indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第29章
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appetizing dishes； she even robbed the field mouse and the muskrat to
accom… plish her end。 The tiny mouse gathers for her winter use several
excellent kinds of food。 Among these is a wild bean which equals in
flavor any do… mestic bean that I have ever tasted。 Her storehouse is
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usually under a peculiar mound； which the un… trained eye would be
unable to distinguish from an ant…hill。 There are many pockets
underneath； into which she industriously gathers the harvest of the
summer。
She is fortunate if the quick eye of a native woman does not detect her
hiding…place。 About the month of September； while traveling over the
prairie； a woman is occasionally observed to halt suddenly and waltz
around a suspected mound。 Finally the pressure of her heel causes a
place to give way； and she settles contentedly down to rob the poor mouse
of the fruits of her labor。
The different kinds of beans are put away in different pockets； but it is
the oomenechah she wants。 The field mouse loves this savory veget…
able； for she always gathers it more than any other。 There is also some of
the white star…like manak… cahkcah； the root of the wild lily。 This is a
good medicine and good to eat。
When our people were gathering the wild rice； they always watched
for another plant that grows in the muddy bottom of lakes and ponds。 It
is a white bulb about the size of an ordinary onion。 This is stored away
by the muskrats in their houses by the waterside； and there is often a
bushel or more of the psinchinchah to be found within。 It seemed as if
everybody was good to the wild Indian； at least we thought so then。
I have referred to the opportunities for courting upon the wild rice
fields。 Indian courtship is very peculiar in many respects； but when you
study their daily life you will see the philosophy of their etiquette of love…
making。 There was no parlor courtship； the life was largely out…of…doors；
which was very favorable to the young men
In a nomadic life where the female members of the family have entire
control of domestic affairs； the work is divided among them all。 Very
often the bringing of the wood and water devolves upon the young maids；
and the spring or the woods become the battle…ground of love's warfare。
The nearest water may be some distance from the camp； which is all the
better。 Sometimes； too； there is no wood to be had； and in that case； one
would see the young women scattered all over the prairie； gathering
buffalo chips for fuel。
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This is the way the red men go about to induce the aboriginal maids to
listen to their suit。 As soon as the youth has returned from the war…path
or the chase； he puts on his porcupine…quill embroidered moccasins and
leggings； and folds his best robe about him。 He brushes his long； glossy
hair with a brush made from the tail of the porcupine； per… fumes it with
scented grass or leaves； then arranges it in two plaits with an otter skin or
some other or… nament。 If he is a warrior； he adds an eagle feather or
two。
If he chooses to ride； he takes his best pony。 He jumps upon its bare
back； simply throwing a part of his robe under him to serve as a saddle；
and holding the end of a lariat tied about the animal's neck。 He guides
him altogether by the motions of his body。 These wily ponies seem to
enter into the spirit of the occasion； and very often capture the eyes of the
maid by their graceful movements； in perfect obedience to their master。
The general custom is for the young men to pull their robes over their
heads； leaving only a slit to look through。 Sometimes the same is done
by the maidenespecially in public courtship。
He approaches the girl while she is coming from the spring。 He takes
up his position directly in her path。 If she is in a hurry or does not care to
stop； she goes around him； but if she is willing to stop and listen she puts
down on the ground the vessel of water she is carrying。
Very often at the first meeting the maiden does not know who her
lover is。 He does not introduce himself immediately； but waits until a
second meeting。 Sometimes she does not see his face at all； and then she
will try to find out who he is and what he looks like before they meet
again。 If he is not a desirable suitor； she will go with her chaperon and
end the affair there。
There are times when maidens go in twos； and then there must be two
young men to meet them。
There is some courtship in the night time； either in the early part of the
evening； on the outskirts of dances and other public affairs； or after every…
body is supposed to be asleep。 This is the secret courtship。 The youth
may pull up the tentpins just back of his sweetheart and speak with her
during the night。 He must be a smart young man to do that undetected；
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for the grandmother； her chaperon； is usually 〃all ears。〃
Elopements are common。 There are many reasons for a girl or a
youth to defer their wedding。 It may be from personal pride of one or
both。 The well…born are married publicly； and many things are given
away in their honor。 The maiden may desire to attend a certain number
of maidens' feasts before marrying。 The youth may be poor； or he may
wish to achieve another honor before surren… dering to a woman。
Sometimes a youth is so infatuated with a maid… en that he will follow
her to any part of the country；
even after their respective bands have separated for the season。 I
knew of one such case。 Patah Tankah had courted a distant relative of
my uncle for a long time。 There seemed to be some objec… tion to him on
the part of the girl's parents； al… though the girl herself was willing。
The large camp had been broken up for the fall hunt； and my uncle's
band went one way； while the young man's family went in the other
direction。 After three days' travelling； we came to a good hunting…ground；
and made camp。 One evening somebody saw the young man。 He had
been fol… lowing his sweetheart and sleeping out…of…doors all that time；
although the nights were already frosty and cold。 He met her every day in
secret and she brought him food； but he would not come near the teepee。
Finally her people yielded； and she went back with him to his band。
When we lived our natural life； there was much singing of war songs；
medicine； hunting and love songs。 Sometimes there were few words or
none； but everything was understood by the inflection。 From this I have
often thought that there must be a language of dumb beasts。
The crude musical instrument of the Sioux； the flute； was made to
appeal to the susceptible ears of the maidens late into the night。 There
comes to me now the picture of two young men with their robes over their
heads； and only a portion of the hand…made and carved chotanka； the flute；
protrud… ing from its folds。 I can see all the maidens slyly turn their
heads to listen。 Now I hear one of the youths begin to sing a plaintive
serenade as in days gone by：
〃Hay…ay…ay！ Hay…ay…ay！ a…ahay…ay！〃 （This 〃Listen！ you
will hear of him Maiden； you will hear of him Listen！
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he will shortly go
Wasula feels that she must come out； but she has no good excuse； so
she stirs up the embers of the fire and causes an unnecessary smoke in the
teepee。 Then she has an excuse to come out and fix up the tent flaps。
She takes a long time to ad… just these pointed ears of the teepee； with their
long poles； for the wind seems to be unsettled。
Finally Chotanka ceases to be heard。 In a moment a young man
appears ghost…like at the maiden's side。
〃So it is you； is it？〃 she asks。
〃Is your grandmother in？〃 he inquires。
〃What a brave man you are； to fear an old wo… man！ We are free； the
country is wide。 We can go away； and come back when the storm is
over。〃
〃Ho；〃 he replies。 〃It is not that I fear her； or the consequences of an
elopement。 I fear noth… ing except that we may be separated！〃
The girl goes into the lodge for a moment； then slips out once more。
〃Now；〃 she exclaims； 〃to the wood or the prairie！ I am yours！〃 They dis…
appear in the darkness。
IV： A Meeting on the Plains
WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river； a tribu…
tary of the Assiniboine。 The buffaloes were still plenty； hence we were
living on the 〃fat of the land。〃 One afternoon a scout came in with the
announcement that a body of United States troops was approaching！ This
re… port； of course； caused much uneasiness among our people。
A council was held immediately； in the course of which the scout was
put through a rigid exam… ination。 Before a decision had been reached；
an… other scout came in from the field。 He declared that the moving train
reported as a body of troops was in reality a train of Canadian carts。
The two reports differed so widely that it was deemed wise to send out
more runners to observe this moving body closely； and ascertain definitely
its character。 These soon returned with the pos… itive information that the
Canadians were at hand； 〃
