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！
back； simply throwing a part of his robe under him to serve as a saddle；
and holding the end of a lariat tied about the animal's neck。 He guides
him altogether by the motions of his body。 These wily ponies seem to
enter into the spirit of the occasion； and very often capture the eyes of the
maid by their graceful movements； in perfect obedience to their master。
The general custom is for the young men to pull their robes over their
heads； leaving only a slit to look through。 Sometimes the same is done
by the maidenespecially in public courtship。
He approaches the girl while she is coming from the spring。 He takes
up his position directly in her path。 If she is in a hurry or does not care to
stop； she goes around him； but if she is willing to stop and listen she puts
down on the ground the vessel of water she is carrying。
Very often at the first meeting the maiden does not know who her
lover is。 He does not introduce himself immediately； but waits until a
second meeting。 Sometimes she does not see his face at all； and then she
will try to find out who he is and what he looks like before they meet
again。 If he is not a desirable suitor； she will go with her chaperon and
end the affair there。
There are times when maidens go in twos； and then there must be two
young men to meet them。
There is some courtship in the night time； either in the early part of the
evening； on the outskirts of dances and other public affairs； or after every…
body is supposed to be asleep。 This is the secret courtship。 The youth
may pull up the tentpins just back of his sweetheart and speak with her
during the night。 He must be a smart young man to do that undetected；
121
… Page 122…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
for the grandmother； her chaperon； is usually 〃all ears。〃
Elopements are common。 There are many reasons for a girl or a
youth to defer their wedding。 It may be from personal pride of one or
both。 The well…born are married publicly； and many things are given
away in their honor。 The maiden may desire to attend a certain number
of maidens' feasts before marrying。 The youth may be poor； or he may
wish to achieve another honor before surren… dering to a woman。
Sometimes a youth is so infatuated with a maid… en that he will follow
her to any part of the country；
even after their respective bands have separated for the season。 I
knew of one such case。 Patah Tankah had courted a distant relative of
my uncle for a long time。 There seemed to be some objec… tion to him on
the part of the girl's parents； al… though the girl herself was willing。
The large camp had been broken up for the fall hunt； and my uncle's
band went one way； while the young man's family went in the other
direction。 After three days' travelling； we came to a good hunting…ground；
and made camp。 One evening somebody saw the young man。 He had
been fol… lowing his sweetheart and sleeping out…of…doors all that time；
although the nights were already frosty and cold。 He met her every day in
secret and she brought him food； but he would not come near the teepee。
Finally her people yielded； and she went back with him to his band。
When we lived our natural life； there was much singing of war songs；
medicine； hunting and love songs。 Sometimes there were few words or
none； but everything was understood by the inflection。 From this I have
often thought that there must be a language of dumb beasts。
The crude musical instrument of the Sioux； the flute； was made to
appeal to the susceptible ears of the maidens late into the night。 There
comes to me now the picture of two young men with their robes over their
heads； and only a portion of the hand…made and carved chotanka； the flute；
protrud… ing from its folds。 I can see all the maidens slyly turn their
heads to listen。 Now I hear one of the youths begin to sing a plaintive
serenade as in days gone by：
〃Hay…ay…ay！ Hay…ay…ay！ a…ahay…ay！〃 （This 〃Listen！ you
will hear of him Maiden； you will hear of him Listen！
122
… Page 123…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
he will shortly go
Wasula feels that she must come out； but she has no good excuse； so
she stirs up the embers of the fire and causes an unnecessary smoke in the
teepee。 Then she has an excuse to come out and fix up the tent flaps。
She takes a long time to ad… just these pointed ears of the teepee； with their
long poles； for the wind seems to be unsettled。
Finally Chotanka ceases to be heard。 In a moment a young man
appears ghost…like at the maiden's side。
〃So it is you； is it？〃 she asks。
〃Is your grandmother in？〃 he inquires。
〃What a brave man you are； to fear an old wo… man！ We are free； the
country is wide。 We can go away； and come back when the storm is
over。〃
〃Ho；〃 he replies。 〃It is not that I fear her； or the consequences of an
elopement。 I fear noth… ing except that we may be separated！〃
The girl goes into the lodge for a moment； then slips out once more。
〃Now；〃 she exclaims； 〃to the wood or the prairie！ I am yours！〃 They dis…
appear in the darkness。
IV： A Meeting on the Plains
WE were encamped at one time on the Souris or Mouse river； a tribu…
tary of the Assiniboine。 The buffaloes were still plenty； hence we were
living on the 〃fat of the land。〃 One afternoon a scout came in with the
announcement that a body of United States troops was approaching！ This
re… port； of course； caused much uneasiness among our people。
A council was held immediately； in the course of which the scout was
put through a rigid exam… ination。 Before a decision had been reached；
an… other scout came in from the field。 He declared that the moving train
reported as a body of troops was in reality a train of Canadian carts。
The two reports differed so widely that it was deemed wise to send out
more runners to observe this moving body closely； and ascertain definitely
its character。 These soon returned with the pos… itive information that the
Canadians were at hand； 〃for；〃 said they； 〃there are no bright metals in the
123
… Page 124…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
moving train to send forth flashes of light。 The separate bodies are short；
like carts with ponies； and not like the long； four…wheeled wagon drawn by
four or six mules； that the soldiers use。 They are not buffaloes； and they
cannot be mounted troops； with pack…mules； because the individual bodies
are too long for that。 Besides； the soldiers usually have their chief； with
his guards； leading the train； and the little chiefs are also separated from
the main body and ride at one side！〃
From these observations it was concluded that we were soon to meet
with the bois brules； as the French call their mixed…bloods； presumably
from the color of their complexions。 Some say that they are named from
the 〃burned forests〃 which； as