the soul of the indian(尤安人之魂)-第14节
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predicted attack。 Five years later； he repeated the service； and again
saved his people from awful slaughter。 There was no confusion of
figures or omens； as with lesser medicine…men； but in every incident that is
told of him his interpretation of the sign； whatever it was； proved
singularly correct。
The father of Little Crow； the chief who led the 〃Minnesota massacre〃
of 1862； was another prophet of some note。 One of his characteristic
prophecies was made only a few years before he died； when he had
declared that； although already an old man； he would go once more upon
the war…path。 At the final war…feast； he declared that three of the enemy
would be slain； but he showed great distress and reluctance in foretelling
that he would lose two of his own men。 Three of the Ojibways were
indeed slain as he had said； but in the battle the old war prophet lost both
of his two sons。
There are many trustworthy men； and men of Christian faith； to vouch
for these and similar events occurring as foretold。 I cannot pretend to
explain them； but I know that our people possessed remarkable powers of
concentration and abstraction； and I sometimes fancy that such nearness to
nature as I have described keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not
commonly felt； and in touch with the unseen powers。 Some of us seemed
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
to have a peculiar intuition for the locality of a grave； which they
explained by saying that they had received a communication from the
spirit of the departed。 My own grandmother was one of these； and as far
back as I can remember； when camping in a strange country； my brother
and I would search for and find human bones at the spot she had indicated
to us as an ancient burial…place or the spot where a lone warrior had fallen。
Of course； the outward signs of burial had been long since obliterated。
The Scotch would certainly have declared that she had the 〃second
sight；〃 for she had other remarkable premonitions or intuitions within my
own recollection。 I have heard her speak of a peculiar sensation in the
breast； by which； as she said； she was advised of anything of importance
concerning her absent children。 Other native women have claimed a
similar monitor； but I never heard of one who could interpret it with such
accuracy。 We were once camping on Lake Manitoba when we received
news that my uncle and his family had been murdered several weeks
before； at a fort some two hundred miles distant。 While all our clan were
wailing and mourning their loss； my grandmother calmly bade them cease；
saying that her son was approaching； and that they would see him shortly。
Although we had no other reason to doubt the ill tidings； it is a fact that
my uncle came into camp two days after his reported death。
At another time； when I was fourteen years old； we had just left Fort
Ellis on the Assiniboine River； and my youngest uncle had selected a fine
spot for our night camp。 It was already after sundown； but my
grandmother became unaccountably nervous； and positively refused to
pitch her tent。 So we reluctantly went on down the river； and camped
after dark at a secluded place。 The next day we learned that a family who
were following close behind had stopped at the place first selected by my
uncle； but were surprised in the night by a roving war…party； and
massacred to a man。 This incident made a great impression upon our
people。
Many of the Indians believed that one may be born more than once；
and there were some who claimed to have full knowledge of a former
incarnation。 There were also those who held converse with a 〃twin
spirit；〃 who had been born into another tribe or race。 There was a well…
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
known Sioux war…prophet who lived in the middle of the last century； so
that he is still remembered by the old men of his band。 After he had
reached middle age； he declared that he had a spirit brother among the
Ojibways； the ancestral enemies of the Sioux。 He even named the band
to which his brother belonged； and said that he also was a war…prophet
among his people。
Upon one of their hunts along the border between the two tribes； the
Sioux leader one evening called his warriors together； and solemnly
declared to them that they were about to meet a like band of Ojibway
hunters； led by his spirit twin。 Since this was to be their first meeting
since they were born as strangers； he earnestly begged the young men to
resist the temptation to join battle with their tribal foes。
〃You will know him at once；〃 the prophet said to them； 〃for he will not
only look like me in face and form； but he will display the same totem；
and even sing my war songs！〃
They sent out scouts； who soon returned with news of the approaching
party。 Then the leading men started with their peace…pipe for the
Ojibway camp； and when they were near at hand they fired three distinct
volleys； a signal of their desire for a peaceful meeting。
The response came in like manner； and they entered the camp； with the
peace…pipe in the hands of the prophet。
Lo； the stranger prophet advanced to meet them； and the people were
greatly struck with the resemblance between the two men； who met and
embraced one another with unusual fervor。
It was quickly agreed by both parties that they should camp together
for several days； and one evening the Sioux made a 〃warriors' feast〃 to
which they invited many of the Ojibways。 The prophet asked his twin
brother to sing one of his sacred songs； and behold！ it was the very song
that he himself was wont to sing。 This proved to the warriors beyond
doubt or cavil the claims of their seer。
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