indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第1节
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
INDIAN HEROES AND
GREAT CHIEFTAINS
BY
CHARLES A。 EASTMAN （OHIYESA）
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
RED CLOUD
EVERY age； every race； has its leaders and heroes。 There were over
sixty distinct tribes of Indians on this continent； each of which boasted its
notable men。 The names and deeds of some of these men will live in
American history； yet in the true sense they are unknown； because
misunderstood。 I should like to present some of the greatest chiefs of
modern times in the light of the native character and ideals； believing that
the American people will gladly do them tardy justice。
It is matter of history that the Sioux nation； to which I belong； was
originally friendly to the Caucasian peoples which it met in succession…
first； to the south the Spaniards； then the French； on the Mississippi River
and along the Great Lakes； later the English； and finally the Americans。
This powerful tribe then roamed over the whole extent of the Mississippi
valley； between that river and the Rockies。 Their usages and government
united the various bands more closely than was the case with many of the
neighboring tribes。
During the early part of the nineteenth century； chiefs such as
Wabashaw； Redwing； and Little Six among the eastern Sioux； Conquering
Bear； Man…Afraid…of…His…Horse； and Hump of the western bands； were the
last of the old type。 After these； we have a coterie of new leaders；
products of the new conditions brought about by close contact with the
conquering race。
This distinction must be borne in mind that while the early chiefs
were spokesmen and leaders in the simplest sense； possessing no real
authority； those who headed their tribes during the transition period were
more or less rulers and more or less politicians。 It is a singular fact that
many of the 〃chiefs〃； well known as such to the American public； were not
chiefs at all according to the accepted usages of their tribesmen。 Their
prominence was simply the result of an abnormal situation； in which
representatives of the United States Government made use of them for a
definite purpose。 In a few cases； where a chief met with a violent death；
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
some ambitious man has taken advantage of the confusion to thrust
himself upon the tribe and； perhaps with outside help； has succeeded in
usurping the leadership。
Red Cloud was born about 1820 near the forks of the Platte River。
He was one of a family of nine children whose father； an able and
respected warrior； reared his son under the old Spartan regime。 The
young Red Cloud is said to have been a fine horseman； able to swim
across the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers； of high bearing and
unquestionable courage； yet invariably gentle and courteous in everyday
life。 This last trait； together with a singularly musical and agreeable
voice； has always been characteristic of the man。
When he was about six years old； his father gave him a spirited colt；
and said to him：
〃My son； when you are able to sit quietly upon the back of this colt
without saddle or bridle； I shall be glad； for the boy who can win a wild
creature and learn to use it will as a man be able to win and rule men。〃
The little fellow； instead of going for advice and help to his
grandfather； as most Indian boys would have done； began quietly to
practice throwing the lariat。 In a little while he was able to lasso the colt。
He was dragged off his feet at once； but hung on； and finally managed to
picket him near the teepee。 When the big boys drove the herd of ponies
to water； he drove his colt with the rest。 Presently the pony became used
to him and allowed himself to be handled。 The boy began to ride him
bareback； he was thrown many times； but persisted until he could ride
without even a lariat； sitting with arms folded and guiding the animal by
the movements of his body。 From that time on he told me that he broke
all his own ponies； and before long his father's as well。
The old men； his contemporaries； have often related to me how Red
Cloud was always successful in the hunt because his horses were so well
broken。 At the age of nine； he began to ride his father's pack pony upon
the buffalo hunt。 He was twelve years old； he told me； when he was first
permitted to take part in the chase； and found to his great mortification that
none of his arrows penetrated more than a few inches。 Excited to
recklessness； he whipped his horse nearer the fleeing buffalo； and before
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
his father knew what he was about； he had seized one of the protruding
arrows and tried to push it deeper。 The furious animal tossed his massive
head sidewise； and boy and horse were whirled into the air。 Fortunately；
the boy was thrown on the farther side of his pony； which received the full
force of the second attack。 The thundering hoofs of the stampeded herd
soon passed them by； but the wounded and maddened buffalo refused to
move； and some critical moments passed before Red Cloud's father
succeeded in attracting its attention so that the boy might spring to his feet
and run for his life。
I once asked Red Cloud if he could recall having ever been afraid； and
in reply he told me this story。 He was about sixteen years old and had
already been once or twice upon the warpath； when one fall his people
were hunting in the Big Horn country； where they might expect trouble at
any moment with the hostile Crows or Shoshones。 Red Cloud had
followed a single buffalo bull into the Bad Lands and was out of sight and
hearing of his companions。 When he had brought down his game； he
noted carefully every feature of his surroundings so that he might at once
detect anything unusual； and tied his horse with a long lariat to the horn of
the dead bison； while skinning and cutting up the meat so as to pack it to
camp。 Every few minutes he paused in his work to scrutinize the
landscape； for he had a feeling that danger was not far off。
Suddenly； almost over his head； as it seemed； he heard a tremendous
war whoop； and glancing sidewise； thought he beheld the charge of an
overwhelming number of warriors。 He tried desperately to give the usual
undaunted war whoop in reply； but instead a yell of terror burst from his
lips； his legs gave way under him； and he fell in a heap。 When he
realized； the next instant； that the war whoop was merely the sudden loud
whinnying of his own horse； and the charging army a band of fleeing elk；
he was so ashamed of himself that he never forgot the incident； although
up to that time he had never mentioned it。 His subsequent career would
indicate that the lesson was well learned。
The future leader was still a very young man when he joined a war
party against the Utes。 Having pushed eagerly forward on the trail； he
found himself far in advance of his companions as night came on； and at
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
the same time rain began to fall heavily。 Among the scattered scrub pines；
the lone warrior found a natural cave； and after a hasty examination； he
decided to shelter there for the night。
Scarcely had he rolled himself in his blanket when he heard a slight
rustling at the entrance； as if some creature were preparing to share his
retreat。 It was pitch dark。 He could see nothing；
