indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第39节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
together for a period of some months。 It is ap… parent that so large a body
could not be easily sup… plied with the necessaries of life； but； on the other
hand； our enemies respected such a gathering！ Of course the nomadic
government would do its ut… most to hold together as long as possible。 The
police did all they could to keep in check those parties who were intent
upon stealing away。
There were many times； however； when individ… ual bands and even
families were justified in seek… ing to separate themselves from the rest； in
order to gain a better support。 It was chiefly by reason of this food
question that the Indians never estab… lished permanent towns or organized
themselves into a more formidable nation。
There was a sad misfortune which； although it happened many
generations ago； was familiarly quoted among us。 A certain band became
very independent and unruly； they went so far as to wilfully disobey the
orders of the general govern… ment。 The police were directed to punish
the leader severely； whereupon the rest defended him and resisted the
police。 But the latter were competent to enforce their authority； and as a
re… sult the entire band was annihilated。
One day； as we were following along the bank of the Upper Missouri；
there appeared to be a great disturbance at the head of the cavalcadeso
much so that we thought our people had been attacked by a war…party of
the Crows or some of the hostile tribes of that region。 In spite of the
danger； even the women and children hurried for… ward to join the men
that is to say； as many as were not upon the hunt。 Most of the warriors
were out； as usual； and only the large boys and the old men were travelling
with the women and their domestic effects and little ones。
As we approached the scene of action； we heard loud shouts and the
report of fire…arms； but our party was scattered along for a considerable
dis… tance； and all was over before we could reach the spot。 It was a great
132
… Page 133…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
grizzly bear who had been bold enough to oppose； single…handed； the
progress of several hundred Indians。 The council…men； who usually
walked a little in advance of the train； were the first to meet the bear； and
he was prob… ably deceived by the sight of this advance body； and thus
audaciously defied them。
Among these council…menall retired chiefs and warriors whose
ardent zeal for the display of courage had long been cooled； and whose
present duties were those of calm deliberation for their people's welfare
there were two old； distinguished war…chiefs。 Each of these men still
carried his war…lance； wrapped up in decorated buckskin。 As the bear
advanced boldly toward them； the two old men promptly threw off their
robesan evidence that there still lurked within their breasts the spirit of
chivalry and ready courage。 Spear in hand； they both sprang forward to
combat with the fe… rocious animal； taking up their positions about ten feet
apart。
As they had expected； the fearful beast； after getting up on his
haunches and growling savagely； came forward with widely opened jaws。
He fixed his eyes upon the left…hand man； who was ready to meet him
with uplifted spear； but with one stroke of his powerful paw the weapon
was sent to the ground。 At the same moment the right…hand man dealt
him a stab that penetrated the grizzly's side。
The bear uttered a groan not unlike that of a man； and seized the spear
so violently that its owner was thrown to the ground。 As the animal drew
the lance from its body； the first man； having recovered his own； stabbed
him with it on the other side。 Upon this； he turned and knocked the old
man down； and again endeavored to extract the spear。
By this time all the dogs and men were at hand。 Many arrows and
balls were sent into the tough hide of the bear。 Yet he would probably
have killed both his assailants； had it not been for the active small dogs
who were constantly upon his heels and annoying him。 A deadly rifle
shot at last brought him down。
The old men were badly bruised and torn； but both of them recovered；
to bear from that day the high…sounding titles of 〃Fought…the…Bear〃 and
〃Conquered…the…Grizzly。〃
133
… Page 134…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
134
… Page 135…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
XI The Laughing Philosopher
THERE is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the
natives of this country have no sense of humor and no faculty for mirth。
This phase of their character is well under… stood by those whose fortune
or misfortune it has been to live among them day in and day out at their
homes。 I don't believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the
Indians' fireside。 I have often spent an entire evening in laughing with
them until I could laugh no more。 There are evenings when the
recognized wit or story…teller of the village gives a free entertainment
which keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves
them。 However； Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and in…
flections of the voice as in words； and is really un… translatable。
Matogee （Yellow Bear） was a natural humorous speaker； and a very
diffident man at other times。 He usually said little； but when he was in the
mood he could keep a large company in a roar。 This was especially the
case whenever he met his brother…in…law； Tamedokah。
It was a custom with us Indians to joke more particularly with our
brothers… and sisters…in…law。 But no one ever complained； or resented
any of these jokes； however personal they might be。 That would be an
unpardonable breach of eti… quette。
〃Tamedokah； I heard that you tried to capture a buck by holding on to
his tail；〃 said Matogee； laughing。 〃I believe that feat cannot be per…
formed any more； at least； it never has been since the pale…face brought us
the knife； the 'mysterious iron；' and the pulverized coal that makes bullets
fly。 Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives and hatchets； I say； that
has never been done。〃
The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a buck that day while
hunting； and as he was about to dress him the animal got up and attempted
to run； whereupon the Indian launched forth to se… cure his game。 He
only succeeded in grasping the tail of the deer； and was pulled about all
over the meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail came off in his
135
… Page 136…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
hands。 Matogee thought this too good a joke to be lost。
I sat near the door of the tent； and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the
comical accident。
〃Yes；〃 Tamedokah quietly replied； 〃I thought I would do something to
beat the story of the man who rode a young elk； and yelled frantically for
help； crying like a woman。〃
〃Ugh！ that was only a legend；〃 retorted Ma… togee； for it was he who
was the hero of this tale in his younger days。 〃But this is a fresh feat of
to…day。 Chankpayuhah said he could not tell which was the most scared；
the buck or you；〃 he continued。 〃He said the deer's eyes were bulg… ing
out of their sockets； while Tamedokah's mouth was constantly enlarging
toward his ears； and his hair floated on the wind； shaking among the
branches of the trees。 That will go down with the traditions of our
fathers；〃 he concluded with an air of satisfaction。
〃It was a singular mishap；〃 admitted Tame… dokah。
The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed to Tamedokah good…
naturedly； still with a broad smile on his face。 〃It must be
acknowledged；〃 he resumed； 〃that you have the strongest kind of a grip；
