indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第7章
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Scarcely was the embyro warrior ushered into the world； when he was
met by lullabies that speak of wonderful exploits in hunting and war。
Those ideas which so fully occupied his mother's mind before his birth are
now put into words by all about the child； who is as yet quite unresponsive
to their appeals to his honor and ambition。 He is called the future
defender of his people； whose lives may depend upon his courage and skill。
If the child is a girl； she is at once addressed as the future mother of a
noble race。
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In hunting songs； the leading animals are intro… duced； they come to
the boy to offer their bodies for the sustenance of his tribe。 The animals
are regarded as his friends； and spoken of almost as tribes of people； or as
his cousins； grandfathers and grandmothers。 The songs of wooing；
adapted as lullabies； were equally imaginative； and the suitors were often
animals personified； while pretty maid… ens were represented by the mink
and the doe。
Very early； the Indian boy assumed the task of preserving and
transmitting the legends of his an… cestors and his race。 Almost every
evening a myth； or a true story of some deed done in the past； was narrated
by one of the parents or grand… parents； while the boy listened with parted
lips and glistening eyes。 On the following evening； he was usually
required to repeat it。 If he was not an apt scholar； he struggled long with
his task； but； as a rule； the Indian boy is a good listener and has a good
memory； so that the stories were tolerably well mas… tered。 The household
became his audience； by which he was alternately criticized and ap…
plauded。
This sort of teaching at once enlightens the boy's mind and stimulates
his ambition。 His concep… tion of his own future career becomes a vivid
and irresistible force。 Whatever there is for him to learn must be learned；
whatever qualifications are necessary to a truly great man he must seek at
any expense of danger and hardship。 Such was the feeling of the
imaginative and brave young Indian。 It became apparent to him in early
life that he must accustom himself to rove alone and not to fear or dislike
the impression of solitude。
It seems to be a popular idea that all the char… acteristic skill of the
Indian is instinctive and hereditary。 This is a mistake。 All the stoicism
and patience of the Indian are acquired traits； and continual practice alone
makes him master of the art of wood…craft。 Physical training and dieting
were not neglected。 I remember that I was not allowed to have beef soup
or any warm drink。 The soup was for the old men。 General rules for
the young were never to take their food very hot； nor to drink much water。
My uncle； who educated me up to the age of fifteen years； was a strict
disciplinarian and a good teacher。 When I left the teepee in the morning；
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he would say： 〃Hakadah； look closely to everything you see〃； and at
evening； on my re… turn； he used often to catechize me for an hour or so。
〃On which side of the trees is the lighter…col… ored bark？ On which
side do they have most regular branches？〃
It was his custom to let me name all the new birds that I had seen
during the day。 I would name them according to the color or the shape of
the bill or their song or the appearance and locality of the nestin fact；
anything about the bird that impressed me as characteristic。 I made many
ridiculous errors； I must admit。 He then usually informed me of the
correct name。 Occasionally I made a hit and this he would warm… ly
commend。
He went much deeper into this science when I was a little older； that is；
about the age of eight or nine years。 He would say； for instance：
〃How do you know that there are fish in yonder lake？〃
〃Because they jump out of the water for flies at mid…day。〃
He would smile at my prompt but superficial reply。
〃What do you think of the little pebbles grouped together under the
shallow water？ and what made the pretty curved marks in the sandy
bottom and the little sand…banks？ Where do you find the fish…eating birds？
Have the in… let and the outlet of a lake anything to do with the question？〃
He did not expect a correct reply at once to all the voluminous
questions that he put to me on these occasions； but he meant to make me
observ… ant and a good student of nature。
〃Hakadah；〃 he would say to me； 〃you ought to follow the example of
the shunktokecha （wolf）。 Even when he is surprised and runs for his life；
he will pause to take one more look at you before he enters his final retreat。
So you must take a sec… ond look at everything you see。
〃It is better to view animals unobserved。 I have been a witness to
their courtships and their quarrels and have learned many of their secrets
in this way。 I was once the unseen spectator of a thrilling battle between
a pair of grizzly bears and three buffaloesa rash act for the bears； for it
was in the moon of strawberries； when the buffaloes sharpen and polish
their horns for bloody con… tests among themselves。
〃I advise you； my boy； never to approach a grizzly's den from the front；
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but to steal up be… hind and throw your blanket or a stone in front of the
hole。 He does not usually rush for it； but first puts his head out and
listens and then comes out very indifferently and sits on his haunches on
the mound in front of the hole before he makes any attack。 While he is
exposing himself in this fashion； aim at his heart。 Always be as cool as
the animal himself。〃 Thus he armed me against the cunning of savage
beasts by teaching me how to outwit them。
〃In hunting；〃 he would resume； 〃you will be guided by the habits of
the animal you seek。 Re… member that a moose stays in swampy or low
land or between high mountains near a spring or lake； for thirty to sixty
days at a time。 Most large game moves about continually； except the doe
in the spring； it is then a very easy matter to find her with the fawn。
Conceal yourself in a convenient place as soon as you observe any signs
of the presence of either； and then call with your birchen doe…caller。
〃Whichever one hears you first will soon appear in your neighborhood。
But you must be very watchful； or you may be made a fawn of by a large
wild…cat。 They understand the characteristic call of the doe perfectly
well。
〃When you have any difficulty with a bear or a wild…catthat is； if the
creature shows signs of attacking youyou must make him fully under…
stand that you have seen him and are aware of his intentions。 If you are
not well equipped for a pitched battle； the only way to make him retreat is
to take a long sharp…pointed pole for a spear and rush toward him。 No
wild beast will face this un… less he is cornered and already wounded；
These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the common weapon of the
larger animalsthe horns； and if these are very long and sharp； they dare
not risk an open fight。
〃There is one exception to this rulethe grey wolf will attack fiercely
when very hungry。 But their courage depends upon their numbers； in this
they are like white men。 One wolf or two will never attack a man。 They
will stampede a herd of buffaloes in order to get at the calves； they will
rush upon a herd of antelopes； for these are help… less； but they are always
careful about attacking man。〃
Of this nature were the instructions of my uncle； who was widely
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known at that time as among the greatest hunters of his tribe。
All boys were expected to endure hardship without complaint。 In
savage warfare； a young man must； of course； be an athlete and used to
undergoing all sorts of privations。 He must be able to go without food
and water for two or three days without displaying any weakness； or to run
for a day and a night without any rest。 He must be able to traverse a
pathless and wild country without losing his way either in the day or night
time。 He cannot refuse to do any of these things if he aspires to be a
warrior。
Sometimes my uncle would waken me very early in the morning and
challenge me to fast with him all day。 I had to accept the challenge。 We
blackened our faces with charcoal； so that every boy in the village would
know that I was fasting for the day。 Then the little tempters would make
my life a misery until the merci… ful sun hid behind the western hills。
I can scarcely recall the time when my stern teacher began to give
sudden war…whoops over my head in the morning while I was sound
asleep。 He expected me to leap up with perfect presence of mind； always
ready to grasp a weapon of some sort and to give a shrill whoop in reply。
If I was sleepy or startled and hardly knew what I was about； he would
ridicule me and say that I need never expect to sell my scalp dear。 Often
he would vary these tactics by shooting off his gun just outside of the
lodge while I was yet asleep； at the same time giving blood…curdling yells。
After a time I became used to this。
When Indians went upon the war…path； it was their custom to try the
new warriors thoroughly before coming to an engagement。 For instance；
whe
