indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第15节
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until the calf was pushed back into a buffalo wallow in a sitting posture。
The boys shouted： 〃He has subdued the buffalo calf！ He made it sit
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down！〃 And from this incident was derived his familiar name of Sitting
Bull。
It is a mistake to suppose that Sitting Bull； or any other Indian warrior；
was of a murderous disposition。 It is true that savage warfare had grown
more and more harsh and cruel since the coming of white traders among
them； bringing guns； knives； and whisky。 Yet it was still regarded largely
as a sort of game； undertaken in order to develop the manly qualities of
their youth。 It was the degree of risk which brought honor； rather than
the number slain； and a brave must mourn thirty days； with blackened face
and loosened hair； for the enemy whose life he had taken。 While the
spoils of war were allowed； this did not extend to territorial
aggrandizement； nor was there any wish to overthrow another nation and
enslave its people。 It was a point of honor in the old days to treat a
captive with kindness。 The common impression that the Indian is
naturally cruel and revengeful is entirely opposed to his philosophy and
training。 The revengeful tendency of the Indian was aroused by the white
man。 It is not the natural Indian who is mean and tricky； not Massasoit
but King Philip； not Attackullakulla but Weatherford； not Wabashaw but
Little Crow； not Jumping Buffalo but Sitting Bull！ These men lifted their
hands against the white man； while their fathers held theirs out to him with
gifts。
Remember that there were councils which gave their decisions in
accordance with the highest ideal of human justice before there were any
cities on this continent； before there were bridges to span the Mississippi；
before this network of railroads was dreamed of！ There were primitive
communities upon the very spot where Chicago or New York City now
stands； where men were as children； innocent of all the crimes now
committed there daily and nightly。 True morality is more easily
maintained in connection with the simple life。 You must accept the truth
that you demoralize any race whom you have subjugated。
From this point of view we shall consider Sitting Bull's career。 We
say he is an untutored man： that is true so far as learning of a literary type
is concerned； but he was not an untutored man when you view him from
the standpoint of his nation。 To be sure； he did not learn his lessons from
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books。 This is second…hand information at best。 All that he learned he
verified for himself and put into daily practice。 In personal appearance
he was rather commonplace and made no immediate impression； but as he
talked he seemed to take hold of his hearers more and more。 He was
bull…headed； quick to grasp a situation； and not readily induced to change
his mind。 He was not suspicious until he was forced to be so。 All his
meaner traits were inevitably developed by the events of his later career。
Sitting Bull's history has been written many times by newspaper men
and army officers； but I find no account of him which is entirely correct。
I met him personally in 1884； and since his death I have gone thoroughly
into the details of his life with his relatives and contemporaries。 It has
often been said that he was a physical coward and not a warrior。 Judge of
this for yourselves from the deed which first gave him fame in his own
tribe； when he was about twenty…eight years old。
In an attack upon a band of Crow Indians； one of the enemy took his
stand； after the rest had fled； in a deep ditch from which it seemed
impossible to dislodge him。 The situation had already cost the lives of
several warriors； but they could not let him go to repeat such a boast over
the Sioux！
〃Follow me！〃 said Sitting Bull； and charged。 He raced his horse to
the brim of the ditch and struck at the enemy with his coup…staff； thus
compelling him to expose himself to the fire of the others while shooting
his assailant。 But the Crow merely poked his empty gun into his face and
dodged back under cover。 Then Sitting Bull stopped； he saw that no one
had followed him； and he also perceived that the enemy had no more
ammunition left。 He rode deliberately up to the barrier and threw his
loaded gun over it； then he went back to his party and told them what he
thought of them。
〃Now；〃 said he； 〃I have armed him； for I will not see a brave man
killed unarmed。 I will strike him again with my coup…staff to count the
first feather； who will count the second？〃
Again he led the charge； and this time they all followed him。 Sitting
Bull was severely wounded by his own gun in the hands of the enemy；
who was killed by those that came after him。 This is a record that so far
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as I know was never made by any other warrior。
The second incident that made him well known was his taking of a boy
captive in battle with the Assiniboines。 He saved this boy's life and
adopted him as his brother。 Hohay； as he was called； was devoted to
Sitting Bull and helped much in later years to spread his fame。 Sitting
Bull was a born diplomat； a ready speaker； and in middle life he ceased to
go upon the warpath； to become the councilor of his people。 From this
time on； this man represented him in all important battles； and upon every
brave deed done was wont to exclaim aloud：
〃I； Sitting Bull's boy； do this in his name！〃
He had a nephew； now living； who resembles him strongly； and who
also represented him personally upon the field； and so far as there is any
remnant left of his immediate band； they look upon this man One Bull as
their chief。
When Sitting Bull was a boy； there was no thought of trouble with the
whites。 He was acquainted with many of the early traders； Picotte；
Choteau； Primeau； Larpenteur； and others； and liked them； as did most of
his people in those days。 All the early records show this friendly attitude
of the Sioux； and the great fur companies for a century and a half
depended upon them for the bulk of their trade。 It was not until the
middle of the last century that they woke up all of a sudden to the danger
threatening their very existence。 Yet at that time many of the old chiefs
had been already depraved by the whisky and other vices of the whites；
and in the vicinity of the forts and trading posts at Sioux City； Saint Paul；
and Cheyenne； there was general demoralization。 The drunkards and
hangers…on were ready to sell almost anything they had for the favor of the
trader。 The better and stronger element held aloof。 They would not
have anything of the white man except his hatchet； gun； and knife。 They
utterly refused to cede their lands； and as for the rest； they were willing to
let him alone as long as he did not interfere with their life and customs；
which was not long。
It was not； however； the Unkpapa band of Sioux； Sitting Bull's band；
which first took up arms against the whites； and this was not because they
had come less in contact with them； for they dwelt on the Missouri River；
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the natural highway of trade。 As early as 1854； the Ogallalas and Brules
had trouble with the soldiers near Fort Laramie； and again in 1857
Inkpaduta massacred several families of settlers at Spirit Lake； Iowa。
Finally； in 1869； the Minnesota Sioux； goaded by many wrongs； arose and
mu
