indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第8章
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new warriors thoroughly before coming to an engagement。 For instance；
when they were near a hostile camp； they would select the novices to go
after the water and make them do all sorts of things to prove their cour…
age。 In accordance with this idea； my uncle used to send me off after
water when we camped after dark in a strange place。 Perhaps the country
was full of wild beasts； and； for aught I knew； there might be scouts from
hostile bands of In… dians lurking in that very neighborhood。
Yet I never objected； for that would show cow… ardice。 I picked my
way through the woods； dipped my pail in the water and hurried back；
always careful to make as little noise as a cat。 Being only a boy； my
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heart would leap at every crackling of a dry twig or distant hooting of an
owl； until； at last； I reached our teepee。 Then my uncle would perhaps
say： 〃Ah； Hakadah； you are a thorough warrior；〃 empty out the precious
contents of the pail； and order me to go a second time。
Imagine how I felt！ But I wished to be a brave man as much as a white
boy desires to be a great lawyer or even President of the United States。
Silently I would take the pail and en… deavor to retrace my footsteps in the
dark。
With all this； our manners and morals were not neglected。 I was
made to respect the adults and especially the aged。 I was not allowed to
join in their discussions； nor even to speak in their presence； unless
requested to do so。 In… dian etiquette was very strict； and among the re…
quirements was that of avoiding the direct address。 A term of
relationship or some title of courtesy was commonly used instead of the
personal name by those who wished to show respect。 We were taught
generosity to the poor and reverence for the 〃Great Mystery。〃 Religion
was the basis of all Indian training。
I recall to the present day some of the kind warnings and reproofs that
my good grandmother was wont to give me。 〃Be strong of heartbe
patient！〃 she used to say。 She told me of a young chief who was noted
for his uncontrollable temper。 While in one of his rages he attempted to
kill a woman； for which he was slain by his own band and left unburied as
a mark of disgrace his body was simply covered with green grass。 If I
ever lost my temper； she would say：
〃Hakadah； control yourself； or you will be like that young man I told
you of； and lie under a green blanket！〃
In the old days； no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any form
until he had become an acknowledged warrior and had achieved a record。
If a youth should seek a wife before he had reached the age of twenty…two
or twenty…three； and been recognized as a brave man； he was sneered at
and considered an ill…bred Indian。 He must also be a skillful hunter。 An
Indian cannot be a good husband unless he brings home plenty of game。
These precepts were in the line of our training for the wild life。
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III My Plays and Playmates
I： Games and Sports
THE Indian boy was a prince of the wilderness。 He had but very
little work to do during the period of his boyhood。 His principal
occupation was the practice of a few simple arts in warfare and the chase。
Aside from this； he was master of his time。
Whatever was required of us boys was quickly performed： then the
field was clear for our games and plays。 There was always keen
competition among us。 We felt very much as our fathers did in hunting
and wareach one strove to excel all the others。
It is true that our savage life was a precarious one； and full of dreadful
catastrophes； however； this never prevented us from enjoying our sports to
the fullest extent。 As we left our teepees in the morning； we were never
sure that our scalps would not dangle from a pole in the afternoon！ It was
an uncertain life； to be sure。 Yet we ob… served that the fawns skipped
and played happily while the gray wolves might be peeping forth from
behind the hills； ready to tear them limb from limb。
Our sports were molded by the life and cus… toms of our people；
indeed； we practiced only what we expected to do when grown。 Our
games were feats with the bow and arrow； foot and pony races； wrestling；
swimming and imitation of the customs and habits of our fathers。 We
had sham fights with mud balls and willow wands； we played lacrosse；
made war upon bees； shot winter arrows （which were used only in that
season）； and coasted upon the ribs of animals and buffalo robes。
No sooner did the boys get together than； as a usual thing； they divided
into squads and chose sides； then a leading arrow was shot at random into
the air。 Before it fell to the ground a volley from the bows of the
participants followed。 Each player was quick to note the direction and
speed of the leading arrow and he tried to send his own at the same speed
and at an equal height； so that when it fell it would be closer to the first
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than any of the others。
It was considered out of place to shoot by first sighting the object
aimed at。 This was usually impracticable in actual life； because the
object was almost always in motion； while the hunter himself was often
upon the back of a pony at full gallop。 Therefore； it was the off…hand
shot that the Indian boy sought to master。 There was another game with
arrows that was characterized by gambling； and was generally confined to
the men。
The races were an every…day occurrence。 At noon the boys were
usually gathered by some pleasant sheet of water and as soon as the ponies
were watered； they were allowed to graze for an hour or two； while the
boys stripped for their noonday sports。 A boy might say to some other
whom he considered his equal：
〃I can't run； but I will challenge you to fifty paces。〃
A former hero； when beaten； would often ex… plain his defeat by
saying： 〃 I drank too much water。〃
Boys of all ages were paired for a 〃spin；〃 and the little red men
cheered on their favorites with spirit。
As soon as this was ended； the pony races fol… lowed。 All the speedy
ponies were picked out and riders chosen。 If a boy declined to ride； there
would be shouts of derision。
Last of all came the swimming。 A little urchin would hang to his
pony's long tail； while the lat… ter； with only his head above water； glided
spor… tively along。 Finally the animals were driven in… to a fine field of
grass and we turned our attention to other games。
Lacrosse was an older game and was confined en… tirely to the
Sisseton and Santee Sioux。 Shinny； such as is enjoyed by white boys on
the ice； is still played on the open prairie by the western Sioux。 The
〃moccasin game；〃 although sometimes played by the boys； was intended
mainly for adults。
The 〃mud…and…willow〃 fight was rather a severe and dangerous sport。
A lump of soft clay was stuck on the end of a limber and springy wil… low
wand and thrown as boys throw apples from sticks； with considerable
force。 When there were fifty or a hundred players on each side； the battle
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became warm； but anything to arouse the bravery of Indian boys seemed
to them a good and whole… some diversion。
Wrestling was largely indulged in by us all。 It may seem odd；； but
wrestling was done by a great many boys at oncefrom ten to any number
on a side。 It was really a battle； in which each one chose his opponent。
The rule was that if a boy sat down； he was let alone； but as long as he re…
mained standing within the field； he was open to an attack。 No one
struck with the hand； but all manner of tripping with legs and feet and
butting with the knees was allowed。 Altogether it was an exhausting
pastimefully equal to the American game of football and only the young
athlete could really enjoy it。
One of our most curious sports was a war upon the nests of wild bees。
We imagined ourselves about to make an attack upon the Ojibways or
some tribal foe。 We all painted and stole cau… tiously upon the nest； then；
with a rush and war… whoop； sprang upon the object of our attack and
endeavored to destroy it。 But it seemed that the bees were always on the
alert and never entirely surprised； for they always raised quite as many
scalps as did their bold assailants！ After the on… slaught upon the nest was
ended； we usually fol… lowed it by a pretended scalp dance。
On the occasion of my first experience in this mode of warfare； there
were two other little boys who were also novices。 One of them
particularly was really too young to indulge in an exploit of that kind。 As
it was the custom of our people； when they killed or wounded an enemy
on the bat… tle field； to announce the act in a loud voice； we did the same。
My friend； Little Wound （as I will call him； for I do not remember his
name）； being quite small； was unable to reach the nest until it had been
well trampled upon and broken and the insects had made a counter charge
with such vigor as to repulse and scatter our numbers in every di… rection。
However； he evidently did not want to retreat without any honors
