indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第26节
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came the bustle of preparation。 The out…door toilet of the people was
performed with care。 I cannot describe just how I was attired or painted；
but I am under the impression that there was but little of my brown skin
that was not uncovered。 The others were similarly dressed in feathers；
paint and tinkling ornaments。
I soon heard the tom…tom's doleful sound from the direction of the
bear's den； and a few war… whoops from the throats of the youthful
warriors。 As I joined the motley assembly； I noticed that the bear man's
drum was going in earnest； and soon after he began to sing。 This was the
invitation to the dance。
An old warrior gave the signal and we all started for the den； very
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much like a group of dogs at… tacking a stranger。 Frantically we yelled
and whooped； running around the sheltering arbor in a hop； skip and jump
fashion。 In spite of the apparent confusion； however； every participant
was on the alert for the slightest movement of the bear man。
All of a sudden； a brave gave the warning； and we scattered in an
instant over the little plain be… tween the den and our village。 Everybody
seemed to be running for dear life； and I soon found my… self some yards
behind the rest。 I had gone in boldly； partly because of conversations
with cer… tain boys who proposed to participate； and whom I usually
outdistanced in foot races。 But it seemed that they had not carried out
their intentions and I was left alone。 I looked back once or twice； al…
though I was pretty busy with my legs； and I im… agined that my pursuer；
the bear man； looked twice as fearful as a real bear。 He was dressed and
painted up with a view to terrify the crowd。 I did not want the others to
guess that I was at all dismayed； so I tried to give the war…whoop； but my
throat was so dry at the moment that I am sure I must have given it very
poorly。
Just as it seemed that I was about to be over… taken； the dancers who
had deserted me suddenly slackened their speed； and entered upon the
amusement of tormenting the bear man with gun… powder and switches；
with which they touched him far from gently upon his naked body。 They
now chased him in turn； and he again retreated to his den。
We rested until we heard the tom…tom and the song once more； and
then we rushed forth with fresh eagerness to the mimic attack。 This time
I observed all necessary precautions for my own safety。 I started in my
flight even before the warning was given； for I saw the bear man gather…
ing himself up to spring upon the dancers。 Thus I had plenty of leeway
to observe what occurred。 The bear man again pursued the yelling and
re… treating mob； and was dealt with unmercifully by the swift…footed。
He became much excited as he desperately chased a middle…aged man；
who occasionally turned and fired off his gun； but was suddenly tripped by
an ant…hill and fell to the ground； with the other on top of him。 The ex…
citement was intense。 The bear man returned to his companion； and the
dancers gathered in little knots to exchange whispers。
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〃Is it not a misfortune？〃 〃The most sure… footed of us all！〃 〃Will he
die？〃 〃Must his beautiful daughter be sacrificed？〃
The man who was the subject of all this com… ment did not speak a
word。 His head hung down。 Finally he raised it and said in a resolute
voice：
〃We all have our time to go； and when the Great Mystery calls us we
must answer as cheer… fully as at the call of one of our own war…chiefs
here on earth。 I am not sad for myself； but my heart is not willing that
my Winona （first…born daughter） should be called。〃
No one replied。 Presently the last tom…tom was heard and the dancers
rallied once more。 The man who had fallen did not join them； but turned
to the council lodge； where the wise old men were leisurely enjoying the
calumet。 They beheld him enter with some surprise； but he threw
himself upon a buffalo robe； and resting his head upon his right hand；
related what had hap… pened to him。 Thereupon the aged men ex…
claimed as with one voice： 〃It never fails！〃 After this； he spoke no more。
Meanwhile； we were hilariously engaged in our last dance； and when
the bear man finally re… tired； we gathered about the arbor to congratulate
the sick bear man。 But； to our surprise； his com… panion did not re…enter
the den。 〃He is dead！ Redhorn； the bear man； is dead！〃 We all rushed to
the spot。 My poor friend； Redhorn； lay dead in the den。
At this instant there was another commotion in the camp。 Everybody
was running toward the council lodge。 A well…known medicine man was
loudly summoned thither。 But； alas！ the man who fell in the dance had
suddenly dropped dead。
To the people； another Indian superstition had been verified。
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VIII The Maidens' Feast
THERE were many peculiar cus… toms among the Indians of an earlier
period； some of which tended to strengthen the charac… ter of the people
and preserve their purity。 Perhaps the most unique of these was the
annual 〃feast of maidens。〃 The casual observer would scarcely understand
the full force and meaning of this ceremony。
The last one that I ever witnessed was given at Fort Ellis； Manitoba；
about the year 1871。 Upon the table land just back of the old trading post
and fully a thousand feet above the Assiniboine river； surrounded by
groves； there was a natural amphitheatre。 At one end stood the old fort
where since 1830 the northern tribes had come to replenish their powder
horns and lead sacks and to dispose of their pelts。
In this spot there was a reunion of all the rene… gade Sioux on the one
hand and of the Assini… boines and Crees； the Canadian tribes； on the other。
They were friendly。 The matter was not formally arranged； but it was
usual for all the tribes to meet here in the month of July。
The Hudson Bay Company always had a good supply of red； blue；
green and white blankets； also cloth of brilliant dye； so that when their
summer festival occurred the Indians did not lack gayly colored garments。
Paints were bought by them at pleasure。 Short sleeves were the fashion
in their buckskin dresses； and beads and porcupine quills were the
principal decorations。
When circumstances are favorable； the Indians are the happiest people
in the world。 There were entertainments every single day； which
everybody had the fullest opportunity to see and enjoy。 If anything； the
poorest profited the most by these occasions； because a feature in each
case was the giving away of savage wealth to the needy in honor of the
event。 At any public affair； involv… ing the pride and honor of a
prominent family； there must always be a distribution of valuable presents。
One bright summer morning； while we were still at our meal of jerked
buffalo meat； we heard the herald of the Wahpeton band upon his calico
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pony as he rode around our circle。
〃White Eagle's daughter； the maiden Red Star； invites all the maidens
of all the tribes to come and partake of her feast。 It will be in the
Wahpeton camp； before the sun reaches the middle of the sky。 All pure
maidens are invited。 Red Star also invites the young men to be present；
to see that no unworthy maiden should join in the feast。〃
The herald soon completed the rounds of the differ
