indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第4节
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women and children。 This was when the Indians recognized that a true
manhood； one of physical activity and endurance； depends upon dieting
and regular exercise。 No such system is practised by the reservation
Indians of to…day。
III： My Indian Grandmother
AS a motherless child； I always re… garded my good grandmother as
the wisest of guides and the best of protectors。 It was not long before I
began to realize her su… periority to most of her contempo… raries。 This
idea was not gained entirely from my own observation； but also from a
knowledge of the high regard in which she was held by other wo… men。
Aside from her native talent and ingenuity； she was endowed with a truly
wonderful memory。 No other midwife in her day and tribe could com…
pete with her in skill and judgment。 Her obser… vations in practice were
all preserved in her mind for reference； as systematically as if they had
been written upon the pages of a note…book。
I distinctly recall one occasion when she took me with her into the
woods in search of certain medicinal roots。
〃Why do you not use all kinds of roots for medicines？〃 said I。
〃Because；〃 she replied； in her quick； charac… teristic manner； the
Great Mystery does not will us to find things too easily。 In that case
every… body would be a medicine…giver； and Ohiyesa must learn that there
are many secrets which the Great Mystery will disclose only to the most
worthy。 Only those who seek him fasting and in solitude will receive his
signs。〃
With this and many similar explanations she wrought in my soul
wonderful and lively concep… tions of the 〃Great Mystery〃 and of the
effects of prayer and solitude。 I continued my childish questioning。
〃But why did you not dig those plants that we saw in the woods； of the
same kind that you are digging now？〃
〃For the same reason that we do not like the berries we find in the
shadow of deep woods as well as the ones which grow in sunny places。
The latter have more sweetness and flavor。 Those herbs which have
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medicinal virtues should be sought in a place that is neither too wet nor
too dry； and where they have a generous amount of sunshine to maintain
their vigor。
〃Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know the secrets of
medicine； then I will tell him all。 But if you should grow up to be a bad
man； I must withhold these treasures from you and give them to your
brother； for a medicine man must be a good and wise man。 I hope
Ohiyesa will be a great medicine man when he grows up。 To be a great
warrior is a noble ambition； but to be a mighty medicine man is a nobler！〃
She said these things so thoughtfully and im… pressively that I cannot
but feel and remember them even to this day。
Our native women gathered all the wild rice； roots； berries and fruits
which formed an impor… tant part of our food。 This was distinctively a
woman's work。 Uncheedah （grandmother） under… stood these matters
perfectly； and it became a kind of instinct with her to know just where to
look for each edible variety and at what season of the year。 This sort of
labor gave the Indian women every opportunity to observe and study
Nature after their fashion； and in this Uncheedah was more acute than
most of the men。 The abilities of her boys were not all inherited from
their father； indeed； the stronger family traits came obviously from her。
She was a leader among the native women； and they came to her； not only
for medical aid； but for advice in all their affairs。
In bravery she equaled any of the men。 This trait； together with her
ingenuity and alertness of mind； more than once saved her and her people
from destruction。 Once； when we were roaming over a region occupied
by other tribes； and on a day when most of the men were out upon the hunt；
a party of hostile Indians suddenly ap… peared。 Although there were a
few men left at home； they were taken by surprise at first and scarcely
knew what to do； when this woman came forward and advanced alone to
meet our foes。 She had gone some distance when some of the men
followed her。 She met the strangers and offered her hand to them。 They
accepted her friendly greeting； and as a result of her brave act we were left
unmolested and at peace。
Another story of her was related to me by my father。 My grandfather；
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who was a noted hunter； often wandered away from his band in search of
game。 In this instance he had with him only his own family of three boys
and his wife。 One evening；when he returned from the chase； he found to
his surprise that she had built a stockade around her teepee。
She had discovered the danger…sign in a single foot…print； which she
saw at a glance was not that of her husband； and she was also convinced
that it was not the foot…print of a Sioux； from the shape of the moccasin。
This ability to recognize foot… prints is general among the Indians； but
more marked in certain individuals。
This courageous woman had driven away a party of five Ojibway
warriors。 They approached the lodge cautiously； but her dog gave timely
warning； and she poured into them from behind her defences the contents
of a double…barrelled gun； with such good effect that the astonished braves
thought it wise to retreat。
I was not more than five or six years old when the Indian soldiers
came one day and destroyed our large buffalo…skin teepee。 It was
charged that my uncle had hunted alone a large herd of buffaloes。 This
was not exactly true。 He had unfortunately frightened a large herd while
shooting a deer in the edge of the woods。 However； it was custom… ary to
punish such an act severely； even though the offense was accidental。
When we were attacked by the police； I was play… ing in the teepee；
and the only other person at home was Uncheedah。 I had not noticed
their approach； and when the war…cry was given by thirty or forty Indians
with strong lungs； I thought my little world was coming to an end。
Instantly innumerable knives and tomahawks penetrated our frail home；
while bullets went through the poles and tent…fastenings up above our
heads。
I hardly know what I did； but I imagine it was just what any other little
fellow would have done under like circumstances。 My first clear realiza…
tion of the situation was when Uncheedah had a dispute with the leader；
claiming that the matter had not been properly investigated； and that none
of the policemen had attained to a reputation in war which would justify
them in touching her son's teepee。 But alas！ our poor dwelling was
already an unrecognizable ruin； even the poles were broken into splinters。
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The Indian women； after reaching middle age； are usually heavy and
lack agility； but my grand… mother was in this also an exception。 She was
fully sixty when I was born； and when I was seven years old she swam
across a swift and wide stream； carrying me on her back； because she did
not wish to expose me to accident in one of the clumsy round boats of
bull…hide which were rigged up to cross the rivers which impeded our way；
especially in the springtime。 Her strength and endurance were
remarkable。 Even after she had attained the age of eighty…two； she one
day walked twenty…five miles without appearing much fa… tigued。
I marvel now at the purity and elevated senti… ment possessed by this
woman； when I consider the customs and habits of her people at t
