indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第5节
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woman； when I consider the customs and habits of her people at the time。
When her husband died she was still compara… tively a young womanstill
active； clever and industrious。 She was descended from a haughty
chieftain of the 〃Dwellers among the Leaves。〃 Although women of her age
and position were held to be eligible to re…marriage； and she had several
persistent suitors who were men of her own age and chiefs； yet she
preferred to cherish in solitude the memory of her husband。
I was very small when my uncle brought home two Ojibway young
women。 In the fight in which they were captured； none of the Sioux war
party had been killed； therefore they were sympathized with and tenderly
treated by the Sioux women。 They were apparently happy； although of
course they felt deeply the losses sustained at the time of their capture； and
they did not fail to show their appreciation of the kindnesses received at
our hands。
As I recall now the remarks made by one of them at the time of their
final release； they ap… pear to me quite remarkable。 They lived in my
grandmother's family for two years； and were then returned to their people
at a great peace council of the two nations。 When they were about to
leave my grandmother； the elder of the two sisters first embraced her； and
then spoke somewhat as follows：
〃You are a brave woman and a true mother。 I understand now why
your son so bravely con… quered our band； and took my sister and myself
captive。 I hated him at first； but now I admire him； because he did just
what my father； my brother or my husband would have done had they
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opportunity。 He did even more。 He saved us from the tomahawks of
his fellow…war… riors； and brought us to his home to know a noble and a
brave woman。
〃I shall never forget your many favors shown to us。 But I must go。
I belong to my tribe and I shall return to them。 I will endeavor to be a
true woman also； and to teach my boys to be generous warriors like your
son。〃
Her sister chose to remain among the Sioux all her life； and she
married one of our young men。
〃I shall make the Sioux and the Ojibways；〃 she said； 〃to be as
brothers。〃
There are many other instances of intermar… riage with captive women。
The mother of the well…known Sioux chieftain； Wabashaw； was an
Ojibway woman。 I once knew a woman who was said to be a white
captive。 She was married to a noted warrior； and had a fine family of
five boys。 She was well accustomed to the Indian ways； and as a child I
should not have suspected that she was white。 The skins of these people
be… came so sunburned and full of paint that it re… quired a keen eye to
distinguish them from the real Indians。
IV： An Indian Sugar Camp
WITH the first March thaw the thoughts of the Indian women of my
childhood days turned promptly to the annual sugar… making。 This
industry was chiefly followed by the old men and women and the children。
The rest of the tribe went out upon the spring fur…hunt at this sea… son；
leaving us at home to make the sugar。
The first and most important of the necessary utensils were the huge
iron and brass kettles for boiling。 Everything else could be made； but
these must be bought； begged or borrowed。 A maple tree was felled and
a log canoe hollowed out； into which the sap was to be gathered。 Little
troughs of basswood and birchen basins were also made to receive the
sweet drops as they trickled from the tree。
As soon as these labors were accomplished； we all proceeded to the
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bark sugar house； which stood in the midst of a fine grove of maples on
the bank of the Minnesota river。 We found this hut partially filled with
the snows of winter and the withered leaves of the preceding autumn； and
it must be cleared for our use。 In the meantime a tent was pitched outside
for a few days' occupancy。 The snow was still deep in the woods； with a
solid crust upon which we could easily walk； for we usually moved to the
sugar house before the sap had act… ually started； the better to complete our
prepara… tions。
My grandmother worked like a beaver in these days （or rather like a
muskrat； as the Indians say； for this industrious little animal sometimes
collects as many as six or eight bushels of edible roots for the winter； only
to be robbed of his store by some of our people）。 If there was prospect of
a good sugaring season； she now made a second and even a third canoe to
contain the sap。 These canoes were afterward utilized by the hunters for
their proper purpose。
During our last sugar…making in Minnesota； be… fore the 〃outbreak；〃
my grandmother was at work upon a canoe with her axe； while a young
aunt of mine stood by。 We boys were congregated with… in the large； oval
sugar house； busily engaged in making arrows for the destruction of the
rabbits and chipmunks which we knew would come in numbers to drink
the sap。 The birds also were beginning to return； and the cold storms of
March would drive them to our door。 I was then too young to do much
except look on； but I fully en… tered into the spirit of the occasion； and
rejoiced to see the bigger boys industriously sharpen their arrows； resting
them against the ends of the long sticks which were burning in the fire；
and occasion… ally cutting a chip from the stick。 In their eager… ness they
paid little attention to this circumstance； although they well knew that it
was strictly for… bidden to touch a knife to a burning ember。
Suddenly loud screams were heard from without and we all rushed out
to see what was the matter。 It was a serious affair。 My grandmother's
axe had slipped； and by an upward stroke nearly sev… ered three of the
fingers of my aunt； who stood looking on； with her hands folded upon her
waist。 As we ran out the old lady； who had already no… ticed and
reproved our carelessness in regard to the burning embers； pursued us with
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loud reproaches and threats of a whipping。 This will seem mys… terious
to my readers； but is easily explained by the Indian superstition； which
holds that such an offense as we had committed is invariably punished by
the accidental cutting of some one of the family。
My grandmother did not confine herself to canoe…making。 She also
collected a good supply of fuel for the fires； for she would not have much
time to gather wood when the sap began to flow。 Presently the weather
moderated and the snow be… gan to melt。 The month of April brought
show… ers which carried most of it off into the Minnesota river。 Now the
women began to test the trees moving leisurely among them； axe in hand；
and striking a single quick blow； to see if the sap would appear。 The trees；
like people； have their indi… vidual characters； some were ready to yield up
their life…blood； while others were more reluctant。 Now one of the
birchen basins was set under each tree； and a hardwood chip driven deep
into the cut which the axe had made。 From the corners of this chipat
first drop by drop； then more freely the sap trickled into the little dishes。
It is usual to make sugar from maples； but sev… eral other trees were
also tapped by the Indians。 From the birch and ash was made a dark…
colored sugar； with a somewhat bitter taste； which was used for medicinal
purposes。 The box…elder yielded a beautiful white sugar； whose only
fault was that there was never enough of it！
A long fire was now made in the sugar house； and a row of brass
kettles suspended over the blaze。
