the soul of the indian(尤安人之魂)-第4章
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name of our tribe； Dakota； means Allied People。 The remoter degrees of
kinship were fully recognized； and that not as a matter of form only： first
cousins were known as brothers and sisters； the name of 〃cousin〃
constituted a binding claim； and our rigid morality forbade marriage
between cousins in any known degree； or in other words within the clan。
The household proper consisted of a man with one or more wives and
their children； all of whom dwelt amicably together； often under one roof；
although some men of rank and position provided a separate lodge for
each wife。 There were； indeed； few plural marriages except among the
older and leading men； and plural wives were usually； though not
necessarily； sisters。 A marriage might honorably be dissolved for cause；
but there was very little infidelity or immorality； either open or secret。
It has been said that the position of woman is the test of civilization；
and that of our women was secure。 In them was vested our standard of
morals and the purity of our blood。 The wife did not take the name of
her husband nor enter his clan； and the children belonged to the clan of the
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mother。 All of the family property was held by her； descent was traced in
the maternal line； and the honor of the house was in her hands。 Modesty
was her chief adornment； hence the younger women were usually silent
and retiring： but a woman who had attained to ripeness of years and
wisdom； or who had displayed notable courage in some emergency； was
sometimes invited to a seat in the council。
Thus she ruled undisputed within her own domain； and was to us a
tower of moral and spiritual strength； until the coming of the border white
man； the soldier and trader； who with strong drink overthrew the honor of
the man； and through his power over a worthless husband purchased the
virtue of his wife or his daughter。 When she fell； the whole race fell with
her。
Before this calamity came upon us； you could not find anywhere a
happier home than that created by the Indian woman。 There was nothing
of the artificial about her person； and very little disingenuousness in her
character。 Her early and consistent training； the definiteness of her
vocation； and； above all； her profoundly religious attitude gave her a
strength and poise that could not be overcome by any ordinary misfortune。
Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a playful
spirit； deed names； birth names； or such as have a religious and symbolic
meaning。 It has been said that when a child is born； some accident or
unusual appearance determines his name。 This is sometimes the case；
but is not the rule。 A man of forcible character； with a fine war record；
usually bears the name of the buffalo or bear； lightning or some dread
natural force。 Another of more peaceful nature may be called Swift Bird
or Blue Sky。 A woman's name usually suggested something about the
home； often with the adjective 〃pretty〃 or 〃good；〃 and a feminine
termination。 Names of any dignity or importance must be conferred by
the old men； and especially so if they have any spiritual significance； as
Sacred Cloud； Mysterious Night； Spirit Woman； and the like。 Such a
name was sometimes borne by three generations； but each individual must
prove that he is worthy of it。
In the life of the Indian there was only one inevitable duty；the duty
of prayerthe daily recognition of the Unseen and Eternal。 His daily
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devotions were more necessary to him than daily food。 He wakes at
daybreak； puts on his moccasins and steps down to the water's edge。
Here he throws handfuls of clear； cold water into his face； or plunges in
bodily。 After the bath； he stands erect before the advancing dawn； facing
the sun as it dances upon the horizon； and offers his unspoken orison。
His mate may precede or follow him in his devotions； but never
accompanies him。 Each soul must meet the morning sun； the new； sweet
earth； and the Great Silence alone！
Whenever； in the course of the daily hunt； the red hunter comes upon a
scene that is strikingly beautiful or sublimea black thundercloud with the
rainbow's glowing arch above the mountain； a white waterfall in the heart
of a green gorge； a vast prairie tinged with the blood…red of sunsethe
pauses for an instant in the attitude of worship。 He sees no need for
setting apart one day in seven as a holy day； since to him all days are
God's。
Every act of his life is； in a very real sense； a religious act。 He
recognizes the spirit in all creation； and believes that he draws from it
spiritual power。 His respect for the immortal part of the animal； his
brother； often leads him so far as to lay out the body of his game in state
and decorate the head with symbolic paint or feathers。 Then he stands
before it in the prayer attitude； holding up the filled pipe； in token that he
has freed with honor the spirit of his brother； whose body his need
compelled him to take to sustain his own life。
When food is taken； the woman murmurs a 〃grace〃 as she lowers the
kettle； an act so softly and unobtrusively performed that one who does not
know the custom usually fails to catch the whisper： 〃Spirit； partake！〃 As
her husband receives the bowl or plate； he likewise murmurs his
invocation to the spirit。 When he becomes an old man； he loves to make
a notable effort to prove his gratitude。 He cuts off the choicest morsel of
the meat and casts it into the firethe purest and most ethereal element。
The hospitality of the wigwam is only limited by the institution of war。
Yet； if an enemy should honor us with a call； his trust will not be
misplaced； and he will go away convinced that he has met with a royal
host！ Our honor is the guarantee for his safety； so long as he is within the
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camp。
Friendship is held to be the severest test of character。 It is easy； we
think； to be loyal to family and clan； whose blood is in our own veins。
Love between man and woman is founded on the mating instinct and is
not free from desire and self…seeking。 But to have a friend； and to be true
under any and all trials； is the mark of a man！
The highest type of friendship is the relation of 〃brother…friend〃 or
〃life…and…death friend。〃 This bond is between man and man； is usually
formed in early youth； and can only be broken by death。 It is the essence
of comradeship and fraternal love； without thought of pleasure or gain； but
rather for moral support and inspiration。 Each is vowed to die for the other；
if need be； and nothing is denied the brother…friend； but neither is anything
required that is not in accord with the highest conceptions of the Indian
mind。
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THE SOUL OF THE INDIAN
III CEREMONIAL AND
SYMBOLIC WORSHIP
Modern Perversions of Early Religious Rites。 The Sun Dance。 The
Great Medicine Lodge。 Totems and Charms。 The Vapor…Bath and the
Ceremonial of the Pipe。
The public religious rites of the Plains Indians are few； and in large
part of modern origin； belonging properly to the so…called 〃transition
period。〃 That period must be held to begin with the first insidious effect
upon their manners and customs of contact with the dominant race； and
many of the tribes were so influenced long before they ceased to lead the
nomadic life。
The fur…traders； the 〃Black Robe〃 priests； the military； and finally the
Protestant missionaries； were the men who began the disintegration of the
Indian nations and the overthrow of their religion； seventy…five to a
hundred years before they were forced to enter upon reservation life。 We
have no authentic study of them until well along in the transition period；
when whiskey and trade had already debauched their native ideals。
During the era of reconstruction they modified their customs and
beliefs continually； creating a singular admixture of Christian with pagan
superstitions； and an addition to the old folk…lore of disguised Bible stories
under an Indian aspect。 Even their music shows the influence of the
Catholic chants。 Most of the material collected by modern observers is
necessarily of this promiscuous character。
It is noteworthy that the first effect of contact with the whites was an
increase of cruelty and barbarity； an intensifying of the dark shadows in
the picture！ In this manner the 〃Sun Dance〃 of the Plains Indians； the
most important of their public ceremonials； was abused and perverted until
it became a horrible exhibition of barbarism； and was eventually
prohibited by the Government。
In the old days； when a Sioux warrior found himself in the very jaws
of destruction； he might offer a prayer to his father； the Sun； to prolong his
life。 If rescued from imminent danger； he must acknowledge the divine
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favor by making a Sun Dance； according to the vow embraced in his
prayer； in
