indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第2节
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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 camemuch 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
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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。
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
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 comfortableat
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。
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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
boatsas 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 swimmi
