indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第31章
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
only vehicles were the primitive travaux drawn by ponies and large
Esquimaux dogs。 These are merely a pair of shafts fastened on either
side of the animal； and trailing on the ground behind。 A large basket
suspended between the poles； just above the ground； supplied a place for
goods and a safe nest for the babies； or an occasional helpless old woman。
Most of our effects were carried by pack ponies； and an Indian packer
excels all oth… ers in quickness and dexterity。
The train was nearly a mile long； headed by a number of old warriors
on foot； who carried the filled pipe； and decided when and where to stop。
A very warm day made much trouble for the women who had charge of
the moving household。 The pack dogs were especially unmanageable。
They would become very thirsty and run into the water with their loads。
The scolding of the women； the singing of the old men and the yelps of the
Indian dudes made our progress a noisy one； and like that of a town in
motion rather than an ord… inary company of travelers。
This journey of ours was not without its excit… ing episodes。 My
uncle had left the main body and gone off to the south with a small party；
as he was accustomed to do every summer； to seek revenge of some sort
on the whites for all the in… juries that they had inflicted upon our family。
This time he met with a company of soldiers be… tween Fort Totten and
Fort Berthold； in North Dakota。 Somehow； these seven Indians surprised
the troopers in broad daylight； while eating their dinner； and captured the
whole outfit； including nearly all their mules and one white horse； with
such of their provisions as they cared to carry back with them。 No doubt
these soldiers reported at the fort that they had been attacked by a large
party of Indians； and I dare say some promo… tions rewarded their tale of a
brave defense！ However； the facts are just as I have stated them。 My
uncle brought home the white horse； and the fine Spanish mules were
taken by the others。 Among the things they brought back with them were
several loaves of raised bread； the first I had ever seen； and a great
curiosity。 We called it aguyape tachangu； or lung bread； from its spongy
consistency。
Although when a successful war…party returns with so many trophies；
there is usually much dancing and hilarity； there was almost nothing of the
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kind on this occasion。 The reason was that the enemy made little
resistance； and then there was our old tradition with regard to the whites
that there is no honor in conquering them； as they fight only under
compulsion。 Had there really been a battle； and some of our men been
killed； there would have been some enthusiasm。
It was upon this journey that a hunter per… formed the feat of shooting
an arrow through three antelopes。 This statement may perhaps be
doubted； yet I can vouch for its authenticity。 He was not alone at the
time； and those who were with him are reliable witnesses。 The animals
were driven upon a marshy peninsula； where they were crowded together
and almost helpless。 Many were despatched with knives and arrows； and
a man by the name of Grey…foot； who was large and tall and an
extraordinarily fine hunter； actually sent his arrow through three of them。
This feat was not accomplished by mere strength； for it re… quires a great
deal of skill as well。
A misfortune occurred near the river which de… prived us of one of our
best young men。 There was no other man； except my own uncle； for
whom I had at that time so great an admiration。 Very strangely； as it
appeared to me； he bore a Chris… tian name。 He was commonly called
Jacob。 I did not discover how he came by such a curious and apparently
meaningless name until after I had returned to the United States。 His
father had been converted by one of the early missionaries； before the
Minnesota massacre in 1862； and the boy had been baptized Jacob。 He
was an ideal woodsman and hunter and really a hero in my eyes。 He was
one of the party of seven who had attacked and put to rout the white
soldiers。
The trouble arose thus。 Jacob had taken from the soldiers two good
mules； and soon afterward we fell in with some Canadian half…breeds who
were desirous of trading for them。 However； the young man would not
trade； he was not at all dis… posed to part with his fine mules。 A certain
one of the mixed…bloods was intent upon getting pos… session of these
animals by fair or unfair means。 He invited Jacob to dinner； and treated
him to whiskey； but the Indian youth declined the liquor。 The half…breed
pretended to take this refusal to drink as an insult。 He seized his gun and
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shot his guest dead。
In a few minutes the scene was one of almost unprecedented
excitement。 Every adult Indian； female as well as male； was bent upon
invading the camp of the bois brules； to destroy the mur… derer。 The
confusion was made yet more intol… erable by the wailing of the women
and the sing… ing of death…songs。
Our number was now ten to one of the half… breeds。 Within the circle
formed by their carts they prepared for a desperate resistance。 The hills
about their little encampment were covered with warriors； ready to pounce
upon them at the sig… nal of their chief。
The older men； however； were discussing in council what should be
demanded of the half… breeds。 It was determined that the murderer must be
given up to us； to be punished accord… ing to the laws of the plains。 If；
however； they should refuse to give him up； the mode of attack decided
upon was to build a fire around the offen… ders and thus stampede their
horses； or at the least divide their attention。 Meanwhile； the braves were
to make a sudden onset。
Just then a piece of white； newly…tanned deer… skin was hoisted up in
the center of the bois brule encampment。 It was a flag of truce。 One of
their number approached the council lodge； un… armed and making the
sign for a peaceful com… munication。 He was admitted to the council；
which was still in session； and offered to give up the murderer。 It was
also proposed； as an alter… native； that he be compelled to give everything
he had to the parents of the murdered man。
The parents were allowed no voice whatever in the discussion which
followed； for they were re… garded as incompetent judges； under the
circum… stances。 It was finally decreed by the council that the man's life
should be spared； but that he must be exposed to the indignity of a public
whip… ping； and resign all his earthly possessions to the parents of his
victim。 This sentence was carried into effect。
In our nomadic life there were a few unwritten laws by which our
people were governed。 There was a council； a police force； and an
executive offi… cer； who was not always the chief； but a member of the
tribe appointed to this position for a given number of days。 There were
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also the wise old men who were constantly in attendance at the council
lodge； and acted as judges in the rare event of the commission of a crime。
This simple government of ours was supported by the issue of little
sticks about five inches long。 There were a hundred or so of these； and
they were distributed every few days by the police or soldiers； who kept
account of them。 Whoever received one of these sticks must return it
within five or ten days； with a load of provisions。 If one was held
beyond the stipulated time the police would call the delinquent warrior to
account。 In case he did not respond； they could come and de… stroy his tent
or take away his weapons。 When all the sticks had been returned； they
were re… issued to other men； and so the council lodge was supported。
It was the custom that no man who had not distinguished himself upon
the war…path could destroy the home of another。 This was a neces… sary
qualification for the office of an Indian police… man。 These policemen
must also oversee the hunt； lest some individuals should be well provided
with food while others were in want。 No man might hunt independently。
The game must be carefully watched by the game scouts； and the dis…
covery of a herd reported at once to the council； after which the time and
manner of the hunt were publicly announced。
I well recall how the herald announced the near approach of buffaloes。
It was supposed that if the little boys could trip up the old man while
going his rounds； the success of the hunt was assured。 The oftener he
was tripped； the more successful it would be！ The signal or call for
buffaloes was a peculiar whistle。 As soon as the herald appeared； all the
boys would give the whistle and follow in crowds after the poor old man。
Of course he tried to avoid them； but they were generally too quick for
him。
There were two kinds of scouts； for hunting and for war。 In one sense
every Indian was a scout； but there were some especially appointed to
