the oregon trail-第28部分

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！


mes　his　authority　is　little　short　of　absolute；　　and　his　fame　and　influence　reach　even　beyond　his　own　village；　so　that　　the　whole　band　to　which　he　belongs　is　ready　to　acknowledge　him　as　　their　head。　　This　was；　a　few　years　since；　the　case　with　the　　Ogallalla。　　Courage；　address；　and　enterprise　may　raise　any　warrior　to　　the　highest　honor；　especially　if　he　be　the　son　of　a　former　chief；　or　　a　member　of　a　numerous　family；　to　support　him　and　avenge　his　　quarrels；　but　when　he　has　reached　the　dignity　of　chief；　and　the　old　　men　and　warriors；　by　a　peculiar　ceremony；　have　formally　installed　　him；　let　it　not　be　imagined　that　he　assumes　any　of　the　outward　　semblances　of　rank　and　honor。　　He　knows　too　well　on　how　frail　a　　tenure　he　holds　his　station。　　He　must　conciliate　his　uncertain　　subjects。　　Many　a　man　in　the　village　lives　better；　owns　more　squaws　　and　more　horses；　and　goes　better　clad　than　he。　　Like　the　Teutonic　　chiefs　of　old；　he　ingratiates　himself　with　his　young　men　by　making　　them　presents；　thereby　often　impoverishing　himself。　　Does　he　fail　in　　gaining　their　favor；　they　will　set　his　authority　at　naught；　and　may　　desert　him　at　any　moment；　for　the　usages　of　his　people　have　provided　　no　sanctions　by　which　he　may　enforce　his　authority。　　Very　seldom　does　　it　happen；　at　least　among　these　western　bands；　that　a　chief　attains　　to　much　power；　unless　he　is　the　head　of　a　numerous　family。　　　Frequently　the　village　is　principally　made　up　of　his　relatives　and　　descendants；　and　the　wandering　community　assumes　much　of　the　　patriarchal　character。　　A　people　so　loosely　united；　torn；　too；　with　　ranking　feuds　and　jealousies；　can　have　little　power　or　efficiency。　The　western　Dakota　have　no　fixed　habitations。　　Hunting　and　fighting；　　they　wander　incessantly　through　summer　and　winter。　　Some　are　　following　the　herds　of　buffalo　over　the　waste　of　prairie；　others　are　　traversing　the　Black　Hills；　thronging　on　horseback　and　on　foot　　through　the　dark　gulfs　and　somber　gorges　beneath　the　vast　splintering　　precipices；　and　emerging　at　last　upon　the　〃Parks；〃　those　beautiful　　but　most　perilous　hunting　grounds。　　The　buffalo　supplies　them　with　　almost　all　the　necessaries　of　life；　with　habitations；　food；　clothing；　　and　fuel；　with　strings　for　their　bows；　with　thread；　cordage；　and　　trail…ropes　for　their　horses；　with　coverings　for　their　saddles；　with　　vessels　to　hold　water；　with　boats　to　cross　streams；　with　glue；　and　　with　the　means　of　purchasing　all　that　they　desire　from　the　traders。　　　When　the　buffalo　are　extinct；　they　too　must　dwindle　away。　War　is　the　breath　of　their　nostrils。　　Against　most　of　the　neighboring　　tribes　they　cherish　a　deadly；　rancorous　hatred；　transmitted　from　　father　to　son；　and　inflamed　by　constant　aggression　and　retaliation。　　　Many　times　a　year；　in　every　village；　the　Great　Spirit　is　called　upon；　　fasts　are　made；　the　war　parade　is　celebrated；　and　the　warriors　go　out　　by　handfuls　at　a　time　against　the　enemy。　　This　fierce　and　evil　spirit　　awakens　their　most　eager　aspirations；　and　calls　forth　their　greatest　　energies。　　It　is　chiefly　this　that　saves　them　from　lethargy　and　utter　　abasement。　　Without　its　powerful　stimulus　they　would　be　like　the　　unwarlike　tribes　beyond　the　mountains；　who　are　scattered　among　the　　caves　and　rocks　like　beasts；　living　on　roots　and　reptiles。　　These　　latter　have　little　of　humanity　except　the　form；　but　the　proud　and　　ambitious　Dakota　warrior　can　sometimes　boast　of　heroic　virtues。　　It　　is　very　seldom　that　distinction　and　influence　are　attained　among　them　　by　any　other　course　than　that　of　arms。　　Their　superstition；　however；　　sometimes　gives　great　power；　to　those　among　them　who　pretend　to　the　　character　of　magicians。　　Their　wild　hearts；　too；　can　feel　the　power　　of　oratory；　and　yield　deference　to　the　masters　of　it。　But　to　return。　　Look　into　our　tent；　or　enter；　if　you　can　bear　the　　stifling　smoke　and　the　close　atmosphere。　　There；　wedged　close　　together；　you　will　see　a　circle　of　stout　warriors；　passing　the　pipe　　around；　joking；　telling　stories；　and　making　themselves　merry；　after　　their　fashion。　　We　were　also　infested　by　little　copper…colored　naked　　boys　and　snake…eyed　girls。　　They　would　come　up　to　us；　muttering　　certain　words；　which　being　interpreted　conveyed　the　concise　　invitation；　〃Come　and　eat。〃　　Then　we　would　rise；　cursing　the　　pertinacity　of　Dakota　hospitality；　which　allowed　scarcely　an　hour　of　　rest　between　sun　and　sun；　and　to　which　we　were　bound　to　do　honor；　　unless　we　would　offend　our　entertainers。　　This　necessity　was　　particularly　burdensome　to　me；　as　I　was　scarcely　able　to　walk；　from　　the　effects　of　illness；　and　was　of　course　poorly　qualified　to　dispose　　of　twenty　meals　a　day。　　Of　these　sumptuous　banquets　I　gave　a　specimen　　in　a　former　chapter；　where　the　tragical　fate　of　the　little　dog　was　　chronicled。　　So　bounteous　an　entertainment　looks　like　an　outgushing　　of　good　will；　but　doubtless　one…half　at　least　of　our　kind　hosts；　had　　they　met　us　alone　and　unarmed　on　the　prairie；　would　have　robbed　us　of　　our　horses；　and　perchance　have　bestowed　an　arrow　upon　us　beside。　　　Trust　not　an　Indian。　　Let　your　rifle　be　ever　in　your　hand。　　Wear　next　　your　heart　the　old　chivalric　motto　SEMPER　PARATUS。　One　morning　we　were　summoned　to　the　lodge　of　an　old　man；　in　good　　truth　the　Nestor　of　his　tribe。　　We　found　him　half　sitting；　half　　reclining　on　a　pile　of　buffalo　robes；　his　long　hair；　jet…black　even　　now；　though　he　had　seen　some　eighty　winters；　hung　on　either　side　of　　his　thin　features。　　Those　most　conversant　with　Indians　in　their　homes　　will　scarcely　believe　me　when　I　affirm　that　there　was　dignity　in　his　　countenance　and　mien。　　His　gaunt　but　symmetrical　frame；　did　not　more　　clearly　exhibit　the　wreck　of　bygone　strength；　than　did　his　dark；　　wasted　features；　still　prominent　and　commanding；　bear　the　stamp　of　　mental　energies。　　I　recalled；　as　I　saw　him；　the　eloquent　metaphor　of　　the　Iroquois　sachem：　〃I　am　an　aged　hemlock；　the　winds　of　a　hundred　　winters　have　whistled　through　my　branches；　and　I　am　dead　at　the　top！〃　　　Opposite　the　patriarch　was　his　nephew；　the　young　aspirant　Mahto…　Tatonka；　and　besides　these；　there　were　one　or　two　women　in　the　lodge。　The　old　man's　story　is　peculiar；　and　singularly　illustrative　of　a　　superstitious　custom　that　prevails　in　full　force　among　many　of　the　　Indian　tribes。　　He　was　one　of　a　powerful　family；　renowned　for　their　　warlike　exploits。　　When　a　very　young　man；　he　submitted　to　the　　singular　rite　to　which　most　of　the　tribe　subject　themselves　before　　entering　upon　life。　　He　painted　his　face　black；　then　seeking　out　a　　cavern　in　a　sequestered　part　of　the　Black　Hills；　he　lay　for　several　　days；　fasting　and　praying　to　the　Great　Spirit。　　In　the　dreams　and　　visions　produced　by　his　weakened　and　excited　state；　he　fancied　like　　all　Indians；　that　he　saw　supernatural　revelations。　　Again　and　again　　the　form　of　an　antelope　appeared　before　him。　　The　antelope　is　the　　graceful　peace　spirit　of　the　Ogallalla；　but　seldom　is　it　that　such　a　　gentle　visitor　presents　itself　during　the　initiatory　fasts　of　their　　young　men。　　The　terrible　grizzly　bear；　the　divinity　of　war；　usually　　appears　to　fire　them　with　martial　ardor　and　thirst　for　renown。　　At　　length　the　antelope　spoke。　　He　told　the　young　dreamer　that　he　was　not　　to　follow　the　path　of　war；　that　a　life　of　peace　and　tranquillity　was　　marked　out　for　him；　that　henceforward　he　was　to　guide　the　people　by　　his　counsels　and　protect　them　from　the　evils　of　their　own　feuds　and　　dissensions。　　Others　were　to　gain　renown　by　fighting　the　enemy；　but　　greatness　of　a　different　kind　was　in　store　for　him。　The　visions　beheld　during　the　period　of　this　fast　usually　determine　　the　whole　course　of　the　dreamer's　life；　for　an　Indian　is　bound　by　　iron　superstitions。　　From　that　time；　Le　Borgne；　which　was　the　only　　name　by　which　we　knew　him；　abandoned　all　thoughts　of　war　and　devoted　　himself　to　the　labors　of　peace。　　He　told　his　vision　to　the　people。　　　They　honored　his　commission　and　respected　him　in　his　novel　capacity。　A　far　different　man　was　his　brother；　Mahto…Tatonka；　who　had　　transmitted　his　names；　his　features；　and　many　of　his　characteristic　　qualities　to　his　son。　　He　was　the　father　of　Henry　Chatillon's　squaw；　　a　circumstance　which　proved　of　some　advantage　to　us；　as　securing　for　　us　the　friendship　of　a　family　perhaps　the　most　distinguished　and　　powerful　in　the　whole　Ogallalla　band。　　Mahto…Tatonka；　in　his　rude　　way；　was　a　hero。　　No　chief　could　vie　with　him　in　warlike　renown；　or　　in　power　over　his　people。　　He　had　a　fearless　spirit；　and　a　most　　impetuous　and　inflexible　resolution。　　His　will　was　law。　　He　was　　politic　and　sagacious；　and　with　true　Indian　craft　he　always　　befriended　the　whites；　well　knowing　that　he　might　thus　reap　great　　advantages　for　himself　and　his　adherents。　　When　he　had　resolved　on　　any　course　of　conduct；　he　would　pay　to　the　warriors　the　empty　　compliment　of　calling　them　together　to　deliberate　upon　it；　and　when　　their　debates　were　over；　he　would　quietly　state　his　own　opinion；　　which　no　one　ever　disputed。　　The　consequences　of　thwarting　his　　imperious　will　were　too　formidable　to　be　encountered。　　Woe　to　those　　who　incurred　his　displeasure！　　He　would　strike　them　or　stab　them　on　　the　spot；　and　this　act；　which；　if　attempted　by　any　other　chief；　would　　instantly　have　cost　him　his　life；　the　awe　inspired　by　his　name　　enabled　him　to　repeat　again　and　again　with　impunity。　　In　a　community　　where；　from　immemorial　time；　no　man　has　acknowledged　any　law　but　his　　own　will；　Mahto…Tatonka；　by　the　force　of　his　dauntless　resolution；　　raised　himself　to　power　little　short　of　despotic。　　His　haughty　career　　came　at　last　to　an　end。　　He　had　a　host　of　enemies　only　waiting　for　　their　opportunity　of　revenge；　and　our　old　friend　Smoke；　in　　particular；　together　with　all　his　kinsmen；　hated　him　most　cordially。　　　Smoke　sat　one　day　in　his　lodge　in　the　midst　of　his　own　village；　when　　Mahto…Tatonka　entered　it　alone；　and　approaching　the　dwelling　of　his　　enemy；　called　on　him　in　a　loud　voice　to　come　out；　if　he　were　a　man；　　and　fight。　　Smoke　would　not　move。　　At　this；　Mahto…Tatonka　proclaimed　　him　a　coward　and　an　old　woman；　and　striding　close　to　the　entrance　of　　the　lodge；　stabbed　the　chief's　best　horse；　which　was　picketed　there。　　　Smoke　was　daunted；　and　even　this　insult　failed　to　call　him　forth。　　　Mahto…Tatonka　moved　haughtily　away；　all　made　way　for　him；　but　his　　hour　of　reckoni