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！
Geneva （Hobart） College student legend of Chief
Agayentha or 〃The Floating Chief。〃｝
〃You must mean the 'Wandering。 Jew？' 〃
〃So the pale…faces call him； but he was never a Jew。 'Tis a
chief of the Senecas； thrown into the lake by the Great
Spirit； for his bad conduct。 Whenever he tries to get upon
the land； the Spirit speaks to him from the caves below；
and he obeys。〃
〃THAT must mean the 'Lake Gun？' 〃
〃So the pale…faces call it。 It is not strange that the names
of the red man and of the pale…faces should differ。〃
〃The races are not the same； and each has its own
traditions。 I wish to hear what the Senecas say about this
floating tree； but first have the goodness to point it out to
me。〃
The young Indian did as Fuller requested。 Aided by the
keener vision of the red man； our traveler at length got a
glimpse of a distant speck on the water； which his
companion assured him was the object of their mutual
search。 He himself had been looking for the 〃Jew〃 a week；
but had asked no assistance from others； relying on the
keenness of his sight and the accuracy of his traditions。
That very morning he had first discovered the speck on the
water； which he now pointed out to his companion。
〃You think； then； that yonder object is the 'Wandering
Jew？' 〃 asked Fuller。
〃It is the Swimming Seneca。 Five hundred winters has he
been obliged to keep in the chilled waters of the lake； in
five hundred more the Manitou will let him rest on its
bottom。〃
〃What was the offense that has drawn down upon this
chief so severe a punishment？〃
〃Listen to our traditions； and you shall know。 When the
Great Spirit created man； He gave him laws to obey； and
duties to perform〃
〃Excuse me； Seneca； but your language is so good that I
hardly know what to make of you。〃
An almost imperceptible smile played about the
compressed lip of the young Indian； who； at first； seemed
disposed to evade an explanation； but； on reflection； he
changed his purpose； and communicated to Fuller the
outlines of a very simple； and； by no means； unusual
history。 He was a chief of the highest race in his tribe； and
had been selected to receive the education of a pale…face
at one of the colleges of that people。 He had received a
degree； and； yielding to the irrepressible longings of what
might almost be termed his nature； he no sooner left the
college in which he had been educated； than he resumed
the blanket and leggings； under the influence of early
recollections； and a mistaken appreciation of the
comparative advantages between the civilized condition；
and those of a life passed in the forest and on the prairies。
In this respect our young Seneca resembles the white
American； who； after a run of six months in Europe；
returns home with the patriotic declaration in his mouth；
that his native land is preferable to all other lands。 Fuller
soon understood the case； when both reverted to their
common object in coming thither。 The young Seneca
thereupon resumed his explanation。
｛the young Indian = almost certainly based on Abraham
La Fort or De…hat…ka…tons （1799…1848）； an Oneida Indian
who attended Geneva College in the late 1820s； but who
later abandoned Christianity and returned to his traditional
way of life｝
〃These laws of the Great Spirit；〃 continued the Seneca；
〃were not difficult to obey so long as the warrior was of a
humble mind； and believed himself inferior to the Manitou；
who had fashioned him with His hands； and placed him
between the Seneca and the Cayuga； to hunt the deer and
trap the beaver。 But See…wise was one of those who
practiced arts that you pale…faces condemn； while you
submit to them。 He was a demagogue among the red men；
and set up the tribe in opposition to the Manitou。〃
｛See…wise = intended to represent William Henry Seward's
surname｝
〃How；〃 exclaimed Fuller； 〃did the dwellers in the forest
suffer by such practices？〃
〃Men are every where the same； let the color； or the tribe；
or the country be what it may。 It was a law of our people；
one which tradition tells us came direct from the Great
Spirit； that the fish should be taken only in certain
seasons； and for so many moons。 Some thought this law
was for the health of the people； others； that it was to
enable the fish to multiply for the future。 All believed it
wise； because it came from the Manitou； and had
descended to the tribe through so many generations： all
but See…wise。 He said that an Indian ought to fish when
and where he pleased； that a warrior was not a woman；
that the spear and the hook had been given to him to be
used； like the bow and arrow； and that none but cowardly
Indians would scruple to take the fish when they wished。
Such opinions pleased the common Indians； who love to
believe themselves greater than they are。 See…wise grew
bolder by success； until he dared to say in council； that the
red men made the world themselves； and for themselves；
and that they could do with it what they pleased。 He saw
no use in any night； it was inconvenient； an Indian could
sleep in the light as well as in the darkness； there was to
be eternal day； then the hunt could go on until the deer
was killed； or the bear treed。 The young Indians liked such
talk。 They loved to be told they were the equals of the
Great Spirit。 They declared that See…wise should be their
principal chief。 See…wise opened his ears wide to this talk；
and the young men listened to his words as they listened
to the song of the mocking…bird。 They liked each other；
because they praised each other。 It is sweet to be told that
we are better and wiser than all around us。 It is sweet to
the red man； the pale…faces may have more sober minds
〃
The Seneca paused an instant； and Fuller fancied that a
smile of irony again struggled about his compressed lip。 As
the traveler made no remark； however； the youthful
warrior resumed his tale。
〃I hear a great deal of what demagogues are doing among
your people； and of the evil they produce。 They begin by
flattering； and end by ruling。 He carries a strong hand； who
makes all near him help to uphold it。 In the crowd few
perceive its weight until it crushes them。
〃Thus was it with See…wise。 Half the young men listened to
him； and followed in his trail。 The aged chiefs took counsel
together。 They saw that all the ancient traditions were
despised； and that new conduct was likely to come in with
new opinions。 They were too old to change。 What was done
has never been said； but See…wise disappeared。 It was
whispered that he had gone down among the fish he loved
to take out of season。 There is one tradition； that he
speared an enormous salmon； and the fish； in its struggles；
drew him out of his canoe； and that his hands could not let
go of the handle of his spear。 Let this be as it may； no one
ever saw See…wise any more； in the form in which he had
been known to his people。 At length the trunk of a tree
was seen floating about the Seneca； and one of the oldest
of the chiefs； pointing to it； pronounced the name of 'See…
wise。' He would fish out of season； and his spirit is
condemned； they say； to float among the salmon； and
trout； and eels； for a thousand winters。 It was