the soul of the indian(尤安人之魂)-第7章
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IV BARBARISM AND THE
MORAL CODE
Silence the Corner…Stone of Character。 Basic Ideas of Morality。
〃Give All or Nothing！〃 Rules of Honorable Warfare。 An Indian
Conception of Courage。
Long before I ever heard of Christ； or saw a white man； I had learned
from an untutored woman the essence of morality。 With the help of dear
Nature herself； she taught me things simple but of mighty import。 I knew
God。 I perceived what goodness is。 I saw and loved what is really
beautiful。 Civilization has not taught me anything better！
As a child； I understood how to give； I have forgotten that grace since
I became civilized。 I lived the natural life； whereas I now live the
artificial。 Any pretty pebble was valuable to me then； every growing tree
an object of reverence。 Now I worship with the white man before a
painted landscape whose value is estimated in dollars！ Thus the Indian is
reconstructed； as the natural rocks are ground to powder； and made into
artificial blocks which may be built into the walls of modern society。
The first American mingled with his pride a singular humility。
Spiritual arrogance was foreign to his nature and teaching。 He never
claimed that the power of articulate speech was proof of superiority over
the dumb creation； on the other hand； it is to him a perilous gift。 He
believes profoundly in silencethe sign of a perfect equilibrium。 Silence
is the absolute poise or balance of body； mind； and spirit。 The man who
preserves his selfhood ever calm and unshaken by the storms of existence…
…not a leaf； as it were； astir on the tree； not a ripple upon the surface of
shining poolhis； in the mind of the unlettered sage； is the ideal attitude
and conduct of life。
If you ask him： 〃What is silence？〃 he will answer： 〃It is the Great
Mystery！〃 〃The holy silence is His voice！〃 If you ask： 〃What are the
fruits of silence？〃 he will say： 〃They are self…control； true courage or
endurance； patience； dignity； and reverence。 Silence is the cornerstone of
character。〃
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〃Guard your tongue in youth；〃 said the old chief； Wabashaw； 〃and in
age you may mature a thought that will be of service to your people！〃
The moment that man conceived of a perfect body； supple；
symmetrical； graceful； and enduringin that moment he had laid the
foundation of a moral life！ No man can hope to maintain such a temple
of the spirit beyond the period of adolescence； unless he is able to curb his
indulgence in the pleasures of the senses。 Upon this truth the Indian built
a rigid system of physical training； a social and moral code that was the
law of his life。
There was aroused in him as a child a high ideal of manly strength and
beauty； the attainment of which must depend upon strict temperance in
eating and in the sexual relation； together with severe and persistent
exercise。 He desired to be a worthy link in the generations； and that he
might not destroy by his weakness that vigor and purity of blood which
had been achieved at the cost of much self…denial by a long line of
ancestors。
He was required to fast from time to time for short periods； and to
work off his superfluous energy by means of hard running； swimming； and
the vapor…bath。 The bodily fatigue thus induced； especially when
coupled with a reduced diet； is a reliable cure for undue sexual desires。
Personal modesty was early cultivated as a safeguard； together with a
strong self…respect and pride of family and race。 This was accomplished
in part by keeping the child ever before the public eye； from his birth
onward。 His entrance into the world； especially in the case of the first…
born； was often publicly announced by the herald； accompanied by a
distribution of presents to the old and needy。 The same thing occurred
when he took his first step； when his ears were pierced； and when he shot
his first game； so that his childish exploits and progress were known to the
whole clan as to a larger family； and he grew into manhood with the
saving sense of a reputation to sustain。
The youth was encouraged to enlist early in the public service； and to
develop a wholesome ambition for the honors of a leader and feast…maker；
which can never be his unless he is truthful and generous； as well as brave；
and ever mindful of his personal chastity and honor。 There were many
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ceremonial customs which had a distinct moral influence； the woman was
rigidly secluded at certain periods； and the young husband was forbidden
to approach his own wife when preparing for war or for any religious
event。 The public or tribal position of the Indian is entirely dependent
upon his private virtue； and he is never permitted to forget that he does not
live to himself alone； but to his tribe and his clan。 Thus habits of perfect
self…control were early established； and there were no unnatural conditions
or complex temptations to beset him until he was met and overthrown by a
stronger race。
To keep the young men and young women strictly to their honor； there
were observed among us； within my own recollection； certain annual
ceremonies of a semi…religious nature。 One of the most impressive of
these was the sacred 〃Feast of Virgins；〃 which； when given for the first
time； was equivalent to the public announcement of a young girl's arrival
at a marriageable age。 The herald； making the rounds of the teepee
village； would publish the feast something after this fashion：
〃Pretty Weasel…woman； the daughter of Brave Bear； will kindle her
first maidens' fire to…morrow！ All ye who have never yielded to the
pleading of man； who have not destroyed your innocency； you alone are
invited； to proclaim anew before the Sun and the Earth； before your
companions and in the sight of the Great Mystery； the chastity and purity
of your maidenhood。 Come ye； all who have not known man！〃
The whole village was at once aroused to the interest of the coming
event； which was considered next to the Sun Dance and the Grand
Medicine Dance in public importance。 It always took place in
midsummer； when a number of different clans were gathered together for
the summer festivities； and was held in the centre of the great circular
encampment。
Here two circles were described； one within the other； about a rudely
heart…shaped rock which was touched with red paint； and upon either side
of the rock there were thrust into the ground a knife and two arrows。 The
inner circle was for the maidens； and the outer one for their grandmothers
or chaperones； who were supposed to have passed the climacteric。 Upon
the outskirts of the feast there was a great public gathering； in which order
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was kept by certain warriors of highest reputation。 Any man among the
spectators might approach and challenge any young woman whom he
knew to be unworthy； but if the accuser failed to prove his charge； the
warriors were accustomed to punish him severely。
Each girl in turn approached the sacred rock and laid her hand upon it
with all solemnity。 This was her religious declaration of her virginity； her
vow to remain pure until her marriage。 If she should ever violate the
maidens' oath； then welcome that keen knife and those sharp arrows！
Our maidens were ambitious to attend a number of these feasts before
marriage； and it sometimes happened that a girl was compelled to give one；
on account of gossip about her conduct。 Then it was in the nature of a
challenge to the scandal… mongers to prove their words！ A similar feast
was sometimes made by the young men； for whom the rules were even
more strict； since no young man might attend this feast who had so much
as spoken of love to a maiden。 It was considered a high honor among us
to have won some distinction in war and the chase； and above all to have
been invited to a seat in the council； before one had spoken to any girl
save his own sister。
It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be
overcome。 Its appeal is to the material part； and if allowed its way it will
in time disturb the spiritual balance of the man。 Therefore the child must
early learn the beauty of generosity。 He is taught to give what he prizes
most； and that he may taste the happiness of giving； he is made at an early
age the family almoner。 If a child is inclined to be grasping； or to cling to
any of his little possessions； legends are related to him； telling of the
contempt and disgrace falling upon the ungenerous and mean man。
Public giving is a part of every important ceremony。 It properly
belongs to the celebration of birth； marriage； and death； and is observed
whenever it is desired to do special honor to any person or event。 Upon
such occasions it is common to give to the point of utter impoverishment。
The Indian in his simplicity literally gives away all that he has； to relatives；
to guests of another tribe or clan； but above all to the poor and the aged；
from whom he can hope for no return。 Finally； the gift to the 〃Great
Mystery；〃 the religious offering；
