indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第34章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
elders； I ventured to ask： 〃Then it cannot chase us into any rough
country？〃
〃No； it cannot do that；〃 was the reply； which I heard with a great deal
of relief。
I had seen guns and various other things brought to us by the French
Canadians； so that I had already some notion of the supernatural gifts of
the white man； but I had never before heard such tales as I listened to that
morning。 It was said that they had bridged the Missouri and Miss… issippi
rivers； and that they made immense houses of stone and brick； piled on top
of one another until they were as high as high hills。 My brain was
puzzled with these things for many a day。 Finally I asked my uncle why
the Great Mystery gave such power to the Washechu （the rich）
sometimes we called them by this nameand not to us Dakotas。
For the same reason；〃 he answered； 〃that he gave to Duta the skill to
make fine bows and ar… rows； and to Wachesne no skill to make anything。〃
〃And why do the Big Knives increase so much more in number than
the Dakotas？〃 I continued。
〃It has been said； and I think it must be true； that they have larger
families than we do。 I went into the house of an Eashecha （a German）； and
I counted no less than nine children。 The eldest of them could not have
been over fifteen。 When my grandfather first visited them； down at the
mouth of the Mississippi； they were comparative… ly few； later my father
visited their Great Father at Washington； and they had already spread over
the whole country。〃
141
… Page 142…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
〃Certainly they are a heartless nation。 They have made some of their
people servantsyes； slaves！ We have never believed in keeping slaves；
but it seems that these Washechu do！ It is our belief that they painted their
servants black a long time ago； to tell them from the rest； and now the
slaves have children born to them of the same color！
〃The greatest object of their lives seems to be to acquire possessions
to be rich。 They desire to possess the whole world。 For thirty years they
were trying to entice us to sell them our
First Impressions of Civilization 283
land。 Finally the outbreak gave them all； and we have been driven
away from our beautiful country。
〃They are a wonderful people。 They have divided the day into hours；
like the moons of the year。 In fact； they measure everything。 Not one
of them would let so much as a turnip go from his field unless he received
full value for it。 I understand that their great men make a feast and invite
many； but when the feast is over the guests are required to pay for what
they have eaten before leaving the house。 I myself saw at White Cliff
（the name given to St。 Paul； Minne… sota） a man who kept a brass drum
and a bell to call people to his table； but when he got them in he would
make them pay for the food！
〃I am also informed；〃 said my uncle； 〃but this I hardly believe； that
their Great Chief （President） compels every man to pay him for the land
he lives upon and all his personal goodseven for his own existence
every year！〃 （This was his idea of taxation。） 〃I am sure we could not live
under such a law。
〃When the outbreak occurred； we thought that our opportunity had
come； for we had learned that the Big Knives were fighting among
themselves； on account of a dispute over their slaves。 It was said that the
Great Chief had al… lowed slaves in one part of the country and not in
another； so there was jealousy； and they had to fight it out。 We don't
know how true this was。
〃There were some praying…men who came to us some time before the
trouble arose。 They ob… served every seventh day as a holy day。 On that
day they met in a house that they had built for that purpose； to sing； pray；
142
… Page 143…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
and speak of their Great Mystery。 I was never in one of these meetings。
I understand that they had a large book from which they read。 By all
accounts they were very different from all other white men we have
known； for these never observed any such day； and we never knew them to
pray； neither did they ever tell us of their Great Mystery。
〃In war they have leaders and war…chiefs of different grades。 The
common warriors are driv… en forward like a herd of antelopes to face the
foe。 It is on account of this manner of fightingfrom compulsion and not
from personal braverythat we count no coup on them。 A lone warrior
can do much harm to a large army of them in a bad country。〃
It was this talk with my uncle that gave me my first clear idea of the
white man。
I was almost fifteen years old when my uncle
First Impressions of Civilization 285
presented me with a flint…lock gun。 The posses… sion of the
〃mysterious iron；〃 and the explosive dirt； or 〃pulverized coal；〃 as it is
called； filled me with new thoughts。 All the war…songs that I had ever
heard from childhood came back to me with their heroes。 It seemed as if
I were an entirely new beingthe boy had become a man！
〃I am now old enough；〃 said I to myself； 〃and I must beg my uncle to
take me with him on his next war…path。 I shall soon be able to go among
the whites whenever I wish； and to avenge the blood of my father and my
brothers。〃
I had already begun to invoke the blessing of the Great Mystery。
Scarcely a day passed that I did not offer up some of my game； so that he
might not be displeased with me。 My people saw very little of me during
the day； for in solitude I found the strength I needed。 I groped about in
the wilderness； and determined to assume my po… sition as a man。 My
boyish ways were depart… ing； and a sullen dignity and composure was
taking their place。
The thought of love did not hinder my ambi… tions。 I had a vague
dream of some day courting a pretty maiden； after I had made my
reputation； and won the eagle feathers。
One day； when I was away on the daily hunt； two strangers from the
143
… Page 144…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
United States visited our camp。 They had boldly ventured across the
northern border。 They were Indians； but clad in the white man's garments。
It was as well that I was absent with my gun。
My father； accompanied by an Indian guide； after many days'
searching had found us at last。 He had been imprisoned at Davenport；
Iowa； with those who took part in the massacre or in the bat… tles
following； and he was taught in prison and converted by the pioneer
missionaries； Drs。 Wil… liamson and Riggs。 He was under sentence of
death； but was among the number against whom no direct evidence was
found； and who were finally pardoned by President Lincoln。
When he was released； and returned to the new reservation upon the
Missouri river； he soon be… came convinced that life on a government
reserva… tion meant physical and moral degradation。 There… fore he
determined； with several others； to try the white man's way of gaining a
livelihood。 They ac… cordingly left the agency against the persuasions of
the agent； renounced all government assistance； and took land under the
United States Homestead law； on the Big Sioux river。 After he had made
his home there； he desired to seek his lost child。 It was then a dangerous
undertaking to cross the
First Impressions of Civilization 287
line； but his Christian love prompted him to do it。 He secured a good
guide； and found his way in time through the vast wilderness。
As for me； I little dreamed of anything un… usual to happen on my
return。 As I approached our camp with my game on my shoulder； I had
not the slightest premonition that I was suddenly to be hurled from my
savage life into a life un… known to me hitherto。
When I appeared in sight my father； who had patiently listened to my
uncle's long account of my early life and training； became very much ex…
cited。 He was eager to embrace the child who； as he had just been
informed； made it already the object of his life to avenge his father's blood。
The loving father could not remain in the teepee and watch the boy
coming； so he started to meet him。 My uncle arose to go with his brother
to insure his safety。
My face burned with the unusual excitement caused by the sight of a
144
… Page 145…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
man wearing the Big Knives' clothing and coming toward me with my
uncle。
〃What does this mean； uncle？〃
〃My boy； this is your father； my brother； whom we mourned as dead。
He has come for you。〃
My father added： 〃I am glad that my son is strong and brave。 Your
brothers have adopted the white man's way； I came for you to learn this
new way； too； and I want you to grow up a good man。〃
He had brought me some civilized clothing； At first； I disliked very
much to wear garments made by the people I had hated so bitterly。 But
the thought that； after all； they had not killed my father and brothers；
reconciled me； and I put on the clothes。
In a few days we started for the States。 I felt as if I were dead and
traveling to the Spirit Land； for now all my old ideas were to give place to
new ones； and my life was to be entirely different from that of the
