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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/337-0.txt b/337-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df53154 --- /dev/null +++ b/337-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6145 @@ +Project Gutenberg’s Indian Boyhood, by [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Indian Boyhood + +Author: [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #337] +Last Updated: October 7, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN BOYHOOD *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +INDIAN BOYHOOD + +By [Ohiyesa] Charles A. Eastman + + + + +Contents + + I + EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS + I: Hakadah, “The Pitiful Last” + II: Early Hardships + III: My Indian Grandmother + IV: In Indian Sugar Camp + V: A Midsummer Feast + + II + AN INDIAN BOY’S TRAINING + + III + MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES + I: Games and Sports + II: My Playmates + III: The Boy Hunter + + IV + HAKADAH’S FIRST OFFERING + + V + FAMILY TRADITIONS + I: A Visit to Smoky Day + II: The Stone Boy + + + VI + EVENING IN THE LODGE + I: Evening in the Lodge + II: Adventures of My Uncle + + VII + THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + + VIII + THE MAIDENS’ FEAST + + IX + MORE LEGENDS + I: A Legend of Devil’s Lake + II: Manitoshaw’s Hunting + + X + INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE + I: Life in the Woods + II: A Winter Camp + III: Wild Harvests + IV: A Meeting on the Plains + V: An Adventurous Journey + + XI + THE LAUGHING PHILOSOPHER + + XII + FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + + + + + +I. EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS + + + + +I. Hadakah, “The Pitiful Last” + +WHAT boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest +life in the world? This life was mine. Every day there was a real hunt. +There was real game. Occasionally there was a medicine dance away off in +the woods where no one could disturb us, in which the boys impersonated +their elders, Brave Bull, Standing Elk, High Hawk, Medicine Bear, and +the rest. They painted and imitated their fathers and grandfathers to +the minutest detail, and accurately too, because they had seen the real +thing all their lives. + +We were not only good mimics but we were close students of nature. We +studied the habits of animals just as you study your books. We watched +the men of our people and represented them in our play; then learned to +emulate them in our lives. + +No people have a better use of their five senses than the children of +the wilderness. We could smell as well as hear and see. We could feel +and taste as well as we could see and hear. Nowhere has the memory been +more fully developed than in the wild life, and I can still see wherein +I owe much to my early training. + + +Of course I myself do not remember when I first saw the day, but my +brothers have often recalled the event with much mirth; for it was a +custom of the Sioux that when a boy was born his brother must plunge +into the water, or roll in the snow naked if it was winter time; and if +he was not big enough to do either of these himself, water was thrown +on him. If the new-born had a sister, she must be immersed. The idea +was that a warrior had come to camp, and the other children must display +some act of hardihood. + +I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest of five children who, soon +after I was born, were left motherless. I had to bear the humiliating +name “Hakadah,” meaning “the pitiful last,” until I should earn a more +dignified and appropriate name. I was regarded as little more than a +plaything by the rest of the children. + +My mother, who was known as the handsomest woman of all the Spirit Lake +and Leaf Dweller Sioux, was dangerously ill, and one of the medicine men +who attended her said: “Another medicine man has come into existence, +but the mother must die. Therefore let him bear the name ‘Mysterious +Medicine.’” But one of the bystanders hastily interfered, saying that an +uncle of the child already bore that name, so, for the time, I was only +“Hakadah.” + +My beautiful mother, sometimes called the “Demi-Goddess” of the Sioux, +who tradition says had every feature of a Caucasian descent with the +exception of her luxuriant black hair and deep black eyes, held me +tightly to her bosom upon her death-bed, while she whispered a few words +to her mother-in-law. She said: “I give you this boy for your own. I +cannot trust my own mother with him; she will neglect him and he will +surely die.” + +The woman to whom these words were spoken was below the average in +stature, remarkably active for her age (she was then fully sixty), and +possessed of as much goodness as intelligence. My mother’s judgment +concerning her own mother was well founded, for soon after her death +that old lady appeared, and declared that Hakadah was too young to live +without a mother. She offered to keep me until I died, and then she +would put me in my mother’s grave. Of course my other grandmother +denounced the suggestion as a very wicked one, and refused to give me +up. + +The babe was done up as usual in a movable cradle made from an oak board +two and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide. On one side of +it was nailed with brass-headed tacks the richly-embroidered sack, which +was open in front and laced up and down with buckskin strings. Over +the arms of the infant was a wooden bow, the ends of which were firmly +attached to the board, so that if the cradle should fall the child’s +head and face would be protected. On this bow were hung curious +playthings--strings of artistically carved bones and hoofs of deer, +which rattled when the little hands moved them. + +In this upright cradle I lived, played and slept the greater part of the +time during the first few months of my life. Whether I was made to lean +against a lodge pole or was suspended from a bough of a tree, while +my grandmother cut wood, or whether I was carried on her back, or +conveniently balanced by another child in a similar cradle hung on the +opposite side of a pony, I was still in my oaken bed. + +This grandmother, who had already lived through sixty years of +hardships, was a wonder to the young maidens of the tribe. She showed +no less enthusiasm over Hakadah than she had done when she held her +first-born, the boy’s father, in her arms. Every little attention that +is due to a loved child she performed with much skill and devotion. She +made all my scanty garments and my tiny moccasins with a great deal of +taste. It was said by all that I could not have had more attention had +my mother been living. + +Uncheedah (grandmother) was a great singer. Sometimes, when Hakadah +wakened too early in the morning, she would sing to him something like +the following lullaby: + + + Sleep, sleep, my boy, the Chippewas + + Are far away--are far away. + + Sleep, sleep, my boy; prepare to meet + + The foe by day--the foe by day! + + The cowards will not dare to fight + + Till morning break--till morning break. + + Sleep, sleep, my child, while still ‘tis night; + + Then bravely wake--then bravely wake! + + +The Dakota women were wont to cut and bring their fuel from the woods +and, in fact, to perform most of the drudgery of the camp. This of +necessity fell to their lot, because the men must follow the game +during the day. Very often my grandmother carried me with her on these +excursions; and while she worked it was her habit to suspend me from a +wild grape vine or a springy bough, so that the least breeze would swing +the cradle to and fro. + +She has told me that when I had grown old enough to take notice, I +was apparently capable of holding extended conversations in an unknown +dialect with birds and red squirrels. Once I fell asleep in my cradle, +suspended five or six feet from the ground, while Uncheedah was some +distance away, gathering birch bark for a canoe. A squirrel had found it +convenient to come upon the bow of my cradle and nibble his hickory nut, +until he awoke me by dropping the crumbs of his meal. My disapproval +of his intrusion was so decided that he had to take a sudden and quick +flight to another bough, and from there he began to pour out his wrath +upon me, while I continued my objections to his presence so audibly that +Uncheedah soon came to my rescue, and compelled the bold intruder to +go away. It was a common thing for birds to alight on my cradle in the +woods. + +My food was, at first, a troublesome question for my kind foster-mother. +She cooked some wild rice and strained it, and mixed it with broth made +from choice venison. She also pounded dried venison almost to a flour, +and kept it in water till the nourishing juices were extracted, then +mixed with it some pounded maize, which was browned before pounding. +This soup of wild rice, pounded venison and maize was my main-stay. But +soon my teeth came--much earlier than the white children usually cut +theirs; and then my good nurse gave me a little more varied food, and I +did all my own grinding. + +After I left my cradle, I almost walked away from it, she told me. She +then began calling my attention to natural objects. Whenever I heard +the song of a bird, she would tell me what bird it came from, something +after this fashion: + +“Hakadah, listen to Shechoka (the robin) calling his mate. He says he +has just found something good to eat.” Or “Listen to Oopehanska (the +thrush); he is singing for his little wife. He will sing his best.” When +in the evening the whippoorwill started his song with vim, no further +than a stone’s throw from our tent in the woods, she would say to me: + +“Hush! It may be an Ojibway scout!” + +Again, when I waked at midnight, she would say: + +“Do not cry! Hinakaga (the owl) is watching you from the tree-top.” + +I usually covered up my head, for I had perfect faith in my +grandmother’s admonitions, and she had given me a dreadful idea of this +bird. It was one of her legends that a little boy was once standing just +outside of the teepee (tent), crying vigorously for his mother, when +Hinakaga swooped down in the darkness and carried the poor little +fellow up into the trees. It was well known that the hoot of the owl was +commonly imitated by Indian scouts when on the war-path. There had been +dreadful massacres immediately following this call. Therefore it was +deemed wise to impress the sound early upon the mind of the child. + +Indian children were trained so that they hardly ever cried much in the +night. This was very expedient and necessary in their exposed life. In +my infancy it was my grandmother’s custom to put me to sleep, as she +said, with the birds, and to waken me with them, until it became a +habit. She did this with an object in view. An Indian must always +rise early. In the first place, as a hunter, he finds his game best at +daybreak. Secondly, other tribes, when on the war-path, usually make +their attack very early in the morning. Even when our people are moving +about leisurely, we like to rise before daybreak, in order to travel +when the air is cool, and unobserved, perchance, by our enemies. + +As a little child, it was instilled into me to be silent and reticent. +This was one of the most important traits to form in the character +of the Indian. As a hunter and warrior it was considered absolutely +necessary to him, and was thought to lay the foundations of patience and +self-control. There are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by +our people, but the rule is gravity and decorum. + +After all, my babyhood was full of interest and the beginnings of life’s +realities. The spirit of daring was already whispered into my ears. The +value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior had caught my eye. +One day, when I was left alone, at scarcely two years of age, I took my +uncle’s war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle feathers to decorate my +dog and myself. So soon the life that was about me had made its impress, +and already I desired intensely to comply with all of its demands. + + + + +II. Early Hardships + +ONE of the earliest recollections of my adventurous childhood is the +ride I had on a pony’s side. I was passive in the whole matter. A little +girl cousin of mine was put in a bag and suspended from the horn of an +Indian saddle; but her weight must be balanced or the saddle would not +remain on the animal’s back. Accordingly, I was put into another sack +and made to keep the saddle and the girl in position! I did not object +at all, for I had a very pleasant game of peek-aboo with the little +girl, until we came to a big snow-drift, where the poor beast was stuck +fast and began to lie down. Then it was not so nice! + +This was the convenient and primitive way in which some mothers packed +their children for winter journeys. However cold the weather might be, +the inmate of the fur-lined sack was usually very comfortable--at least +I used to think so. I believe I was accustomed to all the precarious +Indian conveyances, and, as a boy, I enjoyed the dog-travaux ride as +much as any. The travaux consisted of a set of rawhide strips securely +lashed to the tent-poles, which were harnessed to the sides of the +animal as if he stood between shafts, while the free ends were allowed +to drag on the ground. Both ponies and large dogs were used as beasts of +burden, and they carried in this way the smaller children as well as the +baggage. + +This mode of travelling for children was possible only in the summer, +and as the dogs were sometimes unreliable, the little ones were exposed +to a certain amount of danger. For instance, whenever a train of dogs +had been travelling for a long time, almost perishing with the heat and +their heavy loads, a glimpse of water would cause them to forget all +their responsibilities. Some of them, in spite of the screams of the +women, would swim with their burdens into the cooling stream, and I was +thus, on more than one occasion, made to partake of an unwilling bath. + +I was a little over four years old at the time of the “Sioux massacre” + in Minnesota. In the general turmoil, we took flight into British +Columbia, and the journey is still vividly remembered by all our family. +A yoke of oxen and a lumber-wagon were taken from some white farmer and +brought home for our conveyance. + +How delighted I was when I learned that we were to ride behind those +wise-looking animals and in that gorgeously painted wagon! It seemed +almost like a living creature to me, this new vehicle with four legs, +and the more so when we got out of axle-grease and the wheels went along +squealing like pigs! + +The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in jumping from the high +wagon while the oxen were leisurely moving along. My elder brothers soon +became experts. At last, I mustered up courage enough to join them in +this sport. I was sure they stepped on the wheel, so I cautiously +placed my moccasined foot upon it. Alas! before I could realize what had +happened, I was under the wheels, and had it not been for the neighbor +immediately behind us, I might have been run over by the next team as +well. + +This was my first experience with a civilized vehicle. I cried out +all possible reproaches on the white man’s team and concluded that a +dog-travaux was good enough for me. I was really rejoiced that we were +moving away from the people who made the wagon that had almost ended my +life, and it did not occur to me that I alone was to blame. I could not +be persuaded to ride in that wagon again and was glad when we finally +left it beside the Missouri river. + +The summer after the “Minnesota massacre,” General Sibley pursued our +people across this river. Now the Missouri is considered one of the most +treacherous rivers in the world. Even a good modern boat is not safe +upon its uncertain current. We were forced to cross in buffalo-skin +boats--as round as tubs! + +The Washechu (white men) were coming in great numbers with their big +guns, and while most of our men were fighting them to gain time, the +women and the old men made and equipped the temporary boats, braced with +ribs of willow. Some of these were towed by two or three women or men +swimming in the water and some by ponies. It was not an easy matter to +keep them right side up, with their helpless freight of little children +and such goods as we possessed. + +In our flight, we little folks were strapped in the saddles or held in +front of an older person, and in the long night marches to get away from +the soldiers, we suffered from loss of sleep and insufficient food. Our +meals were eaten hastily, and sometimes in the saddle. Water was not +always to be found. The people carried it with them in bags formed of +tripe or the dried pericardium of animals. + +Now we were compelled to trespass upon the country of hostile tribes +and were harassed by them almost daily and nightly. Only the strictest +vigilance saved us. + +One day we met with another enemy near the British lines. It was a +prairie fire. We were surrounded. Another fire was quickly made, which +saved our lives. + +One of the most thrilling experiences of the following winter was a +blizzard, which overtook us in our wanderings. Here and there, a family +lay down in the snow, selecting a place where it was not likely to drift +much. For a day and a night we lay under the snow. Uncle stuck a long +pole beside us to tell us when the storm was over. We had plenty of +buffalo robes and the snow kept us warm, but we found it heavy. After +a time, it became packed and hollowed out around our bodies, so that we +were as comfortable as one can be under those circumstances. + +The next day the storm ceased, and we discovered a large herd of +buffaloes almost upon us. We dug our way out, shot some of the +buffaloes, made a fire and enjoyed a good dinner. + +I was now an exile as well as motherless; yet I was not unhappy. Our +wanderings from place to place afforded us many pleasant experiences and +quite as many hardships and misfortunes. There were times of plenty +and times of scarcity, and we had several narrow escapes from death. In +savage life, the early spring is the most trying time and almost all the +famines occurred at this period of the year. + +The Indians are a patient and a clannish people; their love for one +another is stronger than that of any civilized people I know. If this +were not so, I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among +them. White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in +preference to starving; but Indians--never! + +In times of famine, the adults often denied themselves in order to make +the food last as long as possible for the children, who were not able to +bear hunger as well as the old. As a people, they can live without food +much longer than any other nation. + +I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing +to eat for several days. I well remember the six small birds which +constituted the breakfast for six families one morning; and then we had +no dinner or supper to follow! What a relief that was to me--although I +had only a small wing of a small bird for my share! Soon after this, we +came into a region where buffaloes were plenty, and hunger and scarcity +were forgotten. + +Such was the Indian’s wild life! When game was to be had and the sun +shone, they easily forgot the bitter experiences of the winter before. +Little preparation was made for the future. They are children of Nature, +and occasionally she whips them with the lashes of experience, yet they +are forgetful and careless. Much of their suffering might have been +prevented by a little calculation. + +During the summer, when Nature is at her best, and provides abundantly +for the savage, it seems to me that no life is happier than his! Food is +free--lodging free--everything free! All were alike rich in the summer, +and, again, all were alike poor in the winter and early spring. However, +their diseases were fewer and not so destructive as now, and the +Indian’s health was generally good. The Indian boy enjoyed such a life +as almost all boys dream of and would choose for themselves if they were +permitted to do so. + +The raids made upon our people by other tribes were frequent, and we had +to be constantly on the watch. I remember at one time a night attack was +made upon our camp and all our ponies stampeded. Only a few of them were +recovered, and our journeys after this misfortune were effected mostly +by means of the dog-travaux. + +The second winter after the massacre, my father and my two older +brothers, with several others, were betrayed by a half-breed at Winnipeg +to the United States authorities. As I was then living with my uncle in +another part of the country, I became separated from them for ten +years. During all this time we believed that they had been killed by the +whites, and I was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I +was able to go upon the war-path. + +I must say a word in regard to the character of this uncle, my father’s +brother, who was my adviser and teacher for many years. He was a man +about six feet two inches in height, very erect and broad-shouldered. He +was known at that time as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors +among the Sioux in British America, where he still lives, for to this +day we have failed to persuade him to return to the United States. + +He is a typical Indian--not handsome, but truthful and brave. He had a +few simple principles from which he hardly ever departed. Some of these +I shall describe when I speak of my early training. + +It is wonderful that any children grew up through all the exposures +and hardships that we suffered in those days! The frail teepee pitched +anywhere, in the winter as well as in the summer, was all the protection +that we had against cold and storms. I can recall times when we were +snowed in and it was very difficult to get fuel. We were once three +days without much fire and all of this time it stormed violently. There +seemed to be no special anxiety on the part of our people; they rather +looked upon all this as a matter of course, knowing that the storm would +cease when the time came. + +I could once endure as much cold and hunger as any of them; but now if I +miss one meal or accidentally wet my feet, I feel it as much as if I +had never lived in the manner I have described, when it was a matter of +course to get myself soaking wet many a time. Even if there was plenty +to eat, it was thought better for us to practice fasting sometimes; and +hard exercise was kept up continually, both for the sake of health and +to prepare the body for the extraordinary exertions that it might, at +any moment, be required to undergo. In my own remembrance, my uncle used +often to bring home a deer on his shoulder. The distance was sometimes +considerable; yet he did not consider it any sort of a feat. + +The usual custom with us was to eat only two meals a day and these were +served at each end of the day. This rule was not invariable, however, +for if there should be any callers, it was Indian etiquette to offer +either tobacco or food, or both. The rule of two meals a day was more +closely observed by the men--especially the younger men--than by the +women and children. This was when the Indians recognized that a true +manhood, one of physical activity and endurance, depends upon dieting +and regular exercise. No such system is practised by the reservation +Indians of to-day. + + + + +III. My Indian Grandmother + +AS a motherless child, I always regarded my good grandmother as the +wisest of guides and the best of protectors. It was not long before I +began to realize her superiority to most of her contemporaries. This +idea was not gained entirely from my own observation, but also from a +knowledge of the high regard in which she was held by other women. +Aside from her native talent and ingenuity, she was endowed with a truly +wonderful memory. No other midwife in her day and tribe could compete +with her in skill and judgment. Her observations in practice were all +preserved in her mind for reference, as systematically as if they had +been written upon the pages of a note-book. + +I distinctly recall one occasion when she took me with her into the +woods in search of certain medicinal roots. + +“Why do you not use all kinds of roots for medicines?” said I. + +“Because,” she replied, in her quick, characteristic manner, “the +Great Mystery does not will us to find things too easily. In that case +everybody would be a medicine-giver, and Ohiyesa must learn that there +are many secrets which the Great Mystery will disclose only to the most +worthy. Only those who seek him fasting and in solitude will receive his +signs.” + +With this and many similar explanations she wrought in my soul wonderful +and lively conceptions of the “Great Mystery” and of the effects of +prayer and solitude. I continued my childish questioning. + +“But why did you not dig those plants that we saw in the woods, of the +same kind that you are digging now?” + +“For the same reason that we do not like the berries we find in the +shadow of deep woods as well as the ones which grow in sunny places. The +latter have more sweetness and flavor. Those herbs which have medicinal +virtues should be sought in a place that is neither too wet nor too +dry, and where they have a generous amount of sunshine to maintain their +vigor. + +“Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know the secrets of medicine; +then I will tell him all. But if you should grow up to be a bad man, I +must withhold these treasures from you and give them to your brother, +for a medicine man must be a good and wise man. I hope Ohiyesa will be +a great medicine man when he grows up. To be a great warrior is a noble +ambition; but to be a mighty medicine man is a nobler!” + +She said these things so thoughtfully and impressively that I cannot but +feel and remember them even to this day. + +Our native women gathered all the wild rice, roots, berries and fruits +which formed an important part of our food. This was distinctively +a woman’s work. Uncheedah (grandmother) understood these matters +perfectly, and it became a kind of instinct with her to know just where +to look for each edible variety and at what season of the year. This +sort of labor gave the Indian women every opportunity to observe and +study Nature after their fashion; and in this Uncheedah was more acute +than most of the men. The abilities of her boys were not all inherited +from their father; indeed, the stronger family traits came obviously +from her. She was a leader among the native women, and they came to her, +not only for medical aid, but for advice in all their affairs. + +In bravery she equaled any of the men. This trait, together with her +ingenuity and alertness of mind, more than once saved her and her people +from destruction. Once, when we were roaming over a region occupied by +other tribes, and on a day when most of the men were out upon the hunt, +a party of hostile Indians suddenly appeared. Although there were a few +men left at home, they were taken by surprise at first and scarcely knew +what to do, when this woman came forward and advanced alone to meet our +foes. She had gone some distance when some of the men followed her. +She met the strangers and offered her hand to them. They accepted +her friendly greeting; and as a result of her brave act we were left +unmolested and at peace. + +Another story of her was related to me by my father. My grandfather, who +was a noted hunter, often wandered away from his band in search of game. +In this instance he had with him only his own family of three boys and +his wife. One evening, when he returned from the chase, he found to his +surprise that she had built a stockade around her teepee. + +She had discovered the danger-sign in a single foot-print, which she saw +at a glance was not that of her husband, and she was also convinced that +it was not the foot-print of a Sioux, from the shape of the moccasin. +This ability to recognize footprints is general among the Indians, but +more marked in certain individuals. + +This courageous woman had driven away a party of five Ojibway warriors. +They approached the lodge cautiously, but her dog gave timely warning, +and she poured into them from behind her defences the contents of a +double-barrelled gun, with such good effect that the astonished braves +thought it wise to retreat. + +I was not more than five or six years old when the Indian soldiers came +one day and destroyed our large buffalo-skin teepee. It was charged +that my uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes. This was +not exactly true. He had unfortunately frightened a large herd while +shooting a deer in the edge of the woods. However, it was customary to +punish such an act severely, even though the offense was accidental. + +When we were attacked by the police, I was playing in the teepee, and +the only other person at home was Uncheedah. I had not noticed their +approach, and when the war-cry was given by thirty or forty Indians with +strong lungs, I thought my little world was coming to an end. Instantly +innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our frail home, while +bullets went through the poles and tent-fastenings up above our heads. + +I hardly know what I did, but I imagine it was just what any other +little fellow would have done under like circumstances. My first clear +realization of the situation was when Uncheedah had a dispute with the +leader, claiming that the matter had not been properly investigated, +and that none of the policemen had attained to a reputation in war which +would justify them in touching her son’s teepee. But alas! our poor +dwelling was already an unrecognizable ruin; even the poles were broken +into splinters. + +The Indian women, after reaching middle age, are usually heavy and lack +agility, but my grandmother was in this also an exception. She was fully +sixty when I was born; and when I was seven years old she swam across a +swift and wide stream, carrying me on her back, because she did not wish +to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of bull-hide +which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way, +especially in the springtime. Her strength and endurance were +remarkable. Even after she had attained the age of eighty-two, she one +day walked twenty-five miles without appearing much fatigued. + +I marvel now at the purity and elevated sentiment possessed by this +woman, when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time. +When her husband died she was still comparatively a young woman--still +active, clever and industrious. She was descended from a haughty +chieftain of the “Dwellers among the Leaves.” Although women of her +age and position were held to be eligible to re-marriage, and she had +several persistent suitors who were men of her own age and chiefs, yet +she preferred to cherish in solitude the memory of her husband. + +I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young women. In +the fight in which they were captured, none of the Sioux war party had +been killed; therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly treated +by the Sioux women. They were apparently happy, although of course they +felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture, and they +did not fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at +our hands. + +As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their +final release, they appear to me quite remarkable. They lived in my +grandmother’s family for two years, and were then returned to their +people at a great peace council of the two nations. When they were about +to leave my grandmother, the elder of the two sisters first embraced +her, and then spoke somewhat as follows: + +“You are a brave woman and a true mother. I understand now why your son +so bravely conquered our band, and took my sister and myself captive. +I hated him at first, but now I admire him, because he did just what my +father, my brother or my husband would have done had they opportunity. +He did even more. He saved us from the tomahawks of his fellow-warriors, +and brought us to his home to know a noble and a brave woman. + +“I shall never forget your many favors shown to us. But I must go. I +belong to my tribe and I shall return to them. I will endeavor to be a +true woman also, and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your +son.” + +Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life, and she married +one of our young men. + +“I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways,” she said, “to be as +brothers.” + +There are many other instances of intermarriage with captive women. +The mother of the well-known Sioux chieftain, Wabashaw, was an Ojibway +woman. I once knew a woman who was said to be a white captive. She was +married to a noted warrior, and had a fine family of five boys. She was +well accustomed to the Indian ways, and as a child I should not have +suspected that she was white. The skins of these people became so +sunburned and full of paint that it required a keen eye to distinguish +them from the real Indians. + + + + +IV. An Indian Sugar Camp + +WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my +childhood days turned promptly to the annual sugarmaking. This industry +was chiefly followed by the old men and women and the children. The rest +of the tribe went out upon the spring fur-hunt at this season, leaving +us at home to make the sugar. + +The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge +iron and brass kettles for boiling. Everything else could be made, but +these must be bought, begged or borrowed. A maple tree was felled and +a log canoe hollowed out, into which the sap was to be gathered. Little +troughs of basswood and birchen basins were also made to receive the +sweet drops as they trickled from the tree. + +As soon as these labors were accomplished, we all proceeded to the bark +sugar house, which stood in the midst of a fine grove of maples on the +bank of the Minnesota river. We found this hut partially filled with the +snows of winter and the withered leaves of the preceding autumn, and it +must be cleared for our use. In the meantime a tent was pitched outside +for a few days’ occupancy. The snow was still deep in the woods, with a +solid crust upon which we could easily walk; for we usually moved to the +sugar house before the sap had actually started, the better to complete +our preparations. + +My grandmother worked like a beaver in these days (or rather like +a muskrat, as the Indians say; for this industrious little animal +sometimes collects as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for +the winter, only to be robbed of his store by some of our people). If +there was prospect of a good sugaring season, she now made a second +and even a third canoe to contain the sap. These canoes were afterward +utilized by the hunters for their proper purpose. + +During our last sugar-making in Minnesota, before the “outbreak,” my +grandmother was at work upon a canoe with her axe, while a young aunt +of mine stood by. We boys were congregated within the large, oval +sugar house, busily engaged in making arrows for the destruction of the +rabbits and chipmunks which we knew would come in numbers to drink the +sap. The birds also were beginning to return, and the cold storms of +March would drive them to our door. I was then too young to do much +except look on; but I fully entered into the spirit of the occasion, +and rejoiced to see the bigger boys industriously sharpen their arrows, +resting them against the ends of the long sticks which were burning +in the fire, and occasionally cutting a chip from the stick. In their +eagerness they paid little attention to this circumstance, although they +well knew that it was strictly forbidden to touch a knife to a burning +ember. + +Suddenly loud screams were heard from without and we all rushed out to +see what was the matter. It was a serious affair. My grandmother’s axe +had slipped, and by an upward stroke nearly severed three of the fingers +of my aunt, who stood looking on, with her hands folded upon her waist. +As we ran out the old lady, who had already noticed and reproved our +carelessness in regard to the burning embers, pursued us with loud +reproaches and threats of a whipping. This will seem mysterious to my +readers, but is easily explained by the Indian superstition, which holds +that such an offense as we had committed is invariably punished by the +accidental cutting of some one of the family. + +My grandmother did not confine herself to canoe-making. She also +collected a good supply of fuel for the fires, for she would not have +much time to gather wood when the sap began to flow. Presently the +weather moderated and the snow began to melt. The month of April brought +showers which carried most of it off into the Minnesota river. Now the +women began to test the trees-moving leisurely among them, axe in hand, +and striking a single quick blow, to see if the sap would appear. The +trees, like people, have their individual characters; some were ready to +yield up their life-blood, while others were more reluctant. Now one of +the birchen basins was set under each tree, and a hardwood chip driven +deep into the cut which the axe had made. From the corners of this +chip--at first drop by drop, then more freely-the sap trickled into the +little dishes. + +It is usual to make sugar from maples, but several other trees were also +tapped by the Indians. From the birch and ash was made a dark-colored +sugar, with a somewhat bitter taste, which was used for medicinal +purposes. The box-elder yielded a beautiful white sugar, whose only +fault was that there was never enough of it! + +A long fire was now made in the sugar house, and a row of brass kettles +suspended over the blaze. The sap was collected by the women in tin or +birchen buckets and poured into the canoes, from which the kettles +were kept filled. The hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant +anticipations when they heard the welcome hissing sound of the boiling +sap! Each boy claimed one kettle for his especial charge. It was his +duty to see that the fire was kept up under it, to watch lest it boil +over, and finally, when the sap became sirup, to test it upon the snow, +dipping it out with a wooden paddle. So frequent were these tests that +for the first day or two we consumed nearly all that could be made; and +it was not until the sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set +herself in earnest to store up sugar for future use. She made it into +cakes of various forms, in birchen molds, and sometimes in hollow canes +or reeds, and the bills of ducks and geese. Some of it was pulverized +and packed in rawhide cases. Being a prudent woman, she did not give it +to us after the first month or so, except upon special occasions, and it +was thus made to last almost the year around. The smaller candies were +reserved as an occasional treat for the little fellows, and the sugar +was eaten at feasts with wild rice or parched corn, and also with +pounded dried meat. Coffee and tea, with their substitutes, were all +unknown to us in those days. + +Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties. My grandmother’s special +tribulations, during the sugaring season, were the upsetting and gnawing +of holes in her birch-bark pans. The transgressors were the rabbit and +squirrel tribes, and we little boys for once became useful, in shooting +them with our bows and arrows. We hunted all over the sugar camp, +until the little creatures were fairly driven out of the neighborhood. +Occasionally one of my older brothers brought home a rabbit or two, and +then we had a feast. + +The sugaring season extended well into April, and the returning birds +made the precincts of our camp joyful with their songs. I often followed +my older brothers into the woods, although I was then but four or five +years old. Upon one of these excursions they went so far that I ventured +back alone. When within sight of our hut, I saw a chipmunk sitting upon +a log, and uttering the sound he makes when he calls to his mate. How +glorious it would be, I thought, if I could shoot him with my tiny bow +and arrows! Stealthily and cautiously I approached, keeping my eyes upon +the pretty little animal, and just as I was about to let fly my shaft, +I heard a hissing noise at my feet. There lay a horrid snake, coiled and +ready to spring! Forgetful that I was a warrior, I gave a loud scream +and started backward; but soon recollecting myself, looked down with +shame, although no one was near. However, I retreated to the inclined +trunk of a fallen tree, and there, as I have often been told, was +overheard soliloquizing in the following words: “I wonder if a snake can +climb a tree!” + +I remember on this occasion of our last sugar bush in Minnesota, that +I stood one day outside of our hut and watched the approach of a +visitor--a bent old man, his hair almost white, and carrying on his back +a large bundle of red willow, or kinnikinick, which the Indians use for +smoking. He threw down his load at the door and thus saluted us: “You +have indeed perfect weather for sugar-making.” + +It was my great-grandfather, Cloud Man, whose original village was on +the shores of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, now in the suburbs of the city +of Minneapolis. He was the first Sioux chief to welcome the Protestant +missionaries among his people, and a well-known character in those +pioneer days. He brought us word that some of the peaceful sugar-makers +near us on the river had been attacked and murdered by roving Ojibways. +This news disturbed us not a little, for we realized that we too might +become the victims of an Ojibway war party. Therefore we all felt some +uneasiness from this time until we returned heavy laden to our village. + + + + + +V. A Midsummer Feast + +IT was midsummer. Everything that the Santee Sioux had undertaken during +the year had been unusually successful. The spring fur-hunters had been +fortunate, and the heavy winter had proved productive of much +maple sugar. The women’s patches of maize and potatoes were already +sufficiently advanced to use. The Wahpetonwan band of Sioux, the +“Dwellers among the Leaves,” were fully awakened to the fact that it was +almost time for the midsummer festivities of the old, wild days. + +The invitations were bundles of tobacco, and acceptances were sent back +from the various bands--the “Light Lodges”, “Dwellers back from the +River,” and many others, in similar fashion. Blue Earth, chief of the +“Dwellers among the Leaves,” was the host. + +There were to be many different kinds of athletic games; indeed, the +festival was something like a State fair, in that there were many side +shows and competitive events. For instance, supposing that (Miss) White +Rabbit should desire to give a “maidens’ feast,” she would employ a +crier to go among the different bands announcing the fact in a sing-song +manner: + +“Miss White Rabbit will receive her maiden friends to-day at noon, +inside of the circular encampment of the Kaposia band.” + +Again, should (Mr.) Sleepy Eye wish to have his child’s ears +pierced publicly, he would have to give away a great deal of savage +wealth--namely, otter, bear and beaver skins and ponies--or the child +would not be considered as belonging to a family in good standing. + +But the one all-important event of the occasion was the lacrosse game, +for which it had been customary to select those two bands which could +boast the greater number of fast runners. + +The Wahpetonwan village on the banks of the Minnesota river was alive +with the newly-arrived guests and the preparations for the coming event. +Meat of wild game had been put away with much care during the previous +fall in anticipation of this feast. There was wild rice and the choicest +of dried venison that had been kept all winter, as well as freshly dug +turnips, ripe berries and an abundance of fresh meat. + +Along the edge of the woods the teepees were pitched in groups or +semi-circles, each band distinct from the others. The teepee of Mankato +or Blue Earth was pitched in a conspicuous spot. Just over the entrance +was painted in red and yellow a picture of a pipe, and directly opposite +this the rising sun. The painting was symbolic of welcome and good will +to men under the bright sun. + +A meeting was held to appoint some “medicine man” to make the balls +that were to be used in the lacrosse contest; and presently the herald +announced that this honor had been conferred upon old Chankpee-yuhah, +or “Keeps the Club,” while every other man of his profession was +disappointed. He was a powerful man physically, who had apparently won +the confidence of the people by his fine personal appearance and by +working upon superstitious minds. + +Towards evening he appeared in the circle, leading by the hand a boy +about four years old. Closely the little fellow observed every motion +of the man; nothing escaped his vigilant black eyes, which seemed +constantly to grow brighter and larger, while his exuberant glossy black +hair was plaited and wound around his head like that of a Celestial. He +wore a bit of swan’s down in each ear, which formed a striking contrast +with the child’s complexion. Further than this, the boy was painted +according to the fashion of the age. He held in his hands a miniature +bow and arrows. + +The medicine man drew himself up in an admirable attitude, and proceeded +to make his short speech: + +“Wahpetonwans, you boast that you run down the elk; you can outrun the +Ojibways. Before you all, I dedicate to you this red ball. Kaposias, you +claim that no one has a lighter foot than you; you declare that you can +endure running a whole day without water. To you I dedicate this black +ball. Either you or the Leaf-Dwellers will have to drop your eyes and +bow your head when the game is over. I wish to announce that if the +Wahpetonwans should win, this little warrior shall bear the name Ohiyesa +(winner) through life; but if the Light Lodges should win, let the name +be given to any child appointed by them.” + +The ground selected for the great final game was on a narrow strip of +land between a lake and the river. It was about three quarters of a mile +long and a quarter of a mile in width. The spectators had already ranged +themselves all along the two sides, as well as at the two ends, which +were somewhat higher than the middle. The soldiers appointed to keep +order furnished much of the entertainment of the day. They painted +artistically and tastefully, according to the Indian fashion, not only +their bodies but also their ponies and clubs. They were so strict in +enforcing the laws that no one could venture with safety within a few +feet of the limits of the field. + +Now all of the minor events and feasts, occupying several days’ time, +had been observed. Heralds on ponies’ backs announced that all who +intended to participate in the final game were requested to repair to +the ground; also that if any one bore a grudge against another, he was +implored to forget his ill-feeling until the contest should be over. + +The most powerful men were stationed at the half-way ground, while +the fast runners were assigned to the back. It was an impressive +spectacle--a fine collection of agile forms, almost stripped of garments +and painted in wild imitation of the rainbow and sunset sky on human +canvas. Some had undertaken to depict the Milky Way across their tawny +bodies, and one or two made a bold attempt to reproduce the lightning. +Others contented themselves with painting the figure of some fleet +animal or swift bird on their muscular chests. + +The coiffure of the Sioux lacrosse player has often been unconsciously +imitated by the fashionable hair-dressers of modern times. Some banged +and singed their hair; others did a little more by adding powder. The +Grecian knot was located on the wrong side of the head, being tied +tightly over the forehead. A great many simply brushed back their long +locks and tied them with a strip of otter skin. + +At the middle of the ground were stationed four immense men, +magnificently formed. A fifth approached this group, paused a moment, +and then threw his head back, gazed up into the sky in the manner of a +cock and gave a smooth, clear operatic tone. Instantly the little black +ball went up between the two middle rushers, in the midst of yells, +cheers and war-whoops. Both men endeavored to catch it in the air; +but alas! each interfered with the other; then the guards on each side +rushed upon them. For a time, a hundred lacrosse sticks vied with each +other, and the wriggling human flesh and paint were all one could see +through the cloud of dust. Suddenly there shot swiftly through the +air toward the south, toward the Kaposias’ goal, the ball. There was +a general cheer from their adherents, which echoed back from the white +cliff on the opposite side of the Minnesota. + +As the ball flew through the air, two adversaries were ready to receive +it. The Kaposia quickly met the ball, but failed to catch it in his +netted bag, for the other had swung his up like a flash. Thus it struck +the ground, but had no opportunity to bound up when a Wahpeton pounced +upon it like a cat and slipped out of the grasp of his opponents. A +mighty cheer thundered through the air. + +The warrior who had undertaken to pilot the little sphere was risking +much, for he must dodge a host of Kaposias before he could gain any +ground. He was alert and agile; now springing like a panther, now +leaping like a deer over a stooping opponent who tried to seize him +around the waist. Every opposing player was upon his heels, while those +of his own side did all in their power to clear the way for him. But it +was all in vain. He only gained fifty paces. + +Thus the game went. First one side, then the other would gain an +advantage, and then it was lost, until the herald proclaimed that it was +time to change the ball. No victory was in sight for either side. + +After a few minutes’ rest, the game was resumed. The red ball was now +tossed in the air in the usual way. No sooner had it descended than +one of the rushers caught it and away it went northward; again it was +fortunate, for it was advanced by one of the same side. The scene was +now one of the wildest excitement and confusion. At last, the northward +flight of the ball was checked for a moment and a desperate struggle +ensued. Cheers and war-whoops became general, such as were never equaled +in any concourse of savages, and possibly nowhere except at a college +game of football. + +The ball had not been allowed to come to the surface since it reached +this point, for there were more than a hundred men who scrambled for +it. Suddenly a warrior shot out of the throng like the ball itself! +Then some of the players shouted: “Look out for Antelope! Look out for +Antelope!” But it was too late. The little sphere had already nestled +into Antelope’s palm and that fleetest of Wahpetons had thrown down his +lacrosse stick and set a determined eye upon the northern goal. + +Such a speed! He had cleared almost all the opponents’ guards--there +were but two more. These were exceptional runners of the Kaposias. As +he approached them in his almost irresistible speed, every savage heart +thumped louder in the Indian’s dusky bosom. In another moment there +would be a defeat for the Kaposias or a prolongation of the game. The +two men, with a determined look approached their foe like two panthers +prepared to spring; yet he neither slackened his speed nor deviated from +his course. A crash--a mighty shout!--the two Kaposias collided, and the +swift Antelope had won the laurels! + +The turmoil and commotion at the victors’ camp were indescribable. A +few beats of a drum were heard, after which the criers hurried along the +lines, announcing the last act to be performed at the camp of the “Leaf +Dwellers.” + +The day had been a perfect one. Every event had been a success; and, as +a matter of course, the old people were happy, for they largely profited +by these occasions. Within the circle formed by the general assembly sat +in a group the members of the common council. Blue Earth arose, and in a +few appropriate and courteous remarks assured his guests that it was +not selfishness that led his braves to carry off the honors of the last +event, but that this was a friendly contest in which each band must +assert its prowess. In memory of this victory, the boy would now receive +his name. A loud “Ho-o-o” of approbation reverberated from the edge of +the forest upon the Minnesota’s bank. + +Half frightened, the little fellow was now brought into the circle, +looking very much as if he were about to be executed. Cheer after cheer +went up for the awe-stricken boy. Chankpee-yuhah, the medicine man, +proceeded to confer the name. + +“Ohiyesa (or Winner) shall be thy name henceforth. Be brave, be patient +and thou shalt always win! Thy name is Ohivesa.” + + + + +II. AN INDIAN BOY’S TRAINING + +IT is commonly supposed that there is no systematic education of their +children among the aborigines of this country. Nothing could be farther +from the truth. All the customs of this primitive people were held to +be divinely instituted, and those in connection with the training +of children were scrupulously adhered to and transmitted from one +generation to another. + +The expectant parents conjointly bent all their efforts to the task +of giving the new-comer the best they could gather from a long line +of ancestors. A pregnant Indian woman would often choose one of the +greatest characters of her family and tribe as a model for her child. +This hero was daily called to mind. She would gather from tradition all +of his noted deeds and daring exploits, rehearsing them to herself when +alone. In order that the impression might be more distinct, she avoided +company. She isolated herself as much as possible, and wandered in +solitude, not thoughtlessly, but with an eye to the impress given by +grand and beautiful scenery. + +The Indians believed, also, that certain kinds of animals would confer +peculiar gifts upon the unborn, while others would leave so strong an +adverse impression that the child might become a monstrosity. A case +of hare-lip was commonly attributed to the rabbit. It was said that a +rabbit had charmed the mother and given to the babe its own features. +Even the meat of certain animals was denied the pregnant woman, because +it was supposed to influence the disposition or features of the child. + +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. + +In hunting songs, the leading animals are introduced; 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 maidens were represented by the +mink and the doe. + +Very early, the Indian boy assumed the task of preserving and +transmitting the legends of his ancestors 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 grandparents, 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 +mastered. The household became his audience, by which he was alternately +criticized and applauded. + +This sort of teaching at once enlightens the boy’s mind and stimulates +his ambition. His conception 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 characteristic 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, he would say: “Hakadah, look closely to everything you see”; +and at evening, on my return, he used often to catechize me for an hour +or so. + +“On which side of the trees is the lighter-colored 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 nest--in +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 warmly +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 inlet 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 +observant 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 second 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 buffaloes--a rash act for the bears, +for it was in the moon of strawberries, when the buffaloes sharpen and +polish their horns for bloody contests among themselves. + +“I advise you, my boy, never to approach a grizzly’s den from the front, +but to steal up behind 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. Remember 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-cat--that is, if +the creature shows signs of attacking you--you must make him fully +understand 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 unless he is cornered and already +wounded, These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the common weapon +of the larger animals--the horns, and if these are very long and sharp, +they dare not risk an open fight. + +“There is one exception to this rule--the 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 helpless; but they are +always careful about attacking man.” + +Of this nature were the instructions of my uncle, who was widely 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 merciful 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, 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 courage. +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 Indians lurking in that very neighborhood. + +Yet I never objected, for that would show cowardice. 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 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 endeavor 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. Indian etiquette was very strict, and among the requirements +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 heart--be +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. + + + + +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 war--each +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 observed 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 customs 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 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 explain 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 followed. 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 latter, with only his head above water, glided +sportively along. Finally the animals were driven into a fine field of +grass and we turned our attention to other games. + +Lacrosse was an older game and was confined entirely 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 willow +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 became warm; but anything to arouse the bravery of Indian boys +seemed to them a good and wholesome diversion. + +Wrestling was largely indulged in by us all. It may seem odd,, but +wrestling was done by a great many boys at once--from 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 remained 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 +pastime--fully 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 cautiously upon the nest; then, +with a rush and warwhoop, 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 onslaught upon the nest +was ended, we usually followed 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 battle 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 +direction. However, he evidently did not want to retreat without any +honors; so he bravely jumped upon the nest and yelled: + +“I, the brave Little Wound, to-day kill the only fierce enemy!” + +Scarcely were the last words uttered when he screamed as if stabbed to +the heart. One of his older companions shouted: + +“Dive into the water! Run! Dive into the water!” for there was a lake +near by. This advice he obeyed. + +When we had reassembled and were indulging in our mimic dance, +Little Wound was not allowed to dance. He was considered not to be in +existence--he had been killed by our enemies, the Bee tribe. Poor little +fellow! His swollen face was sad and ashamed as he sat on a fallen log +and watched the dance. Although he might well have styled himself one of +the noble dead who had died for their country, yet he was not unmindful +that he had screamed, and this weakness would be apt to recur to him +many times in the future. + +We had some quiet plays which we alternated with the more severe and +warlike ones. Among them were throwing wands and snow-arrows. In the +winter we coasted much. We had no “double-rippers” or toboggans, but six +or seven of the long ribs of a buffalo, fastened together at the larger +end, answered all practical purposes. Sometimes a strip of bass-wood +bark, four feet long and about six inches wide, was used with +considerable skill. We stood on one end and held the other, using the +slippery inside of the bark for the outside, and thus coasting down long +hills with remarkable speed. + +The spinning of tops was one of the all-absorbing winter sports. We made +our tops heartshaped of wood, horn or bone. We whipped them with a +long thong of buckskin. The handle was a stick about a foot long and +sometimes we whittled the stick to make it spoon-shaped at one end. + +We played games with these tops--two to fifty boys at one time. Each +whips his top until it hums; then one takes the lead and the rest follow +in a sort of obstacle race. The top must spin all the way through. There +were bars of snow over which we must pilot our top in the spoon end of +our whip; then again we would toss it in the air on to another open spot +of ice or smooth snowcrust from twenty to fifty paces away. The top that +holds out the longest is the winner. + +Sometimes we played “medicine dance.” This, to us, was almost what +“playing church” is among white children, but our people seemed to think +it an act of irreverence to imitate these dances, therefore performances +of this kind were always enjoyed in secret. We used to observe all the +important ceremonies and it required something of an actor to reproduce +the dramatic features of the dance. The real dances occupied a day and +a night, and the program was long and varied, so that it was not easy +to execute all the details perfectly; but the Indian children are born +imitators. + +The boys built an arbor of pine boughs in some out-of-the-way place +and at one end of it was a rude lodge. This was the medicine lodge +or headquarters. All the initiates were there. At the further end or +entrance were the door-keepers or soldiers, as we called them. The +members of each lodge entered in a body, standing in single file and +facing the headquarters. Each stretched out his right hand and a prayer +was offered by the leader, after which they took the places assigned to +them. + +When the preliminaries had been completed, our leader sounded the big +drum and we all said “A-ho-ho-ho!” as a sort of amen. Then the choir +began their song and whenever they ended a verse, we all said again +“A-ho-ho-ho!” At last they struck up the chorus and we all got upon +our feet and began to dance, by simply lifting up one foot and then the +other, with a slight swing to the body. + +Each boy was representing or imitating some one of the medicine men. +We painted and decorated ourselves just as they did and carried bird or +squirrel skins, or occasionally live birds and chipmunks as our medicine +bags and small white shells or pebbles for medicine charms. + +Then the persons to be initiated were brought in and seated, with much +ceremony, upon a blanket or buffalo robe. Directly in front of them +the ground was levelled smooth and here we laid an old pipe filled with +dried leaves for tobacco. Around it we placed the variously colored +feathers of the birds we had killed, and cedar and sweetgrass we burned +for incense. + +Finally those of us who had been selected to perform this ceremony +stretched out our arms at full length, holding the sacred medicine bags +and aiming them at the new members. After swinging them four times, we +shot them suddenly forward, but did not let go. The novices then fell +forward on their faces as if dead. Quickly a chorus was struck up and +we all joined in a lively dance around the supposed bodies. The girls +covered them up with their blankets, thus burying the dead. At last we +resurrected them with our charms and led them to their places among the +audience. Then came the last general dance and the final feast. + +I was often selected as choir-master on these occasions, for I had +happened to learn many of the medicine songs and was quite an apt mimic. +My grandmother, who was a noted medicine woman of the Turtle lodge, on +hearing of these sacrilegious acts (as she called them) warned me that +if any of the medicine men should discover them, they would punish me +terribly by shriveling my limbs with slow disease. + +Occasionally, we also played “white man.” Our knowledge of the pale-face +was limited, but we had learned that he brought goods whenever he came +and that our people exchanged furs for his merchandise. We also knew +that his complexion was pale, that he had short hair on his head and +long hair on his face and that he wore coat, trousers, and hat, and +did not patronize blankets in the daytime. This was the picture we had +formed of the white man. + +So we painted two or three of our number with white clay and put on them +birchen hats which we sewed up for the occasion; fastened a piece of +fur to their chins for a beard and altered their costumes as much as +lay within our power. The white of the birch-bark was made to answer for +their white shirts. Their merchandise consisted of sand for sugar, wild +beans for coffee, dried leaves for tea, pulverized earth for gun-powder, +pebbles for bullets and clear water for the dangerous “spirit water.” We +traded for these goods with skins of squirrels, rabbits and small birds. + +When we played “hunting buffalo” we would send a few good runners off on +the open prairie with a supply of meat; then start a few equally swift +boys to chase them and capture the food. Once we were engaged in this +sport when a real hunt by the men was in progress; yet we did not +realize that it was so near until, in the midst of our play, we saw +an immense buffalo coming at full speed directly toward us. Our mimic +buffalo hunt turned into a very real buffalo scare. Fortunately, we were +near the edge of the woods and we soon disappeared among the leaves +like a covey of young prairie-chickens and some hid in the bushes while +others took refuge in tall trees. + +We loved to play in the water. When we had no ponies, we often had +swimming matches of our own and sometimes made rafts with which we +crossed lakes and rivers. It was a common thing to “duck” a young or +timid boy or to carry him into deep water to struggle as best he might. + +I remember a perilous ride with a companion on an unmanageable log, when +we were both less than seven years old. The older boys had put us on +this uncertain bark and pushed us out into the swift current of the +river. I cannot speak for my comrade in distress, but I can say now that +I would rather ride on a swift bronco any day than try to stay on and +steady a short log in a river. I never knew how we managed to prevent a +shipwreck on that voyage and to reach the shore. + +We had many curious wild pets. There were young foxes, bears, wolves, +raccoons, fawns, buffalo calves and birds of all kinds, tamed by various +boys. My pets were different at different times, but I particularly +remember one. I once had a grizzly bear for a pet and so far as he and I +were concerned, our relations were charming and very close. But I hardly +know whether he made more enemies for me or I for him. It was his habit +to treat every boy unmercifully who injured me. He was despised for his +conduct in my interest and I was hated on account of his interference. + + + + +II. My Playmates + +CHATANNA was the brother with whom I passed much of my early childhood. +From the time that I was old enough to play with boys, this brother was +my close companion. He was a handsome boy, and an affectionate comrade. +We played together, slept together and ate together; and as Chatanna was +three years the older, I naturally looked up to him as to a superior. + +Oesedah was a beautiful little character. She was my cousin, and four +years younger than myself. Perhaps none of my early playmates are more +vividly remembered than is this little maiden. + +The name given her by a noted medicine-man was Makah-oesetopah-win. +It means The-four-corners-of-the-earth. As she was rather small, +the abbreviation with a diminutive termination was considered more +appropriate, hence Oesedah became her common name. + +Although she had a very good mother, Uncheedah was her efficient teacher +and chaperon Such knowledge as my grandmother deemed suitable to a +maiden was duly impressed upon her susceptible mind. When I was not in +the woods with Chatanna, Oesedah was my companion at home; and when I +returned from my play at evening, she would have a hundred questions +ready for me to answer. Some of these were questions concerning our +every-day life, and others were more difficult problems which had +suddenly dawned upon her active little mind. Whatever had occurred to +interest her during the day was immediately repeated for my benefit. + +There were certain questions upon which Oesedah held me to be authority, +and asked with the hope of increasing her little store of knowledge. I +have often heard her declare to her girl companions: “I know it is true; +Ohiyesa said so!” Uncheedah was partly responsible for this, for when +any questions came up which lay within the sphere of man’s observation, +she would say: + +“Ohiyesa ought to know that: he is a man-I am not! You had better ask +him.” + +The truth was that she had herself explained to me many of the subjects +under discussion. + +I was occasionally referred to little Oesedah in the same manner, and I +always accepted her childish elucidations of any matter upon which I had +been advised to consult her, because I knew the source of her wisdom. In +this simple way we were made to be teachers of one another. + +Very often we discussed some topic before our common instructor, or +answered her questions together, in order to show which had the readier +mind. + +“To what tribe does the lizard belong?” inquired Uncheedah, upon one of +these occasions. + +“To the four-legged tribe,” I shouted. + +Oesedah, with her usual quickness, flashed out the answer: + +“It belongs to the creeping tribe.” + +The Indians divided all animals into four general classes: 1st, those +that walk upon four legs; 2nd, those that fly; 3rd, those that swim with +fins; 4th, those that creep. + +Of course I endeavored to support my assertion that the lizard belongs +where I had placed it, be-. cause he has four distinct legs which propel +him everywhere, on the ground or in the water. But my opponent claimed +that the creature under dispute does not walk, but creeps. My strongest +argument was that it had legs; but Oesedah insisted that its body +touches the ground as it moves. As a last resort, I volunteered to go +find one, and demonstrate the point in question. + +The lizard having been brought, we smoothed off the ground and strewed +ashes on it so that we could see the track. Then I raised the question: +“What constitutes creeping, and what constitutes walking?” + +Uncheedah was the judge, and she stated, without any hesitation, that +an animal must stand clear of the ground on the support of its legs, and +walk with the body above the legs, and not in contact with the ground, +in order to be termed a walker; while a creeper is one that, regardless +of its legs, if it has them, drags its body upon the ground. Upon +hearing the judge’s decision, I yielded at once to my opponent. + +At another time, when I was engaged in a similar discussion with my +brother Chatanna, Oesedah came to my rescue. Our grandmother had asked +us: + +“What bird shows most judgment in caring for its young?” + +Chatanna at once exclaimed: + +“The eagle!” but I held my peace for a moment, because I was +confused--so many birds came into my mind at once. I finally declared: + +“It is the oriole!” + +Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that he had in support of +the eagle’s good sense in rearing its young. He proceeded with an air of +confidence: + +“The eagle is the wisest of all birds. Its nest is made in the safest +possible place, upon a high and inaccessible cliff. It provides its +young with an abundance of fresh meat. They have the freshest of air. +They are brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes, and inspired +with lofty feelings and bravery. They see that all other beings live +beneath them, and that they are the children of the King of Birds. A +young eagle shows the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest. + +“Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are +hardy. They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird +and the sighings of the Great Mystery. Why, the little eagles cannot +help being as noble as they are, because their parents selected for them +so lofty and inspiring a home! How happy they must be when they find +themselves above the clouds, and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning +all about them! It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in +their cool home, in the burning summer-time! Then when they drop down +the bones of the game they feed upon, wolves and vultures gather beneath +them, feeding upon their refuse. That alone would show them their +chieftainship over all the other birds. Isn’t that so, grandmother?” + Thus triumphantly he concluded his argument. + +I was staggered at first by the noble speech of Chatannna, but I soon +recovered from its effects. The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying: +“Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole’s +home!” This timely remark gave me courage and I began: + +“My grandmother, who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and +sweet voice will have children of a good disposition? I think the oriole +is that kind of a parent. It provides both sunshine and shadow for +its young. Its nest is suspended from the prettiest bough of the most +graceful tree, where it is rocked by the gentle winds; and the one we +found yesterday was beautifully lined with soft things, both deep and +warm, so that the little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold +and wet.” + +Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim: “That is just like the white +people--who cares for them? The eagle teaches its young to be accustomed +to hardships, like young warriors!” + +Ohiyesa was provoked; he reproached his brother and appealed to the +judge, saying that he had not finished yet. + +“But you would not have lived, Chatanna, if you had been exposed like +that when you were a baby! The oriole shows wisdom in providing for its +children a good, comfortable home! A home upon a high rock would not be +pleasant-it would be cold! We climbed a mountain once, and it was cold +there; and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms? What +wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock, +surrounded with ill-smelling bones of animals, for a home? Also, +my uncle says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of +starvation. You have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one +else is compared to an eagle. Isn’t that so, grandmother? + +“The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal +bough so that no enemy can approach it. It enjoys peace and beauty and +safety.” + +Oesedah was at Ohiyesa’s side during the discussion, and occasionally +whispered into his ear. Uncheedah decided this time in favor of Ohiyesa. + +We were once very short of provisions in the winter time. My uncle, our +only means of support, was sick; and besides, we were separated from +the rest of the tribe and in a region where there was little game of any +kind. Oesedah had a pet squirrel, and as soon as we began to economize +our food had given portions of her allowance to her pet. + +At last we were reduced very much, and the prospect of obtaining +anything soon being gloomy, my grandmother reluctantly suggested that +the squirrel should be killed for food. Thereupon my little cousin +cried, and said: + +“Why cannot we all die alike wanting? The squirrel’s life is as dear to +him as ours to us,” and clung to it. Fortunately, relief came in time to +save her pet. + +Oesedah lived with us for a portion of the year, and as there were no +other girls in the family she played much alone, and had many imaginary +companions. At one time there was a small willow tree which she visited +regularly, holding long conversations, a part of which she would +afterward repeat to me. She said the willow tree was her husband, whom +some magic had compelled to take that form; but no grown person was ever +allowed to share her secret. + +When I was about eight years old I had for a playmate the adopted son of +a Sioux, who was a white captive. This boy was quite a noted personage, +although he was then only about ten or eleven years of age. When I +first became acquainted with him we were on the upper Missouri river. I +learned from him that he had been taken on the plains, and that both of +his parents were killed. + +He was at first sad and lonely, but soon found plenty of +consolation in his new home. The name of his adopted father was +“Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies.” He was known to have an unusual number of the +pretty calico ponies; indeed, he had a passion for accumulating property +in the shape of ponies, painted tents, decorated saddles and all sorts +of finery. He had lost his only son; but the little pale-face became the +adopted brother of two handsome young women, his daughters. This made +him quite popular among the young warriors. He was not slow to adopt the +Indian customs, and he acquired the Sioux language in a short time. + +I well remember hearing of his first experience of war. He was not more +than sixteen when he joined a war-party against the Gros-Ventres and +Mandans. My uncle reported that he was very brave until he was wounded +in the ankle; then he begged with tears to be taken back to a safe +place. Fortunately for him, his adopted father came to the rescue, and +saved him at the risk of his own life. He was called the “pale-face +Indian.” His hair grew very long and he lavished paint on his face and +hair so that no one might suspect that he was a white man. + +One day this boy was playing a gambling game with one of the Sioux +warriors. He was an expert gambler, and won everything from the Indian. +At a certain point a dispute arose. The Indian was very angry, for +he discovered that his fellow-player had deliberately cheated him. The +Indians were strictly honest in those days, even in their gambling. + +The boy declared that he had merely performed a trick for the benefit of +his friend, but it nearly cost him his life. The indignant warrior had +already drawn his bow-string with the intention of shooting the captive, +but a third person intervened and saved the boy’s life. He at once +explained his trick; and in order to show himself an honorable gambler, +gave back all the articles that he had won from his opponent. In the +midst of the confusion, old “Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies” came rushing +through the crowd in a state of great excitement. He thought his +pale-face son had been killed. When he saw how matters stood, he gave +the aggrieved warrior a pony, “in order,” as he said, “that there may be +no shadow between him and my son.” + +One spring my uncle took Chatanna to the Canadian trading-post on the +Assiniboine river, where he went to trade off his furs for ammunition +and other commodities. When he came back, my brother was not with him! + +At first my fears were even worse than the reality. The facts were +these: A Canadian with whom my uncle had traded much had six daughters +and no son; and when he saw this handsome and intelligent little fellow, +he at once offered to adopt him. + +“I have no boy in my family,” said he, “and I will deal with him as with +a son. I am always in these regions trading; so you can see him two or +three times in a year.” + +He further assured my uncle that the possession of the boy would greatly +strengthen their friendship. The matter was finally agreed upon. At +first Chatanna was unwilling, but as we were taught to follow the advice +of our parents and guardians, he was obliged to yield. + +This was a severe blow to me, and for a long time I could not be +consoled. Uncheedah was fully in sympathy with my distress. She argued +that the white man’s education was not desirable for her boys; in fact, +she urged her son so strongly to go back after Chatanna that he promised +on his next visit to the post to bring him home again. + +But the trader was a shrewd man. He immediately moved to another part of +the country; and I never saw my Chatanna, the companion of my childhood, +again! We learned afterward that he grew up and was married; but one day +he lost his way in a blizzard and was frozen to death. + +My little cousin and I went to school together in later years; but she +could not endure the confinement of the school-room. Although apparently +very happy, she suffered greatly from the change to an indoor life, as +have many of our people, and died six months after our return to the +United States. + + + + +III: The Boy Hunter + +IT will be no exaggeration to say that the life of the Indian hunter was +a life of fascination. From the moment that he lost sight of his rude +home in the midst of the forest, his untutored mind lost itself in the +myriad beauties and forces of nature. Yet he never forgot his personal +danger from some lurking foe or savage beast, however absorbing was his +passion for the chase. + +The Indian youth was a born hunter. Every motion, every step expressed +an inborn dignity and, at the same time, a depth of native caution. +His moccasined foot fell like the velvet paw of a cat--noiselessly; his +glittering black eyes scanned every object that appeared within their +view. Not a bird, not even a chipmunk, escaped their piercing glance. + +I was scarcely over three years old when I stood one morning just +outside our buffalo-skin teepee, with my little bow and arrows in my +hand, and gazed up among the trees. Suddenly the instinct to chase and +kill seized me powerfully. Just then a bird flew over my head and then +another caught my eye, as it balanced itself upon a swaying bough. +Everything else was forgotten and in that moment I had taken my first +step as a hunter. + +There was almost as much difference between the Indian boys who were +brought up on the open prairies and those of the woods, as between city +and country boys. The hunting of the prairie boys was limited and their +knowledge of natural history imperfect. They were, as a rule, good +riders, but in all-round physical development much inferior to the red +men of the forest. + +Our hunting varied with the season of the year, and the nature of the +country which was for the time our home. Our chief weapon was the bow +and arrows, and perhaps, if we were lucky, a knife was possessed by some +one in the crowd. In the olden times, knives and hatchets were made from +bone and sharp stones. + +For fire we used a flint with a spongy piece of dry wood and a stone to +strike with. Another way of starting fire was for several of the boys +to sit down in a circle and rub two pieces of dry, spongy wood together, +one after another, until the wood took fire. + +We hunted in company a great deal, though it was a common thing for a +boy to set out for the woods quite alone, and he usually enjoyed himself +fully as much. Our game consisted mainly of small birds, rabbits, +squirrels and grouse. Fishing, too, occupied much of our time. We hardly +ever passed a creek or a pond without searching for some signs of fish. +When fish were present, we always managed to get some. Fish-lines were +made of wild hemp, sinew or horse-hair. We either caught fish with +lines, snared or speared them, or shot them with bow and arrows. In the +fall we charmed them up to the surface by gently tickling them with a +stick and quickly threw them out. We have sometimes dammed the brooks +and driven the larger fish into a willow basket made for that purpose. + +It was part of our hunting to find new and strange things in the woods. +We examined the slightest sign of life; and if a bird had scratched the +leaves off the ground, or a bear dragged up a root for his morning meal, +we stopped to speculate on the time it was done. If we saw a large old +tree with some scratches on its bark, we concluded that a bear or some +raccoons must be living there. In that case we did not go any nearer +than was necessary, but later reported the incident at home. An old +deer-track would at once bring on a warm discussion as to whether it was +the track of a buck or a doe. Generally, at noon, we met and compared +our game, noting at the same time the peculiar characteristics of +everything we had killed. It was not merely a hunt, for we combined with +it the study of animal life. We also kept strict account of our game, +and thus learned who were the best shots among the boys. + +I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward the birds. We often took +their eggs and their young ones. My brother Chatanna and I once had a +disagreeable adventure while bird-hunting. We were accustomed to catch +in our hands young ducks and geese during the summer, and while doing +this we happened to find a crane’s nest. Of course, we were delighted +with our good luck. But, as it was already midsummer, the young +cranes--two in number--were rather large and they were a little way +from the nest; we also observed that the two old cranes were in a swampy +place near by; but, as it was moulting-time, we did not suppose that +they would venture on dry land. So we proceeded to chase the young +birds; but they were fleet runners and it took us some time to come up +with them. + +Meanwhile, the parent birds had heard the cries of their little ones and +come to their rescue. They were chasing us, while we followed the birds. +It was really a perilous encounter! Our strong bows finally gained the +victory in a hand-to-hand struggle with the angry cranes; but after +that we hardly ever hunted a crane’s nest. Almost all birds make some +resistance when their eggs or young are taken, but they will seldom +attack man fearlessly. + +We used to climb large trees for birds of all kinds; but we never +undertook to get young owls unless they were on the ground. The hooting +owl especially is a dangerous bird to attack under these circumstances. +I was once trying to catch a yellow-winged woodpecker in its nest when +my arm became twisted and lodged in the deep hole so that I could not +get it out without the aid of a knife; but we were a long way from home +and my only companion was a deaf mute cousin of mine. I was about fifty +feet up in the tree, in a very uncomfortable position, but I had to wait +there for more than an hour before he brought me the knife with which I +finally released myself. + +Our devices for trapping small animals were rude, but they were often +successful. For instance, we used to gather up a peck or so of large, +sharp-pointed burrs and scatter them in the rabbit’s furrow-like path. +In the morning, we would find the little fellow sitting quietly in his +tracks, unable to move, for the burrs stuck to his feet. + +Another way of snaring rabbits and grouse was the following: We made +nooses of twisted horsehair, which we tied very firmly to the top of a +limber young tree, then bent the latter down to the track and fastened +the whole with a slip-knot, after adjusting the noose. When the rabbit +runs his head through the noose, he pulls the slip-knot and is quickly +carried up by the spring of the young tree. This is a good plan, for the +rabbit is out of harm’s way as he swings high in the air. + +Perhaps the most enjoyable of all was the chipmunk hunt. We killed these +animals at any time of year, but the special time to hunt them was in +March. After the first thaw, the chipmunks burrow a hole through the +snow crust and make their first appearance for the season. Sometimes +as many as fifty will come together and hold a social reunion. These +gatherings occur early in the morning, from daybreak to about nine +o’clock. + +We boys learned this, among other secrets of nature, and got our +blunt-headed arrows together in good season for the chipmunk expedition. + +We generally went in groups of six to a dozen or fifteen, to see which +would get the most. On the evening before, we selected several boys who +could imitate the chipmunk’s call with wild oatstraws and each of these +provided himself with a supply of straws. + +The crust will hold the boys nicely at this time of the year. Bright and +early, they all come together at the appointed place, from which each +group starts out in a different direction, agreeing to meet somewhere at +a given position of the sun. + +My first experience of this kind is still well remembered. It was a fine +crisp March morning, and the sun had not yet shown himself among +the distant tree-tops as we hurried along through the ghostly wood. +Presently we arrived at a place where there were many signs of the +animals. Then each of us selected a tree and took up his position behind +it. The chipmunk caller sat upon a log as motionless as he could, and +began to call. + +Soon we heard the patter of little feet on the hard snow; then we saw +the chipmunks approaching from all directions. Some stopped and +ran experimentally up a tree or a log, as if uncertain of the exact +direction of the call; others chased one another about. + +In a few minutes, the chipmunk-caller was besieged with them. Some ran +all over his person, others under him and still others ran up the tree +against which he was sitting. Each boy remained immovable until their +leader gave the signal; then a great shout arose, and the chipmunks in +their flight all ran up the different trees. + +Now the shooting-match began. The little creatures seemed to realize +their hopeless position; they would try again and again to come down +the trees and flee away from the deadly aim of the youthful hunters. +But they were shot down very fast; and whenever several of them rushed +toward the ground, the little red-skin hugged the tree and yelled +frantically to scare them up again. + +Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the tree, so that the arrow +may bound back to him every time; otherwise, when he had shot away all +of them, he would be helpless, and another, who had cleared his own +tree, would come and take away his game, so there was warm competition. +Sometimes a desperate chipmunk would jump from the top of the tree in +order to escape, which was considered a joke on the boy who lost it and +a triumph for the brave little animal. At last all were killed or gone, +and then we went on to another place, keeping up the sport until the sun +came out and the chipmunks refused to answer the call. + +When we went out on the prairies we had a different and less lively kind +of sport. We used to snare with horse-hair and bow-strings all the small +ground animals, including the prairie-dog. We both snared and shot them. +Once a little boy set a snare for one, and lay flat on the ground a +little way from the hole, holding the end of the string. Presently he +felt something move and pulled in a huge rattlesnake; and to this day, +his name is “Caught-the-Rattlesnake.” Very often a boy got a new name +in some such manner. At another time, we were playing in the woods and +found a fawn’s track. We followed and caught it while asleep; but in +the struggle to get away, it kicked one boy, who is still called +“Kicked-by-the-Fawn.” + +It became a necessary part of our education to learn to prepare a meal +while out hunting. It is a fact that most Indians will eat the liver and +some other portions of large animals raw, but they do not eat fish or +birds uncooked. Neither will they eat a frog, or an eel. On our boyish +hunts, we often went on until we found ourselves a long way from our +camp, when we would kindle a fire and roast a part of our game. + +Generally we broiled our meat over the coals on a stick. We roasted some +of it over the open fire. But the best way to cook fish and birds is in +the ashes, under a big fire. We take the fish fresh from the creek or +lake, have a good fire on the sand, dig in the sandy ashes and bury it +deep. The same thing is done in case of a bird, only we wet the feathers +first. When it is done, the scales or feathers and skin are stripped +off whole, and the delicious meat retains all its juices and flavor. We +pulled it off as we ate, leaving the bones undisturbed. + +Our people had also a method of boiling without pots or kettles. A large +piece of tripe was thoroughly washed and the ends tied, then suspended +between four stakes driven into the ground and filled with cold water. +The meat was then placed in this novel receptacle and boiled by means of +the addition of red-hot stones. + +Chatanna was a good hunter. He called the doe and fawn beautifully by +using a thin leaf of birchbark between two flattened sticks. One morning +we found the tracks of a doe and fawn who had passed within the hour, +for the light dew was brushed from the grass. + +“What shall we do?” I asked. “Shall we go back to the teepee and tell +uncle to bring his gun?” + +“No, no!” exclaimed Chatanna. “Did not our people kill deer and buffalo +long ago without guns? We will entice her into this open space, and, +while she stands bewildered, I can throw my lasso line over her head.” + +He had called only a few seconds when the fawn emerged from the thick +woods and stood before us, prettier than a picture. Then I uttered the +call, and she threw her tobacco-leaf-like ears toward me, while Chatanna +threw his lasso. She gave one scream and launched forth into the air, +almost throwing the boy hunter to the ground. Again and again she flung +herself desperately into the air, but at last we led her to the nearest +tree and tied her securely. + +“Now,” said he, “go and get our pets and see what they will do.” + +At that time he had a good-sized black bear partly tamed, while I had +a young red fox and my faithful Ohitika or Brave. I untied Chagoo, the +bear, and Wanahon, the fox, while Ohitika got up and welcomed me by +wagging his tail in a dignified way. + +“Come,” I said, “all three of you. I think we have something you would +all like to see.” + +They seemed to understand me, for Chagoo began to pull his rope with +both paws, while Wanahon undertook the task of digging up by the roots +the sapling to which I had tied him. + +Before we got to the open spot, we already heard Ohitika’s joyous bark, +and the two wild pets began to run, and pulled me along through the +underbrush. Chagoo soon assumed the utmost precaution and walked as if +he had splinters in his soles, while Wanahon kept his nose down low and +sneaked through the trees. + +Out into the open glade we came, and there, before the three rogues, +stood the little innocent fawn. She visibly trembled at the sight of the +motley group. The two human rogues looked to her, I presume, just as bad +as the other three. Chagoo regarded her with a mixture of curiosity +and defiance, while Wanahon stood as if rooted to the ground, evidently +planning how to get at her. But Ohitika (Brave), generous Ohitika, +his occasional barking was only in jest. He did not care to touch the +helpless thing. + +Suddenly the fawn sprang high into the air and then dropped her pretty +head on the ground. + +“Ohiyesa, the fawn is dead,” cried Chatanna. “I wanted to keep her.” + +“It is a shame;” I chimed in. + +We five guilty ones came and stood around her helpless form. We all +looked very sorry; even Chagoo’s eyes showed repentance and regret. +As for Ohitika, he gave two great sighs and then betook himself to a +respectful distance. Chatanna had two big tears gradually swamping his +long, black eye-lashes; and I thought it was time to hide my face, for I +did not want him to look at me. + + + + +IV. Hakadah’s First Offering + +“HAKADAH, coowah!” was the sonorous call that came from a large teepee +in the midst of the Indian encampment. In answer to the summons there +emerged from the woods, which were only a few steps away, a boy, +accompanied by a splendid black dog. There was little in the appearance +of the little fellow to distinguish him from the other Sioux boys. + +He hastened to the tent from which he had been summoned, carrying in +his hands a bow and arrows gorgeously painted, while the small birds and +squirrels that he had killed with these weapons dangled from his belt. + +Within the tent sat two old women, one on each side of the fire. +Uncheedah was the boy’s grandmother, who had brought up the motherless +child. Wahchewin was only a caller, but she had been invited to remain +and assist in the first personal offering of Hakadah to the “Great +Mystery.” + +This was a matter which had, for several days, pretty much monopolized +Uncheedah’s mind. It was her custom to see to this when each of her +children attained the age of eight summers. They had all been celebrated +as warriors and hunters among their tribe, and she had not hesitated to +claim for herself a good share of the honors they had achieved, because +she had brought them early to the notice of the “Great Mystery.” + +She believed that her influence had helped to regulate and develop the +characters of her sons to the height of savage nobility and strength of +manhood. + +It had been whispered through the teepee village that Uncheedah intended +to give a feast in honor of her grandchild’s first sacrificial offering. +This was mere speculation, however, for the clearsighted old woman had +determined to keep this part of the matter secret until the offering +should be completed, believing that the “Great Mystery” should be met in +silence and dignity. + +The boy came rushing into the lodge, followed by his dog Ohitika who was +wagging his tail promiscuously, as if to say: “Master and I are really +hunters!” + +Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narrative of the killing of each +bird and squirrel as he pulled them off his belt and threw them before +his grandmother. + +“This blunt-headed arrow,” said he, “actually had eyes this morning. +Before the squirrel can dodge around the tree it strikes him in the +head, and, as he falls to the ground, my Ohitika is upon him.” + +He knelt upon one knee as he talked, his black eyes shining like evening +stars. + +“Sit down here,” said Uncheedah to the boy; “I have something to say to +you. You see that you are now almost a man. Observe the game you have +brought me! It will not be long before you will leave me, for a warrior +must seek opportunities to make him great among his people. + +“You must endeavor to equal your father and grandfather,” she went on. +“They were warriors and feast-makers. But it is not the poor hunter who +makes many feasts. Do you not remember the ‘Legend of the Feast-Maker,’ +who gave forty feasts in twelve moons? And have you forgotten the story +of the warrior who sought the will of the Great Mystery? To-day you will +make your first offering to him.” + +The concluding sentence fairly dilated the eyes of the young hunter, for +he felt that a great event was about to occur, in which he would be the +principal actor. But Uncheedah resumed her speech. + +“You must give up one of your belongings-whichever is dearest to +you--for this is to be a sacrificial offering.” + +This somewhat confused the boy; not that he was selfish, but rather +uncertain as to what would be the most appropriate thing to give. Then, +too, he supposed that his grandmother referred to his ornaments and +playthings only. So he volunteered: + +“I can give up my best bow and arrows, and all the paints I have, +and--and my bear’s claws necklace, grandmother!” + +“Are these the things dearest to you?” she demanded. + +“Not the bow and arrows, but the paints will be very hard to get, for +there are no white people near; and the necklace--it is not easy to get +one like it again. I will also give up my otterskin head-dress, if you +think that is not enough.” + +“But think, my boy, you have not yet mentioned the thing that will be a +pleasant offering to the Great Mystery.” + +The boy looked into the woman’s face with a puzzled expression. + +“I have nothing else as good as those things I have named, grandmother, +unless it is my spotted pony; and I am sure that the Great Mystery will +not require a little boy to make him so large a gift. Besides, my uncle +gave three otter-skins and five eagle-feathers for him and I promised to +keep him a long while, if the Blackfeet or the Crows do not steal him.” + +Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy’s free offerings. Perhaps +it had not occurred to him what she really wanted. But Uncheedah +knew where his affection was vested. His faithful dog, his pet and +companion--Hakadah was almost inseparable from the loving beast. + +She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain his consent to +sacrifice the animal, but she ventured upon a final appeal. + +“You must remember,” she said, “that in this offering you will call +upon him who looks at you from every creation. In the wind you hear him +whisper to you. He gives his war-whoop in the thunder. He watches you +by day with his eye, the sun; at night, he gazes upon your sleeping +countenance through the moon. In short, it is the Mystery of Mysteries, +who controls all things to whom you will make your first offering. By +this act, you will ask him to grant to you what he has granted to few +men. I know you wish to be a great warrior and hunter. I am not prepared +to see my Hakadah show any cowardice, for the love of possessions is a +woman’s trait and not a brave’s.” + +During this speech, the boy had been completely aroused to the spirit +of manliness, and in his excitement was willing to give up anything he +had--even his pony! But he was unmindful of his friend and companion, +Ohitika, the dog! So, scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking, when he +almost shouted: + +“Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions for the offering to +the Great Mystery! You may select what you think will be most pleasing +to him.” + +There were two silent spectators of this little dialogue. One was +Wahchewin; the other was Ohitika. The woman had been invited to stay, +although only a neighbor. The dog, by force of habit, had taken up his +usual position by the side of his master when they entered the teepee. +Without moving a muscle, save those of his eyes, he had been a very +close observer of what passed. + +Had the dog but moved once to attract the attention of his little +friend, he might have been dissuaded from that impetuous exclamation: +“Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions!” + +It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that he must part with his +dog, but she was equal to the situation. + +“Hakadah,” she proceeded cautiously, “you are a young brave. I know, +though young, your heart is strong and your courage is great. You +will be pleased to give up the dearest thing you have for your first +offering. You must give up Ohitika. He is brave; and you, too, +are brave. He will not fear death; you will bear his loss bravely. +Come--here are four bundles of paints and a filled pipe--let us go to +the place.” + +When the last words were uttered, Hakadah did not seem to hear them. He +was simply unable to speak. To a civilized eye, he would have appeared +at that moment like a little copper statue. His bright black eyes were +fast melting in floods of tears, when he caught his grandmother’s +eye and recollected her oft-repeated adage: “Tears for woman and the +war-whoop for man to drown sorrow!” + +He swallowed two or three big mouthfuls of heart-ache and the little +warrior was master of the situation. + +“Grandmother, my Brave will have to die! Let me tie together two of the +prettiest tails of the squirrels that he and I killed this morning, to +show to the Great Mystery what a hunter he has been. Let me paint him +myself.” + +This request Uncheedah could not refuse and she left the pair alone for +a few minutes, while she went to ask Wacoota to execute Ohitika. + +Every Indian boy knows that, when a warrior is about to meet death, he +must sing a death dirge. Hakadah thought of his Ohitika as a person who +would meet his death without a struggle, so he began to sing a dirge +for him, at the same time hugging him tight to himself. As if he were a +human being, he whispered in his ear: + +“Be brave, my Ohitika! I shall remember you the first time I am upon the +war-path in the Ojibway country.” + +At last he heard Uncheedah talking with a man outside the teepee, so he +quickly took up his paints. Ohitika was a jet-black dog, with a silver +tip on the end of his tail and on his nose, beside one white paw and a +white star upon a protuberance between his ears. Hakadah knew that a +man who prepares for death usually paints with red and black. Nature +had partially provided Ohitika in this respect, so that only red was +required and this Hakadah supplied generously. + +Then he took off a piece of red cloth and tied it around the dog’s neck; +to this he fastened two of the squirrels’ tails and a wing from the +oriole they had killed that morning. + +Just then it occurred to him that good warriors always mourn for their +departed friends and the usual mourning was black paint. He loosened his +black braided locks, ground a dead coal, mixed it with bear’s oil and +rubbed it on his entire face. + +During this time every hole in the tent was occupied with an eye. Among +the lookers-on was his grandmother. She was very near relenting. Had she +not feared the wrath of the Great Mystery, she would have been happy to +call out to the boy: “Keep your dear dog, my child!” + +As it was, Hakadah came out of the teepee with his face looking like an +eclipsed moon, leading his beautiful dog, who was even handsomer than +ever with the red touches on his specks of white. + +It was now Uncheedah’s turn to struggle with the storm and burden in +her soul. But the boy was emboldened by the people’s admiration of his +bravery, and did not shed a tear. As soon as she was able to speak, the +loving grandmother said: + +“No, my young brave, not so! You must not mourn for your first offering. +Wash your face and then we will go.” + +The boy obeyed, submitted Ohitika to Wacoota with a smile, and walked +off with his grandmother and Wahchewin. + +They followed a well-beaten foot-path leading along the bank of the +Assiniboine river, through a beautiful grove of oak, and finally around +and under a very high cliff. The murmuring of the river came up from +just below. On the opposite side was a perpendicular white cliff, from +which extended back a gradual slope of land, clothed with the majestic +mountain oak. The scene was impressive and wild. + +Wahchewin had paused without a word when the little party reached the +edge of the cliff. It had been arranged between her and Uncheedah that +she should wait there for Wacoota, who was to bring as far as that the +portion of the offering with which he had been entrusted. + +The boy and his grandmother descended the bank, following a tortuous +foot-path until they reached the water’s edge. Then they proceeded to +the mouth of an immense cave, some fifty feet above the river, under +the cliff. A little stream of limpid water trickled down from a spring +within the cave. The little watercourse served as a sort of natural +staircase for the visitors. A cool, pleasant atmosphere exhaled from +the mouth of the cavern. Really it was a shrine of nature and it is not +strange that it was so regarded by the tribe. + +A feeling of awe and reverence came to the boy. “It is the home of the +Great Mystery,” he thought to himself; and the impressiveness of his +surroundings made him forget his sorrow. + +Very soon Wahchewin came with some difficulty to the steps. She placed +the body of Ohitika upon the ground in a life-like position and again +left the two alone. + +As soon as she disappeared from view, Uncheedah, with all solemnity +and reverence, unfastened the leather strings that held the four small +bundles of paints and one of tobacco, while the filled pipe was laid +beside the dead Ohitika. + +She scattered paints and tobacco all about. Again they stood a few +moments silently; then she drew a deep breath and began her prayer to +the Great Mystery: + +“O, Great Mystery, we hear thy voice in the rushing waters below us! We +hear thy whisper in the great oaks above! Our spirits are refreshed with +thy breath from within this cave. O, hear our prayer! Behold this little +boy and bless him! Make him a warrior and a hunter as great as thou +didst make his father and grandfather.” + +And with this prayer the little warrior had completed his first +offering. + + + + +V. FAMILY TRADITIONS + + + + +I: A Visit to Smoky Day + +SMOKY DAY was widely known among us as a preserver of history and +legend. He was a living book of the traditions and history of his +people. Among his effects were bundles of small sticks, notched and +painted. One bundle contained the number of his own years. Another was +composed of sticks representing the important events of history, each +of which was marked with the number of years since that particular event +occurred. For instance, there was the year when so many stars fell from +the sky, with the number of years since it happened cut into the wood. +Another recorded the appearance of a comet; and from these heavenly +wonders the great national catastrophes and victories were reckoned. + +But I will try to repeat some of his favorite narratives as I heard them +from his own lips. I went to him one day with a piece of tobacco and +an eagle-feather; not to buy his MSS., but hoping for the privilege +of hearing him tell of some of the brave deeds of our people in remote +times. + +The tall and large old man greeted me with his usual courtesy and +thanked me for my present. As I recall the meeting, I well remember his +unusual stature, his slow speech and gracious manner. + +“Ah, Ohiyesa!” said he, “my young warrior--for such you will be some +day! I know this by your seeking to hear of the great deeds of your +ancestors. That is a good sign, and I love to repeat these stories to +one who is destined to be a brave man. I do not wish to lull you +to sleep with sweet words; but I know the conduct of your paternal +ancestors. They have been and are still among the bravest of our +tribe. To prove this, I will relate what happened in your paternal +grandfather’s family, twenty years ago. + +“Two of his brothers were murdered by a jealous young man of their +own band. The deed was committed without just cause; therefore all +the braves were agreed to punish the murderer with death. When your +grandfather was approached with this suggestion, he replied that he and +the remaining brothers could not condescend to spill the blood of such a +wretch, but that the others might do whatever they thought just with the +young man. These men were foremost among the warriors of the Sioux, and +no one questioned their courage; yet when this calamity was brought upon +them by a villain, they refused to touch him! This, my boy, is a test of +true bravery. Self-possession and self-control at such a moment is proof +of a strong heart. + +“You have heard of Jingling Thunder the elder, whose brave deeds are +well known to the Villagers of the Lakes. He sought honor ‘in the gates +of the enemy,’ as we often say. The Great Mystery was especially kind to +him, because he was obedient. + +“Many winters ago there was a great battle, in which Jingling Thunder +won his first honors. It was forty winters before the falling of many +stars, which event occurred twenty winters after the coming of the +black-robed white priest; and that was fourteen winters before the +annihilation by our people of thirty lodges of the Sac and Fox Indians. +I well remember the latter event--it was just fifty winters ago. +However, I will count my sticks again.” + +So saying, Smoky Day produced his bundle of variously colored sticks, +about five inches long. He counted and gave them to me to verify his +calculation. + +“But you,” he resumed, “do not care to remember the winters that have +passed. You are young, and care only for the event and the deed. It was +very many years ago that this thing happened that I am about to tell +you, and yet our people speak of it with as much enthusiasm as if it +were only yesterday. Our heroes are always kept alive in the minds of +the nation. + +“Our people lived then on the east bank of the Mississippi, a little +south of where Imnejah-skah, or White Cliff (St. Paul, Minnesota), now +stands. After they left Mille Lacs they founded several villages, +but finally settled in this spot, whence the tribes have gradually +dispersed. Here a battle occurred which surpassed all others in history. +It lasted one whole day--the Sacs and Foxes and the Dakotas against the +Ojibways. + +“An invitation in the usual form of a filled pipe was brought to the +Sioux by a brave of the Sac and Fox tribe, to make a general attack +upon their common enemy. The Dakota braves quickly signified their +willingness in the same manner, and it having been agreed to meet upon +the St. Croix river, preparations were immediately begun to despatch a +large war-party. + +“Among our people there were many tried warriors whose names were known, +and every youth of a suitable age was desirous of emulating them. As +these young novices issued from every camp and almost every teepee, +their mothers, sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers were singing +for them the ‘strong-heart’ songs. An old woman, living with her only +grandchild, the remnant of a once large band who had all been killed +at three different times by different parties of the Ojibways, was +conspicuous among the singers. + +“Everyone who heard, cast toward her a sympathetic glance, for it was +well known that she and her grandson constituted the remnant of a +band of Sioux, and that her song indicated that her precious child had +attained the age of a warrior, and was now about to join the war-party, +and to seek a just revenge for the annihilation of his family. This was +Jingling Thunder, also familiarly known as ‘The Little Last.’ He was +seen to carry with him some family relics in the shape of war-clubs and +lances. + +“The aged woman’s song was something like this: + + “Go, my brave Jingling Thunder! + Upon the silvery path + Behold that glittering track-- + + “And yet, my child, remember + How pitiful to live + Survivor of the young! + ‘Stablish our name and kin!” + + +“The Sacs and Foxes were very daring and confident upon this occasion. +They proposed to the Sioux that they should engage alone with the enemy +at first, and let us see how their braves can fight! To this our people +assented, and they assembled upon the hills to watch the struggle +between their allies and the Ojibways. It seemed to be an equal fight, +and for a time no one could tell how the contest would end. Young +Jingling Thunder was an impatient spectator, and it was The Milky +Way--believed by the Dakotas to be the road travelled by the spirits of +departed braves hard to keep him from rushing forward to meet his foes. + +“At last a great shout went up, and the Sacs and Foxes were seen to be +retreating with heavy loss. Then the Sioux took the field, and were fast +winning the day, when fresh reinforcements came from the north for the +Ojibways. Up to this time Jingling Thunder had been among the foremost +in the battle, and had engaged in several close encounters. But this +fresh attack of the Ojibways was unexpected, and the Sioux were somewhat +tired. Besides, they had told the Sacs and Foxes to sit upon the hills +and rest their weary limbs and take lessons from their friends the +Sioux; therefore no aid was looked for from any quarter. + +“A great Ojibway chief made a fierce onslaught on the Dakotas. This +man Jingling Thunder now rushed forward to meet. The Ojibway boastfully +shouted to his warriors that he had met a tender fawn and would reserve +to himself the honor of destroying it. Jingling Thunder, on his side, +exclaimed that he had met the aged bear of whom he had heard so much, +but that he would need no assistance to overcome him. + +“The powerful man flashed his tomahawk in the air over the youthful +warrior’s head, but the brave sprang aside as quick as lightning, and +in the same instant speared his enemy to the heart. As the Ojibway chief +gave a gasping yell and fell in death, his people lost courage; while +the success of the brave Jingling Thunder strengthened the hearts of the +Sioux, for they immediately followed up their advantage and drove the +enemy out of their territory. + +“This was the beginning of Jingling Thunder’s career as a warrior. He +afterwards performed even greater acts of valor. He became the ancestor +of a famous band of the Sioux, of whom your own father, Ohiyesa, was a +member. You have doubtless heard his name in connection with many great +events. Yet he was a patient man, and was never known to quarrel with +one of his own nation.” + +That night I lay awake a long time committing to memory the tradition +I had heard, and the next day I boasted to my playmate, Little Rainbow, +about my first lesson from the old storyteller. To this he replied: + +“I would rather have Weyuhah for my teacher. I think he remembers more +than any of the others. When Weyuhah tells about a battle you can see +it yourself; you can even hear the war-whoop,” he went on with much +enthusiasm. + +“That is what his friends say of him; but those who are not his friends +say that he brings many warriors into the battle who were not there,” + I answered indignantly, for I could not admit that old Smoky Day could +have a rival. + +Before I went to him again Uncheedah had thoughtfully prepared a nice +venison roast for the teacher, and I was proud to take him something +good to eat before beginning his story. + +“How,” was his greeting, “so you have begun already, Ohiyesa? Your +family were ever feastmakers as well as warriors.” + +Having done justice to the tender meat, he wiped his knife by sticking +it into the ground several times, and put it away in its sheath, after +which he cheerfully recommenced: + +“It came to pass not many winters ago that Wakinyan-tonka, the great +medicine man, had a vision; whereupon a war-party set out for the +Ojibway country. There were three brothers of your family among them, +all of whom were noted for valor and the chase. + +“Seven battles were fought in succession before they turned to come +back. They had secured a number of the enemy’s birch canoes, and the +whole party came floating down the Mississippi, joyous and happy because +of their success. + +“But one night the war-chief announced that there was misfortune at +hand. The next day no one was willing to lead the fleet. The youngest of +the three brothers finally declared that he did not fear death, for it +comes when least expected and he volunteered to take the lead. + +“It happened that this young man had left a pretty maiden behind him, +whose choice needlework adorned his quiver. He was very handsome as well +as brave. + +“At daybreak the canoes were again launched upon the bosom of the great +river. All was quiet--a few birds beginning to sing. Just as the sun +peeped through the eastern tree-tops a great warcry came forth from the +near shores, and there was a rain of arrows. The birchen canoes were +pierced, and in the excitement many were capsized. + +“The Sioux were at a disadvantage. There was no shelter. Their +bow-strings and the feathers on their arrows were wet. The bold Ojibways +saw their advantage and pressed closer and closer; but our men fought +desperately, half in and half out of the water, until the enemy was +forced at last to retreat. Nevertheless that was a sad day for the +Wahpeton Sioux; but saddest of all was Winona’s fate! + +“Morning Star, her lover, who led the canoe fleet that morning, was +among the slain. For two days the Sioux braves searched in the water for +their dead, but his body was not recovered. + +“At home, meanwhile, the people had been alarmed by ill omens. Winona, +eldest daughter of the great chief, one day entered her birch canoe +alone and paddled up the Mississippi, gazing now into the water around +her, now into the blue sky above. She thought she heard some young men +giving courtship calls in the distance, just as they do at night when +approaching the teepee of the beloved; and she knew the voice of Morning +Star well! Surely she could distinguish his call among the others! +Therefore she listened yet more intently, and looked skyward as her +light canoe glided gently up stream. + +“Ah, poor Winona! She saw only six sandhill cranes, looking no larger +than mosquitoes, as they flew in circles high up in the sky, going east +where all spirits go. Something said to her: ‘Those are the spirits +of some of the Sioux braves, and Morning Star is among them!’ Her eye +followed the birds as they traveled in a chain of circles. + +“Suddenly she glanced downward. ‘What is this?’ she screamed in despair. +It was Morning Star’s body, floating down the river; his quiver, worked +by her own hands and now dyed with his blood, lay upon the surface of +the water. + +“‘Ah, Great Mystery! why do you punish a poor girl so? Let me go with +the spirit of Morning Star!’ + +“It was evening. The pale moon arose in the east and the stars were +bright. At this very hour the news of the disaster was brought home by +a returning scout, and the village was plunged in grief, but Winona’s +spirit had flown away. No one ever saw her again. + +“This is enough for to-day, my boy. You may come again to-morrow.” + + + + +II. The Stone Boy + +“Ho, mita koda!” (welcome, friend!) was Smoky Day’s greeting, as I +entered his lodge on the third day. “I hope you did not dream of a +watery combat with the Ojibways, after the history I repeated to you +yesterday,” the old sage continued, with a complaisant smile playing +upon his face. + +“No,” I said, meekly, “but, on the other hand, I have wished that the +sun might travel a little faster, so that I could come for another +story.” + +“Well, this time I will tell you one of the kind we call myths or fairy +stories. They are about men and women who do wonderful things--things +that ordinary people cannot do at all. Sometimes they are not exactly +human beings, for they partake of the nature of men and beasts, or of +men and gods. I tell you this beforehand, so that you may not ask any +questions, or be puzzled by the inconsistency of the actors in these old +stories. + +“Once there were ten brothers who lived with their only sister, a young +maiden of sixteen summers. She was very skilful at her embroidery, and +her brothers all had beautifully worked quivers and bows embossed with +porcupine quills. They loved and were kind to her, and the maiden in +her turn loved her brothers dearly, and was content with her position as +their housekeeper. They were great hunters, and scarcely ever remained +at home during the day, but when they returned at evening they would +relate to her all their adventures. + +“One night they came home one by one with their game, as usual, all but +the eldest, who did not return. It was supposed by the other brothers +that he had pursued a deer too far from the lodge, or perhaps shot more +game than he could well carry; but the sister had a presentiment that +something dreadful had befallen him. She was partially consoled by the +second brother, who offered to find the lost one in the morning. + +“Accordingly, he went in search of him, while the rest set out on the +hunt as usual. Toward evening all had returned safely, save the brother +who went in search of the absent. Again, the next older brother went +to look for the others, and he too returned no more. All the young men +disappeared one by one in this manner, leaving their sister alone. + +“The maiden’s sorrow was very great. She wandered everywhere, weeping +and looking for her brothers, but found no trace of them. One day she +was walking beside a beautiful little stream, whose clear waters went +laughing and singing on their way. She could see the gleaming pebbles at +the bottom, and one in particular seemed so lovely to her tear-bedimmed +eyes, that she stooped and picked it up, dropping it within her skin +garment into her bosom. For the first time since her misfortunes she had +forgotten herself and her sorrow. + +“At last she went home, much happier than she had been, though she could +not have told the reason why. On the following day she sought again the +place where she had found the pebble, and this time she fell asleep on +the banks of the stream, When she awoke, there lay a beautiful babe in +her bosom. + +“She took it up and kissed it many times. And the child was a boy, but +it was heavy like a stone, so she called him a ‘Little Stone Boy.’ The +maiden cried no more, for she was very happy with her baby. The child +was unusually knowing, and walked almost from its birth. + +“One day Stone Boy discovered the bow and arrows of one of his uncles, +and desired to have them; but his mother cried, and said: + +“‘Wait, my son, until you are a young man.’ She made him some little +ones, and with these he soon learned to hunt, and killed small game +enough to support them both. When he had grown to be a big boy, he +insisted upon knowing whose were the ten bows that still hung upon the +walls of his mother’s lodge. + +“At last she was obliged to tell him the sad story of her loss. + +“‘Mother, I shall go in search of my uncles,’ exclaimed the Stone Boy. + +“‘But you will be lost like them,’ she replied, ‘and then I shall die of +grief.’ + +“‘No, I shall not be lost. I shall bring your ten brothers back to you. +Look, I will give you a sign. I will take a pillow, and place it upon +end. Watch this, for as long as I am living the pillow will stay as +I put it. Mother, give me some food and some moccasins with which to +travel!’ + +“Taking the bow of one of his uncles, with its quiver full of arrows, +the Stone Boy departed. As he journeyed through the forest he spoke to +every animal he met, asking for news of his lost uncles. Sometimes he +called to them at the top of his voice. Once he thought he heard an +answer, so he walked in the direction of the sound. But it was only a +great grizzly bear who had wantonly mimicked the boy’s call. Then Stone +Boy was greatly provoked. + +“‘Was it you who answered my call, you longface?’ he exclaimed. + +“Upon this the latter growled and said: + +“‘You had better be careful how you address me, or you may be sorry for +what you say!’ + +“‘Who cares for you, you red-eyes, you ugly thing!’ the boy replied; +whereupon the grizzly immediately set upon him. + +“But the boy’s flesh became as hard as stone, and the bear’s great teeth +and claws made no impression upon it. Then he was so dreadfully heavy; +and he kept laughing all the time as if he were being tickled, which +greatly aggravated the bear. Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and sent +an arrow to his heart. + +“He walked on for some distance until he came to a huge fallen pine +tree, which had evidently been killed by lightning. The ground near by +bore marks of a struggle, and Stone Boy picked up several arrows exactly +like those of his uncles, which he himself carried. + +“While he was examining these things, he heard a sound like that of a +whirlwind, far up in the heavens. He looked up and saw a black speck +which grew rapidly larger until it became a dense cloud. Out of it came +a flash and then a thunderbolt. The boy was obliged to wink; and when he +opened his eyes, behold! a stately man stood before him and challenged +him to single combat. + +“Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they grappled with one another. +The man from the clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful. But +Stone Boy was both strong and unnaturally heavy and hard to hold. The +great warrior from the sky sweated from his exertions, and there came a +heavy shower. Again and again the lightnings flashed about them as +the two struggled there. At last Stone Boy threw his opponent, who lay +motionless. There was a murmuring sound throughout the heavens and the +clouds rolled swiftly away. + +“‘Now,’ thought the hero, ‘this man must have slain all my uncles. I +shall go to his home and find out what has become of them.’ With this +he unfastened from the dead man’s scalp-lock a beautiful bit of scarlet +down. He breathed gently upon it, and as it floated upward he followed +into the blue heavens. + +“Away went Stone Boy to the country of the Thunder Birds. It was a +beautiful land, with lakes, rivers, plains and mountains. The young +adventurer found himself looking down from the top of a high mountain, +and the country appeared to be very populous, for he saw lodges all +about him as far as the eye could reach. He particularly noticed a +majestic tree which towered above all the others, and in its bushy top +bore an enormous nest. Stone Boy descended from the mountain and soon +arrived at the foot of the tree; but there were no limbs except those +at the top and it was so tall that he did not attempt to climb it. He +simply took out his bit of down, breathed upon it and floated gently +upward. + +“When he was able to look into the nest he saw there innumerable eggs of +various sizes, and all of a remarkable red color. He was nothing but a +boy after all, and had all a boy’s curiosity and recklessness. As he +was handling the eggs carelessly, his notice was attracted to a sudden +confusion in the little village below. All of the people seemed to be +running toward the tree. He mischievously threw an egg at them, and +in the instant that it broke he saw one of the men drop dead. Then all +began to cry out pitifully, ‘Give me my heart!’ + +“‘Ah,’ exclaimed Stone Boy, exulting,’ so these are the hearts of the +people who destroyed my uncles! I shall break them all!’ + +“And he really did break all of the eggs but four small ones which he +took in his hand. Then he descended the tree, and wandered among the +silent and deserted lodges in search of some trace of his lost uncles. +He found four little boys, the sole survivors of their race, and these +he commanded to tell him where their bones were laid. + +“They showed him the spot where a heap of bones was bleaching on the +ground. Then he bade one of the boys bring wood, a second water, a third +stones, and the fourth he sent to cut willow wands for the sweat lodge. +They obeyed, and Stone Boy built the lodge, made a fire, heated the +stones and collected within the lodge all the bones of his ten uncles. + +“As he poured the water upon the hot stones faint sounds could be heard +from within the magic bath. These changed to the murmuring of voices, +and finally to the singing of medicine songs. Stone Boy opened the door +and his ten uncles came forth in the flesh, thanking him and blessing +him for restoring them to life. Only the little finger of the youngest +uncle was missing. Stone Boy now heartlessly broke the four remaining +eggs, and took the little finger of the largest boy to supply the +missing bone. + +“They all returned to earth again and Stone Boy conducted his uncles to +his mother’s lodge. She had never slept during his entire absence, but +watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy was wont to rest his +head, and by which she was to know of his safety. Going a little in +advance of the others, he suddenly rushed forward into her teepee, +exclaiming: ‘Mother, your ten brothers are coming--prepare a feast!’ + +“For some time after this they all lived happily together. Stone Boy +occupied himself with solitary hunting. He was particularly fond of +hunting the fiercer wild animals. He killed them wantonly and brought +home only the ears, teeth and claws as his spoil, and with these he +played as he laughingly recounted his exploits. His mother and uncles +protested, and begged him at least to spare the lives of those animals +held sacred by the Dakotas, but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural +powers to protect him from harm. + +“One evening, however, he was noticeably silent and upon being pressed +to give the reason, replied as follows: + +“‘For some days past I have heard the animals talking of a conspiracy +against us. I was going west the other morning when I heard a crier +announcing a general war upon Stone Boy and his people. The crier was +a Buffalo, going at full speed from west to east. Again, I heard the +Beaver conversing with the Musk-rat, and both said that their services +were already promised to overflow the lakes and rivers and cause a +destructive flood. I heard, also, the little Swallow holding a secret +council with all the birds of the air. He said that he had been +appointed a messenger to the Thunder Birds, and that at a certain signal +the doors of the sky would be opened and rains descend to drown Stone +Boy. Old Badger and the Grizzly Bear are appointed to burrow underneath +our fortifications. + +“‘However, I am not at all afraid for myself, but I am anxious for you, +Mother, and for my uncles.’ + +“‘Ugh!’ grunted all the uncles, ‘we told you that you would get into +trouble by killing so many of our sacred animals for your own amusement. + +“‘But,’ continued Stone Boy, ‘I shall make a good resistance, and I +expect you all to help me.’ + +“Accordingly they all worked under his direction in preparing for the +defence. First of all, he threw a pebble into the air, and behold a +great rocky wall around their teepee. A second, third, fourth and fifth +pebble became other walls without the first. From the sixth and seventh +were formed two stone lodges, one upon the other. The uncles meantime, +made numbers of bows and quivers full of arrows, which were ranged at +convenient distances along the tops of the walls. His mother prepared +great quantities of food and made many moccasins for her boy, who +declared that he would defend the fortress alone. + +“At last they saw the army of beasts advancing, each tribe by itself +and commanded by a leader of extraordinary size. The onset was terrific. +They flung themselves against the high walls with savage cries, while +the badgers and other burrowing animals ceaselessly worked to undermine +them. Stone Boy aimed his sharp arrows with such deadly effect that his +enemies fell by thousands. So great was their loss that the dead bodies +of the animals formed a barrier higher than the first, and the armies +retired in confusion. + +“But reinforcements were at hand. The rain fell in torrents; the beavers +had dammed all the rivers and there was a great flood. The besieged all +retreated into the innermost lodge, but the water poured in through +the burrows made by the badgers and gophers, and rose until Stone Boy’s +mother and his ten uncles were all drowned. Stone Boy himself could not +be entirely destroyed, but he was overcome by his enemies and left half +buried in the earth, condemned never to walk again, and there we find +him to this day. + +“This was because he abused his strength, and destroyed for mere +amusement the lives of the creatures given him for use only.” + + + + +VI. EVENING IN THE LODGE + + + + +I: Evening in the Lodge + +I HAD been skating on that part of the lake where there was an overflow, +and came home somewhat cold. I cannot say just how cold it was, but it +must have been intensely so, for the trees were cracking all about +me like pistol shots. I did not mind, because I was wrapped up in my +buffalo robe with the hair inside, and a wide leather belt held it about +my loins. My skates were nothing more than strips of basswood bark bound +upon my feet. + +I had taken off my frozen moccasins and put on dry ones in their places. + +“Where have you been and what have you been doing?” Uncheedah asked as +she placed before me some roast venison in a wooden bowl. “Did you see +any tracks of moose or bear?” + +“No, grandmother, I have only been playing at the lower end of the +lake. I have something to ask you,” I said, eating my dinner and supper +together with all the relish of a hungry boy who has been skating in the +cold for half a day. + +“I found this feather, grandmother, and I could not make out what tribe +wear feathers in that shape.” + +“Ugh, I am not a man; you had better ask your uncle. Besides, you should +know it yourself by this time. You are now old enough to think about +eagle feathers.” + +I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignorance. It seemed a +reflection on me that I was not ambitious enough to have found all such +matters out before. + +“Uncle, you will tell me, won’t you?” I said, in an appealing tone. + +“I am surprised, my boy, that you should fail to recognize this feather. +It is a Cree medicine feather, and not a warrior’s.” + +“Then,” I said, with much embarrassment, “you had better tell me again, +uncle, the language of the feathers. I have really forgotten it all.” + +The day was now gone; the moon had risen; but the cold had not lessened, +for the trunks of the trees were still snapping all around our teepee, +which was lighted and warmed by the immense logs which Uncheedah’s +industry had provided. My uncle, White Foot-print, now undertook to +explain to me the significance of the eagle’s feather. + +“The eagle is the most war-like bird,” he began, “and the most kingly +of all birds; besides, his feathers are unlike any others, and these are +the reasons why they are used by our people to signify deeds of bravery. + +“It is not true that when a man wears a feather bonnet, each one of +the feathers represents the killing of a foe or even a coup. When a man +wears an eagle feather upright upon his head, he is supposed to have +counted one of four coups upon his enemy.” + +“Well, then, a coup does not mean the killing of an enemy?” + +“No, it is the after-stroke or touching of the body after he falls. It +is so ordered, because oftentimes the touching of an enemy is much more +difficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from a distance. It +requires a strong heart to face the whole body of the enemy, in order to +count the coup on the fallen one, who lies under cover of his kinsmen’s +fire. Many a brave man has been lost in the attempt. + +“When a warrior approaches his foe, dead or alive, he calls upon the +other warriors to witness by saying: ‘I, Fearless Bear, your brave, +again perform the brave deed of counting the first (or second or +third or fourth) coup upon the body of the bravest of your enemies.’ +Naturally, those who are present will see the act and be able to testify +to it. When they return, the heralds, as you know, announce publicly all +such deeds of valor, which then become a part of the man’s war record. +Any brave who would wear the eagle’s feather must give proof of his +right to do so. + +“When a brave is wounded in the same battle where he counted his coup, +he wears the feather hanging downward. When he is wounded, but makes no +count, he trims his feather and in that case, it need not be an eagle +feather. All other feathers are merely ornaments. When a warrior wears +a feather with a round mark, it means that he slew his enemy. When the +mark is cut into the feather and painted red, it means that he took the +scalp. + +“A brave who has been successful in ten battles is entitled to a +war-bonnet; and if he is a recognized leader, he is permitted to wear +one with long, trailing plumes. Also those who have counted many coups +may tip the ends of the feathers with bits of white or colored down. +Sometimes the eagle feather is tipped with a strip of weasel skin; that +means the wearer had the honor of killing, scalping and counting the +first coup upon the enemy all at the same time. + +“This feather you have found was worn by a Cree--it is indiscriminately +painted. All other feathers worn by the common Indians mean nothing,” he +added. + +“Tell me, uncle, whether it would be proper for me to wear any feathers +at all if I have never gone upon the war-path.” + +“You could wear any other kind of feathers, but not an eagle’s,” replied +my uncle, “although sometimes one is worn on great occasions by the +child of a noted man, to indicate the father’s dignity and position.” + +The fire had gone down somewhat, so I pushed the embers together and +wrapped my robe more closely about me. Now and then the ice on the +lake would burst with a loud report like thunder. Uncheedah was busy +re-stringing one of uncle’s old snow-shoes. There were two different +kinds that he wore; one with a straight toe and long; the other shorter +and with an upturned toe. She had one of the shoes fastened toe down, +between sticks driven into the ground, while she put in some new strings +and tightened the others. Aunt Four Stars was beading a new pair of +moccasins. + +Wabeda, the dog, the companion of my boyhood days, was in trouble +because he insisted upon bringing his extra bone into the teepee, while +Uncheedah was determined that he should not. I sympathized with him, +because I saw the matter as he did. If he should bury it in the snow +outside, I knew Shunktokecha (the coyote) would surely steal it. I knew +just how anxious Wabeda was about his bone. It was a fat bone--I mean a +bone of a fat deer; and all Indians know how much better they are than +the other kind. + +Wabeda always hated to see a good thing go to waste. His eyes spoke +words to me, for he and I had been friends for a long time. When I was +afraid of anything in the woods, he would get in front of me at once and +gently wag his tail. He always made it a point to look directly in my +face. His kind, large eyes gave me a thousand assurances. When I was +perplexed, he would hang about me until he understood the situation. +Many times I believed he saved my life by uttering the dog word in time. + +Most animals, even the dangerous grizzly, do not care to be seen when +the two-legged kind and his dog are about. When I feared a surprise by +a bear or a grey wolf, I would say to Wabeda: “Now, my dog, give your +war-whoop:” and immediately he would sit up on his haunches and bark +“to beat the band” as you white boys say. When a bear or wolf heard the +noise, he would be apt to retreat. + +Sometimes I helped Wabeda and gave a warwhoop of my own. This drove the +deer away as well, but it relieved my mind. + +When he appealed to me on this occasion, therefore, I said: “Come, my +dog, let us bury your bone so that no Shunktokecha will take it.” + +He appeared satisfied with my suggestion, so we went out together. + +We dug in the snow and buried our bone wrapped up in a piece of old +blanket, partly burned; then we covered it up again with snow. We knew +that the coyote would not touch anything burnt. I did not put it up a +tree because Wabeda always objected to that, and I made it a point to +consult his wishes whenever I could. + +I came in and Wabeda followed me with two short rib bones in his mouth. +Apparently he did not care to risk those delicacies. + +“There,” exclaimed Uncheedah, “you still insist upon bringing in some +sort of bone!” but I begged her to let him gnaw them inside because it +was so cold. Having been granted this privilege, he settled himself at +my back and I became absorbed in some specially nice arrows that uncle +was making. + +“O, uncle, you must put on three feathers to all of them so that they +can fly straight,” I suggested. + +“Yes, but if there are only two feathers, they will fly faster,” he +answered. + +“Woow!” Wabeda uttered his suspicions. + +“Woow!” he said again, and rushed for the entrance of the teepee. He +kicked me over as he went and scattered the burning embers. + +“En na he na!” Uncheedah exclaimed, but he was already outside. + +“Wow, wow, wow! Wow, Wow, wow!” + +A deep guttural voice answered him. + +Out I rushed with my bow and arrows in my hand. + +“Come, uncle, come! A big cinnamon bear!” I shouted as I emerged from +the teepee. + +Uncle sprang out and in a moment he had sent a swift arrow through the +bear’s heart. The animal fell dead. He had just begun to dig up Wabeda’s +bone, when the dog’s quick ear had heard the sound. + +“Ah, uncle, Wabeda and I ought to have at least a little eaglet’s +feather for this. I too sent my small arrow into the bear before he +fell,” I exclaimed. “But I thought all bears ought to be in their lodges +in the winter time. What was this one doing at this time of the year and +night?” + +“Well,” said my uncle, “I will tell you. Among the tribes, some are +naturally lazy. The cinnamon bear is the lazy one of his tribe. He alone +sleeps out of doors in the winter and because he has not a warm bed, he +is soon hungry. Sometimes he lives in the hollow trunk of a tree, where +he has made a bed of dry grass; but when the night is very cold, like +to-night, he has to move about to keep himself from freezing and as he +prowls around, he gets hungry.” + +We dragged the huge carcass within our lodge. “O, what nice claws he +has, uncle!” I exclaimed eagerly. “Can I have them for my necklace?” + +“It is only the old medicine men who wear them regularly. The son of +a great warrior who has killed a grizzly may wear them upon a public +occasion,” he explained. + +“And you are just like my father and are considered the best hunter +among the Santees and Sissetons. You have killed many grizzlies so that +no one can object to my bear’s-claws necklace,” I said appealingly. + +White Foot-print smiled. “My boy, you shall have them,” he said, “but it +is always better to earn them yourself.” He cut the claws off carefully +for my use. + +“Tell me, uncle, whether you could wear these claws all the time?” I +asked. + +“Yes, I am entitled to wear them, but they are so heavy and +uncomfortable,” he replied, with a superior air. + +At last the bear had been skinned and dressed and we all resumed our +usual places. Uncheedah was particularly pleased to have some more fat +for her cooking. + +“Now, grandmother, tell me the story of the bear’s fat. I shall be so +happy if you will,” I begged. + +“It is a good story and it is true. You should know it by heart and gain +a lesson from it,” she replied. “It was in the forests of Minnesota, +in the country that now belongs to the Ojibways. From the Bedawakanton +Sioux village a young married couple went into the woods to get fresh +venison. The snow was deep; the ice was thick. Far away in the woods +they pitched their lonely teepee. The young man was a well-known hunter +and his wife a good maiden of the village. + +“He hunted entirely on snow-shoes, because the snow was very deep. His +wife had to wear snow-shoes too, to get to the spot where they pitched +their tent. It was thawing the day they went out, so their path was +distinct after the freeze came again. + +“The young man killed many deer and bears. His wife was very busy curing +the meat and trying out the fat while he was away hunting each day. +In the evenings she kept on trying the fat. He sat on one side of the +teepee and she on the other. + +“One evening, she had just lowered a kettle of fat to cool, and as she +looked into the hot fat she saw the face of an Ojibway scout looking +down at them through the smoke-hole. She said nothing, nor did she +betray herself in any way. + +“After a little she said to her husband in a natural voice: +‘Marpeetopah, some one is looking at us through the smoke hole, and I +think it is an enemy’s scout.’ + +“Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) took up his bow and arrows and began to +straighten and dry them for the next day’s hunt, talking and laughing +meanwhile. Suddenly he turned and sent an arrow upward, killing the +Ojibway, who fell dead at their door. + +“‘Quick, Wadutah!’ he exclaimed; ‘you must hurry home upon our trail. I +will stay here. When this scout does not return, the warparty may come +in a body or send another scout. If only one comes, I can soon dispatch +him and then I will follow you. If I do not do that, they will overtake +us in our flight.’ + +“Wadutah (Scarlet) protested and begged to be allowed to stay with her +husband, but at last she came away to get reinforcements. + +“Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) put more sticks on the fire so that the +teepee might be brightly lit and show him the way. He then took the +scalp of the enemy and proceeded on his track, until he came to the +upturned root of a great tree. There he spread out his arrows and laid +out his tomahawk. + +“Soon two more scouts were sent by the Ojibway war-party to see what was +the trouble and why the first one failed to come back. He heard them as +they approached. They were on snowshoes. When they came close to him, he +shot an arrow into the foremost. As for the other, in his effort to +turn quickly his snow-shoes stuck in the deep snow and detained him, so +Marpeetopah killed them both. + +“Quickly he took the scalps and followed Wadutah. He ran hard. But the +Ojibways suspected something wrong and came to the lonely teepee, +to find all their scouts had been killed. They followed the path of +Marpeetopah and Wadutah to the main village, and there a great battle +was fought on the ice. Many were killed on both sides. It was after this +that the Sioux moved to the Mississippi river.” + +I was sleepy by this time and I rolled myself up in my buffalo robe and +fell asleep. + + + + +II. Adventures of My Uncle + +IT was a beautiful fall day--‘a gopher’s last look back,’ as we used to +say of the last warm days of the late autumn. We were encamped beside +a wild rice lake, where two months before we had harvested our watery +fields of grain, and where we had now returned for the duck-hunting. +All was well with us. Ducks were killed in countless numbers, and in the +evenings the men hunted deer in canoes by torchlight along the shores of +the lake. But alas! life is made up of good times and bad times, and it +is when we are perfectly happy that we should expect some overwhelming +misfortune. + +“So it was that upon this peaceful and still morning, all of a sudden a +harsh and terrible war-cry was heard! Your father was then quite a young +man, and a very ambitious warrior, so that I was always frightened on +his account whenever there was a chance of fighting. But I did not think +of your uncle, Mysterious Medicine, for he was not over fifteen at the +time; besides, he had never shown any taste for the field. + +“Our camp was thrown into great excitement; and as the warriors advanced +to meet the enemy, I was almost overcome by the sight of your uncle +among them! It was of no use for me to call him back--I think I prayed +in that moment to the Great Mystery to bring my boy safely home. + +“I shall never forget, as long as I live, the events of that day. Many +brave men were killed; among them two of your uncle’s intimate friends. +But when the battle was over, my boy came back; only his face was +blackened in mourning for his friends, and he bore several wounds in his +body. I knew that he had proved himself a true warrior. + +“This was the beginning of your uncle’s career, He has surpassed your +father and your grandfather; yes, all his ancestors except Jingling +Thunder, in daring and skill.” + +Such was my grandmother’s account of the maiden battle of her third +son, Mysterious Medicine. He achieved many other names; among them Big +Hunter, Long Rifle and White Footprint. He had a favorite Kentucky rifle +which he carried for many years. The stock was several times broken, +but he always made another. With this gun he excelled most of +his contemporaries in accuracy of aim. He used to call the weapon +Ishtahbopopa--a literal translation would be “Pops-the-eye.” + +My uncle, who was a father to me for ten years of my life, was almost a +giant in his proportions, very symmetrical and “straight as an arrow.” + His face was not at all handsome. He had very quiet and reserved manners +and was a man of action rather than of unnecessary words. Behind the +veil of Indian reticence he had an inexhaustible fund of wit and humor; +but this part of his character only appeared before his family and very +intimate friends. Few men know nature more thoroughly than he. Nothing +irritated him more than to hear some natural fact misrepresented. I +have often thought that with education he might have made a Darwin or an +Agassiz. + +He was always modest and unconscious of self in relating his adventures. +“I have often been forced to realize my danger,” he used to say, “but +not in such a way as to overwhelm me. Only twice in my life have I been +really frightened, and for an instant lost my presence of mind. + +“Once I was in full pursuit of a large buck deer that I had wounded. +It was winter, and there was a very heavy fall of fresh snow upon the +ground. All at once I came upon the body of the deer lying dead on the +snow. I began to make a hasty examination, but before I had made any +discoveries, I spied the tips of two ears peeping just above the surface +of the snow about twenty feet from me. I made a feint of not seeing +anything at all, but moved quickly in the direction of my gun, which was +leaning against a tree. Feeling, somehow, that I was about to be taken +advantage of, I snatched at the same moment my knife from my belt. + +“The panther (for such it was) made a sudden and desperate spring. +I tried to dodge, but he was too quick for me. He caught me by the +shoulder with his great paw, and threw me down. Somehow, he did not +retain his hold, but made another leap and again concealed himself in +the snow. Evidently he was preparing to make a fresh attack. + +“I was partially stunned and greatly confused by the blow; therefore I +should have been an easy prey for him at the moment. But when he left +me, I came to my senses; and I had been thrown near my gun! I arose and +aimed between the tips of his ears--all that was visible of him--and +fired. I saw the fresh snow fly from the spot. The panther leaped about +six feet straight up into the air, and fell motionless. I gave two good +warwhoops, because I had conquered a very formidable enemy. I sat down +on the dead body to rest, and my heart beat as if it would knock out all +my ribs. I had not been expecting any danger, and that was why I was so +taken by surprise. + +“The other time was on the plains, in summer. I was accustomed to +hunting in the woods, and never before had hunted buffalo on horseback. +Being a young man, of course I was eager to do whatever other men did. +Therefore I saddled my pony for the hunt. I had a swift pony and a good +gun, but on this occasion I preferred a bow and arrows. + +“It was the time of year when the buffalo go in large herds and the +bulls are vicious. But this did not trouble me at all; indeed, I thought +of nothing but the excitement and honor of the chase. + +“A vast plain near the Souris river was literally covered with an +immense herd. The day was fair, and we came up with them very easily. I +had a quiver full of arrows, with a sinew-backed bow. + +“My pony carried me in far ahead of all the others. I found myself in +the midst of the bulls first, for they are slow. They threw toward +me vicious glances, so I hastened my pony on to the cows. Soon I was +enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, and completely surrounded by the +herd, who were by this time in the act of fleeing, their hoofs making a +noise like thunder. + +“I could not think of anything but my own situation, which confused me +for the moment. It seemed to me to be a desperate one. If my pony, which +was going at full speed, should step into a badger hole, I should be +thrown to the ground and trampled under foot in an instant. If I were to +stop, they would knock me over, pony and all. Again, it seemed as if my +horse must fall from sheer exhaustion; and then what would become of me? + +“At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own power. I uttered a yell +and began to shoot right and left. Very soon there were only a few old +bulls who remained near me. The herd had scattered, and I was miles away +from my companions. + +“It is when we think of our personal danger that we are apt to be at +a loss to do the best thing under the circumstances. One should be +unconscious of self in order to do his duty. We are very apt to think +ourselves brave, when we are most timid. I have discovered that half our +young men give the war-whoop when they are frightened, because they fear +lest their silence may betray their state of mind. I think we are really +bravest when most calm and slow to action.” + +I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adventures. + +“Once,” said he, “I had a somewhat peculiar experience, which I think +I never related to you before. It was at the time of the fall hunt. One +afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was too far away to reach +the camp before dark, so I looked about for a good place to spend the +night. This was on the Upper Missouri, before there were any white +people there, and when we were in constant danger from wild beasts as +well as from hostile Indians. It was necessary to use every precaution +and the utmost vigilance. + +“I selected a spot which appeared to be well adapted to defense. I had +killed two deer, and I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances +in various directions. I knew that any wolf would stop for the meat, A +grizzly bear would sometimes stop, but not a mountain lion or a panther. +Therefore I made a fire. Such an animal would be apt to attack a +solitary fire. There was a full moon that night, which was much in my +favor. + +“Having cooked and eaten some of the venison, I rolled myself in my +blanket and lay down by the fire, taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed +fellow. I hugged it very closely, for I felt that I should need it +during the night. I had scarcely settled myself when I heard what seemed +to be ten or twelve coyotes set up such a howling that I was quite sure +of a visit from them. Immediately after-. ward I heard another sound, +which was like the screaming of a small child. This was a porcupine, +which had doubtless smelled the meat. + +“I watched until a coyote appeared upon a flat rock fifty yards away. +He sniffed the air in every direction; then, sitting partly upon his +haunches, swung round in a circle with his hind legs sawing the air, and +howled and barked in many different keys. It was a great feat! I could +not help wondering whether I should be able to imitate him. What had +seemed to be the voices of many coyotes was in reality only one animal. +His mate soon appeared and then they both seemed satisfied, and showed +no signs of a wish to invite another to join them. Presently they both +suddenly and quietly disappeared. + +“At this moment a slight noise attracted my attention, and I saw that +the porcupine had arrived. He had climbed up to the piece of meat +nearest me, and was helping himself without any ceremony. I thought it +was fortunate that he came, for he would make a good watch dog for me. +Very soon, in fact, he interrupted his meal, and caused all his quills +to stand out in defiance. I glanced about me and saw the two coyotes +slyly approaching my open camp from two different directions. + +“I took the part of the porcupine! I rose in a sitting posture, and sent +a swift arrow to each of my unwelcome visitors. They both ran away with +howls of surprise and pain. + +“The porcupine saw the whole from his perch, but his meal was not at all +disturbed, for he began eating again with apparent relish. Indeed, I was +soon furnished with another of these unconscious protectors. This one +came from the opposite direction to a point where I had hung a splendid +ham of venison. He cared to go no further, but seated himself at once on +a convenient branch and began his supper. + +“The canon above me was full of rocks and trees. From this direction +came a startling noise, which caused me more concern than anything I had +thus far heard. It sounded much like a huge animal stretching himself, +and giving a great yawn which ended in a scream. I knew this for the +voice of a mountain lion, and it decided me to perch upon a limb for the +rest of the night. + +“I got up and climbed into the nearest large tree, taking my weapons +with me; but first I rolled a short log of wood in my blanket and laid +it in my place by the fire. + +“As I got up, the two porcupines began to descend, but I paid no +attention to them, and they soon returned to their former positions. +Very soon I heard a hissing sound from one of them, and knew that an +intruder was near. Two grey wolves appeared. + +“I had hung the hams by the ham strings, and they were fully eight +feet from the ground. At first the wolves came boldly forward, but the +warning of the porcupines caused them to stop, and hesitate to jump for +the meat. However, they were hungry, and began to leap savagely for the +hams, although evidently they proved good targets for the quills of the +prickly ones, for occasionally one of them would squeal and rub his nose +desperately against the tree. + +“At last one of the wolves buried his teeth too deeply in a tough +portion of the flesh, and having jumped to reach it, his own weight +made it impossible for him to loosen his upper jaw. There the grey wolf +dangled, kicking and yelping, until the tendon of the ham gave way, and +both fell heavily to the ground. From my hiding-place I sent two arrows +into his body, which ended his life. The other one ran away to a little +distance and remained there a long time, as if waiting for her mate. + +“I was now very weary, but I had seen many grizzly bears’ tracks in the +vicinity, and besides, I had not forgotten the dreadful scream of the +mountain lion. I determined to continue my watch. + +“As I had half expected, there came presently a sudden heavy fall, and +at the same time the burning embers were scattered about and the fire +almost extinguished. My blanket with the log in it was rolled over +several times, amid snarls and growls. Then the assailant of my camp--a +panther--leaped back into the thick underbrush, but not before my arrow +had penetrated his side. He snarled and tried to bite off the shaft, but +after a time became exhausted and lay still. + +“I could now distinguish the grey dawn in the east. I was exceedingly +drowsy, so I fastened myself by a rope of raw-hide to the trunk of the +tree against which I leaned. I was seated on a large limb, and soon fell +asleep. + +“I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun directly under me. At +the same time, I thought some one was trying to shake me off the tree, +Instantly I reached for my gun. Alas! it was gone! At the first shake +of the tree by my visitor, a grizzly bear, the gun had fallen, and as it +was cocked, it went off. + +“The bear picked up the weapon and threw it violently away; then he +again shook the tree with all his strength. I shouted: + +“‘I have still a bow and a quiver full of arrows; you had better let me +alone.’ + +“He replied to this with a rough growl. I sent an arrow into his side, +and he groaned like a man as he tried hard to pull it out. I had to give +him several more before he went a short distance away, and died. It was +now daylight, so I came down from my perch. I was stiff, and scarcely +able to walk. I found that the bear had killed both of my little +friends, the porcupines, and eaten most of the meat. + +“Perhaps you wonder, Ohiyesa, why I did not use my gun in the beginning; +but I had learned that if I once missed my aim with it, I had no second +chance. I have told of this particular adventure, because it was an +unusual experience to see so many different animals in one night. I have +often been in similar places, and killed one or two. Once a common black +bear stole a whole deer from me without waking me. But all this life is +fast disappearing, and the world is becoming different.” + + + + +VII. THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + +IT was one of the superstitions of the Santee Sioux to treat disease +from the standpoint of some animal or inanimate thing. That person who, +according to their belief, had been commissioned to become a medicine +man or a war chief, must not disobey the bear or other creature or +thing which gave him his commission. If he ever ventured to do so, the +offender must pay for his insubordination with his life, or that of his +own child or dearest friend. It was supposed to be necessary that the +supernatural orders be carried into effect at a particular age and a +certain season of the year. Occasionally a very young man, who excused +himself on the ground of youth and modesty, might be forgiven. + +One of my intimate friends had been a sufferer from what, I suppose, +must have been consumption. He, like myself, had a grandmother in whom +he had unlimited faith. But she was a very ambitious and pretentious +woman. Among her many claims was that of being a great “medicine woman,” + and many were deceived by it; but really she was a fraud, for she did +not give any medicine, but “conjured” the sick exclusively. + +At this time my little friend was fast losing ground, in spite of +his grandmother’s great pretensions. At last I hinted to him that my +grandmother was a herbalist, and a skilful one. But he hinted back to me +that ‘most any old woman who could dig roots could be a herbalist, and +that without a supernatural commission there was no power that could +cope with disease. I defended my ideal on the ground that there are +supernatural powers in the herbs themselves; hence those who understand +them have these powers at their command. + +“But,” insisted my friend, “one must get his knowledge from the Great +Mystery!” + +This completely silenced my argument, but did not shake my faith in my +grandmother’s ability. + +Redhorn was a good boy, and I loved him. I visited him often, and found +him growing weaker day by day. + +“Ohiyesa,” he said to me one day, “my grandmother has discovered the +cause of my sickness.” + +I eagerly interrupted him by shouting: “And can she cure you now, +Redhorn?” + +“Of course,” he replied, “she cannot until I have fulfilled the +commandment. I have confessed to her that two years ago I received my +commission, and I should have made a Bear Dance and proclaimed myself a +medicine man last spring, when I had seen thirteen winters. You see, I +was ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man, being so young; and for +this I am punished. However, my grandmother says it is not yet too late. +But, Ohiyesa, I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man. I can scarcely +stand up. They say that I can appoint some one else to act for me. He +will be the active bear--I shall have to remain in the hole. Would you, +Ohiyesa, be willing to act the bear for me? You know he has to chase the +dancers away from his den.” + +“Redhorn,” I replied with much embarrassment, “I should be happy to do +anything that I could for you, but I cannot be a bear. I feel that I +am not fit. I am not large enough; I am not strong enough; and I don’t +understand the habits of the animal well enough. I do not think you +would be pleased with me as your substitute.” + +Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a larger boy to perform +for him. A few days later, it was announced by the herald that my friend +would give a Bear Dance, at which he was to be publicly proclaimed a +medicine man. It would be the great event of his short existence, for +the disease had already exhausted his strength and vitality. Of course, +we all understood that there would be an active youth to exhibit the +ferocious nature of the beast after which the dance is named. + +The Bear Dance was an entertainment, a religious rite, a method of +treating disease--all in one. A strange thing about it was that no woman +was allowed to participate in the orgies, unless she was herself the +bear. + +The den was usually dug about two hundred yards from the camp, on some +conspicuous plain. It was about two feet deep and six feet square and +over it was constructed an arbor of boughs with four openings. When the +bear man sang, all the men and boys would gather and dance about the +den; and when he came out and pursued them there was a hasty retreat. It +was supposed that whoever touched the bear without being touched by him +would overcome a foe in the field. If one was touched, the reverse was +to be expected. The thing which caused most anxiety among the dancers +was the superstition that if one of them should accidentally trip and +fall while pursued by the bear, a sudden death would visit him or his +nearest relative. + +Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk in this dance; they would +take every opportunity to strike at the bear man with a short switch, +while the older men shot him with powder. It may as well be admitted +that one reason for my declining the honor offered me by my friend +Redhorn was that I was afraid of powder, and I much preferred to be +one of the dancers and take my chances of touching the bear man without +being touched. + +It was a beautiful summer’s day. The forest behind our camp was sweet +with the breath of blossoming flowers. The teepees faced a large lake, +which we called Bedatanka. Its gentle waves cooled the atmosphere. +The water-fowl disported themselves over its surface, and the birds of +passage overhead noisily expressed their surprise at the excitement and +confusion in our midst. + +The herald, with his brassy voice, again went the rounds, announcing the +day’s event and the tardy fulfillment of the boy’s commission. Then +came the bustle of preparation. The out-door toilet of the people +was performed with care. I cannot describe just how I was attired or +painted, but I am under the impression that there was but little of my +brown skin that was not uncovered. The others were similarly dressed in +feathers, paint and tinkling ornaments. + +I soon heard the tom-tom’s doleful sound from the direction of the +bear’s den, and a few warwhoops from the throats of the youthful +warriors. As I joined the motley assembly, I noticed that the bear man’s +drum was going in earnest, and soon after he began to sing. This was the +invitation to the dance. + +An old warrior gave the signal and we all started for the den, very much +like a group of dogs attacking a stranger. Frantically we yelled and +whooped, running around the sheltering arbor in a hop, skip and jump +fashion. In spite of the apparent confusion, however, every participant +was on the alert for the slightest movement of the bear man. + +All of a sudden, a brave gave the warning, and we scattered in an +instant over the little plain between the den and our village. Everybody +seemed to be running for dear life, and I soon found myself some yards +behind the rest. I had gone in boldly, partly because of conversations +with certain boys who proposed to participate, and whom I usually +outdistanced in foot races. But it seemed that they had not carried +out their intentions and I was left alone. I looked back once or twice, +although I was pretty busy with my legs, and I imagined that my pursuer, +the bear man, looked twice as fearful as a real bear. He was dressed and +painted up with a view to terrify the crowd. I did not want the others +to guess that I was at all dismayed, so I tried to give the war-whoop; +but my throat was so dry at the moment that I am sure I must have given +it very poorly. + +Just as it seemed that I was about to be overtaken, the dancers who +had deserted me suddenly slackened their speed, and entered upon the +amusement of tormenting the bear man with gunpowder and switches, with +which they touched him far from gently upon his naked body. They now +chased him in turn, and he again retreated to his den. + +We rested until we heard the tom-tom and the song once more, and then +we rushed forth with fresh eagerness to the mimic attack. This time I +observed all necessary precautions for my own safety. I started in +my flight even before the warning was given, for I saw the bear man +gathering himself up to spring upon the dancers. Thus I had plenty of +leeway to observe what occurred. The bear man again pursued the yelling +and retreating mob, and was dealt with unmercifully by the swift-footed. +He became much excited as he desperately chased a middle-aged man, who +occasionally turned and fired off his gun, but was suddenly tripped by +an ant-hill and fell to the ground, with the other on top of him. The +excitement was intense. The bear man returned to his companion, and the +dancers gathered in little knots to exchange whispers. + +“Is it not a misfortune?” “The most surefooted of us all!” “Will he +die?” “Must his beautiful daughter be sacrificed?” + +The man who was the subject of all this comment did not speak a word. +His head hung down. Finally he raised it and said in a resolute voice: + +“We all have our time to go, and when the Great Mystery calls us we must +answer as cheerfully as at the call of one of our own war-chiefs here +on earth. I am not sad for myself, but my heart is not willing that my +Winona (first-born daughter) should be called.” + +No one replied. Presently the last tom-tom was heard and the dancers +rallied once more. The man who had fallen did not join them, but turned +to the council lodge, where the wise old men were leisurely enjoying the +calumet. They beheld him enter with some surprise; but he threw himself +upon a buffalo robe, and resting his head upon his right hand, related +what had happened to him. Thereupon the aged men exclaimed as with one +voice: “It never fails!” After this, he spoke no more. + +Meanwhile, we were hilariously engaged in our last dance, and when the +bear man finally retired, we gathered about the arbor to congratulate +the sick bear man. But, to our surprise, his companion did not re-enter +the den. “He is dead! Redhorn, the bear man, is dead!” We all rushed to +the spot. My poor friend, Redhorn, lay dead in the den. + +At this instant there was another commotion in the camp. Everybody was +running toward the council lodge. A well-known medicine man was loudly +summoned thither. But, alas! the man who fell in the dance had suddenly +dropped dead. + +To the people, another Indian superstition had been verified. + + + + +VIII. THE MAIDENS’ FEAST + +THERE were many peculiar customs among the Indians of an earlier period, +some of which tended to strengthen the character of the people and +preserve their purity. Perhaps the most unique of these was the annual +“feast of maidens.” The casual observer would scarcely understand the +full force and meaning of this ceremony. + +The last one that I ever witnessed was given at Fort Ellis, Manitoba, +about the year 1871. Upon the table land just back of the old trading +post and fully a thousand feet above the Assiniboine river, surrounded +by groves, there was a natural amphitheatre. At one end stood the old +fort where since 1830 the northern tribes had come to replenish their +powder horns and lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts. + +In this spot there was a reunion of all the renegade Sioux on the one +hand and of the Assiniboines and Crees, the Canadian tribes, on the +other. They were friendly. The matter was not formally arranged, but it +was usual for all the tribes to meet here in the month of July. + +The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red, blue, green and +white blankets, also cloth of brilliant dye, so that when their summer +festival occurred the Indians did not lack gayly colored garments. +Paints were bought by them at pleasure. Short sleeves were the fashion +in their buckskin dresses, and beads and porcupine quills were the +principal decorations. + +When circumstances are favorable, the Indians are the happiest people in +the world. There were entertainments every single day, which everybody +had the fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If anything, the poorest +profited the most by these occasions, because a feature in each case was +the giving away of savage wealth to the needy in honor of the event. At +any public affair, involving the pride and honor of a prominent family, +there must always be a distribution of valuable presents. + +One bright summer morning, while we were still at our meal of jerked +buffalo meat, we heard the herald of the Wahpeton band upon his calico +pony as he rode around our circle. + + +“White Eagle’s daughter, the maiden Red Star, invites all the maidens +of all the tribes to come and partake of her feast. It will be in the +Wahpeton camp, before the sun reaches the middle of the sky. All pure +maidens are invited. Red Star also invites the young men to be present, +to see that no unworthy maiden should join in the feast.” + +The herald soon completed the rounds of the different camps, and it was +not long before the girls began to gather in great numbers. The fort +was fully alive to the interest of these savage entertainments. This +particular feast was looked upon as a semi-sacred affair. It would be +desecration for any to attend who was not perfectly virtuous. Hence +it was regarded as an opportune time for the young men to satisfy +themselves as to who were the virtuous maids of the tribe. + +There were apt to be surprises before the end of the day. Any young man +was permitted to challenge any maiden whom he knew to be unworthy. But +woe to him who could not prove his case. It meant little short of death +to the man who endeavored to disgrace a woman without cause. + +The youths had a similar feast of their own, in which the eligibles were +those who had never spoken to a girl in the way of courtship. It was +considered ridiculous so to do before attaining some honor as a warrior, +and the novices prided themselves greatly upon their self control. + +From the various camps the girls came singly or in groups, dressed in +bright-colored calicoes or in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their +smooth cheeks and the central part of their glossy hair was touched with +vermilion. All brought with them wooden basins to eat from. Some who +came from a considerable distance were mounted upon ponies; a few, for +company or novelty’s sake, rode double. + +The maidens’ circle was formed about a coneshaped rock which stood upon +its base. This was painted red. Beside it two new arrows were lightly +stuck into the ground. This is a sort of altar, to which each maiden +comes before taking her assigned place in the circle, and lightly +touches first the stone and then the arrows. By this oath she declares +her purity. Whenever a girl approaches the altar there is a stir among +the spectators, and sometimes a rude youth would call out: + +“Take care! You will overturn the rock, or pull out the arrows!” + +Such a remark makes the girls nervous, and especially one who is not +sure of her composure. + +Immediately behind the maidens’ circle is the old women’s or chaperons’ +circle. This second circle is almost as interesting to look at as the +inner one. The old women watched every movement of their respective +charges with the utmost concern, having previously instructed them how +they should conduct themselves in any event. + +There was never a more gorgeous assembly of the kind than this one. +The day was perfect. The Crees, displaying their characteristic +horsemanship, came in groups; the Assiniboines, with their curious +pompadour well covered with red paint. The various bands of Sioux all +carefully observed the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. +The attaches of the fort were fully represented at the entertainment, +and it was not unusual to see a pale-face maiden take part in the feast. + +The whole population of the region had assembled, and the maidens came +shyly into the circle. The simple ceremonies observed prior to the +serving of the food were in progress, when among a group of Wahpeton +Sioux young men there was a stir of excitement. All the maidens glanced +nervously toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon a tall youth emerged +from the throng of spectators and advanced toward the circle. Every one +of the chaperons glared at him as if to deter him from his purpose. But +with a steady step he passed them by and approached the maidens’ circle. + +At last he stopped behind a pretty Assiniboine maiden of good family and +said: + +“I am sorry, but, according to custom, you should not be here.” + +The girl arose in confusion, but she soon recovered her self-control. + +“What do you mean?” she demanded, indignantly. “Three times you have +come to court me, but each time I have refused to listen to you. I +turned my back upon you. Twice I was with Mashtinna. She can tell the +people that this is true. The third time I had gone for water when you +intercepted me and begged me to stop and listen. I refused because I did +not know you. My chaperon, Makatopawee, knows that I was gone but a few +minutes. I never saw you anywhere else.” + +The young man was unable to answer this unmistakable statement of facts, +and it became apparent that he had sought to revenge himself for her +repulse. + +“Woo! woo! Carry him out!” was the order of the chief of the Indian +police, and the audacious youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine +to be chastised. + +The young woman who had thus established her good name returned to the +circle, and the feast was served. The “maidens’ song” was sung, and four +times they danced in a ring around the altar. Each maid as she departed +once more took her oath to remain pure until she should meet her +husband. + + + + +IX. MORE LEGENDS + + + + +I: A Legend of Devil’s Lake + +AFTER the death of Smoky Day, old Weyuha was regarded as the greatest +story-teller among the Wahpeton Sioux. + +“Tell me, good Weyuha, a legend of your father’s country,” I said to him +one evening, for I knew the country which is now known as North Dakota +and Southern Manitoba was their ancient hunting-ground. I was prompted +by Uncheedah to make this request, after the old man had eaten in our +lodge. + +“Many years ago,” he began, as he passed the pipe to uncle, “we traveled +from the Otter-tail to Minnewakan (Devil’s Lake). At that time the +mound was very distinct where Chotanka lies buried. The people of his +immediate band had taken care to preserve it. + +“This mound under which lies the great medicine man is upon the summit +of Minnewakan Chantay, the highest hill in all that region. It is shaped +like an animal’s heart placed on its base, with the apex upward. + +“The reason why this hill is called Minnewakan Chantay, or the Heart of +the Mysterious Land, I will now tell you. It has been handed down +from generation to generation, far beyond the memory of our +great-grandparents. It was in Chotanka’s line of descent that these +legends were originally kept, but when he died the stories became +everybody’s, and then no one believed in them. It was told in this way.” + +I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of the story-teller, and +now I took a deep breath and settled myself so that I might not disturb +him by the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale. We were +taught this courtesy to our elders, but I was impulsive and sometimes +forgot. + +“A long time ago,” resumed Weyuha, “the red people were many in number, +and they inhabited all the land from the coldest place to the region of +perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all of one tongue, and +all were friends. + +“All the animals were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the +elk, the antelope, were tribes of considerable importance. The bears +were a smaller band, but they obeyed the mandates of the Great Mystery +and were his favorites, and for this reason they have always known more +about the secrets of medicine. So they were held in much honor. The +wolves, too, were highly regarded at one time. But the buffalo, elk, +moose, deer and antelope were the ruling people. + +“These soon became conceited and considered themselves very important, +and thought no one could withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the +smaller tribes, and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought +it best to change the people in form and in language. + +“He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten days. Into this tent he +invited the different bands, and when they came out they were greatly +changed, and some could not talk at all after that. However, there is +a sign language given to all the animals that no man knows except some +medicine men, and they are under a heavy penalty if they should tell it. + +“The buffalo came out of the darkened tent the clumsiest of all +the animals. The elk and moose were burdened with their heavy and +many-branched horns, while the antelope and deer were made the most +defenseless of animals, only that they are fleet of foot. The bear and +the wolf were made to prey upon all the others. + +“Man was alone then. When the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him +to keep his own shape and language. He was king over all the animals, +but they did not obey him. From that day, man’s spirit may live with the +beasts before he is born a man. He will then know the animal language +but he cannot tell it in human speech. He always retains his sympathy +with them, and can converse with them in dreams. + +“I must not forget to tell you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent +in this very region. Some legends say that the Minnewakan Chantay was +the tent itself, which afterward became earth and stones. Many of +the animals were washed and changed in this lake, the Minnewakan, or +Mysterious Water. It is the only inland water we know that is salt. No +animal has ever swum in this lake and lived.” + +“Tell me,” I eagerly asked, “is it dangerous to man also?” + +“Yes,” he replied, “we think so; and no Indian has ever ventured in that +lake to my knowledge. That is why the lake is called Mysterious,” he +repeated. + +“I shall now tell you of Chotanka. He was the greatest of medicine +men. He declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was born in human +form.” Weyuha seemed to become very earnest when he reached this point +in his story. “Listen to Chotanka’s life as a grizzly bear.” + +“‘As a bear,’ he used to say, ‘my home was in sight of the Minnewakan +Chantay. I lived with my mother only one winter, and I only saw my +father when I was a baby. Then we lived a little way from the Chantay +to the north, among scattered oak upon a hillside overlooking the +Minnewakan. + +“‘When I first remember anything, I was playing outside of our home with +a buffalo skull that I had found near by. I saw something that looked +strange. It walked upon two legs, and it carried a crooked stick, and +some red willows with feathers tied to them. It threw one of the willows +at me, and I showed my teeth and retreated within our den. + +“‘Just then my father and mother came home with a buffalo calf. They +threw down the dead calf, and ran after the queer thing. He had long +hair upon a round head. His face was round, too. He ran and climbed up +into a small oak tree. + +“‘My father and mother shook him down, but not before he had shot some +of his red willows into their sides. Mother was very sick, but she +dug some roots and ate them and she was well again.’ It was thus that +Chotanka was first taught the use of certain roots for curing wounds and +sickness,” Weyuha added. + +“‘One day’”--he resumed the grizzly’s story--“‘when I was out hunting +with my mother-my father had gone away and never came back--we found +a buffalo cow with her calf in a ravine. She advised me to follow her +closely, and we crawled along on our knees. All at once mother crouched +down under the grass, and I did the same. We saw some of those queer +beings that we called “two legs,” riding upon big-tail deer (ponies). +They yelled as they rode toward us. Mother growled terribly and rushed +upon them. She caught one, but many more came with their dogs and drove +us into a thicket. They sent the red willows singing after us, and two +of them stuck in mother’s side. When we got away at last she tried to +pull them out, but they hurt her terribly. She pulled them both out at +last, but soon after she lay down and died. + +“‘I stayed in the woods alone for two days then I went around the +Minnewakan Chantay on the south side and there made my lonely den. There +I found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns and wild plums. Upon the plains the +teepsinna were abundant, and I saw nothing of my enemies. + +“‘One day I found a footprint not unlike my own. I followed it to +see who the stranger might be. Upon the bluffs among the oak groves +I discovered a beautiful young female gathering acorns. She was of a +different band from mine, for she wore a jet black dress. + +“‘At first she was disposed to resent my intrusion; but when I told her +of my lonely life she agreed to share it with me. We came back to my +home on the south side of the hill. There we lived happy for a whole +year. When the autumn came again Woshepee, for this was her name, said +that she must make a warm nest for the winter, and I was left alone +again.’ + +“Now,” said Weyuha, “I have come to a part of my story that few people +understand. All the long winter Chotanka slept in his den, and with +the early spring there came a great thunder storm. He was aroused by a +frightful crash that seemed to shake the hills; and lo! a handsome young +man stood at his door. He looked, but was not afraid, for he saw that +the stranger carried none of those red willows with feathered tips. He +was unarmed and smiling. + +“‘I come,’ said he, ‘with a challenge to run a race. Whoever wins will +be the hero of his kind, and the defeated must do as the winner says +thereafter. This is a rare honor that I have brought you. The whole +world will see the race. The animal world will shout for you, and the +spirits will cheer me on. You are not a coward, and therefore you will +not refuse my challenge.’ + +“‘No,’ replied Chotanka, after a short hesitation. The young man was +fine-looking, but lightly built. + +“‘We shall start from the Chantay, and that will be our goal. Come, let +us go, for the universe is waiting!’ impatiently exclaimed the stranger. + +“He passed on in advance, and just then an old, old wrinkled man came to +Chotanka’s door. He leaned forward upon his staff. + +“‘My son,’ he said to him, ‘I don’t want to make you a coward, but +this young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He has powerful +medicine. He gambles for life; be careful! My brothers and I are the +only ones who have ever beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed +he can resurrect himself--I tell you he is great medicine. + +“‘However, I think that I can save you--listen! He will run behind you +all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal. Then he +will pass you by in a flash, for his name is ZigZag Fire! (lightning). +Here is my medicine.’ So speaking, he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum +of a certain plant. ‘When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the +gum, and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot pass you.’ + +“‘And who are you, grandfather?’ Chotanka inquired. + +“‘I am the medicine turtle,’ the old man replied. ‘The gambler is a +spirit from heaven, and those whom he outruns must shortly die. You have +heard, no doubt, that all animals know beforehand when they are to be +killed; and any man who understands these mysteries may also know when +he is to die.’ + +“The race was announced to the world. The buffalo, elk, wolves and all +the animals came to look on. All the spirits of the air came also to +cheer for their comrade. In the sky the trumpet was sounded--the great +medicine drum was struck. It was the signal for a start. The course +was around the Minnewakan. (That means around the earth or the ocean.) +Everywhere the multitude cheered as the two sped by. + +“The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came once +more in sight of the Chantay. Then he felt a slight shock and he threw +his rabbit skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed +himself with the gum, and ran on until he reached the goal. There was +a great shout that echoed over the earth, but in the heavens there was +muttering and grumbling. The referee declared that the winner would live +to a good old age, and Zig-Zag Fire promised to come at his call. He was +indeed great medicine,” Weyuha concluded. + +“But you have not told me how Chotanka became a man,” I said. + +“One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep. She enticed him +into her white teepee to see what she had there. Then she shut the door +of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out. But the woman was kind +and petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee. Then it was +that he became a human born. This is a long story, but I think, Ohiyesa, +that you will remember it,” said Weyuha, and so I did. + + + + +II. Manitoshaw’s Hunting + +IT was in the winter, in the Moon of Difficulty (January). We had eaten +our venison roast for supper, and the embers were burning brightly. +Our teepee was especially cheerful. Uncheedah sat near the entrance, my +uncle and his wife upon the opposite side, while I with my pets occupied +the remaining space. + +Wabeda, the dog, lay near the fire in a half doze, watching out of the +corners of his eyes the tame raccoon, which snuggled back against +the walls of the teepee, his shrewd brain, doubtless, concocting some +mischief for the hours of darkness. I had already recited a legend of +our people. All agreed that I had done well. Having been generously +praised, I was eager to earn some more compliments by learning a new +one, so I begged my uncle to tell me a story. Musingly he replied: + +“I can give you a Sioux-Cree tradition,” and immediately began: + +“Many winters ago, there were six teepees standing on the southern slope +of Moose mountain in the Moon of Wild Cherries (September). The men to +whom these teepees belonged had been attacked by the Sioux while hunting +buffalo, and nearly all killed. Two or three who managed to get home +to tell their sad story were mortally wounded, and died soon afterward. +There was only one old man and several small boys left to hunt and +provide for this unfortunate little band of women and children. + +“They lived upon teepsinna (wild turnips) and berries for many days. +They were almost famished for meat. The old man was too feeble to hunt +successfully. One day in this desolate camp a young Cree maiden--for +such they were--declared that she could no longer sit still and see her +people suffer. She took down her dead father’s second bow and quiver +full of arrows, and begged her old grandmother to accompany her to Lake +Wanagiska, where she knew that moose had oftentimes been found. I forgot +to tell you that her name was Manitoshaw. + +“This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother, Nawakewee, took each a pony +and went far up into the woods on the side of the mountain. They pitched +their wigwam just out of sight of the lake, and hobbled their ponies. +Then the old woman said to Manitoshaw: + +“‘Go, my granddaughter, to the outlet of the Wanagiska, and see if there +are any moose tracks there. When I was a young woman, I came here with +your father’s father, and we pitched our tent near this spot. In the +night there came three different moose. Bring me leaves of the birch and +cedar twigs; I will make medicine for moose,’ she added. + +“Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the woods. It was a grove of +birch and willow, with two good springs. Down below was a marshy place. +Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nibbled birch and willow twigs, +for the moose loves to eat them, and to have her arrow ready upon the +bow-string. ‘I have seen this very place many a time,’ added my uncle, +and this simple remark gave to the story an air of reality. + +“The Cree maiden went first to the spring, and there found fresh tracks +of the animal she sought. She gathered some cedar berries and chewed +them, and rubbed some of them on her garments so that the moose might +not scent her. The sun was already set, and she felt she must return to +Nawakewee. + +“Just then Hinhankaga, the hooting owl, gave his doleful night call. The +girl stopped and listened attentively. + +“‘I thought it was a lover’s call,’ she whispered to herself. A singular +challenge pealed across the lake. She recognized the alarm call of the +loon, and fancied that the bird might have caught a glimpse of her game. + +“Soon she was within a few paces of the temporary lodge of pine boughs +and ferns which the grandmother had constructed. The old woman met her +on the trail. + +“‘Ah, my child, you have returned none too soon. I feared you had +ventured too far away; for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt. +You must not expose yourself carelessly on the shore.’ + +“As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies munch +the rich grass in an open spot near by. Through the smoke hole of the +pine-bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky, and dreamed +of what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise the wily +moose. Her grandmother was already sleeping so noisily that it was +enough to scare away the game. At last the maiden, too, lost herself in +sleep. + +“Old Nawakewee awoke early. First of all she made a fire and burned +cedar and birch so that the moose might not detect the human smell. Then +she quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries, and awoke the +maiden, who was surprised to see that the sun was already up. She ran +down to the spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water in +her face; then she looked for a moment in its mirror-like surface. +There was the reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them +Manitoshaw seemed to see a young man standing. In another moment all +three had disappeared. + +“‘What is the matter with my eyes? I am not fully awake yet, and I +imagine things. Ugh, it is all in my eyes,’ the maiden repeated to +herself. She hastened back to Nawakewee. The vision was so unexpected +and so startling that she could not believe in its truth, and she said +nothing to the old woman. + +“Breakfast eaten, Manitoshaw threw off her robe and appeared in her +scantily cut gown of buckskin with long fringes, and moccasins and +leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine. Her father’s bow and +quiver were thrown over one shoulder, and the knife dangled from her +belt in its handsome sheath. She ran breathlessly along the shore toward +the outlet. + +“Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam with his mate, +occasionally uttering a cry of joy. Here and there the playful Hogan, +the trout, sprang gracefully out of the water, in a shower of falling +dew. As the maiden hastened along she scared up Wadawasee, the +kingfisher, who screamed loudly. + +“‘Stop, Wadawasee, stop--you will frighten my game!’ + +“At last she had reached the outlet. She saw at once that the moose +had been there during the night. They had torn up the ground and broken +birch and willow twigs in a most disorderly way.” + +“Ah!” I exclaimed, “I wish I had been with Manitoshaw then!” + +“Hush, my boy; never interrupt a storyteller.” + +I took a stick and began to level off the ashes in front of me, and to +draw a map of the lake, the outlet, the moose and Manitoshaw. Away off +to one side was the solitary wigwam, Nawakewee and the ponies. + +“Manitoshaw’s heart was beating so loud that she could not hear +anything,” resumed my uncle. “She took some leaves of the wintergreen +and chewed them to calm herself. She did not forget to throw in passing +a pinch of pulverized tobacco and paint into the spring for Manitou, the +spirit. + +“Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her eye was caught by a moving +form, and then another. She stood motionless, grasping her heavy bow. +The moose, not suspecting any danger, walked leisurely toward the +spring. One was a large female moose; the other a yearling. + +“As they passed Manitoshaw, moving so naturally and looking so harmless, +she almost forgot to let fly an arrow. The mother moose seemed to +look in her direction, but did not see her. They had fairly passed her +hiding-place when she stepped forth and sent a swift arrow into the side +of the larger moose. Both dashed into the thick woods, but it was too +late. The Cree maiden had already loosened her second arrow. Both fell +dead before reaching the shore.” + +“Uncle, she must have had a splendid aim, for in the woods the many +little twigs make an arrow bound off to one side,” I interrupted in +great excitement. + +“Yes, but you must remember she was very near the moose.” + +“It seems to me, then, uncle, that they must have scented her, for +you have told me that they possess the keenest nose of any animal,” I +persisted. + +“Doubtless the wind was blowing the other way. But, nephew, you must let +me finish my story. + +“Overjoyed by her success, the maiden hastened back to Nawakawee, but she +was gone! The ponies were gone, too, and the wigwam of branches had been +demolished. While Manitoshaw stood there, frightened and undecided what +to do, a soft voice came from behind a neighboring thicket: + +“‘Manitoshaw! Manitoshaw! I am here!’ + +“She at once recognized, the voice and found it to be Nawakeewee, who +told a strange story. That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska +carrying two men. They were Sioux. The old grandmother had seen them +coming, and to deceive them she at once pulled down her temporary +wigwam, and drove the ponies off toward home. Then she hid herself in +the bushes near by, for she knew that Manitoshaw must return there. + +“‘Come, my granddaughter, we must hasten home by another way,’ cried the +old woman. + +“But the maiden said, ‘No, let us go first to my two moose that I killed +this morning and take some meat with us.’ + +“‘No, no, my child; the Sioux are cruel. They have killed many of +our people. If we stay here they will find us. I fear, I fear them, +Manitoshaw!’ + +“At last the brave maid convinced her grandmother, and the more easily +as she too was hungry for meat. They went to where the big game lay +among the bushes, and began to dress the moose.” + +“I think, if I were they, I would hide all day. I would wait until the +Sioux had gone; then I would go back to my moose,” I interrupted for the +third time. + +“I will finish the story first; then you may tell us what you would do,” + said my uncle reprovingly. + +“The two Sioux were father and son. They too had come to the lake for +moose; but as the game usually retreated to the island, Chatansapa had +landed his son Kangiska to hunt them on the shore while he returned in +his canoe to intercept their flight. The young man sped along the sandy +beach and soon discovered their tracks. He followed them up and found +blood on the trail. This astonished him. Cautiously he followed on until +he found them both lying dead. He examined them and found that in each +moose there was a single Cree arrow. Wishing to surprise the hunter if +possible, Kangiska lay hidden in the bushes. + +“After a little while the two women returned to the spot. They passed +him as close as the moose had passed the maiden in the morning. He saw +at once that the maiden had arrows in her quiver like those that had +slain the big moose. He lay still. + +“Kangiska looked upon the beautiful Cree maiden and loved her. Finally +he forgot himself and made a slight motion. Manitoshaw’s quick eye +caught the little stir among the bushes, but she immediately looked the +other way and Kangiska believed that she had not seen anything, At last +her eyes met his, and something told both that all was well. Then the +maiden smiled, and the young man could not remain still any longer. +He arose suddenly and the old woman nearly fainted from fright. But +Manitoshaw said: + +“‘Fear not, grandmother; we are two and he is only one.’ + +“While the two women continued to cut up the meat, Kangiska made a fire +by rubbing cedar chips together, and they all ate of the moose meat. +Then the old woman finished her work, while the young people sat down +upon a log in the shade, and told each other all their minds. + +“Kangiska declared by signs that he would go home with Manitoshaw to the +Cree camp, for he loved her. They went home, and the young man hunted +for the unfortunate Cree band during the rest of his life. + +“His father waited a long time on the island and afterward searched the +shore, but never saw him again. He supposed that those footprints he saw +were made by Crees who had killed his son.” + +“Is that story true, uncle?” I asked eagerly. + +“‘Yes, the facts are well known. There are some Sioux mixed bloods among +the Crees to this day who are descendants of Kangiska.” + + + + +X. INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE + + + + +I: Life in the Woods + +THE month of September recalls to every Indian’s mind the season of the +fall hunt. I remember one such expedition which is typical of many. Our +party appeared on the northwestern side of Turtle mountain; for we had +been hunting buffaloes all summer, in the region of the Mouse river, +between that mountain and the upper Missouri. + +As our cone-shaped teepees rose in clusters along the outskirts of the +heavy forest that clothes the sloping side of the mountain, the scene +below was gratifying to a savage eye. The rolling yellow plains were +checkered with herds of buffaloes. Along the banks of the streams that +ran down from the mountains were also many elk, which usually appear +at morning and evening, and disappear into the forest during the warmer +part of the day. Deer, too, were plenty, and the brooks were alive with +trout. Here and there the streams were dammed by the industrious beaver. + +In the interior of the forest there were lakes with many islands, where +moose, elk, deer and bears were abundant. The water-fowl were wont to +gather here in great numbers, among them the crane, the swan, the loon, +and many of the smaller kinds. The forest also was filled with a great +variety of birds. Here the partridge drummed his loudest, while the +whippoorwill sang with spirit, and the hooting owl reigned in the night. + +To me, as a boy, this wilderness was a paradise. It was a land of +plenty. To be sure, we did not have any of the luxuries of civilization, +but we had every convenience and opportunity and luxury of Nature. We +had also the gift of enjoying our good fortune, whatever dangers might +lurk about us; and the truth is that we lived in blessed ignorance of +any life that was better than our own. + +As soon as hunting in the woods began, the customs regulating it were +established. The council teepee no longer existed. A hunting bonfire was +kindled every morning at day-break, at which each brave must appear and +report. The man who failed to do this before the party set out on the +day’s hunt was harassed by ridicule. As a rule, the hunters started +before sunrise, and the brave who was announced throughout the camp as +the first one to return with a deer on his back, was a man to be envied. + +The legend-teller, old Smoky Day, was chosen herald of the camp, and it +was he who made the announcements. After supper was ended, we heard his +powerful voice resound among the teepees in the forest. He would then +name a man to kindle the bonfire the next morning. His suit of fringed +buckskin set off his splendid physique to advantage. + +Scarcely had the men disappeared in the woods each morning than all the +boys sallied forth, apparently engrossed in their games and sports, +but in reality competing actively with one another in quickness of +observation. As the day advanced, they all kept the sharpest possible +lookout. Suddenly there would come the shrill “Woo-coohoo!” at the top +of a boy’s voice, announcing the bringing in of a deer. Immediately all +the other boys took up the cry, each one bent on getting ahead of the +rest. Now we all saw the brave Wacoota fairly bent over by his burden, a +large deer which he carried on his shoulders. His fringed buckskin shirt +was besprinkled with blood. He threw down the deer at the door of his +wife’s mother’s home, according to custom, and then walked proudly +to his own. At the door of his father’s teepee he stood for a moment +straight as a pine-tree, and then entered. + +When a bear was brought in, a hundred or more of these urchins were wont +to make the woods resound with their voices: “Wah! wah! wah! Wah! wah! +wah! The brave White Rabbit brings a bear! Wah! wah! wah!” + +All day these sing-song cheers were kept up, as the game was brought +in. At last, toward the close of the afternoon, all the hunters had +returned, and happiness and contentment reigned absolute, in a fashion +which I have never observed among the white people, even in the best +of circumstances. The men were lounging and smoking; the women actively +engaged in the preparation of the evening meal, and the care of the +meat. The choicest of the game was cooked and offered to the Great +Mystery, with all the accompanying ceremonies. This we called the +“medicine feast.” Even the women, as they lowered the boiling pot, +or the fragrant roast of venison ready to serve, would first whisper: +“Great Mystery, do thou partake of this venison, and still be gracious!” + This was the commonly said “grace.” + +Everything went smoothly with us, on this occasion, when we first +entered the woods. Nothing was wanting to our old way of living. The +killing of deer and elk and moose had to be stopped for a time, since +meat was so abundant that we had no use for them any longer. Only the +hunting for pelts, such as those of the bear, beaver, marten, and otter +was continued. But whenever we lived in blessed abundance, our braves +were wont to turn their thoughts to other occupations--especially the +hot-blooded youths whose ambition it was to do something noteworthy. + +At just such moments as this there are always a number of priests in +readiness, whose vocation it is to see into the future, and each of whom +consults his particular interpreter of the Great Mystery. (This ceremony +is called by the white people “making medicine.”) To the priests the +youthful braves hint their impatience for the war-path. Soon comes the +desired dream or prophecy or vision to favor their departure. + +Our young men presently received their sign, and for a few days all was +hurry and excitement. On the appointed morning we heard the songs of the +warriors and the wailing of the women, by which they bade adieu to +each other, and the eligible braves, headed by an experienced man--old +Hotanka or Loud-Voiced Raven--set out for the Gros Ventre country. + +Our older heads, to be sure, had expressed some disapproval of the +undertaking, for the country in which we were roaming was not our own, +and we were likely at any time to be taken to task by its rightful +owners. The plain truth of the matter was that we were intruders. Hence +the more thoughtful among us preferred to be at home, and to achieve +what renown they could get by defending their homes and families. The +young men, however, were so eager for action and excitement that they +must needs go off in search of it. + +From the early morning when these braves left us, led by the old +war-priest, Loud-Voiced Raven, the anxious mothers, sisters and +sweethearts counted the days. Old Smoky Day would occasionally get up +early in the morning, and sing a “strong-heart” song for his absent +grandson. I still seem to hear the hoarse, cracked voice of the ancient +singer as it resounded among the woods. For a long time our roving +community enjoyed unbroken peace, and we were spared any trouble or +disturbance. Our hunters often brought in a deer or elk or bear for +fresh meat. The beautiful lakes furnished us with fish and wild-fowl +for variety. Their placid waters, as the autumn advanced, reflected the +variegated colors of the changing foliage. + +It is my recollection that we were at this time encamped in the vicinity +of the “Turtle Mountain’s Heart.” It is to the highest cone-shaped peak +that the Indians aptly give this appellation. Our camping-ground for two +months was within a short distance of the peak, and the men made it a +point to often send one of their number to the top. It was understood +between them and the war party that we were to remain near this spot; +and on their return trip the latter were to give the “smoke sign,” which +we would answer from the top of the hill. + +One day, as we were camping on the shore of a large lake with several +islands, signs of moose were discovered, and the men went off to them on +rafts, carrying their flint-lock guns in anticipation of finding two or +three of the animals. We little fellows, as usual, were playing down by +the sandy shore, when we spied what seemed like the root of a great tree +floating toward us. But on a closer scrutiny we discovered our error. +It was the head of a huge moose, swimming for his life! Fortunately for +him, none of the men had remained at home. + +According to our habit, we little urchins disappeared in an instant, +like young prairie chickens, in the long grass. I was not more than +eight years old, yet I tested the strength of my bowstring and adjusted +my sharpest and best arrow for immediate service. My heart leaped +violently as the homely but imposing animal neared the shore. I was +undecided for a moment whether I would not leave my hiding-place and +give a war-whoop as soon as he touched the sand. Then I thought I would +keep still and let him have my boy weapon; and the only regret that +I had was that he would, in all probability, take it with him, and I +should be minus one good arrow. + +“Still,” I thought, “I shall claim to be the smallest boy whose arrow +was ever carried away by a moose.” That was enough. I gathered myself +into a bunch, all ready to spring. As the long-legged beast pulled +himself dripping out of the water, and shook off the drops from his long +hair, I sprang to my feet. I felt some of the water in my face! I gave +him my sharpest arrow with all the force I could master, right among the +floating ribs. Then I uttered my warwhoop. + +The moose did not seem to mind the miniature weapon, but he was very +much frightened by our shrill yelling. He took to his long legs, and in +a minute was out of sight. + +The leaves had now begun to fall, and the heavy frosts made the nights +very cold. We were forced to realize that the short summer of that +region had said adieu! Still we were gay and lighthearted, for we had +plenty of provisions, and no misfortune had yet overtaken us in our +wanderings over the country for nearly three months. + +One day old Smoky Day returned from the daily hunt with an alarm. He had +seen a sign-a “smoke sign.” This had not appeared in the quarter that +they were anxiously watching--it came from the east. After a long +consultation among the men, it was concluded from the nature and +duration of the smoke that it proceeded from an accidental fire. It was +further surmised that the fire was not made by Sioux, since it was out +of their country, but by a war-party of Ojibways, who were accustomed +to use matches when lighting their pipes, and to throw them carelessly +away. It was thought that a little time had been spent in an attempt to +put it out. + +The council decreed that a strict look-out should be established in +behalf of our party. Every day a scout was appointed to reconnoitre in +the direction of the smoke. It was agreed that no gun should be fired +for twelve days. All our signals were freshly rehearsed among the men. +The women and old men went so far as to dig little convenient holes +around their lodges, for defense in case of a sudden attack. And yet an +Ojibway scout would not have suspected, from the ordinary appearance of +the camp, that the Sioux had become aware of their neighborhood! Scouts +were stationed just outside of the village at night. They had been so +trained as to rival an owl or a cat in their ability to see in the dark. + +The twelve days passed by, however, without bringing any evidence of +the nearness of the supposed Ojibway war-party, and the “lookout” + established for purposes of protection was abandoned. Soon after this, +one morning at dawn, we were aroused by the sound of the unwelcome +warwhoop. Although only a child, I sprang up and was about to rush out, +as I had been taught to do; but my good grandmother pulled me down, and +gave me a sign to lay flat on the ground. I sharpened my ears and lay +still. + +All was quiet in camp, but at some little distance from us there was a +lively encounter. I could distinctly hear the old herald, shouting and +yelling in exasperation. “Whoo! whoo!” was the signal of distress, and I +could almost hear the pulse of my own blood-vessels. + +Closer and closer the struggle came, and still the women appeared to +grow more and more calm. At last a tremendous charge by the Sioux put +the enemy to flight; there was a burst of yelling; alas! my friend and +teacher, old Smoky Day, was silent. He had been pierced to the heart by +an arrow from the Ojibways. + +Although successful, we had lost two of our men, Smoky Day and White +Crane, and this incident, although hardly unexpected, darkened our +peaceful sky. The camp was filled with songs of victory, mingled with +the wailing of the relatives of the slain. The mothers of the youths who +were absent on the war-path could no longer conceal their anxiety. + +One frosty morning--for it was then near the end of October--the weird +song of a solitary brave was heard. In an instant the camp was thrown +into indescribable confusion. The meaning of this was clear as day to +everybody--all of our war-party were killed, save the one whose mournful +song announced the fate of his companions. The lonely warrior was Bald +Eagle. + +The village was convulsed with grief; for in sorrow, as in joy, every +Indian shares with all the others. The old women stood still, wherever +they might be, and wailed dismally, at intervals chanting the praises +of the departed warriors. The wives went a little way from their teepees +and there audibly mourned; but the young maidens wandered further away +from the camp, where no one could witness their grief. The old men +joined in the crying and singing. To all appearances the most unmoved of +all were the warriors, whose tears must be poured forth in the country +of the enemy to embitter their vengeance. These sat silently within +their lodges, and strove to conceal their feelings behind a stoical +countenance; but they would probably have failed had not the soothing +weed come to their relief. + +The first sad shock over, then came the change of habiliments. In +savage usage, the outward expression of mourning surpasses that of +civilization. The Indian mourner gives up all his good clothing, and +contents himself with scanty and miserable garments. Blankets are cut in +two, and the hair is cropped short. Often a devoted mother would +scarify her arms or legs; a sister or a young wife would cut off all her +beautiful hair and disfigure herself by undergoing hardships. Fathers +and brothers blackened their faces, and wore only the shabbiest +garments. Such was the spectacle that our people presented when the +bright autumn was gone and the cold shadow of winter and misfortune +had fallen upon us. “We must suffer,” said they--“the Great Mystery is +offended.” + + + + +II. A Winter Camp + +WHEN I was about twelve years old we wintered upon the Mouse river, west +of Turtle mountain. It was one of the coldest winters I ever knew, and +was so regarded by the old men of the tribe. The summer before there had +been plenty of buffalo upon that side of the Missouri, and our people +had made many packs of dried buffalo meat and cached them in different +places, so that they could get them in case of need. There were many +black-tailed deer and elk along the river, and grizzlies were to be +found in the open country. Apparently there was no danger of starvation, +so our people thought to winter there; but it proved to be a hard +winter. + +There was a great snow-fall, and the cold was intense. The snow was +too deep for hunting, and the main body of the buffalo had crossed the +Missouri, where it was too far to go after them. But there were some +smaller herds of the animals scattered about in our vicinity, therefore +there was still fresh meat to be had, but it was not secured without a +great deal of difficulty. + +No ponies could be used. The men hunted on snow-shoes until after the +Moon of Sore Eyes (March), when after a heavy thaw a crust was formed +on the snow which would scarcely hold a man. It was then that our people +hunted buffalo with dogs--an unusual expedient. + +Sleds were made of buffalo ribs and hickory saplings, the runners bound +with rawhide with the hair side down. These slipped smoothly over the +icy crust. Only small men rode on the sleds. When buffalo were reported +by the hunting-scouts, everybody had his dog team ready. All went under +orders from the police, and approached the herd under cover until they +came within charging distance. + +The men had their bows and arrows, and a few had guns. The huge animals +could not run fast in the deep snow. They all followed a leader, +trampling out a narrow path. The dogs with their drivers soon caught up +with them on each side, and the hunters brought many of them down. + +I remember when the party returned, late in the night. The men came +in single file, well loaded, and each dog following his master with an +equally heavy load. Both men and animals were white with frost. + +We boys had waited impatiently for their arrival. As soon as we spied +them coming a buffalo hunting whistle was started, and every urchin in +the village added his voice to the weird sound, while the dogs who had +been left at home joined with us in the chorus. The men, wearing their +buffalo moccasins with the hair inside and robes of the same, came home +hungry and exhausted. + +It is often supposed that the dog in the Indian camp is a useless member +of society, but it is not so in the wild life. We found him one of the +most useful of domestic animals, especially in an emergency. + +While at this camp a ludicrous incident occurred that is still told +about the camp-fires of the Sioux. One day the men were hunting on +snow-shoes, and contrived to get within a short distance of the buffalo +before they made the attack. It was impossible to run fast, but the huge +animals were equally unable to get away. Many were killed. Just as the +herd reached an open plain one of the buffaloes stopped and finally lay +down. Three of the men who were pursuing him shortly came up. The animal +was severely wounded, but not dead. + +“I shall crawl up to him from behind and stab him,” said Wamedee; “we +cannot wait here for him to die.” The others agreed. Wamedee was not +considered especially brave; but he took out his knife and held it +between his teeth. He then approached the buffalo from behind and +suddenly jumped astride his back. + +The animal was dreadfully frightened and struggled to his feet. +Wamedee’s knife fell to the ground, but he held on by the long shaggy +hair. He had a bad seat, for he was upon the buffalo’s hump. There was +no chance to jump off; he had to stay on as well as he could. + +“Hurry! hurry! shoot! shoot!” he screamed, as the creature plunged and +kicked madly in the deep snow. Wamedee’s face looked deathly, they said; +but his two friends could not help laughing. He was still calling upon +them to shoot, but when the others took aim he would cry: “Don’t shoot! +don’t shoot! you will kill me!” At last the animal fell down with him; +but Wamedee’s two friends also fell down exhausted with laughter. He was +ridiculed as a coward thereafter. + +It was on this very hunt that the chief Mato was killed by a buffalo. It +happened in this way. He had wounded the animal, but not fatally; so +he shot two more arrows at him from a distance. Then the buffalo became +desperate and charged upon him. In his flight Mato was tripped by +sticking one of his snow-shoes into a snowdrift, from which he could not +extricate himself in time. The bull gored him to death. The creek upon +which this happened is now called Mato creek. + +A little way from our camp there was a log village of French Canadian +half-breeds, but the two villages did not intermingle. About the Moon of +Difficulty (January) we were initiated into some of the peculiar customs +of our neighbors. In the middle of the night there was a firing of +guns throughout their village. Some of the people thought they had been +attacked, and went over to assist them, but to their surprise they were +told that this was the celebration of the birth of the new year! + +Our men were treated to minnewakan or “spirit water,” and they came home +crazy and foolish. They talked loud and sang all the rest of the night. +Finally our head chief ordered his young men to tie these men up and put +them in a lodge by themselves. He gave orders to untie them “when the +evil spirit had gone away.” + +During the next day all our people were invited to attend the +half-breeds’ dance. I never knew before that a new year begins in +mid-winter. We had always counted that the year ends when the winter +ends, and a new year begins with the new life in the springtime. + +I was now taken for the first time to a white man’s dance in a log +house. I thought it was the dizziest thing I ever saw. One man sat in +a corner, sawing away at a stringed board, and all the while he was +stamping the floor with his foot and giving an occasional shout. When he +called out, the dancers seemed to move faster. + +The men danced with women--something that we Indians never do--and when +the man in the corner shouted they would swing the women around. It +looked very rude to me, as I stood outside with the other boys and +peeped through the chinks in the logs. At one time a young man and woman +facing each other danced in the middle of the floor. I thought they +would surely wear their moccasins out against the rough boards; but +after a few minutes they were relieved by another couple. + +Then an old man with long curly hair and a fox-skin cap danced alone in +the middle of the room, slapping the floor with his moccasined foot in +a lightning fashion that I have never seen equalled. He seemed to be +a leader among them. When he had finished, the old man invited our +principal chief into the middle of the floor, and after the Indian had +given a great whoop, the two drank in company. After this, there was so +much drinking and loud talking among the men, that it was thought best +to send us children back to the camp. + +It was at this place that we found many sand boulders like a big “white +man’s house.” There were holes in them like rooms, and we played in +these cave-like holes. One day, in the midst of our game, we found the +skeleton of a great bear. Evidently he had been wounded and came there +to die, for there were several arrows on the floor of the cave. + +The most exciting event of this year was the attack that the Gros +Ventres made upon us just as we moved our camp upon the table land back +of the river in the spring. We had plenty of meat then and everybody was +happy. The grass was beginning to appear and the ponies to grow fat. + +One night there was a war dance. A few of our young men had planned to +invade the Gros Ventres country, but it seemed that they too had been +thinking of us. Everybody was interested in the proposed war party. + +“Uncle, are you going too?” I eagerly asked him. + +“No,” he replied, with a long sigh. “It is the worst time of year to go +on the war-path. We shall have plenty of fighting this summer, as we are +going to trench upon their territory in our hunts,” he added. + +The night was clear and pleasant. The war drum was answered by the howls +of coyotes on the opposite side of the Mouse river. I was in the throng, +watching the braves who were about to go out in search of glory. “I wish +I were old enough; I would surely go with this party,” I thought. My +friend Tatanka was to go. He was several years older than I, and a +hero in my eyes. I watched him as he danced with the rest until nearly +midnight. Then I came back to our teepee and rolled myself in my buffalo +robe and was soon lost in sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by loud war cries. “‘Woo! woo! hay-ay! hay-ay! U +we do! U we do!’” I jumped upon my feet, snatched my bow and arrows and +rushed out of the teepee, frantically yelling as I went. + +“Stop! stop!” screamed Uncheedah, and caught me by my long hair. + +By this time the Gros Ventres had encircled our camp, sending volleys +of arrows and bullets into our midst. The women were digging ditches in +which to put their children. + +My uncle was foremost in the battle. The Sioux bravely withstood the +assault, although several of our men had already fallen. Many of the +enemy were killed in the field around our teepees. The Sioux at last got +their ponies and made a counter charge, led by Oyemakasan (my uncle). +They cut the Gros Ventre party in two, and drove them off. + +My friend Tatanka was killed. I took one of his eagle feathers, thinking +I would wear it the first time that I ever went upon the war-path. I +thought I would give anything for the opportunity to go against the Gros +Ventres, because they killed my friend. The war songs, the wailing for +the dead, the howling of the dogs was intolerable to me. Soon after this +we broke up our camp and departed for new scenes. + + + + +III. Wild Harvests + +WHEN our people lived in Minnesota, a good part of their natural +subsistence was furnished by the wild rice, which grew abundantly in all +of that region. Around the shores and all over some of the innumerable +lakes of the “Land of Sky-blue Water” was this wild cereal found. +Indeed, some of the watery fields in those days might be compared +in extent and fruitfulness with the fields of wheat on Minnesota’s +magnificent farms to-day. + +The wild rice harvesters came in groups of fifteen to twenty families +to a lake, depending upon the size of the harvest. Some of the Indians +hunted buffalo upon the prairie at this season, but there were more who +preferred to go to the lakes to gather wild rice, fish, gather berries +and hunt the deer. There was an abundance of water-fowls among the +grain; and really no season of the year was happier than this. + +The camping-ground was usually an attractive spot, with shade and cool +breezes off the water. The people, while they pitched their teepees upon +the heights, if possible, for the sake of a good outlook, actually lived +in their canoes upon the placid waters. The happiest of all, perhaps, +were the young maidens, who were all day long in their canoes, in twos +or threes, and when tired of gathering the wild cereal, would sit in the +boats doing their needle-work. + +These maidens learned to imitate the calls of the different water-fowls +as a sort of signal to the members of a group. Even the old women and +the boys adopted signals, so that while the population of the village +was lost to sight in a thick field of wild rice, a meeting could be +arranged without calling any one by his or her own name. It was a great +convenience for those young men who sought opportunity to meet certain +maidens, for there were many canoe paths through the rice. + +August is the harvest month. There were many preliminary feasts of fish, +ducks and venison, and offerings in honor of the “Water Chief,” so +that there might not be any drowning accident during the harvest. The +preparation consisted of a series of feasts and offerings for many days, +while women and men were making birch canoes, for nearly every member +of the family must be provided with one for this occasion. The blueberry +and huckleberry-picking also preceded the rice-gathering. + +There were social events which enlivened the camp of the harvesters; +such as maidens’ feasts, dances and a canoe regatta or two, in which not +only the men were participants, but women and young girls as well. + +On the appointed day all the canoes were carried to the shore and placed +upon the water with prayer and propitiatory offerings. Each family took +possession of the allotted field, and tied all the grain in bundles of +convenient size, allowing it to stand for a few days. Then they again +entered the lake, assigning two persons to each canoe. One manipulated +the paddle, while the foremost one gently drew the heads of each bundle +toward him and gave it a few strokes with a light rod. This caused the +rice to fall into the bottom of the craft. The field was traversed in +this manner back and forth until finished. + +This was the pleasantest and easiest part of the harvest toil. The real +work was when they prepared the rice for use. First of all, it must be +made perfectly dry. They would spread it upon buffalo robes and mats, +and sometimes upon layers of coarse swamp grass, and dry it in the sun. +If the time was short, they would make a scaffold and spread upon it a +certain thickness of the green grass and afterward the rice. Under this +a fire was made, taking care that the grass did not catch fire. + +When all the rice is gathered and dried, the hulling begins. A round +hole is dug about two feet deep and the same in diameter. Then the rice +is heated over a fire-place, and emptied into the hole while it is hot. +A young man, having washed his feet and put on a new pair of moccasins, +treads upon it until all is hulled. The women then pour it upon a robe +and begin to shake it so that the chaff will be separated by the wind. +Some of the rice is browned before being hulled. + +During the hulling time there were prizes offered to the young men who +can hull quickest and best. There were sometimes from twenty to fifty +youths dancing with their feet in these holes. + +Pretty moccasins were brought by shy maidens to the youths of their +choice, asking them to hull rice. There were daily entertainments which +deserved some such name as “hulling bee”--at any rate, we all enjoyed +them hugely. The girls brought with them plenty of good things to eat. + +When all the rice was prepared for the table, the matter of storing it +must be determined. Caches were dug by each family in a concealed +spot, and carefully lined with dry grass and bark. Here they left their +surplus stores for a time of need. Our people were very ingenious in +covering up all traces of the hidden food. A common trick was to build +a fire on top of the mound. As much of the rice as could be carried +conveniently was packed in par-fleches, or cases made of rawhide, and +brought back with us to our village. + +After all, the wild Indians could not be justly termed improvident, when +their manner of life is taken into consideration. They let nothing go +to waste, and labored incessantly during the summer and fall to lay +up provision for the inclement season. Berries of all kinds were +industriously gathered, and dried in the sun. Even the wild cherries +were pounded up, stones and all, made into small cakes and dried for use +in soups and for mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to form a +much-prized Indian delicacy. + +Out on the prairie in July and August the women were wont to dig +teepsinna with sharpened sticks, and many a bag full was dried and put +away. This teepsinna is the root of a certain plant growing mostly upon +high sandy soil. It is starchy but solid, with a sweetish taste, and is +very fattening. The fully grown teepsinna is two or three inches long, +and has a dark-brown bark not unlike the bark of a young tree. It can be +eaten raw or stewed, and is always kept in a dried state, except when it +is first dug. + +There was another root that our people gathered in small quantities. It +is a wild sweet potato, found in bottom lands or river beds. + +The primitive housekeeper exerted herself much to secure a variety of +appetizing dishes; she even robbed the field mouse and the muskrat to +accomplish 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 domestic bean that I have ever tasted. Her storehouse is +usually under a peculiar mound, which the untrained 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 +vegetable, for she always gathers it more than any other. There is also +some of the white star-like manakcahkcah, 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. + +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, +perfumes it with scented grass or leaves, then arranges it in two plaits +with an otter skin or some other ornament. 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 maiden--especially 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 everybody 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, 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 surrendering to a woman. + +Sometimes a youth is so infatuated with a maiden 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 objection to him on the part of the girl’s parents, although 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 following 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, protruding 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! 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 adjust 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 woman! 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 nothing 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 +disappear in the darkness. + + + + +IV. A Meeting on the Plains + +WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river, a tributary +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 +report, 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 examination. Before a decision had been reached, another +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 positive +information that the Canadians were at hand, “for,” said they, “there +are no bright metals in the moving train to send forth flashes of light. +The separate bodies are short, like carts with ponies, and not like the +long, four-wheeled wagon drawn by four or six mules, that the soldiers +use. They are not buffaloes, and they cannot be mounted troops, with +pack-mules, because the individual bodies are too long for that. +Besides, the soldiers usually have their chief, with his guards, leading +the train; and the little chiefs are also separated from the main body +and ride at one side!” + +From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet with +the bois brules, as the French call their mixed-bloods, presumably from +the color of their complexions. Some say that they are named from the +“burned forests” which, as wood-cutters, they are accustomed to leave +behind them. Two or three hours later, at about sunset, our ears began +to distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train +of their carts. It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals, +and is due to the fact that the wheels and all other parts of these +vehicles are made of wood. Our dogs gleefully augmented the volume of +inharmonious sound. + +They stopped a little way from our camp, upon a grassy plain, and the +ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect +circle, the shafts being turned inward. Thus was formed a sort of +barricade--quite a usual and necessary precaution in their nomadic and +adventurous life. Within this circle the tents were pitched, and many +cheerful fires were soon kindled. The garcons were hurriedly driving +the ponies to water, with much cracking of whips and outbursting of +impatient oaths. + +Our chief and his principal warriors briefly conferred with the +strangers, and it was understood by both parties that no thought of +hostilities lurked in the minds of either. + +After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows +a “peace council,” there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both +camps. The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading-post, +and it so happened that their inevitable whiskey keg was almost empty. +They had diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full +of water. In order to have any sort of offensive taste, it was necessary +to add cayenne pepper and a little gentian. + +Our men were treated to this concoction; and seeing that two or three +of the half-breeds pretended to become intoxicated, our braves followed +their example. They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing +until past midnight, when gradually all disturbance ceased, and both +camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber. + +Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers. Many more +reports were heard in quick succession, all coming from the camp of the +bois brules. Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet, weapon in +hand, and many ran towards their ponies. But there was one significant +point about the untimely firing of the guns--they were all directed +heavenward! One of our old men, who understood better than any one else +the manners of the half-breeds, thus proclaimed at the top of his voice: + +“Let the people sleep! This that we have heard is the announcement of +a boy’s advent into the world! It is their custom to introduce with +gunpowder a new-born boy!” + +Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps, and for a time the +night reigned undisturbed. But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep +when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns +and the yelling of warriors. This time it was discovered that almost all +the ponies, including those of our neighbors, had been stealthily driven +off by horse-thieves of another tribe. + +These miscreants were adepts in their profession, for they had +accomplished their purpose with much skill, almost under the very eyes +of the foe, and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow +Dog, they would have met with complete success. As it was, they caused +us no little trouble and anxiety, but after a hot pursuit of a whole +day, with the assistance of the halfbreeds our horses were recaptured. + +Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit, and +boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men, without any success, +only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of embarrassment and +ridicule. Yet there is one quality always possessed by such persons, +among a savage people as elsewhere--namely, great perseverance and +tenacity in their self-assertion. So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow +Dog always cheerful; and he seemed, if anything, to derive some pleasure +from the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people! + +Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed, on the night before this event, that +he had received the warning of a bad dream, in which he had seen all the +ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward. + +“But who cares for Slow Dog’s dream?” said everybody; “none of the +really great medicine men have had any such visions!” + +Therefore our little community, given as they were to superstition, +anticipated no special danger. It is true that when the first scout +reported the approach of troops some of the people had weakened, and +said to one another: + +“After all, perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right; but we are always too +ready to laugh at him!” + +However, this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians +arrived, and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning. + +He was faithful to his dream. During all the hilarity of the feast and +the drinking of the mock whiskey, be acted as self-constituted sentinel. +Finally, when everybody else had succumbed to sleep, he gathered +together several broken and discarded lariats of various +materials--leather, buffalo’s hair and horse’s hair. Having lengthened +this variegated rope with innumerable knots, he fastened one end of it +around the neck of his old war-horse, and tied the other to his wrist. +Instead of sleeping inside the tent as usual, he rolled himself in a +buffalo robe and lay down in its shadow. From this place he watched +until the moon had disappeared behind the western horizon; and just as +the grey dawn began to appear in the east his eyes were attracted to +what seemed to be a dog moving among the picketed ponies. Upon a closer +scrutiny, he saw that its actions were unnatural. + +“Toka abe do! toka abe do!” (the enemy! the enemy!) exclaimed Slow Dog. +With a warwhoop he sprang toward the intruder, who rose up and leaped +upon the back of Slow Dog’s warsteed. He had cut the hobble, as well as +the device of the old medicine man. + +The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot, but it was too late. The other +quickly dodged behind the animal, and from under its chest he sent a +deadly arrow to Slow Dog’s bosom. Then he remounted the pony and set off +at full speed after his comrades, who had already started. + +As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm, and passed by the daring old +warrior in pursuit of their enemies, who had stampeded most of the loose +ponies, the old man cried out: + +“I, brave Slow Dog, who have so often made a path for you on the field +of battle, am now about to make one to the land of spirits!” + +So speaking, the old man died. The Sioux were joined in the chase by the +friendly mixedbloods, and in the end the Blackfeet were compelled to pay +dearly for the blood of the poor old man. + +On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling, but +the Sioux were mourning and wailing for the death of one who had been +an object of ridicule during most of his life. They appreciated the part +that Slow Dog had played in this last event, and his memory was honored +by all the tribe. + + + + +V. An Adventurous Journey + +IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of +new hunting-grounds, from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri. +The buffalo, formerly so abundant between the two rivers, had begun to +shun their usual haunts, on account of the great numbers of Canadian +halfbreeds in that part of the country. There was also the first influx +of English sportsmen, whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought +such havoc with the herds. These seemingly intelligent animals correctly +prophesied to the natives the approach of the pale-face. + +As we had anticipated, we found game very scarce as we travelled slowly +across the vast plains. There were only herds of antelope and sometimes +flocks of waterfowl, with here and there a lonely bull straggling +aimlessly along. At first our party was small, but as we proceeded +on our way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux and +Assiniboines, who are close connections. + +Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles. +One might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion. The 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 +others 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 ordinary company of travelers. + +This journey of ours was not without its exciting 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 injuries that they had inflicted upon our family. +This time he met with a company of soldiers between 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 promotions 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 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 performed 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 requires a great deal of skill as +well. + +A misfortune occurred near the river which deprived 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 Christian 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 disposed to part with his fine mules. A certain +one of the mixed-bloods was intent upon getting possession 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 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 murderer. The confusion was +made yet more intolerable by the wailing of the women and the singing of +death-songs. + +Our number was now ten to one of the halfbreeds. 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 signal of their chief. + +The older men, however, were discussing in council what should be +demanded of the halfbreeds. It was determined that the murderer must be +given up to us, to be punished according 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 offenders 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 deerskin 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, unarmed and making the sign +for a peaceful communication. He was admitted to the council, which +was still in session, and offered to give up the murderer. It was also +proposed, as an alternative, 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 regarded as incompetent judges, under the +circumstances. 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 whipping, 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 +officer, who was not always the chief, but a member of the tribe +appointed to this position for a given number of days. There were 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 destroy his +tent or take away his weapons. When all the sticks had been returned, +they were reissued 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 necessary +qualification for the office of an Indian policeman. 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 discovery 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 +serve for a certain length of time. An Indian might hunt every day, +besides the regularly organized hunt; but he was liable to punishment at +any time. If he could kill a solitary buffalo or deer without disturbing +the herd, it was allowed. He might also hunt small game. + +In the movable town under such a government as this, there was apt to +be inconvenience and actual suffering, since a great body of people were +supported only by the daily hunt. Hence there was a constant disposition +to break up into smaller parties, in order to obtain food more easily +and freely. Yet the wise men of the Dakotas would occasionally form +large bands of from two to five thousand people, who camped and moved +about together for a period of some months. It is apparent that so large +a body could not be easily supplied with the necessaries of life; but, +on the other hand, our enemies respected such a gathering! Of course +the nomadic government would do its utmost to hold together as long as +possible. The police did all they could to keep in check those parties +who were intent upon stealing away. + +There were many times, however, when individual bands and even families +were justified in seeking to separate themselves from the rest, in order +to gain a better support. It was chiefly by reason of this food +question that the Indians never established permanent towns or organized +themselves into a more formidable nation. + +There was a sad misfortune which, although it happened many generations +ago, was familiarly quoted among us. A certain band became very +independent and unruly; they went so far as to wilfully disobey the +orders of the general government. The police were directed to punish +the leader severely; whereupon the rest defended him and resisted the +police. But the latter were competent to enforce their authority, and as +a result the entire band was annihilated. + +One day, as we were following along the bank of the Upper Missouri, +there appeared to be a great disturbance at the head of the +cavalcade--so much so that we thought our people had been attacked by a +war-party of the Crows or some of the hostile tribes of that region. In +spite of the danger, even the women and children hurried forward to join +the men--that is to say, as many as were not upon the hunt. Most of the +warriors were out, as usual, and only the large boys and the old men +were travelling with the women and their domestic effects and little +ones. + +As we approached the scene of action, we heard loud shouts and +the report of fire-arms; but our party was scattered along for a +considerable distance, and all was over before we could reach the +spot. It was a great grizzly bear who had been bold enough to oppose, +single-handed, the progress of several hundred Indians. The council-men, +who usually walked a little in advance of the train, were the first to +meet the bear, and he was probably deceived by the sight of this advance +body, and thus audaciously defied them. + +Among these council-men--all retired chiefs and warriors whose ardent +zeal for the display of courage had long been cooled, and whose present +duties were those of calm deliberation for their people’s welfare--there +were two old, distinguished war-chiefs. Each of these men still carried +his war-lance, wrapped up in decorated buckskin. As the bear advanced +boldly toward them, the two old men promptly threw off their robes--an +evidence that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit of +chivalry and ready courage. Spear in hand, they both sprang forward to +combat with the ferocious animal, taking up their positions about ten +feet apart. + +As they had expected, the fearful beast, after getting up on his +haunches and growling savagely, came forward with widely opened jaws. +He fixed his eyes upon the left-hand man, who was ready to meet him with +uplifted spear, but with one stroke of his powerful paw the weapon was +sent to the ground. At the same moment the right-hand man dealt him a +stab that penetrated the grizzly’s side. + +The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a man, and seized the spear +so violently that its owner was thrown to the ground. As the animal +drew the lance from its body, the first man, having recovered his own, +stabbed him with it on the other side. Upon this, he turned and knocked +the old man down, and again endeavored to extract the spear. + +By this time all the dogs and men were at hand. Many arrows and balls +were sent into the tough hide of the bear. Yet he would probably have +killed both his assailants, had it not been for the active small dogs +who were constantly upon his heels and annoying him. A deadly rifle shot +at last brought him down. + +The old men were badly bruised and torn, but both of them recovered, +to bear from that day the high-sounding titles of “Fought-the-Bear” and +“Conquered-the-Grizzly.” + + + + +XI. The Laughing Philosopher + +THERE is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the +natives of this country have no sense of humor and no faculty for mirth. +This phase of their character is well understood by those whose fortune +or misfortune it has been to live among them day in and day out at their +homes. I don’t believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the +Indians’ fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughing with +them until I could laugh no more. There are evenings when the recognized +wit or story-teller of the village gives a free entertainment which +keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves +them. However, Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and +inflections of the voice as in words, and is really untranslatable. + +Matogee (Yellow Bear) was a natural humorous speaker, and a very +diffident man at other times. He usually said little, but when he was +in the mood he could keep a large company in a roar. This was especially +the case whenever he met his brother-in-law, Tamedokah. + +It was a custom with us Indians to joke more particularly with our +brothers- and sisters-in-law. But no one ever complained, or resented +any of these jokes, however personal they might be. That would be an +unpardonable breach of etiquette. + +“Tamedokah, I heard that you tried to capture a buck by holding on +to his tail,” said Matogee, laughing. “I believe that feat cannot be +performed any more; at least, it never has been since the pale-face +brought us the knife, the ‘mysterious iron,’ and the pulverized coal +that makes bullets fly. Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives and +hatchets, I say, that has never been done.” + +The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a buck that day while hunting, +and as he was about to dress him the animal got up and attempted to +run, whereupon the Indian launched forth to secure his game. He only +succeeded in grasping the tail of the deer, and was pulled about all +over the meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail came off in his +hands. Matogee thought this too good a joke to be lost. + +I sat near the door of the tent, and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the +comical accident. + +“Yes,” Tamedokah quietly replied, “I thought I would do something to +beat the story of the man who rode a young elk, and yelled frantically +for help, crying like a woman.” + +“Ugh! that was only a legend,” retorted Matogee, for it was he who was +the hero of this tale in his younger days. “But this is a fresh feat of +to-day. Chankpayuhah said he could not tell which was the most scared, +the buck or you,” he continued. “He said the deer’s eyes were bulging +out of their sockets, while Tamedokah’s mouth was constantly enlarging +toward his ears, and his hair floated on the wind, shaking among the +branches of the trees. That will go down with the traditions of our +fathers,” he concluded with an air of satisfaction. + +“It was a singular mishap,” admitted Tamedokah. + +The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed to Tamedokah +good-naturedly, still with a broad smile on his face. “It must be +acknowledged,” he resumed, “that you have the strongest kind of a grip, +for no one else could hold on as long as you did, and secure such a +trophy besides. That tail will do for an eagle feather holder.” + +By this time the teepee was packed to overflowing. Loud laughter had +been heard issuing from the lodge of Matogee, and everybody suspected +that he had something good, so many had come to listen. + +“I think we should hear the whole matter,” said one of the late comers. + +The teepee was brightly lit by the burning embers, and all the men were +sitting with their knees up against their chests, held in that position +by wrapping their robes tightly around loins and knees. This fixed them +something in the fashion of a rocking-chair. + +“Well, no one saw him except Chankpayuhah,” Matogee remarked. + +“Yes, yes, he must tell us about it,” exclaimed a chorus of voices. + +“This is what I saw,” the witness began. “I was tracking a buck and a +doe. As I approached a small opening at the creek side ‘boom!’ came a +report of the mysterious iron. I remained in a stooping position, hoping +to see a deer cross the opening. In this I was not disappointed, for +immediately after the report a fine buck dashed forth with Tamedokah +close behind him. The latter was holding on to the deer’s tail with +both hands and his knife was in his mouth, but it soon dropped out. +‘Tamedokah,’ I shouted, ‘haven’t you got hold of the wrong animal?’ but +as I spoke they disappeared into the woods. + +“In a minute they both appeared again, and then it was that I began +to laugh. I could not stop. It almost killed me. The deer jumped the +longest jumps I ever saw. Tamedokah walked the longest paces and was +very swift. His hair was whipping the trees as they went by. Water +poured down his face. I stood bent forward because I could not +straighten my back-bone, and was ready to fall when they again +disappeared. + +“When they came out for the third time it seemed as if the woods and the +meadow were moving too. Tamedokah skipped across the opening as if he +were a grasshopper learning to hop. I fell down. + +“When I came to he was putting water on my face and head, but when I +looked at him I fell again, and did not know anything until the sun had +passed the mid-sky. + +“The company was kept roaring all the way through this account, while +Tamedokah himself heartily joined in the mirth. + +“Ho, ho, ho!” they said; “he has made his name famous in our annals. +This will be told of him henceforth.” + +“It reminds me of Chadozee’s bear story,” said one. + +“His was more thrilling, because it was really dangerous,” interposed +another. + +“You can tell it to us, Bobdoo,” remarked a third. + +The man thus addressed made no immediate reply. He was smoking +contentedly. At last he silently returned the pipe to Matogee, with whom +it had begun its rounds. Deliberately he tightened his robe around him, +saying as he did so: + +“Ho (Yes). I was with him. It was by a very little that he saved his +life. I will tell you how it happened. + +“I was hunting with these two men, Nageedah and Chadozee. We came to +some wild cherry bushes. I began to eat of the fruit when I saw a large +silver-tip crawling toward us. ‘Look out! there is a grizzly here,’ I +shouted, and I ran my pony out on to the prairie; but the others had +already dismounted. + +“Nageedah had just time to jump upon his pony and get out of the way, +but the bear seized hold of his robe and pulled it off. Chadozee +stood upon the verge of a steep bank, below which there ran a deep and +swift-flowing stream. The bear rushed upon him so suddenly that when he +took a step backward, they both fell into the creek together. It was a +fall of about twice the height of a man.” + +“Did they go out of sight?” some one inquired. + +“Yes, both fell headlong. In his excitement Chadozee laid hold of the +bear in the water, and I never saw a bear try so hard to get away from a +man as this one did.” + +“Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!” they all laughed. + +“When they came to the surface again they were both so eager to get to +the shore that each let go, and they swam as quickly as they could to +opposite sides. Chadozee could not get any further, so he clung to a +stray root, still keeping a close watch of the bear, who was forced to +do the same. There they both hung, regarding each other with looks of +contempt and defiance.” + +“Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!” they all laughed again. + +“At last the bear swam along the edge to a lower place, and we pulled +Chadozee up by means of our lariats. All this time he had been groaning +so loud that we supposed he was badly torn; but when I looked for his +wounds I found a mere scratch.” + +Again the chorus of appreciation from his hearers. + +“The strangest thing about this affair of mine,” spoke up Tamedokah, “is +that I dreamed the whole thing the night before.” + +“There are some dreams come true, and I am a believer in dreams,” one +remarked. + +“Yes, certainly, so are we all. You know Hachah almost lost his life by +believing in dreams,” commented Matogee. + +“Let us hear that story,” was the general request. + +“You have all heard of Hachah, the great medicine man, who did many +wonderful things. He once dreamed four nights in succession of flying +from a high cliff over the Minnesota river. He recollected every +particular of the scene, and it made a great impression upon his mind. + +“The next day after he had dreamed it for the fourth time, he proposed +to his wife that they go down to the river to swim, but his real purpose +was to see the place of his dream. + +“He did find the place, and it seemed to Hachah exactly like. A crooked +tree grew out of the top of the cliff, and the water below was very +deep.” + +“Did he really fly?” I called impatiently from the doorway, where I had +been listening and laughing with the rest. + +“Ugh, that is what I shall tell you. He was swimming about with his +wife, who was a fine swimmer; but all at once Hachah disappeared. +Presently he stood upon the very tree that he had seen in his dream, +and gazed out over the water. The tree was very springy, and Hachah felt +sure that he could fly; so before long he launched bravely forth from +the cliff. He kicked out vigorously and swung both arms as he did so, +but nevertheless he came down to the bottom of the water like a crow +that had been shot on the wing.” + +“Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!” and the whole company laughed unreservedly. + +“His wife screamed loudly as Hachah whirled downward and went out +of sight like a blue heron after a fish. Then she feared he might be +stunned, so she swam to him and dragged him to the shore. He could not +speak, but the woman overwhelmed him with reproaches. + +“‘What are you trying to do, you old idiot? Do you want to kill +yourself?’ she screamed again and again. + +“‘Woman, be silent,’ he replied, and he said nothing more. He did not +tell his dream for many years afterward. Not until he was a very old man +and about to die, did Hachah tell any one how he thought he could fly.” + +And at this they all laughed louder than ever. + + + + +XII. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + +I WAS scarcely old enough to know anything definite about the “Big +Knives,” as we called the white men, when the terrible Minnesota +massacre broke up our home and I was carried into exile. I have already +told how I was adopted into the family of my father’s younger brother, +when my father was betrayed and imprisoned. We all supposed that he had +shared the fate of those who were executed at Mankato, Minnesota. + +Now the savage philosophers looked upon vengeance in the field of battle +as a lofty virtue. To avenge the death of a relative or of a dear friend +was considered a great deed. My uncle, accordingly, had spared no pains +to instill into my young mind the obligation to avenge the death of my +father and my older brothers. Already I looked eagerly forward to +the day when I should find an opportunity to carry out his teachings. +Meanwhile, he himself went upon the war-path and returned with scalps +every summer. So it may be imagined how I felt toward the Big Knives! + +On the other hand, I had heard marvelous things of this people. In +some things we despised them; in others we regarded them as wakan +(mysterious), a race whose power bordered upon the supernatural. I +learned that they had made a “fireboat.” I could not understand how +they could unite two elements which cannot exist together. I thought the +water would put out the fire, and the fire would consume the boat if +it had the shadow of a chance. This was to me a preposterous +thing! But when I was told that the Big Knives had created a +“fire-boat-walks-on-mountains” (a locomotive) it was too much to +believe. + +“Why,” declared my informant, “those who saw this monster move said that +it flew from mountain to mountain when it seemed to be excited. They +said also that they believed it carried a thunder-bird, for they +frequently heard his usual war-whoop as the creature sped along!” + +Several warriors had observed from a distance one of the first trains +on the Northern Pacific, and had gained an exaggerated impression of the +wonders of the pale-face. They had seen it go over a bridge that spanned +a deep ravine and it seemed to them that it jumped from one bank to the +other. I confess that the story almost quenched my ardor and bravery. + +Two or three young men were talking together about this fearful +invention. + +“However,” said one, “I understand that this +fire-boat-walks-on-mountains cannot move except on the track made for +it.” + +Although a boy is not expected to join in the conversation of his +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 +Mississippi 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 name--and not to us Dakotas. + +“For the same reason,” he answered, “that he gave to Duta the skill to +make fine bows and arrows, 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 comparatively few; later my +father visited their Great Father at Washington, and they had already +spread over the whole country.” + +“Certainly they are a heartless nation. They have made some of their +people servants--yes, 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 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, Minnesota) 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 goods--even 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 allowed 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 observed 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, 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 driven forward like a herd of antelopes to face the foe. It +is on account of this manner of fighting--from compulsion and not from +personal bravery--that 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 presented me with a +flint-lock gun. The possession 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 being--the 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 position as a man. +My boyish ways were departing, and a sullen dignity and composure was +taking their place. + +The thought of love did not hinder my ambitions. 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 +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 battles following, and +he was taught in prison and converted by the pioneer missionaries, Drs. +Williamson 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 became convinced that life on a government +reservation meant physical and moral degradation. Therefore he +determined, with several others, to try the white man’s way of gaining a +livelihood. They accordingly 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 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 unusual 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 unknown 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 +excited. 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 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 past. + +Still, I was eager to see some of the wonderful inventions of the +white people. When we reached Fort Totten, I gazed about me with lively +interest and a quick imagination. + +My father had forgotten to tell me that the fire-boat-walks-on-mountains +had its track at Jamestown, and might appear at any moment. As I was +watering the ponies, a peculiar shrilling noise pealed forth from just +beyond the hills. The ponies threw back their heads and listened; then +they ran snorting over the prairie. Meanwhile, I too had taken alarm. I +leaped on the back of one of the ponies, and dashed off at full +speed. It was a clear day; I could not imagine what had caused such an +unearthly noise. It seemed as if the world were about to burst in two! + +I got upon a hill as the train appeared. “O!” I said to myself, “that is +the fire-boat-walkson-mountains that I have heard about!” Then I drove +back the ponies. + +My father was accustomed every morning to read from his Bible, and +sing a stanza of a hymn. I was about very early with my gun for several +mornings; but at last he stopped me as I was preparing to go out, and +bade me wait. + +I listened with much astonishment. The hymn contained the word Jesus. +I did not comprehend what this meant; and my father then told me that +Jesus was the Son of God who came on earth to save sinners, and that it +was because of him that he had sought me. This conversation made a deep +impression upon my mind. + +Late in the fall we reached the citizen settlement at Flandreau, South +Dakota, where my father and some others dwelt among the whites. Here my +wild life came to an end, and my school days began. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Boyhood, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN BOYHOOD *** + +***** This file should be named 337-0.txt or 337-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/337/ + +Produced by Judith Boss + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/337-0.zip b/337-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e596430 --- /dev/null +++ b/337-0.zip diff --git a/337-h.zip b/337-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7635067 --- /dev/null +++ b/337-h.zip diff --git a/337-h/337-h.htm b/337-h/337-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..85cd140 --- /dev/null +++ b/337-h/337-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7157 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Indian Boyhood, by Ohiyesa (Charles A. Eastman) + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's Indian Boyhood, by [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Indian Boyhood + +Author: [AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #337] +Last Updated: October 7, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN BOYHOOD *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + INDIAN BOYHOOD + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Ohiyesa (Charles A. Eastman) + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I. EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> I. Hadakah, “The Pitiful Last” </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0003"> II. Early Hardships </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0004"> III. My Indian Grandmother </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0005"> IV. An Indian Sugar Camp </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0006"> V. A Midsummer Feast </a><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> II. AN INDIAN BOY’S TRAINING </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0008"> III. MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> I. Games and Sports </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0010"> II. My Playmates </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0011"> III: The Boy Hunter </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0012"> IV. Hakadah’s First Offering </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> V. FAMILY TRADITIONS </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> I: A Visit to Smoky Day </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0015"> II. The Stone Boy </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> VI. EVENING IN THE LODGE </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> I: Evening in the Lodge </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0018"> II. Adventures of My Uncle </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> VII. THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> VIII. THE MAIDENS’ FEAST </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0021"> IX. MORE LEGENDS </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> I: A Legend of Devil’s Lake </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0023"> II. Manitoshaw’s Hunting </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> X. INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE </a><br /> + </p> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> I: Life in the Woods </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0026"> II. A Winter Camp </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0027"> III. Wild Harvests </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0028"> IV. A Meeting on the Plains </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0029"> V. An Adventurous Journey </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0030"> XI. The Laughing Philosopher </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> XII. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION </a><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. Hadakah, “The Pitiful Last” + </h2> + <p> + WHAT boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest + life in the world? This life was mine. Every day there was a real hunt. + There was real game. Occasionally there was a medicine dance away off in + the woods where no one could disturb us, in which the boys impersonated + their elders, Brave Bull, Standing Elk, High Hawk, Medicine Bear, and the + rest. They painted and imitated their fathers and grandfathers to the + minutest detail, and accurately too, because they had seen the real thing + all their lives. + </p> + <p> + We were not only good mimics but we were close students of nature. We + studied the habits of animals just as you study your books. We watched the + men of our people and represented them in our play; then learned to + emulate them in our lives. + </p> + <p> + No people have a better use of their five senses than the children of the + wilderness. We could smell as well as hear and see. We could feel and + taste as well as we could see and hear. Nowhere has the memory been more + fully developed than in the wild life, and I can still see wherein I owe + much to my early training. + </p> + <p> + Of course I myself do not remember when I first saw the day, but my + brothers have often recalled the event with much mirth; for it was a + custom of the Sioux that when a boy was born his brother must plunge into + the water, or roll in the snow naked if it was winter time; and if he was + not big enough to do either of these himself, water was thrown on him. If + the new-born had a sister, she must be immersed. The idea was that a + warrior had come to camp, and the other children must display some act of + hardihood. + </p> + <p> + I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest of five children who, soon + after I was born, were left motherless. I had to bear the humiliating name + “Hakadah,” meaning “the pitiful last,” until I should earn a more + dignified and appropriate name. I was regarded as little more than a + plaything by the rest of the children. + </p> + <p> + My mother, who was known as the handsomest woman of all the Spirit Lake + and Leaf Dweller Sioux, was dangerously ill, and one of the medicine men + who attended her said: “Another medicine man has come into existence, but + the mother must die. Therefore let him bear the name ‘Mysterious + Medicine.’” But one of the bystanders hastily interfered, saying that an + uncle of the child already bore that name, so, for the time, I was only + “Hakadah.” + </p> + <p> + My beautiful mother, sometimes called the “Demi-Goddess” of the Sioux, who + tradition says had every feature of a Caucasian descent with the exception + of her luxuriant black hair and deep black eyes, held me tightly to her + bosom upon her death-bed, while she whispered a few words to her + mother-in-law. She said: “I give you this boy for your own. I cannot trust + my own mother with him; she will neglect him and he will surely die.” + </p> + <p> + The woman to whom these words were spoken was below the average in + stature, remarkably active for her age (she was then fully sixty), and + possessed of as much goodness as intelligence. My mother’s judgment + concerning her own mother was well founded, for soon after her death that + old lady appeared, and declared that Hakadah was too young to live without + a mother. She offered to keep me until I died, and then she would put me + in my mother’s grave. Of course my other grandmother denounced the + suggestion as a very wicked one, and refused to give me up. + </p> + <p> + The babe was done up as usual in a movable cradle made from an oak board + two and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide. On one side of it + was nailed with brass-headed tacks the richly-embroidered sack, which was + open in front and laced up and down with buckskin strings. Over the arms + of the infant was a wooden bow, the ends of which were firmly attached to + the board, so that if the cradle should fall the child’s head and face + would be protected. On this bow were hung curious playthings—strings + of artistically carved bones and hoofs of deer, which rattled when the + little hands moved them. + </p> + <p> + In this upright cradle I lived, played and slept the greater part of the + time during the first few months of my life. Whether I was made to lean + against a lodge pole or was suspended from a bough of a tree, while my + grandmother cut wood, or whether I was carried on her back, or + conveniently balanced by another child in a similar cradle hung on the + opposite side of a pony, I was still in my oaken bed. + </p> + <p> + This grandmother, who had already lived through sixty years of hardships, + was a wonder to the young maidens of the tribe. She showed no less + enthusiasm over Hakadah than she had done when she held her first-born, + the boy’s father, in her arms. Every little attention that is due to a + loved child she performed with much skill and devotion. She made all my + scanty garments and my tiny moccasins with a great deal of taste. It was + said by all that I could not have had more attention had my mother been + living. + </p> + <p> + Uncheedah (grandmother) was a great singer. Sometimes, when Hakadah + wakened too early in the morning, she would sing to him something like the + following lullaby: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Sleep, sleep, my boy, the Chippewas + + Are far away—are far away. + + Sleep, sleep, my boy; prepare to meet + + The foe by day—the foe by day! + + The cowards will not dare to fight + + Till morning break—till morning break. + + Sleep, sleep, my child, while still ‘tis night; + + Then bravely wake—then bravely wake! +</pre> + <p> + The Dakota women were wont to cut and bring their fuel from the woods and, + in fact, to perform most of the drudgery of the camp. This of necessity + fell to their lot, because the men must follow the game during the day. + Very often my grandmother carried me with her on these excursions; and + while she worked it was her habit to suspend me from a wild grape vine or + a springy bough, so that the least breeze would swing the cradle to and + fro. + </p> + <p> + She has told me that when I had grown old enough to take notice, I was + apparently capable of holding extended conversations in an unknown dialect + with birds and red squirrels. Once I fell asleep in my cradle, suspended + five or six feet from the ground, while Uncheedah was some distance away, + gathering birch bark for a canoe. A squirrel had found it convenient to + come upon the bow of my cradle and nibble his hickory nut, until he awoke + me by dropping the crumbs of his meal. My disapproval of his intrusion was + so decided that he had to take a sudden and quick flight to another bough, + and from there he began to pour out his wrath upon me, while I continued + my objections to his presence so audibly that Uncheedah soon came to my + rescue, and compelled the bold intruder to go away. It was a common thing + for birds to alight on my cradle in the woods. + </p> + <p> + My food was, at first, a troublesome question for my kind foster-mother. + She cooked some wild rice and strained it, and mixed it with broth made + from choice venison. She also pounded dried venison almost to a flour, and + kept it in water till the nourishing juices were extracted, then mixed + with it some pounded maize, which was browned before pounding. This soup + of wild rice, pounded venison and maize was my main-stay. But soon my + teeth came—much earlier than the white children usually cut theirs; + and then my good nurse gave me a little more varied food, and I did all my + own grinding. + </p> + <p> + After I left my cradle, I almost walked away from it, she told me. She + then began calling my attention to natural objects. Whenever I heard the + song of a bird, she would tell me what bird it came from, something after + this fashion: + </p> + <p> + “Hakadah, listen to Shechoka (the robin) calling his mate. He says he has + just found something good to eat.” Or “Listen to Oopehanska (the thrush); + he is singing for his little wife. He will sing his best.” When in the + evening the whippoorwill started his song with vim, no further than a + stone’s throw from our tent in the woods, she would say to me: + </p> + <p> + “Hush! It may be an Ojibway scout!” + </p> + <p> + Again, when I waked at midnight, she would say: + </p> + <p> + “Do not cry! Hinakaga (the owl) is watching you from the tree-top.” + </p> + <p> + I usually covered up my head, for I had perfect faith in my grandmother’s + admonitions, and she had given me a dreadful idea of this bird. It was one + of her legends that a little boy was once standing just outside of the + teepee (tent), crying vigorously for his mother, when Hinakaga swooped + down in the darkness and carried the poor little fellow up into the trees. + It was well known that the hoot of the owl was commonly imitated by Indian + scouts when on the war-path. There had been dreadful massacres immediately + following this call. Therefore it was deemed wise to impress the sound + early upon the mind of the child. + </p> + <p> + Indian children were trained so that they hardly ever cried much in the + night. This was very expedient and necessary in their exposed life. In my + infancy it was my grandmother’s custom to put me to sleep, as she said, + with the birds, and to waken me with them, until it became a habit. She + did this with an object in view. An Indian must always rise early. In the + first place, as a hunter, he finds his game best at daybreak. Secondly, + other tribes, when on the war-path, usually make their attack very early + in the morning. Even when our people are moving about leisurely, we like + to rise before daybreak, in order to travel when the air is cool, and + unobserved, perchance, by our enemies. + </p> + <p> + As a little child, it was instilled into me to be silent and reticent. + This was one of the most important traits to form in the character of the + Indian. As a hunter and warrior it was considered absolutely necessary to + him, and was thought to lay the foundations of patience and self-control. + There are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by our people, but + the rule is gravity and decorum. + </p> + <p> + After all, my babyhood was full of interest and the beginnings of life’s + realities. The spirit of daring was already whispered into my ears. The + value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior had caught my eye. One + day, when I was left alone, at scarcely two years of age, I took my + uncle’s war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle feathers to decorate my + dog and myself. So soon the life that was about me had made its impress, + and already I desired intensely to comply with all of its demands. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. Early Hardships + </h2> + <p> + ONE of the earliest recollections of my adventurous childhood is the ride + I had on a pony’s side. I was passive in the whole matter. A little girl + cousin of mine was put in a bag and suspended from the horn of an Indian + saddle; but her weight must be balanced or the saddle would not remain on + the animal’s back. Accordingly, I was put into another sack and made to + keep the saddle and the girl in position! I did not object at all, for I + had a very pleasant game of peek-aboo with the little girl, until we came + to a big snow-drift, where the poor beast was stuck fast and began to lie + down. Then it was not so nice! + </p> + <p> + This was the convenient and primitive way in which some mothers packed + their children for winter journeys. However cold the weather might be, the + inmate of the fur-lined sack was usually very comfortable—at least I + used to think so. I believe I was accustomed to all the precarious Indian + conveyances, and, as a boy, I enjoyed the dog-travaux ride as much as any. + The travaux consisted of a set of rawhide strips securely lashed to the + tent-poles, which were harnessed to the sides of the animal as if he stood + between shafts, while the free ends were allowed to drag on the ground. + Both ponies and large dogs were used as beasts of burden, and they carried + in this way the smaller children as well as the baggage. + </p> + <p> + This mode of travelling for children was possible only in the summer, and + as the dogs were sometimes unreliable, the little ones were exposed to a + certain amount of danger. For instance, whenever a train of dogs had been + travelling for a long time, almost perishing with the heat and their heavy + loads, a glimpse of water would cause them to forget all their + responsibilities. Some of them, in spite of the screams of the women, + would swim with their burdens into the cooling stream, and I was thus, on + more than one occasion, made to partake of an unwilling bath. + </p> + <p> + I was a little over four years old at the time of the “Sioux massacre” in + Minnesota. In the general turmoil, we took flight into British Columbia, + and the journey is still vividly remembered by all our family. A yoke of + oxen and a lumber-wagon were taken from some white farmer and brought home + for our conveyance. + </p> + <p> + How delighted I was when I learned that we were to ride behind those + wise-looking animals and in that gorgeously painted wagon! It seemed + almost like a living creature to me, this new vehicle with four legs, and + the more so when we got out of axle-grease and the wheels went along + squealing like pigs! + </p> + <p> + The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in jumping from the high wagon + while the oxen were leisurely moving along. My elder brothers soon became + experts. At last, I mustered up courage enough to join them in this sport. + I was sure they stepped on the wheel, so I cautiously placed my moccasined + foot upon it. Alas! before I could realize what had happened, I was under + the wheels, and had it not been for the neighbor immediately behind us, I + might have been run over by the next team as well. + </p> + <p> + This was my first experience with a civilized vehicle. I cried out all + possible reproaches on the white man’s team and concluded that a + dog-travaux was good enough for me. I was really rejoiced that we were + moving away from the people who made the wagon that had almost ended my + life, and it did not occur to me that I alone was to blame. I could not be + persuaded to ride in that wagon again and was glad when we finally left it + beside the Missouri river. + </p> + <p> + The summer after the “Minnesota massacre,” General Sibley pursued our + people across this river. Now the Missouri is considered one of the most + treacherous rivers in the world. Even a good modern boat is not safe upon + its uncertain current. We were forced to cross in buffalo-skin boats—as + round as tubs! + </p> + <p> + The Washechu (white men) were coming in great numbers with their big guns, + and while most of our men were fighting them to gain time, the women and + the old men made and equipped the temporary boats, braced with ribs of + willow. Some of these were towed by two or three women or men swimming in + the water and some by ponies. It was not an easy matter to keep them right + side up, with their helpless freight of little children and such goods as + we possessed. + </p> + <p> + In our flight, we little folks were strapped in the saddles or held in + front of an older person, and in the long night marches to get away from + the soldiers, we suffered from loss of sleep and insufficient food. Our + meals were eaten hastily, and sometimes in the saddle. Water was not + always to be found. The people carried it with them in bags formed of + tripe or the dried pericardium of animals. + </p> + <p> + Now we were compelled to trespass upon the country of hostile tribes and + were harassed by them almost daily and nightly. Only the strictest + vigilance saved us. + </p> + <p> + One day we met with another enemy near the British lines. It was a prairie + fire. We were surrounded. Another fire was quickly made, which saved our + lives. + </p> + <p> + One of the most thrilling experiences of the following winter was a + blizzard, which overtook us in our wanderings. Here and there, a family + lay down in the snow, selecting a place where it was not likely to drift + much. For a day and a night we lay under the snow. Uncle stuck a long pole + beside us to tell us when the storm was over. We had plenty of buffalo + robes and the snow kept us warm, but we found it heavy. After a time, it + became packed and hollowed out around our bodies, so that we were as + comfortable as one can be under those circumstances. + </p> + <p> + The next day the storm ceased, and we discovered a large herd of buffaloes + almost upon us. We dug our way out, shot some of the buffaloes, made a + fire and enjoyed a good dinner. + </p> + <p> + I was now an exile as well as motherless; yet I was not unhappy. Our + wanderings from place to place afforded us many pleasant experiences and + quite as many hardships and misfortunes. There were times of plenty and + times of scarcity, and we had several narrow escapes from death. In savage + life, the early spring is the most trying time and almost all the famines + occurred at this period of the year. + </p> + <p> + The Indians are a patient and a clannish people; their love for one + another is stronger than that of any civilized people I know. If this were + not so, I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among them. + White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in + preference to starving; but Indians—never! + </p> + <p> + In times of famine, the adults often denied themselves in order to make + the food last as long as possible for the children, who were not able to + bear hunger as well as the old. As a people, they can live without food + much longer than any other nation. + </p> + <p> + I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing to eat + for several days. I well remember the six small birds which constituted + the breakfast for six families one morning; and then we had no dinner or + supper to follow! What a relief that was to me—although I had only a + small wing of a small bird for my share! Soon after this, we came into a + region where buffaloes were plenty, and hunger and scarcity were + forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Such was the Indian’s wild life! When game was to be had and the sun + shone, they easily forgot the bitter experiences of the winter before. + Little preparation was made for the future. They are children of Nature, + and occasionally she whips them with the lashes of experience, yet they + are forgetful and careless. Much of their suffering might have been + prevented by a little calculation. + </p> + <p> + During the summer, when Nature is at her best, and provides abundantly for + the savage, it seems to me that no life is happier than his! Food is free—lodging + free—everything free! All were alike rich in the summer, and, again, + all were alike poor in the winter and early spring. However, their + diseases were fewer and not so destructive as now, and the Indian’s health + was generally good. The Indian boy enjoyed such a life as almost all boys + dream of and would choose for themselves if they were permitted to do so. + </p> + <p> + The raids made upon our people by other tribes were frequent, and we had + to be constantly on the watch. I remember at one time a night attack was + made upon our camp and all our ponies stampeded. Only a few of them were + recovered, and our journeys after this misfortune were effected mostly by + means of the dog-travaux. + </p> + <p> + The second winter after the massacre, my father and my two older brothers, + with several others, were betrayed by a half-breed at Winnipeg to the + United States authorities. As I was then living with my uncle in another + part of the country, I became separated from them for ten years. During + all this time we believed that they had been killed by the whites, and I + was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I was able to go + upon the war-path. + </p> + <p> + I must say a word in regard to the character of this uncle, my father’s + brother, who was my adviser and teacher for many years. He was a man about + six feet two inches in height, very erect and broad-shouldered. He was + known at that time as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors among + the Sioux in British America, where he still lives, for to this day we + have failed to persuade him to return to the United States. + </p> + <p> + He is a typical Indian—not handsome, but truthful and brave. He had + a few simple principles from which he hardly ever departed. Some of these + I shall describe when I speak of my early training. + </p> + <p> + It is wonderful that any children grew up through all the exposures and + hardships that we suffered in those days! The frail teepee pitched + anywhere, in the winter as well as in the summer, was all the protection + that we had against cold and storms. I can recall times when we were + snowed in and it was very difficult to get fuel. We were once three days + without much fire and all of this time it stormed violently. There seemed + to be no special anxiety on the part of our people; they rather looked + upon all this as a matter of course, knowing that the storm would cease + when the time came. + </p> + <p> + I could once endure as much cold and hunger as any of them; but now if I + miss one meal or accidentally wet my feet, I feel it as much as if I had + never lived in the manner I have described, when it was a matter of course + to get myself soaking wet many a time. Even if there was plenty to eat, it + was thought better for us to practice fasting sometimes; and hard exercise + was kept up continually, both for the sake of health and to prepare the + body for the extraordinary exertions that it might, at any moment, be + required to undergo. In my own remembrance, my uncle used often to bring + home a deer on his shoulder. The distance was sometimes considerable; yet + he did not consider it any sort of a feat. + </p> + <p> + The usual custom with us was to eat only two meals a day and these were + served at each end of the day. This rule was not invariable, however, for + if there should be any callers, it was Indian etiquette to offer either + tobacco or food, or both. The rule of two meals a day was more closely + observed by the men—especially the younger men—than by the + women and children. This was when the Indians recognized that a true + manhood, one of physical activity and endurance, depends upon dieting and + regular exercise. No such system is practised by the reservation Indians + of to-day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. My Indian Grandmother + </h2> + <p> + AS a motherless child, I always regarded my good grandmother as the wisest + of guides and the best of protectors. It was not long before I began to + realize her superiority to most of her contemporaries. This idea was not + gained entirely from my own observation, but also from a knowledge of the + high regard in which she was held by other women. Aside from her native + talent and ingenuity, she was endowed with a truly wonderful memory. No + other midwife in her day and tribe could compete with her in skill and + judgment. Her observations in practice were all preserved in her mind for + reference, as systematically as if they had been written upon the pages of + a note-book. + </p> + <p> + I distinctly recall one occasion when she took me with her into the woods + in search of certain medicinal roots. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you not use all kinds of roots for medicines?” said I. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” she replied, in her quick, characteristic manner, “the Great + Mystery does not will us to find things too easily. In that case everybody + would be a medicine-giver, and Ohiyesa must learn that there are many + secrets which the Great Mystery will disclose only to the most worthy. + Only those who seek him fasting and in solitude will receive his signs.” + </p> + <p> + With this and many similar explanations she wrought in my soul wonderful + and lively conceptions of the “Great Mystery” and of the effects of prayer + and solitude. I continued my childish questioning. + </p> + <p> + “But why did you not dig those plants that we saw in the woods, of the + same kind that you are digging now?” + </p> + <p> + “For the same reason that we do not like the berries we find in the shadow + of deep woods as well as the ones which grow in sunny places. The latter + have more sweetness and flavor. Those herbs which have medicinal virtues + should be sought in a place that is neither too wet nor too dry, and where + they have a generous amount of sunshine to maintain their vigor. + </p> + <p> + “Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know the secrets of medicine; then + I will tell him all. But if you should grow up to be a bad man, I must + withhold these treasures from you and give them to your brother, for a + medicine man must be a good and wise man. I hope Ohiyesa will be a great + medicine man when he grows up. To be a great warrior is a noble ambition; + but to be a mighty medicine man is a nobler!” + </p> + <p> + She said these things so thoughtfully and impressively that I cannot but + feel and remember them even to this day. + </p> + <p> + Our native women gathered all the wild rice, roots, berries and fruits + which formed an important part of our food. This was distinctively a + woman’s work. Uncheedah (grandmother) understood these matters perfectly, + and it became a kind of instinct with her to know just where to look for + each edible variety and at what season of the year. This sort of labor + gave the Indian women every opportunity to observe and study Nature after + their fashion; and in this Uncheedah was more acute than most of the men. + The abilities of her boys were not all inherited from their father; + indeed, the stronger family traits came obviously from her. She was a + leader among the native women, and they came to her, not only for medical + aid, but for advice in all their affairs. + </p> + <p> + In bravery she equaled any of the men. This trait, together with her + ingenuity and alertness of mind, more than once saved her and her people + from destruction. Once, when we were roaming over a region occupied by + other tribes, and on a day when most of the men were out upon the hunt, a + party of hostile Indians suddenly appeared. Although there were a few men + left at home, they were taken by surprise at first and scarcely knew what + to do, when this woman came forward and advanced alone to meet our foes. + She had gone some distance when some of the men followed her. She met the + strangers and offered her hand to them. They accepted her friendly + greeting; and as a result of her brave act we were left unmolested and at + peace. + </p> + <p> + Another story of her was related to me by my father. My grandfather, who + was a noted hunter, often wandered away from his band in search of game. + In this instance he had with him only his own family of three boys and his + wife. One evening, when he returned from the chase, he found to his + surprise that she had built a stockade around her teepee. + </p> + <p> + She had discovered the danger-sign in a single foot-print, which she saw + at a glance was not that of her husband, and she was also convinced that + it was not the foot-print of a Sioux, from the shape of the moccasin. This + ability to recognize footprints is general among the Indians, but more + marked in certain individuals. + </p> + <p> + This courageous woman had driven away a party of five Ojibway warriors. + They approached the lodge cautiously, but her dog gave timely warning, and + she poured into them from behind her defences the contents of a + double-barrelled gun, with such good effect that the astonished braves + thought it wise to retreat. + </p> + <p> + I was not more than five or six years old when the Indian soldiers came + one day and destroyed our large buffalo-skin teepee. It was charged that + my uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes. This was not exactly + true. He had unfortunately frightened a large herd while shooting a deer + in the edge of the woods. However, it was customary to punish such an act + severely, even though the offense was accidental. + </p> + <p> + When we were attacked by the police, I was playing in the teepee, and the + only other person at home was Uncheedah. I had not noticed their approach, + and when the war-cry was given by thirty or forty Indians with strong + lungs, I thought my little world was coming to an end. Instantly + innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our frail home, while bullets + went through the poles and tent-fastenings up above our heads. + </p> + <p> + I hardly know what I did, but I imagine it was just what any other little + fellow would have done under like circumstances. My first clear + realization of the situation was when Uncheedah had a dispute with the + leader, claiming that the matter had not been properly investigated, and + that none of the policemen had attained to a reputation in war which would + justify them in touching her son’s teepee. But alas! our poor dwelling was + already an unrecognizable ruin; even the poles were broken into splinters. + </p> + <p> + The Indian women, after reaching middle age, are usually heavy and lack + agility, but my grandmother was in this also an exception. She was fully + sixty when I was born; and when I was seven years old she swam across a + swift and wide stream, carrying me on her back, because she did not wish + to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of bull-hide + which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way, especially + in the springtime. Her strength and endurance were remarkable. Even after + she had attained the age of eighty-two, she one day walked twenty-five + miles without appearing much fatigued. + </p> + <p> + I marvel now at the purity and elevated sentiment possessed by this woman, + when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time. When her + husband died she was still comparatively a young woman—still active, + clever and industrious. She was descended from a haughty chieftain of the + “Dwellers among the Leaves.” Although women of her age and position were + held to be eligible to re-marriage, and she had several persistent suitors + who were men of her own age and chiefs, yet she preferred to cherish in + solitude the memory of her husband. + </p> + <p> + I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young women. In + the fight in which they were captured, none of the Sioux war party had + been killed; therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly treated by + the Sioux women. They were apparently happy, although of course they felt + deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture, and they did not + fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at our hands. + </p> + <p> + As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their final + release, they appear to me quite remarkable. They lived in my + grandmother’s family for two years, and were then returned to their people + at a great peace council of the two nations. When they were about to leave + my grandmother, the elder of the two sisters first embraced her, and then + spoke somewhat as follows: + </p> + <p> + “You are a brave woman and a true mother. I understand now why your son so + bravely conquered our band, and took my sister and myself captive. I hated + him at first, but now I admire him, because he did just what my father, my + brother or my husband would have done had they opportunity. He did even + more. He saved us from the tomahawks of his fellow-warriors, and brought + us to his home to know a noble and a brave woman. + </p> + <p> + “I shall never forget your many favors shown to us. But I must go. I + belong to my tribe and I shall return to them. I will endeavor to be a + true woman also, and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your + son.” + </p> + <p> + Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life, and she married + one of our young men. + </p> + <p> + “I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways,” she said, “to be as brothers.” + </p> + <p> + There are many other instances of intermarriage with captive women. The + mother of the well-known Sioux chieftain, Wabashaw, was an Ojibway woman. + I once knew a woman who was said to be a white captive. She was married to + a noted warrior, and had a fine family of five boys. She was well + accustomed to the Indian ways, and as a child I should not have suspected + that she was white. The skins of these people became so sunburned and full + of paint that it required a keen eye to distinguish them from the real + Indians. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. An Indian Sugar Camp + </h2> + <p> + WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my childhood + days turned promptly to the annual sugarmaking. This industry was chiefly + followed by the old men and women and the children. The rest of the tribe + went out upon the spring fur-hunt at this season, leaving us at home to + make the sugar. + </p> + <p> + The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge iron + and brass kettles for boiling. Everything else could be made, but these + must be bought, begged or borrowed. A maple tree was felled and a log + canoe hollowed out, into which the sap was to be gathered. Little troughs + of basswood and birchen basins were also made to receive the sweet drops + as they trickled from the tree. + </p> + <p> + As soon as these labors were accomplished, we all proceeded to the bark + sugar house, which stood in the midst of a fine grove of maples on the + bank of the Minnesota river. We found this hut partially filled with the + snows of winter and the withered leaves of the preceding autumn, and it + must be cleared for our use. In the meantime a tent was pitched outside + for a few days’ occupancy. The snow was still deep in the woods, with a + solid crust upon which we could easily walk; for we usually moved to the + sugar house before the sap had actually started, the better to complete + our preparations. + </p> + <p> + My grandmother worked like a beaver in these days (or rather like a + muskrat, as the Indians say; for this industrious little animal sometimes + collects as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for the winter, + only to be robbed of his store by some of our people). If there was + prospect of a good sugaring season, she now made a second and even a third + canoe to contain the sap. These canoes were afterward utilized by the + hunters for their proper purpose. + </p> + <p> + During our last sugar-making in Minnesota, before the “outbreak,” my + grandmother was at work upon a canoe with her axe, while a young aunt of + mine stood by. We boys were congregated within the large, oval sugar + house, busily engaged in making arrows for the destruction of the rabbits + and chipmunks which we knew would come in numbers to drink the sap. The + birds also were beginning to return, and the cold storms of March would + drive them to our door. I was then too young to do much except look on; + but I fully entered into the spirit of the occasion, and rejoiced to see + the bigger boys industriously sharpen their arrows, resting them against + the ends of the long sticks which were burning in the fire, and + occasionally cutting a chip from the stick. In their eagerness they paid + little attention to this circumstance, although they well knew that it was + strictly forbidden to touch a knife to a burning ember. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly loud screams were heard from without and we all rushed out to see + what was the matter. It was a serious affair. My grandmother’s axe had + slipped, and by an upward stroke nearly severed three of the fingers of my + aunt, who stood looking on, with her hands folded upon her waist. As we + ran out the old lady, who had already noticed and reproved our + carelessness in regard to the burning embers, pursued us with loud + reproaches and threats of a whipping. This will seem mysterious to my + readers, but is easily explained by the Indian superstition, which holds + that such an offense as we had committed is invariably punished by the + accidental cutting of some one of the family. + </p> + <p> + My grandmother did not confine herself to canoe-making. She also collected + a good supply of fuel for the fires, for she would not have much time to + gather wood when the sap began to flow. Presently the weather moderated + and the snow began to melt. The month of April brought showers which + carried most of it off into the Minnesota river. Now the women began to + test the trees-moving leisurely among them, axe in hand, and striking a + single quick blow, to see if the sap would appear. The trees, like people, + have their individual characters; some were ready to yield up their + life-blood, while others were more reluctant. Now one of the birchen + basins was set under each tree, and a hardwood chip driven deep into the + cut which the axe had made. From the corners of this chip—at first + drop by drop, then more freely-the sap trickled into the little dishes. + </p> + <p> + It is usual to make sugar from maples, but several other trees were also + tapped by the Indians. From the birch and ash was made a dark-colored + sugar, with a somewhat bitter taste, which was used for medicinal + purposes. The box-elder yielded a beautiful white sugar, whose only fault + was that there was never enough of it! + </p> + <p> + A long fire was now made in the sugar house, and a row of brass kettles + suspended over the blaze. The sap was collected by the women in tin or + birchen buckets and poured into the canoes, from which the kettles were + kept filled. The hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant anticipations + when they heard the welcome hissing sound of the boiling sap! Each boy + claimed one kettle for his especial charge. It was his duty to see that + the fire was kept up under it, to watch lest it boil over, and finally, + when the sap became sirup, to test it upon the snow, dipping it out with a + wooden paddle. So frequent were these tests that for the first day or two + we consumed nearly all that could be made; and it was not until the + sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set herself in earnest to + store up sugar for future use. She made it into cakes of various forms, in + birchen molds, and sometimes in hollow canes or reeds, and the bills of + ducks and geese. Some of it was pulverized and packed in rawhide cases. + Being a prudent woman, she did not give it to us after the first month or + so, except upon special occasions, and it was thus made to last almost the + year around. The smaller candies were reserved as an occasional treat for + the little fellows, and the sugar was eaten at feasts with wild rice or + parched corn, and also with pounded dried meat. Coffee and tea, with their + substitutes, were all unknown to us in those days. + </p> + <p> + Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties. My grandmother’s special + tribulations, during the sugaring season, were the upsetting and gnawing + of holes in her birch-bark pans. The transgressors were the rabbit and + squirrel tribes, and we little boys for once became useful, in shooting + them with our bows and arrows. We hunted all over the sugar camp, until + the little creatures were fairly driven out of the neighborhood. + Occasionally one of my older brothers brought home a rabbit or two, and + then we had a feast. + </p> + <p> + The sugaring season extended well into April, and the returning birds made + the precincts of our camp joyful with their songs. I often followed my + older brothers into the woods, although I was then but four or five years + old. Upon one of these excursions they went so far that I ventured back + alone. When within sight of our hut, I saw a chipmunk sitting upon a log, + and uttering the sound he makes when he calls to his mate. How glorious it + would be, I thought, if I could shoot him with my tiny bow and arrows! + Stealthily and cautiously I approached, keeping my eyes upon the pretty + little animal, and just as I was about to let fly my shaft, I heard a + hissing noise at my feet. There lay a horrid snake, coiled and ready to + spring! Forgetful that I was a warrior, I gave a loud scream and started + backward; but soon recollecting myself, looked down with shame, although + no one was near. However, I retreated to the inclined trunk of a fallen + tree, and there, as I have often been told, was overheard soliloquizing in + the following words: “I wonder if a snake can climb a tree!” + </p> + <p> + I remember on this occasion of our last sugar bush in Minnesota, that I + stood one day outside of our hut and watched the approach of a visitor—a + bent old man, his hair almost white, and carrying on his back a large + bundle of red willow, or kinnikinick, which the Indians use for smoking. + He threw down his load at the door and thus saluted us: “You have indeed + perfect weather for sugar-making.” + </p> + <p> + It was my great-grandfather, Cloud Man, whose original village was on the + shores of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, now in the suburbs of the city of + Minneapolis. He was the first Sioux chief to welcome the Protestant + missionaries among his people, and a well-known character in those pioneer + days. He brought us word that some of the peaceful sugar-makers near us on + the river had been attacked and murdered by roving Ojibways. This news + disturbed us not a little, for we realized that we too might become the + victims of an Ojibway war party. Therefore we all felt some uneasiness + from this time until we returned heavy laden to our village. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. A Midsummer Feast + </h2> + <p> + IT was midsummer. Everything that the Santee Sioux had undertaken during + the year had been unusually successful. The spring fur-hunters had been + fortunate, and the heavy winter had proved productive of much maple sugar. + The women’s patches of maize and potatoes were already sufficiently + advanced to use. The Wahpetonwan band of Sioux, the “Dwellers among the + Leaves,” were fully awakened to the fact that it was almost time for the + midsummer festivities of the old, wild days. + </p> + <p> + The invitations were bundles of tobacco, and acceptances were sent back + from the various bands—the “Light Lodges”, “Dwellers back from the + River,” and many others, in similar fashion. Blue Earth, chief of the + “Dwellers among the Leaves,” was the host. + </p> + <p> + There were to be many different kinds of athletic games; indeed, the + festival was something like a State fair, in that there were many side + shows and competitive events. For instance, supposing that (Miss) White + Rabbit should desire to give a “maidens’ feast,” she would employ a crier + to go among the different bands announcing the fact in a sing-song manner: + </p> + <p> + “Miss White Rabbit will receive her maiden friends to-day at noon, inside + of the circular encampment of the Kaposia band.” + </p> + <p> + Again, should (Mr.) Sleepy Eye wish to have his child’s ears pierced + publicly, he would have to give away a great deal of savage wealth—namely, + otter, bear and beaver skins and ponies—or the child would not be + considered as belonging to a family in good standing. + </p> + <p> + But the one all-important event of the occasion was the lacrosse game, for + which it had been customary to select those two bands which could boast + the greater number of fast runners. + </p> + <p> + The Wahpetonwan village on the banks of the Minnesota river was alive with + the newly-arrived guests and the preparations for the coming event. Meat + of wild game had been put away with much care during the previous fall in + anticipation of this feast. There was wild rice and the choicest of dried + venison that had been kept all winter, as well as freshly dug turnips, + ripe berries and an abundance of fresh meat. + </p> + <p> + Along the edge of the woods the teepees were pitched in groups or + semi-circles, each band distinct from the others. The teepee of Mankato or + Blue Earth was pitched in a conspicuous spot. Just over the entrance was + painted in red and yellow a picture of a pipe, and directly opposite this + the rising sun. The painting was symbolic of welcome and good will to men + under the bright sun. + </p> + <p> + A meeting was held to appoint some “medicine man” to make the balls that + were to be used in the lacrosse contest; and presently the herald + announced that this honor had been conferred upon old Chankpee-yuhah, or + “Keeps the Club,” while every other man of his profession was + disappointed. He was a powerful man physically, who had apparently won the + confidence of the people by his fine personal appearance and by working + upon superstitious minds. + </p> + <p> + Towards evening he appeared in the circle, leading by the hand a boy about + four years old. Closely the little fellow observed every motion of the + man; nothing escaped his vigilant black eyes, which seemed constantly to + grow brighter and larger, while his exuberant glossy black hair was + plaited and wound around his head like that of a Celestial. He wore a bit + of swan’s down in each ear, which formed a striking contrast with the + child’s complexion. Further than this, the boy was painted according to + the fashion of the age. He held in his hands a miniature bow and arrows. + </p> + <p> + The medicine man drew himself up in an admirable attitude, and proceeded + to make his short speech: + </p> + <p> + “Wahpetonwans, you boast that you run down the elk; you can outrun the + Ojibways. Before you all, I dedicate to you this red ball. Kaposias, you + claim that no one has a lighter foot than you; you declare that you can + endure running a whole day without water. To you I dedicate this black + ball. Either you or the Leaf-Dwellers will have to drop your eyes and bow + your head when the game is over. I wish to announce that if the + Wahpetonwans should win, this little warrior shall bear the name Ohiyesa + (winner) through life; but if the Light Lodges should win, let the name be + given to any child appointed by them.” + </p> + <p> + The ground selected for the great final game was on a narrow strip of land + between a lake and the river. It was about three quarters of a mile long + and a quarter of a mile in width. The spectators had already ranged + themselves all along the two sides, as well as at the two ends, which were + somewhat higher than the middle. The soldiers appointed to keep order + furnished much of the entertainment of the day. They painted artistically + and tastefully, according to the Indian fashion, not only their bodies but + also their ponies and clubs. They were so strict in enforcing the laws + that no one could venture with safety within a few feet of the limits of + the field. + </p> + <p> + Now all of the minor events and feasts, occupying several days’ time, had + been observed. Heralds on ponies’ backs announced that all who intended to + participate in the final game were requested to repair to the ground; also + that if any one bore a grudge against another, he was implored to forget + his ill-feeling until the contest should be over. + </p> + <p> + The most powerful men were stationed at the half-way ground, while the + fast runners were assigned to the back. It was an impressive spectacle—a + fine collection of agile forms, almost stripped of garments and painted in + wild imitation of the rainbow and sunset sky on human canvas. Some had + undertaken to depict the Milky Way across their tawny bodies, and one or + two made a bold attempt to reproduce the lightning. Others contented + themselves with painting the figure of some fleet animal or swift bird on + their muscular chests. + </p> + <p> + The coiffure of the Sioux lacrosse player has often been unconsciously + imitated by the fashionable hair-dressers of modern times. Some banged and + singed their hair; others did a little more by adding powder. The Grecian + knot was located on the wrong side of the head, being tied tightly over + the forehead. A great many simply brushed back their long locks and tied + them with a strip of otter skin. + </p> + <p> + At the middle of the ground were stationed four immense men, magnificently + formed. A fifth approached this group, paused a moment, and then threw his + head back, gazed up into the sky in the manner of a cock and gave a + smooth, clear operatic tone. Instantly the little black ball went up + between the two middle rushers, in the midst of yells, cheers and + war-whoops. Both men endeavored to catch it in the air; but alas! each + interfered with the other; then the guards on each side rushed upon them. + For a time, a hundred lacrosse sticks vied with each other, and the + wriggling human flesh and paint were all one could see through the cloud + of dust. Suddenly there shot swiftly through the air toward the south, + toward the Kaposias’ goal, the ball. There was a general cheer from their + adherents, which echoed back from the white cliff on the opposite side of + the Minnesota. + </p> + <p> + As the ball flew through the air, two adversaries were ready to receive + it. The Kaposia quickly met the ball, but failed to catch it in his netted + bag, for the other had swung his up like a flash. Thus it struck the + ground, but had no opportunity to bound up when a Wahpeton pounced upon it + like a cat and slipped out of the grasp of his opponents. A mighty cheer + thundered through the air. + </p> + <p> + The warrior who had undertaken to pilot the little sphere was risking + much, for he must dodge a host of Kaposias before he could gain any + ground. He was alert and agile; now springing like a panther, now leaping + like a deer over a stooping opponent who tried to seize him around the + waist. Every opposing player was upon his heels, while those of his own + side did all in their power to clear the way for him. But it was all in + vain. He only gained fifty paces. + </p> + <p> + Thus the game went. First one side, then the other would gain an + advantage, and then it was lost, until the herald proclaimed that it was + time to change the ball. No victory was in sight for either side. + </p> + <p> + After a few minutes’ rest, the game was resumed. The red ball was now + tossed in the air in the usual way. No sooner had it descended than one of + the rushers caught it and away it went northward; again it was fortunate, + for it was advanced by one of the same side. The scene was now one of the + wildest excitement and confusion. At last, the northward flight of the + ball was checked for a moment and a desperate struggle ensued. Cheers and + war-whoops became general, such as were never equaled in any concourse of + savages, and possibly nowhere except at a college game of football. + </p> + <p> + The ball had not been allowed to come to the surface since it reached this + point, for there were more than a hundred men who scrambled for it. + Suddenly a warrior shot out of the throng like the ball itself! Then some + of the players shouted: “Look out for Antelope! Look out for Antelope!” + But it was too late. The little sphere had already nestled into Antelope’s + palm and that fleetest of Wahpetons had thrown down his lacrosse stick and + set a determined eye upon the northern goal. + </p> + <p> + Such a speed! He had cleared almost all the opponents’ guards—there + were but two more. These were exceptional runners of the Kaposias. As he + approached them in his almost irresistible speed, every savage heart + thumped louder in the Indian’s dusky bosom. In another moment there would + be a defeat for the Kaposias or a prolongation of the game. The two men, + with a determined look approached their foe like two panthers prepared to + spring; yet he neither slackened his speed nor deviated from his course. A + crash—a mighty shout!—the two Kaposias collided, and the swift + Antelope had won the laurels! + </p> + <p> + The turmoil and commotion at the victors’ camp were indescribable. A few + beats of a drum were heard, after which the criers hurried along the + lines, announcing the last act to be performed at the camp of the “Leaf + Dwellers.” + </p> + <p> + The day had been a perfect one. Every event had been a success; and, as a + matter of course, the old people were happy, for they largely profited by + these occasions. Within the circle formed by the general assembly sat in a + group the members of the common council. Blue Earth arose, and in a few + appropriate and courteous remarks assured his guests that it was not + selfishness that led his braves to carry off the honors of the last event, + but that this was a friendly contest in which each band must assert its + prowess. In memory of this victory, the boy would now receive his name. A + loud “Ho-o-o” of approbation reverberated from the edge of the forest upon + the Minnesota’s bank. + </p> + <p> + Half frightened, the little fellow was now brought into the circle, + looking very much as if he were about to be executed. Cheer after cheer + went up for the awe-stricken boy. Chankpee-yuhah, the medicine man, + proceeded to confer the name. + </p> + <p> + “Ohiyesa (or Winner) shall be thy name henceforth. Be brave, be patient + and thou shalt always win! Thy name is Ohivesa.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. AN INDIAN BOY’S TRAINING + </h2> + <p> + IT is commonly supposed that there is no systematic education of their + children among the aborigines of this country. Nothing could be farther + from the truth. All the customs of this primitive people were held to be + divinely instituted, and those in connection with the training of children + were scrupulously adhered to and transmitted from one generation to + another. + </p> + <p> + The expectant parents conjointly bent all their efforts to the task of + giving the new-comer the best they could gather from a long line of + ancestors. A pregnant Indian woman would often choose one of the greatest + characters of her family and tribe as a model for her child. This hero was + daily called to mind. She would gather from tradition all of his noted + deeds and daring exploits, rehearsing them to herself when alone. In order + that the impression might be more distinct, she avoided company. She + isolated herself as much as possible, and wandered in solitude, not + thoughtlessly, but with an eye to the impress given by grand and beautiful + scenery. + </p> + <p> + The Indians believed, also, that certain kinds of animals would confer + peculiar gifts upon the unborn, while others would leave so strong an + adverse impression that the child might become a monstrosity. A case of + hare-lip was commonly attributed to the rabbit. It was said that a rabbit + had charmed the mother and given to the babe its own features. Even the + meat of certain animals was denied the pregnant woman, because it was + supposed to influence the disposition or features of the child. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + In hunting songs, the leading animals are introduced; 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 maidens were represented by the mink and the + doe. + </p> + <p> + Very early, the Indian boy assumed the task of preserving and transmitting + the legends of his ancestors 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 grandparents, 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 mastered. The household became his + audience, by which he was alternately criticized and applauded. + </p> + <p> + This sort of teaching at once enlightens the boy’s mind and stimulates his + ambition. His conception 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. + </p> + <p> + It seems to be a popular idea that all the characteristic 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. + </p> + <p> + 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, + he would say: “Hakadah, look closely to everything you see”; and at + evening, on my return, he used often to catechize me for an hour or so. + </p> + <p> + “On which side of the trees is the lighter-colored bark? On which side do + they have most regular branches?” + </p> + <p> + 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 nest—in 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 warmly commend. + </p> + <p> + 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: + </p> + <p> + “How do you know that there are fish in yonder lake?” + </p> + <p> + “Because they jump out of the water for flies at mid-day.” + </p> + <p> + He would smile at my prompt but superficial reply. + </p> + <p> + “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 inlet and the outlet of a lake anything to do with the question?” + </p> + <p> + 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 observant + and a good student of nature. + </p> + <p> + “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 second look at everything you see. + </p> + <p> + “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 buffaloes—a rash act for the bears, + for it was in the moon of strawberries, when the buffaloes sharpen and + polish their horns for bloody contests among themselves. + </p> + <p> + “I advise you, my boy, never to approach a grizzly’s den from the front, + but to steal up behind 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. + </p> + <p> + “In hunting,” he would resume, “you will be guided by the habits of the + animal you seek. Remember 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. + </p> + <p> + “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. + </p> + <p> + “When you have any difficulty with a bear or a wild-cat—that is, if + the creature shows signs of attacking you—you must make him fully + understand 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 unless he is cornered and already + wounded, These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the common weapon of + the larger animals—the horns, and if these are very long and sharp, + they dare not risk an open fight. + </p> + <p> + “There is one exception to this rule—the 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 helpless; but they are + always careful about attacking man.” + </p> + <p> + Of this nature were the instructions of my uncle, who was widely known at + that time as among the greatest hunters of his tribe. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 merciful sun hid behind the western hills. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + When Indians went upon the war-path, it was their custom to try the 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 courage. 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 Indians lurking in that very neighborhood. + </p> + <p> + Yet I never objected, for that would show cowardice. 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 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 endeavor to retrace my footsteps in the + dark. + </p> + <p> + 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. Indian etiquette was very strict, and among the requirements 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 heart—be + 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: + </p> + <p> + “Hakadah, control yourself, or you will be like that young man I told you + of, and lie under a green blanket!” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + These precepts were in the line of our training for the wild life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. Games and Sports + </h2> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 war—each one + strove to excel all the others. + </p> + <p> + 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 observed 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. + </p> + <p> + Our sports were molded by the life and customs 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 than any of the others. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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: + </p> + <p> + “I can’t run; but I will challenge you to fifty paces.” + </p> + <p> + A former hero, when beaten, would often explain his defeat by saying: “I + drank too much water.” + </p> + <p> + Boys of all ages were paired for a “spin,” and the little red men cheered + on their favorites with spirit. + </p> + <p> + As soon as this was ended, the pony races followed. All the speedy ponies + were picked out and riders chosen. If a boy declined to ride, there would + be shouts of derision. + </p> + <p> + Last of all came the swimming. A little urchin would hang to his pony’s + long tail, while the latter, with only his head above water, glided + sportively along. Finally the animals were driven into a fine field of + grass and we turned our attention to other games. + </p> + <p> + Lacrosse was an older game and was confined entirely 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 willow 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 became + warm; but anything to arouse the bravery of Indian boys seemed to them a + good and wholesome diversion. + </p> + <p> + Wrestling was largely indulged in by us all. It may seem odd,, but + wrestling was done by a great many boys at once—from 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 remained 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 + pastime—fully equal to the American game of football and only the + young athlete could really enjoy it. + </p> + <p> + 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 cautiously upon the nest; then, with + a rush and warwhoop, 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 onslaught upon the nest was ended, we + usually followed it by a pretended scalp dance. + </p> + <p> + 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 battle + 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 direction. However, he + evidently did not want to retreat without any honors; so he bravely jumped + upon the nest and yelled: + </p> + <p> + “I, the brave Little Wound, to-day kill the only fierce enemy!” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely were the last words uttered when he screamed as if stabbed to the + heart. One of his older companions shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Dive into the water! Run! Dive into the water!” for there was a lake near + by. This advice he obeyed. + </p> + <p> + When we had reassembled and were indulging in our mimic dance, Little + Wound was not allowed to dance. He was considered not to be in existence—he + had been killed by our enemies, the Bee tribe. Poor little fellow! His + swollen face was sad and ashamed as he sat on a fallen log and watched the + dance. Although he might well have styled himself one of the noble dead + who had died for their country, yet he was not unmindful that he had + screamed, and this weakness would be apt to recur to him many times in the + future. + </p> + <p> + We had some quiet plays which we alternated with the more severe and + warlike ones. Among them were throwing wands and snow-arrows. In the + winter we coasted much. We had no “double-rippers” or toboggans, but six + or seven of the long ribs of a buffalo, fastened together at the larger + end, answered all practical purposes. Sometimes a strip of bass-wood bark, + four feet long and about six inches wide, was used with considerable + skill. We stood on one end and held the other, using the slippery inside + of the bark for the outside, and thus coasting down long hills with + remarkable speed. + </p> + <p> + The spinning of tops was one of the all-absorbing winter sports. We made + our tops heartshaped of wood, horn or bone. We whipped them with a long + thong of buckskin. The handle was a stick about a foot long and sometimes + we whittled the stick to make it spoon-shaped at one end. + </p> + <p> + We played games with these tops—two to fifty boys at one time. Each + whips his top until it hums; then one takes the lead and the rest follow + in a sort of obstacle race. The top must spin all the way through. There + were bars of snow over which we must pilot our top in the spoon end of our + whip; then again we would toss it in the air on to another open spot of + ice or smooth snowcrust from twenty to fifty paces away. The top that + holds out the longest is the winner. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes we played “medicine dance.” This, to us, was almost what + “playing church” is among white children, but our people seemed to think + it an act of irreverence to imitate these dances, therefore performances + of this kind were always enjoyed in secret. We used to observe all the + important ceremonies and it required something of an actor to reproduce + the dramatic features of the dance. The real dances occupied a day and a + night, and the program was long and varied, so that it was not easy to + execute all the details perfectly; but the Indian children are born + imitators. + </p> + <p> + The boys built an arbor of pine boughs in some out-of-the-way place and at + one end of it was a rude lodge. This was the medicine lodge or + headquarters. All the initiates were there. At the further end or entrance + were the door-keepers or soldiers, as we called them. The members of each + lodge entered in a body, standing in single file and facing the + headquarters. Each stretched out his right hand and a prayer was offered + by the leader, after which they took the places assigned to them. + </p> + <p> + When the preliminaries had been completed, our leader sounded the big drum + and we all said “A-ho-ho-ho!” as a sort of amen. Then the choir began + their song and whenever they ended a verse, we all said again + “A-ho-ho-ho!” At last they struck up the chorus and we all got upon our + feet and began to dance, by simply lifting up one foot and then the other, + with a slight swing to the body. + </p> + <p> + Each boy was representing or imitating some one of the medicine men. We + painted and decorated ourselves just as they did and carried bird or + squirrel skins, or occasionally live birds and chipmunks as our medicine + bags and small white shells or pebbles for medicine charms. + </p> + <p> + Then the persons to be initiated were brought in and seated, with much + ceremony, upon a blanket or buffalo robe. Directly in front of them the + ground was levelled smooth and here we laid an old pipe filled with dried + leaves for tobacco. Around it we placed the variously colored feathers of + the birds we had killed, and cedar and sweetgrass we burned for incense. + </p> + <p> + Finally those of us who had been selected to perform this ceremony + stretched out our arms at full length, holding the sacred medicine bags + and aiming them at the new members. After swinging them four times, we + shot them suddenly forward, but did not let go. The novices then fell + forward on their faces as if dead. Quickly a chorus was struck up and we + all joined in a lively dance around the supposed bodies. The girls covered + them up with their blankets, thus burying the dead. At last we resurrected + them with our charms and led them to their places among the audience. Then + came the last general dance and the final feast. + </p> + <p> + I was often selected as choir-master on these occasions, for I had + happened to learn many of the medicine songs and was quite an apt mimic. + My grandmother, who was a noted medicine woman of the Turtle lodge, on + hearing of these sacrilegious acts (as she called them) warned me that if + any of the medicine men should discover them, they would punish me + terribly by shriveling my limbs with slow disease. + </p> + <p> + Occasionally, we also played “white man.” Our knowledge of the pale-face + was limited, but we had learned that he brought goods whenever he came and + that our people exchanged furs for his merchandise. We also knew that his + complexion was pale, that he had short hair on his head and long hair on + his face and that he wore coat, trousers, and hat, and did not patronize + blankets in the daytime. This was the picture we had formed of the white + man. + </p> + <p> + So we painted two or three of our number with white clay and put on them + birchen hats which we sewed up for the occasion; fastened a piece of fur + to their chins for a beard and altered their costumes as much as lay + within our power. The white of the birch-bark was made to answer for their + white shirts. Their merchandise consisted of sand for sugar, wild beans + for coffee, dried leaves for tea, pulverized earth for gun-powder, pebbles + for bullets and clear water for the dangerous “spirit water.” We traded + for these goods with skins of squirrels, rabbits and small birds. + </p> + <p> + When we played “hunting buffalo” we would send a few good runners off on + the open prairie with a supply of meat; then start a few equally swift + boys to chase them and capture the food. Once we were engaged in this + sport when a real hunt by the men was in progress; yet we did not realize + that it was so near until, in the midst of our play, we saw an immense + buffalo coming at full speed directly toward us. Our mimic buffalo hunt + turned into a very real buffalo scare. Fortunately, we were near the edge + of the woods and we soon disappeared among the leaves like a covey of + young prairie-chickens and some hid in the bushes while others took refuge + in tall trees. + </p> + <p> + We loved to play in the water. When we had no ponies, we often had + swimming matches of our own and sometimes made rafts with which we crossed + lakes and rivers. It was a common thing to “duck” a young or timid boy or + to carry him into deep water to struggle as best he might. + </p> + <p> + I remember a perilous ride with a companion on an unmanageable log, when + we were both less than seven years old. The older boys had put us on this + uncertain bark and pushed us out into the swift current of the river. I + cannot speak for my comrade in distress, but I can say now that I would + rather ride on a swift bronco any day than try to stay on and steady a + short log in a river. I never knew how we managed to prevent a shipwreck + on that voyage and to reach the shore. + </p> + <p> + We had many curious wild pets. There were young foxes, bears, wolves, + raccoons, fawns, buffalo calves and birds of all kinds, tamed by various + boys. My pets were different at different times, but I particularly + remember one. I once had a grizzly bear for a pet and so far as he and I + were concerned, our relations were charming and very close. But I hardly + know whether he made more enemies for me or I for him. It was his habit to + treat every boy unmercifully who injured me. He was despised for his + conduct in my interest and I was hated on account of his interference. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. My Playmates + </h2> + <p> + CHATANNA was the brother with whom I passed much of my early childhood. + From the time that I was old enough to play with boys, this brother was my + close companion. He was a handsome boy, and an affectionate comrade. We + played together, slept together and ate together; and as Chatanna was + three years the older, I naturally looked up to him as to a superior. + </p> + <p> + Oesedah was a beautiful little character. She was my cousin, and four + years younger than myself. Perhaps none of my early playmates are more + vividly remembered than is this little maiden. + </p> + <p> + The name given her by a noted medicine-man was Makah-oesetopah-win. It + means The-four-corners-of-the-earth. As she was rather small, the + abbreviation with a diminutive termination was considered more + appropriate, hence Oesedah became her common name. + </p> + <p> + Although she had a very good mother, Uncheedah was her efficient teacher + and chaperon Such knowledge as my grandmother deemed suitable to a maiden + was duly impressed upon her susceptible mind. When I was not in the woods + with Chatanna, Oesedah was my companion at home; and when I returned from + my play at evening, she would have a hundred questions ready for me to + answer. Some of these were questions concerning our every-day life, and + others were more difficult problems which had suddenly dawned upon her + active little mind. Whatever had occurred to interest her during the day + was immediately repeated for my benefit. + </p> + <p> + There were certain questions upon which Oesedah held me to be authority, + and asked with the hope of increasing her little store of knowledge. I + have often heard her declare to her girl companions: “I know it is true; + Ohiyesa said so!” Uncheedah was partly responsible for this, for when any + questions came up which lay within the sphere of man’s observation, she + would say: + </p> + <p> + “Ohiyesa ought to know that: he is a man-I am not! You had better ask + him.” + </p> + <p> + The truth was that she had herself explained to me many of the subjects + under discussion. + </p> + <p> + I was occasionally referred to little Oesedah in the same manner, and I + always accepted her childish elucidations of any matter upon which I had + been advised to consult her, because I knew the source of her wisdom. In + this simple way we were made to be teachers of one another. + </p> + <p> + Very often we discussed some topic before our common instructor, or + answered her questions together, in order to show which had the readier + mind. + </p> + <p> + “To what tribe does the lizard belong?” inquired Uncheedah, upon one of + these occasions. + </p> + <p> + “To the four-legged tribe,” I shouted. + </p> + <p> + Oesedah, with her usual quickness, flashed out the answer: + </p> + <p> + “It belongs to the creeping tribe.” + </p> + <p> + The Indians divided all animals into four general classes: 1st, those that + walk upon four legs; 2nd, those that fly; 3rd, those that swim with fins; + 4th, those that creep. + </p> + <p> + Of course I endeavored to support my assertion that the lizard belongs + where I had placed it, be-. cause he has four distinct legs which propel + him everywhere, on the ground or in the water. But my opponent claimed + that the creature under dispute does not walk, but creeps. My strongest + argument was that it had legs; but Oesedah insisted that its body touches + the ground as it moves. As a last resort, I volunteered to go find one, + and demonstrate the point in question. + </p> + <p> + The lizard having been brought, we smoothed off the ground and strewed + ashes on it so that we could see the track. Then I raised the question: + “What constitutes creeping, and what constitutes walking?” + </p> + <p> + Uncheedah was the judge, and she stated, without any hesitation, that an + animal must stand clear of the ground on the support of its legs, and walk + with the body above the legs, and not in contact with the ground, in order + to be termed a walker; while a creeper is one that, regardless of its + legs, if it has them, drags its body upon the ground. Upon hearing the + judge’s decision, I yielded at once to my opponent. + </p> + <p> + At another time, when I was engaged in a similar discussion with my + brother Chatanna, Oesedah came to my rescue. Our grandmother had asked us: + </p> + <p> + “What bird shows most judgment in caring for its young?” + </p> + <p> + Chatanna at once exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “The eagle!” but I held my peace for a moment, because I was confused—so + many birds came into my mind at once. I finally declared: + </p> + <p> + “It is the oriole!” + </p> + <p> + Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that he had in support of the + eagle’s good sense in rearing its young. He proceeded with an air of + confidence: + </p> + <p> + “The eagle is the wisest of all birds. Its nest is made in the safest + possible place, upon a high and inaccessible cliff. It provides its young + with an abundance of fresh meat. They have the freshest of air. They are + brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes, and inspired with lofty + feelings and bravery. They see that all other beings live beneath them, + and that they are the children of the King of Birds. A young eagle shows + the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest. + </p> + <p> + “Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are + hardy. They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird and + the sighings of the Great Mystery. Why, the little eagles cannot help + being as noble as they are, because their parents selected for them so + lofty and inspiring a home! How happy they must be when they find + themselves above the clouds, and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning + all about them! It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in their + cool home, in the burning summer-time! Then when they drop down the bones + of the game they feed upon, wolves and vultures gather beneath them, + feeding upon their refuse. That alone would show them their chieftainship + over all the other birds. Isn’t that so, grandmother?” Thus triumphantly + he concluded his argument. + </p> + <p> + I was staggered at first by the noble speech of Chatannna, but I soon + recovered from its effects. The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying: + “Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole’s + home!” This timely remark gave me courage and I began: + </p> + <p> + “My grandmother, who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and sweet + voice will have children of a good disposition? I think the oriole is that + kind of a parent. It provides both sunshine and shadow for its young. Its + nest is suspended from the prettiest bough of the most graceful tree, + where it is rocked by the gentle winds; and the one we found yesterday was + beautifully lined with soft things, both deep and warm, so that the little + featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold and wet.” + </p> + <p> + Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim: “That is just like the white + people—who cares for them? The eagle teaches its young to be + accustomed to hardships, like young warriors!” + </p> + <p> + Ohiyesa was provoked; he reproached his brother and appealed to the judge, + saying that he had not finished yet. + </p> + <p> + “But you would not have lived, Chatanna, if you had been exposed like that + when you were a baby! The oriole shows wisdom in providing for its + children a good, comfortable home! A home upon a high rock would not be + pleasant-it would be cold! We climbed a mountain once, and it was cold + there; and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms? What + wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock, + surrounded with ill-smelling bones of animals, for a home? Also, my uncle + says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of starvation. You + have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one else is compared + to an eagle. Isn’t that so, grandmother? + </p> + <p> + “The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal bough so + that no enemy can approach it. It enjoys peace and beauty and safety.” + </p> + <p> + Oesedah was at Ohiyesa’s side during the discussion, and occasionally + whispered into his ear. Uncheedah decided this time in favor of Ohiyesa. + </p> + <p> + We were once very short of provisions in the winter time. My uncle, our + only means of support, was sick; and besides, we were separated from the + rest of the tribe and in a region where there was little game of any kind. + Oesedah had a pet squirrel, and as soon as we began to economize our food + had given portions of her allowance to her pet. + </p> + <p> + At last we were reduced very much, and the prospect of obtaining anything + soon being gloomy, my grandmother reluctantly suggested that the squirrel + should be killed for food. Thereupon my little cousin cried, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Why cannot we all die alike wanting? The squirrel’s life is as dear to + him as ours to us,” and clung to it. Fortunately, relief came in time to + save her pet. + </p> + <p> + Oesedah lived with us for a portion of the year, and as there were no + other girls in the family she played much alone, and had many imaginary + companions. At one time there was a small willow tree which she visited + regularly, holding long conversations, a part of which she would afterward + repeat to me. She said the willow tree was her husband, whom some magic + had compelled to take that form; but no grown person was ever allowed to + share her secret. + </p> + <p> + When I was about eight years old I had for a playmate the adopted son of a + Sioux, who was a white captive. This boy was quite a noted personage, + although he was then only about ten or eleven years of age. When I first + became acquainted with him we were on the upper Missouri river. I learned + from him that he had been taken on the plains, and that both of his + parents were killed. + </p> + <p> + He was at first sad and lonely, but soon found plenty of consolation in + his new home. The name of his adopted father was + “Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies.” He was known to have an unusual number of the + pretty calico ponies; indeed, he had a passion for accumulating property + in the shape of ponies, painted tents, decorated saddles and all sorts of + finery. He had lost his only son; but the little pale-face became the + adopted brother of two handsome young women, his daughters. This made him + quite popular among the young warriors. He was not slow to adopt the + Indian customs, and he acquired the Sioux language in a short time. + </p> + <p> + I well remember hearing of his first experience of war. He was not more + than sixteen when he joined a war-party against the Gros-Ventres and + Mandans. My uncle reported that he was very brave until he was wounded in + the ankle; then he begged with tears to be taken back to a safe place. + Fortunately for him, his adopted father came to the rescue, and saved him + at the risk of his own life. He was called the “pale-face Indian.” His + hair grew very long and he lavished paint on his face and hair so that no + one might suspect that he was a white man. + </p> + <p> + One day this boy was playing a gambling game with one of the Sioux + warriors. He was an expert gambler, and won everything from the Indian. At + a certain point a dispute arose. The Indian was very angry, for he + discovered that his fellow-player had deliberately cheated him. The + Indians were strictly honest in those days, even in their gambling. + </p> + <p> + The boy declared that he had merely performed a trick for the benefit of + his friend, but it nearly cost him his life. The indignant warrior had + already drawn his bow-string with the intention of shooting the captive, + but a third person intervened and saved the boy’s life. He at once + explained his trick; and in order to show himself an honorable gambler, + gave back all the articles that he had won from his opponent. In the midst + of the confusion, old “Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies” came rushing through the + crowd in a state of great excitement. He thought his pale-face son had + been killed. When he saw how matters stood, he gave the aggrieved warrior + a pony, “in order,” as he said, “that there may be no shadow between him + and my son.” + </p> + <p> + One spring my uncle took Chatanna to the Canadian trading-post on the + Assiniboine river, where he went to trade off his furs for ammunition and + other commodities. When he came back, my brother was not with him! + </p> + <p> + At first my fears were even worse than the reality. The facts were these: + A Canadian with whom my uncle had traded much had six daughters and no + son; and when he saw this handsome and intelligent little fellow, he at + once offered to adopt him. + </p> + <p> + “I have no boy in my family,” said he, “and I will deal with him as with a + son. I am always in these regions trading; so you can see him two or three + times in a year.” + </p> + <p> + He further assured my uncle that the possession of the boy would greatly + strengthen their friendship. The matter was finally agreed upon. At first + Chatanna was unwilling, but as we were taught to follow the advice of our + parents and guardians, he was obliged to yield. + </p> + <p> + This was a severe blow to me, and for a long time I could not be consoled. + Uncheedah was fully in sympathy with my distress. She argued that the + white man’s education was not desirable for her boys; in fact, she urged + her son so strongly to go back after Chatanna that he promised on his next + visit to the post to bring him home again. + </p> + <p> + But the trader was a shrewd man. He immediately moved to another part of + the country; and I never saw my Chatanna, the companion of my childhood, + again! We learned afterward that he grew up and was married; but one day + he lost his way in a blizzard and was frozen to death. + </p> + <p> + My little cousin and I went to school together in later years; but she + could not endure the confinement of the school-room. Although apparently + very happy, she suffered greatly from the change to an indoor life, as + have many of our people, and died six months after our return to the + United States. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III: The Boy Hunter + </h2> + <p> + IT will be no exaggeration to say that the life of the Indian hunter was a + life of fascination. From the moment that he lost sight of his rude home + in the midst of the forest, his untutored mind lost itself in the myriad + beauties and forces of nature. Yet he never forgot his personal danger + from some lurking foe or savage beast, however absorbing was his passion + for the chase. + </p> + <p> + The Indian youth was a born hunter. Every motion, every step expressed an + inborn dignity and, at the same time, a depth of native caution. His + moccasined foot fell like the velvet paw of a cat—noiselessly; his + glittering black eyes scanned every object that appeared within their + view. Not a bird, not even a chipmunk, escaped their piercing glance. + </p> + <p> + I was scarcely over three years old when I stood one morning just outside + our buffalo-skin teepee, with my little bow and arrows in my hand, and + gazed up among the trees. Suddenly the instinct to chase and kill seized + me powerfully. Just then a bird flew over my head and then another caught + my eye, as it balanced itself upon a swaying bough. Everything else was + forgotten and in that moment I had taken my first step as a hunter. + </p> + <p> + There was almost as much difference between the Indian boys who were + brought up on the open prairies and those of the woods, as between city + and country boys. The hunting of the prairie boys was limited and their + knowledge of natural history imperfect. They were, as a rule, good riders, + but in all-round physical development much inferior to the red men of the + forest. + </p> + <p> + Our hunting varied with the season of the year, and the nature of the + country which was for the time our home. Our chief weapon was the bow and + arrows, and perhaps, if we were lucky, a knife was possessed by some one + in the crowd. In the olden times, knives and hatchets were made from bone + and sharp stones. + </p> + <p> + For fire we used a flint with a spongy piece of dry wood and a stone to + strike with. Another way of starting fire was for several of the boys to + sit down in a circle and rub two pieces of dry, spongy wood together, one + after another, until the wood took fire. + </p> + <p> + We hunted in company a great deal, though it was a common thing for a boy + to set out for the woods quite alone, and he usually enjoyed himself fully + as much. Our game consisted mainly of small birds, rabbits, squirrels and + grouse. Fishing, too, occupied much of our time. We hardly ever passed a + creek or a pond without searching for some signs of fish. When fish were + present, we always managed to get some. Fish-lines were made of wild hemp, + sinew or horse-hair. We either caught fish with lines, snared or speared + them, or shot them with bow and arrows. In the fall we charmed them up to + the surface by gently tickling them with a stick and quickly threw them + out. We have sometimes dammed the brooks and driven the larger fish into a + willow basket made for that purpose. + </p> + <p> + It was part of our hunting to find new and strange things in the woods. We + examined the slightest sign of life; and if a bird had scratched the + leaves off the ground, or a bear dragged up a root for his morning meal, + we stopped to speculate on the time it was done. If we saw a large old + tree with some scratches on its bark, we concluded that a bear or some + raccoons must be living there. In that case we did not go any nearer than + was necessary, but later reported the incident at home. An old deer-track + would at once bring on a warm discussion as to whether it was the track of + a buck or a doe. Generally, at noon, we met and compared our game, noting + at the same time the peculiar characteristics of everything we had killed. + It was not merely a hunt, for we combined with it the study of animal + life. We also kept strict account of our game, and thus learned who were + the best shots among the boys. + </p> + <p> + I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward the birds. We often took + their eggs and their young ones. My brother Chatanna and I once had a + disagreeable adventure while bird-hunting. We were accustomed to catch in + our hands young ducks and geese during the summer, and while doing this we + happened to find a crane’s nest. Of course, we were delighted with our + good luck. But, as it was already midsummer, the young cranes—two in + number—were rather large and they were a little way from the nest; + we also observed that the two old cranes were in a swampy place near by; + but, as it was moulting-time, we did not suppose that they would venture + on dry land. So we proceeded to chase the young birds; but they were fleet + runners and it took us some time to come up with them. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the parent birds had heard the cries of their little ones and + come to their rescue. They were chasing us, while we followed the birds. + It was really a perilous encounter! Our strong bows finally gained the + victory in a hand-to-hand struggle with the angry cranes; but after that + we hardly ever hunted a crane’s nest. Almost all birds make some + resistance when their eggs or young are taken, but they will seldom attack + man fearlessly. + </p> + <p> + We used to climb large trees for birds of all kinds; but we never + undertook to get young owls unless they were on the ground. The hooting + owl especially is a dangerous bird to attack under these circumstances. I + was once trying to catch a yellow-winged woodpecker in its nest when my + arm became twisted and lodged in the deep hole so that I could not get it + out without the aid of a knife; but we were a long way from home and my + only companion was a deaf mute cousin of mine. I was about fifty feet up + in the tree, in a very uncomfortable position, but I had to wait there for + more than an hour before he brought me the knife with which I finally + released myself. + </p> + <p> + Our devices for trapping small animals were rude, but they were often + successful. For instance, we used to gather up a peck or so of large, + sharp-pointed burrs and scatter them in the rabbit’s furrow-like path. In + the morning, we would find the little fellow sitting quietly in his + tracks, unable to move, for the burrs stuck to his feet. + </p> + <p> + Another way of snaring rabbits and grouse was the following: We made + nooses of twisted horsehair, which we tied very firmly to the top of a + limber young tree, then bent the latter down to the track and fastened the + whole with a slip-knot, after adjusting the noose. When the rabbit runs + his head through the noose, he pulls the slip-knot and is quickly carried + up by the spring of the young tree. This is a good plan, for the rabbit is + out of harm’s way as he swings high in the air. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the most enjoyable of all was the chipmunk hunt. We killed these + animals at any time of year, but the special time to hunt them was in + March. After the first thaw, the chipmunks burrow a hole through the snow + crust and make their first appearance for the season. Sometimes as many as + fifty will come together and hold a social reunion. These gatherings occur + early in the morning, from daybreak to about nine o’clock. + </p> + <p> + We boys learned this, among other secrets of nature, and got our + blunt-headed arrows together in good season for the chipmunk expedition. + </p> + <p> + We generally went in groups of six to a dozen or fifteen, to see which + would get the most. On the evening before, we selected several boys who + could imitate the chipmunk’s call with wild oatstraws and each of these + provided himself with a supply of straws. + </p> + <p> + The crust will hold the boys nicely at this time of the year. Bright and + early, they all come together at the appointed place, from which each + group starts out in a different direction, agreeing to meet somewhere at a + given position of the sun. + </p> + <p> + My first experience of this kind is still well remembered. It was a fine + crisp March morning, and the sun had not yet shown himself among the + distant tree-tops as we hurried along through the ghostly wood. Presently + we arrived at a place where there were many signs of the animals. Then + each of us selected a tree and took up his position behind it. The + chipmunk caller sat upon a log as motionless as he could, and began to + call. + </p> + <p> + Soon we heard the patter of little feet on the hard snow; then we saw the + chipmunks approaching from all directions. Some stopped and ran + experimentally up a tree or a log, as if uncertain of the exact direction + of the call; others chased one another about. + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes, the chipmunk-caller was besieged with them. Some ran all + over his person, others under him and still others ran up the tree against + which he was sitting. Each boy remained immovable until their leader gave + the signal; then a great shout arose, and the chipmunks in their flight + all ran up the different trees. + </p> + <p> + Now the shooting-match began. The little creatures seemed to realize their + hopeless position; they would try again and again to come down the trees + and flee away from the deadly aim of the youthful hunters. But they were + shot down very fast; and whenever several of them rushed toward the + ground, the little red-skin hugged the tree and yelled frantically to + scare them up again. + </p> + <p> + Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the tree, so that the arrow + may bound back to him every time; otherwise, when he had shot away all of + them, he would be helpless, and another, who had cleared his own tree, + would come and take away his game, so there was warm competition. + Sometimes a desperate chipmunk would jump from the top of the tree in + order to escape, which was considered a joke on the boy who lost it and a + triumph for the brave little animal. At last all were killed or gone, and + then we went on to another place, keeping up the sport until the sun came + out and the chipmunks refused to answer the call. + </p> + <p> + When we went out on the prairies we had a different and less lively kind + of sport. We used to snare with horse-hair and bow-strings all the small + ground animals, including the prairie-dog. We both snared and shot them. + Once a little boy set a snare for one, and lay flat on the ground a little + way from the hole, holding the end of the string. Presently he felt + something move and pulled in a huge rattlesnake; and to this day, his name + is “Caught-the-Rattlesnake.” Very often a boy got a new name in some such + manner. At another time, we were playing in the woods and found a fawn’s + track. We followed and caught it while asleep; but in the struggle to get + away, it kicked one boy, who is still called “Kicked-by-the-Fawn.” + </p> + <p> + It became a necessary part of our education to learn to prepare a meal + while out hunting. It is a fact that most Indians will eat the liver and + some other portions of large animals raw, but they do not eat fish or + birds uncooked. Neither will they eat a frog, or an eel. On our boyish + hunts, we often went on until we found ourselves a long way from our camp, + when we would kindle a fire and roast a part of our game. + </p> + <p> + Generally we broiled our meat over the coals on a stick. We roasted some + of it over the open fire. But the best way to cook fish and birds is in + the ashes, under a big fire. We take the fish fresh from the creek or + lake, have a good fire on the sand, dig in the sandy ashes and bury it + deep. The same thing is done in case of a bird, only we wet the feathers + first. When it is done, the scales or feathers and skin are stripped off + whole, and the delicious meat retains all its juices and flavor. We pulled + it off as we ate, leaving the bones undisturbed. + </p> + <p> + Our people had also a method of boiling without pots or kettles. A large + piece of tripe was thoroughly washed and the ends tied, then suspended + between four stakes driven into the ground and filled with cold water. The + meat was then placed in this novel receptacle and boiled by means of the + addition of red-hot stones. + </p> + <p> + Chatanna was a good hunter. He called the doe and fawn beautifully by + using a thin leaf of birchbark between two flattened sticks. One morning + we found the tracks of a doe and fawn who had passed within the hour, for + the light dew was brushed from the grass. + </p> + <p> + “What shall we do?” I asked. “Shall we go back to the teepee and tell + uncle to bring his gun?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no!” exclaimed Chatanna. “Did not our people kill deer and buffalo + long ago without guns? We will entice her into this open space, and, while + she stands bewildered, I can throw my lasso line over her head.” + </p> + <p> + He had called only a few seconds when the fawn emerged from the thick + woods and stood before us, prettier than a picture. Then I uttered the + call, and she threw her tobacco-leaf-like ears toward me, while Chatanna + threw his lasso. She gave one scream and launched forth into the air, + almost throwing the boy hunter to the ground. Again and again she flung + herself desperately into the air, but at last we led her to the nearest + tree and tied her securely. + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said he, “go and get our pets and see what they will do.” + </p> + <p> + At that time he had a good-sized black bear partly tamed, while I had a + young red fox and my faithful Ohitika or Brave. I untied Chagoo, the bear, + and Wanahon, the fox, while Ohitika got up and welcomed me by wagging his + tail in a dignified way. + </p> + <p> + “Come,” I said, “all three of you. I think we have something you would all + like to see.” + </p> + <p> + They seemed to understand me, for Chagoo began to pull his rope with both + paws, while Wanahon undertook the task of digging up by the roots the + sapling to which I had tied him. + </p> + <p> + Before we got to the open spot, we already heard Ohitika’s joyous bark, + and the two wild pets began to run, and pulled me along through the + underbrush. Chagoo soon assumed the utmost precaution and walked as if he + had splinters in his soles, while Wanahon kept his nose down low and + sneaked through the trees. + </p> + <p> + Out into the open glade we came, and there, before the three rogues, stood + the little innocent fawn. She visibly trembled at the sight of the motley + group. The two human rogues looked to her, I presume, just as bad as the + other three. Chagoo regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and defiance, + while Wanahon stood as if rooted to the ground, evidently planning how to + get at her. But Ohitika (Brave), generous Ohitika, his occasional barking + was only in jest. He did not care to touch the helpless thing. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the fawn sprang high into the air and then dropped her pretty + head on the ground. + </p> + <p> + “Ohiyesa, the fawn is dead,” cried Chatanna. “I wanted to keep her.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a shame;” I chimed in. + </p> + <p> + We five guilty ones came and stood around her helpless form. We all looked + very sorry; even Chagoo’s eyes showed repentance and regret. As for + Ohitika, he gave two great sighs and then betook himself to a respectful + distance. Chatanna had two big tears gradually swamping his long, black + eye-lashes; and I thought it was time to hide my face, for I did not want + him to look at me. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. Hakadah’s First Offering + </h2> + <p> + “HAKADAH, coowah!” was the sonorous call that came from a large teepee in + the midst of the Indian encampment. In answer to the summons there emerged + from the woods, which were only a few steps away, a boy, accompanied by a + splendid black dog. There was little in the appearance of the little + fellow to distinguish him from the other Sioux boys. + </p> + <p> + He hastened to the tent from which he had been summoned, carrying in his + hands a bow and arrows gorgeously painted, while the small birds and + squirrels that he had killed with these weapons dangled from his belt. + </p> + <p> + Within the tent sat two old women, one on each side of the fire. Uncheedah + was the boy’s grandmother, who had brought up the motherless child. + Wahchewin was only a caller, but she had been invited to remain and assist + in the first personal offering of Hakadah to the “Great Mystery.” + </p> + <p> + This was a matter which had, for several days, pretty much monopolized + Uncheedah’s mind. It was her custom to see to this when each of her + children attained the age of eight summers. They had all been celebrated + as warriors and hunters among their tribe, and she had not hesitated to + claim for herself a good share of the honors they had achieved, because + she had brought them early to the notice of the “Great Mystery.” + </p> + <p> + She believed that her influence had helped to regulate and develop the + characters of her sons to the height of savage nobility and strength of + manhood. + </p> + <p> + It had been whispered through the teepee village that Uncheedah intended + to give a feast in honor of her grandchild’s first sacrificial offering. + This was mere speculation, however, for the clearsighted old woman had + determined to keep this part of the matter secret until the offering + should be completed, believing that the “Great Mystery” should be met in + silence and dignity. + </p> + <p> + The boy came rushing into the lodge, followed by his dog Ohitika who was + wagging his tail promiscuously, as if to say: “Master and I are really + hunters!” + </p> + <p> + Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narrative of the killing of each + bird and squirrel as he pulled them off his belt and threw them before his + grandmother. + </p> + <p> + “This blunt-headed arrow,” said he, “actually had eyes this morning. + Before the squirrel can dodge around the tree it strikes him in the head, + and, as he falls to the ground, my Ohitika is upon him.” + </p> + <p> + He knelt upon one knee as he talked, his black eyes shining like evening + stars. + </p> + <p> + “Sit down here,” said Uncheedah to the boy; “I have something to say to + you. You see that you are now almost a man. Observe the game you have + brought me! It will not be long before you will leave me, for a warrior + must seek opportunities to make him great among his people. + </p> + <p> + “You must endeavor to equal your father and grandfather,” she went on. + “They were warriors and feast-makers. But it is not the poor hunter who + makes many feasts. Do you not remember the ‘Legend of the Feast-Maker,’ + who gave forty feasts in twelve moons? And have you forgotten the story of + the warrior who sought the will of the Great Mystery? To-day you will make + your first offering to him.” + </p> + <p> + The concluding sentence fairly dilated the eyes of the young hunter, for + he felt that a great event was about to occur, in which he would be the + principal actor. But Uncheedah resumed her speech. + </p> + <p> + “You must give up one of your belongings-whichever is dearest to you—for + this is to be a sacrificial offering.” + </p> + <p> + This somewhat confused the boy; not that he was selfish, but rather + uncertain as to what would be the most appropriate thing to give. Then, + too, he supposed that his grandmother referred to his ornaments and + playthings only. So he volunteered: + </p> + <p> + “I can give up my best bow and arrows, and all the paints I have, and—and + my bear’s claws necklace, grandmother!” + </p> + <p> + “Are these the things dearest to you?” she demanded. + </p> + <p> + “Not the bow and arrows, but the paints will be very hard to get, for + there are no white people near; and the necklace—it is not easy to + get one like it again. I will also give up my otterskin head-dress, if you + think that is not enough.” + </p> + <p> + “But think, my boy, you have not yet mentioned the thing that will be a + pleasant offering to the Great Mystery.” + </p> + <p> + The boy looked into the woman’s face with a puzzled expression. + </p> + <p> + “I have nothing else as good as those things I have named, grandmother, + unless it is my spotted pony; and I am sure that the Great Mystery will + not require a little boy to make him so large a gift. Besides, my uncle + gave three otter-skins and five eagle-feathers for him and I promised to + keep him a long while, if the Blackfeet or the Crows do not steal him.” + </p> + <p> + Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy’s free offerings. Perhaps + it had not occurred to him what she really wanted. But Uncheedah knew + where his affection was vested. His faithful dog, his pet and companion—Hakadah + was almost inseparable from the loving beast. + </p> + <p> + She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain his consent to sacrifice + the animal, but she ventured upon a final appeal. + </p> + <p> + “You must remember,” she said, “that in this offering you will call upon + him who looks at you from every creation. In the wind you hear him whisper + to you. He gives his war-whoop in the thunder. He watches you by day with + his eye, the sun; at night, he gazes upon your sleeping countenance + through the moon. In short, it is the Mystery of Mysteries, who controls + all things to whom you will make your first offering. By this act, you + will ask him to grant to you what he has granted to few men. I know you + wish to be a great warrior and hunter. I am not prepared to see my Hakadah + show any cowardice, for the love of possessions is a woman’s trait and not + a brave’s.” + </p> + <p> + During this speech, the boy had been completely aroused to the spirit of + manliness, and in his excitement was willing to give up anything he had—even + his pony! But he was unmindful of his friend and companion, Ohitika, the + dog! So, scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking, when he almost shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions for the offering to the + Great Mystery! You may select what you think will be most pleasing to + him.” + </p> + <p> + There were two silent spectators of this little dialogue. One was + Wahchewin; the other was Ohitika. The woman had been invited to stay, + although only a neighbor. The dog, by force of habit, had taken up his + usual position by the side of his master when they entered the teepee. + Without moving a muscle, save those of his eyes, he had been a very close + observer of what passed. + </p> + <p> + Had the dog but moved once to attract the attention of his little friend, + he might have been dissuaded from that impetuous exclamation: + “Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions!” + </p> + <p> + It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that he must part with his dog, + but she was equal to the situation. + </p> + <p> + “Hakadah,” she proceeded cautiously, “you are a young brave. I know, + though young, your heart is strong and your courage is great. You will be + pleased to give up the dearest thing you have for your first offering. You + must give up Ohitika. He is brave; and you, too, are brave. He will not + fear death; you will bear his loss bravely. Come—here are four + bundles of paints and a filled pipe—let us go to the place.” + </p> + <p> + When the last words were uttered, Hakadah did not seem to hear them. He + was simply unable to speak. To a civilized eye, he would have appeared at + that moment like a little copper statue. His bright black eyes were fast + melting in floods of tears, when he caught his grandmother’s eye and + recollected her oft-repeated adage: “Tears for woman and the war-whoop for + man to drown sorrow!” + </p> + <p> + He swallowed two or three big mouthfuls of heart-ache and the little + warrior was master of the situation. + </p> + <p> + “Grandmother, my Brave will have to die! Let me tie together two of the + prettiest tails of the squirrels that he and I killed this morning, to + show to the Great Mystery what a hunter he has been. Let me paint him + myself.” + </p> + <p> + This request Uncheedah could not refuse and she left the pair alone for a + few minutes, while she went to ask Wacoota to execute Ohitika. + </p> + <p> + Every Indian boy knows that, when a warrior is about to meet death, he + must sing a death dirge. Hakadah thought of his Ohitika as a person who + would meet his death without a struggle, so he began to sing a dirge for + him, at the same time hugging him tight to himself. As if he were a human + being, he whispered in his ear: + </p> + <p> + “Be brave, my Ohitika! I shall remember you the first time I am upon the + war-path in the Ojibway country.” + </p> + <p> + At last he heard Uncheedah talking with a man outside the teepee, so he + quickly took up his paints. Ohitika was a jet-black dog, with a silver tip + on the end of his tail and on his nose, beside one white paw and a white + star upon a protuberance between his ears. Hakadah knew that a man who + prepares for death usually paints with red and black. Nature had partially + provided Ohitika in this respect, so that only red was required and this + Hakadah supplied generously. + </p> + <p> + Then he took off a piece of red cloth and tied it around the dog’s neck; + to this he fastened two of the squirrels’ tails and a wing from the oriole + they had killed that morning. + </p> + <p> + Just then it occurred to him that good warriors always mourn for their + departed friends and the usual mourning was black paint. He loosened his + black braided locks, ground a dead coal, mixed it with bear’s oil and + rubbed it on his entire face. + </p> + <p> + During this time every hole in the tent was occupied with an eye. Among + the lookers-on was his grandmother. She was very near relenting. Had she + not feared the wrath of the Great Mystery, she would have been happy to + call out to the boy: “Keep your dear dog, my child!” + </p> + <p> + As it was, Hakadah came out of the teepee with his face looking like an + eclipsed moon, leading his beautiful dog, who was even handsomer than ever + with the red touches on his specks of white. + </p> + <p> + It was now Uncheedah’s turn to struggle with the storm and burden in her + soul. But the boy was emboldened by the people’s admiration of his + bravery, and did not shed a tear. As soon as she was able to speak, the + loving grandmother said: + </p> + <p> + “No, my young brave, not so! You must not mourn for your first offering. + Wash your face and then we will go.” + </p> + <p> + The boy obeyed, submitted Ohitika to Wacoota with a smile, and walked off + with his grandmother and Wahchewin. + </p> + <p> + They followed a well-beaten foot-path leading along the bank of the + Assiniboine river, through a beautiful grove of oak, and finally around + and under a very high cliff. The murmuring of the river came up from just + below. On the opposite side was a perpendicular white cliff, from which + extended back a gradual slope of land, clothed with the majestic mountain + oak. The scene was impressive and wild. + </p> + <p> + Wahchewin had paused without a word when the little party reached the edge + of the cliff. It had been arranged between her and Uncheedah that she + should wait there for Wacoota, who was to bring as far as that the portion + of the offering with which he had been entrusted. + </p> + <p> + The boy and his grandmother descended the bank, following a tortuous + foot-path until they reached the water’s edge. Then they proceeded to the + mouth of an immense cave, some fifty feet above the river, under the + cliff. A little stream of limpid water trickled down from a spring within + the cave. The little watercourse served as a sort of natural staircase for + the visitors. A cool, pleasant atmosphere exhaled from the mouth of the + cavern. Really it was a shrine of nature and it is not strange that it was + so regarded by the tribe. + </p> + <p> + A feeling of awe and reverence came to the boy. “It is the home of the + Great Mystery,” he thought to himself; and the impressiveness of his + surroundings made him forget his sorrow. + </p> + <p> + Very soon Wahchewin came with some difficulty to the steps. She placed the + body of Ohitika upon the ground in a life-like position and again left the + two alone. + </p> + <p> + As soon as she disappeared from view, Uncheedah, with all solemnity and + reverence, unfastened the leather strings that held the four small bundles + of paints and one of tobacco, while the filled pipe was laid beside the + dead Ohitika. + </p> + <p> + She scattered paints and tobacco all about. Again they stood a few moments + silently; then she drew a deep breath and began her prayer to the Great + Mystery: + </p> + <p> + “O, Great Mystery, we hear thy voice in the rushing waters below us! We + hear thy whisper in the great oaks above! Our spirits are refreshed with + thy breath from within this cave. O, hear our prayer! Behold this little + boy and bless him! Make him a warrior and a hunter as great as thou didst + make his father and grandfather.” + </p> + <p> + And with this prayer the little warrior had completed his first offering. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. FAMILY TRADITIONS + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I: A Visit to Smoky Day + </h2> + <p> + SMOKY DAY was widely known among us as a preserver of history and legend. + He was a living book of the traditions and history of his people. Among + his effects were bundles of small sticks, notched and painted. One bundle + contained the number of his own years. Another was composed of sticks + representing the important events of history, each of which was marked + with the number of years since that particular event occurred. For + instance, there was the year when so many stars fell from the sky, with + the number of years since it happened cut into the wood. Another recorded + the appearance of a comet; and from these heavenly wonders the great + national catastrophes and victories were reckoned. + </p> + <p> + But I will try to repeat some of his favorite narratives as I heard them + from his own lips. I went to him one day with a piece of tobacco and an + eagle-feather; not to buy his MSS., but hoping for the privilege of + hearing him tell of some of the brave deeds of our people in remote times. + </p> + <p> + The tall and large old man greeted me with his usual courtesy and thanked + me for my present. As I recall the meeting, I well remember his unusual + stature, his slow speech and gracious manner. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Ohiyesa!” said he, “my young warrior—for such you will be some + day! I know this by your seeking to hear of the great deeds of your + ancestors. That is a good sign, and I love to repeat these stories to one + who is destined to be a brave man. I do not wish to lull you to sleep with + sweet words; but I know the conduct of your paternal ancestors. They have + been and are still among the bravest of our tribe. To prove this, I will + relate what happened in your paternal grandfather’s family, twenty years + ago. + </p> + <p> + “Two of his brothers were murdered by a jealous young man of their own + band. The deed was committed without just cause; therefore all the braves + were agreed to punish the murderer with death. When your grandfather was + approached with this suggestion, he replied that he and the remaining + brothers could not condescend to spill the blood of such a wretch, but + that the others might do whatever they thought just with the young man. + These men were foremost among the warriors of the Sioux, and no one + questioned their courage; yet when this calamity was brought upon them by + a villain, they refused to touch him! This, my boy, is a test of true + bravery. Self-possession and self-control at such a moment is proof of a + strong heart. + </p> + <p> + “You have heard of Jingling Thunder the elder, whose brave deeds are well + known to the Villagers of the Lakes. He sought honor ‘in the gates of the + enemy,’ as we often say. The Great Mystery was especially kind to him, + because he was obedient. + </p> + <p> + “Many winters ago there was a great battle, in which Jingling Thunder won + his first honors. It was forty winters before the falling of many stars, + which event occurred twenty winters after the coming of the black-robed + white priest; and that was fourteen winters before the annihilation by our + people of thirty lodges of the Sac and Fox Indians. I well remember the + latter event—it was just fifty winters ago. However, I will count my + sticks again.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, Smoky Day produced his bundle of variously colored sticks, + about five inches long. He counted and gave them to me to verify his + calculation. + </p> + <p> + “But you,” he resumed, “do not care to remember the winters that have + passed. You are young, and care only for the event and the deed. It was + very many years ago that this thing happened that I am about to tell you, + and yet our people speak of it with as much enthusiasm as if it were only + yesterday. Our heroes are always kept alive in the minds of the nation. + </p> + <p> + “Our people lived then on the east bank of the Mississippi, a little south + of where Imnejah-skah, or White Cliff (St. Paul, Minnesota), now stands. + After they left Mille Lacs they founded several villages, but finally + settled in this spot, whence the tribes have gradually dispersed. Here a + battle occurred which surpassed all others in history. It lasted one whole + day—the Sacs and Foxes and the Dakotas against the Ojibways. + </p> + <p> + “An invitation in the usual form of a filled pipe was brought to the Sioux + by a brave of the Sac and Fox tribe, to make a general attack upon their + common enemy. The Dakota braves quickly signified their willingness in the + same manner, and it having been agreed to meet upon the St. Croix river, + preparations were immediately begun to despatch a large war-party. + </p> + <p> + “Among our people there were many tried warriors whose names were known, + and every youth of a suitable age was desirous of emulating them. As these + young novices issued from every camp and almost every teepee, their + mothers, sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers were singing for them the + ‘strong-heart’ songs. An old woman, living with her only grandchild, the + remnant of a once large band who had all been killed at three different + times by different parties of the Ojibways, was conspicuous among the + singers. + </p> + <p> + “Everyone who heard, cast toward her a sympathetic glance, for it was well + known that she and her grandson constituted the remnant of a band of + Sioux, and that her song indicated that her precious child had attained + the age of a warrior, and was now about to join the war-party, and to seek + a just revenge for the annihilation of his family. This was Jingling + Thunder, also familiarly known as ‘The Little Last.’ He was seen to carry + with him some family relics in the shape of war-clubs and lances. + </p> + <p> + “The aged woman’s song was something like this: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Go, my brave Jingling Thunder! + Upon the silvery path + Behold that glittering track— + + “And yet, my child, remember + How pitiful to live + Survivor of the young! + ‘Stablish our name and kin!” + </pre> + <p> + “The Sacs and Foxes were very daring and confident upon this occasion. + They proposed to the Sioux that they should engage alone with the enemy at + first, and let us see how their braves can fight! To this our people + assented, and they assembled upon the hills to watch the struggle between + their allies and the Ojibways. It seemed to be an equal fight, and for a + time no one could tell how the contest would end. Young Jingling Thunder + was an impatient spectator, and it was The Milky Way—believed by the + Dakotas to be the road travelled by the spirits of departed braves hard to + keep him from rushing forward to meet his foes. + </p> + <p> + “At last a great shout went up, and the Sacs and Foxes were seen to be + retreating with heavy loss. Then the Sioux took the field, and were fast + winning the day, when fresh reinforcements came from the north for the + Ojibways. Up to this time Jingling Thunder had been among the foremost in + the battle, and had engaged in several close encounters. But this fresh + attack of the Ojibways was unexpected, and the Sioux were somewhat tired. + Besides, they had told the Sacs and Foxes to sit upon the hills and rest + their weary limbs and take lessons from their friends the Sioux; therefore + no aid was looked for from any quarter. + </p> + <p> + “A great Ojibway chief made a fierce onslaught on the Dakotas. This man + Jingling Thunder now rushed forward to meet. The Ojibway boastfully + shouted to his warriors that he had met a tender fawn and would reserve to + himself the honor of destroying it. Jingling Thunder, on his side, + exclaimed that he had met the aged bear of whom he had heard so much, but + that he would need no assistance to overcome him. + </p> + <p> + “The powerful man flashed his tomahawk in the air over the youthful + warrior’s head, but the brave sprang aside as quick as lightning, and in + the same instant speared his enemy to the heart. As the Ojibway chief gave + a gasping yell and fell in death, his people lost courage; while the + success of the brave Jingling Thunder strengthened the hearts of the + Sioux, for they immediately followed up their advantage and drove the + enemy out of their territory. + </p> + <p> + “This was the beginning of Jingling Thunder’s career as a warrior. He + afterwards performed even greater acts of valor. He became the ancestor of + a famous band of the Sioux, of whom your own father, Ohiyesa, was a + member. You have doubtless heard his name in connection with many great + events. Yet he was a patient man, and was never known to quarrel with one + of his own nation.” + </p> + <p> + That night I lay awake a long time committing to memory the tradition I + had heard, and the next day I boasted to my playmate, Little Rainbow, + about my first lesson from the old storyteller. To this he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I would rather have Weyuhah for my teacher. I think he remembers more + than any of the others. When Weyuhah tells about a battle you can see it + yourself; you can even hear the war-whoop,” he went on with much + enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + “That is what his friends say of him; but those who are not his friends + say that he brings many warriors into the battle who were not there,” I + answered indignantly, for I could not admit that old Smoky Day could have + a rival. + </p> + <p> + Before I went to him again Uncheedah had thoughtfully prepared a nice + venison roast for the teacher, and I was proud to take him something good + to eat before beginning his story. + </p> + <p> + “How,” was his greeting, “so you have begun already, Ohiyesa? Your family + were ever feastmakers as well as warriors.” + </p> + <p> + Having done justice to the tender meat, he wiped his knife by sticking it + into the ground several times, and put it away in its sheath, after which + he cheerfully recommenced: + </p> + <p> + “It came to pass not many winters ago that Wakinyan-tonka, the great + medicine man, had a vision; whereupon a war-party set out for the Ojibway + country. There were three brothers of your family among them, all of whom + were noted for valor and the chase. + </p> + <p> + “Seven battles were fought in succession before they turned to come back. + They had secured a number of the enemy’s birch canoes, and the whole party + came floating down the Mississippi, joyous and happy because of their + success. + </p> + <p> + “But one night the war-chief announced that there was misfortune at hand. + The next day no one was willing to lead the fleet. The youngest of the + three brothers finally declared that he did not fear death, for it comes + when least expected and he volunteered to take the lead. + </p> + <p> + “It happened that this young man had left a pretty maiden behind him, + whose choice needlework adorned his quiver. He was very handsome as well + as brave. + </p> + <p> + “At daybreak the canoes were again launched upon the bosom of the great + river. All was quiet—a few birds beginning to sing. Just as the sun + peeped through the eastern tree-tops a great warcry came forth from the + near shores, and there was a rain of arrows. The birchen canoes were + pierced, and in the excitement many were capsized. + </p> + <p> + “The Sioux were at a disadvantage. There was no shelter. Their bow-strings + and the feathers on their arrows were wet. The bold Ojibways saw their + advantage and pressed closer and closer; but our men fought desperately, + half in and half out of the water, until the enemy was forced at last to + retreat. Nevertheless that was a sad day for the Wahpeton Sioux; but + saddest of all was Winona’s fate! + </p> + <p> + “Morning Star, her lover, who led the canoe fleet that morning, was among + the slain. For two days the Sioux braves searched in the water for their + dead, but his body was not recovered. + </p> + <p> + “At home, meanwhile, the people had been alarmed by ill omens. Winona, + eldest daughter of the great chief, one day entered her birch canoe alone + and paddled up the Mississippi, gazing now into the water around her, now + into the blue sky above. She thought she heard some young men giving + courtship calls in the distance, just as they do at night when approaching + the teepee of the beloved; and she knew the voice of Morning Star well! + Surely she could distinguish his call among the others! Therefore she + listened yet more intently, and looked skyward as her light canoe glided + gently up stream. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, poor Winona! She saw only six sandhill cranes, looking no larger than + mosquitoes, as they flew in circles high up in the sky, going east where + all spirits go. Something said to her: ‘Those are the spirits of some of + the Sioux braves, and Morning Star is among them!’ Her eye followed the + birds as they traveled in a chain of circles. + </p> + <p> + “Suddenly she glanced downward. ‘What is this?’ she screamed in despair. + It was Morning Star’s body, floating down the river; his quiver, worked by + her own hands and now dyed with his blood, lay upon the surface of the + water. + </p> + <p> + “‘Ah, Great Mystery! why do you punish a poor girl so? Let me go with the + spirit of Morning Star!’ + </p> + <p> + “It was evening. The pale moon arose in the east and the stars were + bright. At this very hour the news of the disaster was brought home by a + returning scout, and the village was plunged in grief, but Winona’s spirit + had flown away. No one ever saw her again. + </p> + <p> + “This is enough for to-day, my boy. You may come again to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. The Stone Boy + </h2> + <p> + “Ho, mita koda!” (welcome, friend!) was Smoky Day’s greeting, as I entered + his lodge on the third day. “I hope you did not dream of a watery combat + with the Ojibways, after the history I repeated to you yesterday,” the old + sage continued, with a complaisant smile playing upon his face. + </p> + <p> + “No,” I said, meekly, “but, on the other hand, I have wished that the sun + might travel a little faster, so that I could come for another story.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, this time I will tell you one of the kind we call myths or fairy + stories. They are about men and women who do wonderful things—things + that ordinary people cannot do at all. Sometimes they are not exactly + human beings, for they partake of the nature of men and beasts, or of men + and gods. I tell you this beforehand, so that you may not ask any + questions, or be puzzled by the inconsistency of the actors in these old + stories. + </p> + <p> + “Once there were ten brothers who lived with their only sister, a young + maiden of sixteen summers. She was very skilful at her embroidery, and her + brothers all had beautifully worked quivers and bows embossed with + porcupine quills. They loved and were kind to her, and the maiden in her + turn loved her brothers dearly, and was content with her position as their + housekeeper. They were great hunters, and scarcely ever remained at home + during the day, but when they returned at evening they would relate to her + all their adventures. + </p> + <p> + “One night they came home one by one with their game, as usual, all but + the eldest, who did not return. It was supposed by the other brothers that + he had pursued a deer too far from the lodge, or perhaps shot more game + than he could well carry; but the sister had a presentiment that something + dreadful had befallen him. She was partially consoled by the second + brother, who offered to find the lost one in the morning. + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly, he went in search of him, while the rest set out on the hunt + as usual. Toward evening all had returned safely, save the brother who + went in search of the absent. Again, the next older brother went to look + for the others, and he too returned no more. All the young men disappeared + one by one in this manner, leaving their sister alone. + </p> + <p> + “The maiden’s sorrow was very great. She wandered everywhere, weeping and + looking for her brothers, but found no trace of them. One day she was + walking beside a beautiful little stream, whose clear waters went laughing + and singing on their way. She could see the gleaming pebbles at the + bottom, and one in particular seemed so lovely to her tear-bedimmed eyes, + that she stooped and picked it up, dropping it within her skin garment + into her bosom. For the first time since her misfortunes she had forgotten + herself and her sorrow. + </p> + <p> + “At last she went home, much happier than she had been, though she could + not have told the reason why. On the following day she sought again the + place where she had found the pebble, and this time she fell asleep on the + banks of the stream, When she awoke, there lay a beautiful babe in her + bosom. + </p> + <p> + “She took it up and kissed it many times. And the child was a boy, but it + was heavy like a stone, so she called him a ‘Little Stone Boy.’ The maiden + cried no more, for she was very happy with her baby. The child was + unusually knowing, and walked almost from its birth. + </p> + <p> + “One day Stone Boy discovered the bow and arrows of one of his uncles, and + desired to have them; but his mother cried, and said: + </p> + <p> + “‘Wait, my son, until you are a young man.’ She made him some little ones, + and with these he soon learned to hunt, and killed small game enough to + support them both. When he had grown to be a big boy, he insisted upon + knowing whose were the ten bows that still hung upon the walls of his + mother’s lodge. + </p> + <p> + “At last she was obliged to tell him the sad story of her loss. + </p> + <p> + “‘Mother, I shall go in search of my uncles,’ exclaimed the Stone Boy. + </p> + <p> + “‘But you will be lost like them,’ she replied, ‘and then I shall die of + grief.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No, I shall not be lost. I shall bring your ten brothers back to you. + Look, I will give you a sign. I will take a pillow, and place it upon end. + Watch this, for as long as I am living the pillow will stay as I put it. + Mother, give me some food and some moccasins with which to travel!’ + </p> + <p> + “Taking the bow of one of his uncles, with its quiver full of arrows, the + Stone Boy departed. As he journeyed through the forest he spoke to every + animal he met, asking for news of his lost uncles. Sometimes he called to + them at the top of his voice. Once he thought he heard an answer, so he + walked in the direction of the sound. But it was only a great grizzly bear + who had wantonly mimicked the boy’s call. Then Stone Boy was greatly + provoked. + </p> + <p> + “‘Was it you who answered my call, you longface?’ he exclaimed. + </p> + <p> + “Upon this the latter growled and said: + </p> + <p> + “‘You had better be careful how you address me, or you may be sorry for + what you say!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Who cares for you, you red-eyes, you ugly thing!’ the boy replied; + whereupon the grizzly immediately set upon him. + </p> + <p> + “But the boy’s flesh became as hard as stone, and the bear’s great teeth + and claws made no impression upon it. Then he was so dreadfully heavy; and + he kept laughing all the time as if he were being tickled, which greatly + aggravated the bear. Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and sent an arrow + to his heart. + </p> + <p> + “He walked on for some distance until he came to a huge fallen pine tree, + which had evidently been killed by lightning. The ground near by bore + marks of a struggle, and Stone Boy picked up several arrows exactly like + those of his uncles, which he himself carried. + </p> + <p> + “While he was examining these things, he heard a sound like that of a + whirlwind, far up in the heavens. He looked up and saw a black speck which + grew rapidly larger until it became a dense cloud. Out of it came a flash + and then a thunderbolt. The boy was obliged to wink; and when he opened + his eyes, behold! a stately man stood before him and challenged him to + single combat. + </p> + <p> + “Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they grappled with one another. The + man from the clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful. But Stone + Boy was both strong and unnaturally heavy and hard to hold. The great + warrior from the sky sweated from his exertions, and there came a heavy + shower. Again and again the lightnings flashed about them as the two + struggled there. At last Stone Boy threw his opponent, who lay motionless. + There was a murmuring sound throughout the heavens and the clouds rolled + swiftly away. + </p> + <p> + “‘Now,’ thought the hero, ‘this man must have slain all my uncles. I shall + go to his home and find out what has become of them.’ With this he + unfastened from the dead man’s scalp-lock a beautiful bit of scarlet down. + He breathed gently upon it, and as it floated upward he followed into the + blue heavens. + </p> + <p> + “Away went Stone Boy to the country of the Thunder Birds. It was a + beautiful land, with lakes, rivers, plains and mountains. The young + adventurer found himself looking down from the top of a high mountain, and + the country appeared to be very populous, for he saw lodges all about him + as far as the eye could reach. He particularly noticed a majestic tree + which towered above all the others, and in its bushy top bore an enormous + nest. Stone Boy descended from the mountain and soon arrived at the foot + of the tree; but there were no limbs except those at the top and it was so + tall that he did not attempt to climb it. He simply took out his bit of + down, breathed upon it and floated gently upward. + </p> + <p> + “When he was able to look into the nest he saw there innumerable eggs of + various sizes, and all of a remarkable red color. He was nothing but a boy + after all, and had all a boy’s curiosity and recklessness. As he was + handling the eggs carelessly, his notice was attracted to a sudden + confusion in the little village below. All of the people seemed to be + running toward the tree. He mischievously threw an egg at them, and in the + instant that it broke he saw one of the men drop dead. Then all began to + cry out pitifully, ‘Give me my heart!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Ah,’ exclaimed Stone Boy, exulting,’ so these are the hearts of the + people who destroyed my uncles! I shall break them all!’ + </p> + <p> + “And he really did break all of the eggs but four small ones which he took + in his hand. Then he descended the tree, and wandered among the silent and + deserted lodges in search of some trace of his lost uncles. He found four + little boys, the sole survivors of their race, and these he commanded to + tell him where their bones were laid. + </p> + <p> + “They showed him the spot where a heap of bones was bleaching on the + ground. Then he bade one of the boys bring wood, a second water, a third + stones, and the fourth he sent to cut willow wands for the sweat lodge. + They obeyed, and Stone Boy built the lodge, made a fire, heated the stones + and collected within the lodge all the bones of his ten uncles. + </p> + <p> + “As he poured the water upon the hot stones faint sounds could be heard + from within the magic bath. These changed to the murmuring of voices, and + finally to the singing of medicine songs. Stone Boy opened the door and + his ten uncles came forth in the flesh, thanking him and blessing him for + restoring them to life. Only the little finger of the youngest uncle was + missing. Stone Boy now heartlessly broke the four remaining eggs, and took + the little finger of the largest boy to supply the missing bone. + </p> + <p> + “They all returned to earth again and Stone Boy conducted his uncles to + his mother’s lodge. She had never slept during his entire absence, but + watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy was wont to rest his + head, and by which she was to know of his safety. Going a little in + advance of the others, he suddenly rushed forward into her teepee, + exclaiming: ‘Mother, your ten brothers are coming—prepare a feast!’ + </p> + <p> + “For some time after this they all lived happily together. Stone Boy + occupied himself with solitary hunting. He was particularly fond of + hunting the fiercer wild animals. He killed them wantonly and brought home + only the ears, teeth and claws as his spoil, and with these he played as + he laughingly recounted his exploits. His mother and uncles protested, and + begged him at least to spare the lives of those animals held sacred by the + Dakotas, but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural powers to protect him + from harm. + </p> + <p> + “One evening, however, he was noticeably silent and upon being pressed to + give the reason, replied as follows: + </p> + <p> + “‘For some days past I have heard the animals talking of a conspiracy + against us. I was going west the other morning when I heard a crier + announcing a general war upon Stone Boy and his people. The crier was a + Buffalo, going at full speed from west to east. Again, I heard the Beaver + conversing with the Musk-rat, and both said that their services were + already promised to overflow the lakes and rivers and cause a destructive + flood. I heard, also, the little Swallow holding a secret council with all + the birds of the air. He said that he had been appointed a messenger to + the Thunder Birds, and that at a certain signal the doors of the sky would + be opened and rains descend to drown Stone Boy. Old Badger and the Grizzly + Bear are appointed to burrow underneath our fortifications. + </p> + <p> + “‘However, I am not at all afraid for myself, but I am anxious for you, + Mother, and for my uncles.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Ugh!’ grunted all the uncles, ‘we told you that you would get into + trouble by killing so many of our sacred animals for your own amusement. + </p> + <p> + “‘But,’ continued Stone Boy, ‘I shall make a good resistance, and I expect + you all to help me.’ + </p> + <p> + “Accordingly they all worked under his direction in preparing for the + defence. First of all, he threw a pebble into the air, and behold a great + rocky wall around their teepee. A second, third, fourth and fifth pebble + became other walls without the first. From the sixth and seventh were + formed two stone lodges, one upon the other. The uncles meantime, made + numbers of bows and quivers full of arrows, which were ranged at + convenient distances along the tops of the walls. His mother prepared + great quantities of food and made many moccasins for her boy, who declared + that he would defend the fortress alone. + </p> + <p> + “At last they saw the army of beasts advancing, each tribe by itself and + commanded by a leader of extraordinary size. The onset was terrific. They + flung themselves against the high walls with savage cries, while the + badgers and other burrowing animals ceaselessly worked to undermine them. + Stone Boy aimed his sharp arrows with such deadly effect that his enemies + fell by thousands. So great was their loss that the dead bodies of the + animals formed a barrier higher than the first, and the armies retired in + confusion. + </p> + <p> + “But reinforcements were at hand. The rain fell in torrents; the beavers + had dammed all the rivers and there was a great flood. The besieged all + retreated into the innermost lodge, but the water poured in through the + burrows made by the badgers and gophers, and rose until Stone Boy’s mother + and his ten uncles were all drowned. Stone Boy himself could not be + entirely destroyed, but he was overcome by his enemies and left half + buried in the earth, condemned never to walk again, and there we find him + to this day. + </p> + <p> + “This was because he abused his strength, and destroyed for mere amusement + the lives of the creatures given him for use only.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. EVENING IN THE LODGE + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I: Evening in the Lodge + </h2> + <p> + I HAD been skating on that part of the lake where there was an overflow, + and came home somewhat cold. I cannot say just how cold it was, but it + must have been intensely so, for the trees were cracking all about me like + pistol shots. I did not mind, because I was wrapped up in my buffalo robe + with the hair inside, and a wide leather belt held it about my loins. My + skates were nothing more than strips of basswood bark bound upon my feet. + </p> + <p> + I had taken off my frozen moccasins and put on dry ones in their places. + </p> + <p> + “Where have you been and what have you been doing?” Uncheedah asked as she + placed before me some roast venison in a wooden bowl. “Did you see any + tracks of moose or bear?” + </p> + <p> + “No, grandmother, I have only been playing at the lower end of the lake. I + have something to ask you,” I said, eating my dinner and supper together + with all the relish of a hungry boy who has been skating in the cold for + half a day. + </p> + <p> + “I found this feather, grandmother, and I could not make out what tribe + wear feathers in that shape.” + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, I am not a man; you had better ask your uncle. Besides, you should + know it yourself by this time. You are now old enough to think about eagle + feathers.” + </p> + <p> + I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignorance. It seemed a reflection + on me that I was not ambitious enough to have found all such matters out + before. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle, you will tell me, won’t you?” I said, in an appealing tone. + </p> + <p> + “I am surprised, my boy, that you should fail to recognize this feather. + It is a Cree medicine feather, and not a warrior’s.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” I said, with much embarrassment, “you had better tell me again, + uncle, the language of the feathers. I have really forgotten it all.” + </p> + <p> + The day was now gone; the moon had risen; but the cold had not lessened, + for the trunks of the trees were still snapping all around our teepee, + which was lighted and warmed by the immense logs which Uncheedah’s + industry had provided. My uncle, White Foot-print, now undertook to + explain to me the significance of the eagle’s feather. + </p> + <p> + “The eagle is the most war-like bird,” he began, “and the most kingly of + all birds; besides, his feathers are unlike any others, and these are the + reasons why they are used by our people to signify deeds of bravery. + </p> + <p> + “It is not true that when a man wears a feather bonnet, each one of the + feathers represents the killing of a foe or even a coup. When a man wears + an eagle feather upright upon his head, he is supposed to have counted one + of four coups upon his enemy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, a coup does not mean the killing of an enemy?” + </p> + <p> + “No, it is the after-stroke or touching of the body after he falls. It is + so ordered, because oftentimes the touching of an enemy is much more + difficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from a distance. It + requires a strong heart to face the whole body of the enemy, in order to + count the coup on the fallen one, who lies under cover of his kinsmen’s + fire. Many a brave man has been lost in the attempt. + </p> + <p> + “When a warrior approaches his foe, dead or alive, he calls upon the other + warriors to witness by saying: ‘I, Fearless Bear, your brave, again + perform the brave deed of counting the first (or second or third or + fourth) coup upon the body of the bravest of your enemies.’ Naturally, + those who are present will see the act and be able to testify to it. When + they return, the heralds, as you know, announce publicly all such deeds of + valor, which then become a part of the man’s war record. Any brave who + would wear the eagle’s feather must give proof of his right to do so. + </p> + <p> + “When a brave is wounded in the same battle where he counted his coup, he + wears the feather hanging downward. When he is wounded, but makes no + count, he trims his feather and in that case, it need not be an eagle + feather. All other feathers are merely ornaments. When a warrior wears a + feather with a round mark, it means that he slew his enemy. When the mark + is cut into the feather and painted red, it means that he took the scalp. + </p> + <p> + “A brave who has been successful in ten battles is entitled to a + war-bonnet; and if he is a recognized leader, he is permitted to wear one + with long, trailing plumes. Also those who have counted many coups may tip + the ends of the feathers with bits of white or colored down. Sometimes the + eagle feather is tipped with a strip of weasel skin; that means the wearer + had the honor of killing, scalping and counting the first coup upon the + enemy all at the same time. + </p> + <p> + “This feather you have found was worn by a Cree—it is + indiscriminately painted. All other feathers worn by the common Indians + mean nothing,” he added. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, uncle, whether it would be proper for me to wear any feathers at + all if I have never gone upon the war-path.” + </p> + <p> + “You could wear any other kind of feathers, but not an eagle’s,” replied + my uncle, “although sometimes one is worn on great occasions by the child + of a noted man, to indicate the father’s dignity and position.” + </p> + <p> + The fire had gone down somewhat, so I pushed the embers together and + wrapped my robe more closely about me. Now and then the ice on the lake + would burst with a loud report like thunder. Uncheedah was busy + re-stringing one of uncle’s old snow-shoes. There were two different kinds + that he wore; one with a straight toe and long; the other shorter and with + an upturned toe. She had one of the shoes fastened toe down, between + sticks driven into the ground, while she put in some new strings and + tightened the others. Aunt Four Stars was beading a new pair of moccasins. + </p> + <p> + Wabeda, the dog, the companion of my boyhood days, was in trouble because + he insisted upon bringing his extra bone into the teepee, while Uncheedah + was determined that he should not. I sympathized with him, because I saw + the matter as he did. If he should bury it in the snow outside, I knew + Shunktokecha (the coyote) would surely steal it. I knew just how anxious + Wabeda was about his bone. It was a fat bone—I mean a bone of a fat + deer; and all Indians know how much better they are than the other kind. + </p> + <p> + Wabeda always hated to see a good thing go to waste. His eyes spoke words + to me, for he and I had been friends for a long time. When I was afraid of + anything in the woods, he would get in front of me at once and gently wag + his tail. He always made it a point to look directly in my face. His kind, + large eyes gave me a thousand assurances. When I was perplexed, he would + hang about me until he understood the situation. Many times I believed he + saved my life by uttering the dog word in time. + </p> + <p> + Most animals, even the dangerous grizzly, do not care to be seen when the + two-legged kind and his dog are about. When I feared a surprise by a bear + or a grey wolf, I would say to Wabeda: “Now, my dog, give your war-whoop:” + and immediately he would sit up on his haunches and bark “to beat the + band” as you white boys say. When a bear or wolf heard the noise, he would + be apt to retreat. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes I helped Wabeda and gave a warwhoop of my own. This drove the + deer away as well, but it relieved my mind. + </p> + <p> + When he appealed to me on this occasion, therefore, I said: “Come, my dog, + let us bury your bone so that no Shunktokecha will take it.” + </p> + <p> + He appeared satisfied with my suggestion, so we went out together. + </p> + <p> + We dug in the snow and buried our bone wrapped up in a piece of old + blanket, partly burned; then we covered it up again with snow. We knew + that the coyote would not touch anything burnt. I did not put it up a tree + because Wabeda always objected to that, and I made it a point to consult + his wishes whenever I could. + </p> + <p> + I came in and Wabeda followed me with two short rib bones in his mouth. + Apparently he did not care to risk those delicacies. + </p> + <p> + “There,” exclaimed Uncheedah, “you still insist upon bringing in some sort + of bone!” but I begged her to let him gnaw them inside because it was so + cold. Having been granted this privilege, he settled himself at my back + and I became absorbed in some specially nice arrows that uncle was making. + </p> + <p> + “O, uncle, you must put on three feathers to all of them so that they can + fly straight,” I suggested. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but if there are only two feathers, they will fly faster,” he + answered. + </p> + <p> + “Woow!” Wabeda uttered his suspicions. + </p> + <p> + “Woow!” he said again, and rushed for the entrance of the teepee. He + kicked me over as he went and scattered the burning embers. + </p> + <p> + “En na he na!” Uncheedah exclaimed, but he was already outside. + </p> + <p> + “Wow, wow, wow! Wow, Wow, wow!” + </p> + <p> + A deep guttural voice answered him. + </p> + <p> + Out I rushed with my bow and arrows in my hand. + </p> + <p> + “Come, uncle, come! A big cinnamon bear!” I shouted as I emerged from the + teepee. + </p> + <p> + Uncle sprang out and in a moment he had sent a swift arrow through the + bear’s heart. The animal fell dead. He had just begun to dig up Wabeda’s + bone, when the dog’s quick ear had heard the sound. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, uncle, Wabeda and I ought to have at least a little eaglet’s feather + for this. I too sent my small arrow into the bear before he fell,” I + exclaimed. “But I thought all bears ought to be in their lodges in the + winter time. What was this one doing at this time of the year and night?” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said my uncle, “I will tell you. Among the tribes, some are + naturally lazy. The cinnamon bear is the lazy one of his tribe. He alone + sleeps out of doors in the winter and because he has not a warm bed, he is + soon hungry. Sometimes he lives in the hollow trunk of a tree, where he + has made a bed of dry grass; but when the night is very cold, like + to-night, he has to move about to keep himself from freezing and as he + prowls around, he gets hungry.” + </p> + <p> + We dragged the huge carcass within our lodge. “O, what nice claws he has, + uncle!” I exclaimed eagerly. “Can I have them for my necklace?” + </p> + <p> + “It is only the old medicine men who wear them regularly. The son of a + great warrior who has killed a grizzly may wear them upon a public + occasion,” he explained. + </p> + <p> + “And you are just like my father and are considered the best hunter among + the Santees and Sissetons. You have killed many grizzlies so that no one + can object to my bear’s-claws necklace,” I said appealingly. + </p> + <p> + White Foot-print smiled. “My boy, you shall have them,” he said, “but it + is always better to earn them yourself.” He cut the claws off carefully + for my use. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, uncle, whether you could wear these claws all the time?” I + asked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I am entitled to wear them, but they are so heavy and + uncomfortable,” he replied, with a superior air. + </p> + <p> + At last the bear had been skinned and dressed and we all resumed our usual + places. Uncheedah was particularly pleased to have some more fat for her + cooking. + </p> + <p> + “Now, grandmother, tell me the story of the bear’s fat. I shall be so + happy if you will,” I begged. + </p> + <p> + “It is a good story and it is true. You should know it by heart and gain a + lesson from it,” she replied. “It was in the forests of Minnesota, in the + country that now belongs to the Ojibways. From the Bedawakanton Sioux + village a young married couple went into the woods to get fresh venison. + The snow was deep; the ice was thick. Far away in the woods they pitched + their lonely teepee. The young man was a well-known hunter and his wife a + good maiden of the village. + </p> + <p> + “He hunted entirely on snow-shoes, because the snow was very deep. His + wife had to wear snow-shoes too, to get to the spot where they pitched + their tent. It was thawing the day they went out, so their path was + distinct after the freeze came again. + </p> + <p> + “The young man killed many deer and bears. His wife was very busy curing + the meat and trying out the fat while he was away hunting each day. In the + evenings she kept on trying the fat. He sat on one side of the teepee and + she on the other. + </p> + <p> + “One evening, she had just lowered a kettle of fat to cool, and as she + looked into the hot fat she saw the face of an Ojibway scout looking down + at them through the smoke-hole. She said nothing, nor did she betray + herself in any way. + </p> + <p> + “After a little she said to her husband in a natural voice: ‘Marpeetopah, + some one is looking at us through the smoke hole, and I think it is an + enemy’s scout.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) took up his bow and arrows and began to + straighten and dry them for the next day’s hunt, talking and laughing + meanwhile. Suddenly he turned and sent an arrow upward, killing the + Ojibway, who fell dead at their door. + </p> + <p> + “‘Quick, Wadutah!’ he exclaimed; ‘you must hurry home upon our trail. I + will stay here. When this scout does not return, the warparty may come in + a body or send another scout. If only one comes, I can soon dispatch him + and then I will follow you. If I do not do that, they will overtake us in + our flight.’ + </p> + <p> + “Wadutah (Scarlet) protested and begged to be allowed to stay with her + husband, but at last she came away to get reinforcements. + </p> + <p> + “Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) put more sticks on the fire so that the + teepee might be brightly lit and show him the way. He then took the scalp + of the enemy and proceeded on his track, until he came to the upturned + root of a great tree. There he spread out his arrows and laid out his + tomahawk. + </p> + <p> + “Soon two more scouts were sent by the Ojibway war-party to see what was + the trouble and why the first one failed to come back. He heard them as + they approached. They were on snowshoes. When they came close to him, he + shot an arrow into the foremost. As for the other, in his effort to turn + quickly his snow-shoes stuck in the deep snow and detained him, so + Marpeetopah killed them both. + </p> + <p> + “Quickly he took the scalps and followed Wadutah. He ran hard. But the + Ojibways suspected something wrong and came to the lonely teepee, to find + all their scouts had been killed. They followed the path of Marpeetopah + and Wadutah to the main village, and there a great battle was fought on + the ice. Many were killed on both sides. It was after this that the Sioux + moved to the Mississippi river.” + </p> + <p> + I was sleepy by this time and I rolled myself up in my buffalo robe and + fell asleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. Adventures of My Uncle + </h2> + <p> + IT was a beautiful fall day—‘a gopher’s last look back,’ as we used + to say of the last warm days of the late autumn. We were encamped beside a + wild rice lake, where two months before we had harvested our watery fields + of grain, and where we had now returned for the duck-hunting. All was well + with us. Ducks were killed in countless numbers, and in the evenings the + men hunted deer in canoes by torchlight along the shores of the lake. But + alas! life is made up of good times and bad times, and it is when we are + perfectly happy that we should expect some overwhelming misfortune. + </p> + <p> + “So it was that upon this peaceful and still morning, all of a sudden a + harsh and terrible war-cry was heard! Your father was then quite a young + man, and a very ambitious warrior, so that I was always frightened on his + account whenever there was a chance of fighting. But I did not think of + your uncle, Mysterious Medicine, for he was not over fifteen at the time; + besides, he had never shown any taste for the field. + </p> + <p> + “Our camp was thrown into great excitement; and as the warriors advanced + to meet the enemy, I was almost overcome by the sight of your uncle among + them! It was of no use for me to call him back—I think I prayed in + that moment to the Great Mystery to bring my boy safely home. + </p> + <p> + “I shall never forget, as long as I live, the events of that day. Many + brave men were killed; among them two of your uncle’s intimate friends. + But when the battle was over, my boy came back; only his face was + blackened in mourning for his friends, and he bore several wounds in his + body. I knew that he had proved himself a true warrior. + </p> + <p> + “This was the beginning of your uncle’s career, He has surpassed your + father and your grandfather; yes, all his ancestors except Jingling + Thunder, in daring and skill.” + </p> + <p> + Such was my grandmother’s account of the maiden battle of her third son, + Mysterious Medicine. He achieved many other names; among them Big Hunter, + Long Rifle and White Footprint. He had a favorite Kentucky rifle which he + carried for many years. The stock was several times broken, but he always + made another. With this gun he excelled most of his contemporaries in + accuracy of aim. He used to call the weapon Ishtahbopopa—a literal + translation would be “Pops-the-eye.” + </p> + <p> + My uncle, who was a father to me for ten years of my life, was almost a + giant in his proportions, very symmetrical and “straight as an arrow.” His + face was not at all handsome. He had very quiet and reserved manners and + was a man of action rather than of unnecessary words. Behind the veil of + Indian reticence he had an inexhaustible fund of wit and humor; but this + part of his character only appeared before his family and very intimate + friends. Few men know nature more thoroughly than he. Nothing irritated + him more than to hear some natural fact misrepresented. I have often + thought that with education he might have made a Darwin or an Agassiz. + </p> + <p> + He was always modest and unconscious of self in relating his adventures. + “I have often been forced to realize my danger,” he used to say, “but not + in such a way as to overwhelm me. Only twice in my life have I been really + frightened, and for an instant lost my presence of mind. + </p> + <p> + “Once I was in full pursuit of a large buck deer that I had wounded. It + was winter, and there was a very heavy fall of fresh snow upon the ground. + All at once I came upon the body of the deer lying dead on the snow. I + began to make a hasty examination, but before I had made any discoveries, + I spied the tips of two ears peeping just above the surface of the snow + about twenty feet from me. I made a feint of not seeing anything at all, + but moved quickly in the direction of my gun, which was leaning against a + tree. Feeling, somehow, that I was about to be taken advantage of, I + snatched at the same moment my knife from my belt. + </p> + <p> + “The panther (for such it was) made a sudden and desperate spring. I tried + to dodge, but he was too quick for me. He caught me by the shoulder with + his great paw, and threw me down. Somehow, he did not retain his hold, but + made another leap and again concealed himself in the snow. Evidently he + was preparing to make a fresh attack. + </p> + <p> + “I was partially stunned and greatly confused by the blow; therefore I + should have been an easy prey for him at the moment. But when he left me, + I came to my senses; and I had been thrown near my gun! I arose and aimed + between the tips of his ears—all that was visible of him—and + fired. I saw the fresh snow fly from the spot. The panther leaped about + six feet straight up into the air, and fell motionless. I gave two good + warwhoops, because I had conquered a very formidable enemy. I sat down on + the dead body to rest, and my heart beat as if it would knock out all my + ribs. I had not been expecting any danger, and that was why I was so taken + by surprise. + </p> + <p> + “The other time was on the plains, in summer. I was accustomed to hunting + in the woods, and never before had hunted buffalo on horseback. Being a + young man, of course I was eager to do whatever other men did. Therefore I + saddled my pony for the hunt. I had a swift pony and a good gun, but on + this occasion I preferred a bow and arrows. + </p> + <p> + “It was the time of year when the buffalo go in large herds and the bulls + are vicious. But this did not trouble me at all; indeed, I thought of + nothing but the excitement and honor of the chase. + </p> + <p> + “A vast plain near the Souris river was literally covered with an immense + herd. The day was fair, and we came up with them very easily. I had a + quiver full of arrows, with a sinew-backed bow. + </p> + <p> + “My pony carried me in far ahead of all the others. I found myself in the + midst of the bulls first, for they are slow. They threw toward me vicious + glances, so I hastened my pony on to the cows. Soon I was enveloped in a + thick cloud of dust, and completely surrounded by the herd, who were by + this time in the act of fleeing, their hoofs making a noise like thunder. + </p> + <p> + “I could not think of anything but my own situation, which confused me for + the moment. It seemed to me to be a desperate one. If my pony, which was + going at full speed, should step into a badger hole, I should be thrown to + the ground and trampled under foot in an instant. If I were to stop, they + would knock me over, pony and all. Again, it seemed as if my horse must + fall from sheer exhaustion; and then what would become of me? + </p> + <p> + “At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own power. I uttered a yell + and began to shoot right and left. Very soon there were only a few old + bulls who remained near me. The herd had scattered, and I was miles away + from my companions. + </p> + <p> + “It is when we think of our personal danger that we are apt to be at a + loss to do the best thing under the circumstances. One should be + unconscious of self in order to do his duty. We are very apt to think + ourselves brave, when we are most timid. I have discovered that half our + young men give the war-whoop when they are frightened, because they fear + lest their silence may betray their state of mind. I think we are really + bravest when most calm and slow to action.” + </p> + <p> + I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adventures. + </p> + <p> + “Once,” said he, “I had a somewhat peculiar experience, which I think I + never related to you before. It was at the time of the fall hunt. One + afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was too far away to reach + the camp before dark, so I looked about for a good place to spend the + night. This was on the Upper Missouri, before there were any white people + there, and when we were in constant danger from wild beasts as well as + from hostile Indians. It was necessary to use every precaution and the + utmost vigilance. + </p> + <p> + “I selected a spot which appeared to be well adapted to defense. I had + killed two deer, and I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances in + various directions. I knew that any wolf would stop for the meat, A + grizzly bear would sometimes stop, but not a mountain lion or a panther. + Therefore I made a fire. Such an animal would be apt to attack a solitary + fire. There was a full moon that night, which was much in my favor. + </p> + <p> + “Having cooked and eaten some of the venison, I rolled myself in my + blanket and lay down by the fire, taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed fellow. + I hugged it very closely, for I felt that I should need it during the + night. I had scarcely settled myself when I heard what seemed to be ten or + twelve coyotes set up such a howling that I was quite sure of a visit from + them. Immediately after-. ward I heard another sound, which was like the + screaming of a small child. This was a porcupine, which had doubtless + smelled the meat. + </p> + <p> + “I watched until a coyote appeared upon a flat rock fifty yards away. He + sniffed the air in every direction; then, sitting partly upon his + haunches, swung round in a circle with his hind legs sawing the air, and + howled and barked in many different keys. It was a great feat! I could not + help wondering whether I should be able to imitate him. What had seemed to + be the voices of many coyotes was in reality only one animal. His mate + soon appeared and then they both seemed satisfied, and showed no signs of + a wish to invite another to join them. Presently they both suddenly and + quietly disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “At this moment a slight noise attracted my attention, and I saw that the + porcupine had arrived. He had climbed up to the piece of meat nearest me, + and was helping himself without any ceremony. I thought it was fortunate + that he came, for he would make a good watch dog for me. Very soon, in + fact, he interrupted his meal, and caused all his quills to stand out in + defiance. I glanced about me and saw the two coyotes slyly approaching my + open camp from two different directions. + </p> + <p> + “I took the part of the porcupine! I rose in a sitting posture, and sent a + swift arrow to each of my unwelcome visitors. They both ran away with + howls of surprise and pain. + </p> + <p> + “The porcupine saw the whole from his perch, but his meal was not at all + disturbed, for he began eating again with apparent relish. Indeed, I was + soon furnished with another of these unconscious protectors. This one came + from the opposite direction to a point where I had hung a splendid ham of + venison. He cared to go no further, but seated himself at once on a + convenient branch and began his supper. + </p> + <p> + “The canon above me was full of rocks and trees. From this direction came + a startling noise, which caused me more concern than anything I had thus + far heard. It sounded much like a huge animal stretching himself, and + giving a great yawn which ended in a scream. I knew this for the voice of + a mountain lion, and it decided me to perch upon a limb for the rest of + the night. + </p> + <p> + “I got up and climbed into the nearest large tree, taking my weapons with + me; but first I rolled a short log of wood in my blanket and laid it in my + place by the fire. + </p> + <p> + “As I got up, the two porcupines began to descend, but I paid no attention + to them, and they soon returned to their former positions. Very soon I + heard a hissing sound from one of them, and knew that an intruder was + near. Two grey wolves appeared. + </p> + <p> + “I had hung the hams by the ham strings, and they were fully eight feet + from the ground. At first the wolves came boldly forward, but the warning + of the porcupines caused them to stop, and hesitate to jump for the meat. + However, they were hungry, and began to leap savagely for the hams, + although evidently they proved good targets for the quills of the prickly + ones, for occasionally one of them would squeal and rub his nose + desperately against the tree. + </p> + <p> + “At last one of the wolves buried his teeth too deeply in a tough portion + of the flesh, and having jumped to reach it, his own weight made it + impossible for him to loosen his upper jaw. There the grey wolf dangled, + kicking and yelping, until the tendon of the ham gave way, and both fell + heavily to the ground. From my hiding-place I sent two arrows into his + body, which ended his life. The other one ran away to a little distance + and remained there a long time, as if waiting for her mate. + </p> + <p> + “I was now very weary, but I had seen many grizzly bears’ tracks in the + vicinity, and besides, I had not forgotten the dreadful scream of the + mountain lion. I determined to continue my watch. + </p> + <p> + “As I had half expected, there came presently a sudden heavy fall, and at + the same time the burning embers were scattered about and the fire almost + extinguished. My blanket with the log in it was rolled over several times, + amid snarls and growls. Then the assailant of my camp—a panther—leaped + back into the thick underbrush, but not before my arrow had penetrated his + side. He snarled and tried to bite off the shaft, but after a time became + exhausted and lay still. + </p> + <p> + “I could now distinguish the grey dawn in the east. I was exceedingly + drowsy, so I fastened myself by a rope of raw-hide to the trunk of the + tree against which I leaned. I was seated on a large limb, and soon fell + asleep. + </p> + <p> + “I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun directly under me. At the + same time, I thought some one was trying to shake me off the tree, + Instantly I reached for my gun. Alas! it was gone! At the first shake of + the tree by my visitor, a grizzly bear, the gun had fallen, and as it was + cocked, it went off. + </p> + <p> + “The bear picked up the weapon and threw it violently away; then he again + shook the tree with all his strength. I shouted: + </p> + <p> + “‘I have still a bow and a quiver full of arrows; you had better let me + alone.’ + </p> + <p> + “He replied to this with a rough growl. I sent an arrow into his side, and + he groaned like a man as he tried hard to pull it out. I had to give him + several more before he went a short distance away, and died. It was now + daylight, so I came down from my perch. I was stiff, and scarcely able to + walk. I found that the bear had killed both of my little friends, the + porcupines, and eaten most of the meat. + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps you wonder, Ohiyesa, why I did not use my gun in the beginning; + but I had learned that if I once missed my aim with it, I had no second + chance. I have told of this particular adventure, because it was an + unusual experience to see so many different animals in one night. I have + often been in similar places, and killed one or two. Once a common black + bear stole a whole deer from me without waking me. But all this life is + fast disappearing, and the world is becoming different.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + </h2> + <p> + IT was one of the superstitions of the Santee Sioux to treat disease from + the standpoint of some animal or inanimate thing. That person who, + according to their belief, had been commissioned to become a medicine man + or a war chief, must not disobey the bear or other creature or thing which + gave him his commission. If he ever ventured to do so, the offender must + pay for his insubordination with his life, or that of his own child or + dearest friend. It was supposed to be necessary that the supernatural + orders be carried into effect at a particular age and a certain season of + the year. Occasionally a very young man, who excused himself on the ground + of youth and modesty, might be forgiven. + </p> + <p> + One of my intimate friends had been a sufferer from what, I suppose, must + have been consumption. He, like myself, had a grandmother in whom he had + unlimited faith. But she was a very ambitious and pretentious woman. Among + her many claims was that of being a great “medicine woman,” and many were + deceived by it; but really she was a fraud, for she did not give any + medicine, but “conjured” the sick exclusively. + </p> + <p> + At this time my little friend was fast losing ground, in spite of his + grandmother’s great pretensions. At last I hinted to him that my + grandmother was a herbalist, and a skilful one. But he hinted back to me + that ‘most any old woman who could dig roots could be a herbalist, and + that without a supernatural commission there was no power that could cope + with disease. I defended my ideal on the ground that there are + supernatural powers in the herbs themselves; hence those who understand + them have these powers at their command. + </p> + <p> + “But,” insisted my friend, “one must get his knowledge from the Great + Mystery!” + </p> + <p> + This completely silenced my argument, but did not shake my faith in my + grandmother’s ability. + </p> + <p> + Redhorn was a good boy, and I loved him. I visited him often, and found + him growing weaker day by day. + </p> + <p> + “Ohiyesa,” he said to me one day, “my grandmother has discovered the cause + of my sickness.” + </p> + <p> + I eagerly interrupted him by shouting: “And can she cure you now, + Redhorn?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course,” he replied, “she cannot until I have fulfilled the + commandment. I have confessed to her that two years ago I received my + commission, and I should have made a Bear Dance and proclaimed myself a + medicine man last spring, when I had seen thirteen winters. You see, I was + ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man, being so young; and for this I + am punished. However, my grandmother says it is not yet too late. But, + Ohiyesa, I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man. I can scarcely stand up. + They say that I can appoint some one else to act for me. He will be the + active bear—I shall have to remain in the hole. Would you, Ohiyesa, + be willing to act the bear for me? You know he has to chase the dancers + away from his den.” + </p> + <p> + “Redhorn,” I replied with much embarrassment, “I should be happy to do + anything that I could for you, but I cannot be a bear. I feel that I am + not fit. I am not large enough; I am not strong enough; and I don’t + understand the habits of the animal well enough. I do not think you would + be pleased with me as your substitute.” + </p> + <p> + Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a larger boy to perform for + him. A few days later, it was announced by the herald that my friend would + give a Bear Dance, at which he was to be publicly proclaimed a medicine + man. It would be the great event of his short existence, for the disease + had already exhausted his strength and vitality. Of course, we all + understood that there would be an active youth to exhibit the ferocious + nature of the beast after which the dance is named. + </p> + <p> + The Bear Dance was an entertainment, a religious rite, a method of + treating disease—all in one. A strange thing about it was that no + woman was allowed to participate in the orgies, unless she was herself the + bear. + </p> + <p> + The den was usually dug about two hundred yards from the camp, on some + conspicuous plain. It was about two feet deep and six feet square and over + it was constructed an arbor of boughs with four openings. When the bear + man sang, all the men and boys would gather and dance about the den; and + when he came out and pursued them there was a hasty retreat. It was + supposed that whoever touched the bear without being touched by him would + overcome a foe in the field. If one was touched, the reverse was to be + expected. The thing which caused most anxiety among the dancers was the + superstition that if one of them should accidentally trip and fall while + pursued by the bear, a sudden death would visit him or his nearest + relative. + </p> + <p> + Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk in this dance; they would + take every opportunity to strike at the bear man with a short switch, + while the older men shot him with powder. It may as well be admitted that + one reason for my declining the honor offered me by my friend Redhorn was + that I was afraid of powder, and I much preferred to be one of the dancers + and take my chances of touching the bear man without being touched. + </p> + <p> + It was a beautiful summer’s day. The forest behind our camp was sweet with + the breath of blossoming flowers. The teepees faced a large lake, which we + called Bedatanka. Its gentle waves cooled the atmosphere. The water-fowl + disported themselves over its surface, and the birds of passage overhead + noisily expressed their surprise at the excitement and confusion in our + midst. + </p> + <p> + The herald, with his brassy voice, again went the rounds, announcing the + day’s event and the tardy fulfillment of the boy’s commission. Then came + the bustle of preparation. The out-door toilet of the people was performed + with care. I cannot describe just how I was attired or painted, but I am + under the impression that there was but little of my brown skin that was + not uncovered. The others were similarly dressed in feathers, paint and + tinkling ornaments. + </p> + <p> + I soon heard the tom-tom’s doleful sound from the direction of the bear’s + den, and a few warwhoops from the throats of the youthful warriors. As I + joined the motley assembly, I noticed that the bear man’s drum was going + in earnest, and soon after he began to sing. This was the invitation to + the dance. + </p> + <p> + An old warrior gave the signal and we all started for the den, very much + like a group of dogs attacking a stranger. Frantically we yelled and + whooped, running around the sheltering arbor in a hop, skip and jump + fashion. In spite of the apparent confusion, however, every participant + was on the alert for the slightest movement of the bear man. + </p> + <p> + All of a sudden, a brave gave the warning, and we scattered in an instant + over the little plain between the den and our village. Everybody seemed to + be running for dear life, and I soon found myself some yards behind the + rest. I had gone in boldly, partly because of conversations with certain + boys who proposed to participate, and whom I usually outdistanced in foot + races. But it seemed that they had not carried out their intentions and I + was left alone. I looked back once or twice, although I was pretty busy + with my legs, and I imagined that my pursuer, the bear man, looked twice + as fearful as a real bear. He was dressed and painted up with a view to + terrify the crowd. I did not want the others to guess that I was at all + dismayed, so I tried to give the war-whoop; but my throat was so dry at + the moment that I am sure I must have given it very poorly. + </p> + <p> + Just as it seemed that I was about to be overtaken, the dancers who had + deserted me suddenly slackened their speed, and entered upon the amusement + of tormenting the bear man with gunpowder and switches, with which they + touched him far from gently upon his naked body. They now chased him in + turn, and he again retreated to his den. + </p> + <p> + We rested until we heard the tom-tom and the song once more, and then we + rushed forth with fresh eagerness to the mimic attack. This time I + observed all necessary precautions for my own safety. I started in my + flight even before the warning was given, for I saw the bear man gathering + himself up to spring upon the dancers. Thus I had plenty of leeway to + observe what occurred. The bear man again pursued the yelling and + retreating mob, and was dealt with unmercifully by the swift-footed. He + became much excited as he desperately chased a middle-aged man, who + occasionally turned and fired off his gun, but was suddenly tripped by an + ant-hill and fell to the ground, with the other on top of him. The + excitement was intense. The bear man returned to his companion, and the + dancers gathered in little knots to exchange whispers. + </p> + <p> + “Is it not a misfortune?” “The most surefooted of us all!” “Will he die?” + “Must his beautiful daughter be sacrificed?” + </p> + <p> + The man who was the subject of all this comment did not speak a word. His + head hung down. Finally he raised it and said in a resolute voice: + </p> + <p> + “We all have our time to go, and when the Great Mystery calls us we must + answer as cheerfully as at the call of one of our own war-chiefs here on + earth. I am not sad for myself, but my heart is not willing that my Winona + (first-born daughter) should be called.” + </p> + <p> + No one replied. Presently the last tom-tom was heard and the dancers + rallied once more. The man who had fallen did not join them, but turned to + the council lodge, where the wise old men were leisurely enjoying the + calumet. They beheld him enter with some surprise; but he threw himself + upon a buffalo robe, and resting his head upon his right hand, related + what had happened to him. Thereupon the aged men exclaimed as with one + voice: “It never fails!” After this, he spoke no more. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, we were hilariously engaged in our last dance, and when the + bear man finally retired, we gathered about the arbor to congratulate the + sick bear man. But, to our surprise, his companion did not re-enter the + den. “He is dead! Redhorn, the bear man, is dead!” We all rushed to the + spot. My poor friend, Redhorn, lay dead in the den. + </p> + <p> + At this instant there was another commotion in the camp. Everybody was + running toward the council lodge. A well-known medicine man was loudly + summoned thither. But, alas! the man who fell in the dance had suddenly + dropped dead. + </p> + <p> + To the people, another Indian superstition had been verified. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII. THE MAIDENS’ FEAST + </h2> + <p> + THERE were many peculiar customs among the Indians of an earlier period, + some of which tended to strengthen the character of the people and + preserve their purity. Perhaps the most unique of these was the annual + “feast of maidens.” The casual observer would scarcely understand the full + force and meaning of this ceremony. + </p> + <p> + The last one that I ever witnessed was given at Fort Ellis, Manitoba, + about the year 1871. Upon the table land just back of the old trading post + and fully a thousand feet above the Assiniboine river, surrounded by + groves, there was a natural amphitheatre. At one end stood the old fort + where since 1830 the northern tribes had come to replenish their powder + horns and lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts. + </p> + <p> + In this spot there was a reunion of all the renegade Sioux on the one hand + and of the Assiniboines and Crees, the Canadian tribes, on the other. They + were friendly. The matter was not formally arranged, but it was usual for + all the tribes to meet here in the month of July. + </p> + <p> + The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red, blue, green and + white blankets, also cloth of brilliant dye, so that when their summer + festival occurred the Indians did not lack gayly colored garments. Paints + were bought by them at pleasure. Short sleeves were the fashion in their + buckskin dresses, and beads and porcupine quills were the principal + decorations. + </p> + <p> + When circumstances are favorable, the Indians are the happiest people in + the world. There were entertainments every single day, which everybody had + the fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If anything, the poorest + profited the most by these occasions, because a feature in each case was + the giving away of savage wealth to the needy in honor of the event. At + any public affair, involving the pride and honor of a prominent family, + there must always be a distribution of valuable presents. + </p> + <p> + One bright summer morning, while we were still at our meal of jerked + buffalo meat, we heard the herald of the Wahpeton band upon his calico + pony as he rode around our circle. + </p> + <p> + “White Eagle’s daughter, the maiden Red Star, invites all the maidens of + all the tribes to come and partake of her feast. It will be in the + Wahpeton camp, before the sun reaches the middle of the sky. All pure + maidens are invited. Red Star also invites the young men to be present, to + see that no unworthy maiden should join in the feast.” + </p> + <p> + The herald soon completed the rounds of the different camps, and it was + not long before the girls began to gather in great numbers. The fort was + fully alive to the interest of these savage entertainments. This + particular feast was looked upon as a semi-sacred affair. It would be + desecration for any to attend who was not perfectly virtuous. Hence it was + regarded as an opportune time for the young men to satisfy themselves as + to who were the virtuous maids of the tribe. + </p> + <p> + There were apt to be surprises before the end of the day. Any young man + was permitted to challenge any maiden whom he knew to be unworthy. But woe + to him who could not prove his case. It meant little short of death to the + man who endeavored to disgrace a woman without cause. + </p> + <p> + The youths had a similar feast of their own, in which the eligibles were + those who had never spoken to a girl in the way of courtship. It was + considered ridiculous so to do before attaining some honor as a warrior, + and the novices prided themselves greatly upon their self control. + </p> + <p> + From the various camps the girls came singly or in groups, dressed in + bright-colored calicoes or in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their + smooth cheeks and the central part of their glossy hair was touched with + vermilion. All brought with them wooden basins to eat from. Some who came + from a considerable distance were mounted upon ponies; a few, for company + or novelty’s sake, rode double. + </p> + <p> + The maidens’ circle was formed about a coneshaped rock which stood upon + its base. This was painted red. Beside it two new arrows were lightly + stuck into the ground. This is a sort of altar, to which each maiden comes + before taking her assigned place in the circle, and lightly touches first + the stone and then the arrows. By this oath she declares her purity. + Whenever a girl approaches the altar there is a stir among the spectators, + and sometimes a rude youth would call out: + </p> + <p> + “Take care! You will overturn the rock, or pull out the arrows!” + </p> + <p> + Such a remark makes the girls nervous, and especially one who is not sure + of her composure. + </p> + <p> + Immediately behind the maidens’ circle is the old women’s or chaperons’ + circle. This second circle is almost as interesting to look at as the + inner one. The old women watched every movement of their respective + charges with the utmost concern, having previously instructed them how + they should conduct themselves in any event. + </p> + <p> + There was never a more gorgeous assembly of the kind than this one. The + day was perfect. The Crees, displaying their characteristic horsemanship, + came in groups; the Assiniboines, with their curious pompadour well + covered with red paint. The various bands of Sioux all carefully observed + the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. The attaches of the + fort were fully represented at the entertainment, and it was not unusual + to see a pale-face maiden take part in the feast. + </p> + <p> + The whole population of the region had assembled, and the maidens came + shyly into the circle. The simple ceremonies observed prior to the serving + of the food were in progress, when among a group of Wahpeton Sioux young + men there was a stir of excitement. All the maidens glanced nervously + toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon a tall youth emerged from the + throng of spectators and advanced toward the circle. Every one of the + chaperons glared at him as if to deter him from his purpose. But with a + steady step he passed them by and approached the maidens’ circle. + </p> + <p> + At last he stopped behind a pretty Assiniboine maiden of good family and + said: + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry, but, according to custom, you should not be here.” + </p> + <p> + The girl arose in confusion, but she soon recovered her self-control. + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” she demanded, indignantly. “Three times you have come + to court me, but each time I have refused to listen to you. I turned my + back upon you. Twice I was with Mashtinna. She can tell the people that + this is true. The third time I had gone for water when you intercepted me + and begged me to stop and listen. I refused because I did not know you. My + chaperon, Makatopawee, knows that I was gone but a few minutes. I never + saw you anywhere else.” + </p> + <p> + The young man was unable to answer this unmistakable statement of facts, + and it became apparent that he had sought to revenge himself for her + repulse. + </p> + <p> + “Woo! woo! Carry him out!” was the order of the chief of the Indian + police, and the audacious youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine + to be chastised. + </p> + <p> + The young woman who had thus established her good name returned to the + circle, and the feast was served. The “maidens’ song” was sung, and four + times they danced in a ring around the altar. Each maid as she departed + once more took her oath to remain pure until she should meet her husband. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX. MORE LEGENDS + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I: A Legend of Devil’s Lake + </h2> + <p> + AFTER the death of Smoky Day, old Weyuha was regarded as the greatest + story-teller among the Wahpeton Sioux. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, good Weyuha, a legend of your father’s country,” I said to him + one evening, for I knew the country which is now known as North Dakota and + Southern Manitoba was their ancient hunting-ground. I was prompted by + Uncheedah to make this request, after the old man had eaten in our lodge. + </p> + <p> + “Many years ago,” he began, as he passed the pipe to uncle, “we traveled + from the Otter-tail to Minnewakan (Devil’s Lake). At that time the mound + was very distinct where Chotanka lies buried. The people of his immediate + band had taken care to preserve it. + </p> + <p> + “This mound under which lies the great medicine man is upon the summit of + Minnewakan Chantay, the highest hill in all that region. It is shaped like + an animal’s heart placed on its base, with the apex upward. + </p> + <p> + “The reason why this hill is called Minnewakan Chantay, or the Heart of + the Mysterious Land, I will now tell you. It has been handed down from + generation to generation, far beyond the memory of our great-grandparents. + It was in Chotanka’s line of descent that these legends were originally + kept, but when he died the stories became everybody’s, and then no one + believed in them. It was told in this way.” + </p> + <p> + I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of the story-teller, and now + I took a deep breath and settled myself so that I might not disturb him by + the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale. We were taught this + courtesy to our elders, but I was impulsive and sometimes forgot. + </p> + <p> + “A long time ago,” resumed Weyuha, “the red people were many in number, + and they inhabited all the land from the coldest place to the region of + perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all of one tongue, and all + were friends. + </p> + <p> + “All the animals were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the + elk, the antelope, were tribes of considerable importance. The bears were + a smaller band, but they obeyed the mandates of the Great Mystery and were + his favorites, and for this reason they have always known more about the + secrets of medicine. So they were held in much honor. The wolves, too, + were highly regarded at one time. But the buffalo, elk, moose, deer and + antelope were the ruling people. + </p> + <p> + “These soon became conceited and considered themselves very important, and + thought no one could withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the smaller + tribes, and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought it best + to change the people in form and in language. + </p> + <p> + “He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten days. Into this tent he + invited the different bands, and when they came out they were greatly + changed, and some could not talk at all after that. However, there is a + sign language given to all the animals that no man knows except some + medicine men, and they are under a heavy penalty if they should tell it. + </p> + <p> + “The buffalo came out of the darkened tent the clumsiest of all the + animals. The elk and moose were burdened with their heavy and + many-branched horns, while the antelope and deer were made the most + defenseless of animals, only that they are fleet of foot. The bear and the + wolf were made to prey upon all the others. + </p> + <p> + “Man was alone then. When the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him + to keep his own shape and language. He was king over all the animals, but + they did not obey him. From that day, man’s spirit may live with the + beasts before he is born a man. He will then know the animal language but + he cannot tell it in human speech. He always retains his sympathy with + them, and can converse with them in dreams. + </p> + <p> + “I must not forget to tell you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent in + this very region. Some legends say that the Minnewakan Chantay was the + tent itself, which afterward became earth and stones. Many of the animals + were washed and changed in this lake, the Minnewakan, or Mysterious Water. + It is the only inland water we know that is salt. No animal has ever swum + in this lake and lived.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me,” I eagerly asked, “is it dangerous to man also?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he replied, “we think so; and no Indian has ever ventured in that + lake to my knowledge. That is why the lake is called Mysterious,” he + repeated. + </p> + <p> + “I shall now tell you of Chotanka. He was the greatest of medicine men. He + declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was born in human form.” + Weyuha seemed to become very earnest when he reached this point in his + story. “Listen to Chotanka’s life as a grizzly bear.” + </p> + <p> + “‘As a bear,’ he used to say, ‘my home was in sight of the Minnewakan + Chantay. I lived with my mother only one winter, and I only saw my father + when I was a baby. Then we lived a little way from the Chantay to the + north, among scattered oak upon a hillside overlooking the Minnewakan. + </p> + <p> + “‘When I first remember anything, I was playing outside of our home with a + buffalo skull that I had found near by. I saw something that looked + strange. It walked upon two legs, and it carried a crooked stick, and some + red willows with feathers tied to them. It threw one of the willows at me, + and I showed my teeth and retreated within our den. + </p> + <p> + “‘Just then my father and mother came home with a buffalo calf. They threw + down the dead calf, and ran after the queer thing. He had long hair upon a + round head. His face was round, too. He ran and climbed up into a small + oak tree. + </p> + <p> + “‘My father and mother shook him down, but not before he had shot some of + his red willows into their sides. Mother was very sick, but she dug some + roots and ate them and she was well again.’ It was thus that Chotanka was + first taught the use of certain roots for curing wounds and sickness,” + Weyuha added. + </p> + <p> + “‘One day’”—he resumed the grizzly’s story—“‘when I was out + hunting with my mother-my father had gone away and never came back—we + found a buffalo cow with her calf in a ravine. She advised me to follow + her closely, and we crawled along on our knees. All at once mother + crouched down under the grass, and I did the same. We saw some of those + queer beings that we called “two legs,” riding upon big-tail deer + (ponies). They yelled as they rode toward us. Mother growled terribly and + rushed upon them. She caught one, but many more came with their dogs and + drove us into a thicket. They sent the red willows singing after us, and + two of them stuck in mother’s side. When we got away at last she tried to + pull them out, but they hurt her terribly. She pulled them both out at + last, but soon after she lay down and died. + </p> + <p> + “‘I stayed in the woods alone for two days then I went around the + Minnewakan Chantay on the south side and there made my lonely den. There I + found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns and wild plums. Upon the plains the + teepsinna were abundant, and I saw nothing of my enemies. + </p> + <p> + “‘One day I found a footprint not unlike my own. I followed it to see who + the stranger might be. Upon the bluffs among the oak groves I discovered a + beautiful young female gathering acorns. She was of a different band from + mine, for she wore a jet black dress. + </p> + <p> + “‘At first she was disposed to resent my intrusion; but when I told her of + my lonely life she agreed to share it with me. We came back to my home on + the south side of the hill. There we lived happy for a whole year. When + the autumn came again Woshepee, for this was her name, said that she must + make a warm nest for the winter, and I was left alone again.’ + </p> + <p> + “Now,” said Weyuha, “I have come to a part of my story that few people + understand. All the long winter Chotanka slept in his den, and with the + early spring there came a great thunder storm. He was aroused by a + frightful crash that seemed to shake the hills; and lo! a handsome young + man stood at his door. He looked, but was not afraid, for he saw that the + stranger carried none of those red willows with feathered tips. He was + unarmed and smiling. + </p> + <p> + “‘I come,’ said he, ‘with a challenge to run a race. Whoever wins will be + the hero of his kind, and the defeated must do as the winner says + thereafter. This is a rare honor that I have brought you. The whole world + will see the race. The animal world will shout for you, and the spirits + will cheer me on. You are not a coward, and therefore you will not refuse + my challenge.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No,’ replied Chotanka, after a short hesitation. The young man was + fine-looking, but lightly built. + </p> + <p> + “‘We shall start from the Chantay, and that will be our goal. Come, let us + go, for the universe is waiting!’ impatiently exclaimed the stranger. + </p> + <p> + “He passed on in advance, and just then an old, old wrinkled man came to + Chotanka’s door. He leaned forward upon his staff. + </p> + <p> + “‘My son,’ he said to him, ‘I don’t want to make you a coward, but this + young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He has powerful + medicine. He gambles for life; be careful! My brothers and I are the only + ones who have ever beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed he can + resurrect himself—I tell you he is great medicine. + </p> + <p> + “‘However, I think that I can save you—listen! He will run behind + you all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal. Then he + will pass you by in a flash, for his name is ZigZag Fire! (lightning). + Here is my medicine.’ So speaking, he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum of + a certain plant. ‘When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the gum, + and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot pass you.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘And who are you, grandfather?’ Chotanka inquired. + </p> + <p> + “‘I am the medicine turtle,’ the old man replied. ‘The gambler is a spirit + from heaven, and those whom he outruns must shortly die. You have heard, + no doubt, that all animals know beforehand when they are to be killed; and + any man who understands these mysteries may also know when he is to die.’ + </p> + <p> + “The race was announced to the world. The buffalo, elk, wolves and all the + animals came to look on. All the spirits of the air came also to cheer for + their comrade. In the sky the trumpet was sounded—the great medicine + drum was struck. It was the signal for a start. The course was around the + Minnewakan. (That means around the earth or the ocean.) Everywhere the + multitude cheered as the two sped by. + </p> + <p> + “The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came once more + in sight of the Chantay. Then he felt a slight shock and he threw his + rabbit skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed himself + with the gum, and ran on until he reached the goal. There was a great + shout that echoed over the earth, but in the heavens there was muttering + and grumbling. The referee declared that the winner would live to a good + old age, and Zig-Zag Fire promised to come at his call. He was indeed + great medicine,” Weyuha concluded. + </p> + <p> + “But you have not told me how Chotanka became a man,” I said. + </p> + <p> + “One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep. She enticed him + into her white teepee to see what she had there. Then she shut the door of + the teepee and Chotanka could not get out. But the woman was kind and + petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee. Then it was that + he became a human born. This is a long story, but I think, Ohiyesa, that + you will remember it,” said Weyuha, and so I did. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. Manitoshaw’s Hunting + </h2> + <p> + IT was in the winter, in the Moon of Difficulty (January). We had eaten + our venison roast for supper, and the embers were burning brightly. Our + teepee was especially cheerful. Uncheedah sat near the entrance, my uncle + and his wife upon the opposite side, while I with my pets occupied the + remaining space. + </p> + <p> + Wabeda, the dog, lay near the fire in a half doze, watching out of the + corners of his eyes the tame raccoon, which snuggled back against the + walls of the teepee, his shrewd brain, doubtless, concocting some mischief + for the hours of darkness. I had already recited a legend of our people. + All agreed that I had done well. Having been generously praised, I was + eager to earn some more compliments by learning a new one, so I begged my + uncle to tell me a story. Musingly he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I can give you a Sioux-Cree tradition,” and immediately began: + </p> + <p> + “Many winters ago, there were six teepees standing on the southern slope + of Moose mountain in the Moon of Wild Cherries (September). The men to + whom these teepees belonged had been attacked by the Sioux while hunting + buffalo, and nearly all killed. Two or three who managed to get home to + tell their sad story were mortally wounded, and died soon afterward. There + was only one old man and several small boys left to hunt and provide for + this unfortunate little band of women and children. + </p> + <p> + “They lived upon teepsinna (wild turnips) and berries for many days. They + were almost famished for meat. The old man was too feeble to hunt + successfully. One day in this desolate camp a young Cree maiden—for + such they were—declared that she could no longer sit still and see + her people suffer. She took down her dead father’s second bow and quiver + full of arrows, and begged her old grandmother to accompany her to Lake + Wanagiska, where she knew that moose had oftentimes been found. I forgot + to tell you that her name was Manitoshaw. + </p> + <p> + “This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother, Nawakewee, took each a pony and + went far up into the woods on the side of the mountain. They pitched their + wigwam just out of sight of the lake, and hobbled their ponies. Then the + old woman said to Manitoshaw: + </p> + <p> + “‘Go, my granddaughter, to the outlet of the Wanagiska, and see if there + are any moose tracks there. When I was a young woman, I came here with + your father’s father, and we pitched our tent near this spot. In the night + there came three different moose. Bring me leaves of the birch and cedar + twigs; I will make medicine for moose,’ she added. + </p> + <p> + “Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the woods. It was a grove of birch + and willow, with two good springs. Down below was a marshy place. + Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nibbled birch and willow twigs, + for the moose loves to eat them, and to have her arrow ready upon the + bow-string. ‘I have seen this very place many a time,’ added my uncle, and + this simple remark gave to the story an air of reality. + </p> + <p> + “The Cree maiden went first to the spring, and there found fresh tracks of + the animal she sought. She gathered some cedar berries and chewed them, + and rubbed some of them on her garments so that the moose might not scent + her. The sun was already set, and she felt she must return to Nawakewee. + </p> + <p> + “Just then Hinhankaga, the hooting owl, gave his doleful night call. The + girl stopped and listened attentively. + </p> + <p> + “‘I thought it was a lover’s call,’ she whispered to herself. A singular + challenge pealed across the lake. She recognized the alarm call of the + loon, and fancied that the bird might have caught a glimpse of her game. + </p> + <p> + “Soon she was within a few paces of the temporary lodge of pine boughs and + ferns which the grandmother had constructed. The old woman met her on the + trail. + </p> + <p> + “‘Ah, my child, you have returned none too soon. I feared you had ventured + too far away; for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt. You must not + expose yourself carelessly on the shore.’ + </p> + <p> + “As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies munch the + rich grass in an open spot near by. Through the smoke hole of the + pine-bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky, and dreamed of + what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise the wily moose. + Her grandmother was already sleeping so noisily that it was enough to + scare away the game. At last the maiden, too, lost herself in sleep. + </p> + <p> + “Old Nawakewee awoke early. First of all she made a fire and burned cedar + and birch so that the moose might not detect the human smell. Then she + quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries, and awoke the maiden, + who was surprised to see that the sun was already up. She ran down to the + spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water in her face; then + she looked for a moment in its mirror-like surface. There was the + reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them Manitoshaw + seemed to see a young man standing. In another moment all three had + disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “‘What is the matter with my eyes? I am not fully awake yet, and I imagine + things. Ugh, it is all in my eyes,’ the maiden repeated to herself. She + hastened back to Nawakewee. The vision was so unexpected and so startling + that she could not believe in its truth, and she said nothing to the old + woman. + </p> + <p> + “Breakfast eaten, Manitoshaw threw off her robe and appeared in her + scantily cut gown of buckskin with long fringes, and moccasins and + leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine. Her father’s bow and quiver + were thrown over one shoulder, and the knife dangled from her belt in its + handsome sheath. She ran breathlessly along the shore toward the outlet. + </p> + <p> + “Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam with his mate, occasionally + uttering a cry of joy. Here and there the playful Hogan, the trout, sprang + gracefully out of the water, in a shower of falling dew. As the maiden + hastened along she scared up Wadawasee, the kingfisher, who screamed + loudly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Stop, Wadawasee, stop—you will frighten my game!’ + </p> + <p> + “At last she had reached the outlet. She saw at once that the moose had + been there during the night. They had torn up the ground and broken birch + and willow twigs in a most disorderly way.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” I exclaimed, “I wish I had been with Manitoshaw then!” + </p> + <p> + “Hush, my boy; never interrupt a storyteller.” + </p> + <p> + I took a stick and began to level off the ashes in front of me, and to + draw a map of the lake, the outlet, the moose and Manitoshaw. Away off to + one side was the solitary wigwam, Nawakewee and the ponies. + </p> + <p> + “Manitoshaw’s heart was beating so loud that she could not hear anything,” + resumed my uncle. “She took some leaves of the wintergreen and chewed them + to calm herself. She did not forget to throw in passing a pinch of + pulverized tobacco and paint into the spring for Manitou, the spirit. + </p> + <p> + “Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her eye was caught by a moving + form, and then another. She stood motionless, grasping her heavy bow. The + moose, not suspecting any danger, walked leisurely toward the spring. One + was a large female moose; the other a yearling. + </p> + <p> + “As they passed Manitoshaw, moving so naturally and looking so harmless, + she almost forgot to let fly an arrow. The mother moose seemed to look in + her direction, but did not see her. They had fairly passed her + hiding-place when she stepped forth and sent a swift arrow into the side + of the larger moose. Both dashed into the thick woods, but it was too + late. The Cree maiden had already loosened her second arrow. Both fell + dead before reaching the shore.” + </p> + <p> + “Uncle, she must have had a splendid aim, for in the woods the many little + twigs make an arrow bound off to one side,” I interrupted in great + excitement. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but you must remember she was very near the moose.” + </p> + <p> + “It seems to me, then, uncle, that they must have scented her, for you + have told me that they possess the keenest nose of any animal,” I + persisted. + </p> + <p> + “Doubtless the wind was blowing the other way. But, nephew, you must let + me finish my story. + </p> + <p> + “Overjoyed by her success, the maiden hastened back to Nawakawee, but she + was gone! The ponies were gone, too, and the wigwam of branches had been + demolished. While Manitoshaw stood there, frightened and undecided what to + do, a soft voice came from behind a neighboring thicket: + </p> + <p> + “‘Manitoshaw! Manitoshaw! I am here!’ + </p> + <p> + “She at once recognized, the voice and found it to be Nawakeewee, who told + a strange story. That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska carrying + two men. They were Sioux. The old grandmother had seen them coming, and to + deceive them she at once pulled down her temporary wigwam, and drove the + ponies off toward home. Then she hid herself in the bushes near by, for + she knew that Manitoshaw must return there. + </p> + <p> + “‘Come, my granddaughter, we must hasten home by another way,’ cried the + old woman. + </p> + <p> + “But the maiden said, ‘No, let us go first to my two moose that I killed + this morning and take some meat with us.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No, no, my child; the Sioux are cruel. They have killed many of our + people. If we stay here they will find us. I fear, I fear them, + Manitoshaw!’ + </p> + <p> + “At last the brave maid convinced her grandmother, and the more easily as + she too was hungry for meat. They went to where the big game lay among the + bushes, and began to dress the moose.” + </p> + <p> + “I think, if I were they, I would hide all day. I would wait until the + Sioux had gone; then I would go back to my moose,” I interrupted for the + third time. + </p> + <p> + “I will finish the story first; then you may tell us what you would do,” + said my uncle reprovingly. + </p> + <p> + “The two Sioux were father and son. They too had come to the lake for + moose; but as the game usually retreated to the island, Chatansapa had + landed his son Kangiska to hunt them on the shore while he returned in his + canoe to intercept their flight. The young man sped along the sandy beach + and soon discovered their tracks. He followed them up and found blood on + the trail. This astonished him. Cautiously he followed on until he found + them both lying dead. He examined them and found that in each moose there + was a single Cree arrow. Wishing to surprise the hunter if possible, + Kangiska lay hidden in the bushes. + </p> + <p> + “After a little while the two women returned to the spot. They passed him + as close as the moose had passed the maiden in the morning. He saw at once + that the maiden had arrows in her quiver like those that had slain the big + moose. He lay still. + </p> + <p> + “Kangiska looked upon the beautiful Cree maiden and loved her. Finally he + forgot himself and made a slight motion. Manitoshaw’s quick eye caught the + little stir among the bushes, but she immediately looked the other way and + Kangiska believed that she had not seen anything, At last her eyes met + his, and something told both that all was well. Then the maiden smiled, + and the young man could not remain still any longer. He arose suddenly and + the old woman nearly fainted from fright. But Manitoshaw said: + </p> + <p> + “‘Fear not, grandmother; we are two and he is only one.’ + </p> + <p> + “While the two women continued to cut up the meat, Kangiska made a fire by + rubbing cedar chips together, and they all ate of the moose meat. Then the + old woman finished her work, while the young people sat down upon a log in + the shade, and told each other all their minds. + </p> + <p> + “Kangiska declared by signs that he would go home with Manitoshaw to the + Cree camp, for he loved her. They went home, and the young man hunted for + the unfortunate Cree band during the rest of his life. + </p> + <p> + “His father waited a long time on the island and afterward searched the + shore, but never saw him again. He supposed that those footprints he saw + were made by Crees who had killed his son.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that story true, uncle?” I asked eagerly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, the facts are well known. There are some Sioux mixed bloods among + the Crees to this day who are descendants of Kangiska.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X. INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I: Life in the Woods + </h2> + <p> + THE month of September recalls to every Indian’s mind the season of the + fall hunt. I remember one such expedition which is typical of many. Our + party appeared on the northwestern side of Turtle mountain; for we had + been hunting buffaloes all summer, in the region of the Mouse river, + between that mountain and the upper Missouri. + </p> + <p> + As our cone-shaped teepees rose in clusters along the outskirts of the + heavy forest that clothes the sloping side of the mountain, the scene + below was gratifying to a savage eye. The rolling yellow plains were + checkered with herds of buffaloes. Along the banks of the streams that ran + down from the mountains were also many elk, which usually appear at + morning and evening, and disappear into the forest during the warmer part + of the day. Deer, too, were plenty, and the brooks were alive with trout. + Here and there the streams were dammed by the industrious beaver. + </p> + <p> + In the interior of the forest there were lakes with many islands, where + moose, elk, deer and bears were abundant. The water-fowl were wont to + gather here in great numbers, among them the crane, the swan, the loon, + and many of the smaller kinds. The forest also was filled with a great + variety of birds. Here the partridge drummed his loudest, while the + whippoorwill sang with spirit, and the hooting owl reigned in the night. + </p> + <p> + To me, as a boy, this wilderness was a paradise. It was a land of plenty. + To be sure, we did not have any of the luxuries of civilization, but we + had every convenience and opportunity and luxury of Nature. We had also + the gift of enjoying our good fortune, whatever dangers might lurk about + us; and the truth is that we lived in blessed ignorance of any life that + was better than our own. + </p> + <p> + As soon as hunting in the woods began, the customs regulating it were + established. The council teepee no longer existed. A hunting bonfire was + kindled every morning at day-break, at which each brave must appear and + report. The man who failed to do this before the party set out on the + day’s hunt was harassed by ridicule. As a rule, the hunters started before + sunrise, and the brave who was announced throughout the camp as the first + one to return with a deer on his back, was a man to be envied. + </p> + <p> + The legend-teller, old Smoky Day, was chosen herald of the camp, and it + was he who made the announcements. After supper was ended, we heard his + powerful voice resound among the teepees in the forest. He would then name + a man to kindle the bonfire the next morning. His suit of fringed buckskin + set off his splendid physique to advantage. + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had the men disappeared in the woods each morning than all the + boys sallied forth, apparently engrossed in their games and sports, but in + reality competing actively with one another in quickness of observation. + As the day advanced, they all kept the sharpest possible lookout. Suddenly + there would come the shrill “Woo-coohoo!” at the top of a boy’s voice, + announcing the bringing in of a deer. Immediately all the other boys took + up the cry, each one bent on getting ahead of the rest. Now we all saw the + brave Wacoota fairly bent over by his burden, a large deer which he + carried on his shoulders. His fringed buckskin shirt was besprinkled with + blood. He threw down the deer at the door of his wife’s mother’s home, + according to custom, and then walked proudly to his own. At the door of + his father’s teepee he stood for a moment straight as a pine-tree, and + then entered. + </p> + <p> + When a bear was brought in, a hundred or more of these urchins were wont + to make the woods resound with their voices: “Wah! wah! wah! Wah! wah! + wah! The brave White Rabbit brings a bear! Wah! wah! wah!” + </p> + <p> + All day these sing-song cheers were kept up, as the game was brought in. + At last, toward the close of the afternoon, all the hunters had returned, + and happiness and contentment reigned absolute, in a fashion which I have + never observed among the white people, even in the best of circumstances. + The men were lounging and smoking; the women actively engaged in the + preparation of the evening meal, and the care of the meat. The choicest of + the game was cooked and offered to the Great Mystery, with all the + accompanying ceremonies. This we called the “medicine feast.” Even the + women, as they lowered the boiling pot, or the fragrant roast of venison + ready to serve, would first whisper: “Great Mystery, do thou partake of + this venison, and still be gracious!” This was the commonly said “grace.” + </p> + <p> + Everything went smoothly with us, on this occasion, when we first entered + the woods. Nothing was wanting to our old way of living. The killing of + deer and elk and moose had to be stopped for a time, since meat was so + abundant that we had no use for them any longer. Only the hunting for + pelts, such as those of the bear, beaver, marten, and otter was continued. + But whenever we lived in blessed abundance, our braves were wont to turn + their thoughts to other occupations—especially the hot-blooded + youths whose ambition it was to do something noteworthy. + </p> + <p> + At just such moments as this there are always a number of priests in + readiness, whose vocation it is to see into the future, and each of whom + consults his particular interpreter of the Great Mystery. (This ceremony + is called by the white people “making medicine.”) To the priests the + youthful braves hint their impatience for the war-path. Soon comes the + desired dream or prophecy or vision to favor their departure. + </p> + <p> + Our young men presently received their sign, and for a few days all was + hurry and excitement. On the appointed morning we heard the songs of the + warriors and the wailing of the women, by which they bade adieu to each + other, and the eligible braves, headed by an experienced man—old + Hotanka or Loud-Voiced Raven—set out for the Gros Ventre country. + </p> + <p> + Our older heads, to be sure, had expressed some disapproval of the + undertaking, for the country in which we were roaming was not our own, and + we were likely at any time to be taken to task by its rightful owners. The + plain truth of the matter was that we were intruders. Hence the more + thoughtful among us preferred to be at home, and to achieve what renown + they could get by defending their homes and families. The young men, + however, were so eager for action and excitement that they must needs go + off in search of it. + </p> + <p> + From the early morning when these braves left us, led by the old + war-priest, Loud-Voiced Raven, the anxious mothers, sisters and + sweethearts counted the days. Old Smoky Day would occasionally get up + early in the morning, and sing a “strong-heart” song for his absent + grandson. I still seem to hear the hoarse, cracked voice of the ancient + singer as it resounded among the woods. For a long time our roving + community enjoyed unbroken peace, and we were spared any trouble or + disturbance. Our hunters often brought in a deer or elk or bear for fresh + meat. The beautiful lakes furnished us with fish and wild-fowl for + variety. Their placid waters, as the autumn advanced, reflected the + variegated colors of the changing foliage. + </p> + <p> + It is my recollection that we were at this time encamped in the vicinity + of the “Turtle Mountain’s Heart.” It is to the highest cone-shaped peak + that the Indians aptly give this appellation. Our camping-ground for two + months was within a short distance of the peak, and the men made it a + point to often send one of their number to the top. It was understood + between them and the war party that we were to remain near this spot; and + on their return trip the latter were to give the “smoke sign,” which we + would answer from the top of the hill. + </p> + <p> + One day, as we were camping on the shore of a large lake with several + islands, signs of moose were discovered, and the men went off to them on + rafts, carrying their flint-lock guns in anticipation of finding two or + three of the animals. We little fellows, as usual, were playing down by + the sandy shore, when we spied what seemed like the root of a great tree + floating toward us. But on a closer scrutiny we discovered our error. It + was the head of a huge moose, swimming for his life! Fortunately for him, + none of the men had remained at home. + </p> + <p> + According to our habit, we little urchins disappeared in an instant, like + young prairie chickens, in the long grass. I was not more than eight years + old, yet I tested the strength of my bowstring and adjusted my sharpest + and best arrow for immediate service. My heart leaped violently as the + homely but imposing animal neared the shore. I was undecided for a moment + whether I would not leave my hiding-place and give a war-whoop as soon as + he touched the sand. Then I thought I would keep still and let him have my + boy weapon; and the only regret that I had was that he would, in all + probability, take it with him, and I should be minus one good arrow. + </p> + <p> + “Still,” I thought, “I shall claim to be the smallest boy whose arrow was + ever carried away by a moose.” That was enough. I gathered myself into a + bunch, all ready to spring. As the long-legged beast pulled himself + dripping out of the water, and shook off the drops from his long hair, I + sprang to my feet. I felt some of the water in my face! I gave him my + sharpest arrow with all the force I could master, right among the floating + ribs. Then I uttered my warwhoop. + </p> + <p> + The moose did not seem to mind the miniature weapon, but he was very much + frightened by our shrill yelling. He took to his long legs, and in a + minute was out of sight. + </p> + <p> + The leaves had now begun to fall, and the heavy frosts made the nights + very cold. We were forced to realize that the short summer of that region + had said adieu! Still we were gay and lighthearted, for we had plenty of + provisions, and no misfortune had yet overtaken us in our wanderings over + the country for nearly three months. + </p> + <p> + One day old Smoky Day returned from the daily hunt with an alarm. He had + seen a sign-a “smoke sign.” This had not appeared in the quarter that they + were anxiously watching—it came from the east. After a long + consultation among the men, it was concluded from the nature and duration + of the smoke that it proceeded from an accidental fire. It was further + surmised that the fire was not made by Sioux, since it was out of their + country, but by a war-party of Ojibways, who were accustomed to use + matches when lighting their pipes, and to throw them carelessly away. It + was thought that a little time had been spent in an attempt to put it out. + </p> + <p> + The council decreed that a strict look-out should be established in behalf + of our party. Every day a scout was appointed to reconnoitre in the + direction of the smoke. It was agreed that no gun should be fired for + twelve days. All our signals were freshly rehearsed among the men. The + women and old men went so far as to dig little convenient holes around + their lodges, for defense in case of a sudden attack. And yet an Ojibway + scout would not have suspected, from the ordinary appearance of the camp, + that the Sioux had become aware of their neighborhood! Scouts were + stationed just outside of the village at night. They had been so trained + as to rival an owl or a cat in their ability to see in the dark. + </p> + <p> + The twelve days passed by, however, without bringing any evidence of the + nearness of the supposed Ojibway war-party, and the “lookout” established + for purposes of protection was abandoned. Soon after this, one morning at + dawn, we were aroused by the sound of the unwelcome warwhoop. Although + only a child, I sprang up and was about to rush out, as I had been taught + to do; but my good grandmother pulled me down, and gave me a sign to lay + flat on the ground. I sharpened my ears and lay still. + </p> + <p> + All was quiet in camp, but at some little distance from us there was a + lively encounter. I could distinctly hear the old herald, shouting and + yelling in exasperation. “Whoo! whoo!” was the signal of distress, and I + could almost hear the pulse of my own blood-vessels. + </p> + <p> + Closer and closer the struggle came, and still the women appeared to grow + more and more calm. At last a tremendous charge by the Sioux put the enemy + to flight; there was a burst of yelling; alas! my friend and teacher, old + Smoky Day, was silent. He had been pierced to the heart by an arrow from + the Ojibways. + </p> + <p> + Although successful, we had lost two of our men, Smoky Day and White + Crane, and this incident, although hardly unexpected, darkened our + peaceful sky. The camp was filled with songs of victory, mingled with the + wailing of the relatives of the slain. The mothers of the youths who were + absent on the war-path could no longer conceal their anxiety. + </p> + <p> + One frosty morning—for it was then near the end of October—the + weird song of a solitary brave was heard. In an instant the camp was + thrown into indescribable confusion. The meaning of this was clear as day + to everybody—all of our war-party were killed, save the one whose + mournful song announced the fate of his companions. The lonely warrior was + Bald Eagle. + </p> + <p> + The village was convulsed with grief; for in sorrow, as in joy, every + Indian shares with all the others. The old women stood still, wherever + they might be, and wailed dismally, at intervals chanting the praises of + the departed warriors. The wives went a little way from their teepees and + there audibly mourned; but the young maidens wandered further away from + the camp, where no one could witness their grief. The old men joined in + the crying and singing. To all appearances the most unmoved of all were + the warriors, whose tears must be poured forth in the country of the enemy + to embitter their vengeance. These sat silently within their lodges, and + strove to conceal their feelings behind a stoical countenance; but they + would probably have failed had not the soothing weed come to their relief. + </p> + <p> + The first sad shock over, then came the change of habiliments. In savage + usage, the outward expression of mourning surpasses that of civilization. + The Indian mourner gives up all his good clothing, and contents himself + with scanty and miserable garments. Blankets are cut in two, and the hair + is cropped short. Often a devoted mother would scarify her arms or legs; a + sister or a young wife would cut off all her beautiful hair and disfigure + herself by undergoing hardships. Fathers and brothers blackened their + faces, and wore only the shabbiest garments. Such was the spectacle that + our people presented when the bright autumn was gone and the cold shadow + of winter and misfortune had fallen upon us. “We must suffer,” said they—“the + Great Mystery is offended.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. A Winter Camp + </h2> + <p> + WHEN I was about twelve years old we wintered upon the Mouse river, west + of Turtle mountain. It was one of the coldest winters I ever knew, and was + so regarded by the old men of the tribe. The summer before there had been + plenty of buffalo upon that side of the Missouri, and our people had made + many packs of dried buffalo meat and cached them in different places, so + that they could get them in case of need. There were many black-tailed + deer and elk along the river, and grizzlies were to be found in the open + country. Apparently there was no danger of starvation, so our people + thought to winter there; but it proved to be a hard winter. + </p> + <p> + There was a great snow-fall, and the cold was intense. The snow was too + deep for hunting, and the main body of the buffalo had crossed the + Missouri, where it was too far to go after them. But there were some + smaller herds of the animals scattered about in our vicinity, therefore + there was still fresh meat to be had, but it was not secured without a + great deal of difficulty. + </p> + <p> + No ponies could be used. The men hunted on snow-shoes until after the Moon + of Sore Eyes (March), when after a heavy thaw a crust was formed on the + snow which would scarcely hold a man. It was then that our people hunted + buffalo with dogs—an unusual expedient. + </p> + <p> + Sleds were made of buffalo ribs and hickory saplings, the runners bound + with rawhide with the hair side down. These slipped smoothly over the icy + crust. Only small men rode on the sleds. When buffalo were reported by the + hunting-scouts, everybody had his dog team ready. All went under orders + from the police, and approached the herd under cover until they came + within charging distance. + </p> + <p> + The men had their bows and arrows, and a few had guns. The huge animals + could not run fast in the deep snow. They all followed a leader, trampling + out a narrow path. The dogs with their drivers soon caught up with them on + each side, and the hunters brought many of them down. + </p> + <p> + I remember when the party returned, late in the night. The men came in + single file, well loaded, and each dog following his master with an + equally heavy load. Both men and animals were white with frost. + </p> + <p> + We boys had waited impatiently for their arrival. As soon as we spied them + coming a buffalo hunting whistle was started, and every urchin in the + village added his voice to the weird sound, while the dogs who had been + left at home joined with us in the chorus. The men, wearing their buffalo + moccasins with the hair inside and robes of the same, came home hungry and + exhausted. + </p> + <p> + It is often supposed that the dog in the Indian camp is a useless member + of society, but it is not so in the wild life. We found him one of the + most useful of domestic animals, especially in an emergency. + </p> + <p> + While at this camp a ludicrous incident occurred that is still told about + the camp-fires of the Sioux. One day the men were hunting on snow-shoes, + and contrived to get within a short distance of the buffalo before they + made the attack. It was impossible to run fast, but the huge animals were + equally unable to get away. Many were killed. Just as the herd reached an + open plain one of the buffaloes stopped and finally lay down. Three of the + men who were pursuing him shortly came up. The animal was severely + wounded, but not dead. + </p> + <p> + “I shall crawl up to him from behind and stab him,” said Wamedee; “we + cannot wait here for him to die.” The others agreed. Wamedee was not + considered especially brave; but he took out his knife and held it between + his teeth. He then approached the buffalo from behind and suddenly jumped + astride his back. + </p> + <p> + The animal was dreadfully frightened and struggled to his feet. Wamedee’s + knife fell to the ground, but he held on by the long shaggy hair. He had a + bad seat, for he was upon the buffalo’s hump. There was no chance to jump + off; he had to stay on as well as he could. + </p> + <p> + “Hurry! hurry! shoot! shoot!” he screamed, as the creature plunged and + kicked madly in the deep snow. Wamedee’s face looked deathly, they said; + but his two friends could not help laughing. He was still calling upon + them to shoot, but when the others took aim he would cry: “Don’t shoot! + don’t shoot! you will kill me!” At last the animal fell down with him; but + Wamedee’s two friends also fell down exhausted with laughter. He was + ridiculed as a coward thereafter. + </p> + <p> + It was on this very hunt that the chief Mato was killed by a buffalo. It + happened in this way. He had wounded the animal, but not fatally; so he + shot two more arrows at him from a distance. Then the buffalo became + desperate and charged upon him. In his flight Mato was tripped by sticking + one of his snow-shoes into a snowdrift, from which he could not extricate + himself in time. The bull gored him to death. The creek upon which this + happened is now called Mato creek. + </p> + <p> + A little way from our camp there was a log village of French Canadian + half-breeds, but the two villages did not intermingle. About the Moon of + Difficulty (January) we were initiated into some of the peculiar customs + of our neighbors. In the middle of the night there was a firing of guns + throughout their village. Some of the people thought they had been + attacked, and went over to assist them, but to their surprise they were + told that this was the celebration of the birth of the new year! + </p> + <p> + Our men were treated to minnewakan or “spirit water,” and they came home + crazy and foolish. They talked loud and sang all the rest of the night. + Finally our head chief ordered his young men to tie these men up and put + them in a lodge by themselves. He gave orders to untie them “when the evil + spirit had gone away.” + </p> + <p> + During the next day all our people were invited to attend the half-breeds’ + dance. I never knew before that a new year begins in mid-winter. We had + always counted that the year ends when the winter ends, and a new year + begins with the new life in the springtime. + </p> + <p> + I was now taken for the first time to a white man’s dance in a log house. + I thought it was the dizziest thing I ever saw. One man sat in a corner, + sawing away at a stringed board, and all the while he was stamping the + floor with his foot and giving an occasional shout. When he called out, + the dancers seemed to move faster. + </p> + <p> + The men danced with women—something that we Indians never do—and + when the man in the corner shouted they would swing the women around. It + looked very rude to me, as I stood outside with the other boys and peeped + through the chinks in the logs. At one time a young man and woman facing + each other danced in the middle of the floor. I thought they would surely + wear their moccasins out against the rough boards; but after a few minutes + they were relieved by another couple. + </p> + <p> + Then an old man with long curly hair and a fox-skin cap danced alone in + the middle of the room, slapping the floor with his moccasined foot in a + lightning fashion that I have never seen equalled. He seemed to be a + leader among them. When he had finished, the old man invited our principal + chief into the middle of the floor, and after the Indian had given a great + whoop, the two drank in company. After this, there was so much drinking + and loud talking among the men, that it was thought best to send us + children back to the camp. + </p> + <p> + It was at this place that we found many sand boulders like a big “white + man’s house.” There were holes in them like rooms, and we played in these + cave-like holes. One day, in the midst of our game, we found the skeleton + of a great bear. Evidently he had been wounded and came there to die, for + there were several arrows on the floor of the cave. + </p> + <p> + The most exciting event of this year was the attack that the Gros Ventres + made upon us just as we moved our camp upon the table land back of the + river in the spring. We had plenty of meat then and everybody was happy. + The grass was beginning to appear and the ponies to grow fat. + </p> + <p> + One night there was a war dance. A few of our young men had planned to + invade the Gros Ventres country, but it seemed that they too had been + thinking of us. Everybody was interested in the proposed war party. + </p> + <p> + “Uncle, are you going too?” I eagerly asked him. + </p> + <p> + “No,” he replied, with a long sigh. “It is the worst time of year to go on + the war-path. We shall have plenty of fighting this summer, as we are + going to trench upon their territory in our hunts,” he added. + </p> + <p> + The night was clear and pleasant. The war drum was answered by the howls + of coyotes on the opposite side of the Mouse river. I was in the throng, + watching the braves who were about to go out in search of glory. “I wish I + were old enough; I would surely go with this party,” I thought. My friend + Tatanka was to go. He was several years older than I, and a hero in my + eyes. I watched him as he danced with the rest until nearly midnight. Then + I came back to our teepee and rolled myself in my buffalo robe and was + soon lost in sleep. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly I was aroused by loud war cries. “‘Woo! woo! hay-ay! hay-ay! U we + do! U we do!’” I jumped upon my feet, snatched my bow and arrows and + rushed out of the teepee, frantically yelling as I went. + </p> + <p> + “Stop! stop!” screamed Uncheedah, and caught me by my long hair. + </p> + <p> + By this time the Gros Ventres had encircled our camp, sending volleys of + arrows and bullets into our midst. The women were digging ditches in which + to put their children. + </p> + <p> + My uncle was foremost in the battle. The Sioux bravely withstood the + assault, although several of our men had already fallen. Many of the enemy + were killed in the field around our teepees. The Sioux at last got their + ponies and made a counter charge, led by Oyemakasan (my uncle). They cut + the Gros Ventre party in two, and drove them off. + </p> + <p> + My friend Tatanka was killed. I took one of his eagle feathers, thinking I + would wear it the first time that I ever went upon the war-path. I thought + I would give anything for the opportunity to go against the Gros Ventres, + because they killed my friend. The war songs, the wailing for the dead, + the howling of the dogs was intolerable to me. Soon after this we broke up + our camp and departed for new scenes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. Wild Harvests + </h2> + <p> + WHEN our people lived in Minnesota, a good part of their natural + subsistence was furnished by the wild rice, which grew abundantly in all + of that region. Around the shores and all over some of the innumerable + lakes of the “Land of Sky-blue Water” was this wild cereal found. Indeed, + some of the watery fields in those days might be compared in extent and + fruitfulness with the fields of wheat on Minnesota’s magnificent farms + to-day. + </p> + <p> + The wild rice harvesters came in groups of fifteen to twenty families to a + lake, depending upon the size of the harvest. Some of the Indians hunted + buffalo upon the prairie at this season, but there were more who preferred + to go to the lakes to gather wild rice, fish, gather berries and hunt the + deer. There was an abundance of water-fowls among the grain; and really no + season of the year was happier than this. + </p> + <p> + The camping-ground was usually an attractive spot, with shade and cool + breezes off the water. The people, while they pitched their teepees upon + the heights, if possible, for the sake of a good outlook, actually lived + in their canoes upon the placid waters. The happiest of all, perhaps, were + the young maidens, who were all day long in their canoes, in twos or + threes, and when tired of gathering the wild cereal, would sit in the + boats doing their needle-work. + </p> + <p> + These maidens learned to imitate the calls of the different water-fowls as + a sort of signal to the members of a group. Even the old women and the + boys adopted signals, so that while the population of the village was lost + to sight in a thick field of wild rice, a meeting could be arranged + without calling any one by his or her own name. It was a great convenience + for those young men who sought opportunity to meet certain maidens, for + there were many canoe paths through the rice. + </p> + <p> + August is the harvest month. There were many preliminary feasts of fish, + ducks and venison, and offerings in honor of the “Water Chief,” so that + there might not be any drowning accident during the harvest. The + preparation consisted of a series of feasts and offerings for many days, + while women and men were making birch canoes, for nearly every member of + the family must be provided with one for this occasion. The blueberry and + huckleberry-picking also preceded the rice-gathering. + </p> + <p> + There were social events which enlivened the camp of the harvesters; such + as maidens’ feasts, dances and a canoe regatta or two, in which not only + the men were participants, but women and young girls as well. + </p> + <p> + On the appointed day all the canoes were carried to the shore and placed + upon the water with prayer and propitiatory offerings. Each family took + possession of the allotted field, and tied all the grain in bundles of + convenient size, allowing it to stand for a few days. Then they again + entered the lake, assigning two persons to each canoe. One manipulated the + paddle, while the foremost one gently drew the heads of each bundle toward + him and gave it a few strokes with a light rod. This caused the rice to + fall into the bottom of the craft. The field was traversed in this manner + back and forth until finished. + </p> + <p> + This was the pleasantest and easiest part of the harvest toil. The real + work was when they prepared the rice for use. First of all, it must be + made perfectly dry. They would spread it upon buffalo robes and mats, and + sometimes upon layers of coarse swamp grass, and dry it in the sun. If the + time was short, they would make a scaffold and spread upon it a certain + thickness of the green grass and afterward the rice. Under this a fire was + made, taking care that the grass did not catch fire. + </p> + <p> + When all the rice is gathered and dried, the hulling begins. A round hole + is dug about two feet deep and the same in diameter. Then the rice is + heated over a fire-place, and emptied into the hole while it is hot. A + young man, having washed his feet and put on a new pair of moccasins, + treads upon it until all is hulled. The women then pour it upon a robe and + begin to shake it so that the chaff will be separated by the wind. Some of + the rice is browned before being hulled. + </p> + <p> + During the hulling time there were prizes offered to the young men who can + hull quickest and best. There were sometimes from twenty to fifty youths + dancing with their feet in these holes. + </p> + <p> + Pretty moccasins were brought by shy maidens to the youths of their + choice, asking them to hull rice. There were daily entertainments which + deserved some such name as “hulling bee”—at any rate, we all enjoyed + them hugely. The girls brought with them plenty of good things to eat. + </p> + <p> + When all the rice was prepared for the table, the matter of storing it + must be determined. Caches were dug by each family in a concealed spot, + and carefully lined with dry grass and bark. Here they left their surplus + stores for a time of need. Our people were very ingenious in covering up + all traces of the hidden food. A common trick was to build a fire on top + of the mound. As much of the rice as could be carried conveniently was + packed in par-fleches, or cases made of rawhide, and brought back with us + to our village. + </p> + <p> + After all, the wild Indians could not be justly termed improvident, when + their manner of life is taken into consideration. They let nothing go to + waste, and labored incessantly during the summer and fall to lay up + provision for the inclement season. Berries of all kinds were + industriously gathered, and dried in the sun. Even the wild cherries were + pounded up, stones and all, made into small cakes and dried for use in + soups and for mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to form a + much-prized Indian delicacy. + </p> + <p> + Out on the prairie in July and August the women were wont to dig teepsinna + with sharpened sticks, and many a bag full was dried and put away. This + teepsinna is the root of a certain plant growing mostly upon high sandy + soil. It is starchy but solid, with a sweetish taste, and is very + fattening. The fully grown teepsinna is two or three inches long, and has + a dark-brown bark not unlike the bark of a young tree. It can be eaten raw + or stewed, and is always kept in a dried state, except when it is first + dug. + </p> + <p> + There was another root that our people gathered in small quantities. It is + a wild sweet potato, found in bottom lands or river beds. + </p> + <p> + The primitive housekeeper exerted herself much to secure a variety of + appetizing dishes; she even robbed the field mouse and the muskrat to + accomplish 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 domestic bean that I have ever tasted. Her storehouse is usually under + a peculiar mound, which the untrained 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + The different kinds of beans are put away in different pockets, but it is + the oomenechah she wants. The field mouse loves this savory vegetable, for + she always gathers it more than any other. There is also some of the white + star-like manakcahkcah, the root of the wild lily. This is a good medicine + and good to eat. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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, perfumes it with + scented grass or leaves, then arranges it in two plaits with an otter skin + or some other ornament. If he is a warrior, he adds an eagle feather or + two. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 maiden—especially in public courtship. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + There are times when maidens go in twos, and then there must be two young + men to meet them. + </p> + <p> + 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 + everybody 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, + for the grandmother, her chaperon, is usually “all ears.” + </p> + <p> + 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 surrendering to a woman. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes a youth is so infatuated with a maiden 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 objection to him on the part of the girl’s parents, although the girl + herself was willing. + </p> + <p> + 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 following 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. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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, protruding + 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: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Hay-ay-ay! Hay-ay-ay! a-ahay-ay!” (This + “Listen! you will hear of him— + Maiden, you will hear of him— + Listen! he will shortly go +</pre> + <p> + 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 adjust these pointed ears of the teepee, with their + long poles, for the wind seems to be unsettled. + </p> + <p> + Finally Chotanka ceases to be heard. In a moment a young man appears + ghost-like at the maiden’s side. + </p> + <p> + “So it is you, is it?” she asks. + </p> + <p> + “Is your grandmother in?” he inquires. + </p> + <p> + “What a brave man you are, to fear an old woman! We are free; the country + is wide. We can go away, and come back when the storm is over.” + </p> + <p> + “Ho,” he replies. “It is not that I fear her, or the consequences of an + elopement. I fear nothing except that we may be separated!” + </p> + <p> + 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 + disappear in the darkness. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. A Meeting on the Plains + </h2> + <p> + WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river, a tributary 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 report, of + course, caused much uneasiness among our people. + </p> + <p> + A council was held immediately, in the course of which the scout was put + through a rigid examination. Before a decision had been reached, another + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 positive information that the + Canadians were at hand, “for,” said they, “there are no bright metals in + the moving train to send forth flashes of light. The separate bodies are + short, like carts with ponies, and not like the long, four-wheeled wagon + drawn by four or six mules, that the soldiers use. They are not buffaloes, + and they cannot be mounted troops, with pack-mules, because the individual + bodies are too long for that. Besides, the soldiers usually have their + chief, with his guards, leading the train; and the little chiefs are also + separated from the main body and ride at one side!” + </p> + <p> + From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet with + the bois brules, as the French call their mixed-bloods, presumably from + the color of their complexions. Some say that they are named from the + “burned forests” which, as wood-cutters, they are accustomed to leave + behind them. Two or three hours later, at about sunset, our ears began to + distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train of + their carts. It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals, and is + due to the fact that the wheels and all other parts of these vehicles are + made of wood. Our dogs gleefully augmented the volume of inharmonious + sound. + </p> + <p> + They stopped a little way from our camp, upon a grassy plain, and the + ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect circle, the + shafts being turned inward. Thus was formed a sort of barricade—quite + a usual and necessary precaution in their nomadic and adventurous life. + Within this circle the tents were pitched, and many cheerful fires were + soon kindled. The garcons were hurriedly driving the ponies to water, with + much cracking of whips and outbursting of impatient oaths. + </p> + <p> + Our chief and his principal warriors briefly conferred with the strangers, + and it was understood by both parties that no thought of hostilities + lurked in the minds of either. + </p> + <p> + After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows a + “peace council,” there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both camps. + The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading-post, and it + so happened that their inevitable whiskey keg was almost empty. They had + diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full of water. + In order to have any sort of offensive taste, it was necessary to add + cayenne pepper and a little gentian. + </p> + <p> + Our men were treated to this concoction; and seeing that two or three of + the half-breeds pretended to become intoxicated, our braves followed their + example. They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing until + past midnight, when gradually all disturbance ceased, and both camps + appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers. Many more reports + were heard in quick succession, all coming from the camp of the bois + brules. Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet, weapon in hand, and + many ran towards their ponies. But there was one significant point about + the untimely firing of the guns—they were all directed heavenward! + One of our old men, who understood better than any one else the manners of + the half-breeds, thus proclaimed at the top of his voice: + </p> + <p> + “Let the people sleep! This that we have heard is the announcement of a + boy’s advent into the world! It is their custom to introduce with + gunpowder a new-born boy!” + </p> + <p> + Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps, and for a time the + night reigned undisturbed. But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep + when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns and + the yelling of warriors. This time it was discovered that almost all the + ponies, including those of our neighbors, had been stealthily driven off + by horse-thieves of another tribe. + </p> + <p> + These miscreants were adepts in their profession, for they had + accomplished their purpose with much skill, almost under the very eyes of + the foe, and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow Dog, + they would have met with complete success. As it was, they caused us no + little trouble and anxiety, but after a hot pursuit of a whole day, with + the assistance of the halfbreeds our horses were recaptured. + </p> + <p> + Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit, and + boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men, without any success, + only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of embarrassment and + ridicule. Yet there is one quality always possessed by such persons, among + a savage people as elsewhere—namely, great perseverance and tenacity + in their self-assertion. So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow Dog always + cheerful; and he seemed, if anything, to derive some pleasure from the + endless insinuations and ridicule of the people! + </p> + <p> + Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed, on the night before this event, that + he had received the warning of a bad dream, in which he had seen all the + ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward. + </p> + <p> + “But who cares for Slow Dog’s dream?” said everybody; “none of the really + great medicine men have had any such visions!” + </p> + <p> + Therefore our little community, given as they were to superstition, + anticipated no special danger. It is true that when the first scout + reported the approach of troops some of the people had weakened, and said + to one another: + </p> + <p> + “After all, perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right; but we are always too + ready to laugh at him!” + </p> + <p> + However, this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians + arrived, and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning. + </p> + <p> + He was faithful to his dream. During all the hilarity of the feast and the + drinking of the mock whiskey, be acted as self-constituted sentinel. + Finally, when everybody else had succumbed to sleep, he gathered together + several broken and discarded lariats of various materials—leather, + buffalo’s hair and horse’s hair. Having lengthened this variegated rope + with innumerable knots, he fastened one end of it around the neck of his + old war-horse, and tied the other to his wrist. Instead of sleeping inside + the tent as usual, he rolled himself in a buffalo robe and lay down in its + shadow. From this place he watched until the moon had disappeared behind + the western horizon; and just as the grey dawn began to appear in the east + his eyes were attracted to what seemed to be a dog moving among the + picketed ponies. Upon a closer scrutiny, he saw that its actions were + unnatural. + </p> + <p> + “Toka abe do! toka abe do!” (the enemy! the enemy!) exclaimed Slow Dog. + With a warwhoop he sprang toward the intruder, who rose up and leaped upon + the back of Slow Dog’s warsteed. He had cut the hobble, as well as the + device of the old medicine man. + </p> + <p> + The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot, but it was too late. The other + quickly dodged behind the animal, and from under its chest he sent a + deadly arrow to Slow Dog’s bosom. Then he remounted the pony and set off + at full speed after his comrades, who had already started. + </p> + <p> + As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm, and passed by the daring old + warrior in pursuit of their enemies, who had stampeded most of the loose + ponies, the old man cried out: + </p> + <p> + “I, brave Slow Dog, who have so often made a path for you on the field of + battle, am now about to make one to the land of spirits!” + </p> + <p> + So speaking, the old man died. The Sioux were joined in the chase by the + friendly mixedbloods, and in the end the Blackfeet were compelled to pay + dearly for the blood of the poor old man. + </p> + <p> + On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling, but the + Sioux were mourning and wailing for the death of one who had been an + object of ridicule during most of his life. They appreciated the part that + Slow Dog had played in this last event, and his memory was honored by all + the tribe. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. An Adventurous Journey + </h2> + <p> + IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of new + hunting-grounds, from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri. The + buffalo, formerly so abundant between the two rivers, had begun to shun + their usual haunts, on account of the great numbers of Canadian halfbreeds + in that part of the country. There was also the first influx of English + sportsmen, whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought such havoc with + the herds. These seemingly intelligent animals correctly prophesied to the + natives the approach of the pale-face. + </p> + <p> + As we had anticipated, we found game very scarce as we travelled slowly + across the vast plains. There were only herds of antelope and sometimes + flocks of waterfowl, with here and there a lonely bull straggling + aimlessly along. At first our party was small, but as we proceeded on our + way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux and Assiniboines, + who are close connections. + </p> + <p> + Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles. One + might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion. The 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 others in + quickness and dexterity. + </p> + <p> + 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 + ordinary company of travelers. + </p> + <p> + This journey of ours was not without its exciting 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 injuries that they had inflicted upon our family. This time he + met with a company of soldiers between 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 promotions 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. + </p> + <p> + Although when a successful war-party returns with so many trophies, there + is usually much dancing and hilarity, there was almost nothing of the 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. + </p> + <p> + It was upon this journey that a hunter performed 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 requires a great deal of skill as + well. + </p> + <p> + A misfortune occurred near the river which deprived 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 Christian 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 disposed to part with his fine mules. A certain one of the + mixed-bloods was intent upon getting possession 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 shot his guest + dead. + </p> + <p> + 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 murderer. The confusion was made + yet more intolerable by the wailing of the women and the singing of + death-songs. + </p> + <p> + Our number was now ten to one of the halfbreeds. 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 signal of their chief. + </p> + <p> + The older men, however, were discussing in council what should be demanded + of the halfbreeds. It was determined that the murderer must be given up to + us, to be punished according 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 offenders and thus stampede their horses, or at the + least divide their attention. Meanwhile, the braves were to make a sudden + onset. + </p> + <p> + Just then a piece of white, newly-tanned deerskin 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, unarmed and making the sign for a + peaceful communication. He was admitted to the council, which was still in + session, and offered to give up the murderer. It was also proposed, as an + alternative, that he be compelled to give everything he had to the parents + of the murdered man. + </p> + <p> + The parents were allowed no voice whatever in the discussion which + followed, for they were regarded as incompetent judges, under the + circumstances. 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 + whipping, and resign all his earthly possessions to the parents of his + victim. This sentence was carried into effect. + </p> + <p> + 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 + officer, who was not always the chief, but a member of the tribe appointed + to this position for a given number of days. There were 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 destroy his tent or take away his + weapons. When all the sticks had been returned, they were reissued to + other men; and so the council lodge was supported. + </p> + <p> + 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 necessary + qualification for the office of an Indian policeman. 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 discovery of a herd + reported at once to the council, after which the time and manner of the + hunt were publicly announced. + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 + serve for a certain length of time. An Indian might hunt every day, + besides the regularly organized hunt; but he was liable to punishment at + any time. If he could kill a solitary buffalo or deer without disturbing + the herd, it was allowed. He might also hunt small game. + </p> + <p> + In the movable town under such a government as this, there was apt to be + inconvenience and actual suffering, since a great body of people were + supported only by the daily hunt. Hence there was a constant disposition + to break up into smaller parties, in order to obtain food more easily and + freely. Yet the wise men of the Dakotas would occasionally form large + bands of from two to five thousand people, who camped and moved about + together for a period of some months. It is apparent that so large a body + could not be easily supplied with the necessaries of life; but, on the + other hand, our enemies respected such a gathering! Of course the nomadic + government would do its utmost to hold together as long as possible. The + police did all they could to keep in check those parties who were intent + upon stealing away. + </p> + <p> + There were many times, however, when individual bands and even families + were justified in seeking to separate themselves from the rest, in order + to gain a better support. It was chiefly by reason of this food question + that the Indians never established permanent towns or organized themselves + into a more formidable nation. + </p> + <p> + There was a sad misfortune which, although it happened many generations + ago, was familiarly quoted among us. A certain band became very + independent and unruly; they went so far as to wilfully disobey the orders + of the general government. The police were directed to punish the leader + severely; whereupon the rest defended him and resisted the police. But the + latter were competent to enforce their authority, and as a result the + entire band was annihilated. + </p> + <p> + One day, as we were following along the bank of the Upper Missouri, there + appeared to be a great disturbance at the head of the cavalcade—so + much so that we thought our people had been attacked by a war-party of the + Crows or some of the hostile tribes of that region. In spite of the + danger, even the women and children hurried forward to join the men—that + is to say, as many as were not upon the hunt. Most of the warriors were + out, as usual, and only the large boys and the old men were travelling + with the women and their domestic effects and little ones. + </p> + <p> + As we approached the scene of action, we heard loud shouts and the report + of fire-arms; but our party was scattered along for a considerable + distance, and all was over before we could reach the spot. It was a great + grizzly bear who had been bold enough to oppose, single-handed, the + progress of several hundred Indians. The council-men, who usually walked a + little in advance of the train, were the first to meet the bear, and he + was probably deceived by the sight of this advance body, and thus + audaciously defied them. + </p> + <p> + Among these council-men—all retired chiefs and warriors whose ardent + zeal for the display of courage had long been cooled, and whose present + duties were those of calm deliberation for their people’s welfare—there + were two old, distinguished war-chiefs. Each of these men still carried + his war-lance, wrapped up in decorated buckskin. As the bear advanced + boldly toward them, the two old men promptly threw off their robes—an + evidence that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit of + chivalry and ready courage. Spear in hand, they both sprang forward to + combat with the ferocious animal, taking up their positions about ten feet + apart. + </p> + <p> + As they had expected, the fearful beast, after getting up on his haunches + and growling savagely, came forward with widely opened jaws. He fixed his + eyes upon the left-hand man, who was ready to meet him with uplifted + spear, but with one stroke of his powerful paw the weapon was sent to the + ground. At the same moment the right-hand man dealt him a stab that + penetrated the grizzly’s side. + </p> + <p> + The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a man, and seized the spear so + violently that its owner was thrown to the ground. As the animal drew the + lance from its body, the first man, having recovered his own, stabbed him + with it on the other side. Upon this, he turned and knocked the old man + down, and again endeavored to extract the spear. + </p> + <p> + By this time all the dogs and men were at hand. Many arrows and balls were + sent into the tough hide of the bear. Yet he would probably have killed + both his assailants, had it not been for the active small dogs who were + constantly upon his heels and annoying him. A deadly rifle shot at last + brought him down. + </p> + <p> + The old men were badly bruised and torn, but both of them recovered, to + bear from that day the high-sounding titles of “Fought-the-Bear” and + “Conquered-the-Grizzly.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI. The Laughing Philosopher + </h2> + <p> + THERE is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the + natives of this country have no sense of humor and no faculty for mirth. + This phase of their character is well understood by those whose fortune or + misfortune it has been to live among them day in and day out at their + homes. I don’t believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the + Indians’ fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughing with + them until I could laugh no more. There are evenings when the recognized + wit or story-teller of the village gives a free entertainment which keeps + the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves them. + However, Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and inflections of + the voice as in words, and is really untranslatable. + </p> + <p> + Matogee (Yellow Bear) was a natural humorous speaker, and a very diffident + man at other times. He usually said little, but when he was in the mood he + could keep a large company in a roar. This was especially the case + whenever he met his brother-in-law, Tamedokah. + </p> + <p> + It was a custom with us Indians to joke more particularly with our + brothers- and sisters-in-law. But no one ever complained, or resented any + of these jokes, however personal they might be. That would be an + unpardonable breach of etiquette. + </p> + <p> + “Tamedokah, I heard that you tried to capture a buck by holding on to his + tail,” said Matogee, laughing. “I believe that feat cannot be performed + any more; at least, it never has been since the pale-face brought us the + knife, the ‘mysterious iron,’ and the pulverized coal that makes bullets + fly. Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives and hatchets, I say, + that has never been done.” + </p> + <p> + The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a buck that day while hunting, and + as he was about to dress him the animal got up and attempted to run, + whereupon the Indian launched forth to secure his game. He only succeeded + in grasping the tail of the deer, and was pulled about all over the + meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail came off in his hands. + Matogee thought this too good a joke to be lost. + </p> + <p> + I sat near the door of the tent, and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the + comical accident. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” Tamedokah quietly replied, “I thought I would do something to beat + the story of the man who rode a young elk, and yelled frantically for + help, crying like a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Ugh! that was only a legend,” retorted Matogee, for it was he who was the + hero of this tale in his younger days. “But this is a fresh feat of + to-day. Chankpayuhah said he could not tell which was the most scared, the + buck or you,” he continued. “He said the deer’s eyes were bulging out of + their sockets, while Tamedokah’s mouth was constantly enlarging toward his + ears, and his hair floated on the wind, shaking among the branches of the + trees. That will go down with the traditions of our fathers,” he concluded + with an air of satisfaction. + </p> + <p> + “It was a singular mishap,” admitted Tamedokah. + </p> + <p> + The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed to Tamedokah + good-naturedly, still with a broad smile on his face. “It must be + acknowledged,” he resumed, “that you have the strongest kind of a grip, + for no one else could hold on as long as you did, and secure such a trophy + besides. That tail will do for an eagle feather holder.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the teepee was packed to overflowing. Loud laughter had been + heard issuing from the lodge of Matogee, and everybody suspected that he + had something good, so many had come to listen. + </p> + <p> + “I think we should hear the whole matter,” said one of the late comers. + </p> + <p> + The teepee was brightly lit by the burning embers, and all the men were + sitting with their knees up against their chests, held in that position by + wrapping their robes tightly around loins and knees. This fixed them + something in the fashion of a rocking-chair. + </p> + <p> + “Well, no one saw him except Chankpayuhah,” Matogee remarked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, he must tell us about it,” exclaimed a chorus of voices. + </p> + <p> + “This is what I saw,” the witness began. “I was tracking a buck and a doe. + As I approached a small opening at the creek side ‘boom!’ came a report of + the mysterious iron. I remained in a stooping position, hoping to see a + deer cross the opening. In this I was not disappointed, for immediately + after the report a fine buck dashed forth with Tamedokah close behind him. + The latter was holding on to the deer’s tail with both hands and his knife + was in his mouth, but it soon dropped out. ‘Tamedokah,’ I shouted, + ‘haven’t you got hold of the wrong animal?’ but as I spoke they + disappeared into the woods. + </p> + <p> + “In a minute they both appeared again, and then it was that I began to + laugh. I could not stop. It almost killed me. The deer jumped the longest + jumps I ever saw. Tamedokah walked the longest paces and was very swift. + His hair was whipping the trees as they went by. Water poured down his + face. I stood bent forward because I could not straighten my back-bone, + and was ready to fall when they again disappeared. + </p> + <p> + “When they came out for the third time it seemed as if the woods and the + meadow were moving too. Tamedokah skipped across the opening as if he were + a grasshopper learning to hop. I fell down. + </p> + <p> + “When I came to he was putting water on my face and head, but when I + looked at him I fell again, and did not know anything until the sun had + passed the mid-sky. + </p> + <p> + “The company was kept roaring all the way through this account, while + Tamedokah himself heartily joined in the mirth. + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, ho!” they said; “he has made his name famous in our annals. This + will be told of him henceforth.” + </p> + <p> + “It reminds me of Chadozee’s bear story,” said one. + </p> + <p> + “His was more thrilling, because it was really dangerous,” interposed + another. + </p> + <p> + “You can tell it to us, Bobdoo,” remarked a third. + </p> + <p> + The man thus addressed made no immediate reply. He was smoking + contentedly. At last he silently returned the pipe to Matogee, with whom + it had begun its rounds. Deliberately he tightened his robe around him, + saying as he did so: + </p> + <p> + “Ho (Yes). I was with him. It was by a very little that he saved his life. + I will tell you how it happened. + </p> + <p> + “I was hunting with these two men, Nageedah and Chadozee. We came to some + wild cherry bushes. I began to eat of the fruit when I saw a large + silver-tip crawling toward us. ‘Look out! there is a grizzly here,’ I + shouted, and I ran my pony out on to the prairie; but the others had + already dismounted. + </p> + <p> + “Nageedah had just time to jump upon his pony and get out of the way, but + the bear seized hold of his robe and pulled it off. Chadozee stood upon + the verge of a steep bank, below which there ran a deep and swift-flowing + stream. The bear rushed upon him so suddenly that when he took a step + backward, they both fell into the creek together. It was a fall of about + twice the height of a man.” + </p> + <p> + “Did they go out of sight?” some one inquired. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, both fell headlong. In his excitement Chadozee laid hold of the bear + in the water, and I never saw a bear try so hard to get away from a man as + this one did.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!” they all laughed. + </p> + <p> + “When they came to the surface again they were both so eager to get to the + shore that each let go, and they swam as quickly as they could to opposite + sides. Chadozee could not get any further, so he clung to a stray root, + still keeping a close watch of the bear, who was forced to do the same. + There they both hung, regarding each other with looks of contempt and + defiance.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!” they all laughed again. + </p> + <p> + “At last the bear swam along the edge to a lower place, and we pulled + Chadozee up by means of our lariats. All this time he had been groaning so + loud that we supposed he was badly torn; but when I looked for his wounds + I found a mere scratch.” + </p> + <p> + Again the chorus of appreciation from his hearers. + </p> + <p> + “The strangest thing about this affair of mine,” spoke up Tamedokah, “is + that I dreamed the whole thing the night before.” + </p> + <p> + “There are some dreams come true, and I am a believer in dreams,” one + remarked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, certainly, so are we all. You know Hachah almost lost his life by + believing in dreams,” commented Matogee. + </p> + <p> + “Let us hear that story,” was the general request. + </p> + <p> + “You have all heard of Hachah, the great medicine man, who did many + wonderful things. He once dreamed four nights in succession of flying from + a high cliff over the Minnesota river. He recollected every particular of + the scene, and it made a great impression upon his mind. + </p> + <p> + “The next day after he had dreamed it for the fourth time, he proposed to + his wife that they go down to the river to swim, but his real purpose was + to see the place of his dream. + </p> + <p> + “He did find the place, and it seemed to Hachah exactly like. A crooked + tree grew out of the top of the cliff, and the water below was very deep.” + </p> + <p> + “Did he really fly?” I called impatiently from the doorway, where I had + been listening and laughing with the rest. + </p> + <p> + “Ugh, that is what I shall tell you. He was swimming about with his wife, + who was a fine swimmer; but all at once Hachah disappeared. Presently he + stood upon the very tree that he had seen in his dream, and gazed out over + the water. The tree was very springy, and Hachah felt sure that he could + fly; so before long he launched bravely forth from the cliff. He kicked + out vigorously and swung both arms as he did so, but nevertheless he came + down to the bottom of the water like a crow that had been shot on the + wing.” + </p> + <p> + “Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!” and the whole company laughed unreservedly. + </p> + <p> + “His wife screamed loudly as Hachah whirled downward and went out of sight + like a blue heron after a fish. Then she feared he might be stunned, so + she swam to him and dragged him to the shore. He could not speak, but the + woman overwhelmed him with reproaches. + </p> + <p> + “‘What are you trying to do, you old idiot? Do you want to kill yourself?’ + she screamed again and again. + </p> + <p> + “‘Woman, be silent,’ he replied, and he said nothing more. He did not tell + his dream for many years afterward. Not until he was a very old man and + about to die, did Hachah tell any one how he thought he could fly.” + </p> + <p> + And at this they all laughed louder than ever. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + </h2> + <p> + I WAS scarcely old enough to know anything definite about the “Big + Knives,” as we called the white men, when the terrible Minnesota massacre + broke up our home and I was carried into exile. I have already told how I + was adopted into the family of my father’s younger brother, when my father + was betrayed and imprisoned. We all supposed that he had shared the fate + of those who were executed at Mankato, Minnesota. + </p> + <p> + Now the savage philosophers looked upon vengeance in the field of battle + as a lofty virtue. To avenge the death of a relative or of a dear friend + was considered a great deed. My uncle, accordingly, had spared no pains to + instill into my young mind the obligation to avenge the death of my father + and my older brothers. Already I looked eagerly forward to the day when I + should find an opportunity to carry out his teachings. Meanwhile, he + himself went upon the war-path and returned with scalps every summer. So + it may be imagined how I felt toward the Big Knives! + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, I had heard marvelous things of this people. In some + things we despised them; in others we regarded them as wakan (mysterious), + a race whose power bordered upon the supernatural. I learned that they had + made a “fireboat.” I could not understand how they could unite two + elements which cannot exist together. I thought the water would put out + the fire, and the fire would consume the boat if it had the shadow of a + chance. This was to me a preposterous thing! But when I was told that the + Big Knives had created a “fire-boat-walks-on-mountains” (a locomotive) it + was too much to believe. + </p> + <p> + “Why,” declared my informant, “those who saw this monster move said that + it flew from mountain to mountain when it seemed to be excited. They said + also that they believed it carried a thunder-bird, for they frequently + heard his usual war-whoop as the creature sped along!” + </p> + <p> + Several warriors had observed from a distance one of the first trains on + the Northern Pacific, and had gained an exaggerated impression of the + wonders of the pale-face. They had seen it go over a bridge that spanned a + deep ravine and it seemed to them that it jumped from one bank to the + other. I confess that the story almost quenched my ardor and bravery. + </p> + <p> + Two or three young men were talking together about this fearful invention. + </p> + <p> + “However,” said one, “I understand that this fire-boat-walks-on-mountains + cannot move except on the track made for it.” + </p> + <p> + Although a boy is not expected to join in the conversation of his elders, + I ventured to ask: “Then it cannot chase us into any rough country?” + </p> + <p> + “No, it cannot do that,” was the reply, which I heard with a great deal of + relief. + </p> + <p> + 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 + Mississippi 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 name—and not to us Dakotas. + </p> + <p> + “For the same reason,” he answered, “that he gave to Duta the skill to + make fine bows and arrows, and to Wachesne no skill to make anything.” + </p> + <p> + “And why do the Big Knives increase so much more in number than the + Dakotas?” I continued. + </p> + <p> + “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 comparatively few; later my father + visited their Great Father at Washington, and they had already spread over + the whole country.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly they are a heartless nation. They have made some of their + people servants—yes, 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! + </p> + <p> + “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 land. Finally the outbreak gave + them all, and we have been driven away from our beautiful country. + </p> + <p> + “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, Minnesota) 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! + </p> + <p> + “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 goods—even for his own existence—every + year!” (This was his idea of taxation.) “I am sure we could not live under + such a law. + </p> + <p> + “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 allowed 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. + </p> + <p> + “There were some praying-men who came to us some time before the trouble + arose. They observed 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, 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. + </p> + <p> + “In war they have leaders and war-chiefs of different grades. The common + warriors are driven forward like a herd of antelopes to face the foe. It + is on account of this manner of fighting—from compulsion and not + from personal bravery—that we count no coup on them. A lone warrior + can do much harm to a large army of them in a bad country.” + </p> + <p> + It was this talk with my uncle that gave me my first clear idea of the + white man. + </p> + <p> + I was almost fifteen years old when my uncle presented me with a + flint-lock gun. The possession 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 being—the + boy had become a man! + </p> + <p> + “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.” + </p> + <p> + 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 position as a man. My boyish ways + were departing, and a sullen dignity and composure was taking their place. + </p> + <p> + The thought of love did not hinder my ambitions. I had a vague dream of + some day courting a pretty maiden, after I had made my reputation, and won + the eagle feathers. + </p> + <p> + One day, when I was away on the daily hunt, two strangers from the 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 battles following, and he was + taught in prison and converted by the pioneer missionaries, Drs. + Williamson 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. + </p> + <p> + When he was released, and returned to the new reservation upon the + Missouri river, he soon became convinced that life on a government + reservation meant physical and moral degradation. Therefore he determined, + with several others, to try the white man’s way of gaining a livelihood. + They accordingly 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 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. + </p> + <p> + As for me, I little dreamed of anything unusual 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 unknown to me hitherto. + </p> + <p> + 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 + excited. 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. + </p> + <p> + My face burned with the unusual excitement caused by the sight of a man + wearing the Big Knives’ clothing and coming toward me with my uncle. + </p> + <p> + “What does this mean, uncle?” + </p> + <p> + “My boy, this is your father, my brother, whom we mourned as dead. He has + come for you.” + </p> + <p> + 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.” + </p> + <p> + 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. + </p> + <p> + 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 + past. + </p> + <p> + Still, I was eager to see some of the wonderful inventions of the white + people. When we reached Fort Totten, I gazed about me with lively interest + and a quick imagination. + </p> + <p> + My father had forgotten to tell me that the fire-boat-walks-on-mountains + had its track at Jamestown, and might appear at any moment. As I was + watering the ponies, a peculiar shrilling noise pealed forth from just + beyond the hills. The ponies threw back their heads and listened; then + they ran snorting over the prairie. Meanwhile, I too had taken alarm. I + leaped on the back of one of the ponies, and dashed off at full speed. It + was a clear day; I could not imagine what had caused such an unearthly + noise. It seemed as if the world were about to burst in two! + </p> + <p> + I got upon a hill as the train appeared. “O!” I said to myself, “that is + the fire-boat-walkson-mountains that I have heard about!” Then I drove + back the ponies. + </p> + <p> + My father was accustomed every morning to read from his Bible, and sing a + stanza of a hymn. I was about very early with my gun for several mornings; + but at last he stopped me as I was preparing to go out, and bade me wait. + </p> + <p> + I listened with much astonishment. The hymn contained the word Jesus. I + did not comprehend what this meant; and my father then told me that Jesus + was the Son of God who came on earth to save sinners, and that it was + because of him that he had sought me. This conversation made a deep + impression upon my mind. + </p> + <p> + Late in the fall we reached the citizen settlement at Flandreau, South + Dakota, where my father and some others dwelt among the whites. Here my + wild life came to an end, and my school days began. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Boyhood, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. Eastman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN BOYHOOD *** + +***** This file should be named 337-h.htm or 337-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/337/ + +Produced by Judith Boss, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Eastman + +Release Date: July 5, 2008 [EBook #337] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK INDIAN BOYHOOD *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss + + + + + +INDIAN BOYHOOD + +By [Ohiyesa] Charles A. Eastman + + + + +Contents + + I + EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS + I: Hakadah, "The Pitiful Last" + II: Early Hardships + III: My Indian Grandmother + IV: In Indian Sugar Camp + V: A Midsummer Feast + + II + AN INDIAN BOY'S TRAINING + + III + MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES + I: Games and Sports + II: My Playmates + III: The Boy Hunter + + IV + HAKADAH'S FIRST OFFERING + + V + FAMILY TRADITIONS + I: A Visit to Smoky Day + II: The Stone Boy + + + VI + EVENING IN THE LODGE + I: Evening in the Lodge + II: Adventures of My Uncle + + VII + THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + + VIII + THE MAIDENS' FEAST + + IX + MORE LEGENDS + I: A Legend of Devil's Lake + II: Manitoshaw's Hunting + + X + INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE + I: Life in the Woods + II: A Winter Camp + III: Wild Harvests + IV: A Meeting on the Plains + V: An Adventurous Journey + + XI + THE LAUGHING PHILOSOPHER + + XII + FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + + + + + +I. EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS + + + + +I. Hadakah, "The Pitiful Last" + +WHAT boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the freest +life in the world? This life was mine. Every day there was a real hunt. +There was real game. Occasionally there was a medicine dance away off in +the woods where no one could disturb us, in which the boys impersonated +their elders, Brave Bull, Standing Elk, High Hawk, Medicine Bear, and +the rest. They painted and imitated their fathers and grandfathers to +the minutest detail, and accurately too, because they had seen the real +thing all their lives. + +We were not only good mimics but we were close students of nature. We +studied the habits of animals just as you study your books. We watched +the men of our people and represented them in our play; then learned to +emulate them in our lives. + +No people have a better use of their five senses than the children of +the wilderness. We could smell as well as hear and see. We could feel +and taste as well as we could see and hear. Nowhere has the memory been +more fully developed than in the wild life, and I can still see wherein +I owe much to my early training. + + +Of course I myself do not remember when I first saw the day, but my +brothers have often recalled the event with much mirth; for it was a +custom of the Sioux that when a boy was born his brother must plunge +into the water, or roll in the snow naked if it was winter time; and if +he was not big enough to do either of these himself, water was thrown +on him. If the new-born had a sister, she must be immersed. The idea +was that a warrior had come to camp, and the other children must display +some act of hardihood. + +I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest of five children who, soon +after I was born, were left motherless. I had to bear the humiliating +name "Hakadah," meaning "the pitiful last," until I should earn a more +dignified and appropriate name. I was regarded as little more than a +plaything by the rest of the children. + +My mother, who was known as the handsomest woman of all the Spirit Lake +and Leaf Dweller Sioux, was dangerously ill, and one of the medicine men +who attended her said: "Another medicine man has come into existence, +but the mother must die. Therefore let him bear the name 'Mysterious +Medicine.'" But one of the bystanders hastily interfered, saying that an +uncle of the child already bore that name, so, for the time, I was only +"Hakadah." + +My beautiful mother, sometimes called the "Demi-Goddess" of the Sioux, +who tradition says had every feature of a Caucasian descent with the +exception of her luxuriant black hair and deep black eyes, held me +tightly to her bosom upon her death-bed, while she whispered a few words +to her mother-in-law. She said: "I give you this boy for your own. I +cannot trust my own mother with him; she will neglect him and he will +surely die." + +The woman to whom these words were spoken was below the average in +stature, remarkably active for her age (she was then fully sixty), and +possessed of as much goodness as intelligence. My mother's judgment +concerning her own mother was well founded, for soon after her death +that old lady appeared, and declared that Hakadah was too young to live +without a mother. She offered to keep me until I died, and then she +would put me in my mother's grave. Of course my other grandmother +denounced the suggestion as a very wicked one, and refused to give me +up. + +The babe was done up as usual in a movable cradle made from an oak board +two and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide. On one side of +it was nailed with brass-headed tacks the richly-embroidered sack, which +was open in front and laced up and down with buckskin strings. Over +the arms of the infant was a wooden bow, the ends of which were firmly +attached to the board, so that if the cradle should fall the child's +head and face would be protected. On this bow were hung curious +playthings--strings of artistically carved bones and hoofs of deer, +which rattled when the little hands moved them. + +In this upright cradle I lived, played and slept the greater part of the +time during the first few months of my life. Whether I was made to lean +against a lodge pole or was suspended from a bough of a tree, while +my grandmother cut wood, or whether I was carried on her back, or +conveniently balanced by another child in a similar cradle hung on the +opposite side of a pony, I was still in my oaken bed. + +This grandmother, who had already lived through sixty years of +hardships, was a wonder to the young maidens of the tribe. She showed +no less enthusiasm over Hakadah than she had done when she held her +first-born, the boy's father, in her arms. Every little attention that +is due to a loved child she performed with much skill and devotion. She +made all my scanty garments and my tiny moccasins with a great deal of +taste. It was said by all that I could not have had more attention had +my mother been living. + +Uncheedah (grandmother) was a great singer. Sometimes, when Hakadah +wakened too early in the morning, she would sing to him something like +the following lullaby: + + + Sleep, sleep, my boy, the Chippewas + + Are far away--are far away. + + Sleep, sleep, my boy; prepare to meet + + The foe by day--the foe by day! + + The cowards will not dare to fight + + Till morning break--till morning break. + + Sleep, sleep, my child, while still 'tis night; + + Then bravely wake--then bravely wake! + + +The Dakota women were wont to cut and bring their fuel from the woods +and, in fact, to perform most of the drudgery of the camp. This of +necessity fell to their lot, because the men must follow the game +during the day. Very often my grandmother carried me with her on these +excursions; and while she worked it was her habit to suspend me from a +wild grape vine or a springy bough, so that the least breeze would swing +the cradle to and fro. + +She has told me that when I had grown old enough to take notice, I +was apparently capable of holding extended conversations in an unknown +dialect with birds and red squirrels. Once I fell asleep in my cradle, +suspended five or six feet from the ground, while Uncheedah was some +distance away, gathering birch bark for a canoe. A squirrel had found it +convenient to come upon the bow of my cradle and nibble his hickory nut, +until he awoke me by dropping the crumbs of his meal. My disapproval +of his intrusion was so decided that he had to take a sudden and quick +flight to another bough, and from there he began to pour out his wrath +upon me, while I continued my objections to his presence so audibly that +Uncheedah soon came to my rescue, and compelled the bold intruder to +go away. It was a common thing for birds to alight on my cradle in the +woods. + +My food was, at first, a troublesome question for my kind foster-mother. +She cooked some wild rice and strained it, and mixed it with broth made +from choice venison. She also pounded dried venison almost to a flour, +and kept it in water till the nourishing juices were extracted, then +mixed with it some pounded maize, which was browned before pounding. +This soup of wild rice, pounded venison and maize was my main-stay. But +soon my teeth came--much earlier than the white children usually cut +theirs; and then my good nurse gave me a little more varied food, and I +did all my own grinding. + +After I left my cradle, I almost walked away from it, she told me. She +then began calling my attention to natural objects. Whenever I heard +the song of a bird, she would tell me what bird it came from, something +after this fashion: + +"Hakadah, listen to Shechoka (the robin) calling his mate. He says he +has just found something good to eat." Or "Listen to Oopehanska (the +thrush); he is singing for his little wife. He will sing his best." When +in the evening the whippoorwill started his song with vim, no further +than a stone's throw from our tent in the woods, she would say to me: + +"Hush! It may be an Ojibway scout!" + +Again, when I waked at midnight, she would say: + +"Do not cry! Hinakaga (the owl) is watching you from the tree-top." + +I usually covered up my head, for I had perfect faith in my +grandmother's admonitions, and she had given me a dreadful idea of this +bird. It was one of her legends that a little boy was once standing just +outside of the teepee (tent), crying vigorously for his mother, when +Hinakaga swooped down in the darkness and carried the poor little +fellow up into the trees. It was well known that the hoot of the owl was +commonly imitated by Indian scouts when on the war-path. There had been +dreadful massacres immediately following this call. Therefore it was +deemed wise to impress the sound early upon the mind of the child. + +Indian children were trained so that they hardly ever cried much in the +night. This was very expedient and necessary in their exposed life. In +my infancy it was my grandmother's custom to put me to sleep, as she +said, with the birds, and to waken me with them, until it became a +habit. She did this with an object in view. An Indian must always +rise early. In the first place, as a hunter, he finds his game best at +daybreak. Secondly, other tribes, when on the war-path, usually make +their attack very early in the morning. Even when our people are moving +about leisurely, we like to rise before daybreak, in order to travel +when the air is cool, and unobserved, perchance, by our enemies. + +As a little child, it was instilled into me to be silent and reticent. +This was one of the most important traits to form in the character +of the Indian. As a hunter and warrior it was considered absolutely +necessary to him, and was thought to lay the foundations of patience and +self-control. There are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by +our people, but the rule is gravity and decorum. + +After all, my babyhood was full of interest and the beginnings of life's +realities. The spirit of daring was already whispered into my ears. The +value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior had caught my eye. +One day, when I was left alone, at scarcely two years of age, I took my +uncle's war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle feathers to decorate my +dog and myself. So soon the life that was about me had made its impress, +and already I desired intensely to comply with all of its demands. + + + + +II. Early Hardships + +ONE of the earliest recollections of my adventurous childhood is the +ride I had on a pony's side. I was passive in the whole matter. A little +girl cousin of mine was put in a bag and suspended from the horn of an +Indian saddle; but her weight must be balanced or the saddle would not +remain on the animal's back. Accordingly, I was put into another sack +and made to keep the saddle and the girl in position! I did not object +at all, for I had a very pleasant game of peek-aboo with the little +girl, until we came to a big snow-drift, where the poor beast was stuck +fast and began to lie down. Then it was not so nice! + +This was the convenient and primitive way in which some mothers packed +their children for winter journeys. However cold the weather might be, +the inmate of the fur-lined sack was usually very comfortable--at least +I used to think so. I believe I was accustomed to all the precarious +Indian conveyances, and, as a boy, I enjoyed the dog-travaux ride as +much as any. The travaux consisted of a set of rawhide strips securely +lashed to the tent-poles, which were harnessed to the sides of the +animal as if he stood between shafts, while the free ends were allowed +to drag on the ground. Both ponies and large dogs were used as beasts of +burden, and they carried in this way the smaller children as well as the +baggage. + +This mode of travelling for children was possible only in the summer, +and as the dogs were sometimes unreliable, the little ones were exposed +to a certain amount of danger. For instance, whenever a train of dogs +had been travelling for a long time, almost perishing with the heat and +their heavy loads, a glimpse of water would cause them to forget all +their responsibilities. Some of them, in spite of the screams of the +women, would swim with their burdens into the cooling stream, and I was +thus, on more than one occasion, made to partake of an unwilling bath. + +I was a little over four years old at the time of the "Sioux massacre" +in Minnesota. In the general turmoil, we took flight into British +Columbia, and the journey is still vividly remembered by all our family. +A yoke of oxen and a lumber-wagon were taken from some white farmer and +brought home for our conveyance. + +How delighted I was when I learned that we were to ride behind those +wise-looking animals and in that gorgeously painted wagon! It seemed +almost like a living creature to me, this new vehicle with four legs, +and the more so when we got out of axle-grease and the wheels went along +squealing like pigs! + +The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in jumping from the high +wagon while the oxen were leisurely moving along. My elder brothers soon +became experts. At last, I mustered up courage enough to join them in +this sport. I was sure they stepped on the wheel, so I cautiously +placed my moccasined foot upon it. Alas! before I could realize what had +happened, I was under the wheels, and had it not been for the neighbor +immediately behind us, I might have been run over by the next team as +well. + +This was my first experience with a civilized vehicle. I cried out +all possible reproaches on the white man's team and concluded that a +dog-travaux was good enough for me. I was really rejoiced that we were +moving away from the people who made the wagon that had almost ended my +life, and it did not occur to me that I alone was to blame. I could not +be persuaded to ride in that wagon again and was glad when we finally +left it beside the Missouri river. + +The summer after the "Minnesota massacre," General Sibley pursued our +people across this river. Now the Missouri is considered one of the most +treacherous rivers in the world. Even a good modern boat is not safe +upon its uncertain current. We were forced to cross in buffalo-skin +boats--as round as tubs! + +The Washechu (white men) were coming in great numbers with their big +guns, and while most of our men were fighting them to gain time, the +women and the old men made and equipped the temporary boats, braced with +ribs of willow. Some of these were towed by two or three women or men +swimming in the water and some by ponies. It was not an easy matter to +keep them right side up, with their helpless freight of little children +and such goods as we possessed. + +In our flight, we little folks were strapped in the saddles or held in +front of an older person, and in the long night marches to get away from +the soldiers, we suffered from loss of sleep and insufficient food. Our +meals were eaten hastily, and sometimes in the saddle. Water was not +always to be found. The people carried it with them in bags formed of +tripe or the dried pericardium of animals. + +Now we were compelled to trespass upon the country of hostile tribes +and were harassed by them almost daily and nightly. Only the strictest +vigilance saved us. + +One day we met with another enemy near the British lines. It was a +prairie fire. We were surrounded. Another fire was quickly made, which +saved our lives. + +One of the most thrilling experiences of the following winter was a +blizzard, which overtook us in our wanderings. Here and there, a family +lay down in the snow, selecting a place where it was not likely to drift +much. For a day and a night we lay under the snow. Uncle stuck a long +pole beside us to tell us when the storm was over. We had plenty of +buffalo robes and the snow kept us warm, but we found it heavy. After +a time, it became packed and hollowed out around our bodies, so that we +were as comfortable as one can be under those circumstances. + +The next day the storm ceased, and we discovered a large herd of +buffaloes almost upon us. We dug our way out, shot some of the +buffaloes, made a fire and enjoyed a good dinner. + +I was now an exile as well as motherless; yet I was not unhappy. Our +wanderings from place to place afforded us many pleasant experiences and +quite as many hardships and misfortunes. There were times of plenty +and times of scarcity, and we had several narrow escapes from death. In +savage life, the early spring is the most trying time and almost all the +famines occurred at this period of the year. + +The Indians are a patient and a clannish people; their love for one +another is stronger than that of any civilized people I know. If this +were not so, I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among +them. White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in +preference to starving; but Indians--never! + +In times of famine, the adults often denied themselves in order to make +the food last as long as possible for the children, who were not able to +bear hunger as well as the old. As a people, they can live without food +much longer than any other nation. + +I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing +to eat for several days. I well remember the six small birds which +constituted the breakfast for six families one morning; and then we had +no dinner or supper to follow! What a relief that was to me--although I +had only a small wing of a small bird for my share! Soon after this, we +came into a region where buffaloes were plenty, and hunger and scarcity +were forgotten. + +Such was the Indian's wild life! When game was to be had and the sun +shone, they easily forgot the bitter experiences of the winter before. +Little preparation was made for the future. They are children of Nature, +and occasionally she whips them with the lashes of experience, yet they +are forgetful and careless. Much of their suffering might have been +prevented by a little calculation. + +During the summer, when Nature is at her best, and provides abundantly +for the savage, it seems to me that no life is happier than his! Food is +free--lodging free--everything free! All were alike rich in the summer, +and, again, all were alike poor in the winter and early spring. However, +their diseases were fewer and not so destructive as now, and the +Indian's health was generally good. The Indian boy enjoyed such a life +as almost all boys dream of and would choose for themselves if they were +permitted to do so. + +The raids made upon our people by other tribes were frequent, and we had +to be constantly on the watch. I remember at one time a night attack was +made upon our camp and all our ponies stampeded. Only a few of them were +recovered, and our journeys after this misfortune were effected mostly +by means of the dog-travaux. + +The second winter after the massacre, my father and my two older +brothers, with several others, were betrayed by a half-breed at Winnipeg +to the United States authorities. As I was then living with my uncle in +another part of the country, I became separated from them for ten +years. During all this time we believed that they had been killed by the +whites, and I was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I +was able to go upon the war-path. + +I must say a word in regard to the character of this uncle, my father's +brother, who was my adviser and teacher for many years. He was a man +about six feet two inches in height, very erect and broad-shouldered. He +was known at that time as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors +among the Sioux in British America, where he still lives, for to this +day we have failed to persuade him to return to the United States. + +He is a typical Indian--not handsome, but truthful and brave. He had a +few simple principles from which he hardly ever departed. Some of these +I shall describe when I speak of my early training. + +It is wonderful that any children grew up through all the exposures +and hardships that we suffered in those days! The frail teepee pitched +anywhere, in the winter as well as in the summer, was all the protection +that we had against cold and storms. I can recall times when we were +snowed in and it was very difficult to get fuel. We were once three +days without much fire and all of this time it stormed violently. There +seemed to be no special anxiety on the part of our people; they rather +looked upon all this as a matter of course, knowing that the storm would +cease when the time came. + +I could once endure as much cold and hunger as any of them; but now if I +miss one meal or accidentally wet my feet, I feel it as much as if I +had never lived in the manner I have described, when it was a matter of +course to get myself soaking wet many a time. Even if there was plenty +to eat, it was thought better for us to practice fasting sometimes; and +hard exercise was kept up continually, both for the sake of health and +to prepare the body for the extraordinary exertions that it might, at +any moment, be required to undergo. In my own remembrance, my uncle used +often to bring home a deer on his shoulder. The distance was sometimes +considerable; yet he did not consider it any sort of a feat. + +The usual custom with us was to eat only two meals a day and these were +served at each end of the day. This rule was not invariable, however, +for if there should be any callers, it was Indian etiquette to offer +either tobacco or food, or both. The rule of two meals a day was more +closely observed by the men--especially the younger men--than by the +women and children. This was when the Indians recognized that a true +manhood, one of physical activity and endurance, depends upon dieting +and regular exercise. No such system is practised by the reservation +Indians of to-day. + + + + +III. My Indian Grandmother + +AS a motherless child, I always regarded my good grandmother as the +wisest of guides and the best of protectors. It was not long before I +began to realize her superiority to most of her contemporaries. This +idea was not gained entirely from my own observation, but also from a +knowledge of the high regard in which she was held by other women. +Aside from her native talent and ingenuity, she was endowed with a truly +wonderful memory. No other midwife in her day and tribe could compete +with her in skill and judgment. Her observations in practice were all +preserved in her mind for reference, as systematically as if they had +been written upon the pages of a note-book. + +I distinctly recall one occasion when she took me with her into the +woods in search of certain medicinal roots. + +"Why do you not use all kinds of roots for medicines?" said I. + +"Because," she replied, in her quick, characteristic manner, "the +Great Mystery does not will us to find things too easily. In that case +everybody would be a medicine-giver, and Ohiyesa must learn that there +are many secrets which the Great Mystery will disclose only to the most +worthy. Only those who seek him fasting and in solitude will receive his +signs." + +With this and many similar explanations she wrought in my soul wonderful +and lively conceptions of the "Great Mystery" and of the effects of +prayer and solitude. I continued my childish questioning. + +"But why did you not dig those plants that we saw in the woods, of the +same kind that you are digging now?" + +"For the same reason that we do not like the berries we find in the +shadow of deep woods as well as the ones which grow in sunny places. The +latter have more sweetness and flavor. Those herbs which have medicinal +virtues should be sought in a place that is neither too wet nor too +dry, and where they have a generous amount of sunshine to maintain their +vigor. + +"Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know the secrets of medicine; +then I will tell him all. But if you should grow up to be a bad man, I +must withhold these treasures from you and give them to your brother, +for a medicine man must be a good and wise man. I hope Ohiyesa will be +a great medicine man when he grows up. To be a great warrior is a noble +ambition; but to be a mighty medicine man is a nobler!" + +She said these things so thoughtfully and impressively that I cannot but +feel and remember them even to this day. + +Our native women gathered all the wild rice, roots, berries and fruits +which formed an important part of our food. This was distinctively +a woman's work. Uncheedah (grandmother) understood these matters +perfectly, and it became a kind of instinct with her to know just where +to look for each edible variety and at what season of the year. This +sort of labor gave the Indian women every opportunity to observe and +study Nature after their fashion; and in this Uncheedah was more acute +than most of the men. The abilities of her boys were not all inherited +from their father; indeed, the stronger family traits came obviously +from her. She was a leader among the native women, and they came to her, +not only for medical aid, but for advice in all their affairs. + +In bravery she equaled any of the men. This trait, together with her +ingenuity and alertness of mind, more than once saved her and her people +from destruction. Once, when we were roaming over a region occupied by +other tribes, and on a day when most of the men were out upon the hunt, +a party of hostile Indians suddenly appeared. Although there were a few +men left at home, they were taken by surprise at first and scarcely knew +what to do, when this woman came forward and advanced alone to meet our +foes. She had gone some distance when some of the men followed her. +She met the strangers and offered her hand to them. They accepted +her friendly greeting; and as a result of her brave act we were left +unmolested and at peace. + +Another story of her was related to me by my father. My grandfather, who +was a noted hunter, often wandered away from his band in search of game. +In this instance he had with him only his own family of three boys and +his wife. One evening, when he returned from the chase, he found to his +surprise that she had built a stockade around her teepee. + +She had discovered the danger-sign in a single foot-print, which she saw +at a glance was not that of her husband, and she was also convinced that +it was not the foot-print of a Sioux, from the shape of the moccasin. +This ability to recognize footprints is general among the Indians, but +more marked in certain individuals. + +This courageous woman had driven away a party of five Ojibway warriors. +They approached the lodge cautiously, but her dog gave timely warning, +and she poured into them from behind her defences the contents of a +double-barrelled gun, with such good effect that the astonished braves +thought it wise to retreat. + +I was not more than five or six years old when the Indian soldiers came +one day and destroyed our large buffalo-skin teepee. It was charged +that my uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes. This was +not exactly true. He had unfortunately frightened a large herd while +shooting a deer in the edge of the woods. However, it was customary to +punish such an act severely, even though the offense was accidental. + +When we were attacked by the police, I was playing in the teepee, and +the only other person at home was Uncheedah. I had not noticed their +approach, and when the war-cry was given by thirty or forty Indians with +strong lungs, I thought my little world was coming to an end. Instantly +innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our frail home, while +bullets went through the poles and tent-fastenings up above our heads. + +I hardly know what I did, but I imagine it was just what any other +little fellow would have done under like circumstances. My first clear +realization of the situation was when Uncheedah had a dispute with the +leader, claiming that the matter had not been properly investigated, +and that none of the policemen had attained to a reputation in war which +would justify them in touching her son's teepee. But alas! our poor +dwelling was already an unrecognizable ruin; even the poles were broken +into splinters. + +The Indian women, after reaching middle age, are usually heavy and lack +agility, but my grandmother was in this also an exception. She was fully +sixty when I was born; and when I was seven years old she swam across a +swift and wide stream, carrying me on her back, because she did not wish +to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of bull-hide +which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way, +especially in the springtime. Her strength and endurance were +remarkable. Even after she had attained the age of eighty-two, she one +day walked twenty-five miles without appearing much fatigued. + +I marvel now at the purity and elevated sentiment possessed by this +woman, when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time. +When her husband died she was still comparatively a young woman--still +active, clever and industrious. She was descended from a haughty +chieftain of the "Dwellers among the Leaves." Although women of her +age and position were held to be eligible to re-marriage, and she had +several persistent suitors who were men of her own age and chiefs, yet +she preferred to cherish in solitude the memory of her husband. + +I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young women. In +the fight in which they were captured, none of the Sioux war party had +been killed; therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly treated +by the Sioux women. They were apparently happy, although of course they +felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture, and they +did not fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at +our hands. + +As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their +final release, they appear to me quite remarkable. They lived in my +grandmother's family for two years, and were then returned to their +people at a great peace council of the two nations. When they were about +to leave my grandmother, the elder of the two sisters first embraced +her, and then spoke somewhat as follows: + +"You are a brave woman and a true mother. I understand now why your son +so bravely conquered our band, and took my sister and myself captive. +I hated him at first, but now I admire him, because he did just what my +father, my brother or my husband would have done had they opportunity. +He did even more. He saved us from the tomahawks of his fellow-warriors, +and brought us to his home to know a noble and a brave woman. + +"I shall never forget your many favors shown to us. But I must go. I +belong to my tribe and I shall return to them. I will endeavor to be a +true woman also, and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your +son." + +Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life, and she married +one of our young men. + +"I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways," she said, "to be as +brothers." + +There are many other instances of intermarriage with captive women. +The mother of the well-known Sioux chieftain, Wabashaw, was an Ojibway +woman. I once knew a woman who was said to be a white captive. She was +married to a noted warrior, and had a fine family of five boys. She was +well accustomed to the Indian ways, and as a child I should not have +suspected that she was white. The skins of these people became so +sunburned and full of paint that it required a keen eye to distinguish +them from the real Indians. + + + + +IV. An Indian Sugar Camp + +WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my +childhood days turned promptly to the annual sugarmaking. This industry +was chiefly followed by the old men and women and the children. The rest +of the tribe went out upon the spring fur-hunt at this season, leaving +us at home to make the sugar. + +The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge +iron and brass kettles for boiling. Everything else could be made, but +these must be bought, begged or borrowed. A maple tree was felled and +a log canoe hollowed out, into which the sap was to be gathered. Little +troughs of basswood and birchen basins were also made to receive the +sweet drops as they trickled from the tree. + +As soon as these labors were accomplished, we all proceeded to the bark +sugar house, which stood in the midst of a fine grove of maples on the +bank of the Minnesota river. We found this hut partially filled with the +snows of winter and the withered leaves of the preceding autumn, and it +must be cleared for our use. In the meantime a tent was pitched outside +for a few days' occupancy. The snow was still deep in the woods, with a +solid crust upon which we could easily walk; for we usually moved to the +sugar house before the sap had actually started, the better to complete +our preparations. + +My grandmother worked like a beaver in these days (or rather like +a muskrat, as the Indians say; for this industrious little animal +sometimes collects as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for +the winter, only to be robbed of his store by some of our people). If +there was prospect of a good sugaring season, she now made a second +and even a third canoe to contain the sap. These canoes were afterward +utilized by the hunters for their proper purpose. + +During our last sugar-making in Minnesota, before the "outbreak," my +grandmother was at work upon a canoe with her axe, while a young aunt +of mine stood by. We boys were congregated within the large, oval +sugar house, busily engaged in making arrows for the destruction of the +rabbits and chipmunks which we knew would come in numbers to drink the +sap. The birds also were beginning to return, and the cold storms of +March would drive them to our door. I was then too young to do much +except look on; but I fully entered into the spirit of the occasion, +and rejoiced to see the bigger boys industriously sharpen their arrows, +resting them against the ends of the long sticks which were burning +in the fire, and occasionally cutting a chip from the stick. In their +eagerness they paid little attention to this circumstance, although they +well knew that it was strictly forbidden to touch a knife to a burning +ember. + +Suddenly loud screams were heard from without and we all rushed out to +see what was the matter. It was a serious affair. My grandmother's axe +had slipped, and by an upward stroke nearly severed three of the fingers +of my aunt, who stood looking on, with her hands folded upon her waist. +As we ran out the old lady, who had already noticed and reproved our +carelessness in regard to the burning embers, pursued us with loud +reproaches and threats of a whipping. This will seem mysterious to my +readers, but is easily explained by the Indian superstition, which holds +that such an offense as we had committed is invariably punished by the +accidental cutting of some one of the family. + +My grandmother did not confine herself to canoe-making. She also +collected a good supply of fuel for the fires, for she would not have +much time to gather wood when the sap began to flow. Presently the +weather moderated and the snow began to melt. The month of April brought +showers which carried most of it off into the Minnesota river. Now the +women began to test the trees-moving leisurely among them, axe in hand, +and striking a single quick blow, to see if the sap would appear. The +trees, like people, have their individual characters; some were ready to +yield up their life-blood, while others were more reluctant. Now one of +the birchen basins was set under each tree, and a hardwood chip driven +deep into the cut which the axe had made. From the corners of this +chip--at first drop by drop, then more freely-the sap trickled into the +little dishes. + +It is usual to make sugar from maples, but several other trees were also +tapped by the Indians. From the birch and ash was made a dark-colored +sugar, with a somewhat bitter taste, which was used for medicinal +purposes. The box-elder yielded a beautiful white sugar, whose only +fault was that there was never enough of it! + +A long fire was now made in the sugar house, and a row of brass kettles +suspended over the blaze. The sap was collected by the women in tin or +birchen buckets and poured into the canoes, from which the kettles +were kept filled. The hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant +anticipations when they heard the welcome hissing sound of the boiling +sap! Each boy claimed one kettle for his especial charge. It was his +duty to see that the fire was kept up under it, to watch lest it boil +over, and finally, when the sap became sirup, to test it upon the snow, +dipping it out with a wooden paddle. So frequent were these tests that +for the first day or two we consumed nearly all that could be made; and +it was not until the sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set +herself in earnest to store up sugar for future use. She made it into +cakes of various forms, in birchen molds, and sometimes in hollow canes +or reeds, and the bills of ducks and geese. Some of it was pulverized +and packed in rawhide cases. Being a prudent woman, she did not give it +to us after the first month or so, except upon special occasions, and it +was thus made to last almost the year around. The smaller candies were +reserved as an occasional treat for the little fellows, and the sugar +was eaten at feasts with wild rice or parched corn, and also with +pounded dried meat. Coffee and tea, with their substitutes, were all +unknown to us in those days. + +Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties. My grandmother's special +tribulations, during the sugaring season, were the upsetting and gnawing +of holes in her birch-bark pans. The transgressors were the rabbit and +squirrel tribes, and we little boys for once became useful, in shooting +them with our bows and arrows. We hunted all over the sugar camp, +until the little creatures were fairly driven out of the neighborhood. +Occasionally one of my older brothers brought home a rabbit or two, and +then we had a feast. + +The sugaring season extended well into April, and the returning birds +made the precincts of our camp joyful with their songs. I often followed +my older brothers into the woods, although I was then but four or five +years old. Upon one of these excursions they went so far that I ventured +back alone. When within sight of our hut, I saw a chipmunk sitting upon +a log, and uttering the sound he makes when he calls to his mate. How +glorious it would be, I thought, if I could shoot him with my tiny bow +and arrows! Stealthily and cautiously I approached, keeping my eyes upon +the pretty little animal, and just as I was about to let fly my shaft, +I heard a hissing noise at my feet. There lay a horrid snake, coiled and +ready to spring! Forgetful that I was a warrior, I gave a loud scream +and started backward; but soon recollecting myself, looked down with +shame, although no one was near. However, I retreated to the inclined +trunk of a fallen tree, and there, as I have often been told, was +overheard soliloquizing in the following words: "I wonder if a snake can +climb a tree!" + +I remember on this occasion of our last sugar bush in Minnesota, that +I stood one day outside of our hut and watched the approach of a +visitor--a bent old man, his hair almost white, and carrying on his back +a large bundle of red willow, or kinnikinick, which the Indians use for +smoking. He threw down his load at the door and thus saluted us: "You +have indeed perfect weather for sugar-making." + +It was my great-grandfather, Cloud Man, whose original village was on +the shores of Lakes Calhoun and Harriet, now in the suburbs of the city +of Minneapolis. He was the first Sioux chief to welcome the Protestant +missionaries among his people, and a well-known character in those +pioneer days. He brought us word that some of the peaceful sugar-makers +near us on the river had been attacked and murdered by roving Ojibways. +This news disturbed us not a little, for we realized that we too might +become the victims of an Ojibway war party. Therefore we all felt some +uneasiness from this time until we returned heavy laden to our village. + + + + + +V. A Midsummer Feast + +IT was midsummer. Everything that the Santee Sioux had undertaken during +the year had been unusually successful. The spring fur-hunters had been +fortunate, and the heavy winter had proved productive of much +maple sugar. The women's patches of maize and potatoes were already +sufficiently advanced to use. The Wahpetonwan band of Sioux, the +"Dwellers among the Leaves," were fully awakened to the fact that it was +almost time for the midsummer festivities of the old, wild days. + +The invitations were bundles of tobacco, and acceptances were sent back +from the various bands--the "Light Lodges", "Dwellers back from the +River," and many others, in similar fashion. Blue Earth, chief of the +"Dwellers among the Leaves," was the host. + +There were to be many different kinds of athletic games; indeed, the +festival was something like a State fair, in that there were many side +shows and competitive events. For instance, supposing that (Miss) White +Rabbit should desire to give a "maidens' feast," she would employ a +crier to go among the different bands announcing the fact in a sing-song +manner: + +"Miss White Rabbit will receive her maiden friends to-day at noon, +inside of the circular encampment of the Kaposia band." + +Again, should (Mr.) Sleepy Eye wish to have his child's ears +pierced publicly, he would have to give away a great deal of savage +wealth--namely, otter, bear and beaver skins and ponies--or the child +would not be considered as belonging to a family in good standing. + +But the one all-important event of the occasion was the lacrosse game, +for which it had been customary to select those two bands which could +boast the greater number of fast runners. + +The Wahpetonwan village on the banks of the Minnesota river was alive +with the newly-arrived guests and the preparations for the coming event. +Meat of wild game had been put away with much care during the previous +fall in anticipation of this feast. There was wild rice and the choicest +of dried venison that had been kept all winter, as well as freshly dug +turnips, ripe berries and an abundance of fresh meat. + +Along the edge of the woods the teepees were pitched in groups or +semi-circles, each band distinct from the others. The teepee of Mankato +or Blue Earth was pitched in a conspicuous spot. Just over the entrance +was painted in red and yellow a picture of a pipe, and directly opposite +this the rising sun. The painting was symbolic of welcome and good will +to men under the bright sun. + +A meeting was held to appoint some "medicine man" to make the balls +that were to be used in the lacrosse contest; and presently the herald +announced that this honor had been conferred upon old Chankpee-yuhah, +or "Keeps the Club," while every other man of his profession was +disappointed. He was a powerful man physically, who had apparently won +the confidence of the people by his fine personal appearance and by +working upon superstitious minds. + +Towards evening he appeared in the circle, leading by the hand a boy +about four years old. Closely the little fellow observed every motion +of the man; nothing escaped his vigilant black eyes, which seemed +constantly to grow brighter and larger, while his exuberant glossy black +hair was plaited and wound around his head like that of a Celestial. He +wore a bit of swan's down in each ear, which formed a striking contrast +with the child's complexion. Further than this, the boy was painted +according to the fashion of the age. He held in his hands a miniature +bow and arrows. + +The medicine man drew himself up in an admirable attitude, and proceeded +to make his short speech: + +"Wahpetonwans, you boast that you run down the elk; you can outrun the +Ojibways. Before you all, I dedicate to you this red ball. Kaposias, you +claim that no one has a lighter foot than you; you declare that you can +endure running a whole day without water. To you I dedicate this black +ball. Either you or the Leaf-Dwellers will have to drop your eyes and +bow your head when the game is over. I wish to announce that if the +Wahpetonwans should win, this little warrior shall bear the name Ohiyesa +(winner) through life; but if the Light Lodges should win, let the name +be given to any child appointed by them." + +The ground selected for the great final game was on a narrow strip of +land between a lake and the river. It was about three quarters of a mile +long and a quarter of a mile in width. The spectators had already ranged +themselves all along the two sides, as well as at the two ends, which +were somewhat higher than the middle. The soldiers appointed to keep +order furnished much of the entertainment of the day. They painted +artistically and tastefully, according to the Indian fashion, not only +their bodies but also their ponies and clubs. They were so strict in +enforcing the laws that no one could venture with safety within a few +feet of the limits of the field. + +Now all of the minor events and feasts, occupying several days' time, +had been observed. Heralds on ponies' backs announced that all who +intended to participate in the final game were requested to repair to +the ground; also that if any one bore a grudge against another, he was +implored to forget his ill-feeling until the contest should be over. + +The most powerful men were stationed at the half-way ground, while +the fast runners were assigned to the back. It was an impressive +spectacle--a fine collection of agile forms, almost stripped of garments +and painted in wild imitation of the rainbow and sunset sky on human +canvas. Some had undertaken to depict the Milky Way across their tawny +bodies, and one or two made a bold attempt to reproduce the lightning. +Others contented themselves with painting the figure of some fleet +animal or swift bird on their muscular chests. + +The coiffure of the Sioux lacrosse player has often been unconsciously +imitated by the fashionable hair-dressers of modern times. Some banged +and singed their hair; others did a little more by adding powder. The +Grecian knot was located on the wrong side of the head, being tied +tightly over the forehead. A great many simply brushed back their long +locks and tied them with a strip of otter skin. + +At the middle of the ground were stationed four immense men, +magnificently formed. A fifth approached this group, paused a moment, +and then threw his head back, gazed up into the sky in the manner of a +cock and gave a smooth, clear operatic tone. Instantly the little black +ball went up between the two middle rushers, in the midst of yells, +cheers and war-whoops. Both men endeavored to catch it in the air; +but alas! each interfered with the other; then the guards on each side +rushed upon them. For a time, a hundred lacrosse sticks vied with each +other, and the wriggling human flesh and paint were all one could see +through the cloud of dust. Suddenly there shot swiftly through the +air toward the south, toward the Kaposias' goal, the ball. There was +a general cheer from their adherents, which echoed back from the white +cliff on the opposite side of the Minnesota. + +As the ball flew through the air, two adversaries were ready to receive +it. The Kaposia quickly met the ball, but failed to catch it in his +netted bag, for the other had swung his up like a flash. Thus it struck +the ground, but had no opportunity to bound up when a Wahpeton pounced +upon it like a cat and slipped out of the grasp of his opponents. A +mighty cheer thundered through the air. + +The warrior who had undertaken to pilot the little sphere was risking +much, for he must dodge a host of Kaposias before he could gain any +ground. He was alert and agile; now springing like a panther, now +leaping like a deer over a stooping opponent who tried to seize him +around the waist. Every opposing player was upon his heels, while those +of his own side did all in their power to clear the way for him. But it +was all in vain. He only gained fifty paces. + +Thus the game went. First one side, then the other would gain an +advantage, and then it was lost, until the herald proclaimed that it was +time to change the ball. No victory was in sight for either side. + +After a few minutes' rest, the game was resumed. The red ball was now +tossed in the air in the usual way. No sooner had it descended than +one of the rushers caught it and away it went northward; again it was +fortunate, for it was advanced by one of the same side. The scene was +now one of the wildest excitement and confusion. At last, the northward +flight of the ball was checked for a moment and a desperate struggle +ensued. Cheers and war-whoops became general, such as were never equaled +in any concourse of savages, and possibly nowhere except at a college +game of football. + +The ball had not been allowed to come to the surface since it reached +this point, for there were more than a hundred men who scrambled for +it. Suddenly a warrior shot out of the throng like the ball itself! +Then some of the players shouted: "Look out for Antelope! Look out for +Antelope!" But it was too late. The little sphere had already nestled +into Antelope's palm and that fleetest of Wahpetons had thrown down his +lacrosse stick and set a determined eye upon the northern goal. + +Such a speed! He had cleared almost all the opponents' guards--there +were but two more. These were exceptional runners of the Kaposias. As +he approached them in his almost irresistible speed, every savage heart +thumped louder in the Indian's dusky bosom. In another moment there +would be a defeat for the Kaposias or a prolongation of the game. The +two men, with a determined look approached their foe like two panthers +prepared to spring; yet he neither slackened his speed nor deviated from +his course. A crash--a mighty shout!--the two Kaposias collided, and the +swift Antelope had won the laurels! + +The turmoil and commotion at the victors' camp were indescribable. A +few beats of a drum were heard, after which the criers hurried along the +lines, announcing the last act to be performed at the camp of the "Leaf +Dwellers." + +The day had been a perfect one. Every event had been a success; and, as +a matter of course, the old people were happy, for they largely profited +by these occasions. Within the circle formed by the general assembly sat +in a group the members of the common council. Blue Earth arose, and in a +few appropriate and courteous remarks assured his guests that it was +not selfishness that led his braves to carry off the honors of the last +event, but that this was a friendly contest in which each band must +assert its prowess. In memory of this victory, the boy would now receive +his name. A loud "Ho-o-o" of approbation reverberated from the edge of +the forest upon the Minnesota's bank. + +Half frightened, the little fellow was now brought into the circle, +looking very much as if he were about to be executed. Cheer after cheer +went up for the awe-stricken boy. Chankpee-yuhah, the medicine man, +proceeded to confer the name. + +"Ohiyesa (or Winner) shall be thy name henceforth. Be brave, be patient +and thou shalt always win! Thy name is Ohivesa." + + + + +II. AN INDIAN BOY'S TRAINING + +IT is commonly supposed that there is no systematic education of their +children among the aborigines of this country. Nothing could be farther +from the truth. All the customs of this primitive people were held to +be divinely instituted, and those in connection with the training +of children were scrupulously adhered to and transmitted from one +generation to another. + +The expectant parents conjointly bent all their efforts to the task +of giving the new-comer the best they could gather from a long line +of ancestors. A pregnant Indian woman would often choose one of the +greatest characters of her family and tribe as a model for her child. +This hero was daily called to mind. She would gather from tradition all +of his noted deeds and daring exploits, rehearsing them to herself when +alone. In order that the impression might be more distinct, she avoided +company. She isolated herself as much as possible, and wandered in +solitude, not thoughtlessly, but with an eye to the impress given by +grand and beautiful scenery. + +The Indians believed, also, that certain kinds of animals would confer +peculiar gifts upon the unborn, while others would leave so strong an +adverse impression that the child might become a monstrosity. A case +of hare-lip was commonly attributed to the rabbit. It was said that a +rabbit had charmed the mother and given to the babe its own features. +Even the meat of certain animals was denied the pregnant woman, because +it was supposed to influence the disposition or features of the child. + +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. + +In hunting songs, the leading animals are introduced; 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 maidens were represented by the +mink and the doe. + +Very early, the Indian boy assumed the task of preserving and +transmitting the legends of his ancestors 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 grandparents, 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 +mastered. The household became his audience, by which he was alternately +criticized and applauded. + +This sort of teaching at once enlightens the boy's mind and stimulates +his ambition. His conception 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 characteristic 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, he would say: "Hakadah, look closely to everything you see"; +and at evening, on my return, he used often to catechize me for an hour +or so. + +"On which side of the trees is the lighter-colored 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 nest--in +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 warmly +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 inlet 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 +observant 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 second 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 buffaloes--a rash act for the bears, +for it was in the moon of strawberries, when the buffaloes sharpen and +polish their horns for bloody contests among themselves. + +"I advise you, my boy, never to approach a grizzly's den from the front, +but to steal up behind 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. Remember 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-cat--that is, if +the creature shows signs of attacking you--you must make him fully +understand 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 unless he is cornered and already +wounded, These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the common weapon +of the larger animals--the horns, and if these are very long and sharp, +they dare not risk an open fight. + +"There is one exception to this rule--the 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 helpless; but they are +always careful about attacking man." + +Of this nature were the instructions of my uncle, who was widely 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 merciful 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, 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 courage. +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 Indians lurking in that very neighborhood. + +Yet I never objected, for that would show cowardice. 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 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 endeavor 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. Indian etiquette was very strict, and among the requirements +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 heart--be +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. + + + + +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 war--each +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 observed 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 customs 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 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 explain 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 followed. 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 latter, with only his head above water, glided +sportively along. Finally the animals were driven into a fine field of +grass and we turned our attention to other games. + +Lacrosse was an older game and was confined entirely 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 willow +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 became warm; but anything to arouse the bravery of Indian boys +seemed to them a good and wholesome diversion. + +Wrestling was largely indulged in by us all. It may seem odd,, but +wrestling was done by a great many boys at once--from 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 remained 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 +pastime--fully 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 cautiously upon the nest; then, +with a rush and warwhoop, 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 onslaught upon the nest +was ended, we usually followed 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 battle 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 +direction. However, he evidently did not want to retreat without any +honors; so he bravely jumped upon the nest and yelled: + +"I, the brave Little Wound, to-day kill the only fierce enemy!" + +Scarcely were the last words uttered when he screamed as if stabbed to +the heart. One of his older companions shouted: + +"Dive into the water! Run! Dive into the water!" for there was a lake +near by. This advice he obeyed. + +When we had reassembled and were indulging in our mimic dance, +Little Wound was not allowed to dance. He was considered not to be in +existence--he had been killed by our enemies, the Bee tribe. Poor little +fellow! His swollen face was sad and ashamed as he sat on a fallen log +and watched the dance. Although he might well have styled himself one of +the noble dead who had died for their country, yet he was not unmindful +that he had screamed, and this weakness would be apt to recur to him +many times in the future. + +We had some quiet plays which we alternated with the more severe and +warlike ones. Among them were throwing wands and snow-arrows. In the +winter we coasted much. We had no "double-rippers" or toboggans, but six +or seven of the long ribs of a buffalo, fastened together at the larger +end, answered all practical purposes. Sometimes a strip of bass-wood +bark, four feet long and about six inches wide, was used with +considerable skill. We stood on one end and held the other, using the +slippery inside of the bark for the outside, and thus coasting down long +hills with remarkable speed. + +The spinning of tops was one of the all-absorbing winter sports. We made +our tops heartshaped of wood, horn or bone. We whipped them with a +long thong of buckskin. The handle was a stick about a foot long and +sometimes we whittled the stick to make it spoon-shaped at one end. + +We played games with these tops--two to fifty boys at one time. Each +whips his top until it hums; then one takes the lead and the rest follow +in a sort of obstacle race. The top must spin all the way through. There +were bars of snow over which we must pilot our top in the spoon end of +our whip; then again we would toss it in the air on to another open spot +of ice or smooth snowcrust from twenty to fifty paces away. The top that +holds out the longest is the winner. + +Sometimes we played "medicine dance." This, to us, was almost what +"playing church" is among white children, but our people seemed to think +it an act of irreverence to imitate these dances, therefore performances +of this kind were always enjoyed in secret. We used to observe all the +important ceremonies and it required something of an actor to reproduce +the dramatic features of the dance. The real dances occupied a day and +a night, and the program was long and varied, so that it was not easy +to execute all the details perfectly; but the Indian children are born +imitators. + +The boys built an arbor of pine boughs in some out-of-the-way place +and at one end of it was a rude lodge. This was the medicine lodge +or headquarters. All the initiates were there. At the further end or +entrance were the door-keepers or soldiers, as we called them. The +members of each lodge entered in a body, standing in single file and +facing the headquarters. Each stretched out his right hand and a prayer +was offered by the leader, after which they took the places assigned to +them. + +When the preliminaries had been completed, our leader sounded the big +drum and we all said "A-ho-ho-ho!" as a sort of amen. Then the choir +began their song and whenever they ended a verse, we all said again +"A-ho-ho-ho!" At last they struck up the chorus and we all got upon +our feet and began to dance, by simply lifting up one foot and then the +other, with a slight swing to the body. + +Each boy was representing or imitating some one of the medicine men. +We painted and decorated ourselves just as they did and carried bird or +squirrel skins, or occasionally live birds and chipmunks as our medicine +bags and small white shells or pebbles for medicine charms. + +Then the persons to be initiated were brought in and seated, with much +ceremony, upon a blanket or buffalo robe. Directly in front of them +the ground was levelled smooth and here we laid an old pipe filled with +dried leaves for tobacco. Around it we placed the variously colored +feathers of the birds we had killed, and cedar and sweetgrass we burned +for incense. + +Finally those of us who had been selected to perform this ceremony +stretched out our arms at full length, holding the sacred medicine bags +and aiming them at the new members. After swinging them four times, we +shot them suddenly forward, but did not let go. The novices then fell +forward on their faces as if dead. Quickly a chorus was struck up and +we all joined in a lively dance around the supposed bodies. The girls +covered them up with their blankets, thus burying the dead. At last we +resurrected them with our charms and led them to their places among the +audience. Then came the last general dance and the final feast. + +I was often selected as choir-master on these occasions, for I had +happened to learn many of the medicine songs and was quite an apt mimic. +My grandmother, who was a noted medicine woman of the Turtle lodge, on +hearing of these sacrilegious acts (as she called them) warned me that +if any of the medicine men should discover them, they would punish me +terribly by shriveling my limbs with slow disease. + +Occasionally, we also played "white man." Our knowledge of the pale-face +was limited, but we had learned that he brought goods whenever he came +and that our people exchanged furs for his merchandise. We also knew +that his complexion was pale, that he had short hair on his head and +long hair on his face and that he wore coat, trousers, and hat, and +did not patronize blankets in the daytime. This was the picture we had +formed of the white man. + +So we painted two or three of our number with white clay and put on them +birchen hats which we sewed up for the occasion; fastened a piece of +fur to their chins for a beard and altered their costumes as much as +lay within our power. The white of the birch-bark was made to answer for +their white shirts. Their merchandise consisted of sand for sugar, wild +beans for coffee, dried leaves for tea, pulverized earth for gun-powder, +pebbles for bullets and clear water for the dangerous "spirit water." We +traded for these goods with skins of squirrels, rabbits and small birds. + +When we played "hunting buffalo" we would send a few good runners off on +the open prairie with a supply of meat; then start a few equally swift +boys to chase them and capture the food. Once we were engaged in this +sport when a real hunt by the men was in progress; yet we did not +realize that it was so near until, in the midst of our play, we saw +an immense buffalo coming at full speed directly toward us. Our mimic +buffalo hunt turned into a very real buffalo scare. Fortunately, we were +near the edge of the woods and we soon disappeared among the leaves +like a covey of young prairie-chickens and some hid in the bushes while +others took refuge in tall trees. + +We loved to play in the water. When we had no ponies, we often had +swimming matches of our own and sometimes made rafts with which we +crossed lakes and rivers. It was a common thing to "duck" a young or +timid boy or to carry him into deep water to struggle as best he might. + +I remember a perilous ride with a companion on an unmanageable log, when +we were both less than seven years old. The older boys had put us on +this uncertain bark and pushed us out into the swift current of the +river. I cannot speak for my comrade in distress, but I can say now that +I would rather ride on a swift bronco any day than try to stay on and +steady a short log in a river. I never knew how we managed to prevent a +shipwreck on that voyage and to reach the shore. + +We had many curious wild pets. There were young foxes, bears, wolves, +raccoons, fawns, buffalo calves and birds of all kinds, tamed by various +boys. My pets were different at different times, but I particularly +remember one. I once had a grizzly bear for a pet and so far as he and I +were concerned, our relations were charming and very close. But I hardly +know whether he made more enemies for me or I for him. It was his habit +to treat every boy unmercifully who injured me. He was despised for his +conduct in my interest and I was hated on account of his interference. + + + + +II. My Playmates + +CHATANNA was the brother with whom I passed much of my early childhood. +From the time that I was old enough to play with boys, this brother was +my close companion. He was a handsome boy, and an affectionate comrade. +We played together, slept together and ate together; and as Chatanna was +three years the older, I naturally looked up to him as to a superior. + +Oesedah was a beautiful little character. She was my cousin, and four +years younger than myself. Perhaps none of my early playmates are more +vividly remembered than is this little maiden. + +The name given her by a noted medicine-man was Makah-oesetopah-win. +It means The-four-corners-of-the-earth. As she was rather small, +the abbreviation with a diminutive termination was considered more +appropriate, hence Oesedah became her common name. + +Although she had a very good mother, Uncheedah was her efficient teacher +and chaperon Such knowledge as my grandmother deemed suitable to a +maiden was duly impressed upon her susceptible mind. When I was not in +the woods with Chatanna, Oesedah was my companion at home; and when I +returned from my play at evening, she would have a hundred questions +ready for me to answer. Some of these were questions concerning our +every-day life, and others were more difficult problems which had +suddenly dawned upon her active little mind. Whatever had occurred to +interest her during the day was immediately repeated for my benefit. + +There were certain questions upon which Oesedah held me to be authority, +and asked with the hope of increasing her little store of knowledge. I +have often heard her declare to her girl companions: "I know it is true; +Ohiyesa said so!" Uncheedah was partly responsible for this, for when +any questions came up which lay within the sphere of man's observation, +she would say: + +"Ohiyesa ought to know that: he is a man-I am not! You had better ask +him." + +The truth was that she had herself explained to me many of the subjects +under discussion. + +I was occasionally referred to little Oesedah in the same manner, and I +always accepted her childish elucidations of any matter upon which I had +been advised to consult her, because I knew the source of her wisdom. In +this simple way we were made to be teachers of one another. + +Very often we discussed some topic before our common instructor, or +answered her questions together, in order to show which had the readier +mind. + +"To what tribe does the lizard belong?" inquired Uncheedah, upon one of +these occasions. + +"To the four-legged tribe," I shouted. + +Oesedah, with her usual quickness, flashed out the answer: + +"It belongs to the creeping tribe." + +The Indians divided all animals into four general classes: 1st, those +that walk upon four legs; 2nd, those that fly; 3rd, those that swim with +fins; 4th, those that creep. + +Of course I endeavored to support my assertion that the lizard belongs +where I had placed it, be-. cause he has four distinct legs which propel +him everywhere, on the ground or in the water. But my opponent claimed +that the creature under dispute does not walk, but creeps. My strongest +argument was that it had legs; but Oesedah insisted that its body +touches the ground as it moves. As a last resort, I volunteered to go +find one, and demonstrate the point in question. + +The lizard having been brought, we smoothed off the ground and strewed +ashes on it so that we could see the track. Then I raised the question: +"What constitutes creeping, and what constitutes walking?" + +Uncheedah was the judge, and she stated, without any hesitation, that +an animal must stand clear of the ground on the support of its legs, and +walk with the body above the legs, and not in contact with the ground, +in order to be termed a walker; while a creeper is one that, regardless +of its legs, if it has them, drags its body upon the ground. Upon +hearing the judge's decision, I yielded at once to my opponent. + +At another time, when I was engaged in a similar discussion with my +brother Chatanna, Oesedah came to my rescue. Our grandmother had asked +us: + +"What bird shows most judgment in caring for its young?" + +Chatanna at once exclaimed: + +"The eagle!" but I held my peace for a moment, because I was +confused--so many birds came into my mind at once. I finally declared: + +"It is the oriole!" + +Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that he had in support of +the eagle's good sense in rearing its young. He proceeded with an air of +confidence: + +"The eagle is the wisest of all birds. Its nest is made in the safest +possible place, upon a high and inaccessible cliff. It provides its +young with an abundance of fresh meat. They have the freshest of air. +They are brought up under the spell of the grandest scenes, and inspired +with lofty feelings and bravery. They see that all other beings live +beneath them, and that they are the children of the King of Birds. A +young eagle shows the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest. + +"Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather the young eaglets are +hardy. They are accustomed to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird +and the sighings of the Great Mystery. Why, the little eagles cannot +help being as noble as they are, because their parents selected for them +so lofty and inspiring a home! How happy they must be when they find +themselves above the clouds, and behold the zigzag flashes of lightning +all about them! It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh meat up in +their cool home, in the burning summer-time! Then when they drop down +the bones of the game they feed upon, wolves and vultures gather beneath +them, feeding upon their refuse. That alone would show them their +chieftainship over all the other birds. Isn't that so, grandmother?" +Thus triumphantly he concluded his argument. + +I was staggered at first by the noble speech of Chatannna, but I soon +recovered from its effects. The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying: +"Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the beautiful Oriole's +home!" This timely remark gave me courage and I began: + +"My grandmother, who was it said that a mother who has a gentle and +sweet voice will have children of a good disposition? I think the oriole +is that kind of a parent. It provides both sunshine and shadow for +its young. Its nest is suspended from the prettiest bough of the most +graceful tree, where it is rocked by the gentle winds; and the one we +found yesterday was beautifully lined with soft things, both deep and +warm, so that the little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the cold +and wet." + +Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim: "That is just like the white +people--who cares for them? The eagle teaches its young to be accustomed +to hardships, like young warriors!" + +Ohiyesa was provoked; he reproached his brother and appealed to the +judge, saying that he had not finished yet. + +"But you would not have lived, Chatanna, if you had been exposed like +that when you were a baby! The oriole shows wisdom in providing for its +children a good, comfortable home! A home upon a high rock would not be +pleasant-it would be cold! We climbed a mountain once, and it was cold +there; and who would care to stay in such a place when it storms? What +wisdom is there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare rock, +surrounded with ill-smelling bones of animals, for a home? Also, +my uncle says that the eaglets seem always to be on the point of +starvation. You have heard that whoever lives on game killed by some one +else is compared to an eagle. Isn't that so, grandmother? + +"The oriole suspends its nest from the lower side of a horizontal +bough so that no enemy can approach it. It enjoys peace and beauty and +safety." + +Oesedah was at Ohiyesa's side during the discussion, and occasionally +whispered into his ear. Uncheedah decided this time in favor of Ohiyesa. + +We were once very short of provisions in the winter time. My uncle, our +only means of support, was sick; and besides, we were separated from +the rest of the tribe and in a region where there was little game of any +kind. Oesedah had a pet squirrel, and as soon as we began to economize +our food had given portions of her allowance to her pet. + +At last we were reduced very much, and the prospect of obtaining +anything soon being gloomy, my grandmother reluctantly suggested that +the squirrel should be killed for food. Thereupon my little cousin +cried, and said: + +"Why cannot we all die alike wanting? The squirrel's life is as dear to +him as ours to us," and clung to it. Fortunately, relief came in time to +save her pet. + +Oesedah lived with us for a portion of the year, and as there were no +other girls in the family she played much alone, and had many imaginary +companions. At one time there was a small willow tree which she visited +regularly, holding long conversations, a part of which she would +afterward repeat to me. She said the willow tree was her husband, whom +some magic had compelled to take that form; but no grown person was ever +allowed to share her secret. + +When I was about eight years old I had for a playmate the adopted son of +a Sioux, who was a white captive. This boy was quite a noted personage, +although he was then only about ten or eleven years of age. When I +first became acquainted with him we were on the upper Missouri river. I +learned from him that he had been taken on the plains, and that both of +his parents were killed. + +He was at first sad and lonely, but soon found plenty of +consolation in his new home. The name of his adopted father was +"Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies." He was known to have an unusual number of the +pretty calico ponies; indeed, he had a passion for accumulating property +in the shape of ponies, painted tents, decorated saddles and all sorts +of finery. He had lost his only son; but the little pale-face became the +adopted brother of two handsome young women, his daughters. This made +him quite popular among the young warriors. He was not slow to adopt the +Indian customs, and he acquired the Sioux language in a short time. + +I well remember hearing of his first experience of war. He was not more +than sixteen when he joined a war-party against the Gros-Ventres and +Mandans. My uncle reported that he was very brave until he was wounded +in the ankle; then he begged with tears to be taken back to a safe +place. Fortunately for him, his adopted father came to the rescue, and +saved him at the risk of his own life. He was called the "pale-face +Indian." His hair grew very long and he lavished paint on his face and +hair so that no one might suspect that he was a white man. + +One day this boy was playing a gambling game with one of the Sioux +warriors. He was an expert gambler, and won everything from the Indian. +At a certain point a dispute arose. The Indian was very angry, for +he discovered that his fellow-player had deliberately cheated him. The +Indians were strictly honest in those days, even in their gambling. + +The boy declared that he had merely performed a trick for the benefit of +his friend, but it nearly cost him his life. The indignant warrior had +already drawn his bow-string with the intention of shooting the captive, +but a third person intervened and saved the boy's life. He at once +explained his trick; and in order to show himself an honorable gambler, +gave back all the articles that he had won from his opponent. In the +midst of the confusion, old "Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies" came rushing +through the crowd in a state of great excitement. He thought his +pale-face son had been killed. When he saw how matters stood, he gave +the aggrieved warrior a pony, "in order," as he said, "that there may be +no shadow between him and my son." + +One spring my uncle took Chatanna to the Canadian trading-post on the +Assiniboine river, where he went to trade off his furs for ammunition +and other commodities. When he came back, my brother was not with him! + +At first my fears were even worse than the reality. The facts were +these: A Canadian with whom my uncle had traded much had six daughters +and no son; and when he saw this handsome and intelligent little fellow, +he at once offered to adopt him. + +"I have no boy in my family," said he, "and I will deal with him as with +a son. I am always in these regions trading; so you can see him two or +three times in a year." + +He further assured my uncle that the possession of the boy would greatly +strengthen their friendship. The matter was finally agreed upon. At +first Chatanna was unwilling, but as we were taught to follow the advice +of our parents and guardians, he was obliged to yield. + +This was a severe blow to me, and for a long time I could not be +consoled. Uncheedah was fully in sympathy with my distress. She argued +that the white man's education was not desirable for her boys; in fact, +she urged her son so strongly to go back after Chatanna that he promised +on his next visit to the post to bring him home again. + +But the trader was a shrewd man. He immediately moved to another part of +the country; and I never saw my Chatanna, the companion of my childhood, +again! We learned afterward that he grew up and was married; but one day +he lost his way in a blizzard and was frozen to death. + +My little cousin and I went to school together in later years; but she +could not endure the confinement of the school-room. Although apparently +very happy, she suffered greatly from the change to an indoor life, as +have many of our people, and died six months after our return to the +United States. + + + + +III: The Boy Hunter + +IT will be no exaggeration to say that the life of the Indian hunter was +a life of fascination. From the moment that he lost sight of his rude +home in the midst of the forest, his untutored mind lost itself in the +myriad beauties and forces of nature. Yet he never forgot his personal +danger from some lurking foe or savage beast, however absorbing was his +passion for the chase. + +The Indian youth was a born hunter. Every motion, every step expressed +an inborn dignity and, at the same time, a depth of native caution. +His moccasined foot fell like the velvet paw of a cat--noiselessly; his +glittering black eyes scanned every object that appeared within their +view. Not a bird, not even a chipmunk, escaped their piercing glance. + +I was scarcely over three years old when I stood one morning just +outside our buffalo-skin teepee, with my little bow and arrows in my +hand, and gazed up among the trees. Suddenly the instinct to chase and +kill seized me powerfully. Just then a bird flew over my head and then +another caught my eye, as it balanced itself upon a swaying bough. +Everything else was forgotten and in that moment I had taken my first +step as a hunter. + +There was almost as much difference between the Indian boys who were +brought up on the open prairies and those of the woods, as between city +and country boys. The hunting of the prairie boys was limited and their +knowledge of natural history imperfect. They were, as a rule, good +riders, but in all-round physical development much inferior to the red +men of the forest. + +Our hunting varied with the season of the year, and the nature of the +country which was for the time our home. Our chief weapon was the bow +and arrows, and perhaps, if we were lucky, a knife was possessed by some +one in the crowd. In the olden times, knives and hatchets were made from +bone and sharp stones. + +For fire we used a flint with a spongy piece of dry wood and a stone to +strike with. Another way of starting fire was for several of the boys +to sit down in a circle and rub two pieces of dry, spongy wood together, +one after another, until the wood took fire. + +We hunted in company a great deal, though it was a common thing for a +boy to set out for the woods quite alone, and he usually enjoyed himself +fully as much. Our game consisted mainly of small birds, rabbits, +squirrels and grouse. Fishing, too, occupied much of our time. We hardly +ever passed a creek or a pond without searching for some signs of fish. +When fish were present, we always managed to get some. Fish-lines were +made of wild hemp, sinew or horse-hair. We either caught fish with +lines, snared or speared them, or shot them with bow and arrows. In the +fall we charmed them up to the surface by gently tickling them with a +stick and quickly threw them out. We have sometimes dammed the brooks +and driven the larger fish into a willow basket made for that purpose. + +It was part of our hunting to find new and strange things in the woods. +We examined the slightest sign of life; and if a bird had scratched the +leaves off the ground, or a bear dragged up a root for his morning meal, +we stopped to speculate on the time it was done. If we saw a large old +tree with some scratches on its bark, we concluded that a bear or some +raccoons must be living there. In that case we did not go any nearer +than was necessary, but later reported the incident at home. An old +deer-track would at once bring on a warm discussion as to whether it was +the track of a buck or a doe. Generally, at noon, we met and compared +our game, noting at the same time the peculiar characteristics of +everything we had killed. It was not merely a hunt, for we combined with +it the study of animal life. We also kept strict account of our game, +and thus learned who were the best shots among the boys. + +I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward the birds. We often took +their eggs and their young ones. My brother Chatanna and I once had a +disagreeable adventure while bird-hunting. We were accustomed to catch +in our hands young ducks and geese during the summer, and while doing +this we happened to find a crane's nest. Of course, we were delighted +with our good luck. But, as it was already midsummer, the young +cranes--two in number--were rather large and they were a little way +from the nest; we also observed that the two old cranes were in a swampy +place near by; but, as it was moulting-time, we did not suppose that +they would venture on dry land. So we proceeded to chase the young +birds; but they were fleet runners and it took us some time to come up +with them. + +Meanwhile, the parent birds had heard the cries of their little ones and +come to their rescue. They were chasing us, while we followed the birds. +It was really a perilous encounter! Our strong bows finally gained the +victory in a hand-to-hand struggle with the angry cranes; but after +that we hardly ever hunted a crane's nest. Almost all birds make some +resistance when their eggs or young are taken, but they will seldom +attack man fearlessly. + +We used to climb large trees for birds of all kinds; but we never +undertook to get young owls unless they were on the ground. The hooting +owl especially is a dangerous bird to attack under these circumstances. +I was once trying to catch a yellow-winged woodpecker in its nest when +my arm became twisted and lodged in the deep hole so that I could not +get it out without the aid of a knife; but we were a long way from home +and my only companion was a deaf mute cousin of mine. I was about fifty +feet up in the tree, in a very uncomfortable position, but I had to wait +there for more than an hour before he brought me the knife with which I +finally released myself. + +Our devices for trapping small animals were rude, but they were often +successful. For instance, we used to gather up a peck or so of large, +sharp-pointed burrs and scatter them in the rabbit's furrow-like path. +In the morning, we would find the little fellow sitting quietly in his +tracks, unable to move, for the burrs stuck to his feet. + +Another way of snaring rabbits and grouse was the following: We made +nooses of twisted horsehair, which we tied very firmly to the top of a +limber young tree, then bent the latter down to the track and fastened +the whole with a slip-knot, after adjusting the noose. When the rabbit +runs his head through the noose, he pulls the slip-knot and is quickly +carried up by the spring of the young tree. This is a good plan, for the +rabbit is out of harm's way as he swings high in the air. + +Perhaps the most enjoyable of all was the chipmunk hunt. We killed these +animals at any time of year, but the special time to hunt them was in +March. After the first thaw, the chipmunks burrow a hole through the +snow crust and make their first appearance for the season. Sometimes +as many as fifty will come together and hold a social reunion. These +gatherings occur early in the morning, from daybreak to about nine +o'clock. + +We boys learned this, among other secrets of nature, and got our +blunt-headed arrows together in good season for the chipmunk expedition. + +We generally went in groups of six to a dozen or fifteen, to see which +would get the most. On the evening before, we selected several boys who +could imitate the chipmunk's call with wild oatstraws and each of these +provided himself with a supply of straws. + +The crust will hold the boys nicely at this time of the year. Bright and +early, they all come together at the appointed place, from which each +group starts out in a different direction, agreeing to meet somewhere at +a given position of the sun. + +My first experience of this kind is still well remembered. It was a fine +crisp March morning, and the sun had not yet shown himself among +the distant tree-tops as we hurried along through the ghostly wood. +Presently we arrived at a place where there were many signs of the +animals. Then each of us selected a tree and took up his position behind +it. The chipmunk caller sat upon a log as motionless as he could, and +began to call. + +Soon we heard the patter of little feet on the hard snow; then we saw +the chipmunks approaching from all directions. Some stopped and +ran experimentally up a tree or a log, as if uncertain of the exact +direction of the call; others chased one another about. + +In a few minutes, the chipmunk-caller was besieged with them. Some ran +all over his person, others under him and still others ran up the tree +against which he was sitting. Each boy remained immovable until their +leader gave the signal; then a great shout arose, and the chipmunks in +their flight all ran up the different trees. + +Now the shooting-match began. The little creatures seemed to realize +their hopeless position; they would try again and again to come down +the trees and flee away from the deadly aim of the youthful hunters. +But they were shot down very fast; and whenever several of them rushed +toward the ground, the little red-skin hugged the tree and yelled +frantically to scare them up again. + +Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the tree, so that the arrow +may bound back to him every time; otherwise, when he had shot away all +of them, he would be helpless, and another, who had cleared his own +tree, would come and take away his game, so there was warm competition. +Sometimes a desperate chipmunk would jump from the top of the tree in +order to escape, which was considered a joke on the boy who lost it and +a triumph for the brave little animal. At last all were killed or gone, +and then we went on to another place, keeping up the sport until the sun +came out and the chipmunks refused to answer the call. + +When we went out on the prairies we had a different and less lively kind +of sport. We used to snare with horse-hair and bow-strings all the small +ground animals, including the prairie-dog. We both snared and shot them. +Once a little boy set a snare for one, and lay flat on the ground a +little way from the hole, holding the end of the string. Presently he +felt something move and pulled in a huge rattlesnake; and to this day, +his name is "Caught-the-Rattlesnake." Very often a boy got a new name +in some such manner. At another time, we were playing in the woods and +found a fawn's track. We followed and caught it while asleep; but in +the struggle to get away, it kicked one boy, who is still called +"Kicked-by-the-Fawn." + +It became a necessary part of our education to learn to prepare a meal +while out hunting. It is a fact that most Indians will eat the liver and +some other portions of large animals raw, but they do not eat fish or +birds uncooked. Neither will they eat a frog, or an eel. On our boyish +hunts, we often went on until we found ourselves a long way from our +camp, when we would kindle a fire and roast a part of our game. + +Generally we broiled our meat over the coals on a stick. We roasted some +of it over the open fire. But the best way to cook fish and birds is in +the ashes, under a big fire. We take the fish fresh from the creek or +lake, have a good fire on the sand, dig in the sandy ashes and bury it +deep. The same thing is done in case of a bird, only we wet the feathers +first. When it is done, the scales or feathers and skin are stripped +off whole, and the delicious meat retains all its juices and flavor. We +pulled it off as we ate, leaving the bones undisturbed. + +Our people had also a method of boiling without pots or kettles. A large +piece of tripe was thoroughly washed and the ends tied, then suspended +between four stakes driven into the ground and filled with cold water. +The meat was then placed in this novel receptacle and boiled by means of +the addition of red-hot stones. + +Chatanna was a good hunter. He called the doe and fawn beautifully by +using a thin leaf of birchbark between two flattened sticks. One morning +we found the tracks of a doe and fawn who had passed within the hour, +for the light dew was brushed from the grass. + +"What shall we do?" I asked. "Shall we go back to the teepee and tell +uncle to bring his gun?" + +"No, no!" exclaimed Chatanna. "Did not our people kill deer and buffalo +long ago without guns? We will entice her into this open space, and, +while she stands bewildered, I can throw my lasso line over her head." + +He had called only a few seconds when the fawn emerged from the thick +woods and stood before us, prettier than a picture. Then I uttered the +call, and she threw her tobacco-leaf-like ears toward me, while Chatanna +threw his lasso. She gave one scream and launched forth into the air, +almost throwing the boy hunter to the ground. Again and again she flung +herself desperately into the air, but at last we led her to the nearest +tree and tied her securely. + +"Now," said he, "go and get our pets and see what they will do." + +At that time he had a good-sized black bear partly tamed, while I had +a young red fox and my faithful Ohitika or Brave. I untied Chagoo, the +bear, and Wanahon, the fox, while Ohitika got up and welcomed me by +wagging his tail in a dignified way. + +"Come," I said, "all three of you. I think we have something you would +all like to see." + +They seemed to understand me, for Chagoo began to pull his rope with +both paws, while Wanahon undertook the task of digging up by the roots +the sapling to which I had tied him. + +Before we got to the open spot, we already heard Ohitika's joyous bark, +and the two wild pets began to run, and pulled me along through the +underbrush. Chagoo soon assumed the utmost precaution and walked as if +he had splinters in his soles, while Wanahon kept his nose down low and +sneaked through the trees. + +Out into the open glade we came, and there, before the three rogues, +stood the little innocent fawn. She visibly trembled at the sight of the +motley group. The two human rogues looked to her, I presume, just as bad +as the other three. Chagoo regarded her with a mixture of curiosity +and defiance, while Wanahon stood as if rooted to the ground, evidently +planning how to get at her. But Ohitika (Brave), generous Ohitika, +his occasional barking was only in jest. He did not care to touch the +helpless thing. + +Suddenly the fawn sprang high into the air and then dropped her pretty +head on the ground. + +"Ohiyesa, the fawn is dead," cried Chatanna. "I wanted to keep her." + +"It is a shame;" I chimed in. + +We five guilty ones came and stood around her helpless form. We all +looked very sorry; even Chagoo's eyes showed repentance and regret. +As for Ohitika, he gave two great sighs and then betook himself to a +respectful distance. Chatanna had two big tears gradually swamping his +long, black eye-lashes; and I thought it was time to hide my face, for I +did not want him to look at me. + + + + +IV. Hakadah's First Offering + +"HAKADAH, coowah!" was the sonorous call that came from a large teepee +in the midst of the Indian encampment. In answer to the summons there +emerged from the woods, which were only a few steps away, a boy, +accompanied by a splendid black dog. There was little in the appearance +of the little fellow to distinguish him from the other Sioux boys. + +He hastened to the tent from which he had been summoned, carrying in +his hands a bow and arrows gorgeously painted, while the small birds and +squirrels that he had killed with these weapons dangled from his belt. + +Within the tent sat two old women, one on each side of the fire. +Uncheedah was the boy's grandmother, who had brought up the motherless +child. Wahchewin was only a caller, but she had been invited to remain +and assist in the first personal offering of Hakadah to the "Great +Mystery." + +This was a matter which had, for several days, pretty much monopolized +Uncheedah's mind. It was her custom to see to this when each of her +children attained the age of eight summers. They had all been celebrated +as warriors and hunters among their tribe, and she had not hesitated to +claim for herself a good share of the honors they had achieved, because +she had brought them early to the notice of the "Great Mystery." + +She believed that her influence had helped to regulate and develop the +characters of her sons to the height of savage nobility and strength of +manhood. + +It had been whispered through the teepee village that Uncheedah intended +to give a feast in honor of her grandchild's first sacrificial offering. +This was mere speculation, however, for the clearsighted old woman had +determined to keep this part of the matter secret until the offering +should be completed, believing that the "Great Mystery" should be met in +silence and dignity. + +The boy came rushing into the lodge, followed by his dog Ohitika who was +wagging his tail promiscuously, as if to say: "Master and I are really +hunters!" + +Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narrative of the killing of each +bird and squirrel as he pulled them off his belt and threw them before +his grandmother. + +"This blunt-headed arrow," said he, "actually had eyes this morning. +Before the squirrel can dodge around the tree it strikes him in the +head, and, as he falls to the ground, my Ohitika is upon him." + +He knelt upon one knee as he talked, his black eyes shining like evening +stars. + +"Sit down here," said Uncheedah to the boy; "I have something to say to +you. You see that you are now almost a man. Observe the game you have +brought me! It will not be long before you will leave me, for a warrior +must seek opportunities to make him great among his people. + +"You must endeavor to equal your father and grandfather," she went on. +"They were warriors and feast-makers. But it is not the poor hunter who +makes many feasts. Do you not remember the 'Legend of the Feast-Maker,' +who gave forty feasts in twelve moons? And have you forgotten the story +of the warrior who sought the will of the Great Mystery? To-day you will +make your first offering to him." + +The concluding sentence fairly dilated the eyes of the young hunter, for +he felt that a great event was about to occur, in which he would be the +principal actor. But Uncheedah resumed her speech. + +"You must give up one of your belongings-whichever is dearest to +you--for this is to be a sacrificial offering." + +This somewhat confused the boy; not that he was selfish, but rather +uncertain as to what would be the most appropriate thing to give. Then, +too, he supposed that his grandmother referred to his ornaments and +playthings only. So he volunteered: + +"I can give up my best bow and arrows, and all the paints I have, +and--and my bear's claws necklace, grandmother!" + +"Are these the things dearest to you?" she demanded. + +"Not the bow and arrows, but the paints will be very hard to get, for +there are no white people near; and the necklace--it is not easy to get +one like it again. I will also give up my otterskin head-dress, if you +think that is not enough." + +"But think, my boy, you have not yet mentioned the thing that will be a +pleasant offering to the Great Mystery." + +The boy looked into the woman's face with a puzzled expression. + +"I have nothing else as good as those things I have named, grandmother, +unless it is my spotted pony; and I am sure that the Great Mystery will +not require a little boy to make him so large a gift. Besides, my uncle +gave three otter-skins and five eagle-feathers for him and I promised to +keep him a long while, if the Blackfeet or the Crows do not steal him." + +Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy's free offerings. Perhaps +it had not occurred to him what she really wanted. But Uncheedah +knew where his affection was vested. His faithful dog, his pet and +companion--Hakadah was almost inseparable from the loving beast. + +She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain his consent to +sacrifice the animal, but she ventured upon a final appeal. + +"You must remember," she said, "that in this offering you will call +upon him who looks at you from every creation. In the wind you hear him +whisper to you. He gives his war-whoop in the thunder. He watches you +by day with his eye, the sun; at night, he gazes upon your sleeping +countenance through the moon. In short, it is the Mystery of Mysteries, +who controls all things to whom you will make your first offering. By +this act, you will ask him to grant to you what he has granted to few +men. I know you wish to be a great warrior and hunter. I am not prepared +to see my Hakadah show any cowardice, for the love of possessions is a +woman's trait and not a brave's." + +During this speech, the boy had been completely aroused to the spirit +of manliness, and in his excitement was willing to give up anything he +had--even his pony! But he was unmindful of his friend and companion, +Ohitika, the dog! So, scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking, when he +almost shouted: + +"Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions for the offering to +the Great Mystery! You may select what you think will be most pleasing +to him." + +There were two silent spectators of this little dialogue. One was +Wahchewin; the other was Ohitika. The woman had been invited to stay, +although only a neighbor. The dog, by force of habit, had taken up his +usual position by the side of his master when they entered the teepee. +Without moving a muscle, save those of his eyes, he had been a very +close observer of what passed. + +Had the dog but moved once to attract the attention of his little +friend, he might have been dissuaded from that impetuous exclamation: +"Grandmother, I will give up any of my possessions!" + +It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that he must part with his +dog, but she was equal to the situation. + +"Hakadah," she proceeded cautiously, "you are a young brave. I know, +though young, your heart is strong and your courage is great. You +will be pleased to give up the dearest thing you have for your first +offering. You must give up Ohitika. He is brave; and you, too, +are brave. He will not fear death; you will bear his loss bravely. +Come--here are four bundles of paints and a filled pipe--let us go to +the place." + +When the last words were uttered, Hakadah did not seem to hear them. He +was simply unable to speak. To a civilized eye, he would have appeared +at that moment like a little copper statue. His bright black eyes were +fast melting in floods of tears, when he caught his grandmother's +eye and recollected her oft-repeated adage: "Tears for woman and the +war-whoop for man to drown sorrow!" + +He swallowed two or three big mouthfuls of heart-ache and the little +warrior was master of the situation. + +"Grandmother, my Brave will have to die! Let me tie together two of the +prettiest tails of the squirrels that he and I killed this morning, to +show to the Great Mystery what a hunter he has been. Let me paint him +myself." + +This request Uncheedah could not refuse and she left the pair alone for +a few minutes, while she went to ask Wacoota to execute Ohitika. + +Every Indian boy knows that, when a warrior is about to meet death, he +must sing a death dirge. Hakadah thought of his Ohitika as a person who +would meet his death without a struggle, so he began to sing a dirge +for him, at the same time hugging him tight to himself. As if he were a +human being, he whispered in his ear: + +"Be brave, my Ohitika! I shall remember you the first time I am upon the +war-path in the Ojibway country." + +At last he heard Uncheedah talking with a man outside the teepee, so he +quickly took up his paints. Ohitika was a jet-black dog, with a silver +tip on the end of his tail and on his nose, beside one white paw and a +white star upon a protuberance between his ears. Hakadah knew that a +man who prepares for death usually paints with red and black. Nature +had partially provided Ohitika in this respect, so that only red was +required and this Hakadah supplied generously. + +Then he took off a piece of red cloth and tied it around the dog's neck; +to this he fastened two of the squirrels' tails and a wing from the +oriole they had killed that morning. + +Just then it occurred to him that good warriors always mourn for their +departed friends and the usual mourning was black paint. He loosened his +black braided locks, ground a dead coal, mixed it with bear's oil and +rubbed it on his entire face. + +During this time every hole in the tent was occupied with an eye. Among +the lookers-on was his grandmother. She was very near relenting. Had she +not feared the wrath of the Great Mystery, she would have been happy to +call out to the boy: "Keep your dear dog, my child!" + +As it was, Hakadah came out of the teepee with his face looking like an +eclipsed moon, leading his beautiful dog, who was even handsomer than +ever with the red touches on his specks of white. + +It was now Uncheedah's turn to struggle with the storm and burden in +her soul. But the boy was emboldened by the people's admiration of his +bravery, and did not shed a tear. As soon as she was able to speak, the +loving grandmother said: + +"No, my young brave, not so! You must not mourn for your first offering. +Wash your face and then we will go." + +The boy obeyed, submitted Ohitika to Wacoota with a smile, and walked +off with his grandmother and Wahchewin. + +They followed a well-beaten foot-path leading along the bank of the +Assiniboine river, through a beautiful grove of oak, and finally around +and under a very high cliff. The murmuring of the river came up from +just below. On the opposite side was a perpendicular white cliff, from +which extended back a gradual slope of land, clothed with the majestic +mountain oak. The scene was impressive and wild. + +Wahchewin had paused without a word when the little party reached the +edge of the cliff. It had been arranged between her and Uncheedah that +she should wait there for Wacoota, who was to bring as far as that the +portion of the offering with which he had been entrusted. + +The boy and his grandmother descended the bank, following a tortuous +foot-path until they reached the water's edge. Then they proceeded to +the mouth of an immense cave, some fifty feet above the river, under +the cliff. A little stream of limpid water trickled down from a spring +within the cave. The little watercourse served as a sort of natural +staircase for the visitors. A cool, pleasant atmosphere exhaled from +the mouth of the cavern. Really it was a shrine of nature and it is not +strange that it was so regarded by the tribe. + +A feeling of awe and reverence came to the boy. "It is the home of the +Great Mystery," he thought to himself; and the impressiveness of his +surroundings made him forget his sorrow. + +Very soon Wahchewin came with some difficulty to the steps. She placed +the body of Ohitika upon the ground in a life-like position and again +left the two alone. + +As soon as she disappeared from view, Uncheedah, with all solemnity +and reverence, unfastened the leather strings that held the four small +bundles of paints and one of tobacco, while the filled pipe was laid +beside the dead Ohitika. + +She scattered paints and tobacco all about. Again they stood a few +moments silently; then she drew a deep breath and began her prayer to +the Great Mystery: + +"O, Great Mystery, we hear thy voice in the rushing waters below us! We +hear thy whisper in the great oaks above! Our spirits are refreshed with +thy breath from within this cave. O, hear our prayer! Behold this little +boy and bless him! Make him a warrior and a hunter as great as thou +didst make his father and grandfather." + +And with this prayer the little warrior had completed his first +offering. + + + + +V. FAMILY TRADITIONS + + + + +I: A Visit to Smoky Day + +SMOKY DAY was widely known among us as a preserver of history and +legend. He was a living book of the traditions and history of his +people. Among his effects were bundles of small sticks, notched and +painted. One bundle contained the number of his own years. Another was +composed of sticks representing the important events of history, each +of which was marked with the number of years since that particular event +occurred. For instance, there was the year when so many stars fell from +the sky, with the number of years since it happened cut into the wood. +Another recorded the appearance of a comet; and from these heavenly +wonders the great national catastrophes and victories were reckoned. + +But I will try to repeat some of his favorite narratives as I heard them +from his own lips. I went to him one day with a piece of tobacco and +an eagle-feather; not to buy his MSS., but hoping for the privilege +of hearing him tell of some of the brave deeds of our people in remote +times. + +The tall and large old man greeted me with his usual courtesy and +thanked me for my present. As I recall the meeting, I well remember his +unusual stature, his slow speech and gracious manner. + +"Ah, Ohiyesa!" said he, "my young warrior--for such you will be some +day! I know this by your seeking to hear of the great deeds of your +ancestors. That is a good sign, and I love to repeat these stories to +one who is destined to be a brave man. I do not wish to lull you +to sleep with sweet words; but I know the conduct of your paternal +ancestors. They have been and are still among the bravest of our +tribe. To prove this, I will relate what happened in your paternal +grandfather's family, twenty years ago. + +"Two of his brothers were murdered by a jealous young man of their +own band. The deed was committed without just cause; therefore all +the braves were agreed to punish the murderer with death. When your +grandfather was approached with this suggestion, he replied that he and +the remaining brothers could not condescend to spill the blood of such a +wretch, but that the others might do whatever they thought just with the +young man. These men were foremost among the warriors of the Sioux, and +no one questioned their courage; yet when this calamity was brought upon +them by a villain, they refused to touch him! This, my boy, is a test of +true bravery. Self-possession and self-control at such a moment is proof +of a strong heart. + +"You have heard of Jingling Thunder the elder, whose brave deeds are +well known to the Villagers of the Lakes. He sought honor 'in the gates +of the enemy,' as we often say. The Great Mystery was especially kind to +him, because he was obedient. + +"Many winters ago there was a great battle, in which Jingling Thunder +won his first honors. It was forty winters before the falling of many +stars, which event occurred twenty winters after the coming of the +black-robed white priest; and that was fourteen winters before the +annihilation by our people of thirty lodges of the Sac and Fox Indians. +I well remember the latter event--it was just fifty winters ago. +However, I will count my sticks again." + +So saying, Smoky Day produced his bundle of variously colored sticks, +about five inches long. He counted and gave them to me to verify his +calculation. + +"But you," he resumed, "do not care to remember the winters that have +passed. You are young, and care only for the event and the deed. It was +very many years ago that this thing happened that I am about to tell +you, and yet our people speak of it with as much enthusiasm as if it +were only yesterday. Our heroes are always kept alive in the minds of +the nation. + +"Our people lived then on the east bank of the Mississippi, a little +south of where Imnejah-skah, or White Cliff (St. Paul, Minnesota), now +stands. After they left Mille Lacs they founded several villages, +but finally settled in this spot, whence the tribes have gradually +dispersed. Here a battle occurred which surpassed all others in history. +It lasted one whole day--the Sacs and Foxes and the Dakotas against the +Ojibways. + +"An invitation in the usual form of a filled pipe was brought to the +Sioux by a brave of the Sac and Fox tribe, to make a general attack +upon their common enemy. The Dakota braves quickly signified their +willingness in the same manner, and it having been agreed to meet upon +the St. Croix river, preparations were immediately begun to despatch a +large war-party. + +"Among our people there were many tried warriors whose names were known, +and every youth of a suitable age was desirous of emulating them. As +these young novices issued from every camp and almost every teepee, +their mothers, sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers were singing +for them the 'strong-heart' songs. An old woman, living with her only +grandchild, the remnant of a once large band who had all been killed +at three different times by different parties of the Ojibways, was +conspicuous among the singers. + +"Everyone who heard, cast toward her a sympathetic glance, for it was +well known that she and her grandson constituted the remnant of a +band of Sioux, and that her song indicated that her precious child had +attained the age of a warrior, and was now about to join the war-party, +and to seek a just revenge for the annihilation of his family. This was +Jingling Thunder, also familiarly known as 'The Little Last.' He was +seen to carry with him some family relics in the shape of war-clubs and +lances. + +"The aged woman's song was something like this: + + "Go, my brave Jingling Thunder! + Upon the silvery path + Behold that glittering track-- + + "And yet, my child, remember + How pitiful to live + Survivor of the young! + 'Stablish our name and kin!" + + +"The Sacs and Foxes were very daring and confident upon this occasion. +They proposed to the Sioux that they should engage alone with the enemy +at first, and let us see how their braves can fight! To this our people +assented, and they assembled upon the hills to watch the struggle +between their allies and the Ojibways. It seemed to be an equal fight, +and for a time no one could tell how the contest would end. Young +Jingling Thunder was an impatient spectator, and it was The Milky +Way--believed by the Dakotas to be the road travelled by the spirits of +departed braves hard to keep him from rushing forward to meet his foes. + +"At last a great shout went up, and the Sacs and Foxes were seen to be +retreating with heavy loss. Then the Sioux took the field, and were fast +winning the day, when fresh reinforcements came from the north for the +Ojibways. Up to this time Jingling Thunder had been among the foremost +in the battle, and had engaged in several close encounters. But this +fresh attack of the Ojibways was unexpected, and the Sioux were somewhat +tired. Besides, they had told the Sacs and Foxes to sit upon the hills +and rest their weary limbs and take lessons from their friends the +Sioux; therefore no aid was looked for from any quarter. + +"A great Ojibway chief made a fierce onslaught on the Dakotas. This +man Jingling Thunder now rushed forward to meet. The Ojibway boastfully +shouted to his warriors that he had met a tender fawn and would reserve +to himself the honor of destroying it. Jingling Thunder, on his side, +exclaimed that he had met the aged bear of whom he had heard so much, +but that he would need no assistance to overcome him. + +"The powerful man flashed his tomahawk in the air over the youthful +warrior's head, but the brave sprang aside as quick as lightning, and +in the same instant speared his enemy to the heart. As the Ojibway chief +gave a gasping yell and fell in death, his people lost courage; while +the success of the brave Jingling Thunder strengthened the hearts of the +Sioux, for they immediately followed up their advantage and drove the +enemy out of their territory. + +"This was the beginning of Jingling Thunder's career as a warrior. He +afterwards performed even greater acts of valor. He became the ancestor +of a famous band of the Sioux, of whom your own father, Ohiyesa, was a +member. You have doubtless heard his name in connection with many great +events. Yet he was a patient man, and was never known to quarrel with +one of his own nation." + +That night I lay awake a long time committing to memory the tradition +I had heard, and the next day I boasted to my playmate, Little Rainbow, +about my first lesson from the old storyteller. To this he replied: + +"I would rather have Weyuhah for my teacher. I think he remembers more +than any of the others. When Weyuhah tells about a battle you can see +it yourself; you can even hear the war-whoop," he went on with much +enthusiasm. + +"That is what his friends say of him; but those who are not his friends +say that he brings many warriors into the battle who were not there," +I answered indignantly, for I could not admit that old Smoky Day could +have a rival. + +Before I went to him again Uncheedah had thoughtfully prepared a nice +venison roast for the teacher, and I was proud to take him something +good to eat before beginning his story. + +"How," was his greeting, "so you have begun already, Ohiyesa? Your +family were ever feastmakers as well as warriors." + +Having done justice to the tender meat, he wiped his knife by sticking +it into the ground several times, and put it away in its sheath, after +which he cheerfully recommenced: + +"It came to pass not many winters ago that Wakinyan-tonka, the great +medicine man, had a vision; whereupon a war-party set out for the +Ojibway country. There were three brothers of your family among them, +all of whom were noted for valor and the chase. + +"Seven battles were fought in succession before they turned to come +back. They had secured a number of the enemy's birch canoes, and the +whole party came floating down the Mississippi, joyous and happy because +of their success. + +"But one night the war-chief announced that there was misfortune at +hand. The next day no one was willing to lead the fleet. The youngest of +the three brothers finally declared that he did not fear death, for it +comes when least expected and he volunteered to take the lead. + +"It happened that this young man had left a pretty maiden behind him, +whose choice needlework adorned his quiver. He was very handsome as well +as brave. + +"At daybreak the canoes were again launched upon the bosom of the great +river. All was quiet--a few birds beginning to sing. Just as the sun +peeped through the eastern tree-tops a great warcry came forth from the +near shores, and there was a rain of arrows. The birchen canoes were +pierced, and in the excitement many were capsized. + +"The Sioux were at a disadvantage. There was no shelter. Their +bow-strings and the feathers on their arrows were wet. The bold Ojibways +saw their advantage and pressed closer and closer; but our men fought +desperately, half in and half out of the water, until the enemy was +forced at last to retreat. Nevertheless that was a sad day for the +Wahpeton Sioux; but saddest of all was Winona's fate! + +"Morning Star, her lover, who led the canoe fleet that morning, was +among the slain. For two days the Sioux braves searched in the water for +their dead, but his body was not recovered. + +"At home, meanwhile, the people had been alarmed by ill omens. Winona, +eldest daughter of the great chief, one day entered her birch canoe +alone and paddled up the Mississippi, gazing now into the water around +her, now into the blue sky above. She thought she heard some young men +giving courtship calls in the distance, just as they do at night when +approaching the teepee of the beloved; and she knew the voice of Morning +Star well! Surely she could distinguish his call among the others! +Therefore she listened yet more intently, and looked skyward as her +light canoe glided gently up stream. + +"Ah, poor Winona! She saw only six sandhill cranes, looking no larger +than mosquitoes, as they flew in circles high up in the sky, going east +where all spirits go. Something said to her: 'Those are the spirits +of some of the Sioux braves, and Morning Star is among them!' Her eye +followed the birds as they traveled in a chain of circles. + +"Suddenly she glanced downward. 'What is this?' she screamed in despair. +It was Morning Star's body, floating down the river; his quiver, worked +by her own hands and now dyed with his blood, lay upon the surface of +the water. + +"'Ah, Great Mystery! why do you punish a poor girl so? Let me go with +the spirit of Morning Star!' + +"It was evening. The pale moon arose in the east and the stars were +bright. At this very hour the news of the disaster was brought home by +a returning scout, and the village was plunged in grief, but Winona's +spirit had flown away. No one ever saw her again. + +"This is enough for to-day, my boy. You may come again to-morrow." + + + + +II. The Stone Boy + +"Ho, mita koda!" (welcome, friend!) was Smoky Day's greeting, as I +entered his lodge on the third day. "I hope you did not dream of a +watery combat with the Ojibways, after the history I repeated to you +yesterday," the old sage continued, with a complaisant smile playing +upon his face. + +"No," I said, meekly, "but, on the other hand, I have wished that the +sun might travel a little faster, so that I could come for another +story." + +"Well, this time I will tell you one of the kind we call myths or fairy +stories. They are about men and women who do wonderful things--things +that ordinary people cannot do at all. Sometimes they are not exactly +human beings, for they partake of the nature of men and beasts, or of +men and gods. I tell you this beforehand, so that you may not ask any +questions, or be puzzled by the inconsistency of the actors in these old +stories. + +"Once there were ten brothers who lived with their only sister, a young +maiden of sixteen summers. She was very skilful at her embroidery, and +her brothers all had beautifully worked quivers and bows embossed with +porcupine quills. They loved and were kind to her, and the maiden in +her turn loved her brothers dearly, and was content with her position as +their housekeeper. They were great hunters, and scarcely ever remained +at home during the day, but when they returned at evening they would +relate to her all their adventures. + +"One night they came home one by one with their game, as usual, all but +the eldest, who did not return. It was supposed by the other brothers +that he had pursued a deer too far from the lodge, or perhaps shot more +game than he could well carry; but the sister had a presentiment that +something dreadful had befallen him. She was partially consoled by the +second brother, who offered to find the lost one in the morning. + +"Accordingly, he went in search of him, while the rest set out on the +hunt as usual. Toward evening all had returned safely, save the brother +who went in search of the absent. Again, the next older brother went +to look for the others, and he too returned no more. All the young men +disappeared one by one in this manner, leaving their sister alone. + +"The maiden's sorrow was very great. She wandered everywhere, weeping +and looking for her brothers, but found no trace of them. One day she +was walking beside a beautiful little stream, whose clear waters went +laughing and singing on their way. She could see the gleaming pebbles at +the bottom, and one in particular seemed so lovely to her tear-bedimmed +eyes, that she stooped and picked it up, dropping it within her skin +garment into her bosom. For the first time since her misfortunes she had +forgotten herself and her sorrow. + +"At last she went home, much happier than she had been, though she could +not have told the reason why. On the following day she sought again the +place where she had found the pebble, and this time she fell asleep on +the banks of the stream, When she awoke, there lay a beautiful babe in +her bosom. + +"She took it up and kissed it many times. And the child was a boy, but +it was heavy like a stone, so she called him a 'Little Stone Boy.' The +maiden cried no more, for she was very happy with her baby. The child +was unusually knowing, and walked almost from its birth. + +"One day Stone Boy discovered the bow and arrows of one of his uncles, +and desired to have them; but his mother cried, and said: + +"'Wait, my son, until you are a young man.' She made him some little +ones, and with these he soon learned to hunt, and killed small game +enough to support them both. When he had grown to be a big boy, he +insisted upon knowing whose were the ten bows that still hung upon the +walls of his mother's lodge. + +"At last she was obliged to tell him the sad story of her loss. + +"'Mother, I shall go in search of my uncles,' exclaimed the Stone Boy. + +"'But you will be lost like them,' she replied, 'and then I shall die of +grief.' + +"'No, I shall not be lost. I shall bring your ten brothers back to you. +Look, I will give you a sign. I will take a pillow, and place it upon +end. Watch this, for as long as I am living the pillow will stay as +I put it. Mother, give me some food and some moccasins with which to +travel!' + +"Taking the bow of one of his uncles, with its quiver full of arrows, +the Stone Boy departed. As he journeyed through the forest he spoke to +every animal he met, asking for news of his lost uncles. Sometimes he +called to them at the top of his voice. Once he thought he heard an +answer, so he walked in the direction of the sound. But it was only a +great grizzly bear who had wantonly mimicked the boy's call. Then Stone +Boy was greatly provoked. + +"'Was it you who answered my call, you longface?' he exclaimed. + +"Upon this the latter growled and said: + +"'You had better be careful how you address me, or you may be sorry for +what you say!' + +"'Who cares for you, you red-eyes, you ugly thing!' the boy replied; +whereupon the grizzly immediately set upon him. + +"But the boy's flesh became as hard as stone, and the bear's great teeth +and claws made no impression upon it. Then he was so dreadfully heavy; +and he kept laughing all the time as if he were being tickled, which +greatly aggravated the bear. Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and sent +an arrow to his heart. + +"He walked on for some distance until he came to a huge fallen pine +tree, which had evidently been killed by lightning. The ground near by +bore marks of a struggle, and Stone Boy picked up several arrows exactly +like those of his uncles, which he himself carried. + +"While he was examining these things, he heard a sound like that of a +whirlwind, far up in the heavens. He looked up and saw a black speck +which grew rapidly larger until it became a dense cloud. Out of it came +a flash and then a thunderbolt. The boy was obliged to wink; and when he +opened his eyes, behold! a stately man stood before him and challenged +him to single combat. + +"Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they grappled with one another. +The man from the clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful. But +Stone Boy was both strong and unnaturally heavy and hard to hold. The +great warrior from the sky sweated from his exertions, and there came a +heavy shower. Again and again the lightnings flashed about them as +the two struggled there. At last Stone Boy threw his opponent, who lay +motionless. There was a murmuring sound throughout the heavens and the +clouds rolled swiftly away. + +"'Now,' thought the hero, 'this man must have slain all my uncles. I +shall go to his home and find out what has become of them.' With this +he unfastened from the dead man's scalp-lock a beautiful bit of scarlet +down. He breathed gently upon it, and as it floated upward he followed +into the blue heavens. + +"Away went Stone Boy to the country of the Thunder Birds. It was a +beautiful land, with lakes, rivers, plains and mountains. The young +adventurer found himself looking down from the top of a high mountain, +and the country appeared to be very populous, for he saw lodges all +about him as far as the eye could reach. He particularly noticed a +majestic tree which towered above all the others, and in its bushy top +bore an enormous nest. Stone Boy descended from the mountain and soon +arrived at the foot of the tree; but there were no limbs except those +at the top and it was so tall that he did not attempt to climb it. He +simply took out his bit of down, breathed upon it and floated gently +upward. + +"When he was able to look into the nest he saw there innumerable eggs of +various sizes, and all of a remarkable red color. He was nothing but a +boy after all, and had all a boy's curiosity and recklessness. As he +was handling the eggs carelessly, his notice was attracted to a sudden +confusion in the little village below. All of the people seemed to be +running toward the tree. He mischievously threw an egg at them, and +in the instant that it broke he saw one of the men drop dead. Then all +began to cry out pitifully, 'Give me my heart!' + +"'Ah,' exclaimed Stone Boy, exulting,' so these are the hearts of the +people who destroyed my uncles! I shall break them all!' + +"And he really did break all of the eggs but four small ones which he +took in his hand. Then he descended the tree, and wandered among the +silent and deserted lodges in search of some trace of his lost uncles. +He found four little boys, the sole survivors of their race, and these +he commanded to tell him where their bones were laid. + +"They showed him the spot where a heap of bones was bleaching on the +ground. Then he bade one of the boys bring wood, a second water, a third +stones, and the fourth he sent to cut willow wands for the sweat lodge. +They obeyed, and Stone Boy built the lodge, made a fire, heated the +stones and collected within the lodge all the bones of his ten uncles. + +"As he poured the water upon the hot stones faint sounds could be heard +from within the magic bath. These changed to the murmuring of voices, +and finally to the singing of medicine songs. Stone Boy opened the door +and his ten uncles came forth in the flesh, thanking him and blessing +him for restoring them to life. Only the little finger of the youngest +uncle was missing. Stone Boy now heartlessly broke the four remaining +eggs, and took the little finger of the largest boy to supply the +missing bone. + +"They all returned to earth again and Stone Boy conducted his uncles to +his mother's lodge. She had never slept during his entire absence, but +watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy was wont to rest his +head, and by which she was to know of his safety. Going a little in +advance of the others, he suddenly rushed forward into her teepee, +exclaiming: 'Mother, your ten brothers are coming--prepare a feast!' + +"For some time after this they all lived happily together. Stone Boy +occupied himself with solitary hunting. He was particularly fond of +hunting the fiercer wild animals. He killed them wantonly and brought +home only the ears, teeth and claws as his spoil, and with these he +played as he laughingly recounted his exploits. His mother and uncles +protested, and begged him at least to spare the lives of those animals +held sacred by the Dakotas, but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural +powers to protect him from harm. + +"One evening, however, he was noticeably silent and upon being pressed +to give the reason, replied as follows: + +"'For some days past I have heard the animals talking of a conspiracy +against us. I was going west the other morning when I heard a crier +announcing a general war upon Stone Boy and his people. The crier was +a Buffalo, going at full speed from west to east. Again, I heard the +Beaver conversing with the Musk-rat, and both said that their services +were already promised to overflow the lakes and rivers and cause a +destructive flood. I heard, also, the little Swallow holding a secret +council with all the birds of the air. He said that he had been +appointed a messenger to the Thunder Birds, and that at a certain signal +the doors of the sky would be opened and rains descend to drown Stone +Boy. Old Badger and the Grizzly Bear are appointed to burrow underneath +our fortifications. + +"'However, I am not at all afraid for myself, but I am anxious for you, +Mother, and for my uncles.' + +"'Ugh!' grunted all the uncles, 'we told you that you would get into +trouble by killing so many of our sacred animals for your own amusement. + +"'But,' continued Stone Boy, 'I shall make a good resistance, and I +expect you all to help me.' + +"Accordingly they all worked under his direction in preparing for the +defence. First of all, he threw a pebble into the air, and behold a +great rocky wall around their teepee. A second, third, fourth and fifth +pebble became other walls without the first. From the sixth and seventh +were formed two stone lodges, one upon the other. The uncles meantime, +made numbers of bows and quivers full of arrows, which were ranged at +convenient distances along the tops of the walls. His mother prepared +great quantities of food and made many moccasins for her boy, who +declared that he would defend the fortress alone. + +"At last they saw the army of beasts advancing, each tribe by itself +and commanded by a leader of extraordinary size. The onset was terrific. +They flung themselves against the high walls with savage cries, while +the badgers and other burrowing animals ceaselessly worked to undermine +them. Stone Boy aimed his sharp arrows with such deadly effect that his +enemies fell by thousands. So great was their loss that the dead bodies +of the animals formed a barrier higher than the first, and the armies +retired in confusion. + +"But reinforcements were at hand. The rain fell in torrents; the beavers +had dammed all the rivers and there was a great flood. The besieged all +retreated into the innermost lodge, but the water poured in through +the burrows made by the badgers and gophers, and rose until Stone Boy's +mother and his ten uncles were all drowned. Stone Boy himself could not +be entirely destroyed, but he was overcome by his enemies and left half +buried in the earth, condemned never to walk again, and there we find +him to this day. + +"This was because he abused his strength, and destroyed for mere +amusement the lives of the creatures given him for use only." + + + + +VI. EVENING IN THE LODGE + + + + +I: Evening in the Lodge + +I HAD been skating on that part of the lake where there was an overflow, +and came home somewhat cold. I cannot say just how cold it was, but it +must have been intensely so, for the trees were cracking all about +me like pistol shots. I did not mind, because I was wrapped up in my +buffalo robe with the hair inside, and a wide leather belt held it about +my loins. My skates were nothing more than strips of basswood bark bound +upon my feet. + +I had taken off my frozen moccasins and put on dry ones in their places. + +"Where have you been and what have you been doing?" Uncheedah asked as +she placed before me some roast venison in a wooden bowl. "Did you see +any tracks of moose or bear?" + +"No, grandmother, I have only been playing at the lower end of the +lake. I have something to ask you," I said, eating my dinner and supper +together with all the relish of a hungry boy who has been skating in the +cold for half a day. + +"I found this feather, grandmother, and I could not make out what tribe +wear feathers in that shape." + +"Ugh, I am not a man; you had better ask your uncle. Besides, you should +know it yourself by this time. You are now old enough to think about +eagle feathers." + +I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignorance. It seemed a +reflection on me that I was not ambitious enough to have found all such +matters out before. + +"Uncle, you will tell me, won't you?" I said, in an appealing tone. + +"I am surprised, my boy, that you should fail to recognize this feather. +It is a Cree medicine feather, and not a warrior's." + +"Then," I said, with much embarrassment, "you had better tell me again, +uncle, the language of the feathers. I have really forgotten it all." + +The day was now gone; the moon had risen; but the cold had not lessened, +for the trunks of the trees were still snapping all around our teepee, +which was lighted and warmed by the immense logs which Uncheedah's +industry had provided. My uncle, White Foot-print, now undertook to +explain to me the significance of the eagle's feather. + +"The eagle is the most war-like bird," he began, "and the most kingly +of all birds; besides, his feathers are unlike any others, and these are +the reasons why they are used by our people to signify deeds of bravery. + +"It is not true that when a man wears a feather bonnet, each one of +the feathers represents the killing of a foe or even a coup. When a man +wears an eagle feather upright upon his head, he is supposed to have +counted one of four coups upon his enemy." + +"Well, then, a coup does not mean the killing of an enemy?" + +"No, it is the after-stroke or touching of the body after he falls. It +is so ordered, because oftentimes the touching of an enemy is much more +difficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from a distance. It +requires a strong heart to face the whole body of the enemy, in order to +count the coup on the fallen one, who lies under cover of his kinsmen's +fire. Many a brave man has been lost in the attempt. + +"When a warrior approaches his foe, dead or alive, he calls upon the +other warriors to witness by saying: 'I, Fearless Bear, your brave, +again perform the brave deed of counting the first (or second or +third or fourth) coup upon the body of the bravest of your enemies.' +Naturally, those who are present will see the act and be able to testify +to it. When they return, the heralds, as you know, announce publicly all +such deeds of valor, which then become a part of the man's war record. +Any brave who would wear the eagle's feather must give proof of his +right to do so. + +"When a brave is wounded in the same battle where he counted his coup, +he wears the feather hanging downward. When he is wounded, but makes no +count, he trims his feather and in that case, it need not be an eagle +feather. All other feathers are merely ornaments. When a warrior wears +a feather with a round mark, it means that he slew his enemy. When the +mark is cut into the feather and painted red, it means that he took the +scalp. + +"A brave who has been successful in ten battles is entitled to a +war-bonnet; and if he is a recognized leader, he is permitted to wear +one with long, trailing plumes. Also those who have counted many coups +may tip the ends of the feathers with bits of white or colored down. +Sometimes the eagle feather is tipped with a strip of weasel skin; that +means the wearer had the honor of killing, scalping and counting the +first coup upon the enemy all at the same time. + +"This feather you have found was worn by a Cree--it is indiscriminately +painted. All other feathers worn by the common Indians mean nothing," he +added. + +"Tell me, uncle, whether it would be proper for me to wear any feathers +at all if I have never gone upon the war-path." + +"You could wear any other kind of feathers, but not an eagle's," replied +my uncle, "although sometimes one is worn on great occasions by the +child of a noted man, to indicate the father's dignity and position." + +The fire had gone down somewhat, so I pushed the embers together and +wrapped my robe more closely about me. Now and then the ice on the +lake would burst with a loud report like thunder. Uncheedah was busy +re-stringing one of uncle's old snow-shoes. There were two different +kinds that he wore; one with a straight toe and long; the other shorter +and with an upturned toe. She had one of the shoes fastened toe down, +between sticks driven into the ground, while she put in some new strings +and tightened the others. Aunt Four Stars was beading a new pair of +moccasins. + +Wabeda, the dog, the companion of my boyhood days, was in trouble +because he insisted upon bringing his extra bone into the teepee, while +Uncheedah was determined that he should not. I sympathized with him, +because I saw the matter as he did. If he should bury it in the snow +outside, I knew Shunktokecha (the coyote) would surely steal it. I knew +just how anxious Wabeda was about his bone. It was a fat bone--I mean a +bone of a fat deer; and all Indians know how much better they are than +the other kind. + +Wabeda always hated to see a good thing go to waste. His eyes spoke +words to me, for he and I had been friends for a long time. When I was +afraid of anything in the woods, he would get in front of me at once and +gently wag his tail. He always made it a point to look directly in my +face. His kind, large eyes gave me a thousand assurances. When I was +perplexed, he would hang about me until he understood the situation. +Many times I believed he saved my life by uttering the dog word in time. + +Most animals, even the dangerous grizzly, do not care to be seen when +the two-legged kind and his dog are about. When I feared a surprise by +a bear or a grey wolf, I would say to Wabeda: "Now, my dog, give your +war-whoop:" and immediately he would sit up on his haunches and bark +"to beat the band" as you white boys say. When a bear or wolf heard the +noise, he would be apt to retreat. + +Sometimes I helped Wabeda and gave a warwhoop of my own. This drove the +deer away as well, but it relieved my mind. + +When he appealed to me on this occasion, therefore, I said: "Come, my +dog, let us bury your bone so that no Shunktokecha will take it." + +He appeared satisfied with my suggestion, so we went out together. + +We dug in the snow and buried our bone wrapped up in a piece of old +blanket, partly burned; then we covered it up again with snow. We knew +that the coyote would not touch anything burnt. I did not put it up a +tree because Wabeda always objected to that, and I made it a point to +consult his wishes whenever I could. + +I came in and Wabeda followed me with two short rib bones in his mouth. +Apparently he did not care to risk those delicacies. + +"There," exclaimed Uncheedah, "you still insist upon bringing in some +sort of bone!" but I begged her to let him gnaw them inside because it +was so cold. Having been granted this privilege, he settled himself at +my back and I became absorbed in some specially nice arrows that uncle +was making. + +"O, uncle, you must put on three feathers to all of them so that they +can fly straight," I suggested. + +"Yes, but if there are only two feathers, they will fly faster," he +answered. + +"Woow!" Wabeda uttered his suspicions. + +"Woow!" he said again, and rushed for the entrance of the teepee. He +kicked me over as he went and scattered the burning embers. + +"En na he na!" Uncheedah exclaimed, but he was already outside. + +"Wow, wow, wow! Wow, Wow, wow!" + +A deep guttural voice answered him. + +Out I rushed with my bow and arrows in my hand. + +"Come, uncle, come! A big cinnamon bear!" I shouted as I emerged from +the teepee. + +Uncle sprang out and in a moment he had sent a swift arrow through the +bear's heart. The animal fell dead. He had just begun to dig up Wabeda's +bone, when the dog's quick ear had heard the sound. + +"Ah, uncle, Wabeda and I ought to have at least a little eaglet's +feather for this. I too sent my small arrow into the bear before he +fell," I exclaimed. "But I thought all bears ought to be in their lodges +in the winter time. What was this one doing at this time of the year and +night?" + +"Well," said my uncle, "I will tell you. Among the tribes, some are +naturally lazy. The cinnamon bear is the lazy one of his tribe. He alone +sleeps out of doors in the winter and because he has not a warm bed, he +is soon hungry. Sometimes he lives in the hollow trunk of a tree, where +he has made a bed of dry grass; but when the night is very cold, like +to-night, he has to move about to keep himself from freezing and as he +prowls around, he gets hungry." + +We dragged the huge carcass within our lodge. "O, what nice claws he +has, uncle!" I exclaimed eagerly. "Can I have them for my necklace?" + +"It is only the old medicine men who wear them regularly. The son of +a great warrior who has killed a grizzly may wear them upon a public +occasion," he explained. + +"And you are just like my father and are considered the best hunter +among the Santees and Sissetons. You have killed many grizzlies so that +no one can object to my bear's-claws necklace," I said appealingly. + +White Foot-print smiled. "My boy, you shall have them," he said, "but it +is always better to earn them yourself." He cut the claws off carefully +for my use. + +"Tell me, uncle, whether you could wear these claws all the time?" I +asked. + +"Yes, I am entitled to wear them, but they are so heavy and +uncomfortable," he replied, with a superior air. + +At last the bear had been skinned and dressed and we all resumed our +usual places. Uncheedah was particularly pleased to have some more fat +for her cooking. + +"Now, grandmother, tell me the story of the bear's fat. I shall be so +happy if you will," I begged. + +"It is a good story and it is true. You should know it by heart and gain +a lesson from it," she replied. "It was in the forests of Minnesota, +in the country that now belongs to the Ojibways. From the Bedawakanton +Sioux village a young married couple went into the woods to get fresh +venison. The snow was deep; the ice was thick. Far away in the woods +they pitched their lonely teepee. The young man was a well-known hunter +and his wife a good maiden of the village. + +"He hunted entirely on snow-shoes, because the snow was very deep. His +wife had to wear snow-shoes too, to get to the spot where they pitched +their tent. It was thawing the day they went out, so their path was +distinct after the freeze came again. + +"The young man killed many deer and bears. His wife was very busy curing +the meat and trying out the fat while he was away hunting each day. +In the evenings she kept on trying the fat. He sat on one side of the +teepee and she on the other. + +"One evening, she had just lowered a kettle of fat to cool, and as she +looked into the hot fat she saw the face of an Ojibway scout looking +down at them through the smoke-hole. She said nothing, nor did she +betray herself in any way. + +"After a little she said to her husband in a natural voice: +'Marpeetopah, some one is looking at us through the smoke hole, and I +think it is an enemy's scout.' + +"Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) took up his bow and arrows and began to +straighten and dry them for the next day's hunt, talking and laughing +meanwhile. Suddenly he turned and sent an arrow upward, killing the +Ojibway, who fell dead at their door. + +"'Quick, Wadutah!' he exclaimed; 'you must hurry home upon our trail. I +will stay here. When this scout does not return, the warparty may come +in a body or send another scout. If only one comes, I can soon dispatch +him and then I will follow you. If I do not do that, they will overtake +us in our flight.' + +"Wadutah (Scarlet) protested and begged to be allowed to stay with her +husband, but at last she came away to get reinforcements. + +"Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) put more sticks on the fire so that the +teepee might be brightly lit and show him the way. He then took the +scalp of the enemy and proceeded on his track, until he came to the +upturned root of a great tree. There he spread out his arrows and laid +out his tomahawk. + +"Soon two more scouts were sent by the Ojibway war-party to see what was +the trouble and why the first one failed to come back. He heard them as +they approached. They were on snowshoes. When they came close to him, he +shot an arrow into the foremost. As for the other, in his effort to +turn quickly his snow-shoes stuck in the deep snow and detained him, so +Marpeetopah killed them both. + +"Quickly he took the scalps and followed Wadutah. He ran hard. But the +Ojibways suspected something wrong and came to the lonely teepee, +to find all their scouts had been killed. They followed the path of +Marpeetopah and Wadutah to the main village, and there a great battle +was fought on the ice. Many were killed on both sides. It was after this +that the Sioux moved to the Mississippi river." + +I was sleepy by this time and I rolled myself up in my buffalo robe and +fell asleep. + + + + +II. Adventures of My Uncle + +IT was a beautiful fall day--'a gopher's last look back,' as we used to +say of the last warm days of the late autumn. We were encamped beside +a wild rice lake, where two months before we had harvested our watery +fields of grain, and where we had now returned for the duck-hunting. +All was well with us. Ducks were killed in countless numbers, and in the +evenings the men hunted deer in canoes by torchlight along the shores of +the lake. But alas! life is made up of good times and bad times, and it +is when we are perfectly happy that we should expect some overwhelming +misfortune. + +"So it was that upon this peaceful and still morning, all of a sudden a +harsh and terrible war-cry was heard! Your father was then quite a young +man, and a very ambitious warrior, so that I was always frightened on +his account whenever there was a chance of fighting. But I did not think +of your uncle, Mysterious Medicine, for he was not over fifteen at the +time; besides, he had never shown any taste for the field. + +"Our camp was thrown into great excitement; and as the warriors advanced +to meet the enemy, I was almost overcome by the sight of your uncle +among them! It was of no use for me to call him back--I think I prayed +in that moment to the Great Mystery to bring my boy safely home. + +"I shall never forget, as long as I live, the events of that day. Many +brave men were killed; among them two of your uncle's intimate friends. +But when the battle was over, my boy came back; only his face was +blackened in mourning for his friends, and he bore several wounds in his +body. I knew that he had proved himself a true warrior. + +"This was the beginning of your uncle's career, He has surpassed your +father and your grandfather; yes, all his ancestors except Jingling +Thunder, in daring and skill." + +Such was my grandmother's account of the maiden battle of her third +son, Mysterious Medicine. He achieved many other names; among them Big +Hunter, Long Rifle and White Footprint. He had a favorite Kentucky rifle +which he carried for many years. The stock was several times broken, +but he always made another. With this gun he excelled most of +his contemporaries in accuracy of aim. He used to call the weapon +Ishtahbopopa--a literal translation would be "Pops-the-eye." + +My uncle, who was a father to me for ten years of my life, was almost a +giant in his proportions, very symmetrical and "straight as an arrow." +His face was not at all handsome. He had very quiet and reserved manners +and was a man of action rather than of unnecessary words. Behind the +veil of Indian reticence he had an inexhaustible fund of wit and humor; +but this part of his character only appeared before his family and very +intimate friends. Few men know nature more thoroughly than he. Nothing +irritated him more than to hear some natural fact misrepresented. I +have often thought that with education he might have made a Darwin or an +Agassiz. + +He was always modest and unconscious of self in relating his adventures. +"I have often been forced to realize my danger," he used to say, "but +not in such a way as to overwhelm me. Only twice in my life have I been +really frightened, and for an instant lost my presence of mind. + +"Once I was in full pursuit of a large buck deer that I had wounded. +It was winter, and there was a very heavy fall of fresh snow upon the +ground. All at once I came upon the body of the deer lying dead on the +snow. I began to make a hasty examination, but before I had made any +discoveries, I spied the tips of two ears peeping just above the surface +of the snow about twenty feet from me. I made a feint of not seeing +anything at all, but moved quickly in the direction of my gun, which was +leaning against a tree. Feeling, somehow, that I was about to be taken +advantage of, I snatched at the same moment my knife from my belt. + +"The panther (for such it was) made a sudden and desperate spring. +I tried to dodge, but he was too quick for me. He caught me by the +shoulder with his great paw, and threw me down. Somehow, he did not +retain his hold, but made another leap and again concealed himself in +the snow. Evidently he was preparing to make a fresh attack. + +"I was partially stunned and greatly confused by the blow; therefore I +should have been an easy prey for him at the moment. But when he left +me, I came to my senses; and I had been thrown near my gun! I arose and +aimed between the tips of his ears--all that was visible of him--and +fired. I saw the fresh snow fly from the spot. The panther leaped about +six feet straight up into the air, and fell motionless. I gave two good +warwhoops, because I had conquered a very formidable enemy. I sat down +on the dead body to rest, and my heart beat as if it would knock out all +my ribs. I had not been expecting any danger, and that was why I was so +taken by surprise. + +"The other time was on the plains, in summer. I was accustomed to +hunting in the woods, and never before had hunted buffalo on horseback. +Being a young man, of course I was eager to do whatever other men did. +Therefore I saddled my pony for the hunt. I had a swift pony and a good +gun, but on this occasion I preferred a bow and arrows. + +"It was the time of year when the buffalo go in large herds and the +bulls are vicious. But this did not trouble me at all; indeed, I thought +of nothing but the excitement and honor of the chase. + +"A vast plain near the Souris river was literally covered with an +immense herd. The day was fair, and we came up with them very easily. I +had a quiver full of arrows, with a sinew-backed bow. + +"My pony carried me in far ahead of all the others. I found myself in +the midst of the bulls first, for they are slow. They threw toward +me vicious glances, so I hastened my pony on to the cows. Soon I was +enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, and completely surrounded by the +herd, who were by this time in the act of fleeing, their hoofs making a +noise like thunder. + +"I could not think of anything but my own situation, which confused me +for the moment. It seemed to me to be a desperate one. If my pony, which +was going at full speed, should step into a badger hole, I should be +thrown to the ground and trampled under foot in an instant. If I were to +stop, they would knock me over, pony and all. Again, it seemed as if my +horse must fall from sheer exhaustion; and then what would become of me? + +"At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own power. I uttered a yell +and began to shoot right and left. Very soon there were only a few old +bulls who remained near me. The herd had scattered, and I was miles away +from my companions. + +"It is when we think of our personal danger that we are apt to be at +a loss to do the best thing under the circumstances. One should be +unconscious of self in order to do his duty. We are very apt to think +ourselves brave, when we are most timid. I have discovered that half our +young men give the war-whoop when they are frightened, because they fear +lest their silence may betray their state of mind. I think we are really +bravest when most calm and slow to action." + +I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adventures. + +"Once," said he, "I had a somewhat peculiar experience, which I think +I never related to you before. It was at the time of the fall hunt. One +afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was too far away to reach +the camp before dark, so I looked about for a good place to spend the +night. This was on the Upper Missouri, before there were any white +people there, and when we were in constant danger from wild beasts as +well as from hostile Indians. It was necessary to use every precaution +and the utmost vigilance. + +"I selected a spot which appeared to be well adapted to defense. I had +killed two deer, and I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances +in various directions. I knew that any wolf would stop for the meat, A +grizzly bear would sometimes stop, but not a mountain lion or a panther. +Therefore I made a fire. Such an animal would be apt to attack a +solitary fire. There was a full moon that night, which was much in my +favor. + +"Having cooked and eaten some of the venison, I rolled myself in my +blanket and lay down by the fire, taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed +fellow. I hugged it very closely, for I felt that I should need it +during the night. I had scarcely settled myself when I heard what seemed +to be ten or twelve coyotes set up such a howling that I was quite sure +of a visit from them. Immediately after-. ward I heard another sound, +which was like the screaming of a small child. This was a porcupine, +which had doubtless smelled the meat. + +"I watched until a coyote appeared upon a flat rock fifty yards away. +He sniffed the air in every direction; then, sitting partly upon his +haunches, swung round in a circle with his hind legs sawing the air, and +howled and barked in many different keys. It was a great feat! I could +not help wondering whether I should be able to imitate him. What had +seemed to be the voices of many coyotes was in reality only one animal. +His mate soon appeared and then they both seemed satisfied, and showed +no signs of a wish to invite another to join them. Presently they both +suddenly and quietly disappeared. + +"At this moment a slight noise attracted my attention, and I saw that +the porcupine had arrived. He had climbed up to the piece of meat +nearest me, and was helping himself without any ceremony. I thought it +was fortunate that he came, for he would make a good watch dog for me. +Very soon, in fact, he interrupted his meal, and caused all his quills +to stand out in defiance. I glanced about me and saw the two coyotes +slyly approaching my open camp from two different directions. + +"I took the part of the porcupine! I rose in a sitting posture, and sent +a swift arrow to each of my unwelcome visitors. They both ran away with +howls of surprise and pain. + +"The porcupine saw the whole from his perch, but his meal was not at all +disturbed, for he began eating again with apparent relish. Indeed, I was +soon furnished with another of these unconscious protectors. This one +came from the opposite direction to a point where I had hung a splendid +ham of venison. He cared to go no further, but seated himself at once on +a convenient branch and began his supper. + +"The canon above me was full of rocks and trees. From this direction +came a startling noise, which caused me more concern than anything I had +thus far heard. It sounded much like a huge animal stretching himself, +and giving a great yawn which ended in a scream. I knew this for the +voice of a mountain lion, and it decided me to perch upon a limb for the +rest of the night. + +"I got up and climbed into the nearest large tree, taking my weapons +with me; but first I rolled a short log of wood in my blanket and laid +it in my place by the fire. + +"As I got up, the two porcupines began to descend, but I paid no +attention to them, and they soon returned to their former positions. +Very soon I heard a hissing sound from one of them, and knew that an +intruder was near. Two grey wolves appeared. + +"I had hung the hams by the ham strings, and they were fully eight +feet from the ground. At first the wolves came boldly forward, but the +warning of the porcupines caused them to stop, and hesitate to jump for +the meat. However, they were hungry, and began to leap savagely for the +hams, although evidently they proved good targets for the quills of the +prickly ones, for occasionally one of them would squeal and rub his nose +desperately against the tree. + +"At last one of the wolves buried his teeth too deeply in a tough +portion of the flesh, and having jumped to reach it, his own weight +made it impossible for him to loosen his upper jaw. There the grey wolf +dangled, kicking and yelping, until the tendon of the ham gave way, and +both fell heavily to the ground. From my hiding-place I sent two arrows +into his body, which ended his life. The other one ran away to a little +distance and remained there a long time, as if waiting for her mate. + +"I was now very weary, but I had seen many grizzly bears' tracks in the +vicinity, and besides, I had not forgotten the dreadful scream of the +mountain lion. I determined to continue my watch. + +"As I had half expected, there came presently a sudden heavy fall, and +at the same time the burning embers were scattered about and the fire +almost extinguished. My blanket with the log in it was rolled over +several times, amid snarls and growls. Then the assailant of my camp--a +panther--leaped back into the thick underbrush, but not before my arrow +had penetrated his side. He snarled and tried to bite off the shaft, but +after a time became exhausted and lay still. + +"I could now distinguish the grey dawn in the east. I was exceedingly +drowsy, so I fastened myself by a rope of raw-hide to the trunk of the +tree against which I leaned. I was seated on a large limb, and soon fell +asleep. + +"I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun directly under me. At +the same time, I thought some one was trying to shake me off the tree, +Instantly I reached for my gun. Alas! it was gone! At the first shake +of the tree by my visitor, a grizzly bear, the gun had fallen, and as it +was cocked, it went off. + +"The bear picked up the weapon and threw it violently away; then he +again shook the tree with all his strength. I shouted: + +"'I have still a bow and a quiver full of arrows; you had better let me +alone.' + +"He replied to this with a rough growl. I sent an arrow into his side, +and he groaned like a man as he tried hard to pull it out. I had to give +him several more before he went a short distance away, and died. It was +now daylight, so I came down from my perch. I was stiff, and scarcely +able to walk. I found that the bear had killed both of my little +friends, the porcupines, and eaten most of the meat. + +"Perhaps you wonder, Ohiyesa, why I did not use my gun in the beginning; +but I had learned that if I once missed my aim with it, I had no second +chance. I have told of this particular adventure, because it was an +unusual experience to see so many different animals in one night. I have +often been in similar places, and killed one or two. Once a common black +bear stole a whole deer from me without waking me. But all this life is +fast disappearing, and the world is becoming different." + + + + +VII. THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + +IT was one of the superstitions of the Santee Sioux to treat disease +from the standpoint of some animal or inanimate thing. That person who, +according to their belief, had been commissioned to become a medicine +man or a war chief, must not disobey the bear or other creature or +thing which gave him his commission. If he ever ventured to do so, the +offender must pay for his insubordination with his life, or that of his +own child or dearest friend. It was supposed to be necessary that the +supernatural orders be carried into effect at a particular age and a +certain season of the year. Occasionally a very young man, who excused +himself on the ground of youth and modesty, might be forgiven. + +One of my intimate friends had been a sufferer from what, I suppose, +must have been consumption. He, like myself, had a grandmother in whom +he had unlimited faith. But she was a very ambitious and pretentious +woman. Among her many claims was that of being a great "medicine woman," +and many were deceived by it; but really she was a fraud, for she did +not give any medicine, but "conjured" the sick exclusively. + +At this time my little friend was fast losing ground, in spite of +his grandmother's great pretensions. At last I hinted to him that my +grandmother was a herbalist, and a skilful one. But he hinted back to me +that 'most any old woman who could dig roots could be a herbalist, and +that without a supernatural commission there was no power that could +cope with disease. I defended my ideal on the ground that there are +supernatural powers in the herbs themselves; hence those who understand +them have these powers at their command. + +"But," insisted my friend, "one must get his knowledge from the Great +Mystery!" + +This completely silenced my argument, but did not shake my faith in my +grandmother's ability. + +Redhorn was a good boy, and I loved him. I visited him often, and found +him growing weaker day by day. + +"Ohiyesa," he said to me one day, "my grandmother has discovered the +cause of my sickness." + +I eagerly interrupted him by shouting: "And can she cure you now, +Redhorn?" + +"Of course," he replied, "she cannot until I have fulfilled the +commandment. I have confessed to her that two years ago I received my +commission, and I should have made a Bear Dance and proclaimed myself a +medicine man last spring, when I had seen thirteen winters. You see, I +was ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man, being so young; and for +this I am punished. However, my grandmother says it is not yet too late. +But, Ohiyesa, I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man. I can scarcely +stand up. They say that I can appoint some one else to act for me. He +will be the active bear--I shall have to remain in the hole. Would you, +Ohiyesa, be willing to act the bear for me? You know he has to chase the +dancers away from his den." + +"Redhorn," I replied with much embarrassment, "I should be happy to do +anything that I could for you, but I cannot be a bear. I feel that I +am not fit. I am not large enough; I am not strong enough; and I don't +understand the habits of the animal well enough. I do not think you +would be pleased with me as your substitute." + +Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a larger boy to perform +for him. A few days later, it was announced by the herald that my friend +would give a Bear Dance, at which he was to be publicly proclaimed a +medicine man. It would be the great event of his short existence, for +the disease had already exhausted his strength and vitality. Of course, +we all understood that there would be an active youth to exhibit the +ferocious nature of the beast after which the dance is named. + +The Bear Dance was an entertainment, a religious rite, a method of +treating disease--all in one. A strange thing about it was that no woman +was allowed to participate in the orgies, unless she was herself the +bear. + +The den was usually dug about two hundred yards from the camp, on some +conspicuous plain. It was about two feet deep and six feet square and +over it was constructed an arbor of boughs with four openings. When the +bear man sang, all the men and boys would gather and dance about the +den; and when he came out and pursued them there was a hasty retreat. It +was supposed that whoever touched the bear without being touched by him +would overcome a foe in the field. If one was touched, the reverse was +to be expected. The thing which caused most anxiety among the dancers +was the superstition that if one of them should accidentally trip and +fall while pursued by the bear, a sudden death would visit him or his +nearest relative. + +Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk in this dance; they would +take every opportunity to strike at the bear man with a short switch, +while the older men shot him with powder. It may as well be admitted +that one reason for my declining the honor offered me by my friend +Redhorn was that I was afraid of powder, and I much preferred to be +one of the dancers and take my chances of touching the bear man without +being touched. + +It was a beautiful summer's day. The forest behind our camp was sweet +with the breath of blossoming flowers. The teepees faced a large lake, +which we called Bedatanka. Its gentle waves cooled the atmosphere. +The water-fowl disported themselves over its surface, and the birds of +passage overhead noisily expressed their surprise at the excitement and +confusion in our midst. + +The herald, with his brassy voice, again went the rounds, announcing the +day's event and the tardy fulfillment of the boy's commission. Then +came the bustle of preparation. The out-door toilet of the people +was performed with care. I cannot describe just how I was attired or +painted, but I am under the impression that there was but little of my +brown skin that was not uncovered. The others were similarly dressed in +feathers, paint and tinkling ornaments. + +I soon heard the tom-tom's doleful sound from the direction of the +bear's den, and a few warwhoops from the throats of the youthful +warriors. As I joined the motley assembly, I noticed that the bear man's +drum was going in earnest, and soon after he began to sing. This was the +invitation to the dance. + +An old warrior gave the signal and we all started for the den, very much +like a group of dogs attacking a stranger. Frantically we yelled and +whooped, running around the sheltering arbor in a hop, skip and jump +fashion. In spite of the apparent confusion, however, every participant +was on the alert for the slightest movement of the bear man. + +All of a sudden, a brave gave the warning, and we scattered in an +instant over the little plain between the den and our village. Everybody +seemed to be running for dear life, and I soon found myself some yards +behind the rest. I had gone in boldly, partly because of conversations +with certain boys who proposed to participate, and whom I usually +outdistanced in foot races. But it seemed that they had not carried +out their intentions and I was left alone. I looked back once or twice, +although I was pretty busy with my legs, and I imagined that my pursuer, +the bear man, looked twice as fearful as a real bear. He was dressed and +painted up with a view to terrify the crowd. I did not want the others +to guess that I was at all dismayed, so I tried to give the war-whoop; +but my throat was so dry at the moment that I am sure I must have given +it very poorly. + +Just as it seemed that I was about to be overtaken, the dancers who +had deserted me suddenly slackened their speed, and entered upon the +amusement of tormenting the bear man with gunpowder and switches, with +which they touched him far from gently upon his naked body. They now +chased him in turn, and he again retreated to his den. + +We rested until we heard the tom-tom and the song once more, and then +we rushed forth with fresh eagerness to the mimic attack. This time I +observed all necessary precautions for my own safety. I started in +my flight even before the warning was given, for I saw the bear man +gathering himself up to spring upon the dancers. Thus I had plenty of +leeway to observe what occurred. The bear man again pursued the yelling +and retreating mob, and was dealt with unmercifully by the swift-footed. +He became much excited as he desperately chased a middle-aged man, who +occasionally turned and fired off his gun, but was suddenly tripped by +an ant-hill and fell to the ground, with the other on top of him. The +excitement was intense. The bear man returned to his companion, and the +dancers gathered in little knots to exchange whispers. + +"Is it not a misfortune?" "The most surefooted of us all!" "Will he +die?" "Must his beautiful daughter be sacrificed?" + +The man who was the subject of all this comment did not speak a word. +His head hung down. Finally he raised it and said in a resolute voice: + +"We all have our time to go, and when the Great Mystery calls us we must +answer as cheerfully as at the call of one of our own war-chiefs here +on earth. I am not sad for myself, but my heart is not willing that my +Winona (first-born daughter) should be called." + +No one replied. Presently the last tom-tom was heard and the dancers +rallied once more. The man who had fallen did not join them, but turned +to the council lodge, where the wise old men were leisurely enjoying the +calumet. They beheld him enter with some surprise; but he threw himself +upon a buffalo robe, and resting his head upon his right hand, related +what had happened to him. Thereupon the aged men exclaimed as with one +voice: "It never fails!" After this, he spoke no more. + +Meanwhile, we were hilariously engaged in our last dance, and when the +bear man finally retired, we gathered about the arbor to congratulate +the sick bear man. But, to our surprise, his companion did not re-enter +the den. "He is dead! Redhorn, the bear man, is dead!" We all rushed to +the spot. My poor friend, Redhorn, lay dead in the den. + +At this instant there was another commotion in the camp. Everybody was +running toward the council lodge. A well-known medicine man was loudly +summoned thither. But, alas! the man who fell in the dance had suddenly +dropped dead. + +To the people, another Indian superstition had been verified. + + + + +VIII. THE MAIDENS' FEAST + +THERE were many peculiar customs among the Indians of an earlier period, +some of which tended to strengthen the character of the people and +preserve their purity. Perhaps the most unique of these was the annual +"feast of maidens." The casual observer would scarcely understand the +full force and meaning of this ceremony. + +The last one that I ever witnessed was given at Fort Ellis, Manitoba, +about the year 1871. Upon the table land just back of the old trading +post and fully a thousand feet above the Assiniboine river, surrounded +by groves, there was a natural amphitheatre. At one end stood the old +fort where since 1830 the northern tribes had come to replenish their +powder horns and lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts. + +In this spot there was a reunion of all the renegade Sioux on the one +hand and of the Assiniboines and Crees, the Canadian tribes, on the +other. They were friendly. The matter was not formally arranged, but it +was usual for all the tribes to meet here in the month of July. + +The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red, blue, green and +white blankets, also cloth of brilliant dye, so that when their summer +festival occurred the Indians did not lack gayly colored garments. +Paints were bought by them at pleasure. Short sleeves were the fashion +in their buckskin dresses, and beads and porcupine quills were the +principal decorations. + +When circumstances are favorable, the Indians are the happiest people in +the world. There were entertainments every single day, which everybody +had the fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If anything, the poorest +profited the most by these occasions, because a feature in each case was +the giving away of savage wealth to the needy in honor of the event. At +any public affair, involving the pride and honor of a prominent family, +there must always be a distribution of valuable presents. + +One bright summer morning, while we were still at our meal of jerked +buffalo meat, we heard the herald of the Wahpeton band upon his calico +pony as he rode around our circle. + + +"White Eagle's daughter, the maiden Red Star, invites all the maidens +of all the tribes to come and partake of her feast. It will be in the +Wahpeton camp, before the sun reaches the middle of the sky. All pure +maidens are invited. Red Star also invites the young men to be present, +to see that no unworthy maiden should join in the feast." + +The herald soon completed the rounds of the different camps, and it was +not long before the girls began to gather in great numbers. The fort +was fully alive to the interest of these savage entertainments. This +particular feast was looked upon as a semi-sacred affair. It would be +desecration for any to attend who was not perfectly virtuous. Hence +it was regarded as an opportune time for the young men to satisfy +themselves as to who were the virtuous maids of the tribe. + +There were apt to be surprises before the end of the day. Any young man +was permitted to challenge any maiden whom he knew to be unworthy. But +woe to him who could not prove his case. It meant little short of death +to the man who endeavored to disgrace a woman without cause. + +The youths had a similar feast of their own, in which the eligibles were +those who had never spoken to a girl in the way of courtship. It was +considered ridiculous so to do before attaining some honor as a warrior, +and the novices prided themselves greatly upon their self control. + +From the various camps the girls came singly or in groups, dressed in +bright-colored calicoes or in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their +smooth cheeks and the central part of their glossy hair was touched with +vermilion. All brought with them wooden basins to eat from. Some who +came from a considerable distance were mounted upon ponies; a few, for +company or novelty's sake, rode double. + +The maidens' circle was formed about a coneshaped rock which stood upon +its base. This was painted red. Beside it two new arrows were lightly +stuck into the ground. This is a sort of altar, to which each maiden +comes before taking her assigned place in the circle, and lightly +touches first the stone and then the arrows. By this oath she declares +her purity. Whenever a girl approaches the altar there is a stir among +the spectators, and sometimes a rude youth would call out: + +"Take care! You will overturn the rock, or pull out the arrows!" + +Such a remark makes the girls nervous, and especially one who is not +sure of her composure. + +Immediately behind the maidens' circle is the old women's or chaperons' +circle. This second circle is almost as interesting to look at as the +inner one. The old women watched every movement of their respective +charges with the utmost concern, having previously instructed them how +they should conduct themselves in any event. + +There was never a more gorgeous assembly of the kind than this one. +The day was perfect. The Crees, displaying their characteristic +horsemanship, came in groups; the Assiniboines, with their curious +pompadour well covered with red paint. The various bands of Sioux all +carefully observed the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. +The attaches of the fort were fully represented at the entertainment, +and it was not unusual to see a pale-face maiden take part in the feast. + +The whole population of the region had assembled, and the maidens came +shyly into the circle. The simple ceremonies observed prior to the +serving of the food were in progress, when among a group of Wahpeton +Sioux young men there was a stir of excitement. All the maidens glanced +nervously toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon a tall youth emerged +from the throng of spectators and advanced toward the circle. Every one +of the chaperons glared at him as if to deter him from his purpose. But +with a steady step he passed them by and approached the maidens' circle. + +At last he stopped behind a pretty Assiniboine maiden of good family and +said: + +"I am sorry, but, according to custom, you should not be here." + +The girl arose in confusion, but she soon recovered her self-control. + +"What do you mean?" she demanded, indignantly. "Three times you have +come to court me, but each time I have refused to listen to you. I +turned my back upon you. Twice I was with Mashtinna. She can tell the +people that this is true. The third time I had gone for water when you +intercepted me and begged me to stop and listen. I refused because I did +not know you. My chaperon, Makatopawee, knows that I was gone but a few +minutes. I never saw you anywhere else." + +The young man was unable to answer this unmistakable statement of facts, +and it became apparent that he had sought to revenge himself for her +repulse. + +"Woo! woo! Carry him out!" was the order of the chief of the Indian +police, and the audacious youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine +to be chastised. + +The young woman who had thus established her good name returned to the +circle, and the feast was served. The "maidens' song" was sung, and four +times they danced in a ring around the altar. Each maid as she departed +once more took her oath to remain pure until she should meet her +husband. + + + + +IX. MORE LEGENDS + + + + +I: A Legend of Devil's Lake + +AFTER the death of Smoky Day, old Weyuha was regarded as the greatest +story-teller among the Wahpeton Sioux. + +"Tell me, good Weyuha, a legend of your father's country," I said to him +one evening, for I knew the country which is now known as North Dakota +and Southern Manitoba was their ancient hunting-ground. I was prompted +by Uncheedah to make this request, after the old man had eaten in our +lodge. + +"Many years ago," he began, as he passed the pipe to uncle, "we traveled +from the Otter-tail to Minnewakan (Devil's Lake). At that time the +mound was very distinct where Chotanka lies buried. The people of his +immediate band had taken care to preserve it. + +"This mound under which lies the great medicine man is upon the summit +of Minnewakan Chantay, the highest hill in all that region. It is shaped +like an animal's heart placed on its base, with the apex upward. + +"The reason why this hill is called Minnewakan Chantay, or the Heart of +the Mysterious Land, I will now tell you. It has been handed down +from generation to generation, far beyond the memory of our +great-grandparents. It was in Chotanka's line of descent that these +legends were originally kept, but when he died the stories became +everybody's, and then no one believed in them. It was told in this way." + +I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of the story-teller, and +now I took a deep breath and settled myself so that I might not disturb +him by the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale. We were +taught this courtesy to our elders, but I was impulsive and sometimes +forgot. + +"A long time ago," resumed Weyuha, "the red people were many in number, +and they inhabited all the land from the coldest place to the region of +perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all of one tongue, and +all were friends. + +"All the animals were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the +elk, the antelope, were tribes of considerable importance. The bears +were a smaller band, but they obeyed the mandates of the Great Mystery +and were his favorites, and for this reason they have always known more +about the secrets of medicine. So they were held in much honor. The +wolves, too, were highly regarded at one time. But the buffalo, elk, +moose, deer and antelope were the ruling people. + +"These soon became conceited and considered themselves very important, +and thought no one could withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the +smaller tribes, and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought +it best to change the people in form and in language. + +"He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten days. Into this tent he +invited the different bands, and when they came out they were greatly +changed, and some could not talk at all after that. However, there is +a sign language given to all the animals that no man knows except some +medicine men, and they are under a heavy penalty if they should tell it. + +"The buffalo came out of the darkened tent the clumsiest of all +the animals. The elk and moose were burdened with their heavy and +many-branched horns, while the antelope and deer were made the most +defenseless of animals, only that they are fleet of foot. The bear and +the wolf were made to prey upon all the others. + +"Man was alone then. When the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him +to keep his own shape and language. He was king over all the animals, +but they did not obey him. From that day, man's spirit may live with the +beasts before he is born a man. He will then know the animal language +but he cannot tell it in human speech. He always retains his sympathy +with them, and can converse with them in dreams. + +"I must not forget to tell you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent +in this very region. Some legends say that the Minnewakan Chantay was +the tent itself, which afterward became earth and stones. Many of +the animals were washed and changed in this lake, the Minnewakan, or +Mysterious Water. It is the only inland water we know that is salt. No +animal has ever swum in this lake and lived." + +"Tell me," I eagerly asked, "is it dangerous to man also?" + +"Yes," he replied, "we think so; and no Indian has ever ventured in that +lake to my knowledge. That is why the lake is called Mysterious," he +repeated. + +"I shall now tell you of Chotanka. He was the greatest of medicine +men. He declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was born in human +form." Weyuha seemed to become very earnest when he reached this point +in his story. "Listen to Chotanka's life as a grizzly bear." + +"'As a bear,' he used to say, 'my home was in sight of the Minnewakan +Chantay. I lived with my mother only one winter, and I only saw my +father when I was a baby. Then we lived a little way from the Chantay +to the north, among scattered oak upon a hillside overlooking the +Minnewakan. + +"'When I first remember anything, I was playing outside of our home with +a buffalo skull that I had found near by. I saw something that looked +strange. It walked upon two legs, and it carried a crooked stick, and +some red willows with feathers tied to them. It threw one of the willows +at me, and I showed my teeth and retreated within our den. + +"'Just then my father and mother came home with a buffalo calf. They +threw down the dead calf, and ran after the queer thing. He had long +hair upon a round head. His face was round, too. He ran and climbed up +into a small oak tree. + +"'My father and mother shook him down, but not before he had shot some +of his red willows into their sides. Mother was very sick, but she +dug some roots and ate them and she was well again.' It was thus that +Chotanka was first taught the use of certain roots for curing wounds and +sickness," Weyuha added. + +"'One day'"--he resumed the grizzly's story--"'when I was out hunting +with my mother-my father had gone away and never came back--we found +a buffalo cow with her calf in a ravine. She advised me to follow her +closely, and we crawled along on our knees. All at once mother crouched +down under the grass, and I did the same. We saw some of those queer +beings that we called "two legs," riding upon big-tail deer (ponies). +They yelled as they rode toward us. Mother growled terribly and rushed +upon them. She caught one, but many more came with their dogs and drove +us into a thicket. They sent the red willows singing after us, and two +of them stuck in mother's side. When we got away at last she tried to +pull them out, but they hurt her terribly. She pulled them both out at +last, but soon after she lay down and died. + +"'I stayed in the woods alone for two days then I went around the +Minnewakan Chantay on the south side and there made my lonely den. There +I found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns and wild plums. Upon the plains the +teepsinna were abundant, and I saw nothing of my enemies. + +"'One day I found a footprint not unlike my own. I followed it to +see who the stranger might be. Upon the bluffs among the oak groves +I discovered a beautiful young female gathering acorns. She was of a +different band from mine, for she wore a jet black dress. + +"'At first she was disposed to resent my intrusion; but when I told her +of my lonely life she agreed to share it with me. We came back to my +home on the south side of the hill. There we lived happy for a whole +year. When the autumn came again Woshepee, for this was her name, said +that she must make a warm nest for the winter, and I was left alone +again.' + +"Now," said Weyuha, "I have come to a part of my story that few people +understand. All the long winter Chotanka slept in his den, and with +the early spring there came a great thunder storm. He was aroused by a +frightful crash that seemed to shake the hills; and lo! a handsome young +man stood at his door. He looked, but was not afraid, for he saw that +the stranger carried none of those red willows with feathered tips. He +was unarmed and smiling. + +"'I come,' said he, 'with a challenge to run a race. Whoever wins will +be the hero of his kind, and the defeated must do as the winner says +thereafter. This is a rare honor that I have brought you. The whole +world will see the race. The animal world will shout for you, and the +spirits will cheer me on. You are not a coward, and therefore you will +not refuse my challenge.' + +"'No,' replied Chotanka, after a short hesitation. The young man was +fine-looking, but lightly built. + +"'We shall start from the Chantay, and that will be our goal. Come, let +us go, for the universe is waiting!' impatiently exclaimed the stranger. + +"He passed on in advance, and just then an old, old wrinkled man came to +Chotanka's door. He leaned forward upon his staff. + +"'My son,' he said to him, 'I don't want to make you a coward, but +this young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He has powerful +medicine. He gambles for life; be careful! My brothers and I are the +only ones who have ever beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed +he can resurrect himself--I tell you he is great medicine. + +"'However, I think that I can save you--listen! He will run behind you +all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal. Then he +will pass you by in a flash, for his name is ZigZag Fire! (lightning). +Here is my medicine.' So speaking, he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum +of a certain plant. 'When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the +gum, and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot pass you.' + +"'And who are you, grandfather?' Chotanka inquired. + +"'I am the medicine turtle,' the old man replied. 'The gambler is a +spirit from heaven, and those whom he outruns must shortly die. You have +heard, no doubt, that all animals know beforehand when they are to be +killed; and any man who understands these mysteries may also know when +he is to die.' + +"The race was announced to the world. The buffalo, elk, wolves and all +the animals came to look on. All the spirits of the air came also to +cheer for their comrade. In the sky the trumpet was sounded--the great +medicine drum was struck. It was the signal for a start. The course +was around the Minnewakan. (That means around the earth or the ocean.) +Everywhere the multitude cheered as the two sped by. + +"The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came once +more in sight of the Chantay. Then he felt a slight shock and he threw +his rabbit skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed +himself with the gum, and ran on until he reached the goal. There was +a great shout that echoed over the earth, but in the heavens there was +muttering and grumbling. The referee declared that the winner would live +to a good old age, and Zig-Zag Fire promised to come at his call. He was +indeed great medicine," Weyuha concluded. + +"But you have not told me how Chotanka became a man," I said. + +"One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep. She enticed him +into her white teepee to see what she had there. Then she shut the door +of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out. But the woman was kind +and petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee. Then it was +that he became a human born. This is a long story, but I think, Ohiyesa, +that you will remember it," said Weyuha, and so I did. + + + + +II. Manitoshaw's Hunting + +IT was in the winter, in the Moon of Difficulty (January). We had eaten +our venison roast for supper, and the embers were burning brightly. +Our teepee was especially cheerful. Uncheedah sat near the entrance, my +uncle and his wife upon the opposite side, while I with my pets occupied +the remaining space. + +Wabeda, the dog, lay near the fire in a half doze, watching out of the +corners of his eyes the tame raccoon, which snuggled back against +the walls of the teepee, his shrewd brain, doubtless, concocting some +mischief for the hours of darkness. I had already recited a legend of +our people. All agreed that I had done well. Having been generously +praised, I was eager to earn some more compliments by learning a new +one, so I begged my uncle to tell me a story. Musingly he replied: + +"I can give you a Sioux-Cree tradition," and immediately began: + +"Many winters ago, there were six teepees standing on the southern slope +of Moose mountain in the Moon of Wild Cherries (September). The men to +whom these teepees belonged had been attacked by the Sioux while hunting +buffalo, and nearly all killed. Two or three who managed to get home +to tell their sad story were mortally wounded, and died soon afterward. +There was only one old man and several small boys left to hunt and +provide for this unfortunate little band of women and children. + +"They lived upon teepsinna (wild turnips) and berries for many days. +They were almost famished for meat. The old man was too feeble to hunt +successfully. One day in this desolate camp a young Cree maiden--for +such they were--declared that she could no longer sit still and see her +people suffer. She took down her dead father's second bow and quiver +full of arrows, and begged her old grandmother to accompany her to Lake +Wanagiska, where she knew that moose had oftentimes been found. I forgot +to tell you that her name was Manitoshaw. + +"This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother, Nawakewee, took each a pony +and went far up into the woods on the side of the mountain. They pitched +their wigwam just out of sight of the lake, and hobbled their ponies. +Then the old woman said to Manitoshaw: + +"'Go, my granddaughter, to the outlet of the Wanagiska, and see if there +are any moose tracks there. When I was a young woman, I came here with +your father's father, and we pitched our tent near this spot. In the +night there came three different moose. Bring me leaves of the birch and +cedar twigs; I will make medicine for moose,' she added. + +"Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the woods. It was a grove of +birch and willow, with two good springs. Down below was a marshy place. +Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nibbled birch and willow twigs, +for the moose loves to eat them, and to have her arrow ready upon the +bow-string. 'I have seen this very place many a time,' added my uncle, +and this simple remark gave to the story an air of reality. + +"The Cree maiden went first to the spring, and there found fresh tracks +of the animal she sought. She gathered some cedar berries and chewed +them, and rubbed some of them on her garments so that the moose might +not scent her. The sun was already set, and she felt she must return to +Nawakewee. + +"Just then Hinhankaga, the hooting owl, gave his doleful night call. The +girl stopped and listened attentively. + +"'I thought it was a lover's call,' she whispered to herself. A singular +challenge pealed across the lake. She recognized the alarm call of the +loon, and fancied that the bird might have caught a glimpse of her game. + +"Soon she was within a few paces of the temporary lodge of pine boughs +and ferns which the grandmother had constructed. The old woman met her +on the trail. + +"'Ah, my child, you have returned none too soon. I feared you had +ventured too far away; for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt. +You must not expose yourself carelessly on the shore.' + +"As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies munch +the rich grass in an open spot near by. Through the smoke hole of the +pine-bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky, and dreamed +of what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise the wily +moose. Her grandmother was already sleeping so noisily that it was +enough to scare away the game. At last the maiden, too, lost herself in +sleep. + +"Old Nawakewee awoke early. First of all she made a fire and burned +cedar and birch so that the moose might not detect the human smell. Then +she quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries, and awoke the +maiden, who was surprised to see that the sun was already up. She ran +down to the spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water in +her face; then she looked for a moment in its mirror-like surface. +There was the reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them +Manitoshaw seemed to see a young man standing. In another moment all +three had disappeared. + +"'What is the matter with my eyes? I am not fully awake yet, and I +imagine things. Ugh, it is all in my eyes,' the maiden repeated to +herself. She hastened back to Nawakewee. The vision was so unexpected +and so startling that she could not believe in its truth, and she said +nothing to the old woman. + +"Breakfast eaten, Manitoshaw threw off her robe and appeared in her +scantily cut gown of buckskin with long fringes, and moccasins and +leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine. Her father's bow and +quiver were thrown over one shoulder, and the knife dangled from her +belt in its handsome sheath. She ran breathlessly along the shore toward +the outlet. + +"Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam with his mate, +occasionally uttering a cry of joy. Here and there the playful Hogan, +the trout, sprang gracefully out of the water, in a shower of falling +dew. As the maiden hastened along she scared up Wadawasee, the +kingfisher, who screamed loudly. + +"'Stop, Wadawasee, stop--you will frighten my game!' + +"At last she had reached the outlet. She saw at once that the moose +had been there during the night. They had torn up the ground and broken +birch and willow twigs in a most disorderly way." + +"Ah!" I exclaimed, "I wish I had been with Manitoshaw then!" + +"Hush, my boy; never interrupt a storyteller." + +I took a stick and began to level off the ashes in front of me, and to +draw a map of the lake, the outlet, the moose and Manitoshaw. Away off +to one side was the solitary wigwam, Nawakewee and the ponies. + +"Manitoshaw's heart was beating so loud that she could not hear +anything," resumed my uncle. "She took some leaves of the wintergreen +and chewed them to calm herself. She did not forget to throw in passing +a pinch of pulverized tobacco and paint into the spring for Manitou, the +spirit. + +"Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her eye was caught by a moving +form, and then another. She stood motionless, grasping her heavy bow. +The moose, not suspecting any danger, walked leisurely toward the +spring. One was a large female moose; the other a yearling. + +"As they passed Manitoshaw, moving so naturally and looking so harmless, +she almost forgot to let fly an arrow. The mother moose seemed to +look in her direction, but did not see her. They had fairly passed her +hiding-place when she stepped forth and sent a swift arrow into the side +of the larger moose. Both dashed into the thick woods, but it was too +late. The Cree maiden had already loosened her second arrow. Both fell +dead before reaching the shore." + +"Uncle, she must have had a splendid aim, for in the woods the many +little twigs make an arrow bound off to one side," I interrupted in +great excitement. + +"Yes, but you must remember she was very near the moose." + +"It seems to me, then, uncle, that they must have scented her, for +you have told me that they possess the keenest nose of any animal," I +persisted. + +"Doubtless the wind was blowing the other way. But, nephew, you must let +me finish my story. + +"Overjoyed by her success, the maiden hastened back to Nawakawee, but she +was gone! The ponies were gone, too, and the wigwam of branches had been +demolished. While Manitoshaw stood there, frightened and undecided what +to do, a soft voice came from behind a neighboring thicket: + +"'Manitoshaw! Manitoshaw! I am here!' + +"She at once recognized, the voice and found it to be Nawakeewee, who +told a strange story. That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska +carrying two men. They were Sioux. The old grandmother had seen them +coming, and to deceive them she at once pulled down her temporary +wigwam, and drove the ponies off toward home. Then she hid herself in +the bushes near by, for she knew that Manitoshaw must return there. + +"'Come, my granddaughter, we must hasten home by another way,' cried the +old woman. + +"But the maiden said, 'No, let us go first to my two moose that I killed +this morning and take some meat with us.' + +"'No, no, my child; the Sioux are cruel. They have killed many of +our people. If we stay here they will find us. I fear, I fear them, +Manitoshaw!' + +"At last the brave maid convinced her grandmother, and the more easily +as she too was hungry for meat. They went to where the big game lay +among the bushes, and began to dress the moose." + +"I think, if I were they, I would hide all day. I would wait until the +Sioux had gone; then I would go back to my moose," I interrupted for the +third time. + +"I will finish the story first; then you may tell us what you would do," +said my uncle reprovingly. + +"The two Sioux were father and son. They too had come to the lake for +moose; but as the game usually retreated to the island, Chatansapa had +landed his son Kangiska to hunt them on the shore while he returned in +his canoe to intercept their flight. The young man sped along the sandy +beach and soon discovered their tracks. He followed them up and found +blood on the trail. This astonished him. Cautiously he followed on until +he found them both lying dead. He examined them and found that in each +moose there was a single Cree arrow. Wishing to surprise the hunter if +possible, Kangiska lay hidden in the bushes. + +"After a little while the two women returned to the spot. They passed +him as close as the moose had passed the maiden in the morning. He saw +at once that the maiden had arrows in her quiver like those that had +slain the big moose. He lay still. + +"Kangiska looked upon the beautiful Cree maiden and loved her. Finally +he forgot himself and made a slight motion. Manitoshaw's quick eye +caught the little stir among the bushes, but she immediately looked the +other way and Kangiska believed that she had not seen anything, At last +her eyes met his, and something told both that all was well. Then the +maiden smiled, and the young man could not remain still any longer. +He arose suddenly and the old woman nearly fainted from fright. But +Manitoshaw said: + +"'Fear not, grandmother; we are two and he is only one.' + +"While the two women continued to cut up the meat, Kangiska made a fire +by rubbing cedar chips together, and they all ate of the moose meat. +Then the old woman finished her work, while the young people sat down +upon a log in the shade, and told each other all their minds. + +"Kangiska declared by signs that he would go home with Manitoshaw to the +Cree camp, for he loved her. They went home, and the young man hunted +for the unfortunate Cree band during the rest of his life. + +"His father waited a long time on the island and afterward searched the +shore, but never saw him again. He supposed that those footprints he saw +were made by Crees who had killed his son." + +"Is that story true, uncle?" I asked eagerly. + +"'Yes, the facts are well known. There are some Sioux mixed bloods among +the Crees to this day who are descendants of Kangiska." + + + + +X. INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE + + + + +I: Life in the Woods + +THE month of September recalls to every Indian's mind the season of the +fall hunt. I remember one such expedition which is typical of many. Our +party appeared on the northwestern side of Turtle mountain; for we had +been hunting buffaloes all summer, in the region of the Mouse river, +between that mountain and the upper Missouri. + +As our cone-shaped teepees rose in clusters along the outskirts of the +heavy forest that clothes the sloping side of the mountain, the scene +below was gratifying to a savage eye. The rolling yellow plains were +checkered with herds of buffaloes. Along the banks of the streams that +ran down from the mountains were also many elk, which usually appear +at morning and evening, and disappear into the forest during the warmer +part of the day. Deer, too, were plenty, and the brooks were alive with +trout. Here and there the streams were dammed by the industrious beaver. + +In the interior of the forest there were lakes with many islands, where +moose, elk, deer and bears were abundant. The water-fowl were wont to +gather here in great numbers, among them the crane, the swan, the loon, +and many of the smaller kinds. The forest also was filled with a great +variety of birds. Here the partridge drummed his loudest, while the +whippoorwill sang with spirit, and the hooting owl reigned in the night. + +To me, as a boy, this wilderness was a paradise. It was a land of +plenty. To be sure, we did not have any of the luxuries of civilization, +but we had every convenience and opportunity and luxury of Nature. We +had also the gift of enjoying our good fortune, whatever dangers might +lurk about us; and the truth is that we lived in blessed ignorance of +any life that was better than our own. + +As soon as hunting in the woods began, the customs regulating it were +established. The council teepee no longer existed. A hunting bonfire was +kindled every morning at day-break, at which each brave must appear and +report. The man who failed to do this before the party set out on the +day's hunt was harassed by ridicule. As a rule, the hunters started +before sunrise, and the brave who was announced throughout the camp as +the first one to return with a deer on his back, was a man to be envied. + +The legend-teller, old Smoky Day, was chosen herald of the camp, and it +was he who made the announcements. After supper was ended, we heard his +powerful voice resound among the teepees in the forest. He would then +name a man to kindle the bonfire the next morning. His suit of fringed +buckskin set off his splendid physique to advantage. + +Scarcely had the men disappeared in the woods each morning than all the +boys sallied forth, apparently engrossed in their games and sports, +but in reality competing actively with one another in quickness of +observation. As the day advanced, they all kept the sharpest possible +lookout. Suddenly there would come the shrill "Woo-coohoo!" at the top +of a boy's voice, announcing the bringing in of a deer. Immediately all +the other boys took up the cry, each one bent on getting ahead of the +rest. Now we all saw the brave Wacoota fairly bent over by his burden, a +large deer which he carried on his shoulders. His fringed buckskin shirt +was besprinkled with blood. He threw down the deer at the door of his +wife's mother's home, according to custom, and then walked proudly +to his own. At the door of his father's teepee he stood for a moment +straight as a pine-tree, and then entered. + +When a bear was brought in, a hundred or more of these urchins were wont +to make the woods resound with their voices: "Wah! wah! wah! Wah! wah! +wah! The brave White Rabbit brings a bear! Wah! wah! wah!" + +All day these sing-song cheers were kept up, as the game was brought +in. At last, toward the close of the afternoon, all the hunters had +returned, and happiness and contentment reigned absolute, in a fashion +which I have never observed among the white people, even in the best +of circumstances. The men were lounging and smoking; the women actively +engaged in the preparation of the evening meal, and the care of the +meat. The choicest of the game was cooked and offered to the Great +Mystery, with all the accompanying ceremonies. This we called the +"medicine feast." Even the women, as they lowered the boiling pot, +or the fragrant roast of venison ready to serve, would first whisper: +"Great Mystery, do thou partake of this venison, and still be gracious!" +This was the commonly said "grace." + +Everything went smoothly with us, on this occasion, when we first +entered the woods. Nothing was wanting to our old way of living. The +killing of deer and elk and moose had to be stopped for a time, since +meat was so abundant that we had no use for them any longer. Only the +hunting for pelts, such as those of the bear, beaver, marten, and otter +was continued. But whenever we lived in blessed abundance, our braves +were wont to turn their thoughts to other occupations--especially the +hot-blooded youths whose ambition it was to do something noteworthy. + +At just such moments as this there are always a number of priests in +readiness, whose vocation it is to see into the future, and each of whom +consults his particular interpreter of the Great Mystery. (This ceremony +is called by the white people "making medicine.") To the priests the +youthful braves hint their impatience for the war-path. Soon comes the +desired dream or prophecy or vision to favor their departure. + +Our young men presently received their sign, and for a few days all was +hurry and excitement. On the appointed morning we heard the songs of the +warriors and the wailing of the women, by which they bade adieu to +each other, and the eligible braves, headed by an experienced man--old +Hotanka or Loud-Voiced Raven--set out for the Gros Ventre country. + +Our older heads, to be sure, had expressed some disapproval of the +undertaking, for the country in which we were roaming was not our own, +and we were likely at any time to be taken to task by its rightful +owners. The plain truth of the matter was that we were intruders. Hence +the more thoughtful among us preferred to be at home, and to achieve +what renown they could get by defending their homes and families. The +young men, however, were so eager for action and excitement that they +must needs go off in search of it. + +From the early morning when these braves left us, led by the old +war-priest, Loud-Voiced Raven, the anxious mothers, sisters and +sweethearts counted the days. Old Smoky Day would occasionally get up +early in the morning, and sing a "strong-heart" song for his absent +grandson. I still seem to hear the hoarse, cracked voice of the ancient +singer as it resounded among the woods. For a long time our roving +community enjoyed unbroken peace, and we were spared any trouble or +disturbance. Our hunters often brought in a deer or elk or bear for +fresh meat. The beautiful lakes furnished us with fish and wild-fowl +for variety. Their placid waters, as the autumn advanced, reflected the +variegated colors of the changing foliage. + +It is my recollection that we were at this time encamped in the vicinity +of the "Turtle Mountain's Heart." It is to the highest cone-shaped peak +that the Indians aptly give this appellation. Our camping-ground for two +months was within a short distance of the peak, and the men made it a +point to often send one of their number to the top. It was understood +between them and the war party that we were to remain near this spot; +and on their return trip the latter were to give the "smoke sign," which +we would answer from the top of the hill. + +One day, as we were camping on the shore of a large lake with several +islands, signs of moose were discovered, and the men went off to them on +rafts, carrying their flint-lock guns in anticipation of finding two or +three of the animals. We little fellows, as usual, were playing down by +the sandy shore, when we spied what seemed like the root of a great tree +floating toward us. But on a closer scrutiny we discovered our error. +It was the head of a huge moose, swimming for his life! Fortunately for +him, none of the men had remained at home. + +According to our habit, we little urchins disappeared in an instant, +like young prairie chickens, in the long grass. I was not more than +eight years old, yet I tested the strength of my bowstring and adjusted +my sharpest and best arrow for immediate service. My heart leaped +violently as the homely but imposing animal neared the shore. I was +undecided for a moment whether I would not leave my hiding-place and +give a war-whoop as soon as he touched the sand. Then I thought I would +keep still and let him have my boy weapon; and the only regret that +I had was that he would, in all probability, take it with him, and I +should be minus one good arrow. + +"Still," I thought, "I shall claim to be the smallest boy whose arrow +was ever carried away by a moose." That was enough. I gathered myself +into a bunch, all ready to spring. As the long-legged beast pulled +himself dripping out of the water, and shook off the drops from his long +hair, I sprang to my feet. I felt some of the water in my face! I gave +him my sharpest arrow with all the force I could master, right among the +floating ribs. Then I uttered my warwhoop. + +The moose did not seem to mind the miniature weapon, but he was very +much frightened by our shrill yelling. He took to his long legs, and in +a minute was out of sight. + +The leaves had now begun to fall, and the heavy frosts made the nights +very cold. We were forced to realize that the short summer of that +region had said adieu! Still we were gay and lighthearted, for we had +plenty of provisions, and no misfortune had yet overtaken us in our +wanderings over the country for nearly three months. + +One day old Smoky Day returned from the daily hunt with an alarm. He had +seen a sign-a "smoke sign." This had not appeared in the quarter that +they were anxiously watching--it came from the east. After a long +consultation among the men, it was concluded from the nature and +duration of the smoke that it proceeded from an accidental fire. It was +further surmised that the fire was not made by Sioux, since it was out +of their country, but by a war-party of Ojibways, who were accustomed +to use matches when lighting their pipes, and to throw them carelessly +away. It was thought that a little time had been spent in an attempt to +put it out. + +The council decreed that a strict look-out should be established in +behalf of our party. Every day a scout was appointed to reconnoitre in +the direction of the smoke. It was agreed that no gun should be fired +for twelve days. All our signals were freshly rehearsed among the men. +The women and old men went so far as to dig little convenient holes +around their lodges, for defense in case of a sudden attack. And yet an +Ojibway scout would not have suspected, from the ordinary appearance of +the camp, that the Sioux had become aware of their neighborhood! Scouts +were stationed just outside of the village at night. They had been so +trained as to rival an owl or a cat in their ability to see in the dark. + +The twelve days passed by, however, without bringing any evidence of +the nearness of the supposed Ojibway war-party, and the "lookout" +established for purposes of protection was abandoned. Soon after this, +one morning at dawn, we were aroused by the sound of the unwelcome +warwhoop. Although only a child, I sprang up and was about to rush out, +as I had been taught to do; but my good grandmother pulled me down, and +gave me a sign to lay flat on the ground. I sharpened my ears and lay +still. + +All was quiet in camp, but at some little distance from us there was a +lively encounter. I could distinctly hear the old herald, shouting and +yelling in exasperation. "Whoo! whoo!" was the signal of distress, and I +could almost hear the pulse of my own blood-vessels. + +Closer and closer the struggle came, and still the women appeared to +grow more and more calm. At last a tremendous charge by the Sioux put +the enemy to flight; there was a burst of yelling; alas! my friend and +teacher, old Smoky Day, was silent. He had been pierced to the heart by +an arrow from the Ojibways. + +Although successful, we had lost two of our men, Smoky Day and White +Crane, and this incident, although hardly unexpected, darkened our +peaceful sky. The camp was filled with songs of victory, mingled with +the wailing of the relatives of the slain. The mothers of the youths who +were absent on the war-path could no longer conceal their anxiety. + +One frosty morning--for it was then near the end of October--the weird +song of a solitary brave was heard. In an instant the camp was thrown +into indescribable confusion. The meaning of this was clear as day to +everybody--all of our war-party were killed, save the one whose mournful +song announced the fate of his companions. The lonely warrior was Bald +Eagle. + +The village was convulsed with grief; for in sorrow, as in joy, every +Indian shares with all the others. The old women stood still, wherever +they might be, and wailed dismally, at intervals chanting the praises +of the departed warriors. The wives went a little way from their teepees +and there audibly mourned; but the young maidens wandered further away +from the camp, where no one could witness their grief. The old men +joined in the crying and singing. To all appearances the most unmoved of +all were the warriors, whose tears must be poured forth in the country +of the enemy to embitter their vengeance. These sat silently within +their lodges, and strove to conceal their feelings behind a stoical +countenance; but they would probably have failed had not the soothing +weed come to their relief. + +The first sad shock over, then came the change of habiliments. In +savage usage, the outward expression of mourning surpasses that of +civilization. The Indian mourner gives up all his good clothing, and +contents himself with scanty and miserable garments. Blankets are cut in +two, and the hair is cropped short. Often a devoted mother would +scarify her arms or legs; a sister or a young wife would cut off all her +beautiful hair and disfigure herself by undergoing hardships. Fathers +and brothers blackened their faces, and wore only the shabbiest +garments. Such was the spectacle that our people presented when the +bright autumn was gone and the cold shadow of winter and misfortune +had fallen upon us. "We must suffer," said they--"the Great Mystery is +offended." + + + + +II. A Winter Camp + +WHEN I was about twelve years old we wintered upon the Mouse river, west +of Turtle mountain. It was one of the coldest winters I ever knew, and +was so regarded by the old men of the tribe. The summer before there had +been plenty of buffalo upon that side of the Missouri, and our people +had made many packs of dried buffalo meat and cached them in different +places, so that they could get them in case of need. There were many +black-tailed deer and elk along the river, and grizzlies were to be +found in the open country. Apparently there was no danger of starvation, +so our people thought to winter there; but it proved to be a hard +winter. + +There was a great snow-fall, and the cold was intense. The snow was +too deep for hunting, and the main body of the buffalo had crossed the +Missouri, where it was too far to go after them. But there were some +smaller herds of the animals scattered about in our vicinity, therefore +there was still fresh meat to be had, but it was not secured without a +great deal of difficulty. + +No ponies could be used. The men hunted on snow-shoes until after the +Moon of Sore Eyes (March), when after a heavy thaw a crust was formed +on the snow which would scarcely hold a man. It was then that our people +hunted buffalo with dogs--an unusual expedient. + +Sleds were made of buffalo ribs and hickory saplings, the runners bound +with rawhide with the hair side down. These slipped smoothly over the +icy crust. Only small men rode on the sleds. When buffalo were reported +by the hunting-scouts, everybody had his dog team ready. All went under +orders from the police, and approached the herd under cover until they +came within charging distance. + +The men had their bows and arrows, and a few had guns. The huge animals +could not run fast in the deep snow. They all followed a leader, +trampling out a narrow path. The dogs with their drivers soon caught up +with them on each side, and the hunters brought many of them down. + +I remember when the party returned, late in the night. The men came +in single file, well loaded, and each dog following his master with an +equally heavy load. Both men and animals were white with frost. + +We boys had waited impatiently for their arrival. As soon as we spied +them coming a buffalo hunting whistle was started, and every urchin in +the village added his voice to the weird sound, while the dogs who had +been left at home joined with us in the chorus. The men, wearing their +buffalo moccasins with the hair inside and robes of the same, came home +hungry and exhausted. + +It is often supposed that the dog in the Indian camp is a useless member +of society, but it is not so in the wild life. We found him one of the +most useful of domestic animals, especially in an emergency. + +While at this camp a ludicrous incident occurred that is still told +about the camp-fires of the Sioux. One day the men were hunting on +snow-shoes, and contrived to get within a short distance of the buffalo +before they made the attack. It was impossible to run fast, but the huge +animals were equally unable to get away. Many were killed. Just as the +herd reached an open plain one of the buffaloes stopped and finally lay +down. Three of the men who were pursuing him shortly came up. The animal +was severely wounded, but not dead. + +"I shall crawl up to him from behind and stab him," said Wamedee; "we +cannot wait here for him to die." The others agreed. Wamedee was not +considered especially brave; but he took out his knife and held it +between his teeth. He then approached the buffalo from behind and +suddenly jumped astride his back. + +The animal was dreadfully frightened and struggled to his feet. +Wamedee's knife fell to the ground, but he held on by the long shaggy +hair. He had a bad seat, for he was upon the buffalo's hump. There was +no chance to jump off; he had to stay on as well as he could. + +"Hurry! hurry! shoot! shoot!" he screamed, as the creature plunged and +kicked madly in the deep snow. Wamedee's face looked deathly, they said; +but his two friends could not help laughing. He was still calling upon +them to shoot, but when the others took aim he would cry: "Don't shoot! +don't shoot! you will kill me!" At last the animal fell down with him; +but Wamedee's two friends also fell down exhausted with laughter. He was +ridiculed as a coward thereafter. + +It was on this very hunt that the chief Mato was killed by a buffalo. It +happened in this way. He had wounded the animal, but not fatally; so +he shot two more arrows at him from a distance. Then the buffalo became +desperate and charged upon him. In his flight Mato was tripped by +sticking one of his snow-shoes into a snowdrift, from which he could not +extricate himself in time. The bull gored him to death. The creek upon +which this happened is now called Mato creek. + +A little way from our camp there was a log village of French Canadian +half-breeds, but the two villages did not intermingle. About the Moon of +Difficulty (January) we were initiated into some of the peculiar customs +of our neighbors. In the middle of the night there was a firing of +guns throughout their village. Some of the people thought they had been +attacked, and went over to assist them, but to their surprise they were +told that this was the celebration of the birth of the new year! + +Our men were treated to minnewakan or "spirit water," and they came home +crazy and foolish. They talked loud and sang all the rest of the night. +Finally our head chief ordered his young men to tie these men up and put +them in a lodge by themselves. He gave orders to untie them "when the +evil spirit had gone away." + +During the next day all our people were invited to attend the +half-breeds' dance. I never knew before that a new year begins in +mid-winter. We had always counted that the year ends when the winter +ends, and a new year begins with the new life in the springtime. + +I was now taken for the first time to a white man's dance in a log +house. I thought it was the dizziest thing I ever saw. One man sat in +a corner, sawing away at a stringed board, and all the while he was +stamping the floor with his foot and giving an occasional shout. When he +called out, the dancers seemed to move faster. + +The men danced with women--something that we Indians never do--and when +the man in the corner shouted they would swing the women around. It +looked very rude to me, as I stood outside with the other boys and +peeped through the chinks in the logs. At one time a young man and woman +facing each other danced in the middle of the floor. I thought they +would surely wear their moccasins out against the rough boards; but +after a few minutes they were relieved by another couple. + +Then an old man with long curly hair and a fox-skin cap danced alone in +the middle of the room, slapping the floor with his moccasined foot in +a lightning fashion that I have never seen equalled. He seemed to be +a leader among them. When he had finished, the old man invited our +principal chief into the middle of the floor, and after the Indian had +given a great whoop, the two drank in company. After this, there was so +much drinking and loud talking among the men, that it was thought best +to send us children back to the camp. + +It was at this place that we found many sand boulders like a big "white +man's house." There were holes in them like rooms, and we played in +these cave-like holes. One day, in the midst of our game, we found the +skeleton of a great bear. Evidently he had been wounded and came there +to die, for there were several arrows on the floor of the cave. + +The most exciting event of this year was the attack that the Gros +Ventres made upon us just as we moved our camp upon the table land back +of the river in the spring. We had plenty of meat then and everybody was +happy. The grass was beginning to appear and the ponies to grow fat. + +One night there was a war dance. A few of our young men had planned to +invade the Gros Ventres country, but it seemed that they too had been +thinking of us. Everybody was interested in the proposed war party. + +"Uncle, are you going too?" I eagerly asked him. + +"No," he replied, with a long sigh. "It is the worst time of year to go +on the war-path. We shall have plenty of fighting this summer, as we are +going to trench upon their territory in our hunts," he added. + +The night was clear and pleasant. The war drum was answered by the howls +of coyotes on the opposite side of the Mouse river. I was in the throng, +watching the braves who were about to go out in search of glory. "I wish +I were old enough; I would surely go with this party," I thought. My +friend Tatanka was to go. He was several years older than I, and a +hero in my eyes. I watched him as he danced with the rest until nearly +midnight. Then I came back to our teepee and rolled myself in my buffalo +robe and was soon lost in sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by loud war cries. "'Woo! woo! hay-ay! hay-ay! U +we do! U we do!'" I jumped upon my feet, snatched my bow and arrows and +rushed out of the teepee, frantically yelling as I went. + +"Stop! stop!" screamed Uncheedah, and caught me by my long hair. + +By this time the Gros Ventres had encircled our camp, sending volleys +of arrows and bullets into our midst. The women were digging ditches in +which to put their children. + +My uncle was foremost in the battle. The Sioux bravely withstood the +assault, although several of our men had already fallen. Many of the +enemy were killed in the field around our teepees. The Sioux at last got +their ponies and made a counter charge, led by Oyemakasan (my uncle). +They cut the Gros Ventre party in two, and drove them off. + +My friend Tatanka was killed. I took one of his eagle feathers, thinking +I would wear it the first time that I ever went upon the war-path. I +thought I would give anything for the opportunity to go against the Gros +Ventres, because they killed my friend. The war songs, the wailing for +the dead, the howling of the dogs was intolerable to me. Soon after this +we broke up our camp and departed for new scenes. + + + + +III. Wild Harvests + +WHEN our people lived in Minnesota, a good part of their natural +subsistence was furnished by the wild rice, which grew abundantly in all +of that region. Around the shores and all over some of the innumerable +lakes of the "Land of Sky-blue Water" was this wild cereal found. +Indeed, some of the watery fields in those days might be compared +in extent and fruitfulness with the fields of wheat on Minnesota's +magnificent farms to-day. + +The wild rice harvesters came in groups of fifteen to twenty families +to a lake, depending upon the size of the harvest. Some of the Indians +hunted buffalo upon the prairie at this season, but there were more who +preferred to go to the lakes to gather wild rice, fish, gather berries +and hunt the deer. There was an abundance of water-fowls among the +grain; and really no season of the year was happier than this. + +The camping-ground was usually an attractive spot, with shade and cool +breezes off the water. The people, while they pitched their teepees upon +the heights, if possible, for the sake of a good outlook, actually lived +in their canoes upon the placid waters. The happiest of all, perhaps, +were the young maidens, who were all day long in their canoes, in twos +or threes, and when tired of gathering the wild cereal, would sit in the +boats doing their needle-work. + +These maidens learned to imitate the calls of the different water-fowls +as a sort of signal to the members of a group. Even the old women and +the boys adopted signals, so that while the population of the village +was lost to sight in a thick field of wild rice, a meeting could be +arranged without calling any one by his or her own name. It was a great +convenience for those young men who sought opportunity to meet certain +maidens, for there were many canoe paths through the rice. + +August is the harvest month. There were many preliminary feasts of fish, +ducks and venison, and offerings in honor of the "Water Chief," so +that there might not be any drowning accident during the harvest. The +preparation consisted of a series of feasts and offerings for many days, +while women and men were making birch canoes, for nearly every member +of the family must be provided with one for this occasion. The blueberry +and huckleberry-picking also preceded the rice-gathering. + +There were social events which enlivened the camp of the harvesters; +such as maidens' feasts, dances and a canoe regatta or two, in which not +only the men were participants, but women and young girls as well. + +On the appointed day all the canoes were carried to the shore and placed +upon the water with prayer and propitiatory offerings. Each family took +possession of the allotted field, and tied all the grain in bundles of +convenient size, allowing it to stand for a few days. Then they again +entered the lake, assigning two persons to each canoe. One manipulated +the paddle, while the foremost one gently drew the heads of each bundle +toward him and gave it a few strokes with a light rod. This caused the +rice to fall into the bottom of the craft. The field was traversed in +this manner back and forth until finished. + +This was the pleasantest and easiest part of the harvest toil. The real +work was when they prepared the rice for use. First of all, it must be +made perfectly dry. They would spread it upon buffalo robes and mats, +and sometimes upon layers of coarse swamp grass, and dry it in the sun. +If the time was short, they would make a scaffold and spread upon it a +certain thickness of the green grass and afterward the rice. Under this +a fire was made, taking care that the grass did not catch fire. + +When all the rice is gathered and dried, the hulling begins. A round +hole is dug about two feet deep and the same in diameter. Then the rice +is heated over a fire-place, and emptied into the hole while it is hot. +A young man, having washed his feet and put on a new pair of moccasins, +treads upon it until all is hulled. The women then pour it upon a robe +and begin to shake it so that the chaff will be separated by the wind. +Some of the rice is browned before being hulled. + +During the hulling time there were prizes offered to the young men who +can hull quickest and best. There were sometimes from twenty to fifty +youths dancing with their feet in these holes. + +Pretty moccasins were brought by shy maidens to the youths of their +choice, asking them to hull rice. There were daily entertainments which +deserved some such name as "hulling bee"--at any rate, we all enjoyed +them hugely. The girls brought with them plenty of good things to eat. + +When all the rice was prepared for the table, the matter of storing it +must be determined. Caches were dug by each family in a concealed +spot, and carefully lined with dry grass and bark. Here they left their +surplus stores for a time of need. Our people were very ingenious in +covering up all traces of the hidden food. A common trick was to build +a fire on top of the mound. As much of the rice as could be carried +conveniently was packed in par-fleches, or cases made of rawhide, and +brought back with us to our village. + +After all, the wild Indians could not be justly termed improvident, when +their manner of life is taken into consideration. They let nothing go +to waste, and labored incessantly during the summer and fall to lay +up provision for the inclement season. Berries of all kinds were +industriously gathered, and dried in the sun. Even the wild cherries +were pounded up, stones and all, made into small cakes and dried for use +in soups and for mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to form a +much-prized Indian delicacy. + +Out on the prairie in July and August the women were wont to dig +teepsinna with sharpened sticks, and many a bag full was dried and put +away. This teepsinna is the root of a certain plant growing mostly upon +high sandy soil. It is starchy but solid, with a sweetish taste, and is +very fattening. The fully grown teepsinna is two or three inches long, +and has a dark-brown bark not unlike the bark of a young tree. It can be +eaten raw or stewed, and is always kept in a dried state, except when it +is first dug. + +There was another root that our people gathered in small quantities. It +is a wild sweet potato, found in bottom lands or river beds. + +The primitive housekeeper exerted herself much to secure a variety of +appetizing dishes; she even robbed the field mouse and the muskrat to +accomplish 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 domestic bean that I have ever tasted. Her storehouse is +usually under a peculiar mound, which the untrained 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 +vegetable, for she always gathers it more than any other. There is also +some of the white star-like manakcahkcah, 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. + +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, +perfumes it with scented grass or leaves, then arranges it in two plaits +with an otter skin or some other ornament. 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 maiden--especially 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 everybody 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, 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 surrendering to a woman. + +Sometimes a youth is so infatuated with a maiden 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 objection to him on the part of the girl's parents, although 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 following 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, protruding 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! 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 adjust 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 woman! 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 nothing 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 +disappear in the darkness. + + + + +IV. A Meeting on the Plains + +WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river, a tributary +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 +report, 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 examination. Before a decision had been reached, another +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 positive +information that the Canadians were at hand, "for," said they, "there +are no bright metals in the moving train to send forth flashes of light. +The separate bodies are short, like carts with ponies, and not like the +long, four-wheeled wagon drawn by four or six mules, that the soldiers +use. They are not buffaloes, and they cannot be mounted troops, with +pack-mules, because the individual bodies are too long for that. +Besides, the soldiers usually have their chief, with his guards, leading +the train; and the little chiefs are also separated from the main body +and ride at one side!" + +From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet with +the bois brules, as the French call their mixed-bloods, presumably from +the color of their complexions. Some say that they are named from the +"burned forests" which, as wood-cutters, they are accustomed to leave +behind them. Two or three hours later, at about sunset, our ears began +to distinguish the peculiar music that always accompanied a moving train +of their carts. It is like the grunting and squealing of many animals, +and is due to the fact that the wheels and all other parts of these +vehicles are made of wood. Our dogs gleefully augmented the volume of +inharmonious sound. + +They stopped a little way from our camp, upon a grassy plain, and the +ponies were made to wheel their clumsy burdens into a perfect +circle, the shafts being turned inward. Thus was formed a sort of +barricade--quite a usual and necessary precaution in their nomadic and +adventurous life. Within this circle the tents were pitched, and many +cheerful fires were soon kindled. The garcons were hurriedly driving +the ponies to water, with much cracking of whips and outbursting of +impatient oaths. + +Our chief and his principal warriors briefly conferred with the +strangers, and it was understood by both parties that no thought of +hostilities lurked in the minds of either. + +After having observed the exchange of presents that always follows +a "peace council," there were friendly and hospitable feasts in both +camps. The bois brules had been long away from any fort or trading-post, +and it so happened that their inevitable whiskey keg was almost empty. +They had diluted the few gills remaining with several large kettles full +of water. In order to have any sort of offensive taste, it was necessary +to add cayenne pepper and a little gentian. + +Our men were treated to this concoction; and seeing that two or three +of the half-breeds pretended to become intoxicated, our braves followed +their example. They made night intolerable with their shouts and singing +until past midnight, when gradually all disturbance ceased, and both +camps appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber. + +Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the sleepers. Many more +reports were heard in quick succession, all coming from the camp of the +bois brules. Every man among the Sioux sprang to his feet, weapon in +hand, and many ran towards their ponies. But there was one significant +point about the untimely firing of the guns--they were all directed +heavenward! One of our old men, who understood better than any one else +the manners of the half-breeds, thus proclaimed at the top of his voice: + +"Let the people sleep! This that we have heard is the announcement of +a boy's advent into the world! It is their custom to introduce with +gunpowder a new-born boy!" + +Again quiet was restored in the neighboring camps, and for a time the +night reigned undisturbed. But scarcely had we fallen into a sound sleep +when we were for the second time rudely aroused by the firing of guns +and the yelling of warriors. This time it was discovered that almost all +the ponies, including those of our neighbors, had been stealthily driven +off by horse-thieves of another tribe. + +These miscreants were adepts in their profession, for they had +accomplished their purpose with much skill, almost under the very eyes +of the foe, and had it not been for the invincible superstition of Slow +Dog, they would have met with complete success. As it was, they caused +us no little trouble and anxiety, but after a hot pursuit of a whole +day, with the assistance of the halfbreeds our horses were recaptured. + +Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled with conceit, and +boasting loudly their pretensions as medicine men, without any success, +only bring upon themselves an unnecessary amount of embarrassment and +ridicule. Yet there is one quality always possessed by such persons, +among a savage people as elsewhere--namely, great perseverance and +tenacity in their self-assertion. So the blessing of ignorance kept Slow +Dog always cheerful; and he seemed, if anything, to derive some pleasure +from the endless insinuations and ridicule of the people! + +Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed, on the night before this event, that +he had received the warning of a bad dream, in which he had seen all the +ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and driven westward. + +"But who cares for Slow Dog's dream?" said everybody; "none of the +really great medicine men have had any such visions!" + +Therefore our little community, given as they were to superstition, +anticipated no special danger. It is true that when the first scout +reported the approach of troops some of the people had weakened, and +said to one another: + +"After all, perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right; but we are always too +ready to laugh at him!" + +However, this feeling quickly passed away when the jovial Canadians +arrived, and the old man was left alone to brood upon his warning. + +He was faithful to his dream. During all the hilarity of the feast and +the drinking of the mock whiskey, be acted as self-constituted sentinel. +Finally, when everybody else had succumbed to sleep, he gathered +together several broken and discarded lariats of various +materials--leather, buffalo's hair and horse's hair. Having lengthened +this variegated rope with innumerable knots, he fastened one end of it +around the neck of his old war-horse, and tied the other to his wrist. +Instead of sleeping inside the tent as usual, he rolled himself in a +buffalo robe and lay down in its shadow. From this place he watched +until the moon had disappeared behind the western horizon; and just as +the grey dawn began to appear in the east his eyes were attracted to +what seemed to be a dog moving among the picketed ponies. Upon a closer +scrutiny, he saw that its actions were unnatural. + +"Toka abe do! toka abe do!" (the enemy! the enemy!) exclaimed Slow Dog. +With a warwhoop he sprang toward the intruder, who rose up and leaped +upon the back of Slow Dog's warsteed. He had cut the hobble, as well as +the device of the old medicine man. + +The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot, but it was too late. The other +quickly dodged behind the animal, and from under its chest he sent a +deadly arrow to Slow Dog's bosom. Then he remounted the pony and set off +at full speed after his comrades, who had already started. + +As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm, and passed by the daring old +warrior in pursuit of their enemies, who had stampeded most of the loose +ponies, the old man cried out: + +"I, brave Slow Dog, who have so often made a path for you on the field +of battle, am now about to make one to the land of spirits!" + +So speaking, the old man died. The Sioux were joined in the chase by the +friendly mixedbloods, and in the end the Blackfeet were compelled to pay +dearly for the blood of the poor old man. + +On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed brilliant and smiling, but +the Sioux were mourning and wailing for the death of one who had been +an object of ridicule during most of his life. They appreciated the part +that Slow Dog had played in this last event, and his memory was honored +by all the tribe. + + + + +V. An Adventurous Journey + +IT must now be about thirty years since our long journey in search of +new hunting-grounds, from the Assiniboine river to the Upper Missouri. +The buffalo, formerly so abundant between the two rivers, had begun to +shun their usual haunts, on account of the great numbers of Canadian +halfbreeds in that part of the country. There was also the first influx +of English sportsmen, whose wholesale methods of destruction wrought +such havoc with the herds. These seemingly intelligent animals correctly +prophesied to the natives the approach of the pale-face. + +As we had anticipated, we found game very scarce as we travelled slowly +across the vast plains. There were only herds of antelope and sometimes +flocks of waterfowl, with here and there a lonely bull straggling +aimlessly along. At first our party was small, but as we proceeded +on our way we fell in with some of the western bands of Sioux and +Assiniboines, who are close connections. + +Each day the camp was raised and marched from ten to twenty miles. +One might wonder how such a cavalcade would look in motion. The 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 +others 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 ordinary company of travelers. + +This journey of ours was not without its exciting 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 injuries that they had inflicted upon our family. +This time he met with a company of soldiers between 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 promotions 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 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 performed 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 requires a great deal of skill as +well. + +A misfortune occurred near the river which deprived 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 Christian 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 disposed to part with his fine mules. A certain +one of the mixed-bloods was intent upon getting possession 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 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 murderer. The confusion was +made yet more intolerable by the wailing of the women and the singing of +death-songs. + +Our number was now ten to one of the halfbreeds. 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 signal of their chief. + +The older men, however, were discussing in council what should be +demanded of the halfbreeds. It was determined that the murderer must be +given up to us, to be punished according 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 offenders 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 deerskin 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, unarmed and making the sign +for a peaceful communication. He was admitted to the council, which +was still in session, and offered to give up the murderer. It was also +proposed, as an alternative, 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 regarded as incompetent judges, under the +circumstances. 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 whipping, 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 +officer, who was not always the chief, but a member of the tribe +appointed to this position for a given number of days. There were 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 destroy his +tent or take away his weapons. When all the sticks had been returned, +they were reissued 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 necessary +qualification for the office of an Indian policeman. 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 discovery 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 +serve for a certain length of time. An Indian might hunt every day, +besides the regularly organized hunt; but he was liable to punishment at +any time. If he could kill a solitary buffalo or deer without disturbing +the herd, it was allowed. He might also hunt small game. + +In the movable town under such a government as this, there was apt to +be inconvenience and actual suffering, since a great body of people were +supported only by the daily hunt. Hence there was a constant disposition +to break up into smaller parties, in order to obtain food more easily +and freely. Yet the wise men of the Dakotas would occasionally form +large bands of from two to five thousand people, who camped and moved +about together for a period of some months. It is apparent that so large +a body could not be easily supplied with the necessaries of life; but, +on the other hand, our enemies respected such a gathering! Of course +the nomadic government would do its utmost to hold together as long as +possible. The police did all they could to keep in check those parties +who were intent upon stealing away. + +There were many times, however, when individual bands and even families +were justified in seeking to separate themselves from the rest, in order +to gain a better support. It was chiefly by reason of this food +question that the Indians never established permanent towns or organized +themselves into a more formidable nation. + +There was a sad misfortune which, although it happened many generations +ago, was familiarly quoted among us. A certain band became very +independent and unruly; they went so far as to wilfully disobey the +orders of the general government. The police were directed to punish +the leader severely; whereupon the rest defended him and resisted the +police. But the latter were competent to enforce their authority, and as +a result the entire band was annihilated. + +One day, as we were following along the bank of the Upper Missouri, +there appeared to be a great disturbance at the head of the +cavalcade--so much so that we thought our people had been attacked by a +war-party of the Crows or some of the hostile tribes of that region. In +spite of the danger, even the women and children hurried forward to join +the men--that is to say, as many as were not upon the hunt. Most of the +warriors were out, as usual, and only the large boys and the old men +were travelling with the women and their domestic effects and little +ones. + +As we approached the scene of action, we heard loud shouts and +the report of fire-arms; but our party was scattered along for a +considerable distance, and all was over before we could reach the +spot. It was a great grizzly bear who had been bold enough to oppose, +single-handed, the progress of several hundred Indians. The council-men, +who usually walked a little in advance of the train, were the first to +meet the bear, and he was probably deceived by the sight of this advance +body, and thus audaciously defied them. + +Among these council-men--all retired chiefs and warriors whose ardent +zeal for the display of courage had long been cooled, and whose present +duties were those of calm deliberation for their people's welfare--there +were two old, distinguished war-chiefs. Each of these men still carried +his war-lance, wrapped up in decorated buckskin. As the bear advanced +boldly toward them, the two old men promptly threw off their robes--an +evidence that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit of +chivalry and ready courage. Spear in hand, they both sprang forward to +combat with the ferocious animal, taking up their positions about ten +feet apart. + +As they had expected, the fearful beast, after getting up on his +haunches and growling savagely, came forward with widely opened jaws. +He fixed his eyes upon the left-hand man, who was ready to meet him with +uplifted spear, but with one stroke of his powerful paw the weapon was +sent to the ground. At the same moment the right-hand man dealt him a +stab that penetrated the grizzly's side. + +The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a man, and seized the spear +so violently that its owner was thrown to the ground. As the animal +drew the lance from its body, the first man, having recovered his own, +stabbed him with it on the other side. Upon this, he turned and knocked +the old man down, and again endeavored to extract the spear. + +By this time all the dogs and men were at hand. Many arrows and balls +were sent into the tough hide of the bear. Yet he would probably have +killed both his assailants, had it not been for the active small dogs +who were constantly upon his heels and annoying him. A deadly rifle shot +at last brought him down. + +The old men were badly bruised and torn, but both of them recovered, +to bear from that day the high-sounding titles of "Fought-the-Bear" and +"Conquered-the-Grizzly." + + + + +XI. The Laughing Philosopher + +THERE is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the +natives of this country have no sense of humor and no faculty for mirth. +This phase of their character is well understood by those whose fortune +or misfortune it has been to live among them day in and day out at their +homes. I don't believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the +Indians' fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughing with +them until I could laugh no more. There are evenings when the recognized +wit or story-teller of the village gives a free entertainment which +keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves +them. However, Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and +inflections of the voice as in words, and is really untranslatable. + +Matogee (Yellow Bear) was a natural humorous speaker, and a very +diffident man at other times. He usually said little, but when he was +in the mood he could keep a large company in a roar. This was especially +the case whenever he met his brother-in-law, Tamedokah. + +It was a custom with us Indians to joke more particularly with our +brothers- and sisters-in-law. But no one ever complained, or resented +any of these jokes, however personal they might be. That would be an +unpardonable breach of etiquette. + +"Tamedokah, I heard that you tried to capture a buck by holding on +to his tail," said Matogee, laughing. "I believe that feat cannot be +performed any more; at least, it never has been since the pale-face +brought us the knife, the 'mysterious iron,' and the pulverized coal +that makes bullets fly. Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives and +hatchets, I say, that has never been done." + +The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a buck that day while hunting, +and as he was about to dress him the animal got up and attempted to +run, whereupon the Indian launched forth to secure his game. He only +succeeded in grasping the tail of the deer, and was pulled about all +over the meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail came off in his +hands. Matogee thought this too good a joke to be lost. + +I sat near the door of the tent, and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the +comical accident. + +"Yes," Tamedokah quietly replied, "I thought I would do something to +beat the story of the man who rode a young elk, and yelled frantically +for help, crying like a woman." + +"Ugh! that was only a legend," retorted Matogee, for it was he who was +the hero of this tale in his younger days. "But this is a fresh feat of +to-day. Chankpayuhah said he could not tell which was the most scared, +the buck or you," he continued. "He said the deer's eyes were bulging +out of their sockets, while Tamedokah's mouth was constantly enlarging +toward his ears, and his hair floated on the wind, shaking among the +branches of the trees. That will go down with the traditions of our +fathers," he concluded with an air of satisfaction. + +"It was a singular mishap," admitted Tamedokah. + +The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed to Tamedokah +good-naturedly, still with a broad smile on his face. "It must be +acknowledged," he resumed, "that you have the strongest kind of a grip, +for no one else could hold on as long as you did, and secure such a +trophy besides. That tail will do for an eagle feather holder." + +By this time the teepee was packed to overflowing. Loud laughter had +been heard issuing from the lodge of Matogee, and everybody suspected +that he had something good, so many had come to listen. + +"I think we should hear the whole matter," said one of the late comers. + +The teepee was brightly lit by the burning embers, and all the men were +sitting with their knees up against their chests, held in that position +by wrapping their robes tightly around loins and knees. This fixed them +something in the fashion of a rocking-chair. + +"Well, no one saw him except Chankpayuhah," Matogee remarked. + +"Yes, yes, he must tell us about it," exclaimed a chorus of voices. + +"This is what I saw," the witness began. "I was tracking a buck and a +doe. As I approached a small opening at the creek side 'boom!' came a +report of the mysterious iron. I remained in a stooping position, hoping +to see a deer cross the opening. In this I was not disappointed, for +immediately after the report a fine buck dashed forth with Tamedokah +close behind him. The latter was holding on to the deer's tail with +both hands and his knife was in his mouth, but it soon dropped out. +'Tamedokah,' I shouted, 'haven't you got hold of the wrong animal?' but +as I spoke they disappeared into the woods. + +"In a minute they both appeared again, and then it was that I began +to laugh. I could not stop. It almost killed me. The deer jumped the +longest jumps I ever saw. Tamedokah walked the longest paces and was +very swift. His hair was whipping the trees as they went by. Water +poured down his face. I stood bent forward because I could not +straighten my back-bone, and was ready to fall when they again +disappeared. + +"When they came out for the third time it seemed as if the woods and the +meadow were moving too. Tamedokah skipped across the opening as if he +were a grasshopper learning to hop. I fell down. + +"When I came to he was putting water on my face and head, but when I +looked at him I fell again, and did not know anything until the sun had +passed the mid-sky. + +"The company was kept roaring all the way through this account, while +Tamedokah himself heartily joined in the mirth. + +"Ho, ho, ho!" they said; "he has made his name famous in our annals. +This will be told of him henceforth." + +"It reminds me of Chadozee's bear story," said one. + +"His was more thrilling, because it was really dangerous," interposed +another. + +"You can tell it to us, Bobdoo," remarked a third. + +The man thus addressed made no immediate reply. He was smoking +contentedly. At last he silently returned the pipe to Matogee, with whom +it had begun its rounds. Deliberately he tightened his robe around him, +saying as he did so: + +"Ho (Yes). I was with him. It was by a very little that he saved his +life. I will tell you how it happened. + +"I was hunting with these two men, Nageedah and Chadozee. We came to +some wild cherry bushes. I began to eat of the fruit when I saw a large +silver-tip crawling toward us. 'Look out! there is a grizzly here,' I +shouted, and I ran my pony out on to the prairie; but the others had +already dismounted. + +"Nageedah had just time to jump upon his pony and get out of the way, +but the bear seized hold of his robe and pulled it off. Chadozee +stood upon the verge of a steep bank, below which there ran a deep and +swift-flowing stream. The bear rushed upon him so suddenly that when he +took a step backward, they both fell into the creek together. It was a +fall of about twice the height of a man." + +"Did they go out of sight?" some one inquired. + +"Yes, both fell headlong. In his excitement Chadozee laid hold of the +bear in the water, and I never saw a bear try so hard to get away from a +man as this one did." + +"Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!" they all laughed. + +"When they came to the surface again they were both so eager to get to +the shore that each let go, and they swam as quickly as they could to +opposite sides. Chadozee could not get any further, so he clung to a +stray root, still keeping a close watch of the bear, who was forced to +do the same. There they both hung, regarding each other with looks of +contempt and defiance." + +"Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!" they all laughed again. + +"At last the bear swam along the edge to a lower place, and we pulled +Chadozee up by means of our lariats. All this time he had been groaning +so loud that we supposed he was badly torn; but when I looked for his +wounds I found a mere scratch." + +Again the chorus of appreciation from his hearers. + +"The strangest thing about this affair of mine," spoke up Tamedokah, "is +that I dreamed the whole thing the night before." + +"There are some dreams come true, and I am a believer in dreams," one +remarked. + +"Yes, certainly, so are we all. You know Hachah almost lost his life by +believing in dreams," commented Matogee. + +"Let us hear that story," was the general request. + +"You have all heard of Hachah, the great medicine man, who did many +wonderful things. He once dreamed four nights in succession of flying +from a high cliff over the Minnesota river. He recollected every +particular of the scene, and it made a great impression upon his mind. + +"The next day after he had dreamed it for the fourth time, he proposed +to his wife that they go down to the river to swim, but his real purpose +was to see the place of his dream. + +"He did find the place, and it seemed to Hachah exactly like. A crooked +tree grew out of the top of the cliff, and the water below was very +deep." + +"Did he really fly?" I called impatiently from the doorway, where I had +been listening and laughing with the rest. + +"Ugh, that is what I shall tell you. He was swimming about with his +wife, who was a fine swimmer; but all at once Hachah disappeared. +Presently he stood upon the very tree that he had seen in his dream, +and gazed out over the water. The tree was very springy, and Hachah felt +sure that he could fly; so before long he launched bravely forth from +the cliff. He kicked out vigorously and swung both arms as he did so, +but nevertheless he came down to the bottom of the water like a crow +that had been shot on the wing." + +"Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!" and the whole company laughed unreservedly. + +"His wife screamed loudly as Hachah whirled downward and went out +of sight like a blue heron after a fish. Then she feared he might be +stunned, so she swam to him and dragged him to the shore. He could not +speak, but the woman overwhelmed him with reproaches. + +"'What are you trying to do, you old idiot? Do you want to kill +yourself?' she screamed again and again. + +"'Woman, be silent,' he replied, and he said nothing more. He did not +tell his dream for many years afterward. Not until he was a very old man +and about to die, did Hachah tell any one how he thought he could fly." + +And at this they all laughed louder than ever. + + + + +XII. FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + +I WAS scarcely old enough to know anything definite about the "Big +Knives," as we called the white men, when the terrible Minnesota +massacre broke up our home and I was carried into exile. I have already +told how I was adopted into the family of my father's younger brother, +when my father was betrayed and imprisoned. We all supposed that he had +shared the fate of those who were executed at Mankato, Minnesota. + +Now the savage philosophers looked upon vengeance in the field of battle +as a lofty virtue. To avenge the death of a relative or of a dear friend +was considered a great deed. My uncle, accordingly, had spared no pains +to instill into my young mind the obligation to avenge the death of my +father and my older brothers. Already I looked eagerly forward to +the day when I should find an opportunity to carry out his teachings. +Meanwhile, he himself went upon the war-path and returned with scalps +every summer. So it may be imagined how I felt toward the Big Knives! + +On the other hand, I had heard marvelous things of this people. In +some things we despised them; in others we regarded them as wakan +(mysterious), a race whose power bordered upon the supernatural. I +learned that they had made a "fireboat." I could not understand how +they could unite two elements which cannot exist together. I thought the +water would put out the fire, and the fire would consume the boat if +it had the shadow of a chance. This was to me a preposterous +thing! But when I was told that the Big Knives had created a +"fire-boat-walks-on-mountains" (a locomotive) it was too much to +believe. + +"Why," declared my informant, "those who saw this monster move said that +it flew from mountain to mountain when it seemed to be excited. They +said also that they believed it carried a thunder-bird, for they +frequently heard his usual war-whoop as the creature sped along!" + +Several warriors had observed from a distance one of the first trains +on the Northern Pacific, and had gained an exaggerated impression of the +wonders of the pale-face. They had seen it go over a bridge that spanned +a deep ravine and it seemed to them that it jumped from one bank to the +other. I confess that the story almost quenched my ardor and bravery. + +Two or three young men were talking together about this fearful +invention. + +"However," said one, "I understand that this +fire-boat-walks-on-mountains cannot move except on the track made for +it." + +Although a boy is not expected to join in the conversation of his +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 +Mississippi 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 name--and not to us Dakotas. + +"For the same reason," he answered, "that he gave to Duta the skill to +make fine bows and arrows, 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 comparatively few; later my +father visited their Great Father at Washington, and they had already +spread over the whole country." + +"Certainly they are a heartless nation. They have made some of their +people servants--yes, 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 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, Minnesota) 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 goods--even 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 allowed 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 observed 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, 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 driven forward like a herd of antelopes to face the foe. It +is on account of this manner of fighting--from compulsion and not from +personal bravery--that 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 presented me with a +flint-lock gun. The possession 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 being--the 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 position as a man. +My boyish ways were departing, and a sullen dignity and composure was +taking their place. + +The thought of love did not hinder my ambitions. 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 +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 battles following, and +he was taught in prison and converted by the pioneer missionaries, Drs. +Williamson 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 became convinced that life on a government +reservation meant physical and moral degradation. Therefore he +determined, with several others, to try the white man's way of gaining a +livelihood. They accordingly 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 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 unusual 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 unknown 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 +excited. 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 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 past. + +Still, I was eager to see some of the wonderful inventions of the +white people. When we reached Fort Totten, I gazed about me with lively +interest and a quick imagination. + +My father had forgotten to tell me that the fire-boat-walks-on-mountains +had its track at Jamestown, and might appear at any moment. As I was +watering the ponies, a peculiar shrilling noise pealed forth from just +beyond the hills. The ponies threw back their heads and listened; then +they ran snorting over the prairie. Meanwhile, I too had taken alarm. I +leaped on the back of one of the ponies, and dashed off at full +speed. It was a clear day; I could not imagine what had caused such an +unearthly noise. It seemed as if the world were about to burst in two! + +I got upon a hill as the train appeared. "O!" I said to myself, "that is +the fire-boat-walkson-mountains that I have heard about!" Then I drove +back the ponies. + +My father was accustomed every morning to read from his Bible, and +sing a stanza of a hymn. I was about very early with my gun for several +mornings; but at last he stopped me as I was preparing to go out, and +bade me wait. + +I listened with much astonishment. The hymn contained the word Jesus. +I did not comprehend what this meant; and my father then told me that +Jesus was the Son of God who came on earth to save sinners, and that it +was because of him that he had sought me. This conversation made a deep +impression upon my mind. + +Late in the fall we reached the citizen settlement at Flandreau, South +Dakota, where my father and some others dwelt among the whites. Here my +wild life came to an end, and my school days began. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Indian Boyhood, by +[AKA Ohiyesa], Charles A. 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EASTMAN) + +Contents + +I +EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS +I: Hakadah, "The Pitiful Last" +II: Early Hardships +III: My Indian Grandmother +IV: In Indian Sugar Camp +V: A Midsummer Feast + +II +AN INDIAN BOY'S TRAINING + +III +MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES +I: Games and Sports +II: My Playmates +III: The Boy Hunter + +IV +HAKADAH'S FIRST OFFERING + +V +FAMILY TRADITIONS +I: A Visit to Smoky Day +II: The Stone Boy + + +VI +EVENING IN THE LODGE +I: Evening in the Lodge +II: Adventures of My Uncle + +VII +THE END OF THE BEAR DANCE + +VIII +THE MAIDENS' FEAST + +IX +MORE LEGENDS +I: A Legend of Devil's Lake +II: Manitoshaw's Hunting + +X +INDIAN LIFE AND ADVENTURE +I: Life in the Woods +II: A Winter Camp +III: Wild Harvests +IV: A Meeting on the Plains +V: An Adventurous Journey + +XI +THE LAUGHING PHILOSOPHER + +XII +FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CIVILIZATION + + + +I +Earliest Recollections + +I: Hadakah, "The Pitiful Last" + +WHAT boy would not be an Indian +for a while when he thinks of the +freest life in the world? This life +was mine. Every day there was +a real hunt. There was real game. +Occasionally there was a medicine +dance away off in the woods where no one could +disturb us, in which the boys impersonated their +elders, Brave Bull, Standing Elk, High Hawk, +Medicine Bear, and the rest. They painted and +imitated their fathers and grandfathers to the +minutest detail, and accurately too, because they +had seen the real thing all their lives. + +We were not only good mimics but we were +close students of nature. We studied the habits +of animals just as you study your books. We +watched the men of our people and represented +them in our play; then learned to emulate them in +our lives. + +No people have a better use of their five senses +than the children of the wilderness. We could +smell as well as hear and see. We could feel and +taste as well as we could see and hear. Nowhere +has the memory been more fully developed than in +the wild life, and I can still see wherein I owe +much to my early training. + + +Of course I myself do not remember when I +first saw the day, but my brothers have often +recalled the event with much mirth; for it was +a custom of the Sioux that when a boy was born +his brother must plunge into the water, or roll in +the snow naked if it was winter time; and if he +was not big enough to do either of these himself, +water was thrown on him. If the new-born had a +sister, she must be immersed. The idea was that +a warrior had come to camp, and the other chil- +dren must display some act of hardihood. + +I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest of five +children who, soon after I was born, were left +motherless. I had to bear the humiliating name +"Hakadah," meaning "the pitiful last," until I +should earn a more dignified and appropriate +name. I was regarded as little more than a play- +thing by the rest of the children. + +My mother, who was known as the handsomest +woman of all the Spirit Lake and Leaf Dweller +Sioux, was dangerously ill, and one of the medi- +cine men who attended her said: "Another +medicine man has come into existence, but the +mother must die. Therefore let him bear the name +'Mysterious Medicine.'" But one of the by- +standers hastily interfered, saying that an uncle of +the child already bore that name, so, for the time, +I was only "Hakadah." + +My beautiful mother, sometimes called the +"Demi-Goddess" of the Sioux, who tradition +says had every feature of a Caucasian descent with +the exception of her luxuriant black hair and deep +black eyes, held me tightly to her bosom upon +her death-bed, while she whispered a few words to +her mother-in-law. She said: "I give you this +boy for your own. I cannot trust my own +mother with him; she will neglect him and he will +surely die." + +The woman to whom these words were spoken +was below the average in stature, remarkably ac- +tive for her age (she was then fully sixty), and +possessed of as much goodness as intelligence. My +mother's judgment concerning her own mother +was well founded, for soon after her death that +old lady appeared, and declared that Hakadah +was too young to live without a mother. She +offered to keep me until I died, and then she +would put me in my mother's grave. Of course +my other grandmother denounced the sugges- +tion as a very wicked one, and refused to give +me up. + +The babe was done up as usual in a movable +cradle made from an oak board two and a half +feet long and one and a half feet wide. On one +side of it was nailed with brass-headed tacks the +richly-embroidered sack, which was open in front +and laced up and down with buckskin strings. +Over the arms of the infant was a wooden bow, +the ends of which were firmly attached to the +board, so that if the cradle should fall the child's +head and face would be protected. On this bow +were hung curious playthings--strings of artis- +tically carved bones and hoofs of deer, which +rattled when the little hands moved them. + +In this upright cradle I lived, played and slept +the greater part of the time during the first few +months of my life. Whether I was made to lean +against a lodge pole or was suspended from a +bough of a tree, while my grandmother cut wood, +or whether I was carried on her back, or con- +veniently balanced by another child in a similar +cradle hung on the opposite side of a pony, I was +still in my oaken bed. + +This grandmother, who had already lived +through sixty years of hardships, was a wonder to +the young maidens of the tribe. She showed no +less enthusiasm over Hakadah than she had done +when she held her first-born, the boy's father, in +her arms. Every little attention that is due to a +loved child she performed with much skill and de- +votion. She made all my scanty garments and my +tiny moccasins with a great deal of taste. It was +said by all that I could not have had more atten- +tion had my mother been living. + +Uncheedah (grandmother) was a great singer. +Sometimes, when Hakadah wakened too early in +the morning, she would sing to him something like +the following lullaby: + + +Sleep, sleep, my boy, the Chippewas + + Are far away--are far away. + +Sleep, sleep, my boy; prepare to meet + + The foe by day--the foe by day! + +The cowards will not dare to fight + + Till morning break--till morning break. + +Sleep, sleep, my child, while still 'tis night; + + Then bravely wake--then bravely wake! + + +The Dakota women were wont to cut and bring +their fuel from the woods and, in fact, to perform +most of the drudgery of the camp. This of neces- +sity fell to their lot, because the men must follow +the game during the day. Very often my grand- +mother carried me with her on these excursions; +and while she worked it was her habit to suspend +me from a wild grape vine or a springy bough, so +that the least breeze would swing the cradle to +and fro. + +She has told me that when I had grown old +enough to take notice, I was apparently capable of +holding extended conversations in an unknown +dialect with birds and red squirrels. Once I fell +asleep in my cradle, suspended five or six feet +from the ground, while Uncheedah was some dis- +tance away, gathering birch bark for a canoe. A +squirrel had found it convenient to come upon the +bow of my cradle and nibble his hickory nut, until +he awoke me by dropping the crumbs of his meal. +My disapproval of his intrusion was so decided +that he had to take a sudden and quick flight to +another bough, and from there he began to pour +out his wrath upon me, while I continued my ob- +jections to his presence so audibly that Uncheedah +soon came to my rescue, and compelled the bold +intruder to go away. It was a common thing for +birds to alight on my cradle in the woods. + +My food was, at first, a troublesome question for +my kind foster-mother. She cooked some wild rice +and strained it, and mixed it with broth made from +choice venison. She also pounded dried venison +almost to a flour, and kept it in water till the +nourishing juices were extracted, then mixed with +it some pounded maize, which was browned before +pounding. This soup of wild rice, pounded veni- +son and maize was my main-stay. But soon my +teeth came--much earlier than the white children +usually cut theirs; and then my good nurse gave +me a little more varied food, and I did all my own +grinding. + +After I left my cradle, I almost walked away +from it, she told me. She then began calling my +attention to natural objects. Whenever I heard +the song of a bird, she would tell me what bird it +came from, something after this fashion: + + "Hakadah, listen to Shechoka (the robin) call- +ing his mate. He says he has just found some- +think good to eat." Or "Listen to Oopehanska +(the thrush); he is singing for his little wife. He +will sing his best." When in the evening the +whippoorwill started his song with vim, no further +than a stone's throw from our tent in the woods, +she would say to me: + +"Hush! It may be an Ojibway scout!" + +Again, when I waked at midnight, she would +say: + +"Do not cry! Hinakaga (the owl) is watch- +ing you from the tree-top." + +I usually covered up my head, for I had perfect +faith in my grandmother's admonitions, and she +had given me a dreadful idea of this bird. It was +one of her legends that a little boy was once stand- +ing just outside of the teepee (tent), crying vigor- +ously for his mother, when Hinakaga swooped +down in the darkness and carried the poor little +fellow up into the trees. It was well known that +the hoot of the owl was commonly imitated by +Indian scouts when on the war-path. There had +been dreadful massacres immediately following this +call. Therefore it was deemed wise to impress +the sound early upon the mind of the child. + +Indian children were trained so that they hardly +ever cried much in the night. This was very ex- +pedient and necessary in their exposed life. In my +infancy it was my grandmother's custom to put me +to sleep, as she said, with the birds, and to waken +me with them, until it became a habit. She did +this with an object in view. An Indian must al- +ways rise early. In the first place, as a hunter, he +finds his game best at daybreak. Secondly, other +tribes, when on the war-path, usually make their +attack very early in the morning. Even when our +people are moving about leisurely, we like to rise +before daybreak, in order to travel when the air is +cool, and unobserved, perchance, by our enemies. + +As a little child, it was instilled into me to be +silent and reticent. This was one of the most im- +portant traits to form in the character of the Indian. +As a hunter and warrior it was considered abso- +lutely necessary to him, and was thought to lay the +foundations of patience and self-control. There +are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by +our people, but the rule is gravity and decorum. + +After all, my babyhood was full of interest and +the beginnings of life's realities. The spirit of +daring was already whispered into my ears. The +value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior +had caught my eye. One day, when I was left +alone, at scarcely two years of age, I took my +uncle's war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle +feathers to decorate my dog and myself. So soon +the life that was about me had made its impress, +and already I desired intensely to comply with all +of its demands. + +II: Early Hardships + +ONE of the earliest recollections of +my adventurous childhood is +the ride I had on a pony's side. +I was passive in the whole mat- +ter. A little girl cousin of mine +was put in a bag and suspended +from the horn of an Indian saddle; but her +weight must be balanced or the saddle would not +remain on the animal's back. Accordingly, I was +put into another sack and made to keep the +saddle and the girl in position! I did not object +at all, for I had a very pleasant game of peek-a- +boo with the little girl, until we came to a big +snow-drift, where the poor beast was stuck fast +and began to lie down. Then it was not so nice! + +This was the convenient and primitive way in +which some mothers packed their children for +winter journeys. However cold the weather +might be, the inmate of the fur-lined sack was +usually very comfortable--at least I used to think +so. I believe I was accustomed to all the pre- +carious Indian conveyances, and, as a boy, I en- +joyed the dog-travaux ride as much as any. The +travaux consisted of a set of rawhide strips secure- +ly lashed to the tent-poles, which were harnessed +to the sides of the animal as if he stood between +shafts, while the free ends were allowed to drag on +the ground. Both ponies and large dogs were +used as beasts of burden, and they carried +in this way the smaller children as well as the +baggage. + +This mode of travelling for children was possi- +ble only in the summer, and as the dogs were some- +times unreliable, the little ones were exposed to a +certain amount of danger. For instance, when- +ever a train of dogs had been travelling for a long +time, almost perishing with the heat and their +heavy loads, a glimpse of water would cause +them to forget all their responsibilities. Some of +them, in spite of the screams of the women, would +swim with their burdens into the cooling stream, +and I was thus, on more than one occasion, made +to partake of an unwilling bath. + +I was a little over four years old at the time of +the "Sioux massacre" in Minnesota. In the +general turmoil, we took flight into British +Columbia, and the journey is still vividly remem- +bered by all our family. A yoke of oxen and a +lumber-wagon were taken from some white farmer +and brought home for our conveyance. + +How delighted I was when I learned that we +were to ride behind those wise-looking animals +and in that gorgeously painted wagon! It seemed +almost like a living creature to me, this new +vehicle with four legs, and the more so when we +got out of axle-grease and the wheels went along +squealing like pigs! + +The boys found a great deal of innocent fun in +jumping from the high wagon while the oxen +were leisurely moving along. My elder brothers +soon became experts. At last, I mustered up +courage enough to join them in this sport. I was +sure they stepped on the wheel, so I cautiously +placed my moccasined foot upon it. Alas! before +I could realize what had happened, I was under +the wheels, and had it not been for the neighbor +immediately behind us, I might have been run +over by the next team as well. + +This was my first experience with a civilized +vehicle. I cried out all possible reproaches on +the white man's team and concluded that a dog- +travaux was good enough for me. I was really +rejoiced that we were moving away from the +people who made the wagon that had almost +ended my life, and it did not occur to me that I +alone was to blame. I could not be persuaded to +ride in that wagon again and was glad when we +finally left it beside the Missouri river. + +The summer after the "Minnesota massacre," +General Sibley pursued our people across this +river. Now the Missouri is considered one of +the most treacherous rivers in the world. Even +a good modern boat is not safe upon its uncertain +current. We were forced to cross in buffalo-skin +boats--as round as tubs! + +The Washechu (white men) were coming in +great numbers with their big guns, and while +most of our men were fighting them to gain time, +the women and the old men made and equipped +the temporary boats, braced with ribs of willow. +Some of these were towed by two or three women +or men swimming in the water and some by ponies. +It was not an easy matter to keep them right side +up, with their helpless freight of little children +and such goods as we possessed. + +In our flight, we little folks were strapped in +the saddles or held in front of an older person, and +in the long night marches to get away from the +soldiers, we suffered from loss of sleep and insuf- +ficient food. Our meals were eaten hastily, and +sometimes in the saddle. Water was not always +to be found. The people carried it with them in +bags formed of tripe or the dried pericardium of +animals. + +Now we were compelled to trespass upon the +country of hostile tribes and were harassed by them +almost daily and nightly. Only the strictest +vigilance saved us. + +One day we met with another enemy near the +British lines. It was a prairie fire. We were sur- +rounded. Another fire was quickly made, which +saved our lives. + +One of the most thrilling experiences of the +following winter was a blizzard, which overtook us +in our wanderings. Here and there, a family lay +down in the snow, selecting a place where it was +not likely to drift much. For a day and a night +we lay under the snow. Uncle stuck a long pole +beside us to tell us when the storm was over. +We had plenty of buffalo robes and the snow +kept us warm, but we found it heavy. After a +time, it became packed and hollowed out around +our bodies, so that we were as comfortable as one +can be under those circumstances. + +The next day the storm ceased, and we dis- +covered a large herd of buffaloes almost upon us. +We dug our way out, shot some of the buffaloes, +made a fire and enjoyed a good dinner. + +I was now an exile as well as motherless; yet I +was not unhappy. Our wanderings from place to +place afforded us many pleasant experiences and +quite as many hardships and misfortunes. There +were times of plenty and times of scarcity, and we +had several narrow escapes from death. In sav- +age life, the early spring is the most trying time +and almost all the famines occurred at this period +of the year. + +The Indians are a patient and a clannish people; +their love for one another is stronger than that of +any civilized people I know. If this were not so, +I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals +among them. White people have been known to +kill and eat their companions in preference to +starving; but Indians--never! + +In times of famine, the adults often denied +themselves in order to make the food last as long +as possible for the children, who were not able to +bear hunger as well as the old. As a people, they +can live without food much longer than any other +nation. + +I once passed through one of these hard springs +when we had nothing to eat for several days. I +well remember the six small birds which consti- +tuted the breakfast for six families one morning; +and then we had no dinner or supper to follow! +What a relief that was to me--although I had only +a small wing of a small bird for my share! Soon +after this, we came into a region where buffaloes +were plenty, and hunger and scarcity were for- +gotten. + +Such was the Indian's wild life! When game was +to be had and the sun shone, they easily forgot the +bitter experiences of the winter before. Little +preparation was made for the future. They are +children of Nature, and occasionally she whips +them with the lashes of experience, yet they are +forgetful and careless. Much of their suffering +might have been prevented by a little calculation. + +During the summer, when Nature is at her best, +and provides abundantly for the savage, it seems to +me that no life is happier than his! Food is +free--lodging free--everything free! All were +alike rich in the summer, and, again, all were alike +poor in the winter and early spring. However, +their diseases were fewer and not so destructive as +now, and the Indian's health was generally good. +The Indian boy enjoyed such a life as almost all +boys dream of and would choose for themselves if +they were permitted to do so. + +The raids made upon our people by other tribes +were frequent, and we had to be constantly on the +watch. I remember at one time a night attack was +made upon our camp and all our ponies stam- +peded. Only a few of them were recovered, and +our journeys after this misfortune were effected +mostly by means of the dog-travaux. + +The second winter after the massacre, my father +and my two older brothers, with several others, +were betrayed by a half-breed at Winnipeg to the +United States authorities. As I was then living +with my uncle in another part of the country, I be- +came separated from them for ten years. During +all this time we believed that they had been +killed by the whites, and I was taught that I must +avenge their deaths as soon as I was able to go +upon the war-path. + +I must say a word in regard to the character of +this uncle, my father's brother, who was my ad- +viser and teacher for many years. He was a man +about six feet two inches in height, very erect and +broad-shouldered. He was known at that time +as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors +among the Sioux in British America, where he +still lives, for to this day we have failed to persuade +him to return to the United States. + +He is a typical Indian--not handsome, but +truthful and brave. He had a few simple princi- +ples from which he hardly ever departed. Some +of these I shall describe when I speak of my early +training. + +It is wonderful that any children grew up +through all the exposures and hardships that we +suffered in those days! The frail teepee pitched +anywhere, in the winter as well as in the summer, +was all the protection that we had against cold and +storms. I can recall times when we were snowed +in and it was very difficult to get fuel. We were +once three days without much fire and all of this +time it stormed violently. There seemed to be no +special anxiety on the part of our people; they +rather looked upon all this as a matter of course, +knowing that the storm would cease when the +time came. + +I could once endure as much cold and hunger +as any of them; but now if I miss one meal or +accidentally wet my feet, I feel it as much as if I +had never lived in the manner I have described, +when it was a matter of course to get myself soak- +ing wet many a time. Even if there was plenty +to eat, it was thought better for us to practice fast- +ing sometimes; and hard exercise was kept up +continually, both for the sake of health and to +prepare the body for the extraordinary exertions +that it might, at any moment, be required +to undergo. In my own remembrance, my +uncle used often to bring home a deer on his +shoulder. The distance was sometimes con- +siderable; yet he did not consider it any sort of +a feat. + +The usual custom with us was to eat only two +meals a day and these were served at each end +of the day. This rule was not invariable, how- +ever, for if there should be any callers, it was +Indian etiquette to offer either tobacco or food, or +both. The rule of two meals a day was more +closely observed by the men--especially the +younger men--than by the women and children. +This was when the Indians recognized that a true +manhood, one of physical activity and endurance, +depends upon dieting and regular exercise. No +such system is practised by the reservation Indians +of to-day. + +III: My Indian Grandmother + +AS a motherless child, I always re- +garded my good grandmother as +the wisest of guides and the best +of protectors. It was not long +before I began to realize her su- +periority to most of her contempo- +raries. This idea was not gained entirely from my +own observation, but also from a knowledge of +the high regard in which she was held by other wo- +men. Aside from her native talent and ingenuity, +she was endowed with a truly wonderful memory. +No other midwife in her day and tribe could com- +pete with her in skill and judgment. Her obser- +vations in practice were all preserved in her mind +for reference, as systematically as if they had been +written upon the pages of a note-book. + +I distinctly recall one occasion when she took +me with her into the woods in search of certain +medicinal roots. + +"Why do you not use all kinds of roots for +medicines?" said I. + +"Because," she replied, in her quick, charac- +teristic manner, the Great Mystery does not will +us to find things too easily. In that case every- +body would be a medicine-giver, and Ohiyesa +must learn that there are many secrets which the +Great Mystery will disclose only to the most +worthy. Only those who seek him fasting and +in solitude will receive his signs." + +With this and many similar explanations she +wrought in my soul wonderful and lively concep- +tions of the "Great Mystery" and of the effects +of prayer and solitude. I continued my childish +questioning. + +"But why did you not dig those plants that we +saw in the woods, of the same kind that you are +digging now?" + +"For the same reason that we do not like the +berries we find in the shadow of deep woods as +well as the ones which grow in sunny places. The +latter have more sweetness and flavor. Those +herbs which have medicinal virtues should be +sought in a place that is neither too wet nor too +dry, and where they have a generous amount of +sunshine to maintain their vigor. + +"Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know +the secrets of medicine; then I will tell him all. +But if you should grow up to be a bad man, I +must withhold these treasures from you and give +them to your brother, for a medicine man must be +a good and wise man. I hope Ohiyesa will be a +great medicine man when he grows up. To be +a great warrior is a noble ambition; but to be +a mighty medicine man is a nobler!" + +She said these things so thoughtfully and im- +pressively that I cannot but feel and remember +them even to this day. + +Our native women gathered all the wild rice, +roots, berries and fruits which formed an impor- +tant part of our food. This was distinctively a +woman's work. Uncheedah (grandmother) under- +stood these matters perfectly, and it became a kind +of instinct with her to know just where to look +for each edible variety and at what season of the +year. This sort of labor gave the Indian women +every opportunity to observe and study Nature +after their fashion; and in this Uncheedah was +more acute than most of the men. The abilities +of her boys were not all inherited from their +father; indeed, the stronger family traits came +obviously from her. She was a leader among the +native women, and they came to her, not only for +medical aid, but for advice in all their affairs. + +In bravery she equaled any of the men. This +trait, together with her ingenuity and alertness of +mind, more than once saved her and her people +from destruction. Once, when we were roaming +over a region occupied by other tribes, and on a +day when most of the men were out upon the +hunt, a party of hostile Indians suddenly ap- +peared. Although there were a few men left at +home, they were taken by surprise at first and +scarcely knew what to do, when this woman came +forward and advanced alone to meet our foes. +She had gone some distance when some of the +men followed her. She met the strangers and +offered her hand to them. They accepted her +friendly greeting; and as a result of her brave act +we were left unmolested and at peace. + +Another story of her was related to me by my +father. My grandfather, who was a noted hunter, +often wandered away from his band in search of +game. In this instance he had with him only his +own family of three boys and his wife. One +evening,when he returned from the chase, he found +to his surprise that she had built a stockade +around her teepee. + +She had discovered the danger-sign in a single +foot-print, which she saw at a glance was not that +of her husband, and she was also convinced that it +was not the foot-print of a Sioux, from the shape +of the moccasin. This ability to recognize foot- +prints is general among the Indians, but more +marked in certain individuals. + +This courageous woman had driven away a +party of five Ojibway warriors. They approached +the lodge cautiously, but her dog gave timely +warning, and she poured into them from behind +her defences the contents of a double-barrelled +gun, with such good effect that the astonished +braves thought it wise to retreat. + +I was not more than five or six years old when +the Indian soldiers came one day and destroyed our +large buffalo-skin teepee. It was charged that my +uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes. +This was not exactly true. He had unfortunately +frightened a large herd while shooting a deer in +the edge of the woods. However, it was custom- +ary to punish such an act severely, even though +the offense was accidental. + +When we were attacked by the police, I was play- +ing in the teepee, and the only other person at +home was Uncheedah. I had not noticed their +approach, and when the war-cry was given by +thirty or forty Indians with strong lungs, I thought +my little world was coming to an end. Instantly +innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our +frail home, while bullets went through the poles +and tent-fastenings up above our heads. + +I hardly know what I did, but I imagine it was +just what any other little fellow would have done +under like circumstances. My first clear realiza- +tion of the situation was when Uncheedah had a +dispute with the leader, claiming that the matter +had not been properly investigated, and that none +of the policemen had attained to a reputation in +war which would justify them in touching her son's +teepee. But alas! our poor dwelling was already +an unrecognizable ruin; even the poles were +broken into splinters. + +The Indian women, after reaching middle age, +are usually heavy and lack agility, but my grand- +mother was in this also an exception. She was +fully sixty when I was born; and when I was +seven years old she swam across a swift and wide +stream, carrying me on her back, because she did +not wish to expose me to accident in one of the +clumsy round boats of bull-hide which were rigged +up to cross the rivers which impeded our way, +especially in the springtime. Her strength and +endurance were remarkable. Even after she had +attained the age of eighty-two, she one day walked +twenty-five miles without appearing much fa- +tigued. + +I marvel now at the purity and elevated senti- +ment possessed by this woman, when I consider +the customs and habits of her people at the time. +When her husband died she was still compara- +tively a young woman--still active, clever and +industrious. She was descended from a haughty +chieftain of the "Dwellers among the Leaves." +Although women of her age and position were +held to be eligible to re-marriage, and she had +several persistent suitors who were men of her own +age and chiefs, yet she preferred to cherish in +solitude the memory of her husband. + +I was very small when my uncle brought home +two Ojibway young women. In the fight in which +they were captured, none of the Sioux war party +had been killed; therefore they were sympathized +with and tenderly treated by the Sioux women. +They were apparently happy, although of course +they felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of +their capture, and they did not fail to show their +appreciation of the kindnesses received at our +hands. + +As I recall now the remarks made by one of +them at the time of their final release, they ap- +pear to me quite remarkable. They lived in my +grandmother's family for two years, and were +then returned to their people at a great peace +council of the two nations. When they were +about to leave my grandmother, the elder of the +two sisters first embraced her, and then spoke +somewhat as follows: + +"You are a brave woman and a true mother. +I understand now why your son so bravely con- +quered our band, and took my sister and myself +captive. I hated him at first, but now I admire +him, because he did just what my father, my +brother or my husband would have done had +they opportunity. He did even more. He +saved us from the tomahawks of his fellow-war- +riors, and brought us to his home to know a +noble and a brave woman. + +"I shall never forget your many favors shown +to us. But I must go. I belong to my tribe +and I shall return to them. I will endeavor to be +a true woman also, and to teach my boys to be +generous warriors like your son." + +Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all +her life, and she married one of our young men. + +"I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways," +she said, "to be as brothers." + +There are many other instances of intermar- +riage with captive women. The mother of the +well-known Sioux chieftain, Wabashaw, was an +Ojibway woman. I once knew a woman who +was said to be a white captive. She was married +to a noted warrior, and had a fine family of five +boys. She was well accustomed to the Indian +ways, and as a child I should not have suspected +that she was white. The skins of these people be- +came so sunburned and full of paint that it re- +quired a keen eye to distinguish them from the +real Indians. + +IV: An Indian Sugar Camp + +WITH the first March thaw the +thoughts of the Indian women +of my childhood days turned +promptly to the annual sugar- +making. This industry was +chiefly followed by the old men +and women and the children. The rest of the +tribe went out upon the spring fur-hunt at this sea- +son, leaving us at home to make the sugar. + +The first and most important of the necessary +utensils were the huge iron and brass kettles for +boiling. Everything else could be made, but +these must be bought, begged or borrowed. A +maple tree was felled and a log canoe hollowed +out, into which the sap was to be gathered. Little +troughs of basswood and birchen basins were also +made to receive the sweet drops as they trickled +from the tree. + +As soon as these labors were accomplished, we all +proceeded to the bark sugar house, which stood in +the midst of a fine grove of maples on the bank of +the Minnesota river. We found this hut partially +filled with the snows of winter and the withered +leaves of the preceding autumn, and it must be +cleared for our use. In the meantime a tent was +pitched outside for a few days' occupancy. The +snow was still deep in the woods, with a solid crust +upon which we could easily walk; for we usually +moved to the sugar house before the sap had act- +ually started, the better to complete our prepara- +tions. + +My grandmother worked like a beaver in these +days (or rather like a muskrat, as the Indians say; +for this industrious little animal sometimes collects +as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for +the winter, only to be robbed of his store by some +of our people). If there was prospect of a good +sugaring season, she now made a second and even +a third canoe to contain the sap. These canoes +were afterward utilized by the hunters for their +proper purpose. + +During our last sugar-making in Minnesota, be- +fore the "outbreak," my grandmother was at work +upon a canoe with her axe, while a young aunt of +mine stood by. We boys were congregated with- +in the large, oval sugar house, busily engaged in +making arrows for the destruction of the rabbits +and chipmunks which we knew would come in +numbers to drink the sap. The birds also were +beginning to return, and the cold storms of March +would drive them to our door. I was then too +young to do much except look on; but I fully en- +tered into the spirit of the occasion, and rejoiced +to see the bigger boys industriously sharpen their +arrows, resting them against the ends of the long +sticks which were burning in the fire, and occasion- +ally cutting a chip from the stick. In their eager- +ness they paid little attention to this circumstance, +although they well knew that it was strictly for- +bidden to touch a knife to a burning ember. + +Suddenly loud screams were heard from without +and we all rushed out to see what was the matter. +It was a serious affair. My grandmother's axe +had slipped, and by an upward stroke nearly sev- +ered three of the fingers of my aunt, who stood +looking on, with her hands folded upon her waist. +As we ran out the old lady, who had already no- +ticed and reproved our carelessness in regard to the +burning embers, pursued us with loud reproaches +and threats of a whipping. This will seem mys- +terious to my readers, but is easily explained by the +Indian superstition, which holds that such an +offense as we had committed is invariably punished +by the accidental cutting of some one of the family. + +My grandmother did not confine herself to +canoe-making. She also collected a good supply +of fuel for the fires, for she would not have much +time to gather wood when the sap began to flow. +Presently the weather moderated and the snow be- +gan to melt. The month of April brought show- +ers which carried most of it off into the Minnesota +river. Now the women began to test the trees-- +moving leisurely among them, axe in hand, and +striking a single quick blow, to see if the sap would +appear. The trees, like people, have their indi- +vidual characters; some were ready to yield up their +life-blood, while others were more reluctant. Now +one of the birchen basins was set under each tree, +and a hardwood chip driven deep into the cut +which the axe had made. From the corners of this +chip--at first drop by drop, then more freely-- +the sap trickled into the little dishes. + +It is usual to make sugar from maples, but sev- +eral other trees were also tapped by the Indians. +From the birch and ash was made a dark-colored +sugar, with a somewhat bitter taste, which was used +for medicinal purposes. The box-elder yielded a +beautiful white sugar, whose only fault was that +there was never enough of it! + +A long fire was now made in the sugar house, +and a row of brass kettles suspended over the +blaze. The sap was collected by the women in +tin or birchen buckets and poured into the canoes, +from which the kettles were kept filled. The +hearts of the boys beat high with pleasant antici- +pations when they heard the welcome hissing sound +of the boiling sap! Each boy claimed one kettle +for his especial charge. It was his duty to see that +the fire was kept up under it, to watch lest it boil +over, and finally, when the sap became sirup, to +test it upon the snow, dipping it out with a +wooden paddle. So frequent were these tests +that for the first day or two we consumed nearly +all that could be made; and it was not until the +sweetness began to pall that my grandmother set +herself in earnest to store up sugar for future use. +She made it into cakes of various forms, in birch- +en molds, and sometimes in hollow canes or reeds, +and the bills of ducks and geese. Some of it was +pulverized and packed in rawhide cases. Being +a prudent woman, she did not give it to us after +the first month or so, except upon special occa- +sions, and it was thus made to last almost the +year around. The smaller candies were reserved +as an occasional treat for the little fellows, and the +sugar was eaten at feasts with wild rice or parched +corn, and also with pounded dried meat. Coffee +and tea, with their substitutes, were all unknown +to us in those days. + +Every pursuit has its trials and anxieties. My +grandmother's special tribulations, during the +sugaring season, were the upsetting and gnawing +of holes in her birch-bark pans. The transgres- +sors were the rabbit and squirrel tribes, and we +little boys for once became useful, in shooting +them with our bows and arrows. We hunted all +over the sugar camp, until the little creatures +were fairly driven out of the neighborhood. Oc- +casionally one of my older brothers brought home +a rabbit or two, and then we had a feast. + +The sugaring season extended well into April, +and the returning birds made the precincts of our +camp joyful with their songs. I often followed +my older brothers into the woods, although I was +then but four or five years old. Upon one of +these excursions they went so far that I ventured +back alone. When within sight of our hut, I saw +a chipmunk sitting upon a log, and uttering the +sound he makes when he calls to his mate. How +glorious it would be, I thought, if I could shoot +him with my tiny bow and arrows! Stealthily +and cautiously I approached, keeping my eyes +upon the pretty little animal, and just as I was +about to let fly my shaft, I heard a hissing noise +at my feet. There lay a horrid snake, coiled and +ready to spring! Forgetful that I was a warrior, +I gave a loud scream and started backward; but +soon recollecting myself, looked down with shame, +although no one was near. However, I retreated +to the inclined trunk of a fallen tree, and there, as +I have often been told, was overheard soliloquiz- +ing in the following words: "I wonder if a snake +can climb a tree!" + +I remember on this occasion of our last sugar +bush in Minnesota, that I stood one day outside +of our hut and watched the approach of a visitor +--a bent old man, his hair almost white, and +carrying on his back a large bundle of red willow, +or kinnikinick, which the Indians use for smoking. +He threw down his load at the door and thus +saluted us: "You have indeed perfect weather for +sugar-making." + +It was my great-grandfather, Cloud Man, +whose original village was on the shores of Lakes +Calhoun and Harriet, now in the suburbs of the +city of Minneapolis. He was the first Sioux chief +to welcome the Protestant missionaries among his +people, and a well-known character in those pio- +neer days. He brought us word that some of +the peaceful sugar-makers near us on the river +had been attacked and murdered by roving Ojib- +ways. This news disturbed us not a little, for we +realized that we too might become the victims of +an Ojibway war party. Therefore we all felt +some uneasiness from this time until we returned +heavy laden to our village. + +V: A Midsummer Feast +IT was midsummer. Everything +that the Santee Sioux had under- +taken during the year had been un- +usually successful. The spring +fur-hunters had been fortunate, +and the heavy winter had proved +productive of much maple sugar. The women's +patches of maize and potatoes were already suffic- +iently advanced to use. The Wahpetonwan band +of Sioux, the "Dwellers among the Leaves," were +fully awakened to the fact that it was almost time +for the midsummer festivities of the old, wild +days. + +The invitations were bundles of tobacco, and +acceptances were sent back from the various bands +--the "Light Lodges", "Dwellers back from +the River," and many others, in similar fashion. +Blue Earth, chief of the "Dwellers among the +Leaves," was the host. + +There were to be many different kinds of ath- +letic games; indeed, the festival was something +like a State fair, in that there were many side +shows and competitive events. For instance, sup- +posing that (Miss) White Rabbit should desire to +give a "maidens' feast," she would employ a crier +to go among the different bands announcing the +fact in a sing-song manner: + +"Miss White Rabbit will receive her maiden +friends to-day at noon, inside of the circular en- +campment of the Kaposia band." + +Again, should (Mr.) Sleepy Eye wish to have +his child's ears pierced publicly, he would have to +give away a great deal of savage wealth--namely, +otter, bear and beaver skins and ponies--or the +child would not be considered as belonging to a +family in good standing. + +But the one all-important event of the occasion +was the lacrosse game, for which it had been cus- +tomary to select those two bands which could +boast the greater number of fast runners. + +The Wahpetonwan village on the banks of the +Minnesota river was alive with the newly-arrived +guests and the preparations for the coming event. +Meat of wild game had been put away with much +care during the previous fall in anticipation of this +feast. There was wild rice and the choicest of +dried venison that had been kept all winter, as +well as freshly dug turnips, ripe berries and an +abundance of fresh meat. + +Along the edge of the woods the teepees were +pitched in groups or semi-circles, each band dis- +tinct from the others. The teepee of Mankato or +Blue Earth was pitched in a conspicuous spot. +Just over the entrance was painted in red and yel- +low a picture of a pipe, and directly opposite this +the rising sun. The painting was symbolic of +welcome and good will to men under the bright +sun. + +A meeting was held to appoint some "medi- +cine man" to make the balls that were to be used +in the lacrosse contest; and presently the herald +announced that this honor had been conferred +upon old Chankpee-yuhah, or "Keeps the Club," +while every other man of his profession was dis- +appointed. He was a powerful man physically, +who had apparently won the confidence of the +people by his fine personal appearance and by +working upon superstitious minds. + +Towards evening he appeared in the circle, +leading by the hand a boy about four years old. +Closely the little fellow observed every motion of +the man; nothing escaped his vigilant black eyes, +which seemed constantly to grow brighter and +larger, while his exuberant glossy black hair was +plaited and wound around his head like that of +a Celestial. He wore a bit of swan's down in +each ear, which formed a striking contrast with +the child's complexion. Further than this, the +boy was painted according to the fashion of the +age. He held in his hands a miniature bow and +arrows. + +The medicine man drew himself up in an ad- +mirable attitude, and proceeded to make his short +speech: + + "Wahpetonwans, you boast that you run down +the elk; you can outrun the Ojibways. Before +you all, I dedicate to you this red ball. Kaposias, +you claim that no one has a lighter foot than you; +you declare that you can endure running a whole +day without water. To you I dedicate this black +ball. Either you or the Leaf-Dwellers will have +to drop your eyes and bow your head when the +game is over. I wish to announce that if the +Wahpetonwans should win, this little warrior shall +bear the name Ohiyesa (winner) through life; but +if the Light Lodges should win, let the name be +given to any child appointed by them." + +The ground selected for the great final game +was on a narrow strip of land between a lake and +the river. It was about three quarters of a mile +long and a quarter of a mile in width. The spec- +tators had already ranged themselves all along the +two sides, as well as at the two ends, which were +somewhat higher than the middle. The soldiers +appointed to keep order furnished much of the +entertainment of the day. They painted artistically +and tastefully, according to the Indian fashion, not +only their bodies but also their ponies and clubs. +They were so strict in enforcing the laws that no +one could venture with safety within a few feet of +the limits of the field. + +Now all of the minor events and feasts, occupy- +ing several days' time, had been observed. Her- +alds on ponies' backs announced that all who in- +tended to participate in the final game were re- +quested to repair to the ground; also that if any +one bore a grudge against another, he was im- +plored to forget his ill-feeling until the contest +should be over. + +The most powerful men were stationed at the +half-way ground, while the fast runners were as- +signed to the back. It was an impressive spectacle +--a fine collection of agile forms, almost stripped +of garments and painted in wild imitation of the +rainbow and sunset sky on human canvas. Some +had undertaken to depict the Milky Way across +their tawny bodies, and one or two made a bold +attempt to reproduce the lightning. Others con- +tented themselves with painting the figure of some +fleet animal or swift bird on their muscular chests. + +The coiffure of the Sioux lacrosse player has +often been unconsciously imitated by the fashion- +able hair-dressers of modern times. Some banged +and singed their hair; others did a little more +by adding powder. The Grecian knot was lo- +cated on the wrong side of the head, being tied +tightly over the forehead. A great many simply +brushed back their long locks and tied them with +a strip of otter skin. + +At the middle of the ground were stationed four +immense men, magnificently formed. A fifth ap- +proached this group, paused a moment, and then +threw his head back, gazed up into the sky in the +manner of a cock and gave a smooth, clear oper- +atic tone. Instantly the little black ball went up +between the two middle rushers, in the midst of +yells, cheers and war-whoops. Both men en- +deavored to catch it in the air; but alas! each in- +terfered with the other; then the guards on each +side rushed upon them. For a time, a hundred +lacrosse sticks vied with each other, and the wrig- +gling human flesh and paint were all one could see +through the cloud of dust. Suddenly there shot +swiftly through the air toward the south, toward the +Kaposias' goal, the ball. There was a general cheer +from their adherents, which echoed back from the +white cliff on the opposite side of the Minnesota. + +As the ball flew through the air, two adver- +saries were ready to receive it. The Kaposia +quickly met the ball, but failed to catch it in his +netted bag, for the other had swung his up like a +flash. Thus it struck the ground, but had no op- +portunity to bound up when a Wahpeton pounced +upon it like a cat and slipped out of the grasp of +his opponents. A mighty cheer thundered through +the air. + +The warrior who had undertaken to pilot the +little sphere was risking much, for he must dodge +a host of Kaposias before he could gain any ground. +He was alert and agile; now springing like a +panther, now leaping like a deer over a stooping +opponent who tried to seize him around the waist. +Every opposing player was upon his heels, while +those of his own side did all in their power to +clear the way for him. But it was all in vain. +He only gained fifty paces. + +Thus the game went. First one side, then the +other would gain an advantage, and then it was lost, +until the herald proclaimed that it was time to change +the ball. No victory was in sight for either side. + +After a few minutes' rest, the game was resumed. +The red ball was now tossed in the air in the usual +way. No sooner had it descended than one of the +rushers caught it and away it went northward; + +again it was fortunate, for it was advanced by one +of the same side. The scene was now one of the +wildest excitement and confusion. At last, the +northward flight of the ball was checked for a +moment and a desperate struggle ensued. Cheers +and war-whoops became general, such as were +never equaled in any concourse of savages, and +possibly nowhere except at a college game of foot- +ball. + +The ball had not been allowed to come to the +surface since it reached this point, for there were +more than a hundred men who scrambled for it. +Suddenly a warrior shot out of the throng like the +ball itself! Then some of the players shouted: +"Look out for Antelope! Look out for Antelope!" +But it was too late. The little sphere had already +nestled into Antelope's palm and that fleetest of +Wahpetons had thrown down his lacrosse stick and +set a determined eye upon the northern goal. + +Such a speed! He had cleared almost all the +opponents' guards--there were but two more. +These were exceptional runners of the Kaposias. +As he approached them in his almost irresistible +speed, every savage heart thumped louder in the +Indian's dusky bosom. In another moment there +would be a defeat for the Kaposias or a prolonga- +tion of the game. The two men, with a determined +look approached their foe like two panthers pre- +pared to spring; yet he neither slackened his speed +nor deviated from his course. A crash--a mighty +shout!--the two Kaposias collided, and the swift +Antelope had won the laurels! + +The turmoil and commotion at the victors' +camp were indescribable. A few beats of a drum +were heard, after which the criers hurried along +the lines, announcing the last act to be performed +at the camp of the "Leaf Dwellers." + +The day had been a perfect one. Every event +had been a success; and, as a matter of course, the +old people were happy, for they largely profited +by these occasions. Within the circle formed by +the general assembly sat in a group the members +of the common council. Blue Earth arose, and +in a few appropriate and courteous remarks as- +sured his guests that it was not selfishness that led +his braves to carry off the honors of the last event, +but that this was a friendly contest in which each +band must assert its prowess. In memory of this +victory, the boy would now receive his name. A +loud "Ho-o-o" of approbation reverberated from +the edge of the forest upon the Minnesota's +bank. + +Half frightened, the little fellow was now +brought into the circle, looking very much as if he +were about to be executed. Cheer after cheer +went up for the awe-stricken boy. Chankpee-yuhah, +the medicine man, proceeded to confer the name. + +"Ohiyesa (or Winner) shall be thy name hence- +forth. Be brave, be patient and thou shalt always +win! Thy name is Ohivesa." + + + +II +An Indian Boy's Training + +IT is commonly supposed that there +is no systematic education of their +children among the aborigines of +this country. Nothing could be +farther from the truth. All the cus- +toms of this primitive people were +held to be divinely instituted, and those in connec- +tion with the training of children were scrupulously +adhered to and transmitted from one generation to +another. + +The expectant parents conjointly bent all their +efforts to the task of giving the new-comer the best +they could gather from a long line of ancestors. A +pregnant Indian woman would often choose one of +the greatest characters of her family and tribe as a +model for her child. This hero was daily called +to mind. She would gather from tradition all of +his noted deeds and daring exploits, rehearsing them +to herself when alone. In order that the impres- +sion might be more distinct, she avoided company. +She isolated herself as much as possible, and wan- +dered in solitude, not thoughtlessly, but with an +eye to the impress given by grand and beautiful +scenery. + +The Indians believed, also, that certain kinds of +animals would confer peculiar gifts upon the un- +born, while others would leave so strong an adverse +impression that the child might become a monstros- +ity. A case of hare-lip was commonly attributed +to the rabbit. It was said that a rabbit had charmed +the mother and given to the babe its own features. +Even the meat of certain animals was denied the +pregnant woman, because it was supposed to influ- +ence the disposition or features of the child. + +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. + +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, 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 nest--in 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 buffaloes--a 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, 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-cat--that is, if the creature shows signs of +attacking you--you 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 animals--the horns, and if +these are very long and sharp, they dare not risk +an open fight. + +"There is one exception to this rule--the 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 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, +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 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 heart--be +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. + + +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 war--each 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 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 +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 once--from 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 pastime--fully 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; so he bravely jumped +upon the nest and yelled: + +"I, the brave Little Wound, to-day kill the only +fierce enemy!" + +Scarcely were the last words uttered when he +screamed as if stabbed to the heart. One of his +older companions shouted: + +"Dive into the water! Run! Dive into the +water!" for there was a lake near by. This ad- +vice he obeyed. + +When we had reassembled and were indulging +in our mimic dance, Little Wound was not allowed +to dance. He was considered not to be in ex- +istence--he had been killed by our enemies, the +Bee tribe. Poor little fellow! His swollen face +was sad and ashamed as he sat on a fallen log and +watched the dance. Although he might well have +styled himself one of the noble dead who had died +for their country, yet he was not unmindful that +he had screamed, and this weakness would be apt +to recur to him many times in the future. + +We had some quiet plays which we alternated +with the more severe and warlike ones. Among +them were throwing wands and snow-arrows. In +the winter we coasted much. We had no "dou- +ble-rippers" or toboggans, but six or seven of the +long ribs of a buffalo, fastened together at the +larger end, answered all practical purposes. Some- +times a strip of bass-wood bark, four feet long and +about six inches wide, was used with considerable +skill. We stood on one end and held the other, +using the slippery inside of the bark for the out- +side, and thus coasting down long hills with re- +markable speed. + +The spinning of tops was one of the all-ab- +sorbing winter sports. We made our tops heart- +shaped of wood, horn or bone. We whipped +them with a long thong of buckskin. The handle +was a stick about a foot long and sometimes we +whittled the stick to make it spoon-shaped at one +end. + +We played games with these tops--two to fifty +boys at one time. Each whips his top until it +hums; then one takes the lead and the rest fol- +low in a sort of obstacle race. The top must spin +all the way through. There were bars of snow +over which we must pilot our top in the spoon +end of our whip; then again we would toss it in the +air on to another open spot of ice or smooth snow- +crust from twenty to fifty paces away. The top +that holds out the longest is the winner. + +Sometimes we played "medicine dance." This, +to us, was almost what "playing church" is among +white children, but our people seemed to think it +an act of irreverence to imitate these dances, +therefore performances of this kind were always +enjoyed in secret. We used to observe all the im- +portant ceremonies and it required something of an +actor to reproduce the dramatic features of the +dance. The real dances occupied a day and a +night, and the program was long and varied, so +that it was not easy to execute all the details +perfectly; but the Indian children are born imi- +tators. + +The boys built an arbor of pine boughs in some +out-of-the-way place and at one end of it was a +rude lodge. This was the medicine lodge or head- +quarters. All the initiates were there. At the +further end or entrance were the door-keepers or +soldiers, as we called them. The members of +each lodge entered in a body, standing in single +file and facing the headquarters. Each stretched +out his right hand and a prayer was offered by the +leader, after which they took the places assigned +to them. + +When the preliminaries had been completed, +our leader sounded the big drum and we all said +"A-ho-ho-ho!" as a sort of amen. Then the choir +began their song and whenever they ended a verse, +we all said again "A-ho-ho-ho!" At last they +struck up the chorus and we all got upon our feet +and began to dance, by simply lifting up one foot +and then the other, with a slight swing to the +body. + +Each boy was representing or imitating some +one of the medicine men. We painted and decor- +ated ourselves just as they did and carried bird +or squirrel skins, or occasionally live birds and +chipmunks as our medicine bags and small white +shells or pebbles for medicine charms. + +Then the persons to be initiated were brought +in and seated, with much ceremony, upon a blanket +or buffalo robe. Directly in front of them the +ground was levelled smooth and here we laid an +old pipe filled with dried leaves for tobacco. +Around it we placed the variously colored feathers +of the birds we had killed, and cedar and sweet- +grass we burned for incense. + +Finally those of us who had been selected to per- +form this ceremony stretched out our arms at full +length, holding the sacred medicine bags and aiming +them at the new members. After swinging them four +times, we shot them suddenly forward, but did not +let go. The novices then fell forward on their +faces as if dead. Quickly a chorus was struck up +and we all joined in a lively dance around the sup- +posed bodies. The girls covered them up with +their blankets, thus burying the dead. At last we +resurrected them with our charms and led them to +their places among the audience. Then came the +last general dance and the final feast. + +I was often selected as choir-master on these oc- +casions, for I had happened to learn many of the +medicine songs and was quite an apt mimic. My +grandmother, who was a noted medicine woman of +the Turtle lodge, on hearing of these sacrilegious +acts (as she called them) warned me that if any of +the medicine men should discover them, they would +punish me terribly by shriveling my limbs with +slow disease. + +Occasionally, we also played "white man." Our +knowledge of the pale-face was limited, but we had +learned that he brought goods whenever he came +and that our people exchanged furs for his mer- +chandise. We also knew that his complexion was +pale, that he had short hair on his head and long +hair on his face and that he wore coat, trousers, +and hat, and did not patronize blankets in the day- +time. This was the picture we had formed of the +white man. + +So we painted two or three of our number with +white clay and put on them birchen hats which we +sewed up for the occasion; fastened a piece of fur +to their chins for a beard and altered their cos- +tumes as much as lay within our power. The +white of the birch-bark was made to answer for +their white shirts. Their merchandise consisted of +sand for sugar, wild beans for coffee, dried leaves +for tea, pulverized earth for gun-powder, pebbles +for bullets and clear water for the dangerous "spirit +water." We traded for these goods with skins of +squirrels, rabbits and small birds. + +When we played "hunting buffalo" we would +send a few good runners off on the open prairie +with a supply of meat; then start a few equally +swift boys to chase them and capture the food. +Once we were engaged in this sport when a real +hunt by the men was in progress; yet we did not +realize that it was so near until, in the midst of our +play, we saw an immense buffalo coming at full +speed directly toward us. Our mimic buffalo hunt +turned into a very real buffalo scare. Fortunately, +we were near the edge of the woods and we soon +disappeared among the leaves like a covey of young +prairie-chickens and some hid in the bushes while +others took refuge in tall trees. + +We loved to play in the water. When we had +no ponies, we often had swimming matches of our +own and sometimes made rafts with which we +crossed lakes and rivers. It was a common +thing to "duck" a young or timid boy or to +carry him into deep water to struggle as best +he might. + +I remember a perilous ride with a companion on +an unmanageable log, when we were both less than +seven years old. The older boys had put us on +this uncertain bark and pushed us out into the +swift current of the river. I cannot speak for my +comrade in distress, but I can say now that I would +rather ride on a swift bronco any day than try to +stay on and steady a short log in a river. +I never knew how we managed to prevent a shipwreck +on that voyage and to reach the shore. + +We had many curious wild pets. There were +young foxes, bears, wolves, raccoons, fawns, buffalo +calves and birds of all kinds, tamed by various +boys. My pets were different at different times, but +I particularly remember one. I once had a grizzly +bear for a pet and so far as he and I were concerned, +our relations were charming and very close. But I +hardly know whether he made more enemies for me +or I for him. It was his habit to treat every boy +unmercifully who injured me. He was despised +for his conduct in my interest and I was hated on +account of his interference. + +II: My Playmates + +CHATANNA was the brother with +whom I passed much of my early +childhood. From the time that +I was old enough to play with +boys, this brother was my close +companion. He was a handsome +boy, and an affectionate comrade. We played +together, slept together and ate together; and as +Chatanna was three years the older, I naturally +looked up to him as to a superior. + +Oesedah was a beautiful little character. She +was my cousin, and four years younger than my- +self. Perhaps none of my early playmates are +more vividly remembered than is this little +maiden. + +The name given her by a noted medicine-man +was Makah-oesetopah-win. It means The-four- +corners-of-the-earth. As she was rather small, +the abbreviation with a diminutive termination +was considered more appropriate, hence Oesedah +became her common name. + +Although she had a very good mother, Un- +cheedah was her efficient teacher and chaperon +Such knowledge as my grandmother deemed suit- +able to a maiden was duly impressed upon her +susceptible mind. When I was not in the woods +with Chatanna, Oesedah was my companion at +home; and when I returned from my play at +evening, she would have a hundred questions +ready for me to answer. Some of these were +questions concerning our every-day life, and +others were more difficult problems which had +suddenly dawned upon her active little mind. +Whatever had occurred to interest her during the +day was immediately repeated for my benefit. + +There were certain questions upon which Oese- +dah held me to be authority, and asked with the +hope of increasing her little store of knowledge. +I have often heard her declare to her girl compan- +ions: "I know it is true; Ohiyesa said so!" +Uncheedah was partly responsible for this, for +when any questions came up which lay within the +sphere of man's observation, she would say: + +"Ohiyesa ought to know that: he is a man-- +I am not! You had better ask him." + +The truth was that she had herself explained to +me many of the subjects under discussion. + +I was occasionally referred to little Oesedah in +the same manner, and I always accepted her child- +ish elucidations of any matter upon which I had +been advised to consult her, because I knew the +source of her wisdom. In this simple way we +were made to be teachers of one another. + +Very often we discussed some topic before our +common instructor, or answered her questions to- +gether, in order to show which had the readier +mind. + + "To what tribe does the lizard belong?" inquired +Uncheedah, upon one of these occasions. + +"To the four-legged tribe," I shouted. + +Oesedah, with her usual quickness, flashed out +the answer: + +"It belongs to the creeping tribe." + +The Indians divided all animals into four gen- +eral classes: 1st, those that walk upon four legs; +2nd, those that fly; 3rd, those that swim with fins; +4th, those that creep. + +Of course I endeavored to support my assertion +that the lizard belongs where I had placed it, be-. +cause he has four distinct legs which propel him +everywhere, on the ground or in the water. But my +opponent claimed that the creature under dispute +does not walk, but creeps. My strongest argument +was that it had legs; but Oesedah insisted that its +body touches the ground as it moves. As a last +resort, I volunteered to go find one, and demon- +strate the point in question. + +The lizard having been brought, we smoothed +off the ground and strewed ashes on it so that we +could see the track. Then I raised the question: +"What constitutes creeping, and what constitutes +walking?" + +Uncheedah was the judge, and she stated, with- +out any hesitation, that an animal must stand clear +of the ground on the support of its legs, and walk +with the body above the legs, and not in contact +with the ground, in order to be termed a walker; +while a creeper is one that, regardless of its legs, if +it has them, drags its body upon the ground. Upon +hearing the judge's decision, I yielded at once to +my opponent. + +At another time, when I was engaged in a sim- +ilar discussion with my brother Chatanna, Oesedah +came to my rescue. Our grandmother had asked +us: + + "What bird shows most judgment in caring for +its young?" + +Chatanna at once exclaimed: + +"The eagle!" but I held my peace for a mo- +ment, because I was confused--so many birds came +into my mind at once. I finally declared: + +"It is the oriole!" + +Chatanna was asked to state all the evidence that +he had in support of the eagle's good sense in +rearing its young. He proceeded with an air of +confidence: + +"The eagle is the wisest of all birds. Its nest +is made in the safest possible place, upon a high +and inaccessible cliff. It provides its young with +an abundance of fresh meat. They have the fresh- +est of air. They are brought up under the spell +of the grandest scenes, and inspired with lofty +feelings and bravery. They see that all other be- +ings live beneath them, and that they are the chil- +dren of the King of Birds. A young eagle shows +the spirit of a warrior while still in the nest. + +"Being exposed to the inclemency of the weather +the young eaglets are hardy. They are accustomed +to hear the mutterings of the Thunder Bird and +the sighings of the Great Mystery. Why, the lit- +tle eagles cannot help being as noble as they are, +because their parents selected for them so lofty +and inspiring a home! How happy they must be +when they find themselves above the clouds, and +behold the zigzag flashes of lightning all about +them! It must be nice to taste a piece of fresh +meat up in their cool home, in the burning sum- +mer-time! Then when they drop down the bones +of the game they feed upon, wolves and vultures +gather beneath them, feeding upon their refuse. +That alone would show them their chieftainship +over all the other birds. Isn't that so, grand- +mother?" Thus triumphantly he concluded his +argument. + +I was staggered at first by the noble speech of +Chatannna, but I soon recovered from its effects. +The little Oesedah came to my aid by saying: +"Wait until Ohiyesa tells of the loveliness of the +beautiful Oriole's home!" This timely remark +gave me courage and I began: + +"My grandmother, who was it said that a +mother who has a gentle and sweet voice will have +children of a good disposition? I think the oriole +is that kind of a parent. It provides both sun- +shine and shadow for its young. Its nest is sus- +pended from the prettiest bough of the most grace- +ful tree, where it is rocked by the gentle winds; +and the one we found yesterday was beautifully +lined with soft things, both deep and warm, so that +the little featherless birdies cannot suffer from the +cold and wet." + +Here Chatanna interrupted me to exclaim: +"That is just like the white people--who cares for +them? The eagle teaches its young to be ac- +customed to hardships, like young warriors!" + +Ohiyesa was provoked; he reproached his +brother and appealed to the judge, saying that he +had not finished yet. + +"But you would not have lived, Chatanna, if +you had been exposed like that when you were +a baby! The oriole shows wisdom in providing +for its children a good, comfortable home! A +home upon a high rock would not be pleasant-- +it would be cold! We climbed a mountain once, +and it was cold there; and who would care to stay +in such a place when it storms? What wisdom is +there in having a pile of rough sticks upon a bare +rock, surrounded with ill-smelling bones of animals, +for a home? Also, my uncle says that the eaglets +seem always to be on the point of starvation. You +have heard that whoever lives on game killed +by some one else is compared to an eagle. Isn't +that so, grandmother? + +"The oriole suspends its nest from the lower +side of a horizontal bough so that no enemy can +approach it. It enjoys peace and beauty and +safety." + +Oesedah was at Ohiyesa's side during the dis- +cussion, and occasionally whispered into his ear. +Uncheedah decided this time in favor of Ohiyesa. + +We were once very short of provisions in the +winter time. My uncle, our only means of sup- +port, was sick; and besides, we were separated +from the rest of the tribe and in a region where +there was little game of any kind. Oesedah had +a pet squirrel, and as soon as we began to econo- +mize our food had given portions of her allow- +ance to her pet. + +At last we were reduced very much, and the +prospect of obtaining anything soon being gloomy, +my grandmother reluctantly suggested that the +squirrel should be killed for food. Thereupon +my little cousin cried, and said: + +"Why cannot we all die alike wanting? The +squirrel's life is as dear to him as ours to us," and +clung to it. Fortunately, relief came in time to +save her pet. + +Oesedah lived with us for a portion of the year, +and as there were no other girls in the family she +played much alone, and had many imaginary com- +panions. At one time there was a small willow +tree which she visited regularly, holding long con- +versations, a part of which she would afterward +repeat to me. She said the willow tree was her +husband, whom some magic had compelled to +take that form; but no grown person was ever +allowed to share her secret. + +When I was about eight years old I had for a +playmate the adopted son of a Sioux, who was a +white captive. This boy was quite a noted per- +sonage, although he was then only about ten or +eleven years of age. When I first became ac- +quainted with him we were on the upper Mis- +souri river. I learned from him that he had been +taken on the plains, and that both of his parents +were killed. + +He was at first sad and lonely, but soon found +plenty of consolation in his new home. The +name of his adopted father was "Keeps-the- +Spotted-Ponies." He was known to have +an unusual number of the pretty calico ponies; +indeed, he had a passion for accumulating prop- +erty in the shape of ponies, painted tents, dec- +orated saddles and all sorts of finery. He +had lost his only son; but the little pale-face +became the adopted brother of two handsome +young women, his daughters. This made him +quite popular among the young warriors. He +was not slow to adopt the Indian customs, and he +acquired the Sioux language in a short time. + +I well remember hearing of his first experience +of war. He was not more than sixteen when he +joined a war-party against the Gros-Ventres and +Mandans. My uncle reported that he was very +brave until he was wounded in the ankle; then he +begged with tears to be taken back to a safe place. +Fortunately for him, his adopted father came to the +rescue, and saved him at the risk of his own life. +He was called the "pale-face Indian." His hair +grew very long and he lavished paint on his face +and hair so that no one might suspect that he was +a white man. + +One day this boy was playing a gambling game +with one of the Sioux warriors. He was an ex- +pert gambler, and won everything from the Indian. +At a certain point a dispute arose. The Indian +was very angry, for he discovered that his fellow- +player had deliberately cheated him. The Indians +were strictly honest in those days, even in their +gambling. + +The boy declared that he had merely performed +a trick for the benefit of his friend, but it nearly +cost him his life. The indignant warrior had +already drawn his bow-string with the intention of +shooting the captive, but a third person intervened +and saved the boy's life. He at once explained his +trick; and in order to show himself an honorable +gambler, gave back all the articles that he had won +from his opponent. In the midst of the confusion, +old "Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies" came rushing +through the crowd in a state of great excitement. +He thought his pale-face son had been killed. +When he saw how matters stood, he gave the ag- +grieved warrior a pony, "in order," as he said, +"that there may be no shadow between him and +my son." + +One spring my uncle took Chatanna to the +Canadian trading-post on the Assiniboine river, +where he went to trade off his furs for ammunition +and other commodities. When he came back, my +brother was not with him! + +At first my fears were even worse than the re- +ality. The facts were these: A Canadian with +whom my uncle had traded much had six daugh- +ters and no son; and when he saw this handsome +and intelligent little fellow, he at once offered to +adopt him. + +"I have no boy in my family," said he, "and +I will deal with him as with a son. I am always +in these regions trading; so you can see him two +or three times in a year." + +He further assured my uncle that the possession +of the boy would greatly strengthen their friend- +ship. The matter was finally agreed upon. At +first Chatanna was unwilling, but as we were taught +to follow the advice of our parents and guardians, +he was obliged to yield. + +This was a severe blow to me, and for a long +time I could not be consoled. Uncheedah was +fully in sympathy with my distress. She argued +that the white man's education was not desirable +for her boys; in fact, she urged her son so strongly +to go back after Chatanna that he promised on +his next visit to the post to bring him home +again. + +But the trader was a shrewd man. He immedi- +ately moved to another part of the country; and I +never saw my Chatanna, the companion of my +childhood, again! We learned afterward that he +grew up and was married; but one day he lost his +way in a blizzard and was frozen to death. + +My little cousin and I went to school together +in later years; but she could not endure the con- +finement of the school-room. Although appar- +ently very happy, she suffered greatly from the +change to an indoor life, as have many of our peo- +ple, and died six months after our return to +the United States. + +III: The Boy Hunter + +IT will be no exaggeration to say +that the life of the Indian hunter +was a life of fascination. From +the moment that he lost sight of +his rude home in the midst of the +forest, his untutored mind lost it- +self in the myriad beauties and forces of nature. +Yet he never forgot his personal danger from some +lurking foe or savage beast, however absorbing +was his passion for the chase. + The Indian youth was a born hunter. Every +motion, every step expressed an inborn dignity +and, at the same time, a depth of native caution. +His moccasined foot fell like the velvet paw of a +cat--noiselessly; his glittering black eyes scanned +every object that appeared within their view. Not +a bird, not even a chipmunk, escaped their pierc- +ing glance. + +I was scarcely over three years old when I stood +one morning just outside our buffalo-skin teepee, +with my little bow and arrows in my hand, and +gazed up among the trees. Suddenly the instinct +to chase and kill seized me powerfully. Just then +a bird flew over my head and then another caught +my eye, as it balanced itself upon a swaying +bough. Everything else was forgotten and in +that moment I had taken my first step as a +hunter. + +There was almost as much difference between +the Indian boys who were brought up on the open +prairies and those of the woods, as between city +and country boys. The hunting of the prairie boys +was limited and their knowledge of natural history +imperfect. They were, as a rule, good riders, but +in all-round physical development much inferior +to the red men of the forest. + +Our hunting varied with the season of the year, +and the nature of the country which was for the +time our home. Our chief weapon was the bow +and arrows, and perhaps, if we were lucky, a knife +was possessed by some one in the crowd. In the +olden times, knives and hatchets were made from +bone and sharp stones. + +For fire we used a flint with a spongy piece of +dry wood and a stone to strike with. Another way +of starting fire was for several of the boys to sit +down in a circle and rub two pieces of dry, spongy +wood together, one after another, until the wood +took fire. + +We hunted in company a great deal, though it +was a common thing for a boy to set out for the +woods quite alone, and he usually enjoyed himself +fully as much. Our game consisted mainly of +small birds, rabbits, squirrels and grouse. Fish- +ing, too, occupied much of our time. We hardly +ever passed a creek or a pond without searching +for some signs of fish. When fish were present, +we always managed to get some. Fish-lines were +made of wild hemp, sinew or horse-hair. We +either caught fish with lines, snared or speared +them, or shot them with bow and arrows. In the +fall we charmed them up to the surface by gently +tickling them with a stick and quickly threw them +out. We have sometimes dammed the brooks and +driven the larger fish into a willow basket made +for that purpose. + +It was part of our hunting to find new and +strange things in the woods. We examined the +slightest sign of life; and if a bird had scratched +the leaves off the ground, or a bear dragged up a +root for his morning meal, we stopped to specu- +late on the time it was done. If we saw a large +old tree with some scratches on its bark, we con- +cluded that a bear or some raccoons must be living +there. In that case we did not go any nearer than +was necessary, but later reported the incident at +home. An old deer-track would at once bring on +a warm discussion as to whether it was the track +of a buck or a doe. Generally, at noon, we met +and compared our game, noting at the same time +the peculiar characteristics of everything we had +killed. It was not merely a hunt, for we combined +with it the study of animal life. We also kept +strict account of our game, and thus learned who +were the best shots among the boys. + +I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward +the birds. We often took their eggs and their +young ones. My brother Chatanna and I once +had a disagreeable adventure while bird-hunting. +We were accustomed to catch in our hands young +ducks and geese during the summer, and while do- +ing this we happened to find a crane's nest. Of +course, we were delighted with our good luck. +But, as it was already midsummer, the young +cranes--two in number--were rather large and +they were a little way from the nest; we also ob- +served that the two old cranes were in a swampy +place near by; but, as it was moulting-time, we +did not suppose that they would venture on dry +land. So we proceeded to chase the young birds; +but they were fleet runners and it took us some +time to come up with them. + +Meanwhile, the parent birds had heard the cries +of their little ones and come to their rescue. They +were chasing us, while we followed the birds. It +was really a perilous encounter! Our strong +bows finally gained the victory in a hand-to-hand +struggle with the angry cranes; but after that we +hardly ever hunted a crane's nest. Almost all birds +make some resistance when their eggs or young +are taken, but they will seldom attack man fear- +lessly. + +We used to climb large trees for birds of all +kinds; but we never undertook to get young owls +unless they were on the ground. The hooting +owl especially is a dangerous bird to attack under +these circumstances. +I was once trying to catch a yellow-winged wood- +pecker in its nest when my arm became twisted +and lodged in the deep hole so that I could not +get it out without the aid of a knife; but we were +a long way from home and my only companion +was a deaf mute cousin of mine. I was about fifty +feet up in the tree, in a very uncomfortable posi- +tion, but I had to wait there for more than an hour +before he brought me the knife with which I fin- +ally released myself. + +Our devices for trapping small animals were +rude, but they were often successful. For instance, +we used to gather up a peck or so of large, sharp- +pointed burrs and scatter them in the rabbit's fur- +row-like path. In the morning, we would find +the little fellow sitting quietly in his tracks, unable +to move, for the burrs stuck to his feet. + +Another way of snaring rabbits and grouse was +the following: We made nooses of twisted horse- +hair, which we tied very firmly to the top of a +limber young tree, then bent the latter down to +the track and fastened the whole with a slip-knot, +after adjusting the noose. When the rabbit runs +his head through the noose, he pulls the slip-knot +and is quickly carried up by the spring of the +young tree. This is a good plan, for the rabbit +is out of harm's way as he swings high in the air. + +Perhaps the most enjoyable of all was the chip- +munk hunt. We killed these animals at any time +of year, but the special time to hunt them was in +March. After the first thaw, the chipmunks bur- +row a hole through the snow crust and make +their first appearance for the season. Sometimes +as many as fifty will come together and hold a +social reunion. These gatherings occur early in +the morning, from daybreak to about nine o'clock. + +We boys learned this, among other secrets of +nature, and got our blunt-headed arrows together +in good season for the chipmunk expedition. + +We generally went in groups of six to a dozen +or fifteen, to see which would get the most. On +the evening before, we selected several boys who +could imitate the chipmunk's call with wild oat- +straws and each of these provided himself with a +supply of straws. + +The crust will hold the boys nicely at this time +of the year. Bright and early, they all come to- +gether at the appointed place, from which each +group starts out in a different direction, agreeing +to meet somewhere at a given position of the sun. + +My first experience of this kind is still well re- +membered. It was a fine crisp March morning, +and the sun had not yet shown himself among the +distant tree-tops as we hurried along through the +ghostly wood. Presently we arrived at a place +where there were many signs of the animals. Then +each of us selected a tree and took up his position +behind it. The chipmunk caller sat upon a log +as motionless as he could, and began to call. + +Soon we heard the patter of little feet on the +hard snow; then we saw the chipmunks approach- +ing from all directions. Some stopped and ran +experimentally up a tree or a log, as if uncertain of +the exact direction of the call; others chased one +another about. + +In a few minutes, the chipmunk-caller was be- +sieged with them. Some ran all over his person, +others under him and still others ran up the tree +against which he was sitting. Each boy remained +immovable until their leader gave the signal; then +a great shout arose, and the chipmunks in their +flight all ran up the different trees. + +Now the shooting-match began. The little +creatures seemed to realize their hopeless posi- +tion; they would try again and again to come +down the trees and flee away from the deadly aim +of the youthful hunters. But they were shot down +very fast; and whenever several of them rushed +toward the ground, the little red-skin hugged the +tree and yelled frantically to scare them up again. + +Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the +tree, so that the arrow may bound back to him every +time; otherwise, when he had shot away all of +them, he would be helpless, and another, who had +cleared his own tree, would come and take away +his game, so there was warm competition. Some- +times a desperate chipmunk would jump from the +top of the tree in order to escape, which was con- +sidered a joke on the boy who lost it and a triumph +for the brave little animal. At last all were killed +or gone, and then we went on to another place, +keeping up the sport until the sun came out and +the chipmunks refused to answer the call. + +When we went out on the prairies we had a dif- +ferent and less lively kind of sport. We used to +snare with horse-hair and bow-strings all the small +ground animals, including the prairie-dog. We +both snared and shot them. Once a little boy set +a snare for one, and lay flat on the ground a little +way from the hole, holding the end of the string. +Presently he felt something move and pulled in a +huge rattlesnake; and to this day, his name is +"Caught-the-Rattlesnake." Very often a boy got +a new name in some such manner. At another +time, we were playing in the woods and found a +fawn's track. We followed and caught it while +asleep; but in the struggle to get away, it kicked +one boy, who is still called "Kicked-by-the-Fawn." + +It became a necessary part of our education to +learn to prepare a meal while out hunting. It is +a fact that most Indians will eat the liver and some +other portions of large animals raw, but they do +not eat fish or birds uncooked. Neither will they +eat a frog, or an eel. On our boyish hunts, we +often went on until we found ourselves a long way +from our camp, when we would kindle a fire and +roast a part of our game. + +Generally we broiled our meat over the coals on +a stick. We roasted some of it over the open fire. +But the best way to cook fish and birds is in the +ashes, under a big fire. We take the fish fresh from +the creek or lake, have a good fire on the sand, dig +in the sandy ashes and bury it deep. The same +thing is done in case of a bird, only we wet the +feathers first. When it is done, the scales or feath- +ers and skin are stripped off whole, and the deli- +cious meat retains all its juices and flavor. We +pulled it off as we ate, leaving the bones undis- +turbed. + +Our people had also a method of boiling with- +out pots or kettles. A large piece of tripe was +thoroughly washed and the ends tied, then sus- +pended between four stakes driven into the ground +and filled with cold water. The meat was then placed +in this novel receptacle and boiled by means of the +addition of red-hot stones. + +Chatanna was a good hunter. He called the doe +and fawn beautifully by using a thin leaf of birch- +bark between two flattened sticks. One morning +we found the tracks of a doe and fawn who had +passed within the hour, for the light dew was +brushed from the grass. + +"What shall we do?" I asked. "Shall we go +back to the teepee and tell uncle to bring his +gun?" + +"No, no!" exclaimed Chatanna. "Did not our +people kill deer and buffalo long ago without guns? +We will entice her into this open space, and, while +she stands bewildered, I can throw my lasso line +over her head." + +He had called only a few seconds when the fawn +emerged from the thick woods and stood before us, +prettier than a picture. Then I uttered the call, +and she threw her tobacco-leaf-like ears toward me, +while Chatanna threw his lasso. She gave one +scream and launched forth into the air, almost +throwing the boy hunter to the ground. Again +and again she flung herself desperately into the air, +but at last we led her to the nearest tree and tied +her securely. + +"Now," said he, "go and get our pets and see +what they will do." + +At that time he had a good-sized black bear +partly tamed, while I had a young red fox and my +faithful Ohitika or Brave. I untied Chagoo, the +bear, and Wanahon, the fox, while Ohitika got up +and welcomed me by wagging his tail in a dig- +nified way. + +"Come," I said, "all three of you. I think we +have something you would all like to see." + +They seemed to understand me, for Chagoo be- +gan to pull his rope with both paws, while Wana- +hon undertook the task of digging up by the roots +the sapling to which I had tied him. + +Before we got to the open spot, we already heard +Ohitika's joyous bark, and the two wild pets be- +gan to run, and pulled me along through the un- +derbrush. Chagoo soon assumed the utmost pre- +caution and walked as if he had splinters in his +soles, while Wanahon kept his nose down low and +sneaked through the trees. + +Out into the open glade we came, and there, be- +fore the three rogues, stood the little innocent fawn. +She visibly trembled at the sight of the motley +group. The two human rogues looked to her, I +presume, just as bad as the other three. Chagoo +regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and defi- +ance, while Wanahon stood as if rooted to the +ground, evidently planning how to get at her. But +Ohitika (Brave), generous Ohitika, his occasional +barking was only in jest. He did not care to +touch the helpless thing. + +Suddenly the fawn sprang high into the air and +then dropped her pretty head on the ground. + +"Ohiyesa, the fawn is dead," cried Chatanna. +"I wanted to keep her." + +"It is a shame;" I chimed in. + +We five guilty ones came and stood around her +helpless form. We all looked very sorry; even +Chagoo's eyes showed repentance and regret. As +for Ohitika, he gave two great sighs and then be- +took himself to a respectful distance. Chatanna +had two big tears gradually swamping his long, +black eye-lashes; and I thought it was time to +hide my face, for I did not want him to look at +me. + + + + +IV +Hakadah's First Offering + +"HAKADAH, coowah!" was the sonorous call that came from a +large teepee in the midst of the Indian encampment. In answer +to the summons there emerged from the woods, which were +only a few steps away, a boy, accompanied by a +splendid black dog. There was little in the ap- +pearance of the little fellow to distinguish him +from the other Sioux boys. + +He hastened to the tent from which he had +been summoned, carrying in his hands a bow and +arrows gorgeously painted, while the small birds +and squirrels that he had killed with these weap- +ons dangled from his belt. + +Within the tent sat two old women, one on +each side of the fire. Uncheedah was the boy's +grandmother, who had brought up the mother- +less child. Wahchewin was only a caller, but she +had been invited to remain and assist in the first +personal offering of Hakadah to the "Great Mys- +tery." + +This was a matter which had, for several days, +pretty much monopolized Uncheedah's mind. It +was her custom to see to this when each of her +children attained the age of eight summers. They +had all been celebrated as warriors and hunters +among their tribe, and she had not hesitated to +claim for herself a good share of the honors they +had achieved, because she had brought them early +to the notice of the "Great Mystery." + +She believed that her influence had helped to +regulate and develop the characters of her sons to +the height of savage nobility and strength of man- +hood. + +It had been whispered through the teepee vil- +lage that Uncheedah intended to give a feast in +honor of her grandchild's first sacrificial offering. +This was mere speculation, however, for the clear- +sighted old woman had determined to keep this +part of the matter secret until the offering should +be completed, believing that the "Great Myste- +ry" should be met in silence and dignity. + +The boy came rushing into the lodge, followed +by his dog Ohitika who was wagging his tail pro- +miscuously, as if to say: "Master and I are really +hunters!" + +Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narra- +tive of the killing of each bird and squirrel as he +pulled them off his belt and threw them before +his grandmother. + +"This blunt-headed arrow," said he, "actually +had eyes this morning. Before the squirrel can +dodge around the tree it strikes him in the head, +and, as he falls to the ground, my Ohitika is upon +him." + +He knelt upon one knee as he talked, his black +eyes shining like evening stars. + +"Sit down here," said Uncheedah to the boy; +"I have something to say to you. You see that +you are now almost a man. Observe the game +you have brought me! It will not be long be- +fore you will leave me, for a warrior must seek +opportunities to make him great among his people. + +"You must endeavor to equal your father. and +grandfather," she went on. "They were warriors +and feast-makers. But it is not the poor hunter +who makes many feasts. Do you not remember +the 'Legend of the Feast-Maker,' who gave +forty feasts in twelve moons? And have you for- +gotten the story of the warrior who sought the +will of the Great Mystery? To-day you will +make your first offering to him." + +The concluding sentence fairly dilated the eyes +of the young hunter, for he felt that a great event +was about to occur, in which he would be the +principal actor. But Uncheedah resumed her +speech. + +"You must give up one of your belongings-- +whichever is dearest to you--for this is to be a +sacrificial offering." + +This somewhat confused the boy; not that he +was selfish, but rather uncertain as to what would +be the most appropriate thing to give. Then, +too, he supposed that his grandmother referred +to his ornaments and playthings only. So he +volunteered: + +"I can give up my best bow and arrows, and +all the paints I have, and--and my bear's claws +necklace, grandmother!" + +"Are these the things dearest to you?" she +demanded. + +"Not the bow and arrows, but the paints will +be very hard to get, for there are no white people +near; and the necklace--it is not easy to get +one like it again. I will also give up my otter- +skin head-dress, if you think that is not +enough." + +"But think, my boy, you have not yet men- +tioned the thing that will be a pleasant offering to +the Great Mystery." + +The boy looked into the woman's face with a +puzzled expression. + +"I have nothing else as good as those things I +have named, grandmother, unless it is my spotted +pony; and I am sure that the Great Mystery will +not require a little boy to make him so large a +gift. Besides, my uncle gave three otter-skins +and five eagle-feathers for him and I promised to +keep him a long while, if the Blackfeet or the +Crows do not steal him." + +Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy's +free offerings. Perhaps it had not occurred to him +what she really wanted. But Uncheedah knew +where his affection was vested. His faithful dog, +his pet and companion--Hakadah was almost in- +separable from the loving beast. + +She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain +his consent to sacrifice the animal, but she ven- +tured upon a final appeal. + +"You must remember," she said, "that in this +offering you will call upon him who looks at you +from every creation. In the wind you hear him +whisper to you. He gives his war-whoop in the +thunder. He watches you by day with his eye, +the sun; at night, he gazes upon your sleeping +countenance through the moon. In short, it is +the Mystery of Mysteries, who controls all things. +to whom you will make your first offering. By +this act, you will ask him to grant to you what he +has granted to few men. I know you wish to be +a great warrior and hunter. I am not prepared to +see my Hakadah show any cowardice, for the love +of possessions is a woman's trait and not a brave's." + +During this speech, the boy had been complete- +ly aroused to the spirit of manliness, and in his +excitement was willing to give up anything he had +--even his pony! But he was unmindful of his +friend and companion, Ohitika, the dog! So, +scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking, when +he almost shouted: + +"Grandmother, I will give up any of my pos- +sessions for the offering to the Great Mystery! +You may select what you think will be most pleas- +ing to him." + +There were two silent spectators of this little +dialogue. One was Wahchewin; the other was +Ohitika. The woman had been invited to stay, +although only a neighbor. The dog, by force of +habit, had taken up his usual position by the side +of his master when they entered the teepee. With- +out moving a muscle, save those of his eyes, he +had been a very close observer of what passed. + +Had the dog but moved once to attract the at- +tention of his little friend, he might have been +dissuaded from that impetuous exclamation: +"Grandmother, I will give up any of my posses- +sions!" + +It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that +he must part with his dog, but she was equal to +the situation. + + "Hakadah," she proceeded cautiously, "you +are a young brave. I know, though young, your +heart is strong and your courage is great. You +will be pleased to give up the dearest thing you +have for your first offering. You must give up +Ohitika. He is brave; and you, too, are brave. +He will not fear death; you will bear his loss brave- +ly. Come--here are four bundles of paints and +a filled pipe--let us go to the place." + +When the last words were uttered, Hakadah did +not seem to hear them. He was simply unable to +speak. To a civilized eye, he would have ap- +peared at that moment like a little copper statue. +His bright black eyes were fast melting in floods +of tears, when he caught his grandmother's eye +and recollected her oft-repeated adage: "Tears +for woman and the war-whoop for man to drown +sorrow!" + +He swallowed two or three big mouthfuls of +heart-ache and the little warrior was master of the +situation. + + "Grandmother, my Brave will have to die! Let +me tie together two of the prettiest tails of the +squirrels that he and I killed this morning, to show +to the Great Mystery what a hunter he has been. +Let me paint him myself." + +This request Uncheedah could not refuse +and she left the pair alone for a few minutes, +while she went to ask Wacoota to execute Ohi- +tika. + +Every Indian boy knows that, when a warrior +is about to meet death, he must sing a death dirge. +Hakadah thought of his Ohitika as a person who +would meet his death without a struggle, so he began +to sing a dirge for him, at the same time hugging +him tight to himself. As if he were a human be- +ing, he whispered in his ear: + +"Be brave, my Ohitika! I shall remember +you the first time I am upon the war-path in the +Ojibway country." + +At last he heard Uncheedah talking with a man +outside the teepee, so he quickly took up his +paints. Ohitika was a jet-black dog, with a silver +tip on the end of his tail and on his nose, beside +one white paw and a white star upon a protuber- +ance between his ears. Hakadah knew that a man +who prepares for death usually paints with red and +black. Nature had partially provided Ohitika in +this respect, so that only red was required and this +Hakadah supplied generously. + +Then he took off a piece of red cloth and tied it +around the dog's neck; to this he fastened two of +the squirrels' tails and a wing from the oriole they +had killed that morning. + +Just then it occurred to him that good warriors +always mourn for their departed friends and +the usual mourning was black paint. He loosened +his black braided locks, ground a dead coal, mixed +it with bear's oil and rubbed it on his entire face. + +During this time every hole in the tent was oc- +cupied with an eye. Among the lookers-on was +his grandmother. She was very near relenting. +Had she not feared the wrath of the Great Mys- +tery, she would have been happy to call out to the +boy: "Keep your dear dog, my child!" + +As it was, Hakadah came out of the teepee with +his face looking like an eclipsed moon, leading his +beautiful dog, who was even handsomer than ever +with the red touches on his specks of white. + +It was now Uncheedah's turn to struggle with +the storm and burden in her soul. But the boy +was emboldened by the people's admiration of his +bravery, and did not shed a tear. As soon as she +was able to speak, the loving grandmother said: + +"No, my young brave, not so! You must not +mourn for your first offering. Wash your face +and then we will go." + +The boy obeyed, submitted Ohitika to Wacoota +with a smile, and walked off with his grandmother +and Wahchewin. + +They followed a well-beaten foot-path leading +along the bank of the Assiniboine river, through +a beautiful grove of oak, and finally around and +under a very high cliff. The murmuring of the +river came up from just below. On the opposite +side was a perpendicular white cliff, from which ex- +tended back a gradual slope of land, clothed with +the majestic mountain oak. The scene was im- +pressive and wild. + +Wahchewin had paused without a word when +the little party reached the edge of the cliff. It +had been arranged between her and Uncheedah +that she should wait there for Wacoota, who was +to bring as far as that the portion of the offering +with which he had been entrusted. + +The boy and his grandmother descended the +bank, following a tortuous foot-path until they +reached the water's edge. Then they proceeded +to the mouth of an immense cave, some fifty feet +above the river, under the cliff. A little stream +of limpid water trickled down from a spring with- +in the cave. The little watercourse served as a +sort of natural staircase for the visitors. A cool, +pleasant atmosphere exhaled from the mouth of +the cavern. Really it was a shrine of nature and +it is not strange that it was so regarded by the +tribe. + +A feeling of awe and reverence came to the boy. +"It is the home of the Great Mystery," he +thought to himself; and the impressiveness of +his surroundings made him forget his sorrow. + +Very soon Wahchewin came with some diffi- +culty to the steps. She placed the body of Ohi- +tika upon the ground in a life-like position and +again left the two alone. + +As soon as she disappeared from view, Unchee- +dah, with all solemnity and reverence, unfast- +ened the leather strings that held the four small +bundles of paints and one of tobacco, while the +filled pipe was laid beside the dead Ohitika. + +She scattered paints and tobacco all about. +Again they stood a few moments silently; then she +drew a deep breath and began her prayer to the +Great Mystery: + +"0, Great Mystery, we hear thy voice in the +rushing waters below us! We hear thy whisper +in the great oaks above! Our spirits are refreshed +with thy breath from within this cave. 0, hear +our prayer! Behold this little boy and bless him! +Make him a warrior and a hunter as great as thou +didst make his father and grandfather." + +And with this prayer the little warrior had com- +pleted his first offering. + + +V +Family Traditions + +I: A Visit to Smoky Day + +SMOKY DAY was widely known +among us as a preserver of history +and legend. He was a living +book of the traditions and his- +tory of his people. Among his ef- +fects were bundles of small sticks, +notched and painted. One bundle contained the +number of his own years. Another was composed +of sticks representing the important events of his- +tory, each of which was marked with the number +of years since that particular event occurred. For +instance, there was the year when so many stars +fell from the sky, with the number of years since +it happened cut into the wood. Another recorded +the appearance of a comet; and from these +heavenly wonders the great national catastrophes +and victories were reckoned. + +But I will try to repeat some of his favorite +narratives as I heard them from his own lips. I +went to him one day with a piece of tobacco and +an eagle-feather; not to buy his MSS., but +hoping for the privilege of hearing him tell of +some of the brave deeds of our people in remote +times. + +The tall and large old man greeted me with his +usual courtesy and thanked me for my present. +As I recall the meeting, I well remember his un- +usual stature, his slow speech and gracious man- +ner. + +"Ah, Ohiyesa!" said he, "my young warrior +--for such you will be some day! I know this +by your seeking to hear of the great deeds of your +ancestors. That is a good sign, and I love to re- +peat these stories to one who is destined to be a +brave man. I do not wish to lull you to sleep with +sweet words; but I know the conduct of your pa- +ternal ancestors. They have been and are still +among the bravest of our tribe. To prove this, I +will relate what happened in your paternal grand- +father's family, twenty years ago. + +"Two of his brothers were murdered by a jeal- +ous young man of their own band. The deed +was committed without just cause; therefore all +the braves were agreed to punish the murderer +with death. When your grandfather was ap- +proached with this suggestion, he replied that he +and the remaining brothers could not condescend +to spill the blood of such a wretch, but that the +others might do whatever they thought just with +the young man. These men were foremost among +the warriors of the Sioux, and no one questioned +their courage; yet when this calamity was brought +upon them by a villain, they refused to touch him! +This, my boy, is a test of true bravery. Self-pos- +session and self-control at such a moment is proof +of a strong heart. + +"You have heard of Jingling Thunder the +elder, whose brave deeds are well known to the +Villagers of the Lakes. He sought honor 'in the +gates of the enemy,' as we often say. The Great +Mystery was especially kind to him, because he +was obedient. + +"Many winters ago there was a great battle, in +which Jingling Thunder won his first honors. It +was forty winters before the falling of many stars, +which event occurred twenty winters after the +coming of the black-robed white priest; and that +was fourteen winters before the annihilation by +our people of thirty lodges of the Sac and Fox +Indians. I well remember the latter event--it +was just fifty winters ago. However, I will count +my sticks again." + +So saying, Smoky Day produced his bundle of +variously colored sticks, about five inches long. +He counted and gave them to me to verify his +calculation. + +"But you," he resumed, "do not care to re- +member the winters that have passed. You are +young, and care only for the event and the +deed. It was very many years ago that this +thing happened that I am about to tell you, +and yet our people speak of it with as much +enthusiasm as if it were only yesterday. Our +heroes are always kept alive in the minds of the +nation. + +"Our people lived then on the east bank of the +Mississippi, a little south of where Imnejah-skah, +or White Cliff (St. Paul, Minnesota), now stands. +After they left Mille Lacs they founded several +villages, but finally settled in this spot, whence +the tribes have gradually dispersed. Here a +battle occurred which surpassed all others in +history. It lasted one whole day--the Sacs +and Foxes and the Dakotas against the Ojib- +ways. + +"An invitation in the usual form of a filled pipe +was brought to the Sioux by a brave of the Sac +and Fox tribe, to make a general attack upon their +common enemy. The Dakota braves quickly +signified their willingness in the same manner, and +it having been agreed to meet upon the St. Croix +river, preparations were immediately begun to +despatch a large war-party. + +"Among our people there were many tried war- +riors whose names were known, and every youth of +a suitable age was desirous of emulating them. As +these young novices issued from every camp and +almost every teepee, their mothers, sisters, grand- +fathers and grandmothers were singing for them +the 'strong-heart' songs. An old woman, liv- +ing with her only grandchild, the remnant of a +once large band who had all been killed at +three different times by different parties of +the Ojibways, was conspicuous among the singers. + +"Everyone who heard, cast toward her a sym- +pathetic glance, for it was well known that she and +her grandson constituted the remnant of a band +of Sioux, and that her song indicated that her pre- +cious child had attained the age of a warrior, and +was now about to join the war-party, and to seek +a just revenge for the annihilation of his family. +This was Jingling Thunder, also familiarly known +as 'The Little Last.' He was seen to carry with +him some family relics in the shape of war-clubs +and lances. + +"The aged woman's song was something like this: + + "Go, my brave Jingling Thunder! + Upon the silvery path + Behold that glittering track-- + + "And yet, my child, remember + How pitiful to live + Survivor of the young! + 'Stablish our name and kin!" + + +"The Sacs and Foxes were very daring and +confident upon this occasion. They proposed to +the Sioux that they should engage alone with the +enemy at first, and let us see how their braves can +fight! To this our people assented, and they as- +sembled upon the hills to watch the struggle be- +tween their allies and the Ojibways. It seemed to +be an equal fight, and for a time no one could tell +how the contest would end. Young Jingling +Thunder was an impatient spectator, and it was + + +*The Milky Way--believed by the Dakotas to be the road +travelled by the spirits of departed braves. +hard to keep him from rushing forward to meet +his foes. + +"At last a great shout went up, and the Sacs +and Foxes were seen to be retreating with heavy +loss. Then the Sioux took the field, and were fast +winning the day, when fresh reinforcements came +from the north for the Ojibways. Up to this time +Jingling Thunder had been among the foremost +in the battle, and had engaged in several close en- +counters. But this fresh attack of the Ojibways +was unexpected, and the Sioux were somewhat +tired. Besides, they had told the Sacs and Foxes +to sit upon the hills and rest their weary limbs +and take lessons from their friends the Sioux; +therefore no aid was looked for from any quarter. + +"A great Ojibway chief made a fierce onslaught +on the Dakotas. This man Jingling Thunder +now rushed forward to meet. The Ojibway +boastfully shouted to his warriors that he had met +a tender fawn and would reserve to himself the +honor of destroying it. Jingling Thunder, on his +side, exclaimed that he had met the aged bear of +whom he had heard so much, but that he would +need no assistance to overcome him. + +"The powerful man flashed his tomahawk +in the air over the youthful warrior's head, but +the brave sprang aside as quick as lightning, +and in the same instant speared his enemy to the +heart. As the Ojibway chief gave a gasping yell +and fell in death, his people lost courage; while +the success of the brave Jingling Thunder +strengthened the hearts of the Sioux, for they im- +mediately followed up their advantage and drove +the enemy out of their territory. + +"This was the beginning of Jingling Thunder's +career as a warrior. He afterwards performed even +greater acts of valor. He became the ancestor +of a famous band of the Sioux, of whom your own +father, Ohiyesa, was a member. You have doubt- +less heard his name in connection with many great +events. Yet he was a patient man, and was never +known to quarrel with one of his own nation." + +That night I lay awake a long time commit- +ting to memory the tradition I had heard, and the +next day I boasted to my playmate, Little Rain- +bow, about my first lesson from the old story- +teller. To this he replied: + +"I would rather have Weyuhah for my teacher. +I think he remembers more than any of the others. +When Weyuhah tells about a battle you can see it +yourself; you can even hear the war-whoop," he +went on with much enthusiasm. + +"That is what his friends say of him; but those +who are not his friends say that he brings many +warriors into the battle who were not there," I an- +swered indignantly, for I could not admit that old +Smoky Day could have a rival. + +Before I went to him again Uncheedah had +thoughtfully prepared a nice venison roast for +the teacher, and I was proud to take him some- +thing good to eat before beginning his story. + +"How," was his greeting, "so you have begun +already, Ohiyesa? Your family were ever feast- +makers as well as warriors." + +Having done justice to the tender meat, he +wiped his knife by sticking it into the ground +several times, and put it away in its sheath, after +which he cheerfully recommenced: + +"It came to pass not many winters ago that +Wakinyan-tonka, the great medicine man, had a +vision; whereupon a war-party set out for the +Ojibway country. There were three brothers of +your family among them, all of whom were noted +for valor and the chase. + +"Seven battles were fought in succession before +they turned to come back. They had secured a +number of the enemy's birch canoes, and the whole +party came floating down the Mississippi, joyous +and happy because of their success. + +"But one night the war-chief announced that +there was misfortune at hand. The next day no +one was willing to lead the fleet. The youngest +of the three brothers finally declared that he did +not fear death, for it comes when least expected +and he volunteered to take the lead. + +"It happened that this young man had left a +pretty maiden behind him, whose choice needle- +work adorned his quiver. He was very hand- +some as well as brave. + +"At daybreak the canoes were again launched +upon the bosom of the great river. All was quiet +--a few birds beginning to sing. Just as the sun +peeped through the eastern tree-tops a great war- +cry came forth from the near shores, and there +was a rain of arrows. The birchen canoes were +pierced, and in the excitement many were cap- +sized. + +"The Sioux were at a disadvantage. There was +no shelter. Their bow-strings and the feathers +on their arrows were wet. The bold Ojibways +saw their advantage and pressed closer and closer; +but our men fought desperately, half in and half +out of the water, until the enemy was forced at +last to retreat. Nevertheless that was a sad day +for the Wahpeton Sioux; but saddest of all was +Winona's fate! + +"Morning Star, her lover, who led the canoe +fleet that morning, was among the slain. For two +days the Sioux braves searched in the water for +their dead, but his body was not recovered. + +"At home, meanwhile, the people had been +alarmed by ill omens. Winona, eldest daughter of +the great chief, one day entered her birch canoe +alone and paddled up the Mississippi, gazing now +into the,water around her, now into the blue sky +above. She thought she heard some young men +giving courtship calls in the distance, just as they +do at night when approaching the teepee of the +beloved; and she knew the voice of Morning +Star well! Surely she could distinguish his call +among the others! Therefore she listened yet +more intently, and looked skyward as her light +canoe glided gently up stream. + +"Ah, poor Winona! She saw only six sand- +hill cranes, looking no larger than mosquitoes, as +they flew in circles high up in the sky, going east +where all spirits go. Something said to her: +'Those are the spirits of some of the Sioux braves, +and Morning Star is among them!' Her eye +followed the birds as they traveled in a chain of +circles. + +"Suddenly she glanced downward. 'What is +this?' she screamed in despair. It was Morn- +ing Star's body, floating down the river; his +quiver, worked by her own hands and now +dyed with his blood, lay upon the surface of +the water. + +"'Ah, Great Mystery! why do you punish a +poor girl so? Let me go with the spirit of Morn- +ing Star!' + +"It was evening. The pale moon arose in the +east and the stars were bright. At this very hour +the news of the disaster was brought home by a +returning scout, and the village was plunged in +grief, but Winona's spirit had flown away. No +one ever saw her again. + +"This is enough for to-day, my boy. You +may come again to-morrow." + +II: The Stone Boy + +"Ho, mita koda!" (welcome, friend!) +was Smoky Day's greeting, as I +entered his lodge on the third +day. "I hope you did not dream +of a watery combat with the Ojib- +ways, after the history I repeated +to you yesterday," the old sage continued, with a +complaisant smile playing upon his face. + +"No," I said, meekly, "but, on the other hand, +I have wished that the sun might travel a little +faster, so that I could come for another story." + +"Well, this time I will tell you one of the kind +we call myths or fairy stories. They are about men +and women who do wonderful things--things that +ordinary people cannot do at all. Sometimes they +are not exactly human beings, for they partake of +the nature of men and beasts, or of men and gods. +I tell you this beforehand, so that you may not ask +any questions, or be puzzled by the inconsistency +of the actors in these old stories. + +"Once there were ten brothers who lived with +their only sister, a young maiden of sixteen sum- +mers. She was very skilful at her embroidery, and +her brothers all had beautifully worked quivers and +bows embossed with porcupine quills. They loved +and were kind to her, and the maiden in her turn +loved her brothers dearly, and was content with +her position as their housekeeper. They were +great hunters, and scarcely ever remained at +home during the day, but when they returned +at evening they would relate to her all their +adventures. + +"One night they came home one by one with +their game, as usual, all but the eldest, who did not +return. It was supposed by the other brothers that +he had pursued a deer too far from the lodge, or +perhaps shot more game than he could well carry; +but the sister had a presentiment that something +dreadful had befallen him. She was partially con- +soled by the second brother, who offered to find +the lost one in the morning. + +"Accordingly, he went in search of him, while +the rest set out on the hunt as usual. Toward +evening all had returned safely, save the brother +who went in search of the absent. Again, the next +older brother went to look for the others, and he +too returned no more. All the young men disap- +peared one by one in this manner, leaving their +sister alone. + +"The maiden's sorrow was very great. She wan- +dered everywhere, weeping and looking for her +brothers, but found no trace of them. One day she +was walking beside a beautiful little stream, whose +clear waters went laughing and singing on their way. +She could see the gleaming pebbles at the bottom, +and one in particular seemed so lovely to her +tear-bedimmed eyes, that she stooped and picked +it up, dropping it within her skin garment +into her bosom. For the first time since her +misfortunes she had forgotten herself and her +sorrow. + +"At last she went home, much happier than +she had been, though she could not have told the +reason why. On the following day she sought again +the place where she had found the pebble, and this +time she fell asleep on the banks of the stream, +When she awoke, there lay a beautiful babe in her +bosom. + +"She took it up and kissed it many times. And +the child was a boy, but it was heavy like a stone, +so she called him a 'Little Stone Boy.' The maiden +cried no more, for she was very happy with her +baby. The child was unusually knowing, and +walked almost from its birth. + +"One day Stone Boy discovered the bow and +arrows of one of his uncles, and desired to have +them; but his mother cried, and said: + +"'Wait, my son, until you are a young man.' +"She made him some little ones, and with these +he soon learned to hunt, and killed small game +enough to support them both. When he had +grown to be a big boy, he insisted upon knowing +whose were the ten bows that still hung upon the +walls of his mother's lodge. + +"At last she was obliged to tell him the sad +story of her loss. + +"'Mother, I shall go in search of my uncles,' +exclaimed the Stone Boy. + +"'But you will be lost like them,' she replied, +'and then I shall die of grief.' + +"'No, I shall not be lost. I shall bring your +ten brothers back to you. Look, I will give you +a sign. I will take a pillow, and place it upon end. +Watch this, for as long as I am living the +pillow will stay as I put it. Mother, give me +some food and some moccasins with which to +travel!' + +"Taking the bow of one of his uncles, with its +quiver full of arrows, the Stone Boy departed. As +he journeyed through the forest he spoke to every +animal he met, asking for news of his lost uncles. +Sometimes he called to them at the top of his +voice. Once he thought he heard an answer, so +he walked in the direction of the sound. But it +was only a great grizzly bear who had wantonly +mimicked the boy's call. Then Stone Boy was +greatly provoked. + +"'Was it you who answered my call, you long- +face?' he exclaimed. + +"Upon this the latter growled and said: + +"'You had better be careful how you address +me, or you may be sorry for what you say!' + +"'Who cares for you, you red-eyes, you ugly +thing!' the boy replied; whereupon the grizzly +immediately set upon him. + +"But the boy's flesh became as hard as stone, +and the bear's great teeth and claws made no im- +pression upon it. Then he was so dreadfully +heavy; and he kept laughing all the time as if he +were being tickled, which greatly aggravated the +bear. Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and +sent an arrow to his heart. + +"He walked on for some distance until he +came to a huge fallen pine tree, which had evi- +dently been killed by lightning. The ground +near by bore marks of a struggle, and Stone Boy +picked up several arrows exactly like those of his +uncles, which he himself carried. + +"While he was examining these things, he +heard a sound like that of a whirlwind, far up in +the heavens. He looked up and saw a black +speck which grew rapidly larger until it became a +dense cloud. Out of it came a flash and then a +thunderbolt. The boy was obliged to wink; and +when he opened his eyes, behold! a stately man +stood before him and challenged him to single +combat. + +"Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they +grappled with one another. The man from the +clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful. +But Stone Boy was both strong and unnaturally +heavy and hard to hold. The great warrior from +the sky sweated from his exertions, and there +came a heavy shower. Again and again the +lightnings flashed about them as the two strug- +gled there. At last Stone Boy threw his oppo- +nent, who lay motionless. There was a murmur- +ing sound throughout the heavens and the clouds +rolled swiftly away. + +"'Now,' thought the hero, 'this man must have +slain all my uncles. I shall go to his home and find +out what has become of them.' With this he un- +fastened from the dead man's scalp-lock a beauti- +ful bit of scarlet down. He breathed gently upon +it, and as it floated upward he followed into the +blue heavens. + +"Away went Stone Boy to the country of the +Thunder Birds. It was a beautiful land, with +lakes, rivers, plains and mountains. The young +adventurer found himself looking down from the +top of a high mountain, and the country appeared +to be very populous, for he saw lodges all about +him as far as the eye could reach. He particu- +larly noticed a majestic tree which towered above +all the others, and in its bushy top bore an enor- +mous nest. Stone Boy descended from the moun- +tain and soon arrived at the foot of the tree; but +there were no limbs except those at the top and it +was so tall that he did not attempt to climb it. +He simply took out his bit of down, breathed upon +it and floated gently upward. + +"When he was able to look into the nest he saw +there innumerable eggs of various sizes, and all of +a remarkable red color. He was nothing but a +boy after all, and had all a boy's curiosity and reck- +lessness. As he was handling the eggs carelessly, +his notice was attracted to a sudden confusion in +the little village below. All of the people seemed +to be running toward the tree. He mischievously +threw an egg at them, and in the instant that it +broke he saw one of the men drop dead. Then +all began to cry out pitifully, 'Give me my heart!' + +"'Ah,' exclaimed Stone Boy, exulting,' so these +are the hearts of the people who destroyed my +uncles! I shall break them all!' + +"And he really did break all of the eggs but +four small ones which he took in his hand. Then +he descended the tree, and wandered among the +silent and deserted lodges in search of some trace +of his lost uncles. He found four little boys, the +sole survivors of their race, and these he com- +manded to tell him where their bones were laid. + +"They showed him the spot where a heap of +bones was bleaching on the ground. Then he +bade one of the boys bring wood, a second water, +a third stones, and the fourth he sent to cut willow +wands for the sweat lodge. They obeyed, and +Stone Boy built the lodge, made a fire, heated the +stones and collected within the lodge all the bones +of his ten uncles. + +"As he poured the water upon the hot stones +faint sounds could be heard from within the magic +bath. These changed to the murmuring of voices, +and finally to the singing of medicine songs. +Stone Boy opened the door and his ten uncles came +forth in the flesh, thanking him and blessing him +for restoring them to life. Only the little finger +of the youngest uncle was missing. Stone Boy +now heartlessly broke the four remaining eggs, and +took the little finger of the largest boy to supply +the missing bone. + +"They all returned to earth again and Stone +Boy conducted his uncles to his mother's lodge. +She had never slept during his entire absence, but +watched incessantly the pillow upon which her boy +was wont to rest his head, and by which she was +to know of his safety. Going a little in advance +of the others, he suddenly rushed forward into her +teepee, exclaiming: 'Mother, your ten brothers +are coming--prepare a feast!' + +"For some time after this they all lived happily +together. Stone Boy occupied himself with soli- +tary hunting. He was particularly fond of hunt- +ing the fiercer wild animals. He killed them wan- +tonly and brought home only the ears, teeth and +claws as his spoil, and with these he played as he +laughingly recounted his exploits. His mother and +uncles protested, and begged him at least to spare +the lives of those animals held sacred by the Da- +kotas, but Stone Boy relied upon his supernatural +powers to protect him from harm. + +"One evening, however, he was noticeably silent +and upon being pressed to give the reason, replied +as follows: + +"'For some days past I have heard the animals +talking of a conspiracy against us. I was going +west the other morning when I heard a crier an- +nouncing a general war upon Stone Boy and his +people. The crier was a Buffalo, going at full +speed from west to east. Again, I heard the Beaver +conversing with the Musk-rat, and both said that +their services were already promised to overflow +the lakes and rivers and cause a destructive flood. +I heard, also, the little Swallow holding a secret +council with all the birds of the air. He said that +he had been appointed a messenger to the Thunder +Birds, and that at a certain signal the doors of the +sky would be opened and rains descend to drown +Stone Boy. Old Badger and the Grizzly Bear +are appointed to burrow underneath our fortifica- +tions. + +"'However, I am not at all afraid for myself, +but I am anxious for you, Mother, and for my +uncles.' + +"'Ugh!' grunted all the uncles, 'we told you +that you would get into trouble by killing so +many of our sacred animals for your own amuse- +ment. + +"'But,' continued Stone Boy, 'I shall make a +good resistance, and I expect you all to help me.' + +"Accordingly they all worked under his direc- +tion in preparing for the defence. First of all, he +threw a pebble into the air, and behold a great +rocky wall around their teepee. A second, third, +fourth and fifth pebble became other walls with- +out the first. From the sixth and seventh were +formed two stone lodges, one upon the other. +The uncles. meantime, made numbers of bows and +quivers full of arrows, which were ranged at con- +venient distances along the tops of the walls. His +mother prepared great quantities of food and made +many moccasins for her boy, who declared that +he would defend the fortress alone. + +"At last they saw the army of beasts advancing, +each tribe by itself and commanded by a leader of +extraordinary size. The onset was terrific. They +flung themselves against the high walls with sav- +age cries, while the badgers and other burrowing +animals ceaselessly worked to undermine them. +Stone Boy aimed his sharp arrows with such +deadly effect that his enemies fell by thousands. +So great was their loss that the dead bodies of the +animals formed a barrier higher than the first, and +the armies retired in confusion. + +"But reinforcements were at hand. The rain +fell in torrents; the beavers had dammed all the +rivers and there was a great flood. The besieged +all retreated into the innermost lodge, but the +water poured in through the burrows made by the +badgers and gophers, and rose until Stone Boy's +mother and his ten uncles were all drowned. +Stone Boy himself could not be entirely destroyed, +but he was overcome by his enemies and left +half buried in the earth, condemned never to +walk again, and there we find him to this day. + +"This was because he abused his strength, and +destroyed for mere amusement the lives of the +creatures given him for use only." + + +VI +Evening in the Lodge + +I: Evening in the Lodge + +I HAD been skating on that part +of the lake where there was an +overflow, and came home some- +what cold. I cannot say just +how cold it was, but it must have +been intensely so, for the trees +were cracking all about me like pistol shots. I +did not mind, because I was wrapped up in my +buffalo robe with the hair inside, and a wide +leather belt held it about my loins. My skates +were nothing more than strips of basswood bark +bound upon my feet. + +I had taken off my frozen moccasins and put on +dry ones in their places. + +"Where have you been and what have you +been doing?" Uncheedah asked as she placed +before me some roast venison in a wooden bowl. +"Did you see any tracks of moose or bear ?" + +"No, grandmother, I have only been playing +at the lower end of the lake. I have something to +ask you," I said, eating my dinner and supper to- +gether with all the relish of a hungry boy who has +been skating in the cold for half a day. + +"I found this feather, grandmother, and I +could not make out what tribe wear feathers +in that shape." + +"Ugh, I am not a man; you had better ask +your uncle. Besides, you should know it yourself +by this time. You are now old enough to think +about eagle feathers." + +I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignor- +ance. It seemed a reflection on me that I was not +ambitious enough to have found all such matters +out before. + +"Uncle, you will tell me, won't you?" I said, +in an appealing tone. + +"I am surprised, my boy, that you should fail +to recognize this feather. It is a Cree medicine +feather, and not a warrior's." + +"Then," I said, with much embarrassment, +you had better tell me again, uncle, the lan- +guage of the feathers. I have really forgotten it all." + +The day was now gone; the moon had risen; +but the cold had not lessened, for the trunks +of the trees were still snapping all around our tee- +pee, which was lighted and warmed by the im- +mense logs which Uncheedah's industry had pro- +vided. My uncle, White Foot-print, now under- +took to explain to me the significance of the +eagle's feather. + +"The eagle is the most war-like bird," he be- +gan, "and the most kingly of all birds; besides, +his feathers are unlike any others, and these are +the reasons why they are used by our people to +signify deeds of bravery. + +"It is not true that when a man wears a feather +bonnet, each one of the feathers represents the kill- +ing of a foe or even a coup. When a man wears +an eagle feather upright upon his head, he is sup- +posed to have counted one of four coups upon his +enemy." + +"Well, then, a coup does not mean the killing +of an enemy?" + +"No, it is the after-stroke or touching of the +body after he falls. It is so ordered, because often- +times the touching of an enemy is much more dif- +ficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from +a distance. It requires a strong heart to face the +whole body of the enemy, in order to count the +coup on the fallen one, who lies under cover of his +kinsmen's fire. Many a brave man has been lost +in the attempt. + +"When a warrior approaches his foe, dead +or alive, he calls upon the other warriors to wit- +ness by saying: 'I, Fearless Bear, your brave, +again perform the brave deed of counting the +first (or second or third or fourth) coup upon the +body of the bravest of your enemies.' Naturally, +those who are present will see the act and be able +to testify to it. When they return, the heralds, +as you know, announce publicly all such deeds of +valor, which then become a part of the man's war +record. Any brave who would wear the eagle's +feather must give proof of his right to do so. + +"When a brave is wounded in the same battle +where he counted his coup, he wears the feather +hanging downward. When he is wounded, but +makes no count, he trims his feather and in that +case, it need not be an eagle feather. All other +feathers are merely ornaments. When a warrior +wears a feather with a round mark, it means that +he slew his enemy. When the mark is cut into +the feather and painted red, it means that he took +the scalp. + +"A brave who has been successful in ten bat- +tles is entitled to a war-bonnet; and if he is a rec- +ognized leader, he is permitted to wear one with +long, trailing plumes. Also those who have +counted many coups may tip the ends of the feath- +ers with bits of white or colored down. Some- +times the eagle feather is tipped with a strip of +weasel skin; that means the wearer had the honor +of killing, scalping and counting the first coup upon +the enemy all at the same time. + +"This feather you have found was worn by a +Cree--it is indiscriminately painted. All other +feathers worn by the common Indians mean noth- +ing," he added. + +"Tell me, uncle, whether it would be proper +for me to wear any feathers at all if I have never +gone upon the war-path." + +"You could wear any other kind of feathers, +but not an eagle's," replied my uncle, "although +sometimes one is worn on great occasions by the +child of a noted man, to indicate the father's dig- +nity and position." + +The fire had gone down somewhat, so I pushed +the embers together and wrapped my robe more +closely about me. Now and then the ice on the +lake would burst with a loud report like thunder. +Uncheedah was busy re-stringing one of uncle's +old snow-shoes. There were two different kinds +that he wore; one with a straight toe and long; +the other shorter and with an upturned toe. She +had one of the shoes fastened toe down, between +sticks driven into the ground, while she put in +some new strings and tightened the others. Aunt +Four Stars was beading a new pair of moccasins. + +Wabeda, the dog, the companion of my boy- +hood days, was in trouble because he insisted upon +bringing his extra bone into the teepee, while +Uncheedah was determined that he should not. +I sympathized with him, because I saw the matter +as he did. If he should bury it in the snow out- +side, I knew Shunktokecha (the coyote) would +surely steal it. I knew just how anxious Wabeda +was about his bone. It was a fat bone--I mean +a bone of a fat deer; and all Indians know how +much better they are than the other kind. + +Wabeda always hated to see a good thing go to +waste. His eyes spoke words to me, for he and I +had been friends for a long time. When I was +afraid of anything in the woods, he would get in +front of me at once and gently wag his tail. He +always made it a point to look directly in my face. +His kind, large eyes gave me a thousand assur- +ances. When I was perplexed, he would hang +about me until he understood the situation. +Many times I believed he saved my life by utter- +ing the dog word in time. + +Most animals, even the dangerous grizzly, do not +care to be seen when the two-legged kind and his +dog are about. When I feared a surprise by a bear +or a grey wolf, I would say to Wabeda: "Now, +my dog, give your war-whoop:" and immediately +he would sit up on his haunches and bark "to beat +the band" as you white boys say. When a bear +or wolf heard the noise, he would be apt to +retreat. + +Sometimes I helped Wabeda and gave a war- +whoop of my own. This drove the deer away +as well, but it relieved my mind. + +When he appealed to me on this occasion, there- +fore, I said: "Come, my dog, let us bury your +bone so that no Shunktokecha will take it." + +He appeared satisfied with my suggestion, so we +went out together. + +We dug in the snow and buried our bone +wrapped up in a piece of old blanket, partly +burned; then we covered it up again with snow. +We knew that the coyote would not touch any- +thing burnt. I did not put it up a tree because +Wabeda always objected to that, and I made it a +point to consult his wishes whenever I could. + +I came in and Wabeda followed me with two +short rib bones in his mouth. Apparently he did +not care to risk those delicacies. + +"There," exclaimed Uncheedah, "you still in- +sist upon bringing in some sort of bone!" but I +begged her to let him gnaw them inside because it +was so cold. Having been granted this privilege, +he settled himself at my back and I became ab- +sorbed in some specially nice arrows that uncle was +making. + +"O, uncle, you must put on three feathers to +all of them so that they can fly straight," I sug- +gested. + +"Yes, but if there are only two feathers, they +will fly faster," he answered. + +"Woow!" Wabeda uttered his suspicions. + +"Woow!" he said again, and rushed for the +entrance of the teepee. He kicked me over as he +went and scattered the burning embers. + +"En na he na!" Uncheedah exclaimed, but he +was already outside. + +"Wow, wow, wow! Wow, Wow, wow!" + +A deep guttural voice answered him. + +Out I rushed with my bow and arrows in my +hand. + +"Come, uncle, come! A big cinnamon bear!" I +shouted as I emerged from the teepee. + +Uncle sprang out and in a moment he had sent +a swift arrow through the bear's heart. The ani- +mal fell dead. He had just begun to dig up +Wabeda's bone, when the dog's quick ear had +heard the sound. + +"Ah, uncle, Wabeda and I ought to have at +least a little eaglet's feather for this. I too sent my +small arrow into the bear before he fell," I ex- +claimed. "But I thought all bears ought to be in +their lodges in the winter time. What was this one +doing at this time of the year and night?" + +"Well," said my uncle, "I will tell you. Among +the tribes, some are naturally lazy. The cinnamon +bear is the lazy one of his tribe. He alone sleeps +out of doors in the winter and because he has not +a warm bed, he is soon hungry. Sometimes he +lives in the hollow trunk of a tree, where he has +made a bed of dry grass; but when the night is +very cold, like to-night, he has to move about to +keep himself from freezing and as he prowls +around, he gets hungry." + +We dragged the huge carcass within our lodge. +"O, what nice claws he has, uncle!" I exclaimed +eagerly. "Can I have them for my necklace?" + +"It is only the old medicine men who wear +them regularly. The son of a great warrior who +has killed a grizzly may wear them upon a pub- +lic occasion," he explained. + +"And you are just like my father and are con- +sidered the best hunter among the Santees and Sis- +setons. You have killed many grizzlies so that +no one can object to my bear's-claws necklace," I +said appealingly. + +White Foot-print smiled. "My boy, you +shall have them," he said, "but it is always bet- +ter to earn them yourself." He cut the claws off +carefully for my use. + +"Tell me, uncle, whether you could wear these +claws all the time?" I asked. + +"Yes,I am entitled to wear them, but they are +so heavy and uncomfortable," he replied, with a +superior air. + +At last the bear had been skinned and dressed +and we all resumed our usual places. Uncheedah +was particularly pleased to have some more fat +for her cooking. + +"Now, grandmother, tell me the story of the +bear's fat. I shall be so happy if you will," I +begged. + +"It is a good story and it is true. You should +know it by heart and gain a lesson from it," she +replied. "It was in the forests of Minnesota, in +the country that now belongs to the Ojibways. +From the Bedawakanton Sioux village a young +married couple went into the woods to get fresh +venison. The snow was deep; the ice was thick. +Far away in the woods they pitched their lonely +teepee. The young man was a well-known hunter +and his wife a good maiden of the village. + +"He hunted entirely on snow-shoes, because +the snow was very deep. His wife had to wear +snow-shoes too, to get to the spot where they +pitched their tent. It was thawing the day they +went out, so their path was distinct after the freeze +came again. + +"The young man killed many deer and bears. +His wife was very busy curing the meat and try- +ing out the fat while he was away hunting each +day. In the evenings she kept on trying the fat. +He sat on one side of the teepee and she on the +other. + +"One evening, she had just lowered a kettle of +fat to cool, and as she looked into the hot fat she +saw the face of an Ojibway scout looking down at +them through the smoke-hole. She said nothing, +nor did she betray herself in any way. + +"After a little she said to her husband in a nat- +ural voice: 'Marpeetopah, some one is looking +at us through the smoke hole, and I think it is an +enemy's scout.' + +"Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) took up his +bow and arrows and began to straighten and dry +them for the next day's hunt, talking and laugh- +ing meanwhile. Suddenly he turned and sent an +arrow upward, killing the Ojibway, who fell dead +at their door. + +"'Quick, Wadutah!' he exclaimed; 'you +must hurry home upon our trail. I will stay +here. When this scout does not return, the war- +party may come in a body or send another scout. +If only one comes, I can soon dispatch him and +then I will follow you. If I do not do that, they +will overtake us in our flight.' + +"Wadutah (Scarlet) protested and begged to be +allowed to stay with her husband, but at last she +came away to get reinforcements. + +"Then Marpeetopah (Four-skies) put more +sticks on the fire so that the teepee might be bright- +ly lit and show him the way. He then took the +scalp of the enemy and proceeded on his track, +until he came to the upturned root of a great tree. +There he spread out his arrows and laid out his +tomahawk. + +"Soon two more scouts were sent by the Ojib- +way war-party to see what was the trouble and +why the first one failed to come back. He heard +them as they approached. They were on snow- +shoes. When they came close to him, he shot an +arrow into the foremost. As for the other, in his +effort to turn quickly his snow-shoes stuck in the +deep snow and detained him, so Marpeetopah +killed them both. + +"Quickly he took the scalps and followed Wa- +dutah. He ran hard. But the Ojibways sus- +pected something wrong and came to the lonely +teepee, to find all their scouts had been killed. +They followed the path of Marpeetopah and Wa- +dutah to the main village, and there a great battle +was fought on the ice. Many were killed on both +sides. It was after this that the Sioux moved to +the Mississippi river." + +I was sleepy by this time and I rolled myself +up in my buffalo robe and fell asleep. + +II: Adventures of My Uncle + +IT was a beautiful fall day--'a +gopher's last look back,' as we +used to say of the last warm +days of the late autumn. We +were encamped beside a wild rice +lake, where two months before +we had harvested our watery fields of grain, and +where we had now returned for the duck-hunting. +All was well with us. Ducks were killed in count- +less numbers, and in the evenings the men hunted +deer in canoes by torchlight along the shores of the +lake. But alas! life is made up of good times +and bad times, and it is when we are perfectly +happy that we should expect some overwhelming +misfortune. + +"So it was that upon this peaceful and still morn- +ing, all of a sudden a harsh and terrible war-cry +was heard! Your father was then quite a young +man, and a very ambitious warrior, so that I was +always frightened on his account whenever there +was a chance of fighting. But I did not think of +your uncle, Mysterious Medicine, for he was not +over fifteen at the time; besides, he had never +shown any taste for the field. + +"Our camp was thrown into great excitement; +and as the warriors advanced to meet the enemy, +I was almost overcome by the sight of your uncle +among them! It was of no use for me to call +him back--I think I prayed in that moment to +the Great Mystery to bring my boy safely home. + +"I shall never forget, as long as I live, the events +of that day. Many brave men were killed; +among them two of your uncle's intimate friends. +But when the battle was over, my boy came back; +only his face was blackened in mourning for his +friends, and he bore several wounds in his body. +I knew that he had proved himself a true warrior. + +"This was the beginning of your uncle's career, +He has surpassed your father and your grand- +father; yes, all his ancestors except Jingling Thun- +der, in daring and skill." + +Such was my grandmother's account of the +maiden battle of her third son, Mysterious Med- +icine. He achieved many other names; among +them Big Hunter, Long Rifle and White Foot- +print. He had a favorite Kentucky rifle which +he carried for many years. The stock was several +times broken, but he always made another. With +this gun he excelled most of his contemporaries in +accuracy of aim. He used to call the weapon +Ishtahbopopa--a literal translation would be +"Pops-the-eye." + +My uncle, who was a father to me for ten +years of my life, was almost a giant in his propor- +tions, very symmetrical and "straight as an arrow." +His face was not at all handsome. He had very +quiet and reserved manners and was a man of +action rather than of unnecessary words. Behind +the veil of Indian reticence he had an inexhausti- +ble fund of wit and humor; but this part of his +character only appeared before his family and very +intimate friends. Few men know nature more +thoroughly than he. Nothing irritated him more +than to hear some natural fact misrepresented. I +have often thought that with education he might +have made a Darwin or an Agassiz. + +He was always modest and unconscious of self +in relating his adventures. "I have often been +forced to realize my danger," he used to say, "but +not in such a way as to overwhelm me. Only +twice in my life have I been really frightened, and +for an instant lost my presence of mind. + +"Once I was in full pursuit of a large buck deer +that I had wounded. It was winter, and there +was a very heavy fall of fresh snow upon the +ground. All at once I came upon the body of +the deer lying dead on the snow. I began to +make a hasty examination, but before I had made +any discoveries, I spied the tips of two ears peep- +ing just above the surface of the snow about +twenty feet from me. I made a feint of not see- +ing anything at all, but moved quickly in the +direction of my gun, which was leaning against a +tree. Feeling, somehow, that I was about to be +taken advantage of, I snatched at the same mo- +ment my knife from my belt. + +"The panther (for such it was) made a sudden +and desperate spring. I tried to dodge, but he +was too quick for me. He caught me by the +shoulder with his great paw, and threw me down. +Somehow, he did not retain his hold, but made an- +other leap and again concealed himself in the snow. +Evidently he was preparing to make a fresh attack. + +"I was partially stunned and greatly confused +by the blow; therefore I should have been an easy +prey for him at the moment. But when he left +me, I came to my senses; and I had been thrown +near my gun! I arose and aimed between the tips +of his ears--all that was visible of him--and +fired. I saw the fresh snow fly from the spot. The +panther leaped about six feet straight up into the +air, and fell motionless. I gave two good war- +whoops, because I had conquered a very formid- +able enemy. I sat down on the dead body to rest, +and my heart beat as if it would knock out all my +ribs. I had not been expecting any danger, and +that was why I was so taken by surprise. + +"The other time was on the plains, in summer. +I was accustomed to hunting in the woods, and +never before had hunted buffalo on horseback. Be- +ing a young man, of course I was eager to do what- +ever other men did. Therefore I saddled my pony +for the hunt. I had a swift pony and a good gun, +but on this occasion I preferred a bow and arrows. + +"It was the time of year when the buffalo go +in large herds and the bulls are vicious. But this +did not trouble me at all; indeed, I thought of +nothing but the excitement and honor of the +chase. + +"A vast plain near the Souris river was literally +covered with an immense herd. The day was fair, +and we came up with them very easily. I had a +quiver full of arrows, with a sinew-backed bow. + +"My pony carried me in far ahead of all the oth- +ers. I found myself in the midst of the bulls first, +for they are slow. They threw toward me vicious +glances, so I hastened my pony on to the cows. +Soon I was enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, and +completely surrounded by the herd, who were by +this time in the act of fleeing, their hoofs making +a noise like thunder. + +"I could not think of anything but my own sit- +uation, which confused me for the moment. It +seemed to me to be a desperate one. If my pony, +which was going at full speed, should step into a +badger hole, I should be thrown to the ground +and trampled under foot in an instant. If I were +to stop, they would knock me over, pony and all. +Again, it seemed as if my horse must fall from +sheer exhaustion; and then what would become +of me? + +"At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own +power. I uttered a yell and began to shoot right +and left. Very soon there were only a few old bulls +who remained near me. The herd had scattered, +and I was miles away from my companions. + +"It is when we think of our personal danger that +we are apt to be at a loss to do the best thing un- +der the circumstances. One should be unconscious +of self in order to do his duty. We are very apt +to think ourselves brave, when we are most timid. +I have discovered that half our young men give +the war-whoop when they are frightened, because +they fear lest their silence may betray their state of +mind. I think we are really bravest when most +calm and slow to action." + +I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adven- +tures. + +"Once," said he, "I had a somewhat peculiar +experience, which I think I never related to you +before. It was at the time of the fall hunt. One +afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was +too far away to reach the camp before dark, so I +looked about for a good place to spend the night. +This was on the Upper Missouri, before there were +any white people there, and when we were in con- +stant danger from wild beasts as well as from hos- +tile Indians. It was necessary to use every pre- +caution and the utmost vigilance. + +"I selected a spot which appeared to be well +adapted to defense. I had killed two deer, and +I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances +in various directions. I knew that any wolf would +stop for the meat, A grizzly bear would some- +times stop, but not a mountain lion or a panther. +Therefore I made a fire. Such an animal would +be apt to attack a solitary fire. There was a full +moon that night, which was much in my favor. + +"Having cooked and eaten some of the venison, +I rolled myself in my blanket and lay down by the +fire, taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed fellow. I +hugged it very closely, for I felt that I should +need it during the night. I had scarcely settled +myself when I heard what seemed to be ten or +twelve coyotes set up such a howling that I was +quite sure of a visit from them. Immediately after-. +ward I heard another sound, which was like the +screaming of a small child. This was a porcupine, +which had doubtless smelled the meat. + +"I watched until a coyote appeared upon a flat +rock fifty yards away. He sniffed the air in every +direction; then, sitting partly upon his haunches, +swung round in a circle with his hind legs sawing +the air, and howled and barked in many different +keys. It was a great feat! I could not help won- +dering whether I should be able to imitate him. +What had seemed to be the voices of many coy- +otes was in reality only one animal. His mate soon +appeared and then they both seemed satisfied, and +showed no signs of a wish to invite another to +join them. Presently they both suddenly and +quietly disappeared. + +"At this moment a slight noise attracted my at- +tention, and I saw that the porcupine had arrived. +He had climbed up to the piece of meat nearest +me, and was helping himself without any cere- +mony. I thought it was fortunate that he came, +for he would make a good watch dog for me. +Very soon, in fact, he interrupted his meal, and +caused all his quills to stand out in defiance. I +glanced about me and saw the two coyotes slyly +approaching my open camp from two different di- +rections. + +"I took the part of the porcupine! I rose in a +sitting posture, and sent a swift arrow to each of +my unwelcome visitors. They both ran away with +howls of surprise and pain. + +"The porcupine saw the whole from his perch, +but his meal was not at all disturbed, for he began +eating again with apparent relish. Indeed, I was +soon furnished with another of these unconscious +protectors. This one came from the opposite di- +rection to a point where I had hung a splendid +ham of venison. He cared to go no further, but +seated himself at once on a convenient branch and +began his supper. + +"The canon above me was full of rocks and trees. +From this direction came a startling noise, which +caused me more concern than anything I had thus +far heard. It sounded much like a huge animal +stretching himself, and giving a great yawn which +ended in a scream. I knew this for the voice of a +mountain lion, and it decided me to perch upon a +limb for the rest of the night. + +"I got up and climbed into the nearest large tree, +taking my weapons with me; but first I rolled a +short log of wood in my blanket and laid it in my +place by the fire. + +"As I got up, the two porcupines began to de- +scend, but I paid no attention to them, and they +soon returned to their former positions. Very +soon I heard a hissing sound from one of them, +and knew that an intruder was near. Two grey +wolves appeared. + +"I had hung the hams by the ham strings, and +they were fully eight feet from the ground. At +first the wolves came boldly forward, but the warn- +ing of the porcupines caused them to stop, and +hesitate to jump for the meat. However, they were +hungry, and began to leap savagely for the hams, +although evidently they proved good targets for +the quills of the prickly ones, for occasionally +one of them would squeal and rub his nose des- +perately against the tree. + +"At last one of the wolves buried his teeth too +deeply in a tough portion of the flesh, and having +jumped to reach it, his own weight made it im- +possible for him to loosen his upper jaw. There +the grey wolf dangled, kicking and yelping, until +the tendon of the ham gave way, and both fell +heavily to the ground. From my hiding-place I +sent two arrows into his body, which ended his +life. The other one ran away to a little distance +and remained there a long time, as if waiting +for her mate. + +"I was now very weary, but I had seen many +grizzly bears' tracks in the vicinity, and besides, I +had not forgotten the dreadful scream of the +mountain lion. I determined to continue my +watch. + +"As I had half expected, there came presently a +sudden heavy fall, and at the same time the burn- +ing embers were scattered about and the fire almost +extinguished. My blanket with the log in it was +rolled over several times, amid snarls and growls. +Then the assailant of my camp--a panther--leaped +back into the thick underbrush, but not before +my arrow had penetrated his side. He snarled +and tried to bite off the shaft, but after a time be- +came exhausted and lay still. + +"I could now distinguish the grey dawn in the +east. I was exceedingly drowsy, so I fastened +myself by a rope of raw-hide to the trunk of the +tree against which I leaned. I was seated on a +large limb, and soon fell asleep. + +"I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun +directly under me. At the same time, I thought +some one was trying to shake me off the tree, +Instantly I reached for my gun. Alas! it was +gone ! At the first shake of the tree by my visi- +tor, a grizzly bear, the gun had fallen, and as it +was cocked, it went off. + +"The bear picked up the weapon and threw it +violently away; then he again shook the tree with +all his strength. I shouted: + +"'I have still a bow and a quiver full of arrows; +you had better let me alone.' + +"He replied to this with a rough growl. I sent +an arrow into his side, and he groaned like a man +as he tried hard to pull it out. I had to give him +several more before he went a short distance away, +and died. It was now daylight, so I came down +from my perch. I was stiff, and scarcely able to +walk. I found that the bear had killed both of +my little friends, the porcupines, and eaten most +of the meat. + +"Perhaps you wonder, Ohiyesa, why I did not +use my gun in the beginning; but I had learned +that if I once missed my aim with it, I had no +second chance. I have told of this particular ad- +venture, because it was an unusual experience to +see so many different animals in one night. I +have often been in similar places, and killed one or +two. Once a common black bear stole a whole +deer from me without waking me. But all this +life is fast disappearing, and the world is becoming +different." + + +VII +The End of the Bear Dance + +IT was one of the superstitions of +the Santee Sioux to treat disease +from the standpoint of some ani- +mal or inanimate thing. That +person who, according to their +belief, had been commissioned to +become a medicine man or a war chief, must not +disobey the bear or other creature or thing which +gave him his commission. If he ever ventured +to do so, the offender must pay for his insubor- +dination with his life, or that of his own child or +dearest friend. It was supposed to be necessary +that the supernatural orders be carried into effect +at a particular age and a certain season of the +year. Occasionally a very young man, who ex- +cused himself on the ground of youth and mod- +esty, might be forgiven. + +One of my intimate friends had been a sufferer +from what, I suppose, must have been consump- +tion. He, like myself, had a grandmother in +whom he had unlimited faith. But she was a very +ambitious and pretentious woman. Among her +many claims was that of being a great "medicine +woman," and many were deceived by it; but really +she was a fraud, for she did not give any medicine, +but "conjured" the sick exclusively. + +At this time my little friend was fast losing +ground, in spite of his grandmother's great preten- +sions. At last I hinted to him that my grand- +mother was a herbalist, and a skilful one. But he +hinted back to me that 'most any old woman who +could dig roots could be a herbalist, and that with- +out a supernatural commission there was no power +that could cope with disease. I defended my ideal +on the ground that there are supernatural powers +in the herbs themselves; hence those who under- +stand them have these powers at their command. + +"But," insisted my friend, "one must get his +knowledge from the Great Mystery!" + +This completely silenced my argument, but +did not shake my faith in my grandmother's +ability. + +Redhorn was a good boy, and I loved him. I +visited him often, and found him growing weaker +day by day. + +"Ohiyesa," he said to me one day, "my grand- +mother has discovered the cause of my sickness." + +I eagerly interrupted him by shouting: "And +can she cure you now, Redhorn?" + +"Of course," he replied, "she cannot until I +have fulfilled the commandment. I have confessed +to her that two years ago I received my commis- +sion, and I should have made a Bear Dance +and proclaimed myself a medicine man last spring, +when I had seen thirteen winters. You see, I was +ashamed to proclaim myself a medicine man, being +so young; and for this I am punished. However, +my grandmother says it is not yet too late. But, +Ohiyesa, I am as weak now as a rheumatic old man. +I can scarcely stand up. They say that I can ap- +point some one else to act for me. He will be the +active bear--I shall have to remain in the hole. +Would you, Ohiyesa, be willing to act the bear for +me? You know he has to chase the dancers +away from his den." + +"Redhorn," I replied with much embarrass- +ment," I should be happy to do anything that I +could for you, but I cannot be a bear. I feel that +I am not fit. I am not large enough; I am not +strong enough; and I don't understand the habits +of the animal well enough. I do not think you +would be pleased with me as your substitute." + +Redhorn finally decided that he would engage a +larger boy to perform for him. A few days later, +it was announced by the herald that my friend +would give a Bear Dance, at which he was to be +publicly proclaimed a medicine man. It would be +the great event of his short existence, for the dis- +ease had already exhausted his strength and vital- +ity. Of course, we all understood that there would +be an active youth to exhibit the ferocious nature +of the beast after which the dance is named. + +The Bear Dance was an entertainment, a relig- +ious rite, a method of treating disease--all in one. +A strange thing about it was that no woman was +allowed to participate in the orgies, unless she was +herself the bear. + +The den was usually dug about two hundred +yards from the camp, on some conspicuous plain. +It was about two feet deep and six feet square and +over it was constructed an arbor of boughs with +four openings. When the bear man sang, all the +men and boys would gather and dance about the +den; and when he came out and pursued them +there was a hasty retreat. It was supposed that +whoever touched the bear without being touched +by him would overcome a foe in the field. If one +was touched, the reverse was to be expected. The +thing which caused most anxiety among the dancers +was the superstition that if one of them should +accidentally trip and fall while pursued by the +bear, a sudden death would visit him or his nearest +relative. + +Boys of my age were disposed to run some risk +in this dance; they would take every opportunity +to strike at the bear man with a short switch, while +the older men shot him with powder. It may as +well be admitted that one reason for my declining +the honor offered me by my friend Redhorn was +that I was afraid of powder, and I much preferred +to be one of the dancers and take my chances of +touching the bear man without being touched. + +It was a beautiful summer's day. The forest +behind our camp was sweet with the breath of +blossoming flowers. The teepees faced a large lake, +which we called Bedatanka. Its gentle waves +cooled the atmosphere. The water-fowl disported +themselves over its surface, and the birds of pass- +age overhead noisily expressed their surprise at +the excitement and confusion in our midst. + +The herald, with his brassy voice, again went +the rounds, announcing the day's event and the +tardy fulfillment of the boy's commission. Then +came the bustle of preparation. The out-door +toilet of the people was performed with care. I +cannot describe just how I was attired or painted, +but I am under the impression that there was but +little of my brown skin that was not uncovered. +The others were similarly dressed in feathers, paint +and tinkling ornaments. + +I soon heard the tom-tom's doleful sound from +the direction of the bear's den, and a few war- +whoops from the throats of the youthful warriors. +As I joined the motley assembly, I noticed that the +bear man's drum was going in earnest, and soon +after he began to sing. This was the invitation to +the dance. + +An old warrior gave the signal and we all started +for the den, very much like a group of dogs at- +tacking a stranger. Frantically we yelled and +whooped, running around the sheltering arbor in +a hop, skip and jump fashion. In spite of the +apparent confusion, however, every participant +was on the alert for the slightest movement of the +bear man. + +All of a sudden, a brave gave the warning, and +we scattered in an instant over the little plain be- +tween the den and our village. Everybody seemed +to be running for dear life, and I soon found my- +self some yards behind the rest. I had gone in +boldly, partly because of conversations with cer- +tain boys who proposed to participate, and whom +I usually outdistanced in foot races. But it seemed +that they had not carried out their intentions and +I was left alone. I looked back once or twice, al- +though I was pretty busy with my legs, and I im- +agined that my pursuer, the bear man, looked +twice as fearful as a real bear. He was dressed +and painted up with a view to terrify the crowd. +I did not want the others to guess that I was at +all dismayed, so I tried to give the war-whoop; +but my throat was so dry at the moment that I +am sure I must have given it very poorly. + +Just as it seemed that I was about to be over- +taken, the dancers who had deserted me suddenly +slackened their speed, and entered upon the +amusement of tormenting the bear man with gun- +powder and switches, with which they touched him +far from gently upon his naked body. They now +chased him in turn, and he again retreated to his den. + +We rested until we heard the tom-tom and the +song once more, and then we rushed forth with +fresh eagerness to the mimic attack. This time I +observed all necessary precautions for my own +safety. I started in my flight even before the +warning was given, for I saw the bear man gather- +ing himself up to spring upon the dancers. Thus +I had plenty of leeway to observe what occurred. +The bear man again pursued the yelling and re- +treating mob, and was dealt with unmercifully by +the swift-footed. He became much excited as +he desperately chased a middle-aged man, who +occasionally turned and fired off his gun, but was +suddenly tripped by an ant-hill and fell to the +ground, with the other on top of him. The ex- +citement was intense. The bear man returned to +his companion, and the dancers gathered in little +knots to exchange whispers. + +"Is it not a misfortune?" "The most sure- +footed of us all!" "Will he die?" "Must his +beautiful daughter be sacrificed?" + +The man who was the subject of all this com- +ment did not speak a word. His head hung +down. Finally he raised it and said in a resolute +voice: + +"We all have our time to go, and when the +Great Mystery calls us we must answer as cheer- +fully as at the call of one of our own war-chiefs +here on earth. I am not sad for myself, but my +heart is not willing that my Winona (first-born +daughter) should be called." + +No one replied. Presently the last tom-tom +was heard and the dancers rallied once more. +The man who had fallen did not join them, but +turned to the council lodge, where the wise old +men were leisurely enjoying the calumet. They +beheld him enter with some surprise; but he +threw himself upon a buffalo robe, and resting his +head upon his right hand, related what had hap- +pened to him. Thereupon the aged men ex- +claimed as with one voice: "It never fails!" +After this, he spoke no more. + +Meanwhile, we were hilariously engaged in +our last dance, and when the bear man finally re- +tired, we gathered about the arbor to congratulate +the sick bear man. But, to our surprise, his com- +panion did not re-enter the den. "He is dead! +Redhorn, the bear man, is dead!" We all rushed +to the spot. My poor friend, Redhorn, lay dead +in the den. + +At this instant there was another commotion in +the camp. Everybody was running toward the +council lodge. A well-known medicine man was +loudly summoned thither. But, alas! the man +who fell in the dance had suddenly dropped dead. + +To the people, another Indian superstition had +been verified. + + +VIII +The Maidens' Feast + +THERE were many peculiar cus- +toms among the Indians of an +earlier period, some of which +tended to strengthen the charac- +ter of the people and preserve +their purity. Perhaps the most +unique of these was the annual "feast of maidens." +The casual observer would scarcely understand +the full force and meaning of this ceremony. + +The last one that I ever witnessed was given at +Fort Ellis, Manitoba, about the year 1871. Upon +the table land just back of the old trading post +and fully a thousand feet above the Assiniboine +river, surrounded by groves, there was a natural +amphitheatre. At one end stood the old fort +where since 1830 the northern tribes had come to +replenish their powder horns and lead sacks and +to dispose of their pelts. + +In this spot there was a reunion of all the rene- +gade Sioux on the one hand and of the Assini- +boines and Crees, the Canadian tribes, on the +other. They were friendly. The matter was not +formally arranged, but it was usual for all the +tribes to meet here in the month of July. + +The Hudson Bay Company always had a good +supply of red, blue, green and white blankets, also +cloth of brilliant dye, so that when their summer +festival occurred the Indians did not lack gayly +colored garments. Paints were bought by them +at pleasure. Short sleeves were the fashion in +their buckskin dresses, and beads and porcupine +quills were the principal decorations. + +When circumstances are favorable, the Indians +are the happiest people in the world. There were +entertainments every single day, which everybody +had the fullest opportunity to see and enjoy. If +anything, the poorest profited the most by these +occasions, because a feature in each case was the +giving away of savage wealth to the needy in +honor of the event. At any public affair, involv- +ing the pride and honor of a prominent family, +there must always be a distribution of valuable +presents. + +One bright summer morning, while we were +still at our meal of jerked buffalo meat, we heard +the herald of the Wahpeton band upon his calico +pony as he rode around our circle. + + +"White Eagle's daughter, the maiden Red Star, +invites all the maidens of all the tribes to come and +partake of her feast. It will be in the Wahpeton +camp, before the sun reaches the middle of the +sky. All pure maidens are invited. Red Star +also invites the young men to be present, to see +that no unworthy maiden should join in the feast." + +The herald soon completed the rounds of the +different camps, and it was not long before the +girls began to gather in great numbers. The fort +was fully alive to the interest of these savage en- +tertainments. This particular feast was looked +upon as a semi-sacred affair. It would be dese- +cration for any to attend who was not perfectly +virtuous. Hence it was regarded as an opportune +time for the young men to satisfy themselves as to +who were the virtuous maids of the tribe. + +There were apt to be surprises before the end +of the day. Any young man was permitted to +challenge any maiden whom he knew to be un- +worthy. But woe to him who could not prove his +case. It meant little short of death to the man who +endeavored to disgrace a woman without cause. + +The youths had a similar feast of their own, in +which the eligibles were those who had never +spoken to a girl in the way of courtship. It was +considered ridiculous so to do before attaining +some honor as a warrior, and the novices prided +themselves greatly upon their self control. + +From the various camps the girls came singly +or in groups, dressed in bright-colored calicoes or +in heavily fringed and beaded buckskin. Their +smooth cheeks and the central part of their glossy +hair was touched with vermilion. All brought +with them wooden basins to eat from. Some who +came from a considerable distance were mounted +upon ponies; a few, for company or novelty's sake, +rode double. + +The maidens' circle was formed about a cone- +shaped rock which stood upon its base. This was +painted red. Beside it two new arrows were lightly +stuck into the ground. This is a sort of altar, to +which each maiden comes before taking her as- +signed place in the circle, and lightly touches first +the stone and then the arrows. By this oath she +declares her purity. Whenever a girl approaches +the altar there is a stir among the spectators, and +sometimes a rude youth would call out: + +"Take care! You will overturn the rock, or +pull out the arrows!" + +Such a remark makes the girls nervous, and es- +pecially one who is not sure of her composure. + +Immediately behind the maidens' circle is the +old women's or chaperons' circle. This second +circle is almost as interesting to look at as the in- +ner one. The old women watched every move- +ment of their respective charges with the utmost +concern, having previously instructed them how +they should conduct themselves in any event. + +There was never a more gorgeous assembly of +the kind than this one. The day was perfect. The +Crees, displaying their characteristic horseman- +ship, came in groups; the Assiniboines, with their +curious pompadour well covered with red paint. +The various bands of Sioux all carefully observed +the traditional peculiarities of dress and behavior. +The attaches of the fort were fully represented at +the entertainment, and it was not unusual to see a +pale-face maiden take part in the feast. + +The whole population of the region had assem- +bled, and the maidens came shyly into the circle. +The simple ceremonies observed prior to the serv- +ing of the food were in progress, when among a +group of Wahpeton Sioux young men there was a +stir of excitement. All the maidens glanced ner- +vously toward the scene of the disturbance. Soon +a tall youth emerged from the throng of spectators +and advanced toward the circle. Every one of the +chaperons glared at him as if to deter him from +his purpose. But with a steady step he passed +them by and approached the maidens' circle. + +At last he stopped behind a pretty Assiniboine +maiden of good family and said: + +"I am sorry, but, according to custom, you +should not be here." + +The girl arose in confusion, but she soon recov- +ered her self-control. + +"What do you mean?" she demanded, indig- +nantly. "Three times you have come to court +me, but each time I have refused to listen to you. +I turned my back upon you. Twice I was with +Mashtinna. She can tell the people that this is +true. The third time I had gone for water when +you intercepted me and begged me to stop and +listen. I refused because I did not know you. +My chaperon, Makatopawee, knows that I was +gone but a few minutes. I never saw you any- +where else." + +The young man was unable to answer this un- +mistakable statement of facts, and it became ap- +parent that he had sought to revenge himself for +her repulse. + +"Woo! woo! Carry him out!" was the order +of the chief of the Indian police, and the audacious +youth was hurried away into the nearest ravine to +be chastised. + +The young woman who had thus established +her good name returned to the circle, and the feast +was served. The "maidens' song" was sung, and +four times they danced in a ring around the altar. +Each maid as she departed once more took her +oath to remain pure until she should meet her +husband. + + +IX +More Legends + +I: A Legend of Devil's Lake + +AFTER the death of Smoky Day, +old Weyuha was regarded as the +greatest story-teller among the +Wahpeton Sioux. + +"Tell me, good Weyuha, a le- +gend of your father's country," I +said to him one evening, for I knew the country +which is now known as North Dakota and South- +ern Manitoba was their ancient hunting-ground. +I was prompted by Uncheedah to make this re- +quest, after the old man had eaten in our lodge. + +"Many years ago," he began, as he passed the +pipe to uncle, "we traveled from the Otter-tail to +Minnewakan (Devil's Lake). At that time the +mound was very distinct where Chotanka lies +buried. The people of his immediate band had +taken care to preserve it. + +"This mound under which lies the great medi- +cine man is upon the summit of Minnewakan +Chantay, the highest hill in all that region. It is +shaped like an animal's heart placed on its base, +with the apex upward. + +"The reason why this hill is called Minnewa- +kan Chantay, or the Heart of the Mysterious +Land, I will now tell you. It has been handed +down from generation to generation, far beyond +the memory of our great-grandparents. It was +in Chotanka's line of descent that these legends +were originally kept, but when he died the stories +became everybody's, and then no one believed in +them. It was told in this way." + +I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words +of the story-teller, and now I took a deep breath +and settled myself so that I might not disturb him +by the slightest movement while he was reciting +his tale. We were taught this courtesy to our +elders, but I was impulsive and sometimes forgot. + +"A long time ago," resumed Weyuha, "the +red people were many in number, and they inhabi- +ted all the land from the coldest place to the re- +gion of perpetual summer time. It seemed that +they were all of one tongue, and all were friends. + +"All the animals were considered people in those +days. The buffalo, the elk, the antelope, were +tribes of considerable importance. The bears were +a smaller band, but they obeyed the mandates of +the Great Mystery and were his favorites, and for +this reason they have always known more about +the secrets of medicine. So they were held in +much honor. The wolves, too, were highly re- +garded at one time. But the buffalo, elk, moose, +deer and antelope were the ruling people. + +"These soon became conceited and considered +themselves very important, and thought no one +could withstand them. The buffalo made war up- +on the smaller tribes, and destroyed many. So one +day the Great Mystery thought it best to change +the people in form and in language. + +"He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten +days. Into this tent he invited the different bands, +and when they came out they were greatly changed, +and some could not talk at all after that. How- +ever, there is a sign language given to all the ani- +mals that no man knows except some medicine +men, and they are under a heavy penalty if they +should tell it. + +"The buffalo came out of the darkened tent +the clumsiest of all the animals. The elk and +moose were burdened with their heavy and many- +branched horns, while the antelope and deer were +made the most defenseless of animals, only that +they are fleet of foot. The bear and the wolf +were made to prey upon all the others. + +"Man was alone then. When the change +came, the Great Mystery allowed him to keep his +own shape and language. He was king over all +the animals, but they did not obey him. From +that day, man's spirit may live with the beasts be- +fore he is born a man. He will then know the +animal language but he cannot tell it in human +speech. He always retains his sympathy with +them, and can converse with them in dreams. + +"I must not forget to tell you that the Great +Mystery pitched his tent in this very region. +Some legends say that the Minnewakan Chantay +was the tent itself, which afterward became earth +and stones. Many of the animals were washed +and changed in this lake, the Minnewakan, or +Mysterious Water. It is the only inland water +we know that is salt. No animal has ever swum +in this lake and lived." + +"Tell me," I eagerly asked, "is it dangerous +to man also?" + +"Yes," he replied, "we think so; and no In- +dian has ever ventured in that lake to my know- +ledge. That is why the lake is called Mysterious," +he repeated. + +"I shall now tell you of Chotanka. He was +the greatest of medicine men. He declared that +he was a grizzly bear before he was born in human +form." Weyuha seemed to become very earnest +when he reached this point in his story. "Listen +to Chotanka's life as a grizzly bear." + +"'As a bear,' he used to say, 'my home was +in sight of the Minnewakan Chantay. I lived +with my mother only one winter, and I only saw +my father when I was a baby. Then we lived a +little way from the Chantay to the north, among +scattered oak upon a hillside overlooking the +Minnewakan. + +"'When I first remember anything, I was +playing outside of our home with a buffalo skull +that I had found near by. I saw something that +looked strange. It walked upon two legs, and it +carried a crooked stick, and some red willows with +feathers tied to them. It threw one of the wil- +lows at me, and I showed my teeth and retreated +within our den. + +"'Just then my father and mother came home +with a buffalo calf. They threw down the dead +calf, and ran after the queer thing. He had long +hair upon a round head. His face was round, too. +He ran and climbed up into a small oak tree. + +"'My father and mother shook him down, but +not before he had shot some of his red willows +into their sides. Mother was very sick, but she +dug some roots and ate them and she was well +again.' It was thus that Chotanka was first taught +the use of certain roots for curing wounds and +sickness," Weyuha added. + +"'One day'"--he resumed the grizzly's story +--"'when I was out hunting with my mother-- +my father had gone away and never came back +--we found a buffalo cow with her calf in a +ravine. She advised me to follow her closely, +and we crawled along on our knees. All at once +mother crouched down under the grass, and I did +the same. We saw some of those queer beings +that we called "two legs," riding upon big-tail +deer (ponies). They yelled as they rode toward us. +Mother growled terribly and rushed upon them. +She caught one, but many more came with their +dogs and drove us into a thicket. They sent the +red willows singing after us, and two of them stuck +in mother's side. When we got away at last she +tried to pull them out, but they hurt her terribly. +She pulled them both out at last, but soon after +she lay down and died. + +"'I stayed in the woods alone for two days +then I went around the Minnewakan Chantay on +the south side and there made my lonely den. +There I found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns and +wild plums. Upon the plains the teepsinna were +abundant, and I saw nothing of my enemies. + +"'One day I found a footprint not unlike my +own. I followed it to see who the stranger might +be. Upon the bluffs among the oak groves I dis- +covered a beautiful young female gathering acorns. +She was of a different band from mine, for she +wore a jet black dress. + +"'At first she was disposed to resent my intru- +sion; but when I told her of my lonely life she +agreed to share it with me. We came back to my +home on the south side of the hill. There we +lived happy for a whole year. When the autumn +came again Woshepee, for this was her name, said +that she must make a warm nest for the winter, +and I was left alone again.' + +"Now," said Weyuha, "I have come to a part +of my story that few people understand. All the +long winter Chotanka slept in his den, and with +the early spring there came a great thunder storm. +He was aroused by a frightful crash that seemed +to shake the hills; and lo! a handsome young +man stood at his door. He looked, but was not +afraid, for he saw that the stranger carried none of +those red willows with feathered tips. He was +unarmed and smiling. + +"'I come,' said he, 'with a challenge to run a +race. Whoever wins will be the hero of his kind, +and the defeated must do as the winner says there- +after. This is a rare honor that I have brought +you. The whole world will see the race. The +animal world will shout for you, and the spirits +will cheer me on. You are not a coward, and +therefore you will not refuse my challenge.' + +"'No,' replied Chotanka, after a short hesita- +tion. The young man was fine-looking, but +lightly built. + +"'We shall start from the Chantay, and that will +be our goal. Come, let us go, for the universe is +waiting!' impatiently exclaimed the stranger. + +"He passed on in advance, and just then an +old, old wrinkled man came to Chotanka's door. +He leaned forward upon his staff. + +"'My son,' he said to him, 'I don't want to +make you a coward, but this young man is the +greatest gambler of the universe. He has pow- +erful medicine. He gambles for life; be careful! +My brothers and I are the only ones who have +ever beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is +killed he can resurrect himself--I tell you he is +great medicine. + +"'However, I think that I can save you--lis- +ten! He will run behind you all the way until +you are within a short distance of the goal. Then +he will pass you by in a flash, for his name is Zig- +Zag Fire! (lightning). Here is my medicine.' So +speaking, he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum +of a certain plant. 'When you come near the +goal, rub yourself with the gum, and throw the +rabbit skin between you. He cannot pass you.' + +"'And who are you, grandfather?' Chotanka +inquired. + +"'I am the medicine turtle,' the old man re- +plied. 'The gambler is a spirit from heaven, and +those whom he outruns must shortly die. You +have heard, no doubt, that all animals know be- +forehand when they are to be killed; and any man +who understands these mysteries may also know +when he is to die.' + +The race was announced to the world. The +buffalo, elk, wolves and all the animals came to +look on. All the spirits of the air came also to +cheer for their comrade. In the sky the trumpet +was sounded--the great medicine drum was struck. +It was the signal for a start. The course was +around the Minnewakan. (That means around +the earth or the ocean.) Everywhere the multi- +tude cheered as the two sped by. + +"The young man kept behind Chotanka all the +time until they came once more in sight of the +Chantay. Then he felt a slight shock and he threw +his rabbit skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. +Chotanka rubbed himself with the gum, and ran on +until he reached the goal. There was a great shout +that echoed over the earth, but in the heavens there +was muttering and grumbling. The referee de- +clared that the winner would live to a good old age, +and Zig-Zag Fire promised to come at his call. He +was indeed great medicine," Weyuha concluded. + +"But you have not told me how Chotanka be- +came a man," I said. + +"One night a beautiful woman came to him in +his sleep. She enticed him into her white teepee +to see what she had there. Then she shut the +door of the teepee and Chotanka could not get +out. But the woman was kind and petted him so +that he loved to stay in the white teepee. Then +it was that he became a human born. This is a +long story, but I think, Ohiyesa, that you will re- +member it," said Weyuha, and so I did. + +II: Manitoshaw's Hunting + +IT was in the winter, in the Moon +of Difficulty (January). We had +eaten our venison roast for sup- +per, and the embers were burn- +ing brightly. Our teepee was es- +pecially cheerful. Uncheedah sat +near the entrance, my uncle and his wife upon +the opposite side, while I with my pets occupied +the remaining space. + +Wabeda, the dog, lay near the fire in a half doze, +watching out of the corners of his eyes the tame +raccoon, which snuggled back against the walls of +the teepee, his shrewd brain, doubtless, concocting +some mischief for the hours of darkness. I had +already recited a legend of our people. All agreed +that I had done well. Having been generously +praised, I was eager to earn some more compli- +ments by learning a new one, so I begged my uncle +to tell me a story. Musingly he replied: + +"I can give you a Sioux-Cree tradition," and +immediately began: + +"Many winters ago, there were six teepees stand- +ing on the southern slope of Moose mountain in +the Moon of Wild Cherries (September). The +men to whom these teepees belonged had been at- +tacked by the Sioux while hunting buffalo, and +nearly all killed. Two or three who managed to +get home to tell their sad story were mortally +wounded, and died soon afterward. There was only +one old man and several small boys left to hunt +and provide for this unfortunate little band of +women and children. + +"They lived upon teepsinna (wild turnips) and +berries for many days. They were almost famished +for meat. The old man was too feeble to hunt +successfully. One day in this desolate camp a +young Cree maiden--for such they were--declared +that she could no longer sit still and see her peo- +ple suffer. She took down her dead father's second +bow and quiver full of arrows, and begged her old +grandmother to accompany her to Lake Wana- +giska, where she knew that moose had oftentimes +been found. I forgot to tell you that her name +was Manitoshaw. + +This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother, +Nawakewee, took each a pony and went far up into +the woods on the side of the mountain. They +pitched their wigwam just out of sight of the lake, +and hobbled their ponies. Then the old woman +said to Manitoshaw: + +"'Go, my granddaughter, to the outlet of the +Wanagiska, and see if there are any moose tracks +there. When I was a young woman, I came here +with your father's father, and we pitched our tent +near this spot. In the night there came three dif- +ferent moose. Bring me leaves of the birch and +cedar twigs; I will make medicine for moose,' she +added. + +Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the +woods. It was a grove of birch and willow, with +two good springs. Down below was a marshy place. +Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nib- +bled birch and willow twigs, for the moose loves +to eat them, and to have her arrow ready +upon the bow-string. I have seen this very +place many a time," added my uncle, and this +simple remark gave to the story an air of real- +ity. + +"The Cree maiden went first to the spring, and +there found fresh tracks of the animal she sought. +She gathered some cedar berries and chewed them, +and rubbed some of them on her garments so that +the moose might not scent her. The sun was al- +ready set, and she felt she must return to Na- +wakewee. + +"Just then Hinhankaga, the hooting owl, gave +his doleful night call. The girl stopped and lis- +tened attentively. + +"'I thought it was a lover's call,' she whispered +to herself. A singular challenge pealed across the +lake. She recognized the alarm call of the loon, +and fancied that the bird might have caught a +glimpse of her game. + +"Soon she was within a few paces of the tem- +porary lodge of pine boughs and ferns which the +grandmother had constructed. The old woman +met her on the trail. + +"'Ah, my child, you have returned none too +soon. I feared you had ventured too far away; +for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt. +You must not expose yourself carelessly on the +shore.' + +"As the two women lay down to sleep they +could hear the ponies munch the rich grass in an +open spot near by. Through the smoke hole of +the pine-bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up +into the starry sky, and dreamed of what she would +do on the morrow when she should surprise the +wily moose. Her grandmother was already sleep- +ing so noisily that it was enough to scare away the +game. At last the maiden, too, lost herself in +sleep. + +"Old Nawakewee awoke early. First of all +she made a fire and burned cedar and birch +so that the moose might not detect the human +smell. Then she quickly prepared a meal of wild +turnips and berries, and awoke the maiden, who +was surprised to see that the sun was already up. +She ran down to the spring and hastily splashed +handsful of the cold water in her face; then she +looked for a moment in its mirror-like surface. +There was the reflection of two moose by the open +shore and beyond them Manitoshaw seemed to +see a young man standing. In another moment +all three had disappeared. + +"'What is the matter with my eyes? I am +not fully awake yet, and I imagine things. Ugh, +it is all in my eyes,' the maiden repeated to her- +self. She hastened back to Nawakewee. The +vision was so unexpected and so startling that she +could not believe in its truth, and she said noth- +ing to the old woman. + +"Breakfast eaten, Manitoshaw threw off her +robe and appeared in her scantily cut gown of +buckskin with long fringes, and moccasins and +leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine. +Her father's bow and quiver were thrown over +one shoulder, and the knife dangled from her belt +in its handsome sheath. She ran breathlessly +along the shore toward the outlet. + +"Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam +with his mate, occasionally uttering a cry of joy. +Here and there the playful Hogan, the trout, +sprang gracefully out of the water, in a shower of +falling dew. As the maiden hastened along she +scared up Wadawasee, the kingfisher, who screamed +loudly. + +"'Stop, Wadawasee, stop--you will frighten +my game!' + +"At last she had reached the outlet. She saw +at once that the moose had been there during the +night. They had torn up the ground and broken +birch and willow twigs in a most disorderly +way." + +"Ah!" I exclaimed, "I wish I had been with +Manitoshaw then!" + +"Hush, my boy; never interrupt a story- +teller." + +I took a stick and began to level off the ashes +in front of me, and to draw a map of the lake, the +outlet, the moose and Manitoshaw. Away off to +one side was the solitary wigwam, Nawakewee and +the ponies. + +"Manitoshaw's heart was beating so loud that +she could not hear anything," resumed my uncle. +"She took some leaves of the wintergreen and +chewed them to calm herself. She did not forget +to throw in passing a pinch of pulverized tobacco +and paint into the spring for Manitou, the spirit. + +"Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her +eye was caught by a moving form, and then an- +other. She stood motionless, grasping her heavy +bow. The moose, not suspecting any danger, +walked leisurely toward the spring. One was a +large female moose; the other a yearling. + +As they passed Manitoshaw, moving so nat- +urally and looking so harmless, she almost forgot +to let fly an arrow. The mother moose seemed to +look in her direction, but did not see her. They +had fairly passed her hiding-place when she stepped +forth and sent a swift arrow into the side of the +larger moose. Both dashed into the thick woods, +but it was too late. The Cree maiden had already +loosened her second arrow. Both fell dead before +reaching the shore." + +"Uncle, she must have had a splendid aim, for +in the woods the many little twigs make an arrow +bound off to one side," I interrupted in great ex- +citement. + +"Yes, but you must remember she was very +near the moose." + +"It seems to me, then, uncle, that they must +have scented her, for you have told me that they +possess the keenest nose of any animal," I per- +sisted. + +"Doubtless the wind was blowing the other +way. But, nephew, you must let me finish my +story. + +"Ovedoyed by her success, the maiden has- +tened back to Nawakawee, but she was gone! +The ponies were gone, too, and the wigwam of +branches had been demolished. While Manito- +shaw stood there, frightened and undecided what +to do, a soft voice came from behind a neighbor- +ing thicket: + +"'Manitoshaw! Manitoshaw! I am here!' + +She at once recognized, the voice and found +it to be Nawakeewee, who told a strange story. +That morning a canoe had crossed the Wanagiska +carrying two men. They were Sioux. The old +grandmother had seen them coming, and to de- +ceive them she at once pulled down her temporary +wigwam, and drove the ponies off toward home. +Then she hid herself in the bushes near by, +for she knew that Manitoshaw must return +there. + +"'Come, my granddaughter, we must hasten +home by another way,' cried the old woman. + +"But the maiden said, 'No, let us go first to +my two moose that I killed this morning and take +some meat with us.' + +"'No, no, my child; the Sioux are cruel. +They have killed many of our people. If we +stay here they will find us. I fear, I fear them, +Manitoshaw!' + +"At last the brave maid convinced her grand- +mother, and the more easily as she too was hun- +gry for meat. They went to where the big game +lay among the bushes, and began to dress the +moose." + +"I think, if I were they, I would hide all day. +I would wait until the Sioux had gone; then I +would go back to my moose," I interrupted for +the third time. + +"I will finish the story first; then you may tell +us what you would do," said my uncle reprov- +ingly. + +"The two Sioux were father and son. They +too had come to the lake for moose; but as the +game usually retreated to the island, Chatansapa +had landed his son Kangiska to hunt them on the +shore while he returned in his canoe to intercept +their flight. The young man sped along the +sandy beach and soon discovered their tracks. He +followed them up and found blood on the trail. +This astonished him. Cautiously he followed on +until he found them both lying dead. He exam- +ined them and found that in each moose there +was a single Cree arrow. Wishing to surprise +the hunter if possible, Kangiska lay hidden in the +bushes. + +"After a little while the two women returned to +the spot. They passed him as close as the moose +had passed the maiden in the morning. He saw +at once that the maiden had arrows in her quiver +like those that had slain the big moose. He lay +still. + +"Kangiska looked upon the beautiful Cree +maiden and loved her. Finally he forgot himself +and made a slight motion. Manitoshaw's quick +eye caught the little stir among the bushes, but +she immediately looked the other way and Kan- +giska believed that she had not seen anything, +At last her eyes met his, and something told both +that all was well. Then the maiden smiled, and +the young man could not remain still any longer. +He arose suddenly and the old woman nearly +fainted from fright. But Manitoshaw said: + +"'Fear not, grandmother; we are two and he is +only one.' + +"While the two women continued to cut up +the meat, Kangiska made a fire by rubbing cedar +chips together, and they all ate of the moose +meat. Then the old woman finished her work, +while the young people sat down upon a log in +the shade, and told each other all their minds. + +"Kangiska declared by signs that he would go +home with Manitoshaw to the Cree camp, for he +loved her. They went home, and the young +man hunted for the unfortunate Cree band during +the rest of his life. + +"His father waited a long time on the island +and afterward searched the shore, but never saw +him again. He supposed that those footprints he +saw were made by Crees who had killed his son." + +"Is that story true, uncle?" I asked eagerly. + +"'Yes, the facts are well known. There are +some Sioux mixed bloods among the Crees to this +day who are descendants of Kangiska." + + + + +X +Indian Life and Adventure + +I: Life in the Woods + +THE month of September recalls +to every Indian's mind the season +of the fall hunt. I remember one +such expedition which is typical +of many. Our party appeared on +the northwestern side of Turtle +mountain; for we had been hunting buffaloes all +summer, in the region of the Mouse river, between +that mountain and the upper Missouri. + +As our cone-shaped teepees rose in clusters +along the outskirts of the heavy forest that clothes +the sloping side of the mountain, the scene below +was gratifying to a savage eye. The rolling yellow +plains were checkered with herds of buffaloes. +Along the banks of the streams that ran down from +the mountains were also many elk, which usually +appear at morning and evening, and disappear into +the forest during the warmer part of the day. +Deer, too, were plenty, and the brooks were alive +with trout. Here and there the streams were +dammed by the industrious beaver. + +In the interior of the forest there were lakes with +many islands, where moose, elk, deer and bears +were abundant. The water-fowl were wont to +gather here in great numbers, among them the +crane, the swan, the loon, and many of the smaller +kinds. The forest also was filled with a great va- +riety of birds. Here the partridge drummed his +loudest, while the whippoorwill sang with spirit, +and the hooting owl reigned in the night. + +To me, as a boy, this wilderness was a paradise. It +was a land of plenty. To be sure, we did not have +any of the luxuries of civilization, but we had every +convenience and opportunity and luxury of +Nature. We had also the gift of enjoying +our good fortune, whatever dangers might lurk +about us; and the truth is that we lived in +blessed ignorance of any life that was better than +our own. + +As soon as hunting in the woods began, the +customs regulating it were established. The coun- +cil teepee no longer existed. A hunting bonfire +was kindled every morning at day-break, at which +each brave must appear and report. The man who +failed to do this before the party set out on the +day's hunt was harassed by ridicule. As a rule, +the hunters started before sunrise, and the brave +who was announced throughout the camp as the +first one to return with a deer on his back, was a +man to be envied. + +The legend-teller, old Smoky Day, was chosen +herald of the camp, and it was he who made the +announcements. After supper was ended, we heard +his powerful voice resound among the teepees in +the forest. He would then name a man to kindle +the bonfire the next morning. His suit of fringed +buckskin set off his splendid physique to advan- +tage. + +Scarcely had the men disappeared in the woods +each morning than all the boys sallied forth, ap- +parently engrossed in their games and sports, but +in reality competing actively with one another in +quickness of observation. As the day advanced, +they all kept the sharpest possible lookout. Sud- +denly there would come the shrill "Woo-coo- +hoo!" at the top of a boy's voice, announcing the +bringing in of a deer. Immediately all the other +boys took up the cry, each one bent on getting +ahead of the rest. Now we all saw the brave Wa- +coota fairly bent over by his burden, a large deer +which he carried on his shoulders. His fringed +buckskin shirt was besprinkled with blood. He +threw down the deer at the door of his wife's +mother's home, according to custom, and then +walked proudly to his own. At the door of his +father's teepee he stood for a moment straight as a +pine-tree, and then entered. + +When a bear was brought in, a hundred or +more of these urchins were wont to make the woods +resound with their voices: "Wah! wah! wah! +Wah! wah! wah! The brave White Rabbit +brings a bear! Wah! wah ! wah!" + +All day these sing-song cheers were kept up, as +the game was brought in. At last, toward the close +of the afternoon, all the hunters had returned, and +happiness and contentment reigned absolute, in a +fashion which I have never observed among the +white people, even in the best of circumstances. +The men were lounging and smoking; the women +actively engaged in the preparation of the evening +meal, and the care of the meat. The choicest of +the game was cooked and offered to the Great +Mystery, with all the accompanying ceremonies. +This we called the "medicine feast." Even the +women, as they lowered the boiling pot, or the +fragrant roast of venison ready to serve, would first +whisper: "Great Mystery, do thou partake of this +venison, and still be gracious!" This was the +commonly said "grace." + +Everything went smoothly with us, on this oc- +casion, when we first entered the woods. Noth- +ing was wanting to our old way of living. The +killing of deer and elk and moose had to be +stopped for a time, since meat was so abundant +that we had no use for them any longer. Only +the hunting for pelts, such as those of the bear, +beaver, marten, and otter was continued. But +whenever we lived in blessed abundance, our +braves were wont to turn their thoughts to other +occupations--especially the hot-blooded youths +whose ambition it was to do something note- +worthy. + +At just such moments as this there are always a +number of priests in readiness, whose vocation it +is to see into the future, and each of whom con- +sults his particular interpreter of the Great Mys- +tery. (This ceremony is called by the white people +"making medicine.") To the priests the youth- +ful braves hint their impatience for the war-path. +Soon comes the desired dream or prophecy or +vision to favor their departure. + +Our young men presently received their sign, +and for a few days all was hurry and excitement. +On the appointed morning we heard the songs of +the warriors and the wailing of the women, by which +they bade adieu to each other, and the eligible +braves, headed by an experienced man--old Ho- +tanka or Loud-Voiced Raven--set out for the +Gros Ventre country. + +Our older heads, to be sure, had expressed some +disapproval of the undertaking, for the country in +which we were roaming was not our own, and we +were likely at any time to be taken to task by its +rightful owners. The plain truth of the matter +was that we were intruders. Hence the more +thoughtful among us preferred to be at home, and +to achieve what renown they could get by defend- +ing their homes and families. The young men, +however, were so eager for action and excitement +that they must needs go off in search of it. + +From the early morning when these braves left +us, led by the old war-priest, Loud-Voiced Raven, +the anxious mothers, sisters and sweethearts +counted the days. Old Smoky Day would occa- +sionally get up early in the morning, and sing a +"strong-heart" song for his absent grandson. I +still seem to hear the hoarse, cracked voice of the +ancient singer as it resounded among the woods. +For a long time our roving community enjoyed +unbroken peace, and we were spared any trouble or +disturbance. Our hunters often brought in a deer +or elk or bear for fresh meat. The beautiful +lakes furnished us with fish and wild-fowl for +variety. Their placid waters, as the autumn ad- +vanced, reflected the variegated colors of the +changing foliage. + +It is my recollection that we were at this time +encamped in the vicinity of the "Turtle Moun- +tain's Heart." It is to the highest cone-shaped +peak that the Indians aptly give this appellation. +Our camping-ground for two months was within a +short distance of the peak, and the men made it a +point to often send one of their number to the +top. It was understood between them and the +war party that we were to remain near this spot; +and on their return trip the latter were to give the +"smoke sign," which we would answer from the +top of the hill. + +One day, as we were camping on the shore of a +large lake with several islands, signs of moose +were discovered, and the men went off to them on +rafts, carrying their flint-lock guns in anticipation +of finding two or three of the animals. We little +fellows, as usual, were playing down by the sandy +shore, when we spied what seemed like the root +of a great tree floating toward us. But on a closer +scrutiny we discovered our error. It was the head +of a huge moose, swimming for his life! Fortun- +ately for him, none of the men had remained at +home. + +According to our habit, we little urchins disap- +peared in an instant, like young prairie chickens, +in the long grass. I was not more than eight +years old, yet I tested the strength of my bow- +string and adjusted my sharpest and best arrow for +immediate service. My heart leaped violently as +the homely but imposing animal neared the shore. +I was undecided for a moment whether I would +not leave my hiding-place and give a war-whoop +as soon as he touched the sand. Then I thought +I would keep still and let him have my boy weap- +on; and the only regret that I had was that he +would, in all probability, take it with him, and I +should be minus one good arrow. + +"Still," I thought, "I shall claim to be the +smallest boy whose arrow was ever carried away +by a moose." That was enough. I gathered +myself into a bunch, all ready to spring. As the +long-legged beast pulled himself dripping out of +the water, and shook off the drops from his long +hair, I sprang to my feet. I felt some of the +water in my face! I gave him my sharpest arrow +with all the force I could master, right among +the floating ribs. Then I uttered my war- +whoop. + +The moose did not seem to mind the miniature +weapon, but he was very much frightened by our +shrill yelling. He took to his long legs, and in a +minute was out of sight. + +The leaves had now begun to fall, and the heavy +frosts made the nights very cold. We were forced +to realize that the short summer of that region +had said adieu! Still we were gay and light- +hearted, for we had plenty of provisions, and +no misfortune had yet overtaken us in our +wanderings over the country for nearly three +months. + +One day old Smoky Day returned from the +daily hunt with an alarm. He had seen a sign-- +a "smoke sign." This had not appeared in the +quarter that they were anxiously watching--it +came from the east. After a long consultation +among the men, it was concluded from the nature +and duration of the smoke that it proceeded from +an accidental fire. It was further surmised that +the fire was not made by Sioux, since it was out +of their country, but by a war-party of Ojibways, +who were accustomed to use matches when lighting +their pipes, and to throw them carelessly away. +It was thought that a little time had been spent in +an attempt to put it out. + +The council decreed that a strict look-out should +be established in behalf of our party. Every day +a scout was appointed to reconnoitre in the direc- +tion of the smoke. It was agreed that no gun +should be fired for twelve days. All our signals +were freshly rehearsed among the men. The +women and old men went so far as to dig little +convenient holes around their lodges, for defense +in case of a sudden attack. And yet an Ojibway +scout would not have suspected, from the ordinary +appearance of the camp, that the Sioux had be- +come aware of their neighborhood! Scouts were +stationed just outside of the village at night. They +had been so trained as to rival an owl or a cat in +their ability to see in the dark. + +The twelve days passed by, however, without +bringing any evidence of the nearness of the sup- +posed Ojibway war-party, and the "lookout" +established for purposes of protection was aband- +oned. Soon after this, one morning at dawn, we +were aroused by the sound of the unwelcome war- +whoop. Although only a child, I sprang up and +was about to rush out, as I had been taught to +do; but my good grandmother pulled me down, +and gave me a sign to lay flat on the ground. I +sharpened my ears and lay still. + +All was quiet in camp, but at some little distance +from us there was a lively encounter. I could +distinctly hear the old herald, shouting and yell- +ing in exasperation. "Whoo! whoo!" was the +signal of distress, and I could almost hear the +pulse of my own blood-vessels. + +Closer and closer the struggle came, and still +the women appeared to grow more and more calm. +At last a tremendous charge by the Sioux put the +enemy to flight; there was a burst of yelling; +alas! my friend and teacher, old Smoky Day, was +silent. He had been pierced to the heart by an +arrow from the Ojibways. + +Although successful, we had lost two of our +men, Smoky Day and White Crane, and this inci- +dent, although hardly unexpected, darkened our +peaceful sky. The camp was filled with songs of +victory, mingled with the wailing of the relatives +of the slain. The mothers of the youths who +were absent on the war-path could no longer con- +ceal their anxiety. + +One frosty morning--for it was then near the +end of October--the weird song of a solitary brave +was heard. In an instant the camp was thrown +into indescribable confusion. The meaning of +this was clear as day to everybody--all of our +war-party were killed, save the one whose mourn- +ful song announced the fate of his companions. +The lonely warrior was Bald Eagle. + +The village was convulsed with grief; for in +sorrow, as in joy, every Indian shares with all the +others. The old women stood still, wherever +they might be, and wailed dismally, at intervals +chanting the praises of the departed warriors. The +wives went a little way from their teepees and +there audibly mourned; but the young maidens +wandered further away from the camp, where +no one could witness their grief. The old men +joined in the crying and singing. To all ap- +pearances the most unmoved of all were the war- +riors, whose tears must be poured forth in the +country of the enemy to embitter their venge- +ance. These sat silently within their lodges, +and strove to conceal their feelings behind a +stoical countenance; but they would probably +have failed had not the soothing weed come to +their relief. + +The first sad shock over, then came the change +of habiliments. In savage usage, the outward +expression of mourning surpasses that of civiliza- +tion. The Indian mourner gives up all his good +clothing, and contents himself with scanty and +miserable garments. Blankets are cut in two, and +the hair is cropped short. Often a devoted +mother would scarify her arms or legs; a sister or +a young wife would cut off all her beautiful hair +and disfigure herself by undergoing hardships. +Fathers and brothers blackened their faces, and +wore only the shabbiest garments. Such was the +spectacle that our people presented when the +bright autumn was gone and the cold shadow of +winter and misfortune had fallen upon us. "We +must suffer," said they--"the Great Mystery is +offended." + +II: A Winter Camp + +WHEN I was about twelve years +old we wintered upon the Mouse +river, west of Turtle mountain. +It was one of the coldest win- +ters I ever knew, and was so re- +garded by the old men of the tribe. +The summer before there had been plenty of +buffalo upon that side of the Missouri, and our +people had made many packs of dried buffalo +meat and cached them in different places, so that +they could get them in case of need. There were +many black-tailed deer and elk along the river, +and grizzlies were to be found in the open coun- +try. Apparently there was no danger of starva- +tion, so our people thought to winter there; but +it proved to be a hard winter. + +There was a great snow-fall, and the cold was +intense. The snow was too deep for hunting, and +the main body of the buffalo had crossed the +Missouri, where it was too far to go after them. +But there were some smaller herds of the animals +scattered about in our vicinity, therefore there was +still fresh meat to be had, but it was not secured +without a great deal of difficulty. + +No ponies could be used. The men hunted +on snow-shoes until after the Moon of Sore Eyes +(March), when after a heavy thaw a crust was +formed on the snow which would scarcely hold a +man. It was then that our people hunted buffalo +with dogs--an unusual expedient. + +Sleds were made of buffalo ribs and hickory +saplings, the runners bound with rawhide with +the hair side down. These slipped smoothly over +the icy crust. Only small men rode on the sleds. +When buffalo were reported by the hunting- +scouts, everybody had his dog team ready. All +went under orders from the police, and approached +the herd under cover until they came within +charging distance. + +The men had their bows and arrows, and a few +had guns. The huge animals could not run fast +in the deep snow. They all followed a leader, +trampling out a narrow path. The dogs with +their drivers soon caught up with them on each +side, and the hunters brought many of them +down. + +I remember when the party returned, late in +the night. The men came in single file, well +loaded, and each dog following his master with +an equally heavy load. Both men and animals +were white with frost. + +We boys had waited impatiently for their arri- +val. As soon as we spied them coming a buffalo +hunting whistle was started, and every urchin in +the village added his voice to the weird sound, +while the dogs who had been left at home joined +with us in the chorus. The men, wearing their +buffalo moccasins with the hair inside and robes +of the same, came home hungry and exhausted. + +It is often supposed that the dog in the Indian +camp is a useless member of society, but it is not +so in the wild life. We found him one of the +most useful of domestic animals, especially in an +emergency. + +While at this camp a ludicrous incident occurred +that is still told about the camp-fires of the Sioux. +One day the men were hunting on snow-shoes, +and contrived to get within a short distance of the +buffalo before they made the attack. It was im- +possible to run fast, but the huge animals were +equally unable to get away. Many were killed. +Just as the herd reached an open plain one of the +buffaloes stopped and finally lay down. Three of +the men who were pursuing him shortly came up. +The animal was severely wounded, but not dead. + +"I shall crawl up to him from behind and stab +him," said Wamedee; "we cannot wait here for +him to die." The others agreed. Wamedee was +not considered especially brave; but he took out +his knife and held it between his teeth. He then +approached the buffalo from behind and suddenly +jumped astride his back. + +The animal was dreadfully frightened and strug- +gled to his feet. Wamedee's knife fell to the +ground, but he held on by the long shaggy hair. +He had a bad seat, for he was upon the buffalo's +hump. There was no chance to jump off; he had +to stay on as well as he could. + +"Hurry! hurry! shoot! shoot!" he screamed, +as the creature plunged and kicked madly in the +deep snow. Wamedee's face looked deathly, they +said; but his two friends could not help laughing. +He was still calling upon them to shoot, but when +the others took aim he would cry: "Don't shoot! +don't shoot! you will kill me!" At last the ani- +mal fell down with him; but Wamedee's two friends +also fell down exhausted with laughter. He was +ridiculed as a coward thereafter. + +It was on this very hunt that the chief Mato +was killed by a buffalo. It happened in this way. +He had wounded the animal, but not fatally; so +he shot two more arrows at him from a distance. +Then the buffalo became desperate and charged +upon him. In his flight Mato was tripped by +sticking one of his snow-shoes into a snowdrift, +from which he could not extricate himself in time. +The bull gored him to death. The creek upon +which this happened is now called Mato creek. + +A little way from our camp there was a log village +of French Canadian half-breeds, but the two vil- +lages did not intermingle. About the Moon of +Difficulty (January) we were initiated into some +of the peculiar customs of our neighbors. In the +middle of the night there was a firing of guns +throughout their village. Some of the people +thought they had been attacked, and went over to +assist them, but to their surprise they were told +that this was the celebration of the birth of the new +year! + +Our men were treated to minnewakan or +"spirit water," and they came home crazy and +foolish. They talked loud and sang all the rest of +the night. Finally our head chief ordered his +young men to tie these men up and put them in a +lodge by themselves. He gave orders to untie +them "when the evil spirit had gone away." + +During the next day all our people were invited +to attend the half-breeds' dance. I never knew +before that a new year begins in mid-winter. We +had always counted that the year ends when the +winter ends, and a new year begins with the new +life in the springtime. + +I was now taken for the first time to a white +man's dance in a log house. I thought it was the +dizziest thing I ever saw. One man sat in a cor- +ner, sawing away at a stringed board, and all the +while he was stamping the floor with his foot and +giving an occasional shout. When he called out, +the dancers seemed to move faster. + +The men danced with women--something that +we Indians never do--and when the man in the +corner shouted they would swing the women +around. It looked very rude to me, as I stood +outside with the other boys and peeped through +the chinks in the logs. At one time a young man +and woman facing each other danced in the mid- +dle of the floor. I thought they would surely +wear their moccasins out against the rough boards; +but after a few minutes they were relieved by an- +other couple. + +Then an old man with long curly hair and a +fox-skin cap danced alone in the middle of the +room, slapping the floor with his moccasined foot +in a lightning fashion that I have never seen +equalled. He seemed to be a leader among them. +When he had finished, the old man invited our +principal chief into the middle of the floor, and + +after the Indian had given a great whoop, the two +drank in company. After this, there was so much +drinking and loud talking among the men, that it +was thought best to send us children back to the +camp. + +It was at this place that we found many sand +boulders like a big "white man's house." There +were holes in them like rooms, and we played in +these cave-like holes. One day, in the midst of +our game, we found the skeleton of a great bear. +Evidently he had been wounded and came there +to die, for there were several arrows on the floor +of the cave. + +The most exciting event of this year was the +attack that the Gros Ventres made upon us just +as we moved our camp upon the table land back of +the river in the spring. We had plenty of meat +then and everybody was happy. The grass was +beginning to appear and the ponies to grow fat. + +One night there was a war dance. A few of +our young men had planned to invade the Gros +Ventres country, but it seemed that they too had +been thinking of us. Everybody was interested +in the proposed war party. + +"Uncle, are you going too?" I eagerly asked +him. + +"No," he replied, with a long sigh. "It is the +worst time of year to go on the war-path. We +shall have plenty of fighting this summer, as we +are going to trench upon their territory in our +hunts," he added. + +The night was clear and pleasant. The war +drum was answered by the howls of coyotes on +the opposite side of the Mouse river. I was in +the throng, watching the braves who were about +to go out in search of glory. "I wish I were old +enough; I would surely go with this party," I +thought. My friend Tatanka was to go. He +was several years older than I, and a hero in my +eyes. I watched him as he danced with the rest +until nearly midnight. Then I came back to our +teepee and rolled myself in my buffalo robe and +was soon lost in sleep. + +Suddenly I was aroused by loud war cries. +"'Woo! woo! hay-ay! hay-ay! U we do! U we +do!'" I jumped upon my feet, snatched my bow +and arrows and rushed out of the teepee, franti- +cally yelling as I went. + +"Stop! stop!" screamed Uncheedah, and caught +me by my long hair. + +By this time the Gros Ventres had encircled our +camp, sending volleys of arrows and bullets into +our midst. The women were digging ditches in +which to put their children. + +My uncle was foremost in the battle. The +Sioux bravely withstood the assault, although +several of our men had already fallen. Many +of the enemy were killed in the field around our +teepees. The Sioux at last got their ponies and +made a counter charge, led by Oyemakasan (my +uncle). They cut the Gros Ventre party in two, +and drove them off. + +My friend Tatanka was killed. I took one of +his eagle feathers, thinking I would wear it the +first time that I ever went upon the war-path. I +thought I would give anything for the oppor- +tunity to go against the Gros Ventres, because +they killed my friend. The war songs, the wail- +ing for the dead, the howling of the dogs was +intolerable to me. Soon after this we broke up +our camp and departed for new scenes. + +III: Wild Harvests + +WHEN our people lived in Min- +nesota, a good part of their natur- +al subsistence was furnished by +the wild rice, which grew abun- +dantly in all of that region. +Around the shores and all over +some of the innumerable lakes of the "Land of +Sky-blue Water" was this wild cereal found. In- +deed, some of the watery fields in those days +might be compared in extent and fruitfulness with +the fields of wheat on Minnesota's magnificent +farms to-day. + +The wild rice harvesters came in groups of fif- +teen to twenty families to a lake, depending upon +the size of the harvest. Some of the Indians +hunted buffalo upon the prairie at this season, but +there were more who preferred to go to the lakes +to gather wild rice, fish, gather berries and hunt the +deer. There was an abundance of water-fowls +among the grain; and really no season of the year +was happier than this. + +The camping-ground was usually an attractive +spot, with shade and cool breezes off the water. +The people, while they pitched their teepees upon +the heights, if possible, for the sake of a good out- +look, actually lived in their canoes upon the placid +waters. The happiest of all, perhaps, were the +young maidens, who were all day long in their +canoes, in twos or threes, and when tired of gather- +ing the wild cereal, would sit in the boats doing +their needle-work. + +These maidens learned to imitate the calls of +the different water-fowls as a sort of signal to the +members of a group. Even the old women and +the boys adopted signals, so that while the popu- +lation of the village was lost to sight in a thick +field of wild rice, a meeting could be arranged +without calling any one by his or her own name. +It was a great convenience for those young men +who sought opportunity to meet certain maidens, +for there were many canoe paths through the rice. + +August is the harvest month. There were +many preliminary feasts of fish, ducks and veni- +son, and offerings in honor of the "Water Chief," +so that there might not be any drowning accident +during the harvest. The preparation consisted +of a series of feasts and offerings for many days, +while women and men were making birch canoes, +for nearly every member of the family must be +provided with one for this occasion. The blue- +berry and huckleberry-picking also preceded the +rice-gathering. + +There were social events which enlivened the +camp of the harvesters; such as maidens' feasts, +dances and a canoe regatta or two, in which not +only the men were participants, but women and +young girls as well. + +On the appointed day all the canoes were +carried to the shore and placed upon the water +with prayer and propitiatory offerings. Each +family took possession of the allotted field, and +tied all the grain in bundles of convenient size, al- +lowing it to stand for a few days. Then they +again entered the lake, assigning two persons to +each canoe. One manipulated the paddle, while +the foremost one gently drew the heads of each +bundle toward him and gave it a few strokes with a +light rod. This caused the rice to fall into the +bottom of the craft. The field was traversed in +this manner back and forth until finished. + +This was the pleasantest and easiest part of the +harvest toil. The real work was when they pre- +pared the rice for use. First of all, it must be +made perfectly dry. They would spread it upon +buffalo robes and mats, and sometimes upon lay- +ers of coarse swamp grass, and dry it in the sun. +If the time was short, they would make a scaffold +and spread upon it a certain thickness of the green +grass and afterward the rice. Under this a fire +was made, taking care that the grass did not catch +fire. + +When all the rice is gathered and dried, the +hulling begins. A round hole is dug about two +feet deep and the same in diameter. Then the +rice is heated over a fire-place, and emptied into +the hole while it is hot. A young man, having +washed his feet and put on a new pair of mocca- +sins, treads upon it until all is hulled. The women +then pour it upon a robe and begin to shake it so +that the chaff will be separated by the wind. Some +of the rice is browned before being hulled. + +During the hulling time there were prizes of- +fered to the young men who can hull quickest and +best. There were sometimes from twenty to fifty +youths dancing with their feet in these holes. + +Pretty moccasins were brought by shy maidens +to the youths of their choice, asking them to hull +rice. There were daily entertainments which de- +served some such name as "hulling bee"--at any +rate, we all enjoyed them hugely. The girls +brought with them plenty of good things to eat. + +When all the rice was prepared for the table, +the matter of storing it must be determined. +Caches were dug by each family in a concealed +spot, and carefully lined with dry grass and bark. +Here they left their surplus stores for a time of +need. Our people were very ingenious in cover- +ing up all traces of the hidden food. A common +trick was to build a fire on top of the mound. As +much of the rice as could be carried conveniently +was packed in par-fleches, or cases made of raw- +hide, and brought back with us to our village. + +After all, the wild Indians could not be justly +termed improvident, when their manner of life is +taken into consideration. They let nothing go to +waste, and labored incessantly during the summer +and fall to lay up provision for the inclement sea- +son. Berries of all kinds were industriously +gathered, and dried in the sun. Even the wild +cherries were pounded up, stones and all, made +into small cakes and dried for use in soups and for +mixing with the pounded jerked meat and fat to +form a much-prized Indian delicacy. + +Out on the prairie in July and August the wo- +men were wont to dig teepsinna with sharpened +sticks, and many a bag full was dried and put +away. This teepsinna is the root of a certain plant +growing mostly upon high sandy soil. It is starchy +but solid, with a sweetish taste, and is very fatten- +ing. The fully grown teepsinna is two or three +inches long, and has a dark-brown bark not unlike +the bark of a young tree. It can be eaten raw or +stewed, and is always kept in a dried state, except +when it is first dug. + +There was another root that our people gath- +ered in small quantities. It is a wild sweet potato, +found in bottom lands or river beds. + +The primitive housekeeper exerted herself much +to secure a variety of 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 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. + +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 +maiden--especially 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, 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! 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, +"for," said they, "there are no bright metals in +the moving train to send forth flashes of light. +The separate bodies are short, like carts with ponies, +and not like the long, four-wheeled wagon drawn +by four or six mules, that the soldiers use. They +are not buffaloes, and they cannot be mounted +troops, with pack-mules, because the individual +bodies are too long for that. Besides, the soldiers +usually have their chief, with his guards, leading +the train; and the little chiefs are also separated +from the main body and ride at one side!" + +From these observations it was concluded that +we were soon to meet with the bois brules, as the +French call their mixed-bloods, presumably from +the color of their complexions. Some say that +they are named from the "burned forests" which, +as wood-cutters, they are accustomed to leave be- +hind them. Two or three hours later, at about +sunset, our ears began to distinguish the peculiar +music that always accompanied a moving train of +their carts. It is like the grunting and squealing +of many animals, and is due to the fact that the +wheels and all other parts of these vehicles are +made of wood. Our dogs gleefully augmented the +volume of inharmonious sound. + +They stopped a little way from our camp, upon +a grassy plain, and the ponies were made to wheel +their clumsy burdens into a perfect circle, the +shafts being turned inward. Thus was formed a +sort of barricade--quite a usual and necessary pre- +caution in their nomadic and adventurous life. +Within this circle the tents were pitched, and many +cheerful fires were soon kindled. The garcons +were hurriedly driving the ponies to water, with +much cracking of whips and outbursting of im- +patient oaths. + +Our chief and his principal warriors briefly con- +ferred with the strangers, and it was understood +by both parties that no thought of hostilities lurked +in the minds of either. + +After having observed the exchange of presents +that always follows a "peace council," there were +friendly and hospitable feasts in both camps. The +bois brules had been long away from any fort or +trading-post, and it so happened that their inevi- +table whiskey keg was almost empty. They had +diluted the few gills remaining with several large +kettles full of water. In order to have any sort of +offensive taste, it was necessary to add cayenne +pepper and a little gentian. + +Our men were treated to this concoction; and +seeing that two or three of the half-breeds pre- +tended to become intoxicated, our braves followed +their example. They made night intolerable with +their shouts and singing until past midnight, when +gradually all disturbance ceased, and both camps +appeared to be wrapped in deep slumber. + +Suddenly the loud report of a gun stirred the +sleepers. Many more reports were heard in quick +succession, all coming from the camp of the bois +brules. Every man among the Sioux sprang to his +feet, weapon in hand, and many ran towards their +ponies. But there was one significant point about +the untimely firing of the guns--they were all di- +rected heavenward! One of our old men, who +understood better than any one else the manners +of the half-breeds, thus proclaimed at the top of +his voice: + +"Let the people sleep! This that we have +heard is the announcement of a boy's advent into +the world! It is their custom to introduce with +gunpowder a new-born boy!" + +Again quiet was restored in the neighboring +camps, and for a time the night reigned undis- +turbed. But scarcely had we fallen into a sound +sleep when we were for the second time rudely +aroused by the firing of guns and the yelling of +warriors. This time it was discovered that almost +all the ponies, including those of our neighbors, +had been stealthily driven off by horse-thieves of +another tribe. + +These miscreants were adepts in their profes- +sion, for they had accomplished their purpose +with much skill, almost under the very eyes of +the foe, and had it not been for the invincible +superstition of Slow Dog, they would have met +with complete success. As it was, they caused us +no little trouble and anxiety, but after a hot pur- +suit of a whole day, with the assistance of the half- +breeds our horses were recaptured. + +Slow Dog was one of those Indians who are filled +with conceit, and boasting loudly their pretensions +as medicine men, without any success, only bring +upon themselves an unnecessary amount of em- +barrassment and ridicule. Yet there is one quali- +ty always possessed by such persons, among a +savage people as elsewhere--namely, great perse- +verance and tenacity in their self-assertion. So +the blessing of ignorance kept Slow Dog always +cheerful; and he seemed, if anything, to derive +some pleasure from the endless insinuations and +ridicule of the people! + +Now Slow Dog had loudly proclaimed, on the +night before this event, that he had received the +warning of a bad dream, in which he had seen all +the ponies belonging to the tribe stampeded and +driven westward. + +"But who cares for Slow Dog's dream?" said +everybody; "none of the really great medicine men +have had any such visions!" + +Therefore our little community, given as they +were to superstition, anticipated no special danger. +It is true that when the first scout reported the +approach of troops some of the people had weak- +ened, and said to one another: + +"After all, perhaps poor Slow Dog may be right; +but we are always too ready to laugh at him! " + +However, this feeling quickly passed away when +the jovial Canadians arrived, and the old man was +left alone to brood upon his warning. + +He was faithful to his dream. During all the +hilarity of the feast and the drinking of the mock +whiskey, be acted as self-constituted sentinel. +Finally, when everybody else had succumbed to +sleep, he gathered together several broken and +discarded lariats of various materials--leather, +buffalo's hair and horse's hair. Having length- +ened this variegated rope with innumerable knots, +he fastened one end of it around the neck of his +old war-horse, and tied the other to his wrist. In- +stead of sleeping inside the tent as usual, he rolled +himself in a buffalo robe and lay down in its +shadow. From this place he watched until the +moon had disappeared behind the western hori- +zon; and just as the grey dawn began to appear +in the east his eyes were attracted to what seemed +to be a dog moving among the picketed ponies. +Upon a closer scrutiny, he saw that its actions +were unnatural. + +"Toka abe do! toka abe do!" (the enemy! the +enemy!) exclaimed Slow Dog. With a war- +whoop he sprang toward the intruder, who rose +up and leaped upon the back of Slow Dog's war- +steed. He had cut the hobble, as well as the de- +vice of the old medicine man. + +The Sioux now bent his bow to shoot, but it +was too late. The other quickly dodged behind +the animal, and from under its chest he sent a +deadly arrow to Slow Dog's bosom. Then he re- +mounted the pony and set off at full speed after +his comrades, who had already started. + +As the Sioux braves responded to the alarm, +and passed by the daring old warrior in pursuit of +their enemies, who had stampeded most of the +loose ponies, the old man cried out: + +"I, brave Slow Dog, who have so often made +a path for you on the field of battle, am now +about to make one to the land of spirits!" + +So speaking, the old man died. The Sioux +were joined in the chase by the friendly mixed- +bloods, and in the end the Blackfeet were com- +pelled to pay dearly for the blood of the poor old +man. + +On that beautiful morning all Nature seemed +brilliant and smiling, but the Sioux were mourn- +ing and wailing for the death of one who had been +an object of ridicule during most of his life. They +appreciated the part that Slow Dog had played in +this last event, and his memory was honored by all +the tribe. + +V: An Adventurous Journey + +IT must now be about thirty years +since our long journey in search +of new hunting-grounds, from the +Assiniboine river to the Upper +Missouri. The buffalo, formerly +so abundant between the two +rivers, had begun to shun their usual haunts, on +account of the great numbers of Canadian half- +breeds in that part of the country. There was +also the first influx of English sportsmen, whose +wholesale methods of destruction wrought such +havoc with the herds. These seemingly intelli- +gent animals correctly prophesied to the natives +the approach of the pale-face. + +As we had anticipated, we found game very +scarce as we travelled slowly across the vast plains. +There were only herds of antelope and sometimes +flocks of waterfowl, with here and there a lonely +bull straggling aimlessly along. At first our party +was small, but as we proceeded on our way we fell +in with some of the western bands of Sioux and +Assiniboines, who are close connections. + +Each day the camp was raised and marched +from ten to twenty miles. One might wonder +how such a cavalcade would look in motion. The +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 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 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 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 serve +for a certain length of time. An Indian might +hunt every day, besides the regularly organized +hunt; but he was liable to punishment at any time. +If he could kill a solitary buffalo or deer without +disturbing the herd, it was allowed. He might +also hunt small game. + +In the movable town under such a government +as this, there was apt to be inconvenience and ac- +tual suffering, since a great body of people were +supported only by the daily hunt. Hence there +was a constant disposition to break up into smaller +parties, in order to obtain food more easily and +freely. Yet the wise men of the Dakotas would +occasionally form large bands of from two to five +thousand people, who camped and moved about +together for a period of some months. It is ap- +parent that so large a body could not be easily sup- +plied with the necessaries of life; but, on the other +hand, our enemies respected such a gathering! Of +course the nomadic government would do its ut- +most to hold together as long as possible. The +police did all they could to keep in check those +parties who were intent upon stealing away. + +There were many times, however, when individ- +ual bands and even families were justified in seek- +ing to separate themselves from the rest, in order +to gain a better support. It was chiefly by reason +of this food question that the Indians never estab- +lished permanent towns or organized themselves +into a more formidable nation. + +There was a sad misfortune which, although it +happened many generations ago, was familiarly +quoted among us. A certain band became very +independent and unruly; they went so far as to +wilfully disobey the orders of the general govern- +ment. The police were directed to punish the +leader severely; whereupon the rest defended +him and resisted the police. But the latter were +competent to enforce their authority, and as a re- +sult the entire band was annihilated. + +One day, as we were following along the bank +of the Upper Missouri, there appeared to be a +great disturbance at the head of the cavalcade--so +much so that we thought our people had been +attacked by a war-party of the Crows or some of +the hostile tribes of that region. In spite of the +danger, even the women and children hurried for- +ward to join the men--that is to say, as many as +were not upon the hunt. Most of the warriors +were out, as usual, and only the large boys and the +old men were travelling with the women and their +domestic effects and little ones. + +As we approached the scene of action, we heard +loud shouts and the report of fire-arms; but our +party was scattered along for a considerable dis- +tance, and all was over before we could reach the +spot. It was a great grizzly bear who had been +bold enough to oppose, single-handed, the progress +of several hundred Indians. The council-men, +who usually walked a little in advance of the train, +were the first to meet the bear, and he was prob- +ably deceived by the sight of this advance body, +and thus audaciously defied them. + +Among these council-men--all retired chiefs +and warriors whose ardent zeal for the display of +courage had long been cooled, and whose present +duties were those of calm deliberation for their +people's welfare--there were two old, distinguished +war-chiefs. Each of these men still carried his +war-lance, wrapped up in decorated buckskin. As +the bear advanced boldly toward them, the two old +men promptly threw off their robes--an evidence +that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit +of chivalry and ready courage. Spear in hand, +they both sprang forward to combat with the fe- +rocious animal, taking up their positions about ten +feet apart. + +As they had expected, the fearful beast, after +getting up on his haunches and growling savagely, +came forward with widely opened jaws. He fixed +his eyes upon the left-hand man, who was ready +to meet him with uplifted spear, but with one +stroke of his powerful paw the weapon was sent to +the ground. At the same moment the right-hand +man dealt him a stab that penetrated the grizzly's +side. + +The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a +man, and seized the spear so violently that its +owner was thrown to the ground. As the animal +drew the lance from its body, the first man, having +recovered his own, stabbed him with it on the +other side. Upon this, he turned and knocked +the old man down, and again endeavored to extract +the spear. + +By this time all the dogs and men were at hand. +Many arrows and balls were sent into the tough +hide of the bear. Yet he would probably have +killed both his assailants, had it not been for the +active small dogs who were constantly upon his +heels and annoying him. A deadly rifle shot at +last brought him down. + +The old men were badly bruised and torn, but +both of them recovered, to bear from that day the +high-sounding titles of "Fought-the-Bear" and +"Conquered-the-Grizzly." + + + +XI +The Laughing Philosopher + +THERE is scarcely anything so +exasperating to me as the idea +that the natives of this country +have no sense of humor and no +faculty for mirth. This phase +of their character is well under- +stood by those whose fortune or misfortune it has +been to live among them day in and day out at +their homes. I don't believe I ever heard a real +hearty laugh away from the Indians' fireside. I +have often spent an entire evening in laughing with +them until I could laugh no more. There are +evenings when the recognized wit or story-teller +of the village gives a free entertainment which +keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive +state until he leaves them. However, Indian +humor consists as much in the gestures and in- +flections of the voice as in words, and is really un- +translatable. + +Matogee (Yellow Bear) was a natural humorous +speaker, and a very diffident man at other times. +He usually said little, but when he was in the +mood he could keep a large company in a roar. +This was especially the case whenever he met his +brother-in-law, Tamedokah. + +It was a custom with us Indians to joke more +particularly with our brothers- and sisters-in-law. +But no one ever complained, or resented any of +these jokes, however personal they might be. +That would be an unpardonable breach of eti- +quette. + +"Tamedokah, I heard that you tried to capture +a buck by holding on to his tail," said Matogee, +laughing. "I believe that feat cannot be per- +formed any more; at least, it never has been since +the pale-face brought us the knife, the 'mysterious +iron,' and the pulverized coal that makes bullets +fly. Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives +and hatchets, I say, that has never been done." + +The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a +buck that day while hunting, and as he was about +to dress him the animal got up and attempted to +run, whereupon the Indian launched forth to se- +cure his game. He only succeeded in grasping the +tail of the deer, and was pulled about all over the +meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail +came off in his hands. Matogee thought this +too good a joke to be lost. + +I sat near the door of the tent, and thoroughly +enjoyed the story of the comical accident. + +"Yes," Tamedokah quietly replied, "I thought +I would do something to beat the story of the +man who rode a young elk, and yelled frantically +for help, crying like a woman." + +"Ugh! that was only a legend," retorted Ma- +togee, for it was he who was the hero of this tale +in his younger days. "But this is a fresh feat of +to-day. Chankpayuhah said he could not tell +which was the most scared, the buck or you," he +continued. "He said the deer's eyes were bulg- +ing out of their sockets, while Tamedokah's +mouth was constantly enlarging toward his ears, +and his hair floated on the wind, shaking among +the branches of the trees. That will go down +with the traditions of our fathers," he concluded +with an air of satisfaction. + +"It was a singular mishap," admitted Tame- +dokah. + +The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed +to Tamedokah good-naturedly, still with a broad +smile on his face. "It must be acknowledged," +he resumed, "that you have the strongest kind of +a grip, for no one else could hold on as long as you +did, and secure such a trophy besides. That tail +will do for an eagle feather holder." + +By this time the teepee was packed to over- +flowing. Loud laughter had been heard is- +suing from the lodge of Matogee, and every- +body suspected that he had something good, so +many had come to listen. + +"I think we should hear the whole matter," +said one of the late comers. + +The teepee was brightly lit by the burning em- +bers, and all the men were sitting with their knees +up against their chests, held in that position by +wrapping their robes tightly around loins and +knees. This fixed them something in the fashion +of a rocking-chair. + +"Well, no one saw him except Chankpayu- +hah," Matogee remarked. + +"Yes, yes, he must tell us about it," exclaimed +a chorus of voices. + +"This is what I saw," the witness began. "I +was tracking a buck and a doe. As I approached +a small opening at the creek side 'boom !' came +a report of the mysterious iron. I remained in +a stooping position, hoping to see a deer cross the +opening. In this I was not disappointed, for im- +mediately after the report a fine buck dashed forth +with Tamedokah close behind him. The latter +was holding on to the deer's tail with both hands +and his knife was in his mouth, but it soon dropped +out. 'Tamedokah,' I shouted, 'haven't you got +hold of the wrong animal?' but as I spoke they +disappeared into the woods. + +"In a minute they bothappeared again, and +then it was that I began to laugh. I could not +stop. It almost killed me. The deer jumped the +longest jumps I ever saw. Tamedokah walked +the longest paces and was very swift. His hair +was whipping the trees as they went by. Water +poured down his face. I stood bent forward be- +cause I could not straighten my back-bone, and +was ready to fall when they again disappeared. + +"When they came out for the third time it +seemed as if the woods and the meadow were mov- +ing too. Tamedokah skipped across the opening +as if he were a grasshopper learning to hop. I +fell down. + +"When I came to he was putting water on my +face and head, but when I looked at him I fell +again, and did not know anything until the sun +had passed the mid-sky. + +The company was kept roaring all the way +through this account, while Tamedokah himself +heartily joined in the mirth. + +"Ho, ho, ho!" they said; "he has made his +name famous in our annals. This will be told of +him henceforth." + +"It reminds me of Chadozee's bear story," said +one. + +"His was more thrilling, because it was really +dangerous," interposed another. + +"You can tell it to us, Bobdoo," remarked a +third. + +The man thus addressed made no immediate +reply. He was smoking contentedly. At last he +silently returned the pipe to Matogee, with whom +it had begun its rounds. Deliberately he tight- +ened his robe around him, saying as he did +so: + +"Ho (Yes). I was with him. It was by a +very little that he saved his life. I will tell you +how it happened. + +"I was hunting with these two men, Nageedah +and Chadozee. We came to some wild cherry +bushes. I began to eat of the fruit when I saw a +large silver-tip crawling toward us. 'Look out! +there is a grizzly here,' I shouted, and I ran my +pony out on to the prairie; but the others had +already dismounted. + +"Nageedah had just time to jump upon his +pony and get out of the way, but the bear seized +hold of his robe and pulled it off. Chado- +zee stood upon the verge of a steep bank, below +which there ran a deep and swift-flowing stream. +The bear rushed upon him so suddenly that when +he took a step backward, they both fell into the +creek together. It was a fall of about twice the +height of a man." + +"Did they go out of sight?" some one in- +quired. + +"Yes, both fell headlong. In his excitement +Chadozee laid hold of the bear in the water, and I +never saw a bear try so hard to get away from a +man as this one did." + +"Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!" they all laughed. + +"When they came to the surface again they +were both so eager to get to the shore that each +let go, and they swam as quickly as they could to +opposite sides. Chadozee could not get any further, +so he clung to a stray root, still keeping a close +watch of the bear, who was forced to do the same. +There they both hung, regarding each other with +looks of contempt and defiance." + +"Ha, ha, ha! ha, ha, ha!" they all laughed +again. + +"At last the bear swam along the edge to a +lower place, and we pulled Chadozee up by means +of our lariats. All this time he had been groan- +ing so loud that we supposed he was badly torn; +but when I looked for his wounds I found a mere +scratch." + +Again the chorus of appreciation from his +hearers. + +"The strangest thing about this affair of mine," +spoke up Tamedokah, "is that I dreamed the +whole thing the night before." + +"There are some dreams come true, and I am +a believer in dreams," one remarked. + +"Yes, certainly, so are we all. You know +Hachah almost lost his life by believing in +dreams," commented Matogee. + +"Let us hear that story," was the general re- +quest. + +"You have all heard of Hachah, the great +medicine man, who did many wonderful things. +He once dreamed four nights in succession of fly- +ing from a high cliff over the Minnesota river. +He recollected every particular of the scene, and +it made a great impression upon his mind. + +"The next day after he had dreamed it for the +fourth time, he proposed to his wife that they go +down to the river to swim, but his real purpose +was to see the place of his dream. + +"He did find the place, and it seemed to Ha- +chah exactly like. A crooked tree grew out of +the top of the cliff, and the water below was very +deep." + +"Did he really fly?" I called impatiently from +the doorway, where I had been listening and laugh- +ing with the rest. + +"Ugh, that is what I shall tell you. He was +swimming about with his wife, who was a fine +swimmer; but all at once Hachah disappeared. +Presently he stood upon the very tree that he had +seen in his dream, and gazed out over the water. +The tree was very springy, and Hachah felt sure +that he could fly; so before long he launched +bravely forth from the cliff. He kicked out vigor- +ously and swung both arms as he did so, but +nevertheless he came down to the bottom of the +water like a crow that had been shot on the wing." + +"Ho, ho, ho! Ho, ho, ho!" and the whole +company laughed unreservedly. + +"His wife screamed loudly as Hachah whirled +downward and went out of sight like a blue heron +after a fish. Then she feared he might be stunned, +so she swam to him and dragged him to the +shore. He could not speak, but the woman over- +whelmed him with reproaches. + +"'What are you trying to do, you old idiot? +Do you want to kill yourself?' she screamed +again and again. + +"'Woman, be silent,' he replied, and he said +nothing more. He did not tell his dream for +many years afterward. Not until he was a very +old man and about to die, did Hachah tell any one +how he thought he could fly." + +And at this they all laughed louder than ever. + + +XII +First Impressions of Civilization + +I WAS scarcely old enough to know +anything definite about the "Big +Knives," as we called the white +men, when the terrible Minnesota +massacre broke up our home and +I was carried into exile. I have al- +ready told how I was adopted into the family of +my father's younger brother, when my father was +betrayed and imprisoned. We all supposed that +he had shared the fate of those who were executed +at Mankato, Minnesota. + +Now the savage philosophers looked upon ven- +geance in the field of battle as a lofty virtue. To +avenge the death of a relative or of a dear friend +was considered a great deed. My uncle, accord- +ingly, had spared no pains to instill into my young +mind the obligation to avenge the death of my +father and my older brothers. Already I looked +eagerly forward to the day when I should find an +opportunity to carry out his teachings. Mean- +while, he himself went upon the war-path and re- +turned with scalps every summer. So it may be +imagined how I felt toward the Big Knives! + +On the other hand, I had heard marvelous things +of this people. In some things we despised them; +in others we regarded them as wakan (mysterious), +a race whose power bordered upon the superna- +tural. I learned that they had made a "fire- +boat." I could not understand how they could +unite two elements which cannot exist together. I +thought the water would put out the fire, and the +fire would consume the boat if it had the shadow of +a chance. This was to me a preposterous thing! +But when I was told that the Big Knives had cre- +ated a "fire-boat-walks-on-mountains" (a loco- +motive) it was too much to believe. + +"Why," declared my informant, "those who +saw this monster move said that it flew from moun- +tain to mountain when it seemed to be excited. +They said also that they believed it carried a +thunder-bird, for they frequently heard his usual +war-whoop as the creature sped along!" + +Several warriors had observed from a distance +one of the first trains on the Northern Pacific, and +had gained an exaggerated impression of the won- +ders of the pale-face. They had seen it go over a +bridge that spanned a deep ravine and it seemed + +First Impressions of Civilization 281 + +to them that it jumped from one bank to the other. +I confess that the story almost quenched my ardor +and bravery. + +Two or three young men were talking together +about this fearful invention. + +"However," said one, "I understand that this +fire-boat-walks-on-mountains cannot move except +on the track made for it." + +Although a boy is not expected to join in the con- +versation of his 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 name--and 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." + +"Certainly they are a heartless nation. They +have made some of their people servants--yes, +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 goods--even 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, 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 fighting--from +compulsion and not from personal bravery--that +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 being--the 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 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 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 past. + +Still, I was eager to see some of the wonderful +inventions of the white people. When we +reached Fort Totten, I gazed about me with live- +ly interest and a quick imagination. + +My father had forgotten to tell me that the +fire-boat-walks-on-mountains had its track at James- +town, and might appear at any moment. As +I was watering the ponies, a peculiar shrilling +noise pealed forth from just beyond the hills. +The ponies threw back their heads and listened; +then they ran snorting over the prairie. Mean- + +First Impressions of Civilization 289 + +while, I too had taken alarm. I leaped on the +back of one of the ponies, and dashed off at +full speed. It was a clear day; I could not imagine +what had caused such an unearthly noise. It +seemed as if the world were about to burst in two! + +I got upon a hill as the train appeared. "O!" +I said to myself, "that is the fire-boat-walks- +on-mountains that I have heard about!" Then +I drove back the ponies. + +My father was accustomed every morning to +read from his Bible, and sing a stanza of a hymn. +I was about very early with my gun for several +mornings; but at last he stopped me as I was +preparing to go out, and bade me wait. + +I listened with much astonishment. The hymn +contained the word Jesus. I did not comprehend +what this meant; and my father then told me that +Jesus was the Son of God who came on earth to +save sinners, and that it was because of him that +he had sought me. This conversation made a +deep impression upon my mind. + +Late in the fall we reached the citizen settle- +ment at Flandreau, South Dakota, where my +father and some others dwelt among the whites. +Here my wild life came to an end, and my school +days began. + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Indian Boyhood, by Charles Eastman + diff --git a/old/indbo10.zip b/old/indbo10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea49d86 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/indbo10.zip |