indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第17节
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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
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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
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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
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make his father and grandfather。〃
And with this prayer the little warrior had com… pleted his first
offering。
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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
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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
w
