form in the character of the Indian。
As a hunter and warrior it was considered abso… lutely necessary to him；
and was thought to lay the foundations of patience and self…control。
There are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by our people； but
the rule is gravity and decorum。
After all； my babyhood was full of interest and the beginnings of life's
realities。 The spirit of daring was already whispered into my ears。 The
value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior had caught my eye。
One day； when I was left alone； at scarcely two years of age； I took my
uncle's war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle feathers to decorate my
dog and myself。 So soon the life that was about me had made its impress；
and already I desired intensely to comply with all of its demands。
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II： Early Hardships
ONE of the earliest recollections of my adventurous childhood is the
ride I had on a pony's side。 I was passive in the whole mat… ter。 A little
girl cousin of mine was put in a bag and suspended from the horn of an
Indian saddle； but her weight must be balanced or the saddle would not
remain on the animal's back。 Accordingly； I was put into another sack
and made to keep the saddle and the girl in position！ I did not object at all；
for I had a very pleasant game of peek…a… boo with the little girl； until we
came to a big snow…drift； where the poor beast was stuck fast and began to
lie down。 Then it was not so nice！
This was the convenient and primitive way in which some mothers
packed their children for winter journeys。 However cold the weather
might be； the inmate of the fur…lined sack was usually very comfortableat
least I used to think so。 I believe I was accustomed to all the pre… carious
Indian conveyances； and； as a boy； I en… joyed the dog…travaux ride as
much as any。 The travaux consisted of a set of rawhide strips secure… ly
lashed to the tent…poles； which were harnessed to the sides of the animal as
if he stood between shafts； while the free ends were allowed to drag on the
ground。 Both ponies and large dogs were used as beasts of burden； and
they carried in this way the smaller children as well as the baggage。
This mode of travelling for children was possi… ble only in the summer；
and as the dogs were some… times unreliable； the little ones were exposed
to a certain amount of danger。 For instance； when… ever a train of dogs
had been travelling for a long time； almost perishing with the heat and
their heavy loads； a glimpse of water would cause them to forget all their
responsibilities。 Some of them； in spite of the screams of the women；
would swim with their burdens into the cooling stream； and I was thus； on
more than one occasion； made to partake of an unwilling bath。
I was a little over four years old at the time of the 〃Sioux massacre〃 in
Minnesota。 In the general turmoil； we took flight into British Columbia；
and the journey is still vividly remem… bered by all our family。 A yoke of
oxen and a lumber…wagon were taken from some white farmer and brought
home for our conveyance。
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How delighted I was when I learned that we were to ride behind those
wise…looking animals and in that gorgeously painted wagon！ It seemed
almost like a living creature to me； this new vehicle with four legs； and the
more so when we got out of axle…grease and the wheels went along
squealing like pigs！
The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in jumping from the high
wagon while the oxen were leisurely moving along。 My elder brothers
soon became experts。 At last； I mustered up courage enough to join them
in this sport。 I was sure they stepped on the wheel； so I cautiously placed
my moccasined foot upon it。 Alas！ before I could realize what had
happened； I was under the wheels； and had it not been for the neighbor
immediately behind us； I might have been run over by the next team as
well。
This was my first experience with a civilized vehicle。 I cried out all
possible reproaches on the white man's team and concluded that a dog…
travaux was good enough for me。 I was really rejoiced that we were
moving away from the people who made the wagon that had almost ended
my life； and it did not occur to me that I alone was to blame。 I could not
be persuaded to ride in that wagon again and was glad when we finally left
it beside the Missouri river。
The summer after the 〃Minnesota massacre；〃 General Sibley pursued
our people across this river。 Now the Missouri is considered one of the
most treacherous rivers in the world。 Even a good modern boat is not
safe upon its uncertain current。 We were forced to cross in buffalo…skin
boatsas round as tubs！
The Washechu （white men） were coming in great numbers with their
big guns； and while most of our men were fighting them to gain time； the
women and the old men made and equipped the temporary boats； braced
with ribs of willow。 Some of these were towed by two or three women or
men swimming in the water and some by ponies。 It was not an easy
matter to keep them right side up； with their helpless freight of little
children and such goods as we possessed。
In our flight； we little folks were strapped in the saddles or held in
front of an older person； and in the long night marches to get away from
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the soldiers； we suffered from loss of sleep and insuf… ficient food。 Our
meals were eaten hastily； and sometimes in the saddle。 Water was not
always to be found。 The people carried it with them in bags formed of
tripe or the dried pericardium of animals。
Now we were compelled to trespass upon the country of hostile tribes
and were harassed by them almost daily and nightly。 Only the strictest
vigilance saved us。
One day we met with another enemy near the British lines。 It was a
prairie fire。 We were sur… rounded。 Another fire was quickly made；
which saved our lives。
One of the most thrilling experiences of the following winter was a
blizzard； which overtook us in our wanderings。 Here and there； a family
lay down in the snow； selecting a place where it was not likely to drift
much。 For a day and a night we lay under the snow。 Uncle stuck a long
pole beside us to tell us when the storm was over。 We had plenty of
buffalo robes and the snow kept us warm； but we found it heavy。 After a
time； it became packed and hollowed out around our bodies； so that we
were as comfortable as one can be under those circumstances。
The next day the storm ceased； and we dis… covered a large herd of
buffaloes almost upon us。 We dug our way out； shot some of the
buffaloes； made a fire and enjoyed a good dinner。
I was now an exile as well as motherless； yet I was not unhappy。 Our
wanderings from place to place afforded us many pleasant experiences and
quite as many hardships and misfortunes。 There were times of plenty
and times of scarcity； and we had several narrow escapes from death。 In
sav… age life； the early spring is the most trying time and almost all the
famines occurred at this period of the year。
The Indians are a patient and a clannish people； their love for one
another is stronger than that of any civilized people I know。 If this were
not so； I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among them。
White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in
preference to starving； but Indiansnever！
In times of famine； the adults often denied themselves in order to make
the food last as long as possible for the children； who were not able to bear
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hunger as well as the old。 As a people； they can live without food much
longer than any other nation。
I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing
to eat for several days。 I well remember the six small birds which consti…
tuted the breakfast for six families one morning； and then we had no
dinner or supper to follow！ What a relief that was to mealthough I had
only a small wing of a small bird for my share！ Soon after this； we came
into a region where buffaloes were plenty； and hunger and scarcity were
for… gotten。
Such was the Indian's wi
