indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第27章
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of all were the war… riors； whose tears must be poured forth in the country
of the enemy to embitter their venge… ance。 These sat silently within
their lodges； and strove to conceal their feelings behind a stoical
countenance； but they would probably have failed had not the soothing
weed come to their relief。
The first sad shock over； then came the change of habiliments。 In
savage usage； the outward expression of mourning surpasses that of
civiliza… tion。 The Indian mourner gives up all his good clothing； and
contents himself with scanty and miserable garments。 Blankets are cut in
two； and the hair is cropped short。 Often a devoted mother would scarify
her arms or legs； a sister or a young wife would cut off all her beautiful
hair and disfigure herself by undergoing hardships。 Fathers and brothers
blackened their faces； and wore only the shabbiest garments。 Such was
the spectacle that our people presented when the bright autumn was gone
and the cold shadow of winter and misfortune had fallen upon us。 〃We
must suffer；〃 said they〃the Great Mystery is offended。〃
II： A Winter Camp
WHEN I was about twelve years old we wintered upon the Mouse
river； west of Turtle mountain。 It was one of the coldest win… ters I ever
knew； and was so re… garded by the old men of the tribe。 The summer
before there had been plenty of buffalo upon that side of the Missouri； and
our people had made many packs of dried buffalo meat and cached them
in different places； so that they could get them in case of need。 There
were many black…tailed deer and elk along the river； and grizzlies were to
be found in the open coun… try。 Apparently there was no danger of
starva… tion； so our people thought to winter there； but it proved to be a
hard winter。
There was a great snow…fall； and the cold was intense。 The snow was
too deep for hunting； and the main body of the buffalo had crossed the
Missouri； where it was too far to go after them。 But there were some
smaller herds of the animals scattered about in our vicinity； therefore there
was still fresh meat to be had； but it was not secured without a great deal
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of difficulty。
No ponies could be used。 The men hunted on snow…shoes until after
the Moon of Sore Eyes （March）； when after a heavy thaw a crust was
formed on the snow which would scarcely hold a man。 It was then that
our people hunted buffalo with dogsan unusual expedient。
Sleds were made of buffalo ribs and hickory saplings； the runners
bound with rawhide with the hair side down。 These slipped smoothly
over the icy crust。 Only small men rode on the sleds。 When buffalo
were reported by the hunting… scouts； everybody had his dog team ready。
All went under orders from the police； and approached the herd under
cover until they came within charging distance。
The men had their bows and arrows； and a few had guns。 The huge
animals could not run fast in the deep snow。 They all followed a leader；
trampling out a narrow path。 The dogs with their drivers soon caught up
with them on each side； and the hunters brought many of them down。
I remember when the party returned； late in the night。 The men came
in single file； well loaded； and each dog following his master with an
equally heavy load。 Both men and animals were white with frost。
We boys had waited impatiently for their arri… val。 As soon as we
spied them coming a buffalo hunting whistle was started； and every urchin
in the village added his voice to the weird sound； while the dogs who had
been left at home joined with us in the chorus。 The men； wearing their
buffalo moccasins with the hair inside and robes of the same； came home
hungry and exhausted。
It is often supposed that the dog in the Indian camp is a useless
member of society； but it is not so in the wild life。 We found him one of
the most useful of domestic animals； especially in an emergency。
While at this camp a ludicrous incident occurred that is still told about
the camp…fires of the Sioux。 One day the men were hunting on snow…
shoes； and contrived to get within a short distance of the buffalo before
they made the attack。 It was im… possible to run fast； but the huge
animals were equally unable to get away。 Many were killed。 Just as the
herd reached an open plain one of the buffaloes stopped and finally lay
down。 Three of the men who were pursuing him shortly came up。 The
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animal was severely wounded； but not dead。
〃I shall crawl up to him from behind and stab him；〃 said Wamedee；
〃we cannot wait here for him to die。〃 The others agreed。 Wamedee was
not considered especially brave； but he took out his knife and held it
between his teeth。 He then approached the buffalo from behind and
suddenly jumped astride his back。
The animal was dreadfully frightened and strug… gled to his feet。
Wamedee's knife fell to the ground； but he held on by the long shaggy hair。
He had a bad seat； for he was upon the buffalo's hump。 There was no
chance to jump off； he had to stay on as well as he could。
〃Hurry！ hurry！ shoot！ shoot！〃 he screamed； as the creature plunged and
kicked madly in the deep snow。 Wamedee's face looked deathly； they
said； but his two friends could not help laughing。 He was still calling
upon them to shoot； but when the others took aim he would cry： 〃Don't
shoot！ don't shoot！ you will kill me！〃 At last the ani… mal fell down with
him； but Wamedee's two friends also fell down exhausted with laughter。
He was ridiculed as a coward thereafter。
It was on this very hunt that the chief Mato was killed by a buffalo。 It
happened in this way。 He had wounded the animal； but not fatally； so he
shot two more arrows at him from a distance。 Then the buffalo became
desperate and charged upon him。 In his flight Mato was tripped by
sticking one of his snow…shoes into a snowdrift； from which he could not
extricate himself in time。 The bull gored him to death。 The creek upon
which this happened is now called Mato creek。
A little way from our camp there was a log village of French Canadian
half…breeds； but the two vil… lages did not intermingle。 About the Moon of
Difficulty （January） we were initiated into some of the peculiar customs of
our neighbors。 In the middle of the night there was a firing of guns
throughout their village。 Some of the people thought they had been
attacked； and went over to assist them； but to their surprise they were told
that this was the celebration of the birth of the new year！
Our men were treated to minnewakan or 〃spirit water；〃 and they came
home crazy and foolish。 They talked loud and sang all the rest of the
night。 Finally our head chief ordered his young men to tie these men up
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and put them in a lodge by themselves。 He gave orders to untie them
〃when the evil spirit had gone away。〃
During the next day all our people were invited to attend the half…
breeds' dance。 I never knew before that a new year begins in mid…winter。
We had always counted that the year ends when the winter ends； and a
new year begins with the new life in the springtime。
I was now taken for the first time to a white man's dance in a log house。
I thought it was the dizziest thing I ever saw。 One man sat in a cor… ner；
sawing away at a stringed board； and all the while he was stamping the
floor with his foot and giving an occasional shout。 When he called out；
the dancers seemed to move faster。
The men danced with womensomething that we Indians never do
and when the man in the corner shouted they would swing the women
around。 It looked very rude to me； as I stood outside with the other boys
and peeped through the chinks in the logs。 At one time a young man and
woman facing each other danced in the mid… dle of the floor。 I thought
they would surely wear their moccasins out against the rough boards； but
after a few minutes they were relieved by an… other couple。
Then an old man with long curly hair and a fox…skin cap danced alone
in the middle of the room； slapping the floor with his moccasined foot in a
lightning fashion that I have never seen equalled。 He seemed to be a
leader among them。 When he had finished； the old man invited our
principal chief into the middle of the floor； and
after the Indian had given a great whoop； the two drank in company。
After this； there was so much drinking and loud talking among the men；
that it was thought best to send us children back to the camp。
It was at this place that we found many sand boulders like a big 〃white
man's house。〃 There were holes in them like rooms； and we played in
these cave…like holes。 One day； in the midst of our game； we found the
skeleton of a great bear。 Evidently he had been wounded and came there
to die； for there were several arrows on the floor of the cave。
The most exciting event of this year was the attack that the Gros
