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！
not so； I believe there would have been tribes of cannibals among them。
White people have been known to kill and eat their companions in
preference to starving； but Indiansnever！
In times of famine； the adults often denied themselves in order to make
the food last as long as possible for the children； who were not able to bear
9
… Page 10…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
hunger as well as the old。 As a people； they can live without food much
longer than any other nation。
I once passed through one of these hard springs when we had nothing
to eat for several days。 I well remember the six small birds which consti…
tuted the breakfast for six families one morning； and then we had no
dinner or supper to follow！ What a relief that was to mealthough I had
only a small wing of a small bird for my share！ Soon after this； we came
into a region where buffaloes were plenty； and hunger and scarcity were
for… gotten。
Such was the Indian's wild life！ When game was to be had and the sun
shone； they easily forgot the bitter experiences of the winter before。
Little preparation was made for the future。 They are children of Nature；
and occasionally she whips them with the lashes of experience； yet they
are forgetful and careless。 Much of their suffering might have been
prevented by a little calculation。
During the summer； when Nature is at her best； and provides
abundantly for the savage； it seems to me that no life is happier than his！
Food is freelodging freeeverything free！ All were alike rich in the
summer； and； again； all were alike poor in the winter and early spring。
However； their diseases were fewer and not so destructive as now； and the
Indian's health was generally good。 The Indian boy enjoyed such a life
as almost all boys dream of and would choose for themselves if they were
permitted to do so。
The raids made upon our people by other tribes were frequent； and we
had to be constantly on the watch。 I remember at one time a night attack
was made upon our camp and all our ponies stam… peded。 Only a few of
them were recovered； and our journeys after this misfortune were effected
mostly by means of the dog…travaux。
The second winter after the massacre； my father and my two older
brothers； with several others； were betrayed by a half…breed at Winnipeg to
the United States authorities。 As I was then living with my uncle in
another part of the country； I be… came separated from them for ten years。
During all this time we believed that they had been killed by the whites；
and I was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I was able to go
10
… Page 11…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
upon the war…path。
I must say a word in regard to the character of this uncle； my father's
brother； who was my ad… viser and teacher for many years。 He was a
man about six feet two inches in height； very erect and broad…shouldered。
He was known at that time as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors
among the Sioux in British America； where he still lives； for to this day we
have failed to persuade him to return to the United States。
He is a typical Indiannot handsome； but truthful and brave。 He had
a few simple princi… ples from which he hardly ever departed。 Some of
these I shall describe when I speak of my early training。
It is wonderful that any children grew up through all the exposures and
hardships that we suffered in those days！ The frail teepee pitched
anywhere； in the winter as well as in the summer； was all the protection
that we had against cold and storms。 I can recall times when we were
snowed in and it was very difficult to get fuel。 We were once three days
without much fire and all of this time it stormed violently。 There seemed
to be no special anxiety on the part of our people； they rather looked upon
all this as a matter of course； knowing that the storm would cease when
the time came。
I could once endure as much cold and hunger as any of them； but now
if I miss one meal or accidentally wet my feet； I feel it as much as if I had
never lived in the manner I have described； when it was a matter of course
to get myself soak… ing wet many a time。 Even if there was plenty to eat；
it was thought better for us to practice fast… ing sometimes； and hard
exercise was kept up continually； both for the sake of health and to prepare
the body for the extraordinary exertions that it might； at any moment； be
required to undergo。 In my own remembrance； my uncle used often to
bring home a deer on his shoulder。 The distance was sometimes con…
siderable； yet he did not consider it any sort of a feat。
The usual custom with us was to eat only two meals a day and these
were served at each end of the day。 This rule was not invariable； how…
ever； for if there should be any callers； it was Indian etiquette to offer
either tobacco or food； or both。 The rule of two meals a day was more
closely observed by the menespecially the younger menthan by the
11
… Page 12…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
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