the soul of the indian(尤安人之魂)-第11章
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The old…time burial of the Plains Indians was upon a scaffold of poles；
or a platform among the boughs of a treetheir only means of placing the
body out of reach of wild beasts； as they had no implements with which to
dig a suitable grave。 It was prepared by dressing in the finest clothes；
together with some personal possessions and ornaments； wrapped in
several robes； and finally in a secure covering of raw…hide。 As a special
mark of respect； the body of a young woman or a warrior was sometimes
laid out in state in a new teepee； with the usual household articles and
even with a dish of food left beside it； not that they supposed the spirit
could use the implements or eat the food but merely as a last tribute。
Then the whole people would break camp and depart to a distance； leaving
the dead alone in an honorable solitude。
There was no prescribed ceremony of burial； though the body was
carried out with more or less solemnity by selected young men； and
sometimes noted warriors were the pall…bearers of a man of distinction。
It was usual to choose a prominent hill with a commanding outlook for the
last resting…place of our dead。 If a man were slain in battle； it was an old
custom to place his body against a tree or rock in a sitting position； always
facing the enemy； to indicate his undaunted defiance and bravery； even in
death。
I recall a touching custom among us； which was designed to keep the
memory of the departed near and warm in the bereaved household。 A
lock of hair of the beloved dead was wrapped in pretty clothing； such as it
was supposed that he or she would like to wear if living。 This 〃spirit
bundle；〃 as it was called； was suspended from a tripod； and occupied a
certain place in the lodge which was the place of honor。 At every meal
time； a dish of food was placed under it； and some person of the same sex
and age as the one who was gone must afterward be invited in to partake
of the food。 At the end of a year from the time of death； the relatives
made a public feast and gave away the clothing and other gifts； while the
lock of hair was interred with appropriate ceremonies。
Certainly the Indian never doubted the immortal nature of the spirit or
soul of man； but neither did he care to speculate upon its probable state or
condition in a future life。 The idea of a 〃happy hunting…ground〃 is
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modern and probably borrowed； or invented by the white man。 The
primitive Indian was content to believe that the spirit which the 〃Great
Mystery〃 breathed into man returns to Him who gave it； and that after it is
freed from the body； it is everywhere and pervades all nature； yet often
lingers near the grave or 〃spirit bundle〃 for the consolation of friends； and
is able to hear prayers。 So much of reverence was due the disembodied
spirit； that it was not customary with us even to name the dead aloud。
It is well known that the American Indian had somehow developed
occult power； and although in the latter days there have been many
impostors； and； allowing for the vanity and weakness of human nature； it
is fair to assume that there must have been some even in the old days； yet
there are well…attested instances of remarkable prophecies and other
mystic practice。
A Sioux prophet predicted the coming of the white man fully fifty
years before the event； and even described accurately his garments and
weapons。 Before the steamboat was invented； another prophet of our
race described the 〃Fire Boat〃 that would swim upon their mighty river；
the Mississippi； and the date of this prophecy is attested by the term used；
which is long since obsolete。 No doubt； many predictions have been
colored to suit the new age； and unquestionably false prophets； fakirs； and
conjurers have become the pest of the tribes during the transition period。
Nevertheless； even during this period there was here and there a man of
the old type who was implicitly believed in to the last。
Notable among these was Ta…chank…pee Ho…tank…a； or His War Club
Speaks Loud； who foretold a year in advance the details of a great war…
party against the Ojibways。 There were to be seven battles； all successful
except the last； in which the Sioux were to be taken at a disadvantage and
suffer crushing defeat。 This was carried out to the letter。 Our people
surprised and slew many of the Ojibways in their villages； but in turn were
followed and cunningly led into an ambush whence but few came out alive。
This was only one of his remarkable prophecies。
Another famous 〃medicine…man〃 was born on the Rum River about
one hundred and fifty years ago； and lived to be over a century old。 He
was born during a desperate battle with the Ojibways； at a moment when；
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as it seemed； the band of Sioux engaged were to be annihilated。
Therefore the child's grandmother exclaimed： 〃Since we are all to perish；
let him die a warrior's death in the field！〃 and she placed his cradle under
fire； near the spot where his uncle and grandfathers were fighting； for he
had no father。 But when an old man discovered the new…born child； he
commanded the women to take care of him； 〃for；〃 said he； 〃we know not
how precious the strength of even one warrior may some day become to
his nation！〃
This child lived to become great among us； as was intimated to the
superstitious by the circumstances of his birth。 At the age of about
seventy…five years； he saved his band from utter destruction at the hands of
their ancestral enemies； by suddenly giving warning received in a dream
of the approach of a large war…party。 The men immediately sent out
scouts； and felled trees for a stockade； barely in time to meet and repel the
predicted attack。 Five years later； he repeated the service； and again
saved his people from awful slaughter。 There was no confusion of
figures or omens； as with lesser medicine…men； but in every incident that is
told of him his interpretation of the sign； whatever it was； proved
singularly correct。
The father of Little Crow； the chief who led the 〃Minnesota massacre〃
of 1862； was another prophet of some note。 One of his characteristic
prophecies was made only a few years before he died； when he had
declared that； although already an old man； he would go once more upon
the war…path。 At the final war…feast； he declared that three of the enemy
would be slain； but he showed great distress and reluctance in foretelling
that he would lose two of his own men。 Three of the Ojibways were
indeed slain as he had said； but in the battle the old war prophet lost both
of his two sons。
There are many trustworthy men； and men of Christian faith； to vouch
for these and similar events occurring as foretold。 I cannot pretend to
explain them； but I know that our people possessed remarkable powers of
concentration and abstraction； and I sometimes fancy that such nearness to
nature as I have described keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not
commonly felt； and in touch with the unseen powers。 Some of us seemed
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to have a peculiar intuition for the locality of a grave； which they
explained by saying that they had received a communication from the
spirit of the departed。 My own grandmother was one of these； and as far
back as I can remember； when camping in a strange country； my brother
and I would search for and find human bones at the spot she had indicated
to us as an ancient burial…place or the spot where a lone warrior had fallen。
Of course； the outward signs of burial had been long since obliterated。
The Scotch would certainly have declared that she had the 〃second
sight；〃 for she had other remarkable premonitions or intuitions within my
own recollection。 I have heard her speak of a peculiar sensation in the
breast； by which； as she said； she was advised of anything of importance
concerning her absent children。 Other native women have claimed a
similar monitor； but I never heard of one who could interpret it with such
accuracy。 We were once camping on Lake Manitoba when we received
news that my uncle and his family had been murdered several weeks
before； at a fort some two hundred miles distant。 While all our clan were
wailing and mourning their loss； my grandmother calmly bade them cease；
saying that her son was approaching； and that they would see him shortly。
Although we had no other reason to doubt the ill tidings； it is a fact that
my uncle came into camp two days after his reported death。
At another time； when I was fourteen years old； we had just left Fort
Ellis on the Assiniboine River； and my youngest uncle had selected a fine
spot for our night camp。 It was already after sundown； but my
grandmother became unaccountably nervous； and positively refused to
pitch her tent。 So we reluctantly went on down the river； and camped
after dark at a secluded place。 The next day we learned that a family who
were following close behind had stopped at the place first selected by my
uncle； but were surprised in the night by a roving war…party； and
massacred to a man。 This incident made
